RTHK: Court sets date for Weinstein trial in Los Angeles

Disgraced movie producer Harvey Weinstein will go on trial in October in Los Angeles over alleged assaults on five women, a judge ruled on Friday.

Weinstein, who was charged in Britain this month with the 1996 indecent assault of a woman in London, faces 11 felony charges in California.

Prosecutors initially charged the Oscar winner in January 2020 with a number of sex crimes against two women, with the assaults alleged to have taken place years earlier.

They added further counts later in the year involving three other women, dating back as far as 2004.

The trial in Los Angeles Superior Court will begin on October 10. It is expected to last around eight weeks.

Weinstein, 70, was brought to California from a New York prison where he was serving 23 years for raping an aspiring actress and for a criminal sex act against a former production assistant.

In total, nearly 90 women including Angelina Jolie, Gwyneth Paltrow and Salma Hayek have accused Weinstein of harassment or assault. (AFP)

This story has been published on: 2022-06-10. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
Xi calls for creating a new chapter in Sichuan's development

Xinhua) 09:16, June 11, 2022

Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, visits XGIMI optoelectronic company to learn about its independent innovation in Yibin, southwest China's Sichuan Province, June 8, 2022. (Xinhua/Xie Huanchi)

CHENGDU, June 10 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, made an inspection tour of southwest China's Sichuan Province. Xi stressed resolute implementation of the decisions and plans of the CPC Central Committee, carrying forward the great founding spirit of the Party, and being firm in the general principle of pursuing progress while ensuring stability. He required full, accurate, and comprehensive application of the new development philosophy and actively serving and integrating into the new development paradigm.

Efforts should be made to coordinate COVID-19 response with economic and social development, to stabilize economic development, and to maintain overall social stability, so that the governance and development of Sichuan will be brought to a new level and a new chapter will be opened in Sichuan's development as a part of the new journey to building a modern socialist country in all respects, Xi noted. He called for concrete actions to set the stage for the success of the 20th National Congress of the CPC.

On June 8, Xi, accompanied by Wang Xiaohui, Party secretary of Sichuan Province and Huang Qiang, governor of the province, made a fact-finding trip to Meishan, Yibin, and other places. Xi went to a village, a cultural relic protection site, a university, and a company.

On June 1, a 6.1-magnitude earthquake struck Ya'an City, Sichuan Province. Xi immediately gave important instructions, requiring Sichuan provincial committee of the CPC and Sichuan provincial people's government to spare no effort in disaster rescue and relief, consoling the families of the earthquake victims. Medical care to the injured should be provided in a timely manner and arrangements made to help those affected by the earthquake, secondary disasters should be prevented, reconstruction be well planned and normal order of life and production be restored as soon as possible, Xi required.

The central departments concerned immediately activated the national level-3 earthquake emergency response and local authorities lost no time in coordinating disaster rescue and relief work. Efforts have been made to ensure all channels are open to save people's lives, the injured are well attended to, and those affected by the earthquake are relocated and resettled in a timely manner. Currently, most residents from earthquake-hit areas have returned to their homes. The province has de-activated the emergency response and shifted the focus to post-disaster recovery and reconstruction.

During his visit in Sichuan, Xi has been concerned with the treatment of those injured in the earthquake and how people lead their lives as well as how the production is in the earthquake-hit areas. He inquired about detailed information on the disaster relief work and urged local authorities time and again to ensure the injured are well attended to, to pay attention to people's psychological counseling, and make well-considered arrangements for the victims of the disaster and the consoling of the victims' family. The supply of daily necessities in the earthquake-hit areas should be guaranteed. Sound planning and solid work should be carried out to reconstruct the earthquake-hit areas so that people can resume normal life and production as soon as possible, Xi stressed.

On the morning of June 8, Xi paid a visit to Yongfeng Village of Taihe Town in Dongpo District, Meishan City, for an inspection tour. Relying on its paddy and rice industry and technological advantages, the village established the largest experimental base featuring new rice varieties and new technologies in the province. At a high standard paddy field base, Xi learned about the general development of the village and affirmed the village's continuous efforts in helping safeguard national food security by planting grains. Xi stressed that the Chengdu Plain has been lauded as a land of abundance since ancient times, that the area of farmland must be ensured and such a precious land for food production must be well protected. He also called for even greater efforts to bolster up grain production and build a higher-level "granary of heaven" in the new era.

Xi walked into the experimental field to take a closer look at the growth of the rice. Agricultural and technical staff members briefed the general secretary on the experimental paddy seed breeding and the promotion of planting. Xi pointed out that it was time consuming for cultivating improved varieties of rice as it required repeated experiments and selection, and all the country's scientific and technical workers in the agricultural sector have made arduous efforts. They have made invaluable contributions to safeguarding national food security and ensuring that the people enjoy ample supply of food and clothing. Xi added that advancing agricultural modernization requires efforts not only of experts but also those of all farmers, that the promotion and application of modern agricultural science and technologies and training of farmers must be strengthened, all big grain growers must be organized to actively develop green, ecological, and efficient agriculture. We have the confidence and determination to ensure the food supply for the Chinese people through our own efforts, Xi said.

Xi is very concerned about rural revitalization. He walked along the roads to take a look at the sewage treatment tanks in Yongfeng Village as well as its overall appearance. He also inspected a medical service center in the village to further learn about the improvement of villagers' living environment and the COVID-19 prevention and control work. Xi stressed that the villagers are concerned about health care the most after they have enough to eat and wear. The building of a rural health care system must be advanced to ensure that all the people in rural areas have access to basic medical services. He also called for efforts to build primary-level Party organizations well so that villagers can be united to further promote rural revitalization after bidding farewell to poverty.

Before waving goodbye to the villagers, Xi told them that as the country's ruling party, the CPC will further advance the building of socialism with Chinese characteristics step by step and spare no efforts to complete all the tasks related to people's well-being, so as to lead the people to a better life.

Located in downtown Meishan City, San Su Ci is the memorial temple and former residence of three literary masters, Su Xun and his two sons, Su Shi, who is also known as Su Dongpo, and Su Zhe. During his visit to the temple, Xi learned about the life experience, main literary achievements, and family precepts and traditions of the three masters, as well as the historical evolution of the temple and the research and inheritance of Dongpo culture.

Chinese civilization has a history of more than 5,000 years, and fine traditional Chinese culture should be honored and cultural confidence strengthened, Xi said. He highlighted that it is important to draw on ways of state governance from fine traditional Chinese culture and learn extensively from outstanding achievements of other civilizations.

China should neither keep to itself, nor regard all from foreign countries as criterion. It must adhere to the path of socialism with Chinese characteristics, Xi said.

Family traditions and education are the most precious wealth of a family and the best legacy for future generations. Xi called for more emphasis on family traditions and education and on cultivating a strong sentiment to love families and the motherland among future generations so that young people will strive to grow into talent who can contribute to the development of the country and the society. He urged that members of the CPC and officials, especially leading officials, must act in a clean manner, run their homes frugally, keep integrity, discipline themselves in performing their duties and their families, and develop fine family traditions of CPC members in the new era.

On the afternoon of June 8, Xi made an inspection tour of Yibin City. The Yangtze River, Jinsha River, and Minjiang River meet in the downtown area of Yibin, which presents a magnificent scene. Built on the riverside, Yibin is known as the first city on the Yangtze River. Years of efforts on environmental improvement have turned the banks of the three rivers into a beautiful waterfront park frequented by local people.

Looking far into the convergence of the three rivers at Sanjiangkou, Xi was briefed about the ecological restoration and protection of the Yangtze River basin and implementation of the fishing ban in the river.

Xi pointed out that protecting the ecological environment of the Yangtze River basin is key to driving high-quality development of the Yangtze River Economic Belt and preserving the region as the cradle of Chinese civilization. Since Sichuan is located in the upper reaches of the Yangtze River, he called for the local government to increase their awareness of the overall picture, develop a strong sense about the protection of the upstream reaches, implement the policy of well-coordinated environmental protection instead of excessive development, and keep the river water clean through sound ecological conservation.

Xi paid close attention to the employment of college graduates as their total number is estimated to reach a record high of 10.76 million this year, up 1.67 million year on year. He chose Yibin University as a stop, watching the exhibition of creative works of excellent graduate students and learning about how the university helped graduates find jobs and start their businesses. At a job fair held on campus, Xi talked with the faculty, students, and employers to learn more about what kind of employees were wanted and how the graduates fared in landing a job. Xi stressed that the Party Central Committee has attached great importance to the employment of university graduates and adopted a set of policies and measures. Noting that now is a key time for college graduates to get employed, Xi emphasized efforts to tap employment resources and provide pragmatic and careful guidance and services. He urged colleges, employers, and related authorities to make sure more graduates sign employment contracts, particularly those from families that have just shaken off poverty, families receiving minimum living allowances, and families without a bread-earner, as well as those who have disabilities or did not get employed long after graduation. Telling the students that a happy life is the result of one's own hard work, Xi urged them to look at their own abilities and the needs of society in a down-to-earth and objective manner, choose a profession and a job based on actual conditions, be diligent and pragmatic, and improve themselves step by step through actual work. He encouraged the students to consciously practice core socialist values and strive to achieve all-round development in terms of moral grounding, intellectual ability, physical vigor, aesthetic sensibility, and work skills.

The next stop Xi visited was XGIMI Optoelectronic Co., Ltd. Touring the company's exhibition hall and factory, he was briefed about the company's efforts in independent innovation, product R&D and marketing, and job creation. He also learned about how the local government has made efforts to support private businesses and issue policies to help industries, micro, small and medium enterprises, and self-employed individuals hit hard by COVID-19 to overcome difficulties. Xi stressed that we should advance scientific and technological innovation and foster more top-notch enterprises in all sectors so that we will have more "hidden champions" and form clusters of scientific and technological innovators.

In the square outside the factory, Xi chatted with the company's employees. He stressed that as a major manufacturer, China should strive to improve its innovation capabilities and accelerate its transformation to a country strong in manufacturing. Noting that to become a country with improved composite strength means China should be strong in all fields and aspects, Xi said that to build a modern socialist country in all respects and realize national rejuvenation, the future is bright but the path leading to it can be tortuous. Facing dangerous rapids and shoals, we should be brave to meet risks and challenges. There is no such thing as a windfall, and progress will have to be achieved through our joint efforts. Most of you were born in the 1980s and 1990s, now is the right time for you to strive with aspiration, a sense of responsibility, and diligence, Xi said. By the middle of this century when a great modern socialist country in all respects is realized, we all will be proud of doing our bit in building a strong country and fulfilling the Chinese Dream.

On his inspection tour, Xi pointed out that all local governments and relevant departments must resolutely implement the decisions and arrangements of the CPC Central Committee. Xi required that, abiding by the principle of making progress while maintaining stability, they should do a good job in all areas of reform, development and stability, with a view to maintaining a stable and healthy economic environment, a peaceful social environment, and a clean and righteous political environment, and thus create a good atmosphere for the convening of the 20th National Congress of the CPC.

Xi called on all local governments and departments to do a good job in coordinating epidemic prevention and control with economic and social development, and resolutely overcome challenges currently in the way of economic development. He emphasized that efforts must be made to create jobs, guarantee social security, and provide aid for people living in difficulties. Work in all areas must be done well to make people feel reassured and therefore social stability is secured, Xi said.

Perseverance makes the difference, and the country's dynamic zero-COVID approach must be unswervingly continued, Xi said. He required that people must have confidence, clear up all obstructions, and never slacken vigilance to ensure key links are consolidated in the control and prevention work, and thus what the country has achieved in its response to the epidemic can be consolidated.

Speaking of recent floods and geological disasters that occurred in some parts of China, Xi called for early contingency preparations by all localities and relevant departments to preempt major floods and other natural disasters and get well prepared for disaster relief. All localities and departments are urged to strengthen disaster prevention capabilities in order to safeguard people's lives and property.

Overall planning and coordination must be strengthened to make sure that hidden dangers of natural disasters can be detected in advance through careful patrol and inspection, Xi stressed. Xi also called for the protection of important infrastructure works, improved early forecast and warning of rainfall, typhoons, mountain torrents, and debris flows, as well as redoubled efforts to guarantee smooth traffic flow, and meticulous and down-to-earth measures for flood control and disaster relief.

He required that swift rescue efforts must be made immediately after disasters to strictly prevent secondary disasters and reduce casualties and loss of property to the minimum. He called for efforts to resume production and people's normal life as soon as possible while doing a good job in rescue and disaster relief. He also called for a good job in providing support and aid to people affected by disasters, maintaining sanitation, and preventing epidemic from happening after natural disasters, so as to avert relapses into poverty as a result of disasters.

Ding Xuexiang, Liu He, Chen Xi, He Lifeng, and some other officials of the central authorities are also on the inspection tour.

On the morning of June 9, Xi met with the military officers above senior colonel level and major commanders of regiments in Chengdu. On behalf of the CPC Central Committee and the Central Military Commission, he extended sincere greetings to all the officers and troops stationed in Chengdu and had a group photo with them. Xu Qiliang was present at the meeting.

(Web editor: Zhong Wenxing, Bianji)
LONDON, June 11 (Xinhua) -- An expert virologist reinforced the need to avoid intimate contact Saturday as the number of Monkeypox cases in Britain reached 366.

UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) published its first technical briefing Friday on the ongoing Monkeypox outbreak following detailed interviews with patients which are helping health experts to understand transmission and to determine how to target interventions.

Professor Paul Hunter of the University of East Anglia told Xinhua Saturday the briefing by the UKHSA highlighted the risks of the disease being spread.

"Transmission of Monkeypox seems to be almost exclusively being transmitted by close and intimate contact," Hunter said, "so people should avoid contact with people who could be infected, especially if they have a rash."

In its end of week update UKHSA said a further 43 additional cases of Monkeypox in England, one additional case in Scotland and one additional case in Wales have been identified. It brought to 366 the total number confirmed of cases in Britain as of June 9.

There are currently 348 confirmed cases in England, 12 in Scotland, two in Northern Ireland and four in Wales.

The agency said of the cases interviewed, 81 percent were known to be London residents and 99 percent were male. The average age of confirmed cases in Britain is 38 years old.

In the exercise 151 of the 152 men interviewed identified as gay, bisexual, or men who have sex with men, or reported same sex contact. Recent foreign travel, within 21 days prior to symptom onset, was reported by 75 cases, with 59 reporting travel within Europe.

Dr Meera Chand, director of clinical and emerging infections at UKHSA, said: "We are working, both in the UK and together with global partners, to progress the investigations that we need to help us better understand the virus, its transmission and the best use of mitigations such as vaccines and treatments."

In Britain people are being told to contact a sexual health clinic if they have a rash with blisters and if they have been in close contact, including sexual contact, with someone who has or might have monkeypox, even if they've not been tested yet.

Earlier this week the British government used legislation to make Monkeypox a notifiable disease, requiring doctors to inform health authorities if they diagnose any cases. 
IPL 2023-2027: Who has the upper hand in winning the media rights?

Yet another successful edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) concluded a few days back. The 2022 edition of the tournament had a lot of excitement  being held in India after two years of being held in the UAE, spectators being allowed back in the stadiums, and addition of two new teams  incidentally, one of these two new teams, Gujarat Titans, went on to win the IPL 2022 trophy.

Govt clamps down on surrogate ads; issues new guidelines to prevent misleading ads

Click here to attend IMAGEXX 2022

The Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution has issued fresh set of guidelines for the prevention of false or misleading advertisements and making endorsements relating thereto.

Cannes Lions 2022: Ogilvy Mumbai, Dentsu Webchutney, VMLY&R win shortlists

India has secured two shortlists in Titanium Lions  Ogilvy Mumbai for its work, titled Shah Rukh Khan - My Ad, done for Cadbury Celebrations, and Dentsu Webchutney Bangalore for its work, titled The Unfiltered History Tour, done for Vice Media (British Museum). In the Innovation Lions category, VMLY&R Commerce India, Mumbais entry, titled The Killer Pack, done for Maxx Flash, has been shortlisted.

Cannes Lions 2022: VMLY&R & BBDO India score one shortlist each in Glass Lions

After securing three shortlists in Titanium and Innovation categories at Cannes Lions, Indian agencies have scored two more shortlists, this time in Glass Lions. So far, India has bagged five shortlists.

Can Indian streamers take on piracy? Legal experts break down the challenges - Part 1

OTT platforms in India seem to have finally woken up to the pestering scourge of streaming piracy. Fed up with the plague of illegal streaming of its content, Disney-Star last week filed an FIR with the Bengaluru cyber police against piracy platforms such as TamilMV, Tamilrockers, etc. The million-dollar question is: What is the likelihood of a legal conviction in this case?

The key to ending piracy: Join industry action and strong legislation  Part 2

Ending piracy once and for all is like being able to put an end to shoplifting. What can be feasible, and plausible in the current circumstances, is for the various stakeholders to come together and fight at all fronts.

NTO 2.0 will have a negative impact on subs revenue

NTO 2.0, if implemented, will have a negative impact on subs revenue over the medium term with little scope for ARPU growth; in terms of subscriber addition too, there are challenges as consumer moves away from TV (lower time spent or reduced channel subscription) which in turn will have a negative for overall subs revenue for broadcasters, says Karan Taurani, Senior Analyst, Elara Capital.

Broadcasters urge TRAI to liberalise tariffs, lift bundling limitations

The Indian Broadcasting and Digital Foundation (IBDF) has requested the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) to liberalise broadcast tariffs and lift channel bundling limitations.

Regulatory micromanagement has made PayTV uncompetitive: DTH body to TRAI

Regulatory micromanagement has single-headedly led to making the PayTV industry stagnant and uncompetitive, the DTH Association has pointed out, in its letter to the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) on its consultation paper on Issues related to New Regulatory Framework for Broadcasting and Cable Services.

Gender portrayal in Indian ads: Advertisers cannot hide behind ground reality excuse

The furor over the latest ads of deo brand Layerr Shot in the last few days has once again brought into sharp focus gender depiction in Indian ads. The ads, which have been made by Layerr Shots in-house team, have been slammed for promoting rape culture. The Ministry of Information & Broadcasting and ASCI have ordered this offending ad to be pulled down.

The Layerr Shot ad and why such ads continue to be made

This weekend saw a huge furore on social media over the latest ads by deo brand Layerr Shot, which a majority said promoted rape culture. The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting and the Advertising Standards Council of India (ASCI) took swift action against the offending ad and ordered it to be taken down Twitter, YouTube and other social media sites. The ad has been made by the brand's in-house team.

5G will enable the ad industry to power new forms of immersive ad experiences

In an exclusive interview with Adgully, Ruchika Batra, Vice President, Marketing & Communications, Ericsson, elaborates on the emergence of 5G influencing technical giants, challenges and opportunities in India, key milestones achieved by Ericsson, the enormous potential for 5G in gaming, and more.

There is increasing demand for home-grown, niche PR firms: Abhilasha Padhy

In conversation with Adgully, Abhilasha Padhy, Co-founder and Joint Managing Director, 80dB, speaks about the changing dynamics of client-agency relationship in the PR industry, mantras for a successful reputation management strategy, managing brand reputation in todays market ecosystem, and more.

We will never display ads on our websites & our platforms will always be free to use

In conversation with Adgully, Khanyi Mpumlwana, Creative Director, Wikimedia Foundation, shares the objective behind the campaign, Gen Z preference and behaviour, collaboration with influencers and many more.

Fragmented media scenario is a great catalyst to rewire comms in real-time: Upasna Dash

In conversation with Adgully, Upasna Dash, CEO, Jajabor Brand Consultancy, speaks at length about the challenges and opportunities for PR with the rise of social media, how Jajabor is creating synergy & balance, and much more.

Modern-day PR is multi-dimensional & more channel-specific: Pranav Kumar

In conversation with Adgully, Pranav Kumar, Managing Director - India, Allison+Partners, speaks at length about the change in PR with organisations transitioning to digital, how the pandemic has shifted consumer behaviour and much more.

Social media & PR are interwoven & an opportunity to streamline all messaging

In conversation with Adgully, Komal Lath, Founder, Tute Consult, speaks at length about the effective use of social media in PR, challenges to upskill current teams, monitoring crisis and much more.

97-98% of the people in India are budget travellers: Jitin Bhatia, Explurger

In conversation with Adgully, Jitin Bhatia, Founder & CEO, Explurger, speaks about the marketing strategy, bringing on board Sonu Sood, collaborations with national and international players, and more.

Public Relations in the future  The shape of things to come

Public Relations had to struggle for both respectability and clarity of purpose in the early years. The PR business was seen has merely pushing press releases in the early 80s. In fact, the wings to the PR business to fly high was set rolling when the World Public Relations Congress was held in Mumbai in 1982, which was organised by the Public Relations Society of India, where the industry had to opportunity to witness a galaxy of speakers.

TRAI defers date for NTO 2.0 implementation to November 30

The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has deferred the date for the implementation of the new tariff regime to November 30, 2022.

Smriti Irani releases ASCIs guidelines on harmful gender stereotypes

The Advertising Standards Council of India (ASCI) has followed up the successful launch of its GenderNext report in October 2021, a study by ASCI and Futurebrands, with the release of guidelines that guard against harmful gender stereotypes.

Shashi Shekhar Vempati leaves Prasar Bharati after five-year term

Shashi Shekhar Vempatis five-year-old tenure as the CEO of Prasar Bharati has ended. Vempati was the youngest and first non-bureaucrat to join as the CEO of Prasar Bharati. An alumnus of IIT-Bombay, he joined Prasar Bharati in June 2017.

To bridge measurement gap, GroupM is testing iSpot, Comscore, Videoamp

As the media ecosystem evolves from linear to cross-platform, buyers and sellers are seeking to bridge the measurement gap. Following an Upfront season that lacked significant conversation about measurement, GroupM has developed a roadmap for audience measurement partners to drive the industry towards improved measurement standards.

India to lead growth in ad market with 21% expansion in 2022: Zenith

Global advertising expenditure is forecast to grow 8.0% in 2022, according to Zeniths latest Advertising Expenditure Forecasts report, published today. This represents a minor downgrade from the 9.1% growth rateZenith published in December 2021.

Haldiram Snacks starts its search for a creative agency

Leading Indian sweets and snacks maker Haldiram Snacks Pvt Ltd is welcoming pitches from creative agencies in its first-ever such move. The F&B leader is looking to onboard an agency that works hand-in-hand with its marketing goals.

ISA campaigns for ratings

With several news broadcasters threatening to leave Broadcasters Audience Research Audience (BARC) India, the Indian Society of Advertisers (ISA) has issued a warning to its members urging them to make informed decisions about running advertisements on such platforms.
Almost 15 years ago, Age of Autism posted its first article about vaccines and the autism epidemic. Today, thousands of posts and hundreds of thousands of comments and a million tears later, we're still helping sound the alarm that vaccination choice is a civil, medical and moral right. Once the Covid vaccines are approved for babies and toddlers, they are likely to end up on the pediatric schedule with protection from liability and little chance for the average parent to decline. Imagine yearly boosters, and playing Russian Roulette with myocarditis. If it's required for day care, school, camps, well, parents will comply to make childhood a little smoother. Smoother. We know better. We've learned the hard way. Children's Health Defense has a tightly organized call to action asking all of us to tell the FDA - NO. Below is an excerpt and link. Please click over to see how you can spread the word to your loved ones, friends, colleagues and and social media followers who might unfriend and unfollow you. Next week is critical.



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Watch Mary Holland explain in a brief video.



Action Alert: Tell the FDA to Get Their #HandsOffOurChildren

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is declaring war on our children and its on each of us to be unrelenting as we defend the next generation from Big Pharma and its allies. We must stop the FDAs attack, beginning with a campaign to end unethical and unsubstantiated Emergency Use Authorizations (EUA) that will subject our younger and most vulnerable children to the unnecessary risks of COVID shots.

Take Action: Tell the FDA No EUA of COVID Shots for Babies and Children

The FDAs Vaccines and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee (VRBPAC) is scheduled to meet on four separate occasions in June to discuss additional EUAs that would provide cradle-to-grave COVID shots and consider a Future Framework that will permanently lower the bar for safety and efficacy going forward.

Their itinerary is as follows:
MOSCOW, June 10 (Xinhua) -- Russian President Vladimir Putin and visiting Turkmen President Serdar Berdimuhamedov signed the Declaration on Deepening Strategic Partnership here on Friday.

The document published by the Kremlin sets out the priorities for future Russia-Turkmenistan cooperation in the political, trade and investment, cultural and humanitarian, and security fields.

In addition to the declaration, 14 other documents were also signed during Berdimuhamedov's official visit to Russia, his first foreign trip after the inauguration as the Turkmen president in March.

After their talks in the Kremlin, Putin told a briefing that the meeting with Berdimuhamedov took place in a friendly atmosphere, underlining "the truly partnership and mutually beneficial nature of cooperation between Russia and Turkmenistan."

Putin presented the Order of Friendship to Berdimuhamedov "for his great contribution to strengthening the strategic partnership between the two countries." 
On Sunday, June 5, two friends and I witnessed the absurdity of the California election process at the Orange County Registrar of Voters (ROV) facility in Santa Ana. As public observers, which anyone can do, we watched the ludicrous process that basically empowers temporary workers to become what can best be called signature experts. These workers have immense authority in determining which ballots are valid and which might be fraudulent.

Third-world countries would probably reject the way ballot signatures are verified in Orange County.

The (mostly temp) ROV workers sit at computers comparing primary ballot signatures to registration signatures. About ten feet behind each worker, observers watch what they are doing on large monitors.

What my friends and I observed were ROV signature experts quickly reviewing eight signatures in approximately five seconds: four primary ballot signatures and four registration signatures.

Could you continually review eight signatures every five seconds?

When observers see a discrepancy between a ballot signature and a registration signature, they can do nothing! They cannot ask the ROV temp workers to re-examine the signature they had just verified. They cannot write down the voters name for an ROV staff member to later review.

The only thing observers can do is stand like statues i.e., quietly observing the process. (Observing the fraud?)

In our short time observing, most signatures were easily matched. However, there were still too many questionable signatures that, in our opinion, required a secondary assessment to determine if the person who signed the primary ballot is the same person who signed the voter registration form.

The ROV supervisor didnt appear to care that we saw numerous questionable signatures. After all, this is California and election integrity makes as much sense in the Golden State as Joe Biden talking to Corn Pop.

Speaking through her N-95 mask, the supervisor stressed that our role was solely to observe the process. (Observe the fraud?) Handing us small index card-size forms, we were told to detail what we had observed.

Image: Election Observer Guidelines Handbook by Robin M. Itzler.

After noting her observations Shelley H. of Westminster claimed:

Four to five seconds is not sufficient time to view the signatures and many irregularities were missed. On one ballot, the letter L was completely different as compared to the registration signature and still the primary ballot signature was verified.

Susan S. of Rancho Santa Margarita wrote down her observations and later shared:

Our election systems are outdated. There are too many vulnerabilities with mail-in ballots as the signature matching process at the ROV showed many suspect ballots. With all the technology now, we should have developed a new way to secure our vote.

One wonders if all the cards outlining issues observers witnessed at the Orange County ROV were tossed in a box for shredding.

Deborah Pauly, J.D., president of Conservative Patriots of Orange County (CPOC), said,

Elections in Orange County are ripe for fraud and the points of entry are myriad: dirty voter rolls, hackable and manipulable voting machines, lack of adequate signature verification, official drop boxes placed in dark secluded and unmonitored locations, ballot harvesting by coercion, ballots lost in the mail or mailed in from who knows where since there is no way to track custody through the U.S. Postal Service.

CPOC, which I am active in, is committed to improving the election process in the county. Pauly added,

Local officials say there is no problem here, but Orange County is not immune to election fraud. In fact, the more we have been talking about this, the more people we have coming forward with their own stories.

James Peters, CLU, ChFC, who has a successful financial planning firm in Irvine, knows the importance of accuracy. As CPOCs election integrity committee chairman, he has been an Orange County ROV observer on numerous occasions. Peters stressed that onsite problems start with supervisors who are not watching workers but are busy handling their own tasks.

Based on what we have seen, the Orange County ROV primary goal is to quickly count ballots. Signature accuracy is not as important. Our observers have seen signature verifiers missing scores of invalid signatures. The same happens at replication tables, which has ballots that were rejected by the scanner. When observers have objected to signatures, ROV does not go back to check.

Peters goes on to explain the foolishness of having observers observe potential fraud in real-time and then have Orange County ROV supervisors ignore the complaints.

Ballots are separated from envelopes. Since the ROV worker is the only one who can challenge a bad signature and assume they do so, how do they pull that ballot when it has been separated from the envelope? It is a perfect crime.

Peters has no confidence in the Orange County ROV.

There is 100% certainty in my mind that they are not catching the ballot traffickers who are faking signatures and the people who did a poor job of filling out their ballots are not having their intention to vote carried out.

Added Pauly,

We have to wonder why those with the fiduciary duty to oversee that elections are fair and free of fraudulent activity are not taking the complaints as serious threats to the integrity of process worthy of investigation. CPOC will stay on top of this issue until we are satisfied the election integrity has been restored in our backyard.

Mentioning my own experience to a friend who has observed past elections at the Orange County ROV, Mollie L. of Laguna Niguel (soon to be of Texas) said,

I did ballot observation at the Orange County Registrar of Voters in 2016, 2018 and 2020, and saw more obvious fraud and mismanagement than I could ever report.

Arguably, this entire issue related to verifying signatures could be remedied by voting in person and requiring voter identification to receive the ballot (with exceptions for the military and a few other situations). Then there would be no need to hire temp workers to act as unreliable signature experts.

Californians who believe in the sanctity of Americas one person/one vote election system are angered at the states Democrat leadership and liberal citizenry embrace of mail-in ballots, ballot harvesting, unsecured lockboxes, and top two open primaries. Together it makes a mockery of the election process.

Once high on the list of states envied throughout the nation, California is now low on both water and election integrity.

Robin Itzler can be reached at PatriotNeighbors@yahoo.com.
Thursday evening's disgraceful spectacle concocted by congressional Democrats and the media will go down in history -- but not in the way they intended.

Far from shocking Americans with new testimony from a visibly terrified Ivanka Trump or a know-nothing Capitol police officer who described the Jan. 6 confrontations as a war scene, which it most certainly was not, Thursday's spectacle only reinforced the national divide between Trump supporters and the Democrats and the media elites.

Even Democrat strategists and media commentators admit that the hearings are not aimed at changing public opinion. "Instead, the committee's work is most clearly aimed at the top brass at the Department of Justice who will decide whether to bring charges against Trump and members of his inner circle," Jonathan Allen wrote in a commentary for NBC News.

That in itself should be enough to terrify any American who lived through the Cold War, or who read Kafka in high school or college.

We have entered an era of show trials, just like the extravaganzas produced by Soviet dictator Joseph Stalin in the 1930s.

The goal of the show trial is to intimidate and to deflect. In this case, the Democrats want to intimidate Donald Trump and his supporters, by threatening them with prosecution on charges of sedition for allegedly planning, encouraging, and supporting the rioters. (This is undoubtedly why Ivanka Trump looked like a deer in the headlights in the 16 second video clip of her testimony Rep. Liz Cheney aired at the hearing on a giant screen above the committee members' heads).

The deflection piece is what the Democrats don't want you to see, and have been desperately trying to keep Americans from looking at since November 3, 2020.

From the beginning, they used the phrase the "Big Lie," a term introduced by Hitler's propaganda chief, Josef Goebbels, to describe efforts by President Trump to call attention to rampant evidence of election irregularities. You cannot read or watch elite media news coverage of the election that doesn't refer to "Trump's unproven lies" about the election.

But the more the American people looked, the more they believed President Trump and their lying eyes. How was it, in the most tech-savvy country in the world, that most of us went to bed at midnight on election night with TV images of unassailable Trump margins of victory in all five swing states with 98% of the vote counted, and woke up the next morning to see those margins had collapsed and somehow only 92% or 94% percent of the votes had now been counted?

In the months between the election and January 6, we saw dozens of lawsuits filed in these swing states, with thousands of eyewitness affidavits, filed upon penalty of criminal perjury, describing clear-cut violations of election law, and all of them were dismissed. As I wrote at the time, it made many Americans lose faith in our system of justice.

By the time January 6 rolled around, Americans were angry, frustrated, and disillusioned. They believed they had been swindled out of their vote and their president, but they didn't know what to do about it. Indeed, our system had failed the people it was designed to protect.

Because Americans would not -- and will not -- let go of their belief that the 2020 election was stolen no matter how much the elite media pounded them with lies, Congressional Democrats impeached President Trump a second time after he left office.

But even that wasn't enough. Trump just wouldn't go away, and neither would his supporters. So the congressional Democrats needed to go long. They created a Select Committee, and endowed it with unconstitutional police powers to intimidate Trump insiders such as Peter Navarro, hauling him off a plane and clamping him in leg irons, even though he had been discussing with FBI officers how to present testimony to the Committee while upholding executive privilege.

Three new high-profile documents are driving the Democrats insane and encouraging them and the Trump-hating Republicans to double down with the Jan. 6 hearings.

On April 6, former Trump advisor and Citizens United chairman David Bossie released Rigged, an expose of how Mark Zuckerberg purchased a vast ballot harvesting bureacracy for $450 million.

One month later, thanks to a phenomenal investigation by True the Vote, Dinesh D'Souza released 2000 Mules, which showed the Zuckerberg money in action, stuffing ballot drop boxes in key swing districts across America.

Just days later, former Michigan state senator Patrick Colbeck released The 2020 Coup, which examined the structural flaws of America's decentralized elections systems, how they could be manipulated, and then matched that to events he and others had witnessed on the ground and presented before various courts across the country.

Colbeck described "ballot shaving," a process of manipulating the votes by a small margin so not to attract attention or trigger an audit. I showed how this process worked in my August 2020 novel, The Election Heist, which predicted many of the schemes that actually happened in the 2020 election.

Colbeck argues that Americans will only learn the truth -- and begin to heal the deep divisions caused by the theft of the 2020 elections -- if county sheriffs and other judicial authorities conduct full forensic investigations of the election.

In the meantime, whenever you hear that a county or state supervisor of elections has filed suit to prevent the release of election records, or has destroyed those records before the 22 months they are required by federal statute to retain them, understand that you have just witnessed an accessory to election fraud.

The Democrats knew Trump was going to win an overwhelming victory on November 3, 2020, and conceived an intricate, nationwide plan to steal that victory -- not by turning out new voters, but by fabricating them and, when they didn't have enough, by introducing vote-splicing algorithms into election tabulators on election night. They even boasted of their effort after the fact.

Now, with the Jan. 6 Committee, they are hoping to complete the cover-up. I predict they will fail -- because the American people have already seen through them. But in the meantime, it could get very ugly.

Ken Timmermans 12th book of non-fiction, And the Rest is History: Tales of Hostages, Arms Dealers, Dirty Tricks, and Spies, will be released by Post Hill Press on Aug. 31. His website is kentimmerman.com

Image: Gary Stockbridge
It must have been a whirlwind last few days for Ilya Shapiro, from his reinstatement as head of the Georgetown University Law Center, on Thursday, June 2, after a more than four-month investigation launched by Georgetown Law School, to his resignation from the school, on Monday, June 6, to the news that he joined the Manhattan Institute as senior fellow and director of constitutional studies.

Georgetown investigated Shapiro after he tweeted on January 23, 2022 that Sri Srinivasan, chief judge of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit, would be President Biden's "best pick" for the Supreme Court. He continued: "[Srinivasan e]ven has identity politics benefit of being first Asian (Indian) American. But alas doesn't fit into latest intersectionality hierarchy so we'll get lesser black woman."

Ilya Shapiro's "lesser black woman" tweet gained wide attention on Twitter and within the Georgetown community and led Georgetown Law dean William Treanor to send an email denouncing the tweet as "appalling" and "at odds with everything we stand for at Georgetown Law." Georgetown's Black Law Students Association also called for Shapiro to be fired, the Washington Post reported.

Shapiro deleted the tweet within hours, calling it "poorly worded" and "inartful." But, as the report submitted by Georgetown to the dean's office on June 2 shows, contrition can empower the mob rather than placate it. In fact, that apology was framed as evidence of guilt: Shapiro's "plain words not only explicitly identified the race, sex, and gender of a group of individuals," the report said, "but also categorized Black women as 'lesser.' Though [Shapiro] did not himself describe his comments as offensive or acknowledge that his comments could reasonably be interpreted to denigrate individuals, he promptly removed the tweet and apologized after others expressed their criticism." Besides, the 10-page report suggests that the university faced tremendous pressure to ostracize Shapiro. A "lot of faculty" expressed "deep concern" and "outrage" about Shapiro's tweet, as did several administrators, who said they would "not participate in any program or activity" involving him. It would be "disruptive," they told the diversity office, if Shapiro were "physically present" on campus.

Yet Georgetown reinstated Shapiro, saying university policies did not apply to him when he tweeted on Jan. 26, as his employment was to begin Feb. 1. In other words, he was cleared in the 122-day investigation only on a technicality. A bit too much to take in.

"After full consideration of the report I received ... from the Office of Institutional Diversity, Equity and Affirmative Action, or IDEAA, and on consultation with counsel and trusted advisers, I concluded that remaining in my job was untenable," Shapiro wrote in a Wall Street Journal op-ed explaining his decision. "I would have to be constantly walking on eggshells," he told the New York Times.

Shapiro also argued that inflammatory tweets that reflected the prevailing orthodoxy were not punished, citing law professor Josh Chafetz, who last month tweeted: "The 'protest at the Supreme Court, not at the justices' houses' line would be more persuasive if the Court hadn't this week erected fencing to prevent protesters from coming anywhere near it." "When the mob is right," he added, "some (but not all!) more aggressive tactics are justified." Later, he taunted that the school was "not going to fire me over a tweet you don't like." And he was right.

Shapiro also cited Carol Christine Fair, a professor in the School of Foreign Service who in 2018 tweeted during Justice Brett Kavanaugh's confirmation process about a "chorus of entitled white men justifying a serial rapist's arrogated entitlement." "All of them deserve miserable deaths," she continued, "while feminists laugh as they take their last gasps. Bonus: we castrate their corpses and feed them to swine? Yes." Georgetown held this to be protected speech.

Here is how Shapiro concludes his WSJ op-ed:

It's all well and good to adopt strong free-speech policies, but it's not enough if university administrators aren't willing to stand up to those who demand censorship. And the problem isn't limited to cowardly administrators. Proliferating IDEAA-style offices enforce an orthodoxy that stifles intellectual diversity, undermines equal opportunity, and excludes dissenting voices. Even the dean of an elite law school bucks these bureaucrats at his peril. What Georgetown subjected me to, what it would be subjecting me to if I stayed, is a heckler's veto that leads to a Star Chamber. 'Live not by lies,' warned Aleksander Solzhenitsyn. 'Let the lie come into the world, let it even triumph. But not through me.' I won't live this way.

For the record, the above is the second case in two weeks of faculty leaving a high-profile university amid a speech dispute. Last month, Princeton University's Board of Trustees fired classics professor Joshua Katz, claiming that he had "failed to be straightforward" during a 2018 investigation into a relationship between Katz and an undergraduate student. But many conservative activists claimed that the firing was motivated by Katz's criticism of Princeton's "anti-racism" initiatives. In a 2020 article for the online journal Quillette, Katz criticized a faculty letter stating that "[a]nti-Blackness is foundational to America" and referred to a student group called the Black Justice League as "a small local terrorist organization that made life miserable for the many (including the many black students) who did not agree with its members' demands."

Ilya Shapiro, a Princeton alumnus, had been one of Dr. Katz's supporters. Writing in National Review after Dr. Katz was fired, he said, "The firing of Joshua Katz shows that Princeton no longer stands for tolerance, respect, good faith, and excellence."

Samuel Robert Piccoli is a blogger and the author of the books Being Conservative from A to Z (2014) and Blessed Are the Free in Spirit (2021). He is Italian and lives in the Venice area.

Image: Phil Roeder, via Flickr // CC BY 2.0
The Gooblets (GBLT...Gooblets, right?) are celebrating this month and call us hateful if we don't celebrate with them. The Gooblets are legends in their own minds. They want to indoctrinate our sons and daughters. Public school faculties are full of Gooblets.

The Gooblets claim to be persecuted as they bully all who question their claims. They could not find affirmation through legislation, but they did find it in leftist courts. The Gooblets claim they are another repressed minority, but other repressed minorities express doubt.

The Gooblets lie a lot. They lie about their numbers. The Gooblets say they are the way they are because God made them the way they are. The Gooblets claim that the Bible contains hate speech and is misunderstood. The Bible says their behaviors are evil (Lev. 18:22, Rom. 1:27, 1 Cor. 6:9-10), but the Gooblets say those behaviors are good. They claim to be happy, but mental health statistics paint a very different picture.

The Gooblets are powerful. They own Hollywood. They control corporate media. Wall Street sings their praises. They dominate the leadership of public schools.

The Gooblets exude hubris. They have bullied their way into our culture, believing they will convert all of us to their way of thinking. The Gooblets have split the Presbyterians, and now they are breaking up the Methodists.

Gooblets are thieves. They steal innocence from the young. They stole a word associated with happiness and corrupted its meaning. They stole a biblical sign of God's promise and twisted it into something wicked.



Image: Pride flag and notebook (edited) by freepik.

Gooblets claim they are harmless. Is that why so many men fear going to prison? Remember The Shawshank Redemption? Is that why heterosexual priests are warned to lock their doors and make sure they are secure at night?

Gooblets think they are intellectually superior to the rest of us because they are so open-minded. They are so intellectually advanced that they think their well known promiscuity compels the rest of us to pay our tax dollars to develop drugs to make their sexual recklessness safe. Their dangerous sexual practices invite premature death.

Gooblets have a problem with God. They blame God for cursing them with their unnatural appetites. Therefore, they refuse to acknowledge that they are sinners like the rest of us. There are all kinds of sexual sins, like bestiality, incest, homosexuality, adultery, fornication, sexual assault, and rape. Gooblets claim they are exempt from criminality or judgment because they claim that God made them the way they are. They have no studies to back up this claim, but remember what Josef Goebbels once said: "If you tell a lie big enough and keep repeating it, people will eventually come to believe it."

General Lee and his army marched to Gettysburg in July 1863, convinced they were unbeatable. Hubris did them in. As the Good Book says, "Pride goes before destruction." God calls us to repent, not to take white-out to His laws. Gooblets, be not proud.

Norm L. Guy is a pseudonym.
Contrary to shilled up "popular opinion" by CNN, ABC, and PMSNBC, not everyone in California, the USA, North America, the world, or the Milky Way Galaxy believes that blaming the NRA or banning all firearms, ice picks, and knives will make humanity safer.

The statistical debate about whether privately owned weapons prevent or deter violent crime has been raging for years, but interviews with convicted felons indicate their reluctance to conduct a home invasion, murder, robbery, or rape if the homeowner is armed.

"Tough Targets: When Criminals Face Armed Resistance From Citizens," a 66-page page article published by the Cato Institute (not exactly a complicit member of the Vast Right-Wing Conspiracy), offers some interesting insight from criminals who were interrupted on the wrong side of the barrel. Both the Heritage Foundation and the Cato Institute have fact-rich compilations about a gun's deterrent effects.

The bottom line is that Americans use firearms between 500,000 and 3 million times each year to defend themselves and their loved ones. Most of these episodes are never reported to law enforcement.

Additionally, an inconvenient truth is that celebrities and politicians, with armed personal bodyguards, have no clue about, or respect for, the real-world hazards non-elites face daily and, therefore, why we value our Second Amendment right to self-defense.



Image: Woman firing gun. Pixabay license.

Recent marketing data indicate that sales of guns to Black men and women in 2021 increased by 58% over the first six months of 2022. Bureaucrats don't seem to have figured out that, in a scary world, people see a gun, not as their best offensive weapon, but as their best defensive weapon.

As Seneca the Younger (4 B.C.65 A.D.) put it, "a sword never kills anybody; it is a tool in the killer's hand." Certainly, firearms in the wrong hands (and minds) are dangerous tools, not at all different from an automobile.

Liberals ignore that some of America's fastest and most accurate shooters are not necessarily in the military or law enforcement, but are 12-, 14-, and 16-year-olds who participate in competitive trigger sports, hunting, scouting, Olympic, and NRA junior marksmanship programs. Ask your local newspaper editor if they know anything about organizations such as IDPA, IPSC, Falling Plates, Skeet, Trap, Steel Challenge, Cowboy Action, and similar sanctioned events held at local ranges across the country.

While you're at it, ask your local TV/radio stations and online news outlets to investigate the number of gun injuries or deaths that have occurred at the past 25 NRA conventions. With thousands of strangers congregating and carrying loaded (frequently concealed) firearms, injuries must surely be a nightmare for hospital emergency rooms (not!).

The tragedy of any school shooting brings forth raw pain and demands for immediate action. But before jumping on the "woke" bandwagon, remember what Darrell Scott, whose daughter Rachel died at Columbine, had to say to a House sub-committee:

Since the dawn of creation there has been both good & evil in the hearts of men and women. We all contain the seeds of kindness or the seeds of violence. The death of my wonderful daughter, Rachel Joy Scott, and the deaths of that heroic teacher, and the other eleven children who died must not be in vain. Their blood cries out for answers. The first recorded act of violence was when Cain slew his brother Abel out in the field. The villain was not the club he used. Neither was it the NCA, the National Club Association. The true killer was Cain, and the reason for the murder could only be found in Cain's heart. "In the days that followed the Columbine tragedy, I was amazed at how quickly fingers began to be pointed at groups such as the NRA. I am not a member of the NRA. I am not a hunter. I do not even own a gun. I am not here to represent or defend the NRA  because I don't believe that they are responsible for my daughter's death. Therefore, I do not believe that they need to be defended. If I believed they had anything to do with Rachel's murder I would be their strongest opponent. I am here today to declare that Columbine was not just a tragedy-it was a spiritual event that should be forcing us to look at where the real blame lies! Much of the blame lies here in this room. [snip] We do not need more restrictive laws. Eric and Dylan would not have been stopped by metal detectors. No amount of gun laws can stop someone who spends months planning this type of massacre. The real villain lies within our own hearts.

Read the rest of his moving, powerful statement here.

As Mr. Scott suggests, there may be better ways to solve the problem of unpredictable, violent, aberrant human behavior than violating an absolute (yes, Mr. Biden, an absolute constitutional right) or by punishing those who've never committed a crime.

Lucretia Hughes Klucken understands:
PARIS, June 11 (Xinhua) -- Justin Astruc, 24, is a victim of needle spiking -- a syringe attack in which the victims are being injected against their will.

Astruc, a student in Rennes in western France, told Xinhua that he was spiked while attending a concert on May 21 in Rennes. He was standing in the "pit," the area closest to the stage, when an unknown substance was injected into his thigh.

"At the concert, everything was going well. Two days later, while I was in the shower, I realized I had a strange mark on my thigh. I had seen pictures on social media and I straight away realized that there was a problem. I compared the mark with the pictures and they matched," he recalled.

Astruc said that to his surprise he did not feel anything during the concert.

Since February, several cases of needle spiking have been reported in nightclubs, concerts and music festivals across France.

French television BFMTV has reported 319 such cases in nightclubs alone. Police complaints have been filed by 275 victims.

Men and women can equally fall victim to needle spiking, and -- according to social media -- people have been spiked in different parts of the body.

On social media, French nightclub and bar victims relate their stories using the hashtag "call on your bar," Leila Chaouachi, a pharmacist at the Addictovigilance Center in Paris, told Xinhua.

"The needle spiking phenomena started in Britain in September 2021 before being observed in France," she said.

In France, "we know little about this phenomenon, what kind of needles are being used, whether they are followed by injections of substances or not, and if so, what substances are used," Chaouachi said.

She added that the motives behind spiking continue to raise questions as in the vast majority of cases the victims reported no assaults coupled with spiking.

Chaouachi said the perpetrators of spiking attacks are very difficult to identify because they usually occur in crowded environments.

Occasionally, people get arrested at such events for carrying syringes, but a commonly heard excuse is that they are for personal use, French media reported.

"A syringe can be considered a weapon and spiking can be considered a premeditated act," lawyer Marine Durillon said.

According to her, perpetrators face a minimum prison sentence of three years and 45,000 euros (about 48,000 U.S. dollars) in fines, provided that no harmful substances were injected.

If harmful substances were injected, the prison sentence can range from five to seven years and the fine can be 75,000 euros. The punishment for recidivists is even tougher.

"There is also an emotional shock for the victim to consider," Durillon said. "In a psychological level, there is no structure in place that can accompany the victim and that is being worked on."

Pulmonologist William Lowenstein, president of the association SOS Addictions, told Xinhua that the needle spiking cases reported in France remain a "mystery." 
Since Joe Biden was inaugurated in January 2021, there has been a constant barrage of bad news from both within and beyond the U.S.

The recent additions to that ignominious list of bad news are from North Korea and Iran.

Early this week, North Korea test-launched an unparalleled number of ballistic missiles and purportedly has plans to resume nuclear testing after a five-year hiatus.

In early 2021, Biden attempted a new outreach to North Korea, which went largely ignored. North Korea eventually rejected Biden's friendly overtures, saying "no dialogue would be possible until the United States rolled back its hostile policy toward North Korea and both parties were able to exchange words on an equal basis."

The Biden administration even proposed humanitarian assistance in response to the coronavirus outbreak in North Korea, which once again fell on deaf ears.

Last May, Biden attempted to personally reach out to Kim Jong-un.

These rejections made Kim Jong-un appear like the man in charge while Biden appeared like the weaker individual, failing in his attempt at appeasement.

Much like with all their crises, the Biden administration downplayed the missile testing by North Korea, claiming that they "have seen periods of provocation; we've seen periods of engagement."

During his tenure, President Trump had met with North Korean chairman Kim Jong-un on two occasions. Trump had adopted a clever mix of carrot (in the form of building a personal rapport and promises to help North Korea to prosper if they chose the right path) and stick (in the form of sanctions and tough talk), which seemed to work. After Trump's summit, the testing of ballistic missiles had come to a halt and it looked like there was a slim chance that progress was going to occur.

Biden has blown it all to smithereens.

We now look at Iran:

President Trump withdrew from the Iran nuclear deal and imposed tough sanctions on Iran, which retarded Iran's nuclear program. Trump also expressed support to the oppressed people of Iran who were protesting against the regime. Trump ordered the killing of Iran Revolutionary Guards commander Qassem Soleimani, which sent a message to aspiring troublemakers within Iran. Trump designated Iran's Revolutionary Guard as a foreign terrorist organization, marking the first time the U.S. has blacklisted part of another nation's military in this way.

Those days are over. Recently, the International Atomic Energy Agency warned of Iran's stockpiling of enriched uranium. To make matters worse, Tehran removed U.N. 27 cameras monitoring its nuclear sites.

Back in 2021, Biden had loosened the enforcement of some sanctions to create a climate conducive to negotiations.

Then, in April 2021, Iran and the U.S. begin "indirect" negotiations in Vienna over how to restore the nuclear deal, Russia was and continues to be involved in these talks. Biden should have insisted on having negotiations without interlocutors, especially one such as Russia, that they claim is a hostile force.

Days later, Iran began enriching uranium up to 60%  its highest purity ever and a technical step from weapons-grade levels of 90%. It was at this juncture that Biden should have withdrawn from the talks, but he did not.

Months later during the talks, Russian foreign minister Sergey Lavrov linked restoring Iran's nuclear deal to American sanctions targeting Moscow over its war on Ukraine, further complicating negotiations. Once again, Biden should have withdrawn, but once again, he didn't.

By March 2022, the talks in Vienna paused without an agreement due to Russia's demand for guarantees that its ties with Tehran be exempt from Western sanctions over Ukraine.

Iran is now said to be mere weeks away from enriching enough uranium to potentially manufacture a nuclear explosive device. The removal of surveillance cameras seems ample proof that they are acting in a brazen manner.

This is another mess that Biden has presided over.

This should not come as a surprise to anyone.

Biden's disgracefully hasty withdrawal from Afghanistan left that country volatile. It undid all the progress in that historically troubled nation. It took just a few days for the Taliban to take over. There was also a terror attack that left 170 people dead. In addition, Biden left behind billions of dollars' worth of advanced weaponry. According to an Israeli think-tank, the Meir Amit Intelligence and Terrorism Information Center, ISIS killed and injured more people in Afghanistan last year than it did anywhere else.

Overall, Biden has made the U.S. appear an unreliable and uncaring ally.

Biden's recklessness not only left Afghanistan volatile, but was obviously going to embolden others to demonstrate aggression.

Eight months after Biden's withdrawal from Afghanistan, Russia's President Vladimir Putin began a military intervention in Ukraine. China, too, began making aggressive overtures toward Taiwan and India.

Iran, North Korea, and Russia, either overtly or covertly, present a nuclear threat to the U.S.

Why is this happening?

The U.S. is a superpower, but power, however superlative it may be, is worthless if it isn't judiciously applied.

Biden's rapidly declining cognitive abilities are apparent to the entire world. He forgets the names of his colleagues. When he read off a teleprompter, it often looks and sounds as if he is discovering the words for the very first time. He ambles aimlessly on the White House lawn like a man lost. He often makes reckless remarks, which the White House is compelled to walk back.

The regime in Iran and China, and the likes of Kim and Putin, minutely scrutinize their adversary prior to taking any action. When they see Biden, they see senility, incompetence, and weakness. Biden's mess in Afghanistan provided them with proof that he wasn't in control and presented no threat to them whatsoever.

Contrast this with President Trump, who, without engaging in any ground conflict, maintained peace merely by a projection of strength. There are some who criticized Trump for being impulsive and rough around the edges, but it was this unpredictability that worked to restrain various aspiring troublemakers. The fact that he eliminated both Soleimani and the leader of ISIS, Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, and launched surgical strikes on a chemical plant in Syria, was a demonstration that he wasn't merely a man of words.

The actions from Pyongyang and Tehran, sadly, may just be the beginning. It is likely that other hostile nations may be emboldened to also display hostility. At times, the display may not just be symbolic.

Image: U.S. Department of Defense via Flickr, public domain.
My state of Mississippi is a very conservative state, but the elected representatives at the state and national level are major RINOs. The people of Mississippi are starting to wake up to that fact. In the primaries held this week, two incumbent Republican congressmen failed to reach the 50% threshold to avoid a runoff. District 3 incumbent Michael Guest obtained only 46.9% of the vote, while his top challenger received 47.5%. Meanwhile, District 4 incumbent Steven Palazzo received only 31.6% of the vote, while challenger Mike Ezell garnered 25.1%.

Let's take a look at our incumbents and challengers. In my District 4, we have been blasted by radio ads about the "conservative" Steven Palazzo. There are Palazzo signs all over the place. In truth, Palazzo is no conservative. His Conservative Review Liberty Score is 63%, rating him a "D." He voted for the $1.5T omnibus bill funding Biden's vaccine mandates and wasteful spending. He voted for the $40B aid package for Ukraine. He voted against the repeal of Authorization of Use of Military Force in Iraq.

With Palazzo, it goes deeper than that. He's under a House Ethics Investigation for misspending campaign money for personal use. He's not a noisy representative like Marjorie Taylor Greene, so it probably is not a witch hunt. A candidate forum was held in May so the voters could hear from all of the candidates. He declined at the last minute, citing "meetings dealing with national security." He then posted a Facebook photo of himself with his son at a restaurant in Starkville. I am sure there was a lively discussion about national security. That's why they call him "No Show Palazzo."

Mike Ezell was Jackson County's sheriff and bills himself as a "Strong Christian Conservative." In late May, he announced an "I'll Show Up" Tour. "I'm excited about this tour of the entire district during the week leading up to election day on June 7," said Sheriff Ezell. "South Mississippi needs a congressman who will show up, speak up and stand up for our conservative values  every day. I'm asking for everyone's vote because I want to use my 40 years of law enforcement experience to fight for you in Congress so we can finally tackle the big challenges facing our country by securing our borders, restoring law and order, and getting our economy back on track." Since leading the primary, all five competitors have endorsed him against Palazzo. There is a desire for change in District 4. This is looking good for Mississippi and the nation.

District 3's Michael Guest was elected in 2018 and campaigned as a strong supporter of President Trump. His 2022 campaign website touts his "commitment to the people of Mississippi that he would fight for conservative values." Well, let's see how he does with regard to "conservative values." While not a "D" rating like Palazzo, Guest's Liberty Score is a paltry 71%, just squeezing him into a "C" rating. He of course voted for $40B in aid to Ukraine and the $1.5T omnibus bill. He also voted to bail out the Post Office and stick Medicare with the bill. He voted for the so-called COVID relief bill that included $1.4T in special interest spending. That does not sound conservative to me. In addition, he was the only Mississippi congressman to vote in favor of creating a special congressional commission to investigate the Jan. 6, 2021 situation at the U.S. Capitol. So he is not a Trump-supporter, either.

Mike Cassidy has been running an aggressive and expensive campaign pointing out Guest's deficiencies. Unfortunately, he is as big a spender as Bernie and AOC. In one of the nation's most conservative districts, his proposed social spending programs would cost taxpayers at least $48 trillion over ten years. Among Cassidy's ideas are Medicare for All, stipends for married couples, and universal basic income for families with children. How he ever got in to the runoff, I will never know.

In summary, it looks as though we are moving the needle with one improvement. We need more. We need to get behind real conservatives and help them succeed. Mike Ezell, I am here for you. Mike Cassidy, not so much.

Image: Odder.
Ordinary Americans are feeling the pain from high gas prices, but the real problem is skyrocketing diesel prices, helped along by looming shortages. Nevertheless, the Biden administration is doing nothing to solve the problem.

How can Biden and his buddies on the left not realize that America runs on diesel fuel in the over-the-road trucks that deliver our food, pharmaceuticals, building supplies, and even the gasoline and diesel delivered to filling stations? The short answer is that they do realize the harm they are doing to the economy, but they do not care. Perhaps thanks to Hunter Biden's business plans, Joe Biden plans to force Chinese solar panel power on Americans, whether they want it  or can afford it  or not. There's no room in that plan for addressing the high fuel costs that the "great unwashed" are enduring.

Biden and his administration may avert their eyes, but when the price of diesel fuel soars, trucking and material supply companies will pass those rising costs directly to consumers in the form of rising food prices. (Heck, rising everything prices.)

The worst-case scenario comes from John Catsimatidis, CEO of United Refineries. John knows the fuel business from start to finish, and he declared recently that diesel fuel supplies might be so tight this summer that diesel fuel may be rationed. I know that sounds implausible, but it's already being seriously discussed in Europe.



Image: Diesel prices. YouTube screen grab.

When Maria Bartiromo interviewed John, he was pleading on air for Biden to turn around the idiotic and destructive energy policy that Biden launched on his first day in office when he canceled the Keystone pipeline and stopped drilling on federal lands. These policies have caused our once-energy-independent colossus to beg the Saudis, Iranians, and Venezuelans to produce more oil.

That's the big picture, but let's focus back on how the possible diesel fuel rationing might impact you and me.

Trucks that can't be fueled can't deliver, and we could find ourselves looking at empty grocery shelves, no fuel, and an economy that is imploding. What's worse is the simple fact that Biden has said that he wants to drive toward solar and wind power and away from fossil fuels (to cater to the extreme left).

Biden views high fossil fuel prices as the most efficient mechanism to achieve the energy goals of the leftists. But as usual, there are huge gaps in Biden's game plan. How do you lift a 747 off the ground using solar power? How do you recharge electric vehicles when there are no recharging stations? How do you get food, medicine, and essentials delivered if there is no diesel? How do the working poor get to work if gasoline is $10.00/gallon and there is no more credit on the credit card?

Gee, I wonder what all those hungry people will do when they have not eaten in a couple of days after giving their kids all the rations? Yeah, they'll try to take whatever they need.

I am certain that soon-to-be-President Kamala Harris has ready solutions to all these ills, but, for the time being, please recall that...your government is at war with you!
Justin Bieber has said he is suffering from full paralysis on one side of his face after receiving a diagnosis of Ramsay Hunt syndrome.

The Canadian popstar posted a video on his Instagram informing followers of his diagnosis and that he would be cancelling upcoming dates on his Purpose tour as a result of a pretty serious case of the condition.

The 27-year-old said that he had been doing facial exercises to regain movement, but it would still take time to recover.

Here is all you need to know about the condition.

 What is Ramsay Hunt syndrome?

Ramsay Hunt syndrome (RHS) is a condition that is due to viral reactivation. Its one of 60 causes of facial palsy, or facial paralysis as it is called in the States, said Charles Nduka, consultant plastic reconstructive surgeon who specialises in facial paralysis and founder of health charity Facial Palsy UK.

The charitys website explains that RHS is a complication of shingles  which is caused by the same virus which causes chickenpox  and the term describes the symptoms of a shingles infection affecting the facial nerve.

 What are the symptoms?

Mr Nduka said that RHS is often misdiagnosed as Bells Palsy  the most common cause of facial paralysis  and it also causes difficulties for diagnosis because of its varied presentation.

However, the first sign of RHS is often a small rash, as well as weakness on the affected side of the face and loss of facial expression.

Its not always obvious, but you could have a really tiny patch of a rash inside your ear. It could be inside your mouth, or your tongue, in your throat, it could be anywhere or even not visible at all.

He added that patients can also suffer from problems with their balance, earache and chronic pain.

Ramsay Hunt syndrome is NOT the same as Bell's palsy. It may look similar but it is different and is accompanied by other debilitating symptoms. See our mnemonic for more information. We hope @justinbieber feels much better soon.#RamsayHuntSyndrome #FOAMed pic.twitter.com/TI5H4SsAqB  Facial Palsy UK (@facialpalsyuk) June 11, 2022

 What are the causes?

One of the things that is quite clear, certainly from talking to lots and lots of patients over the years, is that usually before it comes on, theres some sort of intercurrent illness or stress, the immune system is a bit depressed, Mr Nduka said.

Oftentimes people are experiencing other issues socially or physically, of course and to be rundown, and so much in the same way as with shingles you get this reactivation of the virus when the bodys immune system is no longer able to keep it under control.

Bieber described his own experience with the condition as my body is telling me I gotta slow down.

 What are the treatment options?

It is vital that the type of facial paralysis is identified correctly early on, because the treatment for RHS differs from that of Bells Palsy.

Mr Nduka explained: With Bells Palsy, patients need to receive oral steroids within 72 hours of onset to maximise the chance of recovery. Whereas, with Ramsay Hunt syndrome, they must receive steroids also, but in addition they must receive antiviral treatments, again as soon as possible after the onset, and if they dont receive those then their rate of recovery drops from about 70% down to 50%.

He also warned patients not to do unsupervised and excessive facial exercises, because they can actually cause the recovery to become disorganised and end up with the face actually worse off than if they had just left things as they were to recover slowly.

Its really important people just do whats recommended and no more because itll do more harm than good, he added.

The Facial Palsy UK website lists information about official exercises to help recovery from Ramsay Hunt syndrome.
A Catholic priest has been jailed for 10-and-a-half years for plying a teenage boy with drink and raping him.

Father Anthony White, of Cross-In-Hand, Heathfield, East Sussex, was sentenced at Hove Crown Court for buggery and two offences of indecent assault against the boy, who was aged 15 at the time.

The offences happened in 1992 and 1993 at the address where White was then living in Horsham while he was an assistant priest at St Johns Church.

A Sussex Police spokesman said the 64-year-old was charged after the victim came forward in 2020.

Detective Constable Yvonne Daddow said: White got to know the boy when he and his family attended the church.

He gradually gained their confidence and the boy started to visit the priests address in Horsham on the pretext of doing some jobs around the house.

However on the first occasion White plied the boy with drink and then raped him. On further occasions he also committed sexual assaults on the teenager.

The victim kept these terrible experiences to himself for nearly 30 years and they have had a very serious impact on his mental health and well-being all that time.

Only when watching a TV documentary about unrelated cases of misconduct by priests did he feel able to come forward and disclose what had happened to him.
History currently repeating itself lends a particular frisson to Latvian theater, opera and film director Viesturs Kairiss January. It takes place in early 1991, when the nations push for independence (alongside other Baltic states) met with armed Soviet resistance even as the USSR was falling apart. Those historical events are interwoven with vaguely autobiographical fiction revolving around a mildly nonconformist Riga film school student, one admittedly drawn much as the director was himself in that time and place.

With Moscow leadership again hawkish toward retaining and/or regaining territories of a former empire, this flashback has particular resonance, amplified by the use of archival news and activist-shot footage. Less compelling, if still diverting, are the more conventionally indulgent, nouvelle vague-influenced scenes that comprise a Portrait of the Artist as a Sulky Young Man. The history lesson seems fresher than this protagonists stale angst  he is, frankly, a bit of a pill, and having him as our POV limits Januarys impact. Nonetheless, this Tribeca-boosted dramas topicality and the midcareer directors track record should attract programmer interest on the festival circuit and beyond.

Opening text informs its Jan. 2, 1991. Russian special police units known as OMON have taken over the state Press House to halt publications supporting the Latvian independence that was declared (and disregarded by the Kremlin) some months earlier. Though he demonstrates no personal political beliefs himself, 19-year-old Jazis (Karlis Arnolds Avots) is willing to risk a beating or arrest to videotape that occupation, along with friend Zeps (Sandis Runge).

The two are enrolled at the local arts academy, both intent on a film career  we can tell because theyre always dropping names like Bergman, Herzog, Tarkovsky, Chytilova and Kubrick. In an improv acting class, tall, curly-haired Jazis meets fellow student Anna (Alise Dzene), a rich girl whose rebelliousness runs more toward acts of shock-the-bourgeoise provocation. She immediately impresses him by owning the soundtrack to Jarmuschs Stranger Than Paradise. Soon theyre having bad sex and romping about in montages shot in different film stocks.

Already at odds for no particular reason with his good-humored, supportive parents (Baiba Broka, Aleksas Kazanavicius), Jazis churlishly blows a very good thing with Anna when she attracts an intern/assistant gig he would have liked for himself. (Shes taken on by Juhan Ulfsak as real-life documentarian Juris Podnieks, who shot key footage of the independence struggle before dying in a scuba-diving mishap just the next year.) He considers joining the Russian Army, despite everyone  not least his own mother  wondering why hed aid the enemy rather than man his own peoples barricades.

Eventually Jurik does help fight those at the barricades  or at least to film others fighting  which escalates the mingling of archival footage amid the action. Our antihero apologizes to Anna, claiming his actions were due to pretending to be someone Im not, on the other hand complaining to his mother, Im never gonna find out who I am. Nevertheless, his internal struggles, whatever they are, remain unexposed here; he just seems petulant, without any real political or artistic convictions we can discern as an excuse.

Its not lead actor Avots fault that this central character remains so psychologically undefined, or that the film doesnt even draw narrative meaning from his lack of definition  which is, presumably, meant to be just a phase the directorial alter ego is going through. Kairiss is handsome, occasionally playful and charming, though invariably moody five seconds later. But the problem with his being our primary viewpoint is that he doesnt seem to have one of his own. Even at the barricades, he mostly just gets in the way of people who are passionately committed to being there. Nor is there much rooting value for the romance with Anna, even though the film chooses to close on its possible rekindling.

As roman a clef, January isnt all that interesting  but then, movies about filmmakers glamorizing their collegiate salad days seldom are. The movie even looks as if shrouded in a mist of memory, DP Wojciech Starons Academy-ratio images gauzily soft. More involving are the backgrounding events and subsidiary figures, from the deft incorporation of period footage (and music) to the bemused, loving tolerance Kairiss parents practice toward him, as well as each other. (Moms staunchly anti-Soviet, Dads a Party member; neither minds too much.)

Co-written with Andris Feldmanis and Livia Ulman, Kairiss script sometimes feels like a loose string of episodes that achieved more flow than story structure in the editing room. Still, the whole does move along, its feel evocative if never quite so substantial as one might ideally like a tale of national liberation to be. The disparate elements (which also encompass vintage Latvian-cinema clips, including from Podnieks work) manage to hang together more than not, one binding factor being Juste Janulytes frequently interesting original score.

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While the world's focus has been trained on Russian President Vladimir Putin's nuclear saber-rattling over Ukraine, two other longstanding threats to U.S. national security have been not so quietly amplifying their ability to wreak international havoc.

In recent months, North Korea has test-launched an unprecedented number of ballistic missiles, and the U.S. assesses the country has imminent plans to resume nuclear testing after a five-year hiatus.

The U.N.'s atomic watchdog announced this week that Iran is mere weeks away from enriching enough uranium to potentially manufacture a nuclear explosive device and is blatantly blocking its surveillance efforts.

The threats posed by a Tehran or Pyongyang with weapons of mass destruction are vast, and the U.S. diplomatic approach to both countries is nuanced.

But the core question facing the Biden administration is straightforward: What -- if anything -- can it do to stop to prevent Iran and North Korea from becoming nuclear powers?

PHOTO: A missile is fired during a joint training between the United States and South Korea in East Coast, South Korea, June 6, 2022. (Handout/South Korean Defense Ministry via Getty Images)

A cold shoulder from North Korea

The State Department has publicly messaged to Pyongyang that the door for diplomacy is open, but the U.S. Special Representative to North Korea says that sentiment has been communicated through "high-level personal messages from senior U.S. officials" via "private channels" as well.

Sung Kim revealed on Tuesday that in recent weeks, officials have even laid out specific proposals for humanitarian assistance in response to the Hermit Kingdom's coronavirus outbreak.

But these offers have gone unanswered, Kim said, as the country continues "to show no indication that is interested in engaging."

MORE: Russia cracks down on critics of military actions in Ukraine

The silence of Pyongyang's leadership is in direct contrast to the explosive missile launches that regularly light up the sky over the waters surrounding the Korean peninsula.

"North Korea has now launched 31 ballistic missiles in 2022. The most ballistic missiles it has ever launched in a single year, surpassing its previous record of 25 in 2019. And it's only June," Kim said, adding the country has "obviously done the preparations" to resume nuclear testing as well.

PHOTO: A TV screen showing a news program reporting about Sunday's North Korean missile launch with file image, is seen at a train station in Seoul, South Korea, June 5, 2022. (Lee Jin-man/AP)

Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman said earlier this week the response to any such test by North Korea would be "swift and forceful," but so far, no official has publicly stated what exactly the reaction would be.

State Department Spokesperson Ned Price downplayed the extraordinary displays of force on Monday, calling them "cyclical."

"We've seen periods of provocation; we've seen periods of engagement. It is very clear at the moment that we are in the former," Price said.

But Bruce Bennett, a defense researcher at the RAND Corporation who has previously worked with Department of Defense, says it might be time for the U.S. to take a bolder approach.

Bennett argues that giving North Korea's authoritarian leader Kim Jong Un the opportunity to rebuff an invitation from the U.S. plays into his hand.

"He's just able to say no, makes him look superior, like he's in control. So that's not helping us on the deterrence issue," he said.

US stresses allied cooperation in face of N. Korea threats

Similarly, Bennett argues that following up Kim Jong Un's test launches by firing off short-range missiles with South Korea, as the U.S. did on Sunday, is unlikely to yield results. A better route, he says, would be directly punishing the dictator.

Some options? Bennett suggests threatening to fly reconnaissance aircraft along the country's coast, playing off Kim's abhorrence for spying. Or perhaps vowing to drop hard drives loaded with what he has called a "vicious cancer": K-Pop.

"That's where we've got to get creative -- with what Kim hates himself," Bennett said.

While those strategies might seem lighthearted, Bennett says the threat North Korea poses is anything but.

"The last North Korean nuclear test was of a 230 kiloton nuclear weapon. That size weapon detonated, focused on the Empire State Building will kill or seriously injure just under three million people," he said. "We're talking about massive damage that this North Korea threat can do if it's ever really completed and made operational. And so the U.S. should be very anxious to stop and to rein it in. But we don't seem to have figured out what we need to do to do that."

PHOTO: A cleric walks past Zolfaghar, top, and Dezful missiles displayed in a missile capabilities exhibition by the paramilitary Revolutionary Guard in Tehran, Iran, Jan. 7, 2022. (Vahid Salemi/AP, FILE)

Iran on the verge

As the top brass of the International Atomic Energy Agency warned of Iran's stockpiling of enriched Uranium and failure to comply with U.N. inspectors this week, the U.S. and its allies successfully pushed for a censure.

The rebuke is largely symbolic, but it may be telling when it comes to the administration's dimming hopes of returning to the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA)the 2015 nuclear agreement former President Trump withdrew from in 2018.

When President Joe Biden entered the White House, top officials promised "a longer and stronger" deal. The administration loosened the enforcement of some sanctions and held back in forums like IAEA meetings in order to create space for negotiations. But after more than a year of indirect, stop-and-go talks, the odds of reviving the even the original JCPOA seem slim to none.

MORE: NBA stars raise awareness about Brittney Griner's wrongful detention in Russia

The Biden administration said in February it would soon be "impossible" to return to the deal given the pace of Iran's nuclear advances. But Ali Vaez, the Iran Project Director at The International Crisis Group and former Senior Political Affairs Officer at the U.N., says there is still timebut not much.

"Iran has never been closer to the verge of nuclear weapons," Vaez said. "And restoring the JCPOA is going to become more and more difficult as time passed."

While Vaez notes that having the material to make an explosive isn't the same as having the capability to manufacture a nuclear weapon, he says the U.S. and other agencies have little oversight of those next steps.

"The reality is that we have no visibility over the weaponization part of this," he said.

Despite the diminishing sunset clausesexpiration dates of provisions in the nuclear agreementVaez argues the JCPOA still holds value and is the most straightforward path to curbing Iran.

"The break out time -- if the original deal is restored with all of its thresholds -- will be about six months. But six months is better than six days," he said, adding that many key restrictions would remain in place until 2031. "It basically puts this issue on the back-burner for a long period of time."

But because of the time needed to lock in an agreement, the approaching midterm elections, and the possibility that Democrats may lose control of one or both chambers of Congress, Vaez says if an agreement is going to be reached, it likely needs to happen this month or next.

Vaez also warns that failure could spell political disaster for the president if he is blamed for allowing Iran to develop weapons of mass destruction under his watch.

"Six months from now, that breakout time will be really near zero. And so the president will face an impossible choice of either acquiescing to a virtual nuclear weapons state in Iran or taking military action against Iran's nuclear program," he said. "So six months from now, it will be Biden's war or Biden's bomb."

A more dangerous world

While the hazards posed by Iran and North Korea are separate from the nuclear threats posed by the Kremlin, Putin's shadow extends far beyond Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

"The whole conflict has a nuclear dimension that is going to have an effect on how we deal with Iran and North Korea, with other proliferators" said John Erath, Senior Policy Director for the Center for Arms Control and Non-Proliferation and a 30 year veteran of the State Department.

"We need to maintain this idea that Russia should not be allowed to benefit from using nuclear blackmail," he added. "Because what happens when North Korea then says I'm going to nuke the South?"

Bennett adds that if adversaries are allowed to acquire functional nuclear weapons, other countries following suit, like South Korea and Japan. Although these countries are allies to the U.S., more nuclear powers means more opportunity for catastrophic wars and destruction unlike the world has ever seen.

"You have this dynamic going on in the region which is really not what the U.S. wants," he said. "That's a world which we're reluctant to have happen, but we're kind of letting happen."

Biden's mounting nuclear threats from North Korea, Iran originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd J. Austin III speaks at the Shangri-la Dialogue, Asia's annual defense and security forum, in Singapore on Saturday. (Danial Hakim / Associated Press)

U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd J. Austin III emphasized American support for Taiwan on Saturday, suggesting at Asias premier defense forum that recent Chinese military activity around the self-governing island threatens to change the status quo.

Speaking at the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore, Austin noted a steady increase in provocative and destabilizing military activity near Taiwan, including almost daily military flights near the island by the Peoples Republic of China.

Our policy hasnt changed, but unfortunately that doesnt seem to be true for China, he said.

Austin said Washington remained committed to the one-China policy, which recognizes Beijing but allows informal relations and defense ties with Taipei.

Taiwan and China split during a civil war in 1949, but China claims the island as its own territory and has not ruled out using military force to take it.

China has stepped up its military provocations against democratic Taiwan in recent years, aimed at intimidating it into accepting Beijings demands to unify with the communist mainland.

We remain focused on maintaining peace, stability and the status quo across the Taiwan Strait, Austin said in his address. But [Chinas] moves threaten to undermine security and stability and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific.

He drew a parallel with the Russian invasion of Ukraine, saying that the indefensible assault on a peaceful neighbor has galvanized the world and ... has reminded us all of the dangers of undercutting an international order rooted in rules and respect.

Austin said that the rules-based international order matters just as much in the Indo-Pacific as it does in Europe.

Russias invasion of Ukraine is what happens when oppressors trample the rules that protect us all, he said. Its what happens when big powers decide that their imperial appetites matter more than the rights of their peaceful neighbors. And its a preview of a possible world of chaos and turmoil that none of us would want to live in.

Austin met Friday with Chinese Defense Minister Wei Fenghe on the sidelines of the conference for discussions where Taiwan featured prominently, according to a senior American defense official, speaking on condition of anonymity to provide details of the private meeting.

Austin made clear at the meeting that while the U.S. does not support Taiwanese independence, it also has major concerns about Chinas recent behavior and suggested that Beijing might be attempting to change the status quo.

Wei complained to Austin about new American arms sales to Taiwan announced this week, saying it seriously undermined Chinas sovereignty and security interests, according to a Chinese state-run CCTV report after the meeting.

China firmly opposes and strongly condemns it, and the Chinese government and military will resolutely smash any Taiwan independence plot and resolutely safeguard the reunification of the motherland, Wei reportedly told Austin.

Chinese Defense Ministry spokesperson Wu Qian quoted Wei as saying China would respond to any move toward formal Taiwan independence by smashing it even at any price, including war.

In his speech, Austin said the U.S. stands firmly behind the principle that cross-strait differences must be resolved by peaceful means, but also would continue to fulfill its commitments to Taiwan.

That includes assisting Taiwan in maintaining a sufficient self-defense capability, he said.

And it means maintaining our own capacity to resist any use of force or other forms of coercion that would jeopardize the security or the social or economic system of the people of Taiwan.

The 1979 Taiwan Relations Act, which has governed U.S. relations with the island, does not require the U.S. to step in militarily if China invades, but makes it American policy to ensure Taiwan has the resources to defend itself and to prevent any unilateral change of status by Beijing.

Austin emphasized the power of partnerships and said the United States unparalleled network of alliances in the region had only deepened, noting recent efforts undertaken with the Assn. of Southeast Asian Nations, or ASEAN; the growing importance of the Quad group of the U.S., India, Japan and Australia; and the trilateral security partnership with Australia and the United Kingdom, known as AUKUS.

He dismissed Chinese allegations that the U.S. intends to start an Asian NATO with its Indo-Pacific outreach.

Let me be clear: We do not seek confrontation or conflict and we do not seek a new Cold War, an Asian NATO, or a region split into hostile blocs, Austin said.

Australian Defense Minister Richard Marles told the forum that AUKUS, under which Australia will acquire nuclear-powered submarines from the U.S. with the help of Britain, was a technology-sharing relationship and not in the set of arrangements as you would describe the North Atlantic Treaty Organization.

Australia abruptly pulled out of a deal with France for submarines to sign on to the AUKUS deal, and Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced Saturday that he had agreed to pay Paris 555 million euros ($584 million) in compensation.

France's new defense minister, Sebastien Lecornu, suggested his country was willing to put the matter behind it, saying the alliance with Australia was a long one, recalling the sacrifice of the young Australians who came to die on French soil during World War I.

There are ups and downs in all relations between countries, but when there were real dramas, Australia was there, he said.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Travelers begin their Memorial Day getaway at Los Angeles International Airport on May 27. Federal plans to lift COVID-19 testing requirements for international visitors could boost L.A. tourism, industry leaders hope. (Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times)

Los Angeles tourism industry leaders hope the Biden administration's plan to end its COVID-19 testing requirement for international travelers will boost visits among big-spending foreign vacationers.

The mandate that international air travelers to the U.S. test negative within a day of boarding their flights expires Sunday at 12:01 a.m. Eastern time, according to a senior administration official. The official, speaking Friday on the condition of anonymity to preview the formal announcement, said the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention had determined the rule was no longer necessary but could reinstate it if a troubling new variant emerges.

The policy change is big news in Los Angeles, which has ranked among the top three U.S. destinations for international travelers, who typically stay longer and spend more than domestic visitors. Before the pandemic, a burgeoning middle class in China helped fuel a surge in Chinese tourists in Los Angeles, who spent an average of about $6,900 per visit, according to the U.S. Travel Assn., a trade group for the countrys travel industry.

"Our City of Angels is ready to roll out the red carpet for travelers from around the world," Adam Burke, president and chief executive of the Los Angeles Tourism and Convention Board, said in response to the news.

In 2019, Los Angeles County hosted 7.4 million international and 42.6 million domestic visitors, according to the board. International travelers spent $11.6 billion that year, about 56% of all tourism spending even though they represented only about 14% of all visitors. In 2020, the number of visitors dropped to 27.7 million, with tourism spending plunging to $10 billion. Tourism experts estimate the county welcomed about 40 million visitors in 2021.

The Biden administration put the testing requirement in place last year as it moved away from restrictions that banned nonessential travel from several dozen countries  most of Europe, China, Brazil, South Africa, India and Iran. It came in conjunction with a requirement that foreign, nonimmigrant adults traveling to the United States be fully vaccinated, with only limited exceptions.

The initial mandate allowed those who were fully vaccinated to show proof of a negative test within three days of travel, and unvaccinated people had to present a test taken within one day of travel. In November, as the highly transmissible Omicron variant swept across the world, the Biden administration toughened the rules and required all travelers, regardless of vaccination status, to test within a day of travel to the U.S.

Airline and tourism groups have been pressing the administration for months to eliminate the testing requirement, saying it discouraged people from booking international trips. Many other countries have lifted their testing requirements for fully vaccinated and boosted travelers in a bid to increase tourism.

The move, however, comes amid a rise in COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations in Los Angeles County.

Response to the imminent policy change has been positive in the local tourism industry.

Danny Roman, who runs Bikes and Hikes L.A., a touring company for visitors to the city, struggled so much during the pandemic shutdown that he was forced to add a bicycle sales and repair shop to his tour business to make ends meet. He hopes the change in U.S. testing policy will bring back the thriving business he had in 2019.

Before the pandemic, international visitors accounted for about 60% of his business.

"We are beyond excited," he said. "We are hoping this kick-starts our summer season as we depend on Europeans, Australians and Canadians to drive home sales."

Industry representatives also expressed approval. "We are eager to welcome the millions of travelers who are ready to come to the U.S. for vacation, business and reunions with loved ones," Nicholas E. Calio, president and chief executive of Airlines for America, said in a statement Friday.

Today marks another huge step forward for the recovery of inbound air travel and the return of international travel to the United States," Roger Dow, president and CEO of the U.S. Travel Assn., said in a statement.

The Associated Press was used in compiling this report.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Researchers reveal secret find of 340-year-old sunken royal warship A pulley block is exposed on the seabed underwater from the shipwreck of The Gloucester discovered off the coast of Norfolk

By Farouq Suleiman

LONDON (Reuters) - A royal warship that sank off the east coast of Britain more than 300 years ago while carrying a future king was unveiled by researchers on Friday who kept the discovery secret for 15 years to protect the wreck from damage.

In 1682, King James II of England, who was the Duke of York at the time, managed to narrowly escape the sinking ship named "The Gloucester" which went down off the coast of eastern England after hitting a sandbank. He became king of England, and King James VII of Scotland three years later.

"The discovery promises to fundamentally change understanding of 17th-century social, maritime and political history," said Claire Jowitt, Professor of Early Modern Cultural History at University of East Anglia.

"It is an outstanding example of underwater cultural heritage of national and international importance."

Its final location, some 45km (28 miles) off the coast from Great Yarmouth, was a mystery until it was discovered by diving brothers Julian and Lincoln Barnwell in 2007 after a four-year search.

"On my descent to the seabed the first thing I spotted were large cannon laying on white sand, it was awe-inspiring and really beautiful," said Lincoln Barnwell.

The shipwreck revealed various historical artefacts, including a bottle bearing a glass seal with the crest of the Legge family - ancestors of the first U.S. President George Washington.

"Because the ship sank so quickly, nobody would have rescued anything," Jowitt said, describing it as "a fantastic time capsule".

Other artefacts include navigational equipment, personal possessions, clothes and wine bottles - some with their contents intact.

The university estimated that between 130 to 250 people might have died in the incident, which they said had threatened to change the course of history.

Six years after the sinking Catholic James II was ousted by the Protestant William of Orange in the 1688 "Glorious Revolution", paving the way for the future constitutional monarchy in Britain.

(Reporting by Farouq Suleiman; Editing by Raissa Kasolowsky)
Evacuees board a train in Pokrovsk, Ukraine, on Friday. (Associated Press)

Ukrainian and British officials warned Saturday that Russian forces are relying on weapons with the potential to cause mass casualties as they try to make headway in capturing eastern Ukraine.

Russian bombers have likely been launching heavy 1960s-era anti-ship missiles in Ukraine, the U.K. Defense Ministry said. The Kh-22 missiles were primarily designed to destroy aircraft carriers using a nuclear warhead. When used in ground attacks with conventional warheads, they are highly inaccurate and therefore can cause severe collateral damage and casualties, the ministry said.

Both sides have expended large amounts of weaponry in what has become a grinding war of attrition for the eastern region of coal mines and factories known as the Donbas, placing huge strains on their resources and stockpiles.

Russia is likely using the anti-ship missiles because it is running short of more precise modern missiles, the British ministry said in a daily update. It gave no details of where exactly such missiles are thought to have been deployed and there was no immediate confirmation from Ukrainian authorities of the use of the 6.1-ton missiles.

Ukraines deputy head of military intelligence, Vadym Skibitsky, told the Guardian newspaper that Ukraine was using 5,000 to 6,000 artillery rounds a day, and is now dependent on what the West gives it.

Governor: Flamethrowers used in Luhansk

A Ukrainian regional governor has accused Russia of using incendiary weapons in the village of Vrubivka in Ukraines eastern Luhansk province, southwest of the fiercely contested cities of Severodonetsk and Lysychansk.

While the use of flamethrowers on the battlefield is legal, Serhiy Haidai, governor of Luhansk province, alleged the attacks overnight caused widespread damage to civilian facilities.

Information about the number of victims in Vrubivka, in the Popasnyanska district, is being specified. At night, the enemy used a flamethrower rocket system many houses burnt down, Haidai wrote on Telegram on Saturday morning.

He also said that Russian forces continued their assault on Severodonetsk and were destroying critical industrial facilities, including railway depots, a brick factory and a glass factory in neighboring Lysychansk.

[Russians are] destroying world-famous factories. Thousands of Sievierodonetsk residents dream of returning and crossing the first checkpoint at Azot [a chemical plant], but the enemy is destroying both the city itself and the chemical industry, he said.

The accuracy of Haidais claims could not be immediately verified.

European Union leader back in Kyiv

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen says she is in Kyiv to meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.

Von der Leyen said on Twitter that they will take stock of the joint work needed for reconstruction and of the progress made by Ukraine on its European path.

The European Commission, the EUs executive arm, is expected to deliver next week an opinion on Ukraines request to be granted EU candidate status, a first step on the long path toward membership.

Von der Leyen is making her second visit to Ukraine since Russia invaded its neighbor. She was one of the first European leaders to go to Ukraine during the war.

Russian passports for Melitopol residents

Russian forces occupying the southern Ukrainian city of Melitopol began handing out Russian passports to residents Saturday, according to Russian state TASS agency.

A Telegram post by TASS cited a Russian-installed local official as the original source of the information. It did not specify how many Melitopol residents had requested or received Russian citizenship.

Earlier on Saturday, the agency reported that more than 800,000 people in separatist-held territories in Ukraines industrial east had received Russian citizenship through a simplified procedure since April 2019.

Melitopol is outside of the Donbas in the region of Zaporizhzhia, which is still held partly by Ukraine.

Death toll for children

Nearly 800 children have been killed or injured in Ukraine since the beginning of Russias invasion, Ukrainian authorities said Saturday.

According to a statement by the Office of the Prosecutor General of Ukraine, at least 287 children died as a result of military activity, while at least 492 more have been injured. The statement stressed the figures were not final and said they were based on investigations by juvenile prosecutors.

The officer said children in Ukraines Donetsk province, which together with Luhansk makes up the Donbas, suffered the most, with 217 reported killed or injured, compared with 132 and 116, respectively, in the Kharkiv and Kyiv regions.

Russia presses eastern offensive

The Ukrainian army said Saturday that Russian forces were regrouping to launch an offensive on the Donetsk province city of Sloviansk.

Moscow-backed rebels have controlled self-proclaimed republics in both Donetsk and Luhansk since 2014, and Russia is trying to seize the territory still under Ukrainian control.

In its regular operational update, the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine said Russian soldiers managed to get a foothold overnight in the village of Bohorodychne, about 15 miles northwest of Sloviansk, and were preparing to attack the city.

The Donetsk regional police said Russian missiles hit 13 towns and villages in the province overnight. In a statement, the police said that civilians had been killed and wounded, without specifying numbers. Donetsk and Luhansk make up the Donbas,

The Ukrainian army's update said that the threat of missile and airstrikes on Ukraine from Belarus remains, noting that the Belarusian government extended military exercises along the Ukrainian-Belarusian border until June 18.

Russian shelling of Kharkiv

Four civilians died and two were wounded as a result of Russian shelling of Ukraines northeastern Kharkiv region Friday, regional emergency services said Saturday.

According to the press service of the Main Directorate of the State Emergency Service in the Kharkiv region, a Russian shell destroyed a private house in the town of Chkalovske, killing four people. Two more were injured in massive shelling of private homes in Derhachi, on the outskirts of the regional capital, Kharkiv, it said.

The Kharkiv region, home to Ukraines second-largest city, is north of the Donbas.

Elsewhere, the governor of Ukraines central Dnipropetrovsk region said Russian shelling injured two civilians Friday night. Valentyn Reznychenko said in a Telegram post that the two were hospitalized.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
FILE - President Clinton and Vice President Al Gore, back, help Herman Shaw, 94, a Tuskegee Syphilis Study victim, during a news conference on May 16, 1997. Fifty years after the infamous Tuskegee syphilis study was revealed to the public in 1972 and halted, Manhattan-based philanthropy organization Milbank Memorial Fund is publicly apologizing for its role in the infamous Tuskegee syphilis study. (AP Photo/Doug Mills, File)

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (AP)  For almost 40 years starting in the 1930s, as government researchers purposely let hundreds of Black men die of syphilis in Alabama so they could study the disease, a foundation in New York covered funeral expenses for the deceased. The payments were vital to survivors of the victims in a time and place ravaged by poverty and racism.

Altruistic as they might sound, the checks  $100 at most  were no simple act of charity: They were part of an almost unimaginable scheme. To get the money, widows or other loved ones had to consent to letting doctors slice open the bodies of the dead men for autopsies that would detail the ravages of a disease the victims were told was bad blood.

Fifty years after the infamous Tuskegee syphilis study was revealed to the public and halted, the organization that made those funeral payments, the Milbank Memorial Fund, publicly apologized Saturday to descendants of the study's victims. The move is rooted in America's racial reckoning after George Floyd's murder by police in 2020.

It was wrong. We are ashamed of our role. We are deeply sorry, said the president of the fund, Christopher F. Koller.

The apology and an accompanying monetary donation to a descendants' group, the Voices for Our Fathers Legacy Foundation, were presented during a ceremony in Tuskegee at a gathering of children and other relatives of men who were part of the study.

Endowed in 1905 by Elizabeth Milbank Anderson, part of a wealthy and well-connected New York family, the fund was one of the nation's first private foundations. The nonprofit philanthropy had some $90 million in assets in 2019, according to tax records, and an office on Madison Avenue in Manhattan. With an early focus on child welfare and public health, today it concentrates on health policy at the state level.

Koller said there's no easy way to explain how its leaders in the 1930s decided to make the payments, or to justify what happened. Generations later, some Black people in the United States still fear government health care because of what's called the Tuskegee effect.

The upshot of this was real harm," Koller told The Associated Press in an interview before the apology ceremony. It was one more example of ways that men in the study were deceived. And we are dealing as individuals, as a region, as a country, with the impact of that deceit.

Lillie Tyson Head's late father Freddie Lee Tyson was part of the study. She's now president of the Voices group. She called the apology a wonderful gesture and a wonderful thing even if it comes 25 years after the U.S. government apologized for the study to its final survivors, who have all since died.

Its really something that could be used as an example of how apologies can be powerful in making reparations and restorative justice be real, said Head.

Despite her leadership of the descendants group, Head said she didn't even know about Milbank's role in the study until Koller called her one day last fall. The payments have been discussed in academic studies and a couple books, but the descendants were unaware, she said.

It really was something that caught me off guard, she said. Head's father left the study after becoming suspicious of the research, years before it ended, and didn't receive any of the Milbank money, she said, but hundreds of others did.

Other prominent organizations, universities including Harvard and Georgetown and the state of California have acknowledged their ties to racism and slavery. Historian Susan M. Reverby, who wrote a book about the study, researched the Milbank Funds participation at the fund's request. She said its apology could be an example for other groups with ties to systemic racism.

Its really important because at a time when the nation is so divided, how we come to terms with our racism is so complicated, she said. Confronting it is difficult, and they didnt have to do this. I think its a really good example of history as restorative justice.

Starting in 1932, government medical workers in rural Alabama withheld treatment from unsuspecting Black men infected with syphilis so doctors could track the disease and dissect their bodies afterward. About 620 men were studied, and roughly 430 of them had syphilis. Reverby's study said Milbank recorded giving a total of $20,150 for about 234 autopsies.

Revealed by The Associated Press in 1972, the study ended and the men sued, resulting in a $9 million settlement from which descendants are still seeking the remaining funds, described in court records as relatively small.

The Milbank Memorial Fund got involved in 1935 after the U.S. surgeon general at the time, Hugh Cumming, sought the money, which was crucial in persuading families to agree to the autopsies, Reverby found. The decision to approve the funding was made by a group of white men with close ties to federal health officials but little understanding of conditions in Alabama or the cultural norms of Black Southerners, to whom dignified burials were very important, Koller said.

One of the lessons for us is you get bad decisions if  your perspectives are not particularly diverse and you dont pay attention to conflicts of interest, Koller said.

The payments became less important as the Depression ended and more Black families could afford burial insurance, Reverby said. Initially named as a defendant, Milbank was dismissed as a target of the men's lawsuit and the organization put the episode behind it.

Years later, books including Reverby's Examining Tuskegee, The Infamous Syphilis Study and Its Legacy, published in 2009, detailed the fund's involvement. But it wasn't until after Floyd's death at the hands of Minneapolis police that discussions among the Milbank staff  which is now much more diverse  prompted the fund's leaders to reexamine its role, Koller said.

Both staff and board felt like we had to face up to this in a way that we had not before, he said.

Besides delivering a public apology to a gathering of descendants, the fund decided to donate an undisclosed amount to the Voices for Our Fathers Legacy Foundation, Koller said.

The money will make scholarships available to the descendants, Head said. The group also plans a memorial at Tuskegee University, which served as a conduit for the payments and was the location of a hospital where medical workers saw the men.

While times have changed since the burial payments were first approved nearly 100 years ago, Reverby also said there's no way to justify what happened.

"The records say very clearly, untreated syphilis," she said. You dont need a Ph.D. to figure that out, and they just kept doing it year after year.

___

Reeves is a member of AP's Race and Ethnicity Team.
Scottish Justice Secretary Keith Brown has told how he was petrified during the Battle of Two Sisters in the Falklands War.

Mr Brown, who also serves as veterans minister in the Scottish Government, said he joined the Royal Marines in 1980 as a result of the employment situation at the time and as a way to get fit.

In 1982, he was shipped out to the Falkland Islands with 45 Commando.

The first hint Mr Brown had that something could be afoot was when his leave was cancelled.

Keith Brown returning from the Falklands (Keith Brown/PA)

Were due to go on leave for Easter and someone comes over the Tannoy and says leave is cancelled and stay where you are in your digs and further information will come forward, he said.

It came pretty much out of the blue to me and most people.

But it was not until the boat carrying Mr Brown and his comrades left Ascension Island, where it had arrived from Portsmouth, that the threat of war with Argentina seemed to be a realistic prospect.

I dont think it was until we left Ascension Island that people felt there was a good chance this could actually happen, he said.

The deployment to the Falklands came after the failure to relieve tensions by then US secretary of state Alexander Haig  who shuttled between the governments in London and Buenos Aires.

RFA Stromness, carrying Mr Brown and the rest of 45 Commando, landed on East Falkland under small arms fire, he said, but facing less resistance than previously expected.

From memory, I thought there would be a lot more (small arms fire) than that, he said.

I think what quickly overtook that was we were led to believe we were going to have total air superiority, so we started to wonder why we were getting constant air raids.

The air raids were much more of a thing than the small arms fire  it was a bit distant, you could hear it.

The troops of 45 Commando found themselves involved in the Battle of Two Sisters  one of three battles fought on the night of June 11 into the next morning.

The battles, which included engagements at Mount Longdon and Mount Harriet, resulted in the capture of the high points around Port Stanley, prompting the subsequent surrender of Argentine forces on the island.

When I was in the attack on Two Sisters, I was petrified, Mr Brown said.

I did my job, but I was petrified.

There were other guys that had seen it before that were as calm as you could imagine.

When asked, some 40 years on from the war, if he felt the conflict was justified, Mr Brown was unequivocal  describing the regime of Leopoldo Galtieri as a fascist dictatorship.

He said: The bottom line really comes down to how the people who live there want to live their lives.

I think self-determination is quite an important principle.

I do think it was important to protect that principle  they did not want to be ruled by Argentina, the way they were treated when the Argentinians came across showed it was not going to be a bright future for them as well, so I do think it was justified.
The UK is horrified by a heinous attack on a Catholic church in south-western Nigeria which took place on Sunday night, a minister has said.

Vicky Fords comments came as Conservative MP for Congleton Fiona Bruce raised an urgent question in the Commons on the killing of church worshippers in Ondo State Nigeria and on wider issues of violence against religious groups.

The Foreign Office minister said: I am horrified by the attack that took place against a church in Ondo state, south-west Nigeria yesterday.

I publicly express the UK Governments condemnation for this heinous act and stress the importance that those responsible being brought to justice in accordance with the law.

The High Commission in Nigeria has also expressed our condolences to the governor of Ondo state and offered our support.

I know that the House will join me in sending our condolences to the families and communities of those killed.

Ms Ford added the British High Commissioner in Nigeria had spoken to the local parish priest and later said: Incidentally, I am going to have the huge honour of meeting the Archbishop of Canterbury tomorrow and I will certainly be discussing this with him.

Meanwhile, Labour urged the Government to make protecting democracy in Nigeria a top priority.

Shadow Foreign Office minister Bambos Charalambous described the attack on a Catholic church in the countrys Ondo state as utterly horrific, adding: To target a church where so many were gathered to peacefully pray and celebrate Pentecost is truly appalling.

Referring to growing instability in Nigeria, he also said: Surely we must recognise that insecurity even poses a threat to the stability of Nigeria as a democracy, and supporting such an important regional and global partner must be a top priority.

Ms Bruce had earlier said: This was a brutal attack on a place of worship, St Francis Catholic Church in Owo, and on worshippers gathering on Pentecost Sunday, a time of celebration turned into a time of carnage.

Liberal Democrat spokesperson for foreign affairs Layla Moran criticised the Government for cutting the aid budget in Nigeria by half.

She said: The minister has very rightly identified that the causes of this are complex, but are to do with lack of resources and indeed insecurity. But Im afraid that the Governments money is not where its mouth is.

Not only has it cut the aid budget in Nigeria by half but the forward projections are no good either.

Ms Ford stressed its really important to look at what we have done pointing at a number of different projects in Nigeria.

She added: When I visited the region, I was very moved to hear how the relationships between the community members and members of forces had significantly improved in the Lake Chad basin.

It is a very difficult part of the world. It has got very, very high levels of conflict, one of the highest countries in the world for conflict, but there were some slivers of optimism that I think we should continue to try and develop.
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Cop was posted at the Bangladesh Deputy High Commission in Kolkata

Security personnel at the site after a policeman allegedly fired several rounds outside the Bangladesh Deputy High Commission, in Kolkata, Friday, June 10, 2022. A woman was killed in the firing, before the policeman shot himself. (PTI Photo)

Kolkata: In a shooting spree on Friday afternoon, a young Kolkata police constable, posted at the Bangladesh Deputy High Commission to guard the diplomatic mission in the city, gunned down a passerby and injured two others before killing himself with his automatic service weapon.

After preliminary investigation, the Kolkata police officials said that the constable likely took the extreme step because he was suffering from depression.

At around 2.15 pm, Chodup Lepcha, a constable with the city armed police (fifth battalion), suddenly went out of the security outpost of the diplomatic mission on the Circus Avenue at Park Circus in South Kolkata a little after reporting for duty.

Lepcha, a resident of Kalimpong in Darjeeling, had returned from leave on June 9.

According to local residents, the cop, carrying his self-loading rifle (SLR), knocked on their houses, which are located behind the consular office and wanted to know where his colleague was held captive and why.

Surprised by his query, the residents informed him that they did not have any such information. The cop, in his 20s, then walked up to the Lower Range in the vicinity and indiscriminately fired around 15 rounds in five minutes.

Rima Singh, a physiotherapist who was passing through the area while riding pillion on a motorcycle with her colleague, Bashir Alam of Collin Lane, was hit by the bullets. She fell down and died on the spot. The 28-year-old was on her way to her home in Howrah, where her fiance, had reached to finalise the date of their marriage.
Congress candidates Randeep Surjewala, Mukul Wasnik and Pramod Tiwari were elected to the Rajya Sabha

Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot with Congress candidates Pramod Tiwari, Mukul Wasnik and Randeep Surjewala flash the victory sign as they celebrate their victory in the Rajya Sabha elections 2022, in Jaipur, Friday, June 10, 2022. (PTI Photo)

Mumbai/Chandigarh: The Congress won three Rajya Sabha seats in Rajasthan and the BJP one in Rajasthan and the situation was reversed in Karnataka with the saffron party winning three seats and the Congress one, but counting of votes was delayed in Maharashtra and Haryana over alleged violation of rules.

Congress candidates Randeep Surjewala, Mukul Wasnik and Pramod Tiwari were elected to the Rajya Sabha. When everybody knows that 126 MLAs are with us, why did they field an independent candidate? They wanted to attempt horse-trading but that did not happen, Gehlot told reporters.

The Congress secured a BJP cross vote. From the BJP, former minister Ghanshyam Tiwari won with 43 votes. The Congress overcame the challenge posed by BJP-backed independent candidate Subhash Chandra.

In Karnataka, the ruling BJP had the last laugh as it won all the three Rajya Sabha seats it had contested in, out of four from the state. The Congress managed to win only one of the two seats to which it had fielded its candidates. The JD(S) which had fielded one candidate, despite not having enough votes, failed to win.

Union finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman, actor-politician Jaggesh, and outgoing MLC Lehar Singh Siroya from the BJP, and former Union minister Jairam Ramesh of Congress were declared elected.

But counting was held up in Maharashtra after the Opposition BJP alleged three MLAs of the ruling Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA)  Cabinet ministers Jitendra Awhad (NCP) and Yashomati Thakur (Congress), besides Shiv Sena legislator Suhas Kande  violated the model code for voting.

We have filed an appeal before the Election Commission of India, seeking that their votes be held invalid, said a state BJP leader.

The BJP has alleged that Awhad and Thakur handed over their ballots to their party agents instead of only showing them the ballots, while Kande showed his ballot to two different agents.

The counting has been put on hold in Haryana for identical reasons.

BJP nominee Krishan Lal Panwar and Independent candidate Kartikeya Sharma shot off a missive to the EC, alleging Congress MLAs Kiran Choudhary and B.B. Batra showed their ballot papers to unauthorised persons after marking them and that the episodes were duly captured on cameras.

Permission is needed from the Election Commission for the counting. Officials have sent an email to the ECI seeking the permission. It should be granted in some time, said Shiv Sena minister Eknath Shinde in Mumbai.
The decision to deny a Rajya Sabha seat to Naqvi created quite a stir since he is the only Muslim minister in the Modi government

Congress president Sonia Gandhi has been house-bound for over a week after she tested positive for Covid. With plenty of time on her hands and unable to step out, the Congress chief used this period during her recuperation to watch the well-known and popular Danish series Borgen. The television drama must have struck a chord with Sonia Gandhi as it follows the journey of a woman politician whose party wins a surprise victory, enabling her to stake claim to the Prime Ministers post. The gripping series shows the backroom negotiations the female protagonist undertakes with potential allies, how she manages the different political parties in the government and the push for key policies. But what perhaps should inspire Sonia Gandhi, whose party is currently going through a particularly lean patch, is how the fictional Danish Prime Minister takes on powerful men and manages to bounce back despite a string of setbacks. Clearly, the series holds out hope for a down-and-out Sonia Gandhi that all is not lost yet and that a better tomorrow is not beyond reach.

The decision to deny a Rajya Sabha seat to Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi created quite a stir since he is the only Muslim minister in the Narendra Modi government. Though it initially appeared that Mr Naqvis political future was in a freefall, the outrage triggered in the Arab world over Bharatiya Janata Party spokesperson Nupur Sharmas remarks about the Prophet could help rehabilitate Mr Naqvi.

This episode has opened up prospects of a comeback for Nr Naqvi as the Modi government is under pressure to demonstrate that it does not discriminate against minorities and is ready to accommodate them in key positions.

Consequently, there is a buzz that Mr Naqvi could be the BJPs choice for the vice-presidents post in next months election. Or else he could be appointed governor, failing which Mr Naqvi could find himself back in the Rajya Sabha as a nominated member. But the manner in which his name is being bandied around, he could even end up losing, given Prime Minister Narendra Modis penchant for springing surprises.

Ghulam Nabi Azad, a leading member of the group of 23 Congress leaders (G-23), pressing for an organisational overhaul of the party, appears to have been put on notice by the leadership. Mr Azads two closest aides were recently issued show cause notices on some flimsy grounds after they did not turn up for the state-level Chintan Shivir held recently in Jammu. This move has led to confusion and uncertainty among Mr Azads supporters in Jammu and Kashmir.

They had been pressing Mr Azad to leave the Congress and float his own political outfit but the senior leader had held off in the hope that party president Sonia Gandhi would renominate him to the Rajya Sabha. Now that he has failed to make the cut, Mr Azad has to weigh his options. The formation of a regional political party is very much on the table but Mr Azad is hesitant to take the plunge as word is out in his home state that he is being backed by the Bharatiya Janata Party, which has the potential of compromising his Muslim support base. Mr Azad obviously has a tough choice to make.

Is Bahujan Samaj Party leader Mayawati making overtures to Azam Khan, the high-profile and controversial Samajwadi Party legislator? And is Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadavs estranged uncle Shivpal Yadav mediating between the two sides? This is currently the talk in Uttar Pradeshs political circles. It is well known that Azam Khan has serious differences with Akhilesh Yadav leading to constant chatter that the all-powerful politician from Rampur is exploring other options. At the same time, Mayawati is looking afresh at reaching out to the Muslims instead of focusing all her attention on wooing Brahmins. Shivpal Yadav has also been sulking since he was virtually ignored by his nephew after the assembly polls. Finding themselves on the same side, Azam Khan and Shivpal Yadav are said to be working in tandem to derail the Samajwadi Party chief. It is precisely for this reason that Akhilesh Yadav took care to call on Azam Khan in Delhi recently and declared Mr Khans close aide Asim Raja as the partys candidate for the coming Lok Sabha by-election from Rampur.

There appears to be no end to the tussle between Madhya Pradesh chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan and his home minister Narottam Mishra who enjoys the patronage of the Bharatiya Janata Partys Central leadership. This tension surfaces periodically. For instance, when BJP president J.P. Nadda attended a function on his recent visit to Bhopal, Mr Mishra found there was no chair for him when he climbed on to the stage. Mr Mishra sat with the audience but was persuaded to join the others on stage after someone vacated a seat for him. Mr Chouhan is fighting with his back to the wall as Mr Mishra uses his proximity to home minister Amit Shah to set the agenda in the state. Little wonder then that Mr Nadda made an unscheduled halt at Mr Mishras residence on this trip.
Somehow, foreign recognition is very important to us Indians

Ret Samadhi, Geetanjali Shrees remarkable work of fiction, has won the International Booker Prize this year. This prize is given to a work in any global language, provided it has been translated into English and published in the UK. Daisy Rockwell, an American, translated this monumental work, and found a publisher in the UK. Hence it qualified for consideration, and became the first book in Hindi to win this prestigious prize.

Naturally, this is a matter of great pride. But there are troubling questions that must be confronted. Geetanjali, whom I know personally, is not new on the Hindi writing canvas. She has published four novels and two collections of short stories earlier, apart from a magisterial book on Munshi Premchand. Within Hindi literary circles she has won recognition and acclaim. But why did she become a literary superstar only when she won a foreign award?

This is an important  and uncomfortable  question. Somehow, foreign recognition is very important to us Indians. When the question of giving titles to loyal Indians was being discussed in the British Parliament in 1876, British PM Disraeli argued that Indians attach enormous value to such distinctions. The Booker, of course, carries considerable prestige, but that prestige is magnified a hundred times in India. Rabindranath Tagore deservedly won the Nobel Prize for literature in 1913, but his literary genius was fully accepted in India only after that. Ravi Shankar became a household name only after his association with the Beatles. Satyajit Ray became a legend for his own countrymen only after his films were hailed abroad.

Only when Arvind Adiga won the Booker Prize in 2008 for his novel The White Tiger  and received the prize in full British attire of a tuxedo and bowtie  did Indians recognise him as a literary hero. Something similar happened with the film Slumdog Millionaire. When the film won the BAFTA award in Britain for best film, it had not even been officially released in India. Even though most Indians had not seen the film, and could not, therefore, judge it on merit, the media was euphoric at this achievement. After the film won the Oscar in February 2009, all sense of proportion was lost. We went hysterical. Banner headlines announced the great victory for a film, which was, incidentally, made by a British film director.

For most Indians, winning the Booker is like being recognised where it matters, of being vindicated in the right quarters, of having glamorously arrived. But what about the departure lounge left behind? A leading Indian publisher pointed out in an interview that if an author gets the prestigious Sahitya Akademi Award in India, it makes a difference in sales of perhaps ten copies! In the case of the Crossword Prize, or the Jnanapith Award, there may be an additional sale of 1,000 copies. But with the Booker sales go up exponentially  anything from 50,000 to 150,000 copies. Booker winning novels leap out of shelves in India, bought by customers eager to read what the English have recognised.

Geetanjalis Ret Samadhi was published in India by Rajkamal Publications in 2018. I spoke to Ashok Maheshwari who runs Rajkamal. He confirmed to me that until the Booker, the book trudged along fairly listlessly, selling far below its potential, and that Geetanjali herself was frustrated at the unremarkable response. Why should this be so? After all, technically, India is the third largest book market in the world. Hindi has a great lineage, and numerically at least, a very large market. Geetanjalis first novel, Mai, was shortlisted for the Crossword Book Award in India, and translated in 2017 into English by an Indian. But none of this made her a celebrity author, widely read and admired by Indians, until she won the International Booker in the UK.

All this should make us seriously think. We are legatees of a great civilisation, where literature flourished when in most parts of the world people were still learning to speak. Why then is there such little literary discussion, reviews, appreciation and readership of our own authors in our own country? Do we really have to wait for an American, Daisy Rockwell  and she has, indeed, done an excellent translation  to bring our own books to our own readers? In a multilingual country where some 80,000 new titles  some of them showing great talent  are published in 24 different languages every year, why are good translations so rare? There is nothing wrong in foreign recognition, but that cannot be the only reason to awaken Indians to their own talent.

In particular, there needs to be much more of good translations in India. In the absence of this, works of great merit in our many languages remain limited to their specific linguistic silos, and are deprived of a wider readership and appreciation, including abroad. I have myself translated four volumes of Gulzar Sahebs poetry into English, which have been published by Penguin. I have also rendered in English the poetry of Kaifi Azmi, Atal Bihari Vajpayee, and Ghalib, also for Penguin. Apart from English, there is a dire need to translate books from one Indian language to another. In fact, the government should seriously consider setting up an institute of excellence only to encourage translations. Geetanjali, who would otherwise have been only read in Hindi, was lucky to get a Daisy Rockwell. We need more Daisy Rockwells of our own.

Incidentally, the deafening silence from the BJP to Geetanjalis milestone achievement is indicative of a small-mindedness that is depressing. The BJP otherwise portrays itself as a champion of Hindi. But when a Hindi novel gets the International Booker for the first time, they are shy of felicitating the author apparently because in some of her books she has  rightly  been critical of communal divisiveness. Our PM, who tweets at a drop of a hat, lost his voice.

I am proud and very happy for Geetanjali. She fully deserves this belated recognition. But I would have been even happier if her creativity was more befittingly recognised in her own country before the Booker Prize.
by Stefano Caprio

Max Scheler argued that the best demonstration of the Russian culture of resentment are the 'humiliated and offended' heroes of Gogol, Dostoevsky and Tolstoy. Today, the Russians think they have done their part after the end of the Cold War, while 'the others' have taken advantage of it. This anger has exploded in Ukraine, showing the whole world how little has been understood about a people not only proud of their traditions, but able to expose the hypocrisies and weaknesses of others.

The recent statements by former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, who confessed that he hates Westerners because they are 'bastards and degenerates, who want the end of Russia... as long as I am alive, I will do everything to make them disappear', has caused a stir. In Russia, the words of Medvedev, who has been struggling with severe alcohol addiction for years, have not been given much weight for some time, and even his statement about the 'horsemen of the Apocalypse approaching' is being read as the feeling of the 'horsemen of the Alkoholiss'.

Nevertheless, the bewilderment remains at the transformation of one of the most moderate political figures of the twenty-year Putin period, expressing a deep resentment towards an undefined West. Medvedev, after all, had been mocked by Naval'nyj's investigations, which had revealed his passion for unbridled luxury in a very 'Western' style. The denunciation of him had given rise to the 'Sneakers' campaign, due to the scandal of his habit of jogging every day in a new pair of expensive sneakers, which he compulsively bought on Amazon at the rate of about twenty a month. The young Russians had taken to the streets chanting the slogan 'He is not our Dimon', a childish diminutive of 'Vovan' aimed at President Putin, his protector since his university days.

In the same days as Medvedev's scalmane, the sudden decision of Moscow Patriarch Kirill to replace his closest collaborator, Metropolitan Ilarion, and exile him to the foreign see of Budapest, while replacing him with loyalist and young Metropolitan Antonij, has caused astonishment. Even these rather abrupt moves by Kirill towards other members of the hierarchy do not come as much of a surprise to Russians, as they have always been a characteristic of his impulsive character and authoritarian management of the ecclesiastical machine. In this case, however, the resonance towards the West, which Ilarion tried to blandish with his continuous initiatives for dialogue and meetings with high representatives of the Western Christian confessions, such as his last visit to the Hungarian Cardinal Peter Erdo, who also frequently recurs among the names of the papacies in a future conclave, resonates again.

Ilarion had avoided at all costs the controversy over patriarchal support for Putin's war, which has instead characterised Kirill's magisterium over the last three months, with the hammering accusation of Western meddling in the lives of the Orthodox faithful in Ukraine and in Russia itself, seeking to impose a degenerate vision of morality and of Christianity itself, reduced to support for "gay parades". In this context, the expulsion of Ilarion appears to be a further demonstration of the ability of the 'real Russians' to defend themselves against the encroachments of the enemies of the faith.

And yet Kirill himself, like the 'apocalyptic' ex-president, has a past of great familiarity with the ecumenical world outside Russia, in particular with the Catholic Church, so much so that he himself instilled it in his faithful servant Ilarion, now replaced by an even more faithful prelate, Antonij, whom he himself had installed as bishop in Rome and then in Paris in his thirties, raising him to the dignity of Russian Metropolitan for all of Western Europe. The disconcertment is such that some commentators believe that the transfer of Ilarion to an EU territory as pro-Putin as Viktor Orban's Hungary is actually a shrewd move to have an influential Russian mediator between Russia and the West, because one never knows how everything will turn out.

Beyond hypotheses and interpretations, the question remains: from where does this deep-seated hostility of the Russians, at least of those in power today, towards a mythological West that they themselves have coveted and blandished for so many years? It is not a question of Russia's real 'eastern diversity' or Asian diversity, even in the context of a re-proposition of the Eurasian ideology that describes the Russians as the descendants of the Scythians, the bogeyman of the civilised world since the time of the Roman Empire. Russia is not China or India, or even Turkey, with their ancient civilisations and religions, making it truly another world compared to Europe or America, which asserts itself without the need to shout hatred and resentment. Between the 'Anglo-Saxon' West and Xi Jinping's 'neo-Confucian' China, there is a very strong economic and geopolitical competition, hoping that it will not degenerate into a military conflict for Beijing's reconquest of Taiwan, an eventuality for which the Russians are already sharpening their weapons, dreaming of fighting the West from the West. But Beijing is showing itself to be superior, claiming even moral and cultural superiority, without the need to stoop to the hysteria of Russian hatred.

Various intellectuals have spoken of Russia as the 'country of resentment', such as the philosopher Mikhail Jampolsky, the political scientist Sergei Medvedev, the philologist Mikhail Edelstein, or the historian Ivan Kurilla, all of whom are mentioned in the excellent international column Signal on the Meduza information site, which is heavily censored within Russia. According to these comments, Russia today is prey to a deep feeling of offence, which is precisely the meaning of the French ressentiment. Sren Kierkegaard defined it as 'the resentment of the mediocre towards those who dare to rise above the masses', as the Danish philosopher himself was; for Friedrich Nietzsche it was 'the hatred of servants towards their masters', in his opinion inspired by Christianity itself. In any case, it is a feeling of envy and hostility towards the one who is in possession of something that you will never have.

Another German philosopher, Max Scheler, wrote a text in 1913 on resentment as a political emotion, in which he considered that social inequality inevitably generates the anger of the 'lower classes' towards the higher ones. This feeling has to be satisfied from time to time, Scheler argued, at least at the level of political discussions or campaigns in public opinion, by getting the 'upper classes' to concede something, by increasing workers' salaries or by not always showing off their diamond necklaces. If the great masses 'from below' lose hope that they can achieve something, envy will turn into resentment, with the risk of overwhelming everything. According to Scheler, the best demonstration of the Russian culture of resentment are the 'humiliated and offended' heroes of Gogol, Dostoevsky and Tolstoy.

Today, resentment really seems to be the main characteristic of Putin and Kirill's Russia. One of the Russian president's most frequently used arguments to justify the 'necessary operation' in Ukraine is the offence at Nato's eastward enlargement: they had been promised they would never do it, and instead it was a deception, hence a lack of respect. Ever since the famous 'Munich speech' in 2007, Putin has repeatedly accused the West of wanting to 'teach Russians democracy', an accusation that in recent times has evolved into that of 'wanting to impose values on us that are foreign to us'.

From the point of view of Putin and his hierarchs, the 'first world' did not want to recognise Russia as part of itself. No American president would dream of talking about the importance of democracy, for example, to his French or German colleague. 'They' feel that 'they' are 'ours', while 'we' are strangers to them, as perceived by the Russians, and have remained so even after the end of the USSR. Hence the hostile definition of the 'collective West', or even more derogatory 'the Anglosaksy', who have 'decided to abandon us'. It is a feeling that unites representatives of the Russian elite and vast social groups, including official members of Orthodoxy, who are hostile towards ecumenism that leaves the Russian Church on the sidelines and exalts the Constantinopolitan primacy, also sponsored by the West, and with which Moscow has now severed all ties.

The Russians think they have done their part after the end of the Cold War, while 'the others' have taken advantage of it. One is reminded of the slogan spread in Russia in the 1990s, when every reform was proposed to 'live like in all civilised states', even renovations of private houses were called evroremont. What was meant then was material prosperity, capitalist consumerism, but even when Russia had now reached the level 'of the civilised', it continued to feel insulted and humiliated.

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Triggering the controversy are allegations of pedophilia by Nupur Sharma, spokeswoman for India's ruling party. In a TV debate she recalled the young age of the prophet's last bride, only 9 years old at the time of the wedding. The wave of anger at the end of Friday prayer with demonstrations in Pakistan, Indonesia, Bangladesh and India itself.

Dhaka (AsiaNews) - Muslims from several Asian nations took to the streets yesterday at the conclusion of Friday prayers, promoting massive demonstrations in protest against words deemed offensive and blasphemous by a senior official of the ruling party in India (BJP) against Muhammad.

From Bangladesh (pictured, Dhaka) to Indonesia, worshippers have voiced their ire over phrases deemed "inflammatory" commenting on the relationship that united Islam's prophet with his younger wife. The controversy flared up last week during a TV debate when Nupur Sharma, spokesman for Prime Minister Narendra Modi's party, insinuated that the prophet of Islam was a "pedophile" because he married-and consummated the nuptials-with Aisha when she was only nine years old.

Since the TV broadcast, the protest has spread to 20 Islamic countries, including Gulf nations, with Delhi being forced to call in ambassadors while the party announced the suspension of its official, insisting on "respect" for all religions. Nevertheless, yesterday's were the largest demonstrations with at least 100,000 people mobilized in Bangladesh alone at the end of the prayer.

"We are here to protest against the insult addressed to our prophet by a member of the Indian government," said Amanullah Aman, a demonstrator in Dhaka. "We want," he added, "the death penalty" for blasphemers. Threats also came to Modi and all enemies of the Muslim faith. In Pakistan, members of the Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan, an Islamic extremist movement, organized a march in Lahore paralyzing traffic. "The prophet of Islam," shouted teacher Irfan Rizvi, "is our red line. In India ... as elsewhere, the defenders of Islam will not remain silent" in the face of offenses. Demonstrations also took place in India, where there are more than 200 million Muslim worshippers, with a crowd gathering outside the Jama Masjid mosque in Delhi.

In Kashmir, authorities cut off internet connectivity, imposed curfews and limits on prayer to avert further incidents. In a spontaneous protest mota, many merchants in Srinagar closed their businesses. In Indonesia, dozens of demonstrators gathered in front of the Indian Embassy in Jakarta. "The Indian government must apologize to Muslims and must take strict action against the politicians who made the remarks" blasphemous remarks, protest coordinator Ali Hasan told Afp.

The fear is that demonstrations and incidents of even brutal violence could occur, as happened to French teacher Samuel Paty who was beheaded in October 2020 by a Chechen refugee after showing satirical cartoons of Islam to the class in a lesson on freedom of speech. Images of the prophet are strictly forbidden in Islam.
Today's headlines: Asian commodity producers' fears rise in Asia over protectionist policies in response to Ukraine war; Catholic village in Myanmar hit by military for second time in a month, houses set on fire; an Indian cardinal expresses 'great concern' over expropriations of 150,000 families; Syria blocks flights from Damascus airport following Israeli attack.

CHINA

Shanghai has begun a new mass test for almost all of the 25 million inhabitants of the economic and commercial metropolis, following the discovery of new cases (symptomatic and otherwise) of Covid-19. A measure that comes just 10 days after the easing of restrictions, after more than two months of a very harsh lockdown. Beijing is also on the alert for an increase in contagions

SYRIA - ISRAEL

Syria has halted all flights to and from Damascus International Airport "until further notice". The measure is linked to yesterday's air raids by the Israeli Air Force, which damaged the runway and a terminal. The attack, the latest in a long series on Syrian territory, was condemned by Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian.

ASIA

Some Asian governments are considering protectionist policies to guarantee domestic needs amid the global increases in food commodity prices linked to the war in Ukraine. Oil in Indonesia, wheat in India, poultry in Malaysia. However, the fear is that restrictions will be extended to other export products, such as rice, drying up trade and revenues.

MYANMAR

For the second time in a month, houses in a historic Catholic village in Myanmar were attacked and set on fire by the military of the coup junta. Local sources report that two thirds of the 500 houses in Char Than, in the Sagaing region, were destroyed. On 20 May, the village had been the scene of a similar offensive, with at least 20 houses set on fire.

INDIA

The head of the Syro-Malabar Church Card. George Alencherry expressed "great concern" over the probable expropriation of about 150,000 families, who live in natural parks and protected areas in Kerala. The Supreme Court has ruled that all places within one kilometre of protected areas are 'eco-sensitive zones' (ESZs), within which permanent constructions such as houses are prohibited.

RUSSIA

The Kremlin is planning the formation of a new Russian federal district of Donbass, comprising the provinces of Donetsk, Lugansk, Kherson and Zaporozets. Annexation referendums will be held in mid-July or September, at the same time as local elections in Russia, and governors and officials will be sent from Moscow to administer federal funds.

TAJIKISTAN

The public association 'Iroda' from Tajikistan, which has been helping children with autism for years, received the Juliette Gimon Courmayeur Awards 2022. Director Lola Nasriddinova said she approached the Fund a year ago, but did not expect awards. In Dusanbe, autism is not officially recognised as a disease. Translated with www.DeepL.com/Translator (free version)
The appeal by the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate against lower court decision was rejected. Although the purchase of the disputed buildings in the Old City by the radical Jewish group is valid in all respects, the Greek Orthodox patriarch says he will continue the battle alongside the residents.

Jerusalem (AsiaNews)  The Israeli Supreme Court has upheld a lower court decision, validating the purchase of disputed property by a radical Jewish group.

The legal (and religious) battle dragging on for 20 years pitted the Ateret Cohanim group against the Greek Orthodox Church, which once owned the three buildings involved in the dispute in the Old City of Jerusalem, and whose appeal was finally rejected.

For Israels top court, the group close to Jewish settlers and right-wing movements legally purchased the property, located in the eastern sector of the holy city and once owned by the Greek Orthodox Church.

The three buildings (two hotels near the Jaffa Gate and one in the Christian quarter) at the centre of the controversy were bought in a controversial deal struck in secret in 2004 with the leaders of the patriarchate of that time.

The sale sparked protests by Palestinian Christians and prompted the resignation of the then Patriarch Irenaios I.

In the appeal in court, the Greek Orthodox Church challenged the sale, pointing out that the properties were taken illegally without the consent of the patriarchate.

The Supreme Court ruling rejected the appeal, stressing that the harsh allegations of misconduct by the parties involved in the original sale were not proven to be true in earlier proceedings.

The Greek Orthodox Church called Wednesdays ruling unfair and without "any logical basis.

It also slammed the Jewish group involved, Ateret Cohanim, describing it as a radical organisation that used crooked and illegal methods to acquire Christian real estate at a crucial Jerusalem site.

For many years, the group has sought to buy assets and properties in Arab Jerusalem in order to expand Jewish presence and control over the city.

Reached by AFP, the Churchs lawyer Asaad Mazawi said that the ruling marked a very sad day" for the whole city.

We are talking about a group of extremists who want to take the properties from the Churches, want to change the character of the Old City and want to invade the Christian areas, he said. With the backing of Israeli authorities, unfortunately they are succeeding, he added.

Israel occupied East Jerusalem in June 1967, during the Six Day War, and annexed it in a move deemed illegitimate and not recognised by most of the international community.

The Greek Orthodox Church is the largest and wealthiest Church in the holy city, with extensive land holdings that date back centuries.

In recent years, it has faced repeated charges of corruption and favouring the expansion of Israeli settlements by selling its properties.

In a note issued yesterday by the patriarch, the Greek Orthodox Church reiterated its support for the Palestinian tenants still living in the disputed properties and remained unwavering in its battle to curb the racist policy and the agenda of the extremist right wing in Israel.
A discovery of historical and religious value, confirming the Christianity's connection to Iraq. In six stone containers ancient relics and parchments with references to saints, from Simon to St John. Smuggling of antiquities is back on the agenda, Briton sentenced to 15 years.

Baghdad (AsiaNews) - A discovery of great historical, religious and cultural value that confirms - once again - the bond of Christians with Iraq and, more generally, with the Middle Eastern region of which they are the original people and an integral component since the first centuries.

Over the past few days, a dozen or so ancient relics and parchments belonging to some saints have emerged inside a church devastated by the Islamic State (IS, formerly Isis), which is now undergoing restoration.

The site of the discovery was the Syrian Orthodox church (in the photos) of Mar Thomas in Mosul, once the economic and commercial capital of the north and in the recent past the stronghold of the Islamic "caliphate" established by Isis. Found inside were six stone containers bearing Aramaic inscriptions of saints and several manuscripts in Syriac and Aramaic languages.

The workers who made the discovery immediately called the leaders of the local Church, starting with the Syrian Orthodox Archbishop of Mosul Mor Nicodemos Sharaf. Among the relics that emerged was a stone container with an inscription relating to Saint Theodore, a Roman soldier born in the province of Corum, Turkey, in the 3rd century and beheaded for having converted.

The prelate immediately contacted Mor Ignace Ephrem II, the patriarch of the Syrian Orthodox Church who was in Damascus, with a video call to allow him to share the discovery live. At the conclusion of the excavations, five more reliquaries were collected: of Saint Simon 'the Zealot', a first-century apostle; relics of Mor Gabriel bishop of Tur Abdin (593-668); relics of Saint Simeon the Wise (1st century), an elder who welcomed the infant Jesus in the Temple of Jerusalem; relics of Saint John, (Yohanan Shliha) apostle of Christ; relics of Saint Gregory Bar Hebraeus (1226-1286) Maphrien (regional primate) of the Syrian Orthodox Church from 1264 to 1286.

The latter was a great writer who compiled various works in the fields of Christian theology, philosophy, history, linguistics as well as being a poet and man of letters. For his contributions to the development of Syrian literature, he was acclaimed as one of the most knowledgeable and versatile writers among the Syrian Orthodox. Parchments written in Syriac, Armenian and Arabic, wrapped and protected in glass bottles, were also discovered in the ruins of the church.

Parallel to this important discovery for the Christian community and for the whole of Iraq, the topic of antiquities theft and smuggling is back on the agenda in the region. In fact, a network specialised in the illegal trade of antiquities with an epicentre in the Middle East has recently emerged, which also involved Jean-Luc Martinez, a former senior manager of the Louvre. The investigation has uncovered a clandestine and illegal trade that has been expanding in the shadow of the Arab Spring uprisings in the past decade and has also financially fuelled the violence of the Islamic State.

The racket includes looted artefacts from archaeological sites (even tombs of great value) that have been turned into 'open-air supermarkets' or from countries that are the scene of war or political and social uprisings such as Syria, Iraq and Egypt that lend themselves to looting.

From the countries of origin (which also touch Africa and South America) they move on to transit areas in the Gulf, Israel and Lebanon, and then arrive at their destination in Europe, Russia, Japan and China and, for some time now, even in the richest Gulf nations.

Linked to the scandal involving the former director of the Louvre is the 15-year sentence imposed by a Baghdad court on a British man for attempted smuggling of antiquities. The volume of business is in the hundreds of millions of euros, with a trade that feeds petty criminals and international organised crime, with proven links to drug and arms traffickers, as well as terrorist groups that use the internet to feed channels and contacts.
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In fact, almost every new major update that Android and iOS receive typically comes with such claims, as fanboys see even the smallest resemblance as an intention of stealing the ideas pioneered by rivals.Case in point, Apples debut of multi-stop routing in Apple Maps Announced at WWDC earlier this week, this new feature essentially makes it possible for Apple Maps users to configure a route that includes more than a single stop.This option can be useful in a wide variety of ways, but in order to understand its impact, just think of someone who delivers stuff for a living. With this new feature, they can configure Apple Maps in one go before even leaving on a journey, obviously optimizing their routes and saving precious time.While for Apple users this is an all-new capability, the multi-route support has been around for a very long time in Google Maps. The only difference is that Apple allows up to 15 stops in Apple Maps, while Google Maps supports a maximum of 9.It was obviously just a matter of time until Google fans expressed their frustration online, once again accusing Apple of copying features available in Google Maps.But no matter if Apple indeed looked at Google Maps or not before rolling out multi-stop routing in Apple Maps, the iPhone maker copying its rivals ideas isnt necessarily a bad thing.First and foremost, lets be honest about it. Multi-stop routing in a navigation app is a no-brainer. Sure, Apple needed way too much time to understand this is a key feature of a navigation solution, but at the end of the day, this option should be part of the essential feature arsenal of pretty much any piece of software in this software category.Then, its not a secret that Apple Maps is lagging behind Google Maps in terms of features. So while Apple Maps doesnt yet come with as many navigation features as Google Maps, its getting better, especially as far as the essential package I told you about is concerned. As a result, it doesnt make much sense to accuse Apple of stealing Googles ideas when, in fact, what the company does is only bring essential functionality to its app.And last but not least, even if Apple is indeed copying Googles features, this could end up becoming a good thing for users out there.Google Maps is by far the best navigation app on the market, and Apple is pretty much the only company that can build a worthy competitor on mobile devices. Sure, the likes of Sygic, TomTom, and HERE also developed advanced solutions on this front, but lets not forget that Apple Maps comes pre-loaded with every iPhone out there, so its often the first choice for most users anyway.But before turning Apple Maps into a fully-featured alternative to Google Maps, Apple must first make sure everything is there. Obviously, investing in innovations that could help set its software apart from the rest of the crowd should at one point become a priority, but right now, Apple Maps isnt necessarily in a place where such a thing should be the main focus.So at the end of the day, Apple Maps getting better, no matter if this means getting the capabilities available elsewhere, is something that could eventually help Apple build a worthy alternative to Google Maps.Competition is a good thing, theres no doubt about it, but sometimes, maybe it just has to start with a close look at what your rivals have to offer before eventually doing the same thing better than them.
EV

Now, I myself am neither in team iOS nor team Android. But after seeing all the wacky shenanigans Bogdan and several others on the team have reported lately regarding the Apple Car, some of us are starting to think Apple needs to stay the heck away from the auto industry. Sure, Apple CarPlay is a real necessity in 2022. But as for vehicle hardware, we can't say the same.Even a cursory glance at the multitude of bits and pieces of info regarding a prospective Apple motor vehicle division over the last eight years reveals a habit of extreme secrecy and oftentimes even downright exaggeration of the truth. In 2022, it's to the point where some are starting to doubt that the project is even real.It's believed to have been greenlit by Apple's CEO Tim Cook back in 2014, with rumors of Apple's old boss Steve Jobs expressing interest in the idea as far back as 2008. Contemporary reports from the period seemed to indicate that former Mercedes-Benz North America's chief executive of R&D Johann Jungwirth was contacted to help get the project rolling.All alongside a contingent of thousands of new employees specializing in automotive workflows. By 2016, even Tesla CEO Elon Musk was convinced that Apple was keen on bringing an all-electric car to market to compete with his own by the time the decade was out. "It's pretty hard to hide something if you hire over a thousand engineers to do it," Musk was quoted as saying at the time.By this time, the media had applied a name to Apple's initiative, Project Titan . But even as Apple registered 27 vehicles with varying levels of autonomous driving capability in 2018, by 2019 it was reported that the company had laid off as many as 200 staff members working on Titan.Leaving hopes of a hip and trendy Apple car by the year 2020 up in smoke, even before the global health crisis made it all but a guaranteed must. Even with Bob Mansfield , one of Apple's premier hardware engineers, purported to be the project lead, we'd be hard-pressed to find more information regarding Apple'sproject for quite some time.But come 2021, it appeared Apple was ready to loosen its perpetually tight lips regarding project Titan. Only for us all to wish they'd kept their mouths shut. Information seems to point to a new direction for the Apple Car, one of a fully autonomous electric car, without a driver's seat and possibly even Virtual/Augmented Reality displays instead of a windscreen.Couple that with a few less-than-flattering renderings done by independent graphic artists of what the Apple car may look like, and suddenly people are a lot less excited for what's to come. Heck, even technology commentators with no stake in the auto industry, like, off the top of my head, Mutahar Anas of SomeOrdinaryGamers, have gotten in on the fun.If not for a report at the beginning of this year by the Korea Economic Daily that Apple was in contact with Hyundai to develop and manufacture the Apple Car, there's a good chance we'd be as in the dark about proceedings as we were before the turn of the decade. Korean analyst Ming-Chi Kuo claims such a collaboration, either with Hyundai or a Japanese brand like Toyota or Nissan , won't see results until at least 2025, or perhaps far longer. Meanwhile, project lead Christopher CJ Moore anounced in May of this year he'd be leaving the team for another tech company.It seems Apple's blanket refusal to be completely forthcoming with the auto industry has only sewed distrust and possibly even some animosity between itself and global automakers. But even with all this history as context, the real reason so many people soured on the idea of an Apple car has less to do with the auto industry, and more to do with their ever-shady practices when it comes to first-party repairs.As we've seen with Tesla, trendy EV companies have proven to be downright authoritarian when it comes to who can and can't service their vehicles, with real consequences for those who go against their guidelines. It's a practice that, in many regards, began with Apple and their Genius Bar over in the smartphone industry. It's safe to say, a second EV company engaging in unscrupulous business practices at dealer service centers is something the auto industry doesn't need at this moment.There are plenty of legitimate and ethically passable startup EV companies out there far more deserving of our hard-earned money.
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A Kern County judge granted a motion Friday to postpone the trial date to July for the adoptive parents accused of murder in the death of two 
WHEATON, Ill. (AP)  Public health officials have identified a third case of monkeypox a week after the first two cases appeared in Illinois.

WLS-TV reports that a man in DuPage County tested positive for monkeypox after traveling internationally. The adult male was in a country that has reported an outbreak, according to the DuPage County Health Department.
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Jefferson County will soon get new voting machines to comply with state law.

Two companies vying for the county's contract presented their products to residents gathered at the Jefferson County Courthouse in the hopes to garner their support before the county commissioners decide who to move forward with.

Election Systems & Software and Hart Intercivic presented their machines in the jury empaneling room on Tuesday and Wednesday afternoon respectively. The presentations lasted multiple hours each and each company provided demonstrations, explanations, a chance for members of the audience to ask questions and an opportunity for those in attendance to test out the machines themselves before taking a survey.

As the state of Texas transitions to paper-based voting by 2026, Jefferson County is one of three counties eligible for a grant from the Secretary of State for $3.2 million. However to get the money, the county has to install the new voting machines by the 2022 November elections.

Here are five things to know about the options:

1. The machines resemble each other.

These companies are very similar, said county clerk Laurie Leister. These companies offer basically the same thing and there are little idiosyncrasies that are differences between the two. Theres really not a whole lot of difference.

2. Both companies offer ADA accommodations.

Every machine ES&S presents is ADA accessible. There is a special braille keypad for blind voters, for example, and voting options can be read aloud to people who are visually impaired. The screen can be turned off if it will not serve a purpose for a particular voter.

Also, there is a capability for voters who are paralyzed or parapleigic to cast their ballot using their breath through a sip-and-puff device.

Hart Intercivic has made their voting machine tactile for voters who are visually impaired. All machines come with headphones for those who would like to have the ballot read to them. The screen can be turned off to give the voter privacy.

Font sizes can be increased for those who do not need the audio option and the contrast of black words on a white background or white words on a black background can be customized for comfort. There are landing lights and ridges to indicate where voters with disabilities should place their ballot. There is a place to plug in a sip-and-puff device.

All of the booths are wheelchair accessible and low to the ground.

3. ES&S is advertising a machine that has Intelligent Mark Recognition and Positive Target Recognition & Alignment Compensation technologies to reduce the number of ballots that require manual adjudication, which can be time consuming.

Data is stored on certified flash drives and there are backup flash drives imbedded in the machines in case of accidents. The system also alerts voters when they have not filled out their entire ballot and reminds them that they have that option.

4. Hart Intercivic presented a machine that is never connected to the internet. The company provides a voter-verified paper audit trail.

Each device has an audit log, allowing poll workers to check how many people came to vote against how many ballots have been cast. The entire system was designed, developed and manufactured in Texas.

5. The county is trying to move quickly on making a decision. Surveys have been returned. For Tuesdays demonstration, 30 of the 66 signed-in attendees filled out a survey. There was a slightly smaller turnout on Wednesday.

The Jefferson County Commissioners will receive their own workshop about the voting machines on Wednesday.

I think they will vote the following Tuesday, Leister said. They want to get it done.
POLK CITY, Fla. (AP)  M34, a typical black bear who became an inspiration, was stuck.

He had hopscotched north from Sebring between dwindling patches of trees until he came to Celebration.

If Florida was an entire world, M34 had reached its equator: Interstate 4, the legendary highway that conveys sunburned tourists between the gulf beaches and Disney World. I-4 is the concrete ribbon that ties up Tampa-to-Orlando commuters. Its a battleground for presidential candidates.

To many, the highway is a perpetual horror story  especially to a 3-year-old black bear.

Wearing a collar that tracked his movements, M34 plodded in the shadow of I-4 west toward Lakeland. He drifted close to the pavement, only to pull back.

He covered many miles in June 2010, traversing a stretch of the Hilochee Wildlife Management Area east of Polk City, where the tall pines hardly cloak the roar of SUVs and 18-wheelers.

M34 ultimately turned around, walking back toward Lake Okeechobee, nearly 100 miles south of Celebration.

More than a decade later, the interstate remains a deadly barrier for wildlife. But where M34 once tramped, road building crews now work hot, dusty days to lift I-4, providing the first major crossing for animals under the highway between Tampa and Orlando.

The work dovetails with a movement among conservationists  in part inspired by M34  to preserve a corridor of continuous green space across the Florida peninsula.

For 50 years weve had these plant and animal communities that have been isolated because of I-4. Its the rare animal thats crossed that, said Jason Lauritsen, chief conservation officer for the Florida Wildlife Corridor Foundation. Last year the foundation won state recognition for its efforts  and conservation funding  with the passage of the Florida Wildlife Corridor Act.

The I-4 crossing is part of a $71 million redesign of the interchange where the highway meets State Road 557, said Brent Setchell, a district drainage design engineer for the Florida Department of Transportation. The agency has not broken out the cost for the wildlife crossing alone, but Setchell estimated it at roughly $8 million, mostly for fill dirt.

In May, Setchell gave a tour of the site to representatives of the Florida Wildlife Corridor Foundation and Brenda Mallory, chairperson of the Council on Environmental Quality, a federal group that advises President Joe Biden on conservation. A Tampa Bay Times journalist accompanied them.

Groaning bulldozers clawed up earth beside I-4 on a humid afternoon as the tour group arrived in two caravans. Setchell showed posters of conceptual drawings and laid out a timeline, which calls for construction to be complete by next spring.

The visitors donned hard hats and stepped into the shade below a bridge that will replace I-4s existing six lanes.

The wildlife crossing is an underpass, 61 feet wide at its opening and 8 feet high, Setchell said. Fencing around the surrounding highway will herd animals toward the passage.

The state has installed wildlife crossings in other areas, he said, including Southwest Florida, where they are supposed to help endangered Florida panthers. Panthers  estimated to number 230 adults at most  are routinely hit by cars. Twenty-seven were found dead in Florida last year, according to state data, 21 of them killed by a vehicle.

This year, drivers have killed 15 panthers, including one on the Polk Parkway south of I-4 a few weeks before the tour.

Rapid development continues to seize much of the state, but Central Florida stands out. Orlando and Tampa squeeze the heartland from either side, populations spilling into subdivisions off I-4.

The pressure puts conservationists on the clock. Every year, fewer tracts of land are available for saving their corridor.

We will not get a chance to conserve a piece of property once it has rooftops on it, Lauritsen said.

Just east of the crossing, he said, green spaces along U.S. 27 that were viable for conservation a couple of years ago are no longer.

Daniel Smith, a research associate in the biology department at the University of Central Florida, said the crossing under I-4 is one of the few spots left in the middle of the state connecting tracts of conserved land.

Roads, he said, fracture natural landscapes, which splits animal populations and narrows their gene pools. Wildlife crossings allow groups of animals to mix, benefiting species diversity.

Take black bears: Smith said they roamed continuously across Florida before development splintered them into distinct subpopulations.

An estimated 4,050 bears lived in Florida as of 2015, according to the most recent figures available from the state Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. Like M34, some make long forays to find territory or food, crossing roads along the way.

At least 345 bears were killed in Florida last year, according to state reports  287 of them on roads.

Bears and panthers are not likely to be routine visitors to the I-4 crossing, Smith said. Deer and bobcats, he said, are more common in the area. Smaller animals such as armadillos could use it, too.

The wildlife crossing will not work on its own. To make it successful, Smith said, officials need to preserve more land near I-4, so animals can reach the passage.

Its doable, he said. But as growth dominates Central Florida, its challenged  its very challenged.

Lauritsen said he hopes the I-4 crossing catalyzes more support for conservation among elected officials in Polk and nearby counties such as Orange, Osceola and Lake. The Wildlife Corridor Foundation has identified almost 18 million acres of land that could form a continuous corridor. Of that, 9.6 million acres are already conserved.

Outside the Hilochee Wildlife Management Area, most of the territory around the crossing is an opportunity area  meaning its not protected yet. State or local governments could buy properties outright or secure conservation easements, leaving the land available to farmers or ranchers but off-limits to development.

That swath of Florida has a wonderful mix of swampy, forested wetlands and pine flatwoods, said Joe Guthrie, a carnivore ecologist at the Archbold Biological Station. North of I-4, the Green Swamp Wilderness Preserve does not currently host a bear population, but scientists believe it could.

Leaders of the Wildlife Corridor Foundation have made several sweaty treks across the state, hiking, biking and paddling to raise awareness and show how a continuous passage is possible. Guthrie has joined on several occasions.

He has another tie to the I-4 crossing, too, as one of the University of Kentucky researchers who first tracked M34. Guthrie called it deeply satisfying to see how the discussion around conservation in Florida has developed  stirred, at least in part, by M34s journey.

All those years ago, he said, he could never have predicted that the young bear might play a part, however small, in spurring the redesign of the highway that once seemed to block its progress.

And as for M34? After several months, the tracking collar fell off  as it was programmed to  and the bear disappeared into the woods.
SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (AP)  A Republican candidate for the South Dakota House announced Wednesday he is withdrawing his candidacy amid a challenge from his Democratic rival over his eligibility for the race.

Logan Manhart, who was running as a Republican for a District 1 House seat, said in a statement released on Twitter that he had received legal advice and at the end of the day I must abide by all rules and laws that have been set forth for this position.
ORLANDO, Fla. (AP)  The owner of an exotic animal breeding business in Florida has been sentenced to five years' probation for illegally selling a capuchin monkey to singer Chris Brown.

A federal indictment doesn't name Brown, only identifying the buyer as a celebrity in California, but key details match an Associated Press report that wildlife agents seized the singer's pet monkey after serving a search warrant on his Los Angeles home in early January 2018. Brown also was identified in court Wednesday at the sentencing hearing in Florida for the monkey breeder, Jimmy Hammonds.

Wildlife agents moved in after Brown shared a picture of the capuchin monkey with millions of his followers on Instagram. Prosecutors later dropped charges of possessing the monkey without a permit after Brown agreed to forfeit his rights to Fiji and pay $35,000 for the monkey's care.

As for the monkey breeder, a federal judge in Tampa on Wednesday ordered Hammonds to pay a $90,000 fine to a fund operated by the U.S Fish & Wildlife Service. Also, he has to serve eight months of his probation in home confinement.

According to the indictment, Brown paid $12,650 to Hammonds, who operated The Monkey Whisperer Ranch in Parrish, Florida. Under both Florida and California laws, it is illegal to transfer a capuchin monkey without a permit.

Hammonds pleaded guilty to conspiracy and three counts of violating the Endangered Species Act. Prosecutors said he also illegally sold endangered cotton-top tamarins to buyers in Alabama, South Carolina and Wisconsin while trying to disguise the sales.

Prosecutors had argued that Hammonds deserved more than a year of prison, citing the need to deter others from committing similar crimes.

In addition to licensed money breeding activities, Hammonds frequently sold monkeys on the black market," they said in court papers. Hammonds engaged in illicit business practices or schemes that involved a pattern of repeated illegal conduct."

Hammonds' lawyer described him a hard working, law abiding member of the community" who helped people deal with alcohol addiction, and said none of the monkeys were treated inappropriately or caused any adverse effects" on the ecosystems involved.
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Re: Cal Thomas column on Tuesday headlined, How kids become progressives.

As a public-school educator of 25 years, I find it hard to put into civil language how outraged I felt reading this twisted column. It seems that educators are directly under attack once again.

Cal Thomas states that for six hours a day teachers just indoctrinate children to believe in ways not held by their parents. Thomas reference to a Los Angeles lawsuit was without a citation, so I looked it up. It seems anything can be twisted around to suit a narrative. That is what Cal Thomas did.

Jewish Insider published an article on May 17 about the lawsuit. It pertains to a group of Jewish parents who think teachers are deviating from state curriculum in teaching state required ethnic studies by vilifying Israel.

The article goes on to say that Prominent California Jewish organizations are keeping some distance from the suit. These leaders supported and worked on the creation of ethnic studies for the state curriculum. They endorse the teaching of ethnic diversity.

Parents, you have been in your childrens schools. Do they seem in anyway to be as described in this column? Attacking teachers, attacking the teaching of inclusion and diversity. Its more of the same. Maybe Thomas needs to just say the actual words: We are trying to kill public education in America and if a few teachers need to go under the school bus, so be it.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky (on screen) addresses participants at the Shangri-La Dialogue summit in Singapore via a video link, June 11, 2022.

The future rules of the international order are playing out in Ukraines war zones, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy told the Shangri-La Dialogue security forum in Singapore as he rallied support for his country Saturday in its fight against Russias invading forces.

The Ukrainian leader appeared on a giant screen as he addressed delegates from 40 countries, who were attending Asias preeminent international security forum, via a video-link from an undisclosed location in the capital Kyiv.

I am grateful for your support ... but this support is not only for Ukraine, but for you as well, said Zelenskyy, who wore a black t-shirt as he spoke to delegates dressed in formal clothes.

It is on the battlefields of Ukraine that the future rules of this world are being decided along with the boundaries of the possible.

The Russian invasion of Ukraine has divided countries in the Asia-Pacific region, with some finding themselves wedged between Sino-U.S. frictions and strategic differences over the issue.

Russias invasion of Ukraine is what happens when oppressors trample the rules that protect us all, U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said in a speech at the Singapore forum earlier in the day.

Its a preview of a possible world of chaos and turmoil that none of us would want to live in, he said, adding that the rules-based international order matters just as much in the Indo-Pacific as it does in Europe.

In his late-afternoon speech to the high-level delegates gathered in Singapore, the Ukrainian president listed alleged atrocities committed by Moscows forces and said Russia had destroyed all achievements of the human kind.

As Ukraine is unable to export enough food because of a Russian blockade, the shortage of foodstuff will lead to chaos, Zelenskyy said.

We must stop Russia. We must stop the war, he pleaded.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy addresses the Shangri-La Dialogue security forum in Singapore, June 11, 2022. [Screenshot/BenarNews]

Pre-emptive measures

Responding to a question that drew a parallel between Ukraine and Taiwan, the Ukrainian leader said the world must use pre-emptive measures and come up with diplomatic resolutions to support countries in need, not leaving them at the mercy of more powerful nations.

Zelenskyy did not mention China by name, but Beijing has always insisted that Taiwan is not another Ukraine. Beijing considers Taiwan one of its provinces and as an inalienable part of China.

So far, China has refrained from condemning Russia for its actions in Ukraine. In February Chinese leader Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin proclaimed a no limits partnership with no forbidden areas of cooperation.

In Southeast Asia, most countries have hesitated in denouncing Russia or joining in international sanctions against Moscow. The ASEAN regional bloc has found it difficult to come up with a clear and united framework when dealing with the Russian war.

Some members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations that experienced sanctions in the past are close to Russia and vehemently oppose them.

On Saturday, Cambodian Defense Minister Tea Banh told the security forum in Singapore that the use of sanctions in any form is not the right option to solve problems.

When it was his turn to speak, Malaysias defense chief pointed to how the war in Ukraine was testing regional security alliances such as the North Atlantic Treaty Organization.

Members of NATO have met Russias invasion of Ukraine with outrage, deploying thousands of troops to Eastern Europe to protect their alliance members, Minister Hishammuddin Hussein told the forum.

Even though Ukraine is not a member of the alliance, the potential of the conflict sparking into a much larger world war exists and the fear of it becoming a reality is conceivable, as much as we want to deny it.

Indonesian Defense Minister Prabowo Subianto speaks with an aide during the second plenary session of the 19th Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore, June 11, 2022. [Reuters]

Rules-based international order

The war in Ukraine has featured prominently during sessions at the Shangri-La Dialogue so far.

Austin, the U.S. defense secretary, said that Russias indefensible assault on a peaceful neighbor has galvanized the world.

Its what happens when big powers decide that their imperial appetites matter more than the rights of their peaceful neighbors, he said in a thinly veiled reference to China.

The Ukraine war highlights the dangers of disorder, Austin said, as he urged countries in the region to cooperate to strengthen the rules-based international order.

Its yet to be seen, though, how his calls resonate among smaller nations in Southeast Asia who, up to now, have remained reluctant to pick sides.

The defense chief of Southeast Asias largest country indicated meanwhile that Indonesia was keeping an eye on the situation in Ukraine, but as a nation, he said, Indonesia has always pursued an Asian way in approaching challenges to its security amid big-power rivalries.

The situation in Ukraine teaches us that we can never abandon our security and independence and never take them for granted. Therefore, we are determined to strengthen our defense. Our outlook is defensive, but we will defend our territory with all of our resources, Indonesian Defense Minister Prabowo Subianto said in his speech Saturday to the Singapore forum.

In our experience, over the last 40 to 50 years, we have found our own way, the Asian way, to solve this challenge. We decided that our shared experience of being dominated, enslaved, and exploited, forced us to struggle and create a peaceful environment, he said.
U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin speaks at the Shangri-La Dialogue summit in Singapore, June 11, 2022.

Updated at 3:10 a.m. ET on 2022-06-11

The U.S. defense secretary emphasized partnership as the main priority for the American security strategy in the Indo-Pacific during a keynote speech in Singapore on Saturday, but stressed that the U.S. was not seeking to create an Asian NATO.

The United States remains deeply invested and committed to a free and open Indo-Pacific, Lloyd Austin said in a 30-minute speech during the first plenary session of the Shangri-La Dialogue security forum here.

We do not seek confrontation and conflict and we do not seek a new Cold War, an Asian NATO or a region split into hostile blocs, the U.S. defense chief said, referring to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization.

Russian President Vladimir Putin had cited Ukraines interest in joining the regional inter-governmental alliance as a reason for launching an invasion of the smaller country next-door in late February. The United States and its allies in the Indo-Pacific have recently expressed concern over Chinas increasingly assertive military posture in the region, and that the war in Ukraine might encourage Beijing even more.

Beijing, for its part, has been complaining about what it sees as attempts by the U.S. and its partners to form a defense alliance in the region.

When leaders from the U.S., Japan, India and Australia met last month for a summit of the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue, or Quad, China cried foul.

Foreign Minister Wang Yi said Washington was keen to gang up with small circles and change Chinas neighborhood environment, making Asia-Pacific countries serve as pawns of the U.S. hegemony.

I think Secretary Austin made it very clear that theres no appetite for an Asian NATO, said Blake Herzinger, a Singapore-based defense analyst.

The U.S. values collective partnerships with shared visions and priorities, without the need to form a defense alliance, he told BenarNews.

An armed US-made F-16V fighter lands on the runway at an air force base in Chiayi, southern Taiwan, Jan. 5, 2022. [AFP]

A region free from coercion and bullying

The U.S will continue to stand by our friends as they uphold their rights, said Austin, adding that the commitment is especially important as the Peoples Republic of China adopts a more coercive and aggressive approach to its territorial claims.

He spoke of the Chinese air forces almost daily incursions into Taiwans Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ) and an alarming increase in the number of unsafe and unprofessional encounters between Chinese planes and vessels with those of other countries.

Most recently, U.S. ally Australia accused China of conducting a dangerous intercept, of one of its surveillance aircraft near the Paracel Islands in the South China Sea.

On Friday, Austin met with his Chinese counterpart, Wei Fenghe, on the sidelines of the Shangri-La Dialogue. During the meeting that lasted nearly an hour, the two sides discussed how to better manage their relationship and prevent accidents from happening but did not reach any concrete resolution.

Austin used his speech on Saturday to remind Beijing that big powers carry big responsibilities, saying well do our part to manage these tensions responsibly  to prevent conflict, and to pursue peace and prosperity.

The Indo-Pacific is the U.S. Department of Defenses (DOD) priority theater, he noted, adding that his departments fiscal year 2023 budget request calls for one of the largest investments in history to preserve the region's security.

This includes the U.S. $6.1 billion for the Pacific Deterrence Initiative to strengthen multilateral information-sharing and support training and experimentation with partners.

The budget also seeks to encourage innovation across all domains, including space and cyberspace, to develop new capabilities that will allow us to deter aggression even more surely, he said.

The U.S. military is expanding exercises and training programs with regional partners, the defense secretary said. Later in June, the Pentagon will host the 28th Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) naval exercise with forces from 26 countries, 38 ships and nearly 25,000 personnel.

Next year, a Coast Guard cutter will be deployed to Southeast Asia and Oceania, he said, the first major U.S. Coast Guard cutter permanently stationed in the region.

A CM-11 Brave Tiger tank fires during the annual live fire Han Kuang military exercise, which simulates Chinas Peoples Liberation Army (PLA) invading Taiwan, May 30, 2019. [Reuters]
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Terrance Simien and The Zydeco Experience will be at Mass MoCA on June 18 for a special night of music, storytelling and joy to celebrate on the eve of Juneteenth.
Edward Abrahams defense of the towns 3 percent fee on marijuana sales comes at a time when such fees are coming under increased scrutiny across the state.
In Great Barrington, a student protest of gun violence in schools, for those 'who will never speak again'
Advocates for ideas and draws conclusions based on the interpretation of facts and data.
The Pittsfield Board of Health deserves credit for averting at the last minute a legal fight with a telecom giant that could have proved disastrous for the city.

The Pittsfield Board of Health pulled its cease-and-desist order over the Verizon cell tower. So the company dropped its lawsuit Verizon Wireless withdrew its lawsuit against the Pittsfield Board of Health in federal court last week, saying its legal questions are essentially moot following a board vote to withdraw its cease-and-desist order.

Dropping the cease-and-desist order over a Verizon cell tower, which in turn led to Verizon dropping its federal lawsuit, was a welcome reversal that shouldnt have been necessary in the first place.

Even after the unanimous vote to rescind the order regarding the South Street cell tower, the health board chairs explanation for that initial tact was troubling.

When we issued the cease-and-desist order, we did that as a strategy to have a conversation with Verizon, Chair Bobbie Orsi told The Eagle. I guess my feeling now is that litigation is perhaps not the process, thats going to get us to  thats not going to help resolve the issues right now.

City health officials should not be first learning that lesson on the job, but we hope it sinks in. Trying to prompt a conversation is not nearly justification for provoking Verizon into a predictable  and justified  riposte over a cell tower that the city permitted. That would be true even if that conversation between the board and Verizon hadnt already happened  which it did in October of last year. What further conversation was worth this needlessly risky approach?

A generous read of the boards actions might note that it was responding to loud and persistent calls for action from a small contingency of constituents, mostly from Shacktown neighborhood residents who were vehemently opposed to the structure on procedural grounds before it even existed. Still, as we hope the Board of Health would now acknowledge, the call from a vocal minority to do something is not carte blanche to do just anything.

The Board of Healths reasoning for pursuing the cease-and-desist order was their ostensible finding that the tower is a cause of sickness that renders nearby residences unfit for human habitation. Not only did the evidence for this finding appear to seriously confuse notions of correlation and causation  a distinction wed hope health officials would understand  it also raises a glaring question: What about the citys other cell towers located near residential areas? Its worth noting that the South Street tower was found by a third-party radiation analysis to be emitting less than one-50th of the federal standard, a finding that was brushed aside as meaningless by tower opponents and the health board alike. Why the disparity in attention between this tower operating within radiation emission standards and others within city limits? All of this raises serious questions regarding Board of Health practices about its standards for determining something causes harm and how it handles those issues.

On top of all that, the Board of Health also has done something it cant undo even by making the right move and stepping back from the edge of legal conflict: It has strung along the angry residents the board claimed to be representing in its ill-conceived crusade. While we have disagreed with the reasoning behind their rage, these tower opponents had false hopes wrongly raised by the health board only to meet the worst kind of nonresolution  the kind that will only contribute to the conspiracy-mongering that has pressurized this issue from the fringes.

In several editorials on this cell tower spat, we stressed that the rash and escalatory approach taken by the Pittsfield Board of Health was not the responsible move expected from officials doing their due diligence on behalf of constituents and the city.

We are glad to see the board finally come to its senses and reverse course before this needlessly spilled into the courts. Still, it is worth underscoring the poor decisions that dragged the entire city to the threshold of a costly conflict  so that such decision-making is avoided in the future.
Boosting grain production to safeguard food security

Xinhua) 09:45, June 11, 2022

Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, visits the village of Yongfeng to learn about local efforts in advancing high-standard farmland development, boosting grain production, promoting rural revitalization, maintaining effective COVID-19 prevention and control, in Meishan, southwest China's Sichuan Province, June 8, 2022. Xi on Wednesday inspected the city of Meishan. (Xinhua/Xie Huanchi)

CHENGDU, June 10 (Xinhua) -- At a seed production base in Dazhu County, southwest China's Sichuan Province, rice farmer Fan Tiancheng is taking intensive care of his 140 mu (about 9.3 hectares) field of "golden rice seeds," as the seeds are expected to increase rice yield and farmers' income.

Seed farmers like Fan are entitled to special insurance premiums and agricultural subsidies, which have boosted farmers' enthusiasm to engage in cultivating hybrid seeds.

Rural cooperatives contract these farmers for the purchase of their yield. In every planting season, the cooperatives pay for the seeds, pesticides, fertilizers, and other agricultural materials in advance and provide free technical services for the farmers.

Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, on Wednesday visited the village of Yongfeng in the city of Meishan in Sichuan to inspect a high standard paddy field base.

Xi, also Chinese president and chairman of the Central Military Commission, said that it was time consuming for cultivating improved varieties of rice as it required repeated experiments and selection, and all the country's scientific and technical workers in the agricultural sector have made arduous efforts.

Xi expressed recognition to the workers for their invaluable contributions to safeguarding national food security and ensuring that the people enjoy ample supply of food and clothing.

Xi said advancing agricultural modernization requires efforts not only of experts but also those of all farmers, that the promotion and application of modern agricultural science and technologies and training of farmers must be strengthened, all big grain growers must be organized to actively develop green, ecological, and efficient agriculture.

Sichuan is China's major seed industry base. The province received 240 million yuan (about 35.95 million U.S. dollars) of national funding in 2021 for boosting seed production. It invested 620 million yuan last year to develop high-standard farmland and support the building of 50,000 mu seed production bases.

Xi stressed that the Chengdu Plain has been lauded as a land of abundance since ancient times, that the area of farmland must be ensured and such a precious land for food production must be well protected. He also called for even greater efforts to bolster up grain production and build a higher-level "granary of heaven" in the new era.

As one of the demonstration models of high-standard farmland in Sichuan, Yongfeng boasts 4,700 mu of such farmland. It has taken the lead in realizing a complete mechanized production of rice, and established the largest experimental base featuring new rice varieties and new technologies in the province.

The village, with a population of 5,176, has seen farmers' per-capita annual net income reach 28,000 yuan.

China's "No. 1 central document" for 2022 released in February outlined key tasks to comprehensively push forward rural revitalization this year, aiming to develop 6.67 million hectares of high-standard farmland.

"We have the confidence and determination to ensure the food supply for the Chinese people through our own efforts," Xi said during the inspection.

(Web editor: Zhong Wenxing, Bianji)
(The Center Square)  The Washington State Building Code Councils Technical Advisory Group on Friday morning passed a motion disapproving of a code proposal that would require new residential buildings to be built all-electric.

But it was largely a moot point in that earlier this month the group passed two proposals that would translate into an effective ban on traditional HVAC systems and natural gas in residential buildings. One would require space heating to be all-electric, and the other would require water heating to be all-electric.

We do think that electrification is a very important step for Washington, but based on previous actions of this TAG  and both discussion and testimony that we've already heard  we think that the TAG's time would be better spent elsewhere, so we'd actually like to request disapproval, so that we can just move on to other topics, said Sean Denniston, senior project manager at Portland, Oregon-based New Buildings Institute, who introduced all three proposals.

The motion to disapprove was passed unanimously via voice vote at the virtual meeting.

Todd Myers, director of the Center for the Environment at the Washington Policy Center, talked with The Center Square about what it all means.

The effect over time is to make all-electric far more preferable, if not required, he said.

Myers says requirements for all-electric home construction is based on outdated and inaccurate information that is likely to increase the cost of building homes.

According to the findings of his research, new estimates from all-electric proponents shows construction costs for electrification makes homes more expensive, updated utility cost projections turn savings into costs, CO2 emissions estimates are seriously flawed and proposed restrictions would add nothing to total CO2 reductions.

The latter two points were brought up by Myers during TAGs meeting last Friday that saw the group pass the requirement that water heating be all electric.

So, what you have to ask yourself is not whether this reduces CO2 emissions, but whether the increased costs are worth it to smooth the transition, which I think is speculative, Myers told the group.

All-electric proponents, Myers said, claim money will be saved over time on costs, but that does nothing in terms of helping people trying to rent or buy a place to live.

It was a point made by Andrea Smith, policy and research manager in government affairs for the Building Industry Association of Washington, during TAGs Tuesday meeting at which the motion requiring space heating to be all-electric was passed.

This means that a fully-electric home would price out 22,000 people in our state, she said. We have a housing and homeless crisis right now, and, you know, its great that heat pumps allow for cooling, but its not so great if you cant afford to shelter yourself in the first place.

She went on to say it would be a sad day for housing affordability for our state, adding, This just signals to Washingtonians and our neighbors and our loved ones that lowering greenhouse gas emissions is more important than their right to be sheltered.

The all-electric push is the result of a state law requiring the SBCC to update the energy code to reduce 70% of annual energy consumption from buildings by 2031 compared to a 2006 baseline.

In March, the SBCC voted to mandate that new commercial and multi-family construction be outfitted with all-electric space heating and hot water systems.

Some proponents of natural gas decried that ruling as an unelected body doing an end run around the state Legislature, which during its last two sessions has declined to pass bills banning natural gas.

These proposals will now go to the full SBCC later this year.
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BLANCHARD  On June 2, Blanchard and the surrounding area lost one of the few true breakfast restaurants in the area.

The Crystal Fountain, a longtime staple in the community, was destroyed in an early morning fire. The restaurant that opened up over 60 years ago was up in smoke due to a suspected wiring issue. The community suddenly lost one of the only all-day breakfast restaurants in the area.

Owner Amanda Shappee explained the impact losing the Crystal Fountain has had on the community.

I've had many messages saying that life isn't the same. They got up, they got ready to go head out to the Crystal Fountain and then they couldn't. Shappee said.

The restaurant was originally built by L.C. Tyler over 60 years ago selling ice cream. Over the ensuing decades, the building transitioned into a multitude of different places, including a gas station, a place that sold produce, a roller skate diner, before officially becoming the Crystal Fountain. Shappees adopted father bought the restaurant in 2011.

He was actually a customer that came into the restaurant ever since he was a little boy. We live a mile from the restaurant, and he didn't want to see it close. So, he bought it in 2011, Shappee said.

With the restaurant serving breakfast all day, the breakfast skillet is considered by Shappee to be the special item on the menu. She explained how the restaurant tried to treat all its patrons like family.

"Everybody left feeling like they were part of our family because, I mean, I could literally name almost everybody that came into the restaurant. I can tell you pretty much what everyone's going to order before they sit down." Shappee said.

The fire started in the kitchen. While it was initially thought to be the stove, it was found that old wiring in the HVAC was the cause of the fire.

Shappee explained that many of the fire departments were regulars at the restaurant.

"I've catered to the fire departments," Shappee said. "All the fire departments came and put out the restaurant. Ninety percent of them are regulars. So, they were all sentimental while they were putting the fire out because where are they going to go have breakfast now? It's affected everybody.

Shappees initial goal is to reopen by the first of next year but admits that theres a long way to go before that happens.

It just depends on how everything is because we're still dealing with the insurance and I mean, they haven't really given us a hard time but it's just the beginning, Shappee said.

Shappee was grateful for all the messages from the surrounding community and around the country, some from people as far away as Texas and Florida.

I literally had for my personal messages over 200 personal messages," Shappee said. "That's not counting over 300 comments on anything that was shared on Facebook that I've had people want to know if they can donate to make sure that we can rebuild, make sure that we are rebuilding.

It is Shappees intention to rebuild. The family met with zoning and confirmed they were still able to rebuild. Now, they are currently meeting with the insurance inspector and company to figure out the details of a potential rebuild.

Those who want to donate towards the rebuilding of the Crystal Fountain can go to any Isabella Bank and give to Crystal Fountain Donation. More updates will be provided on the Crystal Fountain Facebook page in the coming weeks and months.
A senior Department of Homeland Security official planned to meet Twitter executives in April to discuss potential censorship partnerships between the federal government and Twitter, a leaked government memo reveals.

The meeting was intended to be in person, off-the-record, and closed [to the] press, according to the memo, part of a cache of documents two Republican senators released last night.

Another document in the cache - this one from September 2021, just weeks after Twitter banned me - explains that dissent around Covid and vaccines was a focus of the departments efforts to combat misinformation.

The memos raise still more questions about the extent of the cooperation between Twitter and federal officials last year, as the company censored me and other skeptics about Covid countermeasures and mRNA vaccines.

SOURCE

NOTE: DVE stands for domestic violent extremism, while MDM stands for mis-, dis-, and malinformation.

While mis- and disinformation are false - at least according to the would-be government censors hoping to ban them - malinformation is not. By the governments own definition, malinfomation is based on fact but used out of context.

In other words, malinformation is a debating point that the government doesnt like.



Senators Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) and Josh Hawley (R-Missouri) released these documents last night, as part of their investigation into the Biden Administrations short-lived and star-crossed Disinformation Governance Board, i.e. its effort to control social media. The Department of Homeland Security now says the board is paused.

The documents in the cache come only from the Department of Homeland Security and begin only in September. Thus they do not shed light directly on what discussions Twitter may have had with other officials at other departments or in the White House around the time it banned me.

But they make clear that although Facebook received more public attention, government officials were very focused on influencing Twitters role in public debate.

The Homeland Security memo describing the potential meeting between Robert Silvers, who is the departments Under Secretary for Strategy, Policy, and Plans, and the two Twitter executives explains that Silver had already met previously with another Twitter executive.

The memo also notes that Nick Pickles and Yoel Roth - the two Twitter executives scheduled to meet Silvers - both know DGB [Disinformation Governance Board] Executive Director Nina Jankowicz.

Jankowicz became infamous in late April after a video of her singing about misinformation to the tune of a Mary Poppins song. She has now resigned as the boards director.

It is not clear whether the meeting between actually took place, or what specifically was discussed if it did. But Grassley and Hawley have now directly asked the department whether it asked or suggested to Twitter and other social media companies that they suspend or ban people who made posts the department did not like.

So just how closely did Twitter work with DHS - or, just spitballing here, the Centers for Disease Control or the Surgeon General or the White House itself - last year? Did it talk to them about censoring, say, me?

Enquiring minds want to know. (As the old slogan goes.)

I want to know!

If only I had a way to find out.
Sioux Valley Dakota Nation culture camp brought together multiple generations and newcomers in a celebration of Indigenous cultures, traditions and knowledge over three days of activities.

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Sioux Valley Dakota Nation culture camp brought together multiple generations and newcomers in a celebration of Indigenous cultures, traditions and knowledge over three days of activities.

Sioux Valley High School hosted the culture camp at Grand Valley Campground from Wednesday to Friday.

During the festivities, organizers "take the classroom to the outdoors" and host different activities that promote Dakota language, culture and teachings, said principal Kevin Nabess.

Elders, guests and local knowledge keepers are invited to participate and pass on their teachings to the young people in attendance.

"Its three-generational teachings: we have the kids learning from the middle generation and we have the elders observing the middle generation teaching the youth," Nabess said. "Its a beautiful event. Its nice to share with everyone."

For the first time at the culture camp, newcomer students from the Winnipeg area were invited to participate and learn more about Dakota culture through the Be That Leader program, Nabess said. The school connected with the organization after being invited to attend a Jets game in Winnipeg over the winter.

"For the Dakotas here, weve been specifically teaching the traditions and values here and we wanted to share that with them as kind of a way to break racial barriers," Nabess said. "Were building bridges."

The collaboration served as an opportunity to break down racism through a cultural exchange so newcomers can learn and understand Dakota culture, while Sioux Valley students learn and understand the experiences of newcomers in Manitoba.

TIM SMITH/THE BRANDON SUN Winnipeg students Ayan Diriye (right) of Gordon Bell High School gives a henna tattoo to Jaspreet Manalili of Sisler High School while they take part in Sioux Valley Dakota Nations culture camp at the Grand Valley Campground Thursday.

Shakila Atayee works with the Aurora Family Therapy Centre in Winnipeg and runs the Be That Leader program for newcomer youth in the community. The program includes students from four Winnipeg High Schools and saw 29 students from the program making the trek to Grand Valley Thursday.

"We are trying to help them integrate into the Canadian society and one of our goals is to collaborate with the Indigenous community," Atayee said. "In Winnipeg, they are more newcomers and the Indigenous community, both of them are living in a low-income part of the city and struggling or competing for the similar services."

Through the Be That Leader program, youth can learn about the Indigenous cultures firsthand from Indigenous people by attending events like Sioux Valley culture camp, Atayee said.

"I think having both youths to learn from each other and their experiences, play with each other, will create a better society for them and build a bridge of friendship," Atayee said. "They can share their resources in a better way together."

Sioux Valley elders Eleanor Elk and Margaret Roscelli described the culture camp as an important opportunity to connect, celebrate and learn about Dakota culture.

"Today is a very happy occasion, especially for our younger people. They are learning a lot of things that should have been taught at home, but its OK because a lot of us didnt grow up knowing these things because of the colonization that happened," Roscelli said. "A lot of people had forgotten their ways."

The elders always look forward to the culture camp, Roscelli said, because it serves as an opportunity to interact with community youth and spend time together learning teachings.

The activities they engage in are critical because many youth never had the chance to practise an art like quill work, she said, since the passing of knowledge was disrupted by intergenerational trauma and colonial assimilation tactics. It is incredible being able to help students reconnect with their familial legacies and Dakota culture, she said.

"We are in our traditional home area. You cannot remove us," Roscelli said. "This is a time to renew and teach the young ones and spend time together as elders."

CHELSEA KEMP/THE BRANDON SUN Elena Eriyshin, 17, helps participants make buttons at the Sioux Valley Dakota Nation culture camp at Grand Valley Campground Thursday afternoon.

Culture camp also serves as an opportunity for elders to sit together and talk about their culture and the overall well-being of the community.

Many elders have been able to maintain the Dakota language and speak it fluently to this day, Roscelli said, even though institutions like residential schools tried to snuff it out.

"Ever since we were born we spoke Dakota, so they couldnt take that away from us," Roscelli said. "Hopefully we are influencing the younger people to learn. To take back our history and our language and to be proud of who they are."

They work with youth in the community to keep the language alive and help them become fluent Dakota speakers.

These ties to culture are essential as it also aids in the mental health of Sioux Valley young people.

While the nation is in the process of healing, there is still work to do, Roscelli said, and the elder believes connecting to culture remains essential.

Elders serve as the grandparents in the community, Elk added, and can provide love and guidance to youth.

Kookums (grandmothers) always held an important role in the community, providing kindness, love and stern guidance when needed, Elk said. She wants youth to feel this same comfort from her, Roscelli and other Sioux Valley elders.

These practices are part of overcoming intergenerational trauma and can apply teachings in a way that helps heal the community. There is a need to ensure youth feel comfortable coming for a hug and seeking advice and support from elders as their kookums.

"If we can continue to work at  people will once again live in harmony and do the things in the most respectful, loving way, especially towards our children, our grandchildren," Elk said. "That love is always there and this is something we need to keep up with."

 ckemp@brandonsun.com

 Twitter: @The_ChelseaKemp
The issue of photo radar is heading back to Brandon City Council to make a decision on the possibility of the technology being installed in the Wheat City.

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DREW MAY/THE BRANDON SUN Brandon police Chief Wayne Balcaen gave information about photo-radar technology to the Brandon Police Board Friday.

The issue of photo radar is heading back to Brandon City Council to make a decision on the possibility of the technology being installed in the Wheat City.

Brandon Police Service Chief Wayne Balcaen gave members of the Brandon Police Board more information on photo radar at the Friday meeting. The city originally asked the board for more details at a December 2021 council meeting.

He said there is a wide spectrum for the technologys price and use around the country depending on the police service and how it is deployed. While Balcaen couldnt give exact numbers on the price to install photo-radar systems, it could be used for speed enforcement in school or construction zones.

"There are many communities that do use this program, including Winnipeg, and the availability at his time is not here in Brandon because of legislation," Balcaen said.

Photo radar is used to track the speed of vehicles or enforce red lights at intersections.

The original discussion of using photo radar in Brandon came from a motion Coun. Bruce Luebke (South Centre) put forward late last year. The motion was to ask the province for the ability to use photo radar in the city.

Currently, Winnipeg is the only municipality in Manitoba legally allowed to use the technology under Manitobas Highway Traffic Act.

But, instead of making a decision at the December meeting, city council voted to ask the Brandon Police Board for more information.

At the Friday police board meeting, however, Balcaen said he would be at the next city council meeting, where he would update councillors.

"If council hears the information from the chief on the 20th of June and it gives them an appetite to want to pursue, then it might be referred back to the police board," said Mayor Rick Chrest on Friday.

"Right now its a little bit like a private members bill. We dont really have the latitude to be asking the police board to take a position until council has decided this is really something they want to pursue."

Nothing happens until Brandon City Council has collectively decided to do something, Chrest said. If council does want to pursue the ability to install photo radar, it could then come back to the police board for an official position.

Its a chicken and egg scenario, said Coun. Barry Cullen (Victoria) at Fridays meeting. City council hasnt decided whether or not to ask the province for the ability to use photo radar, so he said the board shouldnt take a stance yet.

Even if city council votes to ask the province for permission  and that permission is granted  council would then have to vote whether or not to actually install photo radar in Brandon.

Board member Shannon Brichon said she didnt have enough information at Fridays meeting to support or oppose its use in Brandon.

Luebke previously said the city is "handcuffed" by not having the option available to use photo radar on city streets. He said it is a tool the city should have in its toolbox if it is needed in the future.

According to the Winnipeg Police Services website, the service has 10 mobile units for enforcement in school, playground and construction zones. There are also 49 cameras at intersections across the city.

The Brandon Police Board is next scheduled to meet on Sept. 23.

 dmay@brandonsun.com

 Twitter: @DrewMay_
Im about to see somebody die. I need to get behind a tree, just in case a stray bullet is fired in my direction.

Im about to see somebody die. I need to get behind a tree, just in case a stray bullet is fired in my direction.

Those arent the words from an action movie on Netflix. Theyre the words I spoke to myself last Sunday afternoon as I watched a drama unfold on a sidewalk down the street from my house.

I was writing a column and heard loud yelling outside. I went outside to see what the problem was and saw something I wont forget for awhile.

Two women were arguing in front of a house that has become a problem property since it was sold a few years ago. The police are there quite often these days.

What happened last Sunday was way beyond the noise and vagrancy our neighbourhood has been forced to put up with, however.

As I stepped outside my front door, I saw the argument between the two women was escalating and could get violent. I also saw that there were also a number of men nearby, most of whom seemed to be allied with one of the women.

But then I saw three more men walking up the sidewalk, moving aggressively toward where the argument was happening. One of them had a big, full-sized axe.

At first, he was just carrying it with the handle up and the sharp head hanging down. As he drew closer to the arguing women, however, he lifted the axe above his head as if he was about to strike somebody with it.

At that moment, a Brandon Police Service officer came out of nowhere in a patrol vehicle. In seconds, he was out of the vehicle, ordering the man with the axe to drop it.

The man didnt comply. Instead, he stepped toward the other two men, with the axe ready to strike. Then he veered toward the officer, who was at most 15 feet away.

In the blink of an eye, the officer returned to his vehicle, grabbed a shotgun, cocked it, pointed it at the man with the axe and yelled for him to drop it.

Thats when I spoke those words to myself. I was sure that I was about to see somebody hit with an axe or axe man have his head blown off. Maybe both.

The man immediately dropped the axe and by doing so undoubtedly saved his own life. Seconds later, two other police officers arrived.

While the first officer continued to point his shotgun at the axe man, yelling at him to get on the ground, the second officer on the scene pointed his handgun at one of the other two men, telling him to get on the ground. The third officer pointed his stun gun at the third man, yelling at him to get on the ground.

All three men complied and they were each handcuffed and placed in separate BPS vehicles. The very dangerous situation was resolved in less than three minutes. No shots were fired, nobody was hit with a stun gun. Nobody died.

Thats solely because of the split-second decisions made by the first officer on the scene. When he saw the man with the axe moving toward the other two men, he could have easily fired his gun. It would have been justified.

When the man with the axe stepped toward him, with the axe ready to strike, the officer could have shot the axe man then, and it would have been totally justified and defensible.

That officer held the life of the offender in his hands, and he spared him. In a handful of seconds, he made decision after decision after decision perfectly.

I dont believe for a minute that he was scared to fire his gun. I believe that his training, experience and judgment enabled him, and his fellow officers, to read the situation correctly and make the right choices. Because of that, nobodys dead.

Mondays Brandon Police Service media release discussed the situation that had occurred on Sunday. It said that Police were able to deescalate the situation and no injuries were sustained to anyone involved.

Thats a severe understatement, but I think it reflects the fact that these types of incidents are becoming far too routine for the BPS. Our police officers are being exposed to a level of danger that was much less common in this city a decade ago.

They are repeatedly being forced to make split-second, high-consequence decisions, and they keep making the right choices.

For example, just four hours after the incident I just described, BPS officers had to deal with a man with a knife who, according to the same media release, was looking for someone to stab or he would stab himself. The release says he repeatedly refused to obey police commands to drop the knife and was eventually subdued with a stun gun without further incident and no injury.

Two days earlier, officers apprehended a man who was chasing another man while armed with a machete. The release says the suspect was detained without incident. I suspect the arrest was more serious than that, but it becomes a matter of routine when it happens with such regularity.

Three violent incidents in three days. Three instances in which the offenders are only alive because BPS officers made the right decisions while under a heck of a lot of pressure.

Being a police officer is a tough job on the best of days, and its getting harder for our officers here in Brandon.

Thats something to remember the next time you see them drive by. You wouldnt want to spend a shift in their shoes.

 deverynrossletters@gmail.com

 Twitter: @deverynross
ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP)  The largest documented wildfire burning through tundra in southwest Alaska was within miles of two Alaska Native villages, prompting officials Friday to urge residents to prepare for possible evacuation.

In this aerial photo provided by the BLM Alaska Fire Service, the east side of the East Fork Fire is seen near St. Mary's, Alaska, on June 9, 2022. The largest documented wildfire ever burning through tundra in southwest Alaska is within miles of two Alaska Native villages, prompting dozens of residents with respiratory problems to voluntarily evacuate. (BLM Alaska Fire Service via AP)

ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP)  The largest documented wildfire burning through tundra in southwest Alaska was within miles of two Alaska Native villages, prompting officials Friday to urge residents to prepare for possible evacuation.

This came a day after dozens of elders and residents with health concerns voluntarily evacuated because of smoke from the nearby fire.

Officials on Friday put the communities of St. Marys and Pitkas Point into ready status, meaning residents should gather important items they would want to have with them if they have to evacuate, said U.S. Bureau of Land Management Alaska Fire Service spokesperson Beth Ipsen by text. That would be followed by set, or getting a go-bag ready and leaving if the go order is given.

The fire is consuming dry grass, alder and willow bushes on the largely treeless tundra as gusts of up to 30 mph (48.28 kph) are pushing the fire in the general direction of St. Marys and Pitkas Point, Yupik subsistence communities with a combined population of about 700 people and about 10 miles (16 kilometers) apart.

There are about 65 firefighters battling the blaze, with about 40 more expected later Friday, Ipsen earlier said by phone.

The fire had not grown much since Thursday and was still estimated at 78 squares miles (202 square kilometers). The northerly winds pushed the fire to within 5 miles (8 kilometers) of St. Mary's, officials said in a late Friday update.

Ipsen said she was not aware of any structures that have been lost.

Crews cleared brush and other fuel from a swath of land in the path of the flames, and air tankers dropped retardant between the line and St. Marys as another buffer. Other aircraft had been dropping water on the fire until another fire broke out north of a nearby community, Mountain Village.

Climate change has played a role in this historic fire, said Rick Thoman, a climate specialist with the University of Alaska Fairbanks International Arctic Research Center.

He said based on records from the Alaska Fire Service dating back to the 1940s, this is the largest documented wildfire in the lower Yukon River valley. There are much bigger fires recorded just 50 or 60 miles (97 kilometers) north of St. Marys, but those burned in boreal forests.

The area where the tundra fire is burning, the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta, lost its snowpack early this year, leaving grass and other vegetation longer to dry out. Coupled with the warmest period on record in the region recently, it provided for the perfect storm for this fire that was started by lightning on May 31.

Climate change didnt cause the thunderstorm that sparked that fire, but it increased the likelihood that the ambient conditions would be receptive, he said.

The southwest Alaska hub community of Bethel, about 100 miles (160.93 kilometers) southeast of St. Marys, is the closest long-term weather station.

For the period covering the last week of May and the first week of June, Bethel had its warmest temperatures on record this year, 9 degrees F (12.78 degrees C) above its normal 48 degrees F (8.89 degrees C), Thoman said.

About 80 village elders and others with health concerns were relocated to the Alaska National Guard Armory in Bethel on Thursday, said Jeremy Zidek, spokesperson for the Alaska Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management.

Two companies that provide commuter air service in roadless western Alaska flew the passengers to Bethel.

One of those was Yute Commuter Services, which provided 12 flights out of St. Marys on its planes that seat six, said Andrew Flagg, the companys station manager in Bethel.

On Friday, he said they were asked to deliver drinking water to the community so it could be given to the firefighters.

St. Marys and Pitkas Point, which is at the confluence of the Andreafsky and Yukon rivers, are located about 450 miles (724 kilometers) west of Anchorage.
Community-led health care and housing initiatives aimed at Closing the Gap will receive a funding boost of more than $400 million, with NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet admitting traditional government-led approaches havent worked.

The $401 million in additional funding that has been announced as part of the 2022-23 budget will include grants for community-controlled organisations.

The NSW government has announced new funding aimed at closing the indigenous inequality gap. Credit:Reuters

Its clear traditional government-led approaches havent worked. This needs to be done

hand-in-hand with Aboriginal communities, who know best what changes need to be made

to help communities thrive, Perrottet said.

The funding will be rolled out over four years and its distribution will be led by the NSW Coalition of Aboriginal Peak Organisations, a representative body made up of about 40 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander organisations.
More than 120 firefighters worked to extinguish a large fire at a garbage shed in Sydneys south on Saturday night after a pile of waste went up in flames about 8am.

Fire and Rescue NSW dispatched 30 fire trucks to the site on Lindsay Street, in Rockdale, as thick black smoke billowed over the citys south.

More than 120 firefighters worked to contain the blaze. Credit:Flavio Brancaleone

Crews fought the blaze for more than eight hours. People living and working near the Cleanaway Rockdale Resource Recovery Centre were evacuated.

The cause of the fire remains under investigation.
The people want to choose a head of state but at the same time dont want to choose a politician. If you have a direct election, you choose a politician. The competing models of a direct election of a head of state versus election via parliament helped to defeat the 1999 referendum after republican infighting. In 1999 the movement had the push of strong leadership, including Paul Keating and Australian Republican Movement head Malcolm Turnbull, and also the pull factors of a nation eager to advance its national identity ahead of the 2000 Sydney Olympics and 2001 centenary of Federation. Today, despite the Thistlethwaite appointment and the release of a new model by the Australian Republican Movement in January, the vibe is not there.

My feeling with the zeitgeist is people want to see an order - first the Uluru Statement from the Heart, and they want to see actual action on climate change, and once those two things are delivered they are open to a broader conversation on the republic, says Dee Madigan, a republican and executive campaign director of progressive advertising agency Campaign Edge. It is really important the ALP is not just a party into symbolism but into action as well. Madigan is critical of the monarchy - its like a weird step-cousin still hanging around. Prince Andrew is our best asset - but says the passing of the Queen would not necessarily boost the republican cause. The popularity of Prince William and Kate, the Duchess of Cambridge could act as a dampener, despite the growing numbers of Australians who have no ancestral links to Britain. We have to accept they are popular but not representative of who Australia is, says Madigan. If it is sold correctly, it will be a good coming-of-age moment for Australia. For younger Australians the issue is not top of mind. An Ipsos poll last year found support for a republic was lowest among 18 to 24-year-olds, with only 26 per cent in favour compared to 34 per cent in all other age groups.

I just dont like the idea of replacing the royal family with someone like [ARM chair] Peter FitzSimons - it is not what I want, says Nicholas Comino, 26, a University of Sydney Economics student and investment bank worker. Nicholas Comino isnt convinced that the Queen needs to be replaced as our head of state. Credit:Louise Kennerley He is supportive of the Queen. They are incredibly privileged people, theres no doubt about that, but they are bound by duty and service. We saw that over the weekend with the Platinum Jubilee. Comino, a member of the NSW Young Liberals, would not rule out voting for a republic, but not under a direct election proposal. Directly elected politicians, he said, would be like a vanity project for people involved, and the attempt to directly elect a non-partisan figure would be nonsensical. When Daisy Jeffrey was 17 and at high school she helped to organise School Strike 4 Climate, documenting how she became an activist in the book On Hope. Now a 19-year-old studying politics, philosophy and economics at the Australian National University, she said the republic was not on the radar of young people that much.

When it comes to priorities, its not something that sits particularly high with me. Instead, she nominates climate change, racial equality, feminism and pandemic health issues. There are more important issues than the republic, says Daisy Jeffrey. Credit:Dominic Lorrimer If forced to make a choice, 54 per cent of all voters would vote Yes for a republic, but general support stood at 36 per cent, found a recent Resolve Political Monitor poll conducted for The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age. Clearly, the issue got no traction in the recent federal election, but it is fascinating to see an echo of 1999 voting patterns in 2022. The Liberal heartland seats lost to teal independents showed strong support for the republic back then.

The Melbourne seat of Kooyong, which federal treasurer Josh Frydenberg lost to teal independent Monique Ryan, voted 64.24 per cent for the republic in 1999, while the seat of Goldstein, which Liberal assistant minister Tim Wilson lost to teal independent Zoe Daniel, voted 58.01 per cent in favour. In Sydney, Turnbulls former seat of Wentworth, which fell to teal independent Allegra Spender, voted 60.19 per cent in favour of a republic. But the push for a republic doesnt appear to be top of mind for teal independents either. Wentworth has historically supported a republic, as do I, Spender says. But the priority in this term of Parliament must be to hold a referendum that sees an Indigenous Voice to Parliament enshrined in the Constitution. In Melbourne, Ryan agrees. It is heartening to see the Albanese government takes the issue of forming a republic seriously enough to appoint Mr Thistlethwaite as an assistant minister with responsibility for it, a portfolio he also held as a shadow minister. But I also note that Mr Albanese has pointed out his first priority for constitutional change is Indigenous recognition, and I fully support that as a priority.

Neither would venture into the thorny issue of which model for a republic they would support. As for the future method for choosing an Australian president, that is a decision for the Australian people, and I hope they are given an opportunity to make it, Ryan said. Twomey is happy to step into the void. One of the drawbacks of constitutional change is people will say any proposal is untested. Of course it is - thats the nature of constitutional change, she says. She proposes advancing the debate with a practice run of using proposed methods of electing a republics head of state as the means of choosing the next governor-general. The governor-general at the moment is appointed by the Queen on the advice of the prime minister. There is nothing that would stop the prime minister from agreeing to advise the Queen to appoint as governor-general whoever is chosen by a method of direct election or indirect parliamentary election.

So we would get to see how the system worked and whether it resulted in a highly esteemed person being chosen. This would allow the public to have a good hard think about selecting a head of state, Twomey says. If you put the mechanisms in place before any constitutional change is made, people can become more familiar with them and see how they work, making any subsequent referendum on a republic more of a formality. Such a scheme could use the ARM model proposed in January, in which states and territories would each propose one candidate for president, while the federal government would propose up to three, before a popular vote. It was the biggest advance in the debate since 2008, when prime minister Kevin Rudd held the Australia 2020 Summit. It produced the top idea of a two-step journey, a non-binding yes-or-no plebiscite on the republic, then a proposed referendum on the model after public consultation.

Summit co-chair Professor Glyn Davis said the Rudd government would take a high political risk if it chose to ignore new ideas that emerged from the summit. Once again republicans were enthusiastic, but it went nowhere. The ARMs new model has similarities to the much-admired Irish presidential system. There, candidates must be nominated by 20 members of parliament and four councils. Voting is preferential and terms last seven years. The Irish presidency is largely ceremonial, with strictly limited powers, issues that Australia must grapple with before it proceeds to a vote. And we are yet to even debate what type of head of state we want. Loading

Volodymyr Zelensky famously starred in a TV comedy, Servant of the People, playing the president of Ukraine, before he was elected to be the real thing and defend the country against the Russian invasion. The Australian public has a clear preference for our heads of states to be non-partisan figures with a career of public service such as former governor-general Quentin Bryce or successful state governors Dame Marie Bashir in NSW and Linda Dessau in Victoria, Twomey believes. Those who have held those offices with distinction are not likely to run for office in a direct election. Billionaires who have the money to fund an individual campaign might well do so. And while many are heartened by the appointment of Thistlethwaite as assistant minister for the republic, it is in reality a minor step forward. There hasnt been sufficient will to use up the political capital to deal with this issue. Maybe there is now, Twomey says.
Singapore: Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles has castigated China for its military build-up in the South China Sea in his first major speech on the global stage, accusing Beijing of readying to challenge by force the sovereignty of neighbouring countries.

Speaking at the Shangri-La Dialogue defence meeting in Singapore on Saturday, Marles acknowledged Chinas growing power would grant it a bigger say in world affairs, but as Australias new defence minister, he made it clear he believed the actions of Xi Jinpings regime were placing regional security at risk.

Chinese militarisation of features in the South China Sea needs to be understood for what it is: the intent to deny the legitimacy of its neighbours claims in this vital international waterway through force, Marles said.

Richard Marles, second from right, joins a meeting of the Five Power Defence Arrangements on Saturday with New Zealands Peeni Henare, Malaysias Hishammuddin Hussein, Singapores Ng Eng Hen and British High Commissioner to Singapore Kara Owen. Credit:AP

Australia does not question the right of any country to modernise their military capabilities consistent with their interests and resources. But large-scale military build-ups must be transparent and they must be accompanied by statecraft that reassures. Chinas military build-up is now the largest and most ambitious we have seen by any country since the end of the Second World War. Its critical that Chinas neighbours do not see that as a risk to them.
Washington: US President Joe Biden said Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky tuned out warnings that Russia would invade his country in the lead-up to the February 24 attack.

I know a lot of people thought I was maybe exaggerating, but I knew, and we had data to sustain, he was going in off the border. There was no doubt. And Zelensky didnt want to hear it, nor did a lot of people, Biden said Friday during a political fundraiser in Los Angeles hosted by Hollywood producer Jeffrey Katzenberg.

The president acknowledged that the possibility of Russian President Vladimir Putin launching a full-scale invasion may have seemed far-fetched, saying, I understand why they didnt want to hear it.

US President Joe Biden acknowledged that the idea of a full-scale invasion seemed far-fetched, and he could understand why Zelensky wouldnt hear it. Credit:AP

Biden accused Putin of trying to obliterate the culture, not just the nation, but the culture of Ukraine and said the Russian leader sees the capital of Kyiv as the seat of mother Russia.
Six Indian banks, namely Canara Bank, ICICI Bank, Bank of Baroda, Bank of India, and Indian Overseas Bank, have sued Singapore's GVK Coal Developers for Rs 12,114 crore ($1.5 billion) plus interest in the London High Court, a report by The Times of India said.

The banks have sued the GVK Group-owned GVK Coal Developers over dispute on a $1-billion loan and $35-million letter of credit facility that five banks lent to the company in 2011 and a $160-million loan lent in 2014, the report said. The banks have claimed that GVK defaulted on all these loans.

Nine other firms, which were guarantors for the loans, are also being sued in the case that will open on Monday. Out of 9, 7 firms are based in Singapore, and the other two in India's Secunderabad.

The conglomerate has denied breaching the agreement. It has also denied owing the $1.5 billion loan.

The banks said, according to TOI, that GVK did not make certain repayments after they failed to get a mining lease by December 31, 2012 in the Alpha project in Australia's Queensland. The project was a milestone that had to be satisfied, the banks added.

They wrote to GVK in November 2020, informing that they had cancelled the agreement and requested for repayment, the banks said. However, neither GVK, nor any of its guarantors paid back the sum owed by them, the six banks said.

In its defence, GVK said that it took the loan to fund its acquisition of the Hancock firms in Australia to develop its assets, including the Alpha project, into working coal mines, TOI reported.

GVK stated, The deterioration in the market for coal, the lack of third-party investment, legal challenges to the mining projects in the courts of Queensland, meant that very little progress was made to develop the mining assets..

While GVK said that it failed to get the lease due to litigation by environmental groups, it denied a default.
firm, Khadim India, on Saturday celebrated its founder, late Satya Prasad Roy Burmans 96th birth anniversary.

Burman entered the shoe business realising the need for affordable and quality . The beginning in 1965 was modest  from a small shoe store in Chitpur, Kolkata.

But having established itself in selling and distribution of branded basic utility in the market, Khadim entered the retail sector under Burmans leadership in 1993. And the company transformed from a wholesaler of footwear to manufacturer, retailer and distributor.

Khadim at present has expanded to 799 retail outlets and has a network of 575 distributors. Khadims largest presence is in eastern India and it is among the top three players in South India; in West and North India, its an emerging brand.

The company is chalking out plans to become the second largest retail footwear brand in the country. It is the time to collaborate, innovate and leverage strength to reach pivot position in business segments, the company said in a statement.

Khadim's has forayed into accessories segment with bags, wallets and belts.
The (RBI) has approved R Subramaniakumars appointment as the MD & CEO of RBL Bank, the private lender told exchanges.

Subramaniakumar is a former managing director and chief executive director of state-run Indian Overseas Bank, retiring on June 30, 2019. He was appointed the administrator of Dewan Housing Finance Co Ltd after the mortgage financiers board was superseded.

Subramaniakumar has been appointed at RBL for three years from the date of taking charge.

a meeting of the Board of Directors of the Bank will be convened in due course upon the completion of requisite formalities, inter alia to approve the appointment of Mr. R Subramaniakumar as an Additional Director and as the Managing Director & CEO of the Bank and the approval of the shareholders shall be obtained thereafter as per the applicable provisions of the Act, 2013 and SEBI Listing Regulations, RBL said.

A banker with 40 years of experience, Subramaniakumar started his career with Punjab National Bank. He headed business transformation at PNB for 3 years and transformed several businesses including digital, human resource, MSME, retail, among others.

Last year in December, RBLs then MD & CEO Vishwavir Ahuja went on indefinite leave. Executive director Rajeev Ahuja was appointed as interim Managing Director & Chief Executive Officer.

Ahujas went on leave came after appointed one of RBLs chief general managers, Yogesh Dayal, on the lenders board as additional director.
A total of 227 people were arrested from various districts of in connection with Friday violence, a senior police official has said.

In a statement issued here on Saturday, Additional Director General of Police (Law and Order) Prashant Kumar said, "227 persons have been arrested in the state for Friday . This includes 68 in Prayagraj, 50 in Hathras, 48 in Saharanpur, 28 in Ambedkarnagar, 25 in Moradabad, and eight in Firozabad."



People pelted stones at police personnel in Prayagraj and Saharanpur as people took to rowdiness during their protests after Friday prayers.

At least four other cities witnessed similar scenes during the marches that were carried out to decry the offensive remarks on Prophet Mohammad made by now-suspended spokesperson Nupur Sharma.

In Prayagraj, the mob set on fire a few motorcycles and carts and also attempted to set ablaze a police vehicle. Police used tear gas and lathis to disperse the mobs and restored peace, police said. One police personnel got injured by mob, they said.

Nupur Sharma was suspended by her party after several Islamic nations denounced her comment against the Prophet during a TV debate.

In Saharanpur, protesters shouted slogans against Sharma and demanded death sentence for her.

There were protests in Bijnor, Moradabad, Rampur, and Lucknow. Sloganeering took place in Lucknow.

According to the local people, stone pelting continued for over 15 minutes in Prayagraj. They said a few protesters threw stones at the police team deployed on the main road.

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
on Saturday saw a marginal dip in COVID-19 cases, with the state reporting 2,922 fresh infections, 159 less than the previous day, and one fatality due to the infection, a state health official said.

Also, a 37-year-old man from Pune, who returned from England on May 12, was diagnosed with BA.5 sub-variant.

On Friday, had registered 3,081 cases, the highest in nearly four months, but zero pandemic-related deaths.

On Saturday, Maharashtra's overall caseload went up to 79,07,631 and the number of COVID-19 fatalities to 1,47,868.

The state is now left with 14,858 active cases.

A total of 1,392 people were discharged after COVID-19 treatment, taking the count of recoveries in the state to 77,44,905, the health department said.

The state COVID-19 recovery rate now stands at 97.94 per cent, the official said.

The case fatality rate is 1.86 per cent.

A total of 41,302 tests were conducted in the past 24 hours, taking the number of samples tested so far in to 8,12,78,846.

A 37-year-old man in Pune was diagnosed with BA.5 sub-variant (of Omicron). His sample was processed at the Pune-based Indian Institute of Science, Education and Research.

The patient recovered in home isolation.

He had arrived from England on May 12. He had taken both doses of the Covishield vaccine, the official said.

The lone COVID-19 fatality in Maharashtra was reported from Mumbai.

Of the total 14,858 active cases in Maharashtra, Mumbai accounts for 10,047, Thane 2,460, Raigad 470 and Palghar 378.

Mumbai city reported 1,745 fresh COVID-19 cases followed by 238 in Navi Mumbai, 185 in Thane city and 140 in Pune city.

Maharashtra's COVID-19 figures are as follows: Total cases 79,07,631, today's cases 2,922, deaths 1,47,868, daily tests 41,302, total tests 8,12,78,846.

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
China is continuing to harden its position along the borders with India, US Defence Secretary Lloyd James Austin said on Saturday, stressing that America stands by its friends as they uphold their rights as Beijing adopts the "war coercive" and "aggressive approach" to its territorial claims.

Speaking at the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore, Austin noted that China is taking aggressive and illegal approaches to the territories it claims in the South China Sea and advancing its illegal maritime plans.

Further to the West, we see Beijing continuing to harden the position along the borders it shares with India, he said.

The Indian and Chinese troops have been locked in a tense border standoff in eastern Ladakh since May 5, 2020, when a violent clash between the two sides erupted in the Pangong lake area.

China has also been building bridges and constructing other infrastructure such as roads and residential units in the border areas with India.

China also has maritime border disputes with various countries in the Indo-Pacific region such as Vietnam and Japan.

We remain unwavering in our mutual defence commitments," Austin assured.

His comments came days after a top US General said some of the defence infrastructure that is being created by China near its border with India in Ladakh is "alarming", calling the Chinese activity in that region as "eye-opening".

Flagging concerns over the Chinese infra build-up, the US Army's Pacific Commanding General Charles A Flynn, who was on a visit to India on Wednesday, also said the "destabilising and corrosive" behaviour of the Chinese Communist Party in the Indo-Pacific region is simply not helpful.

Austin also told the defence delegates at the Singapore dialogue the importance of joint exercises conducted by the USS Theodore Roosevelt with the Indian Navy and the Indian Air Force in the Indian Ocean last spring.

Stressing that the US remains open and fully prepared to deter and defeat future aggression, he said, We also stand by our friends as they uphold their rights that is especially important as the People's Republic of China adopts the war coercive and aggressive approach to its territorial claims.

He said the US believes that India's "growing military capability and technological prowess can be a stabilising force in the region.

India, the US and several other world powers have been talking about the need to ensure a free, open and thriving Indo-Pacific in the backdrop of China's rising military manoeuvring in the resource-rich region.

China claims nearly all of the disputed South China Sea, though Taiwan, the Philippines, Brunei, Malaysia and Vietnam all claim parts of it.

Beijing has built artificial islands and military installations in the South China Sea. China also has territorial disputes with Japan in the East China Sea.

The South China Sea and the East China Sea are stated to be rich in minerals, oil and other natural resources. They are also vital to global trade.

On the Quad or Quadrilateral Security Dialogue comprising India, the US, Japan and Australia, he pointed out that last month's summit in Tokyo had brought together the world's largest producers of prosperity and security.

The Quad leaders are eager to work with ASEAN and the Pacific Islands to advance our shared goals, said Austin.

He underlined that Australia, India and Japan have been holding security dialogues about maritime security cooperation since 2015.

In the past few months, Japan and the Philippines launched a new 2+2 dialogue and so did Australia and India, noted the defence secretary.

We are also working together to make the security architecture transparent and more inclusive, he informed the delegates.

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Commuters on Delhi Metro's Violet Line faced hardship as services were delayed for nearly two hours on Saturday due to some technical issues.

However, details regarding the exact cause of the delay are still awaited from the Rail Corporation (DMRC).

The Violet Line connects Kashmere Gate in Delhi and Ballabgarh in Haryana.

"Violet Line update Delay in services between Kashmere Gate and Raja Nahar Singh (Ballabgarh). Normal services on all other lines," the DMRC tweeted around 8:30 am.

This is the third time in the week when an entire metro corridor has been impacted by a glitch.

Commuters took to Twitter to share that they were waiting for trains for a long time at stations on their way to work or other destinations.

"@OfficialDMRC standing at Kashmere gate from last 15 minutes metro not moving worst services .. daily new drama.. due to you guys we are getting late and our salary deducts for same.. very lame services," wrote user @Mayank011097 soon after the delay was reported.

Another user, @aashnadv, posted: "Why no announcement again! We are waiting at Sarita Vihar Metro Station but no idea about the train, NO ANNOUNCEMENT!! I understand issues may pop up anytime, but keeping travellers informed isn't important?"



Many commuters also reacted in a lighter vein.

User @playerkasp said he was proud of the and its services. "There could be some technical problems. Its all machinery anything can be happen. You can leave early for your office. Although I am proud of delhi metro and its services," the user tweeted.

At 10:30 am, the DMRC tweeted saying, normal services on the Violet Line have resumed.

Delhi Metro passengers, largely office-goers, on Thursday had faced inconvenience when services on its Blue Line were delayed for over two hours due to a technical snag.

The Blue Line connects Dwarka Sector-21 in Delhi to Noida Electronic City, along with a branch line to Vaishali.

This was the second time in the week when the entire Blue Line had been impacted by a glitch.

On June 6, a large number of commuters on the Blue Line had faced hardship as services across the corridor were impacted for nearly an hour-and-a-half due to a technical snag caused by a bird hit.

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
A 64-year-old patient died at a hospital in Delhi's area in the early hours of Saturday after his oxygen support was disrupted due to a at the facility, officials said.

The fire, apparently caused due to a short circuit, broke out on the third floor of Brahm Shakti Hospital, Pooth Khurd, they said.

The information regarding the was received around 5 am, following which the local police reached the spot and called tenders, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Rohini) Pranav Tayal said.

Fire Services (DFS) Director Atul Garg said a total of nine fire tenders were rushed to the spot to douse the flames. The fire has been completely doused, Garg said.

All were safely rescued except one patient, who was admitted to the ICU and on a ventilator support, the DCP said.

Holi, a kidney patient and resident of Prem Nagar, was taken out but he died due to the disruption in power and oxygen support, DCP Tayal said.

No operational fire fighting system was found in place and the fire exit door was found locked/blocked, they said.

A case under Indian Penal Code (IPC) sections 285 (negligent conduct with respect to fire or combustible matter), 287 (negligent conduct with respect to machinery), and 304A (causing death by negligence) is being registered in this regard at the Vijay Vihar police station, the DCP said.

Fire incidents were reported at Safdarjung Hospital in south and at Makkar Multispeciality Hospital in the eastern part of the city on May 27 and there was no casualty.

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Celebrating 8 years of Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led government, External Affairs Minister Dr spoke at length at an event in Bengaluru on India's foreign policy and how it has become people-centric over the years.

"I have seen many governments, seen changes in foreign policy. The biggest change today is that foreign policy has become people-centric," said Jaishankar during the address.

He thanked Karnataka state minister CN Ashwath Narayan and his Parliamentarian colleague PC Mohan for joining the interaction as he discussed foreign policy with bright minds in the IT capital of India, Bengaluru.

Spoke to students of @iimb_official on #AtmanirbharBharat and 8 years of the Modi Government, he tweeted, adding that their energy and enthusiasm give confidence that New India will indeed become a reality.

In addition, he also thanked the contribution of Bengaluru for making India's image extraordinary while he visited the Regional Passport Office and Office of Protector of Emigrants in the city and took feedback from the public presenting their foreign services.

The EAM appreciated their positive attitude and efficient delivery. He also interacted with the women employees at the NSR Centre for Entrepreneurial Learning.

Happy to interact with the talented women writing the story of modern Indian business at the NSR Centre for Entrepreneurial Learning @iimb_official, he tweeted.

Regarding the COVID-19 pandemic, he said, "It was a difficult period for all as a lot of people were stuck abroad."

We evacuated about 7 million people, be it students, seafarers, or professionals, he added.

The care was not just for India but for other regions too, as our region used to look out for its neighbours as well during the crisis. he said, stressing further India's efforts to keep ties intact with nearby regions.

India is reclaiming its space in the world today as a civilization," he said.

"Our people must do well in India and also abroad," he said while concluding his speech.

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Fresh violence was reported in Panchla Bazaar area in West Bengal's district on Saturday as protesters clashed with the police and several houses were set on fire, a senior officer said.

Protesters pelted policemen with stones, injuring some of them, and also vandalised a BJP party office.

Several fire tenders were pressed into service as police lobbed tear gas shells to disperse the protesters, the officer said, adding the situation was "under control" at the moment.

"The agitators have been dispersed. Some policemen have been injured in the stone-pelting. We are conducting a route march in the area. The situation is under control," he said.

Protests erupted in several parts of district on Friday over controversial remarks by suspended BJP spokesperson Nupur Sharma and expelled leader Naveen Jindal on Prophet Mohammad.

Agitators resorted to stone-pelting, setting police vehicles on fire and damaging public property during violent protests and clashes with the law enforcers in the district.

Internet services have been suspended across the district till June 13 to prevent the spread of rumours and prohibitory orders under Section 144 of CrPC imposed in several areas such as Uluberia, Domjur and Panchla till June 15.

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The Indian government has decided to extend a Line of Credit (LOC) of USD 55 million to for the procurement of Urea Fertiliser.

This credit line was extended in response to an urgent request from the Government of (GOSL), amid the ongoing .

"In this context, a LOC agreement was signed between GOSL and the Export-Import Bank of India today (June 10, 2022) at Colombo, in the presence of the Prime Minister of Ranil Wickremesinghe, the Minister of Agriculture Mahinda Amaraweera, and the High Commissioner of India to Sri Lanka Gopal Baglay. Senior officials from the Sri Lankan and Indian side were also present during the signing ceremony," the Indian High Commission said in a statement.

This credit line will help Sri Lankan government secure urea fertilizer for the ongoing paddy sowing 'Yala' season. In view of the critical requirement, the Sri Lankan government and EXIM Bank have agreed to complete all procurement procedures expeditiously so that urea supplies can reach Sri Lanka in a short span of time.

During the signing ceremony, Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe expressed his gratitude to the Indian government for the timely assistance.

The Indian High Commissioner highlighted that the speedy finalization of the credit line testifies to the importance the Indian government attaches to the welfare of the people of Sri Lanka.

"It may be recalled that in line with its 'Neighbourhood First' policy and as an earnest friend and partner of Sri Lanka, India has extended multi-pronged assistance to the people of Sri Lanka in the last few months," the Indian High Commission said.

The support from India ranges from economic assistance of close to USD 3.5 billion to helping secure Sri Lanka's food, health, and energy security by supplying essential items like food, medicines, fuel, kerosene etc.

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
India will press for a permanent solution to the issue of public stock holding of grains for programmes and strongly protect the interests of farmers and fishermen at the 12th ministerial meet of the World Trade Organization, beginning on Sunday.

The Indian delegation is being led by Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal.

The four-day 12th ministerial conference (MC) will start on June 12 in Geneva. The meeting is taking place after a gap of four years and in the backdrop of the Ukraine-Russia war and uncertain global economic situation.

The last time it was held in Argentina in 2017. MC is the highest decision-making body of the 164-member (WTO).

The main issues in the meeting include WTO response to the COVID-19 pandemic, including patent waiver; agriculture and food security; WTO reforms; proposed fisheries subsidies agreement; and extension of the moratorium on electronic transmission.

Agriculture and food security:



The main issues under this category that could figure in the meeting include public stockholding for purposes, trade-distorting domestic subsidies, market access, the special safeguard mechanism, export restrictions and prohibition, and transparency.

New Delhi will pitch for finding a permanent solution to the issue of public stock holding (PSH) for its programmes.

PSH programme is a policy tool under which the government procures crops like rice and wheat from farmers at minimum support price (MSP), and stores and distributes foodgrains to the poor.

MSP is normally higher than the prevailing market rates and sells these at a low price to ensure food security for over 800 million poor people.

However, the WTO's Agreement on Agriculture limits the ability of a government to purchase food at MSP.

Under global trade norms, a WTO member country's food subsidy bill should not breach the limit of 10 per cent of the value of production based on the reference price of 1986-88.

"Therefore, seeking a permanent solution is of utmost importance for India," an expert said.

India has sought a fast-track resolution of the issue with no linkage with domestic support.

As part of a permanent solution, India has asked for measures like amendments in the formula to calculate the food subsidy cap and the inclusion of programmes implemented after 2013 under the ambit of the Peace Clause.

Under the Peace Clause, WTO members agreed to refrain from challenging any breach of the prescribed ceiling by a developing nation at the dispute settlement forum of the WTO.

This clause will stay till a permanent solution is found to the food stockpiling issue.

India also wants the WTO to allow exports of foodgrains from public stocks for international food aid and for humanitarian purposes, especially on a government-to-government basis, an official said.

The current WTO norms do not permit a member country to export foodgrains from public stock holdings as they are subsidised grains.

WTO Reforms:



A top government official has stated that India would support efforts to improve the working of the WTO but its key pillars like special and differential treatment for less developed and developing nations, equal voice and dispute settlement mechanism should be retained while undertaking reforms.

The WTO is a multilateral body, which formulates rules for global exports and imports and adjudicates disputes between two or more than two countries on trade-related issues.

"We believe that WTO is an important organisation. Its multi-lateral nature should never be affected and therefore, we support any efforts to improve its working.

"But the pillars of the WTO -- which are special and differential treatment for the less developed and developing nations, consensus based approach that is the equal voice that every member has, transparency requirements, rule of law and dispute settlement mechanism. All these pillars of the WTO should be maintained when we are trying to do WTO reforms," the official said.

Fisheries subsidies:



Members are negotiating a fishery subsidies agreement with the objective of eliminating subsidies for illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing and curbing subsidies for overfished stocks; and overfishing and overcapacity with a view to promoting sustainable fishing.

It is estimated that 34 per cent of global stocks are overfished compared with 10 per cent in 1974. These figures reflect that the fish reserves are being exploited at a rate where the fish population cannot replenish itself.

Countries, including Japan, Australia, New Zealand, the EU, Canada and the US, are pressing for disciplining the subsidies. Nations like India, and Indonesia want flexibility under special and differential treatment.

"India is committed to concluding the negotiations so long as it provides space for equitable growth and freedom in developing fishing capacities for the future without locking members into disadvantageous arrangements in perpetuity," a source said.

India has highlighted that developing countries not engaged in distant water fishing should be exempted from overfishing subsidy prohibitions for at least 25 years, as the sector is still at a nascent stage.

Extension of customs duties moratorium on e-commerce trade:



India will strongly oppose the continuation of the moratorium on customs duties on e-commerce trade at the upcoming ministerial of the WTO and push for putting an end to it, as it is adversely impacting the developing countries.

Citing the importance of developing nations to preserve policy space for their digital advancement, regulate imports and generate revenue through customs duties, the official said India believes that a reconsideration of the moratorium is crucial.

WTO members have agreed not to impose customs duties on electronic transmissions since 1998, and the moratorium has been periodically extended at successive ministerial conferences (MC).

WTO's response to the pandemic:



India and South Africa have proposed a temporary waiver of certain provisions of a WTO agreement on intellectual property rights to deal with the coronavirus pandemic. They have stated that the move would help in fast vaccination and revival of the world economy.

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Live news updates: The Congress party on Saturday expelled party MLA Kuldeep Bishnoi for cross-voting in Rajya Sabha polls in Haryana yesterday.



Congress nominee Ajay Maken failed to secure Rajya Sabha berth after Bishnoi didnt vote for him and anothers MLA vote was declared invalid.



West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Saturday wrote to leaders of Opposition parties, requesting them to attend a meeting on June 15 in New Delhi to prepare a common strategy for Indias presidential election.

The election will be held on July 18 and the counting of votes, if required, will be conducted on July 21, said the Election Commission last week. The last date of nomination has been set for June 29.
Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai on Saturday held a high-level meeting with top police officials against the backdrop of violent protests in

Uttar Pradesh and capital over "controversial" remarks on Prophet Muhammad made by two now-suspended BJP leaders.

Speaking to mediapersons in Hubballi, Bommai said that presently the situation is peaceful in the state. The police have been instructed to deploy the forces in sensitive areas. The deployment of KSRP contingents is already on. "I have spoken to Police Commissioner of Hubballi-Dharwad and the SP of Dharwad to take appropriate measures."

Police Inspectors of all the police stations have been instructed to interact with community leaders of their respective areas to maintain peace and harmony, he said.

He further stated that experts would be asked to formulate more stringent laws to deal with those who indulge in acid attacks, CM Bommai said.

Responding to a question on another acid attack case in Bengaluru, he said: "It is very unfortunate. We are mulling to further strengthen the existing laws to deal with those who indulge in acid attacks. We will come out with tough laws to deal with them in the coming days."

--IANS

mka/shb/

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In the wake of protests in certain parts of India in connection with alleged derogatory remarks against Prophet Mohammad by a suspended BJP spokesperson, Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai on Saturday said he has directed police to take all precautions to maintain law and order in the state.

A high-level meeting has been held with police top brass in the state to take precautionary measures in the backdrop of violent incidents in Delhi and Uttar Pradesh on Friday protesting the alleged derogatory remarks about Prophet Mohammad, Chief Minister Bommai told reporters here.

"Presently, the situation is peaceful in the state. The police have been instructed to deploy the forces in sensitive areas. The deployment of State Reserve Police (KSRP) contingents is already on. I have spoken to Police Commissioner of Hubballi-Dharwad and the SP of Dharwad to take appropriate measures," the Chief Minister said.

The inspectors of all police stations have been instructed to interact with community leaders of their respective areas to maintain peace and harmony, Bommai said.

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All internet services were temporarily suspended in till 6 am on Saturday i.e June 11, in wake of protests in the city on Friday over controversial remarks on Prophet Muhammad.

Till late evening, six injured were brought to Sadar Hospital. One of them had sustained a bullet injury and he was referred to RIMS hospital. The rest of the injured are being treated at Sadar Hospital, said Dr Vinod Kumar, Civil Surgeon, .

Senior Superintendent of Police, Superintendent of Police (SP) City, Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) City, Daily Market Police Station Incharge and some other Police personnel who were controlling the situation during the protests, sustained injuries.

"As per initial reports, 11 Police personnel and 12 protesters were injured and are being treated at various hospitals, said police.

"As of now, the situation is under control. Forces deployed. Sr Police officers, including IG, Superintendents of Police, and DSPs camping in the area," added the police.

Injuries were reported among civilians too.

Earlier on Friday, the district administration imposed a curfew in violence-hit areas of after a protest erupted against the controversial remarks of suspended Bharatiya Janata Party leader Nupur Sharma and expelled party leader Naveen Jindal.

"District Administration has imposed a curfew across Ranchi. We appeal to the people to stay at home," the administration announced.

The protest had turned violent after the incidents of stone-pelting and torching of several vehicles and vandalisation were reported. Many people have sustained injuries in the violent protests.

Earlier in the day, Deputy Inspector General of Ranchi Police (DIG) Anish Gupta had said that the situation was "under control" despite being a "little tense".

The DIG had also assured the deployment of heavy security and the presence of senior officials at the protest site.

After various gulf nations expressed outrage against the controversial remarks against the Prophet, the country has been witnessing protests in various states including Punjab, Delhi, and Uttar Pradesh.

In Punjab, the protestors have demanded the arrest of sacked leaders, whereas the instances of stone-pelting and sloganeering were witnessed after the Friday prayers in Uttar Pradesh.

As per the reports, a massive protest broke out at Delhi's Jama Masjid which was later brought under control after the police removed protestors from the protest site.

"No call for protest given by Masjid. We don't know who are the ones protesting, I think they belong to AIMIM or are Owaisi's people. We made it clear that if they want to protest, they can, but we will not support them," Shahi Imam of Delhi's Jama Masjid told media persons.

Notably, a controversy erupted after Nupur Sharma's remarks against the minorities. Some Gulf countries have also lodged their protest.

However, India on Thursday reiterated that the controversial remarks concerning Prophet Mohammad do not reflect the views of the Government and added that action has been taken by concerned quarters against those who made the comment.

Delhi Police had registered two FIRs on Wednesday-- one against former BJP spokesperson Nupur Sharma and the other against 31 people, including All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) chief Asaduddin Owaisi and controversial priest Yati Narsinghanand - for allegedly spreading hate and hurting religious sentiments, officials said on Thursday.

Former Delhi BJP media unit head Naveen Kumar Jindal, who was expelled from the party over alleged remarks against Prophet Mohammad, and journalist Saba Naqvi, are among the people named in the second FIR.

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Jharkhand's capital has been blanketed by heavy police cover as two persons succumbed to gunshot wounds sustained during Friday's protest against controversial remarks on Prophet Mohammad by suspended spokespersons as Hindutva outfits called for a bandh on Saturday against the violence.

Around 2,500 police personnel, including one IG rank and DIG rank officer each, six SP rank officers, 100 DSP rank officers besides two Rapid Action Force (RAF) battalions, have been deployed in sensitive areas of city, IG (Operations) Amol V Homkar told PTI.

"Twelve policemen and 12 others have been injured in the violence. One policeman has sustained bullet injuries. The funeral of the two deceased will take place during the day. Internet services will remain suspended till the situation normalises.

"An FIR has been registered and some people have been detained. We are keeping a strict vigil on the situation," he said.

Two critically injured people were brought to state-run Rajendra Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS) between 11.30 PM and midnight on Friday with bullet injuries and they died during the course of treatment, an official of the medical establishment said.

"One of the deceased, identified as Mohammad Mudassir Kaifi (22) had gunshot wounds on his head, while the other, identified as 24-year-old Mohammad Sahil, had received bullet injuries on his neck. Post-mortem reports stated that both died due to gunshot wounds. Both were residents of Ranchi," he said, adding that eight others are in the ICU.

Over two dozen people were injured in the clashes that rocked the state capital on Friday, officials said.

Thirteen of the critically injured people were admitted to RIMS, doctors there said.

"The injured include CRPF personnel and policemen," the RIMS official said.

Prohibitory orders under Section 144 of the CrPC have been clamped in 12 police station areas, including Sukhdev Nagar, Lower Bazar, Daily Market and Hindpidi, of district besides Hazaribag and Ramgarh districts to prevent flareups, officials said.

Internet has also been suspended in Ranchi district, they added.

The situation is under control and is being monitored. CCTV footage and videos are being scrutinised, the officials said.

Ranchi's Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Surendra Kumar Jha was admitted to a hospital with head injury, officials said.

Besides head, he also received injuries in other parts of his body after he was hit by stones, they said.

Some Hindutva outfits have called for a Ranchi bandh on Saturday, asking traders to keep their shops shut in protest against the violence.

"We have called for a peaceful Ranchi bandh today against yesterday's incident. All Hindu religious organisations such as VHP, Hindu Jagaran Manch and others have extended their support to the bandh call," Mahavir Mandal president Ashok Purohit told PTI.

He said traders have been urged to shut their shops voluntarily.

"We will not take to the streets to enforce bandh. Since morning, we are witnessing huge support from traders to our bandh call," Purohit said.

Condemning the violence, Governor Ramesh Bais has asked Chief Minister Hemant Soren to take strict action against those involved.

The violent protesters have been demanding the arrest of suspended spokesperson Nupur Sharma and expelled leader Naveen Jindal for their controversial remarks on Prophet Mohammad.

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
India is in the middle of an unprecedented . A shortage of domestic coal has caused a precarious situation at power plants, leading to power cuts and outages. The country recently saw an energy deficit of 5% at the national level, with some states reporting even steeper deficits. The looming has renewed attention on alternative power sources. One such technologyrooftop solardespite being promising, has remained critically underutilised in India. There are several benefits of installing a rooftop solar plant, both for consumers as well as the government. For instance, they can help cut down electricity bills and they also align with the government's ambitious goal of going greener.

How does it work?

Solar technologies absorb the Suns radiation and turn it into energy. When the sun shines onto a solar panel, the photovoltaics (PV) cells in the panel absorb the sunlight, helping in the creation of electric current. A rooftop solar plant refers to one where the solar panels are mounted on top of a residential or commercial building.

Here are the pros and cons of installing a rooftop solar system.

Pros

Cost savings: It is cheaper than the conventional electric supply and government subsidies also help bring the cost down.

Low maintenance charges: Most rooftop solar systems have a life expectancy of up to 25 years and require only basic maintenance such as regular cleaning and repairs.

No additional land is required as vacant rooftop space can be utilised for installing solar panels.

Reduction in carbon footprint: Solar is a clean and renewable source of energy that helps in cutting the emission of greenhouse gases.

Cons

Solar panels are not suitable for every type of roof. For instance, it could be difficult to set them up on slate or cedar tiles used in old houses.

Since solar is a big financial investment, it may not be an ideal choice for young homeowners who could be moving in the coming years.

How much does it cost?

The cost of setting up a rooftop solar system varies with the quality and price of the modules and inverters used. On average, the installation of a 1 kW rooftop solar system could cost between Rs 45,000 and Rs 85,000. Batteries would cost extra if power is to be stored.

Similarly, the cost for a 5 kW system would fall between Rs 2,25,000 to Rs 3,25,000. Rooftop solar systems are considered lighter on pocket as their cost can usually be recovered in 5-6 years.

Are there any subsidies?

The central government offers financial support to consumers for installing rooftop solar systems. However, the subsidy is only available for residential properties and not for commercial/industrial establishments.

Classification of subsidies:

Up to 3 kW capacity - 40%

4-10 kW capacity - 20%

Above 10 kW - No subsidy

In the case of GHS/RWA consumers, there is a subsidy provision of 20% for a total capacity up to 500 kWp (limited to 10 kWp per house).

How to apply for a solar rooftop system?

Consumers can apply for a rooftop solar system through the online portal of their respective DISCOM: https://solarrooftop.gov.in/grid_others/discomPortalLink.



The government has also launched a toll-free helpline number to provide information about the scheme: 1800-180-3333

The bigger picture

India has failed to fully utilise the potential of rooftop solar technology. The government had set a target of reaching 40GW rooftop solar energy capacity by 2022, but there would be a shortfall of 25GW from this target, according to a report. As of December 2020, rooftop solar accounts for nearly 20% of the countrys entire solar energy capacity - 6,792 MW of 34,197 MW. Experts and consumers have blamed a tedious application procedure, delivery hurdles, and delay in payment of subsidies for the failure.
After Shiv Sena's Sanjay Pawar lost the Rajya Sabha polls from Maharashtra to BJP's Dhananjay Mahadik, party leader on Saturday alleged that the put pressure on the Election Commission to get his party's one vote disqualified.

Talking to reporters, Raut, who himself managed to win a seat, said the BJP's victory was not as huge as it was being made out to be, and added that the Sena's second candidate secured more first preference votes.

"I don't think the BJP's candidate has won. The first preference votes of 33 were secured by Pawar," Raut said, adding that BJP's Mahadik bagged 27 votes as first preference.

"He won on the basis of the second preference vote," Raut said.

The bitter contest that went to the wire saw three candidates of the - Piyush Goyal, Anil Bonde and Mahadik - winning the polls. The Sena (Raut), NCP (Praful Patel) and Congress (Imran Pratapgarhi) won one seat each.

Of the 284 valid votes, Goyal polled 48, Bonde 48, Mahadik 41.56, Raut 41, Pratapgarhi 44 and Patel 43.

Both and the approached the Election Commission, alleging breach of election rules and seeking disqualification of votes.

The poll panel directed the Rajya Sabha election returning officer of Maharashtra to reject the vote cast by legislator Suhas Kande, after which the counting of votes got underway after 1 am.

"By putting pressure on the Election Commission in Delhi, our one vote (of MLA Kande) was disqualified. We had petitioned to make their votes invalid, but the Election Commission sided with them. What has happened in Maharashtra, Haryana and Rajasthan raises question marks on the (functioning of) Election Commission," he said.

Raut said the top party leaders made a detailed plan for the Rajya Sabha polls to ensure a victory for Pawar, but some MLAs did not vote for them. He did not elaborate which MLAs did not vote for the BJP.

Raut said top leaders of the ruling Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) had also worked hard to ensure victory for Sanjay Pawar.

"Rajya Sabha polls are a complex and rigid process and they take first preference and second preference votes. They won on the basis of the second preference vote, so best wishes to them," he said.

Raut asserted that all the candidates fielded by the Sena will win the Legislative Council polls scheduled on June 20.

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) on Saturday announced the arrival of the in and other nearby areas today.

In a series of tweets, the IMD said that the has further advanced into the remaining parts of the central Arabian Sea, most parts of Konkan (including Mumbai), some parts of Madhya Maharashtra, and some more parts of Karnataka today.

The Met agency further apprised that the present conditions are favourable for further advance of monsoon into some parts of north Arabian Sea, remaining parts of Konkan, some parts of Gujarat state, most parts of Madhya Maharashtra, entire Karnataka and Tamil Nadu, some parts of Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Westcentral and the northwest Bay of Bengal during next 48 hours.

As per the IMD, in the upcoming days, conditions would continue to become favourable for the further advancement of the monsoon.

"Conditions would continue to become favourable for further advance of monsoon into some more parts of north Arabian Sea, Gujarat state, some parts of Marathwada, some more parts of Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, most parts of Bay of Bengal, entire Sub-Himalayan West Bengal and Sikkim, some parts of Odisha, Gangetic West Bengal, Jharkhand and Bihar during subsequent 2-3 days," the IMD tweeted.

Earlier in the month, Union Home Minister Amit Shah held a high-level meeting to review the preparedness to deal with flood situations in the country during the monsoon.

In Kerala, the monsoon made its onset three days ahead of its time on June 1.

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Global tech majors Amazon, Alphabet and Apple Inc on Friday dropped out of the race to bid for (IPL) media rights. Meanwhile, the central government issued new guidelines that make it mandatory for celebrity endorsers to disclose their material interest in the product they are endorsing. Read more on these in our headlines.

No Bezos-Ambani face-off as Big Tech quits race for IPL broadcast rights

Global tech majors Amazon, Alphabet and Apple Inc on Friday dropped out of the race to bid for (IPL) media rights, leaving the space to traditional broadcasters. With this, the auction starting Sunday is expected to see Disney-Star combine and Reliance Industries-led Viacom 18 at the centrestage of a keenly-watched sporting rights battle. Read more



Celebrities must disclose interest in products they endorse: Govt

The central government on Friday notified new guidelines under the Consumer Protection Act in a bid to curb misleading advertisements. These guidelines make it mandatory for celebrity endorsers to disclose their material interest in the product they are endorsing, prohibit surrogate advertisements, and also lay down rules that should govern ads that involve children or child products. Read more

What we're building in India is for next 100 years: Amazon's Manish Tiwary

In an office at World Trade Center (WTC), in the northwest neighbourhood of Bengaluru, Manish Tiwary is busy sipping black coffee and making strategies for to change the way India buys and sells. He was recently elevated as country manager to handle consumer business in India and oversee day-to-day operations at the e-commerce giant. Read more

Overture from foreign varsities in response to push

Foreign universities in Australia and the United Kingdom are beginning to respond to Indias push for internationalisation under the (NEP) by exploring new opportunities here. One of the largest delegations of higher education leaders from the UK is on a visit to India. Similarly, the University of Queensland (UQ) is planning a Senior Executive Mission to New Delhi in August. Read more

amps up hospital capacity and stocks medicines as Covid cases rise

As the city witnesses yet another surge of Covid-19 cases, authorities have begun adding bed capacity as occupancy has crossed 1 per cent. As of June 10, 369 of the 24,943 beds in were occupied (see chart 1). This means nearly 15 out of every 1,000 beds are accounted for by Covid-19 patients. Read more
Two people were killed and many including security personnel were critically injured as violent rocked over the comments made by two suspended BJP spokespersons on Prophet Mohammad, officials said on Saturday.

As per the post-mortem report, the two persons died due to gunshot wounds.

Prohibitory orders under Section 144 of the CrPC have been clamped in 12 police station areas, including Sukhdev Nagar, Lower Bazar, Daily Market and Hindpidi, to prevent any further flareups, they said.

Internet has also been suspended in the district, they added.

The situation is under control and is being monitored. Sufficient security forces have been deployed. CCTV footage and videos are being scrutinised and necessary action will be taken, the officials said.

Over two dozen people were injured in the clashes that rocked the state capital on Friday, officials said.

Thirteen of the critically injured people were admitted to the Rajendra Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS), doctors there said.

"Two of them died late last night. The condition of three people is serious and they are battling for their lives. The injured include CRPF personnel and policemen," a RIMS official said, adding the two deaths were caused by bullet injuries.

Ranchi's Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Surendra Kumar Jha was admitted to a hospital with head injury, officials said.

Besides head, he also received injuries in other parts of his body after he was hit by stones, they said.

Some Hindutva outfits have called for a bandh on Saturday, asking traders to keep their shops shut in protest against the violence.

"We have called for a peaceful bandh today against yesterday's incident. All Hindu religious organisations such as VHP, Hindu Jagaran Manch and others have extended their support to the bandh call," Mahavir Mandal president Ashok Purohit told PTI.

He said traders have been urged to shut their shops voluntarily.

"We will not take to the streets to enforce bandh. Since morning, we are witnessing huge support from traders to our bandh call," Purohit said.

Condemning the violence, Governor Ramesh Bais has asked Chief Minister Hemant Soren to take strict action against those involved.

The violent protesters have been demanding the arrest of suspended BJP spokespersons Nupur Sharma and Naveen Jindal for their controversial remarks on Prophet Mohammad.

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
In a significant initiative, the (UNGA) has adopted an India-sponsored resolution on multilingualism that mentions the language for the first time.

The resolution passed on Friday encourages the UN to continue disseminating important communications and messages in official as well as in non-official languages, including in language.

"This year, for the first time, the resolution has a mention of language. ...The resolution also mentions Bangla and Urdu for the first time. We welcome these additions," India's Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Ambassador TS Tirumurti.

Tirumurti said multilingualism is recognized as a core value of the UN and expressed gratitude to the Secretary-General for prioritizing multilingualism.

"India has been partnering with the UN Department of Global Communications (DGC) since 2018 by providing an extra-budgetary contribution to mainstream and consolidate news and multimedia content in the Hindi language," he said.

As part of these efforts, 'Hindi @ UN' project was launched in 2018 with an objective to enhance the public outreach of the United Nations in the Hindi language, and to spread greater awareness about global issues among millions of Hindi-speaking populations around the world.

"In this context, I would like to recall UNSC resolution 13(1) adopted In its first session on 1 Feb. 1946, which stated that the United Nations cannot achieve its purposes unless the people of the world are fully informed of its aims and activities," the Indian envoy said.

He further stated it is imperative that multilingualism at the United Nations in a true sense is embraced and India will support the UN in achieving this objective.

Multilingualism is an essential factor in harmonious communication among peoples and an enabler of multilateral diplomacy. It ensures effective participation of all in the Organization's work, as well as greater transparency and efficiencies and better outcomes.

"Multilingualism is recognized by the General Assembly as a core value of the Organization. As such, all United Nations Secretariat entities are expected to contribute actively and demonstrate their commitment to this joint endeavor. Multilingualism mandates also call for the mainstreaming of multilingualism throughout the Secretariat," according to UN.

Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian and Spanish are the six official languages of the United Nations; English and French being the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat.

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(DJB) Vice-Chairman Saurabh Bharadwaj has expressed deep concern over river Yamuna's dipping water levels and urged the to release Delhi's share of water in the river to manage the water crisis in the capital.

He claimed that Haryana has stopped releasing water from the river Yamuna which has reduced the water supply in Delhi by nearly 100 million gallons per day (MGD).

"The water level in the Wazirabad water treatment plant's pond has dropped to the bare minimum. This minimum level is determined by measuring it from sea level. As of today, the water level in the Wazirabad barrage has dropped from the normal 674.5 feet to the lowest level of the year at 667.70 feet," said Bhardwaj.

He added that it indicates that the water level is nearly eight feet below the surface.

"If you look at the Yamuna, you'll notice that the depth of the water is only about half a foot, ranging from six inches to half a foot," he said.

The drinking water problem in Delhi has aggravated over the last two days, Bharadwaj added.

According to the DJB, the water level in the Wazirabad pond has dipped to 667 feet as against the normal of 674.5 feet.

"As a result, water production in Delhi has been reduced by about 100 MGD, which represents a significant portion of the city's water supply," he said in a media briefing.

"In Delhi, there is a severe water shortage. In this scorching heat, the should provide water on humanitarian grounds to quench the thirst of Delhiites. The is being asked to provide water to the citizens of Delhi, as they are entitled to it," he added.

"There's a certain share of water Delhi is entitled to and they must ensure that people's rights are not violated. If Haryana releases Yamuna's water, Delhi will have sufficient water to use for sometime," Bhardwaj added.

--IANS

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(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Aam Aadmi Party's unit on Saturday said that it will bring a 'new revolution' in the sector in the state, ahead of Assembly polls.

This statement by the party came after Punjab Chief Minister and Delhi Chief Minister visited on Saturday and held a town hall meeting in Hamirpur along with local people.

during his address said, "We don't want children to be job seekers, but job providers."

"ann said, "Hamirpur is not new for me because I have performed at least 3-4 times at Minjar Festival as an artist in Hamirpur. I have performed in festivals in Kullu, Mandi here. There is no place in Himachal where I have not performed.

"Britishers enslaved us for 200 years. BJP-Congress enslaved us for 5 years each as they switched between their terms, "he said.

Appreciating the government in Punjab, Mann lauded the representation of youth in the country and said, "You will be astonished that we have more than 70 MLAs of 35 years old. The person, to whom the former Punjab Chief Minister lost to, in Punjab works in a mobile repair shop. His mother is a sanitation worker in a government school. This can only be done by ."

"I never thought of becoming a Chief Minister. Neither my grandfather nor my uncle is in politics. My father was a science teacher. I have no political background. Why do their sons rule the state? Why not you people rule the state," he said in a direct attack at the Congress party.

Mann took a dig at the opposition party leaders and said, "Rahul Gandhi still assumes himself to be a youth leader. Going by this notion, Akhilesh Yadav and Bikram Singh Majithia will also be categorised as youth leaders. If this is the ideology behind a youth leader, then I will also be called a youth leader (laughs)."

"They used to win and we were losing. The one we made lose to, they sent them to Rajya Sabha. sent 7 members for RS from Punjab for the first time and no one has lost the election. Send the people to Rajya Sabha who can speak. Don't send those people who have been rejected by the people," Mann added.

Mann said, "The biggest criteria for human development is . If any leader comes and says he will remove poverty in the state, then they are lying. No government or leader can do that. Only can bring you out from poverty."

Lashing out at the BJP government in the state, Mann said, "You have given them (BJP) a lot of chances. Now, we will say to that give us one chance. Then, you won't be seeing other ways. We will give quality education."

"Earlier, proper to the formation of AAP government in the state, I met a person. He said that his children study in a government school. I asked the parent what is the problem. Is there any shortage of teachers? The parent said no. He said that teachers say it's okay if you've forgotten a copy and pen, but don't forget to bring utensils. Schools have given priority to mid-day meals for your students rather than studies," he said.

"However, the AAP government gives priority to both mid-day meal schemes and education. We don't want your kids to become job seekers, but job providers," he said.

"The youth of Himachal Pradesh has the talent that they can explore great ideas for startups, but they don't get a chance. Now, they will get a chance," he further said. AAP's presence in Himachal Pradesh holds importance as the state is slated to go for Assembly polls early next year.

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The 19th Shangri-La Dialogue, hosted by Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS), opened in after a two-year Covid-19 pandemic induced hiatus.

The Shangri-La Dialogue is Asia's premier defence summit. It's a unique meeting where ministers debate the region's most pressing security challenges, engage in important bilateral talks and come up with fresh approaches together.

Since its launch in 2002 by the British think tank IISS with the support of the Singaporean government, the Shangri-La Dialogue, officially known as the Asia Security Summit, has been held annually except for 2020 and 2021, reports Xinhua news agency.

About 500 delegates from more than 40 countries are expected.

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida gave the opening keynote address on Friday during which he outlined Japan's vision for regional security.

He is the first Japanese Prime Minister to speak at the summit since 2014.

On Sunday, Chinese Defence Minister Wei Fenghe will address a plenary session during which he is expected to introduce the country's policy, principles and actions on safeguarding true multilateralism, regional peace and stability, and building a shared future for humanity.

Among the other prominent speakers, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky will address the forum via video link on Saturday.

On the sidelines, a trilateral between US Secretary of Defence Lloyd Austin, Japanese Defence Minister Kishi Nobuo and South Korean Defence Minister Lee Jong-sup is also scheduled.

--IANS

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(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
At first, it seemed as though nothing could go wrong. Dockless shared electric began showing up on the streets of the worlds cities in 2017, and the vanguard--techies, baristas, twentysomething daredevils--hopped on and rode, confident that they were tilting against two looming threats, urban congestion and climate change. The future of scootering seemed so bright that the valuation of the largest manufacturer, Bird, went from $300 million in March, 2018, to $2 billion three months later, an astronomical leap, even by Silicon Valley standards.

But Birds earliest were so flimsy that, in one 2018 study, their average life span on the streets of Louisville, Kentucky, was just 28.8 days. (Bird disputes the studys findings pointing to an investor presentation from 2022 claiming that the half-life of its earliest was three to four months.) Reports of scooter battery fires and brake failures across scooter brands began hitting the news. In August 2018, Birds CEO, Travis VanderZanden, made a highly unusual move, selling off tens of millions of dollars worth of his companys stock.

Today, the scooter industry encompasses over 200 brands, but it is still shadowed by a bad reputation. Scooter-related injuries are so frequent among riders that several law firms offer websites targeting prospective e-scooter plaintiffs. Scooter operators are frequently banned from cities--in January, for instance, Miami kicked out five of the seven companies operating in the city; Manhattan has banned shared scooters. Paris deputy mayor David Belliard last year joined numerous other city leaders in scooter-hate when he proposed getting rid of them completely.





ALSO READ: With Chetak Technology, Bajaj Auto seeks to be top e-two wheeler exporter

Despite all the attention they command, e-scooters are used for only about one one-thousandth of all trips made in the worlds cities, according to McKinsey & Co. The global consulting giant has predicted that by 2030, micromobility  think bikes, mopeds, e-bikes and scooters  will triple in popularity to sustain a $500 billion industry. Can the scooter grow up and meet that economic promise?

A Boston brand is earnestly trying to make it happen, by focusing on safety. Superpedestrian has put nine years of research into making whats been called the Volvo of scooters. It recently raised $125 million in funding to enhance its technology. And by years end, in several U.S. and European cities, including San Diego, Rome and Madrid, thousands of Superpedestrian scooters will come equipped with a Pedestrian Defense AI system. This software can instantly stop the vehicles engine if the rider hops up onto a curb, starts slaloming wildly or travels up a one-way street. Additional gadgetry will alert headquarters if a rider parks more than 10 centimeters outside a designated area and will self-check 140 components to ascertain if, say, the battery is at risk of igniting or if the throttle is stuck. No other scooter integrates such a suite of safety features, according to Augustin Friedel, an independent industry analyst and mobility expert based in Germany.

Superpedestrian scooters are weird. Weighing in at 60 pounds apiece, theyre inordinately bulky, with a thick stem and solid metal frame. Built with a long wheelbase and a low center of gravity, theyre engineered to roll smoothly, without the shimmying and shaking that plagues some scooters at speed. (A typical, first-generation scooter can weighed between 30 and 50 pounds.) And while nearly all scooter companies buy their vehicles from a third-party manufacturer such as Segway or Okai, a Japanese company, Superpedestrian designs its hardware in-house, aiming to become a key player in the shared scooter space. (The company has no plans to sell its scooters directly to consumers.)

Part of Superpedestrians Cambridge, Massachusetts, office functions as a sort of torture chamber where engineers load up to 1,000 pounds atop test scooters, subjecting them to a million simulated potholes. There is also a dunk tank, and on a recent afternoon, Superpedestrians director of product management, Ilya Sinelnikov, found himself musing over how well a Superpedestrian scooter would survive if hooligans tossed it into salt water. It happens sometimes, he said. In Turkey, they needed to use scuba divers to get scooters out of the Bosphorus.

Superpedestrian was born in 2013, at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, where the companys founder and CEO, Assaf Biderman, an Israeli immigrant, is the associate director of the Senseable City Lab. Biderman has spent nearly 20 years obsessing on a mounting global problem: With more people moving to the worlds cities, he says, Were going to see a 3x increase in demand for personal mobility by 2050. Our streets, Biderman contends, are facing unprecedented demand.

The answer, Biderman believes, lies in small, nimble, low-cost . In 2013, he introduced a $1,500 motorized wheel that a cyclist could attach to the back of a bike, to fortify pedaling with electric power as sensors on the wheel collected data on air pollution, congestion and road conditions. The Copenhagen Wheel, as it was known, is no longer being produced. In 2017, Biederman looked at the early shared scooters and saw opportunity. The demand was incredible, he says, but the execution was Wild West. And the problems that scooters were having  fires and brake failures  were exactly what our technology was made to address. Were an engineering company, a robotics and automation specialist, that learned how to become a scooter operator, not the other way around.





ALSO READ: E-scooter growth stagnates after meteoric rise; registrations fall over 24%

Today, Superpedestrian regularly hosts classes on scooter safety. Its helped fund a protected bikeway in Los Angeles, and its brought on a seasoned policy director, Paul Steely White, to help scooters make peace with the urban ecosystem. White, once the director of the New York City-based advocacy group Transportation Alternatives, laments that some early companies used cities streets as a Petri dish. He says, Since micromobility is new, norms havent been established yet. White is trying to bring what he calls an urban planning culture to scootering. Public space is sacred, White argues, and we cant grow unless cities let us grow.

Scooterings user base has always skewed white and affluent, and Superpedestrian is trying to change that too. In Hartford, Connecticut, its enrolled over 400 riders into an equity program, providing discounted fares to residents facing financial hardship. Challenges remain, of course. Kate Lowe, a mobility justice advocate and urban planning professor at the University of Chicago cites racist policing and inadequate protected infrastructure in communities of color as two looming obstacles to equity in scootering.

Meanwhile, scootering is getting a boost from the coronavirus. Transit use is still below pre-pandemic levels in most cities worldwide, and scooter users are traveling longer distances. Bird has reported that in 2021, its average trip length leapt 58%. In Los Angeles, the average ride was 1.4 miles.

It's unclear how much Superpedestrian can profit from its safety push, though. Its innovations may just go nearly unnoticed amid an industry-wide scramble to wow consumers with cutting-edge safety features. Bird now has its own suite of precision-parking and component-checking hardware, and at least four scooter companies  Tier, Wheels, Wind and Dott  sport folding helmets integrated into their steering columns. (Bird earlier this week announced it will be laying off 23% of its staff.)

Theres a bigger problem for Superpedestrian, though: There is no data that proves scooter safety features mitigate accidents, and its clear that they dont address scooterings biggest menace  cars, which have been involved in 24 of the 30 scooter fatalities known to have happened in the US (as of 2021). David Zipper is, consequently, skeptical of the new craze for safety apparati. Their main benefit, argues Zipper, a visiting fellow at Harvard Kennedy School of Government and a contributor to Bloomberg CityLab, is their appeal to city transportation officials who want to minimize complaints about, say, scooters being left on the sidewalk. Its not a life-or-death matter. The real threat is that youll be hit by somebody in a four-ton SUV going 45 miles an hour.

Superpedestrians White acknowledges the threat of cars but defends his companys safety features. If we are not doing our job to protect riders and pedestrians, how can we expect the city to do theirs? he asks. If people think scooters are inherently dangerous, then there will be insufficient political will, and ridership, to win protected bike lanes and other necessary safety infrastructure.

In the interest of quelling the melee on the streets, cities have made scooter tenders competitive. In both San Diego and Chicago this year, Superpedestrian got the municipal green light to distribute scooters but the program is currently stalled because scooter companies that didnt get a license--Bird in San Diego; Bird and Helbiz in Chicago--have appealed. In a statement prepared for this reporter, Bird argued that the RFP processes in both cities were botched. Officials have refused to provide any documentation that explains or justifies their decisions, the statement said. The appeals are pending in both San Diego and Chicago. Superpedestrian eventually will put its scooters out on the street, but its unclear when.

Horace Dediu, an industry analyst widely known as the father of micromobilty, doesnt like the fraught quality of todays tenders and their focus on safety features. With scooters, there has to be geofencing, he snipes. No such regulations are applied to carmakers. Theyre allowed to build vehicles that go 200 miles an hour.

Hes right, but scooters are up against a large problem: Cars have ruled the worlds roads for the last century, and for now scooter use is confined to a demographic willing to tango with fast-moving vehicles. While older riders have been catching on of late, McKinseys statistics show that, among adults over 29, scooter use declines sharply and steadily by age group. And a racial disparity in ridership still prevails. In Chicago, where Superpedestrian has done outreach in the Black community, a recent study found that 59% of the riders there were white, in a city that is 67% Black and brown.

There are hints, though, that urban infrastructure may be poised to undergo a phase shift and become more friendly to slow-moving micros. During the pandemic, Zipper points out, numerous cities have hosted  open street events, excluding cars from the pavement. London has created 72  low-traffic neighborhoods utilizing planters and concrete posts to filter out automobiles. All of this has been wildly popular, Zipper says. Car owners may want to revert to the auto centric status quo, post-pandemic but at least in big cities I dont see them succeeding.

Another new twist is congestion pricing. By the end of next year, New York Citys MTA may begin charging vehicles a steep fee, probably between $9 and $23, to drive south of 60th Street in Manhattan. San Francisco and Los Angeles also are considering similar measures, and the tactic has already thinned traffic  and made the streets safer  in cities like Singapore and Stockholm.

Dediu believes that in time micromobility will attain critical mass, as other modes of transit have already done, and that infrastructure will come as the user base grows. We didnt build airports and then have airplanes show up, hes said. Im confident, given the history, that well see things like more safe roadways for micromobility vehicles.

At Superpedestrian, Assaf Biderman is trying to hasten the scooters arrival and also harboring a geeks faith that now is the scooters technological moment. The robotics and the AI, he says, have finally become robust and affordable enough. Hes heartened by the latest ridership numbers  amid rising gas prices in March, use of Superpedestrian scooters shot up 41 % in Seattle.

Still, Superpedestrian is just one brand in a crowded industry. And theres no guarantee that scooters will transcend their current niche. For even another small e-vehicle could come along and soon eclipse them. It could be the quadricycle, or the e-skateboard or the e-cargo bike.

And so for now Superpedestrian is, like smart startups everywhere, working, strategizing. And waiting and hoping.
Apple CEO wrote a letter to US lawmakers voicing his support for a recent bipartisan effort to draft a comprehensive federal privacy law.

In the letter, which was obtained by AppleInsider, Cook echoes many of his past talking points on federal privacy legislation. He said he was "encouraged" by the draft proposals recently introduced by a bipartisan group of legislators.

The legislation was introduced on June 3 by Representative Frank Pallone, the House Energy and Commerce Chair, and Senators Cathy McMorris Rodgers and Roger Wicker, ranking members of the Senate Commerce Committee, the report said.

Cook's letter is addressed to those three, as well as Sen. Maria Cantwell, chair of the Senate Commerce Committee.

Dubbed the "American Data Privacy and Protection Act", the bipartisan bill would provide a standard on what kind of data can harvest from Americans across the US. It would also ban pay-for-privacy practices and would enforce high levels of data security.

The bill would pre-empt state consumer data privacy laws, except for Illinois biometric privacy protections and a section of California privacy law concerning data breaches.

It also includes a private right of action, which would allow individuals to sue for alleged privacy violations, the report said.

--IANS

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(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
U.S. Secretary of Defense stressed American support for on Saturday, suggesting at Asia's premier defense forum that recent Chinese military activity around the self-governing island threatens to change the status quo.

Speaking at the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore, Austin noted a steady increase in provocative and destabilizing military activity near Taiwan, including almost daily military flights near the island by the People's Republic of .

Our policy hasn't changed, but unfortunately that doesn't seem to be true for the PRC, he said.

Austin said Washington remains committed to the one- policy, which recognizes Beijing but allows informal relations and defense ties with Taipei.

and split during a civil war in 1949, but China claims the island as its own territory and has not ruled out using military force to take it.

China has stepped up its military provocations against democratic in recent years, aimed at intimidating it into accepting Beijing's demands to unify with the communist mainland.

We remain focused on maintaining peace, stability and the status quo across the Taiwan Strait, Austin said in his address. But the PRC's moves threaten to undermine security, and stability, and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific.

Austin said the U.S. stands firmly behind the principle that cross-strait differences must be resolved by peaceful means, but also would continue to fulfill its commitments to Taiwan.

That includes assisting Taiwan in maintaining a sufficient self-defense capability, he said.

And it means maintaining our own capacity to resist any use of force or other forms of coercion that would jeopardize the security or the social or economic system of the people of Taiwan.

The 1979 Taiwan Relations Act, which has governed U.S. relations with the island, does not require the U.S. to step in militarily if China invades, but makes it American policy to ensure Taiwan has the resources to defend itself and to prevent any unilateral change of status by Beijing.

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Hyderabad: Shiraj Qureshi, member of Group A panel counsel of the Supreme Court and former member of Madhya Pradesh Haj Samiti, said illegal cow slaughtering was rampant in India and they were working hard to prevent it.

Speaking at a programme organised by Dhyan Foundation, a spiritual and charitable organisation working pan-India to save animals from pain and cruelty, here on Friday he said, Several illegal activities are rampant in case of cows, especially slaughtering, transportation, cold storage and supply of beef etc. Cows are beneficial to mankind in several ways, producing milk and protecting the environment. We respect the sentiments of Hindu brethren who consider it the mother.

We have done studies across the country on this burning issue and filed a petition in the Bengal High Court. The court ordered the government authorities to prevent cow slaughter. We told our Muslim brothers that the cow was adored like a mother by Hindus and it was dear to us as well. Slowly, we convinced several people from our community across India and thousands of butchers stopped slaughter of cows. Telangana will soon have the first-of-its-kind Gau shala, maintained by Muslim community, he added.

Dr Imran Choudhary, Persian scholar, Jamia Millia Islamia, said, There are a few people who are spreading hatred in the society. But Allah gives us the courage to help humanity. A strong and united India is possible only when the cow is considered as divine, that our ancestors have stressed it through generations.

Literate and educated Muslims who qualified from England and other countries are the real culprits who are spreading hatred in our country to benefit from it politically and it is incorrect to blame illiterate Muslims. The educated Muslims create a false notion that they are superior in knowledge, but the common Muslim is the one who has a better understanding of the ground realities, he added.

Khaiser Ansari, Bharat First organisation, Telangana state in-charge, said, We are constructing a Muslim Gau Shala with a capacity of 400 to 500 cows at Toopran and a society is in the process of being registered. We want to spread awareness among Muslims about the benefits of rearing cows. This will be first-of-its-kind Gau Shala which will be maintained by the Muslim community. We want to adopt orphan cows found on the streets and foster them and demonstrate the benefits of rearing cows.
US Secretary of Defence stressed American support for on Saturday, suggesting at Asia's premier defence forum that recent Chinese military activity around the self-governing island threatens to change the status quo.

Speaking at the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore, Austin noted a steady increase in provocative and destabilising military activity near Taiwan, including almost daily military flights near the island by the People's Republic of .

Our policy hasn't changed, but unfortunately that doesn't seem to be true for the PRC, he said.

Austin said Washington remains committed to the one- policy, which recognises Beijing but allows informal relations and defence ties with Taipei.

and split during a civil war in 1949, but China claims the island as its own territory and has not ruled out using military force to take it.

China has stepped up its military provocations against democratic in recent years, aimed at intimidating it into accepting Beijing's demands to unify with the communist mainland.

We remain focused on maintaining peace, stability and the status quo across the Taiwan Strait, Austin said in his address. But the PRC's moves threaten to undermine security, and stability, and prosperity in the .

He drew a parallel with the Russian invasion of Ukraine, saying that the indefensible assault on a peaceful neighbour has galvanised the world and ... has reminded us all of the dangers of undercutting an order rooted in rules and respect.

Austin said that the rules-based order matters just as much in the as it does in Europe.

Russia's invasion of Ukraine is what happens when oppressors trample the rules that protect us all, he said. It's what happens when big powers decide that their imperial appetites matter more than the rights of their peaceful neighbours. And it's a preview of a possible world of chaos and turmoil that none of us would want to live in.

Austin met Friday with Chinese Defence Minister Gen Wei Fenghe on the sidelines of the conference for discussions where Taiwan featured prominently, according to a senior American defense official, speaking on condition of anonymity to provide details of the private meeting.

Austin made clear at the meeting that while the U.S. does not support Taiwanese independence, it also has major concerns about China's recent behaviour and suggested that Beijing might be attempting to change the status quo.

Wei, meanwhile, complained to Austin about new American arms sales to Taiwan announced this week, saying it seriously undermined China's sovereignty and security interests, according to a Chinese state-run CCTV report after the meeting.

China firmly opposes and strongly condemns it, and the Chinese government and military will resolutely smash any Taiwan independence plot and resolutely safeguard the reunification of the motherland, Wei reportedly told Austin.

Chinese Defence Ministry spokesperson Col. Wu Qian quoted Wei as saying China would respond to any move toward formal Taiwan independence by smashing it even at any price, including war.

In his speech, Austin said the US stands firmly behind the principle that cross-strait differences must be resolved by peaceful means, but also would continue to fulfill its commitments to Taiwan.

That includes assisting Taiwan in maintaining a sufficient self-defence capability, he said.

And it means maintaining our own capacity to resist any use of force or other forms of coercion that would jeopardise the security or the social or economic system of the people of Taiwan.

The 1979 Taiwan Relations Act, which has governed US relations with the island, does not require the US to step in militarily if China invades, but makes it American policy to ensure Taiwan has the resources to defend itself and to prevent any unilateral change of status by Beijing.

Austin stressed the power of partnerships and said the US's unparalleled network of alliances in the region has only deepened, noting recent efforts undertaken with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, or ASEAN; the growing importance of the Quad group of the US, India, Japan and Australia; and the trilateral security partnership with Australia and the United Kingdom, known as AUKUS.

He dismissed Chinese allegations that the US intends to start an Asian with its outreach.

Let me be clear, we do not seek confrontation or conflict and we do not seek a new Cold War, an Asian NATO, or a region split into hostile blocs, he said.

Australian Defence Minister Richard Marles told the forum that AUKUS, under which Australia will acquire nuclear-powered submarines from the US with the help of Britain, was a technology-sharing relationship, and not in the set of arrangements as you would describe .

Australian abruptly pulled out of a deal with France for submarines to sign on to the AUKUS deal, and Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced Saturday that he had agreed to pay Paris 555 million euros (USD 584 million) in compensation.

France's new defence minister, Sebastien Lecornu, suggested his country was willing to put the matter behind it, saying the alliance with Australia was a long one, recalling the sacrifice of the young Australians who came to die on French soil during World War I.

There are ups and downs in all relations between countries, but when there were real dramas, Australia was there, he said.

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Civilians fled intense fighting in eastern on Friday as Russian and Ukrainian forces engaged in a grinding battle of attrition for key cities in the country's industrial heartland.

Mostly women, children and elderly residents left on a special evacuation train that departed from the city of Pokrovsk and headed west.

We live on the front line now, said Svitlana Kaplun, whose family fled as shelling reached their neighborhood in the city of Krasnohorivka. The kids are worried all the time, they are afraid to sleep at night, so we decided to take them out.

After a bungled attempt to overrun Kyiv, Ukraine's capital, in the early days of the war, shifted its focus to an eastern region of coal mines and factories known as the Donbas. The area borders and has been partly controlled by Moscow-backed separatists since 2014.

The fighting there has led to mounting casualties and renewed pleas from to the West for more weapons.

Mykhailo Podolyak, an adviser to Ukraine's president, told the BBC in an interview aired Thursday that the daily loss of 100 to 200 Ukrainian soldiers is the result of a complete lack of parity between and .

He said only more advanced Western weaponry will turn back the Russian offensive and force Moscow to the negotiating table.

Fighting in the Donbas has ground on for more than two months, and the slog continued Friday. A provincial governor said Russian and Ukrainian forces battled "for every house and every street in Sievierodonetsk, a city that recently has been under steady attack.

Sievierodonetsk is in the last pocket of Luhansk province that has not yet been claimed by Russia or Moscow-backed separatists. The Luhansk and Donetsk regions together make up the Donbas.

Luhansk Gov. Serhiy Haidai told The Associated Press that Ukrainian forces retain control of the industrial zone on the edge of the city and some other sections amid the painstaking block-by-block fighting.

An envoy for the Luhansk People's Republic, a self-proclaimed separatist territory, reported Friday that some Ukrainian troops were trapped inside a chemical plant on the city's outskirts.

All escape routes have been cut off, Rodion Miroshnik, Moscow ambassador for the unrecognized republic, wrote on social media.

They are being told that no conditions will be accepted. Only the laying down of arms and surrender, he said.

Miroshnik echoed earlier claims by a Russian defense official that civilians remained on the plant's grounds. But he stopped short of reiterating allegations that Ukrainian forces were barring them from leaving.

As of Friday afternoon, there was no response from the Ukrainian side.

Meanwhile, Moscow kept up its artillery strikes on the neighboring city of Lysychansk and surrounding towns and villages, the Ukrainian military said. It also said that Russian troops were preparing to resume an offensive on the city of Slavyansk in the Donetsk region, south of Luhansk.

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maker Revlon Inc is preparing to file for chapter 11 protection as soon as next week, the Wall Street Journal reported on Friday, citing people familiar with the matter.

Revlon, whose shares declined 46%, did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment.

The lipstick maker began talks with lenders ahead of looming debt maturities to try to steer the business clear of bankruptcy, the WSJ reported last week.

Revlon had long-term debt of $3.31 billion, as of end-March.

Demand for makeup products has bounced back in recent months as people across the world venture out more often. But Revlon, which faces stiff competition from digital-native upstart brands, said in March it faced supply chain constraints that hurt its ability to service demand.

Reorg Research first reported Revlon was planning to file for .

(Reporting by Praveen Paramasivam in Bengaluru; Editing by Krishna Chandra Eluri)

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Electric vehicle maker Inc on Friday proposed a three-to-one stock split, making its shares more affordable following recent sell-offs of the most valuable automaker.

The company also said Oracle Corp co-founder Larry Ellison, a friend of Chief Executive Officer Elon Musk, will not stand for re-election to Tesla's board when his term ends at this year's shareholder meeting.

Ellison is among the top investors who have promised funding toward Musk's $44 billion acquisition of social media firm Twitter Inc.

Shares of Austin, Texas-based rose more than 1% in extended trading on Friday. They have fallen nearly 40% since Musk unveiled his stake in Twitter in early April, hurt in part by a strict lockdown in Shanghai that has affected Tesla's production.

Shareholders will vote on Tesla's proposed stock split on Aug. 4. If approved, it would be the company's first such action after a five-for-one split in August 2020.

Tesla said the split would enable its employees to "have more flexibility in managing their equity" and make its stock "more accessible to our retail shareholders." Alphabet Inc, Apple Inc and Amazon.com Inc have also recently split their shares.

While a split has no bearing on a company's fundamentals, it could buoy the share price by making it easier for a wider range of investors to own the stock.

Tesla will also ask shareholders to vote to reduce its board of directors' terms to two years from three. If approved, the terms would be staggered over two years.

UNION

Meanwhile, proposals by Tesla shareholders include corporate governance-related items such as the right of employees to form a union and Tesla's efforts to prevent sexual harassment and racial discrimination.



"In 2021, the National Labor Relations Board upheld a 2019 ruling that Tesla illegally fired a worker involved in union organizing, and that the CEO had illegally threatened workers regarding unionization," according to a stockholder proposal cited in Tesla's filing.

In March, Musk invited labor union United Auto Workers (UAW) to hold a vote at Tesla's California factory. But "Tesla does not have any formal policy commitments to respect the right to freedom of association, nor has it demonstrated how it would effectively operationalize such a commitment," the proposal said.

Tesla's board advised a vote against the proposal, saying Tesla recently increased the base pay for its manufacturing jobs and it is "actively engaged" in protecting employees' rights.

Shareholders also proposed an annual report on Tesla's efforts to prevent sexual harassment and racial discrimination after it was hit by a string of lawsuits.

A California civil rights agency filed a lawsuit accusing Tesla of failing for years to address widespread racist conduct at its Fremont assembly plant.

Tesla said it does not "tolerate discrimination, harassment, retaliation or any mistreatment of employees in the workplace." Another resolution asked Tesla to evaluate the "impact of Tesla's current use of arbitration on the prevalence of harassment and discrimination in its workplace."



Shareholders also called on the company to report its polices to address perceived lack of gender and racial diversity at its board.

(Reporting by Akash Sriram in Bengaluru and Hyunjoo Jin in San Francisco; Editing by Shinjini Ganguli, Matthew Lewis and Richard Chang)

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Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida announced plans on Friday to boost his country's diplomatic and security role in the Asia Pacific to tackle what he described as growing threats in the region amid Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

Kishida said will consider acquiring a preemptive strike capability in response to an increasingly assertive China, North Korea and now Russia a controversial plan that critics say would violate Japan's war-renouncing Constitution.

Ukraine today may be East Asia tomorrow, Kishida said in a keynote address at the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore, an Asian security forum.

Kishida stressed the importance of cooperation among regional partners, and said he will lay out a free and open Indo-Pacific plan for peace by next spring in which will provide development aid, patrol boats, maritime law enforcement capabilities and other assistance to countries in Southeast Asia and the Pacific where China is attempting to increase its influence to help them better guard themselves.

has been promoting a free and open Indo-Pacific security and economic framework among like-minded democracies as a counter to China's rise.

Japan will provide such support to at least 20 countries, train at least 800 maritime security personnel and provide about $2 billion in assistance over the next three years, he said.

Kishida has already pledged to bolster Japan's military capabilities and spending. Japan's attempt to expand its security role in Asia, where many countries suffered from its World War II aggression, is a sensitive issue. Kishida assured the audience that Japan's defense enhancement will be transparent and remain within the scope of its Constitution.

He said the security environment in the Indo-Pacific region is deteriorating because of increasing tensions in the East and South China seas and around Taiwan, which China claims as its territory.

Russia's invasion of Ukraine and its threat to use nuclear weapons has made the path to a world without atomic bombs more challenging, but the trend must be reversed, Kishida said, noting his position as the leader of the only country that has suffered nuclear attacks.

I must admit that the path to a world without nuclear weapons has become even more challenging, Kishida said.

He described North Korea's repeated launches of ballistic missiles, including ICBMs, and development of nuclear weapons as a serious threat to regional peace and stability.

The non-transparent buildup of military capacity, including nuclear arsenals, around Japan has become a serious regional security concern, he said.

The threat may damage non-proliferation efforts by creating a reluctance among possessors of nuclear weapons to abandon them, and a desire among to develop them, Kishida said.

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Lawyers are investigating Meta Platforms Inc's outgoing operations chief Sheryl Sandberg's use of company resources over several years, the Wall Street Journal reported on Friday, citing people familiar with the matter.



Several employees have been interviewed in connection with the investigation by Facebook-parent Meta, the WSJ reported, adding that the probe has been underway since at least last fall.



Meta and Sandberg did not immediately respond to Reuters' requests for comment.



Among the activities being scrutinized is the work of Meta employees to support Sandberg's foundation, Lean In, and towards writing and promotion of her second book, "Option B: Facing Adversity, Building Resilience, and Finding Joy", the report added.



Earlier in June, Sandberg, whose close partnership with Chief Executive Officer Mark Zuckerberg powered the growth of the world's biggest social network, announced her departure from the company after 14 years.



Chief Growth Officer Javier Olivan is set to take over as chief operating officer although Zuckerberg said he did not plan to replace Sandberg's role directly within the company's existing structure.



Sandberg said that she will continue to serve on Meta's board after leaving the company in the fall.



(Reporting by Akash Sriram in Bengaluru; Editing by Maju Samuel)

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Cloud major Oracle, which just completed its $28.4 billion acquisition of electronic health records company Cerner, is developing a national health records database.

Oracle's board chairman and chief technology officer Larry Ellison said that patient data would be anonymous until individuals give consent to share their information, reports medcitynews.com.

"We're building a system where all American citizens' health records not only exist at the hospital level, but they also are in a unified national health records database," Ellison told the media during Oracle's 'The Future of Healthcare' webinar.

Ellison assured that Oracle's database will anonymise all patient data.

Oracle's new health records database will also involve the patient engagement system the company has been developing throughout the pandemic, the report said late on Friday.

is also working on the patient engagement system's ability to collect information from wearables and home diagnostic devices.

According to Ellison, the incorporation of wearables will advance clinical research even further by allowing more people to participate in trials.

"You can be at a rural hospital and share this information with your doctors and the people who are running the clinical trial. So it gives us a much more diverse population in clinical trials," he was quoted as saying.

in December last year announced to acquire Cerner through an all-cash tender offer for $95.00 per share, or approximately $28.3 billion in equity value.

Cerner is a leading provider of digital information systems used within hospitals and health systems to enable medical professionals to deliver better healthcare to individual patients and communities.

--IANS

na/ksk/

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari in a telephone call apprised President of UN General Assembly Abdulla Shahid of the controversial remarks made by two former senior officials of India's ruling party against Prophet Mohammad, the Foreign Office said here on Friday.

Noting that such provocation had deeply hurt the sentiments of billions of Muslims around the world, the Bilawal urged Shahid to take cognisance of this abhorrent development amidst rising Islamophobia in India, it said.

Referring to the muted response of the Indian leadership to the incident, the foreign minister noted that silence could be taken as complicity, and could lead to further incitement to violence, communal discord and hate incidents, the Foreign Office said.

Abdulla underscored the important role of the General Assembly and the need for the membership to work together on these issues. Bilawal and Abdullah agreed to remain engaged.

The ruling BJP has already suspended its national spokesperson Nupur Sharma and expelled the party's Delhi unit media head Naveen Jindal for their controversial remarks following widespread anger in several Gulf countries.

has said that the remarks do not reflect the views of the government. Ministry of External Affairs Spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said accords the "highest respect" to all religions.

Foreign Office spokesperson Asim Iftikhar Ahmed said at the weekly briefing on Friday reiterated Pakistan's condemnation of the remarks by two senior officials.

He said Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Foreign Minister Bilawal have also condemned the hurtful comments.

Ahmed said Foreign Secretary Sohail Mahmood met the envoys of P-5 countries and held a meeting with the OIC Ambassadors in Islamabad to apprise them of the matter and register Pakistan's strong concern at the sharp increase in Islamophobia and targeting of Muslims in .

The spokesperson said that contrary to what he called a reprehensible campaign of saffronisation in India, Pakistan, in line with its policy of promoting interfaith harmony issued 163 visas to Sikh pilgrims from India to participate in an annual festival being held in from June 8 to June 17.

India has categorically rejected criticism by the 57-member Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) and Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif over the issue.

MEA Spokesperson Bagchi said India accords the "highest respect" to all religions and described the statement by the grouping as "motivated, misleading and mischievous" and that it exposed its "divisive agenda" which is being pursued at the behest of "vested interests."



Referring to Sharif's condemnation of the remarks by Sharma and Jindal, and the Pakistan Foreign Ministry's criticism, Bagchi said the "absurdity of a serial violator of minority rights commenting on the treatment of minorities in another nation is not lost on anyone."



He said the government "accords the highest respect to all religions. This is quite unlike Pakistan where fanatics are eulogised and monuments built in their honour".

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Russian bombers have likely been launching 1960s-era heavy, anti-ship missiles meant to destroy aircraft carriers with nuclear warheads against land targets in Ukraine, a British military intelligence report said Saturday.

It said the 5.5-ton Kh-22 missiles, when used in ground attacks with conventional warheads, are highly inaccurate and can cause severe collateral damage and casualties.

is likely using such weapons because it is running short of more precise modern missiles, Britain's Defence Ministry said in a daily update.

Russian forces have been concentrating their efforts on capturing all of Ukraine's eastern region of coal mines and factories known as the Donbas. The area borders and has been partly controlled by Moscow-backed separatists since 2014.

Civilians have been fleeing intense fighting in eastern Ukraine as Russian and Ukrainian forces engage in a grinding battle of attrition for key cities in the country's industrial heartland.

The report said Ukrainian air defences were still deterring Russian tactical aircraft from carrying out strikes across much of the country.

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Serbian President and visiting German Chancellor Olaf Scholz disagreed on the necessity to impose sanctions on after their discussion on the war.

The German Chancellor "in a decisive, clear and sharp manner" asked Serbia to join Western sanctions against Russia, and even offered help for the construction of energy capacities, Vucic told a press conference after their meeting here.

"I spoke about our position, and the specific situation which Serbia has around Kosovo and Metohija province," Xinhua news agency quoted the President as saying, referring to the country's southern province which unilaterally declared independence in 2008 after Serbia was heavily bombarded by NATO in 1999.

"As much as you like the integrity of Ukraine, we love the integrity of Serbia," he said, reminding Russia's support for Serbia's territorial integrity at the UN Security Council, Serbia- traditional friendship, and energy cooperation.

Vucic said that Serbia has a different position when it comes to the necessity to impose sanctions on .

"We Serbia remember what sanctions look like and on the other hand we had a different kind of relations with the Russian side for centuries."

Scholz voiced the European Union's (EU) expectation that "all (EU) membership candidates should join those sanctions", repeating Germany's support for Serbia's accession to the bloc.

Scholz's Balkan tour started on Friday in Pristina and Belgrade.

The next stops include Greece, North Macedonia and Bulgaria.

--IANS

ksk/

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Youngsters take to kayaks in Hussainsagar as clouds fill the sky above heralding the arrival of the southwest monsoon in Hyderabad. (Deepak Deshpande/DC)

Hyderabad: The southwest monsoon, which was expected to reach Telangana by Saturday, is now expected to reach the state within the next 48 hours.

The MET department on Saturday forecast that conditions are favourable for the advance of monsoon into some parts of Telangana. The rest of the state would be covered by the monsoon clouds during the subsequent 2-3 days.

A circular issued on Saturday stated that on Saturday, the monsoon advanced into the remaining parts of central Arabian Sea, most parts of Konkan (including Mumbai), some parts of central Maharashtra and some parts of Karnataka.

The IMD also issued a yellow warning of thunderstorms accompanied with lightning and gusty winds, reaching speeds of 30-40 kmph, to be very likely to occur at isolated places in a few districts, from June 12 to 15. It had also issued a heat wave warning for Saturday itself at isolated pockets in Bhadradri Kothagudem, Khammam, Nalgonda and Suryapet districts.

While temperatures in Hyderabad have remained on the higher side for the past few days, they are expected to drop sharply when the monsoon does reach the state. On Saturday, the city recorded a maximum temperature of 37.3 Celsius, which was 2C above the normal.

Khammam, for which a heat wave warning was issued, reported a maximum of 41.6C the highest in the state and 5C above the normal value.
The Taliban-led government in has rejected a recent report by the Human Rights Watch (HRW) which expressed concerns over the violations of human rights, especially those of women and girls, in the war-torn nation.

In a statement on Friday, spokesman of the Taliban's Islamic Emirate of (IEA) government Zabihullah Mujahid said that citizens were currently being provided with better human rights than any other period in the country, reports TOLO News.

"The Islamic Emirate asks the UN and human rights advocate agencies not to listen to the propaganda... They must consider and accept the truth in the country. Human rights are respected in comparison to the past 20 years in Afghanistan," he said, adding that the HRW report was "incorrect and baseless".

Mujahid's remarks came a day after the HRW released its report which also called for an end to an exemption on travel bans of the IEA.

"Human Rights Watch has issued a new statement today calling for some specific action by the Security Council of the UN in response to the rising level of abuses by the against women and girls in Afghanistan," Heather Barr, Associate Director of the Women's Rights Division at the HRW, was quoted as saying in the report.

"In June, the travel ban exemptions that are currently in place for fourteen members of the leadership will expire, at that point we are asking the Security Council, not only to end those exemptions but also to consider whether there might be a need for a travel ban against additional individuals."

Travel bans on some IEA leaders were first imposed in 1999 as part of the UN response to violent activities in and it was partially suspended three years ago to allow 14 members of incumbent government to attend peace talks, reports TOLO News.

Meanwhile, the UN Security Council will hold a meeting on human rights, particularly concerning women, in June.

--IANS

ksk/

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Thousands of protestors are expected to rally in Washington, DC, Saturday and in separate demonstrations around the country as part of a renewed push for nationwide gun control.

Motivated by a fresh surge in mass shootings, from Uvalde, Texas, to Buffalo, New York, protestors say lawmakers must take note of shifting public opinion and finally enact sweeping reforms.

Organizers expect the second March for Our Lives rally to draw around 50,000 demonstrators to the Monument.

That's far less than the original 2018 march, which filled downtown with more than 200,000 people. This time, organizers are focusing on holding smaller marches at an estimated 300 locations.

We want to make sure that this work is happening across the country, said Daud Mumin, co-chairman of the march's board of directors and a recent graduate of Westminster College in Salt Lake City. This work is not just about DC, it's not just about senators.

The first march was spurred by the February 14, 2018, killings of 14 students and three staff members by a former student at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida.

That massacre sparked the creation of the youth-led March For Our Lives movement, which successfully pressured the Republican-dominated Florida state government to enact sweeping gun control reforms.

The Parkland students then took aim at gun laws in other states and nationally, launching March for Our Lives and holding the big rally in on March 24, 2018.

The group did not match the Florida results at the national level, but has persisted in advocating for gun restrictions since then, as well as participating in voter registration drives.

Now, with another string of mass shootings bringing gun control back into the national conversation, organizers of this weekend's events say the time is right to renew their push for a national overhaul.

Right now we are angry, said Mariah Cooley, a March For Our Lives board member and a senior at Washington's Howard University.

This will be a demonstration to show that us as Americans, we're not stopping anytime soon until Congress does their jobs. And if not, we'll be voting them out.

The protest comes at a time of renewed political activity on guns and a crucial moment for possible action in Congress.

Survivors of mass shootings and other incidents of gun violence have lobbied legislators and testified on Capitol Hill this week.

Among them was Miah Cerrillo, an 11-year-old girl who survived the shooting at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas. She told lawmakers how she covered herself with a dead classmate's blood to avoid being shot.

On Tuesday, actor Matthew McConaughey appeared at the White House briefing room to press for gun legislation and made highly personal remarks about the violence in his hometown of Uvalde.

The House has passed bills that would raise the age limit to buy semi-automatic weapons and establish federal red flag laws.

But such initiatives have traditionally stalled or been heavily watered down in the Senate.

Democratic and Republican senators had hoped to reach agreement this week on a framework for addressing the issue and talked Friday, but they had not announced an accord by early evening.

Mumin referred to the Senate as where substantive action goes to die, and said the new march is meant to spend a message to lawmakers that public opinion on gun control is shifting under their feet. If they're not on our side, there are going to be consequences voting them out of office and making their lives a living hell when they're in office, he said.

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The top official of the World Food Programme (WFP) is planning to visit on the invitation of Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe at a time when the crisis-hit island nation is grappling with an impending food shortage.

The Prime Minister's request comes after experts have warned of a possible shortage of rice and other essential food items from September this year because of lower production due to the impact after President Gotabaya Rajapaksa had enforced a ban on fertilisers in April last year and due to the inability to import amid an acute dollar shortage.

Prior to the fertiliser ban, was self-sufficient in rice production.

Wickremesinghe said he spoke to David Beasley, the Executive Director at the UN WFP on Friday and invited him to visit . He accepted my invitation and is planning to visit shortly. We appreciate all the support extended to us by the WFP, Wickremesinghe tweeted on Friday.

On Friday, the appealed for USD 47.2 million to provide life-saving assistance to crisis hit Sri Lanka, as it noted that shortage of medicines and surgical consumables will ease in the medium term with the support of a credit line from India and other partners.

The UN team in Sri Lanka and non-governmental organisations launched the joint Humanitarian Needs and Priorities Plan on Thursday, calling for USD 47.2 million to provide life-saving assistance to 1.7 million people worst-hit by the economic crisis in Sri Lanka over a four-month period between June and September.

Additionally, the Monetary Fund (IMF) is also planning to send an in-person mission in the coming weeks to Sri Lanka for policy discussions on a financial arrangement, its spokesman has said but emphasised that the country needs to take steps to restore debt sustainability before the global lender can move on a financing programme.

Clearly Sri Lanka is facing a very difficult economic condition and severe balance of payments problems. We are deeply concerned about the impact of the ongoing crisis, particularly the humanitarian concern, that is the impact on people, IMF Spokesperson Gerry Rice told a briefing on Thursday.

Meanwhile, India has also provided a USD 55 million Line of Credit to Sri Lanka for the import of fertilisers, in a bid to help the island nation tide over its food scarcity, the Indian High Commission said on Friday.

Earlier this month, Wickremesinghe met senior officials of the FAO as well as the Development Programme (UNDP) and briefed them about the situation faced by the country.

The Prime Minister lamented that fertilisers and fuel shortage are the two biggest hurdles facing the country's agricultural sector.

Addressing the Parliament on Tuesday, Wickremesinghe said Sri Lanka will need USD 5 billion to ensure that the people's daily lives are not disrupted for the next six months.

The nearly bankrupt country, with an acute foreign currency crisis that resulted in foreign debt default, announced in April that it is suspending nearly USD 7 billion foreign debt repayment due for this year out of about USD 25 billion due through 2026.

Sri Lanka's total foreign debt stands at USD 51 billion.

In May, the IMF said it requires sufficient assurance from the country that it will restore debt sustainability during the debt restructuring process.

The economic crisis has prompted an acute shortage of essential items like food, medicine, cooking gas and other fuel, toilet paper and even matches, with Sri Lankans for months being forced to wait in lines lasting hours outside stores to buy fuel and cooking gas.

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British officials said they cannot tell if the spread of monkeypox has peaked in the country as they announced another 45 cases Friday, bringing the total in the disease's biggest-ever outbreak beyond Africa to 366 cases.

Britain's Security Agency said 99% of the total cases were in men and that nearly all of the 152 men who provided detailed information identified as gay, bisexual or men who have sex with men. About 80% of cases were in London, and the median age of the people infected was 38, the agency said.

We cannot yet determine if transmission has stopped increasing, the agency said in a report, citing the reporting delay between when patients experienced symptoms and were confirmed as having monkeypox.

Anyone, regardless of their sexual orientation, is susceptible to the monkeypox virus if they come into close physical contact with an infected person or their bedsheets or clothes.

Findings show that monkeypox is being distributed in geographically diffuse sexual networks, the British scientists wrote, adding that some of these connections extended beyond the U.K. Most cases reported having sexual contact with new or casual partners, sometimes in the context of cruising grounds or chemsex, the experts said, referring to sex combined with drug use.

The expert noted that contact details for sexual partners were often unavailable.

Last month, a leading adviser to the World Organization said the outbreak in Europe and beyond was likely spread by sex at two recent raves in Spain and Belgium.

Earlier this week, WHO said more than 1,000 cases of monkeypox had been reported in 29 countries that haven't previously had outbreaks of the smallpox-related disease, including the United States, Portugal, Spain, Italy and Canada. Poland reported its first case on Friday. No deaths have been reported.

Britain's Health Security Agency found that many of the cases in the U.K. involved men who reported having sex in saunas, dark rooms or sex clubs.

Therefore, collaborating with sex-on-premises venues to implement targeted interventions would support outbreak control, the agency said. It added that using targeted messages on dating apps might also be useful or support innovative approaches to contact tracing.

WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said it was likely monkeypox has been transmitting undetected for some time beyond Africa and that the U.N. health agency was concerned the disease might start to infect more vulnerable groups, such as pregnant women and children.

WHO's top monkeypox expert, Dr. Rosamund Lewis, said earlier this week there was still a window of opportunity to stop monkeypox from jumping into the general population and those more at risk of severe disease.

Most monkeypox patients experience only fever, body aches, chills and fatigue. People with more serious illness may develop a rash and lesions on the face and hands that can spread to other parts of the body. In severe cases involving people without access to health care, WHO has noted a death rate of 3 to 6%.

The ongoing outbreak of monkeypox in Britain and elsewhere, marks the first time the disease has been known to spread among people who have no previous travel links to Africa.

The Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says that so far this year, there have been more than 1,400 monkeypox cases and 66 deaths in four countries where the disease is endemic Cameroon, Central African Republic, Congo and Nigeria. Genetic sequencing of the virus hasn't yet shown any direct link to the outbreak outside Africa.

British scientists said they found three mutations in the monkeypox virus spreading in the U.K. that they classed as high priority since they were found to worsen the disease in rats. They said more research was needed to tell if the changes were significant.

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said on Saturday that would prevail in its war with Russia, now focused on a artillery slugging match over an eastern Ukrainian city.



Russian forces have been trying to seize Sievierodonetsk in their advance in the east, turning it into one of the bloodiest battles so far in the four-month-old conflict.



Neither side has secured a knock-out blow in weeks of fighting that has pulverised chunks of the city.

has appealed for swifter deliveries of heavy weapons from the West to turn the tide of the war with Russian forces - which it says have at least 10 times more artillery pieces than Ukrainian forces. Yet even when outgunned, Ukraine's army has proved more resilient than expected in early phases of fighting.



"We are definitely going to prevail in this war that has started," Zelenskiy told a conference in Singapore via videolink. "It is on the battlefields in that the future rules of this world are being decided."



After was forced to scale back its more sweeping campaign goals when it launched the invasion on Feb. 24, Moscow has turned to expanding control in the east, where pro-Russian separatists had already held a swathe of territory since 2014.

The eastern region known as the Donbas includes the provinces of Luhansk, where Sievierodonetsk lies, and Donetsk.



The self-proclaimed Donetsk People's Republic (DPR) said a verdict on a captured South Korean "mercenary" was being prepared, Russia's Interfax news agency reported.



The family of one of the two British fighters sentenced to death in a brief court appearance last week said on Saturday they were "devastated and saddened at the outcome of the illegal show trial" and called for Shaun Pinner to be treated as a prisoner of war and released or exchanged.



The conflict between the neighbours - two of the world's biggest grain exporters - has reverberated well beyond Ukraine.

"If due to Russian blockades, we are unable to export our foodstuffs, which is so sorely missing in global markets, the world will face an acute and severe food crisis and famine - famine in many countries of Asia and Africa," Zelenskiy told the Shangri-La Dialogue conference in Singapore.

The United Nations said on Friday up to 19 million more people in the world could face chronic hunger in the next year because of reduced wheat and other food exports.



Ukraine's deputy agriculture minister said on Saturday up to 300,000 tonnes of grain may have been stored in warehouses in the Black Sea port of Mykolaiv that Kyiv says were destroyed by Russian shelling last weekend.



Turkey has tried to secure a deal so Ukraine can resume shipments from its Black Sea ports, which accounted for 98% of its cereal and oilseed exports before the war. But Moscow says Kyiv must clear the ports of mines and Ukraine says it needs security guarantees so it is not left exposed.



Ukraine has repeatedly called for more Western arms and closer alignment with the West. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen told Zelenskiy in Kyiv the EU executive's opinion on making Ukraine an EU candidate would be ready next week.



"As Ukrainian forces use the last of their stocks of Soviet-era weapon systems and munitions, they will require consistent Western support to transition to new supply chains of ammunition and key artillery systems," the Institute for the Study of War said in a report on Friday.



"Effective artillery will be increasingly decisive in the largely static fighting in eastern Ukraine," it said.

Ukraine's Luhansk Governor Serhiy Gaidai said Russian forces controlled most of Sievierodonetsk but Ukraine controlled the Azot chemical plant where hundreds of civilians are sheltering.



"Our forces are holding an industrial zone of Sievierodonetsk and are destroying the Russian army in the town," Gaidai said on the Telegram app.



The battle for Sievierodonetsk and its destruction recall weeks of bombardment of the southern port city of Mariupol. It was reduced to ruins before Russian forces took control of the city last month, with the last Ukrainian defenders surrendering from their redoubt in the Azovstal steel plant.



Moscow has denied targeting civilians, but both sides say they have inflicted mass casualties on each other's forces.

Reuters has not been able to independently verify the battlefield reports in the conflict.



calls its actions a "special military operation" to disarm and "denazify" Ukraine, while Kyiv and its allies call it an unprovoked war of aggression to capture territory.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
US Secretary of Defense vowed to help Asian nations push back against what he said was Chinese bullying, describing the efforts as necessary to prevent a repeat of the crisis in the Pacific.



Austin used a speech to Asias biggest security conference Saturday in attempt to reassure the region it was at the heart of American grand strategy, despite the European conflict consuming US attention and resources. In his first address to the IISS Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore, he repeatedly drew comparisons between Russian actions and Chinas more coercive and aggressive approach to its own territorial claims.





Russias invasion of is what happens when oppressors trample the rules that protect us all, Austin told a ballroom filled with defense and security officials from around the globe. Its what happens when big powers decide that their imperial appetites matter more than the rights of their peaceful neighbors. And its a preview of a possible world of chaos and turmoil that none of us would want to live in.

US President Joe Biden is facing continued skepticism about the USs commitment to Asia, despite renewed openness to Washingtons rhetoric about defending sovereignty of smaller nations. Most Asian nations remain focused on balancing ties with China, the regions dominant economy, despite concerns about Beijings growing military power.

American officials believe Chinese President Xi Jinping is gauging the US response to to determine how it would deal with more aggressive action toward the democratically run island of Taiwan. Still, theyve determined that Xis support for Vladimir Putins security grievances since a landmark joint statement in the run-up to the Ukraine war has created a strategic opening for US policy in the region.

We feel the headwinds -- from threats and intimidation -- and the obsolete belief in a world carved up into spheres of influence, Austin said.

In his own address to the same security gathering Friday, Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida laid out plans for a greater regional security role for the constitutionally pacifist nation. I myself have a strong sense of urgency that Ukraine today may be East Asia tomorrow, the key US ally said.

Japan is among a range of Asian-Pacific nations, including Australia, India and the Philippines, that have protested more assertive military actions by China in recent years. Beijing, for its own part, has accused Washington of trying to contain it with Asian NATO built on groups such as the Quad -- with Australia, India and Japan -- and Aukus, with Australia and the UK.

A senior Chinese military official rejected what he called unfounded accusations in Austins speech, telling reporters that the American strategy would deepen divisions and the risk of a regional confrontation.

Having created chaos in the Mideast and brought instability to Europe, is the US now trying to destabilize the Asia-Pacific? said Lieutenant General Zhang Zhenzhong, deputy chief of the Chinese Central Military Commissions Joint Staff Department. We will never allow this to happen.

Austins speech included a rebuttal to the Chinese argument, saying the US didnt want a new Cold War, an Asian NATO or a region split into hostile blocs. He said the US would defend our interests without punching.

The decades-old dispute over Taiwan, which relies on US military support to deter Beijings efforts to assert control over the island, consumed much of Austins first in-person meeting with Chinese Defense Minister Wei Fenghe on Friday. The pair nonetheless agreed to meet further at an unspecified date, with the Chinese side saying they hoped the meeting was the start to more normal military communication.

Austin stressed that Americas policy toward Taiwan hasnt changed, after Bidens promise to defend the island during a visit to Tokyo last month appeared to undercut a longstanding commitment to strategic ambiguity. Our policy hasnt changed, Austin said, adding that the US doesnt support Taiwans independence.

He cited strengthened cooperation with regional players, including through the Quad and Aukus, as evidence of US advances in regional coalition-building. Austin said the US would work to ensure that its partners have the right capabilities to defend their interests through training and joint exercises.

No region will do more to set the trajectory of the 21st century than this one, Austin said.
Here is the best of Business Standards pieces for Saturday.

T N Ninan in his weekly column has added some more indicators to the misery index to show how some of the important economies are doing in the current circumstances. Read here

In other views:

Asaduddin Owaisi believes everyone  not Muslims alone  must fight for secularism.

His clarity and articulation often make him a target, writes Aditi Phadnis. Read Here

Sandeep Goyal talks about why the British Royal Family is regarded as the fifth biggest corporate brand in the world, beating the likes of Nike, Coca-Cola, Disney and Microsoft. Read Here
president J P Nadda on Saturday condemned the arrest of the party's unit chief Sukanta Majumdar, accusing the state government of suppressing the voice of those who fight for people in a democratic manner.

"On the one hand, the Bengal government boosts the morale of criminals and protects antisocial elements, on the other it suppresses the voice of those who fight for people in a democratic manner," Nadda said in a tweet.

The detention of Majumdar and then arrest "without a reason" is extremely condemnable, he said.

Majumdar, the MP of Balurghat in Uttar Dinajpur, was arrested this afternoon near the toll plaza on Vidyasagar Setu when he was on the way to violence-hit Howrah district, they said.

"Mr Majumdar was trying to travel to Howrah where prohibitory orders under section 144 of the CrPC have been clamped. His visit could have created a law and order situation. This is a preventive arrest," a senior police officer said.

Majumdar said the situation in was fast-turning into that in Kashmir.

"First, they stopped me at my home. I was put under house arrest. Later, they allowed me to leave my residence. Now, they have stopped me on Vidyasagar Setu and arrested me. The police are saying that as prohibitory orders under section 144 of the CrPC have been imposed, no one will be allowed to visit the area," he told reporters before being taken into custody.

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Hours after being expelled from the Congress, Haryana MLA Kuldeep Bishnoi on Saturday hit back at the party, accusing it of partisan behaviour.

"Congress also has rules for some leaders and exceptions for others. Rules are applied selectively. Indiscipline has been repeatedly ignored in the past. In my case, I listened to my soul & acted on my morals," he said in a tweet.

In an earlier tweet, he also took a jibe at the party's "swift and strong action".

"Had @incindia acted this swiftly & strongly in 2016 & on every other critical opportunity they've missed, they wouldn't have been in such dire straits," he said.

The Congress on Saturday expelled Adampur MLA Bishnoi from all party positions after he openly cross-voted against official Congress nominee Ajay Maken in Rajya Sabha polls held on Friday.

Congress General Secretary, Organisation K.C. Venugopal said: "Hon'ble Congress President has expelled Kuldeep Bishnoi from all his present party positions including the post of special invitee in Congress Working Committee with immediate effect."

Two Congress cross-voted in Haryana as Maken got only 29 votes out of 31 and Independent candidate backed by the BJP, Kartikeya Sharma defeated him with a slight margin.

Bishnoi was reportedly upset with the party after he was denied the state President's post and had said he will only take a decision after meeting party leader Rahul Gandhi. This meeting did not take place.

--IANS

avr/vd

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Governor Jagdeep Dhankhar on Saturday expressed concern over the "worsening" situation following the clashes in Howrah and appealed to Chief Minister to sternly deal with lawbreakers.

Taking to Twitter, the Governor alleged inaction by the state Chief Secretary and police is an "unfortunate endorsement" of the criminality of law violators.

"Concerned at worsening law & order situation since May 09. Inaction @chief_west @WBPolice @KolkataPolice is unfortunate endorsement of the criminality of law violators. Appeal #MamataBanerjee to sternly deal with law breakers. All involved be identified and arrested," he tweeted.

Earlier today, Chief Minister claimed that some political parties are behind the Howrah violence but said that it will not be tolerated and strict action will be taken against them.

"As I have said before, violent incidents have been taking place in Howrah for two days now. There are some political parties behind this who want to cause riots, but these things will not be tolerated and strict action will be taken against all of them indulged in violence. Why should the common people suffer because of BJP's sins?" Banerjee said in a tweet.

Amid a row over remarks against Prophet Muhammad, section 144 has been imposed in Howrah after fresh clashes took place between police and a group of protestors at Panchla Bazaar in Howrah.

Police used tear gas shells to disperse them as protesters pelted stones.

Violent protests broke out in Howrah on Friday over controversial remarks of suspended BJP spokesperson Nupur Sharma.

Section 144 of CrPC imposed in and around the stretches of National Highways and Railway Stations under the jurisdiction of Uluberia-Sub Division, Howrah has been extended till June 15.

Several incidents of violence were reported from different parts of the country over the controversial remarks of Nupur Sharma and Naveen Jindal on Friday.

Following the protests, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) asked the police heads of states and Union Territories to be prepared and alert as they will be on target. The MHA also has asked all the states to take preventive actions, keep a check on borders and identified sensitive areas.

Earlier on Friday, a massive crowd also gathered to protest at Park Circus in Kolkata adding to the resentment against the sacked leaders. A BJP office was vandalised and torched in Uluberia, Howrah district. People also held a protest at Dasnagar railway station on the Howrah-Kharagpur railway route.

Notably, a controversy erupted after Nupur Sharma's remarks against the minorities. Some Gulf countries have also lodged their protest. However, India on Thursday reiterated that the controversial remarks concerning Prophet Muhammad do not reflect the views of the Government and added that action has been taken by concerned quarters against those who made the comment.

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Chief Minister on Saturday alleged that certain political parties were behind the Howrah violence and asked why should people suffer for "BJP's sin".

"As I have said before, violent incidents have been taking place in Howrah for two days now. There are some political parties behind this who want to cause riots, but these things will not be tolerated and strict action will be taken against all of them indulged in violence. Why should the common people suffer because of BJP's sins?" Banerjee said in a tweet.

Section 144 was imposed in Howrah after fresh clashes took place between police and a group of protestors at Panchla Bazaar in Howrah amid a row over remarks against Prophet Muhammad.

Police used tear gas shells to disperse them as protesters pelted stones.

Violent protests broke out in Howrah on Friday over controversial remarks of suspended spokesperson Nupur Sharma.

Section 144 of CrPC imposed in and around the stretches of National Highways and Railway Stations under the jurisdiction of Uluberia-Sub Division, Howrah has been extended till June 15.

Several incidents of violence were reported from different parts of the country over the controversial remarks of Nupur Sharma and Naveen Jindal on Friday.

Following the protests, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) asked the police heads of states and Union Territories to be prepared and alert as they will be on target. The MHA also has asked all the states to take preventive actions, keep a check on borders and identified sensitive areas.

Earlier on Friday, a massive crowd also gathered to protest at Park Circus in Kolkata adding to the resentment against the sacked leaders. A office was vandalised and torched in Uluberia, Howrah district. People also held a protest at Dasnagar railway station on the Howrah-Kharagpur railway route.

While appealing for peace, Governor Jagdeep Dhankhar sought an urgent personal update from the Chief Secretary of the state over the worsening law and order situation in the state.

"Expect Chief Minister to sternly warn law violators- they will not be spared," Dhankar tweeted.

Notably, a controversy erupted after Nupur Sharma's remarks against the minorities. Some Gulf countries have also lodged their protest. However, India on Thursday reiterated that the controversial remarks concerning Prophet Muhammad do not reflect the views of the Government and added that action has been taken by concerned quarters against those who made the comment.

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Chief Minister on Saturday wrote to opposition leaders, requesting them to attend a meeting on June 15 convened by her in New Delhi to prepare a joint strategy for the upcoming presidential poll.

"Our hon'ble chairperson @MamataOfficial calls upon all progressive opposition forces to meet and deliberate on the future course of action keeping the Presidential elections in sight, at the Constitution Club, New Delhi on June 15 2022 at 3 PM," Banerjee's Trinamool Congress said.

With the Presidential poll round the corner, Banerjee has reached out to the opposition CMs and leaders to participate in the joint meeting in the capital, according to a statement issued by her party.

"With the Presidential election around the corner, Hon'ble CM of Mamata Banerjee, with an initiative of strong & effective opposition against the divisive forces, has reached out to the opposition CMs and leaders to participate in a joint meeting," the party statement said.

Poll for the President of India will be held on July 18, the Election Commission announced on Thursday, with 4,809 members of the electoral college comprising MPs and MLAs set to elect the successor to incumbent Ram Nath Kovind.

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Chief Minister on Saturday said the MLAs who supported the Congress candidates in the Rajya Sabha polls have given a befitting reply to the "horse-trading attempts made by the BJP".

He said they have set a new tradition and have defeated the BJP's money and muscle power.

The ruling Congress on Friday won three of the four Rajya Sabha seats in Rajasthan, overcoming the challenge posed by the BJP-backed independent candidate Subhash Chandra. The BJP bagged one seat.

Of the 200 votes, 199 were valid and one vote was rejected. BJP MLA Shobharani Kushwah cross-voted in favour of Congress candidate Pramod Tiwari.

Ahead of the Rajya Sabha elections, the Congress had shifted its MLAs to a hotel in Udaipur to protect them from horse-trading attempts.

It is Rajasthan's good fortune that be it the Rajya Sabha polls or a political crisis, the six BSP MLAs who joined the Congress, 13 Independents, two CPI(M) MLAs, two Bharatiya Tribal Party MLAs, and one RLD MLA have always supported the state government, Gehlot said in a series of tweets.

"They have given a befitting reply to the horse-trading attempts made by the BJP," he said.

"To give the state a stable government, these MLAs have supported the state government since 2018 because a fast pace of development is only possible with a stable government," he said.

Gehlot said these MLAs supported the Congress government without any inducements for the development of their constituencies.

"I am happy that in Rajasthan, these MLAs have set a new tradition wherein they have defeated the BJP's money and muscle power and further boosted the trust of the people of the state. With this victory, the prestige of our state has increased in the whole country," the chief minister said, referring to the Rajya Sabha poll results.

Congress candidates Randeep Surjewala, Mukul Wasnik and Pramod Tiwari and the BJP's Ghanshyam Tiwari were declared elected by the Election Commission late Friday night.

With this, the Congress' tally of Rajya Sabha MPs from will increase to six, out of a total of 10. The BJP will have four members.

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Prime Minister has lauded Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai for his political strategy and acumen which helped Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in winning three seats in the Rajya Sabha election in the state.

Modi called Bommai over the phone immediately after the results were declared and congratulated the Chief Minister for his role in the victory.

"Your efforts were precious in getting three members elected from BJP to the Rajya Sabha. This contribution from Karnataka would inspire further good work," Modi said in appreciation of Bommai.

BJP president JP Nadda too dialled Bommai and congratulated the Chief Minister. "Your hard work has paid off. Your strategies have proved successful," Nadda said.

Bommai received a call from Union Home Minister Amit Shah as well expressing his happiness at the victory of three BJP candidates. The party's state leadership ensured the victory of its third candidate by overcoming a tough political challenge in the numbers game. "This is a big gift from Karnataka to raise the party's strength in Rajya Sabha," Shah said.

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Kerala Leader of Opposition VD Satheesan on Saturday said that should "stay away from the Chief Minister's chair" while he is accused of being involved in a case.

Alleging that attempts have been made to reach a compromise with Swapna Suresh, the prime accused of the case, the LoP said that the state government and the CPIM are moving forward by taking rule of law in their hands.

"CM Pinarayi should be prepared to investigate the statement. He should stay away from the Chief Minister's chair," he said.

On Tuesday, Swapna Suresh, the main accused of the case gave a confidential statement under section 164 (recording of confessions and statements) of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC) alleging the CM's involvement.

Amidst the political furore, the state government has appointed a 12-member team led by the Additional Director General of Police (ADGP) to probe Swapna for giving the 164 statement against the CM.

Swapna had also claimed that she was also threatened by the CM's mediator to withdraw her statement.

"If there is a defamation allegation against the Chief Minister, they can approach the Sessions Court. They were not ready for that either. Without doing any of this, the ADGP has been charged with a case that did not even stand on the veranda of the court," LoP said.

He further added that if convicted, Swapna can face up to seven years in prison.

The Kerala case pertains to the smuggling of gold in the state through diplomatic channels. It had come to light after 30 kg gold worth Rs 14.82 crore smuggled in a consignment camouflaged as diplomatic baggage was busted by the customs department in Thiruvananthapuram on July 5, 2019.

Swapna Suresh alleged that in 2016, M Sivasankar, the former Principal Secretary to the Kerala CM, had asked her to send baggage to Dubai which belonged to Vijayan. However, when the bag was brought to the consulate, it was found that it contained currencies and the entire gold smuggling business had begun from then.

The case is being probed by the Enforcement Directorate, National Investigative Agency (NIA) and the customs department.

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Uttar Pradesh police arrested 237 people from various districts in the state in connection with Friday's violence during protests against the controversial remarks of now-sacked BJP functionaries on Prophet Mohammad, with Chief Minister warning of "strictest" action against those attempting to vitiate the atmosphere.

In Saharanpur and Prayagraj, police officials said action will be taken against those arrested under the stringent National Security Act (NSA).

Among those arrested, 68 were held in Prayagraj and 50 in Hathras, Additional Director General of Police (Law and Order) Prashant Kumar said in a statement on Saturday.

He said 55 people were arrested in Saharanpur, 28 in Ambedkarnagar, 25 in Moradabad, eight in Firozabad, three is Aligarh.

UP Chief Minister Adityanath, who has often spoken of how under his rule the state has been rid of frequent riots, issued a stern warning.

"Strictest action will be taken against the anti-social elements involved in the chaotic efforts to spoil the atmosphere in various cities in the past few days," he said while issuing directives to officials.

"There is no place for such anti-social people in a civilised society. No innocent should be harassed, but not a single guilty should be spared," he said.

Mrityunjay Kumar, the media advisor to the chief minister, in a tweet in Hindi said, "Unruly elements remember, every Friday is followed by a Saturday" and posted a photo of a bulldozer demolishing a building.

Under Chief Minister Adityanath, the state administration has been cracking down on criminals and riot accused, seizing or razing their properties. His critics have often accused him of adopting strong-arm tactics.

Saharanpur's Senior Superintendent of Police Akash Tomar said, "Arrests have been made in connection with Friday's violence. Action will be taken against the arrested people under the National Security Act." In Prayagraj, police have arrested 68 persons including the mastermind of stone-pelting Javed Ahmad alias Pump, and he is being interrogated, Senior Superintendent of Police Ajay Kumar said.

Police officials in the district also said that NSA will be imposed on all the persons, who have been arrested.

The SSP also informed that cases have been registered against 70 named persons and 5,000 others at Khuldabad and Kareli police stations.

He said that police are using CCTV footage to identify the accused.

Action will be taken against them under the NSA and Gangster Act, he said.

On Friday, people pelted stones at police personnel in Prayagraj and Saharanpur during their protests after Friday prayers in mosques.

At least four other cities witnessed similar scenes during the marches that were carried out to protest against the controversial remarks on Prophet Mohammad made by now-suspended BJP spokesperson Nupur Sharma.

In Prayagraj, the mob set on fire a few motorcycles and carts and also attempted to set ablaze a police vehicle. Police used tear gas and lathis to disperse the protesters and restored peace, police said. One police personnel was injured, they said.

Nupur Sharma was suspended by her party as several Islamic nations denounced her comments on the Prophet during a TV debate.

In Saharanpur, protesters shouted slogans against Sharma and demanded the death sentence for her.

There were protests in Bijnor, Moradabad, Rampur and Lucknow.

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Police has charge-sheeted at least 30 members of the 21 Para Special Force including an officer in the rank of a major, in the December 4, 2021 botched army operations in Oting-Tiru area of Mon district killing at least 13 civilians.

The probe which preceded the charge sheet has found that the Special Force Operation team had not followed the Standard Operating Procedure and the Rules of Engagement and resorted to indiscriminate and disproportionate firing leading to immediate killing of six civilians and grievous injury to two more.

Addressing a press conference at Chumoukedima Police Complex on Saturday, Director General of Police (DGP), Nagaland, T John Longkumer said that the Tizit Police Station case relating to the Oting incident where 13 civilians were killed in an ambush laid for militants as a result of mistaken identity on December 4, 2021.

The case was re-registered by State Crime Police Station on December 5 against unknown persons of the Indian Army u/s 302, 304 and 34 IPC and investigation handed over to a Special Investigation Team (SIT).

"A professional and thorough investigation was carried out by the SIT" in this case, he said adding that various evidences including relevant important documents from various authorities and sources, scientific opinions from Central Forensic Science Laboratory (CFSL) Guwahati, Hyderabad and Chandigarh and technical evidences from National Institute of Electronics & Information Technology were collected during the course of investigation, he said.

The DGP said the probe was complete and the charge-sheet was submitted to the District and Sessions Court, Mon on May 30, 2022 through Assistant Public Prosecutor, Mon.

A case under various sections of the IPC has been made out against thirty 30 members of the operations team of 21 Para Special Force including a Major, two Subedar, eight Havildars, four Naik, six lance naik and nine paratroopers, he said.

Accordingly, the DGP said that the CID report seeking sanction for prosecution was forwarded to the Department of Military Affairs in the first week of April this year and reminder letter sent in May.

The sanction for prosecution is still awaited, he said.

Meanwhile, the charge-sheet has been filed pending sanction for prosecution against the 30 accused, he said.

Investigation has revealed that Alpha team of 21 Para Special Force consisting of 31 personnel led by a Major rank officer launched an operation in Oting Tiru Area on December 3, 2021, based on the intelligence input about presence of a group of National Socialist Council of (Khaplang) (Yung Aung) (NSCN-K(YA) and United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) cadres in the area, he said.

On December 4, 2021 at around 4:20PM the operation team of 21 Para Special Force who had laid an ambush at Longkhao between Upper Tiru and Oting Village opened fire at a White Bolero pick up vehicle which was carrying eight civilians belonging to Oting Village, most of whom were working as labourers in the coal mines at Tiru without ensuring positive identification or challenging them, he said.

Investigation has revealed that the Special Force Operation team had not followed the Standard Operating Procedure and the Rules of Engagement and resorted to indiscriminate and disproportionate firing leading to immediate killing of the six occupants of the vehicle on the spot and grievously injuring 2 persons, he said.

The DGP said that investigation has revealed that when the villagers of Oting and Tiru reached the incident spot in search of the missing villagers and the Bolero pick up vehicle at around 8PM, they turned violent on discovering the dead bodies and a scuffle ensued between the villagers and members of 21 Para Special Force.

One Paratrooper succumbed to injuries and 14 personnel from 21 Para Special Force team sustained injuries, as a result of the scuffle, he said.

This led the Major to order firing at around 10 PM and the operation team started to break contact, he said. In the second incident seven of the villagers were gunned down by the special force.

A separate FIR in was registered by Tiru PS on December 11, 2021 under section 326, 435, 302, 307 and 34 IPC and under section 25(1A) Arms Act against unknown persons who caused the death of one paratrooper and assault on other personnel of the 21 Para Security Force and loss of government property, based on complaint filed by 21 Para SF, the DGP said.

The incident led to a major law and order situation in Mon town the next day with an angry mob resorting to vandalizing public places and also attacking an Assam Rifles post, with a civilian being killed in retaliatory firing.

It also gave rise to demand for removal of Armed Forces Special Powers Act from with civil societies conducting several protest rallies across the State in December.

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The ruling BJP's strength in the crucial upper house of Parliament has fallen from the current 95 to 92 while the number of members has gone up slightly from 29 to 31 after results of the just-concluded .

In the biennial elections to the Council of States that which witnessed a keen contest in four states of Rajasthan, Haryana, Karnataka and Maharashtra on Friday, the won 22 of the 57 vacancies while the won nine seats.

From among the 57 retiring members, the had 25 of its members and the had seven who will retire by next month and new ones will replace them.

Both the and the Congress have banked on new and young faces, some of whom have been nominated by the parties for the first time.

With more strength, the Congress which nominated younger faces is expected to be more aggressive in the coming days in the upper house.

The BJP's strength includes four nominated members who have opted to be with the ruling party. The BJP will have the support of seven more nominated members. These seven seats are currently vacant.

The BJP will also have the support of independent Kartikeya Sharma, whom it backed during the just concluded polls in Haryana. It had also supported independent Subhash Chandra, who has lost from Rajasthan this time. Chandra's current term ends on August 1.

Among other regional parties, the strength of YSR-Congress which is in power in Andhra Pradesh, has gone up from the current six to nine seats, while that of Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) which is in power in Delhi and Punjab will now have the strength of 10 seats in the upper house.

The strength of other regional parties like DMK, BJD, TRS, JDU, and also remains the same as their candidates won as many seats as those who retired.

While DMK has 10 members in the Rajya Sabha, BJD has nine, TRS has seven, JDU has five, has four and has three.

The strength of TMC and CPI-M remains the same with 13 and 5 members respectively.

The AIADMK, which currently has five members in the Council of States will now have four as it won only two while three of its members have retired.

The strength of Samajwadi Party has gone down from the current five to three in the RS, as it has given its seats to independent Kapil Sibal and RLD leader Jayant Chaudhary.

RJD with more seats in the assembly will also have one more member now, raising the strength to six from the current five.

The Bahujan Samaj Party will now has only one member in the upper house, down from three currently.

While Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM), which had only one member current will now have two and Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) which had two members will not have any member in the Rajya Sabha as all its MPs are retiring.

Some of the prominent names who will return to the Rajya Sabha after their re-election are union ministers Nirmala Sitharaman and Piyush Goyal and P Chidambaram, Jairam Ramesh (both Congress), Kapil Sibal (Independent), Misa Bharti (RJD), Praful Patel (NCP) and Sanjay Raut (Shiv Sena).

Besides, the Congress has brought some new names including Randeep Surjewala and Imran Pratapgarhi, while its leaders Mukul Wasnik, Rajeev Shukla, Ranjeet Ranjan and Pramod Tiwari have earlier been Parliamentarians.

The winners from Uttar Pradesh are Jayant Chaudhary (RLD), Javed Ali Khan (SP), Darshana Singh, Babu Ram Nishad, Mithilesh Kumar, Radha Mohan Dal Agarwal, K Laxman, Laxmikant Bajpai, Surendra Singh Nagar, Sangeeta Yadav (all BJP).

All five candidates from Bihar were elected unopposed - Misa Bharti and Faiyaz Ahmed (RJD), Satish Chandra Dubey and Shambhu Sharan Patel (BJP), and Kheeru Mahto (JDU). Bharti, the eldest daughter of RJD supremo Lalu Prasad, and Dubey shall be enjoying their second consecutive terms.

V Vijayasai Reddy, Beeda Masthan Rao, R Krishnaiah and S Niranjan Reddy of the ruling YSR Congress were also elected unopposed from Andhra Pradesh. With this win, the strength of the YSRC has now increased to nine in Rajya Sabha, out of 11 from the state, with the TDP and the BJP having one member each.

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Biden struggles in "pond of exclusionary Summit of the Americas"

Xinhua) 09:47, June 11, 2022

"It is therefore inexcusable that all countries of the Americas are not here, and the power of the summit diminished by their absence," Belize's Prime Minister Johnny Briceno said in his speech.

LOS ANGELES, June 10 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President Joe Biden on Thursday appeared to swipe at the press, saying they can go "swimming in the pond," as many international and local news outlets questioned the representation of the 9th Summit of the Americas in Los Angeles.

Biden made the remarks during his toast at the Summit of the Americas leaders dinner on Thursday, after shrugging off controversy around the gathering, saying he and some on the guest list had "disagreement on something" but "on the central issues that we talked about ... there is overwhelming agreement."

The Biden administration has faced sharp discontent from countries in the Americas over its decision to cut out Cuba, Venezuela and Nicaragua from the guest list. Leaders of Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador boycotted the meeting, Uruguay's president said he had contracted COVID-19, and Bolivia also declined to attend.

Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, a key Latin American leader on the summit's guest list, announced Monday morning that he would stay at home.

"There cannot be a Summit of the Americas if all countries of the Americas cannot attend," Lopez Obrador said at his daily press conference in Mexico City. "This is to continue the old interventionist policies, of lack of respect for nations and their people."

These notable absences triggered outcries from the media, which described it as a disaster and embarrassment for U.S. diplomacy.

CNN said in a story published Wednesday that the absences of the leaders were notable "since the United States has worked to cultivate those leaders as partners on immigration, an issue that looms as a political liability for Biden."

A video screenshot shows a poster of the 9th Summit of the Americas at the Los Angeles Convention Center in Los Angeles, California, the United States, June 9, 2022. (Xinhua)

"Eight nations did not send a leader-level official to the most important event we have held on the region in decades. Speaks volumes about how badly we've managed relations with our neighbors ..." Brett Bruen, who served in the Obama White House as director of global engagement, tweeted Wednesday.

In a story published by USA Today on Tuesday, Bruen said it was "embarrassing last minute and lackluster work" going into this week's Summit of the Americas that the country was hosting for the first time in nearly 30 years.

The heads of four countries refused to attend the meeting was "a blow to Mr. Biden at a moment when he sought to project unity and common purpose across the Western Hemisphere," The New York Times said Friday.

On Thursday's meeting, shortly after Biden's speech, Belize's Prime Minister Johnny Briceno criticized the exclusion of Cuba and Venezuela on the stage.

"The power of the Summit of the Americas is the space it provides for all the countries of the Americas to dialogue and agree on joint actions. The summit belongs to all of the Americas," Briceno said in his speech, when Biden sat only a few meters away. "It is therefore inexcusable that all countries of the Americas are not here, and the power of the summit diminished by their absence."

Briceno said the exclusionary summit was incomprehensible, especially when "Cuba has provided consistent, unmatched cooperation in health to almost two-thirds of the countries in this hemisphere" and "Venezuela has done so much toward energy security for the Caribbean region."

"The time has come, Mr. President, to lift the blockade and to build bonds of friendship with the people of Cuba. Similarly ... Venezuela's absence is unforgivable," Briceno noted.

Protestors attend a rally near the Los Angeles Convention Center where the ninth Summit of the Americas is held in Los Angeles, the United States, June 8, 2022. (Photo by Zeng Hui/Xinhua)

"The principle of inclusivity must be the touchstone of all future summits. Geography, not politics, defines the Americas," he concluded.

Briceno was followed by Argentine President Alberto Fernandez, who declared "the silence of those who are absent is calling to us" and insisted that the host country did not have the power to impose "right of admission" to the conference.

"We definitely would've wished for a different Summit of the Americas," Fernandez said.

After criticizing the U.S. sanctions against Cuba and Venezuela, the Argentine leader asked the Biden government to "open up in a fraternal way" following Donald Trump's "immensely harmful policy" for the region.

In a story published on Friday, The Washington Post said that since the White House, by excluding the three countries from the summit, "drew its line in the sand, other nations have been rebuking Biden and the United States for what they see as an unfair or even a hypocritical stance."

"The absences have cast doubt on the relevance of a summit that was meant to demonstrate cooperation among neighbors but has instead loudly broadcast rifts in a region that is increasingly willing to defy American leadership," The New York Times said Friday.

The report cited Martha Barcena, the former Mexican ambassador to the United States, as saying that the summit, held in the second largest city of the United States, showed a challenge to U.S. influence, "because U.S. influence has been diminishing in the continent."

(Web editor: Zhong Wenxing, Bianji)
Continuous downpours across the region have killed 30 people and forced many more to relocate since late May. On Tuesday, the rain triggered a landslide in Jiangxi and caused the collapse of a building in Fujian, killing at least three. Neighborhoods were submerged as rivers, including the Pearl River, broke their banks. More rain is expected in the southern and eastern parts of China until late next week

Jun 15, 2022 03:32 PM
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Photo: pixabay

Officials have now identified a beaver as the cause of a June 7 outage which left many residents of northwestern B.C. without internet, landline and cellular service for more than eight hours.

The beaver gnawed its way through an aspen tree which then fell on both BC Hydro lines and a Telus fibre optics cable line strung along BC Hydro poles between Topley and Houston.

The resulting power outage affected just 21 customers but the fibre optics damage affected Telus customers in Burns Lake, Granisle, Haida Gwaii, the Hazeltons, Kitimat, Prince George, Prince Rupert, Smithers, Terrace, Thornhill, Houston, Topley, Telkwa, Fraser Lake and Vanderhoof.

CityWest, the utilities company owned by the City of Prince Rupert, also had its customers affected because it uses the Telus fibre optics line.

BC Hydro official Bob Gammer said crews identified a beaver as the culprit because of chew marks at the bottom of the downed tree.

The lines are located in a swampy area and with the high water levels, there was some difficluty accessing the site, he added.

Its unusual, but it does happen every once in a while, Gammer said. So I wouldnt be a rich man if I had a nickel for every beaver outage, but they do happen.

He said it is not uncommon for utilities to share pole space.

The felled tree did result in a fire which was responded to by members of the Topley Volunteer Fire Department.

While some enjoyed the unconnected afternoon, the service outage created stress for others becasuse many businesses could only accept cash.

It was a real nuisance nobody usually carries cash anymore, said Brett Johnson, auto technician at the Petro-Canada gas station located at the intersection of Highways 16 and 37 near Kitwanga.

People turning north onto Highway 37 typically fill up [at] this gas station because the next one is two hours away, he said.

During the outage there were some who didnt have cash and had to just take a chance, Johnson added.

Prince Rupert mayor Lee Brain said cell service was affected because some of the cell towers use fibre connections allowing higher bandwidth.

And he said northwestern communities are vulnerable because there is just one fibre optics cable between Prince George and Prince Rupert.

But that will change because CityWest is laying a second fibre optics line, this one down the coast to connect to Vancouver.

So if a tree goes down again, we will all still have internet through the line coming in from the ocean, said Brain.
Photo: The Canadian Press Vehicles travel on Main Street as the burned-out remains of businesses and properties destroyed by last year's devastating wildfire are seen in Lytton, B.C., Saturday, May 21, 2022. Rebuilding in the fire-ravaged village of Lytton, B.C., is likely to begin in September, according to the province's minister of public safety. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

Rebuilding in the fire-ravaged village of Lytton, B.C., is likely to begin in September, according to the province's minister of public safety.

That would be 15 months after an out-of-control wildfire swept through and burned 90 per cent of the community. Both Mike Farnworth and federal Emergency Preparedness Minister Bill Blair praised the response of both levels of government as quick and expeditious.

"It's frustrating for people in Lytton, we totally understand that," Farnworth said.

The pair met Friday for the fourth in a series of five meetings to discuss climate change and the disaster response to wildfires and floods in B.C. last year.

Blair announced Ottawa is sending an advance payment of $207 million to the province as it finalizes applications for the federal disaster assistance fund for communities affected by the wildfire season. The full request is more than twice that.

He acknowledged that the system of making an application and waiting for a response does affect how quickly governments can respond.

"We've worked very closely with them to move money as quickly as possible so they can begin that rebuild," Blair said. "People are waiting for help."

Blair toured the damage in Lytton last month and met with residents who are still in temporary housing nearly a year after the June 30, 2021, fire.

But before the rebuilding of homes can begin, Farnworth said, work must be done assessing environmental issues, clearing debris and repairing the highway.

"It's not just about the lots, either, it's also about all the utilities," he said, including phone and internet service, power and municipal services.

The community has a short-term plan in place and is working on longer-term planning now.

"The reality is recovery does take time, it can take quite a bit of time," he said.

The federal government has committed more than $5 billion toward disaster cleanup funding in B.C.

Meanwhile, the province is still finalizing disaster funding requests related to the back-to-back atmospheric rivers that caused widespread flooding in the interior in November.

The federal government is awaiting a report from a group that's looking at how to design a national flood insurance program aimed at reducing the eventual costs of disaster cleanup and offering home and business owners protection in flood zones.

In March, Blair said he expected the report in the spring, but as of Friday, he said it is not complete.
Photo: Sydney Chisholm Lytton, B.C., following a devastating wildfire in summer 2021.

The federal government will send B.C. a $207-million advance payment to help build back infrastructure and communities hit by the 2021 wildfires.

Todays announcement is an interim payment, said Bill Blair, federal Minister of Emergency Preparedness, noting B.C. made a $414-million request to build back from last years fires.

The money was funnelled through the Disaster Financial Assistance Arrangements and was announced at a joint press conference after Blair and Mike Farnworth, B.C. Minister of Public Safety and Solicitor General, met for the fourth time as part of the committee convened to help B.C. build back in the face of climate-driven floods, heat and fire.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and B.C. Premier John Horgan announced the establishment of the Committee of British Columbia and Federal Ministers on Disaster Response and Climate Resilience after historic flooding knocked out highways and flooded several communities, including in Abbotsfords Sumas Prairie neighbourhood, Merritt and Princeton.

Up the Nicola River from Merritt, flooding pulled entire homes and the ground they stood into the fast moving water as residents fled. Combined with wildfire that tore across the territory months earlier, today, the land remains a barren reflection of itself.

"We won't see that forest back, not in my lifetime," Chief Arnie Lampreau of the Shackan Indian Band recently told the Canadian Press.

"The whole scene of our existence in Shackan, it is changed forever."

Indigenous Services Canada is also providing about $900,000 in funding to help Shackan, along with the Coldwater, Cooks Ferry and Nooaitch Indian Bands, cover the costs of assessing flood risks.

Some of the First Nation reserves lost all of their land. It was simply washed away by the overflow of water in that event, said Blair. And so there is a very complicated process that needs to be undertaken to assist them in acquiring the land that they require.

Blair said that the governments expect that more money will go to those communities once the land assessment processes are finished.

The federal minister added the release of a new national flood insurance program remains under development but would be released shortly.

When asked if the provincial and federal governments are moving fast enough to help communities like Lytton, B.C.  which lost 90 per cent of its infrastructure and its downtown core in a wildfire only a day after setting a national temperature high of nearly 50 C  Farnworth acknowledged the slow pace has been challenging for residents.

Its frustrating for people in Lytton, he said. We totally understand that. The community is completely destroyed.

Part of the challenge, said Farnworth, lies in rebuilding the communitys entire municipal infrastructure.

Noting debris removal is underway, Farnworth added that the province is helping pay for archaeological work in the old community and has given the municipal government $18 million to continue functioning.

He said the province would also support the rebuilding of key infrastructure like the RCMP station, health centre or municipal hall.

Farnworth said he expects the physical rebuilding of the town to begin in September 2022.

We want people back, he said. The reality is recovery takes time. It can take quite a bit of time.
Photo: The Canadian Press Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau speaks during a plenary session at the Summit of the Americas, Friday, June 10, 2022, in Los Angeles. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP-Marcio Jose Sanchez

Leaders from across the Americas, including Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, signed on Friday to what U.S. President Joe Biden called a "historic commitment" to ease the pressure of northward migration.

The agreement, the central accomplishment of the Summit of the Americas in California, commits Canada to spend $26.9 million this year on slowing the flow of migrants from Latin America and the Caribbean.

The Los Angeles Declaration on Migration and Protection also includes a Canadian promise to welcome an additional 4,000 migrants from the region by 2028, as well as a pre-existing plan to bring in 50,000 more agricultural workers from Mexico, Guatemala and the Caribbean.

"Each of us is signing up for commitments and recognizing the challenges that we all share, and the responsibilities that impact all of our nations," Biden said as he shared the stage with 19 fellow leaders.

He blamed the growing migratory pressure on the economic fallout from the COVID-19 pandemic, made worse by the war in Ukraine and what he called the "turmoil" wrought by autocracies in the region.

Colombia, he said, is hosting millions of refugees from Venezuela, while as much as 10 per cent of Costa Rica's population consists of migrants  a problem he said demands a collective approach for the sake of the hemisphere's health and well-being.

"Our security is linked in ways that I don't think most people in my country fully understand, and maybe not in your country as well," Biden said.

"Our common humanity demands that we care for our neighbours by working together."

Canada's new funding will go toward programs to improve integration and border management, protect the rights of migrants and host communities, advance gender equality and tackle human smuggling.

Foreign Affairs Minister Melanie Joly was asked Friday about the seemingly paltry number of new migrants Canada agreed to bring in over the next six years. Canada's already doing plenty, she said.

"Migration is definitely an issue throughout the hemisphere, but we know also we're playing our part every year by taking one per cent of our population as new immigrants," Joly said.

"At the same time, we want to do it in a way that respects the system," she added, noting that Canada and the U.S. continue to negotiate the terms of the Safe Third Country Agreement, which currently allows migrants to seek refugee status in Canada if they enter the country from the U.S. at unofficial crossing points.

The L.A. declaration is based on four key pillars, Biden said: stability and assistance for communities, wider legal migratory routes, humane migration management and co-ordinated emergency response.

It seeks, the White House said in a fact sheet released earlier in the day, "to mobilize the entire region around bold actions that will transform our approach to managing migration in the Americas."

It includes commitments from an array of Latin American and Caribbean nations on everything from economic stabilization and humanitarian relief to "regularizing" migrants living illegally in host countries.

Colombia, for instance, has already regularized 1.2 million Venezuelan migrants and refugees, and has agreed to do the same for 1.5 million more by the end of the summer.

Not surprisingly, the U.S. is doing the heaviest lifting, including US$25 million to support countries that are implementing new regularization programs, $314 million for stabilization efforts and a $65-million pilot project to support agricultural workers.

The Biden administration is also committing to resettle 20,000 refugees from the Americas over the next two years, three times the current resettlement rate, the White House said.

At the same time as the funding and resettlement efforts, the U.S. plans to crack down on human smuggling operations, including a new campaign that's "unprecedented in scale" aimed at disrupting and dismantling criminal smuggling enterprises in Latin America.

Earlier in the day, Trudeau sat down with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, who welcomed him warmly as he met with the summit's congressional delegation.

"We can no longer sort of imagine we're islands, or isolated from what's going on in the rest of the world  the pandemic taught us that, climate change is teaching us that," Trudeau said.

"All of us have a responsibility for each of us."

Trudeau was also to hold bilateral meetings with the leaders of Jamaica and the Dominican Republic.

On Thursday, Trudeau met for an hour with Biden, who agreed to a visit to Canada in the "coming months," his first since becoming president in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic.

"I think we both share the same sense that the possibilities for our hemisphere are unlimited," Biden told Trudeau, calling it the "most democratic hemisphere in the world."

Trudeau responded by saying it's "extraordinarily important" for close partners like Canada and the U.S. to be there for each other and for allies around the globe.

"The work that we can do on supporting and projecting and sharing our values is a way of actually supporting and impacting citizens around the world," Trudeau said.

Doing so, he said, helps make the case "that democracy is not just fairer, but it's also better for citizens, putting food on the table, putting futures in front of them."

The federal government's official readout of the meeting mentioned their mutual support of Ukraine in its fight against Russia, and that Trudeau also brought up Canada's support for NATO and the plan to modernize the continental defence system known as Norad.

Trudeau also "expressed his support" for Biden's proposed hemispheric "Partnership for Economic Prosperity," but the readout did not mention whether Canada has been invited to take part.
Photo: Chung Chow, BIV

A class of Indigenous people is suing the B.C. government, claiming in a class action lawsuit that the province has allegedly failed to deal with decades of systemic racism in the health-care system.

In a notice of civil claim filed on May 27 under the Class Proceedings Act, lead plaintiff Candice Patrick claims Indigenous peoples, including First Nations, Metis and Inuit people face widespread racism when trying to access hospital services in British Columbia.

Patrick, who lives in Houston, B.C., claims Indigenous peoples are subjected to humiliating, demeaning, and sub-standard hospital care, and are treated differently than non-Indigenous peoples due to their race, colour, or ethnic origin in violation of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.

According to the claim, the provincial government has been aware of the problem since at least 2005 after being urged by the BC First Nations Leadership Council to take action against systemic racism in the provinces hospitals. Back then, the council advocated for cultural competency training for health-care professionals to mitigate the discriminatory treatment Indigenous peoples face when trying to access health-care services.

A year later, the lawsuit says, the province released a First Nations Health Plan, committing to developing training programs and signed a memo in recognition of the need to ensure equitable and culturally sensitive access to health services for Indigenous peoples.

But the training program developed by the province wasnt mandatory for hospital workers, and the class action claims the government has failed to take meaningful action to improve the patient experience for Indigenous peoples.

Meanwhile, in November 2020, the province released a damning report entitled In Plain Sight: Addressing Indigenous-specific Racism and Discrimination in BC Health Care. The report, the claim says, revealed that Indigenous peoples faced widespread stereotyping, racism, and discrimination when trying to access hospital services. In June 2021, the B.C. government released an action plan to deal with the issue, finding that the In Plain Sight report offered a blueprint for action to address systemic racism in B.C. health care.

Despite being aware  for decades  of the significant problem of racism against Indigenous peoples within British Columbias hospital system, the defendant has failed to take timely and appropriate steps to eliminate or reduce the problem, the lawsuit states. The failure on the part of the defendant to address widespread Indigenous-specific racism in the hospital system has caused the issue to become deeply rooted and systemic.

The lawsuit details lead plaintiff Patricks experience in June 2020 when she went to Bulkley Valley District Hospital in Smithers after having surgery. She had severe abdominal pain, but the hospital allegedly failed to do blood tests and imaging that wouldve revealed a serious post-surgical complication. Instead, Patrick claims she was accused of drug-seeking due to her Indigenous background leaving her humiliated and distrustful.

Had the plaintiff not been Indigenous, further testing would likely have been carried out, and her treatment would not have been provided in a demeaning and racist manner, the claim states.

Patrick seeks class certification, damages for Charter violations, and declarations that the B.C. government is obligated to reasonably ensure that Indigenous peoples can access non-discriminatory health-care services.

The allegations have not been proven or tested in court, and the provincial government had not responded to the lawsuit by press time.
Photo: The Canadian Press Police respond to an incident on Parliament Hill in Ottawa on Saturday, June 11, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/ Patrick Doyle

UPDATE 5 p.m.

Ottawa Police say they've identified two persons of interest but no public safety concerns as they continue their investigation into an incident that briefly led to the evacuation of Parliament Hill.

Police say they received information earlier in the day about an unspecified potential threat near the parliamentary precinct, prompting them to close some surrounding streets to vehicle and pedestrian traffic.

The Parliamentary Protective Service also ordered an evacuation of Parliament Hill, issuing an alert to all Parliamentarians and staff and noting all buildings in the precinct were to be under shelter in place orders until further notice.

The force says it has not identified a public safety threat stemming from the incident, but says it identified two people and two vehicles of interest.

Roads previously closed to the public reopened at about 4 p.m.

Police provided no details about the nature of the potential threat but say their investigation into the matter continues.

UPDATE: 1:50 p.m.

Ottawa Police say they've ended an investigation that prompted an evacuation of Parliament Hill earlier in the day.

The force says it has not identified a public safety threat stemming from the incident, adding roads previously closed to the public have now been reopened.

The Parliamentary Protective Service ordered the evacuation hours earlier, issuing an alert to all Parliamentarians and staff and noting all buildings in the precinct were to be under shelter in place orders until further notice.

It said the alert concerns a police operation involving a "possible threat," but offered no other details.

Ottawa police were similarly tight-lipped, saying only that they were investigating a "suspicious incident."

Neither police nor the Parliamentary Protective Service immediately responded to questions on the nature of the operation.

UPDATE: 1 p.m.

Parliament Hill has been evacuated amid an ongoing investigation by the Ottawa Police Service.

The Parliamentary Protective Service ordered the evacuation and issued an alert to all Parliamentarians and staff this afternoon, noting all buildings in the precinct are under shelter in place orders until further notice.

It says the alert concerns a police operation involving a "possible threat," but offered no other details.

Ottawa police were similarly tight-lipped, saying they have closed several streets in the area due to a suspicious incident.

They say they have shut down Wellington Road between Elgin Street and Bronson Street and Metcalfe Street between Albert Street and Slater Street, and they're urging the public to avoid the area.

Neither police nor the Parliamentary Protective Service immediately responded to questions on the nature of the operation.

ORIGINAL: 12:10 p.m.

Police are investigating a suspicious incident on Ottawa's Parliament Hill Saturday.

Ottawa Police have closed multiple streets around Parliament Hill, and police have asked the public to stay away from the area, but the nature of the incident remains unclear. The incident began around noon local time.

CTV News reports that the Parliamentary Protective Service issued a shelter in place order to people inside Parliament, due to a "possible threat." Parliament Hill has now reportedly been evacuated.

Castanet will update this story as more information becomes available.


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A woman on Morris Hill Road called police and said she has been given the "run around" for well over a year in regards to a man that she paid to fix her roof. She said her roof needs repair and she contacted her insurance, State Farm, to assist in a claim for repairs. State Farm got her in contact with the man who is supposed to fix her roof. She doesnt remember the company the man operates under at this time. The woman said she was given a check for about $695 from State Farm to assist in payment to the man to fix her roof. She also had to write a check for $1,000 to the man in order to fix her roof. The woman said after being in contact with the man, he came to look at the roof, accepted the money, and never performed any work in regards to the roof. She doesn't remember at this time when she wrote the man the checks for him to perform the work, but she wrote them over a year ago and she is still out the money and service. The woman said the man has given multiple excuses as to why he has not performed the job he was paid to do. She knew the mans birthday, but has not positively identified him to police. The woman will be supplying police with more information in regards to this as this is a pending investigation. She wishes to prosecute for this once positive identification has been made.

* * *

A man on E. 10th Street told police he locked his car there overnight. The next morning, he discovered the window was broken out on the passenger side front door and about $10 worth of change had been taken. The car is a black 2007 Honda Accord.

* * *

A woman on E. 39th Street told police someone had damaged her 2006 Nissan Murano. She isnt sure what caused the damage and whether it was intentional or not. There was damage to the front, passenger side and rear of her car. The vehicle appears to be drivable.

* * *

A woman on Sharp Street called police and said "months ago" someone stole her and her three daughters' Social Security cards, her driver license, credit card and iPhone out of her car. She said she lets various people use her car and does not know when or where the theft occurred. She said "things are popping up" so she wants to make a report now.

* * *

An officer responded to an unconscious person at the intersection of McCallie Avenue and S. Willow Street. When the officer arrived, the man was sitting up on the sidewalk and speaking. He said he possibly passed out walking across the street. Hamilton Count EMS evaluated the man and he said he did not need medical attention and left the scene.

* * *

An employee of Rossville Convenience and Gas at 4510 Rossville Blvd. called police to report a homeless person sleeping on the property. He requested that police make contact with the man and have him leave the property. Police arrived and spoke with the sleeping man and identified him. The officer told the man he was on private property and that the owners wanted him to leave. The man gathered his things and left on foot.

* * *

The owners of a business at 5241 Hwy. 153 called police because of a suspicious party they wanted trespassed from the property. Police met with the man and asked him to leave the property and not to return or he would be arrested for trespassing.

* * *

Police were dispatched to a disorder at Americas Best Inn at 103 Patten Chapel Road. Police spoke with a woman and man who were in room 221 where the disorder was occurring. Both were spoken to separately by police. The man said there was nothing going on and they were only folding laundry and talking. The woman also said there was nothing going on and she was unsure why police were called. The officer didnt observe any bruises or scratches on either person to indicate a physical disorder. Both claimed everything was fine and there wasn't any ongoing issues.

* * *

On routine patrol, an officer observed a Saturn Vue parked in the driveway of an abandoned house at 2301 Wilson St. A check of the VIN showed the vehicle to not be reported stolen, but not currently registered either.

* * *

An officer responded to a shoplifting at Tobacco & Beer at 3627 Cummings Hwy. The employee told police two people arrived as she was closing the store and took a six-pack of beer. The white male and female were walking around the store and did not seem to be interested in buying anything. The female walked out of the store first and traveled in an unknown direction. The man waited a few minutes before walking out with a six-pack of beer, passing the point of sale. A witness noticed the man leave the store with the beer and walk in the direction of the female. The witness noticed the man a few minutes later walking behind the Best Western. The store employee said she knew both people, but is unsure of their names. She said both have been trespassed from the store before. She did give a name to the officer of the female, whom the officer has dealt with in the past and is known to steal or get others to steal beer for her. The employee told the officer she would review camera footage and inform police when she had video. The value of the beer is about $10.

* * *

A man was on Workman Road carrying loads of metal to the area around the scrap yard. An officer spoke with him and he said he was cleaning out the camp on Workman Road, and scrapping the items to make some cash. After looking at the items, it looked like scrap/junk items.

* * *

Police were flagged down on W. 40th Street for a disorder. After speaking with all involved, it was found that this was a verbal disorder and all wanted to go their own way. The officer transported a man to his home.

* * *

While on patrol on Hixson Pike, an officer observed a suspicious, red Chevy Impala with a temporary tag. The car was parked with the doors unlocked and the windows rolled down. The keys were not visible inside the vehicle and the officer didnt find anyone near the car. The officer didnt see any contraband inside the car. The vehicle's registration didnt return as stolen, but is tied to a Tennessee tag which was not affixed to the car.

* * *

A man was found walking around behind the Days Inn at 3550 Cummings Hwy. He told police he is homeless and stays with different people that share their camps with him. There is a large camp at this location. The man said he has been here for three years. This was the first time that the officer has seen him in the area.

* * *

A security officer at Erlanger at 1751 Gunbarrel Road said an employee found a bag with crystal like powder inside of it inside the top drawer of the front desk. The man said he doesn't know exactly who it belongs to, but they had an idea. Police weighed that bag and it weighed at 6.4 grams. The bag was turned into Property.

* * *

While on patrol on Northgate Mall Drive, an officer saw a suspicious white Saturn sedan parked improperly. The car was parked across two spaces in the back of the lot for Galen Medical Group near the dumpsters. The vehicle was unoccupied at this time and was locked with no keys visible inside the vehicle. The officer didnt find anyone near the car or contraband inside it. The vehicle's registration is current and does not return as stolen.

* * *

An officer saw a vehicle traveling southbound on Highway 153 at a high rate of speed. Using a calibrated radar, the officer clocked the vehicle doing 74 mph in a 45 mph zone. The officer turned around to catch up to the vehicle to initiate a traffic stop for the violation. The vehicle made a left into Northgate Mall. The driver slowed down, appearing to pull into a parking lot. The officer initiated emergency lights and saw the vehicle take off at a high rate of speed from the parking lot near Panda Express. The officer turned off emergency lights and discontinued the traffic stop. The vehicle was seen swerving in and out of congested rush hour traffic lanes, nearly hitting several vehicles with no regard for public safety. A BOLO was issued for the vehicle and driver. Prosecution pending further suspect information.

* * *

A man on Frosty Pine Trail told police sometime during the night, someone entered his wife's unlocked 2015 Kia Sorento and stole her Capital One checkbook. He doesnt know if anything else was taken.

* * *

An employee of Erlanger had taken an office chair home. When asked about it the day before, he admitted to taking the chair home. He was terminated for that action and was told to return the office chair. If he did not return the office chair, they would press charges for theft.

* * *

A man working for Uber picked up a man at a nearby hotel. He said the man was rude and refused to buckle his seatbelt, which is a violation of the terms of service for Uber. The driver pulled into 6807 Lee Hwy. and told the man to get out, his ride was over. The driver said that the man then tried to grab his keys out of the ignition but failed to do so. He then grabbed the drivers phone and threw it. This led to the drivers phone sustaining a massive amount of damage to the back glass. The phone is an iPhone 13 Max Pro. The driver was attempting to get the man's information from Uber and the driver does wish to press charges against the man.
A man has been charged with homicide in the shooting death of a security guard at a Nashville business, and attempted homicide for firing at police officers, as the result of a still-ongoing investigation by special agents with the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation.

On June 2, at the request of 20th Judicial District Attorney General Glenn Funk, TBI agents responded to 701 Division St .to investigate a fatal shooting, which was followed by an officer-involved shooting incident.

During the investigation, agents developed information that Robert Scott Meek, a security guard at the store, had been involved in a physical altercation with a man in the parking lot who had been creating a disturbance.

During the struggle, the man, later identified as Randy Levi, disarmed and shot Mr. Meek, killing him.

The investigation revealed Levi, who is homeless, then entered the store, still carrying the gun. Three Metropolitan Nashville police officers responding to the initial shooting call found Levi inside and gave commands to drop the weapon. Preliminary information indicates Levi fired toward the officers. The officers returned fire, striking Levi. He was transported to a Nashville where he has been treated for his injuries.

Upon his release from the hospital late Friday afternoon,Levi, 40, was served with warrants charging him with one count of criminal homicide and three counts of attempted criminal homicide. He was booked into the Davidson County Jail. Bond was set at $1,450,000.
Michael Wayne Wood, or as most people knew him, Woody passed away on June 8, 2022, surrounded by family.



Woody was born and raised in Chattanooga and went to Chattanooga High School, graduating class of 1981. While he was there, he served as Audio Visual (AV) Club President and was proud of it! He was locally known as the BBQ Specialist. He won many awards for his ribs, pork and chicken form participating in local BBQ competitions. He owned and operated Woodys Restaurant from 1984 to 1998 and most recent owner of Ziggys Bar and Grill for over 10 years. When Woody was not cooking, you would find him riding his Harley, watching the Tennessee VOLS, boating or enjoying his family and friends along with his sweet dog June. There were so many great qualities about Woody and he loved everyone. He will be greatly missed by all that knew and loved him.

Woody was preceded in death by his mother, Cliva Ruth (Burtrum) Wood.



He is survived by his wife of 33 years, Julie (Weaver) Wood, daughter, Kaitlin Wood, father, Roy Wood, brother, Sam (Faye) Wood and Randy Wood and a host of nieces and nephews.



Visitation will be held at Hamilton Funeral Home Monday, June 13, from 4-8 p.m. Visitation will continue on Tuesday, June 14, from 10 a.m. until 12 p.m.



A chapel service will be held at Hamilton Funeral Home Tuesday, June 14, at 12 p.m. followed by burial in Chattanooga Memorial Park Cemetery.



Arrangements are entrusted to Hamilton Funeral Home 4506 Hixson Pike Hixson, Tn. 37343, 423 531-3975.


The Chattanooga Fire Department worked a three-alarm fire for hours at a local landmark. Companies were called to the old Highland Park Baptist Church Friday at 7:13 p.m. after a passerby spotted smoke and notified 911.

The old church is now part of the Redemption to the Nations Church campus. It is located at the corner of Union Avenue and South Orchard Knob Avenue.

Crews from Station 5 saw the smoke from the fire hall as they were leaving and found heavy, black smoke coming from all four sides of the building, as well as the roof, on arrival. A second and then third alarm was called due to the conditions and size of the structure, bringing additional personnel to the scene.

Firefighters made entry multiple times to locate the fire and flames were found in several locations between the first and third floor. Officials from the church advised that the vacant building was structurally unsafe.

At that time, everyone was evacuated and defensive firefighting operations got underway. Ladder trucks were placed on all sides of the building for elevated master streams to contain the fire to the building of origin and protect adjacent structures. Twenty one of the CFDs 26 companies were sent to the scene - more than 100 personnel.

The cause of this blaze will be under investigation.

A shelter in place was issued for residents living within five blocks of 1906 Bailey Ave. due to the smoke hazard caused by the fire. They were asked to stay inside and close all of their windows and doors until the fire is extinguished.

The shelter in place was lifted on Saturday morning.

Fire officials said, "We want to thank our Tri-State Mutual Aid Association partners from across the region for filling in at our fire halls and answering calls while the CFD works this major incident. Firefighters will be working throughout the night on this scene. There are no known injuries at this time. In addition to our Blue Shift personnel on the scene and members of our command staff, the following agencies also responded: Hamilton County 911s Incident Dispatch Unit, Hamilton County EMS, CPD, Public Works, Tennessee American Water, CFDs Fleet Division, CFDs Investigations Division, CFD Special Operations, Chattanooga-Hamilton County Rescues Rehab Unit, Chattanooga Land Development Office, city building inspectors and the Hamilton County Office of Emergency Management."

Fire officials said, "We know this local landmark holds a lot of memories for families in our area."
The Special Investigations Section of the Tennessee Department of Revenue conducted an investigation that led James Russell Rice, 77, to plead guilty to tax charges in Knox County Criminal Court Friday. He will be sentenced on July 21, 2022.

Rice violated Tennessee law by failing to pay sales and use tax on a vehicle purchased by his Montana LLC, then signing an affidavit that the vehicle purchased in Tennessee would be removed from the state within three days. However, Rice kept his car in Tennessee.

Rices case is not unique to Tennessee. Many states have seen similar cases where their residents are accused of registering cars in Montana because that state does not charge sales tax on cars.

All Tennesseans need to know its against the law to evade sales tax by using out of state companies, falsifying registration documents and failing to register vehicles properly, Special Investigations Director Tommy Sneed said. Tennessee citizens who engage in this type of fraudulent activity will be held accountable. Tennessee law says any vehicle sold, used, or stored for use in Tennessee is subject to tax.

The department pursued this criminal case in cooperation with District Attorney General Charme Allens office. Citizens who suspect violations of Tennessee's revenue laws should call the toll-free tax fraud hot line at (800) FRAUDTX (372-8389).

The Department of Revenue is responsible for the administration of state tax laws and motor vehicle title and registration laws and the collection of taxes and fees associated with those laws. The department collects about 87 percent of total state revenue. During the 2021 fiscal year, it collected $18.4 billion in state taxes and fees and more than $3.7 billion in taxes and fees for local governments. To learn more about the department, visitwww.tn.gov/revenue.
Beginning Friday, July 1, CARTA will bring their Care-A-Van service to Red Bank for qualifying seniors ages 65 and older and for individuals with temporary and permanent disabilities. Red Bank is currently outside of CARTAs service area, but the city recognized an opportunity to bring a public paratransit option to an area that does not have any transit services.

Red Bank residents desiring to use the Care-A-Van service will need to have a completed, approved and current CARTA Eligibility Application on file at the Care-A-Van office before booking a trip. Applications will be available at Red Bank City Hall and on the citys website at www.redbanktn.gov.

Care-A-Van services will be available at the cost of $2.50 for a one-way trip and $5 for round trips. Clients can schedule rides up to two weeks in advance. However, a minimum of 48 hours advance notice will be required for scheduling trips. Clients can make their payments when boarding the van unless other arrangements have been made prior to the pick-up.

The city of Red Bank is excited to offer this additional service to our residents funded entirely by a grant from the Tennessee Department of Transportation, said Hollie Berry, mayor of Red Bank. Our city has a significant elderly population, and my hope is that this new service will serve as one more tool in the hands of our seniors and people with disabilities to help them maintain their independence, stay in their homes longer, and remain a vibrant part of our community.



Red Bank residents using the Care-A-Van service may travel anywhere within the Red Bank or the Chattanooga City limits. For additional information on this community service, contact the Care-A-Van office at 698-9038 or call Red Bank City Hall at 877-1103 or check the citys website www.redbanktn.gov.




Assistant Chief Clint Uselton and Officer John Perry with the East Ridge Police Department met with Taylor Dorrell of Awakened Generation Ministries to donate 20 bullet resistant vests. Awakened Generation Ministries is a faith based, non-profit ministry that collects donations to provide assistance to the people in Ukraine.

Several years ago, East Ridge Police Officer John Perry became friends with Taylor Dorrell while both were attending seminary together. Ms. Dorrell, now with Awakened Generation Ministries, reached out to Officer Perry about the need in Ukraine and the East Ridge Police Department began the process of trying to find the best way to help them out.

One obvious solution was to donate the 20 bullet resistant vests that the department was holding. East Ridge Police Department replaces officers vests when they approach the warranty expiration date. These vests had already exceeded their five-year warranty and had already been replaced by new vests for everyday wear for the officers. All 20 vests were being stored in a secured area and would have eventually been scheduled for destruction.

Although the warranties on the vests had expired and even if the efficacy was reduced, the Department knew the vests would increase the Ukrainian volunteers chances of survival when helping civilians escape hostile areas. Donating the vests was an opportunity to benefit another organization that was trying to save lives and would be at no cost to the citizens of East Ridge.

This is our first time donating body armor to any non-police organization, said Assistant Chief Clint Uselton. We feel privileged to be in a position to assist a worthy cause that is trying to save lives.

For more information on Awakened Generation Ministries or to donate to the Ukrainian War effort, go to @awakenedgenerationOrg on Facebook or contact Taylor Dorrell at (814) 598-7514.




The former Highland Park Baptist Church buildings heavily damaged by fire Friday night and Saturday morning were where noted former pastor Dr. Lee Roberson preached many of his sermons.

As fire officials continue their investigation into the cause of the fire, a look at some old newspaper clippings at the Chattanooga Public Library reveals that the older and more ornate church building at the corner of Union and South Orchard Knob avenues was built about 1922.

The auditorium on the east side of it dates to 1947, one newspaper article said.

Called the Chauncey-Goode Auditorium, it served as the main worship facility until the larger facility opened on Bailey Avenue in September 1981.

An inspection from a block or so away Saturday afternoon revealed that the auditorium appeared to be virtually destroyed, while the old 1920s church building was heavily damaged but still had some walls standing. Also still intact was its green stained-glass window fronting Union Avenue, although the education building to its rear was gone.

The later Bailey Avenue worship facility designed by Harrison Gill and currently used by Redemption to the Nations Church was not damaged.

Highland Park Baptist Church had started in 1890 and was originally called Orchard Knob Baptist Church. After it built a church on Beech Street, it called itself Beech Street Baptist Church.

By the early 1900s, however, it had become Highland Park Baptist Church. It soon built a wood frame building at the corner of Union and South Orchard Knob avenues, but ground was broken for the current facility at the same site shortly after World War I ended.

However, some money problems delayed construction, but it began anew in the spring of 1922 after some work had already been done. The church was evidently completed and opened within a few weeks or months after that.

The architect of that building was W.H. Sears, while the contractor was C.D. Haines. The pastor at the time was Dr. J.B. Phillips.

While construction on the new church was taking place, the members worshiped at a junior high school located on East Main Street.

The early 1920s building is unique in that it has some clock faces on its bell tower. The design found in the 1922 Chattanooga newspaper apparently shows some windows, but not the plain-like faces against the more ornate architecture.

Another Chattanooga building with a clock face is Founders Hall at UTC.

Dr. Roberson came to Highland Park Baptist Church in 1942 from First Baptist Church in Fairfield, Al. Prior to that, he had done evangelism preaching in the Birmingham area and had also worked at churches in the Germantown and Greenbriar areas of Tennessee.

He started out preaching in the 1922 structure, but worshipers apparently took to his evangelistic style that focused on literal Bible teaching, and a temporary tabernacle type facility was built across Union Avenue.

By about 1947, what would become known as the Chauncey-Goode Auditorium opened on the east side of the 1922 building and became the main worship facility. The 1922 building eventually became known as the Phillips Memorial Chapel.

The church also opened Tennessee Temple University in 1946, and the campus began expanding in that immediate neighborhood.

Dr. J.R. Faulkner, who was said to be good at logistics and administration, later assisted with the Highland Park/Tennessee Temple ministries before taking over as senior pastor.

As a historical footnote during this time, on May 21, 1976, Ronald Reagan came and spoke at Tennessee Temples McGilvray Gymnasium near the destroyed structures in his unsuccessful campaign for president before his election four years later.

As the late 20th and early 21st centuries arrived, the Highland Park Baptist membership and attendance began declining, and the church in 2013 announced plans to move elsewhere and rename itself Church of the Highlands.

Some of the church and school property was sold to Redemption to the Nations Church.

But for several decades, hundreds of Highland Park Baptist worshipers flocked every Sunday to this church plant now mostly destroyed.

* * *

To see a video interview with Dr. Lee Roberson and hear him discuss some of the buildings damaged by fire, go to this site:

https://www.youtube.com/watch? v=FM1sB5OMs0Q&t=304s

* * *

Jcshearer2@comcast.net
Guy Fieri has shared dozens of popular recipes over the years. But his Texas French Toast Bananas Foster is one of the Food Network stars highest-rated. This decadent dish is perfect for a weekend breakfast or brunch, and its surprisingly simple to make.

Guy Fieris French Toast recipe was featured on Guys Big Bites

Guy Fieri attends the 2017 Taco Bell Skills Challenge at Smoothie King Center on February 18, 2017 in New Orleans, Louisiana. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)

French toast is a great dish to make for a weekend breakfast or brunch. And on his show, Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives, Fieri has highlighted various kinds.

But his take on the classic is unique, as it incorporates big flavors and a sweet kick of liquor. On an episode of his Food Network show, Guys Big Bites, Fieri shares this fan-favorite Texas French Toast Bananas Foster recipe.

Guy takes French toast up a notch when he batters thick-cut Texas toast in a creamy egg mixture that gets a rich element from orange liqueur, Food Network describes the dish. Top the golden toast with a buttery caramel sauce for a breakfast indulgence or decadent dessert.

The recipe combines the simplicity of French toast with the indulgent flavors of bananas foster. Its a custard soaked, banana-packed, caramel drizzled dessert with a fiery flair that nobody can resist, Fieri teases.

For Guy Fieris Texas French Toast Bananas Foster recipe, he prepares the custard and the sauce first

On Guys Big Bites, Fieri starts the Texas French Toast Bananas Foster by making the custard and the sauce. For the custard, he begins by whisking eggs, milk, heavy cream, vanilla, cinnamon, and a pinch of salt in a bowl.

Fieri notes the chef can also add nutmeg. And he suggests using high-quality vanilla because it helps enhance the background flavor of the dish.

Once the mixture is whisked, Fieri adds a splash of orange liqueur and mixes it again. Those who prefer a non-alcoholic version could use a few drops of orange extract instead of the liqueur.

To make the sauce, Fieri adds butter, brown sugar, cinnamon, and freshly-squeezed orange juice to a saucepan and brings the mixture to a simmer. He then briefly removes it from the heat and carefully adds a splash of dark rum and creme de banana.

The next steps incorporate the bread and banana

Once the custard and sauce are done, Fieri begins prepping the toast. He dips slices of thick toast into the custard mixture and cooks them in a hot buttered griddle pan. The recipe suggests turning the toast over after two minutes and letting them cook for another two.

When the toast is done, Fieri adds sliced bananas to his prepared caramel sauce. I like to put the banana in right at the end, he explains. So they dont get too soft.

Fieri arranges the bread slices upright on a tray. And to finish the dish, he pours the banana foster sauce over the French toast. This is a dessert or a breakfast, he muses. Or a dessert you eat for breakfast.

RELATED: Guy Fieris Generous Heart Extends to the Specific Families He Invites to Every Taping of Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives
Film forever changed in May 1977 when Star Wars: A New Hope first debuted. Created by George Lucas, the flick follows heroes and villains in a galactic war for their survival. The movie stars Mark Hamill, Carrie Fisher, Harrison Ford, Peter Cushing, and Sir Alec Guinness. Star Wars, as it was originally called, did so well that it was nominated for 10 Academy Awards and has earned hundreds of millions of dollars since its release  not to mention spawned an entire cinematic universe.

While even casual fans know these facts, few may be privy to the behind-the-scenes moments that shaped the film. In fact, some of these stories could have gone much differently, potentially starting a war between Libya and Tunisia, had the crew not handled things the right way.

The Libyan government worried about sandcrawlers on the Tunisian border

American actor Mark Hamill on the set of Star Wars: Episode IV  A New Hope written, directed and produced by Georges Lucas. | Sunset Boulevard/Corbis via Getty Images

While filming in Tunisia, which served as Luke Skywalkers home planet of Tatooine, Lucas and the movie crew nearly had an international incident on their hands. According to BuzzFeed, the Tunisian government had to step in during filming because the area where filming was taking place was near the border with Libya. The Libyan government mistook the sandcrawlers in the scene for military vehicles. Officials were concerned that Tunisia was building up a military on its border, waiting to strike.

After explaining the situation, the crew eliminated the threat of military action between the two countries. They shot most of the necessary scenes in just two weeks.

Star Wars: A New Hope was an unexpected success

No one expected a movie about space to succeed the way it did. Star Wars: A New Hope remains one of the most successful films of all time. It earned $2.5 million in its first six days (todays equivalent of $11.4 million). According to Variety, the film garnered a domestic total of $197 million by the end of 1977. By 2017, the film had earned $775 million globally.

The movie was also nominated for multiple awards. Star Wars: A New Hope was nominated for 10 Academy Awards, winning six of them. However, many fans were shocked when it lost the award for Best Picture to Annie Hall.

An international incident isnt the only behind-the-scenes story

Even more than 40 years later, there are still some fascinating behind-the-scenes stories about the first film in the Star Wars franchise. After principal shooting in Tunisia and the U.K., Lucas flew back to the United States and checked into a hospital because he thought he was having a heart attack. It was likely stress from the strict schedule Lucas kept the movie on, paired with his unhappiness with the original editor.

Another famous story from the set? Anthony Daniels, the man behind C-3PO, could not physically sit down in his costume. To give the actor a break, the crew had built a leaning board that allowed him to recline. But according to Wired, Daniels said it didnt do much for relaxing.

Fans may be surprised to know that the main characters went through significant changes between drafts of the original script. Originally, Han Solo was supposed to be an actual monster. Lucas also tried giving the hero a cape and beard. The second draft of the script not only scrapped the character of Princess Leia, but also changed Luke to a female character.

Because of the changes that Lucas made going forward from those early drafts, fans have the movie that they know and love today.

RELATED: The Mandalorian and Star Wars: A New Hope Share an Unexpected Major Connection
Ree Drummond is best known as the star of Food Networks The Pioneer Woman. She spends her days cooking easy, hearty recipes for fans at her lodge. However, since Drummonds rise to fame back in 2011, shes had her hands in plenty of business ventures. Back in 2016, she opened The Mercantile, a home goods store in downtown Pawhuska, Oklahoma, where she lives. She also produces a magazine, owns a restaurant and bed and breakfast, and even started her own clothing line.

Each season, Drummond releases new styles for her clothing line. Her summer 2022 looks just dropped, and fans are loving the styles.

The Pioneer Woman star Ree Drummond in 2021 | Nathan Congleton/NBC/NBCU Photo Bank

Ree Drummond launched her Pioneer Woman clothing line in 2020

Drummond has always been a fan of bright colors and floral patterns (anyone who has seen her cookware line knows this). For that reason, it came as no surprise in 2020 when Drummond launched a clothing line featuring those pastels and flowers that she loves so much, which she first revealed on ThePioneerWoman.com. Perhaps the best part is that Drummond used her own family members  including herself and her two daughters  to model the line, showing real, every-day women in the clothes.

Plus, Drummonds pieces are available at Walmart, which gives them a price tag that almost anyone can afford. Since her lines debut, Drummond has launched several new collections, most of which are met with praise from fans.

The Pioneer Woman star Ree Drummond on TODAY in 2019 | Tyler Essary/NBC/NBCU Photo Bank

Fans love Ree Drummonds new summer clothing collection

On June 8, Drummond dropped the newest set of Pioneer Woman pieces  her summer styles. She posted several photos to Instagram featuring herself along with daughters Paige and Alex, and the line included many of the floral patterns fans love.

Bright colors, summery fabrics, pretty details, part of Drummonds caption read. Hope you love this super pretty selection of tops, dresses, and knit high-low toppers thatll become your best friend.

Fans took to the comments section to express their love for the fun colors and patterns. Shine on gorgeous ladies! Awesome new collection! one user wrote.

Obsessed [with] these styles, another person commented. Just filled my cart.

They are all beautiful, and feel like sunshine, just like you, someone else said.

Ree Drummond and daughters model styles from Pioneer Woman clothing collection https://t.co/psYBiBzi3T  Daily Mail Celebrity (@DailyMailCeleb) June 8, 2022

Ree Drummonds clothing pieces feature dresses, cardigans, and other styles

Drummonds clothing line caters to any budget, which could explain why people love it so much; the styles are available at Walmart. Her new line features flowy shirts that retail for right around $19.99, as well as denim pieces that go for anywhere from $13 to $17. Plus, she has dresses for around $23. Drummonds daughters also love the new line. Alex, her older daughter, commented on Drummonds Instagram post saying that the newest collection features some of my faves yet!

Historically, Drummonds line tends to sell out quickly, but that could be because she only launches new items a couple times per year.

RELATED: Ree Drummond Promises New Season of The Pioneer Woman Will Show Ranch Life Again and Fans Are Thrilled
FILE - An Abbott Laboratories manufacturing plant is shown in Sturgis, Mich., on Sept. 23, 2010. Abbott Nutrition has restarted production at the Michigan baby formula factory thats been closed for months due to contamination, the company said Saturday, June 4, 2022, a step toward easing the U.S. supply shortage that is expected to persist into the summer.
Evangelical charity offering long-term solutions amid Africa's devastating drought

A global Christian humanitarian organization is using its network of churches to assist Kenya during one of the most devastating droughts to hit East Africa in over half a century, the effects of which are compounded by challenges caused by Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

World Relief, a nongovernmental organization that has worked across 100 countries to bring sustainable solutions to vulnerable regions, is operating in the northwest Kenyan county of Turkana as a drought has plagued the country for the past 18 months.

Founded as the War Relief Commission during World War II by the National Association of Evangelicals of America, World Relief has maintained a long-term presence in the East African country since 2011, when drought and famine last ravaged the area.

In an interview with The Christian Post, World Relief Kenya Country Director Elias Kamau said many in Turkana are nomadic pastoralists, meaning they migrate with their livestock from one place to another in search of pasture.

The drought has caused the depletion of many water sources in pastoralist areas and 60% to 80% of livestock in the region have died due to dehydration and starvation.

"The work we have been doing there in moisture-constrained areas has had to do with building the resilience of these communities because the drought has become a very frequent thing," he said. "The pattern is not frequent, but droughts are coming now and then."

Kamau said World Relief has created over a dozen boreholes in Turkana  narrow holes dug to locate water  and six other water points called sand dams. These dams store water during rainy seasons and the water accumulates behind the dam.

The organization is also digging four additional boreholes in a town south of Nairobi called Kajiado. The country director told CP that equates to 16 boreholes and six sand dams that World Relief has dug.

After establishing water points, the organization helps communities in those regions adapt to dryland farming, an agricultural technique that utilizes moisture stored in the soil to cultivate crops.

In addition to operating a country office in Nairobi with about 12 staff, World Relief also has two offices in Turkana, three in Kajiado and Nakuru, a Rift Valley region in Kenya. World Relief has about 64 staff on its payroll in Kenya, with about two dozen on staff in Turkana County.

World Relief partners with churches that provide volunteers that the organization trains to do extension work and help cover more areas in need.

Church empowerment zones

World Relief finds areas to help by assessing the level of need. When it enters an area to offer relief, the charity locates churches, inviting pastors and other church leaders to craft what the organization calls a "church empowerment zone."

These zones equip pastors or other spiritual leaders to work with their communities to address issues like poverty or malnutrition through leadership development and capacity building.

"We cut out a geographical area as a whole, and we style it as a church empowerment zone  the place where we are going to bring all our resources to be able to see change, to see impact," Kamau asserted.

Since an area like Turkana is quite large, Kamau said World Relief parcels these zones into smaller sections called church networks. These networks are within neighborhoods that have what Kamau estimates to be around 25 churches of different denominations.

World Relief establishes a committee consisting of people from various denominations who help them navigate issues around the area and act as representatives of other churches within the area. The humanitarian group currently has three church empowerment zones operating in Turkana.

'They need food now'

World Relief also imports food such as rice, wheat and corn to feed the people of Kenya.

Kamau said that World Relief is injecting cash into the economy by putting an unconditional cash transfer project together to avail half a basket load of food rations for the poorest families in the northwestern parts of Turkana.

According to the country director, this area of Turkana is among the hardest-hit areas they serve.

Kamau identified the cost of the cash transfer project at around $650,000, adding that the agronomy projects are worth about $500,000.

He praised churches in the U.S. and abroad for providing aid to World Relief's projects as part of an agreement to help the organization support specific communities for around three to four years.

"That has helped us in terms of putting in place the training and the capacity building of the pastors unit and integrating the community development aspects which public funding couldn't possibly do," Kamau said.

"It is very critical we focus on saving lives," he added. "People are hungry. They need food now."

Russia's Feb. 24 invasion of Ukraine has added to the hunger crisis, leading to increased prices of food and fuel.

"So you have a situation where access to food is a huge, huge problem," Kamau stressed.

As CBS News reported Monday, Russia's naval blockade of Ukraine has caused global food shortages and more than 20 million tons of grain are stuck on Odesa's coast. The blockade has had a particularly strong impact in Africa, extending far beyond Kenya.

The World Food Programme noted that the cost of food baskets has risen in the Horn of Africa, with prices rising by 66% in Ethiopia and 36% in Somalia. The charity also warned that the number of people starving in the Horn of Africa due to the drought could rise from 14 million to 20 million by the year's end.
Ex-teen witch recounts dabbling in occult, suicidal struggles before coming to Christ 'I traded a whole lot of nothing for a whole lot of God'

A former self-described teenage witch who struggled with suicidal thoughts says her life was transformed after she surrendered to Jesus Christ.

Sarah Anne Sumpolec was 15 years old when she began dabbling in witchcraft: browsing New Age bookstores, conducting seances and using Tarot cards.

In an appearance on The Playing With Fire Podcast, Sumpolec said after moving frequently as a child, her father found a house in Delaware that previously belonged to the states former governor.

My dad, from the beginning of introducing us to that house  he was insinuating that this was a special house, she told podcast host Billy Hallowell. He hinted at it all along the way, and then when we moved there, he was like, You know this house is haunted, and, of course, he tells me this in excitement.

For Sumpolec, the move marked a turning point in her relationship with her father and her own personal journey.

Her dad gave her a very old book on witchcraft, which Sumpolec says was the first time he really ever introduced the supernatural or his interest in the supernatural.

Upon devouring the books contents, Sumpolec says she finally found common ground with her father and soon learned more about him  and his spiritual proclivities.

She recalled at one point her father telling her witchcraft is who we are as a family.

I really felt like I had  opened up this key of something that I was meant to do, and identity is huge, especially when youre a teenager, she said. I had an entire altar set up in my bedroom.

Practicing what she called white magic, Sumpolec would cast spells as a good witch and worship gods and goddesses at a makeshift altar she built in her bedroom.

Then, she says, things began to take a more sinister turn.

This is the biggest thing that I wish I could communicate on a grander scale to, especially teenagers  that the enemy is all about seduction, Sumpolec said. He doesnt come in with this big evil intention  its a slow luring in, and its like, Oh, look at this power.'

Sumpolec says she was suddenly faced with the dark side of the supernatural realm.

[There were] all these spirits that I thought I was messing with that I thought were good and that were guiding me, she said.

In a blog post for CBN titled Confessions of a Teenage Witch, Sumpolec warned that while there is a prince of the power of the air, thats not the end of the story.

Since the power source that witchcraft taps into comes from Satan, a lot of stuff actually happens. I dont even like to think about the things I saw, she wrote. Yet, just because stuff happens doesnt mean that its truth. Satan does have some limited power on Earth, so thats why psychics are sometimes right and why witchcraft seems to work. Dont mistake Satans power for Gods. They cant even compare!

Around the same time, Sumpolec said her father began using drugs and weakened the bond the two had shared.

It all came to a head when Sumpolec says her dad aimed his shotgun at her.

It was the most terrible moment of my life, she said. He had three guns with him at the time, and my mother had left with my younger sister to take her somewhere safer but had left me there.

While her dad never pulled the trigger, the incident drove Sumpolec deeper into the occult, bringing with it nightmares and negative spiritual experiences that she says were difficult to explain.

She says it was during this time that her spirit guide began to convince her to end her life.

So one night I drove away in my car intending to never come home again, wrote Sumpolec. As I was driving on the back roads, waiting for the carbon monoxide leak in my car to do its work, I remember feeling relieved. Perhaps now, I thought, I can finally escape.

But the attempt failed: Sumpolec says she blacked out before waking up on the ground outside the car.

It was a result that left Sumpolec to wonder whether divine intervention was responsible.

I think I was rescued. I honestly think I was rescued because I woke up. I dont remember stopping my car. I dont remember getting out of my car, she said. I literally woke up on the ground next to a tree. So I fully believe an angel got me out of that car.

And with college just months away, Sumpolec says she resolved to stick it out. It was during her freshman year she roomed with two Christian girls who carried their Bibles around and didnt swear or smoke or drink  which meant that our room was a no-party zone.

Which I was also not happy about, she added.

Sumpolec says after witnessing the peace and security the girls exuded, she became intrigued and began to eavesdrop on their Bible studies.

Shortly after that, she took them up on an invite to another Bible study, where Sumpolec says she first heard the message of Gods love and grace toward sinners who put their faith in Christ.

I made God an offer that night, right before Thanksgiving, she wrote. I told Him that if He was real, and if He really wanted me, then I was His.

He took me up on the offer.

Since that fateful night, Sumpolec says she has followed Jesus, turning her back on the occult and growing to become the author of a YA series and co-author of a daily blog ministry, Girls, God and the Good Life.

She says she even burned all of the books, candles, idols and other items used in her witchcraft in a big bonfire.

I know God was pleased with that, she said. I had traded a whole lot of nothing for a whole lot of God.

It was a pretty good deal if you ask me.
Bidens WHO debacle highlights need for more transparency

Before World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus was re-elected without opposition this week at the World Health Assembly, House Freedom Caucus members took the Biden administration to task for not proposing an alternative candidate. Whats worse, as they wrote in their letter, the Biden team is now attempting to hand him more control. Tedros first attained the office after heavy lobbying by the Chinese Communist Party, and his ties to China remained strong through the COVID pandemic.



The Biden administration has proposed amendments to the World Health Assemblys international health regulations which would strengthen the Director Generals unilateral authority. So, House Freedom Caucus members demanded the Biden administration provide the American people with total transparency and respect for our nations sovereignty. Under no circumstances should you cede our governments operational control in a public health emergency to an international body.

The Biden administrations problems with transparency stretch beyond their proposed amendments to the World Health Assembly to hamstring American sovereignty on public health affairs; they also cant seem to tell the whole truth on how the COVID pandemic got started to begin with. Once again, China proves a major player.

Two professors at Columbia University  hardly voices of the fringe right  wrote in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, a peer-reviewed journal, no independent and transparent scientific scrutiny to date of the full scope of the U.S.-based evidence has been performed on the origin of COVID-19. Professors Neil Harrison and Jeffrey Sachs explained, the relevant U.S.-based evidence would include the following information: laboratory notebooks, virus databases, electronic media (emails, other communications), biological samples, viral sequences  and interviews  together with a full record of U.S. agency involvement in funding the research on SARS-like viruses. They insist the U.S. intelligence community either has not made their investigation into these materials transparent or has simply fallen far short of conducting a comprehensive investigation. Basically, they expect the rest of us to take their word for it, something Americans object to strongly.

Harrison and Sachs lay out the mounds of evidence suggesting someone in the U.S. should have a notion about what happened in Wuhan. The active and highly collaborative U.S.-China scientific research program was funded by the U.S. government, they wrote, including the National Institutes of Health (NIH), Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA), and U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID). Did no American officials consider the government could have been bankrolling the research of a Chinese bioweapons program?

Other U.S. agents participating include EcoHealth Alliance (EHA), the Universities of North Carolina and of California at Davis, the NIH, and the USAID. These and other research partners have failed to disclose their activities, they complained. The precise nature of the experiments that were conducted  remains unknown.

Blanket denials from the NIH are no longer good enough, Harrison and Sachs continued. A steady trickle of disquieting information has cast a darkening cloud over the agency. The NIH resisted the release of important evidence and continued to redact materials released under FOIA [the Freedom of Information Act], including a remarkable 290-page redaction in a recent FOIA release. Yet FOIA requests and leaked documents have slowly but steadily revealed an unflattering picture, which prompts people to ask, what else are they trying to hide?

Among the most suspicious facts uncovered so far, research proposals make clear that the EHA-WIV [Wuhan Institute of Virology]-UNC collaboration was involved in the collection of a large number of so-far undocumented SARS-like viruses [of the same type as COVID] and was engaged in their manipulation. The insertion of a gene sequence found in COVID, but not other known viruses of the same type, was a specific goal of work proposed by the EHA-WIV-UNC partnership within a 2018 grant proposal. That proposal was not funded by the agency from whom it was requested, but we do not know whether some of the proposed work was subsequently carried out in 2018 or 2019, perhaps using another source of funding.



Harrison and Sachs said there was a very low possibility of such a gene sequence occurring naturally. Less scientifically, we know that high-level employees like Dr. Anthony Fauci seemed suspiciously eager to direct public scrutiny away from their publicly funded projects in the Wuhan Institute of Virology.

Theres no doubt that greater transparency on the part of Chinese authorities would be enormously helpful, the paper argued, but that doesnt get the U.S. government completely off the hook. We call on U.S. government scientific agencies, most notably the NIH, to support a full, independent, and transparent investigation of the origins of SARS-CoV-2.



From NIH to WHO, the Biden administration could use more transparency all around. If they would start tackling real problems instead of always aiming at the public relations problem, perhaps they could win back the trust of the American people.

Originally published at the Family Research Council.
ELCA pastor claims 'Jesus screwed up,' called woman seeking help the B-word

A Lutheran minister claimed in a recent sermon that Jesus, who was holy and never sinned, screwed up and called a woman a b---- in her retelling of a biblical story that some have decried as blasphemous.



Speaking in a chapel service at the ELCA-affiliated Augsburg University in Minneapolis, Minnesota, on March 11, a self-described pastrix, the Rev. Andrea Roske-Metcalfe, drew from Mark 7:24-30, explaining that the passage was her favorite Bible story because it was an example of Jesus humanity in which Christ screws up bigger here than in any story I know.

The story remains her favorite because of the Syro-Phoenician woman's purported improv skills, she said. In the exchange, the woman falls at Jesus' feet while He's in the region of Tyre and Sidon and she begs Him to heal her daughter, who is demon-possessed. Christ responds: Let the children be filled first, for it is not good to take the childrens bread and throw it to the little dogs. The Syro-Phoenician woman then replies: Yes Lord, yet even the little dogs under the table eat from the childrens crumbs. Jesus then says: For this saying go your way; the demon has gone out of your daughter.

Roske-Metcalfe described this exchange by explaining how the desperate woman had nothing to lose, so she asked Jesus to heal her daughter.

And Jesus responds by calling her a b----, she claimed.

But then the Syro-Phoenician woman activated her so-called improv skills, agreeing that she was indeed a dog, catching Jesus off-guard, she continued, likening the encounter to a completely unrelated account of a supposed Ukrainian soldier telling Russian troops to "go f--- yourself," as they attacked Snake Island in the Black Sea.

I would bet good money that Jesus wasnt expecting that. Like I dont care if Hes the son of God. He didnt see that coming. This is the beauty of improv. This is what makes it so subversive. Nobody sees it coming, she said.

Roske-Metcalfe continued: Jesus screwed up. The Syro-Phoenician woman used her improv skills to call him on it. Jesus changes course. And this story marks the beginning of His ministry among the Gentiles. Dear friends, I find my redemption in Jesus Christ, but on this day in this story, the Syro-Phoenician woman is the one who redeems Him, who calls Him back to Himself, who calls Him back to His calling.

The Greek word used in that passage is  (transliteration: kunarion) which means little dogs or house dogs.

This same story is also recorded in Matthew 15. Matthews Gospel emphasizes the Jewish nature of Jesus and His ministry to His people. When taken in the context of the larger culture and era, the Syro-Phoenician woman would not have interpreted and did not interpret the dogs response from Jesus as a derogatory slur.

In a May 31 episode of the "Fighting for the Faith" podcast, Pastor Chris Rosebrough of Kongsvinger Lutheran Church, an American Association of Lutheran Churches congregation in Oslo, Minnesota, highlighted the commentary of Epiphanius Scholasticus, a sixth century translator of Greek works into Latin, on this passage.

The ancient writer pointed out that the Syro-Phoenician woman was not offended by Jesus reference to non-Jewish people as dogs, in fact, and in a way, she concurred. Unlike the Jews for whom Christ came, she, a Greek woman, actually understood who He truly was. To wit, she had better theology than the Jews of that time, as evidenced by Jesus, who praised her for her faith and granted her request. By saying, Yes, Lord, yet even the little dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters table, she was acknowledging that Jesus came to the Jews and manifested Yourself to them, and they didnt want you to make exceptions. What they rejected, give to us who are asking for it, the sixth century translator is quoted as saying.

What is more, Jesus exchange with the Syro-Phoenician woman hearkens back to the words of Old Testament prophecy in Hosea 1 where God says: In the place where it was said to them, You are not my people it shall be said to them Sons of the living God. Conversely, the Jews who refused Jesus had been made loathsome dogs out of children, as Jesus would start to say on the cross (Matthew 27:46), as was foretold in Psalm 22: Many dogs surround me; a company of evildoers encircle me.



The Christian Post reached out to Grace Lutheran Church, inquiring specifically about Roske-Metcalfes belief that Jesus erred and teaching that as a biblical fact. We will update this piece when a response is received.



According to GotQuestions.org, an online nondenominational Evangelical apologetics hub, in response to the question Why did Jesus call the Canaanite woman a dog? the ministry offers that Jesus often tested people so that they might prove their intentions.

In testing her, Jesus declined her request and explained that she had no legitimate expectation of His help. The woman, however, lived out the principle Jesus Himself taught in the parable of the persistent widow (Luke 18:18). Her response proved that she understood fully what Jesus was saying, yet had enough conviction to ask anyway (Matthew 15:27), GotQuestions explained.

Jesus wasnt referring to the Canaanite woman as a dog, either directly or indirectly. He wasnt using an epithet or racial slur but making a point about the priorities Hed been given by God.
Ex-SBC president suspended by First Baptist Church Woodstock after sexual assault allegation

Former Southern Baptist Convention President Johnny Hunt has been formally suspended as pastor emeritus at First Baptist Church Woodstock in Georgia after an investigation deemed credible allegations that he sexually assaulted a younger pastor's wife several years ago.

"We have recommended to our former pastor, Johnny Hunt, a clear process of counseling, accountability, and restoration," Pastor Jeremy Morton and other members of the church's leadership noted in a letter published last Friday. "We also believe it is in the best interest of FBCW to suspend his role as Pastor Emeritus."

While praising "the supernatural work of God" over the last three decades, church leaders said they believe "this decision aligns with our biblical theology as a church regarding spiritual leaders being above reproach (1 Tim. 3:2)."

Hunt's suspension follows the May 22 report compiled by the outside firm Guidepost Solutions detailing the results of an investigation into allegations that SBC leaders intimidated whistleblowers and exonerated churches with credible claims of negligence of sexual abuse victims.

The report called the allegation against the 69-year-old Hunt, who served as SBC president from 2008 to 2010, "credible."

According to the report, the unidentified victim alleged that Hunt, who was on sabbatical from his role as senior pastor at First Baptist Church Woodstock at the time, sexually assaulted her in Panama City Beach, Florida, on July 25, 2010. The alleged victim, along with her SBC pastor husband, viewed Hunt as a mentor.

The incident occurred while she stayed in a condo adjacent to Hunt's during a brief vacation. In addition to inappropriately touching her against her wishes, Hunt is accused of telling the woman he wanted to have sex with her three times a day.

Hunt posted a statement addressed to the church to his Instagram account on May 27. He admitted that while he did have an encounter with the younger pastor's wife, the Guidepost Solutions report was "sensationalized" and the account included details that are not true.

"Our brief, but improper, encounter ended when  in response to an overwhelming feeling of conviction  I stopped it and I fled the situation. I remember saying just before leaving the condo, 'This is not right. I have no business being here. I love my wife.' I have never been in a room again privately with the woman involved," Hunt wrote.

"I thank God we did not go further than we did, but that is also no excuse for my grievous sin. I will regret that day for the rest of my life and I take responsibility for the situation because I chose to enter her condo," he said. "I am sorry. It was an awful sin but it was a consensual encounter. It was not abuse nor was it assault. Almost immediately after the incident in 2010, I began a process of taking personal responsibility for my personal sin."

The pastor emphasized that he was not seeking anyone's sympathy for his sin. But he said in the letter to the church that he had been emotionally vulnerable following a battle with cancer in 2010.

"I entered into a season of deep despair and probably clinical depression. I remember [my wife] asking me then how I felt and I said to her, 'I feel like something inside me has died,'" Hunt's letter reads.

"It was during that summer that I allowed myself to get too close to a compromising situation with a woman who was not my wife. It happened when she invited me into her vacation condo for a conversation. Against my better judgement  I chose to go."

Hunt said after the encounter with the pastor's wife, who is 24 years his junior, he apologized to his wife and the woman's husband and sought professional help.

"I was willing to resign my ministry then, forever. However, after completing that private process [of reconciliation], which involved seeking the forgiveness of God and those involved, and recovering from that dark, depressing season, I felt I could return to Woodstock in the Fall of 2010," he said. "That is what happened. I want you to know that this is the truth. It is also the whole truth."

Hunt insisted that "the account described in the Guidepost report is sensationalized." He maintained that he didn't "groom the woman involved" nor did he "intentionally arrange the encounter."

There are other details in the description that is stated as fact which did not happen," Hunt claims.

"The most absurd allegation is that this brief, consensual encounter constituted assault," he concluded. "It did not. This is the reason why I denied the accuracy of the report, and why I deny it, now."
One of the enormous carnivorous dinosaurs found on the Isle of Wight living in the cretaceous period, meat-eaters were one of the second largest compared to giant plant-eaters.

The remains of these spined lizards (spinosaurids, spinosauridae), theropod dinosaurs that developed during the Jurassic era, are seen on other continents worldwide.

Largest Carnivore Found

Researchers from the University of Southampton discovered the fossil published in the journal PeerJ Life & Environment, reported SciTech Daily.

The ancient fossils were found on England's south coast, the Isle of Wight, where the bipedal and crocodile jawed spinosaurids.

Discovery continues to follow the University of Southampton team's past work on this group of dinosaurs, contributing to the finding of two new species in 2021.

The "White Rock spinosaurid," named after the geological layer in which it was discovered, was a massive predator, cited EurekAlert.

Ph.D. student Chris Barker, the study's lead author, discovered the dinosaur, about 33 feet long, making it the biggest killer dino in Europe yet, based on the limited material available.

Its large pelvic and tail vertebrae, amongst other pieces, were found in Compton Chine. The island's fossil record has dinos in other periods when they were alive but are not so known, noted Science Daily.

Spinosaurids Discovered

One of the largest carnivorous dinosaur specimens was stripped away from the Vectis Formation from the cretaceous period, which is poor in dinosaur fossils, according to Southampton University's Neil Gostling. It is likely the youngest spinosaur resource ever found in the UK.

Read Also: NASA Hubble Image Shows Stunning View of Farthest Star Seen; Is it Also the Oldest?

The 125-million-year-old Vectis Formation documents the beginning of a time of increasing sea levels when the "White Rock spinosaurid" foraged in lagoonal waters and sandflats.

Darren Naish stated that only fragments are still in hand, and nothing is complete, as more fossils are needed for a better specimen.

The argument in a publication last year mentioned that these sailed dinosaurs were from and branched out in the western part of Europe, then spread out later.

Teeth marks were on the predator's bones, which, even after death, had become meat for supporting a range of scavengers and decomposers.

According to co-author Jeremy Lockwood, a Ph.D. student at the University of Portsmouth and Natural History Museum, it was Nick Chase, one of Britain's most skilled dinosaur hunters, who discovered these extraordinary fossils; however, he sadly died just before the COVID-19 epidemic.

He went on to say that he and his colleague discovered a lump of the pelvis with tunnels bored into it the size of an index finger. It was caused by scavenging beetle larvae that eat bones, leading to the idea that this colossal killer ended up as a meal for a swarm of gigantic insects.

Shortly, the scientists expect to start generating thin sections of the material to investigate the microscopic internal characteristics of the bones, which can disclose details about its growth rate and age.

Spinosaurids were one of the world's largest killer dinos in the Jurassic period that existed in water-borne areas but died out in time whose looks were unique and their lifestyle.

Finding one of the largest carnivorous dinosaur specie to exist during the cretaceous millions of years ago in the Isle of Wight opens endless discoveries in the future.

Related Article: Scientists Claim To Discover Fossils of Dinosaur Struck by Fatal Asteroid From 66 Million Years Ago

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How the digital revolution is disrupting the Church and forcing it out of buildings

About a year ago, Andre Anderson started a group on Facebook called Barbecue Assembly of God to build a church of people who love Barbecue and want to move forward in their faith journey. The group has since swelled to more than 500 members, and two Sundays ago, Barbecue Church held its first official service online.

You know, our thing is [we] want to help feed people biblically, spiritually and literally, said Anderson, who announced himself as the lead pastor of Barbecue Church at the start of the service. Were going to do that in a bunch of different ways.

Anderson went on to describe how different his church would be. Along with barbecue, the church would serve up sermons that are quick, easy, [and] straight to the point.

Well put up cooking videos, training videos on how to cook different things. Were just going to have a good time. Its going to be different. Its going to be fun. Its going to be wild, he said.

The sermon ended approximately 10 minutes after it started.

While he plans to embrace everyone who comes to check out Barbecue Church, Anderson expressed little concern over those who might not like his brand of fellowship.

If you like it, cool. If you dont, scroll on, he said. We just want the best for you and want you to find your spot. So no matter where youre at in your faith journey, you can eat with us. Were here.

A digital explosion of church

Like Anderson, millions of people have been unapologetically finding their spot by exploring different ways to express their faith through digital platforms like social media and virtual reality.

On TikTok alone, Christian-related video content has amassed more than 31 billion views and made stars out of young influencers like 23-year-old Maurice Dowell of Lawton, Oklahoma. His inspiring videos have been liked nearly 76 million times.

And since he started using the app to minister in 2018, Dowell has gained some 3.8 million followers, dwarfing the following of more traditional megachurch preachers on the app like Joel Osteen and T.D. Jakes.

Dowell did not immediately respond to a request for an interview from The Christian Post, but in a 2020 interview with ABC 7 News, he credited God for the popularity of his message.

Its my purpose to inspire people, care for people and just love people back to life, so people say Im TikTok famous, I give all glory to God, Dowell said. Someone just said you just turned an atheist to a believer. My life is so much better now. If you dont think thats a place to praise the Lord right there!

Liana Gordan, another young influencer with some 70,000 followers and whose videos have been viewed more than 1.4 million times on the app, said she was influenced by the work of Christians like Dowell.

The 18-year-old based in Canada says even though her parents are orthodox Christians, she never spent much time in church as a child, according to Bustle. Had it not been for other young Christians sharing videos about their faith in the growing Christian subculture on TikTok, she doesnt think she would have ever seen the light.

This app was used to save me, she said in a video posted in November 2020. I was seeing Christian creators on my For You Page, and I was like, Whoa. And I started reading my Bible.

Elijah Lamb, another popular Christian TikTok teenager with nearly 670,000 followers, acknowledged in a video in late 2020 that while the work of Christian TikTok isnt perfect, there is no denying the impact they're having in connecting their generation with the Gospel.

I think the way that so many young Christians on this app are zealously pursuing truth and preaching the Gospel without shame is amazing, Lamb said. I think there is such an amazingly diverse group of creators who make equally diverse content.

Christian TikTok has pushed me to step up and learn how to lead better. I think the vulnerability that so many people on this app have blows my mind and it makes me so joyful. The people Ive met through this app have made me feel more loved than almost anyone else, he continued. I think this community has taken steps to prove that there can be unity between denominations and I love the way that people on this app are so willing to ask questions.

Oasis Church VR is a church that solely exists in the metaverse, which Facebook describes as a set of virtual spaces where you can create and explore with other people who arent in the same physical space as you.

We curate creative church experiences in virtual reality for people who feel excited about digital spaces & fresh opportunities. Oasis is for people who are bored with the way their forefathers did church, the church states on its website. These can be creatives that are Metaverse explorers and people who would not be comfortable going into a building. Oasis will reach persecuted people in other countries. We will have a strong missional outreach component giving Oculus devices to those in need and supporting persecuted believers worldwide.

At a recent Sunday service, Oasis Church VR leaders unveiled their new futuristic build that came complete with an immersive study of the book of Ruth in the Bible. Scenes from the four-chapter book were visually brought to life in 3D as the audience read through the story, teleporting from scene to scene with engaging discussion.

As online Christian engagement continues to expand rapidly through the use of digital technologies, it has coincided with a staggering disruption in physical church membership, which some technology experts say will continue to displace physical churches that refuse to adapt to the digital revolution. And the ongoing displacement is becoming more apparent in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The historic decline in physical church membership

A Gallup analysis in March 2021 showed that while America remains a highly religious nation with seven in 10 claiming affiliation with some kind of organized religion, for the first time in nearly 80 years, fewer than half of them claim any formal membership in a specific house of worship.

One of the biggest factors Gallup found strongly correlates with church membership is age. Some 66% of traditionalists  U.S. adults born before 1946  have formal membership in a church, compared with 58% of baby boomers, 50% of those in Generation X and 36% of millennials. Current but limited data on members of Gen Zers who've already reached adulthood suggest their church membership rate is similar to millennials.

The analysis also pointed to the growing number of Americans who express no religious preference. In the last 20 years, the share of Americans who do not identify with any religion has grown from 8% in 1998 to 2000 to 21% in the last three years. Only 4% of people from this group said they held formal membership in a church, synagogue or mosque. Between 1998 and 2000 that figure was 10%.

In 2020, just over a week after leaders of a Minnesota church were accused of trying to get rid of older adult members from one of their campuses in an effort to attract a younger crowd, a new study from Barna showed how reaching the next generation is one of the biggest problems pastors in local churches worry about today.

When presented with a list of possible challenges facing their church as part of Barnas State of the Church 2020 project, just over half of Protestant pastors, 51%, said reaching a younger audience is a major issue for their ministry.

Chestly Lunday, an expert in innovative leadership who has helped churches and companies lead in the digital age, told CP in a recent interview that one of the biggest reasons behind the declining statistics in traditional church membership is that the younger generation and innovative Christians have migrated online while older adults refuse to adapt.

What we're seeing [now] is the exodus of the late majority [from traditional churches], Lunday said. We're not seeing the exodus of early adopters [of technology], and the early majority of innovators. They've been gone already for a while. So what you're seeing now, like one major church, where pre-pandemic people were coming 1.4 times a month, now they're coming point 0.8 times per month, meaning one of the best communicators in North America can't get somebody [in church] to tell [them about Jesus] once a month a year anymore. That's what that means.

Church of the future is a network. And it's going to be digitally based. It's not going to be geographically based. It's going to be built on relationships and purpose, he said.

The growing use of digital technology to fellowship among Christians has led to increased connection between diverse groups of Christians across geographic and denominational boundaries, Lunday said.

Adaption

He believes that the biggest threat to the survival of the Church today is the resistance among its older constituents, most of whom remain in the pews of dying congregations, to the advances of digital technology.

I think the biggest threat for churches is their constituency who are older that don't want to do anything digitally, he said.

In January, Lunday teamed up with fellow innovator and longtime digital church advocate Jeff Reed to form the Digital Church Network which seeks to empower people to utilize Digital & Metaverse tools to connect, engage and disciple.

He explained that church leaders have been stuck on applying a 1,700-year-old model of church designed for a world that no longer exists.

Digital platforms are disrupting churches. This didn't happen during the pandemic. That happened when Web 2.0 came out. So if you look at the history of the church, you see that our model, our prevailing model right now, was invented 1,700 years ago, he explained.

When Constantine legalized Christianity, we came out of the shadows and we built, we city-planned and built buildings so that people that were illiterate and farming could come and hear Scripture, apply it to their daily lives and come and be in community with people, even though they wouldn't be with them six days out of the week, they would actually go back to their farms and work, he said.

Through that model, the physical church building became a centralized platform for worship, but technology has upended it.

What digital technology did, especially during Web 2.0, when we created social media platforms, the building blocks of that wasn't the media side it was actually the connection side, Lunday said. We've completely decentralized relationships.

The main need for physical church buildings, Lunday said, was to provide content and community. The ability to access both content and community online has made traditional church buildings irrelevant.

We have to create an organization that is built for a Web 2.0 world, he said.

If I can help churches move from 1.0 to 2.0 and start thinking about what it'll look like to actually create community on an asynchronous digital space that is not predicated on everybody watching the same content at the same time, but it being on demand  and it's still having events and get-togethers, whether it be virtually, whether it be physically  those are the things that I would like to see the church do, Lunday explained. I think they (traditional church leaders) are threatened by it because that's not what they know. That's not what they feel comfortable with. That's not what they like.

Even if many traditional churches decide to retool their ministries today, said Lunday, there is no guarantee that they will survive.

He cited arguments from Clayton M. Christensens 2011 book, The Innovators Dilemma: The Revolutionary Book That Will Change the Way You Do Business as well as the Bible to show why it will be difficult for many churches to adapt.

You're going to start seeing a massive exodus from churches that think the old way because that's not how people relate to each other anymore. Content is a commodity, it's not king, it's a currency. And that's the point that needs to be shifted. My goal is to help churches see that and redesign their ministries for a world that exists. Right now. They're designed for a world that no longer exists, he said.

He believes that what will likely happen is that younger leaders are simply going to move forward with digital ministries and leave behind older church members who refuse to or cannot adapt.

I think what you're going to see with younger leaders  they're not going to try to keep the old people. They're just going to go and do new things. And they're going to have people that want to come with them. And unfortunately, I mean, Jesus said this a long time ago, right? He said, Don't try to put new wine into old wineskins, he said. This is a new wineskin moment with new wine. And the reality is if you try to put it into the old wineskins, you're going to lose the beauty of both.

He added: Jesus understood disruption and He was a disrupter Himself. And His advice to all of us disruptors are to go with the goers, don't try to save the past, that can't be done. And by trying to mix your new thing with the old thing, you'll actually lose both in the process. And so I think that there will be 4 percent of our churches that will make the jump, just like Clayton Christensen said with organizations.

The impact of the digital disruption on pastors and parishioners

New data released by Barna Group last month show that fears over the membership of their church being in decline was among the biggest factors causing stress and loneliness among pastors, forcing an increasing number of them to consider quitting compared to a year ago.

Some 29% of pastors said they felt like quitting because they werent optimistic about the future of their church and they were unhappy with the impact the job had on their family or they had a vision for the church that was in conflict with where the church wanted to go.

Lunday says he understands the frustration because pastors are working harder for a shrinking audience in physical churches.

It's absolutely fueling the burnout and the disappointment because you're doing the things you've always done and it's not getting the results that you used to have. And you don't know why it's not working but you know, it's not working, Lunday said. I think what you're seeing [are] two major things: older pastors that don't want to change and move into a digital decentralized paradigm of church, and you're seeing them opt for retirement now while there's still money in the bank.

These struggling ministries that dont want to change, said Lunday, are also likely to have a harder time attracting younger leadership because younger pastors know that it's easier to have a baby than it is to raise the dead.

People [pastors remaining in physical churches] have a deep sense of loyalty. They want to make this work. And so they're staying and they're working harder because the visionaries have left the building. And they're just trying to do the things they've always done, except they're now expending more energy and spinning their wheels, and they feel it, but they don't know what to do. And they don't feel like it's morally OK for them to leave. And I think that's OK, Lunday said.

Some of them are called to stay with the sheep because they're shepherds. Every ministry leader should have the heart of a shepherd. But not every ministry leader is gifted as one. And so some of the people that are there that are gifted as one, they're feeling it, they're going to stay no matter what because that's what shepherds are supposed to do. But I think there's a lot of people that want to leave, that probably should leave that don't feel like they have permission to leave, he added. And that's not God putting that lack of permission on them, it's them putting that lack of permission on them because they're afraid of what's on the other side. 

A more diverse church experience

While both Lunday and Reed agree that the digital shift was well underway before the pandemic began and it is likely too late for many traditional churches to transition, Reed argues that digital churches should not be viewed as competing with physical ones.

The first online Bible study that I ever taught was in the year 2000, 22 years of doing digital ministry, and all the way up to COVID people thought I was nuts, Reed said. Well, thank you very much. COVID validates a lot of what we were talking about. And we saw proof that it would work. And so now, you know, I don't need to be the digital church apologist, but I need to create a community where others can feed off each other and work together for the common good.

Reed explained that the trends he has seen emerging amid the digital disruption of the Church show that digital churches are reaching a different type of person than what the traditional church building is reaching. Church is no longer a one size fits all and messages need to be tailored to a specific audience.

To drive home this point, he cited marketing expert Seth Godins advice that a billion people dont care what you have to say.

In 1995, Billy Graham spoke one sermon and a billion people heard it around the world, Reed said. [In] 2022 it's not going to happen.

He argued that in order for the Church to continue to get its message across the world it can no longer be about mass communication.

[Its] about the individual, but the big churches, the Life churches  they'll serve their purpose, and they'll still reach people. But we're already seeing it where these digital churches that have a more nuanced voice are also effective in reaching different types of people than the buildings are reaching, Reed said. We're seeing atheists and agnostics come to Jesus. We're seeing the Church. The first step back to the bride of Christ is through virtual reality headsets. We're seeing satanists come to Jesus through relationships in virtual reality.

Digital Church Research Report published in October 2021 features data collected from interviews with 29 pastors from Aug. 21 through Sept. 17, 2021, on the function and operation of churches in the U.S. operating either as online-only churches or as churches with an online campus or associated ministry.

There was consensus that the church did not need a specific structure or form to be a church. Rather, it had to meet a set of biblical criteria that included meeting together, making disciples, growing in knowledge and understanding of God and His redemptive work through Jesus, and taking that message to the wider community, the report said.

Among other data, the report also highlighted how participants in online churches were less likely to give financially to the church and when they do give the amount was generally lower than the amount given on average in physical churches. It was noted that with the exception of VR churches, the operating cost was lower in online churches compared to physical churches.

I'm not the guy that's going to say the buildings need to shut down, everything's got to go digital, because it's not going to work. My father will never attend a digital church. And that's OK. Because I don't want to validate one over the other, Reed said. I think both are effective. But we need the freedom to be able to explore multiple options, have the freedom to explore digital, not look at these people, as they often are looked at, as heretics.

Helpful advice

While he understands the fear and frustration among both pastors and parishioners in the era of digital disruption, Lunday said there is a way to be helped.

There is a way you can turn the ship around. It's going to be super uncomfortable. But there is a way to do it. And there are people that can help you do it. Jeff and I are definitely two of those people. So I would say hold on, learn, lean in to disruption, be willing to try new things, Lunday said in his message to pastors. I can't promise that you'll survive. But you'll have a better chance of surviving.

Lunday further urged parishioners of physical church to take responsibility for your own spiritual maturity.

The reason we are in the challenge we're facing at this moment is because we didn't take seriously that REVEAL study that Willow Creek had 20 years ago. When they said, Oh, wait a minute, megachurch doesn't actually help people mature in their faith. The events on Sunday don't actually help people mature in their faith. It just makes us feel good, he said.

Sunday morning events are awesome. They're great, they're helpful, but they're supplemental to the process of discipleship. And you will not grow in your faith if you don't take personal responsibility for growing in your faith, he continued.

So many people have been OK with consuming rather than learning what it takes to be a follower of Jesus. I would say today, take responsibility for your own spiritual maturity. Don't wait for anybody else around because God's got a call on your life. And you're never going to step into it and fill your [calling] if you're waiting for somebody else to say, Hey, this is what I think I see with you, he added. It's time to step up and take a step of faith and move out and take ownership of your own spiritual maturity. The Holy Spirit speaks to every Christian, not just the person on the stage.
Islamic extremists kill 18 civilians, set fire to homes in night raid in eastern Congo

In a night raid, suspected militants from the Islamic extremist group Allied Democratic Forces killed at least 18 civilians and burned down many houses in a village in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, according to media reports.

The attack occurred in Otomabere village in Ituri provinces Irumu area late at night last Sunday, leaving at least 18 people dead, Nigerias newspaper The Guardian reported.

We were chatting with some friends outside when we heard gunshots and everyone fled in a different direction. It was total panic, Kimwenza Malembe, a resident of Otomabere, was quoted as saying. This morning we counted 18 dead, killed by knives and firearms.

The ADF, which is a Ugandan militia that started operating in the DRC during the 1990s, killed about 1,300 people between January 2021 and January 2022, according to a United Nations report. It was formed in 1996, merging several existing rebel groups.

In January 2021, more than 100 people were killed in three large attacks in the same province by the ADF, Open Doors reported at the time.

About 46 people belonging to the Pygmy ethnic group were killed in Ituri province by suspected militants of the extremist group, which is known for attacking, kidnapping and killing Christians, as well as training and sending jihadists to other countries in Africa.

The roughly half a million Pygmy people face extensive persecution and discrimination in the country, Open Doors noted.

On Jan. 4, 2021, about 22 civilians were killed by militants wielding guns and machetes in an overnight attack on Mwenda village in the Beni region of neighboring North Kivu province.

ADF militants killed 25 more people in Tingwe village in the same region the same day.

At least 17 nearby villagers had been murdered with machetes a week earlier in Mwenda village.

In a 2020 report, the U.N. acknowledged that widespread, systematic and extremely brutal human rights abuses by the Islamic militant group could constitute, by their nature and scope, crimes against humanity and war crimes.

While the militant group has not formally linked itself with the Islamic State terrorist group, IS has claimed responsibility for some of their attacks, calling Congo the Central Africa Province of the caliphate.

The government of Ugandan has sent over 1,700 troops to the Congo to help fight ADF militants.
Man who memorized 20 books of the Bible to teach skill at Creation Museum

A man known for having memorized 20 books of the Bible has started volunteering at the Creation Museum to teach visitors his methods of Scripture memorization.

Tom Meyer, a professor at Shasta Bible College of Redding, California, began volunteering at the Petersburg, Kentucky-based museum at the beginning of June, overseeing classes and workshops.

In an interview with The Christian Post, Meyer said he's conducting workshops to teach saints from all over the country how to memorize Scripture and the benefits that come from this ancient discipline.

Meyer, who has volunteered at the museum in the past, said he and his family moved to Kentucky for the position, and he will continue to teach at Shasta via online classes.

After ministering in California for a decade by speaking the Word of God dramatically from memory in a different local church each Sunday and teaching students how to memorize Scripture at Shasta Bible College, our family of six was at a crossroads, he explained.

After praying about where God wanted us to go, He opened a door as clear as day for our family to move to Northern Kentucky to volunteer full time at the Creation Museum and Ark Encounter, the worlds leading biblical creation ministry.

One of the things that Meyer will do at the museum for guests is to dramatically recite from memory the Genesis account of the Flood of Noah.

I also teach the guests from all over the world in one of the daily Discover Programs what I learned about memorization in the Holy Land and inspire them that they, too, can hide Gods Word in their hearts, he added.

Meyer told CP that he's hopeful that he'll be able to use the gifts God has given me for His glory and to the greatest impact.

I will be able to encourage more believers about the importance of memorizing Scripture here than anywhere else in the world because of the multitude of guests that visit, Meyer said.

The Creation Museum was founded in 2007 by Answers in Genesis, a Christian apologetics group that adheres to a Young Earth Creationist view of lifes origins.

In early 2020, USA Todays 10 Best Readers Choice Awards ranked the Creation Museum and its sister attraction, the Ark Encounter, as the top two religious museums in the United States.

Ark Encounter, which features a life-sized replica of Noahs Ark, was ranked No. 1, while the museum was ranked No. 2. The Washington, D.C.-based Museum of the Bible placed third.
Over 7 Million in East Africa on brink of starvation amid pandemic, violence and infestation

Over 7 million people across six East African countries are at the cusp of starvation as communities have faced existential threats from violence, flooding, the pandemic and locust infestation, the evangelical humanitarian organization World Vision has warned.

According to the charity, which operates in nearly 100 countries, thousands of children could face death or long-term health consequences if the international community does not respond quickly to East Africa's worsening crisis.

Debebe Dawit, program manager for World Visions humanitarian emergency affairs team, recently visited Ethiopia and saw firsthand the effects of poverty in the East African country. He said the situation is severe.

The situation is very severe in East Africa, and particularly Ethiopia. Over 2 million people are in need of food assistance, Dawit told The Christian Post in a Thursday interview. Among conflict, COVID-19, flooding, locust infestation, all these are adding [an] additional burden to the community.

Before the pandemic began, several countries in East Africa faced a widespread desert locust infestation that impacted hundreds of thousands of hectares and damaged croplands and pastures.

Later in 2020, large-scale floods destroyed crops that were ready to harvest, which impacted the food supply for 4 million people in the region, World Vision reports.

Matters have also been complicated by military conflicts  most recently the Tigray conflict  and the rise of Islamic extremism.

To address the starvation and poverty crisis in East Africa, World Vision launched a multi-country emergency response for Ethiopia, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Kenya and Uganda. The goal is to reach 2.4 million people, which includes 490,000 children.

Lack of funding is the key element that prevents a faster response.

At the end of the day, it will come [down] to resources, Dawit acknowledged.

World Visions intervention is primarily focused on the immediate needs of the children, he said.

The long-term effect of malnutrition especially hinders a childs development and ability to reach their God-given potential, World Vision CEO and President Edgar Sandoval Sr. said in a statement.

Its heart-breaking that the lives of millions of children in East Africa are at risk due to a perfect storm of conflict, changing or unpredictable weather patterns, and the aftershocks of COVID-19.

Dawit said the situation in East Africa, riddled with conflict, drought, flooding and natural disasters, is ever-changing.

Its like a pendulum. , he explained. Because of the droughts or flooding or COVID-19, these people are going deeper into poverty. Its a very complex situation in East Africa.

The program manager said many have already succumbed to starvation or poverty. He believes the approach to the crisis must be proactive rather than reactive.

One of the critical elements in this one is when famine or drought is happening, we always act after the fact.  Usually, we respond after people have died, Dawit shared. We need to be proactive in responding and providing funding to avoid the [deterioration] of the situation. The key thing here is people are dying before the famine of the drought is declared. So that needs to be looked at, and we need to act immediately and prevent further suffering.

The pandemic has made the situation more difficult for East Africans because of the blow to their already weakened economies.

The pandemic just brought additional burden, Dawit continued. The condition is getting worse  People are living [on less than a dollar a day]. So the country has been locked up. The economy has been affected. So many people are in hunger because they couldnt go out and make that dollar a day to survive. So the [economic] impact of COVID is [devastating] across Africa and particularly in East Africa.

An estimated 108,000 people in East Africa live under catastrophic famine conditions, and the number is expected to increase with excessive rainy seasons and conflict plaguing the region.

World Vision estimates that another 26 million are a step away from famine if urgent action cannot prevent them from sliding into the same situation.

Women and girls face the greatest risk due to gender-based violence, abuse and sexual exploitation.

In the face of unprecedented global demands for humanitarian funding, crises in East Africa are receiving limited international attention, despite urgent and life-threatening needs, Joseph Kamara, World Visions regional humanitarian and emergency affairs director for East Africa, said in a statement. We appeal to national governments, regional institutions, humanitarian actors and donors to urgently address the hunger crisis in East Africa and more forcefully communicate its breadth and severity.

The organization is seeking $60 million to extend and mobilize this response to the East African hunger crisis. Dawit encourages the donor community to donate to help meet this urgent need.

In an interview with The Christian Post last year, World Food Program Executive Director David Beasley warned that 2021 might see famines of biblical proportions since economic struggles could hamper global responses to food shortages.

The former South Carolina governor said that the pandemic's fiscal realities could lead to a decrease in funding when as many as 270 million people globally could be pushed to the brink of starvation.
PCUSA ministry launches 'Queering the Bible' project aimed at 'creating some new theologies'

A ministry tied to the Presbyterian Church (USA) is "Queering the Bible" to celebrate LGBT pride this summer.

The PCUSA project Unbound: An Interactive Journal of Christian Social Justice is kicking off the new series "Queering the Bible" with a 16-part study of the Gospel of Mark that will run through July 22.

Rev. Lee Catoe, the project's editor, told Presbyterian News Service that the study looks at the Gospel as a way of "learning about how we experience God as queer folk, and how we experience Scripture as queer people."

"Mark has some very interesting stories that speak about inclusion and what that means, that has stories where Jesus is encountering people who have different experiences, marginalized folk, and so I just think it speaks to the queer experience, very much, right now," Catoe said.

According to Catoe, the inspiration for "Queering the Bible" came from a desire to go beyond rainbow flags and t-shirts during the LGBT pride ritual and challenge PCUSA to "go deeper in our welcoming of queer folk."

He said the Gospel of Mark was a perfect introduction to the series because of its length.

The "Queering" Mark 1 study by Rev. Benjamin Perry, for instance, compares John the Baptist's experience to those of LGBT individuals.

"LGBTQIA+ people have long lived like John, holding in our voices and bodies a love that transcends the ways culture tries to confine it  crying out in the wilderness about what will not only free us, but what will liberate all people," Perry writes.

In the conversation with Presbyterian News Service, Catoe suggested traditional biblical hermeneutics have contributed to Mark and other texts being "interpreted in very unhealthy ways," specifically because of the theological groundwork of "straight white men."

"Oftentimes when we're looking at Scripture, historically, it's been a lot of straight white men who have interpreted Scripture and then creating theologies," he said. "So, when we're talking about queering the Bible, we really are wanting to have the voice of queer folk, trans folk, who read Scripture, look at Scripture and interpret that Scripture through that lens."

He added that "Queering the Bible" focuses on "going against all the heteronormative ways that Scripture has been interpreted and creating some new theologies that we can use."

PCUSA did not respond to a request for comment by The Christian Post.

Unbound is published by the Advisory Committee on Social Witness Policy of the Presbyterian Church (USA) and works with the Compassion, Peace & Justice ministries of the Presbyterian Mission Agency. Unbound's website state that it is "guided by the policies of the Church but open to sometimes-controversial new ideas, challenges, and matters of self-critique."

"Unbound is a ministry of the Presbyterian Church USA but holds to the ecumenical voice of the Church universal," the website reads.

Mark Tooley, president of the Washington, D.C.-based ecumenical religious think tank Institute on Religion & Democracy, told The Christian Post that by hosting projects such as "Queering the Bible," PC(USA) is "replacing the Gospel of redemption with their own journey of self-actualization."

"Christ bids to listen and follow, dying to self. This project seeks to appropriate and bend the Bible towards self-justification," Tooley, a Methodist layman, said. "Ironically, nobody will truly find it to be fulfilling. The Gospel offers words of true life."

As PC(USA) pushes forward with a more progressive theological stance, the denomination continues to lose members.

In April, the largest Presbyterian denomination in the United States announced the release of its annual statistics, which were compiled by the PC(USA) Office of the General Assembly.

According to the latest numbers, PC(USA) saw congregations drop from 8,925 in 2020 to 8,813 in 2021. It also saw its active membership decline from approximately 1.24 million in 2020 to 1.19 million in 2021.

The mainline Protestant denomination also saw a decline of 372 clergy members  18,785 ministers in 2020 to 18,458 in 2021.

The denomination slipped below 2 million active members in 2011 and below 10,000 congregations in 2014.
World Vision deploys disaster relief to Central America after 2 hurricanes hammer region

A Christian humanitarian organization is working to provide Central America with disaster relief as the region had its second direct hit from a major hurricane in the past two weeks.

World Vision has begun working to provide food and emergency aid to those affected by Hurricane Eta, which made landfall on Nov. 3 in Nicaragua as a category 4 storm. The storm brought heavy rains and mudslides to nearby Honduras. Hurricane Iota made landfall as a category 4 storm in Nicaragua Monday evening.

There are a lot of people sleeping by the edge of the streets and most of them dont even have a pad, said Rafael Zaldivar, a World Vision staff member working out of the Central American country. They are sleeping in nylon bags, which they use as a roof as well. The only clothes they have are the ones that they were wearing at the moment they had to leave.

Fifty Honduran families housed at shelters in the capital city of Tegucigalpa have already received emergency kits assembled by World Vision. The charity is offering food, basic supplies and logistical assistance and plans to distribute food to almost 11,000 people across five communities.

According to Joao Diniz, Latin America and the Caribbean regional leader for World Vision, the initial estimate suggests 2,235,000 people may be impacted by the severe flooding. The flooding and winds have damaged roads, bridges, and communications infrastructure, isolating many communities.

In Guatemala, heavy rain triggered landslides that buried homes in the Alta Verapaz region. According to the Associated Press, Hurricane Eta has caused at least 50 deaths in the country.

In Nicaragua, World Vision has distributed emergency aid to eight communities, with an additional 1,000 families expected to receive hygiene kits, food, blankets and mosquito nets.

Hurricane Iota made landfall around 15 miles south of where Hurricane Eta made landfall two weeks earlier, according to the National Hurricane Center, a division of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

Eric Blake, a hurricane specialist with the NHC, described Iota as a catastrophic situation unfolding for northern Honduras with an extreme storm surge of 15- to 20-foot forecast along with destructive winds and potentially 30 inches of rainfall.

Jorge Galeano, national director of World Vision in Honduras and Guatemala, warned that the impact from Hurricane Iota will worsen already extreme survival conditions.

The soil is already saturated, a mild increase in precipitations could be lethal and cause more flooding and landslides, added Jose Nelson Chavez, World Visions regional adviser on emergencies. World Vision is supporting temporary shelters and vulnerable communities in Honduras, Nicaragua, Guatemala, El Salvador, and Costa Rica.

The humanitarian group has regional supplies in Panama, a central American country rarely hit by hurricanes. Supplies housed in Panama include blankets, tarps, mosquito nets, water purification tablets, and Hygiene kits.
Activists firebomb pro-life pregnancy center in Buffalo; 2 firefighters admitted to hospital

A pro-life pregnancy center in upstate New York was firebombed Tuesday morning, making it the latest pro-life organization to experience vandalism ahead of a major U.S. Supreme Court decision on abortion.

CompassCare, a group of pro-life pregnancy centers committed to "serving women in Buffalo and across NY State" and "erasing the need for abortion," announced Tuesday that its Buffalo office was "firebombed by abortion terrorists."

According to the statement, police and firefighters responded in the early morning to a report of smoke at the office on Eggert Road.

"The windows in the reception room and nurses' office were broken and fires lit. Graffiti on the building left by arsonists refers to the abortion terrorist group Jane's Revenge, reading 'Jane Was Here.'"

As the statement explained, Jane's Revenge took responsibility for a similar act of vandalism at a pro-life pregnancy center in Wisconsin.

Following the attack on the Wisconsin Family Action office in Madison, the group released a manifesto demanding "the disbanding of anti-choice establishments, fake clinics, and violent anti-choice groups within the next thirty days."

"Wisconsin is the first flashpoint, but we are all over the US, and we will issue no further warnings," the manifesto reads. "And we will not stop, we will not back down, nor will we hesitate to strike until the inalienable right to manage our own health is returned to us."

In subsequent weeks, the group has claimed responsibility for other acts of violence.

In a statement, CompassCare CEO Jim Harden described the violence as "the pro-abortion 'Kristallnacht.'"

"[B]ecause of this act of violence, the needs of women facing unplanned pregnancy will go unmet and babies will die," Harden said. "CompassCare will rebuild because women deserve better."

He vowed that "CompassCare will not stop serving because pre-born boys and girls deserve better." The clinic offers confidential abortion information, pregnancy diagnosis and STD testing and treatment.

CompassCare alerted the local police and FBI. According to reports, local Amherst police, the district attorney and the FBI are investigating the possible arson.

Town of Amherst Supervisor Brian Kulpa said in a statement shared with media that two volunteer firefighters "were admitted to the hospital after they were overcome while battling a suspected arson fire." According to police, the firefighters were treated for minor injuries.

"With reports that this fire was set intentionally, I am disgusted that lives were put at risk," Kulpa said, according to WKBW. "Our thoughts are with the firefighters as they recover. A violent response is never the answer. There is no place in Amherst for such attacks. Amherst Police are working with our partners to continue its investigation to hold those responsible accountable for their actions."

Harden said CompassCare has consulted with security professionals for a safety plan "and engaged a security firm who were expediting the installation of armored glass for the Buffalo office."

Harden elaborated on the organization's next steps in a video Tuesday, reporting that the vandalism caused "extensive damage that's going to take months to repair."

"They broke glass in the middle of the night, under cover of darkness, to keep us from doing the work of the Lord, from being the light of the world," he said. "We offer absolutely necessary services, ethical medical care and comprehensive community support to women seriously considering abortion and they're trying to keep us from doing that."

Harden said that organization would operate out of a new facility starting Wednesday.

"We're looking at a more medium-range facility to house our services short-term while this facility gets repaired," he said.

The vandalism at CompassCare comes just over a month after Politico published a leaked draft opinion in the Supreme Court case of Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health. The draft opinion, which is not final, indicated that a majority of justices were inclined to overturn the 1973 Roe v. Wade decision that legalized abortion nationwide.

Should the Supreme Court overturn Roe as expected, abortion would not automatically become illegal in all 50 states. Instead, states would decide the legality of abortion.

In the absence of Roe, 21 states would either completely ban or restrict abortion more severely than they do now. Sixteen states that have codified the right to abortion into law would continue to allow abortion late into a pregnancy or up until the moment of birth. Ten states would likely continue enforcing their current abortion restrictions, while the three remaining states may soon put the future of their abortion laws in the hands of voters in the form of ballot referendums.
Nurse says hospital revoked her religious exemption to COVID-19 vaccine mandate

A Virginia hospital has been accused of denying a Christian nurse a religious exemption to its COVID-19 vaccine mandate even though she claims to have been given a permanent exemption last year.

Julia Brenton, a registered nurse who works as a unit supervisor on the postpartum unit at Inova Loudoun Hospital in Leesburg, was told in an email on Monday that she had to get vaccinated by June 20 or be fired.

Brenton told The Christian Post that she opposes getting a COVID-19 vaccine on religious grounds because the vaccines were developed through testing on cells derived from aborted fetuses.

Brenton applied for an exemption in July 2021, submitting a letter in which she quoted 1 Corinthians 6:19-20: "Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have received from God?...Therefore honor God with your body."

"According to Divine Law, and my religious beliefs, anything that is injected into the body goes against my religious freedom," she wrote last year, sharing a copy of the letter with CP.

Brenton, who has worked as a nurse for over 10 years, also included a letter from Pastor Perry Darley of Called By Grace Ministries. In the letter, Darley said he recently spoke with her and that she "believes the vaccine mandate violates those values she holds dear," including "the right to life."

Inova's official guidelines on COVID-19 vaccination state that religious exemptions are granted "only when sincerely held religious beliefs conflict with Inova's immunization policy." The guidelines include an option to provide a "note from a religious leader" that "may describe with specificity the sincerely held religious belief, practice or observance that guides the objection to immunization."

Inova's guidelines also state that a religious exemption would "not be granted when opposition to the immunization is medical, scientific, political, philosophical, ethical, or otherwise secular rather than religious in nature."

Brenton forwarded CP an email from Aug. 10, 2021, from Inova's official exemption requests email address showing that she was granted a permanent exemption from the vaccine and would not have to reapply.

Despite the email from last year promising a permanent exemption, Brenton said she was told in March that she had to reapply for the vaccine exemption.

She claims she waited 10 weeks for a response. She added that the wait was "stressful" because she was "wondering if I would have a job soon" due to the vaccine mandate. Then on Monday, her request was denied.

In an email she forwarded to CP, Inova's Vaccine Exemption Request Committee argued that Brenton failed to meet their standards for exemption and that her being unvaccinated would place an undue burden on the operations of the hospital.

Brenton said there are "many other healthcare workers who were approved and then denied" a religious exemption to the Inova COVID-19 vaccine mandate.

Inova instituted its COVID-19 vaccine mandate last September, requiring "all rotating residents and fellows to be vaccinated for COVID-19 in order to rotate at any Inova facility."

CP reached out to Inova for comment on Brenton's claims. Spokesperson Tracy Connell emailed a statement stating that Inova "welcomes requests for medical or religious exemptions from team members."

"Members of Inova's chaplaincy team assist in review of religious exemption requests alongside a clinical and multi-disciplinary review team," read the statement.

"We will continue to review and update our approach to keeping our team members and patients safe during this public health crisis and our policies will evolve as relevant facts and circumstances warrant."

Connell added that Inova seeks "to create an environment of zero harm and embraces and practices best evidence."

"As we continue to learn more about COVID-19 and its many variants, we strongly believe that the safest environment for our team members and patients is one where everyone is fully vaccinated," continued the statement.

Several lawsuits have been filed by those who are religiously opposed to getting the vaccines but are compelled to via vaccine mandates.

In New York, a group of Christian healthcare workers sued to stop New York's COVID-19 vaccine mandate for healthcare workers. Last October, a federal judge issued an order temporarily halting enforcement of the order against thousands of unvaccinated healthcare workers who had applied for religious exemptions.

The district court's order was vacated by the U.S. 2nd Circuit Court of Appeals. In December, the U.S. Supreme Court rejected requests to block New York's healthcare vaccination mandate.

A group of U.S. Navy personnel sued the U.S. Department of Defense and other government officials after their religious exemption requests were denied.

In late March, U.S. District Court Judge Reed O'Connor, a George W. Bush appointee, expanded an earlier preliminary injunction on behalf of the Navy personnel to the over 4,000 Navy service members who have requested a religious exemption.

"Plaintiffs decided to pursue a class action on behalf of 4,095 Navy servicemembers who have filed religious accommodation requests," wrote O'Connor in his order.

"Here, the potential class members have suffered the 'same injury,' arising from violations of their constitutional rights. Each has submitted a religious accommodation request, and each has had his request denied, delayed, or dismissed on appeal."

In May, Sen. James Lankford, R-Okla., wrote a letter to Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin and Secretary of the Navy Carlos Del Toro. Lankford stated the Navy had approved 27 religious accommodation requests for the COVID-19 vaccines despite receiving over 4,300 requests. Lankford noted, "84 personnel with previously disapproved religious accommodation requests have completed the discharge process."

Lankford argued that in light of O'Connor's order, the Department of Defense should "apply its stated policy of protecting sailors from separation and discipline retroactively," noting that the Navy had paused efforts to "separate and discipline sailors refusing the COVID-19 vaccine due to religious objections."

"As I have said repeatedly, it is difficult to see how removing hundreds of sailors from the Navy  when almost half of Americans have already been infected with COVID-19  improves our military readiness and serves the national interest," Lankford wrote.
It was in the late 1960s that Auburn's police chief Thomas Gillman wanted to make his community a safer place.

Gillman, 29, who had served the community for three years, adopted a German shepherd to help track down burglary suspects. He sought professional training for his dog, Rex, from Trooper Raymond Brotebeck, a Michigan State Police dog handler at the Bay City post.
DECATUR, Ga. (AP)  A shooting at a restaurant at a suburban Atlanta mall has left one person dead and three others injured, authorities said.

DeKalb County Police said the shooting happened just before 11:30 p.m. Friday outside Fletcher's Place, a bar and grill in the South DeKalb Mall in Decatur, news outlets reported.
Chinese espionage blunts the US edge as three US tech firms provide blueprints and technical specs that go under the radar of the US government.

Both Beijing and Washington are locked in a fight for technological dominance, and the PLA got the upper hand with satellites, rockets, and experimental weapons.

US Government Sanctions Tech Firms

The current administration placed three tech firms sanctioned last June 8; they are alleged to give information on sensitive technologies to China, the EurAsian Times reported.

The US Department of Commerce locked several tech firms from selling tech to countries abroad for 180 days. These firms are Quicksilver Manufacturing Inc., Rapid Cut LLC, and US Prototype Inc., which issued a temporary denial order as the worst prohibition, per US News.

These firms offer 3-D printing services to clients who need fabrication for space and defense project needs.

Using blueprints and drawings of the projects that need to be 3-D by the firms, when completed, will be sent back to China to save on manufacturing costs, said the Commerce Department.

According to the Department, that contract would have needed US government approval, but no authorization was sought.

Outsourcing 3-D printing of space and defense prototypes to China, Matthew Axelrod, an assistant secretary of commerce for export regulation, compromises US national security. He went on to say that by sending the technical drawings and blueprints to China, these businesses may have saved money.

It's a blunder in the effort to safeguard US military technology, yet Chinese espionage has been catching up to the US edge.

Read Also: New Mobile Launcher With Zircon Hypersonic Cruise Missiles Could Change How Russia Wages War

The 11-page Commerce Department order makes no claims that the Chinese military used the blueprints, but it does state that the actions are a serious national security risk.

Sources indicate the intention to investigate the records of the companies' clients to ensure that their intellectual property is not compromised.

US Would Not Let China Get Ahead

China's advancing tech is getting too close for comfort as the incident could result in a breach of military tech that Beijing could benefit from.

Washington alleges that China has been engaged in spying and taking classified secrets significantly advanced military projects.

The United States has been accused of relying on its advanced combat aircraft systems, the J-20 and FC-31, for the theft of technology from the American F-35 fighter jet.

The theft of many terabytes of data related to the F-35 program by Chinese hackers, including information on the F-35's radar design and engine, is one of their forays that led to Chinese stealth tech.

Other US defense systems that were hacked are the F-22 Raptor and B-2 Stealth bomber, space lasers, missile guidance and tracking systems, and even data for nuclear subs and anti-air missiles defenses as the prizes.

Noshir Gowadia, an Indian-American engineer, in 2005 assisting in the development of Chinese stealth technology, utilizing acquired knowledge from his involvement in the initial stages of the B-2 Spirit stealth bomber, per Mighty.

Gowadia was enraged that he was not included in future phases of the project, so he chose to begin his consultancy firm. He has later sentenced to 32-years of not life as wanted by the feds.

More than one technician leaked US secrets to Chinese espionage that has whittled the US edge in military technology; these companies will be the last to do so.

Related Article: Indian, Japanese Next Generation Fighters To Challenge the J-20 Mighty Dragon in the Indo-Pacific

@ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
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SANTA FE, N.M. (AP)  President Joe Biden said Saturday he was escalating federal assistance for New Mexico as it faces its largest wildfire in recorded state history.

The fire began with prescribed burns that were set by the U.S. Forest Service, a standard practice thats intended to clear out combustible underbrush. However, the burns spread out of control, destroying hundreds of homes across 500 square miles (1,300 square kilometers) since early April, according to federal officials.

We need to be sure this doesnt happen again, Biden said during a visit to an emergency operations center in Santa Fe, where he met with local, state and federal officials. He was returning to Washington from Los Angeles, where he had attended the Summit of the Americas.

The president said the federal government would cover the full cost of the emergency response and debris removal, a responsibility that was previously shared with the state government.

New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham told Biden that your administration has leaned in from the very beginning and that we need the federal government to keep accepting responsibility.

Biden said he also supports having Washington foot the bill for damages caused by the fire, but such a step would require congressional action.

Evidence of New Mexicos struggle with wildfire was visible from Air Force One as the presidents plane approached. There were plumes of smoke in the distance, and rows of burned trees looked like blackened scars slashing through green forests.

Evacuations have displaced thousands of residents from rural villages with Spanish-colonial roots and high poverty rates, while causing untold environmental damage. Fear of flames is giving way to concern about erosion and mudslides in places where superheated fire penetrated soil and roots.

The blaze is the latest reminder of Bidens concern about wildfires, which are expected to worsen as climate change continues, and how they will strain resources needed to fight them.

These fires are blinking code red for our nation, Biden said last year after stops in Idaho and California. Theyre gaining frequency and ferocity.

But the source of the current wildfire in New Mexico has also sparked outrage here.

A group of Mora County residents sued the U.S. Forest Service this past week in an effort to obtain more information about the governments role.

The Forest Service sets roughly 4,500 prescribed burns each year nationwide, and Biden said the practice has been put on hold during an investigation.

Ralph Arellanes of Las Vegas, New Mexico, said many ranchers of modest means appear unlikely to receive compensation for uninsured cabins, barns and sheds that were razed by the fire.

Theyve got their day job and their ranch and farm life. Its not like they have a big old house or hacienda  it could be a very basic home, may or may not have running water, said Arellanes, a former wildland firefighter and chairman for a confederation of Hispanic community advocacy groups. They use it to stay there to feed and water the cattle on the weekend. Or maybe they have a camper. But a lot of that got burned.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency has approved at least 900 disaster relief claims worth more than $3 million for individuals and households.

On Thursday, the Biden administration extended eligible financial relief to the repair of water facilities, irrigation ditches, bridges and roads. Proposed legislation from U.S. Rep. Teresa Leger Fernandez, D-N.M., would offer full compensation for nearly all lost property and income linked to the wildfire.

Jennifer Carbajal says she evacuated twice from the impending wildfire at a shared family home at Pandaries in the foothills of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains. The house survived while about 50 neighboring homes burned along with the tanks that feed the municipal water system, leaving no local supply of potable water without truck deliveries.

There is no long-term plan right now for water infrastructure in northern New Mexico, Carbajal said.

She said matters are worse in many hardscrabble communities across fire-scarred Mora County, where the median household income is roughly $28,000  less than half the national average.

They barter a lot and really have never had to rely on external resources, she said. The whole idea of applying for a loan (from FEMA) is an immediate turnoff for the majority of that population.

Jaclyn Rothenberg, a spokeswoman for FEMA, said the agency had more than 400 personnel in the state to work with residents and help them seek federal assistance.

George Fernandez of Las Vegas, New Mexico, says his family is unlikely to be compensated for an uninsured, fire-gutted house in the remote Mineral Hills area, nor a companion cabin that was built by his grandparents nearly a century ago.

Fernandez said his brother had moved away from the house to a nursing home before the fire swept through  making direct federal compensation unlikely under current rules because the house was no longer a primary residence.

I think they should make accommodations for everybody who lost whatever they lost at face value, Fernandez said. It would take a lot of money to accomplish that, but it was something they started and I think they should.
The second annual Art Speaks Poetry & Playwriting Festival brought over 100 actors, directors, poets and playwrights together to present premieres of original work. Writing pieces were submitted in May and adjudicated by published poets, playwrights and theatre professionals from all over the United States.

The judges selected the following winning pieces for 2022:

Best Poem: "Shirley Temple" by Aja Jade Philpot of Midland

Best 10-Minute Play: "Ill Have What Hes Having" by Antonio Vettraino of Troy

Best One Act Play: "The Red List" by Arlo Welser of Midland

Best Full Length Play: "Nymphomaniacs Anonymous" by Aja Jade Philpot of Midland

The Tucker Polito Best Overall Award, named after the man who inspired the idea of Art Speaks, went to "The Birdhouse" by Emma Bowen of Sterling Heights.

Art Speaks creates space to uplift voices, said Art Speaks coordinator Laura Brigham. We will continue to grow this program and offer artists in the Great Lakes Bay Region and throughout Michigan a platform from which to be heard.

Creative 360 collaborated with Vanishing Elephant Players, a theatre company in Bay City, to offer a spot in their 2024 season for a fully realized production of the 2022 winning full length play. Some of the short plays from Art Speaks will be seen fully staged at Creative 360 in a 2023 production as well.

I feel like theres a moment in every artists life when they think Holy cow, Im doing it right. This is what Im meant to do,' said poetry and full length play winner Aja Jade Philpot. For me, Art Speaks was that moment.

The third annual Art Speaks will begin accepting submissions in April 2023 with performances in June. Writers can contact Brigham at Creative 360 for more information about Art Speaks.
Many counties in west-central Illinois are starting to see registrations for electric vehicles, with 23 electric vehicles in Morgan County.

According to Illinois Secretary of State's Office, each county has a handful of vehicles registered.

Adam Grojean, the owner of an electric vehicle, said he is starting to see more and more electric vehicles in the area.

"I've had my Tesla for just over a year and there weren't very many in the area," Grojean said. "Now I see several in town."

Grojean has a Tesla, which he charges at home and his office on West State Street.

While Grojean said the car is hard on tires because of its weight, there are many more pros than cons.

"I don't have to go out of my way to find a gas station," Grojean said. "Then I don't have the cost of having to pay for gas or oil changes."

He said in the first year, he put about 35,000 miles on his Tesla and though he's had to replace the tires more often, he has not had any other maintenance issues with the car.

Though he said it was a higher cost for a vehicle, it is comparable to many luxury vehicles, and he saves money in other ways, Grojean said.

A Tesla ranges in cost, depending on the model, with brand new 2022 models ranging from $47,000 to $100,000.

The savings on gas is something that has partially lead to the increase in the purchase of electric vehicles.

Brown County has one EV registration, Cass has one, Greene has three, Jersey has 23, Macoupin has 33, Madison has 471, Pike has six, Sangamon has 420, Schuyler has three and Scott has seven.

Grojean said he feels he has saved a lot of money in the long run.

"I drive from Springfield, so I put on a lot of miles," Grojean said. "I save on gas every month, so in my eyes it's worth in."

While his electric bill initially increased, Grojean said it only went up about $100.

He said he is also happy because of its higher safety rating. Tesla received a five-star safety ranking from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration in 2020.

The safety is something at which the Jacksonville Fire Department has been looking.

Fire Chief Doug Sills said there is a bit of a difference in a department's response when an electric car is involved because of the concerns over damage to the battery, as well as how to safely remove people from an electric vehicle that has been involved in a crash.

Sills said the department has had training on how to respond to incidents involving electric cars, because there are some precautions that have to be made.

Sills said fires with electric cars are not too common, though can be more complicated when they do happen.

"An EV's engineering is pretty safe," Sills said. "It's when the batteries are traumatized through a wreck or overheat that there are problems."

Sills said when an electric vehicle is involved in an crash one of the first things is to examine the batteries for any trauma that could cause a fire from the thermal runaway from the batteries.

If a fire occurs because of the runaway, Sills said they can be more difficult to put out and take a lot longer before a vehicle is considered safe and can be moved.

"We typically have to monitor the battery packs for at least an hour," Sills said.

Extractions are also slightly different. The department has access to a database with safety guides depending on the model of vehicle that they use to avoid cutting into the vehicle at the wrong place. The guides available to the departments has outlines of where the high voltages systems are.

"We are training on these, but we ave to play catchup," Sills said. "There has been a lot of cooperation with manufactures creating these resources for us."

Though they are considered generally safe, one small downside is that any maintenance that needs to be done requires a trip to Bloomington or St. Louis, or waiting for a technician to come to your home, Grojean said.

Grojean said the vehicle has been cheaper when it comes to taking trips as well.

For his Tesla, the vehicle's GPS will plot the course with the points where they need to stop to recharge and how long it will take to charge, which can add time to a trip, more so than it could take to fill a tank of gas. .

"It adds a little time, maybe an hour or so depending on the trip," Grojean said. "But saving $300 a trip in gas is worth it."

Because of the plotted route, Grojean said he hasn't had any issues with getting his car charged on a trip, even if the number of charging stations is lower than the number of gas stations.

The state of Illinois has been looking to install charging stations along many of the state's major roads to encourage the expansion of electric car use.

"They've added two more in our area since I've gotten mine," Grojean said.
MARINE CORPS AIR STATION MIRAMAR, Calif. (AP)  The U.S. Marine Corps on Friday identified five people who died when their Osprey tiltrotor aircraft crashed during training in the California desert.

Killed were two pilots: Capt. Nicholas P. Losapio, 31, of Rockingham, New Hampshire and Capt. John J. Sax, 33, of Placer, California.

Also killed were three tiltrotor crew chiefs: Cpl. Nathan E. Carlson, 21, of Winnebago, Illinois; Cpl. Seth D. Rasmuson, 21, of Johnson, Wyoming and Lance Cpl. Evan A. Strickland, 19, of Valencia, New Mexico.

The longest-serving Marine was Losapio, with 8 years and 9 months, while Strickland had been in the service for 1 year and 7 months

The MV-22 Osprey went down Wednesday afternoon during training in a remote area in Imperial County near the community of Glamis, about 115 miles (185 kilometers) east of San Diego and about 50 miles (80 kilometers) from Yuma, Arizona.

The Marines were based at Camp Pendleton and assigned to Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 364 of Marine Aircraft Group 39, part of the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing headquartered at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar in San Diego.

It is with heavy hearts that we mourn the loss of five Marines from the Purple Fox family the squadron's commanding officer, Lt. Col. John C. Miller, said in a statement. Our primary mission now is taking care of the family members of our fallen Marines and we respectfully request privacy for their families as they navigate this difficult time."

The cause of the crash is under investigation.

The Marines were participating in routine live-fire training over their gunnery range in the Imperial Valley desert, said Marine Maj. Mason Englehart, spokesperson for the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing.

The Osprey, a hybrid airplane and helicopter, flew in the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan but has been criticized by some as unsafe. It is designed to take off like a helicopter, rotate its propellers to a horizontal position and cruise like an airplane.

Versions of the aircraft are flown by the Marine Corps, Navy and Air Force.

Prior to Wednesdays crash, Osprey crashes had caused 46 deaths, the Los Angeles Times reported.

Most recently, four Marines were killed when a Marine Corps Osprey crashed on March 18 near a Norwegian town in the Arctic Circle while participating in a NATO exercise.
BIG RAPIDS  Career changes can be a daunting challenge, and one former Big Rapids midwife gave up a life of catching babies for one of writing page-turners.

Sarah Bransons new book, A Merry Life, takes readers to the 24th century New Earth, where new nations have arisen to replace those that died with Old Earth, which was plagued by floods, fires and pandemics that changed the planet and decimated its human population.

The publication marks Bransons first authored book release. The first in the Pirates of New Earth series, A Merry Life was published by Sooner Started Press in April.

Branson first moved to Big Rapids from Oregon with her husband to pursue nursing school as he began work at Ferris State University in the journalism department.

Once Branson completed school, she became a nurse-midwife, delivering many babies in Big Rapids.

After starting a family, Branson and her husband moved to Petoskey to continue work and eventually ended up in Connecticut.

Bronson said she always had an affinity for writing and first began imagining her story at age seven.

I've always enjoyed writing, and I always thought it'd be a great thing to do, Branson said. But I never kind of felt like I had a story to tell, so it was simply a sideline thing. I traveled as a kid. My dad was born under a wandering star, and we moved every couple of years or so.

At one point, we took a freighter to Australia when I was in about third grade, and the captain of the ship talked about being on the ship and traveling, she added. He talked about pirates, and I started kind of conjuring ideas of pirates in my head at that point. It's been kind of a long time percolating.

'A FORCE OF NATURE'

Cultivating characters was a unique part of the book-writing experience for Branson.

Her main character, Kat Wallace, is one of the have-nots of New Earth  and she is on a mission. After escaping torturous enslavement, she sets her sights on ending the human trafficking that is flourishing.

Branson said creating the character of Kat came from some real-life experiences.

She's this headstrong young woman, and it is set in the 24th century so it's a speculative fiction and a science fiction, Branson said. Its what I would consider women's fiction because it really is about her emotional growth through her life. I kind of came upon the inspiration for my protagonist in a friend I met in real life. She showed up in my life, and she's a bit of a force of nature.

Its about growing and becoming more empowered through your life, she added. Not just as a young person, but as a mother with children and having the ability to do all kinds of things. Women do all kinds of awesome things and then go home and make sure that suppers on the table at night, so there is the message that we can be whoever we need to be.

After leaving Michigan, Branson spent six years teaching science and history to middle and high school students in Brazil and Japan before returning to the United States, where she recently ended a successful career as a midwife to write full time.

Through her travels and myriad experiences, Branson has developed a deep appreciation for peoples strength and endurance. She draws on her past and her imagination while creating stories about strong women and men finding adventure and love, carving out paths in worlds that are constantly changing.

Branson said making the transition to writing full time and publishing her first book has been exhilarating.

I loved seeing it come to the initial draft, which was really a big, long stream of consciousness, Branson said. It was a lot of fun just putting that down on electronic paper. Through the editing process and through collecting a team to assist with all this, to see that come about has been amazing.

To be more at the forefront of having to talk about my book and talk about me has been a shift for me that I did not think I would like, she added. I find that I'm really enjoying it because I really do feel like it's a good story. I'm having a lot of fun encouraging people to take a chance on it and have a read. Hard to say what I liked the best because right now I'm kind of in the honeymoon stage of loving it all.

The second book in the Pirates of New Earth series, Navigating the Storm, is due out in July 2022.

Branson will be holding a reading from noon to 2 p.m. June 11 at Artworks in downtown Big Rapids, at 106 N. Michigan Ave.

For more information about the author, visit Bransons website at www.sarahbranson.com. For more information on Schuler Books & Music, visit their website at www.schulerbooks.com.
EDWARDSVILLE  Southern Illinois University Edwardsvilles Golden Graduates paved the way for future generations of Cougars.

These alumni, who graduated 50 or more years ago, returned to their alma mater this spring to celebrate with one another and with the Class of 2022 during commencement weekend May 4-7.

In 2017, we began inviting alumni who graduated 50 or more years ago to come back to campus to celebrate this amazing milestone and to participate in the Golden Graduation Reunion, said Cathy Taylor, interim vice chancellor for university advancement and CEO of the SIUE Foundation. A highlight of the reunion is having our Golden Graduates participate in commencement. In doing so, we establish a common thread to connect the past and the future of SIUE.

After hosting the Golden Graduation Reunion virtually in 2021 due to the pandemic, this years celebration marked a return to in-person events. The festivities, which highlighted the Class of 1972, kicked off with a virtual reception but also included participation in the annual Always a Cougar Graduation Celebration and a campus bus tour and reception.

The culminating event was a breakfast gathering after which the Golden Graduates participated in commencement alongside the Class of 2022. Donning their golden regalia, participants led the ceremonys procession and received a commemorative medallion honoring their 50-year milestone.

From California to Florida to Guam, 95 Golden Graduates participated in the reunion, whether virtually or in person.

I had the privilege of meeting Golden Graduates who spent their careers as doctors, dentists, lawyers, educators, business owners and even as an Olympic athlete, said Taylor. It was incredibly inspiring to hear the many stories of how SIUE helped prepare them for their futures. They were all thankful for the impact SIUE made on their lives.

Mary Moran 72, 74 traveled to Edwardsville from Washington, D.C. to participate in the Golden Graduation Reunion. She earned both a bachelors and masters in education from SIUE, which propelled her to a 40-year career working in the U.S. Department of Education.

I had wonderful teachers. I declared a major in special education, because thats where the very best instructors were, and the most exciting classes, said Moran. Its hard to believe 50 years have gone by. Im happy to be here and to remember so many happy times.

Elaine Roche 72, a New York native, earned a bachelors in English from SIUE. Roches degree served as the basis for her career as a librarian at the State University of New York at Buffalo. Later, in her role at a startup computer company in California, she discovered another passion: travel. Roche learned to sail and eventually launched a solo trip from California to Maine on her sailboat.

I had the luxury of time and spent four years doing it, said Roche. It was quite a trip.

Dave Hager 73 and his wife Kathy 72 traveled to SIUE from Wisconsin to attend the reunion. As a former director of university relations with the University of Wisconsin System, Dave Hager coordinated numerous commencement ceremonies of his own. At the reunion, he enjoyed strictly being a participant and taking advantage of opportunities to catch up with old friends and reminisce about his time as a resident manager at the Tower Lake Apartments and as a graduate student.

The faculty I had were always so supportive, said Hager, who earned a masters in education. They treated me and the rest of the graduate students with more maturity. Fifty years later, I still respect the fact that they treated me as someone who was responsible, and they were flexible, supportive and respectful.

Carol Pashoff Winetroub 72 shared many wonderful memories while earning a bachelors in Spanish at SIUE. She wanted to attend the Golden Graduation Reunion because, living in Iowa, she hadnt been back to her alma mater in more than 30 years.

I wanted to see how campus has changed and grown, and also to celebrate the University because it gave me such a great start and it's continuing to do that for so many, said Winetroub, a social worker. It was an honor for me to be here to recognize and applaud the 2022 graduates. I hope they can change the world and make things a lot better for all of us.

Next years Golden Graduation Reunion will take place during the week of May 1, 2023. More information about past and future Golden Graduation Reunions is available at siue.edu/alumni/golden-graduates.




Former president Donald Trump has demanded that many of his aides and advisers claim privilege and resist subpoenas from the House select committee investigating the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol.

Not his daughter and son-in-law, though.

"I said, 'Whatever you want to do is OK with me.' I didn't even speak to them about it," Trump recounted in an April interview with The Washington Post. "Don't care what they said. Let them say the truth. I told them that: 'Just say the truth.' "

But when the public got its first glimpse on Thursday night of what Ivanka Trump and her husband, Jared Kushner, had to say, the former president appeared less generous - issuing a statement that pushed back on her testimony.

"Ivanka Trump was not involved in looking at, or studying, Election results," Donald Trump posted on his Truth Social platform. "She had long since checked out."

Trump was reacting to a short clip of Ivanka Trump that was played during the opening statement by Rep. Liz Cheney, R-Wyo. In the clip, the former president's daughter said she accepted Attorney General William Barr's conclusion that there was no widespread fraud affecting the outcome - even as her father was continuing in public to falsely insist it had been stolen.

"It affected my perspective," Ivanka Trump said in the clip. "I respect Attorney General Barr, so I accepted what he was saying."

The discord marks a new twist on a close father-daughter relationship that has spanned family, business and politics, exposing a rift that has opened since the 2020 election, according to other advisers to Donald Trump advisers. Before Jan. 6, Ivanka Trump broke with her father and siblings in avoiding baseless fraud allegations and attempts to overturn the election results. On the day of the Capitol riot, she repeatedly tried to persuade the president to make a statement or video calling for his supporters to stop the attack, The Post has reported.

That tension could mount as the committee holds more hearings this month. Ivanka Trump's descriptions of her efforts to press her father into action on Jan. 6 have made her a key witness for investigators, people familiar with her testimony said. The committee interviewed Ivanka Trump and Kushner for hours and has also indicated that it will release transcripts.

"You're probably going to get a heavy dose of Jared and Ivanka going forward," said a lawyer representing other witnesses who spoke on the condition of anonymity because those discussions are confidential. Committee sources viewed Ivanka Trump and Kushner as sometimes helpful and at times frustrating, according to multiple advisers - but particularly useful in understanding Donald Trump's psyche.

Trump said in the Post interview that they didn't tell him in advance about what they planned to say in testimony and that he viewed the committee's focus on Ivanka as "harassment."

The testimony's impact was heightened on Thursday by the use of a video excerpt - a bold step for a congressional investigation that came as a surprise even to people closely following the probe. The clip made for one of the most dramatic moments in the first hearing, which drew a television audience of almost 19 million Americans.

"I don't know if anybody walked in thinking they're going to have videos shown on prime time," said a former Trump White House adviser, who like others interviewed for this report spoke on the condition of anonymity to relay private discussions.

Representatives for Ivanka Trump, Kushner and Donald Trump did not respond to requests for comment. But another former adviser to Donald Trump disputed that Trump was angry with his daughter over the testimony. The aim of his statement, the former adviser said, was to emphasize that Ivanka Trump wasn't involved in legal discussions.

The committee also played a short clip of Kushner's testimony in which he appeared dismissive of White House Counsel Pat Cipollone's threats to resign in protest of some pardon discussions.

"I kind of took it up to just be whining, to be honest with you," Kushner said in the video.

Trump has not made any public response to Kushner's testimony. Privately, he has complained about Kushner's role in the reelection campaign and the many White House efforts that Kushner has tried to take credit for, according to three people who have spoken to Trump.

Since Trump left office, his daughter and son-in-law have not attended meetings on political travel, spending or other parts of his political operation and have rarely spoken with his other advisers. The couple have reportedly bought an estate on an exclusive Miami-Dade island. One adviser who is regularly around the president said, "I've seen Jared one time." But the former president still regularly talks to Ivanka Trump.

His post on Friday also appeared to defend his daughter's testimony as "only trying to be respectful to Bill Barr" - whom Trump had much harsher words for.

Some other Republicans criticized the use of the video as a cheap shot. "The Ivanka Trump clip has gotten a lot of attention, but its inclusion was entirely gratuitous and clearly meant simply to embarrass her," National Review's editor in chief, Rich Lowry, said on Twitter.

In deciding to cooperate with the committee, Ivanka Trump and Kushner may have considered the investigators' aggressive use of criminal contempt referrals for witnesses refusing to appear.

"They didn't want to be in the same category as Steve Bannon and Peter Navarro," the lawyer representing other witnesses said, referring to the former Trump advisers who've been indicted after defying the committee's subpoenas.

Ivanka Trump has long participated in her father's business ventures, including a New York condominium project that recently drew prosecutors' scrutiny but no charges, and the Washington hotel at the center of multiple conflict-of-interest investigations and lawsuits during his presidency. She also branched out to launch her own clothing line, and Kushner brought his own wealth, media ventures and family real estate empire.

As the couple sidestepped anti-nepotism rules to take White House jobs, Ivanka Trump initially presented herself as a moderating force. A onetime Democrat who supported gay rights and abortion rights, she later announced that she became a "Trump Republican" and opposed abortion, prompting speculation about her own political ambitions. The couple's special treatment as the only advisers who could stake out their own positions and could not be fired was frequently a sore point for other staffers.

"They could float in and out when they wanted to, while the rest of everybody else didn't have that luxury," the former White House official said. "They sold the whole thing at the beginning as being the people who could moderate him. They clearly couldn't do that. At the end, they knew they weren't going to change his mind, so why be party to a bunch of this stuff?"

In another sign of the couple's uneasy independence, they have in the past shown a rare willingness among Trump insiders to cooperate with investigators. During the special-counsel investigation of Russian interference in the 2016 election, Kushner worked with well-respected lawyers who gave conciliatory public statements, in contrast with the more combative tone from Donald Trump's legal team.

It's not clear what other information Ivanka Trump gave investigators that could show up in upcoming hearings. The committee's letter asking her to testify referenced Donald Trump's plan to impede the counting of electoral votes, whether he sought to block the deployment of the National Guard and what he was doing in the days after the attack regarding ongoing threats of violence.
WASHINGTON - The chief federal trial court judge in Washington rejected arguments Friday that televised hearings by the House select committee investigating the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol attack will bias potential jurors against defendants in upcoming criminal trials, saying that if anything lawmakers appear to be placing responsibility for the violence on former president Donald Trump and his close advisers, rather than riot participants.

Chief U.S. District Judge Beryl A. Howell said that the leaders of the House panel made clear in Thursday's prime-time hearing that it is "behind-the scenes planning going on with the former president and those close to him that is the focus for where accountability lies for what happened on January 6."

"Why isn't that theme actually helpful to this defendant, making him seem like a small cog in bigger political machinations happening behind the scenes?" Howell told an attorney for Anthony Robert Williams, of the Detroit area, who faces trial June 27.

Benton C. Martin, Williams's assistant federal defender, argued that the House hearings raised "the decibel level of media coverage" and cited the "very real difference in the number of people [in Washington] who will watch knowing this was in their backyard, versus in Michigan."

"This might be the best time for defendants charged with offensive conduct on January 6 inside the Capitol building to be having their trials, when the House select committee is laying out a scenario - I'm surmising from what they're anticipating - that the persons accountable are the former president and his close associates, and that they had been planning this for weeks prior to January 2021," Howell said.

Williams has pleaded not guilty to one felony count of obstructing congressional certification of the 2020 presidential election results and four misdemeanor trespassing and disorderly conduct charges after allegedly explaining in social media posts and videos why and how he overcame police and briefly occupied the Rotunda.

Howell, a 2010 appointee of President Barack Obama, spoke after Reps. Bennie Thompson, D-Miss., and Liz Cheney, R-Wyo., made the case as chairman and vice chairwoman of the House panel on Thursday night that the assault on Congress was the violent culmination of an attempted coup by Trump to violate his constitutional duty to relinquish office.

Trump provoked the violence on Jan. 6 and did nothing to stop it for hours, Thompson and Cheney argued, after overseeing and coordinating for months a multistep plan to overturn the presidential election. Trump sought to throw out the votes of millions of American and substitute his will for the will of the voters in claiming repeatedly without evidence that fraud changed the outcome, they said.

Howell noted that lawmakers said planning leading up to Jan. 6 began weeks earlier. Cheney said one "pivotal moment" came on Dec. 19, 2020, after a White House meeting among Trump and adviser Michael Flynn, attorneys Sidney Powell and Rudy Giuliani and others, when Trump tweeted, referring to Jan. 6, "Be there, will be Wild!"

The House's two-hour presentation Thursday and the promise of further televised hearings this month has alarmed attorneys for some individual criminal defendants charged in the rioting. Several have asked to delay or move their trials, claiming that potential jurors in the nation's capital are hopelessly tainted by pretrial publicity, voted overwhelmingly for President Joe Biden, or prejudiced because they experienced that day's events as victims.

Attorneys for five key figures of the right-wing Proud Boys group escalated their criticism this week, saying the timing of new charges of seditious conspiracy against them and Thursday's hearing in which Cheney singled out the group as having "led the invasion" appear to have been politically orchestrated.

U.S. District Judge Timothy J. Kelly, a 2017 Trump appointee who is presiding over the case of defendants including former longtime Proud Boys chairman Henry "Enrique" Tarrio, called such a claim "unwarranted," but said he is or would consider motions to move or delay an Aug. 8 trial.

Separately Friday, U.S. District Judge Thomas F. Hogan invited the defense in another Jan. 6 case to file motions seeking relief as there was "a legitimate concern" regarding how the House hearings might affect defendants.

An attorney for Ryan Nichols, a Texas man accused of assaulting police with chemical spray at the Lower West Terrace tunnel, said the video montage played during Thursday's hearing gave "a one-sided narrative . . . casting the people that were there that day in the worst light possible" and would "indoctrinate" the jury pool.

Nichols asked to be released from an order barring public disclosure of evidence turned over by the government. Nichols's defense did not say what it would like to release. All of the video exhibits he has entered, including hours of footage from the riot, is already in the public record.

Hogan, a 1982 Ronald Reagan appointee, noted that similar conflicts arose during the Watergate and Iran-contra investigations. He noted that a judge eventually overturned the criminal convictions of a central figure in the latter arms-for-hostages scandal, retired Marine Lt. Col. Oliver North, because he had been given immunity to testify before Congress.

"The legislature is independent from the judiciary; they follow their own needs and requirements," Hogan said.

On Friday, Howell joined all judges who have ruled so far in dismissing a request to move Williams's trial, saying careful juror vetting can weed out bias, as seen by an initial handful of trials held to date in Jan. 6 cases.

Howell said it is "offensive" to suggest that Democratic jurors will be less fair than Republican ones, that people in Williams's native eastern Michigan are "less sophisticated" or pay less attention to the news than those in D.C., or that jurors will be unable to focus on individuals' conduct, instead of their political beliefs.
BIG RAPIDS  A police departments K-9 unit can be a great benefit in the work it does, and the Mecosta County Sheriffs Office recently received a $1,875 grant from the Great Lakes Energy People Fund which was used to purchase equipment for its K-9 officer, Zeke.

The department recently went through a transition of handlers, and Sgt. Charlie Pippin has taken possession of Zeke from his former handler Chad Thompson and has begun training with Zeke to ease both of them into their new working relationship.

Sheriff Brian Miller said Pippin and Zeke make a good match.

Zeke was with Deputy Thompson, who resigned due to health reasons. and Charlie stepped up and I was really excited about it. Charlie's a go-getter, Miller said. He's pretty aggressive, pretty proactive, and somebody that I believe would benefit from having the canine along with them on stops and otherwise.

Pippin recently brought Zeke home to get familiar with his family and two other dogs. He said things went well.

He's blended right into our family really well, Pippin said. I usually keep them outside. I have two other dogs as well, and they get along fine but I kind of keep them separate so he doesn't get tired out. He's a working dog and is a tool to use for work, but I also see him as a pet when we're not at work. I keep him active, I can't see just keeping a dog in a kennel all day long and only getting them out when he needs to work, so we do a lot of playing and walking.

Members of Great Lakes Energy support the People Fund by voluntarily rounding up their bills to the next highest dollar. The rounded-up amount is distributed to non-profit organizations and charitable activities that benefit people in communities served by the cooperative.

Teresa ONeil, the departments office liaison, was involved in the grant process and saw the needs Zeke had. The money from the grant will help the department build him a new dog house, one that Zeke wont be able to tear apart when he plays. New concrete was also poured for Zekes new kennel, which was paid for by the grant money the department received.

Sergeant Pippin and Zeke recently began their regular training sessions which involve practicing drills and listening commands as a pair. Zeke trains mainly with narcotic drug detection, retrieval, tracking, and crime scene work.

Pippin said he will often open the center hatch in his patrol car so that Zeke can stick his head up into the front seat for some bonding.

I did a scenario where we had somebody in a room in a house and I sent (Zeke) in, and he has to locate where they're at, Pippin said. We do training bi-weekly. Every other week, we go to training in different locations, and I train on my own as well. If I'm on patrol, I might stop and do a little bit of training for an hour or so with him. Or even on my off days, I'll have my kids helping me out at home doing some either tracking or hiding items for him to be able to locate.

Pippin said the German Shepherd breed is well known in the police K-9 community and has been used for decades for police work. The malamute breed is also known to be a police dog breed and is known for more aggressive attack work due to its size and power.

The department has stopped training Zeke to detect marijuana, but he still knows how to detect other narcotics.

There are certain limits to what you want to train a dog to do, Pippin said. We don't train him for marijuana anymore, because here in Michigan its legal, and we don't want him focused on that scent if there's something else in the vehicle, it can ruin a case.

"They can be bombed dogs, but it's typically either a drug or bomb, he added. You're limited to what you can do with one dog. Just because you don't want to confuse them.

According to Pippin and Miller, the career span of a working canine in a department is usually between eight to nine years depending on the breed.

The Sheriffs Department has had a K-9 unit for around 12 years and has had two other dogs work in the department outside of Zeke.

Pippin said training has taught him a lot already and the bonding is going well.

I learned that I have more to learn than he does, that's for sure about this type of work, Pippin said. Outside of work, he just plays with balls, he loves them. If he gets one, you need to have balls that are indestructible. He also likes to be outside, just like any dog.
Illinois legislators delved into linguistics during their latest session to deal with words including crash, accident and alien.

For instance, not every crash is an accident, and that definition legally will change July 1, 2023.

Passed as House bill 5496, the law spends 642 pages amending several statutes to uniformly replace the word "accident" with the word "crash in relation to automobiles, motor vehicles and traffic accidents.

A second word change, passed into law as Senate Bill 3865, ends the use of the word alien to describe non-citizens throughout Illinois law. It took effect immediately.

Both bills were signed by Gov. J.B. Pritzker.

State Rep. C.D. Davidsmeyer, R-Jacksonville, said times change and there often is a need to update words and usage. Certainly, we went through this in changing chairman to chairperson. Most often, its just a basic language update.

The act reads, Crash encompasses all types of motor vehicle impacts and collisions, including, but not limited to, an impact or collision caused by negligence, willful and wanton conduct, or an intentional act.

Not every crash is an accident and I think they (bill sponsors) were just trying to point out the difference, Davidsmeyer said. A crash can be purposeful.

There was little dissent over the accident vs. crash usage, with only one legislator in each chamber opposing the wording change.

Not so in the case of SB 3865, which its main sponsor, Sen. Mike Simmons, D-Chicago, said was designed to make only nonsubstantive changes that remove the dehumanizing term alien from all Illinois statutory provisions. No change made by this amendatory act  shall be interpreted so as to make any substantive change to existing law.

Davidsmeyer was one of seven members of the House to oppose eliminating the use of alien. Thirteen members did not vote.

There is a big push in Illinois to get rid of any mention of illegal immigrants, Davidsmeyer said.

My concern was there might be something underlying in the bill. Some of these bills are so small but have unintended consequences and that was my concern with this bill, he said.

The Associated Press Stylebook, a guide to word usage, agrees with the intent, advising not to use the word alien unless referring to a being from outer space.
The Biden administration is lifting the COVID-19 test requirement for international air travelers to take a day before their flights.

This decision eases one of the few remaining government mandates to restrict COVID-19 virus transmission, which was welcomed by the tourism industry and travelers. The mandate will expire at 12:01 a.m. EDT on Sunday, according to a senior administration official who requested anonymity.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) found it was no longer essential, per AP News. Though, a senior Biden administration official said the CDC would review the decision in 90 days.

"If there is a need to reinstate a pre-departure testing requirement - including due to a new, concerning variant - CDC will not hesitate to act," the official noted, as per a report from CNBC.

Last year, the Biden administration implemented the testing requirement as part of a shift away from restrictions that barred nonessential travel from several countries, including the majority of Europe, China, Brazil, South Africa, India, and Iran, in favor of categorizing people based on the risk they present to others. It was accompanied by a requirement that non-immigrant foreign adults going to the United States be fully immunized, with just a few exceptions.

Fully vaccinated travelers may present evidence of a negative test within three days of travel, but those who had not been fully vaccinated had to show proof of a test done within one day of the flight.

The CDC has required travelers to test negative within one day before flying to the United States since December, although testing is not necessary for land border crossings.

Lifting of COVID-19 Test Requirement Lauded

Robert Isom, the CEO of American Airlines, said at a conference last week that the testing requirements were "depressing" for leisure and business travel.

The airlines noted that many Americans are avoiding overseas travel due to fears of testing positive and being trapped abroad, The Guardian reported.

According to Isom, testing is not required in 75% of the countries that American Airlines serves.

"We're really frustrated. And this is something that is damaging not only to US travel. It just doesn't make sense," Isom noted last week.

Read Also: President Joe Biden Shows Never-Before-Seen Behavior During Jimmy Kimmel Interview, Pushes Blame on Lack of Gun Control Efforts

Earlier this year, travel groups said the COVID-19 testing requirement for travelers was obsolete due to the high vaccination rates and treatments for the disease in every state in the country.

Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto, D-Nev. commented: "I'm glad CDC suspended the burdensome coronavirus testing requirement for international travelers, and I'll continue to do all I can to support the strong recovery of our hospitality industry."

Tourism Affected by COVID-19 Restrictions

Throughout the pandemic, the tourism industry struggled with both the Biden and Trump administrations over measures intended to prevent the spread of COVID-19, including a stringent ban on most international travelers to the United States, which was eventually repealed in November.

Separately, in April, a Trump-appointed federal court overturned a measure aimed at preventing the spread of COVID-19. the Biden administration's federal requirement that passengers wear masks on airlines and other types of public transportation. The Department of Justice has challenged the verdict.

Many other nations have relaxed their testing mandate for fully vaccinated passengers to boost tourism.

Related Article: Chinese Military Fighter Jet Crashes in a Residential Area, Killing 1 Person, Burning Several Houses

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ROANOKE, Va. (AP)  Donat Jean was in tears as he ended his first day of middle school in the United States at the principals office.

Moments before, he was flowing with the stream of children headed outside to the line of rumbling buses. Donat was excited to go home after a tiring day and prepared to board the bus, but a school official stopped him and took him to the office.

It turned out that the new students name had not been added to the bus list. School officials tried to reach his parents as the 12-year-old boy waited in the office. Time ticked by, and he began to cry. Donat was just beginning to learn English.

Ashley Cayton, his English learner (EL) teacher, sat with him.

As a sixth-grader, (missing the bus) probably would have made me cry alone, Cayton said later. But I, also, in sixth grade had enough English to communicate with people to fully understand that youre OK.

Cayton explained the situation to Donat, telling him that he would make it home safely, but she did not know how much the boy understood about what was going on.

To him, theres just a big problem, she said.

Donat was unfamiliar with buses. Just a year earlier, he was walking to school in the Tanzanian refugee camp where his family lived. He was born in the camp, years after his parents fled civil war in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Donat, who speaks Swahili and can understand his parents native Bembe tribe language, had only begun to learn English since he moved to Roanoke with his family in March 2021.

On that first fall day, a network of helpers sprang into action while the buses began to depart. Donats mom was at work, but school librarian assistant Madhu Chibbber  a Liberian who speaks Swahili  explained to Donat that an adult would drive him home.

That driver was Corey Allder, Roanoke City Public Schools supervisor of English learner and world language programs.

Sometimes it feels like almost half of the job is outside of the job descriptions, Allder said, referring to the library assistant who helped Donat calm down. She did not wake up that morning thinking she was going to do that, but she was so happy to do it.

Building the capacity for all teachers to help serve EL students is a main goal, said Allder, who has been in the position since the 2012-13 school year.

Roanoke has more than 1,630 students eligible for EL services, which is nearly 12% of about 14,000 students in the division, according to data from May provided by the city school system. The number of EL students has grown by 50% over the past nine years. With that increase the number of teachers and the amount of government funding allocated for English learning have grown, as well.

Some of the rise in EL students can be attributed to refugee resettlement in the Roanoke area, according to Katie Hedrick, bilingual support specialist with Roanokes city government.

Were one of only three cities in Virginia with refugee resettlement organizations, Hedrick wrote in an email to The Roanoke Times. And the number of refugees admitted has grown with both the upheaval in Afghanistan and the change in federal administration. Additionally, Roanoke is a fairly small city with accessible public transportation, affordable cost of living, and is centrally located within the state. We have also seen that once there is a concentration of families from one cultural or language group, more families are attracted to it because of the familiarity and sense of community.

Hedrick took the position with the city last year as a result of her efforts to build a language access program for area residents. Were hoping to leverage that to benefit students and families in the schools, she wrote.

To support the growing EL population, the school division has worked with partner agencies including Commonwealth Catholic Charities, a nonprofit that helps refugees resettle in Virginia, to provide refugee liaison positions and translators.

As the Taliban regained control of Afghanistan last summer, CCC notified Allder that the school system could expect an increased enrollment of students from Afghanistan.

Allder partnered with refugee liaisons at CCC, training faculty to work with incoming students.

Presenters from RCPS and CCC provided cultural and linguistic background information and engaged participants in a dialogue to build our divisions capacity to serve these new students and their families, according to information the school system provided.

The number that CCC helped resettle has more than doubled in the past three years. There were 92 in 2019, and 199 so far in the 2021-22 fiscal year that ends Sept. 30.

For many years, Commonwealth Catholic Charities has supported refugees who are escaping violence, war, and persecution in their home countries, Marnie Mills, the mission advancement associate with CCC wrote in an emailed response to questions.

We are proud to help them as they start over in Virginia. The Roanoke Valley is a warm and welcoming community, and we are incredibly thankful for the continued generosity and support that our neighbors show to the refugee population here. Since 2019, CCC has assisted 438 refugees to resettle in the Roanoke area.

Roanoke schools students combined speak more than 70 languages. Spanish is predominant, spoken by almost 70% of EL students. Dari, one of the most widely spoken languages in Afghanistan, is next at 5%, with Nepali at 4%. Swahili, the language of students who are primarily from Africa, including the Democratic Republic of Congo, is spoken by 3% of English learners.

When a student comes in, they have to feel welcome and comfortable and go through some certain phases of not only language acquisition, but also just social adjustment, Allder said.

The goal for our kids is to develop English proficiency and the content knowledge that all other students are learning simultaneously. And it does happen.

Donat, who had the tumultuous end to his first day of school, lives in the Woodrow Wilson Middle School attendance zone in southwest Roanoke, but he attends John P. Fishwick Middle School, three miles away. At Fishwick, the division offers EL services for students who recently arrived in Roanoke and are at beginner-level English proficiency.

Problems can happen with the bus system on the first day of school, especially for EL students who are zoned for different schools. The school divisions transportation office worked with the school to create a new bus stop for Donat. A few mornings later, as the sun rose, Allder waited at Memorial Avenue with Donat, just to make sure everything went smoothly.

Feeling welcome in Roanoke

On a chilly Saturday afternoon in February, Donat played games on his phone while in his familys living room. Nursery rhymes from the American childrens show CoComelon played on the television. His sister Merthas eyes were closed as their mother moved her fingers under and upward in a continuous motion through the girls dark curly hair. Every few moments, Mertha opened her eyes and smiled at her siblings and cousins as they ran around playing in their Roanoke home.

In Africa, the childrens mother, Mwasi Binge, 29, would braid her daughters hair twice a week, to keep it looking neat and fresh. In America, where she and her husband both work full time jobs, once a week has to do, though she would prefer to stay home with their five children.

Her husband, Mwenebyake Alebelebe, 34, works nights so he can care for their younger children, Pier, 2, and Meshak, 4, during the day.

I chose to do this so that during the day I can deal with their appointments since their mothers English is limited, he said through a translator, I can struggle and make people understand what Im saying in English.

Alebelebe cuts door frames at Ply Gem in Rocky Mount. Binge sews handbags in Roanoke.

Mertha cringed a bit as her mother braided close, but not too tight, to her scalp. Binge smiled and kept focus as the soft window light touched her cheeks. They usually fall asleep when I braid their hair. They are relaxed and they are having a nice time, Binge said.

When youre making the hair you dont make it too tight at the roots.

The couple speaks in Swahili. Susan Wilhelm, a translator with Commonwealth Catholic Charities, translated to English.

When the family arrived in Roanoke a little more than a year ago, Mertha Mwenebyake, 6, and her sister, Teelecha Mwenebyake, 7  like their brother, Donat Jean  did not speak or understand English. The girls have their fathers first name as their last name. Donat has his grandfathers name as his last name. In the Bembe culture parents choose a last name for their children.

Previously they were saying that the teacher is talking and they dont understand what the teacher is saying, and so now they dont say that anymore which means they understand what the teacher is saying, Alebelebe said about his children.

Alebelebe and Binge lived very different lives when they were their childrens age.

At age 8, Alebelebe watched men with guns invade his familys small fishing village located along Lake Tanganyika, in the South Kivu province of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. He remembers being scared and running to hide with his mother. It was 1996.

As Civil War engulfed the DRC, Binge and her family fled the country when she was 3. Her only memories from Africa are the years spent in a refugee camp in Tanzania. The couple met at the camp in 2008 and married the following year.

They lived there 26 years, before the International Organization for Migration sent them to Roanoke.

The parents speak Kibembe, which is their Congolese Bembe tribal language, and Swahili, Tanzanias national language. They speak some French, the DRCs official language, and Lingala, one of the many native Congolese languages.

Learning English is important to Alebelebe and Binge and they hope to progress along with their children.

The couple attended English classes at Blue Ridge Literacy in Roanoke, an organization that provides language skills for adults in Western Virginia. They stopped going in order to work full time and take care of their children.

They now use Google Translate to help them communicate and study English using various language-learning apps on their phones.

Alebelebe said his family has felt welcome in Roanoke.

Here weve come as refugees, but how weve been received here we dont feel like refugees, Alebelebe said. Initially you know first you would see a white or Caucasian person and you will have so much fear because that is something so foreign  but we have come here to speak with you. We eat with you. We work together. We live well together.

He worked in construction in Tanzania, but said refugees there were not given freedom to own things such as a car or a bike and they had very little food.

Alebelebe was somewhat concerned about coming to the United States. I heard people here would look down on us because were from Africa and we talk differently, he said, but then I came here and I discovered there were many of us who dont speak English.

War has been a primary reason that refugees have left their homelands.

The family resettled from the Nyarugusu Camp, which opened in November 1996 to host people fleeing the ongoing civil war in DRC, according to the United Nations Refugee Agency.

The agency reported that in 2018 the camp hosted 153,024 refugees and was in the process of resettling Congolese who arrived in Tanzania between 1994 and 2005.

The organization also published a 2013 report that described the camps poor living conditions.

The mission reported insufficient infrastructure in primary schools, specifically referring to a lack of furniture, a laboratory or a library, and the use of pit latrines. There are limited opportunities for higher learning after secondary education, according to the report.

Alebelebe recalled the camps strict regulations.

Eight oclock, everybody has to be asleep, he said. No walking around, not doing anything. If youre arrested outside, youre going to be beaten (with) a lot of strokes.

The report also stated: There are considerable risks to refugees who leave the designated area. The risk of rape, exploitation, and conflict with local communities is present.

The children enjoyed school in the refugee camp, but hunger made it hard for them to learn and focus. The availability of food in American schools has improved his childrens ability to learn, Alebelebe said.

Here you go to school for maybe eight hours and there is food, he said. Sometimes when they come home from school, they dont even want food.

The children have their favorites.

I like apples and bananas, Teelecha said.

My favorite food is gummy bears, Mertha said.

The parents are wary about their childrens access to sugar in the United States. They would prefer only fresh foods for them.

Learning in practice

The sisters hands shot upward with excitement.

Me, me they said, each wanting the first chance to describe a photo.

A group of four level-one English learners gathered around a horseshoe-shaped table with their EL teacher, Casey Redd, in a small, EL-specific classroom at Virginia Heights Elementary School. A screen showed a pug dog wrapped in a blanket, sitting on a trail in the woods. Redd called on Mertha and asked her to say what she saw in the picture.

A dog, Mertha said.

Doing what?

Blanket and a tree.

What do you think that dog is thinking?

Hes cold.

For the newcomers, Redd said, its really helpful to pull them out (of class) for those 30 minutes, or however many minutes you have, to really focus on learning English and practicing it because they dont always have time or feel comfortable and confident to speak English in the classroom. It sort of gives them a little safe bubble to learn and to practice, and then go back to the classroom.

Redd was a general education teacher for eight years at Virginia Heights Elementary School and was already used to working with EL students in her classes. Last year she saw a flier promoting EL certification. Its part of a program encouraging professional development for classroom teachers who wish to help serve EL students  a goal that city EL supervisor Allder sought to attain.

Redd liked the idea of working in smaller groups, so she took the eight-week class, passed the test and this year became an EL teacher at Virginia Heights.

She said that its a challenge for a general education teacher to find time to work closely with the EL students.

You have so many other students and so many other subjects to teach, you cant be as dedicated to work on the language piece. Youre still trying to teach them science, math, reading all the things, Redd said. But as an EL teacher, your main job is to support their English learning.

She said she has seen tremendous growth in the sisters.

Teelecha sometimes slept during class at the beginning of the school year. But now she is anxious to participate.

This has been a humongous change in this childs life, Redd said. Theyve left everything they know. You have to give them that space to just take it in. Its very exhausting to their brains to be hearing a different language they dont know, all day long.

Redd began to see Teelechas confidence and comfort level pick up in late fall.

I think listening is kind of the first skill that they get, they can understand a lot by hearing, Redd said. But having the confidence to say something in English, I think took a little bit longer for her.

The sisters wore matching shirts adorned with a young girl dressed in pink and blowing a kiss alongside letters written in blue cursive that said, Always and forever.

They laughed freely at the images of unexpected juxtapositions on the screen.

Mertha jumped up and ran to the screen that showed an image of animals sitting around a table drinking coffee.

A duck, Mertha exclaimed, pointing to three yellow ducklings walking across the table.

She is such a little free spirit, kind of spunky, in a good way, Redd said of Mertha. So for her, she was never shy. She has adjusted well to classroom rules and procedures and kind of how we behave at school in America and things like that.

Mertha is showing more confidence in speaking, her teacher said.

Shell say things unprompted. Like shell say, Oh, Mrs. Redd, I really like your hair,  Redd said. Which I think is huge. Its not academic but its great. Its kind of a milestone, because she did it on her own.

Redd stays in close contact with her students family members and guardians, and she likes that many of them feel comfortable asking for help with such things as getting their children eyeglasses or accessing food donations.

Over the past 10 years, the division has maintained a lower student-per-EL teacher ratio than required by the state, allowing them to focus more attention on their students. Currently, Roanoke schools employ 32 full-time EL teachers, two more than the state requirement for a division of Roanokes size.

Thats been vital, because thats been instrumental in some of our success, Allder said. Its not just about the ratio. Weve been able to do things more specialized and more specific to our student needs, because weve always had more staffing than what was required by the state.

One way the system addresses specific needs involves Donat attending Fishwick Middle School, where services for beginning English learners are consolidated for the middle school students. Teachers do not have to visit multiple schools. At Woodrow Wilson Middle School, services are in place for more advanced English learners who do not need so many daily support services.

The division administers tests to students at the beginning of the year, to identify who is eligible for EL services. Then a state standard test is given yearly to measure English language proficiency.

In Virginia, students are eligible to receive services until they reach a threshold score of 4.4 on a six-point scale. Once they reach the threshold score, they are still monitored for four years, according to a school division statement.

Recovering lost learning

Donat bit into a treat hed never tasted before.

Was it crunchy? Cayton asked. Donat nodded his head. Yes.

Was it sweet? Another nod.

The group of sixth-graders made smores in an after-school program for English learners at Fishwick Middle School.

Teacher Teresa Martin brought in her portable smores-making oven, as students used the treats as a learning opportunity.

The week before, she and Cayton covered sequence words with the English learners, and now the students put their knowledge to work.

First, you place a graham cracker, the children were instructed. Next, you add chocolate, then you add a marshmallow.

Finally, you can enjoy it, Cayton said.

The program, which takes place every Monday during the school year, helps meet the needs of EL students at Fishwick, some of whom struggled during the pandemic.

Virtual instruction was a challenge for some families, such as Alebelebe, Donats dad, who said he was not familiar with using a computer.

External pressure on families was also a challenge  some parents/guardians were unable to work or had severely limited hours and that led some older students to seek employment to help support their families, the school division said in a written statement.

Returning to classrooms in fall 2020 helped EL students overcome barriers they experienced during virtual learning.

In-person instruction is particularly important for students learning English because they learn from visuals, body language and other non-verbal communication, the school division said in its statement.

While after-school tutoring has been available for students in the past, all funding for the program now comes from one of the Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Unfinished Learning (ESSER II) grants, which were passed by Congress as part of COVID-19 pandemic aid in 2020. Funding will continue through September 2023.

With the expanded needs due to the pandemic, it has been extremely beneficial to have the new grants to help meet those needs, Allder said about the Unfinished Learning grants.

The program, which draws as many as 70 students, helps reinforce what is taught during the day.

Allder was an EL teacher for four years at William Fleming High School, starting in 2008. Through conversations with general education teachers there, he came to recognize the need for such programs. He started an after-school program for English learners at Fleming in 2009, intending to help with both academics and engagement.

If you came from a refugee background, or limited or interrupted schooling, you really need someone to take the time to lay the foundation with language and just content basics, Allder said.

The school system receives federal money to cover many costs of English language instruction.

Additional funding comes through Title I, which helps schools with high percentages of minority students and children from low-income families.

After-school programs, summer programs and professional learning for teachers are part of Allders agenda, as he tries to level the playing field for English learners. He thinks of his own children, who know English and whose parents are teachers, and he wants children coming from elsewhere to have a starting point closer to theirs.

What we were trying to do is move the line of scrimmage, like a football analogy: You dont want to start from your own goal line and try to go 100 yards, he said.

Student faces light up with recognition when Allder visits the EL afterschool programs. Some run over to say hello. They see him not only when he substitute teaches or helps with afterschool programs, but when he makes home visits.

During the height of the pandemic, Allder went to students homes, delivering meal kits and books that the school, volunteer organizations, churches and community groups had provided.

Recently, he visited homes where there are concerns about kids dropping out. Karina Altamirano, a bilingual assistant, joined him.

We tried to make phone calls, but numbers change a lot, Allder said. Its a lack of stability sometimes and being able to pay cellphone bills.

The two educators talked to parents or students about what the school division could do differently to help the student re-engage with their high schools experience and get their diplomas.

What advice do you have for us to welcome your beautiful family? he asked Alebelebe during a home visit.

Continue to show the love and support like you have shown me, Alebelebe answered, through a translator.

Alebelebe said the teachers reaching out to him in Swahili helped make his family feel welcome. The divisions teachers use an app called TalkingPoints, which translates English to languages including Swahili.

I think they have a lot of love because they want me to understand what is going on, Alebelebe said.

Mertha and Teelecha burst into their home and ran upstairs, where they threw their backpacks on the bed after school.

When asked how school was, Mertha said, Its good. I learned to eat and play outside and work.

She opened her backpack, pulled out a book and brought it downstairs to the family room where her father, siblings and cousins, who also live there, had gathered.

Mertha knelt on the floor and spooned her body over the book, Zombelina School Days, by Kristyn Crow. Her younger siblings peeked over her shoulder. Mertha opened the book and slowly and cautiously pronounced the letters as she read. She made it a couple pages in, but the other children wanted to go outside.

Lets play tag, Teelecha exclaimed.

Donat looked out from the backyard balcony as his four younger siblings and two cousins ran and rolled in tall green grass, plucking dandelion flowers and blowing on seeds that parachuted into the wind.
WILMINGTON, Del. (AP)  Police in Delaware are searching for a man who was disguised as a security worker when he robbed an armored truck and assaulted two employees.

The suspect was armed with a handgun and wearing a mask and a Garda uniform when he robbed one of the company's armored trucks near Wilmington on Friday morning, according to the Delaware State Police.
SMITHSBURG, Md. -- Brandon Pryor and his girlfriend, Harleigh Routzahn, had just arrived home Thursday south of this town in the western part of the state, when they heard police sirens screaming by and then a crash as a vehicle smashed into a police cruiser.

"I came out the front door and there were five or six police SUVs blocking off each part of the intersection," said Pryor, 29. "Then the shots just started going off."

Pryor counted roughly 15 gunshots, including some that passed so closely to where he and Routzahn were, he said he could hear them ricocheting off the road. For a moment, he stood frozen, thinking how the sound was just like that of bullets in a Hollywood movie.

Pryor and Routzahn were witnessing the climax of the latest mass shooting in the United States. A Maryland State Police trooper was exchanging gunfire with a suspect, who authorities say had shot and killed three co-workers and injured a fourth at a nearby factory, before fleeing.

The trooper shot the suspect and he was taken into custody.

Friday night, the Washington County Sheriff's Office identified the suspect as Joe Louis Esquivel, 23, of Hedgesville, W.Va. The sheriff's office said he was charged with three counts of first degree murder and with other offenses.

Efforts to reach relatives Friday night were not immediately successful.

On Friday, investigators were still trying to piece together what happened and determine a motive in the shooting at the Columbia Machine plant that shook this rural community. The suspect remained hospitalized.

Neighbors of Pryor and Routzahn, including some with children who were playing outside, were left to talk late into the night Thursday, struggling to make sense of how the violence that had engulfed Buffalo and Uvalde in recent weeks was now unfolding on their quiet stretch of road.

"You expect this stuff happening in the city, like D.C. or Baltimore, but you don't expect it in a town like this," Pryor said.

The deceased were identified as Mark Allan Frey, 50; Charles Edward Minnick Jr., 31; and Joshua Robert Wallace, 30. Authorities released the name of the fourth man who was injured, but The Washington Post generally does not name living victims of crime without their consent.

The sheriff's office said in a release Friday that the suspect arrived for his normal work shift at Columbia Machine on Thursday and worked throughout the day. Around 2:30 p.m., the suspect exited the factory, retrieved a weapon from his vehicle and reentered the facility.

The suspect then went to a break room and began firing on employees, the sheriff's office said. Smithsburg police later arrived on the scene and found the injured victim outside the factory and three dead inside.

The gunman left the scene in his Mitsubishi Eclipse, which Maryland State troopers encountered about 10 miles away near Pryor and Routzahn's home.

Routzahn captured what happened next in videos posted to Facebook. Police cruisers race down her road and come to a stop. Routzahn asks on the video if someone is running from the police. Suddenly, the sound of gunfire erupted.

Routzahn shouted, "Shots fired! Shots fired!"

As Routzahn screamed, Pryor tried to pull his girlfriend back to safety, telling her, "Get back, babe."

Police can be heard yelling on a second video, "Don't move! Get your hands up!"

In the exchange of gunfire with the suspect, a trooper was shot in the shoulder, according to the sheriff's office. The trooper was treated and released from the hospital Thursday.

Investigators interviewed Pryor and Routzahn for eyewitness statements. Pryor watched as officials towed away a state trooper's car as well as the suspect's orange car - its windshield still riddled with bullet holes.

Troopers later found a handgun in the suspect's vehicle, authorities said. Police also said the weapon used at the factory and in shooting the trooper was a semiautomatic handgun, but did not release the make and model.

Columbia Machine's website says it designs and manufactures concrete products equipment including mixers and molds, and it serves customers in more than 100 countries. In 2019, Columbia Machine bought the Smithsburg facility, which had been a family-run business called Bikle Manufacturing that started in 1971.

Rick Goode, Columbia Machine's CEO, said in a statement that he and others at the company are "deeply saddened" about the shooting. A company representative declined to say how many employees worked in the Smithsburg facility or answer other questions.

"We are working closely with local authorities while the investigation continues," Goode said. "Our highest priority during this tragic event is the safety and well-being of our employees and their families."

The only sign of the violence that had taken place inside the factory Friday was a small bouquet of yellow flowers propped against the chain-link fence. It had been left near the entrance that morning by a man who said he didn't know the victims but grew up in Smithsburg and felt the need to do something - anything - to show that they mattered and that people cared.

Joanie Gerber, whose grandfather started Bikle Manufacturing and then sold the business to Columbia Machine, said Friday that she was "deeply saddened by what has happened." She heard of the tragedy when her husband called her while she was at the grocery store.

"He said, 'There was an incident at the building,'" Gerber recalled. "I was upset and sickened."

Gerber said one of the victims -- Frey -- had worked for her grandfather and for her, having been a machinist there for 25 years, and that she'd gone to the local high school with him.

"Mark was a very good employee," she said. "He was a steady employee. You could count on him."

She added: "He sticks to something. If he said he was going to be there, he was."

Gerber said she had run into Frey just a few weeks ago, and he told her he was expecting his first grandchild.

Frey grew up on a farm just three miles down the road from the factory where he was shot and killed, neighbors and relatives said.

"He grew up a country boy," said Bill Fager, 77, who has lived in the house next door to the Frey family since 1973.

Fager's daughter rode the school bus with Mark through middle and high school.

"He did all the regular country things, farming, hunting, fishing," Fager said.

Frey's father worked as a farm foreman, and Frey spent his teenage years working at a nearby dairy farm and creamery owned by his aunt and uncle.

"He was a good kid, happy go-lucky," said his cousin David Herbst, 67, who grew up with Mark and now runs the family creamery. "He helped us throwing the hay, driving the tractors."

Herbst lost touch with Frey after Frey moved in recent years to Waynesboro, Pa., to live with his significant other there.

Efforts to reach family and friends for Minnick were unsuccessful Thursday night and Friday. A woman who identified herself as Wallace's mother said she was too upset to speak. "I just can't right now," she said, her voice choked with sobs.

The shooting happened just outside Smithsburg in a rural area dotted with farmland, rock quarries, cow pastures and sporadic homes.

Neighbors say there is often loud banging coming from the manufacturing facility -- the sound of drilling and metal grinding on metal -- which is why many didn't even know a shooting had occurred until police arrived.

"We didn't hear gunshots or anything out of the ordinary," said Kim Gravely, who lives three houses down from the plant. She said she didn't know there was a shooting until her sons saw police cars swarming the two-lane street they share with the facility.

Aaron Mace, owner of the auto body shop that has operated directly across the street from the facility for 34 years, said his family bought their shop's property from the Bikle family years ago, quietly sharing the corner of Bikle Road with them until the plant was sold.

"I grew up here. Things like this just don't happen here in Smithsburg," Mace said. "It's a small town. Everyone knows each other and sticks together."

Family members of Wallace's girlfriend said Friday she was in bed grief-stricken and could not talk about what happened, but confirmed she had posted a GoFundMe campaign for him that featured a photo of the couple smiling arm-in-arm.

A message posted with the fundraiser is written in Wallace's voice and says: "Now my girl & Family are having to pick up all the pieces. This is not how this was supposed to end."

- - -

The Washington Post's Lauren Lumpkin, Meagan Flynn, Erin Cox, Alice Crites, Peter Hermann, Jasmine Hilton, Monika Mathur, Dan Morse, Ian Shapira and Clarence Williams contributed to this report.

- - -

Correction: An earlier version of this story said authorities had not identified the surviving victim. Police did release his name, but the Post generally does not identify surviving victims of crime without their consent.
WASHINGTON -- For weeks, Rep. Liz Cheney, R-Wyo., has been, in the words of those close to her, "obsessed" with investigating the Jan. 6, 2021, insurrection.

She has devoted more than half of her working hours to collecting evidence, leafing through thousands of pages of testimony, writing scripts for the hearings and strategizing on how best to convince her constituents and fellow Republicans that the events of that January day were part of a chilling conspiracy overseen by former president Donald Trump to undermine democracy.

On Thursday night, at the first in a series of congressional hearings, Cheney narrated that case with a dispassionate but propulsive presentation of facts, often showing evidence from videotaped depositions from the former president's inner circle admitting his claims of voter fraud had no merit. She teased the investigation's biggest findings and sharply criticized her fellow Republicans for the roles that they played -- including enabling and continuing to support Trump.

"There will come a point when Donald Trump is gone," Cheney said, "but your dishonor will remain."

These hearings, which continue Monday, could mark the pinnacle of Cheney's political career or the end of it.

The former rising star of the GOP has already been alienated by party leaders, abandoned by longtime supporters and consistently attacked by Trump and his allies, who are backing a primary challenger Cheney will face in August. While most of the nine other Republicans who voted to impeach Trump after Jan. 6 have either decided not to run for re-election or mostly avoided discussing the former president, Cheney has made her role as the vice chair of the select committee investigating the insurrection central to her pitch to voters. She is trying to convince them she's on the right side of history -- and that her Trump-free approach to conservatism is the right one.

"These issues around what happened on January 6th and around Donald Trump and the danger that he poses, those matter to every American," Cheney told supporters at a campaign event in Cheyenne, Wyo., on Saturday. "And I just feel very strongly about my responsibility."

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In more than 20 conversations with lawmakers, political operatives, foes and friends of the Wyoming Republican, they uniformly describe her as obstinately and surgically focused on extinguishing Trump from the modern conservative movement that he has largely redefined in recent years, with little introspection regarding the forces bigger than Trump that facilitated her ousting from the Wyoming Republican Party earlier this year.

Cheney has said the deadly assault of the U.S. Capitol crossed the party line for her and that she has a nonpartisan duty to set the record straight for the people who were "betrayed and lied to" by Trump. Cheney participated in several private meetings with GOP leaders in the days leading up to the attack and was in the House as insurgents tried breaking down the doors, helping other lawmakers put on gas masks because tear gar has been deployed nearby.

Democrats run the select committee, but they deferred to Cheney -- the daughter of a former Republican vice president they still revile -- at the opening hearing to methodically lay out the case against Trump.

"She's had a huge head start on the rest of the committee in understanding these events, because she knows the players and understands the internal political culture of the GOP - this is very familiar terrain for her," Rep. Jamie Raskin, D-Md., said.

Cheney's Republican colleagues have struggled to understand her motives, especially given the political price she is paying in Wyoming, where Trump celebrated his largest margins of victory. Some wonder whether she is angling to run for a higher office.

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., has told others that he understands Cheney's position, but "it's the only thing she cares about," according to one adviser. "That doesn't help anyone."

House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., told Cheney after her impeachment vote that he would try to protect her if she would drop the Trump attacks, but she declined, people familiar with the matter said. He has privately described her as "obsessed" with Trump and with destroying his political power, they said. Cheney has repeatedly criticized McCarthy for going to Mar-a-Lago to see Trump soon after the attack and has come to see him as responsible for Trump's resurrection in the wake of Jan. 6, according to a person familiar with her thinking.

Cheney explained her motives in personal terms at the Saturday campaign event, pointing to Jan. 6 as the moment she realized the peaceful transfer of power was no longer a guarantee.

"I looked at my boys in the weeks after January 6th; it became very clear that we might suddenly have to question that," Cheney said. "And I am absolutely committed to do everything I can do, everything that I am required and obligated to do to make sure that we aren't the last generation in America that can count on a peaceful transition of power. It is hugely important."

- - -

Days before the opening hearing, Cheney stood in Cheyenne's Old West Museum, surrounded by 19th-century horse carriages, and told a small crowd of supporters and warned that Trump "can't be anywhere close to that power again." The crowd of about 70 supporters included mostly traditional Republicans, including a few who supported her father's first campaign more than 40 years ago, as well as some independent-leaning voters.

"What we do in Wyoming is going to matter so much," she said. "I cannot overstate how much what we do is going to matter, because it's going to matter from the perspective of our democracy as a whole. It's going to matter. People are going to watch Wyoming."

In Wyoming's Aug. 16 primary, Cheney faces Harriet Hageman, an attorney and former Republican National Committee member whose campaign is guided by Trump advisers. The former president attended a large rally for Hageman in late May and has claimed that "the people of Wyoming cannot stand" Cheney.

Cheney advisers describe the race as a difficult one, and Trump has claimed the congresswoman is lagging in the polls. Cheney has held back her vast campaign war chest but last week began what is expected to be a massive TV ad campaign that makes only indirect reference to "standing up to bullies."

She has not been able to hold large, publicized campaign events, partly for security concerns, and is instead gathering dozens of supporters at a time and then using her digital media team to blast video snippets of the event out to supporters around the state.

Cheney, 56, has long had a complicated relationship with Wyoming. She attended middle school in the state but mostly grew up in the Washington suburbs of Northern Virginia. Her father, Dick Cheney, went from junior White House aide to the youngest presidential chief of staff ever, for Gerald Ford, before returning to Wyoming and winning the state's sole House seat in 1978.

Liz Cheney's political viewpoint was formed in her father's orbit of conservative hawks, particularly once he became secretary of defense in 1989 and then George W. Bush's vice president. She worked as a State Department deputy assistant secretary focused on Middle East affairs, at a time when wars were launched in Afghanistan and Iraq. She embraced the belief popular among many neoconservatives that all people yearned for democratic governance freed from their autocratic regimes, justifying U.S. military action in many parts of the world and leading Trump to derisively label her a "war monger."

In the Obama administration years, Cheney began to carve her own identity, particularly as an acid-tongued partisan commentator on Fox News who belittled the White House. In 2013, she tried to challenge Sen. Mike Enzi, R-Wyo., but withdrew from the race amid an angry backlash. She then ran for her father's former House seat in 2016 and won, saying her star power would help the state.

Tim Stubson, a former state representative who lost to Cheney in 2016 but now supports her, said he recalls Cheney saying: "I have a national voice. I have a national presence. I can use that for the benefit of the state of Wyoming."

"That was her pitch," Stubson said. "And that's exactly what she did."

As Cheney was first running for office, Trump became the party's presidential nominee. Stubson remembers her carefully embracing most of Trump's conservative policies but not his outrageous behavior -- later earning her praise from Trump's family members and senior advisers at a fundraiser in the Wyoming resort town of Jackson in 2019.

Trump won the state by 46 percentage points in 2016 -- slightly better than Mitt Romney did in 2012 -- and then by 43 percentage points in 2020.

Over that time, Wyoming's Republican Party has been slowly taken over by conservatives who identify more as Trump supporters than Republicans. The state party is now led by Frank Eathorne, a member of the Oath Keepers who stood on the Capitol's West Front during the insurrection, walkie-talkie in hand. Cheney has heavily focused on investigating his role, advisers say.

"This [takeover] was planned over several years, very organized and very dedicated," said Joe McGinley, a former Natrona County Republican Party chairman who runs a medical practice in Casper, Wyo. "And they had a long-term goal to take first, the county parties, then the state party, then the legislature, and then all of the other elected positions."

Earlier this month, a group of breakaway Republicans held a candidate forum that included loud heckling of an incumbent state representative wearing a mask - his immuno-suppressing medications make him susceptible to severe outcomes if he develops covid - and even more jeering when he said the state government should accept federal funding, the largest source of state revenue. A long-shot candidate for governor parked his campaign truck, with the motto SOVEREIGN WYOMING painted across the front, outside the event.

With so many voters tilting in this direction, McGinley believes Cheney's best hope is to attract a pool of new voters for the primary -- soft Republicans who do not normally participate in primaries, as well as some crossover votes from independents and Democrats who can register as Republicans up until the day of the Aug. 16 primary. That, however, could require a major shift in Cheney's current message. Many of those soft Republican voters, according to McGinley, need to be drawn out on local issues.

"This is not about President Trump," McGinley said. "This is about Wyoming. This is about Wyoming needs. This is about Wyoming jobs. Wyoming is struggling under the Biden administration with oil and gas under attack and coal under attack."

Some in Wyoming say Cheney hasn't been as visible as she was in the past, and even advisers and allies wish she was campaigning more, although others note there are concerns about her safety and the reaction of some voters in parts of Wyoming.

Cheney's work on the committee has helped her develop a national following and raise a record $10 million for this election so far, with almost $7 million in the bank, a figure that has probably grown over the past two months.

Cheney raised more than $7.2 million last year, an astonishing amount for a state with fewer than 600,000 residents, according to Open Secrets, an independent political funding analyst. A little more than $200,000 came from Wyoming donors, according to the analysis - a statistic her opponent has loudly advertised.

Bobbie Kilberg, a prominent Virginia donor, held a fundraiser for Cheney in a hotel ballroom earlier this year. It was moved from Kilberg's home because so many people wanted to attend after the Republican Party censured Cheney and announced it would not support her re-election, she said, and 212 people raised $532,000. The crowd included Sen. Mitt Romney, R-Utah, and Joe McCain, the brother of the late senator John McCain of Arizona.

"There are a lot of Republicans, quiet Republicans who don't like confrontation, who have had it," Kilberg said.

At the event, she said, Cheney offered a fiery denunciation of Trump and his behavior.

"She talked at the fundraiser about respect for the constitution, the rule of law. She said that Donald Trump had not adhered to any of that -- his behavior was inexcusable -- people had to stand up, and people had to be accountable," Kilberg said. "She did not shy away in any manner, shape or form in her feelings or beliefs that Donald Trump had not respected the rule of law."

A person involved with the Hageman campaign said Cheney could triumph if Democrats decide to cross over in large droves. Still, Cheney faces a problem of basic math. In the last midterm elections, about 115,000 people voted in the GOP primary, while 17,000 voted in the Democratic primary.

"If it's 20%, we're OK; if it's 30%, it gets closer," the person added, trying to predict how many Democrats will ultimately cross over. For their part, Cheney's team has not tried to go after crossover voters, according to people familiar with their strategy.

In the crowd at Cheney's Saturday campaign event was Harmon Davis, 75, a retired pulmonologist who didn't support her in 2016 because he considered her "a carpet bagger" who wasn't familiar with the state.

Davis described when he had a change of heart: "When she started to behave like a thinking, courageous leader, and was able to not have to swallow the party politic and was able to speak her mind about things, and to stand up."

But Cheney seems to have lost many more supporters, including Doug Cooper, a Wyoming rancher who volunteered for her original campaign, held a dinner for her team at his house and had her cellphone number. He now plans to vote for Hageman.

"Until Jan. 6, I was pleased with what she was doing, but she has put all her political assets against Trump. It's a bad deal," Cooper said. "I feel that she's really a traitor to us. . . . I went from an ardent supporter to as strong an opponent as you can find."

Cooper said Trump was right to raise questions about the validity of the 2020 election results and said Democrats deserve some of the blame for the Jan. 6 attack.

Cheney's two mortal sins, he said, were voting to impeach Trump and then continuing to criticize him. Cooper said he had emailed Cheney directly about his concerns but didn't hear back and had talked to her staff repeatedly about his concerns.

"Trump is wildly popular in Wyoming," he said. "She's alienated herself from a large portion of the Republican Party. Liz has got a problem."

- - -

Despite Cheney's continued conservative convictions -- just look at her voting record -- she has become somewhat of a hero to liberals who have contributed to her campaign or commended her courage for joining the Jan. 6 committee.

She has received mostly rave reviews from her Democratic colleagues, who describe her as one of the most aggressive members. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., who invited Cheney to be on the committee and appointed her as the vice chairwoman, described the Republican's leadership as "excellent." Rep. Zoe Lofgren, D-Calif., called her "very smart, very hard-working, thoughtful." Rep. Elaine Luria, D-Va., said there are "few people in Congress I can think of who I enjoy working with more than Liz."

That doesn't mean that her new Democratic friends have deluded themselves into believing that Cheney's now a Democrat. She's been less "liberated," according to a person involved with the investigation, and more constrained by her belief system than the other Republican on the committee, Rep. Adam Kinzinger, R-Ill., who is retiring from Congress.

"It's been great working with her, but we don't agree on many, many other issues, as I'm sure you know," Lofgren said. "She's a conservative, and I'm not."

Cheney did not want the committee to investigate Virginia "Ginni" Thomas, a conservative activist and the wife of Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas, according to people involved with the investigation. Cheney did not think it was fair to target the justice without evidence that he was involved, according to those involved, but some Democrats instead saw this as an effort to protect her hardcore Republican credentials. Cheney's spokesman Jeremy Adler was asked for comment before publication. After publication, he said: "This is not true. Cheney has consistently said that the committee will follow the facts wherever they lead." Cheney has also clashed with Rep. Stephanie Murphy, D-Fla., over how much to focus on Trump vs. other Republicans, according to those involved.

"She drives a hard bargain," said a person involved with the investigation who spoke on the condition of anonymity to speak candidly. "People's impression of Dick Cheney -- that he is a control freak -- Liz Cheney has got some of that."

Back at the Old West Museum in Cheyenne, Cheney said issues central to Wyoming "matter a huge amount" in her re-election -- but nothing will be more important than investigating Trump.

"I have huge respect for the voters of Wyoming," Cheney said, "so I think that I owe them the truth, and I owe them honesty about how important this is."
PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP)  The Rhode Island House approved bills Friday that would ban firearm magazines that hold more than 10 rounds, raise from 18 to 21 the minimum age for buying guns, and prohibit loaded rifles and shotguns from being carried in public.

The legislation now heads to the Senate for votes next week, The Providence Journal reported.
WASHINGTON -- Thousands of people in rain slickers and T-shirts gathered in Washington on Saturday to rally against gun violence, and to hear impassioned speeches from shooting survivors and relatives of the slain condemning the epidemic of gun deaths across the country.

Demonstrators assembled on an overcast day on the National Mall to join the rally staged by March for Our Lives, the organization founded by student survivors of the 2018 mass shooting at a high school in Parkland, Fla.

With the White House as a backdrop, speaker after speaker took to the stage to criticize government's failure to stop the gun carnage that continues to afflict the country and expressed outrage at Congress. The rally was one of several held across the country to demand lawmakers do more.

"I'm sorry," said David Hogg, a survivor of the 2018 massacre at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Fla., and a founder of March For Our Lives. "I'm so angry."

"As we gather here, the next shooter is plotting his attack," he said.

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The rally was marred by a panic that broke out when a man yelled something during a moment of silence, and some in the crowd said they heard the word "gun." People fled from the stage area. It was not clear what was said, police reported. No firearms or weapons were found, police said, and the person was detained by officers.

"The area is safe," a police spokesman said afterward. "There are no outstanding concerns."

But the incident spooked many in the crowd, especially those with children, and they began leaving the rally.

One woman rushing off the Mall carried a small boy in her arms as he cried, "Mommy I'm scared."

Halea Kerr-Layton, 25, said she was near the center of the crowd when people started running in fear. "It was freaky, scary," she said. She and her friends decided to leave on the spot.

Although the crowed seemed smaller than the 50,000 the National Park Service had expected, there was tension and frustration at the state of the country's impasse over guns.

Jamie Abrams, 42, who had come with her husband and four children from Charlotte, NC to attend the rally, said they were near the stage when she heard a muffled shout about a gun.

"Everybody just laid down on the ground," Abrams said, as one of her children wiped away tears.

Seconds later, she recalled, a mass of the crowd began running, starting a brief stampede that lasted about 15 seconds and rippled at least two-thirds the depth of the crowd before a speaker on stage shouted to stop running.

"It was too much for the little ones," she said.

A former teacher, Abrams homeschools her children, ages 6 to 11. She said the possibility of a mass shooting and the emotional toll of active shooter drills was "one of our major reasons" for homeschooling.

Erik Abrams, 45, said the family came to the rally to show their children they can take action.

"We're trying to fight for their lives," he said.

Washington Mayor Muriel Bowser had told the crowd: "We've been here before, and we have been here before too many times. We don't have to live like this."

Across the country, rallies were held in Austin, Texas; Atlanta; New York City and other places.

In sweltering Austin, Javier and Jazmin Cazares, the father and sister of Jackie Cazares, of one of the victims of the May 24 school massacre in Uvalde, Texas, spoke.

Jackie would have turned ten on Friday.

Jazmin, 17, told the crowd through tears about how she usually said good morning to her sister while they brushed their teeth. But she didn't get a chance to on the morning of the massacre because she woke up later than usual. "I think that's going to haunt me for the rest of my life," she said.

"I am unbelievably angry, but I'm not going to turn my anger into hate," she told the crowd. "I'm going to channel that anger. I'm going to create some real change."

"I have no way to express how I feel, how hurt I feel, and the hurt everybody in Uvalde feels," she said. "I'm doing this for you, sister. If you can see me, I'm doing this for you. You will be remembered. I promise you."

In New York City, more than 1,000 demonstrators marched over the Brooklyn Bridge to Manhattan's City Hall. They held signs announcing, "when will they love their kids more than they love guns," and, referring to the National Rifle Association, they chanted "Hey hey, NRA, how many kids have you killed today?"

In Atlanta, thousands gathered outside the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s historic Ebenezer Baptist Church.

"Because of gun violence, our children, our beloved, they live in the ground, because they've been murdered," said the Right Rev. Robert Wright, the bishop of the Episcopal Church in Atlanta.

Felicia Newberry, 55, of Atlanta, attended the march with her daughter, Alex Russo, 28, a teacher in Cobb County. She carried a sign that read "Save Our Children. Mine Are Teachers."

"I'm over it," she said. "Something's gotta give."

In Milwaukee, a few hundred people in March For Our Lives T-shirts gathered at the steps of the Milwaukee County Courthouse.

Tess Murphy, a college student and gun-control activist told the crowd she was frustrated and angry. "But one thing I'm not is hopeless," she said. "When we fight, we win."

The rallies had the support of President Biden who tweeted Saturday morning: "Today, young people around the country once again march with @AMarch4OurLives to call on Congress to pass commonsense gun safety legislation supported by the majority of Americans and gun owners," he said. "I join them by repeating my call to Congress: do something."

In Washington, the crowd first began forming on the north side of Lincoln Memorial and mingled amid the soggy grass and light rain.

Ray Anid, 22, flew in from Orlando, and donned a bright yellow vest along with other volunteers at the day's march.

"Hopefully we make a difference today," he said. "Hopefully we push our politicians to do what they're supposed to do, what the majority of America wants them to do when it comes to guns, and protect us."

Many in the crowd wore bright blue shirts emblazoned with words" "March for Our Lives." Most appeared young -- college and high school students, along with a few parents with younger children. They spoke with excitement as hit songs blared from the staging area -- Harry Styles' "As It Was" and Ed Sheeran's "Shivers."

Near the National Museum of African American History and Culture, demonstrators were greeted by a huge field of of orange and white artificial flowers that represent gun violence deaths. "Around 5,000 more people died in 2020 than 2019," a nearby sign read. "The orange flowers symbolize the increase in lost lives."

The event came four years after the organization held a huge rally in Washington to plead for action in the wake of the Parkland shooting that killed 17 people.

"Never again!" the crowd had chanted then.

But seven months later, a heavily-armed gunman killed eleven people at a synagogue in Pittsburgh. Two weeks after that a gunman killed eleven people at a bar in Thousand Oaks, Calif. And seven months after that a disgruntled employee killed twelve people at a municipal building in Virginia Beach.

Calls for change again were heightened after last month's killing of 19 children and two teachers at the elementary school in Uvalde, Texas, and the killings of ten African Americans at a Buffalo grocery ten days earlier. Locally, three workers were fatally shot by a fellow employee Thursday in a concrete molding company near Hagerstown, Md.

Some protesters came with friends or tagged along with their parents.

Mother-daughter duo Carly and Lisa Aughenbaugh came from Carroll County, Md., an hour-and-a-half north of Washington.

"This country is in -- emergency seems like such a lame word to use -- we're in a national crisis," said Lisa Aughenbaugh, 56. "We're approaching the time when there will be no one left in the country who hasn't been affected by gun violence."

For Carly, 24, a substitute teacher studying at Hood College, in Frederick, to become a school counselor, the threat of gun violence follows her into every new classroom, she said.

She said she is constantly making sure the doors in each room can lock. "If I ever die in my school, I need you to make sure this never happens again," she remembers telling her mom after the Uvalde shooting. Now, she wants lawmakers to clamp down on assault weapons.

"We need to make it harder for the bad guys to get guns," she said.

Katie Holloway, 41, an elementary teacher drove from New Jersey with her mother Gretchen Showell, 63, and her aunt Liz Brophy, 59.

Holloway said she had not attended a political rally or march since she was a college student.

In her hand, she held a sign saying: ". . . This teacher has had ENOUGH!"

Shortly after the school shooting in Texas, Holloway said, her mother called her and told her how she couldn't stop worrying about Holloway's kids -- two 12-year-old boys, and Holloway herself, who is a 2nd grade teacher.

They decided to book a hotel in Washington, D.C., and attend the rally.

"I teach my kids that you can do anything and change anything in the world if you try," Holloway said. "So this is me and us doing something, because this whole situation needs to change. The fact that we can't send our kids to school without worrying what might happen to them is crazy. This doesn't happen in any other country in the world."

After the Parkland shooting, the teenage survivors sparked a political movement to demand an end to school shootings and everyday gun violence. Students became activists and parents launched nonprofit organizations, lobbied lawmakers and ran for local school boards.

Still, since the Parkland shooting, more than 115,000 students have been exposed to gun violence on K-12 campuses during regular hours, according to a Washington Post database.

Leaders of March for Our Lives have spent the days leading up to the rally in more than 60 meetings on Capitol Hill, talking with lawmakers and their staffs to advocate for gun control measures.

The House on Wednesday passed legislation that would raise the minimum age for the purchase of most semiautomatic rifles to 21 and ban high-capacity ammunition magazines, among other gun-control measures, just hours after a committee heard testimony from a young survivor of the Uvalde shooting. However, that vote is unlikely to amount to much because of Senate Republican opposition to substantial new gun restrictions.

To some at the Washington rally, the moments of panic over a possible threat demonstrated the underlying fear among those attending public events in these times.

Killian Goodale-Porter, 18, and her parents ran with the crowd. She saw teenagers crying and heard the voice of a young child screaming "what's happening?"

"I don't know how to feel because I think it's important to come here and be a part of why things change, but I don't want to have to put my life on my line like that," said Goodale-Porter, a rising sophomore at Virginia commonwealth university studying communication arts. "I know this is most likely a scare but we live in a country where people can just get guns and we don't address it."

- - -

The Washington Post's Mark Shavin in Atlanta; Richard Webner in Austin, Texas; Trevor Bach in Los Angeles; Jack Wright in New York City; Dan Simmons in Milwaukee; and Peter Hermann in Washington contributed to this report.
ALTON  After a year and a half, the solar array project in Alton is getting off the ground.

In March 2021, under the leadership of former Mayor Brant Walker, the city announced a partnership with Ameresco to construct a 40-acre solar array at the northwest corner of Alby Street and Industrial Drive.

The large, flat area is known locally as the Old Alton Landfill. Because the site is a former landfill, the land cannot be dug into and concrete pads will have to be poured to level out the area for the planned solar array.

Ameresco, a clean-tech integrator with offices in St. Louis and Springfield, Illinois, will lease the site from the city. It also will design, develop, finance, construct and operate the solar facility with no direct funding from the city. The firm will also work with the Cool Cities Committee in Alton.

A public hearing on the project is planned for 1:15 p.m. Tuesday, July 12, at Alton City Hall, 101 E. 3rd St., to discuss possible financial avenues for the project.

Mayor David Goins said he is excited about the project moving forward.

"It will be a great glow up to our city if we can get this accomplished," he said. "It will add another option and give potential cost savings to the people."
In Virginia, state officials canceled a small selective summer program for lack of staff. In Wisconsin, school system leaders notified 700 students they could not be enrolled in summer classes because there weren't enough teachers. And in rural Oregon, Superintendent Ginger Redlinger is still hiring for programs that start in June and August.

"We're not sure we can fully staff them," Redlinger said, as she also sympathized with depleted educators who need time off to recharge.

As school systems open for summer sessions, some are seeing the fallout of a punishing pandemic school year. Many would argue that the 2021-2022 school year was among the toughest they've experienced - with extreme staffing shortages, clashes over masking and quarantines, political tumult nationally, widespread exhaustion, students who needed extra support, and, as one school leader put it, "uncertainty around every corner."

Dan Domenech, executive director of the AASA, the School Superintendents Association, said summer programs have not been spared from some of the same problems. Federal pandemic relief funds have helped school systems, but they are being used on a wide range of efforts.

"The push to get children caught up is not going to be realized fully because the staff isn't there to do it," he said. School districts "are offering whatever they can offer."

Summer school classes, once viewed as remedial, have evolved over the years. Students attend to gain credits, catch up academically, ward off learning losses, explore new topics or participate in enrichment activities. Many are low-cost or free, especially intended for vulnerable students. Community organizations and other groups also offer summer camps, activities and learning programs.

In Madison, Wis., the school system's "Summer Semester" included seats for 3,520 students - but not for hundreds of others who wanted or needed it. Emails went out June 1 saying there was no more space.

"We have received a tremendous amount of interest from families looking to participate," school officials wrote. "Although this is great news, we are unfortunately experiencing unanticipated staffing challenges."

The 26,500-student Madison Metropolitan School District is paying less this summer than it did last, when it used federal pandemic relief funds to bump teacher pay to $40 an hour, said spokesman Tim LeMonds. Teachers get $28 an hour this summer - with federal money steered elsewhere.

Still, this year's $28-an-hour base pay reflects a 12 percent increase from the previous base pay of $25-an-hour, LeMonds noted. The school system is continuing to recruit teachers and has recently been able to re-enroll 100 of the 700 students who were turned away. "We are working really hard to continue in that direction," he said. They are also connecting families with community programs, he said.

Elsewhere, eye-catching pay hikes or bonuses have succeeded in attracting staff - or officials are finding other creative ways to offer well-staffed programs. St. Louis Public Schools are paying teachers $40-an-hour this year, from roughly $25-an-hour last year. Support-staff pay jumped $10-an-hour above the usual rate.

"This is the first time we've had a waiting list to teach summer school," said Charles Burton, the school system's chief human resources officer.

To spark student interest, summer classes in St. Louis are being framed as "summer camp," with hands-on experiential learning for all and Friday field trips for younger kids. More than 6,000 students signed on, bigger than last year - and about 30 percent of the 20,000-student district.

Others took different paths. Los Angeles officials said they focused on hiring teachers throughout the academic year, adding nearly 2,500; they do not expect summer school shortages. "We're very confident we'll have enough teachers to do the work," said Ileana Davalos, chief human resources officer.

Davalos said working during summer months still allows educators time to catch their breath; the hours are shorter and programs don't start immediately. "There is time to refresh yourself," she said.

Pay increases are not without trade-offs. Pushing up hourly pay rates in one area can mean that nearby school systems struggle to hire staff, said Ronn Nozoe, chief executive of the National Association of Secondary School Principals. "Neighboring districts suffer," he said.

The 2021-2022 school year was once thought to mark a return to normalcy. Instead, in-person school coincided with staffing shortages that left many teachers covering extra classes during their planning periods. Other employees stepped up for cleaning and cafeteria duty. In several areas, National Guard troops pitched in to drive school buses.

At the same time, schools contended with coronavirus surges and heated debate about masking and quarantine policies. Parents argued about whether schools were really safe. And political issues intensified, amid book bans and uproars about critical race theory and the teaching of gender identity and sexual orientation.

Maryland teacher Leslie Appino, who works in the state's largest school system, in Montgomery County, said the stressors of 2021-2022 were like nothing else in her two-decade career. Usually she teaches in the summer, but this year the constant demands and pressure - the "sheer exhaustion" of it all - made summer work a bigger decision.

"I debated back and forth," she said - persuaded in the end by the extra income and in-person classes. "I'm looking forward to it," she said.

Educators support summer school and summer camps, said Randi Weingarten, president of the American Federation of Teachers. "They know the programs are incredibly important to kids," she said. Any shortages for the summer likely reflect year-end burnout and the ongoing national teacher shortage, Weingarten said.

High schools in Independence, Mo., have made summer school more appealing this year by moving to four-day school weeks - so there are three-day weekends throughout the summer. "It helped with the recruiting," said Randy Oliver, assistant principal at Van Horn High School.

School systems pay for summer school with a mix of federal, state or local funds, because in all but three states there is no dedicated funding stream, said Jennifer McCombs, research director at the Learning Policy Institute, a national education think tank. In lean budget years, some strapped districts don't offer summer school, she said. But the pandemic has increased attention on expanded summer learning - and billions of federal dollars have been steered to schools, some of which can be used in the summer. Research has shown that the cost of a district-run five-week program, for six hours a day (including academic instruction and enrichment activities) was on average roughly $1,500 per student in 2020, McCombs said.

In the North Marion School District in Oregon - about 40 minutes from Portland - Superintendent Redlinger said the rural district of 1,670 students expects a smaller program than last year, partly because many older students are worn out.

Still, Redlinger figures she needs to hire 11 more teachers and seven more assistants to cover a variety of summer offerings, including a program for migrant children and a high school session in August. Teachers receive pandemic pay of $65-an-hour this year, though Redlinger wants to make sure educators have time to recover after a difficult two years. "They need it, and they deserve it," she said.

In Virginia, Arlington is faring better than last year - when it had to notify parents that its program for 5,000 students was shrinking by 40 percent for lack of teachers. This year, nearly 4,900 students are enrolled, said spokesman Frank Bellavia, with 25 teaching spots left to fill, he said.

One change: Bonuses have been doubled this year - $2,000 for teachers and $1,000 for instructional assistants.

But it did not go as well for a residential summer program focused on medicine and health sciences, offered by the Governor's Schools in Virginia. State officials canceled the program, for high school students, for lack of staff, said Charles Pyle, spokesman for the Virginia Department of Education. They are hoping to find places in their other summer programs for the 26 students who were affected.

Before this year, Pyle said, programs were canceled because of the pandemic, but "this is the first time a program has been canceled due to a lack of personnel."
To further prepare their students for any career path they choose, the Huron Area Technical Center instituted a new diving program during the 2021-22 school year. And next school year, those who passed will have the opportunity to further advance their training for career opportunities in law enforcement.

The class was initially created to give students a general understanding of diving and water safety.

"You're not far from a lake, stream, or pond in Michigan," explained law and public safety instructor Ryan Swartz, who also taught and developed the class.

Swartz went through a scuba diving class when he was 16, giving him the training he needed to work with the Huron County Sheriff's Department and teach the class.

The class gave students who took it a diving certification from the National Association of Underwater Instructors, verifying that they have basic diving knowledge and are certified to dive down to 60 feet.

However, juniors who took the class will have the opportunity to advance their knowledge and become rescue divers with the next class during the 2022-23 school year. The class will focus more on the first aid side of diving, like carrying someone in the water. It will also certify them to dive down to 90 feet.

The certification from the advanced class will tip things in the students' favor if they're looking for public safety jobs, especially since it will keep whichever department they're applying for from having to pay for training. Full-time diving teams for public safety departments like the Michigan State Police handle things like underwater rescue, evidence recovery, and dive training for potential officers.
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SINGAPORE (AP)  U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin stressed American support for Taiwan on Saturday, suggesting at Asia's premier defense forum that recent Chinese military activity around the self-governing island threatens to change the status quo.

Speaking at the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore, Austin noted a steady increase in provocative and destabilizing military activity near Taiwan, including almost daily military flights near the island by the People's Republic of China.

Our policy hasn't changed, but unfortunately that doesn't seem to be true for the PRC, he said.

Austin said Washington remains committed to the one-China policy, which recognizes Beijing but allows informal relations and defense ties with Taipei.

Taiwan and China split during a civil war in 1949, but China claims the island as its own territory and has not ruled out using military force to take it.

China has stepped up its military provocations against democratic Taiwan in recent years, aimed at intimidating it into accepting Beijings demands to unify with the communist mainland.

We remain focused on maintaining peace, stability and the status quo across the Taiwan Strait, Austin said in his address. But the PRC's moves threaten to undermine security, and stability, and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific.

He drew a parallel with the Russian invasion of Ukraine, saying that the indefensible assault on a peaceful neighbor has galvanized the world and ... has reminded us all of the dangers of undercutting an international order rooted in rules and respect.

Austin said that the rules-based international order matters just as much in the Indo-Pacific as it does in Europe.

Russias invasion of Ukraine is what happens when oppressors trample the rules that protect us all, he said. Its what happens when big powers decide that their imperial appetites matter more than the rights of their peaceful neighbors. And its a preview of a possible world of chaos and turmoil that none of us would want to live in.

Austin met Friday with Chinese Defense Minister Gen. Wei Fenghe on the sidelines of the conference for discussions where Taiwan featured prominently, according to a senior American defense official, speaking on condition of anonymity to provide details of the private meeting.

Austin made clear at the meeting that while the U.S. does not support Taiwanese independence, it also has major concerns about China's recent behavior and suggested that Beijing might be attempting to change the status quo.

Wei, meanwhile, complained to Austin about new American arms sales to Taiwan announced this week, saying it seriously undermined China's sovereignty and security interests, according to a Chinese state-run CCTV report after the meeting.

China firmly opposes and strongly condemns it, and the Chinese government and military will resolutely smash any Taiwan independence plot and resolutely safeguard the reunification of the motherland, Wei reportedly told Austin.

Chinese Defense Ministry spokesperson Col. Wu Qian quoted Wei as saying China would respond to any move toward formal Taiwan independence by smashing it even at any price, including war.

In his speech, Austin said the U.S. stands firmly behind the principle that cross-strait differences must be resolved by peaceful means, but also would continue to fulfill its commitments to Taiwan.

That includes assisting Taiwan in maintaining a sufficient self-defense capability, he said.

And it means maintaining our own capacity to resist any use of force or other forms of coercion that would jeopardize the security or the social or economic system of the people of Taiwan.

The 1979 Taiwan Relations Act, which has governed U.S. relations with the island, does not require the U.S. to step in militarily if China invades, but makes it American policy to ensure Taiwan has the resources to defend itself and to prevent any unilateral change of status by Beijing.

Austin stressed the power of partnerships and said the U.S.'s unparalleled network of alliances in the region has only deepened, noting recent efforts undertaken with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, or ASEAN; the growing importance of the Quad group of the U.S., India, Japan and Australia; and the trilateral security partnership with Australia and the United Kingdom, known as AUKUS.

He dismissed Chinese allegations that the U.S. intends to start an Asian NATO with its Indo-Pacific outreach.

Let me be clear, we do not seek confrontation or conflict and we do not seek a new Cold War, an Asian NATO, or a region split into hostile blocs, he said.

Australian Defense Minister Richard Marles told the forum that AUKUS, under which Australia will acquire nuclear-powered submarines from the U.S. with the help of Britain, was a technology-sharing relationship, and not in the set of arrangements as you would describe NATO.

Australian abruptly pulled out of a deal with France for submarines to sign on to the AUKUS deal, and Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced Saturday that he had agreed to pay Paris 555 million euros ($584 million) in compensation.

France's new defense minister, Sebastien Lecornu, suggested his country was willing to put the matter behind it, saying the alliance with Australia was a long one, recalling the sacrifice of the young Australians who came to die on French soil during World War I.

There are ups and downs in all relations between countries, but when there were real dramas, Australia was there, he said.

_____

Rising reported from Bangkok
A Texas school district police chief has spoken out amid widespread criticism regarding police officers' response to the deadly mass shooting at a Uvalde elementary school that resulted in the death of 19 children and two teachers.

Law enforcement personnel reportedly delayed confronting the gunman despite knowing children were wounded inside the classroom. This comes as school district police chief Pete Arredondo claimed that officers risked their lives without hesitation during the tragic shooting.

Uvalde Shooting Response

The police response to the May 24 shooting at Robb Elementary has come under increasing scrutiny in the weeks since the incident. At the time, a gunman was locked in two adjoining classrooms with students for more than an hour before police stormed in and killed the attacker.

Some parents of the children involved in the shooting have condemned the police's response as being chaotic and slow. On the other hand, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott initially defended the "amazing bravery" of the officers, he later said that he was "livid" about being misled about the response, as per BBC.

In the school district police chief's first extensive interview since the deadly incident, 50-year-old Arredondo said that he was unaware that he had overall command of the response to the shooting and assumed someone else had taken on that role. It was previously reported that he told police to not attempt to breach the classroom.

Read Also: Grand Rapids Police Officer Charged With Second-Degree Murder for Fatal Shooting of Patrick Lyoya

While Arredondo denied those claims, he said that he believed the situation had changed from being that of an "active" shooter to one where the gunman was barricaded inside. "Not a single responding officer ever hesitated, even for a moment, to put themselves at risk to save the children. We responded to the information that we had and had to adjust to whatever we faced," he said.

According to CNN, said that he did not issue any orders despite media outlet reports saying that the chief did instruct officers to start breaking the outside windows of other classrooms and begin evacuating students. Arredondo said that he called for assistance and asked for an extraction tool to open the door to one of the classrooms where the incident took place.

Denying Issuance of Orders

The Tribune, which was the one that made the report of Arredondo's orders, collected his comments in a phone interview and in statements given through his attorney, George E. Hyde. on May 27, Texas Department of Public Safety director Col. Steven McCraw said that Arredondo was the incident commander.

Last month, McCraw said, "From the benefit of hindsight where I'm sitting now, of course, it was not the right decision. It was the wrong decision. Period. There's no excuse for that." His comments referred to what he said was the supervisor's call not to confront the shooter at the school.

Arredondo's lawyer said that his client was not the one who told U.S. Border Patrol agents through their earpieces at one point during the incident to not enter the classroom. He added that they were not sure who had issued the orders to the officers, Fox News reported.



Related Article: Maryland Mass Shooting: 3 Dead, 1 State Trooper Shot in Tragic Attack as Protests to End Gun Violence Continues

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LAS VEGAS (AP)  A Nevada woman has lost her bid in a U.S. court to force international soccer star Cristiano Ronaldo to pay millions of dollars more than the $375,000 in hush money she received after claiming he raped her in Las Vegas in 2009.

U.S. District Judge Jennifer Dorsey in Las Vegas kicked the case out of court on Friday to punish the womans attorney, Leslie Mark Stovall, for bad-faith conduct and the use of leaked and stolen documents detailing attorney-client discussions between Ronaldo and his lawyers. Dorsey said that tainted the case beyond redemption.

Dorsey said in her 42-page order that dismissing a case outright with no option to file it again is a severe sanction, but said Ronaldo had been harmed by Stovalls conduct.

I find that the procurement and continued use of these documents was bad faith, and simply disqualifying Stovall will not cure the prejudice to Ronaldo because the misappropriated documents and their confidential contents have been woven into the very fabric of (plaintiff Kathryn) Mayorgas claims, the ruling said. Harsh sanctions are merited.

Stovall did not immediately respond Saturday to telephone and email messages. Text messages to associate Larissa Drohobyczer were not answered. They could appeal the decision to the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco.

In a statement referring to Mayorga only as plaintiff, Ronaldos attorney in Las Vegas, Peter Christiansen, said Cristiano's legal team welcomed the decision.

We have maintained the action was brought in bad faith, the statement said. The outright dismissal of plaintiffs case should give all who follow this matter renewed confidence in the judicial process in this country while dissuading those who seek to undermine it.

The Associated Press generally does not name people who say they are victims of sexual assault, but Mayorga gave consent through Stovall and Drohobyczer to make her name public.

Dorsey had signaled earlier this year that she was ready to end the case after Stovall failed to meet a procedural deadline in his bid for more than $25 million in damages based on allegations that Ronaldo or his associates violated a 2010 confidentiality agreement by letting reports about it appear in European publications in 2017.

Mayorgas civil lawsuit  filed in 2018 in state court and moved in 2019 to federal court  alleged that Ronaldo or his associates violated the confidentiality agreement before the German news outlet Der Spiegel published an article titled Cristiano Ronaldos Secret based on documents obtained from whistleblower portal Football Leaks.

Ronaldos legal team blamed the reports on electronic data leaks of documents hacked from law firms and other entities in Europe and put up for sale. Christiansen alleged also that information was altered or fabricated.

Christiansen and attorney Kendelee Works in Las Vegas successfully fought since the case emerged in 2018 to prevent the pact from disclosure.

Mayorga is a former model and teacher who lives in the Las Vegas area. Her lawsuit said she met Ronaldo at a nightclub and went with him and other people to his hotel suite, where she alleged he assaulted her in a bedroom. She was 25 at the time. He was 24.

Ronaldos legal team does not dispute Ronaldo met Mayorga and they had sex in June 2009, but maintained it was consensual and not rape.

Mayorga went to Las Vegas police at the time, but the investigation was dropped because Mayorga neither identified her alleged attacker by name nor said where the incident took place, police and prosecutors said.

Ronaldo, now 37, is one of the most highly paid and recognizable sports stars in the world. He plays for the English Premier League club Manchester United and has captained the national team of his home country, Portugal. He spent several recent years playing in Italy for the Turin-based club Juventus.

Las Vegas police reopened their rape investigation after Mayorgas lawsuit was filed, but Clark County District Attorney Steve Wolfson decided in 2019 not to pursue criminal charges.

Wolfson, the elected public prosecutor in Las Vegas, said too much time had passed and evidence failed to show that Mayorgas accusation could be proved to a jury beyond a reasonable doubt.

Stovall maintained that Mayorga didnt break the hush-money settlement. Her lawsuit sought to void it, accusing Ronaldo and reputation-protection fixers of conspiracy, defamation, breach of contract, coercion and fraud. In documents filed last year, Stovall tallied damages at $25 million plus attorney fees.

The attorney argued that Mayorga had learning disabilities as a child and was so pressured by Ronaldos attorneys and representatives that she was in no condition to consent to dropping her criminal complaint and accepting the $375,000 in August 2010.

Dorsey followed recommendations from U.S. Magistrate Judge Daniel Albregts, who handled preliminary and procedural rulings in the case, that it be dismissed for bad faith, inappropriate conduct by Stovall and reliance on the leaked and stolen confidential documents.

There is no possible way for this case to proceed where the court cannot tell what arguments and testimony are based on these privileged documents, Albregts said in an October 2021 report to Dorsey.

Stovall acted in bad faith by asking for, receiving, and using the Football Leaks documents to prosecute Mayorgas case, Albregts wrote. He blamed Stovall for audacious, impertinent and abusive attempts to make the confidentiality agreement public through legal maneuvers and the court record and recommended to Dorsey that she reject Stovalls claim that Mayorga lacked the mental capacity to sign the 2010 agreement.

The 9th Circuit ruled early this year that it would be up to Dorsey to decide that question.

It was not immediately clear in Dorseys ruling whether the public might still get a look at the Las Vegas police report compiled about Ronaldo after Mayorga filed her lawsuit in 2018.

Albregts said in March that denying the New York Times access to what police collected would almost certainly raise the specter of government censorship. He recommended that Dorsey transfer to a state court the newspapers open-records request for documents.

A protective order that Dorsey imposed to prevent the release of the 2010 agreement doesnt apply to the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department, Albregts found, and does not bar LVMPD from disseminating its criminal investigative file.

Attorney Margaret McLetchie, representing the newspaper, did not immediately respond Saturday to a message about that case.
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COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP)  In her political return to a state where she campaigned heavily ahead of the 2020 election, Vice President Kamala Harris told a gathering of South Carolina Democrats how appreciative the White House is for the key support that ultimately led to the Biden administration.

We see how South Carolina brings critical representation to the presidential nominating process, Harris said. And we see how South Carolina Democrats set President Joe Biden and me on a path to the White House. ... Thank you, South Carolina.

Her appearance, Harris' first to a state-level party event since taking office, at times was reminiscent of the stump speeches that comprised her 2020 campaign in the state.

Harris campaigned heavily in South Carolina during her own 2020 White House bid but left the race before the states first-in-the-South primary, unable to achieve significant polling support or break through in a field that at one time included two dozen Democratic hopefuls. During that campaign, Harris worked to develop networks among Black voters often not elevated in the states political campaign, such as the Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority, of which she is a member.

On Friday, Harris recalled tales from that campaign, including making her way through the Charleston airport with bags full of collard greens to take home to cook for her familys Thanksgiving, Southern produce she said she knew would be better than what she could find elsewhere.

As I walked on the plane, there were a few people who gave me the look, and the nod, she said, to laughter.

The speech came a day ahead of Democrats convention in Columbia.

It also took place as Republicans potentially seeking their party's 2024 nomination  including former Vice President Mike Pence, former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis  are already crisscrossing the state.

Some native South Carolina Republicans have also been testing the 2024 waters. Nikki Haley, who served the state for six years as governor before joining the Trump administration as U.N. ambassador, lives in the Charleston area and has been visiting other early-voting states, as has U.S. Sen. Tim Scott.

Earlier this year, Biden committed to tapping Harris as his running mate for the 2024 reelection campaign.

South Carolina holds its primary elections on Tuesday, when five candidates are competing for their partys nomination to challenge incumbent Republican Gov. Henry McMaster, whose GOP challengers have failed to attract significant fundraising support.

Just two hours before the dinner, Democratic gubernatorial hopefuls, including former U.S. Rep. Joe Cunningham and state Sen. Mia McLeod, met for their only primary debate.

South Carolina, where Black voters play an outsized role in the Democratic electorate, ended up being the state where Biden was able to revive his flagging presidential campaign, following a series of losses in other early-voting states.

That victory came after a key endorsement for Biden from U.S. House Majority Whip Jim Clyburn, South Carolinas sole Democrat in Congress and whose backing was seen by some Black voters as a long-awaited signal that Biden would be the candidate best suited to represent them.

On Friday, Clyburn took the stage as Harris concluded her remarks to thank the crowd for what you have done over the years to keep the Democratic Party in this country viable.

Tonight, he added, referencing Harris, she has made us valuable.

___

Meg Kinnard can be reached on Twitter at http://twitter.com/MegKinnardAP.
KYIV, Ukraine (AP)  In the outdoor gym on Venice Beach, the name given to an inviting stretch of sand on the majestic Dnieper River that courses through the capital of Ukraine, Serhiy Chornyi is working on his summer body, up-down-up-downing a chunky hunk of iron.

The aim of his sweat and toil isn't to impress the girls in their bright summer bikinis. Working out is part of his contribution to Ukraine's all-hands-on-deck war effort: The National Guardsman expects to be sent eastward to the battlefields soon and doesn't want to take his paunch with him for the fight against Russia's invasion force.

Im here to get in shape. To be able to help my friends with whom I'll be, the 32-year-old said. I feel that my place is there now. ... There is only one thing left: to defend. There is no other option, only one road.

So goes Kyiv's bitter summer of 2022, where the sun shines but sadness and grim determination reign, where canoodling couples cannot be sure that their kisses won't be their last as more soldiers head to the fronts; where flitting swallows are nesting as people made homeless weep in blown-apart ruins, and where the peace is deceptive, because it's shorn of peace of mind.

After Russias initial assault on Kyiv was repelled in the invasion's opening month, leaving death and destruction, the capital found itself in the somewhat uncomfortable position of becoming largely a bystander in the war that continues to rage in the east and south, where Russian President Vladimir Putin has redirected his forces and military resources.

The burned-out hulks of Russian tanks are being hauled away from the capital's outskirts, even as Western-supplied weapons turn more Russian armor into smoking junk on battlefronts. Cafes and restaurants are open again, the chatter and the chink of glasses from their outdoor tables providing a semblance of normalcy  until everyone scoots home for the 11 p.m. to 5 a.m. curfew, less constraining than it used to be when Kyiv had seemed at risk of falling.

Sitting on a lawn and savoring wine with friends one evening this week, Andrii Bashtovyi remarked that it "looks like there's no war but people are talking about their friends who are injured or who are mobilized." He recently passed his military medical check, meaning he could soon be thrown into combat, too.

If they call me, I need to go to the recruiting center. I'll have 12 hours, said the chief editor of The Village online magazine, which covers life, news and events in Kyiv and other unoccupied cities.

Air raid alarms still sound regularly, screeching shrilly on downloadable phone apps, but they're so rarely followed by blasts  unlike in pounded front-line towns and cities  that few pay them much mind. Cruise missile strikes that wrecked a warehouse and a train repair workshop on June 5 were Kyiv's first in five weeks. Dog walkers and parents pushing strollers ambled unperturbed nearby even before the flames had been extinguished.

Many, but by no means all, of the 2 million inhabitants who Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko said had fled when Russian forces tried to encircle the city in March are now returning. But with soldiers falling by the hundreds to the east and south, the surreal calm of Kyiv is laced with nagging guilt.

People are feeling grateful but asking themselves, Am I doing enough?' said Snezhana Vialko, as she and boyfriend Denys Koreiba bought plump strawberries from one of the summer-fruit vendors who have deployed across the city, in neighborhoods where just weeks ago jumpy troops manned checkpoints of sand bags and tank traps.

Now greatly reduced in numbers and vigilance, they generally wave through the restored buzz of car traffic, barely glancing up from pass-the-time scrolling on phones.

With the peace still so fragile and more treasured than ever, many are plowing their energies, time, money and muscle into supporting the soldiers fighting what has become a grinding war of attrition for control of destroyed villages, towns and cities.

Trained as a chef and now working as a journalist, Volodymyr Denysenko brewed up 100 bottles of spicy sauce, using his home-grown hot peppers to enliven the troops' rations. He dropped them off with volunteers who drive in convoys from Kyiv to the fronts, laden with crowdfunded gun sights, night-vision goggles, drones, medical kits and other badly needed gear.

All Ukrainian people must help the army, the soldiers," he said. It's our country, our freedom.

___

Hanna Arhirova contributed to this report.

___

Follow APs coverage of the Ukraine war at https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine.
Anadolu Agency/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images

Right-wing extremist groups on the social media app Telegram are now perpetuating the lie that none of the 19 children killed by the 18-year-old gunman in Uvalde, Texas on May 24 ever existed.

An eight-minute video circulating on several popular channels of Telegram, which allows users to broadcast messages to public and private audiences, falsely asserts that none of the victims are real because there are no public records available documenting any of their births. However, the state of Texas doesn't publicly release birth records for anyone born within the past 75 years, except when requested by family members, authorized legal representatives or the persons themselves, according to the Texas Department of Health and Human Services.
The swamps, marshes and waterways of East Texas are loaded with snakes and they are on the prowl right now.

In most cases every dark-colored snake encountered in these realms is labeled a water moccasin or cottonmouth. In reality the vast majority encounter by local hunters, anglers and nature lovers are simply nonvenomous watersnakes are even other species like the hognose snake.

The fact is there are only four types of venomous snakes in all of North America. These are cottonmouths, copperheads, rattlesnakes and coral snakes. There are numerous varieties of each but those are the types. In other words, everything else is nonvenomous.

Cottonmouths are the most frequently misidentified.

A true cottonmouth is not a snake to be toyed with. They can deliver a deadly bite of hemotoxic venom that destroys tissue. Unlike their reputation of being super dangerous most cottonmouths simply prefer to be left alone. If you encounter one giving you the cottonmouth consider yourself lucky. That is a warning before biting.

The diamondback water snake is the largest water snake in Texas, growing (confirmed) up to six feet long but they might get even larger according to some reports. These snakes are often mistaken with cottonmouths and sometimes called water rattlers because of the diamond pattern on their back but they are nonvenomous and have no rattler.

They do however have lots of attitude. When cornered they may strike out and flatten their head. Unless you pick them up and get a nasty bite (will just require cleaning and bandage) they are harmless.

The yellowbelly water snake looks a lot like a cottonmouth from the top view. Their belly is yellow and has no pattern unlike the cottonmouth. These snakes have extreme musking abilities and are usually the moccasin most people claim they can smell before seeing.

Hognose snakes can grow up to 2.5 feet long and when they are in the black phase like most found in our area, they look a lot like a cottonmouth. These snakes will puff up their bodies and hiss. They will also flatten their heads out like this one is doing and will strike with their mouth closed and play dead. Finally, they will play dead. In fact, they are so adamant about convincing you they are dead that they will turn back over if you turn them right side up.

Something to keep in mind is that nonvenomous water snakes have round pupils. Cottonmouths like this one have slit pupils. That is a sure way to tell if the snake you are looking at is venomous or not.

Renowned snake expert and television host Austin Stevens Snakemaster has had some interesting cottonmouth experiences.

The cottonmouth, or water moccasin as it is also known is indeed reputed to be a bad-tempered snake when approached. Generally speaking I have found this to be true, though one must also take into account that though a species may have earned a particular reputation, individual snakes may differ within a species, Stevens said.

In Florida, in one morning, I came across two specimens within 50 feet of each other. The first immediately deployed the typical defense strategy, with head pulled back into its body coils, mouth wide open with tongue flickering in and out while its tail vibrated noisily amongst leaf litter, producing a sound almost like a rattler. Moving closer with my camera, the snake immediately responded with numerous short, quick strikes in my direction.

Stevens said not 20 minutes later and just a little further along, he came across a smaller specimen of the same species, basking on a log.

This cottonmouth showed little interest in my approach and only moved when I attempted to pick it up with my snake tongs, which I eventually did with little complaint on the part of the snake. Two completely different displays of attitude, but generally speaking, cottonmouths are quick to show their displeasure when approached.

I have worked with a cottonmouth on video that would strike at any movement and have literally stepped on one while dragging a deer out of the river bottoms in Newton County that did not even move, much less bite me.

Always be mindful of where you walk or put your hands in the wild and chances are you will never come out on the bad side of a cottonmouth encounter.

And remember how I said looking into their eyes can distinguish the cottonmouth from its mimics?

Please dont try that at home.
WFO LOS ANGELES Warnings, Watches and Advisories for Saturday, June 11, 2022

_____

EXCESSIVE HEAT WARNING

URGENT - WEATHER MESSAGE

National Weather Service Los Angeles/Oxnard CA

718 PM PDT Fri Jun 10 2022

...EXCESSIVE HEAT WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 10 PM PDT

SATURDAY...

* WHAT...Dangerously hot conditions with temperatures up to 107

expected.

* WHERE...Cuyama Valley, San Luis Obispo County Interior

Valleys, Southern Salinas Valley and Antelope Valley.

* WHEN...Until 10 PM PDT Saturday.

* IMPACTS...Extreme heat will significantly increase the potential

for heat related illnesses, particularly for those working or

participating in outdoor activities.

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.

...HEAT ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 8 PM PDT SATURDAY...

* WHAT...Temperatures of 95 to 102. Warmest in the western San

Fernando and Santa Clarita Valleys.

* WHERE...Central Ventura County Valleys, Southeastern Ventura

County Valleys, Lake Casitas, Ojai Valley, Santa Clarita

Valley, Santa Monica Mountains, Los Angeles County San

Fernando Valley and Los Angeles County San Gabriel Valley.

* WHEN...Until 8 PM PDT Saturday.

* IMPACTS...Hot temperatures may cause heat illnesses to occur.

...HEAT ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 10 PM PDT SATURDAY...

* WHAT...Temperatures up to 100 expected, mainly lower

elevations.

* WHERE...Santa Barbara County Interior Mountains, San Luis

Obispo County Mountains, Los Angeles County Mountains and

Ventura County Mountains.

* IMPACTS...Extreme heat will significantly increase the

potential for heat related illnesses, particularly for those

working or participating in outdoor activities.

_____

Copyright 2022 AccuWeather
WFO LOS ANGELES Warnings, Watches and Advisories for Saturday, June 11, 2022

_____

HEAT ADVISORY

URGENT - WEATHER MESSAGE

National Weather Service Los Angeles/Oxnard CA

1147 AM PDT Sat Jun 11 2022

...HEAT ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 8 PM PDT THIS EVENING...

* WHAT...Temperatures of 95 to 102. Warmest in the western San

Fernando and Santa Clarita Valleys.

* WHERE...Central Ventura County Valleys, Southeastern Ventura

County Valleys, Lake Casitas, Ojai Valley, Santa Clarita

Valley, Santa Monica Mountains, Los Angeles County San

Fernando Valley and Los Angeles County San Gabriel Valley.

* WHEN...Until 8 PM PDT this evening.

* IMPACTS...Hot temperatures 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.

...HEAT ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 10 PM PDT THIS EVENING...

* WHAT...Temperatures up to 100 expected, mainly lower

elevations.

* WHERE...Santa Barbara County Interior Mountains, San Luis

Obispo County Mountains, Los Angeles County Mountains and

Ventura County Mountains.

* WHEN...Until 10 PM PDT this evening.

* IMPACTS...Extreme heat will significantly increase the potential

for heat related illnesses, particularly for those working or

participating in outdoor activities.

...EXCESSIVE HEAT WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 10 PM PDT THIS

EVENING...

* WHAT...Dangerously hot conditions with temperatures in the

upper 90s to 108 expected.

* WHERE...Cuyama Valley, San Luis Obispo County Interior

Valleys, Southern Salinas Valley and Antelope Valley.

_____

Copyright 2022 AccuWeather
Country singer Dallas Smith returned to the Thunder Bay Community Auditorium, Thursday night, for a night of high energy entertainment. The Canadian performer had a banner year in 2021 winning the Country Music Awards entertainer of the year, as well as the single of the year. The band is cu
United States President Joe Biden and several Latin American leaders have signed on to the Los Angeles Declaration of Migration and Protection on the final day of the Summit of the Americas on Friday.

The agreement on the migration pact comes despite the fact that many other Latin American leaders were not present at the summit. Twenty different countries signed on to the declaration, each committing to tackling different components of migration.

New Migration Pact

The Democratic leader credited the pandemic, Russia's invasion of Ukraine, and climate change as contributing factors to migration throughout the Western Hemisphere. Biden said that right now, migrants made up as much as 10% of the population of Costa Rica. He added that no nation should bear the responsibility alone.

Many of the commitments under the declaration deal specifically with boosting temporary workers programs to support migrants. Furthermore, Canada has agreed to welcome more than 50,000 agricultural workers from Mexico, Guatemala, and the Caribbean this year. The former two are also agreeing to expand migrant labor programs to address labor shortages in their regions, as per ABC News.

Ecuador has issued a decree to create a pathway to regular migration status for Venezuelans who legally entered through port of entry but are currently unlawfully in the country. In the United States, Biden's administration has offered its own commitments, including $300 million in funding for humanitarian assistance for countries.

Read Also: Joe Biden, White House Staff Gets Bogged Down Due to Failure To Deal With Political Crisis

The money would be used "so when migrants arrive on their doorstep, they can provide a place to stay, make sure migrants can see a doctor, find opportunities to work, so they don't have to undertake the dangerous journey north."

According to the Associated Press, while standing on a podium with flags for the 20 countries that joined the accord extending from Chile in the south to Canada in the north, Biden said that each nation was signing up to commitments that "recognize the challenges that we all share."

Unification of the Americas

The Democratic leader said that the declaration is only just the start, expressing his hopes that more countries will join such efforts. The White House highlighted measures that were recently announced and some new commitments.

Costa Rica will extend protections for Cubans, Nicaraguans, and Venezuelans who arrived before March 2020. Furthermore, Mexico will add temporary worker visas for up to 20,000 Guatemalans per year.

The blueprint that the United States is following is already something others, to a large extent, have already been treading on, including Colombia and Ecuador. The two nations' right-leaning leaders were saluted at the summit for giving temporary legal status to many of the six million people who left Venezuela in recent years.

The acting director of the Americas division of Human Rights Watch, Tamara Taraciuk Broner, said that the Los Angeles declaration is possibly the best outcome of a convening of heads of state that seemed destined to be inconsequential at best.

She added that the agreement laid out concrete commitments but cautioned that "its impact will depend on whether governments move beyond words on paper to concrete actions." Broner noted that this was particularly true for the Biden administration, which continued to implement abusive migration policies even while drafting this agreement, the New York Times reported.



Related Article: Biden's Latin America Summit Is Off to a Rocky Start With Boycotts From Several Heads of State

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Canadas unemployment rate down to record-low 5.1% Demand for workers is booming in Canada as unemployment declines and job vacancies rise.

Canadas unemployment rate down to record-low 5.1% Demand for workers is booming in Canada as unemployment declines and job vacancies rise.

Canadas unemployment rate down to record-low 5.1% Demand for workers is booming in Canada as unemployment declines and job vacancies rise. Shelby Thevenot Aa Accessibility Font Style Serif

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Canadas unemployment rate hit a new record-low of 5.1%, the lowest point its been since comparable data became available in 1976.

Statistics Canada reported in its most recent Labour Force Survey that the labour force gained 39,800 jobs in May, mostly in full-time work. More than 135,000 people found full-time work last month. Gains were led by women workers in all age groups.

As we commence the ritual of filling patios and hit the road for overdue vacations, employers continue to search for workers to meet heightened demand, said TD Bank economist James Orlando in a commentary. This has job vacancy rates at record levels, making it clear that the Canadian economy is operating beyond full employment.

Discover if You Are Eligible for Canadian Immigration

Based on the results from Statistics Canadas Job Vacancy and Wage Survey for March, the ratio of unemployed people to job vacancies reached an all-time low of 1.2, highlighting labour supply pressures facing employers seeking to attract and retain employees. Simply put, Canadian employers cannot find enough people to work, an issue which could be here to stay.

With an aging population, in the years ahead the number of retirees exiting the workforce will exceed new workers entering it, writes economist Sean Adams with the Conference Board of Canada. The ensuing drop in participation rates will result in unemployment rates staying low even as the Canadian economy achieves limited employment growth. Thats good news for job seekers but could make it increasingly difficult for businesses to find staffing. In other words, current labour shortages might only get worse.

Although one potential source of labour supply is those who are not actively participating in the labour force but report that they want to work. In May, there were 409,000 of these potential workers. However, the number of potential workers comes up short of the more than 1 million job vacancies reported in the job vacancy survey.

Canada will need to continue welcoming immigrants to help meet these labour demands. In 2022, Canada is set to admit 431,645 new permanent residents, a new record. In the first quarter of 2022 alone, Canada has landed nearly 114,000 new permanent residents and is on track to meet this target.

Discover if You Are Eligible for Canadian Immigration

 CIC News All Rights Reserved. Visit CanadaVisa.com to discover your Canadian immigration options.
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Vladimir Putin has suffered a severe defeat as an entire battalion of men refused to battle on despite heavy losses.

Following defeats in Kharkiv Oblast, Ukraine's Armed Forces said that troops from the Russian Armed Forces' 1st Army Corps' motorized rifle brigade had refused to fight.

This follows reports that Russian military are attempting to exit Ukraine through forged marriages. According to observers, Russian military are morally dejected and may soon run out of combat-ready divisions, Express reported.

Russian Troops' Fallout

In the latest setback to Vladimir Putin's invasion ambitions, Russian soldiers battling in Ukraine have lost two more high-ranking commanders. Early expectations that Ukraine would succumb to the Russian invasion were swiftly dispelled when robust resistance slowed the invading army, forcing the Kremlin to reconsider its plan.

The newest two colonels murdered, including one of Russia's youngest to gain such a high position, bring the total number of Russian colonels killed throughout the deadly fight to at least 52.

On Putin's instructions, Lt-Col Vadim Gerasimov, a battalion commander from the Leningrad area, was posthumously granted the country's highest honor, the Hero of Russia. His burial was held today in the Leningrad area, and his wife is anticipated to receive his Order of Courage posthumously.

He was the father of a girl and a graduate of the elite Frunze military college. Colonel Ruslan Shirin, a brigade commander who died bravely in battle, is the second high-ranking officer whose death was reported today.

The Order of Courage was posthumously presented to the chief of staff of the 336th Separate Guards Marine Brigade, which is part of the Baltic Fleet.

The news came two days after the death of the 50th colonel, artillery commander Lt Col Vladimir Nigmatullin, 46, a father of three from Yekaterinburg. Major-General Roman Kutuzov, the chief of staff of the 29th Combined Arms Army, was Russia's 11th general of the fight. He was promoted to Lieutenant-General posthumously, according to Mirror.

Read Also: Former Moldovan President Dodon Warned That Pro-EU Stance Could Lead to NATO Presence in Chisinau

Ukraine Claims War Situation Remains Manageable

Ukraine reported on Thursday that it was losing up to 100 soldiers per day in frontline fighting against Russian troops, and that up to 500 people had been injured in clashes. Ukrainian army fought for the industrial zone and surrounding territories in the eastern city of Sievierodonetsk, which Kyiv controls.

On Thursday, Mayor Oleksandr Stryuk said the situation is challenging but manageable, and Kyiv declared Russian soldiers are now in charge of the city itself. He added that despite heavy Russian artillery bombardment, the defense lines were holding but that it was now difficult to evacuate civilians from Sievierodonetsk.

He went on to say that roughly 10,000 residents remained in the city, which is currently the focal point of Russia's attack in Ukraine. After being rejected from other sections of the nation, the important city has become the focal point of Russia's attack as it aims to conquer an eastern swath of Ukraine.

Another regional Ukrainian official stated Thursday that Western long-range artillery will allow Ukraine to defeat Russian soldiers and take Severodonetsk within days. As part of its plans to seize a swath of eastern Ukraine, Moscow's soldiers are focussing their firepower on the strategically crucial industrial region, as per Daily Mail.

Related Article: Vladimir Putin Officially Admits Reason for War Is To Reclaim "Their Land", Warns Against Claims That Russia Is Defeated After Several Retreats

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@ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
I've been a reporter and editor at Missouri community newspapers for 35 years and joined the Columbia Missourian in 2003. My emphasis at the Missourian is on local government and elections. You can reach me at swaffords@missouri.edu or at 573-884-5366.

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Chinese defense minister reiterates China's resolute position on Taiwan question

Xinhua) 13:52, June 11, 2022

SINGAPORE, June 11 (Xinhua) -- Chinese State Councilor and Defense Minister Wei Fenghe has reiterated China's resolute position on the Taiwan question.

Taiwan is an inalienable part of China's territory, and the one-China principle is the political foundation of China-U.S. relations. The scheme to use Taiwan-related issues to contain China is doomed to fail, said Wei, during his meeting with U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin Friday on the sidelines of the 19th Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore.

During the meeting, Wei said a new round of arms sales to Taiwan announced by the U.S. side recently severely violated the one-China principle and the stipulations of the three China-U.S. joint communiques, undermined China's national sovereignty and security interests and caused severe damage to China-U.S. relations and peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait, according to Wu Qian, spokesperson for the Ministry of National Defense.

Noting that China firmly opposes and strongly condemns the arms sales, Wei stressed that if anyone dares to split Taiwan from China, the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) will have no choice but fight at any cost and crush any attempt of "Taiwan independence" and safeguard national sovereignty and territorial integrity, said Wu during a press briefing after the meeting.

In another briefing following Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida's keynote speech on Friday evening, He Lei, former deputy head of the Academy of Military Sciences, said that Taiwan is an inalienable part of China's sacred territory, and that the Taiwan question concerns China's core interests and is China's internal and own affairs.

The government of the People's Republic of China is the sole legal government of China. China will and must be unified. The PLA has the determination, confidence, capability and means to realize China's complete reunification of the motherland. "Taiwan independence" is doomed to fail, said He during the briefing.

"Taiwan independence" will lead nowhere and is thus doomed to fail. Supporting "Taiwan independence" will never come to a good end, said He.

"The development of China strengthens the force of peace in the world and the development of China's military capability reinforces the strength of safeguarding national interests and world peace," he said.

(Web editor: Zhong Wenxing, Bianji)
by Andrew P. Napolitano

June 09, 2022: Information Clearing House - Last week, at a pretrial hearing at Guantanamo Bay Naval Base in Cuba for Abd al-Rahim al-Nashiri, a Saudi who is charged with being the mastermind of an attack on the USS Cole in 2000 at which 17 American sailors were killed, the psychologist in charge of interrogating Nashiri described in vivid detail both the modern and the medieval techniques of torture used upon him.

The psychologist was called as a defense witness in order to demonstrate to the court that a good deal of the evidence that prosecutors plan to introduce against Nashiri was obtained directly or indirectly through, or was tainted by, his torture and thus cannot lawfully be used at his trial.

Torture committed by government officials and their collaborators upon a person restrained by the government is a felony punishable by up to 20 years in a federal prison, and its fruits are inadmissible in all courts. For many years, the CIA documented torture through video tapes of its disguised agents and contractors torturing its captives so it would have a record of the events without the need for revealing a participants identity.

But the tapes of Nashiris torture were destroyed by either the chief CIA official in the United States in charge of all torture or his then-chief of staff. Hence the live testimony last week. That chief of staff would go on to become the director of the CIA, Gina Haspel, nicknamed by her colleagues "Bloody Gina."

This column will spare the reader the gruesome and stomach-churning details of Nashiris torture, but for the one medieval procedure. What caught the eyes of those of us who monitor these events was the mention of the name of the CIA official under whose watch the torture occurred and who wrote detailed, graphic descriptions of it to her bosses in Langley, Virginia. That official is the same Gina Haspel. She was the head of the CIA station at Thailand in 2002, at which Nashiri was tortured, and she was the senior member of the torture team.

Nashiris torture went on for four months, at the end of which the interrogation team concluded that Nashiri was being truthful and essentially said the same things under torture as he told interrogators prior to torture. But Bloody Gina does not trust testimony unless it comes with great fear and pain.

In 2006, Nashiri was shipped from Thailand to Gitmo, where he was charged with capital murder. His trial has not yet commenced. The testimony last week was one of many pretrial hearings ordered by military trial judges.

Nashiri, who has the same speedy trial rights as anyone being prosecuted by the U.S. government, has been waiting for his trial for 14 years. He is on his second team of military and civilian defense lawyers. His first team quit when they discovered that their communications with their client had been secretly listened to and recorded by federal agents.

Most judges would have dismissed the charges against the defendant for such criminal behavior by the government. But at Gitmo, where the judge and the prosecutors have the same boss  the Secretary of Defense  the niceties of due process are sometimes watered down.

The significance of Bloody Ginas personal supervision of this torture cannot be gainsaid. It is the first time we have learned from a witness under oath that CIA torture was approved and supervised at the highest CIA levels. It is also the first time we have learned that a CIA director, earlier in her career, committed federal crimes, as each torture session is a separate felony.

We also learned that Bloody Gina may be an amateur historian. In the late 1400s, when the Medici in Florence had been deposed by a mad monk named Girolamo Savonarola, he instituted aggressive torture for those accused secretly of sins of the flesh, looking for their public confessions and the identities of their sexual partners.

He, like Bloody Gina, refused to accept testimony from a detained person unless it was obtained under torture. And he, like Bloody Gina, instituted a novel torture technique of hanging a victim by his arms secured behind his back so as to induce excruciating shoulder dislocation.

Those of us who believe that the Constitution means what it says have argued that attackers of US military personnel who are not in combat pursuant to a congressional declaration of war should be tried in federal court and accorded constitutional protection from the governments torturers. Had that been done, Nashiris case and all others at Gitmo would have been completed years ago, and the government would not be spending $500 million a year there while it continues to trash the Constitution.

I was surprised to learn that one of the torturers admitted to these crimes and implicated Bloody Gina. Torture by government officials  no matter their goal  is the most tyrannical government overreach imaginable. It presumes that there are no natural rights or moral standards; it utterly negates the personhood of the victim; it reveals that there are no limits to what the government can do and get away with. It is expressly prohibited by the Constitution and federal law.

Bloody Gina and her team of torturers may feel safe from American prosecutors, as the Nashiri tortures took place well outside of the statute of limitations  but not from all prosecutors. The International Criminal Court in The Hague claims jurisdiction over the entire globe, and Thailand  the place of Nashiris torture  is a signatory to the treaty that established the court. The ICC characterizes torture as a war crime that has no statute of limitations and recognizes no executive pardons.

When the Medici returned to power after a popular uprising deposed Savonarola, he was tortured by his own torturers before he was hanged for heresy. Torture is government without limits. Only limited government respects persons.

Andrew P. Napolitano, a former judge of the Superior Court of New Jersey, is the senior judicial analyst at Fox News Channel. Judge Napolitano has written seven books on the US Constitution. The most recent is Suicide Pact: The Radical Expansion of Presidential Powers and the Lethal Threat to American Liberty. To find out more about Judge Napolitano and to read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit www.creators.com.
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Beware!

The Emotet malware gang, the criminals behind the Emotet botnet, are now targeting Chrome-based credit card information. According to the BleepingComputer, Emotet is using a credit card stealer module to steal credit card information that are available in Google Chrome browser

The gang became famous for being a banking trojan. They then evolved into spamming and malware delivery.

Emotet Malware Gang is Back

The researchers with cybersecurity vendor Proofpoint's Threat Insight team stated that once the user's credit card data is exfiltrated, it will then be sent by the malware to command-and-control (C2) servers. This is not the same with the one the card stealer module uses.

The targeting of credit card data showcased Emotet's return. In January 2021, the Europol together with the law enforcement from countries such as the United States, the UK and Ukraine wiped out the Emotet's infrastructure. With this, the agencies hoped they had put a rest to the malware threat.

However, starting November 2021, there have been reports from the threat intelligence groups that there are indications that Emotet had returned. The gang is "attributed to the TA542 threat group, also known as Mummy Spider and Gold Crestwood," according to The Register.

"The notorious botnet Emotet is back, and we can expect that new tricks and evasion techniques will be implemented in the malware as the operation progresses, perhaps even returning to being a significant global threat," Ron Ben Yizhak, security researcher with cybersecurity vendor Deep Instinct, wrote in a blog post in November, as cited by The Register.

It didn't take long for Emotet to return to their criminal activities. In April 2022, Emotet was the top global malware threat, according to Cybersecurity firm Check Point. They had already affected six percent of the companies worldwide.

The group's resurgence was also spotted by security software vendor Kaspersky in April. Kaspersky observed "a significant spike in a malicious email campaign designed to spread the Emotet and Qbot malware." In fact, from 3,000 emails in the campaigned in February, it jumped to about 30,000 a month later.

"The campaign is likely connected to the increasing activity of the Emotet botnet," wrote a Kaspersky analysts in a blog post.

Read Also: SpaceX Tesla's Rocket Burst in Flames, Again

Who is Emotet?

Emotet started their operation in 2014 as a banking trojan. They steal sensitive and private information.

The gang developed into a self-propagating and modular trojan over the years. As a way into systems, they use phishing. They also offered services to other threat groups.

Emotet are often used to deliver Qbot and Trickbot malware trojan payloads of other gangs. It even include ransomware by other groups such as Ryuk and Conti, according to the BleepingComputer.

According to Charles Everette, directory of cybersecurity advocacy for Deep Impact, what makes Emotet unique is that it has kept its name.

Everette said that Emotet had already got their wing clipped but they managed to come back and become one of the prolific gang again. He added that Emotet managed to be successful in just a few months that they came back.

Emotet is re-establishing its name with new tricks under their sleeve, Everette added.

In November 2021, Emotet used TrickBot's existing infrastructure. The TrickBoth malware being used to push an Emotet loaded was detected by Emotet research group Cryptolaemus, computer security firm GData, and cybersecurity firm Advanced Intel, as reported by the BleepingComputer.

In February and March, Emotet attackers launched massive phishing campaigns that targeted Japanese businesses. This is just after they re-emerged last year.

Related Article: Emotet Botnet Takedown Successful: How to Check if Your Email Was Compromised by 'World's Most Dangerous Malware'
IKEA and the popular DJ trio, the Swedish House Mafia, are collaborating to release a record player this fall.

Both brands, which are Swedish in origin, decided to work together and release a hardware that is inspired by the trio's music.

According to IKEA, the electronic dance music artists Swedish House Mafia work together to explore music and creativity in the house in order to make life easier for anyone who creates music, performs music, plays music, or simply enjoys music.

Yesterday, on June 9, at the IKEA Festival during the 2022 Milan Design Week, the Swedish furniture brand announced the upcoming release of their new collection. This collection will come out this fall and will include a record player, a music production desk, and an armchair.

IKEA and Swedish House Mafia

The collaborated record player is stated to be chunky-looking hardware. According to the IKEA designer, Friso Wiersma, "The solid, chunky design gives the player a presence in the room. It transmits the physicality of music in the collection, making it really claim space with the attitude of music woven into it - rather than making it blend."

IKEA and Swedish House Mafia have collaborated on this collection to explore the themes of music and creativity in the house with the goal of making day-to-day life simpler for numerous people who are inclined to music, whether that be listening or creating music.

This record player will be included in the IKEA fall collection 2022, called the OBEGRANSAD collection. In addition to that, this collection will also bring about more than twenty different home furnishing products.

The other pieces of furniture that will be released will also revolve around music. They will help living spaces become more suitable to the requirements of music makers and music enthusiasts all around the world.

Read Also: 46,000 Americans Have Reported Lost More Than $1 Billion to Crypto Scams

Ikea's Record Player

The release of the OBEGRANSAD record player is stated to be in celebration of the timeless joy brought by the experience of listening to vinyl records. The record player is described as having a modern, sleek, and minimal design and is built with the ENEBY speaker.

The technical capabilities of the record player are a bit scarce. However, according to The Verge, the website provides a few descriptions of the product that slightly paints its upcoming feature. Some of these functionalities are the built-in preamp, that it is powered by USB, and that it offers a changeable cartridge and needle.

As mentioned, this will be enabled by the Eneby Bluetooth speaker. However, due to the fact that the player itself does not support Bluetooth, it will only function when connected to the speaker via a cable connection.

On the other hand, IKEA did not make it apparent whether the record player has speakers that are built-in or whether it can only produce sound through cable output.

The record player that Ikea has launched isn't technically the company's first offering in this category. IKEA engineer Carmen Stoicescu stated that, "We actually tried to do a record player before, so we could use the same supplier maybe."

It was revealed way back in 2018 that the company would be working with Teenage Engineering to create a turntable, and that they planned to release it the year after that.

However, one of the support pages provided by Teenage Engineering claims that the player was never included in the released collection of the brand.

Related Article: Meta's Development for Its Smartwatch with Dual-Camera Has Now Been Cancelled
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SEOUL, South Korea (AP)  North Korean leader Kim Jong Un doubled down on his arms buildup in the face of what he described as an aggravating security environment while outside governments monitor signs of a possibly imminent North Korean nuclear test explosion.

Kims comments during a major three-day political conference that wrapped up Friday didnt include any direct criticism of the United States or rival South Korea amid a prolonged deadlock in nuclear diplomacy.

Kim defended his accelerating weapons development as a rightful exercise of sovereign rights to self-defense and set forth further militant tasks to be pursued by his armed forces and military scientists, according to state-run Korean Central News Agency. The report on Saturday didnt mention any specific goals or plans regarding testing activity, including the detonation of a nuclear device.

The plenary meeting of the ruling Workers Partys Central Committee also reviewed key state affairs, including efforts to slow a COVID-19 outbreak the North first acknowledged last month and progress in economic goals Kim is desperate to keep alive amid strengthened virus restrictions.

(Kim) said the right to self-defense is an issue of defending sovereignty, clarifying once again the partys invariable fighting principle of power for power and head-on contest, KCNA said.

The meeting came amid a provocative streak in missile demonstrations aimed at forcing the United States to accept the idea of North Korea as a nuclear power and negotiating economic and security concessions from a position of strength.

North Korea for years has mastered the art of manufacturing diplomatic crises with weapons tests and threats before eventually offering negotiations aimed at extracting concessions.

In a move that may have future foreign policy implications, Kim during the meeting promoted a veteran diplomat with deep experience in handling U.S. affairs as his new foreign minister.

Choe Sun Hui, who is among the Norths most powerful women along with the leaders sister Kim Yo Jong, had a major role in preparing Kim Jong Un for his meetings with former U.S. President Donald Trump in 2018 and 2019. Talks between Pyongyang and Washington derailed after the collapse of Kims second meeting with Trump in February 2019, when the Americans rejected North Koreas demands for dropping U.S.-led sanctions in exchange for limited disarmament steps.

Choe replaces Ri Son Gwon, a hard-liner with a military background who during the meeting was announced as Kims new point person on rival South Korea.

North Korea has a history of dialing up pressure on Seoul when it doesnt get what it wants from Washington. While KCNAs report on the meeting didnt include any comments specifically referring to South Korea, it said the participants clarified principles and strategic and tactical orientations to be maintained in the struggle against the enemy and in the field of foreign affairs.

North Korea also announced a partial reshuffle of its military leadership to accommodate an influx of former counterintelligence officials named to key posts, in a possible step by Kim to further strengthen his grip over the military bureaucracy.

South Koreas Unification Ministry, which handles inter-Korean affairs, said it isnt immediately clear how North Koreas comments and personnel moves would affect relations with the South. The ministry said in a statement that the South would sternly respond in conjunction with its U.S. ally if provoked by the North.

The ministry added that North Korean state medias lack of specific descriptions about the state of the economy beyond some agricultural and construction campaigns suggests the country is struggling to meet development goals Kim presented in a five-year plan in early 2021.

North Korea has already set an annual record in ballistic launches through the first half of 2022, firing 31 missiles in over 18 different launch events, including its first demonstrations of intercontinental ballistic missiles in nearly five years.

Kim may up the ante soon as U.S. and South Korean officials say North Korea has all but finished preparations to detonate a nuclear device at its testing ground in the northeastern town of Punggye-ri. The site had been inactive since hosting the Norths sixth nuclear test in September 2017, when it said it detonated a thermonuclear bomb designed for its ICBMs.

The Norths unusually fast pace in testing activity underscores Kims dual intent to advance his arsenal and pressure the Biden administration over long-stalled nuclear diplomacy, experts say.

While the United States has said it would push for additional sanctions if North Korea conducts another nuclear test, the divisions between permanent members of the U.N. Security Council make the prospects for meaningful punitive measures unclear. Russia and China this year vetoed U.S.-sponsored resolutions that would have increased sanctions, insisting Washington should focus on reviving dialogue.

Kims pressure campaign hasnt been slowed by a COVID-19 outbreak spreading across the largely unvaccinated autocracy of 26 million people.

During the meeting, North Korea maintained a dubious claim that its outbreak was easing despite outside concerns of huge death rates given the countrys broken health care system.

North Korea has restricted movement of people and supplies between regions, but large groups of workers have continued to gather at farms and industrial sites, being driven to shore up an economy decimated by decades of mismanagement, sanctions and pandemic border closures.

Kim during the meeting said the countrys maximum emergency anti-virus campaign of the past month has strengthened the economic sectors ability to cope with the virus.

Kim has rejected U.S. and South Korean offers of vaccines and other help. GAVI, the nonprofit that runs the U.N.-backed COVAX distribution program for vaccines, believes North Korea has begun administering doses given by its ally China. But the number of doses and how they were being distributed wasnt known.
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KYIV, Ukraine (AP)  Ukrainian and British officials warned Saturday that Russian forces are relying on weapons able to cause mass casualties as they try to make headway in capturing eastern Ukraine and fierce, prolonged fighting depletes resources on both sides.

Russian bombers have likely been launching heavy 1960s-era anti-ship missiles in Ukraine, the U.K. Defense Ministry said. The Kh-22 missiles were primarily designed to destroy aircraft carriers using a nuclear warhead. When used in ground attacks with conventional warheads, they are highly inaccurate and therefore can cause severe collateral damage and casualties, the ministry said.

Both sides have expended large amounts of weaponry in what has become a grinding war of attrition for the eastern region of coal mines and factories known as the Donbas, placing huge strains on their resources and stockpiles.

Russia is likely using the 5.5-tonne (6.1-ton) anti-ship missiles because it is running short of more precise modern missiles, the British ministry said. It gave no details of where exactly such missiles are thought to have been deployed.

As Russia also sought to consolidate its hold over territory seized so far in the 108-day war, the U.S. defense secretary said Moscow's invasion of Ukraine is what happens when oppressors trample the rules that protect us all.

Its what happens when big powers decide that their imperial appetites matter more than the rights of their peaceful neighbors, Lloyd Austin said during a visit to Asia. And its a preview of a possible world of chaos and turmoil that none of us would want to live in.

___

GOVERNOR: FLAMETHROWERS USED IN LUHANSK

A Ukrainian governor accused Russia of using incendiary weapons in a village in the eastern province of Luhansk, southwest of the fiercely contested cities of Sievierodonetsk and Lysychansk.

While the use of flamethrowers on the battlefield is legal, Luhansk Gov. Serhii Haidai alleged the overnight attacks in Vrubivka caused widespread damage to civilian facilities and an unknown number of victims.

"At night, the enemy used a flamethrower rocket system  many houses burnt down, Haidai wrote on Telegram on Saturday. His claim could not be immediately verified.

Sievierodonetsk and neighboring Lysychansk are the last major areas of Luhansk remaining under Ukrainian control. Haidai said Russian forces destroyed railway depots, a brick factory and a glass factory.

The Ukrainian army said Saturday that Russian forces also were to launch an offensive on the city of Sloviansk in Donetsk province, which together with Luhansk makes up the Donbas,

Moscow-backed rebels have controlled self-proclaimed republics in both provinces since 2014.

___

ZELENSKYY SEEKS MORE EU SANCTIONS ON RUSSIA

During a visit to Kyiv by the European Union's top official, Ukrainian President Volodymr Zelenskyy called for a new round of even stronger EU sanctions against Russia.

Zelenskyy called for them to target more Russian officials, including judges, and to hamper the activities of all Russian banks, including that of gas giant Gazprom, as well as all Russian companies helping Moscow in any way.

He spoke during a brief appearance with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen at the heavily guarded presidential office compound in Ukraine's capital.

The pair discussed Ukraines aspirations for EU membership. Zelenskyy, speaking through a translator, said Ukraine will do everything to integrate with the bloc.

Russia wants to divide Europe, wants to weaken Europe, he said.

Von der Leyen said the EU's executive arm was working day and night on an assessment of Ukraines eligibility as a candidate. The goal is to share it with existing members next week.

Zelenskyy and some EU supporters want Ukraine admitted quickly.

Von der Leyen described the membership process as a merit-based path and appealed for Ukraine to strengthen its rule of law, fight corruption and modernize its institutions. She said the EU would assist with the country's reconstruction.

___

UKRAINE PRESIDENT ADDRESSES NATION

Zelenskyy said later, in his nightly video address, that fierce street battles were continuing in Sievierodonetsk and he was proud of the Ukrainian defenders who for weeks have held back the Russian advance.

Remember how in Russia, in the beginning of May, they hoped to seize all of the Donbas? the president said. Its already the 108th day of the war, already June. Donbas is holding.

Zelenskyy said Russian forces are being pushed out of parts of the Kherson region they occupied early in the war. He also reported some success in the Zaporizhzhia region.

He added that no one knows how long the war will last, but Ukraine should do everything it can so the Russians regret everything that they have done and that they answer for every killing and every strike on our beautiful state.

___

BATTLE AT A CHEMICAL PLANT

Hundreds of Ukrainian troops remained blockaded inside a chemical plant on the outskirts of Sievierodonetsk, but some of the civilians with them have started to come out, an envoy for Russian-backed separatists said Saturday.

Several hundred civilians could still be inside the Azot plant, where they sought safety from the shelling in underground shelters, Rodion Miroshnik said via Telegram.

As the circle around the Ukrainian troops tightens, he said, the civilians will be able to leave and Russian forces are preparing transportation for their evacuation. The troops will be allowed to leave only if they lay down their arms and surrender, he added.

Luhansk Gov. Haidai said the Russians shelled the plant for hours and a big fire broke out. He made no mention of the troops or civilians referenced by Miroshnik.

___

EXPLOSION IN THE WEST

In the western Ternopil province, which has largely been spared from the fighting, an explosion rocked the town of Chortkiv late Friday, the governor said.

There was no immediate information about the cause of the explosion, and Gov. Volodymyr Trush told residents not to take pictures or comment on social media.

He said local officials decided to turn off supplies of natural gas while dealing with the consequences of the explosion.

___

RUSSIA SETS UP COMPANY TO SELL UKRAINE'S GRAIN

Russian-installed officials in Ukraines southern Zaporizhzhia region have set up a company to buy up local grain and resell it on Moscows behalf, a local representative told the Interfax news agency on Saturday.

Yevgeny Balitsky, the head of Zaporizhzhia's pro-Russian provisional administration, said the new state-owned grain company has taken control of several facilities.

He said the grain will be Russian and we don't care who the buyer will be.

It was not clear if the farmers whose grain was being sold by Russia were getting paid. Balitsky said his administration would not forcibly appropriate grain or pressure producers to sell it.

Ukraine and the West have accused Russia of stealing Ukraines grain and causing a global food crisis that could cause millions of deaths from hunger.

The head of Ukraines presidential office accused Russia's military of shelling and burning grain fields ahead of the harvest. Andriy Yermak alleged Moscow is trying to repeat a Soviet-era famine that claimed the lives of over 3 million Ukrainians in 1932-33.

Our soldiers are putting out the fires, but (Russias) 'food terrorism' must be stopped, Yermak wrote Saturday on Telegram.

His and Balitsky's claims could not be independently verified.

___

RUSSIAN PASSPORTS FOR UKRAINE RESIDENTS

Russian forces occupying parts of southern Ukraine began handing out Russian passports to local residents Saturday.

In the Kherson region, 23 residents accepted the documents, including the new Moscow-installed governor, Russian state news agency RIA Novosti reported.

For me this is a truly historic moment. I have always thought that we are one country and one people, the news agency quoted Gov. Volodymyr Saldo as saying.

Soldiers also started giving out passports in the occupied city of Melitopol, according to Russian state news agency Tass, which cited a Russian-installed local official as the source of the information. It did not specify how many residents had requested or received Russian citizenship.

Melitopol is located outside of the Donbas in the Zaporizhzhia region.

___

CHILD DEATH TOLL

Nearly 800 children have been killed or wounded in Ukraine since the beginning of Russias invasion, Ukrainian authorities said Saturday.

According to a statement by the Office of the Prosecutor General of Ukraine, at least 287 died as a result of military activity, while at least 492 more have been hurt. The statement stressed the figures were not final.

The office said children in Donetsk province have suffered the most, with 217 reported killed or wounded, compared with 132 and 116, respectively, in the Kharkiv and Kyiv regions.

___

CIVILIAN KILLED IN BEACH BLAST

Officials in the city of Odesa said Saturday that a man was killed by an explosion while visiting a beach on the Black Sea, where mines are a growing concern.

The city council said via Telegram that the man was there with his wife and son despite warnings to stay away from beaches. He was testing the water's temperature and depth when the explosion erupted.

Russia and Ukraine each have accused the other of laying mines in the Black Sea.

___

Follow APs coverage of the Ukraine war at https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine
CONCORD, N.H. (AP)  Two years after accusing her former therapist of sexual abuse, she idly plugged his address into an online directory and came across an unfamiliar alias. A search of that name turned up decades-old newspaper articles about the death of a 10-year-old girl.

Whats that got to do with Peter? she wondered.

A pair of obituaries she found next pointed closer to a connection. But she was still circling the perimeter of the truth when she sat down at a public library computer in January 2020. On a newspaper archive site, she scrolled past several small, blurry photos until a larger one popped up.

Bingo, she thought. Thats him.

Her next thought?

You bastard.

___

New Hampshire is one of 10 states that allow people to change their names while incarcerated, though their criminal records remain accessible to police and employers conducting criminal background checks. But the public has no way of knowing someones earlier identity unless they go to the county courthouse where the change was approved, or do some serious sleuthing.

That allowed Peter Dushame to become Peter Stone, who faces new charges more than 30 years after he was sent to prison under his old name. What happened in between raises complicated questions about the right to forge a new life after incarceration and what patients can or should know about a mental health providers past.

Theres another question with no simple answer: Who is Peter Stone?

He was 33 years old, drunk and named Peter Dushame when he plowed his Pontiac into a motorcycle parked alongside the F.E. Everett Turnpike in Nashua, New Hampshire, on Oct. 1, 1989. Lacey Packer, a fourth grader on her way home to Massachusetts from a Toys for Tots benefit with her father, died two days later.

It was his third fatal crash  though the first to involve alcohol. At age 17, he pleaded guilty to leaving the scene of a pedestrian crash after killing a former fellow student at his high school. At age 22, he was acquitted of vehicular homicide after a crash that killed a 61-year-old woman.

Because he held a valid drivers license despite five previous drunken driving convictions, the 1989 crash became a flash point. Both Massachusetts and New Hampshire enacted new laws in response, and Dushame became the first person in New Hampshire to be convicted of manslaughter for a drunken driving fatality. The Boston Globe called him the most notorious drunk driver in New England history.

But over time, he dedicated himself to helping people in addiction recovery, earning a masters degree in counseling psychology from behind bars, and leading treatment programs for other inmates.

I have a gift, he told The Boston Globe Magazine in 1996. I can look at a person and feel his pain.

Two years later, he legally changed his name from Peter Dushame to Peter Stone. He was released from prison in 2002 and eventually set up shop as a licensed drug and alcohol counselor in North Conway.

I stand as evidence that people can change, Stone wrote to state regulators in 2013, telling them that contrary to their concerns, his past had helped clients gain perspective on the dangers of drunken driving.

They respect my sincerity and honesty, he said.

Then, last July, he was charged with sexually assaulting a client who says he was anything but honest.

In a recent interview with The Associated Press, the 61-year-old woman said she developed romantic feelings for Stone about six months after he began treating her for anxiety, depression and alcohol abuse in June 2013. Though he immediately told her a relationship would be unethical, he eventually initiated sexual contact in February 2016, she said.

'That crossed the line,' the woman remembers him saying after he pulled up his pants. 'When am I seeing you again?'

It was almost comical, she told the AP, which generally does not name people who allege sexual assault. Except that it was terrible.

___

Laws related to name changes differ across the country. While 26 states have no restrictions on name changes after felony convictions, 15 have bans or temporary waiting periods for those convicted of certain crimes, according to the ACLU in Illinois, which has one of the most restrictive laws.

New Hampshire does not prohibit felons from becoming therapists, and Stone appropriately disclosed his criminal record on licensing applications and other documents, according to a review of records obtained by the AP.

And so, despite a misguided sense of it being wrong somehow, its a nonissue legally, said Albert Buzz Scherr, a professor at the University of New Hampshire Franklin Pierce School of Law.

The deeper question is, to what extent do we want to tar somebody for the rest of their life? said Scherr. Should every therapist be forced to reveal to any incoming patient that theyve been convicted of a crime? Of certain crimes?

Gary Goodnough is a Plymouth State University professor who teaches ethics to aspiring mental health counselors. It's not unusual, he said, for people in recovery to become counselors and to use their experiences to build greater empathy and support for clients.

Disclosure isnt mandatory, but he believes clients have a right to know in some scenarios.

One of the principles that underlies the counseling profession is the notion of veracity, he said. We should tell the truth. Particularly with something as profound as a murder or vehicular homicide. In my opinion, that would be something that should be disclosed.

Stone's former client said uncovering his past made her angry, at both Stone and the state, which she believes should not have licensed him as a therapist under his new name.

I think in his capacity to become a therapist, it was wrong, because thats such a trusting position, she said. If he was going to be a car mechanic, that would be different. Because when I go to my mechanic, he doesnt get into my head and pull strings.

The woman described Stone as an unorthodox counselor, blunt and arrogant, with a tendency to swear. She said he told her he used to drink vodka and beer starting first thing in the morning, had once been homeless and didnt drive because he had PTSD from his time in the military. In fact, as she later learned, his driver's license had been permanently revoked after his conviction.

After their first sexual encounter, she said, she got up to leave and found the door to his office locked when it never had been before.

I felt duped, because in my mind, I thought it was spontaneous, she said. But then I knew it was planned.

___

Stone, who declined to be interviewed by the AP, faces five counts of aggravated felonious sexual assault under a law that criminalizes any sexual contact between patients and their therapists or health care providers. Such behavior also is prohibited by the American Psychological Association's ethical code of conduct.

According to court documents, he told investigators that the woman fondled him on one occasion, but that he didnt know how his DNA ended up on her shirt. The state issued an emergency order suspending his counseling license in December 2017, and he voluntarily surrendered it four months later while denying the allegations.

A hearing to determine Stone's competency to stand trial is scheduled for September. His attorney did not respond to requests for comment, and the prosecutor declined to comment on any aspect of the case.

But Scherr, the law professor, said that if the case goes to trial, Stones past convictions or name change are unlikely to be used against him.

Prior convictions, Scherr said, generally cant be used to prove a defendants guilt, though they sometimes can be used to impeach a defendants credibility if he testifies. And although it makes him appear sneaky or crafty, Stone had a legitimate reason for changing his name, Scherr said.

You dont want to carry that around in public for the rest of your life, he said. Im inclined to say it doesnt tell you anything about whether he committed the crimes hes charged with.

Though Stone changed his name in 1998, news accounts of his 2001 parole hearing refer to him as Dushame, suggesting that authorities used only his original name in public and, perhaps unintentionally, eased his effort to start fresh. Several members of the parole board from that year have since died; two others told the AP recently that they remembered neither the specific case, nor how the board handled name changes.

But Gordon and Donna Packer havent forgotten the man who killed their daughter. In a recent interview, Donna Packer said they would have opposed his name change but were notified by the state only after the fact.

She and her husband, who became prominent activists for tougher drunken driving laws, also were aware that Stone was working as a counselor but didnt know of his arrest until contacted by the AP.

The minute I heard about it, I was disappointed, she said. I know that sounds strange, but Gordon and I, were Christians, and we believe in forgiveness.

Gordon Packer offered forgiveness to Stone years ago in a letter. Donna Packer said he responded by asking for help getting out of prison ahead of schedule, which struck the couple as manipulative.

Still, she hoped that after everything he had done, after causing so much pain for so many people, he had changed.

I hate that hes still victimizing people, she said. It didnt need to be this way.
Tesla just cancelled its hiring event in China. Just recently, Tesla has been caught in a series of reports regarding their return to office policies and their CEO, Elon Musk's views about an upcoming recession.

It has been previously reported that Tesla is cutting 10% of jobs in their company. However, it has now been confirmed that the hiring event that was supposed to acquire more or less two dozen talents is officially canceled.

Tesla Cancels Job Hiring

The electric vehicle manufacturer Tesla has canceled three online recruitment events that were supposedly scheduled for China this month. This is the latest development to take place after Chief Executive Officer Elon Musk threatened job cuts at the company after stating publicly on Twitter that there is a possibility that a recession might happen.

According to Business Insider, notifications posted on the messaging app WeChat late on Thursday indicated that the company had canceled the three events for positions that were initially scheduled for June 16, 23, and 30.

However, the company did not provide any reasons or comments regarding the cancellations of the said events. Additionally, the CEO himself did not offer any particular comments regarding hiring in China, despite the fact that the country produced more than half of the company's vehicles worldwide and generated one-quarter of the company's sales in 2021.

Tesla was also supposed to have a hiring event to acquire employees for the company's smart manufacturing initiative. However, the company did not comment on whether the event was held or if it was also cancelled just like the rest of the hiring events for this month.

On the contrary, the manufacturing operation of Tesla in China is reported by Reuters to still be accepting resumes for the more than one thousand opportunities that have been listed on the social media sites. These openings include positions for workers, supply chain managers, aerodynamics engineers, store managers, and supply chain managers.

Read Also: Tesla CEO Elon Musk Wants Another Tesla Stock Split This Year

Tesla's 10% Cut Off

This current news about Tesla's hiring does not come as a surprise. As mentioned, Musk has been very public on Twitter about his thoughts on the current economic state and the possible forthcoming recession.

Last month, Musk was asked by a Twitter user named Zack questioning, "Do you still think we're approaching a recession?"

Musk replied, stating yes, but he thinks it is actually a good thing. He continued, stating, "It has been raining money on fools for too long. Some bankruptcies need to happen."

Yes, but this is actually a good thing. It has been raining money on fools for too long. Some bankruptcies need to happen.



Also, all the Covid stay-at-home stuff has tricked people into thinking that you dont actually need to work hard. Rude awakening inbound!  Elon Musk (@elonmusk) May 27, 2022

Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla, is making preparations for the impending economic downturn. Musk has informed executives in his company that he is considering eliminating 10% of the company's employment opportunities and has requested that they halt the global search for new talents.

Musk has expressed to the management of Tesla that he has a very negative feeling about the current status of the economy, and he has requested that all hiring be put on hold worldwide.

As previously reported in iTechPost, Tesla collectively hired a large number of employees in the previous year, with the number hovering somewhere around 100,000 people, as revealed in the company's annual filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

If this reduction in jobs is put into effect, it will result in the loss of employment for thousands of individuals.

Related Article: NHTSA: Tesla Autopilot May Be the Culprit Behind Shocking Accident That Left 3 People Dead
Ansonia Police Department / Contributed Photo

ANSONIA  An Ansonia man was charged earlier this week with attempted assault after he fired a gun on Water Street last year, according to the Ansonia Police Department.

Police identified Zaire Flowers, 22, as a suspect in an investigation into shots fired in the area on Sept. 2, 2021, according to Lt. Patrick Lynch.
CAIRO (AP)  The United Nations mission to Libya expressed concern Saturday over clashes in Tripoli, after a night of heavy fire between militias in the capital.

The latest fighting comes as Libya is once again divided between competing governments  one of which is based in Tripoli  despite more than a year of tentative steps towards unification.

The cause of the violence in the seaside neighborhood was unclear, but videos circulated on social media showed families with children sheltering and fleeing as artillery fire flew across the night sky. Some accused two of the citys powerful militias of infighting.

In a statement, the mission said the clashes endangered civilians and called on Libyans to do everything possible to preserve the countrys fragile stability at this sensitive time.

Libya has for years been split between rival administrations in the east and the west, each supported by various well-armed militias and foreign governments. The Mediterranean nation has been in a state of upheaval since the 2011 NATO-backed uprising toppled and later killed longtime dictator Moammar Gadhafi.

The countrys plan to transition to an elected government fell through after an interim administration based in Tripoli, headed by Prime Minister Abdul Hamid Dbeibah, failed to hold elections last year.

Dbeibah has refused to step down since then, raising questions over his mandate. In response, the countrys East-based lawmakers have elected a rival prime minister, Fathy Bashagha, a powerful former interior minister who is now operating a separate administration out of the city of Sirte.

Dbeibah, in a televised phone call, urged a powerful commander who leads the 444 brigade  which serves his government  to do what is necessary to restore peace in Tripoli.

His rival, Bashagha, in a series of Tweets called on armed groups to surrender their weapons. Last month, Bashagha entered Tripoli and attempted to install his government there, but left within hours after fighting broke out that killed one person.

Meanwhile, a widening blockade on oil production, largely in the country's east, has cut off key state revenues in opposition to Dbeibah's remaining in power. On Friday, a video announcement by residents and workers of the Sidra oil port, a key export facility, warned that they would stop operations due to lack of basic services in surrounding towns.
Photo: Hans Pennink/AP/Shutterstock

The Madagascar hissing cockroach is distinct from the American cockroach that more commonly lurks New York City apartments  theyre considerably bigger and, as the name suggests, they hiss. And so it might have been noisy (and gross) at the Tuesday arraignment of a group of tenant activists when protesters released what appeared to be hundreds of them into an Albany courtroom. According to reporting from the Times Union, the defendants were in court that day after arrests (some violent) last month during a rally at the state capitol in support of Good Cause.

According to accounts provided in arrest records and court papers, two dozen protesters entered the courtroom and one of them, a State Senate worker named Clyanna Lightbourn, proceeded to stand and walk among the audience while refusing to show officers her phone while talking and disrupting court proceedings. Lightbourn is then alleged in the police report to have attempted to distract the court to create an opportunity for protesters to free the bugs. The cockroaches were apparently being stored in Tupperware containers surrounded by lettuce. Lightbourn was arrested and fired from her position in the State Senate, according to the Times Union. Exterminators were then called in to fumigate.

Its unclear where the cockroaches came from  civil-rights protesters in the 1960s collected them in jars in service of a similar protest tactic  but nowadays, you can order them in bulk online. (As one cockroach-buying reviewer wrote, They came live and well. Actually I forgot I ordered them and got a freaky surprise when I opened the box.)

Lightbourn has pleaded not guilty to charges of tampering with physical evidence, criminal contempt, obstruction of governmental administration, and resisting arrest. A court date is set for July 5. Its unclear if the cockroaches will make an appearance.
According to Forbes, citing a report by The Wall Street Journal (WSJ), Meta is investigating former Chief Operating Officer (COO) Sheryl Sandberg's use of company resources for personal matters over a period of years.

She was being investigated to the following:

Sandberg's alleged use of the tech giant's resources to assist plan her summer wedding to consultant Tom Bernthal had prompted Meta to initiate an investigation.

She was also being investigated on how Facebook employees allegedly assisted with activities linked to Sandberg's foundation, Lean In, which strives to support women in reaching their goals.

Employees at Meta allegedly assist her in promoting her second book, "Option B: Facing Adversity, Building Resilience, and Finding Joy," about her husband's death.

As per Engadget, Sandberg is also being investigated for allegedly using Facebook employees to bury a negative story about her former partner, Activision CEO Bobby Kotick.

This comes just a week after Sandberg announced her departure from Facebook to dedicate more attention to humanitarian activities.

Use of Company's Resources

Forbes, citing a WSJ report, mentioned that Sandberg and Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg have previously revealed their use of company resources for personal reasons, and Sandberg credited several Facebook employees in the acknowledgements section of her second book.

WSJ reported that Meta personnel also assisted Sandberg with her book tours, foundation, and family matters. Some insiders told WSJ that the former COO's use of the company's resources for personal duties could result in Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) violations.

However, it's unclear what those consequences would be. Sandberg "could be asked to repay the company for employee time spent on her personal work," according to WSJ.

Read More: Meta Decides to Make First Version of AR Glasses Available to Developers Only

Meta COO Will Leave the Company

As previously reported, Sandberg says she's leaving Meta because the company's executive team has been built up in preparation for her departure, and she wants to focus on philanthropy and women's rights.

"There's no perfect time. It is a job that's been an honor and a privilege, but it's not a job that leaves a lot of time to do much else. And I really wanted to make more room in my life to do philanthropy, to work with my foundation," said Sandberg.

On Facebook, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg announced that Javier Olivan, the company's chief growth officer, will take over as COO.

Sandberg joined the social media giant in 2008, where she assisted in the company's multibillion-dollar advertising business expansion.

Before joining Facebook, she was Google's vice president of global online sales and operations, and was also the former US Treasury Secretary Larry Summers' chief of staff.

Some lauded her as a feminist icon after the publication of her best-selling book "Lean In: Women, Work, and the Will to Lead" in 2013. Meanwhile, After her husband died abruptly in 2017 from heart problems, she penned her second book, "Option B," about overcoming adversity.

Related Article: Meta COO Sheryl Sandberg is Leaving the Tech Giant: Here's What She Has to Say About It
The Apple M1 chip reportedly has an unpatched vulnerability, according to MIT security researchers.

MIT's Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory (CSAIL) recently published a report in which they disclosed a flaw in what they refer to as the "final line of protection" for Apple's M1 chip. The vulnerability may, in principle, allow malicious actors to obtain complete access to the kernel at the heart of the operating system.

Apple M1 Chip Vulnerability

The Apple M1 chip is currently built to have a feature known as pointer authentication. This capability serves as the chip's final line of defense against the standard software vulnerabilities. Usually, when pointer authentication is enabled, bugs that could typically exploit a system or expose confidential information are halted dead in their tracks.

However, researchers at MIT have discovered a loophole: Their innovative hardware attack, which they have given the name PACMAN, demonstrates that pointer authentication can be broken without even leaving a trace behind.

The unfortunate instance here is that PACMAN uses a hardware mechanism, so there is no chance that a software patch will ever be able to solve it.

According to MIT, a pointer authentication code (PAC) is a signature that verifies the state of the program has not been maliciously modified.

The researchers used the PACMAN attack to demonstrate that it is possible to make an educated guess about the value of the PAC and then find out, using a hardware side channel, whether or not the prediction was accurate.

They discovered that it is possible to attempt all of the possible values for the PAC in order to locate the right one because there are only a certain number of possible values. An important discovery they made is that the attack does not leave any traces.

According to Joseph Ravichandran, a co-lead author of a new paper about PACMAN at MIT, "The idea behind pointer authentication is that if all else has failed, you still can rely on it to prevent attackers from gaining control of your system."

However, with this recent research, he and his team were able to prove that pointer authentication as the last line of defense is not enough as it previously thought it was.

Ravichandran added, "When pointer authentication was introduced, a whole category of bugs suddenly became a lot harder to use for attacks. With PACMAN making these bugs more serious, the overall attack surface could be a lot larger."

Read Also: Intel Freezes Hiring-Bracing for Chip Reset Ahead

What Does This Mean To Apple M1 Users?

According to Gizmodo, Apple M1 users do not need to worry about their personal information being compromised by this vulnerability. Although this is a severe vulnerability that will require attention in the near future, in order for it to be exploited, a number of extremely rare conditions must exist.

First and foremost, the system that is being attacked needs to have a memory corruption flaw already present. As written in MIT's report, the research used a certain method of attack to prove the weakness of the detected vulnerability in the hardware of Apple. The scientists conclude that there is no need for urgent panic due to this fact.

In addition, as reported by TechCrunch, Apple recognized the recent MIT research and extended their gratitude, thanking everyone who worked on this new discovery.

The tech giant stated, "Based on our analysis as well as the details shared with us by the researchers, we have concluded this issue does not pose an immediate risk to our users and is insufficient to bypass operating system security protections on its own."

Related Article: Apple Pay Later Feature Includes an Installment Plan with No Interest Fees
Will Self is one of Britain's most famous takers of illegal drugs. He was sacked by the Left-wing Observer newspaper after he was caught snorting heroin on Prime Minister John Major's plane in 1997.

So why has the BBC chosen him, of all people, to be one of the favoured stars of a programme called A Point Of View?

Well, why do you think? In this Radio 4 show, the presenter can say pretty much what he or she likes for ten minutes. Almost all those given this privilege are Left-wing.

The BBC flatly refused to allow me to do it. They nearly ruptured themselves as they tried not to give their real reason  that my point of view is one they hate.

Will Self is one of Britain's most famous takers of illegal drugs. He was sacked by the Left-wing Observer newspaper after he was caught snorting heroin on Prime Minister John Major's plane in 1997

And a few weeks ago Mr Self used the slot to call for the legalisation of marijuana. I made a formal complaint, saying that it was a breach of due impartiality.

The BBC never had and never would give any opponent of marijuana legalisation the same opportunity. So to allow Mr Self to make this call was to break the BBC's firm pledge to be fair on matters of major public controversy.

I have got used to stupid responses from the complaints people. But the answer I got was so ridiculous, it made me laugh out loud. They said: 'While we accept that the drugs issue is of course capable of causing political or societal controversy, we do not agree that it is currently a 'major matter' as defined in our editorial guidelines.'

How odd, in that case, that the BBC never misses any opportunity to publicise any and every call for drug legalisation, especially in its news programmes. In fact, the accelerating campaign to legalise drugs  clearly backed by the BBC  is fast turning into the biggest social revolution since the 1960s.

And then there is drama too. The BBC absurdly pretends that drama cannot be used to promote policies. Really? Too many people know with bitter certainty that marijuana is a hard, family-destroying menace, and perhaps worse than that.

Yet the BBC made it look like a harmless giggle on a Gavin & Stacey Christmas special. What effect do you think that had?

And a few weeks ago Mr Self used the slot to call for the legalisation of marijuana. I made a formal complaint, saying that it was a breach of due impartiality, writes Peter Hitchens, pictured above

Now a new drama series makes a similar joke out of cocaine. It will be heroin and LSD next, and who knows what afterwards. The programme, called Everything I Know About Love and starring Emma Appleton, opened on BBC1 last Monday night.

But ten minutes into the first episode, the star and two of her friends are shown pressuring a fourth woman into snorting cocaine in the lavatory of a restaurant. Their victim is depicted as being pathetically dumb, fearing she will instantly die.

They sneer that she is 'suburban'. They say that cocaine is a '2.4 children, L-shaped sofa' type of drug. 'You just dip in and out of it like houmous.' Of course the fourth woman gives in, and her moral collapse into criminal stupidity is portrayed as welcome and a minor laugh.

I think the people in charge of this organisation know perfectly well what they are doing, helping to turn a once-civilised society into a miserable, selfish hell. Why on earth should we pay through the licence fee for this electronic slurry?

Censoring the past is no longer 1984 fiction

In George Orwell's masterpiece about despotism, 1984, the hero, Winston Smith, goes though old newspapers looking for stuff which no longer fits in with the official version of the truth, and destroys all trace of it.

This censoring of the past is no longer fiction. For instance, a document which says 'We do not have an independent, valid test for ADHD, and there are no data to indicate that ADHD is due to a brain malfunction' has been altered in the records of America's National Institutes of Health. These crucial words have been removed. Nobody can explain how, why, or who did it. But I have a copy of the undoctored original which miraculously survived.

Now there is controversy about a report of the recent massacre in Uvalde, Texas, in that great newspaper The New York Times, famous for its rectitude. In an early account, the newspaper quoted one of the shooter's co-workers at the Wendy's hamburger restaurant in Uvalde as saying she 'recalled he would often talk about how much he despised his mother and grandmother, whom he told her did not let him smoke weed or do what he wanted'.

I am one of a growing number of people who believe  thanks to evidence of drug use among violent killers  that there may be a connection between marijuana use, mental illness and rampage killings.

This report was of great importance to us. So when it vanished from the New York Times website the next day, I tried repeatedly to get an explanation. The newspaper, normally very careful to explain any such changes, has not done so this time. Was the story perhaps wrong? No. The Mail on Sunday sent a reporter, Barbara McMahon, to Uvalde. She tracked down the woman at Wendy's, Jocelynn Rodriguez.

Ms Rodriguez confirmed that she had said the vanished words to a New York Times reporter. She also said the killer had asked colleagues, in her hearing, where he could buy marijuana. I am still trying to get The New York Times to explain why it felt that, of all the news it had in its possession that day, the shooter's liking for marijuana was the bit they did not think was fit to print.

Monarchy can't rely on a stupid bear to save it

Actually, I didn't enjoy the Jubilee that much, thanks all the same. It seemed to be aimed mainly at people who don't believe that constitutional monarchy is a good thing. Worse, it was an attempt to strengthen monarchy by making it popular. But anything popular can just as quickly become unpopular. Someone who likes the Queen because she appears in a stupid video with stupid Paddington Bear, one of the most pointless children's book characters there has ever been, isn't going to be a reliable supporter of the monarchy.

There was another thing that annoyed me a lot. The clergy of the Church of England know very well that the Queen and Prince Charles both prefer traditional prayers and the beauty of the King James Bible.

So when they devised a service to mark 70 years on the throne, why did they ignore these preferences? I thought it bloody rude, and don't blame her for staying away.

The Bible passage the Prime Minister read is, in the original, one of the most beautiful in the English language, beginning 'Whatsoever things' I read it at the memorial service for my brother (the only passage of scripture heard at that atheist event). He read it at our father's funeral.

Yet the version given to Johnson sounded like someone announcing the buffet car was closing on the train to Manchester Piccadilly. Why do so many people hate beauty?

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When it was announced Tory MP Neil Parish was resigning after watching porn on his phone in the Commons chamber  while claiming to search for images of tractors  the mood among the staff and customers of The Barber Shop on Tivertons high street was one of resignation, rather than shock.

Everyone round here was saying, Why do these things always happen to us?  hairdresser Hette tells me. It was all a bit NFT.

What does NFT mean? I ask. Well, when local doctors used to fill in prescriptions, theyd write NFT on them. It meant Normal For Tiverton.

Im here in this true blue Devon constituency because something distinctly abnormal is happening.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson and George Eustice MP, Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs attend the Royal Cornwall Show

Prime Minister Boris Johnson buying a bottle of wine at the Royal Cornwall show at Whitecross near Wadebridge

Prime Minister Boris Johnson during his speech at Blackpool and The Fylde College in Blackpool, Lancashire on June 9

Neil Parish confirmed that he was resigning in an interview with BBC South West over the weekend, blaming his actions on a 'moment of madness'

In two weeks, the residents of Tiverton and Honiton will elect Parishs replacement. And the feeling among Boris Johnsons enemies  and, to be fair, many of his allies  is that the by-election will deliver the blow that terminates his premiership.

One Minister had warned me the by-election being held in Wakefield, West Yorkshire, on the same day is lost, adding: Our numbers in Tiverton are also looking very bad. If we lose there, its over.

The Tories are defending a 24,000 majority in Devon, and a 3,300 one in Wakefield. Id been told that anger over the Partygate scandal was driving this Blue Wall insurrection. So how does hairdresser Hette feel about our embattled PM?

To be honest, I quite like him, she confides. Yes, he broke the rules. But then most of the country did.

Jeremy Hunt was one of the leading figures in the revolt against Mr Johnson this week

Around the corner, I talk to Geoff, who runs the newsagent. Maybe Boris should have resigned, he tells me. Someone else might have done so in that position. But this is a solid Tory area. To be honest, I cant see it changing much around here.

The sprawling rural constituency cascades all the way from the wilds of Exmoor down to the rugged Jurassic Coast. But Im beginning to think reports that it will provide the backdrop to the Prime Ministers political demise have been overstated.

Then I wander across the pebbled beach that skirts the picturesque fishing hamlet of Beer, and bump into Ros, a former Royal Marine  I used to chase pirates around the Indian Ocean  who runs a local cafe.

Boris lied as an MP. He lied as Mayor of London. He lied as Foreign Secretary. Then he gets caught lying as Prime Minister  and everyone acts shocked, he says.

Westminsters focus has been on Partygate and the abortive Jubilee Coup when 148 Tory MPs voted unsuccessfully last Monday to oust the PM. But Ros, like many others I speak to, is far more concerned about bread-and-butter issues.

My wife and I work six days a week. We start around 7am and finish at 8pm. And we dont seem to have anything to show for it. This is a rural area. The local transport isnt any good, so you have to have a car. But look at whats happening with petrol. The 5p fuel duty cut was gone in about a fortnight.

I ask if Ros knows how hell vote on June 23. Im tempted to write None of them deserve it on my ballot, he says.

Before visiting the area, I was told that while market towns such as Tiverton, Honiton and Seaton receive much of the media attention, the by-election will be decided in the dozens of villages scattered across the constituency.

So I drive back along the sweeping fields and narrow lanes that represent Boris Johnsons last line of defence. On the wall of The Ostler Inn in Uffculme, theres a quote from the Anglo-French writer Hilaire Belloc: When you have lost your inns, drown your empty selves, for you will have lost the last of England.

Initially, it seems theres little danger of Boris Johnson losing the patrons of The Ostler.

Simon, who used to import Cornish slate, tells me: This is a working village. Youve got a couple of mills down the road and the big farming estate nearby. As a result, he believes people will forgive, if not forget, the PMs crimes. I think well have to stick with him, he says. Yes, hes done things that are wrong. But who else is there?

Then I get chatting to the pubs landlord, also called Simon. Ive lived here 20 years and its always been very blue. But the Lib Dems could win. I think people might be up for a bit of a protest vote.

Thats certainly what Uffculme resident Richard Foord hopes. The former Army major, who served in Iraq and the Balkans, is the Lib Dem candidate.

A grim poll showed Labour doubling its lead over the Conservatives to eight points in the wake of the coup attempt

His Tory challenger, former head teacher Helen Hurford, has been hidden away from the press after refusing to say that she would have backed Boris in last weeks confidence vote.

But Foord is happy to meet, and as we settle down in a cafe in Honiton still proudly festooned with Jubilee bunting, he seems the perfect choice.

Theres a real parallel between military service  which is about self-sacrifice and a public service ethos  and serving as an MP, he says. Youre trying to look out for people and stick up for them.

As an Army officer, you need to look after the people youre charged to command. As an MP, you need to spend your every waking moment thinking, How can I better improve the lives of the people I live among?  The 44-year-old is measured about his prospects. Im not for a moment suggesting this is easy  were going to have to fight damned hard for every vote, he tells me.

But there is one issue that gets him slightly agitated. Its when I raise the question of a Lib Dem-Labour pact.

At the last General Election in 2019, Labour, not the Lib Dems, came second to the Conservatives in Tiverton and Honiton.

But in this by-election, Labour appears to have abandoned the seat. Labour MPs tell me they have been told to canvass in Wakefield instead. Conservative officials report no sign of Shadow Ministers here drumming up support for the candidate, businesswoman Liz Pole. Indeed, the Tiverton and Honiton Labour website has no mention of a by-election even taking place. And the latest news on the campaign website is blank.

When I suggest theres a national deal between Labour and the Lib Dems to carve up seats such as this, Foord hastily interjects: Sorry to interrupt, but there is no pact no, no, no I mean really, there is no pact.

Perhaps Sir Keir Starmer and Lib Dem leader Sir Ed Davey should admit to one. Because its clear theres discontent to exploit here  towards both Boris Johnson in particular and to the Tory Government in general.

That said, Im not detecting the sort of visceral anger over Partygate, or other issues, I was told to expect. Its true the Lib Dems have the most visible presence. There are fields and barns displaying their distinctive orange signs proclaiming Winning Here.

But are they?

On my last evening, I stop in the tiny village of Broadhembury, composed of thatched cottages, a church and a well-tended war memorial. I ask a farmer called Mike what he thinks of the idea that this might be the site of Boris Johnsons downfall.

Im not really hearing it. I think hes done OK, he tells me.

In an interview with BBC South West, Mr Parish said that the first time he viewed the material it was accidental and he was trying to look at tractors

Ive got a lot of sympathy with him. I wouldnt want his job. After a hard days work, I can nip into the pub and relax with a few drinks. But Boris cant.

He pauses and laughs. Well, I suppose he did a bit. But were any of the other lot any different?

In two weeks, this south-west corner of the country once famed for lace-making will deliver a brutal political shock.

Either a former Army major who received three campaign medals will become the new MP, with the curtain poised to fall on the Johnson premiership. Or the Conservatives will cling on, and Boris Johnson will have again defied the pundits, and his would-be parliamentary assassins.

But whatever happens, it will be NFT. Normal For Tiverton.
An independent clothing brand has launched a 'period positive' clothing collection in a bid to open up a conversation around topics typically considered taboo, including vulva diversity and period poverty.

Lucy & Yak, a Yorkshire-based company founded in 2017 by Lucy Greenwood and Chris Renwick, is best known for its range of dungarees, which often feature bold and colourful prints.

The trousers and dungarees are on sale now, and cost 36 and 62 respectively.

In 2020, it launched trousers and dungarees covered in a vulva print. Now it has expanded its vibrant portfolio with these new designs, which it describes as genderless.

Posting about the new launch on social media, the brand said it wants to want 'do our bit to normalise conversation & remove stigma surrounding vulvas and periods'.

Yorkshire-based independent fashion brand Lucy & Yak has launched a limited edition clothing range designed to spark a conversation around taboo topics including menstruation and vulvas. These dungarees feature a fruity vulva print

The second item in the brand's period positive range is these trousers, which boast a print featuring menstrual items including tampons, cups, and bloody underwear

This print, which features bloody tampons among other period-related items, was designed by artist Sam Dawood, whose work has been included in The Vagina Museums permanent collection

It added: 'Half of the worlds population has one  so lets have a bloody chat about it!'

As well as normalising periods, it wants to draw attention to period poverty, which refers to a lack of access to menstrual products.

A 2017 study of girls in the UK found that one in 10 were unable to afford these products, with the same number being forced to use improvised sanitary wear.

As well as leading to potential health issues, period poverty can also cause emotional and mental challenges.

It is thought that the stigma around menstruation means the conversation about period poverty, as well as research into the topic, has been limited.

The trousers, described by the brand as genderless, feature a red print on a pink background designed by artist Sam Dawood

Fruity: the dungaree print features different types of fruit, which the brand says represent vulva diversity

Lucy & Yak says it wants to 'challenge the stigma around bleeding' with its new trousers, which were created in collaboration with multimedia artist Sam Dawood.

Sam's work has been included in The Vagina Museums permanent collection, as well as The British Librarys exhibition The Fight for Womens Rights.

WHAT IS PERIOD POVERTY? Period poverty, defined as a lack of access to menstrual products, hygiene facilities, waste management, and education, affects many women globally causing physical, mental, and emotional challenges. The stigma that shrouds periods further prevents individuals from talking about it. Lack of data and limited research on period poverty are challenges hence more research and engagement are called for. Period poverty like other forms of poverty can be debilitating. It can take different forms and has emotional, physical, and mental health effects on individuals. Source: Journal of Global Health Reports Advertisement

Speaking about the red and pink print, which features bloody tampons, menstrual cups and underwear, the artist said: 'My aim is to support others in not being embarrassed by nudity; to share the wonderful human form through art without censorship, shame or sexualisation.'

The second piece in the collection, the dungarees - or 'vulvarees' - feature a fruity vulva print created by LA-based artist Kelly Malka.

According to Lucy & Yak's website, Kelly's work is 'both vibrant and relevant, raising awareness around important topics in her own distinct colourful style, often focusing on issues and conversations around the body and its form'.

Speaking about the range, Lucy & Yak co-founder Lucy Greenwood said: 'We're so excited to launch our second Vulvaree edit, to continue to raise awareness of topics which can still be considered taboo, even in 2022.

'I remember when I got my first period and how mortified I felt.'

She added that period 'always turns up when youre unprepared'.

She said: 'I'm not even sure anyone had warned me it would happen, so you can imagine my surprise and panic.

'I'm all for a world where no one has to feel ashamed or embarrassed about something as normal as bleeding.'

Alongside launching the range, Lucy & Yak will be making donations to organisations working to eradicate period poverty, including UK-based social enterprise Hey Girls.
As the saying goes, there is always a first time for everything. It may not be as impressive as the subsequent attempts, but the first time marks a turning point in anyone's life, even for an organization.

The first image NASA took of Saturn is one of those attempts. However, unlike Hubble's first photos, which were distorted due to a manufacturing error, the first picture of Saturn is one of the most impressive feats of astronomy and photography of its time.

Here's how NASA took that historical photo:

NASA's First picture of Saturn

Saturn is the sixth planet of our solar system and is around 1.41 billion kilometers away from Earth, per Space.com. The planet's name came from the Roman god Saturn, the god of agriculture and the father of Jupiter. In Greek mythology, Saturn is known as Cronos, the king of the titans, and the father of Zeus, who is called Jupiter by the Romans.

Dur to its distance from Earth, taking a picture of Saturn would be a difficult if taken from a observatory on Earth. However, NASA had an ace up its sleeve in the form of its Cassini spacecraft.

The Cassini spacecraft is one of NASA's space probes, like Voyager, that can take photos of celestial objects and bodies and send the data back to Earth for processing and research, per NASA.

Read More: Resident Evil Village Demo is Now Available on Web Browsers  Here;s How to Access It

Cassini was able to get close to Saturn and took photos of the sixth planet as well as its rings and one of its most prominent moons, Titan.

The picture was taken while Cassini was 177 million miles away from Saturn, and as such, Saturn appears to be far away. However, the probe was able to take pictures of Saturn, its rings, and Titan clearly and brightly at the same time thanks to its position.

Cassini Spacecraft Details

NASA's Cassini spacecraft, more formally known by its complete name, the Cassini-Huygens spacecraft, is the fourth space probe to visit the sixth planet and the first to enter its orbit.

The three space probes that previously visited Saturn were Pioneer 11 in 1979, and the two Voyager space probes, which made their respective visits on 1980 and 1981.

Cassini was able to provide definitive proof that liquid water resides on Saturn's moon, Enceladus, with the moon shooting out icy jets of water vapor and icy particles that are then warped by Saturn's gravity. It also discovered many of Saturn's various moons. Two of the planet's moons, Methone and Pallene, were dscovered immediately after Cassini arrived on the sith planet.

Aside from taking the first photos of Saturn, it was responsible for taking the Huygens probe to Saturn, making it the first object humanity created that landed or made it to a world in the solar system's distant outer planets.

A separate Space.com article mentioned that the spacecraft orbited Saturn from June 30, 2004 until September 15, 2017. At this time, NASA instructed the probe to enter Saturn itself to avoid the contamination of one of the planet's habitable moons, such as Enceladus or Titan.

Related Article: #SpaceSnap The First Close-Up Photo of Venus May Not Look Like What You Think It Does
You mean orgies?

No. This isnt Ancient Greece. In 2022 its a sex party and its all about choice.

Why am I suddenly reading so much about sex parties?

Because theyre having a huge post-pandemic renaissance. A recent headline in the New York Post screamed: NYC ready for threesomes, sex parties after disappointing hot vax summer. The intellectual reading of the situation is that weve had months of lockdowns in which to reach a deeper understanding and acceptance of our sexuality. The less lofty (but possibly more accurate) viewpoint is that sex has been in short supply and now its back on the menu were really going for it.

Hasnt Silvio Berlusconi tarnished their image, though?

The former Italian Prime Ministers bunga bunga parties werent open to the public  much to the relief of just about everyone.

But if its a real trend, wouldnt celebrities be doing it?

Fair point, but give it time because this thing definitely hasnt peaked yet. As YOU went to press, in fact, celebrity blogger and author Zoella (right), 32, had just posted a piece entitled What Its Really Like to Attend a Sex Party IRL.

Everyone's talking about: A summer of sex parties (stock image)

Zoella went to a sex party?

No, actually, she got a couple called Abbie and Emma to go for her. They seemed to like it, though, especially the play room and the large spa bath. And according to zoella.co.uk: Contrary to popular belief, sex parties arent reserved for the sex-mad, theyre for ordinary folk: lawyers, teachers, writers, doctors, stylists, financial advisors and accountants.

Its not about sex, then?

It can be... but it doesnt have to be. Think option rather than obligation. At a recent LGBTQ+ sex party in Londons East End, strict anti-harassment policies were enforced by armband wearers. There was a gentle, respectful vibe, according to Yas Necati, gender columnist for the people of colour magazine Gal-Dem, who wore a cute harness and tight shorts.

So, what else can I do at a sex party?

That all depends on what floats your boat. One organiser of hedonistic dinner parties advertises a four-course meal cooked by a private chef with after-dinner play. Another can provide tea, biscuits and cushions in a quiet space.

This all sounds very woke...

Correct. Expect details on the organisers mutual-aid ticketing scheme for those on low incomes way before you find out the fetishes they cater for.

Im guessing gimp masks are banned?

Not at all. Most organisers encourage partygoers to dress up, and bondage-wear is still going strong. Youre just asked to be tolerant of those who dont do skintight rubber. Its referred to as being sex positive. Also, anything too restrictive might be a look to avoid if youre booking the four-course meal. We understand lasagne is sometimes served.

Lasagne in a dungeon?

No, we think you mean restrictive wellness space.

Talk me through the dress code.

Remember, the new-gen sex party is ultra-inclusive, so guests are encouraged to experiment. Probably dont bother so much with the sequined/feathered mask (a bit Stanley Kubrick-y) and no jeans. Some things in clubland will always be sacred.

Im tempted but Im nervous someone will find out...

That, were sorry to say, is a classic 1990s attitude. Cast off your inhibitions; theyre very ageing. One London-based extreme fetish fantasy party (where phones are banned) reports having to construct a photo booth for their Instagram-obsessed clientele. In America the concept of sex parties is almost embarrassingly conventional. The online lifestyle platform InsideHook recently wrote: Over the last decade, sex clubs and parties have shifted from the stuff of underground lore to an almost ho-hum fixture of modern American life.

Sold. Tell me how to open the conversation when I arrive...

Wheres the samovar? Id kill for a turmeric tea.

Any remarks to avoid?

Has anyone seen Eyes Wide Shut?
A few weeks ago, I was lucky enough to escape to a yoga retreat in Morocco. It was held by Nicole Page-Croft, with whom I have practised yoga for many years.

Her retreats are not just about the yoga poses but have a theme out of which she draws many wise teachings.

Our week was a celebration of the senses. The richness of life comes largely through our senses, says Nicole. They provide opportunity for interaction, learning and delight.

We also had to learn how to harness them. Theres a Buddhist metaphor which likens our senses to horses pulling a chariot, Without training and a wise driver, our senses can carry us off in every direction and can even cause us to career off the road. Each morning we dived into a sense before doing yoga.

A few weeks ago, I was lucky enough to escape to a yoga retreat in Morocco. It was held by Nicole Page-Croft, with whom I have practised yoga for many years. Stock image

First up was sight  the main one from which we learn about the world. But Nicole warned that due to screens, adverts and media, we are subject to visual overload. Yoga teaches us to settle the mind by reining in our seeing. We practised drishti, focusing our gaze on a point when still which calms and concentrates the mind.

The next day it was our sense of smell, which Nicole described as the closest thing to time travel because a scent can transport you to another era and space. For me its the smell of art shops that takes me back to my creative youth.

Nicole suggested we calm our nervous system by regularly using a scent we can associate with downtime. She uses incense though you can also try aromatherapy oils or a breathing balm. I love Bertioli Breathing Balm, 20, bertioli.co.uk.

I really related to the session on hearing as I often feel the need to lie in silence in the bath, banning anyone from entering or chatting to me.

The world is a noisy place, says Nicole, All spiritual traditions attest to the need for pockets of silence in order to think better. Silence reduces feelings of being overwhelmed and encourages contemplation and space between thoughts. So if you find life is getting too much, seek out even a few moments of clarity-inducing quiet.

Next we learnt the importance of touch, of how we thrive in direct correlation to being held  which is why having to keep our distance was one of the drawbacks of lockdown.

Meanwhile, the session on taste reminded us that it is not just a survival tool but has a purpose of gathering people together which is essential for community. Finally, we spoke about what Buddhists call our sixth sense  intuition; that feeling most of us acknowledge which tells us when something is or isnt right.

But one of my greatest learnings was what the yogis call pratyahara  loosely translated as sense withdrawal. We interact with the world by way of our senses, says Nicole, and very often there is no space between its call and your response.

An important lesson in Buddhist teaching is that while we may have little control over the world in which we live, we can change our response to it. So before you fire off that email to your boss or shout at your partner, instead of reacting immediately, acknowledge some space in your mind and sit in it for a while. You will make better life choices because of it.

@susannahtaylor_
Prince William and Kate Middleton are 'modern parents' who use 'emotional intelligence' to discipline Prince George, Princess Charlotte and 'mischievous' Prince Louis, a royal expert has claimed.

Royal fans went wild after the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge were joined by their three children at various Jubilee celebrations last weekend, with four-year-old Louis' antics stealing the show.

And now royal expert Jennie Bond has explained how the couple are 'making a good job of giving their children as much of a normal upbringing as possible.'

Speaking to Okay! magazine, she said: 'I've read that they have a very modern way of parenting where, instead of putting your child on the naughty step, you allow your child to explain why they feel how they do and have a conversation about it so they can express themselves and calm down that way.

Prince William and Kate Middleton are 'modern parents' who use 'emotional intelligence' to discipline Prince George, Princess Charlotte and 'mischievous' Prince Louis, a royal expert has claimed

Royal expert Jennie Bond has explained how the couple are 'making a good job of giving their children as much of a normal upbringing as possible'

'The result seems to be that they are children who are broadly well behaved. Louis didn't misbehave over the Jubilee, but he was mischievous as four year olds are.'

Her comments come after royal fans went wild for the moment Prince William comforted his daughter Princess Charlotte after she appeared to grow tired during the Platinum Pageant at Buckingham Palace on Sunday.

The Duke of Cambridge reached over to brush his daughter's hair behind her shoulder and whispered a comforting word in her ear after she grew restless in the royal box.

Charlotte, seven, who attended the event with her brothers George, eight, and Louis, four, rubbed her eyes and looked despondent at one point.

There was one moment when seven-year-old Princess Charlotte, who has become a favourite of royal fans thanks to her sassy personality, looked tired and her father had to step in to cheer her up at the Platinum Jubilee pageant event outside Buckingham Palace

Charlotte was seen with her head down looking sleepy and wiping her eyes and her loving father William then stroked her hair as he bent down to speak to her and cheer her up

The moment occurred in the royal box while the Cambridges watched the Platinum Jubilee pageant with their family

The moment proved a hit with fans who praised the Duke of Cambridge for being a thoughtful, hands-on father.

In the clip shared by royal watchers on Twitter, Charlotte, whose hair was pulled back into two plaits, was seen with her head down looking sleepy and wiping her eyes.

Her loving father William then stroked her hair as he bent down to speak to her and cheer her up.

She appeared to nod her head afterwards, then wiping her nose with her arm, reassured by her father's words.

Sunday's pageant, which marked the finale of the four-day Platinum Jubilee celebrations, was attended by a host of royals including the Cambridge family and rounded off a busy weekend for little Charlotte.

Princess Charlotte, Prince George, the Duke of Cambridge (second row) Mia Tindall, Lena Tindall, Zara Tindall, (third row centre) Labour leader Keir Starmer sat in the royal box during the Platinum Jubilee Pageant in front of Buckingham Palace, London, on the last day of celebrations

After the pageant, the Queen, Prince Charles, The Duchess of Cornwall, Prince George, Princess Charlotte, Prince William, Prince Louis and the Duchess of Cambridge appeared on the balcony

She had spent the day before at a visit to Cardiff Castle with her mother and father and brother George, meeting performers ahead of a special Platinum Jubilee concert in the grounds.

The seven-year-old was seen giggling and dancing along to Disney hit 'We Don't Talk About Bruno' from Encanto.

She also tried her hand at conducting performers as her laughing family watched on.

But her day did not end there, with Charlotte attending a Saturday night concert outside Buckingham Palace with her mother, father and George.

The clip of Charlotte being comforted by her father was in stark contrast to other footage of her giving her brother Louis a dressing down. Throughout the Platinum Jubilee celebrations, he was pictured making funny faces and being cheeky and she appeared to scold him on multiple occasions

Throughout the concert, which started at 8pm, the camera panned to the youngsters in the royal box, sometimes singing and dancing and often waving flags as they watched a star-studded line up including Sam Ryder and Diana Ross with their parents the Duke, 39, and Duchess of Cambridge, 40.

William and Kate's youngest child Prince Louis, three, did not attend Sunday's event, after putting on an adorable display of cheeky faces and speaking animatedly to his great-grandmother on the first day of her Platinum Jubilee celebrations at an RAF flypast last Thursday.

There were mixed reactions to Charlotte and George online as many thought that they were well-behaved, considering that the event had started at 8pm and the family attended after visiting Cardiff Castle to watch preparations for another concert within the grounds.

Charlotte and George also attended a Saturday night concert for the Platinum Jubilee, with mixed reactions online. Many said they were well-behaved but others said they looked bored and tired after such a busy day

But others thought they looked bored and tired, watching the concert after such a jam-packed day.

The young family sat alongside the Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall at the event.

Prince George was filmed belting out the lyrics to Sweet Caroline as Sir Rod Stewart performed on stage in one of many adorable moments at the star-studded concert.

One person wrote: 'Lovely celebrations eh, Charlotte and George looked adorbs during the concert.' Meanwhile, another person quipped: 'Charlotte and George are such a mood'.

Camilla Duchess of Cornwall, Prince Charles, Queen Elizabeth II, Prince George, Prince William, Princess Charlotte, Prince Louis, and Kate Duchess of Cambridge appear on the balcony of Buckingham Palace during the Platinum Jubilee Pageant

And others celebrated the young royals, calling them 'exceptional' and saying that they did the Queen proud.

Another person penned: 'It was an amazing night in every sense of the word' and remarked on the fact that the experience of watching the show would be a 'wow' experience for them.

Even social media users worldwide enjoyed the concert, with one Canadian tweeter writing: 'That was a beautifully produced show. We are loving it here in Canada. Little George was adorable. and so is Charlotte. They are such a lovely family.'

Charlotte, George and their parents were filmed waving their flags and having fun during Saturday night's Platinum Jubilee concert

A separate commenter wrote: 'I love how Prince George and Princess Charlotte sang along with their parents.'

Charlotte was also filmed giving her younger brother Louis a dressing down during several events in the Platinum Jubilee celebrations.

And even Prince George, eight, isn't immune from his sister's bossiness, with a video showing the future king being told how to pose on the balcony - and immediately heeding Charlotte's instructions.

In a clip from Sunday's Platinum Pageant, shared on Twitter by royal watchers, Charlotte is seen pushing Louis' arm down and away from his mouth, to stop him from sucking his fingers.

Sunday's event was the last of the four-day Platinum Jubilee celebrations and attended by all three Cambridge children and their mother and father

She then appears to brandish her fist at her younger brother, perhaps warning him against sucking his fingers again.

At this point, their mother Kate Middleton steps in, and whispers something to Charlotte.

Undeterred by the ticking off, Louis then mocks his old sister, brandishing his own fist in the same way, before his mother gently pushes his arm back onto his lap.

Sunday's pageant, which marked the finale of the four-day Platinum Jubilee celebrations, was the last event attended by the Cambridge children.

The royal box was filled with dignitaries, members of the royal family and politicians and cabinet members at the Platinum Jubilee pageant

The interchange Louis had with Charlotte was not the only funny moment of the restless royal captured on camera at the event.

Four-year-old Louis was also seen pulling faces during the pageant, and gesturing at his mother Kate Middleton.

At one point, he even stuck his hand over her mouth, presumably in an attempt to make her stop talking.
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Prince Andrew was pictured riding a horse at Windsor Castle today amid his ongoing money troubles - after being called an 'absolute fool' because sale of his 18m Swiss chalet has been frozen so more debtors can claim 1.6million from him.

The Duke of York, 60, appeared to push his worries aside as he donned a blue coat and helmet and opted for a warm summers day horse ride, accompanied by a male groom.

Princess Eugenie and Princess Beatrice's father, who lives at the Royal Lodge just three miles away, appeared downcast as he rode through the grounds.

It comes days before his first public appearance since his father Prince Philip's memorial service, with the royal expected to attend a service to mark Garter Day at Windsor Castle on Monday with other members of the Royal Family.

Prince Andrew, 60, was pictured riding a horse at Windsor Castle today amid his ongoing money troubles - as he prepares for his first public appearance since April

The monarch's disgraced second son stepped down from public life after the furore over his friendship with paedophile billionaire Jeffrey Epstein, and paid millions to settle a civil sexual assault case to a woman he claimed never to have met.

Andrew was cast out of the working monarchy and no longer uses his HRH style after Virginia Giuffre, who was trafficked by Epstein, accused him of sexually assaulting her when she was 17. The Duke denied the claims.

Earlier today, it emerged a freezing order has been placed on the Duke of Yorks controversial 18million retreat in the Swiss resort of Verbier which is in the process of being sold  reportedly to help him pay off sex abuse accuser Virginia.

The legal move will guarantee that a Swiss couple, with whom the duke struck up a business arrangement, will receive the reported 1.6million owed to them by the Queens second son, sources have said.

The Duke of York, 60, appeared to push his worries aside as he donned a blue coat and helmet and opted for a warm summers day horse ride, accompanied by a male groom

The disgraced royal had previously owed Isabelle de Rouvre more than 6million for the chalet until last year.

Miss de Rouvre said she pities the couple, whose identity is being kept secret, knowing the stress she experienced trying to recoup the money owed to her after she sold Chalet Helora in Verbier to Prince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson in 2014.

She said: It was a horrible experience. I do not understand how he operates and I feel very sorry for people who are involved with him in business.

Sources close to the duke insist the freezing order is not holding up the chalets sale.

Removal vans from a UK firm given a Royal Warrant by the Queen in 1981 were spotted at the property this week. Sources confirmed they were removing items on behalf of the duke.

Princess Eugenie and Princess Beatrice 's father, who lives at the Royal Lodge just three miles away, appeared downcast as he rode through the grounds

A buyer was believed to have been found some months ago but the process reportedly stalled because the chalet is under sequestration as a result of the new debt.

The chalet was frozen as an asset by Swiss authorities on December 15, 2020, according to Le Temps newspaper.

LOffice Des Poursuites, the debt collection authority, refused to comment last night.

It is the latest controversy to emerge surrounding the beleaguered prince and his ties to Verbier.

French Socialite Isabelle de Rouvre (pictured) branded the prince 'an absolute fool' as it's emerged he has more money troubles. The Duke of York had previously owed Isabelle de Rouvre more than 6 million in chalet debt until last year

Sources confirmed that removal vans from the UK were at the Verbier property this week and were removing items on behalf of the duke. The chalet was frozen by Swiss authorities in December 2020

The long-running battle with the chalets previous owner, Miss de Rouvre, over the 6.6million debt was only resolved last year.

She said: Its really rather unbelievable. He caused me such stress and now its claimed other people are owed money too.

They [Andrew and Sarah] are so crazy. He [Andrew] is an absolute fool and I just cannot understand how he goes about his life.

Miss de Rouvre had been forced into a legal battle two years ago to recoup the vast sum.

She had sold Chalet Helora to her then-friends Andrew and his ex-wife Sarah Ferguson in 2014 for 18million. But they failed to pay a cash amount of 5million.

She agreed it could be deferred until December 2019, with interest accruing, but later accused the pair of failing to honour the agreement.

A source close to the Duke of York said of the 1.6million debt: Talks are under way to resolve the matter, which are expected to be concluded satisfactorily for all parties, but it in no way prevents the sale of the chalet.

Pictured: Virginia Roberts with Prince Andrew and Ghislaine Maxwell in early 2021. It's believed the sale of the controversial Swiss retreat would have helped the duke pay off Miss Roberts

Andrew's appearance comes as he is expected to be at the service at St George' Chapel in Windsor for members of the Order of the Garter on Monday.

The Duke could even walk in procession from Windsor Castle to the chapel with other Royal Family members, before returning to the castle in a carriage.

Buckingham Palace has not yet confirmed whether the Queen will attend the service, which is one of the most important dates in the annual royal calendar and is returning for the first time in three years since it was last held in June 2019.

A source close to Andrew told Newsweek that he is 'still planning to attend' the service, which will see also Camilla installed as a Royal Lady of the order.

Before the Jubilee weekend, Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby had suggested Andrew was 'seeking to make amends', adding: 'I think that's a very good thing.'

Andrew took a central role in escorting his mother to the Duke of Edinburgh's memorial service at Westminster Abbey in March.

Prince Andrew took a central role in escorting his mother the Queen to the Duke of Edinburgh's memorial service at Westminster Abbey in London on March 29

It came as a surprise change to the planned arrangements  only weeks earlier he had been banished from royal public life and paid to settle his court case. The move was taken as a sign of the monarch's support for her son.

At the service next Monday, former prime minister Sir Tony Blair will be installed as a Knight Companion of the order, the oldest and most senior British Order of Chivalry.

Former United Nations under-secretary Baroness Amos will be installed as a Lady Companion of the order, established by King Edward III nearly 700 years ago.

The Order includes The Queen, who is Sovereign of the Garter, several senior Members of the Royal Family, and 24 Knights or Ladies.
Sarah Ferguson cut a diplomatic figure today as she met with Ukrainian refugees living in Vukovar during a trip to Croatia.

The Duchess of York, 62, opted for a smart white blazer and black dress as she visited Vukovar and met with Ukrainian refugees in the country, to whom she gave blue pencils with a crown as a gift.

The mother-of-two, affectionately known as a 'Fergie' was visiting in her role as the chair of the newly formed International Montessori Ambassadors group.

Opting for a natural look, the Duchess, who is divorced from Prince Andrew, wore her hair down and loose and sported a low-key make-up look.

Sarah Ferguson cut a diplomatic figure today as she met with locals in Croatia while continuing her tour of the country to promote Montessori

The Duchess of York , 62, opted for a smart white blazer and black dress as she visited Vukovar and met with locals, to whom she gave blue pencils with a crown as a gift

She wore a touch of dark eye-liner around her eye and paired the look with small hoop earrings.

Days ago, she meet the mayor of Zagreb, where she also held a press conference at a hotel to promote her new role.

In the meeting she held onto a Little Red Doll, heroine of her own series of children's books and also posed with an edition of her books with Little Red in Croatia.

She also held up a copy of Newsweek from 1985.

Taking to her Instagram following the event, she wrote: 'Im in Zagreb with the @montessori.group as chair of the newly formed International Montessori Ambassadors group and honoured to meet with @tomislavtomasevichr, Mayor of Zagreb.

Days ago, she meet the mayor of Zagreb, where she also held a press conference at a hotel to promote her new role

The Duchess of York opted for a blue shirt dress with an A-line skirt which she paired with velvet loafers and a bedazzled denim jacket for the meeting in the Balkan nation

Opting for a natural look, the Duchess, who is divorced from Prince Andrew, wore her hair down and loose and sported a low-key make-up look

MONTESSORI SCHOOLING The schooling system was invented in the early 1900s by Dr Maria Montessori to educate poor children in her native Italy. Today, there are more than 5,000 Montessori schools in the US, and around 700 in the UK, where they are privately funded. The method discourages traditional competitive measurements of achievement, such as grades and tests, and instead focuses on the individual progress and development of each child. Children of different ages share the same classes, and are encouraged to collaborate and help each other. Special educational materials are used to keep children interested, and there is an emphasis on 'practical life skills'. Most Montessori classrooms are secular in nature. The Montessori method has had its share of criticism. Some parents believe the classroom environment is 'too free' while others question Montessori teaching priorities, or the fact that children are not normally assigned homework Advertisement

'Zagreb is no stranger to wars and their consequences, and has welcomed refugees for many years. 11,000 Ukrainians have sought refuge in Croatia since their country was invaded by Russia and the Mayor explained the structures and systems they have in place to integrate them with the larger community.

'We discussed Montessoris work in Croatia with Emergency Container Home Shelters, which offer decent shelter for the local refugee population, and the support they are giving to teachers and children with day care centres for refugee children, and how we can help support him and the Croatian people.

'I spent time talking to Blizhina Maria who fled Odesa with her daughter Alisa on 24th February.

'They managed to get near to the border then walked the final journey into Moldova.

'It is a great honour to be here, showing respect and love for a country I have had a deep connection with for three decades.

'My charity Children in Crisis supported Croatian and Bosnian refugee families in the early 1990s who were going through the heartbreak Ukraine is living through now.

'I am immensely proud of our work setting up a refugee camp in Tasovcici, Bosnia, later singled out by the @refugees, and I am committed to doing all I can to give ongoing support

It comes after the Duchess of York said Prince Andrew is a 'wonderful' father and a 'very, very good grandfather' to Eugenie and Beatrice's children

Fergie remains extremely close to her ex-husband 14 years after their divorce.

The couple, who wed in 1986 and share daughters Beatrice, 33, and Eugenie, 32, continue to live at the Royal Lodge on the Queen's Windsor estate.

Sarah previously claimed Prince Andrew is a 'wonderful father' and grandfather, while reflecting on raising Princess Beatrice and Eugenie (pictured)

The Duchess of York said as grandparents they are trying not to 'interfere too much' with how Sienna and August are being raised

It is Fergie's latest show of support for her ex-husband after he paid Jeffrey Epstein victim Virginia Roberts Giuffre a reported 12million to settle allegations of sexual abuse out of court - allegations that he always denied.

Speaking to Ok Magazine, Fergie said: '[Andrew] is a wonderful father and a very very good grandfather.

She continued: 'I think, as a grandparent, you have to let your children get on with being the parents they want to be, and not interfere too much.

'But I'm always there to pick up the broccoli when it goes flying at mealtimes.'

Beatrice who married Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi, 38, in 2020 is mother to daughter Sienna, seven months, while Eugenie who married Jack Brooksbank, 36, in 2018 is mother to son August, one. Beatrice is also stepmother to Edoardo's son, Wolfie.
A mum-of-two who thought she had tonsillitis and a stubborn 'daycare bug' was diagnosed with blood cancer at just 31 years old - and again five years later.

Lauren Woodfield, from Sydney, was diagnosed with Hodgkin's lymphoma - a type of blood cancer - in 2015 soon after finding a lump on the right side of her collarbone.

After visiting a new doctor who thought she had glandular fever, she noticed the grape-size lump and went to her regular GP for testing.

'I was quite naive to the whole experience,' Lauren, now 38, told FEMAIL.

She was put on a strong dose of antibiotics before visiting an oncologist for further tests - and was eventually given the shocking news.

Lauren Woodfield, from Sydney, was diagnosed with Hodgkin's lymphoma - a type of blood cancer - in 2015 soon after finding a lump on the right side of her collarbone

'I was quite naive to the whole experience,' Lauren, now 38, told FEMAIL

The most common symptoms of Hodgkin's lymphoma Swollen lymph nodes Painless swelling of lymph nodes in your neck, armpits or groin Persistent fatigue Fever Night sweats Losing weight without trying Severe itching Pain in your lymph nodes after drinking alcohol Advertisement

But rather than being called to the doctor, a receptionist delivered the dreadful news to Lauren - leaving her with more questions than answers at the time.

'It was nuts; I went and saw one of the other girls in the office [at work] and I told her how they think I have Hodgkin's lymphoma - and her face just dropped,' Lauren said.

'She said to me: "I think you should go home", and I was a bit oblivious.'

Prior to getting her results back she went to see another oncologist and the seriousness of the diagnosis didn't sink in for Lauren until she was asked 'the biggest question' of her life.

Rather than being called to the doctor, a receptionist delivered the dreadful news to Lauren - leaving her with more questions than answers at the time

After the surgical biopsy determined the type of cancer and location, Lauren had one round of IVF prior to starting six months of chemotherapy

'The bombshell was when the doctor asked, "Have you finished your family?",' she recalled.

'At the time, that question burned more than the actual diagnosis. What kind of question is that?'

The doctor was asking whether Lauren had finished having children, and at the time her oldest daughter Isla was just 15 months old.

'I was like, "No, what do you mean?" I just had no idea,' she said.

The doctor explained the treatment required was quite advanced and may cause early menopause so IVF was recommended for egg collection.

'That's when it became very real, because I was still in the new mum phase,' she said.

Doctors opted against radiotherapy treatment due to Lauren's age and additional health risk-factors

Lauren described the treatment as a 'crazy time' as she and her husband Mitch were rebuilding their house and living at his parent's place

After the surgical biopsy determined the type of cancer and location, Lauren had one round of IVF prior to starting six months of chemotherapy.

Lauren described the treatment as a 'crazy time' as she and her husband Mitch were rebuilding their house and living at his parent's place.

She said: 'I guess it was like a blessing in disguise because it was the best distraction from everything else that was happening.'

Doctors opted against radiotherapy treatment due to Lauren's age and additional health risk-factors.

After the treatment and recovering from the side-effects like extreme fatigue, Lauren returned to working three days a week.

Doctors opted against radiotherapy treatment due to Lauren's age and additional health risk-factors.

But a few years later in 2020, the unthinkable happened and Lauren relapsed. This time round Lauren only needed two months of 'intense' chemotherapy and a stem cell transplant towards the end of 2020

But a few years later in 2020, the unthinkable happened during the pandemic.

'I was having all these familiar feelings,' she said.

Towards the end of Sydney's first lockdown, Lauren found another lump on the left side of her clavicle.

'I came out to my husband again and said, "It's back" and burst into tears,' she said.

Since the hospital system was overloaded with patients due to Covid, it took seven and a half weeks for an official diagnosis.

Unfortunately a PET scan and X-ray confirmed the cancer had returned.

This time round Lauren only needed two months of 'intense' chemotherapy and a stem cell transplant towards the end of 2020.

'The side effects were next level, it was nothing I had ever experienced,' she said, adding how she was extremely fatigued and her hair started to thin.

At one point while on the phone to a friend, Lauren lost her vocabulary and couldn't speak, so nurses rushed to the room and thought she was having a stroke.

Thankfully an MRI didn't find any bleeding in the brain and doctors believe the inability to speak was a side effect from the harsh chemotherapy drug.

Also because of Covid Lauren had to live away from home for three and a half months - which was extremely difficult for both Lauren and Mitch.

Lauren is once again in remission and has check-ups every three months.

What is Hodgkin's Lymphoma? Hodgkin lymphoma is a rare form of cancer that starts in a type of white blood cells called lymphocytes. The disease begins in a lymph node, usually in the neck, then spreads through the lymphatic system from one group of lymph nodes to another. Hodgkin lymphoma represents roughly 0.5 percent of all cancers diagnosed in Australia. About 11 percent of all lymphomas are types of Hodgkin lymphoma, while the remainder are non-Hodgkin. Non-Hodgkin lymphoma may arise in lymph nodes anywhere in the body, whereas Hodgkin lymphoma typically begins in the upper body, such as the neck, chest or armpits. Hodgkin lymphoma is often diagnosed at an early stage and is therefore considered one of the most treatable cancers. The causes of Hodgkin lymphoma remain largely unclear, but risk factors include family history Source: Lymphoma Australia Advertisement

Her health issues led Lauren to reflect on time spent travelling overseas with Mitch soon after they met.

'We knew we had to get back to doing what we loved and go on new adventures,' she said.

In March this year, Lauren and the family started their journey on a lap around the country and are currently in Bowen, Queensland.

At the moment their oldest daughter is being home schooled and neither Lauren nor Mitch are working.

'Life changes but it's up to us to adapt at each twist and turn. Keep making plans, keep dreaming and just making changes to follow those dreams,' she said.
It is the dreaded condition that has affected about two million Britons but remains a mystery to scientists more than two years after it emerged.

Long Covid, which blights sufferers with months of headaches, muscle pain and disabling fatigue, struck down its many victims regardless of age, underlying health conditions or vaccination status.

But earlier this year, research published by Israeli scientists suggested that, for most people, it is now no longer a threat.

The study, of 3,000 people who had contracted Covid, found those given two vaccines were up to 70 per cent less likely to suffer long Covid than unvaccinated people.

British experts have since added that the UK's triumphant vaccine programme, with more than half the population triple-jabbed and many receiving a fourth top-up dose, means protection against long-term symptoms could be even higher.

Long Covid, which blights sufferers with months of headaches, muscle pain and disabling fatigue, struck down its many victims regardless of age, underlying health conditions or vaccination status. But earlier this year, research published by Israeli scientists suggested that, for most people, it is now no longer a threat

But research published last week seemed to dash these hopes. A US study of more than 30,000 double-vaccinated people, documented in the journal Nature, found that two jabs reduced the risk of long-term symptoms by a meagre 15 per cent.

So what's going on? And how worried do we need to be?

First, it's important to define long Covid.

Patients can be split into two groups. The first comprises those who were hospitalised with serious Covid symptoms, and the second those whose Covid illness was initially mild but then lingered or even worsened.

Patients in the first group may have suffered serious damage to vital organs such as the lungs or heart. As a result, it can take months for them to recover. Because the Covid jabs are so effective at protecting against severe disease, doctors agree that there are now vanishingly few of these patients.

But the majority of the UK's long Covid sufferers are in the second group. Some battle breathlessness and exhaustion, unable to work or complete simple tasks.

Doctors are still unsure what triggers the condition in these people, but there are several theories.

One is that symptoms are brought on by reservoirs of the virus that remain in certain areas of the body after infection. A US study in 2021 found that Covid cells remained in the gut months after infection.

Experts say that, if this is true, then it is possible anyone who gets infected, even the triple-jabbed, could still get long Covid. But the chances would be diminished.

'The whole point of the Covid vaccines is that they train the immune system to find and destroy Covid in your body, so it's likely that after three jabs the virus is going to find it hard to hide,' says Dr David Strain, senior clinical lecturer at the University of Exeter Medical School. 'But it is possible that, in small numbers, the virus could still slip past the immune system and remain in the body.'

Another theory is that the virus can cause the immune system to malfunction and attack healthy cells. If this is true, not only should three jabs reduce the risk of long Covid, it should also reduce how long sufferers feel unwell.

A US study of more than 30,000 double-vaccinated people, documented in the journal Nature, found that two jabs reduced the risk of long-term symptoms by a meagre 15 per cent. So what's going on? And how worried do we need to be?

'Vaccination prepares the immune system for the shock of Covid  which stops it going into overdrive when you get infected,' says Professor Manoj Sivan, an expert in rehabilitation medicine at Leeds University. 'If this theory is true, the immune system will be much more likely to return to normal function quickly.'

Dr Strain's own research shows that the risk of developing the condition after two jabs is now just over nine per cent  the risk of developing it in the unvaccinated is roughly around 14 per cent. These figures follow on from analysis published in February by the UK Health Security Agency showed two vaccine doses reduced the risk of long Covid by about 40 per cent.

'You've got to remember, you are also far less likely to catch Covid in the first place,' says Dr Strain.

Covid fact Worldwide, more than four in ten who caught Covid suffered symptoms for at least a month, a University of Michigan study found. Advertisement

Experts say it is too soon to have exact data on the impact of three jabs on long Covid, but that it is likely to reduce the risk even more.

So why does it seem so many Britons are developing the condition?

Data from the Office For National Statistics suggests 1.3 million have experienced Covid symptoms for at least three months. And official figures suggest cases are not falling, but rising, at roughly the same rate as they did last year.

Experts say there is a simple explanation for this  long Covid is bound to rise with infection rates.

At the height of the Omicron wave in January, the UK saw more than 180,000 new cases a day. The incidence of long Covid rose too  but not dramatically.

'The fact that long Covid patients rose steadily, but didn't rocket like they did before we had vaccines, is proof the jabs are helping,' says Dr Claire Steves, a clinical senior lecturer at King's College London.

There are also question marks over the reliability of the Office For National Statistics figures, which are based on people's own judgments about whether they have long Covid symptoms.

And experts say the multitude of problems linked to the condition, including fatigue, depression and concentration problems, could be caused by something else.

If true, many of these million cases may not be long Covid at all. 'There are so many different symptoms of long Covid, but a lot of them are not specific,' says Professor Francois Balloux, director of the University College London Genetics Institute. 'Some people might get Covid and feel depressed afterwards because they are tired and don't have motivation, which is quite normal when you get ill with any virus.'

And what of the US study that showed the jabs reduced the risk of long Covid by just 15 per cent?

'This study has several major problems, which means it probably doesn't give an accurate figure,' says Prof Balloux.

'It only looked at the condition in US army veterans, so people who are older than the average population, who are less likely to respond to the jabs in the first place. They also had greater odds of bad side effects from Covid, due to age.'

The risk of long Covid hasn't gone away. Some studies suggest protection against infection can last up to a year after three jabs, but others say it could be more like three months for the more vulnerable.

A greater risk of infection means more chance of long-term symptoms developing.

'Long Covid isn't going anywhere, because Covid isn't going anywhere,' says Dr Steves.
I am standing in a car park, just outside Aylesbury, beside what looks like a large shipping container. The tin-roofed building wouldn't look out of place at a festival, but there it would be a bar or the first aid centre. It's surrounded by scaffolding and sits in front of a derelict building site.

You'd have no idea from the outside, but this is the beating heart of the Government's latest plan to revolutionise the NHS. This building  and more than 100 similar sites  hosts a service specialising in a specific type of surgery, such as hip replacements or hysterectomies.

According to NHS chief executive Amanda Pritchard, so-called surgical hubs like this are the solution to tackling the health service's huge waiting lists.

Inside is a conveyor belt of patients undergoing a vital procedure to save their eyesight  30 minutes at a time, one in, one out. The patients are having a procedure to fix cataracts  where the lens in the eye becomes cloudy  which is one of the most in-demand surgeries.

According to figures published last week, innovations such as this might be working.

An artist's impression of the NHS hubs that will spring up in high streets. Each site will host a service specialising in a specific type of surgery, such as hip replacements or hysterectomies

On Monday, Health Secretary Sajid Javid announced that the number of people waiting more than two years for operations such as hip replacements, eye operations and heart surgery had halved in just four months.

And figures revealed to The Mail on Sunday last night showed the figure has fallen a further 15 per cent in a week, to just over 8,000 patients.

Over the past few weeks I've travelled the country uncovering the astounding efforts hospitals are making to clear the backlog. From breast screening in shopping centres to clinics dedicated to fixing aching joints, cutting-edge innovations are beginning to slash waiting times. But will it prove enough? When, ultimately, can we expect the waiting list crisis end?

While far fewer people may be waiting two years for an operation, 306,000 still face delays of more than a year  and the list is growing. In total, 6.4 million people in England are waiting for an op  a record high.

Ethan with surgeon Sarah Maling at the mobile cataract unit in a car park in Aylesbury

'Prior to the pandemic the target for routine procedures was within four months,' says David Maguire, from the health think-tank The King's Fund. 'So while it's good that fewer people are waiting less than two years, delays should never have reached this point.'

And so to the possible solutions. One is surgical hubs, like the cataract one run by specialists at the Stoke Mandeville hospital in Aylesbury.

Most NHS patients can expect to wait six months for cataract operations  of which 300,000 are performed every year. Those who are referred to this centre face the shortest delay for eye surgery in the country, waiting an average of just one month.

As the hubs focus on one treatment, they don't get clogged up with patients who need emergency surgery, such as after a car accident. It means even when hospitals are at their busiest, the surgical hub's schedule is not interrupted.

Professor Neil Mortensen, of the Royal College of Surgeons of England, says hubs 'build a wall' between planned surgery and emergency ops.

On Monday, Health Secretary Sajid Javid announced that the number of people waiting more than two years for operations such as hip replacements, eye operations and heart surgery had halved in just four months

'In a district hospital, the beds we need for patients having planned operations get filled with emergency cases,' he says. 'You don't have enough beds to cater for everyone, or space in the operating theatre  and you can't perform enough planned operations.'

At the hub there are two surgical theatres, a waiting room, a clinic room for doctors to have private consultations with patients, a toilet and not much else.

But the smoothness of the operation is impressive, with no patients hanging around in corridors.

In the waiting room I find Shirley Abarca, 71, a retired nurse from Amersham, Bucks, who is wearing an eye-patch, having just had an operation to treat a cataract in her right eye. A month ago, she had the left one done  just two weeks after she was referred. Despite a bit of soreness, she is in high spirits. Two months ago she couldn't drive in the evenings, and was reluctant to leave the house to go shopping because her sight was so poor.

Now, she has 'new eyes'. 'I'm seeing much better out of my left eye,' says Shirley. 'I'm sure my right eye will recover just as quickly.'

Shirley's local hospital, a 40- minute drive from Stoke Mandeville, stopped doing cataract surgery, due to a lack of staff. And that's another benefit of surgical hubs  they are often mobile. This building is designed to fit on the back of a lorry, consultant ophthalmologist Dr Sarah Maling and co-creator of the hub tells me.

'You could take it where it is needed the most,' she says. 'If one of the nearby hospitals needed extra cataracts capacity, or somewhere far away, like Newcastle, we could send it to them.'

I'm confident that we can keep pushing waiting times down  especially now that the worst of Covid is well and truly behind us. Prof Middleton, orthopaedic doctor at University Hospital Dorset

Another vital challenge facing the Government is how to cope with ongoing, increasing demand.

So the other arm to the delay-beating strategy is to catch disease earlier, treat it quickly with medication and other remedies, and prevent the need for operations. Fundamental to this are more than 100 centres that deal only with spotting signs of disease. These 'one-stop shops' are being built in the centre of communities  such as high streets and shopping malls  offering tests from breast cancer screening to hip and joint examinations.

Most patients are referred by their GP after complaining of an unusual pain, lump or ache. Doctors want to rule out serious conditions such as cancer, but also want to avoid adding patients to the extensive hospital waiting lists. At least one million checks have been carried out so far, according to Mr Javid.

Prof Middleton, an orthopaedic doctor at University Hospital Dorset, says that the one-stop diagnostic shop gives patients fast-track access to consultants, saving them from being 'bounced around' GPs, radiographers and physiotherapists before they see a specialist.

I visited one of the first diagnostic centres, the Dorset Health Village in Poole. It is squashed behind Greggs and Poundland, inside the Dolphin Shopping Centre.

Patients walk through the homeware section of Beales department store to get there. They are then ushered in by a volunteer who walks them to one of the clinics, each dedicated to hip or joint replacement surgery, breast cancer screening or eye tests to scan for glaucoma. Most patients emerge again after just 20 minutes.

Ashleigh Boreham, an ex-army logistics officer who helps runs the Dorset Health Village, says the team behind it aimed for the efficiency of the Covid vaccination hubs: 'There, people were constantly flowing through, never stopping, so we thought, why can't a hospital work like that?'

Another element is that doctors are relieved of paperwork, so have more time to tend to people. Patients document medical history themselves  via a form  and prescriptions and follow-up appointments are handled by junior staff.

'So much time as a doctor is wasted on admin,' says Prof Middleton, who splits his time between the centre and a hospital. 'An appointment lasts 30 minutes but you'll spend only ten minutes talking about the patient's problems. In this system, I only spend ten minutes with each patient, so I can see three times as many in a day.'

The Dorset Health Centre is operating well above standard NHS capacity. 'At this rate we'll do about 8,000 more appointments this year than we would in hospital,' says Dr Mahesh Ramchandani, consultant ophthalmologist at University Hospital Dorset.

Surgical hubs and diagnostic centres are not the only tools NHS chiefs are pinning their hopes on  a number of hospitals are also running 'priority weeks' in a bid to clear backlogs.

This involves doing just one type of planned surgery or invasive scan over five days, when the majority of the surgical staff and operating theatre capacity will be dedicated to this speciality.

Barking, Havering, and Redbridge University Hospitals Trust in London has pioneered this strategy. Last year Redbridge ran a 'bones' week which focused on joint surgery, and a week dedicated to internal endoscopy scans which pick up problems, including cancers, in the bowel and stomach.

It's a fact In 2010, the average wait for an operation in Britain was five weeks. Today, it's 12 weeks. Advertisement

'In a week we cut our wait times for an endoscopy by a third,' says Amalesh Thangadorai, director for surgery at the hospital.

'This led to a reduction in the endoscopy backlog in North-East London and everyone can get one in six weeks.'

And then there's the hotly debated involvement of the private sector  which has increased significantly in the past year.

In February, local NHS chiefs were told to send any patients in desperate need of planned surgery, such as hip operations and cataracts, to nearby private hospitals. Three-quarters of private hospitals are now carrying out NHS elective procedures.

'Bringing in independent providers has been a big help,' says Prof Middleton. 'It's allowed us to clear those who have been waiting up to two years for treatment.'

Most of the doctors I meet say, providing these measures are expanded nationwide, we'll likely meet Mr Javid's goal of eliminating one-year waits for surgery by 2025. They expect two-year waits will be mostly gone by July, as per NHS England's target.

But one key challenge will hold the health service back, if it's not tackled soon.

'The biggest problem facing the NHS right now is a lack of staff,' says David Maguire, of The King's Fund. NHS figures show there are nearly 100,000 staff vacancies in the health service.

'Until this is sorted, hospitals are going to fill with emergency patients because there aren't enough doctors and nurses to treat them,' says Prof Middleton.

But the Government's unprecedented recruitment drives are, according to Ministers, already making a difference: figures published last month suggested there's more doctors working in the NHS now than ever before.

Prof Middleton adds: 'I'm confident that we can keep pushing waiting times down  especially now that the worst of Covid is well and truly behind us.'
Relief from chronic constipation could soon come from an easy-to-swallow vibrating capsule.

The gadget, called Vibrant and about the size of a fish-oil supplement, sends out pulses that, the designers claim, stimulate natural movements in the gut.

While Vibrant is still under development by its Israeli manufacturer, the latest data from its largest trial so far, involving more than 300 patients, suggests it can double the number of weekly bowel movements in constipation sufferers.

Constipation affects about six million people in the UK  three-quarters of sufferers are women and the prevalence increases with age. Common causes include not eating enough fibre, found in fruit and vegetables, or drinking enough water. Lack of exercise, stress and a side effect of some medications can also be to blame.

Relief from chronic constipation could soon come from an easy-to-swallow vibrating capsule. The gadget, called Vibrant and about the size of a fish-oil supplement, sends out pulses that, the designers claim, stimulate natural movements in the gut

Treatment usually involves laxatives  drugs which work either by stimulating muscles in the gut or increasing the amount of water in the bowel to soften stools and aid the digestive process. However, these are not designed for long-term use.

Fibre supplements, which add bulk to stools and make them easier to pass, are also recommended by doctors, but these can cause pain from excess gas and bloating.

Dr Satish Rao, professor of medicine at Medical College of Georgia, Augusta, who led the Vibrant trial and presented the results at the American College of Gastroenterology conference, said: 'The pill is designed to induce local contractions of the colon to mimic what happens normally.'

Before the Vibrant capsule is swallowed, it is inserted into a base unit which programs it to activate at a set time the following day.

Constipation affects about six million people in the UK  three-quarters of sufferers are women and the prevalence increases with age

In the study it was instructed to run for two cycles  one starting at 6am and another at noon. A cycle lasts two hours, during which the capsule vibrates for three seconds followed by 16 seconds of rest.

The capsule is tracked in the patient's body via a smartphone app, which records its progress and the number of bowel movements, among other things. Each one lasts a day and is later passed out naturally.

The trial results showed that the treatment lessened the amount participants had to strain and improved stool consistency. Some users said they could feel the capsule's vibrations during the cycles, but no side effects were reported.

Dr Rao added: 'The lack of side effects is really a huge plus. I think it will benefit people with both occasional or chronic constipation.'
The 5billion energy profits levy, aka the windfall tax, has divided political opinion. It is also sparking a suitably heated debate over the shares in companies subject to the tax.

As the cost of filling up an average car reaches 98, are the oil and gas companies  whose profits are being supercharged by soaring energy prices  a sure thing?

Or does the fall-out from the tax mean that renewable energy groups are a more rewarding alternative, even if the world may be reliant on fossil fuels for longer than we thought?

Following the announcement, BP is reviewing 18billion of planned UK investments, while Shell says the tax creates uncertainty around projects.

Meg O'Neill, boss of Woodside Energy, which has just listed in London, said the UK was now 'not a conducive place to invest.'

The tax on North Sea oil and gas operators  which will fund cuts to households' fuel bills  is set to stay in place until 2025. It may be withdrawn if oil falls from $120 (the price for Brent Crude) to $60- $70, but this is not a pledge.

Nevertheless, investors should look beyond corporate and political rhetoric, remembering that the bulk of the profits of BP and Shell are made overseas.

The markets seem persuaded that oil prices will remain high as a result of the impact on supply of the war in Ukraine, and because Opec members have limited capacity to boost production.

Despite soaring prices for oil and petrol, demand seems not to be slumping either in the UK or elsewhere, leading some analysts to suggest that prices could move higher seeking a level where usage might reduce.

Russ Mould of AJ Bell says: 'In normal circumstances, high prices are the cure for high prices. However, this does not seem to be happening to oil and gas  the need for energy is increasing, and it looks as if they will stick around for longer than we thought.'

Mould argues that this trend may only reverse if there is a 'miraculous peace in Ukraine', or rapprochement between the US and Venezuela, which has the largest oil reserves in the world.

To date, Big Oil has shrugged off the windfall tax. This resilience will come as a relief to investors. BP and Shell, in particular, are the foundation of many portfolios and popular funds and trusts, such as Aberdeen Standard Equity Income, Law Debenture, Merchants, Ruffer (where I am a holder) and Schroder Recovery.

Nick Kirrage, co-head of Schroders' Global Value Team, comments: 'Windfall taxes are by their nature short-term, and in this case they will be paid out of very elevated profits. As such, they are not materially detrimental to long-term valuations. Although we're yet to see the mechanics of the tax, our initial belief is that these moves by the Government should not derail the investment case for the companies we own.'

Buybacks: BP and Shell are planning share buybacks worth 3.2billion and 6.3billion respectively

Despite the disposal of their Russian assets in the spring, BP shares have risen 34 per cent since the start of the year, while Shell shares have soared by 45 per cent. Shares in Serica, the Aim-listed oil and natural gas producer, have revived because its programmes should qualify for the windfall tax incentives available to those that maximise output.

Kwasi Kwarteng, the Business Secretary, seeks to have natural gas reclassified as a 'transitional fuel', a quest of significance to anyone with cash in Henderson Opportunities trust where Serica is the largest stake. Exxon shares, meanwhile, have gained 69 per cent this year  and are still seen as cheap by some analysts. The payouts to shareholders increase Big Oil's allure.

BP and Shell are planning share buybacks worth 3.2billion and 6.3billion respectively. Buybacks aim to lift share prices, although they can be withdrawn. Meanwhile BP's dividend yield is 3.95 per cent; while Shell offers 3.21 per cent.

It continues to be the opinion of this column that these payouts represent a strong argument to hold BP and Shell, especially as the billion that both are investing in renewables should turn them into the sector's most powerful players. Before the windfall tax was unveiled, Bernard Looney, BP's boss, pledged to spend 2 in the UK for every 1 made here in this decade. Reneging on this promise would be petty and short-sighted.

Although I would argue that betting on BP and Shell is also the route to investing in renewables, I have also put money into funds and trusts that invest in solar, wind and energy storage, such as Downing Renewables, Gore Street Energy, Greencoat Wind, Renewables Infrastructure and SDCL Energy Efficiency.

The war in Ukraine may extend our fossil fuel dependency, but there will also be more pressure to accelerate de-carbonisation.

The political row over the levy is based, in part, on the view that it demonstrates the UK's lack of a long-term energy policy.

As an investor, you cannot afford such a deficiency.
A fan of the South Korean boy band BTS poses for a picture inside a newly opened pop-up shop selling BTS merchandise in Manhattan in New York City, June 10, after the release of their new album "Proof". Reuters-Yonhap





K-pop supergroup BTS' new album "Proof" sold over 2 million copies on the first day of its release, its agency said Saturday.







A total of 2.15 million copies of the anthology album had been sold as of 11 p.m. Friday, just 10 hours after it became available on the market, according to Hanteo Chart, a South Korean music chart.






Whistleblower: Chloe Meley was told to call herself Sarah and be vague about where personal details came from

Rogue partners at wealth manager St James's Place employed student labour in a cold-calling operation to hook wealthy clients, a whistleblower has revealed. Chloe Meley, who has given an account of her time as a cold-caller to The Mail on Sunday, was one of those employed for 10 an hour to try to lure high net worth individuals to invest.

The use of the telemarketing firm, run out of a living room in Guildford, contravened SJP's own ban on cold-calling and is at odds with the high-class image the firm projects.

Meley's revelations will provoke fresh controversy about the methods used by the FTSE100 company, which has previously come under fire for charging high fees and offering lavish incentives to its salespeople. SJP said a handful of its advisers have now been disciplined for using the telemarketing firm's services.

Meley took the job at Barnaby Beckett Referrals to pay her way through university in 2018. With a small group of others from the University of Surrey she was told to cold-call well-off lawyers to persuade them to set up an appointment with an SJP adviser  in breach of a ban on cold-calling at the company.

The boss of Barnaby Beckett called herself Jules, but sometimes also Susan or Sarah on the phone. She told the students the work was 'covert', as SJP partners were not meant to use her firm's services.

Meley and the other students were instructed to lie about where they had obtained the lawyers' contact details. Female students were told to call themselves Sarah when they spoke over the phone. They were never given a contract or had tax deducted from their pay. Sums would simply appear in their bank account following a shift.

SJP says it never had any connection with Barnaby Beckett, and that individual advisers at its partner firms must have used its services in breach of company rules.

Founded in 1991, SJP uses more than 4,500 wealth managers to sell its funds. 'Gifts' handed to top-performing advisers include white-gold cufflinks and luxury holidays. The firm was blasted by experts and MPs in 2019 when the extent of those rewards  funded by clients' money  was laid bare by an earlier whistleblower. The firm was lambasted for charging higher fees than many of its peers.

SJP says it has changed its practices to make sure rewards reflect 'the value partners provide clients', and ensure they incorporate 'elements such as professional development and training'. It also claims independent research 'shows the total charge St James's Place clients pay is below the market average for the service we provide'. But the call-centre allegations raise new questions about its compliance and supervision of partner firms.

Meley, who now works for financial publication Citywire, was in her second year at university when the offer arrived in her inbox, forwarded by the careers department. All she had to do was leave a voicemail to apply. Jules, she says, called her back the next day, and said: 'I like your voice, do you want to come in for training?'

'There was no interview, no CVs. She told us she was looking for pretty voices  people who sound nice on the phone,' Meley says. Jules, who ran the call centre out of her living room, was an enigma. 'She told us she was an actress in her 20s and 30s,' Meley says, putting her age at 60. Jules never gave a surname, or explained why she was working for SJP.

Meley says: 'I knew it was dodgy, as we were using fake names and couldn't tell people how we got their details. It was stressful, at times overwhelming, because of the pressure.'

She worked for Barnaby Beckett for about eight months in total, between 2018 and 2020.

It was only when she started working for Citywire that she realised the job was in contravention of SJP's rules. And there is no record of Barnaby Beckett Referrals on Companies House, the register of UK firms. Its website disappeared when Meley wrote about her experience for Citywire in April.

Tarnished image: St James's Place said a handful of its advisers have been disciplined for using the telemarketing firm's services

She still has a copy of the script they were asked to use. When asked what the SJP adviser would do in the meeting, she was told to say they would ensure 'you are receiving the very best possible returns on any investments you have'. If a lawyer asked where she got their details, she says she was told to reply: 'Our partners deal with law partners on a daily basis  probably from a colleague of yours.'

She says in reality she was handed a wodge of papers every shift with hundreds of numbers on. She had no idea where they came from. In eight months, she secured only about 20 appointments  earning less than 200 in commission on top of her 10-an-hour pay.

SJP said it was aware of the malpractice before it was exposed by Ms Meley. However the Barnaby Beckett website only vanished in April, when the Citywire article was published.

A spokesman added: 'We reject Barnaby Beckett's methods and have taken action to prevent it dealing with our advisers. We have never engaged or approved it. The few advisers who had unauthorised engagement with Barnaby Beckett were disciplined after a detailed internal review. We have demanded Barnaby Beckett cease engagement with our advisers and are deeply concerned it had gone to such lengths to conceal this from SJP.'

The Mail on Sunday was unable to reach anyone from Barnaby Beckett for comment.
Wearing a face mask was the most obvious, and for some the most infuriating, sign of Covid but even with pandemic rules all but gone, they are here to stay.

There's every chance masks will become a positive legacy from a divisive period brought about by public weariness over the way governments managed Covid.

The reasons mask use will endure is, believe it or not, they remain popular and Australians are now wearing them out of an acceptance that we should keep our germs to ourselves to protect others.

Don't believe me? Look around next time you visit the supermarket or local shopping centre.

Wearing a face mask was the most obvious, and for some the most infuriating, sign of Covid-19 but even with pandemic rules all but gone, masks are here to stay

Masks are no longer required and yet people are still wearing them.

They are mostly worn by older Australians or by those who have a reason to protect themselves such as people with weakened immune systems.

But masks have made the public considerate of others too. Most of us would surely agree we are far more likely to wear one if we feel sick than before the pandemic.

While it was at one point unpopular with Covid rebels, mask-wearing appears to have morphed into a neat mix of commonsense and personal responsibility.

It's ironic that, given most of the opposition to mask-wearing has come from the right of the political spectrum, that widespread voluntary wearing of masks is a classic small-l liberal idea.

Yes, Covid is still with us but it's now a different public health issue. It is being properly dealt with as a major health concern for vulnerable Australians - not the general public.

Nobody wants to go back to policing public health mandates, least of all Dan Andrews. His fate will be determined by voters in Victoria's state election in November, and then it's NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet's turn in March 2023.

Wearing a face mask was required for much of the pandemic but the requirement to wear one outdoors ended months ago in most parts of Australia

There is little appetite from anyone to go back to policing public health rules. Pictured: NSW police take to the sands at Bondi to enforce the 5km exercise rule and to insist those who are not swimming or exercising are wearing a mask in September 2021

So how did we get so comfortable with masks?

Before 2020, face masks were mainly worn by surgeons and people going to fancy dress parties.

When Covid-19 was declared a pandemic in March 2020, wearing a mask quickly topped the list of recommended health warnings.

They were a commonsense and highly popular response to the virus. Nearly two and a half years later they still are.

Whether masks always work as well at containing the virus as they should doesn't seem to matter, people like wearing masks.

Don't believe me?

The facts don't lie. We didn't grudgingly accept mask-wearing, we couldn't get them on quickly enough and often enough.

Although the public is no longer required to wear masks shopping many people still do (people shopping at Woolworths in Brisbane in February 2022)

But at every so-called freedom rally, you could still spot people wearing face masks amidst the anti-lockdown protesters

According to one estimate, in just one month of 2021 people wore more masks than there are galaxies in the observable universe.

Sounds incredible but it's true.

Last March the University of Southern Denmark estimated 129 billion masks were worn every month worldwide, roughly three million a minute.

To use a metaphor a little more down to earth, masks were more popular than coffee.

For every cup of coffee consumed every day somewhere on earth, two people were pulling on masks.

At the 2021 rate of mask usage, globally we used more than three trillion masks throughout the pandemic, a demand creating its own problems.

Yes, of course masks were mandated. But we happily complied. The protests in Australia were mostly about mandatory vaccines, not mandatory masks.

Most NRL fans are seen wearing masks at Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane in July 2021

Some workers in close contact with others are choosing to wear masks and face shields for increased protection

The humble face mask has become so ubiquitous that it assumed entirely new meanings - from fashion statement to a statement of virtuousness but for others it was symbol of oppression.

For health care workers, face masks are a barrier against disease, and were the focus of the fight for appropriate PPE (personal protective equipment).

Their line was: masks needed to be better quality and worn properly.

The research showed N95 masks were far more effective, but they never got near replacing cheap disposable surgical masks.

For smart retailers they became a must-have store front item, a way of getting people in the store, as well as protecting staff.

Luxury fashion labels including Prada, Louis Vuitton, Yves Saint Laurent and Balenciaga all made them.

Everyone from newsagents to tobacconists and bottle stores sold them.

Cheaper high-turnover fashion stores began to produce their own cloth designs too, an individual statement a bit like customised phone cases, and just as daft.

It didn't matter that most cloth masks are far less as effective than surgical masks, or that unflattering duck-faced N95s were 95 per cent effective at filtering airborne particles.

We just loved wearing masks and wearing a design that somehow reflected our individuality seemed like a great idea.

Mandates on wearing masks indoors were lifted in February across much of Australia, but in May 2022 people are still wearing them

However, what started out as a well-meaning public health recommendation morphed into something more sinister for some.

Plenty of paranoid 'freedom warriors' became convinced that masks were sure signs that a dark world government was about to swoop in from the shadows.

But at every so-called freedom rally, you could still spot people wearing face masks amidst the protesters.

Most of us, including plenty of anti-vaxxers, just accepted wearing a mask as completely normal.

Most people didn't really care about being required to wear them in shops, supermarkets and on trains, planes, buses and ferries.

Of course not everyone was charitable about masks. We shouldn't forget the small and disturbing number of attacks last year on people for wearing them.

The disgraced South Australian senate candidate Raina Cruise was arrested for allegedly assaulting a police officer last October in an incident sparked by her ejection from a pub for pulling the face mask off a bartender.

In another incident, a man was bashed by a Coles worker on Sydney's Northern Beaches Christmas Eve after asking the shelf stacker to wear his mask over his nose.

The staff member punched him in the head twice, leaving him bloodied and bruised and laying in the aisle.

A man (pictured) was brutally bashed by a Coles employee after asking him to wear his face mask correctly

I was never attacked, but I was abused in an online community meeting by an anti-lockdown zoom bomber who shouted obscenities and accused me of 'hiding behind a mask'.

I had it on because I dashed to Woolworths during the meeting but stayed online.

But those kinds of incidents - and reports of people being accosted for going without masks, which also happened - have declined.

Since the lockdowns ended and industry vaccine mandates were lifted, public tension has noticeably cooled - even with millions still subject to mask mandates.

Evidently, we really wanted was the end of restrictions banning us from going where we wanted - whether it be to Bali, London or our local restaurant or pub.

Clearly vaccine mandates angered a lot of people, but with 96 per cent of the Australian population double jabbed, the heat seems to be off.

Rules around face masks are still in place on public transport and in taxis across Australia, but they are not policed or strictly followed - which in practice makes them voluntary, so the next logical step would be to end the mandate. This goes for passengers on planes as well.

Using an unscientific guess, I'd say between 50 and 70 per cent of passengers wear masks on any given train or bus trip in Sydney. Interestingly, transit police do not enforce the rule.

A health worker carries out COVID-19 testing at the Joondalup drive-through clinic on May 03, 2021 in Perth

Obviously, masks on planes are heavily enforced, but I bet the majority of passengers would continue to wear them even if they didn't have to.

People who wear masks don't seem to care about those who don't, and those who don't ignore people in them. It seems most Australians have accepted each other's right to wear - or not wear - a mask.

And that's a great thing, because they're here to stay.
Disgraced businessman Rodney Adler has declared he's no Melissa Caddick as his ban on running companies is finally lifted two decades after Australia's biggest corporate collapse.

In an exclusive interview with Daily Mail Australia, Adler details his prison 'nightmare' and social exile in the wake of the $5.3 billion HIH insurance scandal.

But the man once known as 'young Rodney with the Midas touch' insists he is far different from con-woman Melissa Caddick - who mysteriously vanished after defrauding investors of millions.

'Any comparison with Melissa Caddick is something I don't like. She with intent defrauded family and friends which is something I don't even relate to,' Adler said.

'I read every second month some adviser is found guilty by ASIC, the Commonwealth Bank gets found guilty (of lying to customers), cyber fraud is huge. This is an issue for society.

'I pleaded guilty. Jail was very hard ... for a person from a very privileged background, jail was a nightmare.

'I was in eight jails. Jail is violent. I am an Eastern Suburbs spoiled little cocooned brat.

Disgraced businessman Rodney Adler has revealed his prison hell and how he was dropped by the top end of time after his sentence for the $5.6B collapse of insurance giant HIH

Corporate crook Adler says 'any comparison with Melissa Caddick is something I don't like. She with intent defrauded family and friends which is something I don't even relate to'

Rodney Adler (above with wife Lyndi in 2001, a year before the HIH fraud when he was still living the high life as a Sydney A-lister) has revealed how prison institutionalised him

'I took the punishment and I moved on (but) I was slowly becoming a zombie ... you get institutionalised.'

Rodney Adler was one of three high-flying businessmen jailed after insurance giant HIH collapsed, with liquidators estimating losses totalling $5.3 billion.

HIH CEO Ray Williams served two years, nine months, spending time scrubbing the toilets at Cessnock prison, and onetime playboy Brad Cooper copped five years for bribing an HIH executive and siphoning $11 million shortly before the company failed.

A suave and fast-talking former salesman who drove a Ferrari, Cooper owned waterfront properties and had a massive cocaine habit before his imprisonment.

But it was Adler - who once rubbed shoulders with some of Sydney's most distinguished and revered rich-listers including Malcolm Turnbull - who was considered the biggest scalp in the HIH saga.

The Australian Securities and Investment Commission sued Adler following the HIH collapse, and in 2002 he was found guilty in the NSW Supreme Court of breaching the corporations law for transferring $10m from HIH to his family company, Pacific Eagle Equities.

Adler (above, walking from St Helier's prison in 2007) says the hails are run by Lebanese inmates and coming from a privileged life he found it a 'nightmare' to survive

Adler was fined $900,000 and banned from being a company director for 20 years on May 30, 2002, but because he appealed it, unsuccessfully, the date the ban is due to be lifted is delayed until later this year.

In early 2005, Adler pleaded guilty to four counts of making false statements about a purchase of HIH shares and lying to obtain money from HIH for a company in which he had an interest.

Then aged 45, and facing a minimum two-and-a-half years behind bars, he was taken into the cells below Sydney's King Street court complex on April 14, 2005.

Ferried by prison van out to the vast Metropolitan Remand and Reception Centre at Silverwater prison, Adler exchanged his business suit for prison greens, was strip-searched, had a prison mug shot taken and transferred to a holding cell.

Adler was assigned to Kirkconnell Correctional Centre, 30km east of Bathurst, but his stay was cut short and he was hauled off to the higher security Bathurst jail in June of the same year.

Prison bosses accused him of concealing letters to manage business interests - such as a planned stock exchange float and family investments in a managed fund - in his children's jail homework sessions.

He pleaded not guilty on three charges of using his children's homework during visiting hours as a ruse to pursue business activities, and had his prison file marked 'extreme caution... inmate is prone to giving false or misleading statements and is highly manipulative towards staff'.

Rodney Adler said his first phone call to wife Lyndi after exiting the prison gates was stymied by his 'zombie' like state from more than two years behind bars

Real estate agent Tulia Whippy (left) visited Adler in prison during his more than two year incarceration and playboy and cocaine addict Brad Cooper (right) served five years in prison for bribery and and siphoning $11m from HIH

As well as his wife Lyndi and their four children, Adler was visited in prison by former Adler Corporation director and Eastern Suburbs real estate agent Tulia Whippy.

His other visitors included theatre producer Michael Jacobsen, former One.Tel partner and fellow elite private Cranbrook school boy friend Jodee Rich and his wife Maxine, wealthy Melbourne businessman Andrew Kroger and Macquarie Group director, Martin Lakos.

But when Adler - his hair grown long inside - walked from St Helier's Correctional Centre in October 2007 to a barrage of media cameras he would go home to his family at Vaucluse but find his world considerably less friendly.

On parole until October 2009, Adler found the top end of town would give him the cold shoulder as he worked to rebuild his multi-million dollar empire through wheeling and dealing, while closely monitored by ASIC

'To be honest, the first five years after I came out of jail were very difficult, because it was very raw,' he said.

'Most people in jail have family or friends in jail or are repeat offenders. Once you are in there you understand their moral code, they do have one.

A handcuffed Adler (above) being led to a prison van after being sentenced to jail for his role in Australia's biggest corporate collapse in 2005 for crimes of dishonesty committed in his time at the failed insurer

'There is absolutely a pecking order, a class system in jail. As an example, most of the NSW jails are controlled by the Lebanese.

'It's all about ethnic groups and the two largest are the Lebanese and Aboriginals, then islanders, Asians and white people.

'When you walk into jail, you walk into a new community and you know no-one. You look around and "who can I talk to, how can I survive, this completely foreign to my way of life".

'For the first year it was extremely hard. In jail, they don't want you to be an individual, they want you to be a zombie.

'You get up at the same time, wear certain clothes, eat the same food, you are cattle. You don't get rewarded for initiative.'

Disgraced former HIH CEO Ray Williams (above) smiling upon his release after he served two years, nine months inside, spending time scrubbing the toilets at Cessnock prison

Adler said after years of the jail telephone system, where he had to wait for a prison officer to put him through to his wife after an automated correctional centre declaration, he called Lyndi from a phone as soon as he walked through the prison gates and got into a car.

'I got into the car, I rang the number, she says "hello .... hello? Hey idiot you're not in jail anymore", it took me weeks to wean myself (off the system).

'And I was in there two-and-a-half years. In for 20 years? They'll never recover.'

Adler said the minute he came out of jail he decided that being behind bars had merely been five per cent of his life to that point, and he would move on.

But, he said, 'it was embarrassing (and) most people are pretty cruel and pretty nasty. If you have two or three very good friends you are very lucky'.

'It lives with me forever. It doesn't make me proud, I am doing the best I can.'

But he said that he had been an entrepreneur and 'entrepreneurs are ... the backbone of the economy (from) Michael Cannon-Brooks to the guy who owns a hardware store'.

The ASIC ban prevented him from instructing companies to sell or acquire assets, call up a loan or commence legal process for both public corporations and family companies.

Permitted to make investments in his own name, he has over the last 16 years built up a business, Tesla Investments, acting as a consultant, financial advisor and venture capitalist.

White collar crook Brad Cooper pictured (above) a year after being released from prison where he served five years for bribery and stealing $11m from HIH

'The banning orders are quite significant, ' he said, 'corporate governance has strengthened and that's a good thing.'

In 2017, Adler was working as a money lender in Sydney's CBD when Australian Federal Police raided his office to investigate a $127,000 loan he gave to then Double Bay real estate agent Ryan Watsford to buy a luxury Maserati.

'I fully co-operated, and provided the police with loan documents for an amount of $127,000 for the purchase by Watsford,' Adler said in a statement at the time.

Watsford was later sentenced to four years in jail for his part in an alleged drug smuggling operation.

Adler told Daily Mail Australia when his 20 year ban does expire in a few months' time, 'I don't intend to do anything different.

'I don't think anyone would want me as a professional director. Twenty years is a long time ... and who wants to deal with a person who's gone to jail and been banned for 20 years?

'(But) there are a lot of opportunities in Australia today.

'Out debt to GDP is at a all time high with budget deficits. We will be paying for the pandemic for ten years.

"There's a lot of interesting things happening. I'm 62 years old. Life goes on. There's still a lot to do.'
A grieving mother whose son was killed in a car accident alongside his stepsister has been left in limbo - as the driver charged over the horror crash starts a new life in New Zealand.

Stacey Leigh Cunningham - who also lost a child in the crash - was charged with careless driving causing death and driving with an illicit drug in her system following the fatal June 1, 2020 crash.

Her daughter Harmonie, 10, and seven-year-old stepson Nate both died at the scene.

She has pleaded not guilty to all charges and is awaiting a trial date to defend herself.

Daily Mail Australia can reveal Cunningham uprooted her life and moved to Napier, in New Zealand, in the wake of the tragedy.

She was granted bail with no conditions stopping her from leaving the country - a decision Nate's grieving mother Amy Scott describes as a mistake.

Little Nate's mother Amy Scott told Daily Mail Australia she's desperate for a trial or inquest to learn more about her son's final days

Cunningham's daughter Harmonie, 10, and seven-year-old stepson Nate (pictured together) both died at the scene

Daily Mail Australia can reveal Cunningham uprooted her life and moved to Napier, in New Zealand, in the wake of the tragedy (pictured with her fiance and her father after moving)

'I warned them that she could move overseas and I was laughed at,' Ms Scott told Daily Mail Australia.

'It was during Covid and I was told ''where would she go? The world is shut''.'

It's understood Cunningham and her fiance - Nate's father - left their home in Western Australia the same week borders opened to New Zealand. They were closed again due to a Covid outbreak a few weeks later.

'They've got jobs and they seem to have established themselves there,' Ms Scott said.

Cunningham has not broken any laws by leaving the country, but Ms Scott is concerned the courts could have trouble proceeding with the trial if she chose not to return.

There is no suggestion Cunningham does not intend to return for her trial.

Nate has been described as a cheeky and lively seven-year-old - a 'chatterbox' who could make everyone laugh

The day after the horror crash, Cunningham revealed she and Nate's dad decided to take the kids away for a last minute trip

Ms Scott has visited the site of her son's death just a handful of times because it is a 5.5 hour drive from her home

But Ms Scott has reached her wits end with the state of the court system in Western Australia and can't understand the hold up in her son's case.

It's been more than two years now since little Nate and his stepsister were killed when the Mazda sedan they were travelling in collided with a Ute in Georgina, near Geraldton, on June 1, 2020.

On the day of the crash, Ms Scott wasn't made aware of her son's death until some four-and-a-half hours after he'd already died.

She made a frantic phone call to her ex husband, Cheyne, who allegedly answered the phone and immediately said: 'I wasn't behind the wheel'.

In fact, she didn't even know they'd been away for a long weekend trip.

Ms Scott still knows very little about how her son spent his last days. She begged Nate's father for scraps of details - what he wore, which sites he visited, his final meal - and was given only part of the story.

On the day of the crash, Ms Scott wasn't made aware of her son's death until some four-and-a-half hours after he'd already died

She feels her only chance to know the ins and outs of that weekend is for an inquest or a criminal trial. She's less concerned about the outcome than of getting answers.

'I just want all the details. I want to know every little thing about what Nate did that weekend and how the accident actually occurred. I'm imagining so much that mightn't be true,' she said.

'It's not about anyone going to jail or getting a fine or getting punished... It's just about the truth. I just want to know what happened so I can get closure to move past this.'

Cunningham has been excused from appearing in person at recent court dates so long as she is represented by her lawyer. The next court date is set for October 3 and is listed as a trial allocation date. She will also not have to appear for that matter.

But she will be expected to return for any future trial. Each count of careless driving causing death carries a maximum penalty of three years or a fine of up to $3,600.

If found guilty of the drug charge, Cunningham faces a fine of up to $500.

Nate and Harmonie were both farewelled in moving ceremonies celebrating their lives

'They were only babies,' Ms Scott said. 'And it feels like nobody really cares anymore.'

Police will allege Cunningham drove through a give way sign and was t-boned by an oncoming car doing the speed limit of 110km/h.

The day after the horror crash, Cunningham revealed she and Nate's dad decided to take the kids away for a last minute trip.

'We just decided to take off for the weekend - have a weekend away with the kids,' she said.

'We were playing in the sand dunes... the kids were having so much fun.'

Ms Scott received a call from officers six weeks after her son died to inform her that they planned to charge Cunningham for the crash. She was not given a timeline and claims not to have known about the drug charge.

'I just feel guilty that I spent 4.5 hours of my life not knowing he was gone. I can't begin to imagine what happened in that time.

'It's been a constant hell.'
People under 50 are being diagnosed with bowel cancer more often in recent decades, prompting a call from experts to lower the age of screening for the disease.

The second deadliest disease in Australia claims more than 5,000 lives each year, with 10 per cent of new cases occurring in the under 50s, Bowel Cancer Australia said.

Its research suggested case rates of those under 50 had increased over the past three decades, as the organisation urges those with symptoms to get a prompt GP referral for a colonoscopy.

Survivor Stephanie Bansemer-Brown (pictured with her 13-year-old son Angus) was diagnosed with stage three bowel cancer 10 years ago, before she went through 'intense' surgery to get back on track

Ms Bansemer-Brown had gone to the GP complaining of blood in her stools, changes in her bowel habits and consistent abdominal pain - and urges those with symptoms to get a quick GP referral for a colonoscopy exam (stock photo)

Stage-three bowel cancer survivor Stephanie Bansemer-Brown told Daily Mail Australia she was diagnosed at age 42 and said she felt 'surreal' after the shock result.

'I immediately thought, 'Why did I not know about bowel cancer?' I knew about checking my breasts, I knew about ovarian cancer, but not about this one.'

'My son was two and a half at the time, and all I could think of was, 'I want to grow old and see him grow up'.'

The mum said she had gone to the GP complaining of blood in her stools, changes in her bowel habits and consistent abdominal pain.

The mum was told she was too young for bowel cancer and that she just had hemorrhoids that were nothing to worry about.

Yet her symptoms persisted for over a year before she decided to get a colonoscopy, which showed she had bowel cancer, resulting in an 'intense' seven-hour surgery two weeks later.

Doctors were careful the surgery didn't result in Ms Bansemer-Brown needing a permanent bag outside her body.

When it's detected early, nine out of 10 bowel cancer cases can be treated successfully, the Australian Health Department said

The cancer survivor said she would like to see the screening age for colonoscopies dropped from 50 to 45.

'I'd like people to be way more bowel cancer-aware and for there to be greater discussion on the issue and if you are concerned ... trust your own instincts,' Ms Bansemer-Brown said.

'Had I not investigated it when I did I wouldn't be talking with you today, and my son wouldn't have a mum.'

Bowel Cancer Australia spokesman and Associate Professor John Nik Ding reinforced Ms Bansemer-Brown's message.

'Greater awareness among GP specialists of young-onset bowel cancer to increase screening is probably warranted,' the associate professor said.

Dr John Ding said he had a 29-year-old patient who had an iron deficiency.

'When she first came to see me with her life ahead of her, she was a speech pathologist just about to get married,' Dr John Ding told the Courier Mail.

Yet she died 12 months later after the cancer spread to her lungs.

The doctor partly blames the consumption of red meat, sugary drinks and alcohol as a factor contributing to the prevalence of the disease .

Bowel Cancer Australia estimates that 25 per cent of rectal cancers and 10-12 per cent of colon cancers will be diagnosed in people under age 50 in the next 10 years.

The organisation's CEO Julien Wiggins said: 'If young-onset bowel cancer is rising in Australia and around the world without an obvious cause, then our approach to screening should be modified.'

'All major US guidelines now endorse average-risk bowel cancer screening from age 45, yet Australian guidelines continue to lag, despite screening proven to be cost-effective from this age,' he said.

The National Bowel Cancer Screening program is eligible for Australians aged between 50 and 74 where recipients receive a free test kit in the mail.

When it's detected early, nine out of 10 cases can be treated successfully, the Australian Health Department said.
A model who was left with a concussion, torn ligaments and a cracked rib after they were accidentally thrown out of their wheelchair has blasted Jetstar as she called on all airlines to have greater respect for disabled people.

Akii Ngo, who is non-binary, uses they/them pronouns, and is a disability access consultant, was left traumatised from the May 14 fall, and urged airlines to 'fix the system'.

Less than two days after making runway history at Australian Fashion Week, the 28-year-old arrived at Adelaide Airport, where they were 'thrown' from their wheelchair, as a result of a Jetstar staff member's 'thoughtless' actions.

'The flight bridge has a lot of lumps and bumps, and I was being pushed across it by a staff member who was obviously careless, as it resulted in me being thrown off the chair,' Akii told Daily Mail Australia.

Akii hit their head on the metal and glass flight bridge, before hitting the floor

Akii lying on the floor outside the Jetstar plane after they fell out of the wheelchair

Akii made history back in May when they took part in Australian Fashion Week in a wheelchair

Instead of apologising, Akii claims the staff member became 'defensive', blaming them for the incident even though safety measures to prevent a fall  like an arm rest or seatbelt  allegedly weren't in use.

'I was in excruciating pain, literally on the floor, and the first thing the staff member did was blame me by yelling "why didn't you hold on tighter, or be more stable?!"

'They didn't ask me if I was okay. They said it was my fault, and that they weren't aware I needed to be strapped in, even though that's best practice for aisle chairs, which are a lot thinner and more unstable than standard wheelchairs.'

Akii said incidents like this have been prevented in the past through the use of seatbelts, clear communication from staff when being pushed over bumps, and being able to use their own wheelchair as soon as they de-plane.

Thanks to Adelaide Airport policy, Akii was unable to use their own wheelchair, which was sitting at baggage claim throughout this incident.

Living with physical and neurological disabilities that impact their mobilityas well as severe chronic painit took Akii a significant period of time, and a great deal of pain, just to get up off the floor.

Akii in happier times, before they were left with injuries after the wheelchair incident with Jetstar

'I couldn't move. I tried so hard to get up, but it was just so agonising,' Akii said.

'I was literally lying on the ground with people watching and staring at me while I was crying in pain. As you can imagine, it was humiliating, traumatic and incredibly upsetting.

'The staff member didn't try to help me, but even if they did, and even if they were trained in manual handling, I didn't consent to them touching me, especially considering how unsafe they made me feel by blaming me for what happened.'

Sensing they'd need evidence of the incident, Akii's partner began recording their heartbreaking encountera video they later posted to social media.

'It's not easy for me to share this video,' Akii wrote online.

'It's never easy being vulnerable and seeming weak. But I am just one of thousands of disabled people being treated terribly each and every day. And for that reason, I won't be silent.'

Akii was highly distressed at the incident with their partner posting footage of the altercation to social media

Akii said the incident was particularly disheartening after experiencing so much disability pride and joy at Australian Fashion Week.

'It was such an incredible week, with so many highs. But experiences like this are a blatant-in-my-face reminder that there's still a long way to go,' they said.

'One of the main pieces at Australian Fashion Week was a coat with the statement "fix the system, not me" . . . and yet, the first thing that staff member did was to blame me, and fix whatever I supposedly did wrong, instead of fixing their systemic issues.

'It shows that we can make history, and have this incredible event with disabled models trying to change the system, and bring awareness to the challenges disabled people face, like ableism and inaccessibility. . . but then it's back to the harsh reality that the system is still broken.'

A Jetstar spokesperson said the incident was still being investigated.

'The safety and welfare of our customers is our number one priority, and we're taking this claim very seriously,' they told Daily Mail Australia.

'A number of team members attended to assist the customer on the aerobridge, and assisted them through the airport to the baggage carousel.'

'Our team members are well-trained to provide assistance to customers requiring wheelchairs, and we continue to investigate what happened in this incident.'

'We've also reached out to the customer several times to better understand their experience, and are waiting to hear back.'

Akii is calling on all airlines to 'do so much better' after her incident on Jetstar

Akii  who has auditory processing disorder  pointed out that not all methods of contact are accessible, especially phone calls when you're deaf or hard of hearing.

Akii wants accountability, and hopes that by sharing their story, airlines will consider their outdated policies for wheelchair-using passengers, and be mindful of the everyday challenges mobility aid users face when it comes to air travel.

'Enough is enough. Jetstar need to do so much better. They took no accountability, and just gave my partner a 1300 number and told me to make a complaint,' they said.

'(Jetstar) kept telling my partner and I to calm down, saying "we deal with hundreds of wheelchairs a day, this has never happened before" over and over again.'

As an avid traveler, Akii is no stranger to catching planes.

In fact, traveling is one of their favourite hobbiesbut it's becoming increasingly more difficult and dangerous as their symptoms worsen, and their mobility declines, requiring full-time use of their wheelchair and other mobility aids.

'Catching a plane is a really stressful situation when you're a mobility aid user, even without an incident like this,' Akii said.

'In the US alone, about 55 wheelchairs get severely damaged or destroyed every single day, so it's a lot of trauma and stress to travel when you're a mobility aid user. You wonder: are they going to damage my mobility aid? Are they going to treat me with respect?

'Wheelchairs aren't cheap. If an airline loses your luggage, yes, it's inconvenientbut you can generally go out and buy a new outfit. But that's not something someone with a mobility aid can do, because it's literally required for mobility. It's not a choice.

'I really hope airlines can listen to the experiences of disabled passengersbecause everyone deserves the right to be able to travel safely.'

Zoe Simmons is an award-winning disabled journalist who writes to make a difference. Check out her website, or follow her on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter for more.
An Ohio cupcake saleswoman has been arrested after running a fraud by stealing a dead infant's identity for the last two decades.

Ava Virginia Misseldine, 49, was arrested on Thursday in Utah, where she'd moved from Ohio in the last year, according to an affidavit.

She was charged with using the dead child's name - Brie Bourgeois - to get a job, a pilot's license, a passport, college admission and $1.5million in COVID-19 bailout cash.

During her time in Ohio, she'd been praised for running the Koko Tea Salon & Bakery and was even featured on the Food Network's The Best Thing I Ever Ate.

But Misseldine continually changed her story and background for how she became a success.

An Ohio cupcake saleswoman has been arrested after running a fraud by stealing a dead infant's identity for the last two decades

She was charged with using the dead child's name - Brie Bourgeois - to get a job, a pilot's license, a passport, college admission and $1.5million in COVID-19 bailout cash

Misseldine has apparently gone by that name and lived a double life since at least 2003, three years after she was released from prison for theft, forgery and an escape attempt.

When speaking to the Columbus Dispatch in 2013, she said her family had been in the tea business for generations.

In 2014, however, she said she was a former cancer researcher who hailed from Hawaii.

Russell Misseldine, a relative of Ava's, told The Daily Beast from his home in the Cleveland suburbs that Ava was not from Hawaii, nor was she involved in cancer research, nor were her family ever in the tea business.

Both a Brie Bourgeois and Ava Misseldine are on public record as having attended Ohio State University in Columbus.

Misseldine (pictured left) at one of the several baking establishments she ran in the Columbus area

During her time in Ohio, she'd been praised for running the Koko Tea Salon & Bakery and was even featured on the Food Network's The Best Thing I Ever Ate

The real Brie Bourgeois died in 1997 according to Ohio public records.

Under the phony name, she obtained a state ID, social security card and driver's license, providing a copy of Bourgeois' birth certificate and their parents' real names.

She said she was homeschooled her entire life to make up for the fact that she was applying for a social at 31 years old, but now needed it to go to Ohio State.

The Bourgeois family was apparently unaware of this the entire time. Paula Bourgeois, whose husband and Brie's father Jacques died in 2003, said she had no idea who Misseldine was.

'Brie died so young, she had no Social Security number,' Bourgeois said, expressing worry that she could somehow be held liable for any financial crimes committed in her child's name. 'She was only 4 1/2 months old when she passed away I'm really flabbergasted.' she told The Daily Beast.

Under the phony name, she obtained a state ID, social security card and driver's license, providing a copy of Bourgeois' birth certificate and their parents' real names

She said she was homeschooled her entire life to make up for the fact that she was applying for a social at 31 years old, but now needed it to go to Ohio State

Misseldine's first mistake dates back to 2006, when she received an Ohio driver's license under her birth name in addition to the one she had as Brie Bourgeois.

The next year, Misseldine started working for a private charter service in Columbus as a flight attendant under the pseudonym, which is when she obtained the student pilot certificate.

In November of 2007, she applied for a passport as Bourgeois, she said so that she could go to Dubai, though this trip never took place.

When asked if she used any other names on the application, she left the answer blank but listed the name Bourgeois under an emergency contact.

Misseldine used her fake driver's license and a letter from the company she was working for to get the passport, with an address that was the same as the one under her original name.

The affidavit filed in Southern District Court of Ohio against Ava Misseldine

However, Misseldine did not necessarily give Brie Bourgeois a clean record. She pleaded guilty to theft charges in Ohio in 2007 under the fake name.

In 2008, she registered for a retail business under that name and transferred ownership of a vehicle from her fake name to her real one.

In 2014, she was in court for a hearing on the application for the business when asked if she had used the name Brie Bourgeois.

She said that she had used the name for about two years from 2008 to 2010, saying that it was her birth name and she'd been adopted and had it changed to Ava Misseldine.

Misseldine said she used the name for two years until her birth family became upset with her about it.

She was finally undone by the pandemic, when she started applying for Paycheck Protection Program money using documents forged in both her own name and her fake name.

Having listed several of her former businesses on the application, she received $1.5million from the government.

She spent the money on homes in both Utah and Michigan and none of the cash went to saving any jobs.

Misseldine was finally caught in January 2021 when she tried to apply for a new passport as Brie Bourgeois.

Investigators noted that she listed her email address as sugarinccupcakes@yahoo.com, which connects to a link provided on Misseldine's Twitter profile.

'Some of the information on this fraudulent passport application mirrors information that Misseldine provided in her 2015 passport application under her true identity,' the filing said. 'For example, the 2021 fraudulent application listed her occupation as 'baker,' her emergency contact phone number as [Misseldine's], and her intended destination as Honduras, all of which matches information that Misseldine provided on her 2015 passport application under her true identity.'

Because of this, the application was flagged as potentially fraudulent and led to Misseldine being charged with passport fraud, Social Security number fraud, aggravated identity theft, and fraud in connection with major disaster or emergency benefits.

Misseldine faces 30 years in prison if convicted on all charges.
Body camera footage captured the standoff between cops and a criminal holding a baby hostage that began in the tiny town of St. George. Utah and finished in the desert in the northwestern portion of Arizona near Beaver Dam.

The incident only ended after a police sniper shot the 30-year-old suspect, Oscar Alcantara, dead, while he was holding a baby that he had kidnapped.

The dramatic incident occurred in mid-February this year but the videos have only just been released following a public records request by television station KUTV.

Washington City police were already looking to capture Alcantara in connection with a separate incident in which a weapon was used.

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Dramatic body camera video captured the moment a police sniper took down an armed suspect who was holding a baby he was accused of kidnapping in the Arizona desert

Alcantara was tracked down to a church in the Bloomington area of St. George.

When police pulled the car over, a woman ran to the officers, telling them Alcantara was still in the vehicle together with her child and that he had a gun.

Police were unable to apprehend Alcantara before he then jumped into the driver's seat and sped off with the the woman's child still strapped inside the car.

A police chase ensued with cops following the vehicle through St. George and out into the desert of southwestern Washington County before coming to a stop near the Beaver Dam across the Arizona border.

In video footage released this week, police can be seen clearing people away in the area where the chase ended.

A sniper fired a single round, fatally striking Alcantara. The baby he was holding was uninjured

The incident happened on February 17 in the town of Beaver Dam, which is near the Utah / Arizona border and saw a massive police presence as the suspect was pursued

Officers attempted to get Alcantara to give up the baby.

'Put the child down on the ground, we will not pursue you!' a police officer can be heard shouting at Alcantara.

Several minutes pass before Alcantara gets out of the car along with the child and runs off into brush off Highway 91, all the while pointing a weapon at the child.

'Oscar stop! We don't want to hurt you!' an officer can be heard yelling.

As officers attempted to negotiate with Alcantara, police snipers got into position.

On audio on the video, officers can be heard stating that they can see a gun being pointed at them.

'The gun is pointed right at us! Gun pointed at us!', an officer can be heard shouting.

Moments later a police sniper took aim.

'We've only got one shot at this!' his colleague can be heard stating before firing off the riskiest of rounds, killing Alcantara while he was still holding the baby.

Officers ran over to Alcantara not knowing if the baby had been hurt.

'I got child, I got child, come here baby,' an officer with the St. George police department can be heard saying on body camera.

Incredibly, the infant was unharmed and quickly rushed to safety.

The Mohave County Attorney's Office is currently reviewing the entire incident and plowing through hours of video together with the interrogation of both witnesses and the dozens of officers who were involved.
The general manager of an exclusive Martha's Vineyard country club has pleaded guilty on behalf of the club to the involuntary manslaughter of a three-year-old boy who drowned in their pool last year.

Henry Bowman Backer was not wearing any floaties when he was left alone in the pool by a counselor at the $100,000-a-year membership Boathouse & Field Club in July 2021, the court heard this week.

When the counselor returned, little Henry had drowned.

'We never saw our son's eyes open again. He was already brain dead,' said his father Stephen Backer, in a victim statement. 'We placed our vibrant, sweet, smart, loving boy in the care of The Field Club and they let him die.'

Boathouse & Field Club general manager Scott Anderson pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter, negligence, wanton and reckless conduct, causing the death of Henry, on behalf of the club.

'We had one responsibility as an organization on that day and that was to return Henry back to his family...and we failed on every possible level,' Anderson told the court, reports The Boston Globe.

The club was ordered to pay just $100,000 in restitution to the family and was placed on five years probation. The family said that they will be donating the money to a lifeguard training program named the Henry Bowman Backer Water Safety Training Fund on Martha's Vineyard and Cape Cod.

The judge in the case, Hon. Mark Gildea said: 'There is no sentence that can be imposed that can justify what has happened.'

Henry Bowman Backer was not wearing any floaties when he was left alone in the pool by a counselor at the $100,000-a-year membership Boathouse & Field Club in July 2021, the court heard this week

'We never saw our son's eyes open again. He was already brain dead,' said his father Stephen Backer, in a victim statement. 'We placed our vibrant, sweet, smart, loving boy in the care of The Field Club and they let him die'

But the family are still furious at the club for letting their little boy die.

Stephen said: 'This is not the story of a tragic accident. This is the story of a crime.'

'We are making this statement because the guilty party is a corporation and we can't look a corporation in the eye.'

The club, which was built as a private members club in 2008, charges members $100,000 per year for membership. Purchase of a home on the grounds comes with a club membership. Homes are priced between $2 and $4 million.

The club was ordered to pay just $100,000 in restitution to the family and was placed on five years probation. The family said that they will be donating the money to a lifeguard training program on Cape Cod

Today in Dukes County Superior Court in Barnstable, Massachusetts, Boathouse & Field Club general manager Scott Anderson pleaded guilty to negligence, wanton and reckless conduct, causing the death of Henry, on behalf of the club

Stephen's mother, Terry Kassel, was a member of the exclusive club, located on the Katama Peninsula in the Edgartown section of Martha's Vineyard, according to the Globe.

Stephen's mother is the head of strategic human resources at Elliot Investment Management having previously worked in a similar role at Merrill Lynch.

Boathouse & Field Club general manager Scott Anderson pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter, negligence, wanton and reckless conduct, causing the death of Henry, on behalf of the club

On Ellie's LinkedIn page, she says that she worked at the Jewish Food Society as culinary director between 2016 and 2019.

Ellie is a graduate of Boston College as part of the school's class of 2002.

Between 2015 and 2021, Stephen worked as the director of creative development at Eko, a company that makes interactive videos.

In their the Globe's reporting, it refers to Edgartown as 'the island's poshest town.'

The Bowman Backer family lives in the Park Slope neighborhood of Brooklyn, New York.

Henry's mother Ellie said that when she signed her son up for the Kids Club, she told a counselor that her son would need floaties to play in the pool.

The counselor told her that Henry would need to bring his own.

On the morning he drowned, Ellie said that she clipped the floaties to her son's bag.

Cape & Islands assistant district attorney Elizabeth Sweeney told the court that a counselor at the Kids Club told a state trooper: 'It was the three-year-old childs responsibility to remember to wear his floaties.'

The prosecutor in the case said that counselors at the Kids Club had not been assigned individual children to look after nor were all adequately trained to look after young children.

The judge in the case, Hon. Mark Gildea said: 'There is no sentence that can be imposed that can justify what has happened'

In the narrated video that was played to the court, Stephen and Ellie described every milestone in their son's life

Henry's mother Ellie said that when she signed her son up for the Kids Club, she told a counselor that her son would need floaties to play in the pool

In the heart wrenching video, Henry's parents described their son's love of music and The Beatles' movie 'A Hard Day's Night'

Henry's mother described the 14 months between their daughter, Mabel's, birth and Henry's death as the happiest of her life

Despite being just three, Henry could make his own Spotify playlists

When the counselor who was playing with Henry left with the other children, no other counselor was assigned to him.

Ellie said: 'When I dropped Henry off at the Field's Club's Kids Club that Monday morning. I did not think for a second that I was putting him in danger. Why would I?'

She went on to say that she applied sunblock to her child, pinned his floaties to his backpack and hoped that he would make new friends.

The money paid by the country club will go toward setting up a life guard training program in Henry's name

Henry never had his floaties put on him. He spent the morning playing 'I Spy' in the swallow end of the pool with two other girls and a counselor.

But when the girls asked for some swimming goggles, the counselor led them away from the pool, leaving Henry on his own, the court heard.

When they returned, they found Henry had drowned. There was no floating line separating the swallow end of the pool from the deep.

The prosecutor said that there were two lifeguards on duty who were alternating shifts of 20 minutes. The on-duty lifeguard was folding towels when he saw little Henry floating lifeless in the pool.

Henry was taken from the pool as the lifeguards and a club member attempted CPR but he remained unresponsive. A portable defibrillator was used on the three-year-old to no avail.

Henry was rushed to Martha's Vineyard Hospital and then flown to Boston' Children's Hospital where he was pronounced dead on July 28.

Henry was dropped off by his mother at 11:15 a.m., he was found floating in the pool at 11:33 a.m.

Ellie said: 'We are so grateful to the DA and his team and to the state police investigation for uncovering this horrible truth.

She continued: 'This was not some tragic accident. It was a crime. Manslaughter. That's a felony.'

The state police investigation found that Henry had been neglected by counselors and staff but none were named , reports The Vineyard Gazette.

Following the phone call alerting them to the incident, Stephen said that they never heard from the country club again, not even receiving an apology.

Prior to Henry's death, the club regularly updated its Facebook page with pictures of members enjoying amenities.

The club didn't update the page following the three-year-old's death until September 6, with a post that read in part: 'Cheers to the end of summer!'

Stephen said that despite the anger he feels toward The Field Club, 'Rage doesn't honor Henry's life.'

Rather than lose his temper at those responsible for his son's death, Stephen said that he would like the administration of the country club to put themselves in him and his wife's place.

Stephen said he wanted them to think about experiencing a loss of this magnitude due to 'wanton and reckless criminal actions.'

The couple told the story of Henry's life in the video, discussing his love of music. They said that despite his young age, he could already make playlists on Spotify.

They named his favorite movie as The Beatles' comedy 'A Hard Day's Night' and could even play the theme song on his keyboard.

Ellie and Stephen, who have a daughter Mabel, are still mourning their young son and ended their victim statement saying simply they 'love him forever.'

In a brief statement, the family's lawyer David Meier said: 'From day one, the priority for Henrys parents and family has been about the truth, about transparency, and about accountability'

Cape & Islands District Attorney Michael O'Keefe said: 'The criminal justice system is inadequate to deal with the pain and anguish of the loss of a child, but it can bring a measure of justice. I hope it has done so for Henry'

In a brief statement, the family's lawyer David Meier said: 'From day one, the priority for Henrys parents and family has been about the truth, about transparency, and about accountability.'

The probation facing The Field Club will place limits on the water activities that the club can hold involving children under the age of six.

The probation also prevents the club from being sold or from any transfer of ownership.

In addition to general manager Scott Anderson, several of the club's directors were present in court on June 10.

The judge directed comments to them saying: 'I didn't know anything about the Field Club before this case. It touts exceptional and unparalleled service to its members. This didn't happen in July 2021.'

Following the judge's decision in the case, Cape & Islands District Attorney Michael O'Keefe said: 'The criminal justice system is inadequate to deal with the pain and anguish of the loss of a child, but it can bring a measure of justice. I hope it has done so for Henry.'

Massachusetts law caps restitution for companies in manslaughter cases at $250,000.

Terry Kassel, referred to as a philanthropist in several online articles, serves on the board of various non-profits including the Israel based Start Up Nation Central and the Jewish Food Society.

According to a 2021 New York Post article, Terry Kessel is in a relationship with Elliot Management founder Paul Singer. Singer referred to in the Post article as 'notoriously private' has an estimated worth of around $3.6 billion.
Millions of Australians will be forced to pay up to an extra $270 a year for their electricity as one of the largest energy providers hikes up their prices.

Origin Energy announced on Friday it will raise its rates by 14.4 per cent for residents living in New South Wales on July 1.

The energy provider will hike prices by 13.7 per cent, or $223, in Queensland and 10.4 per cent, or $180, in South Australia.

Victorian households will be slapped with higher electricity rates in January.

Millions of Australians will be forced to pay up to an extra $270 a year for their electricity as one of the largest energy providers hikes up its prices (stock image)

Origin Energy announced on Friday it will raise its rates by 14.4 per cent for residents living in New South Wales on July 1 (stock image)

Origin executive general manager of retail Jon Briskin said the company was 'absorbing some of the higher energy costs' to reduce the rate increases passed down to customers.

'To minimise the impact of price changes for customers who are facing higher costs of living, we will be absorbing some of the higher energy costs we're incurring so the vast majority of Origin customers continue to pay less than the default market offer on 1 July,' he said.

'We know that many Australians are doing it tough faced with higher costs of living and we encourage any Origin customers who are struggling with their energy bills to reach out to us today so that we can provide support and assistance.'

In the year to March, wholesale electricity prices have soared by 141 per cent, prompting one power company boss to urge his 70,000 customers to switch provider.

Financial comparison group Finder is predicting electricity prices for some households to climb by up to 100 per cent from July 1, effectively doubling the price.

States and territories have introduced varying levels of power bill subsidies to help households cope with the rise in rates.

Victorian households get a $250 cash handout for simply signing up to the Energy Compare website while NSW households with dependent children can get a $180 discount.

In the year to March, wholesale electricity prices have soared by 141 per cent, prompting one power company boss to urge his 70,000 customers to switch provider (pictured, Liddell power station in Muswellbrook)

Why are power prices soaring? 1. Coal-fired generators failing: More than 25 per cent have been offline for much of the year 2. Domestic gas shortages: Sources especially offshore in Victoria are running low and new development has been hindered 3. Ukraine-Russia war: European nations are moving away from Russian gas to punish Vladimir Putin, pushing up global prices 4. Cold snap: The cold snap in the east has led to increased demand Source: Tony Wood, Grattan Institute Advertisement

The Queensland government will give households a one-off rebate of $175.

Anthony Albanese's government is open to subsidising the price of electricity as Australians face soaring power costs due to an energy crisis.

The Labor government is discussing measures to alleviate pressure on households as power prices skyrocket due to a gas shortage, outages at coal-fired power stations and a cold snap.

Last week comparison site Finder warned electricity prices could double in July.

With Europe also gripped by soaring costs after Russia's invasion of Ukraine, the British Government announced it would give all homes a one-off $690 (400) power bill credit in October.

Asked if the Australian government would consider a similar measure, Employment Minister Tony Burke told ABC radio the government is open minded.

'We're not ruling anything in or out at the moment,' he said.

The Labor government is discussing measures to alleviate pressure on households as power prices skyrocket due to a gas shortage, outages at coal-fired power stations, and a cold snap (stock image)

In his first media conference as treasurer, Jim Chalmers warned of a 'perfect storm' for energy price hikes.

'This perfect storm of energy price spikes is doing enormous damage to our employers, to our households and to our national economy,' he said last week.

On Tuesday, Labor demanded the nation's coal power stations be brought back into service as soon as possible.

At least a quarter of Australia's coal-fired electricity production is currently offline while the east coast shivers through a freezing winter amid soaring price rises.

AGL currently has three coal power stations in NSW and Victoria either offline or on reduced capacity due to scheduled and unscheduled maintenance issues.

Origin's Eraring power station, the largest in NSW, has also been crippled by coal production cutbacks at its neighbouring conveyor belt-connected coalmine.
North Korean leader Kim Jong-un presides over the fifth enlarged plenary meeting of the party's eighth Central Committee in Pyongyang, held from June 8 to 10, in this photo, released by the North's Korean Central News Agency, June 11. Yonhap



North Korean leader Kim Jong-un called for stronger "self-defense" measures to tackle "very serious" security challenges as he presided over a key ruling party session earlier this week, Pyongyang's state media reported Saturday.



But there was no specific message issued from the fifth enlarged plenary meeting of the party's eighth Central Committee with regard to the secretive regime carrying out another nuclear weapon test.



The North stopped short of delivering new major messages on the United States or South Korea through the three-day high-profile session that ended Friday.



It instead announced the promotion of Vice Foreign Minister Choe Son-hui, who used to play a key role in denuclearization talks, to the post of foreign minister.



Foreign Minister Ri Son-gwon has been tapped to lead the party's United Front Department tasked with handling inter-Korean relations.



The North said that the right to self-defense is a matter of protecting national sovereignty, stressing that the security circumstances for the North were "very serious" and at risk of being further aggravated, according to the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA).



He then reaffirmed the principle of "power for power and head-on contest" and urged efforts to accomplish the goal of bolstering national defense capabilities "as soon as possible," the KCNA said.



"And he set forth the militant tasks to be pushed forward by the armed forces of the Republic and the national defense research sector," it added in an English-language report without elaborating.



A decision was made for the principles and strategies to be "maintained in the struggle against the enemy" and in the field of foreign affairs. The "enemy" appears to be referring to South Korea, with the expression used amid heightened tensions on the peninsula in June 2020 when the North unilaterally cut off all inter-communication lines.



The KCNA did not specify whether Kim made a direct mention of a reported plan for another nuclear weapon test.



Meanwhile, the North announced a partial reshuffle of top military officials. Ri Thae-sop was appointed chief of the general staff of the Korean People's Army (KPA) and Jong Kyong-thaek as director of the KPA General Political Bureau, the KCNA said.



During the party session, the North also focused on the issue of controlling the current COVID-19 outbreak.



Kim was quoted as saying that the state anti-epidemic work has currently "entered a new stage" from a blockade-based prevention system to preventing the spread of the virus based on both a lockdown and eradication of the virus. (Yonhap)


Amanda Knox says she became a 'magnet for hate' after she was wrongly accused of murdering British university student, Meredith Kercher, in an interview calling for Twitter to name and shame trolls.

On November 1 2007, Meredith  an exchange student from the University of Leeds - was murdered in Perugia, Italy, where she was studying at the time.

Knox and her former boyfriend, Raffaele Sollecito, were later jailed, before eventually being released from prison in 2011 following an appeal against their conviction.

Knox had her conviction for the murder of her former roommate overturned by the Italian Supreme Court in 2015 after serving four years in jail.

A local man, Rudy Guede, was convicted in a separate trial after his DNA was found on Kercher's body and in the room where she died.

He was sentenced to 16 years in prison in 2008, but was released in December 2020 and will spend the rest of his sentence doing community work.

Now, Amanda has written an article - titled 'Patrolling the Trolls: The Sorry State of Reporting Online Abuse' - and recalled the horrific death threats she received just a few weeks after she was sent to prison.

Amanda Knox (pictured speaking in 2019, file photo) has written an article - titled 'Patrolling the Trolls: The Sorry State of Reporting Online Abuse' - recalling when she received death threats in prison

It's now over 14 years since 21-year-old student Meredith Kercher was raped and killed in a brutal attack in the apartment they shared in the Italian city of Perugia, on November 1, 2007

She wrote: 'From the moment I was first accused of murder and painted in the tabloids as a sex-crazed, drug-addicted psychopath, the death threats began rolling in. I had only been in prison for a few weeks.

'The authorities were still investigating the death of Meredith Kercher, and as a suspect, the police were holding me in a cell where I would remain for eight months before I was officially charged and my trial began. Long before the public saw any evidence, long before I had a chance to defend myself in court, I had become a magnet for hate.'

Knox - who became known as 'Foxy Knoxy' in the press as the court case in Italy drew international attention - lamented the fact that her name became synonymous with Meredith's killing, despite being acquitted by Italy's highest court.

Amanda Knox (pictured in an Italian court in 2009) and her former boyfriend, Raffaele Sollecito, were later jailed, before eventually being released from prison in 2011 following an appeal against their conviction. She was fully exonerated in 2015

A local man, Rudy Guede (pictured being escorted by police in Italy in 2007), was convicted in a separate trial after his DNA was found on Kercher's body and in the room where she died. He was sentenced to 16 years in prison in 2008, but was released in December 2020 and will spend the rest of his sentence doing community work

Writing in New Thinking, she said: 'The first death threat wasnt even for me. It was for my mom. I read that letter in my cell, and at the end of a long screed, this stranger said he knew where my mother was staying in Perugia, and that he would kill herthat was what I deserved.

'I immediately told the prison guards. You have to do something! My mom needs protection! Just ignore it, they said. I did, until the next threat came, and the next.

'After four years in prison and eight years on trial, I was definitively acquitted by Italys highest court, but I remained a magnet for hate. As I tried to rebuild a semblance of a normal life back home, the threats and harassment continued.

'They arrived in the mail at my moms house, and in the comments on my blog. Amidst the kind messages from supporters, there were always the ones wishing me dead, the ones describing how it would happen, an unmarked van in the middle of broad daylight, Merediths name carved into my body.

'I tried reporting this to the FBI. But, there was little they could do. As I ventured into the world of social media that had blossomed while I was locked away, I found a torrent of hate aimed in my direction.'

In September, Knox had a baby girl Eureka Know Robinson with husband, Christopher Robinson, who she married in 2018. Pictured: A pregnant Knox (file photo)

Knox - who had a baby girl Eureka Know Robinson with husband, Christopher Robinson after the pair married in 2018, believes it's more important than ever to name and shame trolls online.

She added: 'Its important that the abuse reporting systems dont get weaponised by bad actors themselves to get non-offenders booted off of platforms for benign behaviour.

'And for that reason, the social media platforms have an incentive to ignore potential abuse claims that they have no way of verifying. But the targets of harassment, like myself, often can predict in advance how theyll be targeted. I know that people will directly and indirectly call me a killer, hold me responsible for my friends death, they will name her, or reference details about the case, or crime scene.

'If Twitter, Instagram, and other platforms empowered users to preemptively specify how they might be targeted and why, or if they learned from prior abuse reports to detect patterns, they would have good reason to believe that some later instance of specific harassment is legitimate.'
Tory Brexiteers last night accused Lefties, Lords and luvvies of mounting a dangerous new offensive against Britains historic decision to leave the EU.

Allies of Boris Johnson fear opponents of Brexit are seeking to use his vulnerability to push forward their agenda.

Sir Keir Starmer yesterday said a Labour government would axe laws giving ministers powers to unpick the UKs agreement with the EU over trade in Northern Ireland.

David Miliband, the former Labour foreign secretary, who is now based in New York, yesterday highlighted on Twitter claims that the decision to leave is causing economic damage

It comes as a coalition of Brexit critics including former Labour minister David Miliband issue renewed calls for the countrys departure to be watered down.

Mr Miliband, the former Labour foreign secretary, who is now based in New York, yesterday highlighted on Twitter claims that the decision to leave is causing economic damage.

We need an honest debate about how to limit the damage going forward, he wrote.

Meanwhile Tory MP Mark Jenkinson last night criticised Remainers, declaring Lefties, Lords and luvvies were suffering from long Brexit as they still fail to accept the vote to leave the EU.

A senior Conservative figure warned the Prime Minister needed to get a grip or risk Brexit being lost through the party being defeated at the next election.

Many opponents of Boris are motivated by turning back Brexit clock, they said. My worry though is that if we lose the election, Brexit, at least in this form, looks vulnerable.

The senior figure warned Tory Eurosceptics would turn on Mr Johnson if it became a choice between supporting Boris or winning the next election.

A senior Conservative figure warned the Prime Minister needed to get a grip or risk Brexit being lost through the party being defeated at the next election

The source added: Which is why he needs to get a grip and bring the party policy in line with its supporters wishes.

Foreign Secretary Liz Truss is due to publish legislation on Monday that would allow the Government to unilaterally override parts of the deal agreed with Brussels.

As part of Brexit negotiations, the UK and EU agreed to the so-called Northern Ireland protocol, which is designed to avoid the need for a hard border on the island of Ireland.

But this has led to disruption to goods crossing the Irish Sea, with new checks imposed on those moving to the province. Concerns have also been raised that Northern Irelands place within the UK is being undermined, with the Democratic Unionist Party blocking the formation of a power-sharing executive at Stormont until the issue is resolved.

The Government intends to use domestic law to reduce the checks required.

Sir Keir said yesterday Labour would vote against the Bill in the Commons and repeal it if the party comes to power.

Instead, he argued the focus should be on achieving a negotiated settlement with the EU to resolve issues with the protocols implementation.

We would scrap the legislation and I think there has been an impasse in the negotiations because we havent seen the high levels of trust that we need for negotiations like this, not least from our Prime Minister, he said during a visit to Belfast.

I do not think that the remaining issues of the protocol cannot be resolved with a different approach with an honest broker prime minister getting people around the table and negotiating what needs to be negotiated.

Ken Clarke this week warned the Bill would be seriously challenged in the Lords.

The Tory former chancellor said he expected a very large majority of peers will hold it up for a considerable time.

Opponents of leaving the EU have made a series of interventions in recent days suggesting the UK should pursue a softer Brexit. Among many was Tobias Ellwood, one of the Prime Ministers most vocal critics on the Tory backbenches, who last week called for Britain to rejoin the EUs single market.

The chairman of the Commons defence committee suggested the country should opt for a soft Brexit even if it means accepting the free movement of people.

But Mr Jenkinson, MP for Workington, said the narrative that Brexit must be watered down or reversed is gathering at a dangerous pace and must be guarded against.

In 2016 and again in 2019 we were left without any ambiguity  the nation wanted Brexit done, he said.

Boris Johnson delivered on that promise and we continue to forge our own path.

Fellow Tory Brendan Clarke-Smith, who represents Bassetlaw, added: They are always at it and cant let it rest. [Lord] Adonis [the Labour ex-Cabinet minister] let the cat out of the bag when he said, If Boris goes, Brexit goes.
Do you know Paul or Rachel? Email us at adam.solomons@mailonline.co.uk

A woman in China launched an international manhunt for her missing boyfriend - only to discover he was back home in Norwich with his wife and children.

Rachel Waters was left 'heartbroken' when her partner Paul McGee went on 'a visit' to the UK in April but never returned.

Do you know Paul or Rachel? Email us at adam.solomons@mailonline.co.uk Advertisement

Around six weeks after he left, she wrote a message to local residents on a Norwich community Facebook group and hoped someone would be able to provide details of his whereabouts.

Ms Waters shared a picture of the pair that was taken in China and said she was 'worried something might have happened', reports The Sun.

However, a friend of Mr McGee's partner saw the post and revealed he had a wife and children.

The post read: 'I have an unusual ask. My boyfriend, Paul Magee, and I live in Shenzhen, China.

'He went home (Norwich) at the beginning of April to visit and was supposed to be back in China by now.

'However, I have not heard from him recently and am worried something might have happened. If anyone knows of anything, please reach out to me.'

Rachel Waters launched an international manhunt for her missing boyfriend - only to discover he was back home in Norwich with his wife and children

Ms Waters (left) was left 'heartbroken' when her partner Paul McGee (right) went on 'a visit' to the UK in April but never returned

Around six weeks after he left, she wrote a message to local residents on a Norwich community Facebook group and hoped someone would be able to provide details of his whereabouts

The brand manager - from South Carolina, US - went to university in Britain before moving to Shenzhen in 2019.

A friend of Mr McGee's partner, of Norwich, replied: 'Not really funny is it. He has a Mrs and children and I really feel for her right now!

Ms Waters shared a picture of the pair that was taken in China and said she was 'worried something might have happened'

'And another girlfriend in China it seems.'

Ms Waters - who regularly uploads hilarious 'dating fails' on her YouTube channel - subsequently removed the post.

A friend of the couple told the newspaper: 'Paul and his partner didn't see each other for two years.

'He recently returned, and they sort of got back together. They have been separated and got children. They've thought, "Let's give it another go".'

It is claimed that the relationships between Ms Waters and Mr McGee's partner did not overlap.
A baby-faced Australian killer who slaughtered a businessman and was understood to be exhausted from prison sex has applied to have his relationship with a fellow inmate legally recognised.

Daniel Kelsall, who stabbed a Sydney businessman after following him home from the pub in 2013, applied to be legally recognised as being in a 'de facto' relationship with fellow murderer Kelvin Wilmott.

Kelsall, 28, who is serving 30 years for killing Morgan Huxley, was reported in 2019 to allegedly be having sex 'almost every night' with other inmates in the open-plan Hunter Correctional Centre.

Baby-faced killer Daniel Kelsall (pictured above in 2015) who slaughtered a businessman and was understood to be exhausted from prison sex has applied to have his relationship with a fellow murderer legally recognised

Sources from Hunter Correctional Centre claimed Kelsall (pictured) was too exhausted by sex with inmates to participate in prison programs

Wilmott, now 49, is serving a 28-year sentence for the horrific stabbing murder of gentle giant Shane Curphey after an argument in a caravan park in 2010.

While Kelsall and Wilmott are believed to be in a relationship, prison sources believe the application could be a ploy by the younger man to remain in the same jail as his lover, The Daily Telegraph reported.

It is believed Hunter Correctional Centre is set to be reclassified as a general maximum security prison, whereas it is now home to 'at risk' inmates.

That could mean some prisoners are moved in or out to other jails.

Kelsall is currently serving a minimum 30 years sentence for the murder of Sydney business Morgan Huxley (pictured)

While Kelsall and Wilmott are believed to be in a relationship, prison sources believe the application could be a ploy by the younger man to remain at Hunter Correctional Centre (pictured) as his lover

It is not known if Wilmott was in favour of the de facto relationship application or even had any knowledge of it.

The pair are believed to have formed the relationship after being housed in the same pod in the open-plan prison.

In NSW people aged over 18 who are living together in a straight or same sex relationship can apply to be legally recognised as being de facto.

They must not be in a relationship with another person, already legally married, or related.

Becoming a formal de facto couple makes it easier for both parties when dealing with government services such as Centrelink and the Australian Taxation office and to make a will.

The application fee is $223.

The application was denied by NSW Corrective Services, in line with policy.

Kelsall 28, sexually assaulted and stabbed Mr Huxley, to death on Sydney's north shore in 2013 after following him home from a Neutral Bay pub.

Wilmott stabbed Mr Curphey 105 times and slashed his throat in a frenzied attack in a caravan park at Canton Beach, on the NSW Central Coast, in October, 2010.

He died in the savage attack which involved being stabbed with two kitchen knives in front of horrified caravan park residents.

It is believed Hunter Correctional Centre is set to be reclassified as a general maximum security prison, whereas it is now home to 'at risk' inmates

Wilmott, who was out on bail at the time of the murder, was sentenced to 28 years for his crimes in 2012.

Forensic psychologist Dr Susan Pulman, who interviewed Kelsall for police over Mr Huxley's murder believes he 'would kill again'.

'I don't see how he's fundamentally going to change, I just think that's who he is and that's what scares me,' Dr Pulman told Foxtel documentary Crimes That Shook Australia last year.

Mr Huxley's ex-girlfriend Jessica Hall described Kelsall as a 'worthless psychopath' during the 2015 trial.

In 2019 a prison source told The Sunday Telegraph Mr Kelsall was indulging in nightly sex with other inmates.

'Because of the open-plan design, there is nothing stopping them. Sex in the prison is rife,' the source told the publication.

'The young bloke (Kelsall) is so tired in the morning he barely takes part in the prison programs.'

Sources expressed concerns about the cell-free, open plan maximum security prison, where prisoners are free to engage with one another in dormitory-style accommodation with 25 inmates in each of the 16 'pods'.
San Francisco has been waiting to be rocked by another massive earthquake since 1906. On Tuesday night this week, it finally came when the people of Americas most famously Left-wing city voted overwhelmingly to throw out their chief prosecutor  and with him a policy of ultra-woke tolerance of crime that has brought the city to its knees.

Some 60 per cent of San Franciscans voted to recall from office Chesa Boudin, a pin-up for the progressive Left, midway through his term as the citys District Attorney.

Down the Pacific coast, the day of reckoning continued as voters in Los Angeles threw their support in the citys mayoral race behind a formerly Republican billionaire businessman, Rick Caruso, who has pledged to save the crime and vagrancy plagued city from the worst instincts of its Left-wing leaders.

Even diehard Hollywood liberals have turned out to support Mr Caruso, who won the most votes but, because he didnt reach the 50 per cent threshold, faces a November run-off against Left-wing rival Karen Bass.

They include Gwyneth Paltrow, Kim Kardashian, Katy Perry and rapper Snoop Dogg. Paltrow, who once opened up her LA home to host fundraising parties for Barack Obama, said on Instagram: We need Rick to get our streets cleaned up and functioning.

Two years ago, with the U.S. burning under the fury of the riots over the death of African-American George Floyd, nobody would have dared express such sentiments, least of all a leading light of Tinseltown, a Democrat citadel.

The critics of LAs equally progressive District Attorney, George Gascon, wasted no time in warning him theyre confident theyll soon have sufficient support to send him the same way as Mr Boudin.

The international outcry over the appalling police killing of Minneapolis man George Floyd in May 2020 set off months-long rioting and looting that Democrat municipalities largely ignored

The significance of all this is difficult to overstate: the U.S. doesnt get more evangelically woke than San Francisco, birthplace of the hippie counterculture, and LA where you can walk for days and not find a Republican.

If theyre prepared to reject the suffocating political and cultural dogma that has swept both sides of the Atlantic, say its opponents, theres hope for the rest of us.

With Californian political observers saying the states laid-back voters havent been so angry since the late 1970s, the prominent conservative columnist Bret Stephens asked in The New York Times following this weeks vote: Is a decade of destructive progressive ideology finally coming to an end?

He and others enjoyed a little schadenfreude as they dredged up the old saying that a conservative is a liberal whos been mugged.

The shockwaves of this bruising reality check for the Left are spreading across a country riven by culture wars  over myriad issues from transgender rights and free speech to political indoctrination in schools and slavery reparations  that have often started in the U.S. before making their noxious way across to the UK.

Indeed, London Mayor Sadiq Khan was out in LA a month ago looking for tips on how the state has decriminalised cannabis. If hed come this week, he could have taken a different lesson home.

Mr Caruso, a billionaire LA property developer, was until recently a Republican and only switched to the Democrats for naked tactical reasons. He is running on an aggressively pro-police ticket, promising to recruit an extra 1,500 officers and clean up the citys streets of crime and homelessness in a campaign that has been compared to former New York City mayor Rudy Giuliani and his broken windows policy in the 1990s.

Broken windows  better known in the UK as zero-tolerance policing and based on the premise that if you ignore petty crime, more serious lawlessness will grow  has since been condemned by the Left in the UK and U.S. as inherently racist on the grounds that black people are disproportionately targeted.

Smashed windows are the least of San Franciscos problems. One of Americas most enchanting cities is now blighted by rampant open-air drug abuse, car break-ins (3,000 in one month), aggressive shoplifting, homeless encampments and fouling of pavements with human excrement. Video after video shows locals ignoring blatant lawbreaking and getting on with their lives, resigned to the fact nothing would be done even if they did try to get involved.

San Francisco has become a drug-abusing Wild West with syringes littering pavements and drug dealers, selling heroin or the deadly opioid fentanyl, easily recognisable dressed in black with matching backpacks

We shouldnt be popping champagne bottles, said Richie Greenberg, a community activist behind the successful campaign to oust the DA. People have died under Boudins watch. Lives ruined, families broken, businesses shuttered.

Even more so than LA, which many demoralised residents are deserting for saner and safer climes, beautiful Frisco is gradually becoming less and less attractive as a place to live.

And even fellow Left-wingers will admit that the reason is dogmatic radicals obsessed above all else by race  the great battlecry of American progressives.

There was nobody more dogmatic than Chesa Boudin. He has impeccable progressive credentials  the 41-year-olds parents were radical Left-wing terrorists in a group known as the Weather Underground. Both were jailed within months of his birth after acting as getaway drivers in a bank robbery in which two police officers and a security guard were killed.

Boudin was raised both in prison and by other members of the Underground. He later won a Rhodes scholarship to Oxford followed by a stint as a translator for Hugo Chavez, the autocratic Left-wing Venezuelan president, before spending most of his legal career as a public defender.

San Franciscans knew exactly what they were getting when they elected him as their District Attorney in 2019 as Boudin pledged to concentrate on keeping people (and like his LA opposite number, who shares the same aim, he means principally black and brown people) out of prison, a policy known as decarceration.

While its true the U.S. incarcerates a relatively high proportion of its population, its an odd priority for a criminal prosecutor. Sensing disaster ahead even if Left-leaning voters didnt, the local police union campaigned to stop him winning.

In office, the high-handed Boudin scrapped cash bail (on the grounds that it was unfair on the poor) in favour of zero bail, no longer prosecuted any minors as adults (no matter how vicious their offences) and stopped pursuing so-called quality of life crimes such as prostitution, public defecation and open-air drug use.

He made full use of Proposition 47, a 2014 California law introduced to keep petty criminals out of prison by making drug possession and theft of goods worth less than $950 (760) a misdemeanour rather than a more serious felony. Misdemeanours are barely prosecuted. Most of these controversial policies have also been championed by DA Gascon in Los Angeles.

Prosecutions fell but many crimes soared as their perpetrators went unpunished. Offenders were simply released.

Sometimes, innocent lives were lost as a result. On New Years Eve 2020, a man driving a stolen car ran over two women as they crossed a street, killing both.

The African-American driver, Troy McAlister, had previously been arrested five times for crimes such as driving stolen cars and burglary, only for Boudins office to refuse to prosecute him, in each case saying it didnt believe the police evidence was strong enough to secure a conviction.

I lay awake thinking, What could we have done differently?  asked Boudin with jaw-dropping arrogance.

Car theft, muggings and burglaries have rocketed, making certain neighbourhoods no-go areas for some. Asian-Americans, suffering across the U.S. from an uptick in racist assaults, accused Boudin of ignoring attacks on them  proof, some said, he cared about some minorities more than others.

Shoplifting has reached epidemic proportions. Thieves sometimes go round stores with calculators, blatantly totting up what they can safely steal before passing that $950 prosecution threshold. Others go armed, such as a woman who calmly filled up her basket in an LA branch of chemists Rite Aid, threatening anyone who came near her with a pickaxe. Astonishingly, even she escaped.

Some of the thieving is down to ruthless gangs up to 80-strong ransacking anywhere from their chemists to Louis Vuitton of goods worth as much as $100,000 at a time. Some chain-store branches have given up and closed, others resort to putting items as basic as toothpaste in barred cabinets.

San Francisco has more billionaires and more vagrants (locals prefer to call them people experiencing homelessness) per square mile than anywhere in the U.S. As in LA, many of the latter live in vast tent cities that officials try not to disturb. (The total homeless figure in California has soared by 10,000 since 2019).

San Francisco is now blighted by rampant open-air drug abuse, car break-ins, aggressive shoplifting, homeless encampments and fouling of pavements with human excrement

Many are addicts and San Francisco has become a drug-abusing Wild West with syringes littering pavements and drug dealers, selling heroin or the deadly opioid fentanyl, easily recognisable dressed in black with matching backpacks.

Space has been set aside for addicts to inject themselves in peace, provided with food, medical care, syringes and housing advice. But there are so many addicts and so many drugs that in San Francisco users are dying from overdoses at a rate of two a day.

DA Boudin was lambasted after he announced that he wouldnt prosecute street-level drug dealers because they are themselves victims of human trafficking.

The backlash against oppressive wokeness has gone beyond issues of crime, drugs and homelessness.

In February, San Francisco voters got rid of three members of the citys seven-strong Board of Education, which controls its schools, after getting sick of their overbearing behaviour.

Chinese-American parents were incensed when the trio replaced ability testing for entry into one of the citys top schools with a lottery on the grounds the former was racist. And they were even more livid when it emerged the boards vice-president had with gross offensiveness compared Asian-Americans  often high achievers in U.S. schools  to slaves who benefited from working inside a slave owners house.

The education chiefs had already made clear where their perverse priorities lay when they delayed reopening schools after the pandemic so they could change the names of 44 schools which honoured the likes of George Washington, Abraham Lincoln and Scottish novelist Robert Louis Stevenson for offences such as keeping slaves, oppressing Native Americans and in the Treasure Island authors case once publishing a cringeworthy poem.

As with the hapless Boudin, a toxic mix of ideology and power turned bureaucrats into Maoist tyrants.

The legacy of the Black Lives Matter movement hangs heavily over this ugly mess. The international outcry over the appalling police killing of Minneapolis man George Floyd in May 2020 set off months-long rioting and looting that Democrat municipalities largely ignored.

Demoralised and fed up with the resulting barrage of criticism and Defund the Police demands  echoed, like the marches, in the UK  police are retiring in record numbers but recruits are not coming forward to replace them. Both the San Francisco and LA police are consequently suffering a recruitment crisis and are falling short of their intended strength.

Voters in Los Angeles threw their support in the citys mayoral race behind a formerly Republican billionaire businessman, Rick Caruso, pictured left, who has pledged to save the crime and vagrancy plagued city from the worst instincts of its Left-wing leaders

And just as experts say the BLM protests made police more reluctant to enforce the law, particularly with African-Americans, so Left-wingers such as Californias crusading DAs have become ever more strident.

Some progressives, at least, have admitted its gone terribly wrong. San Franciscos Democrat mayor, London Breed, who promised in 2020 to redirect $120 million from the police budget to help the black community, has dramatically changed tack and since pledged to end the reign of criminals.

Announcing a new plan to increase police funding to tackle crime, she promised to be less tolerant of the bull**** that has destroyed our city.

The crime and vagrancy nightmares are much the same in Los Angeles under a DA who also treats offenders with kid gloves. So far this year, people are being killed there at an even faster pace than in 2021, when murders hit a 15-year high.

The insanity spreads far beyond California. Radical Left District Attorneys have been elected in cities across the U.S., including New York, many of them  it emerged this week  with substantial indirect backing from billionaire investor George Soros.

Mr Soros, an anti-Brexit campaigner and famously the man who broke the Bank of England by betting on the pound crashing out of the European Exchange Rate Mechanism on Black Wednesday in 1992, reportedly gave $40 million to groups campaigning to elect Boudin and 74 other like-minded prosecutors.

Violent crime has soared in Americas Democrat-led major cities since the BLM protests. Gunshots recently, for the first time, overtook car crashes as the countrys leading cause of death by trauma.

The police wont even necessarily detain you for trying to kill someone, as Democrat politician Craig Greenberg, running for mayor of Louisville, Kentucky, discovered when a campaign meeting was rudely interrupted by Quintez Brown.

The latter, a rising star of the Black Lives Matter movement, burst into his office and fired shots at Mr Greenberg. Charged with attempted murder, Brown was let out on bail just two days later.

Wiser and more moderate Democrats were already aware that the deranged policies of their progressive wing may well lose them Novembers congressional midterms and the 2024 presidential election.

California this week provided the rest of the U.S.  and beyond  with the same blunt message.

Maybe an end is in sight to the lunacy.
A top health executive was assaulted by his ex-girlfriend who is less than half his age after she claimed to find in him bed with a work colleague, a court has heard.

Deloitte's Asia Pacific healthcare leader Dr Rohan Hammett, 56, was sleeping at his home in Avalon, on Sydney's northern beaches, when Sarah Su, 22, let herself in around midnight on November 25.

Manly Local Court heard on Monday that Ms Su claimed she found Mr Hammett in bed with Deloitte's Global Healthcare Leader Dr Stephanie Allen.

Mr Hammett's lawyer Paul McGirr said his client denied he was sleeping with Dr Allen, Daily Telegraph reported.

Deloitte's Asia Pacific healthcare leader Dr Rohan Hammett, 56, was sleeping at his home in Avalon, on Sydney's northern beaches, when Sarah Su, 22, let herself in around midnight on November 25

Manly Local Court heard on Monday that Ms Su claimed she found Mr Hammett in bed with Deloitte's Global Healthcare Leader Dr Stephanie Allen

'He was working with a colleague on work-related matter at his premises, and to suggest they were sleeping in bed together is strenuously denied,' Mr McGirr said.

'It appears that Ms Su was highly stressed and may have interpreted matters incorrectly.'

A video interview with police was played in court where Mr Hammett claimed he awoke to find Ms Su inside the room 'screaming' and 'hitting' him.

He said he then 'opened the balcony door and put her outside'.

The court heard Ms Su told police in her interview with police that she was choked with 'a lot of force' and that the side of her face was 'pushed... into a wooden pillar'.

Mr Hammett denied the allegations.

The court heard the pair had been holidaying in Byron Bay a week earlier and that Mr Hammett broke up with Ms Su at the end of the trip.

The court heard Ms Su told police in her interview with police that she was choked with 'a lot of force' and that the side of her face was 'pushed... into a wooden pillar'

Constable Meriki Buckman told the court Dr Allen was present in the bedroom.

The court heard Dr Allen had told police she was in an 'on and off' relationship with Mr Hammett.

Magistrate Robyn Denes ruled Ms Su was guilty of assault but did not record a conviction.

Mr Hammett is a former head of Australia's Therapeutic Goods Administration and senior executive for NSW Health with more than 25 years of clinician experience.
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Ivanka Trump and her husband Jared Kushner were seen out and about in Miami on Friday - the day after their explosive testimonies at the January 6 Committee hearing, which was denounced by Donald Trump hours later.

Testimony from the pair was broadcast to the committee room, with the former president's daughter, 40, stating for the first time that she did not believe her father's claim that the 2020 election was rigged.

Kushner, meanwhile, was shown dismissing the threats of resignation from White House lawyers as 'whining'.

On Friday, the couple were in Miami, running errands in the rain.

The former fashion entrepreneur was dressed down in leggings and a bomber jacket, while her husband was casual in shorts and a t-shirt.

Ivanka Trump was pictured out on Friday in Miami, running errands on a rainy afternoon

The 40-year-old mother of three angered her father with her testimony, which was broadcast to the January 6 committee hearing on Thursday night

The pair live in a rented condo in Surfside, 13 miles north of downtown Miami.

They have bought a $30 million estate nearby in Indian Creek Island, and are expected to move in in the fall.

He has been spending his time working on his White House memoir, and developing his private equity firm.

She is focused on her charity work - last month visiting Poland, to speak to Ukrainian children - and raising their three children.

In a 17-second clip of her interview to the committee that was played during Thursday's primetime hearing, she backed up the assertion made by former attorney general Bill Barr that the election wasn't stolen from her father.

'I respect Attorney General Barr. So I accepted what he said  was saying,' she says.

Her father on Friday condemned her remarks, saying she had 'long since checked out' and did not know what she was talking about.

He said she had not been included in the analysis of the vote, and was already moving on.

'Ivanka Trump was not involved in looking at, or studying, Election results.

'She had long since checked out and was, in my opinion, only trying to be respectful to Bill Barr and his position as attorney general (he sucked),' Trump wrote on Truth Social, around 12 hours after part of her testimony was revealed.

His denouncing of his eldest daughter surprised many.

Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner now live a low key life with their three children in Surfside, Florida - 13 miles from downtown Miami

Jared Kushner, 41, is focused on writing his memoir about his time in the White House, and launching his private equity firm

Donald Trump turned on his daughter Ivanka Trump after her testimony to the committee investigating the January 6 insurrection revealed she didn't think the 2020 presidential election was rigged

Jared Kushner told the committee that he thought White House Counsel Pat Cipollone's constant threats to resign over the fraud claims in the wake of January 6 were just 'whining'

The former president said on Friday that Ivanka was 'not involved in looking' at the results of the 2020 election.

Trump and Ivanka, daughter with his first wife Ivana, were known for their close relationship and she was seen as his favorite child.

She served as an adviser in his White House and Trump often said she could be president one day.

Trump had turned on other advisers who testified before the panel and who refused to back his false claim he won the 2020 election over Joe Biden.

But it was believed Ivanka testified before the panel with tact approval from her father.

In a series of posts on Truth Social, the former president denied he said his vice president Mike Pence should be hanged for not supporting his false claim he won the election.

He also repeated his false claim he was the real winner and berated lawmakers for not investigating his allegations of election fraud, which have never been proven.

In April, Ivanka Trump spent eight hours testifying before the House committee investigating the attack on the Capitol, where Donald Trump supporters attempted to stop the certification of the election.

She reportedly was one of the White House staff who went to the Oval Office multiple times on January 6, asking her father to tell his supporters to leave the Capitol.

But a forthcoming book details how Ivanka and her husband, who served as a senior counselor to Trump, were preparing for their post-White House lives shortly after the election and Trump's false claims he won the contest.

On November 5, 2020, within 24 hours of Trump first publicly proclaiming he was the true winner, Kushner turned to Ivanka and told her: 'We're moving to Miami.'

Ivanka Trump is seen with her father in April 2020. She worked as a senior advisor to the then-president

Ivanka Trump waves to her dad when he's at a signing ceremony in the Oval Office in 2019

The claim was made in the book The Divider: Trump in the White House, 2017-2021, by New York Times reporter Peter Baker and New Yorker reporter Susan Glasser.

'No matter how vociferously Mr. Trump claimed otherwise, neither Mr Kushner nor Ivanka Trump believed then or later that the election had been stolen,' according to the book, which cites people close to them.

During Thursday evening's hearing, the January 6 committee also played a clip of Kushner's testimony.

He was interviewed by the panel for six hours in March.

Republican Rep. Liz Cheney is shown asking him about threats from Trump's White House counsel to resign over the former president's conduct.

'Jared, are you aware of instances where Pat Cipollone threatened to resign?' she said.

'Like I said, my interest at that time was on trying to get as many pardons done as possible,' Kushner said.

'And I know him and the team were always saying, we are going to resign, we are not going to be there if this happened, if that happens.

'So I kind of took it up to be just whining, to be honest with you,' he noted.

Kushner was notably absent during critical periods in the last days of the Trump White House and he was overseas on January 6.
Watchdogs are preparing to investigate the stranglehold Apple and Google hold on mobile phone usage, browsers and apps.

The Competition and Markets Authority has signalled concerns that the tech giants are exploiting their dominance to make billions from consumers while stifling competition and innovation.

Significantly, it plans to open a full-blooded market investigation into the firms, which could force them to change operating practices without the need to wait for new laws.

The CMA pointed out that Apple made a global profit of 80billion in 2021 while the figure for Google was 57billion.

It said: Although high profits are not necessarily a concern in themselves, these supra-competitive returns are consistently above what would be expected in a properly competitive market.

The watchdog said a year-long study found that Apple and Google have an effective duopoly on mobile ecosystems that allows them to exercise a stranglehold over these markets, which include operating systems, app stores and web browsers on mobile devices.

The Competition and Markets Authority has signalled concerns that the tech giants are exploiting their dominance to make billions from consumers while stifling competition and innovation

Apple and Google (parent company Alphabet) are two tech giants that stand accused of exploiting their market dominance in mobile apps through their software platforms iOS and Android respectively to make 'supra-competitive' profits

CMA chief executive Andrea Coscelli said: When it comes to how people use mobile phones, Apple and Google hold all the cards.

As good as many of their services and products are, their strong grip on mobile ecosystems allows them to shut out competitors, holding back the British tech sector and limiting choice. We all rely on browsers to use the internet on our phones, and the engines that make them work have a huge bearing on what we can see and do.

Choice in this space is severely limited and that has real impacts  preventing innovation and reducing competition from web apps. We need to give innovative tech firms, many of which are ambitious start-ups, a fair chance to compete.

The Government has announced plans to set up a digital markets unit to police tech firms. It would be given powers to clamp down on predatory practices and fine companies up to 10 per cent of their global turnover.

However  given concerns about delays in setting up this new regime  the CMA is using existing competition laws to challenge Apple and Google. It also has Facebook, Instagram and Amazon in its sights. Dr Coscelli added: We have always been clear that we will maximise the use of our current tools while we await legislation for the new digital regime.

The CMA pointed out that Apple made a global profit of 80billion in 2021 while the figure for Google was 57billion

The CMA said 97 per cent of all mobile phone browsing is done through either Apples Safari or Googles Android Chrome browser engines. Apple actively bans alternatives to Safari. The CMA is concerned that Apple has blocked access to cloud gaming services. These provide mobile access to high-quality games that can be streamed rather than individually downloaded.

As a result, iPhone and iPad users are forced to download gaming apps from the Apple store, generating big profits. In parallel, the CMA is launching a competition law investigation into Googles rules governing apps access to listings on its Google Play store. An investigation is already under way into Apples App Store terms and conditions.

The Daily Mail and MailOnline are suing Google in the US for alleged anti-competitive behaviour. This relates to the firms ability to exploit its dominance over online advertising and potentially manipulate news search results in a way that punishes online publishers.

Apple said it respectfully disagreed with a number of conclusions reached by the CMA, which discount our investments in innovation, privacy and user performance  all of which contribute to why users love iPhone and iPad.

It added: We believe in thriving and competitive markets where innovation can flourish. Through the Apple ecosystem we have created a safe and trusted experience users love and a great business opportunity for developers.

Google said: Android phones offer people and businesses more choice than any other mobile platform. Google Play has been the launchpad for millions of apps, helping developers create global businesses that support a quarter of a million jobs in the UK.

We will continue to engage constructively with the CMA to explain how our approach promotes competition and choice while ensuring consumers privacy and security are always protected.
Nicholas John Roske, 26, has been charged with attempted murder for allegedly threatening to kill Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh

Maryland authorities investigating a plot to kill Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh have released 911 calls that see 26-year-old Nicholas Roske calling to turn himself in.

Roske was charged with attempted murder earlier this week.

He had had traveled thousands of miles from Simi Valley, California, to the home of Brett Kavanaugh at about 1am on Wednesday, where he noticed a pair of deputy U.S. marshals stationed outside as part of the Supreme Court Justice's regular security detail.

It was then he decided to walk around the corner and 911 to turn himself in.

'I need psychiatric help,' he told them, admitting he'd traveled to hurt 'Brett Kavanaugh  the Supreme Court justice.'

Roske told the 911 operator that as well as his intention to assassinate the sitting Supreme Court justice, he was having suicidal and homicidal thoughts, newly released 911 call records obtained by the Washington Examiner detail.

'I've been having them for a long time,' Roske said. 'I'm from California. I came over here to act on them.'

Roske explained how he intended to hurt someone and himself.

Roske, pictured, told the 911 operator that as well as an intention to assassinate the sitting Supreme Court justice, he was having suicidal and homicidal thoughts

In 911 calls, Roske (left and right) allegedly told operators that he was upset about the leak of a recent Supreme Court draft decision regarding the right to abortion as well as the recent school shooting in Uvalde, Texas. He is pictured left and right in older photos

'I brought a firearm with me, but it's unloaded and locked in the case... It's in a suitcase. It's a black suitcase... I'm standing near it, but the suitcase is zip-tied shut. I just came from the airport.'

Roske placed two calls to 911 at first hanging up and promising to call back with his location.

'I'm standing now, but I can sit, whatever. I want to be fully compliant. So whatever they want me to do, I'll do.' Roske told the 911 operator.

FBI agents are seen inside Roske's Simi Valley, California, home on Wednesday night after he was arrested for the alleged assassination plot

Roske had travelled with tools to facilitate a burglary, including a gun and even a special pair of hiking boots with soles that allowed for quieter movement inside a house.

When police conducted a search of Roske's locked bag and suitcase, they found two magazines and ammunition together with a newly bought pistol, a black tactical chest rig, a tactical knife, and pepper spray.

Roske also had a hammer, screwdriver, nail punch, crow bar, and hiking boots together with zip ties and duct tape.

During a confession to the 911 operator, he explained how he had left his home in California while his parents were on vacation in Hawaii and stashed all of his tools and weapons into his luggage.

After being asked why he planned to hurt himself and Kavanaugh, he said: 'I didn't think I could get away with it.'

Roske later told investigators he angry about the possibility of the Supreme Court overturning Roe v. Wade in the coming months.

He also said the was unhappy at a potential role Kavanaugh might play during a loosening of gun laws in a separate high-profile case that has yet to come before the court.

Protesters returned to Kavanaugh's Maryland home just hours after Roske was arrested while carrying a disturbing arsenal of weapons and equipment

A woman holding a 'liar' sign with Kavanaugh's face on it and another saying 'mind your own uterus' walk outside his home on Wednesday night

Roske is now in custody and has been slapped with federal charges of 'attempted murder of a Supreme Court Justice.'

He faces a maximum of 20 years in prison if convicted, as well as up to a $50,000 fine.

The arrest came as the court prepares to release potentially landmark judgements on politically charged cases on gun rights and abortion by the end of June.

A draft opinion in the abortion case that was leaked at the beginning of May, written by conservative Justice Samuel Alito, suggested that the court was poised to overturn the five-decade-old Roe v Wade ruling that said women had a constitutional right to obtain abortions.

If Alito's draft opinion goes through with support from a majority of the justices, it will likely allow many states to immediately implement full or near-full bans on the procedure.

Kavanaugh and his wife are the parents of two young daughters. They all reside in the home that was apparently targeted by the suspect

The prospect has sparked anger and dismay among advocates of abortion rights, and led to protests at the homes of Kavanaugh, Alito and Chief Justice John Roberts.

After the leak and the protests, security was increased for the justices and barriers were raised around the court itself to prevent protestors from nearing the building.

Attorney General Merrick Garland referred to the threat Roske posed during a press conference on Wednesday.

'It's obviously behavior that we will not tolerate. Threats of violence and actual violence against the justices, of course, strike at the heart of our democracy. And we will do everything we can to prevent them and to hold people who do them accountable,' Garland said.

Police stand guard as abortion rights activists protest near the house of US Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh in Chevy Chase, Maryland in September 2021

Kavanaugh is one of six justices in the court's conservative wing, against three progressives, but he is not viewed as being as hardline as Alito or some of the others on the bench.

A Catholic native of Washington, his nomination in 2018 to the high court drew particularly heated debates over his views toward women and abortion rights.

His confirmation gave conservatives a 5-4 majority on the court, which grew further when Catholic, stridently anti-abortion Justice Amy Coney Barrett joined in October 2020.

The leak of the Alito draft opinion sparked speculation that someone was hoping to push the court in one direction or another in its final ruling on the abortion case.

Some analysts believe that Roberts and Kavanaugh could occupy a moderating position on the final judgement to partially sustain the abortion protections in the original 1973 Roe v Wade decision.
Two Malaysian nationals have been arrested over their alleged involvement in a syndicate suspected of defrauding the government of almost $500,000 through Covid-19 payment schemes.

The Malay pair, a 34-year-old woman and a 27-year-old man, were involved in fraudulently claiming more than $440,000 in Covid-19 disaster payments, police allege, through the creation of fake identities and schemes targeting those unable to make claims for themselves.

Both Malaysians have been charged with dealing with the proceeds of crime after police searched a western Sydney home on Thursday.

Services Australia General Manager Hank Jongen said the arrest should serve as a warning to those looking to prey on vulnerable people during times of crisis.

Two Malaysian nationals were arrested (pictured) for their alleged roles in a huge fraud syndicate preying on the vulnerable during last year's Covid lockdowns

Police executed a search warrant in a western Sydney home, leading to the arrests of two Malay nationals (pictured)

'We take fraud very seriously and have a responsibility to prevent people taking advantage of those who are genuinely in need,' said Mr Jongen.

Investigations into the alleged syndicate continue.

Police will allege the fraud syndicate had been advertising assistance on social media during the pandemic, offering their services as 'agents' to help people claim the government payments.

Both the charged Malaysians were marched to squad cars by Australian Federal Police officers and members of a Services Australia taskforce (pictured)

Customers who employed the fraudulent online service provided identity documents to the 'agents', some reportedly paying up to $1,000 for the agents to facilitate their claims (pictured is arrest footage of the 27-year-old man)

Customers who employed the fraudulent online service provided identity documents to the 'agents', some reportedly paying up to $1,000 for the agents to facilitate their claims, police allege.

The full extent of the fraud syndicate's reach across Australia has not yet been determined.

Operation Quantum started in September 2021 and was conducted by a joint Australian Federal Police and Services Australia taskforce targeting abuses of Australia's welfare system.

The investigation into the alleged syndicate followed reports some payments were being claimed under false identities while other payments were being redirected to fraudsters' bank accounts without the knowledge of the intended, legitimate recipients.

Officers raided a Lidcombe home in Sydney's west before laying charges against the man and woman on Thursday.

Services Australia, who deliver Centrelink payments to Australians, have a taskforce aimed at stamping out welfare cheats

The Malaysian woman (pictured in arrest footage) has been charged with two counts of dealing in the proceeds of crime

'The AFP and its partners will be relentless in identifying and prosecuting people who are trying to exploit the pandemic for their own greed,' AFP Commander Chris Woods said.

The woman will face two counts of dealing in the proceeds of crime in court, while the man has so far been charged with just one count.

The maximum penalty for those offences is five years in jail.

The lump sum Covid-19 Disaster Payments were brought in during the height of lockdown in June 2021 to assist those whose income had been affected by state and territory restrictions.

The pair have been granted bail and will appear in Burwood Magistrates Court on June 16.
Zoo veterinarian Thierry Petit takes a sample for research on the coronavirus from a bat at the Palmyre Zoo, in Les Mathes, near Royan, France, April 21, 2020. REUTERS-Yonhap



More zoonotic diseases likely to emerge



By Lee Hyo-jin



Even as the COVID-19 pandemic has somewhat subsided in parts of the world, a fresh outbreak of the monkeypox virus has been reported, raising concern about the increasing threat of zoonoses  diseases transmitted from animals to humans.



The coronavirus, as most scientists believe, originated in bats from southwestern China and has caused one of the worst zoonotic disease cases in history, but it is definitely not the first.



H1N1 influenza came from pigs. The Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS), carried by camels, is believed to be originally from bats. In fact, 60 percent of known infectious diseases and 75 percent of emerging infectious diseases are zoonotic, according to the World Organization for Animal Health.



Although the monkeypox virus  a reemerging zoonotic infection that is believed to have originated from monkeys  has not reached Korea yet, experts say it is only a matter of time before the first case is reported here, amid a recent surge in cross-border travel.



"It is highly likely for Korea to identify infections in the near future. But unlike COVID-19, monkeypox is unlikely to lead to a pandemic, given its transmission characteristics. However, it will be a wake-up call about the looming threat of zoonotic diseases," Song Chang-seon, the head of the Korean Society for Zoonoses, told The Korea Times.



"Even if we manage to eradicate COVID-19, the world will encounter other similar zoonotic diseases originating in animals, some of which could be more fatal and contagious than the coronavirus," he said.



A study published in April in the science journal, Nature, found that by 2070, global warming will drive 4,000 viruses to spread between mammals, including potentially between animals and humans.



While the study stressed that not every virus is likely to become a pandemic like COVID-19, it stated that new animal viruses would increase the risk of public health crises if they successfully jump to humans.



In addition to climate change, Song said the exploitation of wildlife habitats and unsustainable farming practices are a big cause of zoonosis outbreaks, which seem to be becoming more severe and frequent.



"Widespread deforestation across Africa and Brazil's Amazon has had enormous impacts on wildlife animals, which were forced to move out of their natural habitats to areas populated by humans, leading to a higher risk of zoonosis outbreaks," said the professor of veterinary medicine at Konkuk University.





Test tubes labelled "Monkeypox virus positive" are seen in this photo taken May 22. Reuters-Yonhap
An elite state school nicknamed the socialist Eton has had its Ofsted rating cut from outstanding to inadequate.

Inspectors said serious incidents of poor behaviour at Holland Park School, in west London, had increased, and some spilled out into the local area.

They also said that leadership was poor and unfit for purpose.

Last month, the school closed its doors to all pupils except those taking A-levels and GCSEs because teachers walked out in protest against plans for it to join an academy chain.

Students had previously held a riot against the proposals, leaving one teacher in tears.

Last year teachers reported Colin Hall, a disciplinarian who retired as head teacher in February, to the authorities, accusing him of abusive management.

The school got its nickname because it was popular with rich Left-wingers, and former pupils include The Guardian columnist Polly Toynbee and the actress Anjelica Huston.

Elite state school Holland Park School, nicknamed the socialist Eton, has had its Ofsted rating cut from outstanding to inadequate after teachers walked out in protest against plans for it to join an academy chain

In May, inspectors found the school to have a 'culture of fear and favouritism' in an investigation by its governors.

The investigation found there was discrimination in the school against protected characteristics, including overt sexism, Islamophobia, and racism.

It said that 'very little support' was provided to students following traumatic events such as the Grenfell tragedy, and that 'public humiliation' or shouting was used as a behaviour policy.

The school announced last year that former headteacher Colin Hall would retire early, while a new chair of governors was appointed.

On Friday, Ofsted found that 'turbulence' in the school's leadership had 'destabilised' the school community, with many aspects of school life, including pupils' behaviour, having 'declined substantially' since its previous inspection seven years' ago.

The report said that pupils and staff had welcomed the 'governors' intervention to stop previous behaviour management strategies that they deemed unacceptable' but that the behaviour policies had not been updated, leaving a 'vacuum' with staff and students 'confused' over how to deal with unacceptable behaviour, some of which was spilling into the local area after school.

Leaders entering pupils for exams early left them with a 'curtailed' education in some subjects, Ofsted said, and it found that leadership was 'poor and unfit for purpose', with many of the leadership team 'overstretched'.

The inspectorate said that the new governing body was starting to take steps to improve the school through the appointment of a new head from September and a new leadership structure.

'Nevertheless, there is still a very long way to go. Some governors have had to step in to work alongside the interim headteacher and get involved with day-to-day operations,' the report said.

Ofsted found that not all believe the school needs to change, with some 'established' senior leaders and parents at odds with the governors.

Ofsted said its inspectors have 'recommended that the school joins a strong and experienced multi-academy trust so that the school has a positive future'

A parent group opposed to proposals for the school to join a large academy trust, United Learning, has held protests outside the school gates.

'Communication has largely broken down and some stakeholders, while possibly well intentioned, appear to be pushing their own agendas, thus fuelling further disharmony.

'All of this is a severe hindrance in securing the urgent improvements needed,' Ofsted said.

A spokesperson for the school said: 'Ofsted has independently identified many of the long-term, historical weaknesses which governors have also been concerned about, and which they have been working extremely hard, with school leaders, staff, and external partners, to put right.

'These serious problems were also set out in the independent investigation report and in the Notice To Improve that the Government issued to the school last year.'

'The Ofsted report recognises that the interim headteacher and new governing body quickly got to grips with these serious issues and are taking significant action to tackle these.

'However, governors agree there is more to do. They have recommended that the school joins a strong and experienced multi-academy trust so that the school has a positive future.

'We now ask that the whole school community comes together and unites around a strategy to support the school to reach the standards that our students deserve.'
Just days after the nation celebrated the Platinum Jubilee of a Queen who has studiously avoided being drawn into political controversy for 70 years, her son and heir blunders into a diplomatic minefield.

As we reveal today, Prince Charles was overheard describing the Home Secretarys plan to process cross-Channel migrants asylum claims in Rwanda as appalling.

Quite apart from being insulting and patronising to Rwanda (which hes due to visit this month), he has taken sides in a viciously polarised debate, amid rumours of tensions with the Prime Minister.

A constitutional sovereign cannot also be a political agitator. If the monarchy is to survive his stewardship, he would do well to remember that.

In a rare outbreak of common sense, the High Court firmly disagreed with him yesterday, clearing the first Rwanda flight for take-off next week as planned.

Cue much wailing and gnashing of teeth from the activist charities, trade unionists and human rights lawyers who fought the case  plus Labour, the Lib Dems and the rest of the shrill anti-Brexit establishment.

Prince Charles (pictured with Camilla) has branded the Home Office 's Rwanda deportation scheme 'appalling' - but has denied trying to influence government policy

This is a stunning victory for Priti Patel, who has been outrageously vilified for the sin of trying to break the Calais traffickers business model and save lives.

Her opponents dont appear to care how many migrants are endangered, as long as they can prevent Britain taking back control of its frontiers. Despite being thwarted this time, they will certainly be back.

Unrestricted immigration is, of course, a long-term Labour policy. But thats just part of the story.

The wider objective for Sir Keir Starmer and his fellow Remainers is to drag us back into the orbit of Brussels. No matter that 17.4million people voted to take back control, they are itching to reverse that huge popular mandate. They are aided by the civil service Blob, which despises Mr Johnson almost as much as they do, a clique of Conservative rebels and the House of Lords.

Unless the Tory party stands united behind its leader against this threat, Brexit will founder and democracy will be betrayed.

And if Charles fails to learn from his mothers wisdom, the monarchy could ultimately be equally compromised.

Common sense cop

THE police should stop and search suspects smelling of cannabis. Being woke must not be a priority. Police stations should not be closed. Chief constables should do better. More officers should be out on the streets.

There was a time when it would have been entirely uncontroversial for a top policemen to hold such opinions. The fact they now sound contentious  radical even  emphasises how badly the police have lost touch with the priorities of the public.

So we applaud new Chief Inspector of Constabulary Andy Cooke for reaffirming these fundamental principles of policing. The real tragedy is that senior officers need to be reminded of them.

Pawns in Putins game

AT A kangaroo court, in an illegal self-proclaimed republic, sham judges condemn two British-born Ukrainian soldiers to execution by firing squad. Its like some grotesque Orwellian nightmare.

Shaun Pinner and Aiden Aslin wore the uniform of the Ukrainian army when captured by the Russians and handed to the puppet Peoples Republic of Donetsk. As such they are entitled to prisoner of war status under the Geneva Convention.

Instead they are branded terrorists and their rights trashed. To Vladimir Putin, they are merely pawns in a cynical game.

The Mail fervently hopes Ukraine and the UK will succeed in securing their freedom, possibly through a prisoner exchange.

As for Putin, its just one more war crime to add to his ever-lengthening charge sheet.
President Joe Biden touted being right about Russian President Vladimir Putin's plans to invade Ukraine at a high-dollar fundraiser co-hosted by producer Jeffrey Katzenberg in Los Angeles Friday night.

'I know a lot of people thought I was exaggerating,' the president told the group. 'But I knew we had data to sustain. He was gonna go into the border. And there was no doubt and Zelensky didn't want to hear it nor did a lot of people.'

In January, Zelensky said in the run-up to the invasion that warnings of an imminent invasion was 'panic.'

'I understand why they didn't want to hear it, but he went in,' Biden said of Putin.

Biden was headlining two LA fundraisers Friday after spending three days at the Summit of the Americas.

President Joe Biden touted being right about Russian President Vladimir Putin's plans to invade Ukraine at a high-dollar fundraiser co-hosted by producer Jeffrey Katzenberg in Los Angeles Friday night, after spending three days at the Summit of the Americas (pictured)

Hollywood producer Jeffrey Katzenberg (left) co-hosted a fundraiser headlined by President Joe Biden Friday night at the Brentwood home of Andrew Hauptman and Ellen Bronfman Hauptman (right)

Biden's first fundraiser was held in LA's Brentwood neighborhood at the home of Andrew Hauptman and Ellen Bronfman Hauptman, and co-hosted by prominent film producer Katzenberg, according to Deadline.

'The money raised today will help get people to the polls on election day in November. Just the idea of Kevin McCarthy and Mitch McConnell in charge should be enough to get people out to vote,' Katzenberg told the publication.

Andrew Hauptman introduced the president and also First Lady Jill Biden.

'If there was ever a time that our country needed assurances about leadership with integrity, it's now so Mr. President, it's perfect to have you and Dr. Biden with us,' the business executive said.

'It's my sense that every guest here joins Ellen and me and thank you both for your care and commitment, and your service and leadership and for your high standards of decency, you bring to everything that you do to advance our country forward,' he added.

The first lady defended her husband and said The New York Times' coverage of the Summit of the Americas - which highlighted some of the criticism from the leaders of Belize and Argentina over the U.S.'s decision not to invite the authoritarian leaders of Cuba, Venezeula and Nicaragua - was unfair.

Dr. Biden said she read it and gave a pretend shriek.

'I thought it was so unfair because at the dinner late night, every leader came up to Joe and said, 'What a difference you've made. It's so great that you're here. It's so great we're working together,'' the first lady said. 'And that's what all the spouses said to me.'

The Bidens hosted a dinner Thursday night at the Getty Villa and then she held a lunch for the spouses Friday afternoon outside the Walt Disney Concert Hall.

'And I thank God we did win because if you think of what went on January 6, if we were living with that kind of president today, it's like you can't even let your head go there,' the first lady continued.

The House's select committee on January 6 held its first primetime hearing on the Capitol attack Thursday night.

'And then once we were elected, people came up to me all the time, everywhere ... and said, 'Jill, I feel like I can breathe,'' the first lady added.

She said her husband was 'working as hard as he can' ahead of the 2022 midterm races.

'We are moving in the right direction. And I know you know there's so many naysayers about out there saying, 'Oh, you're never going to win the you know the midterm elections and the Democrats aren't going to do well.' That's not true. That's not true. You know, we just have to fight a little bit harder. We can't lose our momentum,' she told the Democratic donors.

President Biden also defended the relationships he forged with the North, Central and South American heads of state and foreign ministers who traveled to Los Angeles for the Summit of the Americas this week.

'The press will probably not say it but I wish they'd to back and interview all the heads of state [at] the Latin American conference we just had,' he said, adding there was 'overwhelming support for what we're trying to do by holding all the hemisphere together.'

About 30 attendees were expected to be at the first fundraiser - with tickets going for between $50,000 and $100,000. The money will benefit the Democratic National Committe's Democratic Grassroots Victory Fund, which trickles down to state party committees.

Haim (left) and Cheryl Saban (right) are hosting President Joe Biden for his second Los Angeles fundraiser Friday night

Biden's second stop was at the Beverly Hills home Haim and Cheryl Saban for an event that cost attendees at a minimum of $1,000 per ticket, Deadline said. 'Sponsors' can give or raise as much as $36,500.

The president picked up his fundraising schedule in April, doing a west coast swing to Portland and Seattle and more recently raised money in Chicago.

At the events he's had candid conversations with donors, while also reiterating points he's made publicly.

'What he's trying to do is obliterate there culture, not just not just take the nation, but the culture, the Ukrainian culture,' Biden said in Brentwood - a point he's made on prior occassions. 'Because he doesn't believe it's such an independent thing as a Ukrainian culture. He think it came as a seed of mother Russia.'

He made similar comments at the second fundraiser, while also addressing inflation and gun control.

'We are going to live with this inflation for a while. It's going to come down gradually but we are going to live with it for a while,' the president told donors.

He added, 'there's more than one way to deal with the impact of inflation on average families. We can lower the prices for other things,' likely a reference to some of the provisions of the currently-dead Build Back Better bill.

He echoed comments made by Rep. Adam Schiff, who was on hand, saying, ''it gets done to we need two more senators.'

Biden also dismissed the GOP-floated idea of arming school teachers to combat school shootings.

'There is a reason why the military takes so long to train. It's not easy to pick up a rifle.' adding later, 'more people get killed with their own gun.'
A massive warehouse fire has blanketed parts of Sydney in toxic smoke with locals told to keep their windows and doors closed.

Some 20 fire trucks and 100 firefighters were dispatched to fight the blaze after it broke out on Lindsay Street in Rockdale at 8.29am on Saturday.

The complex is used to transfer rubbish and the fire is sending plumes of toxic smoke across the suburbs heading towards Sydney Airport.

A massive warehouse fire has blanketed parts of Sydney in toxic smoke with locals told to keep their windows and doors closed

Some 16 fire trucks and more than 60 firefighters were dispatched to fight the blaze after it broke out on Lindsay Street in Rockdale at 8.29am on Saturday

NSW Fire and Rescue issued an urgent alert advising locals to stay indoors, close their windows, doors, vents, and to keep their air conditioning off

'We have a fire burning in a warehouse approximately 100 metres by 150 metres,' NSW Fire and Rescue superintendent Adam Dewberry said.

Emergency services have closed nearby roads and advised residents to steer clear of Bat street, West Botany Street and President Avenue.

NSW Fire and Rescue sent an urgent text to locals advising them to stay indoors, close their windows, doors, vents, and to keep their air conditioning off.

The huge pillar of dangerous smoke was seen drifting towards nearby Sydney Airport.

The plume of smoke is so big that passengers waiting in the terminals have been able to spot it in the distance.

'Firefighters attending the scene are working to pull rubbish apart and extinguish it,' a Fire and Rescue NSW spokesman said.

'There have been no injuries, but local evacuations from the worksite are our main concern.'

Firefighters are expected to be battling the blaze for the next four to six hours.

Nearby local businesses, including a Fitness First gym, have been forced to close.

The complex is used to transfer rubbish and the fire is sending plumes of toxic smoke across the suburbs heading towards Sydney Airport
The USA yesterday dropped pre-departure Covid tests for fully vaccinated Britons in a huge boost for holidaymakers.

The move will save families more than 100 in testing bills and the hassle of having to arrange a swab within 24 hours of travel. It also cuts the risk of cancellations if anyone tests positive before flying.

The measures will come into force at one minute past midnight tomorrow. Unvaccinated adults will still be banned from entering for holidays.

But in a boost for family trips, unvaccinated children under 18 will be treated as though fully vaccinated if travelling with an inoculated adult.

Transport Secretary Grant Shapps hailed the move as a huge boost for travelling Briton

Transport Secretary Grant Shapps, who lobbied for the changes last month, hailed the huge boost for transatlantic travel.

He added in a tweet: Follows UK dropping ALL restrictions in March & our discussions with US about fully restarting international travel.

At present, Britons travelling to the US must take a costly PCR test within 24 hours of flying, adding more than 100 to the cost of a family holiday to hotspots such as Walt Disney World, in Florida.

Travel chiefs said relaxing curbs for US-bound passengers would hasten the industrys post-pandemic recovery and unlock US holidays for hundreds of thousands more travellers.

Britons were banned from entering at the start of the pandemic until November last year, when Mr Biden said vaccinated UK visitors would be allowed in with proof of a negative test.

The transatlantic route is one of the most profitable for carriers like British Airways and Virgin Atlantic and during the US ban it was estimated to be costing tourism-dependent British businesses 23million a day.

Pre-pandemic, around 4million Britons visited the US annually, with New York, Orlando, Las Vegas, Miami, Los Angeles and Boston among the top destinations.

Meanwhile 4.5million Americans visited the UK, spending 4.1billion in the British economy.
A sex education provider responsible for teaching pupils has been accused of normalising rough sex.

Private contractor Bish (Best in Sexual Health) charges 500 a day to deliver sex education sessions at secondary schools.

It has testimonials from the elite fee-paying Westminster School as well as Kings College School in Wimbledon, south-west London.

But in its online guide  aimed at over-14s  a section on rough sex claims that being blindfolded, held down, hav[ing] pain inflicted... or [being] held captive are just some of the thousands and thousands of things people can do.

Choking is listed as an activity even though non-fatal strangulation became a crime last week as it was included in the Domestic Abuse Bill.

Bish school materials also include advice around gender, with teachers told to say someones penis instead of mans penis to be more inclusive to transgender people.

Westminster School gave testimonials to Bish, a sex education provider responsible for teaching pupils which has been accused of normalising rough sex

Relationship and sex education became compulsory in English secondary schools in 2020, with many contracting out the teaching.

But concerns have been raised over a lack of regulation, and ministers have asked the childrens commissioner for England to investigate.

Bish is run by Justin Hancock, and there is no suggestion that he promotes the website in schools, but it is freely accessible online.

Mr Hancocks claim that rough sex is pretty common with young people is based on a US study at one university which found one in four female undergraduates had been choked during sex.

The website states that rough sex is for consenting adults only.

But Molly Kingsley, from parents group UsforThem, said: The tone and language of this site sets up an expectation that choking or smacking are just part of the rubric. That cant be right.

Tanya Carter, of Safe Schools Alliance, said: It is impossible to understand what would motivate someone to think that conflating violence with sex in materials aimed at children is a good idea. This dangerous culture needs to be challenged not reinforced.

Tory MP Miriam Cates said the content risked encouraging extreme sexual activity. She said: Any child development expert will tell you that children are not able to process this information and it is harmful.

Westminster School and Mr Hancock declined to comment. A Kings College School spokesman said any content provided by contractors is appropriate and consistent with national guidance. We have not used Bish since 2020 and have no current plans to do so in future.
New Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has announced an $830million settlement between the Australian government and the French company whose contract to supply military submarines to our navy was cancelled.

Mr Albanese said the total cost of the cancellation will cost taxpayers $3.4billion but will 'rule a line under the contracts' with Naval Group.

'This is a fair and an equitable settlement which has been reached,' Mr Albanese said at a press conference in Sydney on Saturday.

'It follows discussions that I've had with [French] President Macron and I thank him for those discussions and the cordial way in which we are re-establishing a better relationship between Australia and France.

New Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has announced an $830million settlement between the Australian government and the French company whose contract to supply submarines to our navy was cancelled

The French Attack-class submarines were intended to replace Australia's aging Collins class submarines (pictured) before the deal was junked by the Morrison government in September 2021

Mr Albanese claimed the settlement represented 'a saving' from the $5.5 billion that it was estimated cancellation of the program would originally cost.

'But it still represents an extraordinary waste from a government that was always big on announcement but not good on delivery,' he said.

The prime minister said the settlement would allow Australia to 'move forward' in its relationship with France and revealed President Macron had invited him to visit the country.

He also reaffirmed the Australian government's commitment to the AUKUS agreement.

'We support AUKUS and we support the use of nuclear-propelled submarines,' he said.

'That is proceeding in terms of the 18-month review. There's no change in the government's policy.'

The scuppering of the $90billion subs-building program with Naval Group came as Australia announced a new nuclear submarine program in partnership with the USA and UK in September last year.

Then defence minister Peter Dutton said at the time that Naval Groups Attack-class submarines were 'no longer suited' to Australia's operational needs, and that the Morrison government had been 'upfront, open and honest' about the decision to break the contract.

The prime minister said the settlement would allow Australia to 'move forward' in its relationship with France and revealed President Macron had invited him to visit the country

Ex-Prime Minster Scott Morrison briefly encountered French President Emmanuel Macron at the G20 Summit in November 2021, after the contract for French submarines had been cancelled

The decision sparked a serious falling out between France and Australia, with President Macron famously saying that then-prime minister Scott Morrison had lied to him during an aside to a reporter at the G20 summit in Rome last November.

'I have a lot of respect for your country, a lot of respect and friendship for your people,' he told reporters.

'I just say when we have respect, you have to be true and you have to behave in line and consistent with this value.

The French president was asked if the then Australian prime minister had lied.

'I don't think, I know,' Mr Macron replied before cutting off further questions.

Jean-Yves Le Drian, one of France's most senior politicians, said Mr Morrison's decision to walk away from the agreement was a clear sign of 'brutality and cynicism'.

'I would even be tempted to say of unequovical incompetence,' he said.

Mr Albanese also used the press conference to address the recent resettlement of the Tamil family in Biloela after they spent four years in detention.

The scuppering of the $90billion subs-building program with Naval Group came as Australia announced a new nuclear submarine program in partnership with the USA and UK in September last year

The Nadesalingam family (above) landed at Thangool Airport near their home town of Biloela as they returned to their adopted rural home

Biloela locals (above) met the family on the tarmac with 'welcome home' signs decorated with cockatoos, the bird which the small town is named after

Priya and Nades Nadesalingam, along with their Australian-born daughters Kopika and Tharnicaa, touched down at the Thangool Airport near their small home town of Biloela in central Queensland on Friday afternoon.

The family shared a hug on the tarmac, and the two girls waved to the awaiting crowd who clapped and cheered with signs and streamers.

'Well, it was heartening to see the family returned home to Biloela yesterday,' Mr Albanese said. 'They received a welcome from a town that wanted them home.

'This has been an exercise that, I think, is something that Australia can't be proud of, a family, including two young girls who were born here in Australia, taken in the middle of the night and having four years in detention.

'The youngest girl will celebrate her fifth birthday this weekend, soon, it will be the first she has celebrated not in detention. We are a better country than that. We can do better than that. My government will do better than that.'
Two British-born prisoners of war were forced to lie that they were terrorists in a Russian proxy court - as Ukraine offer a swap to get the death-sentenced pair back to safety.

Shaun Pinner, 48, and Aiden Aslin, 28, admitted they were 'undergoing training with the aim of carrying out terrorist activities' in the so-called supreme court of Donetsk People's Republic (DPR).

The pair, who were detained in April, believed they would be let off with a lighter sentence and would be treated as prisoners of war under the Geneva Convention, reports The Sun.

However, their families and British officials believe they were deceived by the Kremlin court and therefore wrongly pleaded guilty to terrorism.

Mr Pinner told the newspaper on April 25: 'Were scared to death. Mariupol is my adopted city. Im not a freedom fighter  Mariupol is my home.'

Meanwhile, Mr Aslin added: They have agreed to do a prisoner exchange with myself and Shaun. It is important Boris Johnson is able to help influence this decision.'

The trial is taking place in the DPR, one of two breakaway Russian-backed entities in the Donbas region of eastern Ukraine which Russia says it is fighting to 'liberate' from Ukrainian forces.

Two British-born prisoners of war were forced to lie that they were terrorists in a Russian proxy court - as Ukraine offer a swap to get the death-sentenced pair back to safety

Shaun Pinner, 48, (left) and Aiden Aslin, 28, (right) admitted they were 'undergoing training with the aim of carrying out terrorist activities' in the so-called supreme court of Donetsk People's Republic (DPR)

British fighters captured while fighting in Ukraine were forced to beg for their lives in scripted phone calls to UK journalists by the Russian-backed separatists who are holding them captive. Pictured: Aiden Aslin (first left) and Shaun Pinner (second left)

British Army veteran Mr Pinner (right), from Watford, looked distraught in the caged dock as the sentence was read out on Thursday, while Mr Aslin (left), from Newark in Nottinghamshire, remained silent but composed

Three days before launching its February 24 invasion of Ukraine, Russia recognised them as independent states in a move condemned by Ukraine and the West as illegal.

British Army veteran Mr Pinner, from Watford, looked distraught in the caged dock as the sentence was read out on Thursday, while Mr Aslin, from Newark in Nottinghamshire, remained silent but composed.

Mr Pinner and Mr Aslin were previously forced to beg for their lives during scripted phone calls to family members and UK journalists by the Russian-backed separatists who are holding them captive.

They were convicted of being 'mercenaries' and conducting 'terrorist activities' for fighting with Ukrainian troops, in what Tory minister Robert Jenrick called a 'Soviet-era style show trial', weeks after they were captured during the siege of Mariupol.

Larysa Pinner, a Ukrainian native, said her husband Shaun was a 'warrior' and warned that the 'circus' surrounding her husband's sentencing will be dragged out by Russia's propaganda machine for maximum effect

A former care worker, Mr Aslin (pictured left) moved to Ukraine after falling for his now-wife Diane (pictured right), who is originally from the city of Mykolaiv - found about 260 miles west of Mariupol, along the coast. She is reported to have moved to the UK to be with his family

Aiden (circled) was serving with Ukraine's 36th Marine Brigade, but his communication with the outside world via social media became increasingly sporadic as his team was surrounded by Russian forces bombarding the city of Mariupol

Vladimir Putin's 'man in Ukraine' could be key to the British men's fate The key to the British men's fate could be oligarch Viktor Medvedchuk, known as Vladimir Putin's 'man in Ukraine' and currently in Kyiv's custody. The hostage Britons were previously paraded on camera asking to be exchanged in a prisoner swap for Medvedchuk, 67. Putin is godfather to one of his children and their families have enjoyed Black Sea holidays together. Oligarch Viktor Medvedchuk, who is known as Vladimir Putin's 'man in Ukraine' and is currently in Kyiv's custody However the Ukrainian authorities seem unwilling to give up Medvedchuk - who lived in Kyiv - as he was last week charged with treason. The former politician and lawyer had been placed under house arrest last year, accused of selling military secrets to Moscow and helping in the annexation of Crimea. But he fled four days after the invasion in February, only to be arrested in April while wearing military fatigues in an attempt to blend in. He was offered to Moscow in return for 'boys and girls who are now in Russian captivity', something that was dismissed by the Kremlin but which came with a warning Ukrainian leaders should 'watch out'. Yesterday's show trial is being seen as a possible tit-for-tat response. The death penalties could be a tactic by Russia to increase pressure on getting Medvedchuk out of Ukrainian hands. Advertisement

The pair, both signed-up members of Ukraine's 36th Marine Brigade, were sentenced to death and are set to face a firing squad, pending appeal.

Meanwhile, Ukraine has revealed they are willing to exchange prisoners to get the death-sentenced Britons released.

Vadym Prystaiko, Ukraines ambassador to the UK, believed Mr Pinner and Mr Aslin will be released in exchange for Russian prisoners held in the country.

However, British Officials want to avoid making the captured Brits a bilateral issue as the pair are Ukrainian prisoners-of-war under international law, a source has told The Daily Telegraph.

They said: 'Its really important that we dont give the Russians any ammo to paint these guys as mercenaries.'

Mr Prystaiko told BBC News: 'It will be a swap. They have contracts with the armed forces, they lived in Ukraine before, so they are legitimately there.

'We expect Russia to remember that these are our people, now they are prisoners of war and should be treated as prisoners of war  the same way we are treating Russians in our captivity.'

Maria Zakaharova, the Russian foreign ministrys spokesman, said: 'There havent been any requests from Britain to the Russian foreign ministry about Pinner and Aslin. This makes us think that London never really cared about the future of those UK citizens.'

Meanwhile, it is understood Mr Aslin's mother Ang Wood found out about the barbaric sentence while watching the TV news at the family home in Newark, Nottinghamshire.

The 28-year-old's devastated family, who met officials at the Ukrainian Embassy in London on Thursday, demanded he is 'treated with respect' and urged both the UK Government to help bring them home safely - something a Whitehall source has cautioned could make matters worse.

In a statement, the family said: 'We've heard the news from Donetsk and need some time to take everything in.

'We love Aiden with all our hearts. He and Shaun, as members of Ukrainian armed forces, should be treated with respect just like any other prisoners of war. They are not, and never were, mercenaries.

'We hope that this sentence will be overturned and beseech the government's of the UK and Ukraine to do everything in their power to have them returned to us safely, and soon.

'We can only imagine what they are going through right now. This is a very upsetting development and we ask that our privacy is respected at this time.'

It has also emerged that the key to the British men's fate could be oligarch Viktor Medvedchuk, known as Vladimir Putin's 'man in Ukraine' and currently in Kyiv's custody. The death penalties handed out to Mr Pinner and Mr Aslin could be a tactic by Russia to increase pressure on getting Medvedchuk out of Ukrainian hands.

Foreign Secretary Liz Truss slammed the ruling as a 'sham judgment with absolutely no legitimacy', declaring that the men were prisoners of war.

Pinner is a former Royal Anglian soldier originally from Bedfordshire

Pictured: Shaun Pinner (second right) is seen in this selfie, along with Aiden Aslin (second left)

Foreign Secretary Liz Truss condemned the sentences as a 'sham judgment with absolutely no legitimacy' in a statement

A spokesman for Boris Johnson said the UK was working with Kyiv to try and secure the men's release, with Downing Street describing the Prime Minister as 'deeply concerned'.

'Under the Geneva Convention, prisoners of war are entitled to combatant immunity,' said a PM spokesman.

However, a Whitehall source cautioned that getting more involved could worsen the situation. They added: 'There's a solid rationale for not wanting to escalate this and make it a bilateral issue between the UK and Russia.

'This is because international law considers them Ukrainian combatants, and Ukraine is responsible for them in legal terms. If the UK gets involved, it will aid Russia's argument that these are mercenaries.'
Controversial Illinois Cook County State's Attorney Kim Foxx has been accused of slapping her husband during a domestic dispute.

Police were called to Kim's Flossmoor home on June 4 at around 10 p.m. by her husband Kelley Foxx, 48, who reported that his wife had slapped him.

There were no injuries or arrests made in connection with the incident.

When officers arrived, Kelley, a public policy manager for Instacart in Chicago, reportedly told them: 'Kimberly got mad about something that was posted on Facebook that he did.'

Controversial Cook County State's Attorney Kim Foxx has been accused by her husband Kelley (pictured right) of slapping her during a domestic dispute

Kelley, 48, who works as a public policy manager for Instacart in Chicago , was the one who reported the incident and claimed wife Kim, 50, slapped him

The officer said that he activated his body camera and said that Kelley Foxx told him: 'Kimberly got mad about something that was posted on Facebook that he did'

Kelley told police that Kim had asked him to leave - and things became physical after he refused.

A police report said that Kelley claimed Kim blocked him from leaving a bathroom, grabbed his collar and threw his video game controller on the ground.

'He tried to turn on the TV and Kimberly snatched the controller out of his hand and threw the controller,' the report adds.

The officer in the report added that he could hear Kim reply 'all that is true.'

That's when Kelley accused Kim of slapping across the left cheek, but the officer said there was no redness or swelling visible on his face to indicate being struck.

The authorities spoke with the Foxx family's 19-year-old daughter, who said she heard a disagreement but didn't see anything

When he was informed of this, Kelley allegedly told the officer that he wanted to be left alone.

'She can't come in my personal space and put her hands on me,' Kelley said, according to the report.

'I asked him to explain what is happening here meant and he said she is being physically aggressive. He added that he just wanted it to stop,' the officer wrote.

Another officer spoke to Kim. The policeman claimed that she said the couple had an argument and wanted him to leave. She also claimed that she put her hands on her husband but to guide him out of the house, adding that she didn't slap him.

The authorities spoke with the Foxx family's 19-year-old daughter, who said she heard a disagreement but didn't see anything.

Both told police they had been together over 20 years and things had never gotten physical.

A source at Kim's office told Fox News that they were made aware of the incident immediately and that they expect it to 'go away.'

Foxx gained notoriety in 2019 when she dropped felony charges against Jussie Smollett, the Empire actor accused of staging a racist, homophobic attack on himself in January 2019.

A special prosecutor's report says that Foxx repeatedly misled the public about her office's handling of the Smollett case and was responsible for 'a major failure of operations' in dismissing charges against the Empire actor states.

Smollett, 39, was convicted in December 2021 this month of lying to police in January 2019 about what he said was a racist, homophobic attack in downtown Chicago.
Australian companies have joined in a global movement that allows employees to work four days a week instead of five without losing any pay, but there is a catch.

Companies from finance, marketing, mental health and technology are among the 20 Australian firms to have signed up for the first structured four-day week program run here.

The catch is that employees agree to deliver the same amount of work they did in five days over four, which for many will mean longer hours each day.

Australian companies have joined in a global movement that allows employees to work four days a week instead of five without losing any pay, but there is a catch. Pictured, workers for one of the companies involved in the trial, Melbourne ad agency Versa

Companies from finance, marketing, mental health and technology are among the 20 Australian firms to have signed up for the first structured four-day week program run here. Pictured, workers for one of the companies involved in the trial, Canberra lending firm More Than Mortgages

The trial runs from August to January 2023 and is coordinated by 4-Day Week Global, an organisation started by Kiwi finance executive, Andrew Barnes, in 2019.

The program has been extensively trialled in Iceland, the United Kingdom, Ireland, Canada, Spain, the United States and New Zealand with tens of thousands of employees involved.

Under the '100:80:100' model rolled out globally and agreed to by bosses, participants get paid the same as they would for a five day week and in theory at least, work 80 per cent of the time.

But there's a catch. They also agree to deliver 100 per cent of the productivity they did in their previous five-day week.

New working habits developed during the pandemic have changed the way employees want to work and some employers are taking the punt to trust staff that they will deliver the same productivity in a four-day week

Australian companies involved include Canberra lending firm More Than Mortgages, Queensland's Momentum Mental Health and several Melbourne participants including ad agency, Versa, non-profit technology provider Our Community and digital marketing company The Walk.

Denna Ezzy, director of More than Mortgages told The AFR her staff planned to 'slog it out' to get an extra day off.

'Our mindset is work really hard and do whatever youve got to do to get it done so its a real shift for us to go from really hustling and slogging it out to how will we get this all done in four days,' she said.

Our Community CEO Denis Moriarty told 7News his organisation is involved because the pandemic has shown it can trust staff to figure out how they want to work but maintain their productivity.

'Most of all, we are responding to the shift we are seeing with employees having more of a voice about what they want work to look like in the future.'

'The five-day week is simply outmoded, a relic of a now distant era,' a statement from 4-Day Week Global said.

'Companies that have made the transition to a 32-hour work week see increases in productivity, higher talent attraction and retention, deeper customer engagement, and improved employee health,' it claimed.

In the UK more than 3,000 workers across 70 companies are involved.

The trial runs from August to January 2023 and is coordinated by 4-Day Week Global, an organisation started by Kiwi finance executive, Andrew Barnes in 2019. Pictured, staff from Our Community, which is involved in the trial

There are a range of businesses and charities taking part, including the Royal Society of Biology, hipster London brewery Pressure Drop, Southampton computer game developer Yo Telecom, a Manchester medical devices firm, and a fish and chip shop in Norfolk.

The major case study used by 4-Day Week Global is Iceland, where 2,500 workers - around one per cent of the nation's workers - shifted to four-day weeks between 2015 and 2019.

Productivity remained the same or improved in the majority of Icelandic workplaces involved, researchers said.
China condemns some UN experts as "political tool" against it

Xinhua) 14:08, June 11, 2022

GENEVA, June 10 (Xinhua) -- The Chinese Mission to the United Nations (UN) in Geneva on Friday refuted the accusations against China by some UN experts, saying that they abused their mandates and acted as "the political tool of anti-China forces."

By ignoring China's tremendous human rights achievements, this group of UN experts endorsed the "lies and disinformation" fabricated by Western countries including the United States, and anti-China forces, the Chinese mission's spokesperson said in a statement.

"They abused their mandates and chose to collaborate with the United States in slandering China on the eve of the 50th session of the Human Rights Council, in a vain attempt to kidnap the Human Rights Council to serve the U.S. strategy of containing China, and to serve the interest of hegemony and power politics," said the statement.

A few UN experts on Friday issued a statement urging China to "cooperate fully with the UN human rights system" and grant "unhindered access to independent experts" on "significant human rights violations and repression of fundamental freedoms."

The Chinese mission said that the attempt to "impose Western dogma on others" and "acts of wantonly politicizing and instrumentalizing human rights" has seriously damaged the credibility of the UN human rights experts system.

On the basis of equality and mutual respect, China is ready to actively conduct human rights dialogue and cooperation with all other parties, said the Chinese mission.

But "we oppose the despicable acts of political manipulation, wanton attacks and smears against countries and interference in their internal affairs under the pretext of human rights," it said.

The Chinese people are "deeply proud" of the human rights achievements of the country, the statement said, noting that "clouds cannot overshadow the sun, and lies cannot deny China's human rights achievements."

China will continue to follow a path of human rights development suited to its national conditions, promote the common values of humanity, actively conduct international exchanges and cooperation and promote the sound development of global human rights, it said.

(Web editor: Zhong Wenxing, Bianji)
U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin speaks during a plenary session of the 19th International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) Shangri-la Dialogue, Asia's annual defense and security forum, in Singapore, June 11. AP-Yonhap



U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin reaffirmed America's commitment Saturday to reinforcing "extended deterrence" against North Korea's nuclear and missile threats.



He made the remarks during a session of the annual Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore amid speculation that Pyongyang has completed preparations for a nuclear test following a series of ballistic missile launches.



"We all face a persistent threat from North Korea. The United States will always stand ready to deter aggression and to uphold our treaty commitments," Austin said, noting the North's "habitual" provocations only underscore the urgency of the security challenge.



He added, "We're deepening security cooperation among the United States, Japan and the Republic of Korea. Together, we will continue to strengthen our extended deterrence against nuclear arms and ballistic missile systems."



Extended deterrence refers to Washington's stated commitment to using a full range of military capabilities, both nuclear and conventional, to defend its allies.



Austin cited nuclear threats from Pyongyang as one of the regional challenges also including "coercion by larger states against their smaller neighbors, and cruelty and violence from the regime in Myanmar."



"These challenges demand shared responsibility and common action, and we must all reaffirm our common commitment to uphold international law, defend global norms and oppose unilateral changes to the status quo," the secretary said.



Austin also used his speech to strongly condemn Russia's invasion of Ukraine.



"Let me be clear. Russia's invasion of Ukraine is what happens when oppressors trample the rules that protect us all, is what happens when big powers decide that their imperial appetites matter more than the rights of their peaceful neighbors," he said. "It's a preview of a possible world of chaos and turmoil that none of us would want to live in."



The Pentagon chief also took a swipe at what he calls China's "more coercive and aggressive approach" to its territorial claims. On the Taiwan issue, he stressed Washington's determination to uphold the "status quo."



"Let me be clear. We do not seek confrontation or conflict, and we do not seek a new Cold War and an Asian NATO or a region split into hostile blocs," he said, stressing the U.S. will do its part to manage tensions "responsibly" and pursue peace. (Yonhap)


The Biden administration is planning to push a policy that would require tobacco companies to reduce the level of nicotine in cigarettes sold in the U.S.

The policy would see the amount of nicotine reduced to 'nonaddictive levels'.

Although it would likely not come into force for several years, the move would likely disrupt the entire tobacco industry.

Smokers needn't be too concerned in the short terms with a number of hurdles still to be passed.

The Food and Drug Administration first needs to outline the proposed new rules before inviting comments from the public. Then final rules would be published.

Tobacco manufacturers selling cigarettes in U.S. could be required to lessen the amount of nicotine to nonaddictive levels until plans put forward by the Biden Administration

Even then, tobacco companies would be able to sue likely delaying any implementation of the policy reports the Wall Street Journal.

The administration had been weighing whether to push ahead with the policy as part of President Biden's Cancer Moonshot initiative which hopes to reduce deaths from cancer by at least 50% over the next 25 years.

The move would be the biggest step by the government to curb smoking since 1998 when tobacco companies paid more than $200 billion to help states pay for healthcare.

New restrictions on marketing were also agreed at the time including a ban on free samples and billboard advertising.

The policy would be a step in President Joe Bidens Cancer Moonshot plan. Launched in February, the plan is to reduce the cancer death rate for Americans by at least 50 percent in the next 25 years

The FDA describes nicotine as 'an addictive chemical found in cigarettes and other tobacco products.'

Although nicotine is addictive and gets people hooked on cigarettes, the chemical itself does not cause cancer, heart disease or lung disease.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention blames other harmful compounds in cigarette smoke that are linked with more than 480,000 deaths in the U.S. each year,

The CDC calculates there to be 30.8 million smokers in the nation - about 12.5%. The numbers rose slightly in 2020 during the pandemic.

The amount of nicotine in cigarettes can be reduced through various methods including an adjustment in the blend of tobacco leaves or by using different types of paper or filters.

The CDC calculates there to be 30.8 million smokers in the nation - about 12.5%

One company is even said to be able to reduce the amount of nicotine in its tobacco leaves by 95% through genetic engineering compared to a typical tobacco plant.

FDA officials say reducing nicotine in cigarettes to very low levels would prevent future generations from becoming addicted to cigarettes, and make it easier for those currently smoking to quit the habit.

A reduction in nicotine in cigarettes was initially pursued by the Trump Administration in 2017 but by 2019 officials dropped the plans.

The New England Journal of Medicine estimates that a reduction in nicotine levels would see an additional 5 million adult smokers to quit within a year of it being implemented.

'If it works, it will save more lives than anything else the FDA could do.' said the FDA's commissioner, Robert Califf.
A US warship fired at a drone that was terrorizing a Navy destroyer off the coast of California for weeks in 2019 after the Navy deployed special 'ghostbuster' teams to deal with them, new documents reveal.

The series of encounters with suspected UAVs, or unmanned aerial vehicles, in July 2019, saw as many as six mystery aircraft swarm several US Navy warships close to a sensitive training area at the Channel Islands, according to The Drive, which obtained Navy ship log documents via FOIA requests.

It was originally thought that these swarms of 'tic tac' shaped drones only affected the Navy for a few days in mid-July, but new documents reveal that Navy officials were still dealing with these encounters throughout the month.

New information revealed that on July 20, the USS Russell fired five shots at the drones - which The Drive worked out could fly at speeds of up to 45 miles an hour and traveled at least 100 nautical miles, far exceeding the capabilities of any commercially-available unmanned aircraft - in a UAV exercises, according to ship logs.

The USS Russell (pictured) and several other navy ships experienced drone swarms during July 2019. New documents reveal the Navy dealt with attacks for weeks

The USS Russell sent a ghostbusters team out around 11am on July 20 after drones were spotted near the ship. A ghostbuster is a rifle shaped tool that jams radio frequencies between the drone and its operator

The USS Russell's ship logs showed that it fired five shots at the swarm of drones on July 20, including one misfire

The USS Russell experienced a 'counter' with the drones around 9.30am on July 20, shooting off fives rounds around 11am, with at least one misfire.

Two days later, the USS Russell sent out a 'ghostbusters' team around 10.30am on July 23. The team 'completed' their mission around 11am.

The Drive defined a 'ghostbuster' as a rifle-shaped lower-end counter UAS device that jams radio frequencies between the drone and its operator.

It is unknown if the USS Russell already had 'ghostbusters' on board the ship or if it was bought in specifically to combat the increase in drone presence.

The USS Kidd sent out a SNOOPIE team around 2.30am after spotting drones on July 20, before the USS Russell

Around 3.30am, the USS Paul Hamilton reported 'multiple drones spotted off [the] bow' of the ship and sent out a SNOOPIE team

Drones were spotted off the USS Russell on July 20. The ship sent out SNOOPIE teams and a ghostbusters team after the USS Paul Hamilton and Kidd sent out SNOOPIE teams earlier in the morning

The USS Russell indicated on July 20 that it had a 'counter' with a UAS

The USS Russell's ship log was heavily redact on July 30, when it experience another swarm of drones, and it is unclear what happened in the day few days following the drone appearance

The ship sent another ghostbusters team out 10 days later on July 30 after several other ships indicated drone presence. A Ship Nautical Or Otherwise Photographic Interpretation and Exploitation (SNOOPIE) team was sent out in the early morning hours and ghostbusters were sent out shortly after following two other ships who did the same.

Earlier, the USS Kidd sent out a SNOOPIE team around 2.30am, while the USS Paul Hamilton sent out a team around 3.30am.

The USS Russell also sent out a 'Small Craft Action Team,' or SCAT, which provides 360-degree protection to ships and are typically used for small boat attacks. At the same time, the USS Bunker Hill also sent out a SCAT and SNOOPIE team.

However, the USS Russell's ship logs were heavily redacted on July 30 and it is unclear what the USS Russell did in the following days.

The ship's logs also indicated that an unidentified admiral boarded the ship on July 22, shortly before the UAVs exercises started and they left the ship on July 31.

It is unclear what their purpose on the ship was, or if it had any connection to the drone presence.

The USS Russell fired five shots at drones around 11am on July 20, with at least one misfire document. Multiple ships, including Russell, Kidd, and Paul Hamilton sent out SCAT teams (pictured), SNOOPIEs, and ghostbuster teams to combat drones

In addition, the Navy was already engaged in an investigation - which began on July 16 after drones were spotted on July 14 - during the admiral's visit. The information was later sent to the Chief of Naval Operations Admiral Michael Gilday on July 18.

The Navy was not able to identify the drones during their investigation.

The lack of evidence, lead to widespread public interpretation after filmmaker Jeremy Corbell released a series photos showing a triangular-shaped light flying over the top of the USS Russell. The footage was confirmed by the Justice Department to have been taken by the ship's crew.

Corbell believed the object could maneuver water and land with ease, according to The Drive.

The Navy insisted there is no extraterrestrial element to the object pictured, despite not being able to identify it.

The drone drama all began on the night of July 14, 2019 after ship logs from the USS Kidd show that just before 10pm that night two drones were spotted.

A SNOOPIE team was engaged to figure out who, or what, the mystery flying objects were

Within a few minutes of the sighting, reports show the USS Kidd moved into quiet -mode - for EMCON, which stands for 'emission control' - minimizing communications as it sought to work what the threat level was.

It contacted a nearby warship also on patrol, the USS Rafael Peralta, who also engaged their SNOOPIE team.

Several other US Navy destroyers on patrol nearby began noticing strange lights.

The USS John Finn also reported UAV activity on July 14, and noticed a 'red flashing light' at 10:03pm, according to its logbook.

Just over an hour later at 11:23pm, the USS Rafael Peralta spotted a white light hovering over the flight deck.

The drone was able to remain hovering above the destroyer's helicopter landing pad while traveling at speeds of 16 knots and in low visibility.

The nearly 90-minute encounter was well beyond the capability of commercially-available drones.

The next night, the drones returned, this time as the warships were patrolling closer to the Californian mainland.

They were first spotted by the USS Rafael Peralta and the ship's SNOOPIE team was engaged at 8.39pm.

At 8.56pm, logs show the USS Kidd had also come into contact with drones.

The USS Paul Hamilton made a sharp right turn after drones flew by the ship on July 17

The USS Paul Hamilton (pictured) had a swarm of 16 drones follow it on July 17

'The drones seem to have pursued the ships, even as they continued to maneuver throughout the incident,' The Drive reported.

Logbooks onboard the USS Russell show drones were swarming all over it, dipping in elevation from 1000 to 700 feet and seemingly able to move in any direction.

The USS Russell had separate contact with drones nine occasions in less than an hour.

Then at 9:20pm that night, the USS Kidd noticed 'multiple UAVs' around the ship.

The USS Rafael Peralta was also swarmed by as many as four drones. It was contacted by a passing cruise ship, the Carnival Imagination, to say they too had spotted up to six drones.

The three-hour frenzy of activity continued until close to midnight, with none of the warships able to say with certainty where the drones had come from.

On July 17, logs show the USS Paul Hamilton making an abrupt right turn after drones flew by the ship, the new documents revealed.

A map, obtained by The Drive, shows a heavy presence of drones near the USS Paul Hamilton, which one being marked with a star. It is unknown what the star stands for due to heavy redaction.

The ship's log did reveal that the boat went into EMCON during this experience.

The Navy's top commanders including the Chief of Naval Operations and commander of the Pacific Fleet were notified.

The Los Angeles bureau of the FBI was also brought in to look at the incident.

The subsequent investigation found that just a handful of civilian ships were in the area at the time that could have been used as landing pads for the drones.

Investigators suspected the drones may have been launched from the ORV Alguita, a catamaran in the area.

Chief of Naval Operations Admiral Michael Gilday (pictured) was notified of the drone sightings on July 18. He later said the Navy could not identify the drones but did not believe it was extraterrestrial

And while the Alguita did have drones onboard, it was soon established its aircraft were not capable of such aeronautical feats.

Naval intelligence was brought in on the investigation and it was soon turning its glare inwards.

The area is home to a large US Naval Base on Sam Clemente Island, where sensitive training operations are often undertaken.

Soon afterward, the Navy classified the investigation, preventing further information from being released to The Drive.

In March 2021, the former Director of National Intelligence revealed the US has evidence of UFOs breaking the sound barrier without a sonic boom and making maneuvers impossible with known technology.

John Ratcliffe, who served as Donald Trump's Director of National Intelligence, said that many of the incidents still have no easy explanation.

'There are a lot more sightings than have been made public,' Ratcliffe told Fox News.

'Some of those have been declassified.'
A star-studded Los Angeles high school is being sued by a parent for its allegedly 'racially divisive, anti-Semitic' curriculum  and may soon face more lawsuits, the parent's lawyer claims.

Celebrity alumni of Brentwood School, a private K-12, include Jonah Hill, Adam Levine and Jack Quaid, and parents of alumni include Arnold Schwarzenegger, Reese Witherspoon and Jack Nicholson.

In a lawsuit filed in a Los Angeles court on Wednesday, a Jewish parent of a former 8th grade student at the $50,000-per-year school said the girl was booted after he complained about alleged anti-semitic discrimination in its new woke curriculum installed after the death of George Floyd.

The school says the claims are 'baseless' and a 'work of whole fiction'.

A parent whose daughter attended Brentwood School, a private K-12 school, is suing after she was kicked out of the $50,000-a-year school, pictured above

Parent, Jerome Eisenberg claims the new woke curriculum came after the death of George Floyd which included charts for students so they could become 'anti-racist'

Eisenberg claims the 'woke' changes were made secretly after the school had already collected its high priced tuition fees

Frustrated father Jerome Eisenberg is suing the school for breach of contract, violation of the Unruh Civil Rights Act  which protects individuals from discrimination by California businesses  and intentional infliction of emotional distress, among other claims.

The news of the lawsuit being filed was first published by LA site The Ankler.

Eisenberg said he was happy with the school until the summer of 2020, when the death of George Floyd at the hands of a Minneapolis police officer led to an alleged ideological overhaul of the school's policies and teaching.

He accused the school of holding racially segregated meetings, encouraging students to treat Jewish people as 'oppressors', and discriminating against a Jewish group of parents.

'Everything at Brentwood radically changed after the death of George Floyd,' the lawsuit said.

'After accepting parents' tuition payments, Defendants Brentwood and its head of school, Michael Riera, pulled a bait-and-switch with the school's curriculum and culture.'

Classic English literature texts To Kill a Mockingbird and Lord of the Flies were regulars on the syllabus

The texts have been replaced by Ibram X. Kendi's Stamped, which Eisenberg said included 'ahistorical, racially inflammatory perspectives on this country's history with no legitimate pedagogical purpose.'

Eisenberg claimed the school replaced its traditional teaching with 'an identity-based ideology of grievance, resentment, and racial divisiveness' and 'started indoctrinating [students] into what to think, based on Brentwood's preferred political fad of the moment.'

In the girl's literature class, To Kill a Mockingbird and Lord of the Flies were replaced by Ibram X. Kendi's Stamped, which Eisenberg said included 'ahistorical, racially inflammatory perspectives on this country's history with no legitimate pedagogical purpose.'

'[The] English Department told parents that if they wanted their children to read Shakespeare or Hemingway, they should do it in their own free time,' the legal complaint said.

The changes were made secretly and 'withheld from parents', Eisenberg claimed, while Jewish parents were 'prevented from participating in the school's policy-making decisions' due to the school's alleged 'anti-Semitic animus'.

A source close to the dispute told DailyMail.com that 40% of Brentwood students were Jewish and claimed that Eisenberg was in a tiny minority of disgruntled parents.

'The curriculum changes have not affected interest in Brentwood. In fact, more people have wanted to come to Brentwood than ever before,' the source said.

A parent at the school, who also asked to remain anonymous, said: 'It's only a few parents who have a problem with the changes to the curriculum. The students by and large, including my own, have no problem with it.'

The parent said they didn't trust Eisenberg, having discovered he had previous charges for fraud dating back to the 1990s.

According to a 1993 LA Times article, Eisenberg and his realtor client were charged with improperly inflated real estate values in loan transactions allowing them to obtain $6million.

Celebrity alumni of Brentwood School, a private K-12, include Jonah Hill, left, Adam Levine, center, and Jack Quaid, right

Parents of alumni include Arnold Schwarzenegger, Reese Witherspoon and Jack Nicholson

According to federal court records, Eisenberg, a former lawyer, pleaded guilty to mail fraud and bank embezzlement in 2000, was sentenced to a year in prison and resigned from the California bar.

Eisenberg's lawyer claimed that the furious father is just the first in a growing number of parents considering legal action against the school.

'I can tell you for a fact that there are dozens of parents who support what Jerry's doing,' attorney David Pivorak told DailyMail.com in an exclusive interview. 'Jerome Eisenberg is by far not not alone in this.'

He added that other parents had approached him for representation, and that 'it's not out of the question' that Eisenberg's complaint would become a class action lawsuit.

Pivorak added that the girl's removal from Brentwood School was 'devastating' to her.

'For someone her age, 13 or 14, it's jarring and it's devastating, because you're no longer with your friends. You have to completely reorganize your life. It's tough having to make new friends, especially for a young girl,' he said.

'When you're suddenly pulled away from [your community] because your school decides to discriminate against you and single out your group, and you're punished because of that, it's kind of jarring.'

Pivorak said he believes parents are afraid to speak out against woke new curricula for fear of being 'canceled'.

'You have a lot of very unhappy parents who, in woke progressive LA, are terrified to stand up and oppose this stuff,' he said.

'With the cancel culture that's been proliferating throughout the country, standing up and opposing the woke regime is akin to having a scarlet letter on your forehead. You're ostracized from your friend group, you're ostracized from society in general.

'Not only are they afraid to lose their social standing, but they're also afraid of what's going to happen to their kids, their college admissions letters and their ability to proceed in life.'

According to federal court records, Eisenberg, a former lawyer, pleaded guilty to mail fraud and bank embezzlement in 2000, was sentenced to a year in prison and resigned from the California bar, pictured above

In his lawsuit, pictured above, Eisenberg claimed the headteacher told him 'a 'new world order' was coming and that if Defendants failed to capture the students at this juncture the opportunity might be lost going forward.'

In his lawsuit, Eisenberg claimed the headteacher told him 'a 'new world order' was coming and that if Defendants failed to capture the students at this juncture the opportunity might be lost going forward.'

As part of consulting on changes at the school, 'affinity groups' were formed made up of parents, students and community members bound by 'shared culture, race, or other identity' to influence Brentwood policy, according to the legal filing.

The father said the Jewish affinity group was 'intentionally stifled', 'stonewalled' and treated differently than other groups.

He claimed the alleged discrimination was part of a new ideology taught at the school that treats Jewish people as 'oppressors' due to their 'proximity to whiteness' while 'ignoring the actual treatment of Jews around the globe throughout all of recorded history.'

'Young students were also given a chart called 'How am I Addressing White Supremacy' that accuses them of 'racism' and 'anti-blackness' based purely on the color of their skin,' Eisenberg's lawsuit said.

'Teachers also began openly humiliating students who did not adhere to their preferred political beliefs.'

Last year the school allegedly held meetings segregated by race, with time slots for 'white faculty' and 'white parents & families' and others for 'black faculty' and 'black parents & families'.

Eisenberg claimed that when he called out the school for the alleged discrimination, his daughter was punished.

In a statement to DailyMail.com, a Brentwood spokesman said: 'The allegations contained in the complaint are baseless, a work of whole fiction and nothing more than a desperate attempt to embarrass the school. The school's head, Mike Riera, is pictured, above

'Mr. Eisenberg pleaded with defendants to stop their racially discriminatory conduct and to reinstate the race-neutral policies that they promised to uphold when they entered into their agreement,' his lawyer David Pivtorak wrote in the legal complaint.

'Defendant Riera responded to Mr. Eisenberg's pleas by withdrawing J.E.'s invitation to return to Brentwood for 9th grade and threatening to expel her from the school immediately unless Mr. Eisenberg promised to stay silent about defendants' virulent discrimination.

'Mr. Eisenberg had no choice but to give in to Riera's extortionate demands in order to protect his daughter's future. 'Although J.E. was allowed to finish her 8th grade year at Brentwood, Riera revoked the school's offer to return for 9th grade. As a result J.E. was deprived of attending school with the friends she loved and the community she knew.'

In a statement to DailyMail.com, a Brentwood spokesman said: 'The allegations contained in the complaint are baseless, a work of whole fiction and nothing more than a desperate attempt to embarrass the school.

'The plaintiff's arguments are unsupported by actual facts and we look forward to proving that in court.'
Expectant mums were left scrambling to get their money back after a baby furniture firm went under, throwing thousands of dollars worth of orders into doubt.

Quirky Bubba went into administration last month with customers claiming the company's website was offline, warehouses cleared and social media pages deleted.

A group of mums have banded together on social media for support and to swap tips on how to get money back through their banks.

Samantha Turner (pictured with her partner) said she felt like she had 'failed her daughter already' by not being able to provide furniture for her imminent arrival in July

Samantha Turner told Daily Mail Australia she purchased $2,000 worth of furniture for her baby in April and 'literally felt like I could throw up' after the firm went under.

'It was absolutely heartbreaking, I think I cried all night and the following morning because I couldn't believe this happened to us,' the Perth mum-to-be said.

Ms Turner, whose baby is due next month, said she had tried to be careful in choosing the right place to get her nursery furniture before she bought.

She was stunned when she saw reviews the brand had gone into liquidation.

'I just remember panicking, thinking why can't I find their website to be working and then their Instagram and Facebook were non-existent,' the dental assistant said.

'My partner came to sit with me and I just started crying, I felt like I had failed my daughter already - and felt like a useless mother because she doesnt have any furniture now.'

Ms Turner said she and her partner are waiting on news from her bank, ANZ, which was sympathetic with her predicament - and she hopes they can 'really help'.

Meanwhile, mums across social media were supporting one another and sharing their experiences with the banks in getting their funds back.

Customers complained that Quirky Bubba (pictured) shut down their communication, with their social media platforms deleted and website offline

One customer in her third trimester said she was partially compensated after forking out $1,278 on baby goods with the firm, and has hopes for the rest of the money.

'So shout out to Bank of Melbourne and St George and I hope everyone else has the same success,' she wrote.

It was more complicated for another who paid for their goods in seven different instalments via Zip Pay - each part payment has to be dealt with individually.

'Not sure what else to do except wait,' the mum said.

One customer said she lodged a dispute with the Commonwealth Bank but didn't feel hopeful they could trace her funds that she paid via bank transfer.

Another had heard the company were taking orders 'right up until they shut down', while one more said she didn't understand why the closure was not communicated.

'I was expecting my delivery in two weeks [and] with not a single word they have shut down,' she wrote.

Mackay Goodwin told 7News the receivers had been appointed for the company.

'Our investigations are still ongoing and we are awaiting a completed statement from the Director about the company's business and affairs,' the statement said.

'We understand how upsetting the situation is for expectant parents, however without all the information we require from the director, we are unable to speculate on an outcome of our ongoing investigation.'
The identities of the five U.S. Marines confirmed dead after an MV-22B Osprey belonging to the 3rd Marine Air Wing crashed in the California desert have been revealed.

The MV-22B Osprey crashed in Imperial County near Highway 78 and the town of Glamis, which is 30 miles north of the Mexican border, and 150 miles east of San Diego.

Capt. Nicholas P. Losapio, 31, of Rockingham, New Hampshire, a pilot; Cpl. Seth D. Rasmuson, 21, of Johnson, Wyoming, a crew chief; Capt. John J. Sax, 33, of Placer, a pilot; and Lance Cpl. Evan A. Strickland, 19, of Valencia, New Mexico, a crew chief,, were confirmed as dead by U.S. Marine Corps on Friday.

Nathan Carlson, a crew chief, was previously confirmed to be among the dead by family on Thursday.

The 21-year-old's girlfriend Emily Baxter posted a tribute to the Marine on Facebook, writing: 'My heart is absolutely shattered...I don't have words to explain what I feel or how badly this is tearing me apart already...he had the biggest heart and was always willing to help somebody if they needed.'

Cpl. Nathan E. Carlson, 21, of Winnebago, Illinois was one of the first identified as a victim of the crash

Capt. John J. Sax, 33, of Placer, California, a pilot, had been with the corps for nearly six years and was also decorated with several medals, including the National Defense Service Medal; the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal; and a Letter of Appreciation.

A helicopter is seen on Wednesday taking off near Glamis, to aid the rescue effort

'It is with heavy hearts that we mourn the loss of five Marines from the Purple Fox family,' the squadron's commanding officer, Lt. Col. John C. Miller, said.

'It is hard to express the impact that this loss has had on our squadron and its families,' Miller added. 'Our primary mission now is taking care of the family members of our fallen Marines and we respectfully request privacy for their families as they navigate this difficult time.'

Rasmuson's home state of Wyoming had already paid tribute to him by flying their flags at half mast Friday.

His father told The Mercury News that Rasmuson grew up hunting, fishing and camping and loving the outdoors.

Capt. Nicholas P. Losapio, 31, of Rockingham, New Hampshire, a pilot, was the longest tenured Marine among the five that died, having served nearly nine years

Lance Cpl. Evan A. Strickland, 19, of Valencia, New Mexico, a crew chief, was the youngest member who lost their life

Cpl. Seth D. Rasmuson, 21, of Johnson, Wyoming, a crew chief, was already being mourned back home in Wyoming Friday with the lowering of flags to half mast

Losapio was the longest tenured Marine among the five that died, having served nearly nine years.

Osprey accidents: 46 people killed in 30 years 1989 - The first prototypes flew in March, and the second in September. 1991-2 - The fourth and fifth prototypes crashed, with five dying in the Potomac River when the fifth crashed in July 1992, and the aircraft was modified as a result. Apr 2000 - An Osprey crashed during a night training exercise at Marana Regional Airport near Tucson, Arizona, killing all 19 Marines on board. The fleet was grounded. Dec 2000 - Another Osprey crashed during training near Jacksonville, North Carolina, killing four Marines. Dec 2005 - The Marine Corps received its first batch of combat-ready Ospreys. Apr 2010 - Four people are killed when an Osprey crashes in Zabul province in southern Afghanistan. Apr 2012 - Two Marines die when an Osprey crashes in the Draa River in Morocco. Oct 2014 - One killed in a crash in the Arabian Gulf. May 2015 - Two killed in an Osprey accident in Hawaii. Aug 2017 - Three Marines killed off the coast of Queensland, Australia. Mar 2022 - An MV-22B crashed in Norway during a training exercise, killing four. Advertisement

He had been awarded the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal; a Navy Unit Commendation; the National Defense Service Medal; the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal; the Inherent Resolve Campaign Medal; the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal; and a Sea Service Deployment Ribbon.

Sax had been with the corps for nearly six years and was also decorated with several medals, including the National Defense Service Medal; the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal; and a Letter of Appreciation.

Strickland served for just over a year and a half but despite that and his young age, still came away with the National Defense Service Medal and the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal.

California Governor Gavin Newsom also called for flags to be lowered at the State Capitol on Friday to honor the fallen Marines.

The Marines were based at Camp Pendleton and assigned to Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 364 of Marine Aircraft Group 39, part of the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing headquartered at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar in San Diego.

The cause of the crash is under investigation.

The Marines were participating in routine live-fire training over their gunnery range in the Imperial Valley desert, said Marine Maj. Mason Englehart, spokesperson for the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing.

The Osprey, a hybrid airplane and helicopter, flew in the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan but has been criticized by some as unsafe. It is designed to take off like a helicopter, rotate its propellers to a horizontal position and cruise like an airplane.

Versions of the aircraft are flown by the Marine Corps, Navy and Air Force.

Prior to Wednesdays crash, Osprey crashes had caused 46 deaths, the Los Angeles Times reported.

Most recently, four Marines were killed when a Marine Corps Osprey crashed on March 18 near a Norwegian town in the Arctic Circle while participating in a NATO exercise.

The military also announced equipment recovery has begun at the site and the investigation is ongoing.

The crash was confirmed by Naval Air Facility in El Centro on Wednesday, who investigated the crash.

The crash happened about 12.25pm local time, said 1st Lt. Duane Kampa, a 3rd MAW spokesman.

Footage from News 11 Yuma showed military personnel and first responders gathering in the desert, with a helicopter flying off to the crash site. Smoke could be faintly seen on the horizon.

There were rumors the plane had been carrying nuclear material when it crashed, but that has since been debunked.

'Contrary to initial reports, there was no nuclear material on board the aircraft.'

The MV-22B Osprey is a tiltrotor aircraft, built by Boeing, which can carry 24 Marine combat troops, according to Military.com.

Boeing says it is 'a joint service multirole combat aircraft' which has both the vertical performance of a helicopter and the speed and range of a fixed-wing aircraft.

'With its rotors in vertical position, it can take off, land and hover like a helicopter,' Boeing explain.

'Once airborne, it can convert to a turboprop airplane capable of high-speed, high-altitude flight.

First responders and military personnel are seen arriving at the site of Wednesday's crash

A Marine Corps MV-22 Osprey is pictured in 2012. An aircraft like this crashed on Wednesday

'This combination results in global reach capabilities that allow the V-22 to fill an operational niche unlike any other aircraft.'

It have been in use since 2007.

The aircraft were first tested in 1989, but the program initially struggled, and there were several crashes during testing that resulted in 30 deaths.

Adjustments were made by the Navy and Marine Corps, and it was first deployed in Iraq.

Glamis is famed for the Algodones Dunes, 30 miles north of the US-Mexico border. This is where the crash occurred
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President Joe Biden will travel to New Mexico today to meet with local officials and Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham to discuss the state's response to the two of the largest wildfires in its history which have now burned 600,000 acres and displaced thousands.

The Hermits Peak/Calf Canyon and Black fires have now ripped through 616,440 acres. They are around 44% contained as of Saturday morning.

Now, residents are demanding to know how big a role the Forest Service played in the Hermits Peak blaze, that began in April as a controlled burn in Las Vegas, New Mexico, but has spun out of control.

Earlier this week, some sued the Forest Service for the information after being stonewalled for weeks. They are the first major incidents in the wildfire season this year.

Biden will meet Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham along with other state and local officials and FEMA personnel.

Daniel Encinias stands next to the ruins of his home destroyed by the Hermits Peak Calf Canyon fire in Tierra Monte, New Mexico, U.S., June 9, 2022

Clouds pass trees scorched by the Hermits Peak/Calf Canyon Fire shortly before sunset amid exceptional drought conditions in the area on June 2, 2022 near Las Vegas, New Mexico

This satellite image provided by Maxar Technologies shows the active fire lines of the Hermits Peak wildfire, in Las Vegas, N.M., May 11, 2022. The fire has been raging since April

Ralph Arellanes of Las Vegas, New Mexico, said many ranchers of modest means appear unlikely to receive compensation for uninsured cabins, barns and sheds that were razed by the fire.

President Biden will travel to New Mexico later today

'Theyve got their day job and their ranch and farm life.

'Its not like they have a big old house or hacienda - it could be a very basic home, may or may not have running water,' said Arellanes, a former wildland firefighter and chairman for a confederation of Hispanic community advocacy groups.

'They use it to stay there to feed and water the cattle on the weekend.

'Or maybe they have a camper. But a lot of that got burned.'

The Federal Emergency Management Agency has approved 890 disaster relief claims worth $2.7 million for individuals and households.

On Thursday, the Biden administration extended eligible financial relief to the repair of water facilities, irrigation ditches, bridges and roads.

Proposed legislation from U.S. Rep. Teresa Leger Fernandez, D-N.M., would offer full compensation for nearly all lost property and income linked to the wildfire.

The two wildfires in New Mexico are the largest in the history of the state and have collectively burned over 600,000 acres of land

The Hermits peak fire began in Las Vegas, New Mexico, in April as a controlled burn but is now out of control

The Black fire (left) is raging close to Santa Fe while the Hermit Peaks fire (right) is next to Las Vegas, New Mexico

Jennifer Carbajal says she evacuated twice from the impending wildfire at a shared family home at Pandaries in the foothills of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains. The house survived while about 50 neighboring homes burned along with the tanks that feed the municipal water system, leaving no local supply of potable water without truck deliveries.

'There is no long-term plan right now for water infrastructure in northern New Mexico,' Carbajal said.

She said matters are worse in many hardscrabble communities across fire-scarred Mora County, where the median household income is roughly $28,000 - less than half the national average.

'They barter a lot and really have never had to rely on external resources,' she said. 'The whole idea of applying for a loan (from FEMA) is an immediate turnoff for the majority of that population.'

George Fernandez of Las Vegas, New Mexico, says his family is unlikely to be compensated for an uninsured, fire-gutted house in the remote Mineral Hills area, nor a companion cabin that was built by his grandparents nearly a century ago.

Fernandez said his brother had moved away from the house to a nursing home before the fire swept through - making direct federal compensation unlikely under current rules because the house was no longer a primary residence.

'I think they should make accommodations for everybody who lost whatever they lost at face value,' Fernandez said. 'It would take a lot of money to accomplish that, but it was something they started and I think they should.'
China has said it is prepared to go to war in order to defend its right to keep Taiwan from becoming an independent state.

China will 'smash to smithereens any Taiwan independence plot and resolutely uphold the unification of the motherland' Chinese Defense Minister Fenghe told U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin on the sidelines of the Shangri-La Dialogue conference in Singapore on Friday.

'If anyone dares to split Taiwan from China, the Chinese army will definitely not hesitate to start a war no matter the cost', Chinese Defense Ministry spokesman Col. Wu Qian quoted the Fenghe as saying during the meeting, in what is a escalating of tension, not least of which in the type of language being used.

Austin met with his Chinese counterpart, Wei Fenghe who bemoaned new American arms sales to Taiwan announced this week, saying it 'seriously undermined China's sovereignty and security interests.'

China 'firmly opposes and strongly condemns it,' Wei told told Austin.

Wei was quoted as saying China would respond to any move toward formal Taiwan independence by 'smashing it even at any price, including war.'

Austin made it clear at the meeting that while the U.S. does not support Taiwanese independence, it also has major concerns about China's recent behavior and military activity around the self-governing island suggested Beijing might be attempting to change the status quo.

US Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin, left, and Chinese Defense Minister Wei Fenghe met for the first time face-to-face at the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore on Friday

China's Defence Minister Wei Fenghe (4rd R) met US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin (L) at a ministerial roundtable luncheon at the Shangri-La Dialogue summit in Singapore today

Fenghe (R) greets US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin (L) as he sits across from Singapore's Defence Minister Ng Eng Hen during the ministerial roundtable luncheon

U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin shared his concerns about China's recent behavior and military activity around the self-governing island

The strongly-worded rhetoric is an escalation in the tensions between China and Taiwan

Austin noted a 'steady increase in provocative and destabilizing military activity near Taiwan,' including almost daily military flights near the island by the People's Republic of China.

'Our policy hasn't changed, but unfortunately that doesn't seem to be true for the PRC,' he said.

Austin said there had been an 'alarming' increase in the number of unsafe and unprofessional encounters between Chinese planes and vessels with those of other countries.

A Chinese fighter aircraft dangerously intercepted an Australian military surveillance plane in the South China Sea region in May and Canada's military has accused Chinese warplanes of harassing its patrol aircraft as they monitor North Korea sanction evasions.

China's State Councilor and Defence Minister General Wei Fenghe leaves after a bilateral meeting with U.S. Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin on the sidelines of the 19th Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore, on Friday

Taiwan has complained for years of repeated Chinese air force missions into its air defense identification zone, which is not territorial airspace but a broader area it monitors for threats. Austin said these incursions had surged in recent months.

Taiwan's foreign ministry thanked the United States on Friday for its support and denounced China's 'absurd' claims of sovereignty.

'Taiwan has never been under the jurisdiction of the Chinese government, and the people of Taiwan will not succumb to threats of force from the Chinese government,' said ministry spokeswoman Joanne Ou.

Austin said Washington remains committed to the 'one-China policy,' which recognizes Beijing but allows informal relations and defense ties with Taipei.

Taiwan and China split during a civil war in 1949, but China claims the island as its own territory and has not ruled out using military force to take it.

China has stepped up its military provocations against democratic Taiwan in recent years, aimed at intimidating it into accepting Beijing's demands to unify with the communist mainland.

Chinese Defense Minister Wei Fenghe complained to his American counterpart about the latest U.S. arms package for Taiwan and warned of a possible conflict over the self-governing island that China claims as its own territory

'We remain focused on maintaining peace, stability and the status quo across the Taiwan Strait,' Austin said in his address. 'But the PRC's moves threaten to undermine security, and stability, and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific.'

He drew a parallel with the Russian invasion of Ukraine, saying that the 'indefensible assault on a peaceful neighbor has galvanized the world and ... has reminded us all of the dangers of undercutting an international order rooted in rules and respect.'

Austin stressed that the 'rules-based international order matters just as much in the Indo-Pacific as it does in Europe.'

'Russia's invasion of Ukraine is what happens when oppressors trample the rules that protect us all,' he said. 'It's what happens when big powers decide that their imperial appetites matter more than the rights of their peaceful neighbors. And it's a preview of a possible world of chaos and turmoil that none of us would want to live in.'

In his speech, Austin said the U.S. stands 'firmly behind the principle that cross-strait differences must be resolved by peaceful means,' but also would continue to fulfill its commitments to Taiwan.

China's ambitions to seize Taiwan has seen a ramping up of military activity. This graphic was from an exercise in May which saw 30 Chinese aircraft flying close to the island. The Chinese planes flew into the air detection zone briefly before turning back around and returning to the mainland

'That includes assisting Taiwan in maintaining a sufficient self-defense capability,' he said.

'And it means maintaining our own capacity to resist any use of force or other forms of coercion that would jeopardize the security or the social or economic system of the people of Taiwan.'

Biden said last month the United States would get involved militarily should China attack Taiwan, although the administration has since clarified that U.S. policy on the issue has not changed.

Washington has had a long-standing policy of strategic ambiguity on whether it would defend Taiwan militarily.

The 1979 Taiwan Relations Act, which has governed U.S. relations with the island, does not require the U.S. to step in militarily if China invades, but makes it American policy to ensure Taiwan has the resources to defend itself and to prevent any unilateral change of status by Beijing.

File photo: The PLA KJ-500 plane, which flew into Taiwan's air defense zone, is pictured

File photo: The PLA Y-8 ELINT aircraft, which flew into Taiwan's air defense zone, is pictured

Last month, China sent 30 military aircraft toward the island in an ongoing campaign of regular flights.

Russia's invasion of Ukraine has put China's threats against Taiwan under new focus, prompting increased backing for arms sales and political support from Democrats and Republicans.

China upped the ante further in May, reaching out to the Solomon Islands and nine other island nations with a sweeping security proposal that, even if only partially realized, could give it a presence in the Pacific much nearer Hawaii, Australia, New Zealand and on the doorstep of the strategic American territory of Guam.

That is seen as a potential route to blocking access to Taiwan by the U.S. and its allies in the event China makes good on its threat to invade the island.

File photo: The PLA Y-8 EW aircraft, which flew into Taiwan's air defense zone, is pictured

File photo: The PLA J-11 aircraft, which flew into Taiwan's air defense zone, is pictured

In October 2021, China flew 52 aircraft into Taiwan's airspace in its single largest mission to date.

Over the same weekend, China flew a total of 93 aircraft close to the island in five separate missions, the largest of which comprised 25 planes.

China started flying near-daily missions into Taiwan's airspace since the start of 2021, wearing down the island's alert systems.

But most of those flights were comprised only of a single aircraft, with Beijing massively increasing the flights since the announcement of AUKUS, a military alliance between Australia, the US and the UK.

Experts believe the practice is part of a Chinese attempt to catch Taiwan off-guard so it becomes desensitised to the continued presence of aircraft close to its airspace.

Self-governing Taiwan, which is home to the Republic of China which fought against the Communist Party when it first emerged, views itself as an independent state but Beijing views it as a breakaway province.

Tensions around the island are long-standing but increased significantly in 2019 when President Xi Jinping committed himself to 'reunifying' the islands - reserving the right to use force if necessary.
A 76-year-old Canadian man allegedly tried to smuggle more than $22 million worth of crystal meth hidden in shoeboxes through Melbourne Airport  telling border officials it was just salt.

The drug haul was discovered by Australian Border Force officers when they searched the Canadian national's luggage after he arrived on a flight from Los Angeles on Wednesday morning.

Australian Federal Police said the elderly man claimed the substance was salt, but when officers ran a test it returned a positive result for methamphetamine.

The elderly Canadian was caught allegedly trying to smuggle more than $22 million of meth (pictured) into Australia

The drugs weighed about 24 kilograms, the equivalent of about 240,000 street deals worth $22.3 million, the AFP said.

Authorities charged the man with importing a commercial quantity of a border-controlled drug, namely methamphetamine  the maximum sentence for which is life in prison.

He faced Melbourne Magistrates Court and was remanded in custody, and is due back in court on September 1.

AFP Detective Inspector Chris Salmon said further arrests could be made in relation to the seizure, noting there was 'often an organised criminal syndicate operating behind such drug importations'.

Detective Inspector Salmon said further investigations into the origins of the meth were continuing.

The man allegedly carried the meth rocks in a shoebox, and then claimed the 24 kilograms of the drug was salt

'It is rare that one individual can organise the purchase, importation and distribution of such a large quantity of illicit drugs; there is often an organised criminal syndicate operating behind such drug importations,' Detective Inspector Salmon said.

ABF's acting superintendent of aviation operations, Claudine Lupton, said its officers were detecting large quantities of drugs coming into Australia every day.

'Criminals will try to hide illicit drugs in a variety of ways, however our well-trained officers have many detection methods at their disposal,' Acting Supt Lupton said.

'No matter how those drugs are hidden, our officers have the technology and expertise to find them.

'Ice destroys communities and tears families apart. This is a significant seizure and I hope this sends a strong message to those attempting to bring illicit drugs into the country: we will find you and you will be prosecuted,' she said.
A shopper has accused Australian retailers of 'systemic racism' for lacking makeup shades that cater for black people.

Rufaro Zimbudzi shared her experiences shopping at various supermarkets and department stores in Melbourne in a viral video on TikTok.

In the video, Ms Zimbudzi expressed her frustration black people face while trying to find foundation and concealer that matches their skin tone.

Rufaro Zimbudzi (pictured) shared her experiences of analysing the different makeup ranges at various supermarkets and department stores in Melbourne

She revealed that there was a strong presence of products that catered predominantly for woman with lighter skin shades (pictured)

She revealed that there was a strong presence of products that catered predominantly for woman with lighter skin shades.

'Come shopping with me to see if Aussie drug stores have inclusive shade ranges,' Ms Zimbudzi said.

'You guys already know that Australian drug stores would be called lacking, so let's use this as a way to open up a conversation about systemic racism.'

'Systemic racism or institutional racism is racism is embedded through the laws and regulations of certain institutions or through a particular society or organisation,' Ms Zimbudzi added.

Ms Zimbudzi suggested the issue of black people not getting access to their particular shade of makeup can arise when organisations provide limited product supplies.

'That would be an example of systemic racism because this racism/lack of accessibility is due to that brand and that organisation thinking we are not worthy,' she said.

'Systemic racism or institutional racism is racism is embedded through the laws and regulations of certain institutions or through a particular society or organisation,' Ms Zimbudzi added (pictured, makeup products in Coles)

A spokesperson for Woolworths responded to the TikTok video and told 7NEWS.com.au: 'We serve a diverse mix of customers and aim to reflect this in our range of makeup and other beauty products' (pictured, makeup products in Coles)

'And also, the beauty industry. Let's also remember that inclusivity does not mean tokenism.'

'This means that brands shouldn't be able to get away with having one dark shade of foundation. They need to work a bit harder than that, Ms Zimbudzi said.

A spokesperson for Woolworths responded to the TikTok video and said: 'We serve a diverse mix of customers and aim to reflect this in our range of makeup and other beauty products.'

While a spokesperson for Coles said: 'Coles values and celebrates diversity. We work with our suppliers to provide a range of cosmetics that is inclusive and meets the needs of our customers.'

Ms Zimbudzi told Daily Mail Australia: 'I just wanted to emphasise the TikTok was to highlight the systemic issues. it wasn't to necessarily out the brands.'

'Coming from a place of anger, I was just trying to contexualise the systemic issues that we see everyday an sort of make that information more accessible.'

Ms Zimbudzi added: 'I just feel that having upfront and honest conversations about race makes so many white Australians very uncomfortable.

'It makes people think about their privilege in their own situation and forces them down this path of 'racism doesn't exist".

Ms Zimbudzi (pictured) added: 'I just feel that having upfront and honest conversations about race makes so many white Australians very uncomfortable'...'It makes people think about their privilege in their own situation and forces them down this path of 'racism doesn't exist"

'The truth is, race is an ever-present issue that isn't going to go away anytime soon and the earlier we come the realisation, the better it will be for our children, our grandchildren, their kids, the better it will be for everyone.'

The TikTok video caught the eye of many users and received a range of comments.

'I feel so bad, I never realised this. It's so disgusting,' one person said.

'I will happily stop using non-inclusive brands until we start seeing companies show up for people with darker skin - we can ALL help,' another second added.

A third user commented: 'I was hella ignorant to this until lately when I actually went into a shop and I found only one dark shade. Nothing else.'
Defense Minister Lee Jong-sup and his U.S. counterpart Lloyd Austin, pose for a photo before their talks on the sidelines of a security forum in Singapore, June 11. Yonhap



The defense chiefs of South Korea, the United States and Japan agreed Saturday to step up cooperation to counter North Korea's missile threats through their combined regular security exercises, including missile warning drills, Seoul's defense ministry said.



Lee Jong-sup and his U.S. and Japanese counterparts, Lloyd Austin and Nobuo Kishi, reached the agreement during their gathering held on the margins of the annual Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore.



The first in-person meeting since November 2019 of the regional powers' top defense officials followed a series of North Korean ballistic missile launches. Speculation has also abounded that Pyongyang has completed preparations for a nuclear test.



They "agreed to conduct the South Korea-U.S.-Japan missile warning and ballistic missile search and tracking exercises," the ministry said in a press release. It did not specify when the training programs will take place.



The three sides have held the missile warning and tracking exercises every quarter and biennially, respectively,  or at irregular intervals. Since 2018, the trainings have proceeded in a low-key manner, apparently to support efforts to engage the North in dialogue.



Those programs are now expected to take place "more publicly," a source said, a move that could help send a stronger warning signal to the recalcitrant North.



Washington has been striving to bolster trilateral security cooperation despite longstanding stand-offs between Seoul and Tokyo, mainly stemming from Japan's 1910-45 colonization of Korea.



Lee drew a clear line between the South Korea-U.S. exercises, involving field troop maneuvers, and three-way ones.



"We should approach them in different ways," Lee told reporters.



Lee, Austin and Kishi also agreed to identify "additional" three-way steps to respond to the North's missile threats, the ministry said.



They pledged that their countries would work closely together for the shared goal of achieving complete denuclearization and lasting peace on the Korean Peninsula, and reaffirmed the importance of the "full" implementation of U.N. Security Council resolutions on the North, the ministry said.



"The three underscored the importance of continued international cooperation with the goal of deterring, disrupting and ultimately eliminating the North's illicit ship-to-ship transfers," the ministry said.



They also sent an apparent message to China.



"The three expressed strong opposition to any unilateral acts that change the status quo and heighten regional tension," the ministry said. "The three underscored the importance of peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait."



Prior to the trilateral session, Lee and Austin met bilaterally and discussed joint deterrence to counter North Korean threats.



"Basically, we discussed various ways to increase the enforceability of extended deterrence," Lee told reporters after the talks without elaboration.



Extended deterrence refers to America's stated commitment to mobilizing a full range of its military capabilities, including nuclear options, to defend its ally.



Austin stressed Washington's determination to offer extended deterrence involving the whole range of its military capabilities, including nuclear, conventional and missile defense capabilities, according to Seoul's defense ministry.



Lee and Austin also reiterated the two countries' commitment to expanding the scope and scale of combined military exercises and training as agreed upon during last month's summit between President Yoon Suk-yeol and his U.S. counterpart, Joe Biden.



Lee used the talks to stress the importance of joint efforts to reactivate the two countries' Extended Deterrence Strategy and Consultation Group, hold tabletop exercises on the use of deterrence assets and deploy U.S. strategic military assets in a coordinated, timely manner, according to the ministry.



The two sides also touched on the Ukraine issue. Austin mentioned Ukraine's shortage of weapons while thanking Seoul for sending aid to the war-torn country and for participating in enforcement of sanctions on Russia, a Seoul official told reporters.



Saturday's meeting marked the first face-to-face talks between Lee and Austin since Lee took office last month. (Yonhap)


The brother of shamed former socialite and convicted sex trafficker Ghislaine Maxwell was stopped from visiting her sister after flying 3,000 miles to New York because the jail was in lockdown due to an incident.

Ian Maxwell had arranged with prison authorities to visit his sister inside the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn when he was told he could not enter the facility.

The 60-year-old former girlfriend of paedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein is currently in the jail awaiting sentencing later this month.

Maxwell, who is a close friend of Prince Andrew has only managed one visit by a family member since her arrest.

Ian Maxwell, pictured, had flown three thousand miles to New York in order to visit his sister in the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn only to be told he could not access the facility because of an incident in the male section of the jail

Ghislaine Maxwell, right, is currently awaiting sentence having been convicted of trafficking young girls for a former boyfriend, paedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein, left

Maxwell, pictured, is facing 55 years in prison for her role in arranging young girls for Epstein

Speaking to the Telegraph, Mr Maxwell said: 'I flew to New York on Tuesday, stayed the night in Brooklyn and then walked over to the prison on Wednesday, only to discover that the whole prison was in lockdown that had been imposed a few hours earlier.

'The official put a call into the legal office and they said "no". If I had flown from the moon, it would not have made any difference. They were not going to change.'

Mr Maxwell said they would not be able to put a call through to his sister because of the situation inside the men's section of the jail.

He claimed his sister is being held in in-human conditions and is being made a scapegoat.

Maxwell met Epstein following the death of her disgraced father Robert Maxwell in 2001.

His sons, Ian and Kevin Maxwell, who were on the board of the Maxwell Communication Corporation, were investigated after their fathers death over an alleged conspiracy to defraud the companys pension fund. Both were cleared of fraud in 1996.

Despite attempts from Maxwells defence counsel to distance her from Epstein, a vast array of photographs of the pair in a variety of exotic locations surfaced during her trial  with images of her massaging the convicted sex offenders feet suggesting a close relationship.

Her trial in a federal court in the Southern District of New York heard the pair bragged about being friends with high-profile figures, including former US president Donald Trump.

With the fortune he made from his financial dealings, Epstein and Maxwell lived a life of luxury jetting around the world and living at the millionaires many properties: including a Manhattan town house, his Palm Beach mansion, a ranch in New Mexico and his private island in the US Virgin Islands.

Maxwell is being held in the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn, where famous inmates have included

Maxwells friends also included royalty. She had known the Duke of York since her days at university and introduced Andrew to her former partner, Epstein.

In a Newsnight interview, Andrew admitted he organised a shooting weekend for the defendant at the Queens Sandringham Estate.

In 2000, he was pictured in Thailand attending a 'hooker and pimps' party with Maxwell.

But an allegation he had sex with Virginia Roberts on three separate occasions  once allegedly at Maxwells Belgravia home  ultimately damaged his reputation.

The defendant was featured in the background of a picture which apparently showed Andrew with his arm around the waist of Ms Roberts, also known as Virginia Giuffre.

The duke categorically denies he had any form of sexual contact or relationship with Ms Roberts.

Epstein was convicted in 2008 of soliciting and procuring a minor for prostitution, and Maxwell was arrested in New Hampshire on July 3 last year.

Her trial heard how she summoned a 14-year-old girl to an orgy, groped another teenager and laid a schoolgirl outfit out for another accuser before a sexualised massage with Epstein because she 'thought it would be fun'.

Epstein killed himself in a federal detention centre in New York in August 2019 while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges.
A Tory MP has sparked fury after describing Birmingham and Blackpool as 'godawful' places while speaking at a government event in London.

Heather Wheeler, MP for South Derbyshire, made the 'offensive' remark at the launch of the 2022 to 2025 Roadmap to a Digital Future on Thursday.

It came as Prime Minister Boris Johnson was in the Lancashire seaside town to give a speech about his planned extension of Margaret Thatcher's flagship Right-To-Buy scheme.

In perhaps awkward timing, the Conservative Party is also set to hold its conference in Birmingham, the UK's second-largest city, in October.

According to digital journalist Chris Middleton, Ms Wheeler said: 'I was just at a conference in, I dunno, Blackpool or Birmingham, somewhere godawful.'

When Mr Middleton first reported the comment, he claims a Cabinet Office official rang him and told him the MP was making a joke to 'break the ice'.

Ms Wheeler has since apologised, but Labour MPs have been left incensed, taking to Twitter to accuse her of showing 'utter contempt for voters.'

Heather Wheeler (pictured), MP for South Derbyshire, made the disparaging remark while speaking at the launch of the 2022 to 2025 Roadmap to a Digital Future on Thursday

Prime Minister Boris Johnson was in the Lancashire seaside town of Blackpool to give a speech about his planned extension of Margaret Thatcher's flagship Right-To-Buy scheme

Ms Wheeler said her remarks did not 'reflect my actual view' in an apology tweet

Deputy Labour leader Angela Rayner said: 'The mask has slipped. This minister has blurted out what Boris Johnson's Conservatives really think about our communities behind closed doors. The disrespect is off the scale.

'Heather Wheeler has put her utter contempt for voters on show.'

She later added that it was 'frankly embarrassing that she's still in her position as a Minister.'

Labour MP for Wigan Lisa Nandy described the remarks as 'clueless and offensive.'

The shadow secretary of state for levelling up, housing and communities added: 'They tell us they're levelling up the country but this is what they truly think.

'They can't even tell the difference between 'Blackpool or Birmingham or somewhere godawful'.'

Angela Rayner and Lisa Nandy blasted Ms Wheeler for her comments, while one Twitter user pointed out the awkward fact that Birmingham will host the Tory party conference this year

In an apology tweet, Ms Wheeler said: 'Whilst speaking at a conference on Thursday, I made an inappropriate remark that does not reflect my actual view. I apologise for any offence caused.'

Twitter users were quick to point out the awkward timing, with the Conservative Party Conference due to be held in Birmingham in October.

One Twitter user said: 'Good job your next conference isn't anywhere godawful...Oh, best of luck!'

Blackpool Labour councillor Lynn Williams, meanwhile, told BBC Radio 4's Today programme that Ms Wheeler's words were 'frustrating', and added: 'We're used to getting (these) sort of ignorant and ill-advised comments.

'It makes me quite cross that, you know, particularly in this instance we held the Tory spring conference back in March of this year, which was incredibly successful, at our state-of-the art conference centre.

'Blackpool's seen the biggest increase in footfall for the last two years. We're doing something right, people love Blackpool. Maybe she needs to come and have a look round and enjoy the world-famous illuminations on our beautiful promenade.

'We know we've got a lot of social inequalities to deal with and we're actually meant to be working with the Government to deal with those as part of the levelling up programme so, yeah, it's just frustrating.

'But we carry on regardless. We'll continue to invest in our town and our people.'

Asked whether Ms Wheeler's apology is 'sufficient', she replied: 'I mean, you said it, you thought it.

'I mean, even sort of putting Blackpool and Birmingham as being the topic of the joke. I just... nothing surprises me.

'I think it's more evidence of what the true thoughts are, really.'

Ms Wheeler, who has been an MP since 2010, has come into hot water for her comments in the past.

She was forced to apologise in 2018 after an email she sent to a homeless charity three months before she became homeless minister was leaked, in which she branded rough sleepers in her constituency as 'the traditional type, old tinkers, knife-cutters wandering through'.
Murderer Stuart Campbell who killed his 15-year-old niece in 2001 could be freed within months - and his brother has urged him to finally reveal what he did with the body.

Stuart Campbell was convicted of abduction and murder of Danielle Jones, who was last seen near her home in East Tilbury, Esssex, on 18 June 2001 while walking to a bus stop.

Her body was never found, but after police found a pair of white stockings with Danielle's DNA on it, as well as a lip gloss used by her, he was arrested and later found guilty. Campbell was found to have lured her into his blue transit van to abduct her.

In December 2002 Campbell was sentenced to life imprisonment for murder and ten years for abduction, with the two to run concurrently.

The High Court ruled that the now-64-year-old should not be considered for parole until he has served the minimum of 20 years - and now the time has come for the murderer to potentially be released.

At the hearing for Campbell's parole board assessment as he nears the end of his minimum sentence, his brother Alix Sharkey has made a direct plea to the ex-builder to 'stop being a monster'.

Stuart Campbell was jailed for life in 2002 for the murder of schoolgirl Danielle Jones, but will be eligible for parole this year

The case is the first to go before the parole board since the royal assent and passing of Helen's Law, which legally requires the Parole Board to consider whether a prisoner has admitted guilt or expressed remorse.

This makes it harder for killers like Campbell to be release if they refuse to give up details on where they hid the victim's body and give full disclosure of their crimes.

Helen's Law is named after Helen McCourt, a 22-year-old insurance clerk who was murdered in 1988. Her killer, Ian Simms, has never revealed the location of her body.

Also 64, Campbell's brother Mr Sharkey told the Mirror: 'I do not believe my brother should be released until he discloses what he did with Danielle Jones body.

'Her parents have been through a living hell. They have never had closure. My brother hasnt even given them their daughter so they have a place to grieve.

Stuart Campbell (pictured) was convicted of abduction and murder of Danielle Jones, who was last seen near her home in East Tilbury, Esssex, on 18 June 2001 while walking to a bus stop

And in a direct plea to his murderous brother, he said: 'Stop being a monster, why dont you act like a human being? Even murderers can say "Im sorry".'

After his trial, Campbell's violent past came to light - in 1989, he received a 12-month suspended sentence for forcibly keeping a 14-year-old girl in his home. He was also jailed for four years aged 18 for robbing another teenage girl.

In his trial for Danielle Jones' murder, it was revealed that Campbell faked texts from the teenager to himself to make it seem like she was still alive.

On Campbell's review, the Parole Board confirmed that it was 'following standard processes' and that 'public safety' is their 'number one priority'.

Danielle left her home in East Tilbury, Essex in June 2001 to catch a bus to St Clere's School in Stanford-le-Hope, Essex - and her parents never saw her again

His brother Alix Sharkey, 64, who is currently living in Barbados and has written a book which recounts his horror at finding out about his brother's crime, spoke of his 'profound scorn' for Campbell in an interview with The Sunday Times Magazine last year.

He said he is 'furious' with his brother for not telling Danielle's parents where her body is, and hopes his book will encourage Campbell to do the right thing.

Campbell, pictured, has never admitted to his crime or revealed where he hid Danielle's body

'I hope it will shift something in him, to make him understand that you cannot pretend to anyone, including yourself, that this is over, that you can start again,' he told the publication.

'You can't do that. I won't let you. You have to tell these people what you did with that girl's body.'

'I was so angry with him, because I could see what he was trying to do,' Sharkey said. 'I realised with Ian Simms that with the way the law stands you can leave prison without confessing your crime, without expressing remorse for what you did  you can still get out of prison. Then I was furious. I was furious with myself for being complacent about the whole thing, and furious with him.'

Sharkey, who in his book discusses the violence he and his brother endured at the hands of their father while growing up, said he does 'empathise' with Campbell, but it's outweighed by 'profound scorn'.

At the hearing for Campbell's parole board assessment as he nears the end of his minimum sentence, his brother Alix Sharkey (pictured) has made a direct plea to the ex-builder to 'stop being a monster'

He added that he believes his brother feels shame for what he did, demonstrable by the fact Campbell has never replied to any of his letters.

'A response means a conversation, a conversation means being confronted with his crime. I guess he cant handle that,' Sharkey said.

On the 20th anniversary of the schoolgirl's death last month, Danielle's family appealed to Campbell to reveal where he hid her body.

Her mother Linda said she hoped Campbell would 'do the right thing and allow us to lay our darling daughter to rest'.

Danielle left her home in East Tilbury, Essex in June 2001 to catch a bus to St Clere's School in Stanford-le-Hope, Essex - and her parents never saw her again.

Campbell, a father-of-two and body-builder, denied any involvement in his niece's disappearance, but the prosecution produced evidence that he had developed an 'irresistible sexual attraction' for her.

He regularly picked her up from the school bus stop in his van, sent her 'an inordinate amount of text messages' and kept a diary chronicling his contact with her.
A Russian model charged in the death of a webcam performer after she fell 80ft (24m) from an eight-floor fire exit in Thailand said her life is 'ruined'.

Evgenia Smirnova, 37, suffered fatal head injuries and a broken leg after she plunged from an eighth floor fire exit after a dispute at a Phuket sex party last weekend.

The webcam performer's death was first thought accidental - but a clump of someone else's hair was found in her hand, raising suspicions of foul play.

Evgenia Smirnova, 37, died after falling 80ft (24m) from an eight floor condo fire exit

Three tourists who attended the party in Patong have been charged with 'recklessness causing death'.

The trio - Siberian Natalia Kosenkova, 35, American Jamaal Smith, 38, and Jordanian Ahmad Alatoom, 28 - face up to 10 years behind bars.

Alatoom was held after seeking to board a flight out of Thailand following Smirnova's death.

The three suspects were previously held on charges of drugs possession.

Model, DJ and dental assistant Ms Kosenkova said: 'I don't want to think about her, it's very stressful for us.

'Our life is ruined.

'I am very sorry, very sorrowful. But I don't want to keep anything in my memory about her.

'Its too bad, but I'm thinking about my life.'

Local reports, quoting police sources, revealed a 'sex, drugs and alcohol party' took place at the Emerald Terrace condo complex in Patong before Evgenia's fall.

Model Natalia, 35, is charged alongside two others with 'recklessness causing death'

The Emerald Terrace condo complex in Phuket, Thailand was the scene of Evgenia's death

Police Major General Sermphan Sirikhon said officers considered three possibilities: an accident, suicide or murder.

Cops tested the clump of hair found in the victim's hand for DNA, but did not disclose the results.

Kosenkova said she met Ms Smirnova for the first time the night she died.

The suspect said: 'The case is not complicated because we are not guilty.

'The only thing I can say is that this was an unfortunate incident, but it was not a murder.

'None of the people involved are to blame. I'm an ordinary tourist.

'It was a regular boozefest - someone dies here every day.'

Kosenkova, 35, also a Russian citizen, was an eyewitness of Evgenia Smirnova's tragic fall

The incident took place at Patong, Phuket, which is known for its red-light district (file photo)

Condom wrappers and finely-ground cannabis were found on the scene.

Originally from Nizhny Novgorod, western Russia, Smirnova lived in Moscow.

Investigations are still ongoing.
Working from home has seen local economies in affluent areas of England boom while also widening the gap between rich and poor, a new report has shown.

Despite grand claims that homeworking would enable the UK to 'level up' and rebalance economic equality, WFH civil servants, GPs and office workers have continued to feather their own nests while struggling communities stagnated.

With hybrid working concentrated among London and the South East, commuter hotspots in Cambridgeshire, London, Essex and South Staffordshire have gained a 'WFH boost' with residents likely to increase spending within affluent communities.

London's prosperous boroughs of Harrow, Merton and Richmond upon Thames have also seen a boost with over half of workers in Inner London (51 per cent) and Outer London (44 per cent) working at home in some form since early 2022.

Meanwhile, areas such as Norwich, Newcastle and Norwich are 'estimated to have lost out from new WFH trends', according to Resolution Foundation think tank.

As a result of the shift in how people work, spending is now more likely to be higher in England's wealthy villages, lush rural areas, and countryside retreats.

But the small businesses and hospitality venues that surround now-quieter offices will be suffering as a consequence of professions' insistence on working from home.

As a result of the shift in how people work, spending is now more likely to be higher in England's wealthy villages, lush rural areas, and countryside retreats, a new report by the Resolution Foundation has found

WFH civil servants, GPs and office workers have continued to feather their own nests while the country's struggling communities stagnated economically

London's prosperous boroughs of Harrow, Merton and Richmond upon Thames have also seen a boost with over half of workers in Inner London (51 per cent) and Outer London (44 per cent) working at home in some form since early 2022

Signicant disruption to traditional working patterns has had 'knock-on effects on the spatial distribution of work and spending'

Significant disruption to traditional working patterns has had 'knock-on effects on the spatial distribution of work and spending', the think thank adds.

Relatively deprived local authorities in Outer London, including Brent, Haringey and Newham, have emerged from the pandemic in a 'relatively weak position' - with the number of benefit claimants and those out of working increasing.

'One effect of the persistent hit to London has been to close the gap across a range of metrics between the capital and elsewhere.

'Outside of London, though, there is little evidence that these changes are reducing the gaps between rich and poor areas', the report concludes.

Lalitha Try, a researcher at the Resolution Foundation, said: 'It is encouraging that strong jobs growth has reduced regional employment gaps.

'But with many deprived parts of outer London struggling, and the WFH (work from home) revolution mainly benefiting already prosperous areas, Britain's big economic divides are as entrenched as ever.

'This makes the task of 'levelling up' the country all the more challenging and all the more pressing.'

With hybrid working concentrated among London and the South East, commuter hotspots in Cambridgeshire, London, Essex and South Staffordshire have gained a 'WFH boost' with residents likely to increase spending within affluent communities

Relatively deprived local authorities in Outer London, including Brent, Haringey and Newham, have emerged from the pandemic in a 'relatively weak position' - with the number of benefit claimants and those out of working increasing

The Government's furlough scheme paid 80% of the wages of 11.6 million people who were unable to work during lockdowns. It helped keep the labour market afloat, the report found.

New data has also unveiled Britain's 'Zoom hotspots' where companies allow staff to work from home the most.

Figures show the West Sussex seaside town of Worthing has seen a 650 per cent rise in jobs postings with remote working on offer since the first Covid lockdown.

There was also a huge increase in the number of 'flexible working' positions in the city of Dundee, east Scotland, where job postings have increased by 319 per cent.

And the once-booming industrial town of Burnley has also seen a 391 per cent rise increase in work from home job posts between March 2020 and March this year.

It comes as an official survey estimated three in four adults in Britain are now travelling to work at some point during the week - up from two-thirds earlier this year.

The figures point to a shift in certain types of public behaviour over the past three months - a period coinciding with a steady fall in Covid-19 infections.

Huge numbers of civil servants are reluctant to go back to their desks, prompting fears for productivity and the survival of businesses in city centres that rely on them.

As a result of the shift in how people work, spending is now more likely to be higher in England's wealthy villages, lush rural areas, and countryside retreats. Pictured: Empty seats on a morning tube

Britons who want to work from home should get jobs in seaside towns such as Worthing, Southend and Bournemouth, according to newly analysed figures

The trend will also be welcomed by the Government which has been struggling to end the working from home culture that developed during the pandemic.

Many companies have been struggling to hire enough staff, especially in the technology sector, and have been offering better terms to try to attract them.

Firms across the UK are being forced to address the idea of flexible working, following the Covid lockdowns.

While some staff find it easier to work from home some or all of the time, many managers are concerned that long-term flexible working could reduce productivity, hamper teamwork and affect workers' social lives.

And the Government fears that increased home working could affect the economy, as workers make fewer trips out to shop and buy lunch and shun office space.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson is leading the calls to get people back into the office, having claimed recently that working from home is not working.

Mr Johnson told the Daily Mail: 'My experience of working from home is you spend an awful lot of time making another cup of coffee and then, you know, getting up, walking very slowly to the fridge, hacking off a small piece of cheese, then walking very slowly back to your laptop and then forgetting what it was you're doing.'
Five Labour MPs who have spoken out in support of the upcoming rail strikes have received a total of 20,000 in donations from the left-wing RMT union, new analysis shows.

The Labour party has appeared conflicted about the strikes, to begin later this month, which will see thousands of rail staff walk out from rail companies across the country - and now deputy leader Angela Rayner has been branded 'hypocritical' for not supporting the action.

Leader Sir Keir Starmer this week said the industrial action 'shouldn't go ahead', but shadow ministers Lisa Nandy and Wes Streeting are among those who have indicated their support for the strikes.

Now the party's backbenchers have branded the deputy leader 'unprincipled' after she told the BBC Newscast podcast rail strikes are 'lose-lose' for both sides.

When asked whether her sympathies on the strike days will be with commuters who cannot get to work or picketing union members, she said: 'I am hopeful that they won't get to that point but I will probably be one of those commuters as well that will be in that situation.'

Ms Rayner has previously spoken about her working class and union roots, which has led to the recent criticism from within her own party.

Five other MPs all received thousands of pounds each in donations from the Rail, Maritime and Transport union (RMT) in 2020 - and 50,000 of its members are expected to down tools later this month in the largest walkout since 1989.

Angela Rayner has not publicly backed the strikes, despite other members of her party doing so

Former Labour leadership candidate Rebecca Long Bailey received 3,000 from the hard-left RMT union in donations in 2020

Former shadow chancellor John McDonnell received almost half of the total 20,000, but Diane Abbott also benefitted

Rebecca Long Bailey, MP for Salford and Eccles, received 3,000 from the RMT in 2020, The Times reports.

This week she wrote on Twitter: 'Cutting hundreds of station staff jobs will make our railway less safe, secure and accessible. Solidarity with @RMTunion members today.'

Meanwhile former shadow chancellor under Jeremy Corbyn John McDonnell received more than 8,000 in the same year.

The MP for Hayes and Harlington pledged his support for striking rail workers on BBC Radio 4 earlier this week, and even plans to join them on the picket line.

MP for Hackney North and Stoke Newington Diane Abbott has a long track record of supporting striking workers - and received a donation worth 2,000.

In receipt of the same amount was Jo Stevens, who represents Cardiff Central.

She has retweeted criticism of Downing Street after a source called the upcoming strikes 'selfish'.

Ian Lavery, MP for Wansbeck received 5,000 from the railway union in 2020

Cardiff Central MP Jo Stevens retweeted criticism of Downing Street after a source inside No.10 called the upcoming strikes 'selfish'

And Ian Lavery, MP for Wansbeck, received 5,000 also in 2020. He wrote on social media: 'Solidarity with @RMTunion members today. Always fighting for fairer wages terms and conditions.'

Business minister Paul Scully last night said MPs should be clear about interests which coincide with their donors, adding: 'I think it's typical that the MPs that are in hock to the unions are acting against the workers that the unions purport to represent, as well as the wider British public.

'There will be havoc caused by these strikes.'

The rail strikes are to see 50,000 workers walk out on June 21, 23 and 25 - effectively shutting down the rail and Tube network.

The dispute over pay involves dozens of different staff categories - including train drivers, who earn up to 70,000 a year.

The government offered striking workers a 2% pay rise, but amid the cost of living crisis unions decided this wasn't enough.

Meanwhile about 20,000 RMT workers for Network Rail got salary increases of 3.2 per cent and 2.1 per cent in 2019 and 2020 respectively.

The figures appear to contradict claims made by RMT boss Mick Lynch, who said in a recent interview: 'They're going to attack our terms and conditions....and we've had a pay freeze, we've missed two pay cycles with no increase during Covid and we're now entering the third one.'

A spokesman for Mr Lynch said that he was referring to staff employed by train companies, which run services, and not Network Rail, which operates and maintains infrastructure.

Although the strikes are scheduled for three days, it is expected the disruption they will cause will last for at least six.

Fewer than one in five trains is expected to run, with passengers warned to expect major disruption to their journeys.

A second union, Unite, plans to join the strike on June 21 - with 1,000 workers set to strike on the London Underground.

The Government has been slammed for failing to keep its manifesto pledge and bring in legislation that will ensure a minimum train service of around 30% during strikes, which is already mandatory in France and Spain.

Although the strikes are scheduled for three days, it is expected the disruption they will cause will last for at least six

Downing Street has said the Government remains committed to introducing minimum service standards on the railways but indicated legislation was not expected before this month's planned strikes, despite being in their 2019 manifesto.

The Prime Minister's official spokesman said: 'We are keeping all options on the table. Minimum services standards are something the Government is committed to.

'I am not aware of any plans for legislating on that in the next few weeks. Given the scale of these strikes that are imposed, simply introducing one single piece of legislation would not necessarily mitigate against all the damage.'

Although a blanket ban will not be issued by train operators, passengers will be advised to 'not travel unless it is absolutely necessary.'

There are fears the strikes could disrupt vital exams for school pupils, as the action is set to go ahead in the middle of exam season.

Students who have already suffered due to the impact of coronavirus on their education could now struggle to travel to school for their GCSE and A-Level exams.

Schools minister Robin Walker said: 'I would strongly urge that they don't disrupt the exam period. That has a long-term impact on children's lives.'

The strikes will also coincide the with Glastonbury festival from June 22 until June 26, as well as a Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting in the capital on June 24 and 25.

They come in the wake of travel chaos over half term as a shortage of workers at UK airports and UK airlines led to long queues, hundreds of delayed and cancelled flights and thousands of unhappy customers.

Customers were left waiting on planes for up to eight hours to then be told their flight would not be departing.
It was a devastating rumour that plagued one of the world's most celebrated alpinists for decades - that he had left his less experienced brother to die on the mountainside in a selfish bid to reach the summit of Nanga Parbat, in Pakistan, back in 1970.

While Italian Reinhold Messner, 77, had always insisted his sibling was swept away by an avalanche during their descent from the 26,660ft (8,126m) peak, known today as 'killer mountain', an air of suspicion followed him throughout his career.

Much of the controversy came after two climbers who were on the same expedition - Hans Saler and Max von Kienlin - both wrote books in the early 2000s which accused Reinhold of abandoning his brother, Guenther Messner, after he became delirious and consumed by frostbite.

But the father-of-four now appears to have been vindicated once and for all after the boot of his tragic brother emerged from a glacier last week - some 52 years later.

The discovery of the leather footwear was made by locals at the foot of the mountain's western Diamir face, precisely where Reinhold had claimed his brother was swept to his death.

Bones belonging to Guenther, who was 23 when he died, were found in the same area back in 2005, along with his other boot, which still had the remains of the foot inside.

Italian Reinhold Messner (pictured), 77, had always insisted his sibling was swept away by an avalanche during their descent from the 26,660ft (8,126m) peak of Nanga Parbat, in Pakistan, back in 1970

Reinhold shared an image of the boot (pictured) with his 170,000-plus followers on Instagram, telling an Italian newspaper it provided 'final vindication' of his version of events

Bones belonging to Guenther, who was 23 when he died, were found in the same area back in 2005, along with his other boot, which still had the remains of the foot inside. (Pictured: Reinhold and Guenther before their tragic climb in 1970)

Reinhold smuggled the bones - and boot - in four rucksacks out of Pakistan before having the big toe tested for DNA in Austria, which confirmed they belonged to his brother.

The footwear is instantly identifiable as belonging to Guenther as they were custom made for the climber, Reinhold said.

'This is further proof that I did not abandon Gunther,' he told Italian newspaper Corriere della Sera this week.

'People said I left him to die, sacrificing him for my own ambition. I'm at peace with myself, even if the accident changed my life.'

Reinhold shared an image of the boot with his 170,000-plus followers on Instagram, telling the newspaper it provided 'final vindication' of his version of events.

'The mountain never lies and, if there was still the need, the discovery of this boot definitively establishes the truth of my brother's death,' he said.

'This is incontrovertible proof that Guenther disappeared during the descent, not during the ascent.'

He said he wants to send the boot to northern Italy and display it at one of the Messner Mountain Museums in his home town of South Tyrol.

Reinhold almost died himself when he climbed down from Nanga Parbat back in 1970, becoming lost for six days before losing several toes to frostbite.

Nanga Parbat, in northern Pakistan, is the world's ninth highest mountain at 8,125 metres

He penned a book in 2003, titled The Naked Mountain, in which he recalled how his brother became struck by altitude sickness before they became separated.

He claimed he desperately tried to find his sibling.

'When they found me down in the valley I hadn't eaten for six days and I weighed 56kg. I cheated death,' he wrote.

The climber has amassed a huge following after achieving record-breaking feats throughout his career.

He was the first to ever reach the summit of Mount Everest without using additional oxygen.

He was also the first to climb all of the world's 14 peaks which that exceed 26,250 feet (8,000m) in height.
An irate cafe customer who allegedly threw hot coffee into a barista's face has been charged with assault.

The man, 31, attended Granville Police Station in Sydney's west on Friday after a public appeal via social media following the alleged incident.

He was later issued a court attendance notice for common assault and will face Parramatta Local Court on July 26.

On Thursday, police were called to the cafe in the carpark of a supermarket on Oak Street in Rosehill.

A customer allegedly threw hot coffee at a barista at the Soul Bowl cafe in Sydney's west on Thursday morning - he has since been charged with assault

Store owner Lilly (pictured) said her staff member was on the verge of tears when she arrived at the scene after the alleged incident on Thursday

The accused had offered to pay for an unknown woman's coffee but when she declined the offer, he persisted and tried to give the barista money for her drink.

When the barista, 27, said he wouldn't charge the man for the extra coffee, the man allegedly tossed the drinks straight onto his face.

The staff member, who was soaking wet, didn't require medical treatment.

He was told to go home but instead chose to stay and finish his shift after his wife brought him a pair of dry clothes to change into.

Horrifying footage of the alleged assault was shared onto the cafe's Instagram account by owner Lilly.

She said the staff member who was allegedly hit with the coffee had been at the store since opening three years ago and was 'loved and adored by everyone.'
Eight people have been arrested in China following a vicious attack by a group of men on three women who were eating in a restaurant after one of them denied their unwanted attention.

CCTV footage shows a man walking into a barbeque restaurant in Tangshan at around 2.40am on 6 June, in northern China's Hebei province, when he suddenly sets his focus on a woman sat sharing a meal with two companions at a table by the doorway.

He places his hand on her back, and she quickly grabs him by the wrist to push him away. A few seconds pass and the woman can be heard talking at him, he goes to put his arm around her once more before she pushes him back again - and he responds by striking her in the face.

A scuffle between the two begins - the woman tries to get him away from her by throwing a glass bottle, of what looks like beer, at his head. Her friend gets up and does the same by smashing another bottle at the side of the attacker's head.

He then turns his attention to the friend, pushing her by the neck. She falls to the ground, only to be kicked, hit and smashed with crockery in the head by the initial perpetrator's friend, who joins in on the brutal beatings.

The only time someone comes to the womens' defence inside the restaurant is when the friend is being kicked at on the floor, when another of the three companions who watched the initial interaction between the man touching the woman's back.

She protects her friend by using her body as a shield to stand over her, even withstanding when a chair is chucked over her back.

CCTV footage shows a man walking into a barbeque restaurant in Tangshan at 2.40am on 6 June, in northern China's Hebei province, when he suddenly sets his focus on a woman sat sharing a meal with two companions at a table by the doorway

He places his hand on her back, and she quickly grabs him by the wrist to push him away. A few seconds pass and the woman can be heard talking at him, he goes to put his arm around her once more before she pushes him back again - and he responds by striking her in the face

But the woman initially attacked is targeted again by the perpetrator in the green jacket, who notices her stood up beside him, and quickly grabs her by the hair to punch her in the face and launch another onslaught of violence.

The footage shows the woman being dragged out of the restaurant as four men continue to savagely assault her.

Once outside, the violence continues, and when another woman steps in only to be punched in the face, knocking her to the floor where she smashes her head on the concrete floor.

Two women treated at hospital following the incident were 'in stable conditions and not in mortal danger', while two others sustained minor injuries, authorities said Friday (the woman who received the brunt of the attack, pictured in hospital)

He then turns his attention to the friend, pictured pushing her by the neck. She falls to the ground, only to be kicked, hit and smashed with crockery in the head by the initial perpetrator's friend, who joins in on the brutal beatings

The woman who has now faced three minutes of constant blows to the head and body is seen on outside CCTV footage getting kicked in the head, dragged by her hair and pushed into broken glass on the concrete pavement.

A minute later, the men wander away from the scene down a side street behind the restaurant. The woman gets up and runs in a similar direction.

The alarming video clips have been widely shared online and has sparked outrage over the consequences of facing predatory sexual behaviour.

The footage shows the woman being dragged out of the restaurant as four men continue to savagely assault her. The woman has now faced three minutes of constant blows to the head and body, and when outside, she is smashed into the concrete pavement and pushed into the broken grass

When another woman steps in, she is punched in the face by the perpetrator, knocking her to the floor where she smashes her head on the concrete (pictured in the white t-shirt on the floor, closest to the door)

It has also renewed an online debate about sexual harassment and gender-based violence in China, where the conversation around women's rights has grown in recent years despite pressure from a patriarchal society, internet censorship and patchy legal support.

Campaigners say domestic abuse remains pervasive and under-reported while prominent feminists also face regular police harassment and detention.

Web censors in China blocked keywords linked to the #MeToo movement after a wave of women accused university professors of sexual harassment in 2018.

Eight people have been arrested in China following a vicious attack by a group of men on three women who were eating in a restaurant after one of them denied their unwanted attention. Five perpetrators have been identified as the above on social media

Police in Tangshan city on Saturday said they had arrested eight people on suspicion of violent assault and 'provoking trouble', while a search for one other suspect was ongoing.

Two women treated at hospital following the incident were 'in stable conditions and not in mortal danger', while two others sustained minor injuries, authorities said Friday.

The attack generated hundreds of millions of comments on social media, where users slammed predatory behaviour and urged authorities to crack down on violence against women.

'All of this could happen to me, could happen to any of us,' said one commenter in a post liked over 100,000 times.

'How is this sort of thing still happening in 2022?' wrote another. 'Please give them criminal sentences, and don't let any of them get away.'

Last year, a Chinese man was sentenced to death for murdering his ex-wife as she live-streamed on social media, in a case that shocked the nation.
A masseur has been charged after allegedly indecently assaulting two clients at a suburban parlour.

The man, 47,  who works at a massage business at Warnbro in Perth's south  allegedly indecently assaulted two women in separate incidents.

A woman, aged in her 30s, went to the business for a scheduled appointment in October last year, where the male staff member allegedly assaulted her on the massage table.

A male masseur, 47, has been charged after allegedly indecently assaulting two women at a suburban massage parlour in Perth last October and in April this year (stock image)

Another woman, aged in her 20s, also attended the same business location in April.

The accused staff member is said to have allegedly indecently assaulted her on two occasions.

Detectives from Rockingham arrested the man on Friday and he was charged with three counts of unlawful and indecent assault.

He will appear in the Rockingham Magistrates Court on June 17.

Detectives are encouraging anyone who thinks they were also indecently assaulted by the accused man to contact police on 131 444.




Unionized cargo truck drivers extended their strike to a fifth day Saturday, causing disruptions and delays in logistics nationwide, industry sources said.







Some 33 percent, or 7,350 members, of the 22,000-strong Cargo Truckers Solidarity, under the wing of the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions, were on the walkout as of Saturday, demanding the government extend a freight rate system guaranteeing basic wages for truck drivers to cope with surging fuel costs.







Major ports and a slew of companies reported partial logistics disruptions due to the strike.







For one, some 7,268 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) were transported in and out of the Busan port, the country's No. 1 port, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday, a 34 percent drop compared to a month ago.







According to the transportation ministry, shipments of automobiles, steel goods and cement have been delayed or canceled due to the strike.







Hyundai Motor is suffering some disruptions to its production in Ulsan because truckers refused to deliver components. Steelmaker POSCO has also been experiencing difficulties in shipping products.







Several scuffles between strikers and police have been reported in some cities, including Ulsan.







So far, 43 union members were arrested for allegedly blocking cargo trucks from transporting goods, according to the police.







On Wednesday, 15 were taken into custody on charges of blocking cargo trucks from entering the plant operated by the country's leading beverage company, Hite Jinro, in Icheon, 50 kilometers southeast of Seoul, they said.







The union is demanding an extension of the Safe Trucking Freight Rates System designed to prevent dangerous driving and guarantee minimum freight rates for truck drivers. The system, introduced for a three-year run in 2020, is scheduled to end Dec. 31.







The government urged the striking truckers to end their strike as both sides have been in negotiations to narrow out their differences on key agenda items. (Yonhap)


Jack Vettriano has revealed two new female muses helped inspire him to pick up his brush again and break free from drug and vodka-fuelled binges during lockdown.

The Scottish painter, whose erotic works have long split public opinion, said he owes his creative revival to two Eastern European women he met in Nice and Edinburgh.

The women, who are understood to be decades younger than 70-year-old Vettriano, are credited with inspiring the artist to paint again following his battle with depression, which he compared to Jack Nicholson in The Shining.

'I was in a very destructive relationship, which ended when Covid began, and shook me both emotionally and financially,' he told the Telegraph.

'I just used to go to Sainsburys, buy a bottle of vodka, and then get some cocaine. I just spent five months watching TV.'

Although widely panned by critics, Vettriano has sold his paintings for hundreds of thousands of pounds and has an estimated net worth of up to 3.6million

It comes as he prepares to launch his latest exhibition at Kirkcaldy Galleries in Fife will include 12 oil paintings he produced in his early 20s and 30s, signed with his birth name, Jack Hoggan.

The works, painted before he achieved international success in the 1990s, will go on show alongside pieces that have sold for five and six-figure sums.

It will be the 70-year-old artist's first retrospective since a major show at Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum in Glasgow in 2013 and the first to focus on his formative years and early career.

Scottish painter Jack Vettriano has revealed the company of two new female muses helped inspire him to break free from drug and vodka-fuelled binges during lockdown

Although their identities have not been made public, the woman are aged 38 and 42 respectively.

He met the first woman in Nice during the sale of a garage, while the second is a waitress who works in an Edinburgh bistro.

Explaining how overcame the age barrier when he met the pair, Vettriano blasted the fact he can't meet women using dating sites or nightclubs.

'I cant go on dating sites. I cant go clubbing. I can hardly bloody walk, never mind dance. So the opportunities to meet the opposite sex are really dwindling.

'But it goes a long way to say "oh, and by the way, look at my website". They see its not just Joe Ordinary, which almost definitely helps.'

Vettriano, from Fife, left school at 15 to become a mining engineer but took up painting after a girlfriend gave him a box of watercolours for his 21st birthday.

The artist learned by copying the Old Masters, Impressionists and Scottish artists and drew inspiration from works he saw in Kirkcaldy Galleries, which is managed by cultural charity OnFife.

Although widely panned by critics, Jack Vettriano has sold his paintings for hundreds of thousands of pounds and has an estimated net worth of up to 3.6million. Pictured: Vettriano's Sweet Bird of Youth, which has been seen before

Vettriano, left school at 15 to become a mining engineer but took up painting after a girlfriend gave him a box of watercolours for his 21st birthday. Pictured: Vettriano's The Billy Boys, prints of which sell for hundreds of pounds

The artist later adopted his mother's maiden name to mark a break with work sold under his family name Hoggan.

His new exhibition opens on Friday, June 17 and will include one of two paintings Vettriano entered for the Royal Scottish Academy's annual show in 1988.

Both paintings sold on the first day, a turning point that inspired him to become a full-time artist.

Among the 57 private loans will be pieces such as Billy Boys, Valentine Rose and Bluebird at Bonneville, while two works from OnFife's collection, including a self-portrait, will also feature.

A rejection letter from the Edinburgh College of Art, dated 1989, that told Vettriano his portfolio wasn't good enough to earn a place at the prestigious institution will also be shown to the world for the first time.

In 1992, Vettriano painted The Singing Butler, which sold for a then-record 744,000.

He described the Edinburgh College snub as 'the key to my success', and helped him forge his own controversial style that helped cement his fortune.

Self Portrait, a painting from 2002 by Jack Vettriano that will feature in an exhibition that will include unseen works, unlike this one, at the Kirkcaldy Galleries in Fife, where he sought inspiration as a young artist

OnFife exhibitions curator Alice Pearson said: 'This is the first time Jack has agreed to exhibit work painted simply as a hobby beside later pieces that wowed sell-out shows in London and New York.

'The exhibition will highlight the diversity of subject matter and styles Jack tackled while learning his craft, giving him the confidence and technical ability to develop his own identifiable style.'

Also included will be Long Time Gone, which is set against a backdrop of the now-demolished Methil power station, a once familiar Fife landmark.

The exhibition, which covers the artist's career up to 2000, was originally planned for 2019 but has twice been postponed because of Covid-19 restrictions.
Russian forces were today accused of targeting Ukraine's wheat fields with banned incendiary bombs as Putin seeks to starve the country.

Footage appeared to show Ukrainian soldiers hosing down wheat crops in efforts to save the grain harvest.

The nation faces mass food shortages and a Russian naval blockade preventing it from being able to export lucrative agricultural goods.

Nicknamed 'the breadbasket of Europe', Ukraine has some of the continent's most fertile land - and supplies food to much of the Middle East and Africa.

Incendiary bombs, outlawed by a UN treaty signed by Russia, Ukraine and 123 others, have been used repeatedly by Putin's forces since its invasion began on February 24.

The Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons bans the use of specific types of weapons that are considered to cause unnecessary or unjustifiable suffering to combatants or to affect civilians indiscriminately.

The bombs' flammable thermite content burns at 2,200C and ignites fires that are hard to put out.

They produce the hottest burning man-made substance and can burn human flesh down to the bone.

Footage showed the soldiers making a valiant effort to salvage the crucial crop supplies

The so-called 'breadbasket of Europe' is being threatened with mass food shortages by Putin

It came as US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken estimated there are 20million tonnes of grain sitting in locked silos outside Black Sea port Odesa.

There is more waiting on stuck ships blocked from leaving the key strategic port.

Mr Blinken said yesterday: 'President Putin is stopping food from being shipped and aggressively using his propaganda machine to deflect or distort responsibility, because he hopes it'll get the world to give in to him and end the sanctions.

'In other words, quite simply put, it's blackmail.

'The Kremlin needs to realise that it is exporting starvation and suffering well beyond Ukrainian quarters, with countries in Africa that are experiencing an outsized share of the pain.'

President Zelensky (right) spoke alongside EU leader Ursula von der Leyen (left) in Kyiv today

The news came as the British Ministry of Defence accused Russia of depending on Cold War-era missiles with 'severe' risks to civilians.

The ministry said the 1960s Kh-22 missiles 'are highly inaccurate and therefore can cause severe collateral damage and casualties'.

Russia is likely using the anti-ship missiles because it is running short of more precise modern missiles, the ministry added.

It gave no details of where exactly such missiles are have been deployed and there was no confirmation from Ukrainian authorities on the use of the 5.5-tonne missiles.

Piles of burning grain of and destroyed infrastructure as seen in Sivers'k, Donbas last month

Photos taken in Crimea last month show Russian-flagged carrier ships docking and loading next to huge silos, raising concerns about massive thefts of Ukrainian grain supplies

Meanwhile the Ukrainian army has said Russian forces are regrouping to attack Donetsk province city Sloviansk.

Russia is targeting the east in an attempt to seize territory still under Ukrainian control eight years after establishing separatist republics in Donetsk and Luhansk.

The Donetsk regional police said Russian missiles hit 13 towns and villages in the province overnight.

In a statement, the police added that civilians had been killed and wounded, without specifying numbers.

And in Kharkiv, footage showed Ukrainian artillery strike Russian supply warehouses.

Ukraine's second largest city, which held out against a lengthy and destructive Russian siege early in the war, was also the sight of a brave couple's wedding.

Ukrainian soldier Anton married 21-year-old bride Ira in front of Kharkiv's Municipal Building, which was almost entirely destroyed during Russian airstrikes.

President Zelensky said the outcome of the war will determine the new world order.

Addressing the Shangri-La Dialogue meeting in Singapore last night, he insisted support from the West must not let up.

Zelensky said: 'I am grateful for your support... but this support is not only for Ukraine, but for you as well.

'It is on the battlefields of Ukraine that the future rules of this world are being decided along with the boundaries of the possible.'

EU president Ursula von der Leyen will meet with Mr Zelensky in Kyiv today.

She was pictured arriving at the capital's train station wearing a flak jacket.
Organisers of a British music festival have been slammed for their poor management as thousands of guests were allegedly crushed as they tried to escape the torrential rain storm.

A total of 60,000 festival goers were looking forward to Love Saves The Day at Bristol's Ashton Court on 2 and 3 of June.

But thousands who packed into the event felt their Jubilee Thursday and Friday was completely ruined after severe rainfall left acts forced to quit, people ripping fences out of the ground to hold above them as cover and even using wheelie bins as protection from the freezing weather.

Festival attendees have slammed the organisers on social media for not having appropriate protective weather structures like tents available on the site, with many also having the same experience of staff members 'laughing' and 'taking videos' of suffering guests getting crushed in the mayhem.

Dave Parry, 36, from Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, went to Love Saves The Day with four friends and said he does not understand why better provisions were not taken, adding that previous years have had tents.

Organisers of Love Saves The Day festival in Bristol have been slammed for their poor management as thousands of guests were allegedly crushed as they tried to escape the torrential rain storm (Pictured during the rain last week)

He told the Mirror: 'There were no ponchos for sale and festival goers were forced to seek shelter anywhere they could including toilets, under bins, under benches, under signage.

'And the drinks bar became overrun forcing people to get crushed and the bar getting knocked over, all while security and staff took videos and laughed in the warmth. Security staff were abusive and aggressive with festival goers trying to seek shelter. Prisoners of war are treated better.

'When we tried to leave there was carnage with people getting crushed in the crowds. This festival was on par with Fyre Festival in terms of organisation.'

And Dave is not the only one frustrated at organisers, with thousands of angry guests descending upon the social media accounts of Love Saves The Day to demand refunds and complain of their mistreatment.

Thousands who packed into the event felt their Jubilee Thursday and Friday was completely ruined after severe rainfall left acts forced to quit, people ripping fences out of the ground and even using wheelie bins as protection from the freezing weather (pictured last week)

Many had similar stories to one another, that people's lips were turning blue with cold and some still feeling the freeze in the days that followed, with many shivering 'uncontrollably'.

And it only got worse when people tried to leave, with the exit gates being described as a 'mass exodus' as everyone rushed to get home and into warmth.

Even artist Arlo Parks was left disappointed with her trip to Bristol for her gig at the festival, as she was forced to withdraw from performing as the stage flooded so badly.

She apologised to fans on Twitter: 'I'm so so sorry to everyone who was ready to see me at Love Saves The Day. The stage was flooded and it just wasn't safe to perform - I hope everyone had a wonderful time and I can't wait to be stomping through Bristol again when the time is right.'

Mr Parry described how he saw people having panic attacks and getting crushed into the wall.

A spokesperson for the festival organisers said in a statement to the Mirror: 'Although this was a rapidly changing situation, all the teams on site worked hard to manage the changing flows of people as they headed home or sheltered from the rain.

Even artist Arlo Parks was left disappointed with her trip to Bristol for her gig at the festival, as she was forced to withdraw from performing as the stage flooded so badly

'It was our priority to make sure everyone who left got home safely and we were able to safely continue the show for everyone who stayed including some great headline acts.

'Whilst there was a sudden increase in the number of people leaving, no injuries were reported to us on-site or in the queues to get onto the buses.

'Despite the challenging conditions, at no point was our event safety management plan compromised. Our team worked together dynamically to manage the situation and the impact of the weather.'

Despite their torrent of abuse online, the Love Saves The Day Instagram page continued to share snaps of the festival, including one post of Chase and Status performing. They praised guests for 'braving the rain', but in the comments of their post, people were accusing the account of deleting comments to 'hide' how bad the two-day festival was.

They addressed criticisms about not having tented structures on site to help protect people from the rain, by writing on Instagram: 'Some have reached out asking about tented structures on site, which we would like to address.

'We, as a festival, have always avoided structures at Love Saves The Day because our love and focus is on creative outdoor builds, and we pride ourselves in our unique designs which we hope is a large part of why you have all come with us on this 10 year journey.'

On Twitter, complaints about the festival rolled in, with one user who quipped: 'The less said about Love Saves The Day yesterday the better'

One user commented on the post: 'You can't control the British weather no, but you can control the sh**** attitudes of your staff (whatever they were getting up to) and how you care for people in need...

'Other than that, yeah bangin. Stop trying to cover up for the absolute shambles that today was.'

Another argued that the decision to not have indoor tent coverage was slammed by one festivalgoer who has been to Love Saves the Day in years before: 'Previous years at Eastville Park you've had tented stages so enough with that. Even if you didn't want the stages in a tent you could of at least provided cover.

'The site was big enough, yeah it rains but the limited seating you did provide was useless and had no cover. The only cover was some tiny little shacks and the bars. You've tried to make it bigger to get more money.'

Another explained why her first time at Love Saves The Day will also be her last: 'I have genuinely never felt as unsafe as I did when I was leaving Love Saves yesterday after it started to torrential rain, where were the security to help people get out?

'Fights were breaking out and people were unconscious but no one was there to make sure people got out safely. Shame on the organisers of this, so disappointed at the poor planning and lack of care for people's safety, not to mention bad attitude of security guards when they were there.'

One even went as far to say he could have brought in a gun with how poor security was: 'Not even bothered about the rain. Could have brought an AK47 in without anyone knowing, security was non existent. As well as a two-hour wait to get out of the hell hole. W***fest.'

On Twitter, one user quipped: 'The less said about Love Saves The Day yesterday the better.'

Another wrote: 'Love saves the day Friday. Has been one of the worst days this YEAR.'

'Nothing about Love saves the day was enjoyable today,' another user said.

In another post following the two-day festival and a lot of backlash on social media, bosses shared a statement of apology to guests. It read: 'We are really devastated to hear that so many of you didn't have a good time yesterday and left the festival early.

'We put our heart and soul into Love Saves the Day all year round to ensure that everyone has a fantastic two days of music and dancing, so to know that many of you weren't able to enjoy the show is heartbreaking.

Despite their torrent of abuse online, the Love Saves The Day Instagram page continued to share snaps of the festival, including one post of Chase and Status performing. They praised guests for 'braving the rain', but in the comments of their post (pictured), people were accusing the account of deleting comments to 'hide' how bad the two-day festival was

'When the rain came it was unexpected and torrential. There was a forecast of showers but nothing as heavy and as constant at the two hours we all faced. We are disheartened to hear reports of some security or staff who were unhelpful or aggressive; this is totally unacceptable and hopefully it goes without saying that is not what we are about.

'We are sorry if some of you felt the response from the festival was slow to happen. We can assure you that behind the scenes all of our senior management team were working together to try to control the situation safely and securely.

'Our main aim was to enable those of you who wanted to leave to do so, and for those who decided to stay, getting the stages back open as soon as it was safe to do so.

'We recognise that communications around re-entry were unclear for a time - the team was working dynamically in response to the evolving circumstances and we addressed it as soon as we were able to.

'Love Saves The Day has been an outdoor open air festival since its beginning 10 years ago. We have had some tents over the years, but we have always been predominantly outdoors and uncovered.

'Fundamentally it would not be possible to provide cover for 30,000 people simultaneously during a biblical downpour without putting all the stages into tents and completely changing the whole identity of the festival - but with that being said, we will look to provide more cover and shelter next year at the event and to ensure that the site wide response system is strengthened.'

MailOnline have contacted the festival's organisers for comment.
The mother of a 12-year-old boy clinging to life after reportedly choking while doing a viral social media trend has begged a High Court judge to allow her son's life support treatment to continue.

Archie Battersbee hasn't regained consciousness after he was found unresponsive at his home in Southend, Essex on April 7 and spent eight weeks in an induced coma.

The schoolboy's family fear he took part in an online 'blackout challenge' when they discovered him with a ligature around his neck - with doctors now warning it is 'highly likely' the talented gymnast is brain dead.

The trend, which has swept across TikTok and encourages users to asphyxiate themselves, pass out and regain consciousness on camera, has been linked to the deaths of dozens of children in the United States.

While experts have called for Archie's life support to be turned off his parents, Hollie Dance, 46, and Paul Battersbee, 56, have demanded his treatment continue because the youngster's heart is still beating.

Archie's parents, Hollie Dance and Paul Battersbee, from Southend, Essex, say the youngster's heart is still beating and want treatment to continue.

Ms Dance last night issued a last-gasp appeal to High Court judge Mrs Justice Arbuthnot to 'find it in your heart to give my son the time to heal' before she makes her ruling on Monday.

'It's devastating. Total strangers are making a decision about whether my son lives or dies', she told the Mirror.

'It's so hard as a mother. For 12 years I've raised him but now we've gone into a hospital you lose your right. It's awful.

'The hospital has had Covid patients in a coma on ventilators for three months, it's longer than Archie has been in hospital.'

Hollie Dance, 46, (left) has begged a High Court judge to allow Archie Battersbee's life support treatment to continue after he choked while reportedly performing an online 'blackout' craze

Archie has not regained consciousness after he was found unresponsive with a ligature around his neck at his home in Southend, Essex on April 7

Ms Dance described her son as a 'happy', 'high-spirited' 'daredevil', who enjoys mixed martial arts and trains with South Essex Gymnastics Club

Police have questioned whether he was trying a dangerous online craze, that has killed more than 80 children since it was first circulated online 14-years-ago.

This week, Ms Dance revealed the frantic moment she discovered Archie with a dressing gown tie cutting off his windpipe on ITV's This Morning.

She recalled the moment she 'ran out screaming for help' after snapping the ligature off her son who was on the landing and fell '8ft onto the hallway', where she then began CPR.

'I ran out screaming to get help, nobody was there so I came back in,' she said.

Mother-of-three Ms Dance also issued a direct warning to parents about the dangers of social media's latest craze.

Suggesting her son was taking part in the online challenge, Ms Dance claimed there have been at least 80 deaths, and hundreds of cases of permanent brain damage, linked to the potentially fatal 'blackout challenge'.

After being taken to Southend Hospital, he was then transferred to Royal London Hospital.

'It's important that parents are aware about these things so they can have a conversation with their children,' she continued.

'They need to explain what might happen, and maybe use Archie as an example, then maybe the child would take notice and not try it.'

Lawyers representing the Royal London Hospital's governing trust, Barts Health NHS Trust, have asked Mrs Justice Arbuthnot to decide what moves are in Archie's best interests.

Speaking on ITV's This Morning on Thursday, Ms Dance said: 'If I dont explore every avenue, if I dont fight for his life and later on we realise, well actually we didnt look into that, weve missed something  Im going to spend the rest of my life not knowing and thinking "what if, what if".

'Im going with my gut and... a mothers gut instinct, I think you should really go with it.'

Giving evidence at the hearing this week, a specialist told the judge about a number of concerns noted by Archie's treating team.

She said tests had shown no 'discernible' brain activity, but revealed 'significant areas of tissue necrosis', and added: 'We believe that it is very likely that he is brain-stem dead.'

Ms Dance told This Morning hosts Phillip Schofield and Holly Willoughby that she found Archie (pictured) with something tied around his neck, cutting off his 'windpipe'

Archie Battersbee's brother Tom Summers kisses Archie on the head in hospital

But lawyers representing Archie's family have told the judge that his heart is still beating - and his mother said he had gripped her hand.

They also say there was an issue as to whether 'the correct procedure' had been followed, and whether the 'family's views' had been taken into account.

This week, Archie's parents made their closing pleas to Mrs Justice Arbuthnot, who is deciding what moves are in the 12-year-old's best interests.

'Monday coming will be our ninth court appearance,' Ms Dance added. 'Hes been in hospital for eight weeks.

'Every single minute is precious, and Im having to go to court and sit there all day. Im not getting back to hospital some days until half seven at night.'

She described her son as a 'happy', 'high-spirited' 'daredevil', who enjoys mixed martial arts and trains with South Essex Gymnastics Club.

Ms Dance added that since being in hospital, her son has held her hand and opened his eyes.

His blood pressure and heart rate have also been increasing and then dropping, something she has been told could be 'neurostorming'.

A ruling is expected to be delivered on Monday.
An American man has been charged alongside a Russian model and another tourist in the death of a webcam performer who fell 80 feet from an eighth-floor balcony in Thailand.

American Jamaal Smith, 38, Russian model Natalia Kosenkova, 35, and Jordanian man Ahmad Alatoom, 28, face up to 10 years behind bars for the death of Evgenia Smirnova, 37.

They were charged with 'recklessness causing death' after attending the party in Patong, where Smirnova died.

Smirnova was found in her underwear facedown with fatal head injuries and a broken leg after she plunged from an eighth floor fire exit after a dispute at a Phuket sex party last weekend.

The medical examiner's report said she had a high level of alcohol in her blood, the Bangkok Post reported.

The webcam performer's death was first thought accidental, but a clump of someone else's hair was found in her hand, raising suspicions of foul play.

Model Natalia, 35, was arrested alongside American Jamaal Smith, 38, and Jordanian Ahmad Alatoom, also 28. They were charged with 'recklessness causing death' for the death of a webcam worker

Evgenia Smirnova, 37, died after falling 80 feet from an eighth floor condo fire exit

Alatoom was held after seeking to board a flight out of Thailand following Smirnova's death.

The three suspects were previously held on charges of drugs possession.

Kosenkova said she didn't 'want to think about her' because it is 'very stressful for us.'

'Our life is ruined,' she said. 'I am very sorry, very sorrowful. But I don't want to keep anything in my memory about her.

'Its too bad, but I'm thinking about my life.'

Local reports, quoting police sources, revealed a 'sex, drugs and alcohol party' took place at the Emerald Terrace condo complex in Patong before Evgenia's fall.

The Emerald Terrace condo complex in Phuket, Thailand, was the scene of Evgenia's death

Police Major General Sermphan Sirikhon said officers considered three possibilities: an accident, suicide or murder.

Cops tested the clump of hair found in the victim's hand for DNA, but did not disclose the results.

Model, DJ and dental assistant Kosenkova originally called her death an 'unfortunate accident.'

'The only thing I can say is that this was an unfortunate incident, but it was not a murder, and none of the people involved are to blame,' she said, according to the New York Post.

She also claimed she didn't 'know' the woman 'until that evening.'

'I didnt know the girl, she just came to the party where we were,' she said, according to the New York Post. 'And she called her friend [Alatoom], who came, too, and behaved inappropriately. I can say that me and my friend [Smith], who I have known for a long time, behaved with dignity and decency.'

'None of the people involved are to blame. I'm an ordinary tourist.

'It was a regular boozefest - someone dies here every day.'

Kosenkova said authorities 'trust' them and she wasn't 'worried.'

Kosenkova, 35, also a Russian citizen, was an eyewitness of Evgenia Smirnova's tragic fall

The incident took place at Patong, Phuket, which is known for its red-light district (file photo)

Condom wrappers and finely-ground cannabis were found on the scene.

Originally from Nizhny Novgorod, western Russia, Smirnova lived in Moscow.

Investigations are still ongoing.
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Temperatures are set to soar next week as the UK sees a continental weather front cross the sea and bring with it heat and plenty of sunshine.

Forecasters are predicting the first heatwave of the summer with temperatures as high as 32C (89.6F).

A plume of warm air known as Ola de Calor will push temperatures in Europe as high as 40C (104F) next week before it makes landfall here in the UK.

Some much-needed warmer days will begin on Wednesday, and could last until next Saturday, June 18 - so Brits are advised to get their warm weather clothes and sun cream out of the closet.

The Met Office is predicting highs of 25C for the southeast of England on Wednesday and Thursday, before temperatures climb even higher towards the end of the week.

On Bournemouth beach the public have been enjoying what is shaping up to be the hottest day of the year so far

People enjoying the warm weather on Saturday whilst out punting on the River Cam in Cambridge - while others freestyle with their own boats

The sandy beaches on the south coast are much busier than the last few weekends and are expected to be even more crowded next week

In London dog walkers and families have been taking advantage of the rare British sunshine to get outdoors

Thousands of people are flocking to Parklife festival this weekend as the summer music season gets underway

Attendees enjoy Parklife as the much-loved music festival gets underway once again in Manchester - ahead of a week of hot weather next week

But while some were heading for festivals, others decided to take things more slowly

Londoners enjoy the impressive view atop Primrose Hill in the warm weather. Sunbathers can clearly see the BT tower, the Shard and the London Eye

One of these girls is definitely ready to party - the festival began today, June 11 and will finish tomorrow, June 12

London will see a maximum of 28C on Friday and Saturday - but with mid-high humidity it will feel more like 31C.

With such hot weather the southeast will have similar temperature to the Algarve, Portugal - so you won't need to be abroad to visit a hot, sunny beach.

Elsewhere, Cardiff will see maximum temperatures of 25C, but hot weather won't be in store for all of us as Scotland faces a measly high of just 21C, as well as rain into the weekend.

In Dorset families are taking the opportunity to visit the beach with their children (Pictured: Michael, 10 and Lottie, 5 at Charmouth Beach, Dorset)

A group of surfers wait for the wind to pick up and offer them the perfect wave, just off Bournemouth Beach on Saturday

Primrose Hill Park in London is just one of hundreds of UK parks which have seen an influx of people today - and will see the same again as hot weather arrives next week

Get ready for more extreme outfits as the heatwave approaches next week - hitting as early as Wednesday, it is expected to last until Saturday

Beachgoers have had to battle strong winds when making their outings this weekend, as the tail end of a tropical storm makes itself felt

A group of young people pose for photos outside Parklife festival, which is taking place this weekend in Heaton Park

With festivalgoers comes fashion - these three girls certainly made a scene as they arrived in brightly coloured outfits along with their Smirnoff Ice

Glorious weather was enjoyed by many in the UK today - but while some will get temperatures of 29C next weekend, it looks set to rain in Scotland

Most of the Parklife attendees came with sunglasses and summer outfits, as they got ready to party on the hottest day of 2022 so far

Some people's bikinis fit better than others as swimmers and sunbathers descend on the UK's sunny shores

In West Hampstead walkers, runners and cyclists have all been getting out in the warm air this weekend - are expected to do so next week too

Tables are crowded in Heaton Park, Manchester despite the rather cloudy skies putting a dampener on the previously sunny day

Manchester will feel balmy at 24C on Saturday but Birmingham, the UK's second largest city, will join the south in its heatwave with a temperature high of 27C.

Most of the UK will remain dry from Wednesday to Saturday with long periods of sun on Friday and Saturday in particular - assuming, of course, forecasters are correct.

Met Office meteorologist Aidan McGivern said: 'Heat is building across Spain and that heat pushes into France and the northern edge of that starts to influence the next of next week.

In a flash forward to what Britain's beaches will look like next weekend, Dorset's coastline was strikingly busy this weekend

Surfers are bound to be out in droves next weekend to cool off as temperatures soar in a five-day heatwave

Punters enjoy the heat and sunshine as they pass by iconic Cambridge landmarks such as Kings College (pictured, centre)

High stakes games were also spotted out and about on Saturday - and it wasn't just the children enjoying themselves

The hot weather is bound to mean busy beachside bars and restaurants too - but remember to stay hydrated

The minimalist bikini is on-trend this summer, and as temperatures spike next weekend expect to see a lot more of them

This pair of friends arrived at Parklife in matching monochrome co-ords, with identical bags and nails to match

Groups of people enjoy picnics and drinks on the side of Primrose Hill, relaxing in one of London's green parks

UK music festivals are always highly popular, especially amongst young people - for many this will be their first chance to go since the coronavirus pandemic

'As well as that there is some instability on the northern edge of that week so there is the potential for some thunderstorms to move up from the Continent.'

Despite the risk of storms, there are no weather warnings in place for the next week, so revelers can enjoy the sun largely in peace.

Meanwhile much of the UK is enjoying warm weather this weekend, as thousands head out to local parks and beaches to soak up the rays.

Festival season is also well and truly getting underway and thousands have headed to Parklife in Manchester to get the summer started.

Brits have been enjoying top temperatures of 24C today - and slightly higher is expected tomorrow.

But some parts of the UK are set to experience high winds today, as the tail end of a tropical storm passes over the country and winds exceeding 55mph in some places.
A US Navy reservist previously detained by the Taliban helped secure the release of an Afghan-American held by the Taliban without the help of the State Department.

The family of 33-year-old Mahnaz Safi, who was detained by the Taliban in Afghanistan last month, reached out to Safi Rauf, an Afghan-American Naval reservist who was taken prisoner in December with his brother as they worked to help people flee Afghanistan's hardline rulers, Axios reported.

Rauf was able to secure Safi's release and arrived with her at JFK Airport in New York on Thursday morning after arranging her safe passage to Dubai.

Safi, an Afghan-American born in New Jersey, decided to travel to a village in Jowzjan Province in May to distribute humanitarian aid after raising $18,000 on GoFundMe.

Safi Rauf (right) was able to secure Mahnaz Safi's (left) release. The pair are pictured in JFK Airport in New York City on Thursday

Rauf, a US Navy reservist previously detained by the Taliban, helped secure the release of a Safi, an American held by the Taliban without the help of the State Department

After securing Safi's release, Rauf arrived with her at JFK Airport on Thursday morning and arranged her safe passage to Dubai

Safi, an Afghan-American born in New Jersey, decided to travel to a village in Jowzjan Province in May to distribute humanitarian aid after raising $18,000

The self-described 'risk taker' said she ignored warnings of how dangerous the Taliban-run country was, attributing her friends and family's concerns as a result of 'media alarmism.'

But just three weeks into her stay local police brought her in for questioning and she was detained for several days after they found she had no visa or entry stamps in her passport, Axios reported.

In addition, a local imam accused Safi of attempting to convert villagers from Islam, something the 33-year-old Muslim denies.

Her family reached out to Rauf after reading about his months-long captivity by the Taliban and his work with the Human First Coalition, which worked to rescue those at risk of Taliban persecution.

After spending 105 days in Taliban captivity Rauf and his brother were released in April following months of negotiations by the Biden administration.

But when it came to the negotiations to free Safi, the State Department had no involvement, Axios reported.

Rauf used his contacts to figure out Safi had been transferred to the General Directorate of Intelligence, which was the same Taliban security agency that had detained him earlier this year.

Rauf and his coalition then reached out to Taliban contacts and negotiated Safi's release in exchange for direct humanitarian aid for their villages.

After spending 105 days in Taliban captivity Rauf and his brother were released in April following months of negotiations by the Biden administration

Rauf and his brothers founded the Human First Coalition to help desperate Afghans flee the country's hardline rulers and the chaotic departure of US troops in Afghanistan last year

Rauf was born in a refugee camp in Pakistan before reaching the US. He served with U.S. special forces in Afghanistan before enlisting in the US Navy reserves

The State Department confirmed they were aware of Safi's release and advised others to not take the same risk she took.

'We are aware of reports of the release of a U.S. citizen who had previously been detained in Afghanistan. The State Department continues to advise U.S. citizens not to travel to Afghanistan,' a State Department spokesperson told Axios.

Rauf used his experience from being taken prisoner with his brother Anees Khalil last December as they worked to help people flee Afghanistan's hardline rulers.

Their release was confirmed by the State Department, which said they had been 'unjustly detained.

In a statement after being released Rauf said he and his brother would keep working for Afghans.

'At this time, we are looking forward to reuniting with our family and loved ones and ultimately, I hope we can continue to advocate for and seek ways to serve the Afghan people in this critical time of need in Afghanistan,' he said.

His organization was involved in aiding the escape of the Afghan translator who helped rescue Joe Biden from a remote valley in Afghanistan in 2008.

The Taliban seized Kabul in August last year, upending President Joe Biden's hopes of an orderly withdrawal of U.S. troops.

It led to a frantic mission to evacuate U.S. citizens and Afghans who worked with American forces.

That work continues, to both free Westerners in Taliban custody and to help vulnerable Afghans flee the country.

They include Mark Frerichs, a fifty-nine-year-old civil engineer and Navy veteran, who was abducted in Kabul in 2020.

In February a British journalist Andrew North was released along with another journalist and Afghan citizens after being detained while they did work for the United Nations.

Another British man, former cameraman Peter Jouvenal, was seized in Kabul at the end of last year and remains in custody.

Kidnappings have long been a tactic of the Taliban, used as a tool to spread fear and to generate income from ransoms.

Last year, Afghanistan's rulers made clear how they planned to use the tactic again. They have been pressing to swap Frerichs for an Afghan drug lord serving a life sentence in a U.S.
Russian president Vladimir Putin has his bodyguards collect his excrement while on foreign trips in a bid to stop people gathering information about his health.

A report has revealed that Putin's Federal Protection Service members are 'responsible for collecting his bodily waste' in special packets which are kept inside a dedicated briefcase until they return to Russia.

Putin's health has been the centre of much speculation especially in recent months with the catastrophic Russian invasion of Ukraine, as instructed by the leader, including suggestions that he is suffering with cancer, dementia and even Parkinson's disease.

And this latest revelation is allegedly Putin's way of keeping his potential health issues under wraps.

According to two investigative journalists at French news magazine Paris Match, the collection of Vladimir Putin's excrement is part of the Federal Protection Service's job, as they are tasked with protecting high-ranking state officials at whatever cost.

Reporters Regis Gente, who wrote two books on Russia, and Mikhail Rubin, who has covered Russian current affairs for over ten years, say that two examples of Putin excrement collections were of the President's visit to France on 29 May 2017 and to Saudi Arabia in October 2019.

In both of these instances, it is alleged that Putin either had a private toilet brought along with him during the trips, or that he was accompanied to the bathroom by several guards. Another theory is that he uses a 'porta-potty' everywhere he goes.

One other example could be in December 2019, when Putin was spotted going to the toilet with six bodyguards while at a Ukraine summit in Paris.

The Russian leader, 67 at the time, was filmed leaving the bathroom after five bodyguards made sure his surroundings were safe. Another bodyguard walked behind him as he left the toilet in Paris's Elysee Palace.

Farida Rustamova, an ex-BBC journalist, also confirmed the report by explaining on Twitter that a source of hers, who is reportedly an old acquaintance of Putin's, said he has been taking his own toilet on foreign trips since the beginning of this rule.

She revealed that she was aware of an incident at the Kunsthistorisches Museum in Vienna, when actress Julia Louis Dreyfus was told by museum staff that President Putin had arrived with his own private bathroom and a 'porta-potty'.

A report has revealed that Russian president Vladimir Putin's Federal Protection Service members are 'responsible for collecting his bodily waste' in special packets which are kept inside a dedicated briefcase until they return to Russia. Pictured is a statue depicting Putin on the toilet outside the Russian Embassy in Prague in 2021

Two weeks ago, an officer from the Federal Security Service of Russia claimed 69-year-old Putin has 'no more than two to three years to stay alive.

An FSB officer described the Russian president's condition as a 'severe form of rapidly progressing cancer', as speculation ramped up that Putin was suffering with some form of serious illness amid the invasion of Ukraine.

The spy explained the wartime leader has 'no more than two to three years' left and he is also losing his sight, the Mirror reported.

News of the Russian leader's terminal illness emerged as part of a secret message from the Russian agent to fugitive and former FSB agent Boris Karpichkov.

It is understood that the excrement collection is a way to stop people gathering information about his health. Pictured at the Kunsthistorisches Museum in Vienna, when actress Julia Louis Dreyfus was told by museum staff that President Putin (right, with Austrian Federal Chancellor Sebastian Kurz left) had arrived with his own private bathroom

The message warned Putin is refusing to wear glasses over fears it would admit a form of weakness, and he is now lashing out at his subordinates with 'uncontrolled fury'.

Putin reportedly underwent 'successful' cancer surgery this month and is recovering following advice from medics that treatment was 'essential', according to Telegram channel General SVR.

Intelligence-gathering via excrement collection is not a new venture by a world leader. In 2016, an ex-Soviet agent said he found evidence that Soviet Union leader Joseph Stalin had investigated founder of the People's Republic of China Mao Zedong by analysing his waste matter.

Igor Atamanenko told a Russian newspaper that in the 1940s Stalin's secret police set up a top secret laboratory to study people's faeces.

One example of this happening could be in December 2019, when Putin was spotted going to the toilet with six bodyguards while at a Ukraine summit in Paris (pictured)

During Mao's 10-day visit to Russia in the winter of 1949, special toilets were set up for the Chinese leader's waste products to be collected and studied. Instead of being connected to sewers, those lavatories led to special boxes where Mao's stolls were whisked off for analysis.

'In those days the Soviets didn't have the kind of listening devices which secret services do today,' he told the paper, according to the BBC.

'That's why our specialists came up with the most extravagant ways of extracting information about a person.'
An active-duty U.S. soldier based in Germany has been identified as the military's first known case of monkeypox.

The soldier  who has not been named  tested positive for the tropical disease at the base in Stuttgart, in the country's southwest region where about 23,000 soldiers are stationed, CNN reported.

Military officials have now quarantined the individual in their quarters until symptoms subside.

Revealing the case on Friday navy Capt. William Speaks said: 'We can confirm that a duty service member from the Stuttgart military community recently tested positive for monkeypox.

'The individual was seen and treated at the Stuttgart Army Health clinic and is currently in isolation.'

It comes as America's monkeypox cases tally rose to 49 on Friday, with Rhode Island becoming the fifteenth state to report a case of the disease

An American soldier based at the U.S. Army Garrison Stuttgart military base in Germany (pictured) has contracted monkeypox, the military's first-known case of the disease

The American is currently quarantining inside the Stuttgart Army Health clinic (pictured)

A total of 49 cases of monkeypox have now been recorded across 15 states in America and Washington D.C. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says most cases are in people who recently returned from abroad

At the Stuttgart base, German authorities have been informed of the case, and contact tracing is underway.

Speaks added: 'Public health officials have determined that the risk to the overall population is very low.

'The case in Stuttgart is of the West African strain, which is generally mild and human-to-human transmission is limited.'

Medical literature says that people infected with monkeypox experience flu-like symptoms within the first 21 days of catching the virus, followed by a rash that appears on the face before spreading to the rest of the body.

But this is rarely being observed in the current outbreak, with patients instead seeing rashes emerge on the genital areas before suffering any flu-like symptoms.

Germany has detected 165 cases of monkeypox to date, local officials say, as the disease has popped up to dozens of countries over the past few months.

In a briefing Friday Dr Rochelle Walensky, head of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), said monkeypox was being passed on through physical contact with symptomatic patients and by touching their clothing and bedding.

But attempting to clear up whether face masks are needed to avoid catching the rash-causing virus, the epidemiologist explained the rash-causing virus would not 'linger in the air' like Covid.

'The disease is not spread through casual conversations, passing others in a grocery store, or touching things like door-knobs,' she said. 'All of the case we have seen to date in this outbreak have been related to direct contact.'

During the conference health officials also called on Americans with any sexually transmitted infection  including syphilis, gonorrhea and chlamydia  to get tested for monkeypox.

Dr Rochelle Walensky (left), who heads up the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, said that monkeypox could only spread through the air during prolonged face to face contact. Dr Jennifer McQuiston (right), who is heading up the agency's response, said most cases were in people who had recently traveled

Officials are urging gay and bisexual men to be aware of new lesions, rashes or scabs and get in contact with a sexual health clinic

They warned many patients were experiencing rashes and sores on the genitals and anus that looked like STIs. Several cases of co-infection with monkeypox and a sexually transmitted disease have also been recorded.

Health officials also revealed they had distributed more than 1,400 vaccines against the virus to states from their stockpile of more than a million doses. Another 300,000 doses are expected to arrive in the coming weeks.

But some experts have raised concerns that the country may not have enough jabs because if the outbreak becomes more widespread there may not be enough to jab the entire country.

America recorded eight cases of the virus between Wednesday afternoon and Friday morning, as the scale of the outbreak across the country continues to grow.

About three in four cases are currently linked to international travel, including to Europe, while others are linked to someone who has had close contact with a known case.

But there are 'several' patients across multiple states who have tested positive despite not recently traveling or having contact with a known case.

Dr Jennifer McQuiston, who is leading the CDC's response to the outbreak, said it was likely the case that they acquired the infection from someone who had recently traveled but that this first case was yet to be spotted.

She added: 'I can tell you that right now we don't have an area that seems to be having an urban outbreak. There is no one area where it looks like there is a lot of community transmission.

'But this could change. We need to make sure our testing is increasing and ready to catch that when it happens.'

The infection often starts with small bumps that scab over and are contagious

America has done just 300 tests for orthopox viruses  the family that includes monkeypox  since the outbreak began, despite having more than 69 labs available to carry out thousands of swabs a day.

Health officials are calling on states to send more samples to labs, but states are complaining that the process is 'too complicated' because after going to these labs the swabs must go to the CDC for confirmation.

New York reported two new monkeypox cases yesterday, while Illinois and Florida reported one and Rhode Island revealed its first infection that they said may be 'linked to travel to Massachusetts'.

Hawaii also reported its third case in a week in an individual who had not recently traveled, prompting officials to warn that the tropical disease may be spreading undetected in the archipelago.
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A man stormed the stage during the 'March for our Lives' protest against gun violence, causing an stampede as thousands of attendees fled in terror when he reportedly threw an object at the audience.

More than 5,000 people attending the event at the National Mall in Washington, DC, cowered on the floor after the unidentified pro-gun protester came onstage during a moment of silence.

'I am the gun I am using! I am not shooting a school,' the man said as security personnel attempted to escort him off the stage, before seemingly throwing a can at rally attendees behind the barricades.

The disturbance only lasted a few moments and officials at the rally rushed to assure those present that the man was not armed, The Sun reported.

'Do not run, I repeat, do not run! There is no issue here,' a speaker on stage told the crowd immediately after the incident.

The man has since been arrested and US Park Police has opened an investigation.

A counter-protester is detained after jumping a barricade in an attempt to disrupt a March for Our Lives rally against gun violence on the National Mall June 11, 2022 in Washington, DC

Protester in New York City march across the Brooklyn Bridge on Saturday, just two weeks after the Uvalde shooting, where 19 children and two teachers died

The man was later arrested. An investigation has been opened into the incident

'I am the gun I am using! I am not shooting a school,' the man said as security personnel attempted to escort him off the stage, before seemingly throwing a can at rally attendees behind the barricades

People duck down after a man tried and failed to rush the stage during the second March for Our Lives rally in support of gun control in front of the Washington Monument, Saturday, June 11

The disturbance only lasted a few moments and officials at the rally rushed to assure those present that the man was not armed

Thousands of people gathered across 400 US cities to protest for tighter gun violence, just two weeks after the Uvalde, Texas, shooting, where 19 children and two children were massacred.

The Uvalde and Buffalo supermarket shootings, where 10 black people where shot dead, helped sparked the call for action on Saturday.

Gun violence has killed more than 19,300 people so far this year in the United States, according to the Gun Violence Archive.

'After countless mass shootings and instances of gun violence in our communities, it's time to take back to the streets,' March for Our Lives organizers said on the website.

'Demonstrate to our elected officials that we demand and deserve a nation free of gun violence,' it said.

Thousands of people show up to the National Mall to protest gun violence as Congress and lawmakers struggle to decide how to handle gun violence in the US. Gun violence has killed more than 19,300 people so far this year in the United States, according to the Gun Violence Archive

A Parkland protester holds a sign that reads: 'I still live in fear.' The March for Our Lives protests started in Florida after the Parkland shooting. It was created by former student, David Hogg

Protesters in Uvalde hold signs urging the public to 'remember their names' and quotes from children in the school

March for Our Lives was founded by survivors of the shooting at a high school in Parkland, Florida, who organized a rally that drew hundreds of thousands of people to the nation's capital in March 2018.

Today, thousands more rejoined the protest, holding signs that read: Four years later, shouldn't still be here' and 'I still live in fear.'

Other cities like New York saw thousands gathering near the Brooklyn Bridge in downtown Manhattan, including Mayor Eric Adams, 61.

Thousands marched in a tightly packed group across the iconic bridge holding a light colored March Against Gun Violence banner. Many behind them held homemade signs and American flags, while dressed in red, white, and blue.

Former congresswoman and gun violence survivor Gabby Giffords stands among vases of flowers that make up the Gun Violence Memorial installation on the National Mall in Washington

Two women cry and hold each other as they stand among the flowers. Each bouquet holds 10 flowers and represents 10 people who have died from gun violence in the US

Even more gathered on the National Mall in DC to listen to Parkland survivor and found of March for Our Lives, David Hogg.

David Hogg, former Parkland student and a founder of the organization, appealed for Americans of all political stripes to take part in the Saturday protests.

In a Fox News op-ed, published on Friday, Hogg wrote: 'Whoever you are, march with us...Gun owners, NRA members, Republicans, Democrats, independents, and people from all backgrounds are fed up and it is time we make Congress do something.

'If we can agree that killing children is unacceptable, then we need to either prevent people intent on killing from getting their hands on the guns they use or stop their intent to kill in the first place,' he said.

NYC Mayor Eric Adams join the crowd of New Yorkers as they protest for gun reform

Letitia James holds a young girl's hand as they carry the March Against Gun Violence on the Brooklyn Bridge

A baby joins the protest pin New York City as parents, teachers, and the public protest to protect school children and shooting victims

A child holds a sign that reads: 'Am I Next?' in New York on Saturday as another mother cradles her child in the background

Both issues have been in the spotlight in the wake of the May 24 shooting at Robb Elementary, which was carried out by a gunman who bought two assault rifles shortly after turning 18.

Gun control advocates are calling for tighter restrictions or an outright ban on the rifles, which were used in both Uvalde and Buffalo.

Opponents of tougher regulations have meanwhile sought to cast mass shootings as primarily a mental health issue, not one of access to firearms.

Mariah Cooley, a March for Our Lives board member, highlighted the toll gun violence has taken on both her and the country.

'I lost important people in my life - including my cousin - to gun violence before the age of 18,' Cooley wrote in a Friday op-ed for The Hill.

'While this statement in itself is a tragedy, the bigger tragedy is that this is a reality that far too many Americans can relate to,' she wrote.

A female student holds a sign that reads: 'I learned run, hid, fight, before I learned fractions'

Two older women dressed up as targets as they held signs slamming gun violence in Washington DC

A group of men, with one being a gun owner, stand up to protect children. One of the signs show a school zone as a child hiding under a desk rather than a low-speed driving area

Two bold DC protesters claim that 'Congress [has] blood on your hands' as lawmakers continue to stall over gun reform

A large group in DC gather on the National Mall. Two protesters even hold sign protesting against the upcoming Roe v. Wade decision. A draft leak said the case could be potentially overturned

Thousands stood outside the famous monument on the National Mall on Saturday

Montana Representative Cori Bush speaks at the march in Washington DC on Saturday

Frequent mass shootings lead to widespread outrage in the United States, where a majority of people support tighter gun laws, but opposition from many Republican lawmakers has long been a hurdle to major changes.

The Democrat-controlled House of Representatives passed a broad package of proposals this week that included raising the purchasing age for most semi-automatic rifles from 18 to 21, but the party does not have the requisite 60 votes to advance it in the Senate.

A cross-party group of senators has also been working on a narrow collection of controls that could develop into the first serious attempt at gun regulation reform in decades.

The package would boost funding for mental health services and school security, narrowly expand background checks, and incentivize states to institute so-called 'red flag laws' that enable authorities to confiscate weapons from individuals considered a threat.

But it does not include an assault weapons ban or universal background checks, meaning it will fall short of the expectations of President Joe Biden, progressive Democrats and anti-gun violence activists.

Two women solemnly stand among protesters at the Parkland protest as protesters of all age mourn the loss of some many lives

A large group of young people hold a March for Our Lives Parkland banner as they walked around

A person hold a target sign, reading: 'Am I next?' in Parkland, Florida during the protests
Courtesy of Wendelin Jacober



By David A. Tizzard




Two New York City teenagers drowned after being caught in a rip current at Jamaica Bay.

Daniel Persaud and Ryan Wong, both 13, drowned after the their surfboard got caught in a rip current on Friday around 11.40am, Pix 11 reported. The surfboard when it was pulled 30-feet into a deep channel.

Witnesses told Pix11 that both were pulled under water and failed to resurface.

The boys, who were from Queens, were among a group of five friends who were celebrating the start of summer when they decided to skip school and go to the beach in Queens, an uncle of one of the boys told the New York Daily News.

'Yesterday was the last day of school and they were just trying to have a good time, messing around like kids do,' Michael Rachel told the publication. 'They were out on the rocks but when the tide comes in you couldn't see them. They're gone.

Daniel Persaud (pictured) and Ryan Wong, both 13, of Queens, died on Friday after they drowned at Jamaica Beach in Queens

Daniel (pictured) reportedly like building computers and technology. His family said they were 'shocked' that he had skipped school as he usually only goes between home and school

''We're suffering,' he told the NYDN.

Persaud's Uncle Jerry told the NYDN that the family was 'shocked' the young student had skipped school.

'Its just shocking because he doesnt go out much,' Jerry told the NYDN. 'But he suddenly went out and this happened. It would be just school and home for him.

'Everyone is in shock now. The family is devastated.'

Family friend Indra Bisnauth told the NYDN: 'They had no idea he left out of school, she said. Its a tragedy. Its so sad. The child is so quiet, youd never know hed do this. They just go for fun. I was so shocked to hear that happened.'

The boy's mother Samantha Singh wrote on Facebook: 'Our son you left us today. I am lost for words and my soul is bleeding and our hearts are shattered. 'Sleep high my prince Daniel. Mommy loves you so much.'

A group of firefighters rush one of the 13-year-old boys who drowned at Jamaica Beach on Friday toward an ambulance. Both boys were on a surfboard with friends when a rip current caught their board and dragged it 30 feet. The two boys reportedly fell off and never resurfaced

The portion of the beach (pictured) that the group of five were at is unguarded and signs warn of strong currents

The 13-year-old reportedly like building his own computers and enjoyed technology, the NYDN reported.

Persaud's wake will be on Tuesday, followed by a funeral on Wednesday, according to the NYDN.

Similarly, Wong's mother Gloria wrote on Facebook: 'Rest In Peace little Ryan I love you. You will forever live in our hearts.'

The portion of the beach they were at was unguarded and not all of the kids knew how to swim, a police source told the New York Post.

'This happens all the timethey walked in the water about one to two feet deep, then the channel suddenly drops six to 10 feet deep, and some of these kids could not swim,' the police source told the Post.

The FDNY sent nine divers, two helicopters, and boats out into the water to search for them. They found the first boy roughly an hour after they drowned and the second one 40 minutes later

There was a large team of firefighters on the scene to help search for the missing boys

NYC Parks, who oversees the beach, said they were 'saddened' by the loss, but reminded people to 'only swim in designated areas where lifeguards are on duty, no matter where you are.'

The other teenagers reportedly ran up the beach screaming for help, witness Isri Persaud said.

Persaud said the teenagers were waving their arms wildly before exiting the water.

The FDNY deployed nine divers, two helicopters, and boats into the water to search for the boys.

They pulled the first boy out of the water around 12.35pm. The second boy was pulled out 40 minutes later.

There are signs on the beach warning beachgoers about strong currents and sudden drop-offs

Both were rushed to Jamaica Hospital and pronounced dead.

There are signs on the beach warning beachgoers about strong tides.

The portion of the beach the teenagers were swimming is owned by the National Parks Service, which recently announced closures to parts of the beach to help with erosion.

The beach is closed from 86th Street to 116 Street, but many locals and lifeguards worry people will continue to swim there unsupervised.

DailyMail.com has reached out to the authorities for comment.
A Credit Suisse director has been fired after being filmed attacking waiters at a Korean restaurant because they refused to let him use the bathroom after he stumbled in drunk at 2am.

Roman Cambell was fired from his media and information services role at the bank this week after footage of the incident was shared on social media by the restaurant owner's daughter.

The Columbia University graduate told The New York Post on Saturday that he doesn't think he did anything wrong, and that he was 'provoked' by one of the waiters 'spraining his thumb'.

The damning footage shows him arriving at Shanghai Mong, an Asian fusion restaurant in Koreatown, on Saturday June 4 at 1.52am and demanding to be allowed inside to use the bathroom.

At first, the female restaurant owner politely told him that the restrooms were for customers only.

Roman Cambell has been fired after being filmed attacking waiters at a restaurant in Koreatown on June 4

He began recording her on his phone while she spoke.

When she pulled her phone out, he smacked it out of her hand and then barged his way into the back of the restaurant.

A male Hispanic waiter who tried to stop him was struck and ended up bleeding from the head.

The owner's daughter posted surveillance footage of the incident on TikTok and Instagram, asking for the public's help in finding him.

On Saturday, she told DailyMail.com that her mother suffered back pain after being pushed by Cambell.

'Everyone in the restaurants doing okay. My moms lower back was in pain for a few days because she was pushed by Roman.

'She got pushed into some clothes hangers behind our counter. The waiter is okay but his forehead has some bruising after getting punched and his finger has a scab thats healing up.

Cambell stormed into Shanghai Mong on June 4 at 1.52am demanding to use the bathroom

When the female owner refused him, he stormed his way through to the back of the restaurant

Eventually, he was forced out of the restaurant after smacking one of the waiters in the head

The restaurant in Koreatown where he walked in and demanded to use the bathroom

'My mother and the waiter are mentally healing now because this was very traumatizing for them,' she said.

In her first post about the incident, she said: 'My parents work 7 days a week and they havent taken a vacation in 6 years.

'When the cops came they just talked to the guy and walked away. Our waiters forehead was bleeding after the guy hit his head.

'He grabbed my moms phone to break it and he didnt get charged for anything,' she said.

The owner's daughter shared footage of the incident on TikTok and Instagram and asked for help to find the banker
A 38-year-old woman died of complications arising from the AstraZeneca Covid jab, a coroner has ruled.

Kelly Dunley, from Stoke-on-Trent, tragically died after developing a deep vein thrombosis - a type of blood clot - after having the vaccine last year.

The mother, who had her first jab on March 2 last year, was rushed to Royal Stoke University Hospital on May 17, 2021, after collapsing.

Despite the best efforts of medics she died at the hospital, and a post-mortem found a blood clot in her leg had travelled to her lung.

Now a coroner has ruled her death was linked to 'complications of the vaccine'.

Kelly Dunley, pictured, died weeks after having the AstraZeneca Covid vaccine, something a coroner has ruled contributed to her death

An inquest at Stoke Coroner's Court was told that Ms Dunley, who lived with her partner in the Boothen area of the city, had been on medication to prevent clotting.

However, it heard that a week before her death she had stopped taking the anti-coagulant Apixaban, Stoke-on-Trent Live reports.

Her family had a history of deep vein thrombosis and she had developed the condition in her leg shortly after having the vaccine.

North Staffordshire assistant coroner Daniel Howe said: 'She had the AstraZeneca vaccine on March 2, 2021. She had deep vein thrombosis two weeks after.

The mother, pictured here with her step-son Aiden, collapsed at her home in Stoke-on-Trent and later died in hospital

'She stopped the Apixaban and one week after she was unwell with lethargy and shortness of breath.

'She attempted to mobilise to the toilet and collapsed. She had convulsions.

'On arrival of the ambulance crew she was alert but pale and sweaty. She remained short of breath.

'She went into cardiac arrest at the Royal Stoke and resuscitation was attempted.'

Sadly, Ms Dunley died at the hospital, and a post-mortem found the blood clot in her leg had moved up into her lung, killing her.

The examination also found she had a laceration to her liver, which was likely caused by the attempted resuscitation, and an abnormal spleen.

Mr Howe added: 'Kelly passed away at the Royal Stoke from a pulmonary thromboembolism from deep vein thrombosis after receiving the vaccine and after ceasing to take her medication.

'The cause of death was the pulmonary embolism caused by deep vein thrombosis. It was complications of the vaccine.'

Stoke-on-Trent Live approached AstraZeneca and the Department for Health for statements following Kelly's inquest.
Immigration officers attempting to arrest a suspect have today been forced into a tactical retreat after being confronted by crowds of Londoners shouting 'let him go'. Protestors surrounded the Immigration Enforcement van and even appeared to clash with police following the raid at an estate in Peckham, south east London, this afternoon. Police were called in to support the Home Office officials after the crowd swelled to more than 100 people - following a social media call to action by left-wing agitators and at least two Labour councillors. The group surrounded the van - containing the male suspect - and demanded 'let him go'. Officials have now revealed that the man, who is believed to be Nigerian and is suspected of having overstayed his visa, has been released on bail. Video shows officers leaving the estate, empty handed, while crowds chant 'Don't come back to Peckham'. It comes amid a backdrop of public debateabout the merits of the government's plan to transport asylum seekers who arrivein the UK to Rwanda while their claims are processed. Left-wing activists and human rights lawyers areattempting to stop the first flight departing on Tuesday and Prince Charles wasalleged today to have privately expressed his disapproval of the plan. Today, as tensions continue to simmer over the plans, more than 100 protesters gathered in Evans Cook Close, London, in an attempt to halt a Home Office immigration raid. The mob chanted as officers took oneman: 'Let him go!'. Others chanted: 'We won't be moving until the man is released,' and 'You say people, we say power, people power.' He was detained in a van before officers announced he would be let him go - to the crowd's elation. The mob then followed police out of the estate chanting 'Don't come back to Peckham'. Today campaign group Stand Up To Racism, under the hashtag 'no deportations', celebrated the man's release, writing in a Twitter post: 'The person in Peckham subjected to an immigration raid has been released! Police and immigration officers have been forced to retreat from the area. Protest works!' However the Home Office hit back, branding the blocking of its officers as 'unacceptable'. A spokesperson also vowed protests would 'not deter' its staff from 'undertaking the duties that the public rightly expect them to carry out'.

Chants turned into ugly clashes at the Peckham estate this afternoon with tensions rising

Reginald Popoola, a Labour councillor for Nunhead & Queens Road councillor, wrote: 'I'm here with over 100 others. Block the van from taking one of our neighbours - come and join us now on Evan Cook Close SE15!'

Southwark Labour councillor and primary school teacher James McAsh tagged the Camberwell and Peckham Constituency Labour Party and Southwark Momentum.

He wrote: 'URGENT - Immigration raid in Evan Cooks Close, Peckham, Se15. Near Queens Road station.

'Currently being blocked by a big crowd. Get down ASAP. Please RT or pass on the message.'

Meanwhile the Metropolitan Police, who were called following protests against the immigration raid, arrived at the scene to carry out crowd control. The raid itself was carried out by Home Office officials.

Campaigners appeared to scuffle with police officers on the scene in a fight to stop the raid

A spokesperson told MailOnline: 'Police were called to Evan Cook Close, SE15, on Saturday, 11 June, shortly after 13.30hrs to a report of protesters obstructing immigration officers.

'Officers attended and found a van was being prevented from leaving the location. One man has been arrested by Immigration Enforcement officers for immigration offences. Officers remain at the scene.'

A Home Office spokesperson said: 'The government is tackling illegal immigration and the harm it causes, often to the most vulnerable people, by removing those with no right to be in the UK.

'The operation in Southwark was conducted in relation to suspected immigration offences.

'Preventing immigration enforcement teams from doing their job is unacceptable.

'Blocking or obstructing them will not deter them from undertaking the duties that the public rightly expect them to carry out.'

It comes after campaigners, including left-wing union bosses and socialist groups, took to social media to issue a call to action for more people to gather at the scene.

Brighton's anti-Israel Boycott, Divest and Sanction campaign Twitter account wrote: 'Solidarity to community resisting immigration raid right now in Peckham. More numbers needed.'

Campaign group Lewisham Anti-Raids, which says on its Twitter page that it leads community resistance to immigration raids in Lewisham, wrote: 'Please come join us at Evan Cook Close, Queen's Road Peckham - we need more people to stand with us and resist our neighbour being taken away. Together, we can win!'

Shelly Asquith, a TUC staffer and chair of Jeremy Corbyn backed Stop the War Coalition, and who describes herself as a 'socialist' on Twitter, wrote: 'Peckham people GET DOWN! Don't let them drag away our neighbours!!!!'

Crowds gathered at the estate on Evan Cook Close in Peckham from early this afternoon

Meanwhile, Zoe Gardener, who is a Policy and Advocacy Manager at the Joint Council for the Welfare of Immigrants today praised the action. She wrote on Twitter: 'I f****g love the good people of Peckham. I f*****g love to see this it is the most beautiful thing. Show up. Fight back. We can win!!'

Leicester East MP Claudia Webb, a former Labour politician who recently lost an appeal against her conviction for harassing a woman who was having a sexual relationship with her then partner, also praised the mob.

She wrote on Twitter: 'In response to a Home Office immigration raid, with the power of humanity and solidarity, the people of Peckham, SE15, mobilised, fought back and got their neighbour released. This is people power - so beautiful to see.'

The raid appears to have started shortly after midday, with crowds assembling over the next two hours. Tweets shared by local campaigners and councillors raised awareness about the event.

Labour councillors and local campaigners led the stoppage, urging others to join

Police officers appeared unfazed as the large assembled crowd chanted while the raid went on

The revolt came as the first Home Office flight to Rwanda was set to go ahead on Tuesday.

The plans survived a bid by left-wing lawyers to halt the policy as a violation of human rights legislation.

A High Court judge last night threw out a bid to halt the first charter flight to Rwanda.

Mr Justice Swift said he had to balance the concerns of individual migrants with the wider public interest.

Prince Charles reportedly joined the opposition, claiming the Rwanda plan is 'appalling'.

The scores of people chanted with raised arms as they attempted to halt the immigration raid

Left-of-centre campaigners have sought to halt the government's Rwanda migration plan

The Daily Mail learnt there has been friction between the heir to the throne and Boris Johnson, with each grumbling about the other being late for official appointments.

Allegations of tensions between the two men echo reports of the strained relationship between the Queen and Margaret Thatcher when she was PM.

A union representing Immigration Enforcement staff and two charities claimed in the High Court yesterday that Rwanda was an unsafe country and Miss Patel was exceeding her powers as Home Secretary.

But rejecting their application for a temporary injunction blocking next week's first flight, Mr Justice Swift said: 'It is important for the secretary of state to be able to implement immigration control measures, and preventing that would be prejudicial to the public interest.'

Despite opposition from the left, the government's Rwanda plan will formally begin on Tuesday

Responding to the ruling, Mr Johnson said: 'Welcome news from the High Court today. We cannot allow people traffickers to put lives at risk and our world-leading partnership will help break the business model of these ruthless criminals.'

Home Secretary Priti Patel, who insists the plan is crucial in preventing further deaths in the Channel, added: 'I will now continue to deliver on progressing our world-leading migration partnership.'

The coalition that brought yesterday's legal challenge was granted permission to appeal to the Court of Appeal.

That hearing is expected on Monday.

A separate application for an injunction is due to be heard by the High Court on Monday.

Further individual legal challenges are also expected to prevent the Home Office from removing migrants, most of whom crossed the Channel since May 1.

More than 90 from a pool of 130 migrants have already submitted claims  principally under the 'right to private and family life' and modern slavery laws  with more expected between now and Tuesday.

It emerged at yesterday's hearing that 31 people are due on the first flight and the Home Office has agreed to withdraw five migrants from the passenger list.

'A lot of people were waiting for the High Court ruling. We expect they will all put in individual claims now,' a government source said.

'There's still a very real risk no one can be put on Tuesday's flight.'

Demonstrations also took place against a repatriation flight to Jamaica, which ultimately took off with seven criminals onboard.

More than 100 were initially expected to take the flight, with just seven child rapists, drug dealers and other violent criminals ultimately taken.
Ilyas will be sentenced for the murder of his wife on July 1

The post mortem found Maria Rafael Chavex died of compression to the neck

Muhammad Ilyas of Ilford was found guilty of murder at the Old Bailey yesterday

A 41-year-old man has been found guilty of murdering his wife while their three children were at school.

Muhammad Ilyas of Kingston Road, Ilford, was found guilty of strangling his wife to death at the Old Bailey on Friday, June 10.

The victim, Maria Rafael Chavex, 32, was found unresponsive at a residential property in Kingston Road on May 13 last year.

The pair moved to the UK in 2019 and at the time of her death, Maria was taking an English language course at a local college and Ilyas was a market stall trader.

Muhammad Ilyas was convicted of his wife's murder on Friday June 10, and will be sentenced at the Old Bailey on July 1

Maria, 32, was attending English language classes at the time she died after moving to the UK in 2019

Police officers were called and London Ambulance Service also attended, but she was tragically pronounced dead at the scene.

The Metropolitan Police said initial investigations revealed no signs of a disturbance and no obvious injuries - but a post mortem found Mrs Chavex died from compression to the neck, likely caused by strangulation.

An investigation by the force found she was killed on the afternoon of May 13 2021 while the couple's three children were at school.

Ilyas was arrested and interviewed about his involvement in Maria's death.

He initially denied killing Maria and told officers he believed she had died from natural causes.

Detective Chief Inspector Laurence Smith, from the Specialist Crime Command, said: 'Ilyas has not offered any explanation about the circumstances that led to his wife's death and has refused to accept responsibility for her murder.

'This is a tragic case that has left three children without their parents and I'm sure what they've been through will remain with them for the rest of their lives. My thoughts are with them and the rest of Maria's family and friends.'

Ilyas will be sentenced at the Old Bailey on Friday, July 1.
A terrified cat was seen on surveillance footage scurrying up a proch beam and clinging to it for dear life after facing off with a coyote.

Texas resident Tony Gray shared incredible footage of the encounter on Facebook on Thursday.

In the video, captured by the camera on the porch of his Surside Beach home, a coyote can be seen charging at a ginger cat.

The cat, which does not belong to Gray, is then seen holding its own as it claws at the coyote's face and lunges toward it.

The video starts off with the coyote charging at the much smaller ginger cat who holds its own, clawing at its face as it lunges towards it

The coyote and the cat go back and forth for about a minute, clawing and biting at one another

The coyote manages to get a bite of the cats tail at one point as the cat tries desperately to get away

Coyote upstairs on my beach house rear deck Island life Someone almost lost a cat (For licensing or usage, contact licensing@viralhog.com) Posted by Tony Gray on Thursday, June 9, 2022

The cat quickly hides under a porch chair but the wily coyote keeps chasing the feline and appears to be clawed a couple of times as it is cornered. o

The cat then decides to climb the porch railings but the coyote manages to get a bite of its tail, dragging the cat down a few times as it tries to escape the coyotes clutches.

The quick thinking kitty then manages to outsmart the coyote and climb all the way to the top of the porch beam where it was totally out of reach.

Defeated, the coyote wanders around in circles and eventually leaves all while the cat hangs on for dear life.

But the quick thinking kitty manages to outsmart the coyote and climb all the way to the top of the porch beam where it was totally out of reach

After about a minute the cat starts to slide down the beam, but slips and falls off the porch out of frame

'Coyote upstairs on my beach house rear deck. Island life. Someone almost lost a cat,' homeowner Tony Gray (pictured) wrote

After about a minute the cat starts to slide down the beam, but slips and falls off the porch out of frame.

Gray posted the footage, commenting on how lucky the cat was to escape the encounter.

'Coyote upstairs on my beach house rear deck. Island life. Someone almost lost a cat,' Gray wrote.

So far no one has come forward to claim the cat as theirs.

The footage showcases the coyote problem in Surfside Beach, which local police said they are working with Texas Parks and Wildlife to fix, KTRK-TV reported.
A Colorado woman's son has been charged with murder after her body was found inside a trash bag and stuffed in a manhole at her home four years after she went missing.

Sylvia Frens, 82 of Grand Junction, was reported missing on May 29, 2018, by 'concerned family members,' the Grand Junction Police Department said in a statement.

Later that year, her son, Richard Vandervelde, 54 - who lived with her at the time - told them she had taken off to California with a friend. With no new address set up and no social media activities, police determined she was dead, but kept the investigation into her disappearance open.

On Wednesday, police announced that detectives obtained a warrant to search the home in March 2022 after they new homeowners reported finding a trash bag in a manhole. They discovered a body had been stuffed into the bag.

Using DNA testing, they were able to confirm Frens' identity and said she died from a blunt force trauma to the head.

Her son was arrested in Florida on May 19 and was charged with six felonies and one misdemeanor and extradited to the Mesa County Jail. He has been charged with first-degree murder, tampering with a deceased human body, identity fraud, theft of $5,000 to $20,000, motor vehicle theft, and abuse of a corpse, and crimes against an at-risk adult.

Sylvia Frens, 82 of Grand Junction, was reported missing on May 29, 2018, and her body wasn't found on until March 2022

Her son Richard Vandervalde, 54, was arrested in Florida and charged with murder and tampering with human remains in May 2022. He was initially interviewed by police in 2018 after being arrested for a traffic violation. He told police he did not murder his mother and she had authorized him to use her credit card and car. He had also taken $10,000 from her bank account. He was released after police said they couldn't keep him for traffic violations

The search for Frens began when her daughter Sharon told police she had been trying to contact her and her brother, unsuccessfully, the Grand Junction Daily Sentinel reported.

The few times she had met with her brother - who she had not seen in 12 to 15 years - they always met outside the house.

When police arrived to the residence, they found all the doors locked, except one window was cracked open. The opening was big enough for a person to fit through and Sharon told officers to enter the house, the Daily Sentinel reported.

Once inside, officers found a note from Vandervelde, telling his mother he was going to Denver for a job. The note also reportedly indicated that there was a dispute between the mother and son, the Daily Sentinel reported.

After obtaining an search warrant, police reentered the home in May 2018 and found a brown stain in the bedroom carpet, but later determined through testing that it wasn't blood. There was a carpet square that had blood on it, but they couldn't determine who it belonged too.

They also said they smelled a 'distinct foul odor' in the room.

In June 2018, police questioned Vandervelde after he was pulled over during a traffic stop in Colombia, Missouri and told them he was 'George Williams.'

He was taken into custody on traffic violation and Grand Junction police traveled to Missouri to question him.

It was discovered that he had been using his mother's credit cards, was driving her car, and had withdrawn $10,000 from her account - more than $5,000 of which was found inside the car.

He told police he was a 'mommy's boy' and that his parents were getting divorce, the Daily Sentinel reported.

When asked if he had killed his mother, Vandervelde told authorities he had hip surgery in January, insinuating that he wouldn't be healthy enough to kill someone. He also told them he wanted to contact his mother, but the phone records on the two phones found in the car did not indicate that he had tried.

Police announced this week that they found her body in March on their Twitter account

Her body was discovered after the new homeowner found the trash bag in the manhole and reported it to the police. Authorities were able to identify her through DNA and the medical examiner said she died from a blunt force injury to the head

Records showed, however, that he had Google searched: 'Map of desolate places in Colorado' and 'least traveled areas near grand junction co[unty],' the Daily Sentinel reported.

Searches also included 'five ways to knock someone out in under 10 seconds' and 'how to knock someone out quickly and quietly,' among other things.

He was released as police couldn't keep him on the traffic violations.

After the interview did not produce any new leads into Frens' disappearance, she was marked as deceased.

In March 2022, undercover detectives used an alias to talk to Vandervelde, who told them his mother had died right before his hip surgery, the Daily Sentinel reported.

After the new homeowners found the trash bag, police were able to use the carpet square with blood on to determine he dragged her body in the bag on the carpet square.

Vandervelde is currently at the Mesa County Jail on a $1million cash-only bond. His next court appearance will be June 21.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen made a surprise trip to Kyiv today where she told Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky the EU's decision on his nation's request to join it would come by the end of next week.

Von der Leyen said her discussions with Zelensky today 'will enable us to finalise our assessment by the end of next week' on whether to recommend Ukraine as a candidate for membership.

Zelensky has been pressing for rapid admission into the European Union as a way of reducing Ukraine's geopolitical vulnerability, which was brutally exposed by Russia's February 24 invasion.

But a decision in favour of Ukraine's admission would only be a preliminary step in a long process.

All 27 EU governments would have to agree to grant Ukraine candidate status, after which there would be extensive talks on the reforms required before Kyiv could be considered for membership.

It comes as Ukrainian officials warned their armed forces were running dangerously low on ammunition, particularly shells for heavy artillery, in the battles raging in the eastern Donbas region as well as the country's south.

Governor of Ukraine's Mykolaiv region Vitaly Kim delivered a sombre warning today, saying Ukrainian artillery pieces on the southern front are down to their last munition reserves.

His comments echoed those made by deputy head of military intelligence Vadym Skibitsy yesterday, who declared Western allies must deliver more munitions and heavy weapons to fight fire with fire on the frontlines.

President of EU Commission Ursula von der Leyen (L) and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky (R) brief the press following their meeting in Kyiv, Ukraine, 11 June 2022

Von der Leyen (L) said her discussions with Zelensky (R) today 'will enable us to finalise our assessment by the end of next week' on whether to recommend Ukraine as a candidate for EU membership

The regional government building in the southern Ukrainian city of Mykolaiv is pictured after being hit by a Russian missile

Ukrainian officials warned their armed forces were running dangerously low on ammunition, particularly shells for heavy artillery, in the battle raging in the eastern Donbas region.

Local governor of Mykolaiv region Vitaly Kim said Ukrainian forces are running out of shells for their artillery pieces along the eastern and southern frontlines

The gutted remains of cars lie along a road during heavy fighting at the front line in Severodonetsk, Luhansk region, Ukraine, Wednesday, June 8, 2022

A Ukrainian soldier crouches on a position during heavy battles in the front line in Severodonetsk, the Luhansk region, Ukraine, Wednesday, June 8, 2022

Von der Leyen reminded Zelensky that, despite Ukraine's progress on administrative reforms and elsewhere, much still needed to be done before his country could be fully integrated into the EU.

'You have done a lot in strengthening the rule of law but there is still need for reforms to be implemented, to fight corruption for example,' she told a joint news conference earlier today.

Zelensky told the same briefing: 'All of Europe is a target for Russia, and Ukraine is just the first stage in this aggression.

'This is why a positive EU response to the Ukrainian application for membership can be a positive answer to the question of whether the European project has a future at all.'

Despite reservations among some member states, EU leaders are expected to approve Ukraine's candidate status at a summit on June 23-24, though with stern conditions attached.

Meanwhile on the frontlines in eastern and southern Ukraine, Mykolaiv regional governor Vitaly Kim stressed the urgent need for international military assistance.

'Russia's army is more powerful, they have a lot of artillery and ammo. For now, this is a war of artillery... and we are out of ammo,' he said.

His comments came just one day following those of Ukraine's deputy head of military intelligence Vadym Skibitsky, who implored Western allies to send more artillery and long-range missiles to keep Ukraine in the fight.

'Everything now depends on what [the West] gives us... Ukraine has one artillery piece to 10 to 15 Russian artillery pieces - we have almost used up all of our ammunition and are now using 155-calibre Nato standard shells,' he told The Guardian on Friday.

Commander of Ukraine's Svoboda National Guard Battalion Petro Kusyk also said artillery support would likely prove vital in the battle for industrial city Severodonetsk - the only remaining urban centre in the Luhansk region to be contested by Ukrainian fighters.

He said his men were drawing the Russians into street fighting in Severodonetsk to neutralise their artillery advantage.

'Yesterday was successful for us - we launched a counteroffensive and in some areas we managed to push them back one or two blocks. In others they pushed us back, but just by a building or two,' Kusyk said in a televised interview on Friday.

But the commander admitted his forces were suffering from a 'catastrophic' lack of counter-battery artillery to fire back at Russia's guns, and said that getting such weapons would transform the battlefield.

Ukraine is expected to provide a list of weapons and defensive equipment it requires at a meeting with NATO in Brussels on June 15, following US President Joe Biden's promise of advanced rocket systems and additional munitions last week.

Germany also said it would offer its most advanced air defence systems to help protect Ukrainian skies, while UK Defence Secretary Ben Wallace made a personal visit to Kyiv yesterday to speak with Ukrainian officials about their requests for additional weaponry.

A Friday report published by the Institute of War Studies said that effective use of artillery pieces and long-range weapons could prove the path to victory in Ukraine's east.

'As Ukrainian forces use the last of their stocks of Soviet-era weapon systems and munitions, they will require consistent Western support to transition to new supply chains of ammunition and key artillery systems,' the report said.

'Effective artillery will be increasingly decisive in the largely static fighting in eastern Ukraine.'

Bodies of civilians killed during shelling are pictured at a mass grave in the outskirts of Lysychansk in the eastern Ukraine region of Donbas on June 9, 2022, as Russian forces have for weeks been concentrating their firepower on Severodonetsk and its sister city of Lysychansk across the river

A Ukrainian soldier stands in a position during heavy fighting on the front line in Severodonetsk

Moscow has focused a brutal assault on the key eastern industrial city of Severodonetsk, which Luhansk regional governor Serhiy Haidai said earlier today had been 'ruined' by Russian forces.

'This is their tactics. People are not needed, the infrastructure is not needed, houses are not needed, everything should be simply ruined,' he said in an interview posted on his Telegram channel.

He declined to estimate the number of civilian victims, but said he expected the figure would be 'enormous and terrible'.

'Many people were buried in front of their houses' entrances. A shell from heavy artillery is tearing people up into bits and pieces,' he said.

He added: 'They lie like this for a day, three or four. It is impossible to take them out because there is constant shelling.'

Haidai also stated a Russian strike on a chemical plant in Severodonetsk had caused a large fire where hundreds of civilians where sheltering earlier today, but confirmed the fire had been successfully extinguished.

The fight for the key eastern city has become bloodiest battles of the war, with neither side delivering a knock-out blow in weeks of conflict that has pulverised chunks of the city.

Zelensky struck a defiant note today, delivering a brief speech denouncing Russia's actions in the Donbas and declaring that his armed forces would eventually succeed in their defence of their territory.

Moscow has denied targeting civilians, but both sides say they have inflicted mass casualties on each other's forces.

Meanwhile reports from around Ukraine - particularly from the decimated southern port city of Mariupol, suggest tens of thousands of civilians have died as a result of fighting and Russian bombardments.
The family of Brit facing the death penalty for fighting against Russia has slammed his 'illegal show trial' and said he is 'very proud' to have taken up arms for Ukraine.

Shaun Pinner's relatives said they were 'devastated and saddened at the outcome of the illegal show trial'.

They said: 'As a Ukrainian resident for over four years and contracted serving marine in the 36th Brigade, of which he is very proud, Shaun should be accorded all the rights of a prisoner of war according to the Geneva Convention and including full independent legal representation.

'We sincerely hope that all parties will co-operate urgently to ensure the safe release or exchange of Shaun.

Two British-born prisoners of war were forced to lie that they were terrorists in a Russian proxy court - as Ukraine offer a swap to get the death-sentenced pair back to safety

Shaun Pinner, 48, (left) and Aiden Aslin, 28, (right) admitted they were 'undergoing training with the aim of carrying out terrorist activities' in the so-called supreme court of Donetsk People's Republic (DPR)

British fighters captured while fighting in Ukraine were forced to beg for their lives in scripted phone calls to UK journalists by the Russian-backed separatists who are holding them captive. Pictured: Aiden Aslin (first left) and Shaun Pinner (second left)

'Our family, including his son and Ukrainian wife, love and miss him so much and our hearts go out to all the families involved in this awful situation.'

Boris Johnson has ordered ministers to do 'everything in their power' to secure the release of Pinner, 48, and fellow Brit Aiden Aslin, 28, after the pair were condemned to death in what the UK Government has described as a 'sham' sentencing.

Foreign Secretary Liz Truss discussed efforts to secure their release with her Ukrainian counterpart on Friday, after the judgement by a Russian proxy court.

British Army veteran Mr Pinner (right), from Watford, looked distraught in the caged dock as the sentence was read out on Thursday, while Mr Aslin (left), from Newark in Nottinghamshire, remained silent but composed

Larysa Pinner, a Ukrainian native, said her husband Shaun was a 'warrior' and warned that the 'circus' surrounding her husband's sentencing will be dragged out by Russia's propaganda machine for maximum effect

Pinner is a former Royal Anglian soldier originally from Bedfordshire

Pictured: Shaun Pinner (second right) is seen in this selfie, along with Aiden Aslin (second left)

Ukraine's ambassador to the UK, Vadym Prystaiko, suggested on Friday that negotiations for a possible prisoner swap with Moscow were under way, as it emerged Defence Secretary Ben Wallace had made a surprise visit to Kyiv for talks with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.

Ms Truss said she had spoken with Ukrainian foreign minister Dmytro Kuleba 'to discuss efforts to secure the release of prisoners of war held by Russian proxies'.

She tweeted: 'The judgement against them is an egregious breach of the Geneva Convention. The UK continues to back Ukraine against Putin's barbaric invasion.'

In a statement to the Newark Advertiser, a relative of Mr Aslin urged Britain and Ukraine to 'do everything in their power to have them returned to us safely, and soon'.

A former care worker, Mr Aslin (pictured left) moved to Ukraine after falling for his now-wife Diane (pictured right), who is originally from the city of Mykolaiv - found about 260 miles west of Mariupol, along the coast. She is reported to have moved to the UK to be with his family

Aiden (circled) was serving with Ukraine's 36th Marine Brigade, but his communication with the outside world via social media became increasingly sporadic as his team was surrounded by Russian forces bombarding the city of Mariupol

They said Mr Aslin and Mr Pinner 'are not, and never were, mercenaries' and should be treated as prisoners of war as they were fighting as part of the Ukrainian army.

The men were convicted of taking action towards violent seizure of power at a court in the self-proclaimed Donetsk People's Republic.

Britain argues that Mr Aslin, from Newark in Nottinghamshire, and Mr Pinner, from Bedfordshire, are legitimate members of the Ukrainian army and should therefore be treated as prisoners of war.

Foreign Secretary Liz Truss condemned the sentences as a 'sham judgment with absolutely no legitimacy' in a statement

A third man, Moroccan national Saaudun Brahim, was convicted alongside the Britons.

The men were accused of being 'mercenaries' after fighting with Ukrainian troops.

Interfax, a Russian news agency, claimed they would be able to appeal against their convictions.

Mr Aslin and Mr Pinner were both members of regular Ukrainian military units fighting in Mariupol, the southern port city which was the scene of some of the heaviest fighting since Vladimir Putin's invasion of Ukraine.

Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov said the convictions were 'guided by the laws of the Donetsk People's Republic', the breakaway state controlled by pro-Moscow separatists.

He said: 'Because these crimes were committed on the territory of the Donetsk People's Republic, all the rest is speculation.'
Police have arrested two men at Appleby Horse Fair today.

A 37-year-old man and a 24-year old man both from outside the county were arrested on suspicion of violent disorder.

Chief Superintendent Matt Kennerley said: 'Expert officers are actively reviewing CCTV footage with the aim of identifying offenders and making further arrests.

'A number of weapons, including sticks and bats of various types, as well as bladed weapons have also been seized by officers.

'There is no place at Appleby for those who travel here intent on disorder and violence  and that is a message which comes not just from the police but the local, settled community and the overwhelming majority of the Gypsy and Traveller community.'

Temporary chief superintendent Matt Kennerley of Cumbria Police said: 'We were very aware that local celebrations wanted to take place and we wanted to mitigate the impact of the migration into the county on those local celebrations'

Police previously had to issue a stop and search order at Appleby Horse Fair today over fears that weapons and drugs could be on site.

This weekend thousands of travellers from across Europe came to Cumbria for the 250-year-old Appleby Horse Fair.

Today Cumbria Police implemented a Section 60 and 60AA order in the town which allows officers to stop and search people without needing to suspect that they may be carrying weapons.

It also allows them to remove disguises, including face coverings, hoods and masks.

The order was given after police became aware of a group heading to Appleby this afternoon intending to cause trouble.

The historic horse fair dates back to 1685

Cumbria Police officers sealed off the road at Battlebarrow, to stop the group from getting to The Sands and the town centre.

The order began at 2.26pm today and will run for 24 hours.

Police said they made arrests for theft and drug driving and were called to the scene of a crash where a horse died and three people were injured before the fair started.

The incident was resolved and an investigation is now underway as officers work to identify those involved.

Superintendent Matt Kennerley of Cumbria Police said: 'Our officers acted swiftly to respond to the potential for disruption and prevent any escalation. We are working to identify those involved so action can be taken.

This is the first horse fair since the Covid pandemic impacted on the previous two years, with the fair being cancelled in 2020 and postponed in 2021

It takes place every year at the beginning of June but this year's was held a week later than planned after organisers delayed it to make way for the Queen's Platinum Jubilee celebrations

'The Section 60 and 60AA powers will help our officers to keep people safe. However, I also urge anyone with information about potential disorder or any other type of criminality to contact the police.

'Policing resources will be increased in key areas and at key times. In addition, people may see armed police in the Appleby area to allow such officers to respond swiftly and effectively to any potential situation that arises.

'Anyone who is seeking to come to the Fair to cause trouble or to be violent is not welcome. Such people should stay away so those who wish to enjoy an enjoyable and safe Fair are free to do so.'

The area which has been sealed off today by Cumbria Police for 24 hours

Some were concerned for their safety as the order to search for weapons went out

Local pubs closed for the week of the historic horse fair as organisers confirmed that at least 11 pubs in Appleby and Kirkby Stephen will not be open during the event.

Cumbria Police reminded motorists to drive cautiously in the area as many at the festival ride through the streets in horse-drawn carts.

Appleby Primary School, on Station Road also closed on June 10 because of the event.

Cumbria County Council said: 'The closure is due to the health and safety of pupils travelling to and from school during Appleby New Fair.'



Travellers during the Appleby Horse Fair, the annual gathering of gypsies and travellers

People ride horses in the River Eden, during the Appleby Horse Fair

A total of 30,000 visitors descend on the small town of Appleby-in-Westmorland for the annual four-day event.

Around 10,000 of these are members of the gypsy, Roma and traveller community, with the fair billed is the largest traditional gathering of the community in Europe.

Hundreds of caravans and horse-drawn carriages have moved into the town, while some have set up camp in nearby fields.
Customers order set menus at a McDonald's restaurant in Seoul on May 27, last year. Korea Times file



By Kim Jae-heun



McDonald's is moving to sell its Korean branches as more companies enter the overly-crowded fast food market here, the company said Friday. The U.S. fast food giant first attempted to dispose of its Korean business back in 2016 but failed to do so as potential buyers opted out, due to high sales prices and other reasons.



Mirae Asset Securities has been selected as a sales manager to find the new owner of McDonald's Korea, which has seen its profitability deteriorate, despite rising revenue, because of rising wages and higher raw materials costs, amid intensifying competition.



"McDonald's is looking for a strategic partner in Korea to improve the company's growth. We are working with an external consulting firm to review various options. We will provide more details on the sell off at the appropriate time," a McDonald's Korea official said.



McDonald's sales in Korea have actually increased from 724.8 billion won ($570.4 million) in 2019 to 867.8 billion won in 2021. This increase is only counting the revenue created from the restaurants McDonald's Korea directly managed, and if sales created with franchisees are included, the figure reaches over 1 trillion won. It is the largest sales achieved by the American fast food restaurant chain in Korea. Its operating losses reached 44 billion won in 2019, 48.3 billion won in 2020 and 27.7 billion won in 2021.



Various factors are attributable to McDonald's money-losing business in Korea. Higher delivery service fees here during COVID-19 have increased its business expenses, along with soaring costs of labor and raw materials.



In addition, McDonald's Korea has been paying brand royalty fees to its headquarters based on its sales achieved, not its profits. The local branch paid 50.1 billion won in 2020 and 54.3 billion won last year in royalty fees.



In 2016, Maeil Dairies and global private equity Carlyle formed a consortium to acquire McDonald's Korea, but the deal didn't go through.




Ghislaine Maxwell will ask to be transferred to a British prison to serve the bulk of her sentence for child sex trafficking, The Mail on Sunday understands.

The former socialite, who faces up to 55 years in jail after being convicted of procuring young girls for the late paedophile billionaire Jeffrey Epstein, will be sentenced on June 28.

Under US law, she will have to spend the first three years in an American prison, but can then apply to return to the UK to be closer to her family.

Maxwell, pictured, is facing 55 years in prison for her role in arranging young girls for Epstein

'Ghislaine will apply to serve out the remainder of her sentence, whatever that may be, in the UK as soon as she is able,' a source told The Mail on Sunday.

'She wants to be in the UK to be closer to her family so she can have family visits. The prisons in Britain are far superior to those in the US and the Brits treat prisoners more humanely. The American system is a disgrace.

'If she has to spend time in prison she would rather do it in the UK, where people are treated fairly and with a measure of decency.'

Maxwell was convicted in December of five counts of grooming and procuring underage girls for Epstein, who was found hanged in his prison cell in 2019.

For almost two years since her arrest in July 2020, she had been kept in solitary confinement at the maximum-security Metropolitan Detention Center in New York, because officials feared she would kill herself before her trial, but last month she was moved into an area with 40 other inmates.

Ghislaine Maxwell, right, is currently awaiting sentence having been convicted of trafficking young girls for a former boyfriend, paedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein, left

Maxwell's brother Ian, 66, revealed yesterday that he was prevented from visiting the 60-year-old after the prison went into lockdown following a fight. It remains in lockdown this weekend.

The daughter of shamed newspaper tycoon Robert Maxwell has British, American and French citizenship and has complained of being kept in 'inhumane' conditions in jail.

On one day recently she claims to have eaten only a boiled egg and three slices of processed cheese.

Maxwell is being held in the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn (pictured)

Sources also claim that she has been unable to prepare adequately for her sentencing hearing because the video link that allows her to view legal documents is not working properly, meaning that she was given just 60 minutes to review a 70-page report.

'She's not getting adequate access to the documents she needs to see,' said one insider.

More than a dozen of Epstein's victims say they intend to appear at the sentencing, including Virginia Giuffre, who earlier this year reached an out-of-court settlement with Prince Andrew after he consistently and vehemently denied her claims that he sexually abused her.
Eighty-two New York City school teachers were accused of submitting fake vaccine cards they allegedly acquired through a $1.5 million scheme run by a holistic pediatric center in Long Island.

In January, nurse practitioner Julie DeVuono, 49, and members of her staff were charged with dishing out fake vaccine cards to hundreds of customers at the Wild Child Pediatric Healthcare facility in Amityville, which offers natural remedies to patients.

Among their clients included 82 teachers in the city, who were charged $220 for each fake dose marked on their cards and were suspended without pay in April, the New York Post reported.

Several of the teachers, however, claimed they did get the vaccine properly from DeVuono's clinic as their union, the United Federation of Teachers, said it intends to sue the city's Department of Education over the suspensions.

Eighty-two New York City school teachers were accused of submitting fake vaccine cards (pictured) they allegedly purchased from nurse Julie DeVuono

Police said the cards were purchased at the Wild Child Pediatric Healthcare facility in Amityville (pictured), which offers natural remedies to patients

DeVuono, 49 (left), who owns the Long Island clinic, was charged with forgery and offering a false instrument for filing for fake vaccination cards. Practical nurse and Wild Child Pediatrics employee, Marissa Urraro, 44 (right), was also charged with forgery

Police found $900,000 in cash inside NYPD-issued helmet bags in DeVuono's home

Three of the suspended teachers, from Queens, speaking with Post under the condition of anonymity, said they did receive the required number of shots of Pfizer's vaccine from DeVuono.

When asked about the exuberant fees they paid, as the vaccine was distributed to Americans without cost, the teachers said they were paying for a 'detox' treatment.

'We did not pay for the vaccination itself or the card,' one of the teacher, who works with students with disabilities, said.

'It helped detox my body from all the unnecessary stuff in that shot.'

The teacher said she was wary that the vaccine would have an effect on her because of an underlying autoimmune disorder, but said she trusted the pills and medication DeVuono allegedly charged her for.

Another teacher told the Post that it was wrong of the Department of Education to believe her vaccine card was fake just because others had purchased fraudulent cards from the Wild Child Pediatric Healthcare center.

'I'm being lumped in with what other people did, having nothing to do with me.'

Paralegal Betsy Combier, who is helping defend the accused teachers, also slammed the state, which called on all teachers and city employees to get fully vaccinated in order to keep their jobs.

'This is a blatant example of the department's pattern and practice to find guilt first, and innocence second,' Combier told the Post. 'No facts available show fraud on their part.'

The Department of Education referred its statement to the city Law Department, which called the teacher's lawsuit 'baseless.'

'The New York State Department of Health's Vaccination Complaint Investigations Team continues to work closely with the Suffolk County DA's Office and other law enforcement to actively investigate and prosecute to the full extent of the law anyone who created, distributed, purchased, or used fraudulent proof of Covid-19 vaccination from Wild Child Pediatrics,' department spokesman Jeffrey Hammond said in a statement.

DeVuono's husband, Derin, an NYPD officer, is now facing an internal probe after money was found in NYPD-issued helmet bags

When police searched the DeVuono household, they found a ledger (pictured) that appeared to show the women made $1.5million in three months time

DeVuono, who owns the Long Island clinic, and her employees Marissa Urraro, 44, a practical nurse, and Brooke Hogan, 30, a receptionist, are accused of selling fake vaccination cards after undercover detectives obtained one 'on one or more occasions.'

DeVuono allegedly charged $220 for adults and $85 for children to enter falsified information to the New York State Immunization Information System - reportedly making $1.5 million in just three months, according to CBS New York.

Despite receiving vaccines and syringes being sent to the practice from the government, patients never received a vaccine.

When police searched DeVuono's home in Amityville, they found $900,000 in cash, some of it found in NYPD-issued helmet bags, sources told the New York Daily News, drawing suspicion to her husband Derin, a police officer at Brooklyn's 60th Precinct.

Both nurse practitioners have been charged with forgery, and DeVuono for offering a false instrument for filing.

Derin has been placed under an internal investigation to see if he was involved in his wife's fraudulent business.
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Baby Holly's biological aunt has revealed their 'miraculous' reunion 40 years after her parents were murdered in the woods and she was abducted by a cult then abandoned at a church.

In an exclusive interview with DailyMail.com, Cheryl Clouse also revealed how her brother - Holly's father - joined a Christian cult as a teenager but left after two weeks and returned home 'barefoot' and in a robe.

Holly is the daughter of Harold Dean Clouse and Tina Gail Linn, a married teenage couple who vanished in 1980 after moving from Florida to Texas when Holly was less than a year old. For decades, Cheryl and the rest of her family believed they had gone off-grid with a religious group. Last year, they learned that the pair had been murdered 40 years ago and their bodies dumped in woods in Houston.

It was the result of a genetic genealogy breakthrough by a group of scientists who wanted to identify a couple known as 'The Houston Does' whose bodies were found by a dog in 1981.

While her parents were murdered, Holly was abducted by a group of women who wore white robes and traveled as a religious group. They dropped her off unharmed at a church in Arizona and she was raised happily by an adoptive family, only discovering last week that her birth parents had been brutally murdered.

Speaking this weekend, Cheryl, a 62-year-old nurse who lives in Alabama, told of the moment she, her sisters and her mother found out that their beloved 'Junior', as they called her brother, had been killed - and of their astonishment at learning his daughter may still be alive.

'It is such an amazing miracle that we found her. The whole family is so happy and relieved. Our hearts are still healing but we're so, so happy that we found her. And that she is alive, she has a family, and she survived. Nothing terrible happened to her. Hallelujah and Amen... we have Holly,' she said.

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'Baby Holly' is no 42 (left) and lives in Oklahoma. She is shown holding up a photo of her parents, taken not long before they were murdered in 1980. Her aunt Cheryl Clouse, right, spoke with DailyMail.com about the family's emotional reunion and how they now hope to find the cult killers responsible for ripping the family apart

They had their first Zoom call as a family this week, and Cheryl hopes they will meet in person in the future.

'It was exciting. I was very anxious. My heart was racing, it was delightful to meet her and we all took turns at letting her know who we were in the family.

'Mom went first saying she's her grandma. It was exciting to talk to her and see her.

'She looks like her mother. She has her nose, chin, lips, smile, and then when I heard her voice, she sounded like Tina. It's very exciting.

'Our hope is to meet Holly in person and that she will allow our family to meet her and just love on her and be a part of her family. We want to pour the love on her, she needs it.'

. Our hearts are still healing but we're so, so happy that we found her. And that she is alive, she has a family, and she survived. Nothing terrible happened to her. Hallelujah and Amen... we have Holly

The family are also hopeful that Dean and Tina's killers will be found and brought to justice.

'There's a very good chance these people may still be alive. That's my prayer. Maybe not all of them are but at least one or two of them and that justice is served,' she said.

The family's hope that they were alive was fueled for years by a mysterious 1981 interaction with a cult member who called herself Sister Susan, several months after the family stopped hearing from them.

Susan called Cheryl and Dean's mother from California, telling her they had all joined a cult and no longer needed their car. She offered to drive it back to Florida in exchange for $1,000, but said they would never hear from Dean or Tina again.

They believed her because it wasn't Dean's first experience with religious groups; years earlier, before he married Tina, he had disappeared with a cult for several weeks.

Harold Dean Clouse and Tina Gail Linn met as teenagers. They got married when Tina was 15 and pregnant with Holly, then moved to Texas before she was one so that Dean could get a better-paying carpenter job. Cheryl says they were both 'sweet', kind' but too trusting of strangers

Holly is shown as a baby, aged 10 months, in one of the last photos that Tina sent to the Clouse family before she was murdered

'There were some times as a young adult when he'd go off for days.

'I can't remember how long he was gone when he was a teenager and had been connected with these cult members but I do vividly remember when he came home because I was outside at the house in Florida.

He didn't talk a lot about it, he just said it was a group that was learning about Jesus and faith and something that he wanted to research. 'He never explained to me why he decided to leave. I know it would have been rough. They travelled around, they'd get their food begging... He was glad to me home. He was only 15 or 16 Cheryl Clouse, on her brother's involvement with a cult as a teenager

'I looked down the street and I couldn't tell it was him until he got closer to me. It was a young man walking with a long robe on. He was barefoot or he had sandals on, I think he was barefoot.

'As he got closer I realized 'oh my gosh that's Junior!' I went yelling for him and he came back.

'I was very surprised and kind of taken aback that he would do that just go off and join this group. He didn't talk a lot about it, he just said it was a group that was learning about Jesus and faith and something that he wanted to research.

'He never explained to me why he decided to leave. I know it would have been rough. They travelled around, they'd get their food begging... He was glad to me home. He was only 15 or 16 so he was very young but he liked helping people and he liked adventure and he was trustworthy,' she said.

Cheryl told of another incident when Dean was a teenager when he brought three homeless and unkempt cult members into their family house.

'My mom was very upset when she got home.

'It was a man and a woman and a child. The way they appeared and everything... but my brother just said 'mom it's OK, they're just out on their luck. Let's give them some peanut butter sandwiches and they'll be on their way. So she did, and they left.'

Cheryl believes her brother and Tina - who was a friend of the family and often visited their home - were both too trusting of strangers.

She says her brother became involved with the cult after being approached by members in the street.

Dean (top center) was eight when this photo was taken a year after his father died in 1967. Cheryl (bottom left) was a year younger. Their mother Donna (right) raised five of them alone after her husband died from organ failure caused by lupus. She remarried later and had another child

Dean is shown, center, as a teenager. His sister says he took on a protector role after the death of his father and 'stepped up' to look after the women in the family before joining a cult when he was 15. He returned home one day after having disappeared for weeks and was 'barefoot'

In 1980, they moved to Texas after wedding when Tina was pregnant with Holly. Dean was a carpenter and was offered a better-paying job. Holly was only eight months old at the time. They kept in touch for the first several months then in October 1980, the letters stopped.

'Tina wrote a letter to my mom a letter and sent some photos of baby Holly Marie. She was 10 months old.

'They lived with an uncle on my father's side then they had an apartment in Leesville. All of us were very concerned [when the contact] stopped and wondering why there were no more letters there was a lot of concern. They weren't calling or writing or anything.

'They had fallen out of touch with the uncle once they moved to their apartment. Mom never got any calls from the uncle saying he hadn't seen them after time went by of course we became more and more concerned.

'Every year, my mom tried to have someone track his social security number to see if it was ever used.'

In 1981, her mother received the call from Sister Susan offering the car back.

'She said she had Dean and Tina's car, and would return it to Florida. She said they were their family now, that they had joined their cult, and they wanted nothing to do with us. They had given up their worldly possessions and can't speak to us ever again.

'My mother arranged for them to bring the car, they wanted to meet at midnight and my mom was very suspicious. Her boyfriend was too. They wanted $1,000 to bring the car back. They arranged the meeting then her boyfriend called the police. They met them that night.'

At that meeting, the police officer questioned the cult members but had to let them go because, she said, there was nothing to hold them on suspicion of.

Susan looked to be no older than 30, she said, and she had with her two much younger girls.

'They didn't suspect any foul play at that time so there was no reason to keep them.'

For the next 40 years, the family held out hope that all three were alive. It wasn't until their bodies were identified last year that they discovered Dean and Tina had been dead for decades.

'He had joined [a cult] before, we thought maybe this was real. We always thought that the three of them were out there somewhere and that they would come home like he always did. When we were told they were identified that hope was shattered. It's still hard. The whole family is still healing. It was such a brutal way to pass.'

Dean's mother Donna is shown visiting where his body was found in woods in Texas (left) and visiting his grave in Texas last year (right). Every year for forty years, she would contact the authorities to ask if anyone had used his social security number in the hope that he was alive, completely unaware that he had been murdered months after leaving home

Medical examiners had previously studied the bodies when they were unidentified determined that Dean had been beaten to death and Tina had been strangled.

Immediately after learning that her brother and sister-in-law were dead, Cheryl said her thoughts turned to Holly and what became of her.

Tina (above) was 'sweet, soft and gentle' said Cheryl. She says her daughter looks like her and sounds like her

'We always held out hope that she was alive but you always had in the back of your mind, what if somebody stole her? That's the big thing. Babies are always stolen and back then it was easier to take a baby and raise them as your own or black-market them or anything like that.

'We always held out hope that she was alive out there somewhere.'

The Texas Attorney General's Office, with the help of Identifinders International and Family History Detectives - who identified the bodies - began investigating the case.

It led them to Holly, who lives now in Oklahoma and has a family of her own.

She always knew she was adopted, Cheryl revealed to DailyMail.com, but is now overwhelmed with the brutal reality of what happened to her biological parents.

'We've had eight months digesting how Dean and Tina passed. We've had time for that and she hasn't.

'They walked into the place where she works and told her who she really is. She knew she had been adopted she needs time and the family wants to honor that,' she said.

The Texas Attorney General's Office Cold Case Unit continues to investigate the case. It remains unclear how many tips have come in since Holly was found earlier this week.

At a press conference earlier this week, First Assistant Attorney General Brent Webster revealed that the women who dropped Holly off at the church didn't believe in men and women living together.

He said they also made reference to dropping a different child off at a laundromat.

'The beliefs of their religion included the separation of male and female members, practicing vegetarian habits and not using or wearing leather goods,' Webster said.

Now, investigators want to know whether or not they abducted other babies and killed other parents.

The investigation into the murders of Holly's biological parents, Tina and Dean Clouse, is ongoing and, if anyone has information about their deaths, please contact the Texas Attorney General's Cold Case and Missing Persons Unit at coldcaseunit@oag.texas.gov.
By Harriet Johnson for MailOnline

Prince William and Kate Middleton are 'modern parents' who use 'emotional intelligence' to discipline Prince George, Princess Charlotte and 'mischievous' Prince Louis, a royal expert has claimed.

Royal fans went wild after the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge were joined by their three children at various Jubilee celebrations last weekend, with four-year-old Louis' antics stealing the show.

And now royal expert Jennie Bond has explained how the couple are 'making a good job of giving their children as much of a normal upbringing as possible.'

Speaking to Okay! magazine, she said: 'I've read that they have a very modern way of parenting where, instead of putting your child on the naughty step, you allow your child to explain why they feel how they do and have a conversation about it so they can express themselves and calm down that way.

Prince William and Kate Middleton are 'modern parents' who use 'emotional intelligence' to discipline Prince George, Princess Charlotte and 'mischievous' Prince Louis, a royal expert has claimed

Royal expert Jennie Bond has explained how the couple are 'making a good job of giving their children as much of a normal upbringing as possible'

'The result seems to be that they are children who are broadly well behaved. Louis didn't misbehave over the Jubilee, but he was mischievous as four year olds are.'

Her comments come after royal fans went wild for the moment Prince William comforted his daughter Princess Charlotte after she appeared to grow tired during the Platinum Pageant at Buckingham Palace on Sunday.

The Duke of Cambridge reached over to brush his daughter's hair behind her shoulder and whispered a comforting word in her ear after she grew restless in the royal box.

Charlotte, seven, who attended the event with her brothers George, eight, and Louis, four, rubbed her eyes and looked despondent at one point.

There was one moment when seven-year-old Princess Charlotte, who has become a favourite of royal fans thanks to her sassy personality, looked tired and her father had to step in to cheer her up at the Platinum Jubilee pageant event outside Buckingham Palace

Charlotte was seen with her head down looking sleepy and wiping her eyes and her loving father William then stroked her hair as he bent down to speak to her and cheer her up

The moment occurred in the royal box while the Cambridges watched the Platinum Jubilee pageant with their family

The moment proved a hit with fans who praised the Duke of Cambridge for being a thoughtful, hands-on father.

In the clip shared by royal watchers on Twitter, Charlotte, whose hair was pulled back into two plaits, was seen with her head down looking sleepy and wiping her eyes.

Her loving father William then stroked her hair as he bent down to speak to her and cheer her up.

She appeared to nod her head afterwards, then wiping her nose with her arm, reassured by her father's words.

Sunday's pageant, which marked the finale of the four-day Platinum Jubilee celebrations, was attended by a host of royals including the Cambridge family and rounded off a busy weekend for little Charlotte.

Princess Charlotte, Prince George, the Duke of Cambridge (second row) Mia Tindall, Lena Tindall, Zara Tindall, (third row centre) Labour leader Keir Starmer sat in the royal box during the Platinum Jubilee Pageant in front of Buckingham Palace, London, on the last day of celebrations

After the pageant, the Queen, Prince Charles, The Duchess of Cornwall, Prince George, Princess Charlotte, Prince William, Prince Louis and the Duchess of Cambridge appeared on the balcony

She had spent the day before at a visit to Cardiff Castle with her mother and father and brother George, meeting performers ahead of a special Platinum Jubilee concert in the grounds.

The seven-year-old was seen giggling and dancing along to Disney hit 'We Don't Talk About Bruno' from Encanto.

She also tried her hand at conducting performers as her laughing family watched on.

But her day did not end there, with Charlotte attending a Saturday night concert outside Buckingham Palace with her mother, father and George.

The clip of Charlotte being comforted by her father was in stark contrast to other footage of her giving her brother Louis a dressing down. Throughout the Platinum Jubilee celebrations, he was pictured making funny faces and being cheeky and she appeared to scold him on multiple occasions

Throughout the concert, which started at 8pm, the camera panned to the youngsters in the royal box, sometimes singing and dancing and often waving flags as they watched a star-studded line up including Sam Ryder and Diana Ross with their parents the Duke, 39, and Duchess of Cambridge, 40.

William and Kate's youngest child Prince Louis, three, did not attend Sunday's event, after putting on an adorable display of cheeky faces and speaking animatedly to his great-grandmother on the first day of her Platinum Jubilee celebrations at an RAF flypast last Thursday.

There were mixed reactions to Charlotte and George online as many thought that they were well-behaved, considering that the event had started at 8pm and the family attended after visiting Cardiff Castle to watch preparations for another concert within the grounds.

Charlotte and George also attended a Saturday night concert for the Platinum Jubilee, with mixed reactions online. Many said they were well-behaved but others said they looked bored and tired after such a busy day

But others thought they looked bored and tired, watching the concert after such a jam-packed day.

The young family sat alongside the Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall at the event.

Prince George was filmed belting out the lyrics to Sweet Caroline as Sir Rod Stewart performed on stage in one of many adorable moments at the star-studded concert.

One person wrote: 'Lovely celebrations eh, Charlotte and George looked adorbs during the concert.' Meanwhile, another person quipped: 'Charlotte and George are such a mood'.

Camilla Duchess of Cornwall, Prince Charles, Queen Elizabeth II, Prince George, Prince William, Princess Charlotte, Prince Louis, and Kate Duchess of Cambridge appear on the balcony of Buckingham Palace during the Platinum Jubilee Pageant

And others celebrated the young royals, calling them 'exceptional' and saying that they did the Queen proud.

Another person penned: 'It was an amazing night in every sense of the word' and remarked on the fact that the experience of watching the show would be a 'wow' experience for them.

Even social media users worldwide enjoyed the concert, with one Canadian tweeter writing: 'That was a beautifully produced show. We are loving it here in Canada. Little George was adorable. and so is Charlotte. They are such a lovely family.'

Charlotte, George and their parents were filmed waving their flags and having fun during Saturday night's Platinum Jubilee concert

A separate commenter wrote: 'I love how Prince George and Princess Charlotte sang along with their parents.'

Charlotte was also filmed giving her younger brother Louis a dressing down during several events in the Platinum Jubilee celebrations.

And even Prince George, eight, isn't immune from his sister's bossiness, with a video showing the future king being told how to pose on the balcony - and immediately heeding Charlotte's instructions.

In a clip from Sunday's Platinum Pageant, shared on Twitter by royal watchers, Charlotte is seen pushing Louis' arm down and away from his mouth, to stop him from sucking his fingers.

Sunday's event was the last of the four-day Platinum Jubilee celebrations and attended by all three Cambridge children and their mother and father

She then appears to brandish her fist at her younger brother, perhaps warning him against sucking his fingers again.

At this point, their mother Kate Middleton steps in, and whispers something to Charlotte.

Undeterred by the ticking off, Louis then mocks his old sister, brandishing his own fist in the same way, before his mother gently pushes his arm back onto his lap.

Sunday's pageant, which marked the finale of the four-day Platinum Jubilee celebrations, was the last event attended by the Cambridge children.

The royal box was filled with dignitaries, members of the royal family and politicians and cabinet members at the Platinum Jubilee pageant

The interchange Louis had with Charlotte was not the only funny moment of the restless royal captured on camera at the event.

Four-year-old Louis was also seen pulling faces during the pageant, and gesturing at his mother Kate Middleton.

At one point, he even stuck his hand over her mouth, presumably in an attempt to make her stop talking.
The mother and grandmother of a 9-year-old girl have been charged with murder after the she died from a severe lice infection.

Sandra Kraykovich, 38, and 64-year-old Elizabeth Kraykovich, the mother and grandmother of the unidentified child have been arrested in Arizona and charged with first-degree murder, LawandCrime.com reported.

The pair were arrested for child abuse after emergency personnel responded to their Tucson home on March 22 and found the girl unresponsive with 'a large amount of bugs on her face,' court documents said.

In an interview with police Sandra Kraykovich (pictured) admitted that 'if she had sought medical care, (her daughter) would probably still be alive'

64-year-old Elizabeth Kraykovich (pictured) and her daughter Sandra were both charged with first-degree murder

Emergency personnel told investigators that 'upon closer inspection it was discovered that there was an enormous amount of lice in her hair'.

Authorities say text messages prove the girl's mother was aware she was ill but did not seek medical care because of the lice.

During an interview with police, Sandra said her daughter suffered from anemia, vomiting, fever, headaches, and had trouble keeping her balance.

According to one of Sandra's older children told police that her mother had attempted to treat the her younger sister's lice using mouthwash.

Phone records show that Sandra texted her boyfriend on March 14 and 15, aware that her daughter needed medical attention and on March 21 police say Sandra texted her boyfriend: 'OMG babe. Listen I'm in my room and my mom called me. (redacted) was asking if I could check on her to make sure she isn't dying.'

The murder charge comes after the women were arrested for child abuse after emergency personnel responded to their Tucson home on March 22 and found the girl unresponsive with 'a large amount of bugs on her face,'

Despite her boyfriend tell her to take the sick girl to the hospital, Sandra refused, police said.

The girl's grandmother was also aware of how bad her condition is, threatening to call 911 as she watched her and her daughter's other children, but ultimately decided against it, texting Sandra that the girl 'can't go to the ER with her hair but that's left to me because you not home.'

According to an autopsy, the young girl died of anemia connected to an infection from lice infestation and that malnutrition contributed to her death.

The Pima County Medical Examiner determined that the nine-year-old's cause of death was neglect.

Following the mother and grandmother's initial arrest for child abuse Sandra's 11 and 13 year-old children were placed in the custody of family members after police determined they were also suffering from a lice infestation.

Police said that during an Sandra admitted that her negligence led to her youngest child's death, telling officer that 'if she had sought medical care, (her daughter) would probably still be alive,' according to an affidavit.
The Queen has been holding secret talks with the Duke of York and senior members of the Royal Family about how they can help Prince Andrew rebuild his life away from the public gaze.

The Duke will tomorrow attend the annual Order of the Garter ceremony and a senior Palace source confirmed meetings are underway behind the scenes to find a new role for him away from the spotlight.

The Queens second son was stripped of his military titles and HRH status in January as he prepared to face sexual abuse allegations, which he has always vehemently denied, in a civil lawsuit.

Prince Andrew, the Duke of York was stripped of his military titles and HRH status in January as he faced sexual abuse allegations Pictured: The Queens second son enjoying a horse ride in the sunshine in Windsor yesterday

He agreed to pay a sum reportedly up to 12 million to settle the case.

With the legal battle now over, the Queen has held family meetings at Windsor Castle to establish what role the Duke could fulfil that would be acceptable to the public.

Clearly at some point soon, thought will have to be given as to how to support the Duke as, away from the public gaze, he seeks slowly to rebuild his life in a different direction, said the senior Palace source.

While it is understood that Andrew  seen out horse-riding at Windsor yesterday  is determined to keep his Royal Lodge estate, one option could be for him to rebuild his life in Scotland.

The Palace source added: There is, of course, a real awareness and sensitivity to public feelings. There is also recognition that the task of starting to support him as he begins to rebuild his life will be the first step on a long road and one that should not be played out every day in the glare of the public spotlight.

The Duke  who was absent from the Queens Platinum Jubilee celebrations last weekend after contracting Covid  remains a member of the historic Order of the Garter and will attend its annual ceremony at Windsor.

Pictured: Queen Elizabeth II and the Duke of York arrive at a Service of Thanksgiving for the life of the Duke of Edinburgh

The Mail on Sunday understands that concerns remain within the Palace that any return to public life would be badly received and that the Queen will not reverse her decision to ban Andrew from official duties.

At the time, a statement said: With The Queens approval and agreement, The Duke of Yorks military affiliations and Royal patronages have been returned to The Queen.

News of the discussions on Andrews future comes as he was branded an absolute fool for becoming embroiled in a fresh row over money.

French socialite Isabelle de Rouvre  who at one time was owed millions of pounds by Andrew after selling her ski chalet in the Swiss resort of Verbier to him  made the comment amid new claims that he is involved in a 1.6 million debt battle connected to the property.
President Joe Biden surveyed New Mexico wildfires from on board Air Force One Saturday before touching down in Albuquerque for a briefing in Santa Fe on the massive blazes.

'There's an expression where I came from. God made man and then he made firefighters,' Biden said at the top of his briefing State Emergency Operations Center. 'They're all crazy,' he added, garnering laughs.

Reporters on board Air Force One were able to see billowing smoke coming from several active blazes and also chunks of charred landscape.

The president remarked that 'Air Force One is so damn big we couldn't go in' so the presidential aircraft flew the perimeter.

A group of New Mexico residents sued the U.S. Forest Service this week arguing the federal government didn't disclose information about controlled burns that turned into the biggest New Mexico fire.

'99.8 per cent go as planned, but this time, practically, it did not,' the president admitted.

More than 600,000 acres in New Mexico have burned, gobbling up 1,200 homes.

'Today I am announcing the federal government is covering 100 per cent of the cost,' the president said.

President Joe Biden surveyed wildfires over New Mexico before getting briefed on the ongoing threat in Santa Fe Saturday. Reporters on board Air Force One with the president were allowed to capture the billowing smoke coming from several hillsides

Air Force One flew over several sites in New Mexico where wildfires were currently burning

A view out Air Force One's window of wildfires in New Mexico. The president stopped in his state on his way back to Delaware from Los Angeles, where he has been since Wednesday hosting the Summit of the Americas

President Joe Biden said the federal government will pick up '100 per cent of the cost' of the New Mexico wildfires during a visit to the State Emergency Operations Center in Sante Fe Saturday

President Joe Biden (right) hugged New Mexico's Democratic Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham (left) upon arrival at Kirtland Air Force Base in Albuquerque, New Mexico

Biden's commitment came after Democratic Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham pressed Biden - and the federal government - to take responsibility for the disaster.

'President Biden, I want to personally thank you on behalf of the people of this great state for standing together with us here today,' she said at the top of the briefing.

'This is now the largest fire in our long history and while wildfires have occurred since time immemorial, this one was not caused naturally,' she noted.

Lujan Grisham credited the Biden administration for leaning in from the very beginning.

'Not only identifying how the fire was caused, by actions of U.S. Forest Service, but recognizing that we need to do things differently together.'

'We are grateful for that assistance, we are grateful for the investments that you continue to make in the state to make sure that we are as safe as possible,' she added.

She then asked the feds to pony up the cost.

'But this is why, I think we need the federal government to keep accepting responsibility and I know that you have been reviewing our requests to cover 100 percent of the costs of the fire-related recovery effort,' Lujan Grisham said, adding it would cover things like debris removal and watershed protection.

'Mr. President I want to say a couple more things. It's really more than all of that work we need to do together. We don't want to lose sight of the fact that 1,200 homes were burned, hundreds of thousands of acres of farm and grazing land destroyed and many family businesses lost. It's about the blood and sweat of generations of New Mexicans who work the land, who fed their families and raised their children - all of that just went up in smoke,' she added.

At the next stop, in a control room that showed active fires and flight missions, Biden said he wished that people could be repaid 100 per cent for the loss of their homes.

He said a bill sitting in Congress would allow that. 'I'm strongly supporting it,' the president noted.

'So you can get complete reimbursement to rebuild your home as it was, your ranch as it was,' Biden explained. 'We are doing that in areas where I have authority to have 100 per cent reimbursement,' but he added that Congress would still need to act.

'I hope that you're aware that we are meeting our responsibility,' Biden said.

The president also talked about how the U.S. needed to build back greener after a natural disaster strikes.

'I want to promise you - windmills do not cause cancer,' he said, reusing a vintage anti-Trump joke.

Former President Donald Trump would go on tirades against windmills, alleging they caused cancer and murdered 'many bald eagles.'

After addressing Emergency Operations workers, Biden met privately with first resoinders and then with families who've been impacted by the blazes.

President Joe Biden talks to responders at the State Emergency Operations Center in Santa Fe, New Mexico on Saturday

The Hermits Peak fire, which is currently the largest in New Mexico, is now 66 per cent contained, the White House said Saturday, ahead of Biden's meetings.

There are now more than 4,000 wildfire personnel on the ground in the state fighting the blazes.

'You only protect firefighters with more firefighters,' Biden said twice at the New Mexico events.

The president approved a disaster declaration in early May.

Upon Biden's arrival he hugged Lujan Grisham and grabbed the hand of Interior Secretary Deb Haaland, who was masked after recovering from a recent bout of COVID.

As the president stepped off Air Force One in Albuquerque, it was a balmy 99 degrees.

President Joe Biden spoke to reporters Saturday morning from the tarmac at LAX encouraging March for Our Lives attendees to 'keep marching'

Biden made the New Mexico stop after spending three days in Los Angeles for the Summit of the Americas, the U.S.-hosted gathering of the leaders of North, Central and South American nations.

While there, Biden also attended two high-dollar fundraisers in Brentwood and Beverly Hills, and did a sit-down with late-night host Jimmy Kimmel.

On Saturday morning, after arriving at LAX on Marine One, Biden took questions from reporters including on the March for Our Lives, which was taking place in Washington, D.C.

'Keep marching - it's important,' he said. 'This has to become an election issue - the way people listen, senators, congressmen, is when people say this affects my vote.'

He also said he was 'mildly optimistic' about the Senate's ongoing discussions on gun reform.

The president also told reporters he hadn't made up his mind about taking a trip to Saudi Arabia.

After he departs New Mexico Saturday he'll head home to Wilmington, Delaware for the rest of the weekend.
Ministers are to bolster their plans to send migrants on a one-way ticket to Rwanda, despite Prince Charles privately describing the idea as appalling.

Home Secretary Priti Patel will this week launch an advertising blitz directed at migrants to warn that if they enter the UK they could be sent straight to the African country.

The campaign comes as she faces the second round of a legal battle to ground the first flight containing 31 asylum seekers, which is due to leave on Tuesday.

The Mail on Sunday understands Ms Patel intends to overhaul laws on modern slavery to stop them being used by Left-wing lawyers to block deportations in future.

She is also examining whether to cut funding to United Nations bodies which engage in legal action against the British Government.

The Daily Mail revealed yesterday that Charles had privately condemned Ms Patels Rwanda plan, which he fears will overshadow the Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting in Kigali, the Rwandan capital, on June 23.

Home Secretary Priti Patel will this week launch an advertising blitz directed at migrants to warn that if they enter the UK they could be sent straight to the African country

Ms Patel declined to comment on the report. She is known to be on friendly terms with the Prince and is a frequent visitor to Clarence House.

Charles, who will be representing the Queen, will be joined at the summit by Boris Johnson. Sources have claimed the pairs personal relationship is occasionally fractious.

On Friday, campaigners failed in a High Court bid to halt the first Rwandan flight, with Mr Justice Swift deciding that there was a material public interest in Ms Patel being able to carry out her policies. The Home Secretary praised the judgment, while Mr Johnson described it as welcome news.

Yesterday Mark Serwotka, head of the Public and Commercial Services Union, which brought the case along with several migration charities, refused to rule out his Border Force staff boycotting the Rwanda policy.

Ms Patel hopes that the advertising campaign will help to stem the flood of migrants across the Channel, with more than 10,000 people having made the journey so far this year

Migrants travelling through Europe will be targeted with Facebook and Instagram adverts in their native languages, warning them that even if they survive the dangerous crossing to the UK they might not even get to remain here.

Ministers are to bolster their plans to send migrants on a one-way ticket to Rwanda, despite Prince Charles privately describing the idea as appalling

One, above a picture of an overloaded dinghy in front of the white cliffs of Dover, reads: Arrive illegally in the UK and you could be leaving for Rwanda.

Another, showing a migrant behind a metal fence, warns that new measures will make it harder for you to reach and remain in the UK.

The campaign aims to counter claims by people-trafficking gangs that the arrangement with Rwanda is nothing but a scare tactic or empty threat.

The Modern Slavery Act 2015 was introduced by Theresa May before she became Prime Minister and aimed to tackle what she described as the great human rights issue of our time.

It was designed to help the 10,000 people in the UK who were then estimated to be victims of labour exploitation or sex trafficking, or living in domestic servitude.

However, it has increasingly been used by lawyers to lodge injunctions against the deportation of migrants. An independent reviewer will be appointed to examine reforms to the system.

The campaign aims to counter claims by people-trafficking gangs that the arrangement with Rwanda is nothing but a scare tactic or empty threat

A Whitehall source said: Child rapists, people who pose a threat to national security and illegal migrants who have travelled to the UK from safe countries have sought modern slavery referrals, which have prevented and delayed their removal or deportation.

It is imperative that this system is fixed quickly, and for good. Unless we make drastic reforms, the true victims of modern slavery will continue suffer with excessive decision-making periods, and a system that rewards those who seek only to exploit it.

Britain last year gave nearly 80 million to the UN refugee agency, UNHCR, which gave evidence during Fridays court case arguing that the Rwanda scheme failed to meet the required standards of legality and appropriateness for transferring asylum seekers from one country to another.

The Whitehall source added: Should taxpayers money be used to help block Government policy?

The Daily Mail revealed yesterday that Charles had privately condemned Ms Patels Rwanda plan

Ms Patel said: Evil criminal gangs are putting profit over people by facilitating dangerous and illegal small boat crossings. We have a duty to warn people of the consequences of these journeys, and expose the lies sold to vulnerable migrants by inhumane people smugglers.

People should be in no doubt of our message here: Britain is closed for business to people-traffickers.

Charles has been branded the meddling prince in the past for giving his opinion to Ministers. In 2015, a series of letters he sent to former PM Tony Blair and other Government figures, dubbed the Black Spider Memos because of the Princes distinctive handwriting, were published following a decade-long legal battle.

Clarence House insists Prince Charles remains politically neutral, with sources saying they genuinely did not recognise the suggestion he had fallen out with the Prime Minister.

PROFESSOR RICHARD EKINS: Endless bids to halt Rwanda deportations are yet more proof that the Human Rights Act undermines democracy

The Human Rights Act has been part of our law for more than two decades. But I'm sorry to say it is a blot on our democracy and Parliament should repeal it now  or at the least amend it sharply.

The problem is not that human rights and democracy are incompatible. Of course not.

Every decent political community takes rights seriously, recognising limits on what we can reasonably do to one another while enabling each person to be free and to flourish where possible.

But this does not mean decisions about how best to protect human rights should be made by courts.

The problem with the 1998 Human Rights Act, the brainchild of the Blair government, is that it turns political questions about what the law should be, decided by Parliament, into legal questions for the courts settled by unelected judges.

As the current controversy over the Government's Rwanda deportation policy shows, the clearest example of this is with immigration and asylum. It is an area where for many years governments have found it very difficult to impose their will.

One main reason for this is that the Human Rights Act allows failed asylum seekers or foreign criminals, among others, to argue that deportation would breach their right to a family life, for example, and so they are entitled to remain.

It is true that the Government's Rwanda plan  under which refugees who arrive in the UK illegally will be sent to east Africa to claim asylum  survived its first legal challenge last week. But this is not the end of the story.

On Friday, the High Court decided not to ground the Home Office's first deportation flight to the capital, Kigali, at least not before a full hearing had been held.

This interim decision is being appealed and, in any case, the main challenge has yet to be heard.

So the fate of this flagship policy to address the crisis in the Channel remains with the judges, who may yet decide to grant future injunctions sought by campaigners and their legal teams.

Protesters hold a banner saying 'Stop Deportations to Rwanda' as they march along Regent Street on June 11, 2022 in London, England

Demonstrators protest outside the Royal Courts of Justice, whilst a legal case is heard over halting a planned deportation of asylum seekers from Britain to Rwanda, London, Britain, June 10, 2022.

In some ways, this is the Government's own fault. It could have asked Parliament to enact legislation that would clearly require the Rwanda plan to go ahead despite the Human Rights Act.

But even if Parliament had legislated to implement the Rwanda plan, this legislation would itself inevitably have been challenged.

For the Human Rights Act invites lawyers, individuals and lobby groups who are unhappy with government policies to try to undermine them by mounting challenges in the courts.

The Act is a powerful piece of legislation because it gives such groups the opportunity to argue in UK courts that our laws breach the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR), the international treaty signed by 43 countries  including the UK in 1950  which is entirely separate from EU law.

The significance of the Act, as the judges often acknowledge, is that the balance of power between Parliament and the courts has shifted decisively towards the judiciary.

It is true that some judges have been better than others in exercising their new responsibilities.

Under Lord Reed's leadership, as opposed to Lady Hale's, the Supreme Court has corrected some recent excesses, showing more respect for the responsibilities of ministers and Parliament. But problems remain.

It is not only in the field of immigration that the Human Rights Act has been significant. It has helped drive the cycle of unfair investigations and reinvestigations that some UK military veterans have endured in recent years.

Meanwhile, laws banning the obstruction of roads and railways have also been undermined by the Human Rights Act, with 'a right to protest' even being raised as a defence against charges of criminal damage.

The former Supreme Court judge Lord Sumption has been at the forefront of those arguing that the Human Rights Act is a danger to democracy, handing over decisions that ought to be political to judges.

As he put it in his 2019 Reith Lectures, the fudge of political compromise is a much better way of resolving our disagreements than the black and white decisions of a court, however attractively clear-cut they might seem.

For defenders of the status quo, the Human Rights Act is a clever balance between human rights law and parliamentary sovereignty. The idea, as they see it, is that we can have judicial protection of human rights without abandoning Parliament's final authority.

But this balancing act is not easy and in practice it often fails. The effect of the legislation has, predictably, been to encourage parliamentarians to defer to judges, whether British or European, in a range of contexts.

It would be different if 'rights' were clear and specific and could be upheld without controversy. But this is not the case because of the approach the European Court of Human Rights takes.

The Strasbourg Court takes itself to be free to change what human rights means over time. It has in effect invented a new European law of immigration, frustrating states from maintaining their own border controls or from being able to remove unlawful migrants, including failed asylum seekers.

The 1998 Human Rights Act is what gives the ECHR effect in UK law. Sometimes the role of the British judge under the Act is simply to figure out what the Strasbourg Court has decided and to give effect to this. But often the UK court has to decide for itself how rights should be understood and what the law should be, which  in our constitutional tradition  has been a matter for Parliament rather than the courts.

Protestors stand outside The Royal Court of Justice in London, Friday, June 10, 2022

The Government's Rwanda plan  under which refugees who arrive in the UK illegally will be sent to east Africa to claim asylum - survived its first legal challenge last week (Home Secretary Priti Patel pictured)

The 1998 Act enables courts to interpret legislation unreasonably, contradicting the will of Parliament. It allows judges to simply condemn Parliament's lawmaking choice, which brings political pressure to bear to change the law.

It is not the judges' fault  they did not enact the 1998 Act and unless and until Parliament repeals it they have no choice but to consider these challenges to law and policy.

The prospect of legal challenges on human rights grounds distorts policy-making and lawmaking. Its effect is to prevent ministers and MPs from reasoning freely about what should be done, which undermines parliamentary democracy.

Repealing the Human Rights Act would prevent those who are defeated in the political process from continuing their political campaigns in the UK courts.

It would restore the constitution as it stood for centuries before the Act, in which it was for Parliament freely to decide what the law should be, with courts standing ready to give effect to its decisions, not to second-guess them. Parliament should not outsource responsibility for lawmaking to courts.

The Government is attempting to respond to these concerns by proposing a modern Bill of Rights. In this, it aims to restore parliamentary democracy. However, without considerable care, the proposals might do more harm than good.

The point of repealing and replacing the Human Rights Act should not be to empower British judges as opposed to European judges.

The point should be to limit the opportunities for UK courts to challenge Parliament's and therefore the people's decisions in a democracy about what the law should be.

It is Parliament that should take responsibility for deciding what protections are required in relation to immigration and asylum, and much else, rather than surrendering its role either to UK or the Strasbourg courts.

It is my view that the Human Rights Act wrongly privileges the moral views of judges. It promises the rule of courts rather than the rule of law.

lRichard Ekins is head of Policy Exchange's Judicial Power Project and Professor of Law and Constitutional Government at the University of Oxford
Labour descended into civil war last night over its own goal response to impending rail strikes and a lack of control at the heart of Sir Keir Starmers leadership.

Leading party moderates raged at the lack of grip in Sir Keirs office, which was allowing frontbenchers to freelance on key policy and risked presenting the party as pro-strikes.

One senior Shadow Minister even accused colleagues Lisa Nandy and Wes Streeting of appearing to prepare for a future leadership campaign by pandering to Left-wing members sympathetic to strikes.

Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer faces pressure over looming rail strikes

The senior MP said: Why are we giving the Tories this own goal? Cant we see how badly this is going to play when the strikes happen and the Tories repeat this back?

The row broke amid mounting pressure on Sir Keir to condemn militant rail union leaders threatening to paralyse the country with three days of strikes next week.

But criticisms that the Labour leader was failing to set out a clear position on strikes and control his frontbench have also fuelled doubts over his leadership.

That includes concerns over Sir Keirs ability to beat a wounded Boris Johnson at the next General Election after he failed to capitalise on the massive Tory no-confidence rebellion last week. Even Labour deputy leader Angela Rayner has urged her boss to put some more welly into his performances.

Critics are furious at how Ms Nandy and Mr Streeting  seen as the frontrunners to replace Sir Keir  were allowed to freelance on Labours position on the strikes.

Levelling up spokeswoman Ms Nandy said Labour was on the rail workers side, while health spokesman Mr Streeting declared if he was an RMT rail union member, I would be voting to go on strike.

But one frontbench colleague said last night the tone of their remarks contradicted the Labour Partys official position of being against the strikes. He said: You cant have first one Shadow Cabinet member and then another able to freelance on an issue as big as this.

But he blamed lack of discipline and control in Sir Keirs leadership for allowing the situation in the first place.

The Shadow Minister said: It speaks to an absolute lack of necessary discipline at the heart of the operation if senior members of the Shadow Cabinet feel they can go around pitching to the members for a putative future leadership election when weve got a General Election to win first.

A row broke out amid mounting pressure on Sir Keir to condemn militant rail union leaders threatening to paralyse the country with three days of strikes next week

And speaking after Labour grandee Peter Mandelson warned how Sir Keir had a year to put Labour within reach of an Election win, he also raised fears the party still lacked the big vision to appeal to voters. He said: Until Labour can be crystal clear on what its for and what our vision of the country will be, then people will not come to us. And we havent done that yet.

But a spokesman for Sir Keir said last night: Nobody wants to see strikes and all the disruption they cause. We want them averted and urge everyone to come back around the table.

A source close to Mr Streeting said: Wes clearly said he doesnt want the strike to go ahead. The Government is failing to negotiate a solution to protect passengers.
Criminals have been allowed to 'work from home' to do more than 300,000 hours of community sentence work in two years.

Offenders have been making face masks and greeting cards at home as part of the unpaid work.

Last night, critics questioned whether the Government had forgotten its drive to limit public-sector workers and civil servants working from home.

Officials claim the scheme, introduced during the pandemic, lets criminals complete a backlog of unfinished community work.

Other tasks include making hats and scarves for Ukrainian refugees as well as PPE for care homes and charities.

The findings, revealed in a parliamentary question by Policing Minister Kit Malthouse, show prison authorities are increasingly using the 'independent working' scheme.

In 2020-21, at the height of the pandemic, there were 59,314 hours of home working  4.4 per cent of the total.

But this jumped to 274,324 hours in 2021-22  7.7 per cent of overall community work, when the nation was largely not under lockdown.

This comes despite Mr Malthouse claiming in the Commons that it was the 'Government's intention to reduce the proportion of sentences that can be done under home working'.

Criminals have been allowed to 'work from home' to do more than 300,000 hours of community sentence work in two years

Steve Reed, Labour's Shadow Justice Secretary, said: 'This is further evidence that the Conservatives are soft on crime.

'It is absurd that Ministers are still allowing criminals to do unpaid work from home as part of their sentence while hounding civil servants to go back to the office. Yet again the Conservatives are letting criminals off and letting victims down.'

Unpaid work is often attached to community sentences for less serious crimes such as theft, shoplifting, some assaults and burglaries. Offenders have to do between 40 and 300 hours depending on the severity of the crime.

In an attempt to ensure justice is seen to be done, Boris Johnson has demanded that offenders guilty of anti-social behaviour and handed community sentences should be in 'fluorescent-jacketed chain gangs' publicly paying for their crimes.

They have been tasked to clear open spaces of rubbish and remove graffiti from public buildings, bridges and walls under multi-million-pound clean-up schemes.

However, a backlog of hundreds of thousands of hours of uncompleted unpaid work grew after community payback projects were paused during lockdowns in 2020 and 2021.

By the end of November, more than 13,000 criminals had not completed their allotted hours of unpaid work within 12 months of being sentenced by a court  amounting to tens of thousands of hours.

To avoid writing off their punishments, the Probation Service had to go back before judges or magistrates to get an extension, adding to the pressure on courts already facing their own backlog of cases.

A backlog of hundreds of thousands of hours of uncompleted unpaid work grew after community payback projects were paused during lockdowns in 2020 and 2021

Her Majesty's Justice Chief Inspectors, who oversee the Crown Prosecution Service, police, prison and probation, said this had led to 'innovative' approaches to ensure offenders with 'specific needs' could still carry out their unpaid work.

They cited the example of a southern group of community rehabilitation companies  private firms that provide probation and prison rehabilitation services  that 'developed an unpaid work 'project in a box' which could be sent to individuals who were shielding at home or could otherwise not attend external sites', adding: 'Projects included making face coverings and greeting cards to strict industry standards, with the proceeds going to charity.'

The Ministry of Justice said: 'Offenders can serve no more than ten per cent of their unpaid work hours via these schemes. They ensured offenders still served their punishments during the pandemic and eased the burden on the courts.'
Workers set up for the March for Our Lives rally on the National Mall, near the White House, in Washington, June 10. The march is returning to Washington after four years. AP-Yonhap



Thousands of protestors are expected to rally in Washington, D.C., Saturday (local time) and in separate demonstrations around the country as part of a renewed push for nationwide gun control. Motivated by a fresh surge in mass shootings, from Uvalde, Texas, to Buffalo, New York, protestors say lawmakers must take note of shifting public opinion and finally enact sweeping reforms.



Organizers expect the second March for Our Lives rally to draw around 50,000 demonstrators to the Washington Monument. That's far less than the original 2018 march, which filled downtown Washington with more than 200,000 people. This time, organizers are focusing on holding smaller marches at an estimated 300 locations.



''We want to make sure that this work is happening across the country,'' said Daud Mumin, co-chairman of the march's board of directors and a recent graduate of Westminster College in Salt Lake City. ''This work is not just about D.C., it's not just about senators.''



The first march was spurred by the Feb. 14, 2018, killings of 14 students and three staff members by a former student at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida. That massacre sparked the creation of the youth-led March for Our Lives movement, which successfully pressured the Republican-dominated Florida state government to enact sweeping gun control reforms.





Workers set up for the March for Our Lives rally on the National Mall, near the White House, in Washington, June 10. AP-Yonhap



The Parkland students then took aim at gun laws in other states and nationally, launching March for Our Lives and holding the big rally in Washington, March 24, 2018.



The group did not match the Florida results at the national level, but has persisted in advocating for gun restrictions since then, as well as participating in voter registration drives.



Now, with another string of mass shootings bringing gun control back into the national conversation, organizers of this weekend's events say the time is right to renew their push for a national overhaul.



''Right now we are angry,'' said Mariah Cooley, a March for Our Lives board member and a senior at Washington's Howard University. ''This will be a demonstration to show that us as Americans, we're not stopping anytime soon until Congress does their jobs. And if not, we'll be voting them out.''



The protest comes at a time of renewed political activity on guns and a crucial moment for possible action in Congress.





Workers set up for the March for Our Lives rally on the National Mall, near the White House, in Washington, June 10. AP-Yonhap
Google's parent company Alphabet will pay $118 million to 15,500 current and former female employees in order to settle a class action lawsuit that has been in the works for five years.

The plaintiffs in the case account for a broad range of roles within the company, including managers, engineers, sales representatives and at least one pre school teacher.

They accused Google of putting overqualified women in roles that were paid less, denying promotions to women and generally paying female employees on average close to $17,000 less than men.

Google is one of the many tech giants who have experienced labor problems relating to pay, workplace culture and hiring practices in recent years. Others who have faced lawsuits include Uber, Twitter and Microsoft.

In addition to the money, the court ordered Google to use a third party expert to analyze the company's HR practices and an independent labor economist will be used to examine the tech giant's pay equity for the next three years.

The deal must be certified by a judge to move forward, a hearing is scheduled for June 21.

The lawsuit was originally filed in September 2017.

Four of the plaintiffs have been named publicly. Lamar (left) was a pre-school teacher at the Google Children's Center in Palo Alto while Holly Pease (right) worked at Google for more than 10 years in numerous roles including as a senior manager of business systems integration and manager of corporate data

Kelli Wisuri (left) worked as a Google Brand Evangelist among other sales roles during her 2 and a half years at the company. Kelly Ellis (right) worked as a software engineer at Google's Mountain View office for four years starting in 2010

In May 2021, the case elevated to a class action suit by a judge in San Francisco.

This meant that the plaintiffs could be grouped together rather than being forced to take individual cases against Google.

The plaintiffs accused Google of being in violation of California's Equal Pay Act.

Four of the plaintiffs are named in the lawsuit, Kelly Ellis, Holly Pease, Kelli Wisuri and Heidi Lamar. All formerly worked for Google in California.

In the lawsuit, the plaintiffs alleged that women were paid approximately $16,794 less than men in similar roles per year.

Ellis worked as a software engineer at Google's Mountain View office for four years starting in 2010. She was in a senior manager position when she left the company in 2014.

Ellis cited Google's 'sexist culture' as the reason for her departure.

In the lawsuit, Ellis said that she was paid as an entry level engineer when she joined the company despite having four years experience.

She alleged that a male colleague who graduated from college the same year as she did and had less experience was paid more.

In 2018, a San Francisco judge imposed a restraining order on a former Google contractor who wrote on Twitter that Ellis deserved to be raped for suing the company.

Google is one of the many tech giants who have experienced labor problems relating to pay, workplace culture and hiring practices in recent years

Kelly Ellis (left), a former Google software engineer who was one of three women to file a lawsuit against the company in September over unequal pay, persuaded a San Francisco court on Wednesday to grant a restraining order against Alex Gulakov (right)

Alex Gulakov tweeted to Ellis on January 2: 'You deserve to be raped fat worthless c***. Roofies from the deep web are easy to get and it's time to shut your c*ckhole.'

Ellis alleged that Gulakov harassed her in a phone call over Google Hangouts in which he called her a 'feminazi.'

Pease worked at Google for more than 10 years in numerous roles including as a senior manager of business systems integration and manager of corporate data.

Pease was quoted by her lawyers saying that she is 'optimistic that the actions Google has agreed to take as part of this settlement will ensure more equity for women.'

She charged Google with leading the charge to 'ensure inclusion and equity for women in tech.'

Wisuri worked as a Google Brand Evangelist among other sales roles during her 2 and a half years at the company. She resigned in 2015.

Lamar was a pre-school teacher at the Google Children's Center in Palo Alto. She was the the last person to join the lawsuit, doing so in 2018 having previously filed her own legal action against the company.

Lamar, who has a master's degree in education, said in documents she was paid $18.51 per hour while a male colleague without a master's received $21 per hour.

She added, as did others in the lawsuit, that in her interview she was asked about her previous salary and received that amount.

The practice of asking potential employees about their previous salary was outlawed in California in 2018.

According to a statement from the plaintiff's law firm, Lieff Cabraser Heimann and Berinstein: '[The plaintiffs] believe these programs will help ensure that women are not paid less than their male counterparts who perform substantially similar work, and that Google's challenged leveling practices are equitable.'

In February 2021, Google was forced for fork over $3.8 million to female engineers who argued that they had been paid less than male counterparts and for discrimination against hiring Asian women.
Tory leadership hopeful Jeremy Hunt last night faced fresh claims that he is a 'lockdown fanatic' who would have shut down the British economy in an attempt to emulate the draconian Chinese policy of zero Covid  trying to stop the virus spreading by taking the most extreme measures.

Mr Hunt  who mounted a botched bid to become Prime Minister ahead of last week's failed vote of no confidence in Boris Johnson  angrily denied supporting the Chinese approach when he was asked about it last month, with a source close to the former Health Secretary describing it as 'totally wrong, disproportionate and inhumane'.

However, The Mail on Sunday has obtained video footage of Mr Hunt arguing in July 2020  six months after the pandemic reached the UK  in which he says that he 'very much' agrees 'that we should be aiming for zero infection and elimination of the disease' because the countries which adopted that approach 'have overwhelmingly been the most successful in tackling coronavirus'.

Mr Hunt cites the example of his sister, who lives in Beijing and flew back to the Chinese capital in the middle of lockdown: 'Just to give you an idea of the contrast, she was escorted from the airport to her home by ministry of health officials and then put into her home for two weeks' quarantine. The door was sealed and she had a police car sitting outside her house periodically.

'Now I'm not saying go that far in this country, but I just think it's an indication of how serious they are about stopping at the root every possible source of infection.'

Mr Hunt adds: 'I think the central problem we've got is that we adopted global best practice in test and trace, but at a point where we were getting about three-and-a-half thousand to 5,000 daily infections, whereas Korea, Taiwan, Singapore were getting between ten and 100 daily infections.'

Tory leadership hopeful Jeremy Hunt last night faced fresh claims that he is a 'lockdown fanatic' who would have shut down the British economy in an attempt to eliminate Covid

Critics say the former Health Secretary's pronouncements have been made to look short-sighted by the growing human and economic costs of China's zero Covid policy.

On Friday half of Shanghai was locked down  again  after just 11 new infections were detected. The megacity of 28 million people only recently emerged from an arduous 60-day lockdown in which many inhabitants were forcibly confined to their housing compounds.

Ten days ago the People's Daily, a government mouthpiece, hailed 'the great achievements in the defence of Shanghai' as cases plummeted from 30,000 a day in April to almost zero.

However, the celebrations were premature: last Thursday the two million residents of the Minhang suburb were told lockdowns and mass testing would resume for at least two days  only for the measures to be widened to half the city's 16 districts the following day.

Experts say that if the UK had adopted the same draconian approach it would have turned us into a 'hermit kingdom'.

A Cabinet critic of Mr Hunt said: 'He is a lockdown fanatic who would have wrecked the economy if he had been in charge.'

China is now doubling down on zero Covid, building huge numbers of permanent testing stations in cities across the country and expanding quarantine facilities.

Jeremy Hunt is seen leaving his London home riding his bike, the morning after Prime Minister Boris Johnson survived a confidence vote

According to Nomura, a Japanese investment bank, if all Chinese cities were to instigate mandatory testing every three days  as is currently required in Beijing  it would knock 1.7 per cent off the gross domestic product of the world's second largest economy. Most epidemiologists believe that by refusing to open up, China is painting itself into a corner.

To prevent horrendous numbers of Covid deaths, the country desperately needs to raise the number of triple-jabbed elderly people.

But the number of booster shots given to over-60s nationwide has dropped from nearly 800,000 a day at the start of the Shanghai lockdown, to around 100,000 a day now.

As concerns about the Omicron variant gaining hold nationwide have faded, so too has any urgency about the need to get vaccinated. A spokeswoman for Mr Hunt said: 'Jeremy believed we should have been more robust in containing the virus in the early stages pre-vaccine.

'But it is a mischaracterisation to say he supported a zero Covid approach  which was rejected by the Select Committee report he co-authored and he believes is a fatally flawed approach as demonstrated by what is happening in China today.

'As soon as vaccines became widely available he advocated learning to live with the virus.'
Hunt came second to the current Prime Minister in the 2019 leadership contest

The former Health Secretary called for Boris Johnson to be deposed as leader

Hunt became the first challenger to move against the Prime Minister on Monday

Conservative MPs have warned they will quit the party if Jeremy Hunt becomes leader.

In a sign of vicious blue-on-blue infighting, Brexiteers have privately warned that allowing Mr Hunt into Downing Street would push them to resign the Tory whip.

Meanwhile, a Cabinet minister has warned rebels to 'stop infighting or we guarantee ourselves a decade in Opposition'.

Although Boris Johnson won last week's confidence vote in his leadership, 148 of his MPs  41 per cent of the parliamentary party  revealed they had no confidence in the Prime Minister.

Mr Hunt became the first leadership challenger to move against the Prime Minister. After quietly preparing for a challenge for more than a year, the former Cabinet Minister on Monday called for Mr Johnson to be deposed because 'we are no longer trusted by the electorate... we are set to lose the next General Election'.

But in response, one MP told The Mail on Sunday: 'I will quit the party if Jeremy Hunt or another Remainer is leader.'

Conservative MPs have warned they will quit the party if Jeremy Hunt (pictured) becomes leader

One insider said Mr Hunt made a 'mistake' by being the first to openly move against the Prime Minister, adding that the former Foreign Secretary only did so because he was advised that another leadership hopeful, Penny Mordaunt, was going to quit as a Minister on Monday.

Although she did not publicly support the Prime Minister on the day, International Trade Minister Ms Mordaunt did not quit or say she would vote against him.

Mr Hunt, who came second to Mr Johnson in the 2019 leadership contest, admitted at the time that his Remain vote was 'a hurdle we couldn't overcome'.

However, he has since convinced himself that his views on Brexit are no longer politically toxic.

Jeremy Hunt is seen leaving his London home riding his bike, the morning after Prime Minister Boris Johnson survived a confidence vote

Former Treasury Minister Jesse Norman's letter attacking the Government's record ahead of the confidence vote has been accused of being part of a 'Cameroon plot'.

One MP said Mr Norman's letter echoed arguments recently made by former PM David Cameron's friends, including attacking the policy of sending migrants to Rwanda. The MP added: 'That Cameron faction is trying to make out we are going in a fascist direction  which is utter nonsense. They are trying to wind everyone up.'

When Mr Norman published his letter, a Cabinet Minister told colleagues: 'It's all the 'Cameroons'.'

MPs are concerned that Mr Cameron's allies are working alongside Theresa May's supporters in Parliament to try to bring down the Prime Minister.
Schools are increasingly scrapping the requirement for teachers to mark pupils exercise books and homework and write comments.

Research by the Teacher Tapp app discovered that just 42 per cent of more than 6,250 teachers who provided a response  fewer than half  were expected to mark work, down from 61 per cent in a similar survey in 2018.

For secondary schools alone the drop was sharper  from 71 per cent to 41 per cent.

The trend comes amid increasing concerns about upsetting pupils who are struggling in the classroom, but The Mail on Sunday has established another factor: the fear that correcting work is too much of a burden on teachers.

Many schools have now introduced self-checking, in which pupils mark their own or each others work in class. Another method is for teachers to go through students books to identify common mistakes and address them in their next lesson.

At Ivy Learning Trust, which runs ten infant and junior schools in North London and Hertfordshire, no adult is allowed to mark a childs work as only children get to write in their books.

Schools are increasingly scrapping the requirement for teachers to mark pupils exercise books and homework and write comments, a survey by the Teacher Tapp app has found

Trust leader Matthew Kleiner-Mann said he moved to a no-marking policy after seeing a young teacher leaving school one evening with a suitcase full of books to mark, adding: Teacher feedback is vital to childrens learning, not written marking.

This is not about cutting corners. Teachers still read childrens books and this still shapes discussions in the classroom, but, for example, instead of writing the same comment 18 times for a common mistake, they can address it in class and the children will learn together.

Many primaries have adopted similar policies with little or no consultation with parents.

Great Ellingham Primary and Rocklands Community Primary in Norfolk states marking will be minimal, while Bedford Free School minimises staff workload with a feedback policy that allows no marking.

Causeway Green Primary School in Oldbury, West Midlands, has a no-marking policy in English, art, design and technology and PHSE (personal, social, health and economic classes).

One ex-head teacher at an East London primary said strategic minimal marking was introduced because of the huge workload drain on teachers, adding: That heart-sinking feeling, faced with 30 books, just isnt there any more.

But Chris McGovern, of the Campaign for Real Education, said: Marking provides feedback that is essential for pupil progress. It is a vital part of a teachers job. What is going on is truly incredible  teaching being reduced to a state of degradation, inertia and indolence.

Many primaries have adopted similar policies with little or no consultation with parents

In a discussion on the parenting website Mumsnet, one mother said her ten-year-old sons exercise book hasnt been marked by his teacher for months.

Another remarked that without the evidence of comments in books, families could not follow their childrens progress.

Molly Kingsley, of the parent group UsforThem, said: Most parents would expect schools to make decisions for the benefit of childrens education, not for the benefit of teachers.

'The risk in not marking pupils work is it will deprive them of the sense of achievement and the joy and motivation a good comment can inspire.

One secondary that trialled a no-marking policy found pupils preferred to have work marked to show they were on the right track.
Ministers appeared to be on a collision course with the civil servants union last night, after its leader said his members should not have to work on the controversial policy of sending migrants to Rwanda.

Mark Serwotka, general secretary of the Public and Commercial Services Union (PCS), refused to rule out a boycott of the scheme, which he considers illegal.

In an interview with BBC Radio 4s Today programme, he insisted that his union, which represents 80 per cent of Border Force staff, would continue to fight the scheme, saying: These atrocious proposals will be found to be illegal.

Despite a High Court judge on Friday dismissing a bid by campaigners to halt the first flight to Rwanda, Mr Serwotka said the plans have been condemned, not just by Prince Charles seemingly, but by the Archbishop of Canterbury, all the leading charities, the UNHCR [the UN refugee agency] and indeed the workers who I represent who have been told to do these dreadful things.

Mark Serwotka, general secretary of the Public and Commercial Services Union (PCS), refused to rule out a boycott of the Rwanda asylum scheme, which he considers illegal

The already strained relationship between Home Secretary Priti Patel and her civil servants has come close to breaking point over the Governments latest bid to tackle the migrant crisis.

The PCS union and the migration charities Detention Action and Care4Calais will tomorrow go to the Court of Appeal in a renewed bid to block the first flight, scheduled for Tuesday. In a second, separate High Court claim, the refugee charity Asylum Aid will also seek an injunction to block the flights.

Asked repeatedly if his members would refuse to work on the policy, Mr Serwotka  who is paid 95,000 a year plus more than 15,000 in other perks  said: Our members are involved in this process from start to finish. Its the case in the Home Office that there is unprecedented opposition to this policy.

We will talk to our members about what they will do, but we are confident that we will win the legal case. Our members should not be in a position that they are being asked to do things that could potentially be [found] to be illegal.

The already strained relationship between Home Secretary Priti Patel and her civil servants has come close to breaking point over the Governments latest bid to tackle the migrant crisis.

After Fridays court verdict, Ms Patel said: People will continue to try to prevent [migrants] relocation through legal challenges and last-minute claims, but we will not be deterred in breaking the deadly people-smuggling trade and ultimately saving lives.

In one incident last week, posters comparing Paddington Bear to an illegal immigrant, said to have been posted on Home Office noticeboards, spread on social media.

The Rwanda asylum plan aims to counter people-trafficking gangs that bring people to the UK from across the English Channel in deadly dinghy crossings

Stamped with the Immigration Enforcement crest, the poster mockingly said Paddingtons arrival in the UK was through a clandestine irregular route, using small boat, without visa. Referring to the Jubilee skit with the Queen, it added that Paddington may have infiltrated important establishment networks, including Buckingham Palace.

One senior Home Office source last night told The Mail on Sunday: One of the problems with the civil service union publicly attacking the policy is that a lot of the unions own members, including senior Home Office staff, are proud to work on the scheme.

If they dont want to work on it, their choice is quite simple. Its not compulsory to be a civil servant.

Under the policy, some of those entering the UK illegally will be flown to Rwanda to apply for asylum and, if accepted, will be free to start a new life there.

Home Office officials initially told 130 migrants  most of whom had travelled across the Channel on small boats since May 1  that they could be sent to Rwanda on the first flight. That group included people from Albania, Afghanistan, Sudan, Iran, Egypt, Iraq, Turkey, Pakistan Algeria, Eritrea and Vietnam.

But only 31 migrants are now scheduled on Tuesdays flight after lawyers for at least 90 of them launched legal action. A further five, including two Albanians and an Iraqi, had their removal notices withdrawn on Friday after they claimed to be the victims of modern slavery.

Lawyers for most, if not all, of the remaining 31 are thought to have submitted legal challenges against their clients removal. The majority are understood to be based on modern slavery legislation or the right to respect for family and private life in the Human Rights Act.

Posters comparing Paddington Bear to an illegal immigrant, said to have been posted on Home Office noticeboards, spread on social media

The Desir Resort Hotel, which is one of the locations expected to house some of the asylum-seekers due to be sent from Britain to Rwanda, in the capital Kigali

The Home Office source said the chartered flight would leave on Tuesday even if only one migrant is on the plane. A team of Border Force staff and contractors will accompany the migrants.

Even if the Rwanda policy survives an expected blizzard of legal challenges from immigration lawyers, charities, unions and Left-wing activists, officials expect only low numbers to be taken to Africa.

They do believe, however, that it will act as a deterrent to those tempted to risk their lives by making the journey across the Channel and in the process line the pockets of brutal human-trafficking gangs. The Mail on Sunday revealed last month that up to ten migrants have already dropped their asylum claims after the Rwanda policy was unveiled. While the number is small, officials consider it symbolic.

More than 10,000 migrants have already crossed the Channel this year and officials fear that could hit more than 60,000 by the end of the year. In 2018, it was about 300.
In a field in the village of Hoholiv lies the charred wreckage of a people carrier. It struck an anti-tank mine as it trundled along a dirt road, costing a father one of his legs and injuring his children.

Nearby, work is under way to prevent further such tragedies  a delicate operation helped by the remarkable generosity of readers of The Mail on Sunday and the Daily Mail.

A few miles east of Kyiv, Hoholiv was surrounded by Russian invaders earlier this year. Determined to halt their advance, Ukrainian forces lay a network of deadly mines.

Arya Bolotova, deputy operations manager for the Halo Trust, pictured in the fields surrounding the village of Hoholiv, north-east of the capital Kyiv

Now that Vladimir Putin has abandoned, at least for the time being, his ambition to take Kyiv, the Halo Trust charity has started work to find and destroy the devices.

Its teams are armed with mine detection equipment bought with a 250,000 donation from the Mail Force Ukraine Appeal, which has raised 11.9 million in total.

My son knows that I am doing an important job and that I am doing it for him as well  for his safety and for the future of our children, said Arya Bolotova, 35, the charitys deputy operations manager in Ukraine. Indeed, Herman, eight, proudly tells his schoolmates about his mothers work. Hes proud that I do the job and he asks me every day if I found mines, she said.

The work is painstaking and exhausting. Using Ukrainian maps and avoiding Russian booby traps, teams scan the ground with large metal detectors to find the anti-tank devices before destroying them. It will take a month to clear an area measuring little more than 300m (330 yards) by 300m in Hoholiv.

The Halo Trust, whose work in Angola in the 1990s was highlighted by Princess Diana, has been clearing explosives in eastern Ukraine since 2016, but was forced to withdraw when Russia invaded in February. Its work in western Ukraine will take at least a decade and staff are fearful of what they will find when, or if, they return to the east.

Halo Trust mine clearance staff pictured in the fields surrounding the village of Hoholiv

Colonel Ruslan Bruhulic, who co-ordinates landmine clearance for the Ukrainian Ministry of Defence, estimates more than 60,000 square miles will need to be surveyed for the mines hampering a return to normal life for many. Infrastructure is affected, he said. Power supply workers cannot approach electricity pylons for fear of landmines in some areas.

People cannot even go on to their farmland to collect strawberries. We are very grateful to Mail Force. Your support will promote safety and a return to normal for local residents.

In Makariv, to the west of Kyiv, an agricultural lorry smoulders beside a cornfield after hitting explosives left by Russian troops. This driver miraculously survived, but it is going to make it considerably more difficult to get food off the farm because the farmers will be concerned there are more anti-tank mines here, said Simon Conway, of the Halo Trust, as he looked at the wreckage.

A lot of what were doing at the moment is opening up roads, opening up access... the support we are getting from the Daily Mail and The Mail on Sunday means these people will be able to get their food to the market and around the world people wont starve.

The Mail Force Ukraine Appeal was kick-started by a 500,000 donation from the Mails parent company, the Daily Mail and General Trust, at the request of DMGT chairman Lord Rothermere and Lady Rothermere.
More than 10,000 Ukrainian fighters have been killed since Russia launched its invasion, the countrys government said yesterday.

The grim milestone was announced by presidential adviser Oleksiy Arestovych, who said daily losses since February had averaged 100 soldiers.

Kyiv claims Russia has lost three times as many troops since Vladimir Putin launched his offensive on February 24, although British intelligence puts the figure at 15,000  the same number killed during the Soviet Unions decade of war in Afghanistan.

The Kremlin has provided no casualty figures since March.

The gutted remains of cars lie along a road during heavy fighting at the front line in Severodonetsk, Luhansk region, Ukraine, Wednesday, June 8, 2022

A Ukrainian soldier crouches on a position during heavy battles in the front line in Severodonetsk, the Luhansk region, Ukraine, Wednesday, June 8, 2022

A Ukrainian soldier stands in a position during heavy fighting on the front line in Severodonetsk

Meanwhile, Ukraine pledged to help as much as possible with efforts to release two British men who fought with its armed forces and were last week sentenced to death by a Russian proxy court.

British Army veteran Shaun Pinner, 48, and former care worker Aiden Aslin, 28, from Nottinghamshire, face death by firing squad in rebel-held Donetsk in eastern Ukraine. A third captured Briton, Andrew Hill, is awaiting trial.

Mr Pinners family said yesterday they were devastated at the outcome of the illegal show trial, adding that he should be treated as a prisoner of war under the Geneva Convention. We sincerely hope all parties will co-operate urgently to ensure the safe release or exchange of Shaun, they said.

Our family, including his son and Ukrainian wife, love and miss him so much and our hearts go out to all the families involved in this awful situation.

Mr Aslins fiancee Diana Okovyta, who is being supported by his local Conservative MP Robert Jenrick, said she wished he knew that he had not been abandoned and will not be forsaken.

Russia claims the pair are mercenaries, despite the fact that both have lived in Ukraine since 2018 and have Ukrainian partners.

They served with Ukraines 36th Marine Brigade and were taken prisoner in Mariupol in April.

Bodies of civilians killed during shelling are pictured at a mass grave in the outskirts of Lysychansk in the eastern Ukraine region of Donbas on June 9, 2022, as Russian forces have for weeks been concentrating their firepower on Severodonetsk and its sister city of Lysychansk across the river

A member of the Ukrainian troops stands on an armoured vehicle moving towards the front line in the city of Lysychansk in the eastern Ukraine region of Donbas on June 9, 2022

Black smoke and dirt rise from Severodonetsk's city centre amid constant fighting between Russian and Ukrainian troops in the eastern Ukraine region of Donbas on June 9, 2022

Their families hope they will be freed in a prisoner exchange with Russia and Kyiv is understood to have told the UK they will be given priority in any such deal.

But presidential adviser Alexander Rodnyansky said: There will be an extremely high price, which will mean we will have to exchange a lot of prisoners, Russian prisoners, in return for these two men.

Battles continued yesterday in Luhansk in eastern Ukraine with intense street-to-street fighting in the city of Severodonetsk. Both countries supplies of shells are reportedly being sapped by the war of artillery in the region.
One picture shows a perilously over-manned dinghy heading for the distinctive Dover coast  the other, a solitary migrant staring forlornly through metal mesh.

The aim of Priti Patels new advertising campaign, to be launched on Friday, is to do as much as possible to counter the insinuations of the criminal gangs trafficking people to the Channel that the journey across the Straits of Dover is safe and will lead to a new life of security and prosperity in Britain.

The adverts  which will be directed at migrants in Northern France and Belgium on Facebook and Instagram in their own languages  can be summed up as: Its extremely dangerous to try to get here, and if you make it you could be sent to Rwanda anyway.

Priti Patels new advertising campaign, to be launched on Friday can be summed up as: Its extremely dangerous to try to get here, and if you make it you could be sent to Rwanda anyway.

The campaign has been timed to coincide with the peak summer months for small boat crossings.

A Whitehall source said: The ads will address the false promises of a 100 per cent safe journey or a private boat when, in reality, migrants are forced on to overcrowded dinghies held together with tape, and given highly absorbent lifejackets, if any. The campaign will include information on possible relocation to Rwanda or another safe country, the dangers of Channel crossings, the realities of illegal arrival in the UK and information on safe alternatives.

The adverts will appear on Facebook and Instagram in migrants own languages

It is essential for people to have accurate information when considering life-threatening and illegal attempts to cross the Channel.

The source added that the UKs partnership with Rwanda will help break the business model of criminal gangs and prevent loss of life.
NHS waiting lists will be brought under control only if nonsensical rules on doctors pensions are axed, it was claimed last night.

The tax regulations  which can mean huge bills for those taking on extra NHS work  are a major disincentive for medics to help.

With 6.36 million people on waiting lists and record numbers waiting more than a year for treatment, the need for doctors is grave.

But last night, two former Pensions Ministers and a tax consultant said labyrinthine rules about how they were taxed made many turn down extra work. Tory peer Baroness Altmann said: Pensions are meant to be a reward for work. But these complicated, and in my view nonsensical, tax rules have turned them into a penalty for work.

NHS waiting lists will be brought under control only if nonsensical rules on doctors pensions are axed, it was claimed last night, as experts urge the Government to give them a tax holiday

Sir Steve Webb, a Pensions Minister in David Camerons Coalition, said doctors shouldnt have to worry about the tax implications of doing extra hours, adding: Its a nonsense that we are in this situation.

Peter Herniman, of Ballards accountants and tax advisers, said: We deal with approximately 350 medical consultants. Over 50 per cent have turned down extra NHS work because of this. He cited a consultant surgeon who declined extra NHS shifts worth 10,000 a year because it would raise her total annual tax bill by 14,000, leaving her 4,000 out of pocket.

If a doctors NHS pension increases by more than 40,000 in a year  an amount called the annual allowance  it could trigger a one-off tax charge of up to 45 per cent on the excess.

The longer a doctor has worked for the NHS and the bigger their salary, the more likely it is that a fairly modest pay rise will result in their pension growing by more than 40,000 in a single year  meaning senior doctors are most likely to be hit with the charge.

The longer a doctor has worked for the NHS and the bigger their salary, the more likely it is that a fairly modest pay rise will result in their pension growing by more than 40k in a single year

Plastic surgeon Mark Henley, president of the Confederation of British Surgery, urged the Government to tackle punitive pensions taxes, adding: Many medics would welcome the opportunity to use their expertise to help tackle the NHS workforce crisis. However, the tax situation is economically unsound, as doctors could lose thousands of pounds by staying longer in work, taking extra shifts or agreeing to come out of retirement.

Baroness Altmann and Sir Steve said short-term options, such as waiving the annual allowance charge, would encourage more to do extra work. But doctors public-sector pensions are more generous than most private-sector ones, so relaxing tax rules for doctors would widen this gap. But Baroness Altmann said cutting waiting lists was the most pressing problem.

An additional problem is that doctors are retiring early when they hit their lifetime tax limit on pensions, above which they are taxed heavily.

The Department of Health and Social Care said generous NHS pensions and well-remunerated careers mean some senior doctors exceed their allowances for tax-free pension saving.
Aurelian Tchouameni has signed for Real Madrid for 85m - putting pen to paper at the Bernabeu after snubbing interest from PSG and Liverpool.

The 22-year old defensive midfielder has signed a six-year-deal with Los Blancos, keeping him at the club until 2028. He is set to undergo a medical on Tuesday after joining from Monaco.

The move was announced on social media today with the club tweeting: '#WelcomeTchouameni'.

Tchouameni has signed for Real Madrid for 85m despite interest from PSG and Liverpool

The 22-year old has signed a six-year-deal with Los Blancos, keeping him at the club until 2028

Tchouameni was a key member of the Monaco side that finished third in Ligue 1 last year, making 45 appearances in the league and 11 in Europe.

He has also become a regular in Didier Deschamps' France side, winning 11 caps since his debut last year.

Despite being just 22, Tchouameni is already a relatively experienced player with over 100 appearances for Monaco and Bordeaux since making his league debut as an 18 year old.

He has become a regular in Didier Deschamps' France side with 11 caps since his 2021 debut

The Frenchman was reportedly pursued by Liverpool, PSG and Manchester United, and is one of the most highly rated young midfielders in the world.

His signing will be welcomed by Real Madrid fans still reeling from their failure to capture Kylian Mbappe, who chose instead to stay at PSG on a lucrative deal.

The addition of a young, potentially world-class midfielder will ease the pressure on Real's ageing pair of Toni Kroos and Luka Modric as the club looks to continue their dominance in La Liga and win a 15th Champions League next year.
Ellen DeGeneres and Portia de Rossi continued to explore the African continent on Friday as they went on a safari in Zimbabwe, after recently traveling to Rwanda.

The comedian, 64, shared four snaps from the exciting journey with her wife, 49, including a sweet moment of the two holding hands in the wilderness.

The television host blended in with nature for the occasion, sporting a forest green long-sleeve jacket and mustard cargo pants, along with black trail boots.

Exploring: Ellen DeGeneres and Portia de Rossi continued to explore the African continent on Friday as they went on a safari in Zimbabwe, following their recent trip to Rwanda

DeGeneres - who married Portia in 2008 - paired the outdoor look with a blue bandana tied around her neck, and shielded her eyes from the sun with a pair of shades.

Meanwhile her other half matched in green cargo pants and shirt, along with a striped blue poncho worn on top.

The actress sported a straw fedora hat and, like her wife, wore sunglasses and a sturdy pair of boots for the outing.

Sweet: The comedian, 64, shared four snaps from the exciting journey with her wife, 49, including a sweet moment of the two holding hands

In another picture, Ellen was also seen out on a boat, taking in the local scenery while out on the water, with the view of the mountains behind her.

While in the next idyllic snap, the lovely pair were seen sitting on the ground next to each other, with a beautiful green forest of trees behind them.

The Zimbabwe trip comes after the couple were in Rwanda on Tuesday for the dedication of the Ellen DeGeneres Campus, a $15 million project for The Ellen Fund in conjunction with the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund and the MASS Design Group.

Scenery: In another picture, Ellen was also seen out on a boat, taking in the local sights while out on the water, with the view of the mountains behind her

Idyllic: While in the next snap, the lovely pair were seen sitting on the ground next to each other, with a beautiful green forest of trees behind them

At the dedication ceremony, DeGeneres described the campus as 'incredible,' detailing her longtime passion toward the area and conservation causes.

'When I was a kid, I used to dream of coming here,' DeGeneres said, adding that late conservationist Dian Fossey was a hero to her, 'and her dedication to gorillas changed the world.

'The Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund has been here for over 50 years,' she said. 'Thanks to their work, the commitment of the Rwandan government and the efforts of many conservation groups here today, the mountain gorilla population has gone from 300 in the entire world to over 1000.'

Passion project: The couple were spotted in Rwanda on Tuesday for the dedication of the Ellen DeGeneres Campus - a gorilla conservation center

DeGeneres noted the multiple objectives of the campus, which is located over 12 acres in Volcanoes National Park: 'This campus is so important for gorillas, but its also more than that.

'Its teaching school children about conservation. Its educating a future generation of scientists. Its a model for others to follow, from the sustainable architecture to the communitys involvement.'

Ellen's luxury vacation to Africa comes after she hosted the last episode of her talk show, Ellen, on May 26, after 19 seasons.

She announced in May of 2021 the show was ending following complaints of a toxic workplace from staff on the show that led to an internal probe from Warner Bros.
Reality star Cory Wharton welcomed his third child, second with girlfriend Taylor Selfridge, who had open heart surgery days after birth due to a tricuspid atresia diagnosis.

The 31-year-old star of The Challenge took to Instagram on Friday to share a gallery of snaps of newborn daughter Maya while giving a serious health update.

Cory explained in a lengthy caption that the congenital heart disease 'happens when the hearts tricuspid valve does not develop.'

Update: Reality star Cory Wharton welcomed his third child who had open heart surgery days after birth due to a tricuspid atresia diagnosis

Cory explained in a lengthy caption that the congenital heart disease 'happens when the hearts tricuspid valve does not develop'

He explained: 'This valve plays a part in the hearts essential function, which is to pump blood between the lungs and body.

'Maya had her first successful surgery on Tuesday and now shes in the recovery process [prayer hands emoji] She is doing very well, we cant wait to bring her home [house emoji] & show her the love that she needs.'

Cory and Taylor have a two-year-old daughter named Mila together and Cory has a five-year-old daughter with ex and fellow Teen Mom star Cheyenne Floyd.

Bond: This is the 31-year-old reality star's second child with girlfriend Taylor Selfridge as they are seen in a snap from last week before the birth

He explained: 'This valve plays a part in the hearts essential function, which is to pump blood between the lungs and body.

Cory also revealed that Maya will have additional surgeries due to the tricuspid atresia diagnosis including another one just months ago when she is four to six months old and another when she is three to four years old.

He added that the family is staying positive before sending a personal message to his daughter who has been in the NICU of the hospital.

He wrote: 'My juicy girl daddy loves you so much, you are so strong, everyday visiting you in Nicu isnt easy but if thats what it takes then we are gonna do that. We are always right by your side.

'Im so proud of you for going thru all this. You have a story, and we cant wait to watch your personality blossom, and I cant wait for you to meet your sisters they have SOOOO MUCH love for you [two heart emojis] and they both are going to be incredible big sisters to you [two girls emoji].'

Tough times: Cory also revealed that Maya will have additional surgeries due to the tricuspid atresia diagnosis including another one just months ago when she is four to six months old and another when she is three to four years old

''My juicy girl daddy loves you so much.' He added that the family is staying positive before sending a personal message to his daughter who has been in the NICU of the hospital

He concluded: 'We all LOVE YOU SO MUCHHH!!! We cant wait to have you home, So you just keep recovering and before you know it youll be home with us'

He concluded: 'We all LOVE YOU SO MUCHHH!!! We cant wait to have you home, So you just keep recovering and before you know it youll be home with us.'

Back in March, Cory and Taylor revealed they were expecting with adorable family snaps posted onto Instagram.

Cory, who most recently competed on MTV's The Challenge, admitted the 'excitement is unmatched' as he stood alongside his growing family to share the news that Taylor was pregnant with their second child.

Cory and Taylor first met in Hawaii in 2018 while starring together on Ex on The Beach after she was part of the MTV family through a stint on the dating show Are You The One?

Baby news: Back in March, Cory and Taylor revealed they were expecting with adorable family snaps posted onto Instagram

The gorgeous growing family stood underneath a leafy green walkway wearing off-white shades for the baby announcement where Ryder and Taylor held a sonogram.

'June 8th, We will welcome a new member to the family! I couldnt think of a better way to spend my 31st birthday,' he wrote in a lengthy caption. 'Each one of my kids have continued to push me into making me a better man, so I know youre gonna do the same.

'Throughout the years the satisfaction I get from raising my two lil girls is unmatched. The joy that they bring me, the excitement is unmatched. I truthfully feel like God has put me in a position that Im so lucky & blessed to be in.'

Lucky in love: Cory and Taylor first met in Hawaii in 2018 while starring together on Ex on The Beach after she was part of the MTV family through a stint on the dating show Are You The One?

Family forever: The 31-year-old reality star, who most recently competed on MTV's The Challenge, admitted the 'excitement is unmatched' as he stood alongside his growing family to share the news that Taylor was pregnant with their second child

Taylor's growing baby bump was proudly displayed in a tight khaki dress as she carried her nearly two-year-old daughter Mila while standing alongside Cory and Ryder.

Cory shares co-parenting responsibilities of his four-year-old daughter, Ryder, with ex-girlfriend Cheyenne Floyd, and both now star on Teen Mom OG.

The pair met while filming The Challenge: Rivals III, which aired on MTV in 2016, and had a brief fling which resulted in Cheyenne's pregnancy, but she kept the news a secret until Ryder was roughly six months old.

Cute couple: Taylor's growing baby bump was proudly displayed in a tight khaki dress to match his collared sweater and light jeans

'As a kid my dad wasnt able to be around, and I feel like thats why I try and give you girls EVERYTHING that I have. I cant wait to watch you grow with your sisters Ryder & Mila Im telling you right now both those girls love you so much,' he wrote.

'Taylor, I dont know too many people to put up with me for as long as you have, but no seriously, I love you bby & I cant wait to start this adventure with you and continue to build this family up . I also wanna say thank you to my support system those ppl know who you are just know I love you all and I appreciate it everything you do for me.'

Taylor gave birth to their first baby girl, Mila Mae, on April 22, 2020 after 22 hours of labor and during the beginning of the pandemic.
Ashlee Simpson oozed summery chic while hosting a rooftop party this Thursday on a sunny day in Los Angeles.

The 37-year-old sister of Jessica Simpson slipped into a sleek black trouser suit that featured a white floral print.

She was throwing the fete at the West Hollywood restaurant and bar EP & LP to promote the Australian self-tanner Luna Bronze.

Hello, gorgeous: Ashlee Simpson oozed summery chic while hosting a rooftop party this Thursday on a sunny day in Los Angeles

Ashlee, who followed her sister into the singing business, opted for an elegant ensemble that emphasized her enviably trim frame.

Letting her wavy blonde hair cascade freely over her shoulders, she went fo ra naturalistic look where her makeup was concerned.

She lent an extra dash of glitz to her look by popping on a pair of earrings and a subtle necklace for her rooftop bash.

Ashlee, who was wearing a black shade of nail polish to complement her ensemble, got in a bit of posing with a bottle of the self-tan product she was plugging.

Looking fab: The 37-year-old sister of Jessica Simpson slipped into a sleek black trouser suit that featured a white floral print

When you got it: Ashlee, who followed her sister into the singing business, opted for an elegant ensemble that emphasized her enviably trim frame

Aglow: Letting her wavy blonde hair cascade freely over her shoulders, she went fo ra naturalistic look where her makeup was concerned

She could also be seen sidling up to her husband Evan Ross, whose mother is Diana Ross and whose sister is Girlfriends star Tracee Ellis Ross.

Ashlee could also be pictured gathering together influencer Nicole Zajac and Luna Bronze co-founders Maddy Balderson and Rhiannon Mitchell for a group shot.

Evan was wearing the same smock-like white top and high-cut black trousers he modeled later that night when he and Ashlee swung by another party.

Showbiz legacy: She could also be seen sidling up to her husband Evan Ross, whose mother is Diana Ross and whose sister is Girlfriends star Tracee Ellis Ross

Their second shindig that day was a star-studded Dolce & Gabbana affair with a guest list that included Doja Cat, Normani and Heidi Klum.

Evan and Ashlee have been married since 2014 and have since welcomed two children - their daughter Jagger, six, and their son Ziggy, one.

Ashlee was previously married to Pete Wentz of Fall Out Boy fame, with whom she shares her firstborn son Bronx, 13.

Quartet: Ashlee could also be pictured gathering together influencer Nicole Zajac and Luna Bronze co-founders Maddy Balderson and Rhiannon Mitchell for a group shot
Emily Ratajkowski was spotted taking her 15-month-old son Sylvester Apollo on a stroll in New York City on Friday.

The 31-year-old model bared a sliver of her taut abs in an orange and blue tie-dye miniskirt with a matching cropped tank top.

The Gone Girl star showcased her toned legs in the thigh-skimming miniskirt, which she paired with black leather cowboy boots.

Out and about: Emily Ratajkowski was spotted taking her 15-month-old son Sylvester Apollo on a stroll in New York City on Friday

The We Are Your Friends actress accessorized with large gold hoop earrings and a gold watch.

The brunette beauty wore her long locks parted in the center and down in a sleek straight style.

Emily rocked a dark coral lipstick and shielded her eyes from the sun with a pair of black rectangular shades.

Colorful: The 31-year-old model bared a sliver of her taut abs in an orange and blue tie-dye miniskirt with a matching cropped tank top

Sly was seen holding a brown and beige teddy bear and a neon green toy as his mother pushed his stroller down the sidewalk in Manhattan.

Emily was also seen in the form-fitting ensemble in photos that she shared on her Instagram Story.

The catwalk queen posted two images in which she modeled white sneakers by the Italian brand Superga.

Trendy: . The Gone Girl star showcased her toned legs in the thigh-skimming miniskirt, which she paired with black leather cowboy boots

Emily tagged the brand in both of the photos along with a link to their website.

In April, she announced a collaboration with Superga and was named their new Global Ambassador.

The music video vixen teamed up with the shoe company to produce seven distinct styles of canvas sneakers.

Modeling: Emily was also seen in the form-fitting ensemble in photos that she shared on her Instagram Story. The catwalk queen posted two images in which she modeled white sneakers by the Italian brand Superga

in one snap, Emily sat in a stairwell as she rested her elbow on her thigh and looked down at the camera.

The runway star crouched on the floor with her foot outstretched so that the sneaker was front and center in another image.

The Inamorata CEO flashed her diamond engagement from her husband of four years, Sebastian Bear McClard.

New venture: In April, she announced a collaboration with Superga and was named their new Global Ambassador

Emily and Sebastian tied the knot in February 2018 and welcomed Sly in March 2021.

On Thursday, Emily unveiled a new tattoo in honor of her baby son.

She took to her Instagram story to share a close-up of her arm with 'SLY' etched in a trendy fine-line style.

Emily wasn't alone as two other body parts - an elbow and a foot - could also be seen in her Instagram slideshow captioned: 'Sly forever.'

Dedicated to her baby boy! On Thursday, Inamorata CEO Emily Ratajkowski unveiled a new tattoo in honor of Sly

Among the people commenting on Ratajkowski's post was IMG Model Ashley Graham, who has three children under age 2 with her husband of 11 years, Justin Ervin.

It was the London-born SoCal native's second tattoo after a window was inked on the back of her left ankle, which reportedly symbolizes a feeling of home.

In 2013, Emily - who dropped out of UCLA in 2009 after one year - tweeted of her ink: 'It's a window, got it when I was 18. I always forget it's there!'

New ink: She shared a close-up of her arm with 'SLY' etched in a trendy fine-line style

'Sly forever': Emily wasn't alone as two other body parts - an elbow and a foot - could also be seen in her Instagram slideshow

'So cute!' Among the people commenting on Ratajkowski's post was IMG Model Ashley Graham, who has three children under age 2 with her husband of 11 years, Justin Ervin

Aside from motherhood, Ratajkowski keeps busy running her four-year-old bikini brand with her BFF/co-founder Kat Mendenhall.

Last month, the My Body author supported Sebastian at the May 24th premiere of Funny Pages (which he produced) at the Cannes Film Festival's 54th annual Directors' Fortnight.

Owen Kline's feature directorial debut is a coming-of-age comedy about a 'teenage cartoonist rejecting the comforts of his suburban life in a misguided quest for soul.'

Zoom in! It was the London-born SoCal native's second tattoo after a window was inked on the back of her left ankle, which reportedly symbolizes a feeling of home (pictured June 1)

In 2013, Emily - who dropped out of UCLA in 2009 after one year - tweeted of her ink: 'It's a window, got it when I was 18. I always forget it's there!'

HBIC: Aside from motherhood, Ratajkowski keeps busy running her four-year-old bikini brand with her BFF/co-founder Kat Mendenhall (posted Wednesday)

The 35-year-old Chillin Island producer also executive produced Halina Reijn's black comedy slasher Bodies Bodies Bodies, which hits US theaters on August 5.

The critically-acclaimed A24 flick stars Pete Davidson, Maria Bakalova, Amandla Stenberg, Lee Pace, Myha'la Herrold, Chase Sui Wonders, and Rachel Sennott.

Last month, the married couple put their 1,952-square-foot, three-bed/three-bath Echo Park home on the market for $2.195M - four years after buying it for $2M, according to The Dirt.

Ooh la la! Last month, the My Body author supported Sebastian Bear-McClard at the May 24th premiere of Funny Pages (which he produced) at the Cannes Film Festival's 54th annual Directors' Fortnight
Kyle Richards is going to be spending a lot more time at home, on her couch, after suffering a back injury this week.

On Thursday, The Real Housewives Of Beverly Hills star, 53, shared the news by posting a photo of herself watching television with a food tray on her lap.

While on the mend parked on her couch, Richards has been getting some tender loving care from her four-legged family members, especially her two German Shepherds who've been by her side since she suffered the injury.

Injured: Kyle Richards, 53, revealed she suffered back injury 'and can not move' on Thursday

Couch-ridden: The Real Housewives Of Beverly Hills star announced her back injury with an Instagram photo of herself watching television with a food tray on her lap

'I hurt my back and can not move,' the reality star, 53, revealed in the initial photo that was taken as she watched television. 'This is where I will be for the unforeseeable future.'

The image showed her food tray, consisting a tomato soup and a green side dish, and her feet covered up with a blanket, with the television in the background.

One day later, Richards gave an update on her health, but again did not share how she sustained the injury.

It turns out her two German Shepherds Luna and River have brightened her spirits by sharing their love and attention.

Man's best friend: The reality star credited her two German Shepherds Luna and River for staying by her side and sharing their love and concern since she was injured

Four-legged family members: Richards revealed River and Luna haven't left her side as she lays on the couch watching television

'These babies won't leave my side. Not even to eat or use the bathroom #germanshepherds,' she explained, along with a crying face, prayer, and red heart emojis.

To compound her point about the pooches constant attention, Richards dropped in a clip of The Police's classic 1983 hit song Every Breath You Take.

'Every bond you break, every step you take, I'll be watching you,' Sting can be heard singing as the Instagram video pans between Luna and River.

In all, Richards and husband Mauricio Umansky have six dogs, which includes a mixed breed dog named Storm, a golden retriever named Bambi, a Pomeranian named Romeo, and newcomer Smokey.

Hurts when you laugh: Richards disclosed that she was watching the comedy film Bridesmaids (2011) as she laid on the couch

Hurts when you laugh: Richards shared that watching Bridesmaids may 'not be the best thing to watch when I can't move,' in a reference to laughing out loud while being injured

Healthier times: Just days ago, Richards was all glammed up for the 2022 MTV Movie & TV Awards, where she strutted out on the red carpet in a black ensemble

She also pointed her camera on the television, revealing that she was watching the comedy film Bridesmaids (2011), starring Kristen Wiig as Annie, a thirtysomething who suffers a series of misfortunes after being asked to serve as maid of honor for her best friend, Lillian (Maya Rudolph).

'Maybe not the best thing to watch when I Can't move,' she added, along with three more crying face emojis, in a reference to the pain she likely will endure while laughing out loud.

The injury comes days after Richards stepped out looking glamorous in a black ensemble for the 2022 MTV Movie & TV Awards in Los Angeles.

She attended the event, in part, after being nominated for Most Frightened Performance for her role in Halloween Kills, which is the latest Michael Myers slasher film with Jamie Lee Curtis reprising her role as Laurie Strode.

Richards reprised her role of Lindsey Wallace from the 1978 original Halloween film.

Family: In all, Richards and husband Mauricio Umansky have six dogs, which includes a mixed breed dog named Storm, a golden retriever named Bambi, a Pomeranian named Romeo, and newcomer Smokey to go along with Luna and River; she is pictured with a dog trainer

Her man: Richards and Umansky have been married since 1996
Donald Glover showed off his street chic in New York Friday.

The 38-year-old actor looked relaxed on the set of his new TV series, Mr. and Mrs. Smith, in a black leather jacket, black t-shirt, jeans and black shoes.

Occasionally he swept the jacket off to reveal a clinging grey tank top that showed off his musclebound figure.

Street chic: Donald Glover, 38, showed of his street chic in New York Friday, looking relaxed on the set of his new TV series, Mr. and Mrs. Smith in a black leather jacket, black t-shirt, jeans and black shoes

Gorgeous: Occasionally he swept the jacket off to reveal a clinging grey tank top that showed off his musclebound figure

The Atlanta star's hair and beard were closely cropped and he completed the look with a large wristwatch.

The show is based on the extremely successful 2005 film by the same name starring Angelina Jolie 47, and Brad Pitt, 58 as married assassins.

The writer and creator was also spotted enjoying some downtime with Maya Erskine, 35, who stars in the action series as Mrs. Smith.

The Obi-Wan Kenobi actress stepped into the role after Phoebe Waller-Bridge left the production, citing creative differences with Donald over the direction of the show.

Downtime: The star was spotted enjoying some downtime with Maya Erskine, 35, who stars as his wife in the Amazon series about married assassins

Both said the split was amicable and they remain friends, and it's likely Donald and Phoebe could work together again as each has signed lucrative deals with Amazon to produce and act.

The busy artist said he has already written the finale for season one.

The performer announced he was working on music for his alter-ego, Childish Gambino, during a March 29 appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live! but did not say when it would be released.

New music? The Atlanta actor said he has been working on music for his alter-ego, Childish Gambino, but has not said when it will be released

'Im making a lot of music. I really love doing it; Ive made a bunch of it. Its just really about how to experience it at this point.'

The Atlanta star also said he wanted to spend more time with his kids, 'It used to just flow, but now I have kids  so nothing flows any more! Nothings as easy as it used to be. So I do block off time now, because I want to be here for [my children] at this time.'

The artist and his wife, Michelle White, are the parents to three young children; Legend, Drake and Donald who are approximately six, four and two. The couple have not revealed the kids' birth dates.
Hollyoaks star Andy Moss has revealed he's engaged to partner Mark Bennett.

The actor, who 's known for his role as Rhys Ashworth in the Channel 4 soap, took to Instagram on Friday to share a snap of the moment Mark got down on one knee to propose during a romantic trip to Greece.

Captioning his post, Andy penned: 'I said YAS!' alongside a couple in love and a diamond ring emoji.

Congratulations: Hollyoaks star Andy Moss has revealed he's engaged to partner Mark Bennett

The loved-up snap sees Andy, who played Rhys between 2005 and 2014, beaming as Mark places a ring on his finger during a boat trip.

The soap star also shared a snap of the couple laying down on the deck of the yacht as they enjoyed a beer amid the trip to Naxos island.

Andy's message was met with a plethora of congratulatory messages from his celebrity pals and former Hollyoaks co-stars.

Theresa McQueen star Jorgie Porter led the way by writing 'Yasssss' with love heart emojis.

Lovely: The actor, who 's known for his role as Rhys Ashworth in the Channel 4 soap (pictured), took to Instagram on Friday to share a snap of the moment Mark got down on one knee to propose during a romantic trip to Greece

While Anna Shaffer who played Ruby Button penned: 'Andy!!!!! Just thrilled for you both hawwwwwtest couple xoxoxoxo.'

Doctor Who actress Mandip Gill, who portrayed Phoebe McQueen penned: 'Congratulations to you both!!!'

Anthony Quinlan, who played onscreen best friend Gilly Roach said: 'Love this mate! Congratulations to you both.'

Happy couple: The soap star also shared a snap of the couple laying down on the deck of the yacht as they enjoyed a beer amid the trip to Naxos island

Engagement news: Captioning his post, Andy penned: 'I said YAS!' alongside a couple in love and a diamond ring emoji

While Claire Cooper who portrayed his onscreen love interest Jacqui McQueen added: 'Fabulous news congratulations to you both.'

Fellow Hollyoaks star, Bronagh Waugh, who portrayed Cheryl Brady, witnessed to romantic proposal and shared a plethora of snaps of the big moment to her Instagram.

The actress, who was on holiday with the couple alongside other pals, penned: 'A total HONOUR to be on the yacht & to share the moment when he said YES!!

So happy for you: Andy's message was met with a plethora of congratulatory messages from his celebrity pals and former Hollyoaks co-stars

'It was the most beautiful and the most EXTRA dayv fitting for a prince who's met his Prince.

'Love you both so much @andymossss @markbenn85 #beyonce #helikeditsoheputaringonit.'

Mark has appeared on Andy's Instagram since 2016, with the couple having travelled the world together with trips including Sri Lanka, Thailand and New York.

The duo also share an adorable Labrador Retriever named Rocko together.

Close friends: Fellow Hollyoaks star, Bronagh Waugh 9pictured with Andy), who portrayed Cheryl Brady, witnessed to romantic proposal and shared a plethora of snaps of the big moment to her Instagram

Snapshot: Bronagh's photos include one of the newly-engaged couple swimming in the sea, with Andy showing off his engagement ring

Special time: The actress, who was on holiday with the couple alongside other pals, penned: 'A total HONOUR to be on the yacht & to share the moment when he said YES!!'
He recently performed for the Queen's Platinum Jubilee at the Party at the Palace.

And now, Italian operatic tenor Andrea Bocelli, 63, has announced a five-city Australian tour for 2022.

The tour will include a 70-piece orchestra and a 60-person choir in all it's glory and will take place in October.

Tour: Italian operatic tenor Andrea Bocelli, 63, has announced a five-city Australian tour for 2022. Pictured performing at the Party at the Palace for the Queen's Platinum Jubilee on June 4

The 63-year-old will draw on his spectacular catalogue of work, spanning almost 30 years, to stun and amaze audiences across Australia.

Bocelli's tour kicks off in Brisbane on Tuesday 25 October before moving onto Sydney, The Hunter Valley, Melbourne and Perth.

For members of Telstra Plus, tickets are available online from Wednesday 15 June at midday, for the general public, tickets will be available from Friday 17 June.

Music icon: The 63-year-old will draw on his spectacular catalogue of work, spanning almost 30 years, to stun and amaze audiences across Australia. Pictured with wife Veronica Berti

Andrea believes that they are not just concerts but opportunities to immerse ourselves in musical beauty on a grand scale.

He said: 'For these upcoming shows, my aim is to restore some serenity and enter gently into people's hearts.

'I've always found Australian audiences to be passionate, enthusiastic and friendly'.

He continued by explaining the language of music, saying: 'With its ability to inspire and heal, music is its own language and I never tire of performing these songs.

'Music is essential nourishment for the human spirit.

'What better way to celebrate the joys of life than through song!'
Thor star Chris Hemsworth was spotted arriving into Sydney via a private jet on Friday.

The 38-year-old cut a casual figure as he touched down in the capital city surrounded by his entourage.

Chris carried a suit bag and looked relaxed ahead of walking the red carpet at the premiere of his new Netflix film, Spiderhead, in Sydney on Saturday.

A Hollywood star arrival! On Friday, Chris Hemsworth cut a stylish figure as he landed in Sydney on a private jet with his entourage ahead of the Australian Spiderhead premiere

The Byron Bay local looked casual but nice in a pair of black jeans, black star sneakers and a black T-shirt and jacket.

Proving he wasn't too posh to push and as down to earth as ever, the megastar wheeled his own small suitcase off the jet, carried a backpack and carried his suit bag.

He appeared relaxed and in high spirits as he walked the tarmac.

Relaxed: Chris carried a suit bag and looked relaxed ahead of walking the red carpet at the premiere of his new Netflix film, Spiderhead, in Sydney on Saturday

Down to earth: Proving he wasn't too posh to push and as down to earth as ever, the megastar wheeled his own small suitcase off the jet, carried a backpack and carried his suit bag

New film: Chris and American actor Miles Teller, 35, star in the new Netflix sci-fi thriller Spiderhead that is set to be released June 17

Chris and American actor Miles Teller, 35, star in the new Netflix sci-fi thriller Spiderhead that is set to be released June 17.

In Spiderhead, Chris swaps Thor's hammer for sharp suits and wire-rim spectacles to play a sinister scientist.

A trailer for the futuristic sci-fi film, which premieres on Netflix next week, shows the Marvel actor, 38, flexing his acting muscles as his creepy character tests mood-altering drugs on convicts in a state-of-the-art prison complex.

New role: In Spiderhead, Chris swaps Thor's hammer for sharp suits and wire-rim spectacles to play a sinister scientist

Thriller: A trailer for the futuristic sci-fi film, which premieres on Netflix next week, shows the Marvel actor, 38, flexing his acting muscles as his creepy character tests mood-altering drugs on convicts in a state-of-the-art prison complex

Casual: The Byron Bay local looked casual but nice in a pair of black jeans, black star sneakers and a black T-shirt and jacket

Background: Written by Rheet Reese and Paul Wernick of Deadpool fame, the film is based on George Saunders' 2010 New Yorker short story Escape from Spiderhead

The prisoners have volunteered as medical subjects in order to shorten their sentences.

Written by Rheet Reese and Paul Wernick of Deadpool fame, the film is based on George Saunders' 2010 New Yorker short story Escape from Spiderhead.

Earlier this month, Chris confirmed with fans that he's been filming the highly-anticipated prequel to Mad Max: Fury Road, titled Furiosa, in NSW's Broken Hill.

New work: Earlier this month, Chris confirmed with fans that he's been filming the highly-anticipated prequel to Mad Max: Fury Road, titled Furiosa, in NSW's Broken Hill

'A new journey in the Mad Max saga begins,' captioned the Australian actor, who uploaded a snap of a movie clapperboard being used on set

Phone break: Chris got off the flight and immediately checked his phone

Upcoming: The spin-off is based on the Fury Road character Imperator Furiosa, who was previously played by Charlize Theron

'A new journey in the Mad Max saga begins,' captioned the Australian actor, who uploaded a snap of a movie clapperboard being used on set.

The spin-off is based on the Fury Road character Imperator Furiosa, who was previously played by Charlize Theron.

For this go-around, Anya Taylor-Joy steps into the role, playing a younger version of the renegade warrior, who turned against Immortan Joe, in the predecessor, in order to free his female concubines (or breeders), dubbed The Five Wives.

Franchise creator George Miller is back as director and co-writer of the film, alongside Nico Lathouris, as well as his longtime producing partner Doug Mitchell.

Miller, 77, has described the prequel as 'a saga,' that will be told over a 15-year period, which is much different from Fury Road, which spanned three days in its timeframe.

Co-star: For this go-around, Anya Taylor-Joy steps into the role, playing a younger version of the renegade warrior
Lori Loughlin is having a hard time accepting the loss of Full House co-star Bob Saget, who passed away unexpectedly in January following a stand-up show in Florida.

The 57-year-old actress spoke candidly about her grief as she made a rare social media appearance during fellow Full House alum John Stamos' Instagram Live on Friday.

The stream, which also featured appearances by Saget's close pals John Mayer and Jeff Ross, was in honor of the new Netflix special paying tribute to the late comedian.

Grieving: Lori Loughlin is having a hard time accepting the loss of Full House co-star Bob Saget, who passed away unexpectedly in January following a stand-up show in Florida; Lori pictured in 2019

'He was everyone's dad, he was part of everyone's childhood... it's still hard for me to believe that Bob is gone,' said Loughlin.

After learning of Saget's death, Loughlin said she was flooded with support from loved ones and fans, which she said has 'been very heartwarming.'

The Fuller House star, who sat beside Stamos during the IG Live, proceeded to she's been approached in public by perfect strangers offering their condolences.

'People I don't know coming up to me and saying, "I'm so sorry for your loss" and people talking to me about how much Bob meant to them,' she explained.

Rare appearance: The 57-year-old actress spoke candidly about her grief as she made a rare social media appearance during fellow Full House alum John Stamos' Instagram Live on Friday

Gathered: The stream, which also featured appearances by Saget's close pals John Mayer and Jeff Ross, was in honor of the new Netflix special paying tribute to the late comedian

During their virtual conversation, the beloved actor's four friends bragged about his musical talents.

In fact, Stamos made a point of sharing that Saget 'was more musically talented than what one would think.'

'Kelly [Rizzo] was so kind to give me one of Bob's guitars,' the actor, 58, revealed, in a reference to Saget's wife.

Colleagues and friends: Both Stamos and Loughlin (left) co-starred alongside Saget on the hit sitcom Full House (1987-1995) for its eight season run; the cast is pictured in September 1993

'If I was throwing a birthday party or he was over my house for something, he would love to jam... I have a great video of Bob singing Imagine,' Stamos said of the classic John Lennon song.

Mayer, 44, a heralded blues style guitarist, chimed in and complimented Saget and how 'he really played like a musician when he played.'

He continued: 'The song might have been funny but the performance was completely sincere.'

Ross, 56, then jumped into the conversation to share that comedian loved to go out to see live music. 'He never missed a chance to see some new music... he was a musical soul,' he said.

As the love fest continued, some of Saget's other friends and loved ones, including his wife Kelly Rizzo, tuned in and shared comments.

Tribute: Bob Saget's legacy has been honored by his friends in a new Netflix special about the late comedian, who died in January at the age of 65

Celebrity friends: Jim Carrey, 60, was among the comedians to take part in the Netflix special tribute to Saget

Shredding: John Mayer (pictured) showed off his musical genius in the tribute to the comedian

As the chat continued, Ross complimented Saget for having the will and the ability to turn his work colleagues into lasting friendships.

'The fact that Bob took his TV family and made you into his real family is such an amazing thing  that has never happened in the history of people with castmates,' he joked, before adding, 'Somehow the Full House cast still loves each other.'

The group went on to urge fans to watch the new Netflix special Dirty Daddy: The Bob Saget Tribute, which was filmed three weeks after the comedian's sudden death.

'He told you he loved you every single time, every chance he'd get. If you can do anything to honor him, it's that,' Stamos shared, before Loughlin added, 'He set a pretty high bar.'

The recently-release Netflix tribute took place at The Comedy Store in Los Angeles, and featured some other famous names that were proud to call Bob Saget their friend, including Jim Carrey, Dave Chappelle, Seth Green, Chris Rock, Darren Criss, Mike Binder, Jackson Browne, Mike Young, Paul Rodriguez, as well as Stamos, Ross and Mayer.

There's also pre-recorded video segments from Candace Cameron Bure, Dave Coulier, Michael Keaton, Tim Allen, and Jon Lovitz .

Saget leaves behind his wife Kelly Rizzo (pictured), whom he married in 2018, three adult children from his first marriage to Sherri Kramer

Saget was found dead in his hotel room at the Ritz-Carlton in Orlando, Florida on January 9 at the age of 65. He had performed his stand-up comedy show the previous night just outside of Jacksonville.

A report from the Orange County Medical Examiner, obtained by People, revealed Saget had likely fallen backward and hit his head, and thus died from blunt force trauma.

The beloved comedian left behind his wife Kelly Rizzo, whom he married in 2018, and three adult children from his first marriage to Sherri Kramer.

Dirty Daddy: The Bob Saget Tribute is now available on Netflix.

Now streaming: Dirty Daddy: The Bob Saget Tribute is now available on Netflix; (L-R) Bob Saget, John Stamos and Dave Coulier




Apres la lecteure du Budget 2022-2023, ce derbnoier sera ua centre des debats pendnat 45 heures au Parlemet  partir du 13 juin 2022.

1. Short title

2. Appropriation of sums in respect of services of Government

__________

A BILL

To provide for the issue from the Consolidated Fund of the sums necessary to meet the expenditure, both recurrent and capital, in respect of the services of Government for the financial year 2022-2023 and for the appropriation of those sums by votes of expenditure

ENACTED by the Parliament of Mauritius, as follows 

1. Short title

This Act may be cited as the Appropriation (2022-2023) Act 2022.

2

2. Appropriation of sums in respect of services of Government

(1) A total sum not exceeding one hundred and fifty-two billion rupees (Rs.152,000,000,000) shall be issued from the Consolidated Fund to meet the expenditure, both recurrent and capital, in respect of the services of Government for the financial year 2022-2023.

(2) The expenditure of the total sum under subsection (1) shall be appropriated by votes of expenditure, in conformity with the Schedule and the Estimates 2022-2023 laid before the Assembly

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Todd Chrisley was seen for the first time since he and wife Julie Chrisley were convicted of bank fraud and tax evasion last Tuesday.

The Chrisley Knows Best star, 53, was spotted stepping out of his Tennessee mansion on Friday, where he is currently on house arrest with Julie, 49, as they face up to 30 years in prison.

The reality TV star walked outside to greet his daughter Savannah - who stopped by to bring her parents muffins - wearing a white T-shirt, khaki pants and white socks.

First outing: Todd Chrisley was seen for the first time since he and wife Julie Chrisley were convicted of bank fraud and tax evasion

Todd made his way down the steps of his massive mansion in just his socks, while taking a call on his cellphone.

He happily accepted the sweet treat, which came in a ziplock bag, from his 24-year-old offspring.

Savannah - who's the star of her own show, Growing Up Chrisley, along with her brother Chase Chrisley, 26 - sported a white T-shirt tucked into a black pair of jeans.

House arrest: The Chrisley Knows Best star, 53, was seen stepping out of his Tennessee home, where he is currently on house arrest with Julie, 49, as they face up to 30 years in prison

Not bad: The couple are confined to their stunning 6-bedroom, 10-bathroom 13,279-square-foot home European style home worth close to $3 million

Her blonde tresses were pulled back into a chic bun, and she accessorized her look with a couple of gold bracelets.

The two were then spotted going back into the massive estate for a brief visit, before Savannah departed.

The couple are under house arrest in their stunning 6-bedroom, 10-bathroom 13,279-square-foot home European style home worth close to $3 million.

Stopping by: The reality TV star walked outside of the mansion to greet his daughter Savannah, wearing a white T-shirt, khaki pants and white socks

Caring: Savannah, 24, - who's the star of her own show, Growing Up Chrisley - stopped by her parents' house to bring them some muffins in a ziplock bag

Todd and Julie are said to be 'devastated and disappointed' after being found guilty of running a years-long conspiracy to defraud community banks out of more than $30 million of fraudulent loans.

Prosecutors said they then used the funds to repay previous loans and fund a lavish lifestyle that featured luxury cars, real estate, expensive clothing and travel.

The Georgia jury also saw Todd's ex-business partner confess to helping the couple with their crimes, while also claiming he had a gay affair with the father-of-five.

Brief visit: The two were spotted going back into the massive estate for a brief visit, before Savannah departed

The Chrisley's attorney said they plan to appeal the verdict and will 'continue to fight until they are vindicated.'

The reality TV pair will be sentenced in October.

Despite their guilty convictions, USA Network still plans to keep airing Chrisley Knows Best, with the second half season nine set to debut on June 23.

It was renewed for a tenth season last month, however industry experts remain skeptical that production will move forward.

Guilty: Todd and Julie are 'devastated and disappointed' after being found guilty Tuesday of conspiring to defraud community banks out of more than $30M of fraudulent loans

The Chrisley's attorney said they plan to appeal the verdict and will 'continue to fight until they are vindicated' (pictured in 2019)

The Chrisley's accountant Peter Tarantino was convicted of conspiring to defraud the IRS and filing two false corporate tax returns on behalf of their film production company

A federal jury in Atlanta convicted Todd, 53, of conspiracy to commit bank fraud, bank fraud, conspiracy to defraud the United States and tax fraud on Tuesday.

Julie, 49, was found guilty of conspiracy to commit bank fraud, bank fraud, conspiracy to defraud the United States, tax fraud, wire fraud.

'Both Chrisleys are devastated and disappointed with the verdict and will be pursuing an appeal,' the couple's lawyer Steve Friedberg told People on Thursday.

'Julie and Todd are so grateful for the love and support shown by their family, friends and fans. They both remain strong in their faith and will continue the "fight" until they are vindicated.

'They have their priorities in order and are currently concentrating on the welfare of their children and Todd's mother, Elizabeth Faye Chrisley.'

In addition, the Chrisley's accountant Peter Tarantino was convicted of conspiring to defraud the IRS and filing two false corporate tax returns on behalf of their film production company.

Like the Chrisleys, he too could be sentenced to up to 30 years in prison. They will face a judge for sentencing on October 6 at 9.30am.

2020 family portrait: Aside from Savannah, the Southern grandparents-of-two are also parents of sons Kyle, 30, Chase, 26, and Grayson, 16 (also pictured with Todd's mother Faye and granddaughter Chloe)

Todd and Julie have been married 26 years and share five children: Lindsie, 32; Kyle, 30; Chase; Savannah; and Grayson, 16.

Their show, Chrisley Knows Best, which depicts their seemingly picture-perfect southern lifestyle, is USA Network's most watched original series.

NBCUniversal, the cable station's parent company, renewed the show for a tenth season on May 10, a week before their trial began.

However, reality TV industry experts told TMZ the fate of the show remains up in the air because they looming sentencing date doesn't give Todd, born Michael, and Julie much time for filming.

Sources familiar with the show's production have described the situation as 'very fluid,' noting the network is 'awaiting the sentencing.'

Additionally, E! Network recently greenlit a new speed-dating match-making series Love Limo hosted and executive produced by the so-called 'patriarch of perfection.'

Peacock also renewed spin-off Growing Up Chrisley - starring the Chrisley's children Savannah and Chase - for a fourth season to premiere in July.

Fighting for their lives: Tarantino and the married couple of 26 years face up to 30 years in prison when they get sentenced on October 6 at 9:30am

Jeopardized: That doesn't give Todd (born Michael) and Julie much time to shoot the 10th season of their boisterous reality show, which the USA Network had renewed on May 10

Still on? Plus, the E! Network greenlit a new speed-dating match-making series Love Limo hosted and executive produced by the so-called 'patriarch of perfection' (2006 stock shot)

'Life is a party' Peacock also renewed spin-off Growing Up Chrisley - starring the Chrisley's children Savannah and Chase (pictured May 11) - for a fourth season to premiere in July

Meanwhile, Todd, known for being a devout Christian, saw his on-screen image ripped apart as shocking details about an alleged relationship with his ex-business partner were unveiled during the trial.

Mark Braddock, 57, a married father and grandfather, told the court in May that he had a year-long gay affair with the reality star in the early 2000s - while they were both married to their respective wives.

He then sensationally turned against his ex-lover and business partner on the stand, when he told the jury that he had not only been witness to the Chrisleys' crimes, but had helped to commit them.

Mark Braddock, 57, a married father and grandfather, told the court in May that he had a year-long gay affair with Todd Chrisley in the early 2000s - while they were both married to their respective wives

According to Braddock, who was granted immunity in return for testifying, he and Todd continued working together for a decade after their secret affair ended, with the businessman describing their close relationship as a 'brotherhood'.

However, that brotherhood blew up in Todd's face in 2012, when he reportedly threw Braddock out of his office and threatened to call the police on him.

Braddock, who had to tell his wife of 34 years about the affair before testifying, then turned the Chrisleys into the FBI for tax fraud.

His testimony also saw him confessing not only to his role in the Chrisleys' years-long fraud, but to his infidelity, which he is said to have kept hidden from his wife for years before revealing it all to the world on the stand.

Braddock has been married to wife Leslie for more than three decades - with the couple celebrating their 34th anniversary on October 10, 2021, having tied the knot back in 1987.

Despite his testimony, she is said to be standing by her husband, with whom she shares two children.

According to Media Take Out, Leslie - who is reportedly a real estate agent - has 'forgiven' Braddock for his affair with Todd, and intends to stay married to her husband, despite his confession about his affair.

Together, Braddock and his wife have welcomed two sons over the years, named Ian and Colin. Ian is married to a woman named Eva, and together, they have a son and daughter. Colin's marital status is unclear.

Todd's alleged ex-lover Mark Braddock (pictured with his wife in 2019) told the court that he not only had a romance with Chrisley, but that he also helped the reality star to commit fraud

Braddock has been married to a woman named Leslie for more than three decades - with the couple celebrating their 34th anniversary in October 2021. They are pictured at the wedding

Braddock and his wife have welcomed two sons over the years, named Ian and Colin. Ian has a son and daughter with his wife, Eva. The family is seen in 2014

After the affair ended, while Braddock worked at Chrisley Asset Management, he claims an anonymous source sent text messages threatening to expose the relationship and his boss' fraud.

'Pay cash and we'll shut up,' he claimed the blackmailer threatened over text during his testimony.

According to Braddock, he and Todd ended up paying the blackmailer $38,000 to stay quiet.

However, the former business partners ultimately had a major falling out which led to the end of their professional relationship.

In 2012, Braddock said Todd threw him out of his office and called the police, which caused Braddock to feel vengeful - and he eventually tipped off the FBI about Todd and Julie's criminal activity.

He went on to became a partner at the Pontchartrain Resources Group - 'a full-service business consulting organization helping executives to manage technology and business process change to achieve maximum efficiencies in their operations' - where he currently still works.

Braddock currently resides in Santa Rosa Beach, Florida, and often shares snaps to social media with his family.

Their lawyer Steve Friedberg told People on Thursday: 'Both Chrisleys are devastated and disappointed with the verdict and will be pursuing an appeal. Julie and Todd are so grateful for the love and support shown by their family, friends and fans'

Friedberg added: 'They both remain strong in their faith and will continue the "fight" until they are vindicated. They have their priorities in order and are currently concentrating on the welfare of their children and Todd's mother, Elizabeth Faye Chrisley (L)'

Excited? The ninth season of Chrisley Knows Best premieres June 23 on the USA Network

The Chrisley's trial began three weeks ago and seemingly remained heavy on their minds until the guilty verdict was reached.

The Chrisley family dined together at a popular southern comfort style restaurant in Atlanta on Sunday, just two days after jurors in their fraud trial began deliberation.

Witnesses told TMZ the family was 'all smiles' while brunching at Peach & the Porkchop.

Todd left the table to take a 10 minute phone call that some speculate was related to the then-ongoing trial, which was clearly on the family's mind.

However, when he resumed his seat at the table, the positive and and light-hearted mood picked back up, neighboring brunch-goers allege.

Later Sunday, Todd - who boasts 4.9M social media followers - took to Instagram to post the quote: 'God doesn't give us what we can handle. God helps us handle what we are given.'

'Always remember, God is always in control,' he captioned the post.

His daughter Savannah replied to the post: 'Weve got this! God has got us!'

On Wednesday, the Chrisley's 32-year-old estranged daughter Lindsie Instastoried that she and her family were 'deeply saddened' over the verdict and she's taking a hiatus from her podcasts until 'the time is right.'

Later Sunday, Todd, took to Instagram, reminding his followers: 'Always remember, God is always in control.' His daughter commented on the post issuing her support

'Please pray for us': On Wednesday, the Chrisley's 32-year-old estranged daughter Lindsie Instastoried that she and her family were 'deeply saddened' over the verdict and she's taking a hiatus from her podcasts until 'the time is right'

The Chrisleys were initially indicted in August 2019 and a new indictment was filed in February of this year.

Their trial began about three weeks ago, and a jury found the pair guilty of all charges Tuesday, according to the U.S. attorney's office in Atlanta.

Prosecutors alleged that the Chrisleys submitted fake documents to banks when applying for loans.

They said Julie Chrisley also submitted a false credit report and fake bank statements when trying to rent a house in California, and then the couple refused to pay rent a few months after they started using the home.

They used a film production company they controlled to hide income to keep the IRS from collecting unpaid taxes owed by Todd Chrisley, prosecutors said.

The Chrisleys were initially indicted in August 2019 and a new indictment was filed in February of this year. They are pictured in a court sketch at a bond hearing at the US Bankruptcy Court on August 14, 2019

After they were found guilty, U.S. District Judge Eleanor Ross allowed the Chrisleys to remain free on bond.

But she placed them on location monitoring and home detention, meaning they can only leave the house for certain reasons, including work, medical appointments and court appearances.

They also have to alert their probation officers to any spending over $1,000, according to the order entered Tuesday.

Peter Tarantino, an accountant hired by the couple, was charged with conspiracy to defraud the United States and willfully filing false tax returns.

He was found guilty on all counts, the U.S. attorney's office in Atlanta said. He also remains free on bond.
Reality star Matty 'J' Johnson has revealed the one wardrobe item he has had for eight years that he just can't part with: a pair of Calvin Klein undies.

Meanwhile, fiancee Laura Byrne, 37, has begged him to chuck them out.

The loved-up couple, who met on The Bachelor in 2017, came out with this and other fashion secrets when the pair shared an interview with The Daily Telegraph on Saturday.

Spilling the beans: Matty 'J' Johnson and fiancee Laura Byrne revealed their fashion secrets when the pair shared an interview with The Daily Telegraph on Saturday

Matty, 34, revealed another shock style choice in the chat, when he admitted that he has never owned that Australian summer essential - a pair of thongs.

'I'm not sure if it's surprising,' he said.

The reality star, who recently shared news of a gig on iconic ABC kids' show Playschool, described his style as 'cool dad'.

The handsome celebrity, who shares two daughters with Laura, picked movie stars Steve McQueen and Jonah Hill as style icons.

Secret is out: Reality star Matty 'J' Johnson has uncovered the one wardrobe item he has had for eight years that he just can't part with: a pair of Calvin Klein undies as pictured here

'Steve McQueen made everything he wore cool,' he said. 'I'm also a big fan of Jonah Hill: his wardrobe is this adventurous mix of streetwear and designer clothing.'

Jewellery designer Laura made an out-there choice for her style icon, selecting American blogger and author Leandra Cohen, best known for her Men Repeller website.

'I'm also a big fan of Lara Worthington,' she said of the former model, now entrepreneur, best known for the famous 'So where the bloody hell are you?' Australian Tourism ad.

Aussie rebel: Matty, 34, revealed another shock style choice in Saturday's interview, when he admitted that he has never owned that Australian summer essential - a pair of thongs

Laura said that Worthington, who was known as Lara Bingle at the peak of her modelling career in the early 2000s, carries off an effortlessly cool vibe.

Matty and Laura recently moved out of their home in Sydney's Bondi after purchasing a $1.87million property in Bangalow, which is located in the hinterland of Byron Bay.

The pair met on The Bachelor back in 2017, the fifth season, and became engaged in 2019.

Two years later they started their family when they welcomed their first child, daughter Marlie Mae.

Laura gave birth to their second daughter, Lola Ellis, in February 2021.
Sarah Paulson turned heads while attending an event for her series 'Impeachment: American Crime Story' at El Capitan Theatre in Los Angeles on Friday.

The actress, 47, dazzled in a plunging A-line long-sleeve pleated black gown that showcased her cleavage, and featured a silk panel at the waist, as she posed for photographers at the FYC Fest.

Also at the event was former White House intern Monica Lewinsky, 48 - a producer for the show, and inspiration behind the storyline - who looked chic in a navy and red top and matching red slacks.

Stylish: Sarah Paulson and Monica Lewinsky turned heads while attending an event for their series 'Impeachment: American Crime Story' at El Capitan Theatre in Los Angeles on Friday

Paulson - who is a cast member and executive producer of the series - finalized her glamorous look with a pair of silver pointed-toe heels with bow and pearl accents.

The Golden Globe Award winner wore her platinum strands slicked down to the side, and opted for dramatic makeup, sporting bright red lipstick and black eyeliner.

To complete the sophisticated ensemble, the Florida native wore sizable uniquely-shaped pearl earrings.

Dazzling: The actress, 47, dazzled in a plunging A-line long-sleeve pleated black gown, that showcased her cleavage, and featured a silk panel at the waist

Striking: Paulson - who is a cast member and executive producer of the series - wore her platinum strands slicked down to the side, and opted for bright red lipstick and black eyeliner

In the limited series, Paulson stars as the late Linda Tripp - the former White House employee who played a prominent role in the ClintonLewinsky scandal.

Meanwhile Lewinsky - who's portrayed on the show by actress Beanie Feldstein - added a wild touch to her look, sporting a pair of cheetah-print pointed-toe heels with a crystal-embellished strap.

The television personality - who famously had an affair with President Bill Clinton between 1995 and 1997 - wore her voluminous brunette tresses in a straight style.

As for glam, she also chose to go with a dark shade of red lipstick, and drew attention to her eyes with her well-defined eyebrows.

Smart: Lewinsky, 48, looked chic in a navy and red top and matching red slacks, which she paired with cheetah-print pointed-toe heels with a crystal-embellished strap

Elegant: The television personality - who famously had an affair with President Bill Clinton between 1995 and 1997 - wore her voluminous brunette tresses in a straight style

Friends: Lewinsky was spotted giving Paulson a hug as they greeted each other at the event

Lewinsky was spotted giving Paulson a hug as they greeted each other at the event.

Annaleigh Ashford, 36, looked sensational in a colorful long-sleeve button-up bohemian gown, with a belt that cinched in her trim waist.

The actress completed her 1970's inspired look with Mod makeup, featuring a light eyeshadow and dramatic black eyeliner along with light pink lipstick.

The beauty plays Paula Jones, the Arkansas state employee who sued Clinton for sexual harassment in 1994.

Sensational: Annaleigh Ashford, 36, looked sensational in a colorful long-sleeve button-up bohemian gown, with a belt that cinched in her trim waist

Stunner: Mira Sorvino, 54, looked incredible in a plunging black lace dress, which she paired with gold and black platform heels

Mira Sorvino, 54 - who transformed into Monica Lewinsky's mother Marcia Lewis - looked incredible in a plunging black lace dress, which she paired with gold and black platform heels.

The blonde beauty wore her long tresses in loose curls and accentuated her features with a touch of pink lipstick and black mascara.

Actress Judith Light, 73, was the epitome of elegance in a polka dot navy suit, which she paired with classic black heels.

The Tony-winning actress portrays Susan Carpenter-McMillan, who is Paula Jones' spokesperson.

Cool gals: Actress Judith Light, 73, was the epitome of elegance in a polka dot navy suit, while creator of the series Sarah Burgess looked trendy in a black blazer worn over a white T-shirt

Lovely: Margo Martindale, 70, showed off her distinctive sense of style in a blue and black kimono-style top and black pants

Creator of the series Sarah Burgess looked trendy in a black blazer worn over a white T-shirt, which she paired with black pants and black dress shoes.

Margo Martindale, 70, showed off her distinctive sense of style in a blue and black kimono-style top and black pants.

Martindale plays Lucianne Goldberg, the literary agent who inspired Tripp to secretly tape Lewinsky as she discussed her affair with President Clinton.

The ladies were seen posing up a storm for the cameras as they mingled together on the red carpet. The cast members were also spotted with executive producer Nina Jacobson, who stood out in a bright red dress.

All together: The ladies were seen posing up a storm for the cameras as they mingled together on the red carpet

Cast: The cast members were seen with executive producer Nina Jacobson, who stood out in a bright red dress

The famous affair: The limited series tracks the circumstances of Lewinsky's infamous affair with Clinton, and the sensational scandal that it caused

Impeachment: American Crime Story - the third season of the FX true-crime anthology television series American Crime Story - tracks the circumstances of Lewinsky's infamous affair with Clinton, and the sensational scandal that it caused.

Her relationship with Clinton began when she was a 22-year-old unpaid White House intern - and eventually led to his impeachment on December 19, 1998.

The show offers a dramatized version of their romance, as well as the aftermath, following the then-President's confession to having an 'improper physical relationship' with Lewinsky.

The series, which consists of 10 episodes, premiered on FX on September 7, 2021, and is based on the book A Vast Conspiracy: The Real Story of the Sex Scandal That Nearly Brought Down a President by Jeffrey Toobin.

In character: Paulson stars as the late Linda Tripp - the former White House employee who played a prominent role in the ClintonLewinsky scandal; Still from the series

As young Monica: Actress Beanie Feldstein, 28, seen portraying young Lewinsky
Sam Wood took to Instagram on Thursday to share adorable photos of his wife, Snezana Markoski, bathing their new born baby girl Harper.

Sam, 41, captioned the post 'bath time by the fire' as the fireplace was blazing behind them creating a calm and cosy homely feel.

The pics show Snezana cradling Harper as she gently runs water over her head.

Home comfort: Sam Wood, 41, took to Instagram on Thursday to share adorable photos of his wife, Snezana (pictured), bathing their new born baby girl Harper

As well as the pictures, an incredibly cute video was also posted online showing just how much Harper loves a little head massage.

Harper looks gorgeous with her eyes looking huge as she's relaxing and enjoying a head massage from her mother.

Sam also used a turtle emoji to reference Harper, which could be an insight into her nickname.

Bath time: Harper looks gorgeous with her eyes looking huge as she's relaxing and enjoying a head massage from her mother

The mother-of-four looked comfy and practical with her hair up in a tight bun and wearing dark trousers with an oversized beige t-shirt.

The family went through a difficult period after Harper was born earlier this year.

Harper was born a month premature and had to be taken to the ICU after picking up an infection, while Snezana was taken to another hospital to battle sepsis.

Difficult time: Proud dad Sam, 41, is seen cradling his baby daughter in hospital

Both returned home happy and healthy 24 days after Snezana gave birth.

Snezana and Sam already share daughters Charlie, two, and Willow, three, with her husband of four years.

The happy couple have been together since meeting on The Bachelor Australia in 2015. They tied the knot in Byron Bay, NSW, in 2018.
Delta Goodrem recently celebrated one of her personal career milestones by opening for the Backstreet Boys.

The songstress joined the band on the two-month US leg of their DNA World Tour.

'Backstreet Boys are an iconic band and I have been a fan of theirs since the beginning,' the 37-year-old songstress told the Daily Telegraph.

Incredible! Delta Goodrem (pictured) celebrated one of her personal career milestones this week by opening for the Backstreet Boys at the Hollywood Bowl

'To now be on their DNA Tour in the US is a dream come true and to play at the legendary Hollywood Bowl was truly magical,' she added.

Delta performed many of her iconic hits during her opening set, including Lost Without You, Wings, and some of her more recent singles, like Billionaire.

The Aussie pop star, 37, proudly announced on Tuesday that she was about to perform at the famous Hollywood Bowl amphitheatre in Los Angeles.

Legends: The songstress joined the Backstreet Boys (pictured) on the two-month US leg of their DNA World Tour

Delta, who has made several attempts to break America in the past, posed for a gallery of Instagram snaps outside the iconic venue underneath a 'SOLD OUT' sign.

'Ah just casually walking past... okay not really, I screamed and scared the entire car when I first saw it!' she captioned her post.

She went on to thank her boyfriend and musical collaborator Matthew Copley, as well as her crew, who shared the incredible moment with her.

Proud: Delta, who has made several attempts to break America in the past, posed for a gallery of Instagram snaps outside the iconic venue underneath a 'SOLD OUT' sign

'So grateful doing what I love with my love @matthew.copley and my crew who make it all the more special,' she wrote.

'LETS DO THIS!!! Thankful to be here with the iconic Backstreet Boys.'

Before jetting off to the USA, Delta recently wrapped up her Bridge Over Troubled Dreams tour in Australia.

Meanwhile, the Backstreet Boys will be bringing their DNA World Tour to Australia in February 2023 after postponing it twice due to the Covid pandemic.
He's currently filming a new show in the picturesque region of Sicily alongside pal Amanda Holden.

And Alan Carr, 45, was spotted trying his hand at windsurfing on Wednesday as the comedian filmed scenes for the upcoming series.

The RuPaul's Drag Race UK host donned a colourful waterproof ensemble as he practiced the sport with Italian champion Marco Caldarera off the island of Stagnone.

Careful! Alan Carr, 45, donned a wetsuit to try his hand at windsurfing as he filmed scenes for his new show in Sicily on Wednesday

The comedian wore a yellow neoprene shirt which he teamed with black shorts as he teetered on the water.

For safety Alan wore a black helmet as well as black water socks to help his feet grip the board.

Shielding his eyes from the scorching sun behind shades, the star appeared nervous as he balanced upright before later attempting to grasp the sail.

Water baby: The comedian wore a yellow neoprene shirt which he teamed with black shorts as he teetered on the water

Professional Marco stood in the water offering advice before leaving the presenter to his own devices - as a small camera captured all the fun.

Amanda And Alan: The Italian Job will follow the duo as they join the ranks of the 'One Euro' home buyers, purchasing a Sicilian property for the bargain price.

Armed with a shared passion for travel and interior design they will spend the summer immersing themselves in the Sicilian way of life, as they transform their depilated house into a luxury holiday home.

Like a duck to water: Professional Marco stood in the water offering advice before leaving the Interior Design Masters presenter to his own devices - as a small camera captured all the fun

As the pair roll up their sleeves to take on the challenge they'll also throw themselves into the local lifestyle, making friends with their Sicilian neighbours and exploring what the beautiful region of Italy has to offer.

Alan said of the show: 'After presenting two series of Interior Design Masters I feel now it's time for me to pop my hard hat on, slip on my steel toe capped boots and really get my hands dirty'.

Before adding: 'Working in beautiful Sicily with one of my dearest friends is like I've won the jackpot. Expect a summer of drilling, demolition and hopefully la dolce vita!'

Coming soon: Amanda And Alan: The Italian Job will follow the duo as they join the ranks of the 'One Euro' home buyers, purchasing a Sicilian home for the bargain price

While Amanda, 51, added: 'Although we're [her and Alan] on the same page most of the time, I'm more practical and organised than Alan. However he's up for some shameless bargaining so that will help us keep on budget!'

In a bid to bring new life into villages and small towns, many Italian municipalities offer decrepit houses for sale for a symbolic 'One Euro' price to be renovated for use once more.

Alan and Amanda's property is one of the many empty properties being sold at rock-bottom prices. At the end of the summer the property will go on sale and all the profits will be donated to charity.

The BBC One series will be shown later this year.
Brooke Satchwell has revealed how her new TV series cuts close to the bone.

The actress stars as an 'emotionally abused wife' in her new courtroom drama The Twelve, and told this week's Stellar Magazine that the role allowed her to, 'step into a sense of ownership and power' on the subject of domestic abuse.

'Everybody has a story. Everybody has an understanding or experience or anecdote they wanted to contribute to this character' the 41-year-old said.

New role: Brooke Satchwell stars as an 'emotionally abused wife' in her new courtroom drama The Twelve, and says the role allowed her to, 'step into a sense of ownership and power' on the subject of domestic abuse. Pictured in Stellar

'I've chosen not to speak about the intricacies of my personal experience because it doesn't necessarily serve the conversation,' she added.

Brooke said that abusive relationships can be nuanced and 'tricky' for all involved.

'I think anyone who's been in a situation such as domestic violence or coercive control knows, she explained.

Difficult: Brooke said that abusive relationships can be nuanced and 'tricky' for all involved. 'While I'm not condoning any of those behaviours  that the reason these relationships get so tricky is there's [often] love involved,' she explained

'While I'm not condoning any of those behaviours  that the reason these relationships get so tricky is there's [often] love involved. There's connection and there's intimacy,' she explained.

'And yes, it often ends up in a very unhealthy place, which is what we're trying to unravel. But that needs to be part of the conversation as well. Otherwise we're fighting in the dark.'

The former Neighbours star has struggled with tumultuous relationships in her own life.

Ex: Brooke's ex-boyfriend Matthew Newton, who she began dating in 2001, was arrested in 2006 for allegedly physically assaulting her. Pictured together in 2003

Brooke's ex-boyfriend Matthew Newton, who she began dating in 2001, was arrested in 2006 for allegedly physically assaulting her.

He pleaded guilty to 'common assault' after prosecutors withdrew three more serious charges, including assault occasioning actual bodily harm and stalking and intimidating Brooke. The conviction was later overturned by a court.

In 2010, Matthew's then-girlfriend Rachael Taylor filed a protective order against him, alleging physical, verbal and emotional abuse, and he entered Sydney's Northside West Clinic for treatment.

Charge: He pleaded guilty to 'common assault' after prosecutors withdrew three more serious charges, including assault occasioning actual bodily harm and stalking and intimidating Brooke. The conviction was later overturned by a court. Pictured in 2002

He was also arrested twice in Miami, Florida, in 2012 - the first for trespassing and resisting officers, while a second incident saw him charged with battery and resisting arrest after he attacked a hotel receptionist.

Following the charges, Matthew checked into the Betty Ford Center in California for 90 days of alcohol and drug treatment.

Both matters were later dismissed under the conditions that Matthew completed community service and wrote a letter of apology to the hotel clerk.
The big day has finally arrived when she will wed her fiance Martin Bojtos after their nuptials were delayed several times due to Covid.

And Kate Lawler took to Instagram on Saturday morning to share a glimpse at her preparations for the wedding as she got her hair and makeup done.

The Big Brother winner, 41, looked every inch the glowing bride-to-be as she was pampered by her glam squad ahead of tying the knot.

Exciting! Kate Lawler took to Instagram on Saturday morning to share a glimpse at the preparations for her nuptials to Martin Bojtos as she got her hair and makeup done

She showed one clip of her hairdresser blow drying her blonde locks and another that gave a glimpse at the huge array of makeup products she was using.

She also shared a look at the bridal suite she will be staying in with Martin after the nuptials, which boasted a huge double bed, balcony and views of east London.

The Big Brother 3 winner and Martin were meant to tie the knot on June 6 last year but were forced to postpone their big day due to COVID-19 restrictions.

Yay! The big day has finally arrived when she will wed her fiance Martin after their nuptials were delayed several times due to Covid

It was their second wedding cancellation as they were also forced to scrap plans for their nuptials on June 13 2020 due to the pandemic.

Martin proposed to Kate in April 2018 during a romantic mini break in Bruges.

The night before the big day, Kate took to Instagram to share a snap of her enjoying a pampering session, with the star revealing she felt 'strangely calm and excited' after previously being a 'nervous wreck'.

She added: 'Finally written my vows, my wedding dress has arrived and I've had my spray tan for tomorrow!'

Prep: The Big Brother winner, 41, looked every inch the glowing bride-to-be as she was pampered by her glam squad ahead of tying the knot

Glam squad assemble: She showed one clip of her hairdresser blow drying her blonde locks to perfection

Thinking ahead to her wedding, she went on: 'Sending all my love to any brides-to-be Whether it's this weekend, this month or this year, I hope you have the most magical day! It's quite a surreal feeling the day before your wedding and this past week I've experienced a multitude of emotions! Poor Boj.

'I just want to say thank you for all of your lovely messages so far and in advance of tomorrow as I'm not sure how much I'll be on my phone but rest assured, I'll be checking in with my husband and flower girl at some point for a little surprise.

'I'm really looking forward to sharing snaps and videos of our wedding day on here with you guys, you've always been so supportive and kind, but most importantly I can't wait to finally be Mrs Bojtos (pronounced Boy-Tosh) for the rest of my days.

Wow! Another video gave a glimpse at the huge array of makeup products she was using to look wedding ready

'Saying goodbye to The Handsome in 2 hours and the next time we see each other will he tomorrow at the town hall. I'm currently packing mine and Noa's suitcases, totally underestimated how much I needed to pack for my own wedding!'

The outing comes after Kate jetted to Palma in Mallorca in April for a wild hen do with her friends and family and shared a glimpse at the boozy celebrations.

She took to Instagram to offer fans a glimspe at her wild antics as she danced the night away and enjoyed a group dinner while wearing sparkly novelty bride-to-be glasses and hat.

Nice one: She also shared a look at the bridal suite she will be staying in with Martin after the nuptials

Luxury: The suite boasted a huge double bed, balcony and views of east London

For her hen do Kate looked incredible in a silky colourful co-ord from Zara that showed off her toned legs.

The party, which she nicknamed 'disgust-hen', got into full swing with Kate being accompanied by a group of pals including her sisters.

In one snap the gang were served huge jugs of summery cocktails with Kate's sister Kelly then seen singing and dancing around the tables as the other girls egged her on.

Her pals later decorate her lavish hotel room with silver balloons and snaps of her pet dogs.

Kate later shared a video montage of the best bits of her hen do, describing it as a weekend she'll 'never forget'.

In April, revealed she and her fiance Martin were in the 'worst possible place for a couple' as she detailed their relationship ahead of their wedding.

In a candid new interview, the radio star admitted that she 'wasn't prepared for the seismic shift' in their relationship following the birth of their daughter Noa, 16 months.

Wedding prep: The night before the big day, Kate took to Instagram to share a snap of her enjoying a pampering session, with the star revealing she felt 'strangely calm and excited' after previously being a 'nervous wreck'

However, the star told how her first week since quitting Virgin radio had already seen things dramatically improve with her fiance and her daughter, with Kate and Martin happily looking forward to their nuptials in June.

The 2002 Big Brother winner, presenter, DJ and author, had her first child Noa last February after insisting for a long time she never wanted to be a mum, while her partner of nine years Martin, known affectionately as Boj, was 'desperate' for kids.

Speaking to Kate Thornton on her White Wine Question Time podcast, Kate explained: 'Since we became parents our relationship has changed so much. I want to say for the better, but sadly we both know, and we're acutely aware of this, that we haven't prioritised our relationship at all and we know that we need to take steps to improve it.

'We're getting married in two months and we've actually had like the hardest year as a couple so far.

Looking good! It comes after Kate jetted to Palma in Mallorca for a wild hen do with her friends and family and shared a glimpse at the boozy wild celebration

'But we know it's because we became parents and your life changes monumentally when you become parents.'

She continued: 'I wasn't prepared for the seismic shift in our relationship. I thought it would change my life, me personally, but I didn't think about how much it would effect us as a couple even though I had friends giving me advice saying 'look you're both going to say things you don't mean, you're both going to be more tired than you've ever been before'.

'We went out for a curry the other night because I pointed out that since Noa was born a year ago we've only been out on our own on a date twice. It's not good enough.

'I can't be bothered to put on make-up and find something to wear. I want to sit in my pyjamas and read a book.'

Changes: In a candid recent interview, the radio star admitted that she 'wasn't prepared for the seismic shift' in their relationship following the birth of their daughter Noa, 16 months

She went on: 'We'd only been out for our anniversary in June, four months after Noa had been born...and we spent most of it looking on the monitor like 'ooh, is she ok?'. His mum was babysitting. So the last week has been great.

'We're talking, we're communicating. We're just better with each other.'

In March, Kate told how Boj, who proposed back in 2018, had brought them couples therapy in a bid to start their marriage on 'right foot'.

Speaking about the effect it has had on their relationship, she said: 'It was Boj's suggestion that we start couple's therapy, and I can't recommend it enough because it's really helped us. She's given us tools that we've applied when it comes to that feeling when an argument is brewing and you know that you're going to go down a road that's going to lead to anger and shouting.

'I felt really bad saying this to Boj... but part of the reason I didn't want a kid was because I was so scared of what it would do to our relationship. I feel that he knew that when arguments were brewing over the last year and I'd say 'this is why I knew we shouldn't have...'

'And I hate myself for saying that because it's horrible for him to hear it, for me saying 'I knew that it would do this to us, I knew it would break us, I knew that we would end up resenting each other', and falling out and becoming like distant and being in the worst place possible for a couple who are about to get married.

'But we're coming out of the other side. We know what we need to do and we're trying to make sure that at the bottom of this, that us going into our marriage we want to start on the right foot which is why we decided therapy would be the best route for us.

Motherhood: She said: 'I wasn't prepared for the seismic shift in our relationship. I thought it would change my life, me personally, but I didn't think about how much it would effect us as a couple'

'And we would just focus on spending more time together as a family, and less time on our phones and less time working in the evenings when we're supposed to be having that quality time together.'

She added: 'I'm focusing on the wedding now. It's all about just spending the next two months, doing as little work as possible just to take a little breather and make sure that I'm happy on my wedding day. I don't want to feel like I've been feeling on my wedding day - I want to be a happy bride.'

The beauty also revealed how she's tying the knot on June 11 at an East London venue, with her darling daughter acting as a bridesmaid.

Kate also revealed that she's turned down a magazine deal, that they're having a non-religious ceremony as they're both atheists and that Noa and their dogs will be joining them on the second part of their honeymoon.
Katie Piper shared snaps of her recent sun-soaked Barcelona getaway to her Instagram grid on Saturday.

The 38-year-old campaigner flaunted her incredible figure in a skimpy bikini as she posed up a storm with a female pal.

Katie returned to social media in epic style after a five day 'break' which the star said had a 'positive effect' on her mental health.

Fun in the sun: Katie Piper, 38 (left) flaunted her incredible figure in a contrasting bikini as she enjoyed a sun soaked girls getaway to Barcelona on Saturday

The television personality put on a very busty display in a black halter neck with plunging keyhole detail.

A contrasting pink speedo bottom clung to Katie's fantastic figure.

Shielding her eyes behind oversized shaded the star went make-up free as she styled her blonde tresses with a black scrunchie into a high ponytail.

Katie beamed for the cameras as she larked about her pal on the rooftop veranda of the four star Catalonia hotel.

Girls trip: Katie beamed for the cameras as she larked about her pal on the rooftop veranda of the four star Catalonia hotel

Her friend opted for a neon green bikini with black trim and as they embraced her pal placed a cheeky hand on Katie's breast - before collapsing into fits of giggles.

She captioned the stunning snaps: 'Back from a social media break (and an actual break with my bestie in Barcelona) and feeling so good! Do you guys ever purge from Instagram and Facebook for while?'

'It has such a positive effect on me and helps me really enjoy it and reconnect when Im back on it. Its so important for me to be present, especially with people I dont get to see on a daily basis, so apart from my daily facetimes to the girls (and one or two stories) it was a welcome break'.

She captioned the stunning snaps: 'Back from a social media break (and an actual break with my bestie in Barcelona) and feeling so good! Do you guys ever purge from Instagram and Facebook for while?'

Sundown: Later taking to her Instagram Stories Katie shared a glimpse of the stunning Spanish sunset before her return to the UK

Home time: As she ventured to the airport for the trip home she showed off her current reading choice - DJ Fat Tony's autobiography - was well as her well chosen selection of snacks

Later taking to her Instagram Stories Katie shared a glimpse of the stunning Spanish sunset before her return to the UK.

As she ventured to the airport for the trip home she showed off her current reading choice - DJ Fat Tony's autobiography - as well as her well chosen selection of snacks.

It comes after Katie was recently appointment to the Order of the British Empire (OBE) at Windsor Castle.

Honour: It comes after Katie was recently appointment to the Order of the British Empire (OBE) at Windsor Castle

She received received the honour from Anne, Princess Royal after being named among this year's Investitures for their continuing work with a range of UK-based charities

Katie was awarded her OBE for services for victims of burns and other disfigurements after suffering life-changing burns due to an acid attack in March 2008 when she was 24, leaving her partially blind and with severe scarring to her face, chest, neck, arm and hands.

A year later she established her charity, the Katie Piper Foundation, which aims to support survivors of burns and people with scars from traumatic incidents.
Claire Sweeney cut a stylish figure as she attended Disney's VIP family screening of Lightyear at at Odeon Luxe Leicester Square on Saturday afternoon.

The actress, 51, caught the eye in a blue silk halterneck top as she beamed for the cameras at the fun event.

Claire was joined by her son Jaxon Reilly, six, who looked like he was having a great time with him mum.

Smile: Claire Sweeney cut a stylish figure as she attended Disney's VIP family screening of Lightyear at at Odeon Luxe Leicester Square on Saturday afternoon

Claire teamed her bright top with smart black trousers which featured a bold stripe in the same blue colour.

She completed the look with comfortable white trainers and wore simple silver stud earrings to accessorise the look.

The blonde beauty wore her blonde tresses swept up in a chic bun and opted for a glamorous makeup look for the event.

Family: Claire was joined by her son Jaxon Reilly, six, who looked like he was having a great time with him mum

Happy: The actress, 51, caught the eye in a blue silk halterneck top as she beamed for the cameras at the fun event

Glowing: The blonde beauty wore her blonde tresses swept up in a chic bun and opted for a glamorous makeup look for the event

Other stars including Tom Fletcher, Heidi Range and Vanessa Feltz were in attendance at the family screening.

It comes after last month Claire vowed to stop weighing herself after she lost almost half a stone in just two days.

The star expressed her disbelief at the dramatic weight loss and insisted she would not rely too much on the scales as they can 'wreck our heads!'.

The look: Claire teamed her bright top with smart black trousers which featured a bold stripe in the same blue colour

All smiles: She completed the look with comfortable white trainers and wore simple silver stud earrings to accessorise the look

Yay: Other stars including Tom Fletcher (pictured), Heidi Range and Vanessa Feltz were in attendance at the family screening

Taking to Instagram, Claire shared a chart showing her weight as well as other body measurements, with the image showing she had dropped from 12.06st to 11.86st in 48 hours.

Commenting on the huge difference in such little time, she penned: 'Ok so this is mental!!! 6lbs lost in just two days.

'Goes to show, don't rely on the scales. It could be time of day you weigh yourself, how you position them, time of the month. Water retention, all make the difference.'

Having fun: She threw her hands in the air at the event

The former Brookside star went on to say that she's going to opt for a different method to keep track of the changes with her body.

She said: 'I'm gonna use my favourite Jeans as a gauge from now on. No wonder scales can wreck our heads. Favourite jeans and photo diary from now on!'

Concluding her post, Claire added: 'Love being curvy, but wanna feel fitter, stronger and shifting a little bit of timber wont go amiss lol.'

Fans: Heidi Range and Blake Harrison were both also in attendance

Lovely: Freddy Cousin-Brown wore a short white dress to show off her tanned legs

Her post was met with a plethora of supportive comments, with several fans sharing their own issues with the scales.

Claire recently revealed her weight loss secrets ahead of starring in Cabaret All Stars.

She detailed her plans to look her 'physical best' as she wears a 'fabulous catsuit' in the show.

Outfit: Zainab Jiwa looked chic in her ensemble

Happy days: Sherice Banton was all smiles as she posed for the camera

Pretty: Anna Whitehouse wore a blue dress as she posed with her children

The theatre star recently confessed Cabaret is 'out of her comfort zone' despite having appeared in Chicago and 9 To 5 The Musical.

Claire said in an interview with Closer: 'This show has got a really raunchy feel to it, laced with lots humour.

'I wear a fabulous catsuit! I find it really liberating that I'm going to get completely outrageous and I am going to sing the song Light My Fire with a big band arrangement - and I think they're actually going to set fire to me while I'm doing it.'

Family time: Mia Boardman wore a stunning black cut-out dress

The mother-of-one added: 'This does all mean that I want to look my physical best.

So the plan is to start going to the gym and hot yoga five days a week, because it's amazing for weight loss and strengthening my core.'

Proud Embankment announced Claire was joining Cabaret All Stars from April 2nd for a limited run of dates.

Fun: Cat Sims looked casually chic in black jeans and a denim shirt

Lads: James Stewart and George Groves were also in attendance

Bronzed: Rebecca Halliday showed off her tan

Wow: Vanessa Feltz brought some colour to proceedings with her pink dress

Star: Blake looked handsome in his black jeans and white T-shirt

Day out: Linda Robson attends Disney & Pixar's VIP Family Screening of Lightyear

Stylish lady: Becca Dudley wore a silver jumpsuit for the occasion
As Love Island kicked off earlier this week, Italian hunk Davide Sanclimenti certainly caught the eye both in and outside of the villa with his good looks and smooth talking accent.

But now, fans of the show have taken to social media to claim that the Rome native's strong accent is fake, dubbing him a 'con artist'.

With a slew of tweets from furious viewers, one said that the 27-year-old 'brought a script and is sticking to it'.

Backlash: Love Island fans have dubbed Davide Sanclimenti, 27, a 'con artist' as they claim his strong Italian accent is fake

Convinced he's playing up the accent for attention, viewers have described it as 'exaggerated'.

One tweeted: 'Davide forcing the accent is making me CRINGE', while another said 'I just came back from Italy a week ago and none of the locals spoke like Davide he's putting an accent on at this point'.

Some even took it a step further, jesting that the star is actually from the UK, writing: 'I want Luca to get Davide so angry he ditches the Italian for his Brum accent'.

Benefits: Davide previously admitted that his accent was 'sexy' during a video for Love Island before entering the villa, explaining: 'Being Italian does have its benefits, I'm good looking, I've got a sexy accent, I get a lot of attention and a lot of eyes on me, it's nice'

Fake? Convinced he's playing up the accent for attention, viewers have described it as 'exaggerated', taking to Twitter to discuss

While another named him a 'con artist', writing: 'Davide is a con artist that accent isn't real'.

And people on Reddit seemed to agree too, as an Italian fan even said they weren't convinced, suggesting he was asked to force it.

They wrote on the platform: 'Im basing this on a very large pool of fellow Italians who live in the UK like me. People with an accent that strong also tend to mess up with the grammar, which is not Davides case. Some of the things he mispronounces are also not a thing. Im not saying he has no accent at all, but he was most likely asked to force it.'

Convinced: Some even took it a step further, jesting that the star is actually from the UK, writing: 'I want Luca to get Davide so angry he ditches the Italian for his Brum accent'

Davide previously admitted that his accent was 'sexy' during a video for Love Island before entering the villa, explaining: 'Being Italian does have its benefits, I'm good looking, I've got a sexy accent, I get a lot of attention and a lot of eyes on me, it's nice.'

And while the accent, real or not, may have made the girls swoon upon arrival, Davide has his work cut out for him as Friday's episode saw Luca Bish snag his partner Gemma Owen during the recoupling.

The undercut meant that Davide was left to choose between Ekin-Su Culculoglu, Afia Tonkmore and Paige Thorne - opting for Ekin-su, after the pair had exchanged a slew of flirty chats earlier in the episode.
Ireland Baldwin shared a kiss with her boyfriend RAC in one of the most romantic cities in the world, Paris.

The 26-year-old packed on the PDA with her beau, born Andre Allen Anjos, as they posed by the Eiffel Tower in photos posted to her Instagram account on Saturday.

Ireland had traveled to the City Of Light with her boyfriend and cousin Alaia.

Capturing the moment: Ireland Baldwin shared several snaps that had been taken during a trip to Paris to her Instagram account on Saturday

Baldwin wore a gorgeous navy blue dress that showed off her toned arms during her time in Paris.

The model's bright dyed orange locks fell towards her shoulders and contrasted perfectly with her dress.

The influencer left a short message in her post's caption that read 'not a photobooth background' and added an emoji of a croissant to the end of her post.

Alaia wore a lovely floral-print dress that featured a zip-up front while spending time with her relative.

Good company: She also made a point of sharing a duo of shots that featured her boyfriend, RAC, whom she kissed in her last shot

Dressed up: Baldwin wore a gorgeous navy blue dress that showed off her toned arms during her time in Paris

Lovely locks: The model's bright dyed orange locks fell towards her shoulders and contrasted perfectly with her dress

Anjos opted to wear a black jacket and a matching button-up shirt on the river trip.

Baldwin's cousin also shared a pair of shots with Ireland to her own Instagram account on Saturday.

The relatives were seen speaking to each other in their first shot, and they stepped into Paris' streets in the second.

Family affair: Baldwin's cousin also shared a pair of shots with Ireland to her own Instagram account on Saturday

The model wore a floral-print sundress that featured puffy sleeves during her outing.

She complimented the shades of her outfit with a set of bright pink cowboy boots.

Alaia later shared a shot of herself spending time with Baldwin and RAC during the river trip.

Staying comfortable: The model wore a floral-print sundress that featured puffy sleeves during her outing

Baldwin and Anjos began seeing each other last year, and he made his first appearance on her Instagram in June.

The musician has since made numerous appearances in photos that have been shared to his girlfriend's account.

The media personality was previously romantically involved with Angel Haze, although the two split up in 2015.
Kanye West's ex-girlfriend Julia Fox showed some major skin in a skimpy leather ensemble while out in New York City on Friday evening.

While displaying her incredibly toned legs in a fringe sarong over a thong, the 32-year-old Uncut Gems star oozed confidence while rocking a black leather motorcycle jacket with nothing underneath.

She completed her risque look with a pair of knee-high boots, gold shades and her light brown hair in loose waves.

Turning heads: Kanye West's ex-girlfriend Julia Fox showed some major skin in a skimpy leather ensemble while out in New York City on Friday evening

The actress also documented her head-turning getup, which showcased her lean physique, on her Instagram Story.

In the clip, Fox could be seen filming herself as she walked down the sidewalk in the mid-afternoon.

Bold: While displaying her incredibly toned legs in a fringe sarong over a thong, the 32-year-old Uncut Gems star oozed confidence while rocking a black leather motorcycle jacket with nothing underneath

Fashion risk taker: She completed her risque look with a pair of knee-high boots, gold shades and her light brown hair in loose waves

During her short-lived but highly-publicized romance with West, the pair stepped out in numerous eye-catching ensembles and she became known for her exaggerated winged eyeliner.

The two met at a New Year's Eve party in Miami and enjoyed a whirlwind romance before parting ways in February.

Julia was last seen playing a biting housewife in the Steven Soderbergh-directed thriller No Sudden Move. The neo-noir, which also starred Don Cheadle, Benicio Del Toro and David Harbour, is streaming on HBO Max.

Edgy: The actress also documented her head-turning getup, which showcased her lean physique, on her Instagram Story

In the clip, Fox could be seen filming herself as she walked down the sidewalk in the mid-afternoon

She is currently working on The Trainer, alongside Bella Thorne, Vito Schnabel and Gina Gershon.

In a press release for the upcoming film, Bella said, 'Working with Julia Fox has been a lot of fun.

'She's a kind of don't screw with me chick and I love those kind of women! We have some really outrageous stuff together.'
Regina King attended the Filming Italy Festival's awards ceremony in Santa Margherita di Pula on Friday.

The 51-year-old performer beamed with pride after being presented the Women Power Award, which was also given to Naomie Harris.

The actress' appearance at the event marks the first time that she has been seen in public for almost six months after her son Ian Alexander Jr. tragically died by suicide at the age of 26.

Out there: Regina King attended the Filming Italy Festival's awards ceremony in Santa Margherita di Pula on Friday, which happened to be her first public appearance since her son's passing this past January

King wore a gorgeous white dress that showcased her chiseled arms and a slight portion of her midsection.

The bottom portion of the Watchmen actress' outfit also featured a cutout that showed off her sculpted left leg.

The Academy Award-winning actress sported a set of high-heeled shoes and accessorized with a stylish purse.

Her beautiful hair was partially dyed orange and tied into braids that cascaded onto her chest during the event.

Dressed up: King wore a gorgeous white dress that showcased her chiseled arms and a slight portion of her midsection

Major distinction: The 51-year-old performer beamed with pride after being presented the Women Power Award, which was also given to Naomie Harris

King made sure to pose for several photos with Harris, who appeared to be enjoying her friend's company.

The 45-year-old actress looked lovely in a multicolored dress that draped over much of her frame.

The Seven Seconds cast member announced that her son had passed away on January 21 of this year.

The performer shared her son with her former husband Ian Alexander, whom she divorced in 2007.

Enjoying the evening: King made sure to pose for several photos with Harris, who appeared to be enjoying her friend's company

Standing out: The 45-year-old actress looked lovely in a multicolored dress that draped over much of her frame

Ian Jr. had made a name for himself as a DJ prior to his untimely death.

At the time of his death, King shared a statement to People to express her thoughts about the passing of her son.

She wrote: 'Our family is devastated at the deepest level by the loss of Ian. He is such a bright light who cared so deeply about the happiness of others. Our family asks for respectful consideration during this private time. Thank you.'

The performer previously told the media outlet that she saw her son as 'an amazing young man.'

Making her thoughts known: At the time of his death, King shared a statement to People to express her thoughts about the passing of her son; they are seen in 2015

Ian Jr. paid tribute to King in a loving post that was shared to his Instagram account on her birthday, which occurred just a few days before his passing.

The actress' son wrote that he was 'so extremely proud of you and inspired by your love, artistry, and gangsta!'

The late DJ made a point of adding: 'To have you as my mother is the greatest gift I could ask for.'
Emily Ratajkowski showed off her defined abs as she strolled around New York Saturday.

The 31-year-old donned cream toned yoga pants, a crop top and matching sweater as she bought a bouquet of sunflowers in the Tribeca area.

The pants appeared quite sheer, so it looked like the model wore a pair of striped boxers under the slacks to prevent them from revealing too much.

Six pack abs: Emily Ratajkowski showed off her six pack abs and toned legs as she strolled around New York Saturday

The runway veteran completed the summery ensemble with a pair of dark sunglasses and a chic necklace with amber and diamonds. Her dark locks were brushed into loose layers.

The In Darkness actress was later seen headed to lunch with her son, Sylvester Apollo Bear, 1, in a stroller, accompanied by a couple of friends.

The proud mom recently showed off a set of tattoos she got celebrating the adorable tyke.

In an Instagram post stating 'sly forever ,' the cover girl showed off the new ink on both arms and one foot.

Flowers: The model, 31 donned cream toned yoga pants, a crop top and matching sweater as she bought a bouquet of sunflowers in the Tribeca area

Emily and her husband, actor and producer Sebastian Bear-McClard, 34, welcomed the little one into their family in March 2021.

The couple have been married since 2018.

The avowed feminist and her husband seem to be raising her child in a gender neutral fashion. The tot is often dressed in a variety of colors and prints and has been seen accompanying his mother to reproductive rights marches.

Sheer: The pants appeared quite sheer, so it looked like the runway veteran wore a pair of striped boxers under the slacks to prevent them from revealing too much

During her pregnancy the My Body author wrote an essay for the October 2020 edition of Vogue, indicating that when asked if she hoped for a boy or girl, she responded, 'we won't know the gender until our child is 18 and that they'll let us know then.'

The I Feel Pretty star celebrated her 31st birthday June 7 on the beach at a luxury resort in Mexico.

The busy model and actress has recently completed work on the TV movie Bright Futures, co-starring with Lisa Kudrow, 59, and Home Economics star Jimmy Tatro, 30, in the comedy about a group of young friends transitioning from immaturity to success.

Lunch time: The In Darkness actress was later seen headed to lunch with her son, Sylvester Apollo Bear, 1, in a stroller, accompanied by a couple of friends

Gender neutral: The avowed feminist and her husband seem to be raising her child in a gender neutral fashion
Halle Berry took to Instagram on Saturday to share a new post with her 7.9 million followers.

A snapshot showed the 55-year-old Hollywood vet taking to the beach in a bikini and matching coverup to celebrate National Rose Day.

She captioned the image, 'on cloud wine,' and used the hashtag '#nationalroseday.'

Social media update: Halle Berry took to Instagram on Saturday to share a new post with her 7.9 million followers

The longtime actress strolled along a shoreline in a black swimsuit, which she topped with a long-sleeved sheer black coverup.

The snap showed her from behind as she walked barefoot through the sand and touched the back of her head.

Halle's outer layer blew in the wind and she wore a pair of dark sunglasses as she rocked her short, two-toned haircut.

Her loyal admirers quickly gave the upload over 30,000 likes and filled the post with flattering comments.

Recent post: Earlier this week the Monster's Ball star took to the photo-sharing app to promote her episode of Celebrity IOU

Earlier this week the Monster's Ball star took to the photo-sharing app to promote her episode of Celebrity IOU.

On Monday's show she helped twin brothers Jonathan and Drew Scott, 44, improve the style and function of the 1920s home of her former teacher Yvonne Simms.

'So excited to share this special moment with everyone,' she wrote in the caption along with a photo of the group.

Heartfelt: 'So excited to share this special moment with everyone,' she wrote in the caption along with a photo of the group

The good deed brought tears to the mom-of-two's eyes as she reminisced on her meaningful relationship with Yvonne.

'If she hadnt come into my life, my life would have been completely different. She was really like a second mother in many ways,' she said.

Berry added that she relied on Simms for support and guidance as she grew up in Cleveland, Ohio.

The episode aired on HGTV and featured some never-before-seen photos from Halle's childhood.

Tears of joy: The good deed brought tears to the mom-of-two's eyes as she reminisced on her meaningful relationship with Yvonne

Halle kicked off the month with a post in support of Pride, sharing a photo of herself with a rainbow effect.

She snuggled into a plush, fuzzy, green turtleneck sweater as she sat in front of a sizable rock.

The entertainer sported white-grey highlights as she showed off her edgy haircut.

She captioned the picture, 'Screaming happy pride month.'
She is set to star in the big-budget comedy Barbie, but Saoirse Ronan ditched the fashion doll look when she went for a romantic stroll with her actor boyfriend last week.

The Irish actress was dressed down as she took to the West London streets in a branded sweatshirt from Pleasing  the eco-friendly fashion label set up by her friend Harry Styles  tracksuit bottoms and well-worn trainers.

She and her partner Jack Lowden, star of the BBCs War And Peace, were enjoying some downtime walking their terrier Fran before Saoirse starts filming the star-studded Hollywood blockbuster based on the Mattel doll.

In the movie, due out next year, she is reported to be playing an alternative Barbie to the one played by star Margot Robbie. Boyfriend Ken will be played by Ryan Gosling, whom Saoirse has credited with getting Hollywood to pronounce her unusual Irish name correctly.

Saoirse Ronan went for a romantic stroll with her actor boyfriend last week. She was dressed down as she took to the West London streets in a branded sweatshirt from Pleasing  the eco-friendly fashion label set up by her friend Harry Styles  tracksuit bottoms and well-worn trainers

The pair have been dating for at least two years after meeting on the set of the 2018 movie Mary Queen of Scots, in which Saoirse played the title role and Lowden was her husband, Lord Darnley

Jack Lowden was recently seen out in London for the premiere of his new movie 'Slow Horses' with Gary Oldman on March 30

When he presented her with an award in 2015, Gosling told the audience, Its Ser-sha, like inertia, and after that everyone was getting it right.

The power of Ryan Gosling is stronger than anything else, Ronan said a few months later, likening him to a blond Canadian Jesus for his ability to spread the word.

Ryan Gosling has been credited with getting Hollywood to pronounce Saoirse Ronan's name correctly. Gosling told an audience: Its Ser-sha, like inertia

During the relaxing walk in Notting Hill, close to where the couple live, Saoirse, 28, affectionately touched Lowdens hand as he steered Fran along the leafy streets. The pair have been dating for at least two years after meeting on the set of the 2018 movie Mary Queen of Scots, in which Saoirse played the title role and Lowden was her husband, Lord Darnley.

The 31-year-old actor, who recently starred in Apple TVs acclaimed thriller Slow Horses, isnt the only object of Saoirses affections. She is reported to be besotted with her terrier, whom she named after a gangster character in the Irish TV drama Love/Hate.

Fran from Love/Hate is my favourite character and I love [actor] Peter Coonan in it. Ive told him this and I called my Fran after him, she said.

Originally we wanted a boy dog and then we met Fran and we were like, No, its only ever been you. So she got the name. So technically shes Frances, but shes named after a drug dealer from inner-city Dublin.
Andy Cohen treated himself to a shopping spree over the weekend, as he was spotted leaving the Gucci store in East Hampton, New York.

The Bravo talk show host, 54, sported casual wear for the day, and looked comfortable in a white T-shirt from John Mayer's merchandise line, with the slogan 'Make every drive a road trip.'

The Missouri native - who recently became a father for the second time - left the luxury clothing store carrying a large yellow bag with the Gucci x Adidas branding.

Shopping spree: Andy Cohen treated himself to a shopping spree over the weekend, as he was spotted leaving the Gucci store in East Hampton, New York

Cohen paired his relaxed look with cream shorts that put his muscular legs on display.

He finalized the outfit with comfortable wide-strap black flip flops, and further accessorized with a silver watch a pair of aviator sunglasses tucked into the collar of his shirt.

The Radio Andy star appeared to be in good spirts, and flashed a smile as he made his way out the door.

Casual: The Bravo host, 54, sported casual wear for the day, and looked comfortable in a white T-shirt from John Mayer's merchandise line, with the slogan 'Make every drive a road trip'

In April, Cohen announced that he welcomed a second child via surrogate - a daughter named Lucy.

The proud dad shared a sweet image of himself cradling the bundle of joy with the caption: 'HERES LUCY!!!!! Meet my daughter, Lucy Eve Cohen! Shes 8 pounds 13 oz and was born at 5:13 pm in New York City!!!'

Cohen previously welcomed his son, Benjamin Allen Cohen, three, in February of 2019.

Fashion splurge: The Missouri native - who recently became a father for the second time - left the luxury store carrying a large yellow bag with the Gucci x Adidas branding

He also shared a recent snap of the precious little girl on his Instagram, showing off her voluminous black hair and cute light pink floral outfit, as she relaxed in a colorful baby lounger.

'Good morning from Little Lucy!' he captioned the adorable photo.

In a recent episode of Sirius XM's Jeff Lewis Live, Cohen noted that his children are 'biological siblings,' but he did not use the same surrogate for the births.

He also revealed revealed that he has 'a few' embryos left that he is willing to pass down to his children when they want to start families of their own.

Dad of two: In April Cohen announced that he has welcomed a second child via surrogate - a daughter named Lucy

Cutie! He shared a recent snap of the precious little girl on his Instagram, showing off her voluminous black hair and cute light pink floral outfit, as she relaxed in a colorful baby lounger

'I have a few. I can't remember. I think I have three left?' he said. 'You know what I'm thinking? This is crazy, but if either of them cannot have kids, maybe in 20 years they'll defrost their sibling and raise them. Is that a weird thought?'

Cohen also touched upon how Ben is adjusting to his younger sibling, saying he 'loves her but is trying to kill her' because he's jealous of all the attention she's getting.

'The crazy thing is, by design, I am spending so much time with him,' he explained. 'Because, by the way, she doesn't know what's happening. I sit with her for a few hours a day and I'm like, "Just smell me. Hear my voice. This is me. I'm your dad."

'But [with Ben], I'm really in there with him, and I don't know if it's really registering how much time I'm spending with him.'
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Sevey: 'Every penny' of spending was for police department

Then-Nacogdoches Police Chief Jim Sevey, right, helps a pair of children ring the bell at the Old University Building in honor of Constitution Week in 2019. Sevey resigned after reports of questionable spending but says every penny was used for the police department. File photo

Former Nacogdoches Police Chief Jim Sevey says every penny of his credit card spending was approved for police purchases despite reports of more than $18,000 in what city officials equaled questionable spending.

None of the purchases were for any unapproved or undocumented purpose, Sevey said in a lengthy statement sent by his attorney, Eric N. Roberson of Dallas.

Roberson provided the statement to The Daily Sentinel on Thursday morning ahead of a community-led farewell party for the longtime chief.

Sevey attributed his departure from the city to differences with City Manager Mario Canizares over the future of the police department.

While both of our visions contain strong and bold templates for improving our great city and the police department, they are different visions, Sevey said, later adding Even if I had been provided the ability to further clarify every purchase, the remaining status would be that city manager Canizares and I would still have different visions for the police department.

Sevey resigned as chief May 25 and received more than $61,000 in severance pay and $11,000 in insurance benefits. His separation agreement with the city included an honorable discharge, Sevey said.

The citizens of Nacogdoches can know that my service was indeed honorable, he said.

He later added that he accepted the severance package to protect my family and my health and to be able to serve where my vision for the future of the police department I led was the accepted vision.

Over the past two years, Sevey has suffered from several medical conditions that kept him out of the office and on extended medical leave.

This has made it difficult to develop and in-depth and meaningful personal relationship with City Manager Canizares, he said.

Internal memos from fellow police officials accused Sevey of making more than $18,000 in questionable purchases using a city credit card.

In a report to Canizares, Assistant Chief Dan Taravella called the purchases at a minimum questionable or at most completely unrelated to NPD.

It began to appear very clear to me that some of these items were woodworking or hobby related, Taravella wrote in April.

Some items could be work related, Taravella wrote, though none were apparently distributed or shared within the department.

Reports indicate that several tools ordered by Sevey were missing and that he was seen on video returning some of them from his vehicle.

As police chief of a police department with an $8 million budget and over 50 uniformed officers, I did not micro-manage property given to the various departments for approved purposes, and I was not the tool room manager, Sevey said. None of the missing tools, if any remain missing at this point, are at my house, were in my personal possession, or were misused for personal purposes.

Dozens of Seveys supporters gathered Thursday at the Fredonia Hotel to show their appreciation for his 16 years with the city.

Sevey attended the event but did not make a speech.

Several attendees said they had already made their feelings about the change known at city hall. Others voiced concerns about who would be chosen to replace Sevey.

Scott Weems is currently interim chief.

Staff writer Valerie Reddell contributed to this report.

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Chinese FM talks with UNGA president

Xinhua) 14:11, June 11, 2022

BEIJING, June 10 (Xinhua) -- Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Friday talked with President of the 76th session of the UN General Assembly Abdulla Shahid in a phone conversation.

Wang said that the current session of the UN General Assembly has overcome disruptions and achieved fruitful results, injected new impetus into improving global governance, promoted unity among members of the international community and made new contributions to world peace and development.

China appreciates the role of President Shahid, also foreign minister of the Maldives, in facilitating the UN endeavors and will continue to support the work of the General Assembly, Wang said.

Wang called on the General Assembly to uphold the purposes and principles of the UN Charter, practise true multilateralism, and play a bigger role and make more contributions in such areas as climate change, global response to COVID-19 and sustainable development that are crucial to the future of the international community.

Noting that this year marks the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between China and the Maldives, Wang said that China is ready to continue cooperation with the Maldives in fighting COVID-19 and jointly promote post-pandemic recovery to enrich and inject new impetus into the future-oriented comprehensive friendly and cooperative partnership between China and the Maldives.

For his part, Shahid said he appreciated China's constructive efforts and important contributions to the work of the General Assembly and thanked China for its support for the performance of his duties.

Shahid said he would continue to strengthen coordination with China to jointly tackle global challenges, practise multilateralism, safeguard the authority of the United Nations, promote post-pandemic recovery and promote sustainable development.

He added that the Maldives and China enjoy sound relations, and his country would like to deepen cooperation with China to push for greater development of bilateral ties.

(Web editor: Zhong Wenxing, Bianji)
The assistant commissioner of police (ACP), cybercrime, K.V.M. Prasad said so far five cases were booked against those circulating the videos of the incident on social media platforms. (Image credit: Youtube)

HYDERABAD: The Jubilee Hills police were granted custody of all the minors involved in the gangrape and sexual assault case, including the son of an MIM MLA, on Friday. Officials would start their questioning from Saturday, the police confirmed.

The second day of questioning of the prime accused, Sadudin Malik, and the meeting with the minors at the Saidabad juvenile home could not be done on Friday, allegedly due to the sudden protests and tensions across the city which kept the West Zone officials busy. The investigations would resume from Saturday as per our initial schedule, the police said.

Sources revealed that the police were to take statements from the juveniles from the Saidabad home and corroborate the same with that of Malik from his first day of questioning conducted on Thursday. The focus was reportedly on the minors involved in the case. Malik had not travelled in the Mercedes Benz during the first sexual assault involving the MIM MLAs son, the police said.

Meanwhile, the assistant commissioner of police (ACP), cybercrime, K.V.M. Prasad said so far five cases were booked against those circulating the videos of the incident on social media platforms. For the past few days, we have been sending notices to Facebook, YouTube and Instagram with the account information to take down the videos, he said.

Malik and the four juveniles were allegedly involved in the gang-rape of a minor girl in a car at Jubilee Hills on May 28. The sixth juvenile was booked for outraging the modesty of the victim and other Sections of POCSO Act. All the persons involved in the case have also been booked under sections of the Information Technology Act on charges of circulating the videos of the crime, which they themselves shot on their mobile phones while committing the offence.
The trough from northeast Madhya Pradesh to west central Bay of Bengal off north Andhra Pradesh coast at 0.9 km above mean sea level has become less marked.  Representational image/PTI

VISAKHAPATNAM: Dry spell is continuing over Andhra Pradesh with few centers reporting three degrees Celsius above normal temperature during the last 24 hours as the southwest monsoon has further delayed to set in over the state.

The normal date for monsoon onset over Kerala is June 1 and the onset over Andhra Pradesh is around June 5. But this season, the monsoons progress has been slow.

Dry and weak westerly winds are delaying the onset of monsoon over Andhra Pradesh, said director of IMD, Amaravati, Stella S.

She told Deccan Chronicle on Saturday evening that it would take another two to three days to assess the situation. Probably it would take one more week to cover the entire Andhra Pradesh, she said.

Andhra Pradesh recorded a total of 613.3 mm rainfall between June 1 and September 30 in 2021, which is around 19 per cent more than the normal 514 mm. In 2020, the state recorded a total of 738.2 mm rainfall between June 1 and September 30, which is around 44 per cent more than the normal 514 mm.

A report from IMD, New Delhi, said conditions were favourable for further advance of monsoon into some parts of north Arabian sea, remaining parts of Konkan, some parts of Gujarat state, most parts of Maharashtra, entire Karnataka and Tamil Nadu, some parts of Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, west central and northwest Bay of Bengal during the next 48 hours.

The trough from northeast Madhya Pradesh to west central Bay of Bengal off north Andhra Pradesh coast at 0.9 km above mean sea level has become less marked. Temperature rose by 3C in Machilipatnam, Nandigama and Gannavaram on Saturday.
The United Nations officially recognised Turkey renaming itself Turkiye after the government formally advocated for the new name. The UN said it had implemented the change shortly after receipt of the request.

The process of renaming the country began in December 2021, when President Recep Tayyip Erdogan issued a statement saying, "The word 'Turkiye' represents and expresses the culture, civilisation, and values of the Turkish nation in the best way." The name was changed to rectify the country's image and make it more attached to the cultural roots etched in Turkish history.

Domestically, Turkiye (pronounced tur-key-yay) is used already but its anglicised version 'Turkey' was adopted internationally.

State broadcaster TRT said that Europe has been using the anglicised version ever since Turkeys independence in 1923. "Over the centuries, Europeans have referred to firstly the Ottoman state and then to Turkiye by many names," the broadcaster said. "But the name that has stuck most is the Latin 'Turquia' and the more ubiquitous 'Turkey'."

An unfortunate association

TRT explained that the association with the bird of the same name, typically associated with Christmas, New Year or Thanksgiving in the US, was one of the reasons for the change. Further, the Turkish government objected to the search results of the large bird that showed up when the word 'turkey' was Googled. Another objection was that one of the definitions of 'turkey' was "something that fails badly" or "a stupid or silly person".

A rebranding campaign

Just ahead of the elections, Turkeys government undertook a massive rebranding campaign as part of which 'Made in Turkiye' will appear on all exported products. In January, a tourism campaign with the catchphrase 'Hello Turkiye' was also launched.

According to the BBC, government supporters favoured the initiative as a way to cope with the country's economic problems but it has found few takers outside of that circle.

Like Turkiye, other countries have altered names to sidestep colonial imprints. The Netherlands, for instance, decided to stop calling itself Holland, Macedonia was renamed North Macedonia due to political conflicts with Greece, Persia became Iran in 1935, Thailand emerged from Siam in 1939, and Rhodesia was renamed Zimbabwe in 1979 to shed its colonial history.
Pakistan Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari in a telephone call apprised President of UN General Assembly Abdulla Shahid of the controversial remarks made by two former senior officials of Indias ruling party against Prophet Mohammed, the Foreign Office said here on Friday.

Noting that such provocation had deeply hurt the sentiments of billions of Muslims around the world, Bilawal urged Shahid to take cognisance of this abhorrent development amidst rising Islamophobia in India, it said.

Referring to the muted response of the Indian leadership to the incident, the foreign minister noted that silence could be taken as complicity, and could lead to further incitement to violence, communal discord and hate incidents, the Foreign Office said.

Track Live Updates on the Prophet row here

Abdulla underscored the important role of the General Assembly and the need for the membership to work together on these issues. Bilawal and Abdullah agreed to remain engaged.

The ruling BJP has already suspended its national spokesperson Nupur Sharma and expelled the party's Delhi unit media head Naveen Jindal for their controversial remarks following widespread anger in several Gulf countries.

India has said that the remarks do not reflect the views of the government. Ministry of External Affairs Spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said India accords the "highest respect" to all religions.

Also Read: Pakistan rejects India's statement on Karachi temple vandalism

Pakistan Foreign Office spokesperson Asim Iftikhar Ahmed said at the weekly briefing on Friday reiterated Pakistans condemnation of the remarks by two senior officials.

He said Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Foreign Minister Bilawal have also condemned the hurtful comments.

Ahmed said Foreign Secretary Sohail Mahmood met the envoys of P-5 countries and held a meeting with the OIC Ambassadors in Islamabad to apprise them of the matter and register Pakistans strong concern at the sharp increase in Islamophobia and targeting of Muslims in India.

The spokesperson said that contrary to what he called a reprehensible campaign of saffronisation in India, Pakistan, in line with its policy of promoting interfaith harmony issued 163 visas to Sikh pilgrims from India to participate in an annual festival being held in Pakistan from June 8 to June 17.

India has categorically rejected criticism by the 57-member Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) and Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif over the issue.

MEA Spokesperson Bagchi said India accords the "highest respect" to all religions and described the statement by the grouping as "motivated, misleading and mischievous" and that it exposed its "divisive agenda" which is being pursued at the behest of "vested interests."

Referring to Sharif's condemnation of the remarks by Sharma and Jindal, and the Pakistan Foreign Ministry's criticism, Bagchi said the "absurdity of a serial violator of minority rights commenting on the treatment of minorities in another nation is not lost on anyone."

He said the government "accords the highest respect to all religions. This is quite unlike Pakistan where fanatics are eulogised and monuments built in their honour".
Government has streamlined requirements for the issuance of national civic documents to make it easier for those who have been facing challenges, while people have to register to vote to defend the countrys hard-won freedom and heritage, President Mnangagwa has said.

Addressing members, who had gathered for the ruling partys National Cell Day in Kwekwe, the President said there was no longer need to pay for the vital documents.

In the past, when one went to apply for these documents, they were asked for their exact dates of birth.

And when they failed to give the exact dates they were asked to bring along a close relative to vouch for them.

We then realised this was problematic and changed the rules, he said.

Now we have put in place new regulations that have removed all of those requirements. We also said there is no longer need to pay for that document.

You now get it for free; everything is now free . . . So we have streamlined everything.

Those who do not have IDs and birth certificates should seek assistance from their local leadership and get the documents for free.

President Mnangagwa, who is under Dambudzo 1 Cell , said it was important for party members to register to vote and defend the gains of the liberation struggle.

The freedom we enjoy today was brought by men and women who sacrificed to go to war. People would get maimed and injured, but others kept volunteering.

For 15 years, we battled hard until we secured victory and our Independence. For us to preserve our independence, after every five years we go for elections to get a new mandate to rule from the people.

For us to do so, there is voting which takes place. Go and register to vote, the process is easy, war was the harder part and that is already behind us.

Registering for next years elections, the President said, can still continue even though delimitation of constituency boundaries would be done using data from those who had registered by May 31 this year.

After every 10 years, our constituency boundaries are redrawn through delimitation, he said.

So, the process is ongoing and the data being used is from voters who were registered by May 31 this year.

However, this does not mean registering to vote in the 2023 election has closed.

They can still register to vote.

ZANU PF is the party that broke Zimbabwe free from the bondage of colonialism, he added.

Speaking at the same meeting, First Lady Dr Auxillia Mnangagwa said youths should shun drugs.

We should shun drugs; drugs are now being used by men, women, the young and the old, and that is concerning, she said.

Drugs affect productivity and have the potential to ruin futures. We dont want drugs.

She called on party members to remain peaceful and united.

She also warned against the dangers of Covid-19, emphasising the importance of continued observance of preventative protocols and adherence to good hygiene.

The vaccination programme is still ongoing, if you are double vaccinated, you should consider getting the booster shot, which is being offered at our health facilities, said the First Lady.

She also spoke against domestic violence while encouraging hard work.

Yesterdays meeting, which was the highlight of similar gatherings held by ZANU PF countrywide, was convened to audit membership and galvanise its mobilisation drive.

ZANU PF considers its cell structures as critically important organs especially as the ruling party readies its machinery for the 2023 elections.

The cell is the soul of the party; this is where everything begins. The cell is the most important organ of the party. So today, wherever there is ZANU PF, cells are congregating, President Mnangagwa said.

The party cells usually comprise 50 party members but they can be allowed more members.

When Dambudzo 1 Cell chairperson Cde Augustine Gijima called out the register, the President was listed on number 22, while the First Lady was on number 23, with Emmerson Mnangagwa Jnr on number 59.

Cde Gijima thanked President Mnangagwa for driving development in their constituency, singling out Indarama Mine project.

Development of the mine, he said, was set to create 4 000 jobs.

Meanwhile, our Bulawayo Bureau reports that President Mnangagwa emphasised the importance of the word of God in fostering unity towards national development.

He underscored the value of locals in developing their own country.

He was speaking at the African Apostolic Church (AAC) Ndarikure Tabernacle in Chirumhanzu, Midlands Province, where more than 30 000 congregants gathered for their holy communion.

The President quoted from four Bible scriptures during his address, highlighting the central role the church is expected to play in developing the country.

He quoted from Mark 16 verse 15, Jeremiah 29 verse 12, Nehemiah 2 verse 20 and Psalms 133 verse 1.

Jeremiah 29 verse 11 tells us that a nation is developed by its owners and that development will never take place when there is fighting. We must unite knowing that the Lord did not avail a nation for us to suffer. He is a God who has prepared only nice things for us.

As a church, we must teach the values of unity.

Let us not go to other countries and be crybabies; we will be turning ourselves into a laughing stock.

The President commended AAC for preserving cultural values.

The church, he said, should guide youths to appreciate the nations values and not be led astray.

As a nation, I advise you to teach your congregants to have a good culture, a culture of understanding and unity. We have to develop our nation, build dams, build clinics, eat and be satisfied.

The church is expected to preach and also teach boys and girls who will be future leaders, not only in the church but our nation.

We have to ensure that the youth know that the Lord wants children who respect their elders; this is what the Lord wants.

I must also emphasise that in our nation there is no one who is useless, everyone is valued in whatever sphere of work.

He further called on the church to help pray for the nation to foster unity, love and respect.

Zimbabweans, added President Mnangagwa, must take the national clean-up day seriously.

I am happy that among us today there are representatives from other countries around the world.

Please, as you go back to your countries, tell them that Zimbabwe is open for business and churches. Sunday Mail
Amid protests in parts of the country over the controversial remarks on Prophet Mohammed made by now suspended BJP spokesperson Nupur Sharma, party's Bhopal MP Pragya Singh Thakur has supported her, saying that if anybody insults Hindu deities, then such people would be told the "truth".

After Thakur made comments here on Friday, the opposition Congress in Madhya Pradesh sought a clarification from the BJP as it pointed out that while the party has suspended Sharma over her remarks, the Lok Sabha member has now supported her.

Talking to reporters in the city, Thakur on Friday said, "This is true that there (Gyanvapi) was a temple of Lord Shiva. It is there and it will be there. Calling it a fountain is wrong. Our deities are sanatan. If you insult them, we will also tell the truth. You tell our truth and it will be accepted by us. But why does it pain you when we tell the truth? This means somewhere history is dirty."

Also Read: Prophet Row Live: Bhopal MP Pragya Thakur supports Nupur Sharma; situation remains tense in Ranchi as 2 dead in protests

Asked about the threat calls that Sharma allegedly received following her remarks, Thakur said 'vidharmis' were always involved in such activities, as they had also killed Kamlesh Tiwari (a Hindu outfit leader in Lucknow) in 2019.

"If someone talks, they threaten. They make, produce and direct movies on our deities. They have been abusing them (deities) by making (such) movies for a long time. There is a long communist history...India belongs to Hindus. Sanatan will continue to live and it is our responsibility," she said.

Replying to a question, she said, "Vidharmis give statements. How can we tolerate the insult of our gods and goddesses?"

Reacting to Thakur's statement, Madhya Pradesh Congress's media department chairman K K Mishra said, "BJP has suspended Nupur Sharma and sought a public apology. But now, the BJP's Lok Sabha member is issuing a statement in Sharma's favour. BJP should clarify if Sharma's statement was a planned conspiracy?" Mishra said that the BJP should also clarify if it would take action against Thakur for standing with the suspended leader.

The BJP on Sunday suspended Sharma and Naveen Jindal, a former head of the Delhi BJP's media unit, after their derogatory comments on the Prophet sparked a huge furore including in the Arab world.
West Bengal Chief Minister and Trinamool Congress supremo Mamata Banerjee on Saturday invited over 20 Opposition leaders for a meeting in Delhi next Wednesday to discuss Presidential elections.

Mamata will host the meeting, which comes even as the Congress started its own consultation process a couple of days ago, at Delhis Constitution Club on June 15 at 3 PM. She said a "fruitful confluence of opposition voices is the need of the hour to echo the deprived and unrepresented communities" at a time the country's democracy is going through "troubling times.

However, all Opposition leaders are not feeling the same and view it as brinkmanship.

Our hon'ble chairperson @MamataOfficial calls upon all progressive opposition forces to meet and deliberate on the future course of action keeping the Presidential elections in sight; at the Constitution Club, New Delhi on the 15th of June 2022 at 3 PM. pic.twitter.com/nrupJSSbT8  All India Trinamool Congress (@AITCofficial) June 11, 2022

CPI(M) General Secretary Sitaram Yechury, who has been invited by Mamata, said, these meetings are decided after consultations and agreement on a mutually convenient date. Usually, the single largest party takes the initiative. Such consultations (for a meeting) were going on when a unilateral letter was sent and publicised.

A senior Opposition leader said Mamatas invite has the potential of only helping the BJP instead of uniting all secular forces. The leader felt that this was to preempt a meeting that is being worked out around June 15 after taking into account the availability of leaders like Pawar, who has earlier told some Opposition leaders that he could be in Delhi only around June 20 as Maharashtra will have Legislative Council elections.

However, Trinamool Congress sources said the letter was self-explanatory and there was no egos involved, as a job is to be done. There is a need to find a strong political candidate and Mamatas effort is to set up an Opposition platform, they said adding the candidate, probably a non-Congress person, will evolve through organic consultations.

Read | BJP gets boost with Rajya Sabha polls ahead of Presidential election

Mamatas invite was sent 22 leaders, including Congress president Sonia Gandhi, NCP chief Sharad Pawar, CPI General Secretary D Raja and Chief Ministers Uddhav Thackeray, Arvind Kejriwal, Naveen Patnaik, K Chandrasekhar Rao, MK Stalin, Hemant Soren and Pinarayi Vijayan among others. Letters have also gone to leaders like Lalu Prasad Yadav, Mehbooba Mufti and Farooq Abdullah.

Her move is viewed as an expression of dissent over Congress taking the lead role in the negotiations to find a joint Opposition candidate for the Presidential polls and the Trinamool Congress appears to have the support of non-NDA parties like AAP, TRS and Akali Dal who are unwilling to cede space to the Grand Old Party to take pole position in the Presidential polls due to its diminished clout.

Sonia herself had called Mamata, Stalin, Pawar and Yechury among others on June 9 and tasked Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge to speak to various parties to understand their point of view. Kharge, on Friday, had spoken to Mamata among others.

A senior Trinamool Congress leader said that the Congress' "one-upmanship" would not work and it should cede space. The leader also said that the Congress does not have an equation with leaders like Patnaik (BJD) or KCR (TRS) or Y S Jaganmohan Reddy.

In her letter, Mamata said the Presidential elections present the "perfect opportunity for all progressive Opposition parties to reconvene and deliberate on the future course of Indian politics".

"All progressive forces in this country need to remain aligned and resist the divisive force that is plaguing us today. Opposition leaders are being deliberately targeted by different central agencies, the country's image is maligned internationally and bitter dissensions are created within. It is time we strengthen our resistance," she wrote.
A picture of arrested Delhi Minister Satyendar Jain with a harried and weary look circulating on social media on Friday drew sharp reactions from Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leaders and supporters.

AAP leaders and supporters slammed the BJP-led central government attributing Jain's condition to "torture and harassment" in the custody of the Enforcement Directorate.

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal retweeted the picture, shared by a journalist on the micro-blogging site with the comment "Yesterday's picture of Satyendar Jain who gave Mohalla clinics to Delhi."

The AAP national convenor, however, did not make any comment on Twitter.

            5 Flyover        300   @SatyendarJain        (ED)    

         pic.twitter.com/ejO4KcLLFb  Sanjay Singh AAP (@SanjayAzadSln) June 10, 2022

Jain, who is in the ED custody, was reportedly rushed to a nearby hospital on Thursday after he complained of uneasiness while leaving the Rouse Avenue court.

Jain, 57, was arrested on May 30 under criminal sections of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).

"This is the person who gave the model of Mohalla clinic to the country and saved Rs 300 crore of the people of Delhi in the construction of 5 flyovers," AAP Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh tweeted in Hindi, reacting to Jain's picture circulated on the microblogging site.

"This picture of @SatyendarJain is a black stain on Modi and his Mynah (ED). This country will never forgive you," he added.

In another tweet, Singh hit out at Prime Minister Narendra Modi, saying history will not forgive him for such behaviour with Jain.

"Lord Shri Ram Chandra ji got the power. Lord Ram made good use of it and was called Maryada Purushottam. Ravan misused the power. Ravan's effigies are burnt today. The ego of Ravan had also ended. Remember Modi ji, history will not forgive you for such behaviour with an innocent minister," Singh tweeted in Hindi.

Reacting to Jain's appearance on the picture, Malviya Nagar MLA Somnath Bharti accused the BJP of trying to break the AAP's resolve to change politics of India by making the Delhi minister face torture in ED custody.

"Cost of being honest n committed? By torturing @SatyendarJain Bhai, BJP is trying to break our resolve to change politics of India. Let BJP clearly know that every such attempt of theirs will further fuel our resolve to fight back under leadership of @ArvindKejriwal Ji," the AAP leader tweeted.

AAP chief spokesperson Saurabh Bharadwaj alleged that ED has kept the minister in its custody only to harass him but he is a man of strong will and has a full faith in God.

"The elder brother @SatyendarJain has given up food. He used to eat food only after visiting the temple every day. He has only been eating fruits for last 11 days. The ED has kept him in custody only to harass him. Prayers of millions of people are with Satyendar Bhai, who has a very strong will and has full faith in God," he added.
Nepal has started exporting the total approved 364 MW of electricity to India through its power exchange market.

Buoyed by continuous rainfall this year, the Himalayan nation is exporting surplus electricity to India through its power exchange market for the second consecutive year, according to the Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA), the state-owned power utility body.

The state-owned body is now selling 37.7 MW from Trishuli and Devighat Hydropower Projects, 140 MW from Kaligandaki Hydropower Project, 68 MW from Middle Marsyangdi, 67 MW from Marsyangdi and 51 MW from Likhu-4 developed by the private sector, according to Pradeep Thike, Deputy Managing Director of the NEA.

The NEA started selling electricity generated by Trishuli and Devighat on June 2, with the countrys power plants producing surplus energy due to rising water levels in the rivers where hydropower plants are located.

After the NEA began selling 51 MW power from the Likhu-4 in the Indian market starting Friday, a total of 364 MW, generated by six projects with approval for export from the Indian authorities, is now being sold to India.

This is also the first time that any private sector-generated electricity is being sold to Indias power exchange market.

Nepal is receiving an average price of Rs 7.14 per unit for Friday, officials at the NEA informed.

To be able to sell the entirety of surplus electricity generated for export with approval received from India is a milestone for the countrys electricity trade, the NEA said in a press statement.

The NEA is making efforts with Indian officials to sell additional electricity in the Indian market in the near future.

Meanwhile, issuing a statement, the Independent Power Producers' Association of Nepal (IPPAN) welcomed the move by the NEA to export surplus electricity generated during the rainy season to India.

Nepal needs to further explore the Indian market for selling additional 636 MW electricity, which will be surplus during rainy season, pointed out IPPAN.

By selling 364 MW electricity to India from June to November end, Nepal will receive Rs 4.78 billion, according to the statement.
Two persons succumbed to gunshot wounds in Jharkhand capital Ranchi and fresh violence broke out in West Bengal's Howrah on Saturday as tension prevailed in several parts of the country a day after the riotous protests against the controversial remarks by BJP's now-sacked two functionaries on Prophet Mohammad. Authorities suspended the Internet and tightened security in the affected districts as they cracked down on protesters allegedly involved in the violence and clashes with police personnel, with over 250 people arrested in Uttar Pradesh alone.
In a move of cultural diplomacy with Mongolia, India is sending a delegation of 25 headed by law minister Kiren Rijiju, with sacred Buddhist relics. The delegation will head to Chinas neighbouring country on June 12 ahead of Mongolias Buddha Purnima on June 14.

The delegation will be in Mongolia on a 11-day exposition, and the four relics will be displayed at the Batsagaan Temple at the Gandan Monastery situated in the capital city of Ulaanbaatar.

The relics are currently kept at the National Museum, and were first discovered in 1898 from the ancient city of Kapilavastu in Bihar. Rijiju said that the relics, known as the Kapilvastu Relics, have never been moved out since.

The relics had been granted AA stature and have not been moved out of the National Museum. But, at the special request of the Mongolian government, we have decided to send them for the exposition, Rijiju said. Initially, they were to be displayed for a week, but on request of the Mongolian government, the display time has been extended to 11 days.

A released by the culture ministry stated that the last time these relics were taken out of the country was in 2012, when they were taken to Sri Lanka and were on display at several locations across the island nation. However, later guidelines were issued and the Holy Relics were placed under the AA category of those Antiquities and Art Treasures which should not be ordinarily taken out of the country for exhibition, considering their delicate nature, the release said.

Rijiju added that PM Narendra Modis visit to Mongolia in 2015 was the first an Indian prime minister visited Mongolia, and taking the relics to Mongolia will help revive diplomatic ties with Mongolia, which he termed as a cultural neighbour. In his 2015 visit, Modi had visited Gandan Monastery and also presented a Bodhi Tree Sapling to Hamba Lama.

An advance team from the Centre has been sent to Mongolia to look at the arrangements there, and the relics will be taken in the same climate control case as it has been kept presently at the National Museum. They will also be accorded the status of a state guest and the Indian Air force has sent the C-17 Globe Master to carry them, the culture ministry said. Two Bullet Proof casings as well as two ceremonial caskets are being carried by the Indian Delegation for both the relics, the ministry said.

The relics will be received in Mongolia by their culture minister; advisor to the President of Mongolia and a large number of monks among other dignitaries.

Apart from the exposition, to strengthen diplomatic ties, the government has pursued cultural activities in Mongolia, in the face of geopolitical rivalry with China. The culture ministry said that India has printed 75 copies of 108 volumes of Mongolian Kanjur for the Mongolian government, and that it is currently digitising the Kanjur manuscripts. In addition to that, 500 Mongolian monks are studying in different monasteries and institutions here, and India has facilitated their travel and visas.
Union minister Prahlad Singh Patel on Saturday said Pakistan is jealous of the peace prevailing in India and its growing reputation and called for the caution to guard against the use of religious fanatics to create unrest.

Against the backdrop of protests in West Bengal and other states over the remarks of former BJP functionaries Nupur Sharma and Naveen Kumar Jindal against Prophet Mohammad, the minister said the creation of a conflict in this diverse culture is a challenge for the country and is a matter of concern.

Also Read | If Hindu deities are insulted, then truth will be told: Pragya Thakur on Prophet row

Everyone knows that some people are jealous of the rising reputation and peace in India. Who are they? It's our neighbour Pakistan. Our country needs to be alert if someone going on this path using some fanatics on religious grounds. The government is on alert and going to act as per the law, Patel said after attending a programme.

He said that creating such a situation in the country's mixed culture, which has no conflict, is a matter of concern and a challenge for the country.

"I confidently say that somewhere the forces from abroad might have bad intentions and conspire but those who are here (in the country) are becoming their (forces from abroad) weapon, and the country needs to be alert about them," he said.

The Central government and the BJP want the Ganga-Jamuni tradition (religious harmony) to continue in the country, Patel added.
JD(S) Legislature Party leader H D Kumaraswamy breathed fire after his partys Rajya Sabha candidate D Kupendra Reddy lost the election on Friday for which he blamed the Congress and a section of his own MLAs.

Two JD(S) MLAs defied the party - Kolar MLA Srinivas Gowda voted for the Congress while Gubbi MLA S R Srinivas is suspected to have voted for the BJP.

I voted for the Congress because I love it, Gowda told reporters. He also said that he is upset with Kumaraswamy. In response, Kumaraswamy asked Gowda to resign immediately if he had any self-respect and shame. He also slammed Gubbi Srinivas and wondered if he is fit to be an elected representative.

However, two other disgruntled JD(S) MLAs G T Deve Gowda and K M Shivalinge Gowda did not cross-vote.

Follow live updates from Rajya Sabha elections on DH

This is the second consecutive Rajya Sabha election in which the JD(S) has suffered from cross-voting. In 2016, eight JD(S) MLAs, including B Z Zameer Ahmed Khan who is now with the Congress, had voted against the partys official candidate B M Farooq.

Congress is doing low-level politics by hijacking our MLAs, Kumaraswamy said, slamming Congress Legislature Party leader Siddaramaiah. In 2016, Siddaramaiah was the chief minister when he got eight of our MLAs to cross-vote. And, he talks about saving democracy. Do Congress leaders have any respect for the Constitution? How is the Congress any different from the BJP? he fumed.

Further, Kumaraswamy accused the Congress of helping the BJP win. What did you achieve with Gowdas vote? With what face and morality will you fight the BJP? he said, asking the Congress.

The former chief minister said he had requested a few Congress MLAs for their second-preference votes for Reddy. But, Congress leaders had decided not to give us second preference votes at any cost, he said.

In the run-up to the election day, Kumaraswamy had offered a partnership with the Congress and had hoped to pave the way for a fresh political chapter in Karnataka. That door is closed, he said, vowing to never ally with the Congress.
Stendhal Festival and BBC Northern Ireland have announced an evolution in their longstanding relationship this week with the news that BBC Radio Ulsters ATL Introducing will have their very own stage at the event this year.

The BBC Radio Ulster ATL Introducing stage will be found in the heart of Karma Valley and will play host to a number of amazing up and coming acts including: Cherym, Winnie AMA, Tebi Rex and loads more. Check out the full schedule when it is released this weekend.

Draperstown's Gemma Bradley, presenter of ATL Introducing says: Im absolutely buzzing to be involved and the local artists featuring across the line-up is amazing. Stendhal has always worked hard to support grass roots music in Northern Ireland, so hosting a stage in association with BBC Radio Ulster and ATL Introducing makes total sense.

BBC Radio Ulster and ATL Introducing will be bringing you live performances and highlights from this years festival across their schedules and on BBC Sounds, so if you cant make it down to Ballymully Farm in person this year, you can still be there without being there.

You can listen to highlights from Stendhal Festival throughout the weekend on BBC Radio Ulster/Foyle or listen on Sounds.

Stendhal Director Ross Parkhill said: We are delighted to be further strengthening our relationship with BBC Northern Ireland. For years now they have been our broadcasting partner and have delivered hours and hours of Stendhal content to not only radio listeners but to online listeners and online viewers.

Stendhal and BBC Radio Ulster/Foyle in particular share a passion for showcasing and highlighting indigenous Northern Irish talent, so there has always been a fantastic synergy in what we both look to achieve at the festival each year.

We look forward to providing them with a stage and platform to further carry out their remit to broadcast and showcase the best and brightest Northern Irish talent at the new BBC ATL Introducing stage at Stendhal this summer.
A courting couple were caught in the middle of a romantic rendezvous at an ancient Donegal heritage site while level 5 Covid-19 restrictions were in place.

Gardai arrived at the Grianan of Aileach at 2.30am on February 27, 2021.

Jamie McLaughlin, a 27-year-old from The Meadows, Derry, told Gardai that he was out for a walk with a female friend when questioned at the ancient hilltop fort.

Solicitor for McLaughlin, Mr Ciaran Mac Lochlainn, said his client was unaware of the level of Covid-19 restrictions that were in place in the Republic of Ireland.

That night, he drove to An Grianan fort and it was more than a walk involved, Mr Mac Lochlainn told Buncrana District Court.

They were surprised when Gardai arrived when they were in the position they were in.

Mr Mac Lochlainn said his client, a chef, is a 27-year-old father-of-one. McLaughlin was before the court for breaching the Covid-19 restrictions.

Judge Eiteain Cunningham asked that McLaughlin make a 150 donation to the Buncrana branch of St Vincent de Paul.
TTMS is a civil regulatory tool that enables Government, through the Postal and Telecommunications Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe (Potraz), to ensure accountability and transparency in telecom services.

It assists authorities to track telecommunications records, thus helping combat illegal international communications and sophisticated cyber-crimes such as card fraud. In his speech at the launch of the TTMS in Harare last week, Information Communication Technology, Postal and Courier Services Minister Dr Jenfan Muswere said the system will facilitate growth of the telecommunications sector.

This system is not meant to snoop into peoples private calls but is a civil tool to track mobile corporates and allow the telecommunications industry to grow. The system is there to track records and has no capacity to record calls, he said.

It does not have that capability to intercept the content; it is an accounting digital tool focusing on statistics, quality of service and to make sure Government kills the cancer of refining across the country.

TTMS, he added, is an important digital accounting revenue-monitoring system that exposes grey traffic, which is the use of illegal exchanges to communicate transnationally.

The grey traffic has proven that the country and operators are losing millions of dollars through illegal connections. Therefore, I want to assure the nation that the days of illegal sim boxes and refining are over because of the digital civil tool which is now being deployed.

Minister Muswere said TTMS will ensure the country does not lose foreign currency but standardises quality of service to improve the digital economy.

In an interview on the sidelines of the launch, Potraz director-general Dr Gift Machengete said TTMS is cutting-edge technology. Sunday Mail
A concept dear to the late Virgil Abloh, whose legacy is celebrated by both Cassina and Alessi, who in the setting of the Manzoni Theater presented their posthumous collaboration on a set of cutlery with an industrial and utilitarian taste. The installation, which nod to the Pratone by Gufram, is accompanied by a 3D video and Instagram filter created by No Text Azienda  a motion picture studio that, no wonder, has often operated in the fashion industry. Although different in the execution, also Sunnei confirmed  this time in its collaboration with Bloc Studios  its vision which goes beyond fashion design only by fostering a dedicated work on inventive and brilliant design pieces.
Cruinniu na nOg, the annual day of free creativity for children and young people, takes place on Saturday 11th June. The event is being run by Creative Ireland, in conjunction with Louth County Council & the Louth Creative Ireland Culture Team.

This year we are back in person with our Carnival of Creativity across the county and have an action-packed line up of workshops and activities to offer. The Cruinniu na nOg programme encourages children to embrace their creativity and get involved in Arts and Culture and we have events happening in Carlingford, Dundalk, Ardee and Drogheda.

Carlingford  In the Carlingford Heritage Centre between 2 & 4p.m Creative Spark will have workshops where kids can try print-screening, origami and collages all inspired by Carlingford and its fascinating heritage.

Dundalk  An Tain Arts Centre have Storytelling, Pottery Making workshops and Dance for Musical Theatre workshops available at varying times between 10a.m and 6p.m. MAD Youth Theatre will also host a free drama workshop between 2 & 4p.m. and we will have Music Generation Students performing live at Market Square showcasing the fabulous talents of our young musicians in the county. Dundalk Youth Centre members will also be performing a re-enactment of the "Rediscovery of the Tain Bo Cuailnge" story. Finally in the Creative Spark facility at Clontygora there will be an exhibition of work that has been going on in the Redeemer Resource Centre with a young mother and toddler group which was part of one of our outreach programmes.

Ardee  We have exhibitions in the Bohemian Centre featuring works produced across 3 different workshops that have been running with the New Leaf programme in Ardee and Dunleer over the past 6 weeks. The young participants have been working on a digital animation project, learning how to DJ, and on a film making project. Their works will be on display in the Bohemian centre on Sat 11th June.

Drogheda  There will be Thrilling Tales from Barlow House, Superstories and Superheros in Droichead Arts Centre and a fantastic free workshop by Drogheda Youth Theatre in the Barbican Centre. Meanwhile in Drogheda Library there will be an exhibition of mixed media sculptures made by members of the Connect Family Resource centre over the past few weeks in the last of our outreach projects. Finally, Drogheda library will also host workshops on 11th June in person where kids will be making Berehynias, traditional dolls from the Ukraine. Ukrainian artist Olga Duka will facilitate the 3 workshops with the second workshop specifically for Ukrainian children.

All in person events on 11th June are free, but booking is required. Materials will be provided for a selection of the workshops and can be collected in advance from venues. All activities and events are in conjunction with An Tain Arts Centre, Droichead Arts Centre, Creative Spark, Carlingford Heritage Centre and Louth County Libraries. With special thanks also to the New Leaf programme, Connect Famliy Resource Centre & Redeemer Family Resource Centre

For details on all the events go to:

https://cruinniu.creativeireland.gov.ie/events/location/louth/
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Cork County Council is asking prospective affordable-housing applicants to complete a survey. The results will inform the delivery of future schemes and eligibility requirements.

Applicants who feel they may be eligible to buy or rent an affordable home are invited to complete the survey  which will provide information about income, family size, disability, and other relevant details  on the councils website, www.corkcoco.ie.

Cork County Council will use the information to develop future affordable-housing schemes and make informed decisions about design and location.

The council is pursuing the development of affordable housing, for sale and rent, at a number of locations under the Governments Housing for All plan, schemes that help people on low-to-moderate incomes to buy or rent their own homes.

The Mayor of the County of Cork Gillian Coughlan said: It is vital that future affordable-housing developments meet the demands and needs of the people who are eligible to apply.

We need to know the size and accessibility of the homes we should be building and where they should be located. That can only be determined by surveying the very people who wish to live in these homes. It is a short survey, taking only four minutes to complete. I would encourage everyone who feels they may be eligible for an affordable home to please fill it in.

Chief executive of Cork County Council, Tim Lucey, said that the council has ambitious plans to meet the demand for affordable housing.

A number of projects are already at the planning stage, while other opportunities continue to be examined. This survey will provide the first real assessment of affordable needs and will assist the council in progressing developments on the scale, and in the locations, that they are needed, he said.

The Affordable Purchase Scheme is open to first-time buyers and Fresh Start applicants who meet certain income, property, and residency criteria, including that 3.5 times their gross income does not exceed 85.5% of the market value of the house they are seeking to acquire.

Income limits of 65,000 for single applicants or 75,000 for joint applicants apply. Fresh Start applies to people who are divorced or separated and have no interest in the family home, or people who have undergone insolvency proceedings. The survey is on Cork County Councils website and will be open for six weeks.
Families of infants who died and whose organs were incinerated overseas without their consent or knowledge held a protest outside Cork University Maternity Hospital (CUMH) earlier today.

Last year RTE Investigates revealed that multiple baby organs were sent abroad from CUMH for incineration without the consent or knowledge of bereaved parents.

Families of infants who died and whose organs were incinerated overseas without their consent or knowledge held a protest outside Cork University Maternity Hospital (CUMH) earlier today. Pic: Larry Cummins

The incinerations took place twice during 2020 after the organs of 18 babies were sent to Belgium along with clinical waste.

The impacted families are calling on the Health Service Executive to publish the findings of a report as to why multiple organs of 18 infants who died, all born at the hospital, were sent to Belgium for incineration without the knowledge or permission of their parents.

Speaking to The Echo in recent days, Katie Quilligan, who was affected by the scandal, said the families deserve answers.

We deserve to be heard, she said.

In a statement, the South/Southwest Hospital group said the external review commissioned by the hospital is ongoing.

It said: The review team has and continues to maintain regular contact with the families who participated in the review. Once completed the final report will be shared with all relevant stakeholders including the families involved.

It would be inappropriate to comment while the external expert review, which was commissioned by CUH is underway.

Equally CUH must respect the confidential nature of patient information and cannot make public comment or provide details associated with same.




Canadian scientists support homegrown ocean-farmed salmon

Canada's top fisheries and aquaculture scientists said home-grown, ocean-farmed salmon is a valuable food resource for Canadians, in response to claims by activists protesting against salmon farms, Fish Information & Services reported.

The scientists said aquaculture provides affordable, highly nutritious protein with year-round access, and that the activists' propagated assertions are not backed by science.

The nine scientists, who took part in the Canadian Science Advisory Secretariat's (CSAS) rigorous assessments, have also warned the Canadian federal government that it should make decisions about the future of aquaculture in British Columbia based on the best available science.

The scientists said ministers tasked with deciding the future of salmon aquaculture should rely on the scientific evidence presented in recent CSAS reports about an industrial food sector that provides Canadian food security and is increasingly being adopted by First Nations along British Columbia's vast coastline."

For Fisheries and Oceans Canada, CSAS coordinates scientific peer review and science advice.

Nine peer-reviewed studies found that the 35-year-old aquaculture operations in BC's Discovery Islands had virtually no impact on wild stocks migrating through the area, according to the CSAS reports.

- Fish Information & Services
The violence against minority communities in Kashmir requires a multipronged solution.

Rekha Chowdhary writes:

The recent target killings by militants have highlighted the vulnerability of minorities in Kashmir. Though the range of target killings that have been taking place during the last two and a half years has included a number of Kashmiri Muslims, it is the killing of people belonging to the minority communities, including the Kashmiri Pandits and non-Kashmiri Hindus, that has unnerved the members of these communities.

Although there were some target killings months after the abrogation of the special constitutional status of the state,

including those of two prominent non-Kashmiri Hindus, it was in October 2021 that the impact of target killings was felt when, within a matter of days, there were a series of gruesome killings (for example, of a well-known Kashmiri Pandit pharmacist who had stayed on in Kashmir throughout the period of militancy; a street vendor from Bihar and a native Sikh female teacher; and a teacher from Jammu and four non-local labourers). It was, however, with the killing of Rahul Bhat, a revenue employee, in his office in May 2022 that target killings came to be highlighted once again. From 1 May to 2 June, a total of nine target killings took place. (If one counts from March 2022, then the number of such killings adds up to 19.)

It is the reverberation such targeted killings have been generating that the situation in Kashmir is being compared to that of 1990 when the exodus of Kashmiri Pandits took place. The Kashmiri Pandit employees (numbering as many as 4,000) who have been located in Kashmir under the Prime Ministers rehabilitation and return schemes and have been living there for as many as 10 to 12 years are now protestingdemanding their relocation outside the valley or alternatively threatening mass migration. Apart from these, there are Dalit employees (numbering around 3,000)who have been employed under the 8% reservation of Scheduled Caste quota in each district of Kashmirwho are also protesting and demanding their relocation.

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government, which has been questioning the 1990 exodus of Kashmiri Pandits and blaming the Congress government and local politicians like

Farooq Abdullah for failing to protect the Hindu minorities in the face of Islamic jihad, finds itself in a bind in this situation. While making it as a big issue on its agenda, the government has been reiterating its commitment to provide justice to the Pandits in Kashmir. It has not only been talking of rehabilitating the Pandits to the valley but also of redressing their property-related issues linked with distress sale and encroachment.

In no way, therefore, it can agree to relocate the protesting Pandits outside the valley. In its own perspective, posting them out of Kashmir would amount to accepting failure of the policy of rehabilitation and also contribute to ethnic cleansing. It is therefore responding by promising more security and surveillance, intensifying counter-insurgency operations, and relocating the employees to safer places within Kashmir.

In a situation where the militants are clearly targeting the minorities along with other vulnerable targets, the Pandits are expressing their disillusionment with the BJP government. They feel that they are sitting ducks and can be targeted at any time. They have even petitioned to the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court. Invoking the right to life under Article 21 of the Constitution, the Kashmiri Pandit Sangharsh Committee has sought the relocation of Kashmiri Pandit employees outside Kashmir.

Ironically, the issue of targeted killings has arisen at a time when the government was projecting its achievements following the abrogation of the special constitutional status of Jammu and Kashmir. It had been pointing out the success of its decision with no local retaliation in any manner and almost a near total absence of protests and stone-pelting incidents. With separatism handled with a tough approach, it was proclaiming a normalcy in the valley. The record tourist presence in Kashmir was highlighted as the biggest symbol of normalcy.

The phenomenon of targeted killings not only seems to have punctured this claim but has also raised questions about the revival of militancy and the dangerous form that it has acquired. Though small in number, the Pakistan-based foreign militants and the local recruits have kept the militancy alive, and with targeted killings, they have succeeded in creating a fear psychosis. What is worrying is not only the fact that the new militants are anonymous, having no prior history or criminal record and therefore difficult to trace before committing a militant act, but also the fact that even when they are being eliminated almost on an everyday basis, they are being replaced by new militants instantly. The continued availability of these militants clearly shows that despite the political silence of Kashmiris and the near total absence of protests, not everything is fine in Kashmir. The revival of militancy and continued local recruitment as well as the target killings indicate the disenchantment and radicalisation at some level.

The present situation has exposed the faultiness in the governments approach to deal with the Kashmir situation. With only security and administrative apparatuses being functional and the political forces being marginalised, doubts are being expressed if the security approach to deal with this intricate situation is sufficient. The veteran security experts who have dealt with the situation in the field like Lieutenant Generals Syed Ata Hasnain and D S Hooda, while accepting the need of hard security measures, have suggested going beyond the security perspective. While Hasnain has suggested activating the social and political domains, Hooda has argued for a holistic approach involving addressing a sense of alienation, youth engagement, and strengthening civil society and political empowerment.
This article presents a comparative analysis of poverty reduction and pro-poorness of growth in Gujarat and Tamil Nadu during the post-reform period. We use the unit-level data of the Consumer Expenditure Surveys of the National Sample Survey Office to estimate the poverty ratio for both rural and urban areas of these states. The first period (199394 to 200405) recorded a slow poverty reduction, but the second period (200405 to 201112) witnessed a faster reduction in poverty in rural and urban areas in both the states concerned.

Poverty reduction is a primary concern of development policy. Despite the steady long-term high economic growth in India during the post-reform period, one of the primary concerns of the policymakers continues to be the assessment of how far this growth has been pro-poor (Planning Commission 2011b). The theory of trickle-down economics represents an obsession with the gross domestic product (GDP) and income growth as the most reliable measure of economic success. The theory argues that only economic growth matters for poverty reduction and a growing economy will take care of the poor. However, the critics of trickle-down economics point out that the benefits of growth within an economy are rarely spread evenly.

An unequal rise in income may even slow down economic growth and the rate of reduction of poverty (Datt and Ravallion 1992; Jain and Tendulkar 1990; Mishra 2015). The focus on poverty reduction has generated interest in pro-poor growth. However, there are no agreements on defining or measuring pro-poor growth, and it remains a policy and academic debate over time. The pro-poor growth debate started with the seminal work of Ahluwalia and Chenery (1974) on redistribution with growth and was later carried forward by several others (Kakwani and Pernia 2000; Kakwani 2001; Dollar and Kraay 2002; Kakwani and Son 2003; Ravallion and Chen 2003; Son 2004; Ravallion 2004; Kraay 2006; Ali and Son 2007; Ali and Zhuang 2007).

The notion of pro-poor growth in the Indian context is explained by Datt and Ravallion (1998), Ravallion and Datt (2002), Bandyopadhyay (2007), and Thorat and Dubey (2012). Realising the importance of this debate, the Government of India claimed inclusive growth as a strategy to make the growth process pro-poor and inclusive. Indias Eleventh and Twelfth Five Year Plans have used the word inclusive growth and delineated concrete strategies to promote the well-being and participation of disadvantaged groups (Planning Commission 2011b). The states of India are different geographically and in terms of resource endowment, and hence, the economic development scenario is diverse across the country. While some states have high per capita income with a faster growth rate, others are witnessing a stagnancy in income growth for an extended period (Ahluwalia 2000; DeLong 2012; Kumar and Subramanian 2012; Raju 2012). Many studies have compared Tamil Nadu and Gujarat in growth and human development dimensions (Bhagwati and Panagariya 2013; Kalaiyarasan 2014; Sen and Dreze 2013). No study has attempted to look into the poverty, growth, and redistribution between these two states. We attempt to look into the model of development of Tamil Nadu and Gujarat by inquiring into the pro-poorness of economic growth in both states for the post-reform period.

After briefly introducing the studys objective and motivation, the article discusses and analyses the data. It also presents the analytical framework and the methods employed in the study. Then, it discusses the poverty trends in both states. It also presents the poverty and inequality elasticity among these states, while looking into the pro-poor indices among the two states during the post-reform period. Finally, we conclude our study with some policy suggestions.

Data and Methodology

The Tendulkar poverty line is used to estimate the poverty head count ratio (HCR) among the states (Planning Commission 2011a). The unit-level data on the Consumer Expenditure Survey for the 199394 (50th), 200405 (61st) and 201112 (68th) rounds of the National Sample Survey Office (NSSO) has been used. The 199394 and 201112 monthly per capita consumption expenditure (MPCE) values are adjusted to the 200405 base.

Let (z, y, ) be a poverty measure that is a function of a particular poverty line z, mean per capita income y, and some measure of inequality . We can define the poverty-growth elasticity (with respect to the growth of mean income) as:

 =  d log   (1)

( d log y )

This  measures the percentage fall in poverty due to each percentage increase in mean per capita income, indicating the poverty-reduction efficiency of growth within a particular region or group over time. The value of  is always negative, but its greater absolute value indicates greater efficiency of growth spells in reducing poverty.

Measures of Pro-poor Growth

Kakwani and Pernia (2000) have proposed a pro-poor growth index (PPGI) to measure the degree of being pro-poor. This index shows the relationship between total poverty-reduction and poverty reduction resulting from a distribution-neutral growth. This relation is expressed as the ratio of two poverty elasticities with respect to growth:

PPGI =   (2)

Where  is overall poverty-growth elasticity as defined earlier, and  is poverty-growth elasticity keeping inequality constant (when income distribution remains the same). PGI > 1 indicates that growth is pro-poor, and PGI < 1 shows the reverse. The value of 0 < PGI < 1 shows the case of a trickle-down process where growth benefits the poor indirectly and remotely, whereas the case of PGI < 0 pertains to immiserising growth scenarios.

While the PGI captures the distribution of growth benefits among the poor and non-poor, the index does not consider the actual growth-rate level. In response to this, Kakwani and Son (2008) have proposed another pro-poor growth measure called the poverty equivalent growth rate (PEGR), which is denoted by g*. It is derived by multiplying PGI by the growth rate of mean income, which is expressed as:

g* = () g  (3)

Growth is pro-poor if g* > g and antipoor if g* < g. So, 0 < g* < g indicates that growth is accompanied by an increasing inequality wherein poverty still declines. This situation may be characterised as a trickle-down process when the poor receive fewer benefits from growth than the non-poor.

Another tool to measure pro-poor growth is the poverty growth curve (PGC). The PGC indicates that the growth rate of the mean income up to the pth percentile (plotted in the vertical axis) is greater than zero for all percentiles. Also note that for the pth percentile equal to 100, the PGC is equivalent to the growth rate of the mean income of the society, since the growth rate of the mean income up to the pth percentile is lower than the annual growth rate of the mean income. In the majority of cases, the PGC provides firm conclusions about the pattern of growth without specifying the poverty line and the poverty measures. Nevertheless, there are some cases where the curve is not conclusive about the pattern of growth. Ravallion and Chens (2003) growth incidence curve (GIC) shows that growth in the period is pro-poor if the growth rates decline monotonically moving from the bottom centile to the top centile, which means the income of the lower decile rises at a faster rate than the higher decile. If the GIC increases monotonically, it means that the growth is anti-poor, that is, the mean income of the higher decile rises at a faster rate than the lower decile.

Poverty Trends

India is constituted by many states with different demographic, economic, social and geographic features. The regions vary in growth pattern, poverty, and inequality levels. The post-reform period recorded a faster growth at the national and state levels (Kumar and Subramanian 2012). However, being a diverse country, the growth pattern in the Indian states is uneven, hence the poverty

reduction and income distributions (Deaton and Dreze 2002; Dev and Ravi 2007; Himanshu and Sen 2010; Thorat and Dubey 2012).

Tables 1 and 2 present the poverty HCR of Gujarat, Tamil Nadu, and all of India for both rural and urban areas for 199394 (55th), 200405 (61st), and 201112 (68th) NSSO rounds. Poverty incidence has declined across sectors between 199394 and 201112. What is striking is the relative position of Tamil Nadu and Gujarat and how that changed over the period. In the early 1990s, the poverty rate in Tamil Nadu was comparable to the all-India level in both rural and urban sectors, and Gujarats HCR was relatively lower than Tamil Nadu and all India. Over one decade (199394 to 200405), Tamil Nadu has made considerable progress in poverty reduction. We see that between 199394 and 200405, Tamil Nadu has registered an impressive decline in the poverty incidence, and the corresponding estimates for both the sectors were comparable with those of Gujarat. In the coming years, the reduction in the poverty rate in Tamil Nadu surpassed the same in Gujarat. The decline in HCR is higher during the second period than in the first one in both the states rural and urban areas. While the HCR in rural Gujarat has declined by approximate 1.48% annually during the first period, the decline for the second period is about 8.52% annually. During the first period, the decline in rural poverty is lower than that for Tamil Nadu and the national average. In the second period, the decline, though higher than the national average, is lower than in Tamil Nadu. In the first period, the decline in urban poverty in Gujarat is 3.98% annually, whereas in the second period, the decline is 9.59% annually. The urban poverty decline for Gujarat during both periods, though slightly higher than the national average, is way below Tamil Nadu. In both the rural and urban sectors during the post-reform period, the poverty decline was faster in Tamil Nadu than in Gujarat, even though the poverty level during 199394 was higher in Tamil Nadu.

The poverty depth and squared poverty gap (SPG) follow the same trends as the poverty HCR. The poverty reduction between the two periods is because of faster growth in MPCE and rise or fall in inequality. Table 2 presents the real MPCE and the degree of inequality measured in the Gini coefficient for the rural and urban sectors of Gujarat, Tamil Nadu and all India. The MPCE is converted into the real MPCE1 considering 200405 as the base year for a comparison over time. The MPCE of 199394 and 201112 have been converted into 200405 (base year) real MPCE for a comparison over time.

Tables 1 and 2 show that Gujarat has higher real MPCE than Tamil Nadu and all India except for 201112. The annual growth in the real MPCE of Gujarat is lower than all India way below Tamil Nadu (Table 3), both in rural and urban sectors. Tables 1 and 2 show that the absolute poverty HCR, poverty depth, and SPG in 199394 in Tamil Nadu and all India are higher than in Gujarat. However, the successive years witnessed a poverty ratio lower than Gujarat in Tamil Nadu, though India witnessed a slower decline than Gujarat. Table 2 shows that the HCR, poverty depth, and SPG witnessed a faster decline in Tamil Nadu than Gujarat, though Gujarat recorded a faster decline than the national average. Hence, both in rural and urban areas, though Gujarat witnessed a decline in poverty ratio in the post-reform period, which is faster than the all-India average, it is lower than Tamil Nadu. Gujarat has lower inequality than all India and Tamil Nadu. The first period (199394 to 200405) witnessed a rise in inequality in Gujarat, while the second period (200405 to 201112) witnessed a decline. Though at the national level, the inequality witnessed an increasing trend in both the periods; in Tamil Nadu, for the first period, inequality decreased in the rural areas and increased in the urban areas, but in the second period in Tamil Nadu, inequality increases for the rural areas and decreases for the urban areas. The following section explores the possible reasons for the faster reduction in poverty HCR in Tamil Nadu by decomposing the annual poverty changes among these states compared to all India.

Inequality Elasticity of Growth

The relationship between growth and poverty can be established from poverty elasticity, and growth and inequality can be established from inequality elasticity. The poverty elasticity is the ratio of relative change in poverty percentage between two periods to the relative change in MPCE between those periods. The inequality elasticity is the ratio of the percentage change in the Gini coefficient to the percentage change in MPCE between two periods. The value of the poverty elasticity will always be negative, implying that with a rise in MPCE, there will be a decline in poverty between the two periods. If the poverty elasticity is greater than one (omitting the sign), it implies that the poverty declined faster than the rise in MPCE. Hence, the greater the poverty elasticity, the better off the poor are from the growth process. If the poverty elasticity is lower than one, it implies that the poverty reduction is lower than the rise in MPCE or income. With a rise in MPCE, inequality might rise or fall, implying that the inequality elasticity between the two periods can be positive or negative. The positive sign of inequality elasticity implies that the growth in MPCE causes a rise in inequality, which only benefits people from a certain income strata. In contrast, the negative sign of inequality elasticity implies a rise in MPCE, which leads to a reduction in inequality, implying that the lower strata have benefited more than the upper-income groups.

Figure 1 (p 18) shows the poverty elasticity in Gujarat, Tamil Nadu, and all India. The poverty elasticity is higher in the second period than in the first one in all the regions. The higher poverty elasticity might be due to the anti-poverty programmes like the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act and the rise in public spending and spending on several welfare schemes, which saw a faster rise in the second period, implying the growth in MPCE during the second period is more inclusive. By comparing the poverty elasticity among the regions during the first period, Gujarat has lower poverty elasticity. In the second period, Gujarat has higher poverty elasticity than Tamil Nadu and the all-India average in the rural sector. In the urban regions during both periods, Gujarat has a poverty elasticity lower than Tamil Nadu but way higher than the all-India average. The number shows that Tamil Nadu has a slightly higher poverty elasticity than Gujarat.

Figure 2 presents the inequality elasticity among Tamil Nadu, Gujarat, and all India during the post-reform period. During the first period in both the sectors, Gujarat witnessed a high inequality elasticity. However, the rural inequality elasticity is higher than the urban counterpart showing a rise in MPCE by 1%, causing a rise in inequality in rural Gujarat by 1.258% and urban inequality by 0.616%. At the same time, all India in the first period witnessed a rise in inequality elasticity by around 0.5% in both sectors. Tamil Nadu witnessed a negative inequality elasticity in the rural areas and positive inequality elasticity in the urban areas. In the first period, the impact of growth is more pro-poor in Tamil Nadu than Gujarat. In the second period, Gujarat witnessed a negative inequality elasticity, while all India witnessed a positive inequality elasticity in both the sectors. However, the growth impact of MPCE is causing a slow rise in inequality in rural Tamil Nadu. During the second period, urban Tamil Nadu witnesses a negative inequality elasticity. In the second period, Gujarat seems to be more pro-poor than Tamil Nadu due to the faster reduction in inequality.

Assessing Pro-poor Growth

The PPGI is helpful to examine the extent to which growth in a country or a state has been in favour of the poor or the non-poor. However, it may not be helpful when comparing two countries or states with different growth rates. In this situation, the PPGI cannot clarify which case is relatively more pro-poor. As income growth rates are different, we need a common benchmark to make such comparisons. The PEGR complements the shortcoming of the PPGI by incorporating a benchmark. In this section, we have used both the indicators to know whether the growth among the regions of these two states is pro-poor or not.

The PPGI is negative for Gujarat, Tamil Nadu, and all-India rural areas between 199394 and 200405, indicating immiserising growth. However, growth has been pro-poor between 200405 and 201112 for the same areas as indicated by a PPGI greater than one. The growth in the urban areas of Gujarat, Tamil Nadu, and all India has been the trickle-down type between 199394 and 201112, as indicated by a positive but less-than-one PPGI. The scenario changes between 200405 and 201112 in rural and urban areas. Rural Gujarat and all India witnessed a pro-poor growth in this period (PPGI is greater than one), whereas the growth in Tamil Nadu was a trickle-down type. Though it was an improvement from the immiserising growth of the first period for Tamil Nadu, still it could not do well in helping the poor. Urban areas of Gujarat and Tamil Nadu witnessed pro-poor growth between 200405 and 201112, though the growth scenario at all India was not pro-poor.

We now proceed to compare the relative pro-poorness of growth for these states. The PEGR was lower than the benchmark growth rate (MPCE here) between 199394 and 200405 for rural and urban areas of Gujarat, Tamil Nadu, and all India, indicating an anti-poor growth. Furthermore, the negative sign of PEGR indicates an immiserising growth in these areas. The situation changed between 200405 and 201112 when rural Gujarat outsmarted rural Tamil Nadu (the PEGR for Gujarat is greater than its MPCE growth, while it is opposite for the Tamil Nadu). Growth could retain its pro-poor character in rural areas at the all-India levels between 200405 and 201112. Growth between 200405 and 201112 was pro-poor for urban Gujarat and Tamil Nadu, though it was anti-poor at the all-India level.

Figures 36 present the GIC of rural and urban Gujarat and Tamil Nadu in the post-reform period. The post-reform period can be classified into two phases. The GIC for rural and urban areas in the first period has witnessed an increasing trend showing that poverty reduction is not pro-poor. The second period, especially urban Gujarat and Tamil Nadu, witnesses declining trends, showing the pro-poorness of the poverty reduction in those states. The GIC reflects that the increase in consumption expenditure growth of the lower decile is slower than the upper decile in the first period, while in the second period, the growth of real consumption expenditure of the lower decile is higher than the upper decile, reflecting the pro-poorness of growth in both the states.

Concluding Remarks

Tamil Nadu has recorded faster poverty reduction during the post-reform period in comparison to Gujarat and the national average. Though the poverty-reducing impact of growth in income measured by poverty elasticity of growth remains the same for both the states, instead of having higher inequality, Tamil Nadu witnesses faster poverty reduction. It is due to its anti-poverty measures and its welfare spending, which is reflected by its higher efficacy in reducing poverty in the decomposition of annual change in poverty. The effectiveness of these programmes too can be reflected in the pro-poor indices estimation, which shows that the second period is pro-poor in both the regions while the first period is not. Though the second period benefits the poor section more in both the regions, the anti-poverty measures in Tamil Nadu cause a faster reduction in poverty in the state compared to Gujarat and all India.

Note

1 The MPCE of 50th and 68th round has converted into the 200405 real base by deflating it with the ratio of the poverty line.

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Indias recalibrated free trade agreement strategy lacks appropriate coherence to its trade policy that vouches for domestically produced goods over imported goods. The increased proclivity towards signing the free trade agreements is more driven by its geostrategic interests and prominently addressing the supply-chain vulnerabilities.

Indias annual merchandise exports have crossed the mark of $400 billion just before the end of the financial year 202122. These exports have increased from $290 billion in 202021 to $417 billion in 202122, reflecting an increase of more than 40% on an annual basis. As part of its broader Self-reliant India initiative (Atmanirbhar Bharat), India has set an ambitious export target of $1 trillion by 2030 (Economic Times 2022). To achieve this target, it is widely felt that India needs to adopt a proactive approach toward free trade agreements (FTAs) and enter into trade pact with countries that not only contribute to improved market access for goods but deepen strategic trade and investment linkages to make its supply chain much more resilient (RBI bulletin 2021; Palit 2021).

Remarkably, Indias new-found enthusiasm for FTAs is shaped by two important factors: first, the developed countries such as the United States (US), the United Kingdom (UK), Europe, Australia, and Canada are eventually addressing their supply-chain vulnerabilities and vigorously pursuing policies that reduce their dependence on China. This provides opportunities for India to emerge as an alternative supplier of goods and capitalise on this development (Banerjee 2021). This naturally creates the need to foster deeper economic and trade engagement with these developed economies through bilateral and multilateral trade deals to generate business opportunities for Indian firms (Banerjee et al 2021). Second, from an economic and strategic perspective, India is not a part of any of the two mega-regional trading blocsthe Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (RCEP) and the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP). This shuts the door for preferential market access in these rapidly growing markets. However, India has free trade pacts with selected member countries of both these mega-regional trade agreements. But there are concerns regarding the erosion of market access due to the aggregate impact of mega-trade agreements and their ability to divert the geography of value chains, thereby displacing Indian firms from the existing production networks.

Indias renewed interest in FTAs, to a certain extent, is shaped by the buoyant export performance in 2021. A sharp rise in Indias exports has formed a view among policymakers that it needs free trade deals that strengthen the current momentum of exports (Dhar 2022). Further, the UkraineRussia war-induced global supply chain disruption and the economic crisis in Sri Lanka have created new export opportunities for India in specific sectors such as agriculture and textiles (S N Sharma 2022; Mishra 2022).

During the period from 2004 to 2011, India has signed, ratified, and enforced 11 preferential and free trade agreements, but it has not signed even a single trade agreement thereafter. India has walked out of a mega-regional trade agreementRCEPby stating its concerns over outstanding issues (Singh and Singh 2020). In the post-pandemic (COVID-19) period, the Indian economy reflected signs of recovery from the depth of the crisis, thereby changing the Government of Indias (GoI) scepticism towards FTAs (Dhar 2022). As a result, the GoI has signed FTAs with Mauritius, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), and Australia. India is also attempting to negotiate similar trade pacts with the UK, the European Union, Canada, Israel, and the Eurasian Economic Union. It is also expected that India would finalise trade agreements with Israel and the UK by the end of 2022 (Laksar 2022; Nandi 2022). Other than new trade agreements, the GoI is also renegotiating its existing FTAs with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, Japan, and South Korea to address provisions related to anomalies and asymmetries that led to the consistent increase in its trade deficit (Rajya Sabha 2021). The article argues a number of key issues that exhibits a dichotomy between Indias trade policy stance and the recent thrust on engaging in various FTAs. This dichotomy is observable by Indias promising FTA partners as well, which raises concerns about Indias actual trade negotiating and diplomatic stand and the ultimate fruitfulness of the outcome.

Dichotomy

The foundation of an FTA lies in an open and liberal trade policy where the FTA partners could reciprocate market access based on their comparative cost advantage and trade specialisation. This augments the growth of bilateral trade and investment flows and fosters deeper economic and strategic relations. This reciprocal relationship hinges on greater coherence between FTA strategy and trade policy. Indias new-found enthusiasm for FTA seems conflictive with its trade-policy stance under the Self-reliant India initiative, whose genesis is on vocal for local, thereby promoting domestically produced goods over imported goods. This is because of the tariff policy regime, the Customs (Administration of Rules of Origin under Trade Agreements) Rules (CAROTAR), 2020 for regulating imports under FTAs, and greater importance to geostrategic interest vis-a-vis trade.

Tariff Policy

Indias import policy has marked a major change over the past few years. According to the World Trade Organization (WTO) tariff profile, India has the highest average tariff of 15% in the AsiaPacific region; the average import tariffs have increased from 13.5% in 2016 to 15% in 2020. An increase in import tariff(s) is being recognised both in industrial and agriculture products. Figure 1 demonstrates the average import tariffs on industrial products increased from 10.2% in 2014 to 11.9% in 2020, while in agricultural products, it has increased from 32.7% to 34%. However, the average import tariffs on industrial and agricultural products have slightly come down in 2020 but it is still higher compared to 2016 and 2017. The GoI has introduced import-licensing requirements and a blanket ban on imports of many products. It has placed import restrictions on the import of light-emitting diode (LED)/television and 101 defence products (Kaushik 2020). Besides import tariffs, the GoI has introduced a number of non-tariff barriers (NTBs) that include quality control orders and an import monitoring system (for example, a steel import monitoring system).

The standard tariff analysis is based on an applied tariff that includes basic customs duty (BCD). But, in practice, the importing firm has to pay additional duties and taxes other than the BCD. In the pre-goods and services tax (GST) era, the total duties included components like special additional duties (SAD), countervailing duty (CVD), education cess, etc. These duties have now been merged with the Integrated Goods and Services Tax (IGST) Act, 2017 and the total duty levied on imported goods includes BCD, IGST, and social welfare surcharge (SWS). Imported goods are also subject to anti-dumping and safeguard duties on a case-by-case basis. In this context, it is pertinent to state that the total duty to be levied on imports is significantly higher than the BCD, reflecting the overall high import tariff structure due to IGST and SWS. This is quite opposed to what is reflected in the most favoured nation (MFN)-applied average tariffs. However, it needs to be understood that for the IGST paid, input tax credit (ITC) can be taken and utilised to pay taxes, such as CGST/SGST/IGST. But, the importing firm cannot get the refund of BCD and SWS. Therefore, SWS, which is 10%, is an additional burden besides the complex procedures of paying IGST and taking the refund. The overall structure of Indias tariff policy reflects inward orientation and is not in consonance with its FTA strategy that aims at improving market access on a reciprocal basis. It also weakens the negotiating capabilities of Indian policymakers in FTA negotiations.

CAROTAR, 2020

The GoI vide its notification dated 21 August 2020 introduced the CAROTAR, 2020 (Ministry of Finance 2020). The main objective of these rules is to restrict the potential misuse of preferential tariffs by third countries under Indias trade agreements. It is pertinent to mention that the introduction of CAROTAR is primarily aimed to regulate the entry of third-country goods through its FTA partners. These rules have far-reaching implications for imported goods from our FTA partners and potentially undermine the benefits of preferential tariffs.

Under the CAROTAR, 2020, the GoI has introduced amendments in Section 28DA of the Customs Act, 1962, which states that customs officers hold the exclusive right to give or deprive the benefits of preferential tariffs on imported goods if they have any reason to believe that the origin criterion, stipulated in a negotiated trade agreement, is not followed. It is worth explaining that the term reason to believe is open for interpretation. Therefore, this amendment is indicating that the outcome could be shaped by the whims and fancies of the customs officers, thereby undermining the potential benefits of preferential tariffs under an already negotiated and mutually agreed FTA (Singh and Singh 2020). In addition, the over-reliance of the act on the judgmental capacity of the customs officers is also leading to a possibility of growing rent-seeking attitude among bureaucrats, which would adversely undermine the significance of the existing and future free trade deals.

The CAROTAR stipulate that the origin-related information needs to be in form I for every shipment for a period of at least five years from the date of import clearance and submit the same to the proper officer whenever required. It is important to note that the origin-related information is very exhaustive and demands complete information regarding the origin of goods such as wholly obtained, regional value content, change in tariff classification, and change in chapter. It further states that the importing firm needs to provide detailed information regarding the value of content, components used in manufacturing, and other costs (labour cost, the materials used, overhead expenses, etc) if the imported goods are from a non-originating material.

There could be a possibility that exporting firms may refuse to provide sensitive price information concerning used raw materials and intermediate inputs used in such exportable manufactured products. The information sought under form I, about the non-originating material used in exportable products, is exhaustive, necessitating the specific details, which may be difficult to collect in a highly dispersed global value chain-led manufacturing operations. This is because value chains are spread in different geographical areas and collecting the information related to raw materials and intermediate suppliers of the whole value chain is a very challenging task.

Further, the issue becomes even more complicated if the exporting firm refuses to share the information of the whole value chain, creating problems for the importing firm to prove that goods are substantially transformed to qualify for the preferential benefits. The failure to obtain the required information may deprive the importing firm of availing the preferential benefits, thus increasing the cost of imported products. In other words, it effectively undermines the market access of FTA partners negotiated under a trade agreement, thereby making its exports uncompetitive.

The CAROTAR introduced new regulatory guidelines for the treatment of identical goods. It states that if the importing firm fails to meet with the origin criterion stipulated in the rules of origin (RoO) chapter of a trade agreement, the principal commissioner of customs holds the right to consider or not to consider the claims of preferential tariff, filed before or after such determination, for identical goods imported from the same exporting and importing firm. This rule poses significant implications to both importing as well as exporting firms.

To understand this, let us take an example in the case of a trade transaction under the AustraliaIndia Economic Cooperation and Trade Agreement (AI-ECTA). As per the rule, if an Indian firm is importing goods from a supplier based in Australia throughout the year and an issue arises concerning compliance with the origin criteria of certificate of origin (CoO) due to some reason(s) for a particular imported consignment, it should not be penalised for all the consignments that have been imported from a supplier in Australia before the determination of a specific issue with CoO. This rule could potentially undermine the right of the exporting firm to get preferential market access under the AI-ECTA. The problem could get further escalated into a complex situation for a supplier based in Australia that supplies identical products to different importing firms in India. The inability to comply with the origin criteria in the case of one specific consignment will contribute to cascading deleterious effects on Australian suppliers to claim preferential benefits.

The introduction of CAROTAR, 2020 is a unilateral measure by India on imported goods under FTAs. They place several stringent regulatory compliances on imports, which may potentially deprive exporting firm(s) to leverage the benefits of preferential market access. These rules are fundamentally against the objectives of the trade agreement for which it was signed. Indias stance to place stringent checks on imports may instigate its FTA partners to undertake similar measures, which will ultimately lead to trade protectionism, thus benefiting the business interests of other countries. It is pertinent to state here that Indias FTA partners have already expressed their concerns at the WTO regarding the additional documentary and regulatory compliance to determine the origin of imported goods. FTA partners such as Japan, South Korea, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Sri Lanka have stated that this could potentially emerge as non-tariff barriers, thereby affecting their exports to India (Mishra 2021). The nature and content of the CAROTAR may be the bone of contention for Indias ongoing and future FTA deals.

Geostrategic vis-a-vis Trade Interests

Indias bilateral trade pacts with the UAE and Australia have strong geostrategic and geopolitical elements given the fact that both FTA partners are members of the two Quadrilateral Security Dialogues (QUAD). The QUAD is a strategic and security dialogue among countries that share more or less common strategic and security concerns. The western QUAD consists of Israel, India, the UAE, and the US, while the eastern QUAD consists of Australia, India, Japan, and the US. Indias signing of the FTAs with important geopolitical partners such as the UAE and Australia is abruptly changing its conservative protectionist image that has developed due to its decision of walking out of the RCEP.

Moreover, with these trade deals, India is conveying a hint to its strategic partners that its non-committal position on the RussiaUkraine War should not be viewed as if it is shifting toward a Russia-led alliance (Singhal 2022). The IndiaUAE Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) is part of a larger strategic context aligned with the western QUAD constituting Israel, India, the UAE, and the US as key strategic partners (Palit 2022b; Ghosh 2022). The CEPA agreement with the UAE paves the foundation for deeper ties with the Western neighbours that serve its interests of getting into trade agreements without Chinas presence. This agreement could also serve as a template for a full-fledged trade agreement with the Gulf Cooperation Council, which would further deepen Indias economic and strategic integration with Gulf economies.

Similarly, AI-ECTA is an interim trade agreement, aimed at boosting bilateral trade and investment ties. The agreement is part of a broader geostrategic context in which India and Australia want to reduce their dependence on China. Australias economic and trade ties with its largest trading partner China, have entered in worst phase due to political meddling and sparring over the origins of COVID-19 (K Sharma 2022). This was further aggravated by the Chinese restrictions on Australias exports such as barley, grain, beef, coal, wine, and sugar. Likewise, Indias widening trade deficit with China, coupled with a military stand-off at the Himalayan border, have compelled the Indian policymakers to reconsider its economic and trade partnership with China and identify a new strategic trade partnership. This reflects a strong convergence between India and Australias strategic interests that underpins the importance of balancing relations with China. It is not only on the bilateral front that both countries are working towards addressing their geostrategic challenges. India, Australia, and Japan have launched the Supply Chain Resilience Initiative (SCRI) in 2021 to manage their supply chain risks by mapping out economic and trade complementarities (Hindu Business Line 2021; Palit 2022a).

India has tried to strike a balance in its geostrategic interest vis-a-vis trade interest, by setting up ambitious goals for promoting bilateral trade with the UAE and Australia, thereby expanding economic and trade ties. But, the depth and breadth of these two agreements, in terms of coverage and substantive provisions, are more or less in line with Indias trade agreements with Japan and South Korea. The AI-ECTA is an interim agreement and far away from its original ambition of a CEPA, which will include important areas of negotiations such as digital trade, agriculture, government procurement, and deeper regulatory disciplines. Both countries have agreed to constitute a team for CEPA negotiations, once the ECTA is signed. There is, however, no clue whether these talks would be subject to ECTAs ratification. Interestingly, the operative element of entry to force is subject to its approval in the Australian parliament, which got officially dissolved on 11 April 2022, thereby putting the ECTA on a ventilator. Without the ratification of the ECTA in the Australian parliament, the agreement would not be able to materialise even as an interim arrangement. This demonstrates that the AI-ECTA is a mere manifestation of the geostrategic interest rather than trade interest.

Further, the announcement of Indias foreign trade policy (FTP) is lingering on for almost two years. The Ministry of Commerce and Industry has again extended the FTP for six months without recognising the fact that it is one of the most important policy documents that sets the long-term direction for exports and provides clarity regarding various policies and incentives to the Indian trade community. The prolonged delay in Indias FTP itself reflects that Indias renewed interest in FTA is conditioned on geostrategic interest rather than trade interest.

Conclusions

Indias recalibrated approach towards FTAs is full of ambivalence and reflects inconsistencies with its trade-policy stance under the Self-reliant India initiative that underpins the importance of domestically produced goods over imported ones. The persistent increase in import tariffs and the introduction of the CAROTAR to regulate imports from FTA partners square off its efforts in Indias new-found enthusiasm for FTA strategy aimed at promoting Indias exports through better market access. These rules either need to be amended or withdrawn to make sure that Indias trade policy is in consonance with its external trade engagement. Otherwise, the lack of synergy between trade policy and FTA strategy not only weakens Indias negotiating capacity, but also undermines the potential economic benefits of free trade. Finally, Indias trade pacts with the western and eastern QUAD members (the UAE and Australia) are driven by geostrategic interest rather than trade. Indias trade pacts with the UAE in general, and Australia in particular, are not comprehensive in terms of their coverage, scope, and depth. They seem to be aimed at addressing the supply-chain vulnerabilities associated with China.

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Alice Ekkas protagonists are strong Adivasi women who have agency, choices, and dreams.

The upper-caste-dominated publishing industry and the privileged writers have written about the indigenous communities of India in multitudinous forms of media. Ranging from upper-caste social media influencers mocking Adivasi culture and thereby manifesting their own lack of merit to savour complex and privileged pens gazing at Adivasi women, there has been an intentional erasure of female Adivasi voices. In this context, the Hindi book, Alice Ekka ki Kahaniyaan (Stories by Alice Ekka 2015), edited by Vandana Tete, comes across as a revelation when, in fact, it should have been celebrated all along.

Born in 1917 in Ranchi, Ekka began writing in Hindi in the 1950s and was a regular writer in the weekly Adivasi founded in 1947 by the Bihar governments Department of Information and Public Relations. Her first available work is her translation of Khalil Gibrans work in the August 1959 edition of Adivasi, though Tete estimates that it is quite possible that she might have written in earlier editions. Unfortunately, a significant part of Ekkas work has been lostsome misplaced by her family over time and some by the state. After the formation of Jharkhand following the separation from Bihar, the then public relations department officers from Bihar sold the old copies at scrap value, destroying not only salient works in Ekkas oeuvre but also of all those writers from Jharkhand whose works had been published in the magazine. Being the first female Adivasi graduate from present-day Jharkhand and the first female Adivasi writer to be published in Hindi, Ekkas oeuvre explicates complex contemporary realities and an innate, inherited connection with the environment through simple language. In her introduction to the book, Tete reflects that Adivasi women do realise that a nation and its development have deceived them, and yet they are striving towards nation-building with a focused vision.

In Vankanya (trans Girl of the Forest, 1961), Ekka describes the forest as the blissful habitat of the animals and insects, elaborating in detail and with affection on every entity that comprises a forest. She manifests the forest as a living being with agency and autonomy and not as a passive recipient of human actions with a manufactured power imbalance between the two. Ekka exhibits both the sides of nature, of the creator as well as of the usurper. And, in contrast to the casteist patriarchal gaze and control that leads to writers portraying men saving women even in 2022, Ekkas story, written decades ago, has an Adivasi woman saving a man. When Phecho sees an almost dead body, she goes up to it instead of running away or asking others for help. Here, the organic interaction between an Adivasi woman and a privileged man from the city is not of colonisation or of chasms but of them coming close, only for the gate-kept boundary of civilisation to later tear them apart.

The story 15 August, Bilcho and Ramo about an Adivasi woman in labour lying on a torn mat on the wet floor of a broken hut, on the night of 15 August 1947, as her neglectful drunkard husband returns after engaging in revelry is heart-rending and makes us question the meaning of liberation in a nation engulfed with layers of oppression. Written by Ekka in 1962, Durgi ke Bachche aur Elma ki Kalpanayein (Durgis Kids and Elmas Fantasies) is one of the earliest writings on the confluence of the Scheduled Caste (SC) and the Scheduled Tribe (ST) (Adivasi) communities. Durgi, a woman from the SC community, has to carry night soil from the home of Elmaa woman belonging to the STs. Here, Elmas vehement vocalisation against the practice is not of pity or patronisation but striving for the equality of people.

The Adivasi community has had a rich heritage of verbal poems and stories, but systemic neglect has relegated it to the margins and denied it documentation for posterity. Layered in terms of context but simple in narrative style, Ekkas lived experiences are exhibited in the rich composition of her work, be it the intricate descriptions of the attire and jewellery of Jharkhandi women, the vivid illustrations of the forests, the animals, the farming and gathering tools, or the aura of the rice-sowing season. Her work does justice to the act of farminga topic which upper-caste writers have either romanticised beyond relevance or, worse, denigrated into further devastation. Ekka is honest in her approach to writing on farming. She elucidates how the locals of Jharkhand love the act of cultivation and adore their animals. Her lived experiences make it natural for her to know every stage and traditional tool used in farming in complete depth and detail. However, she also does not shy away from narrating the ordeals owing to the massive agrarian distress caused by systemic issues. There is no deification or romanticisation but brutal hope.

The dialogues seamlessly switch between the regional tongues of Nagpuri, Khortha, and Magahi of the Chotanagpuri protagonistsnot in academic, pedagogical language but in a language owned by the masses. This regionalisation of language is significant, for it neither shifts the narrative for elite refinement nor does it take away the rootedness of the protagonists. In their writings, upper-caste, upper-class writers wilfully relegate tribals to a duality of existence. The focus is either on the tribals being victimised or criminalised by the state or of them revolting against unjust violencethings observed by those at a distance. To say that Ekkas writings are in contradiction to the elite upper-caste, the upper-class writers is to believe that the elites are the default. In fact, her writings are in absolute unison with nature and encourage an equal society. This innate ability to strive for equality is what is missing in the writings of elite writers who use language as an epistemological tool to gate-keep and not as an egalitarian medium to communicate, making their work a contradiction to the pen of Ekka as well as the environment. Ekka coexists with nature and does not commodify it. She contextualises labour. Her work is filled with life, for it is not limited to reading rooms and libraries. It is out there in the forests and the fields.

Ekka focuses not only on emancipation from the casteist capitalist patriarchal nexus but also on the agency of the self. Her characters make endearing friendships, dare to fall in love across barriers, sing songs against destituteness, and play games to enjoy their childhood. Ekkas women have agency, choices, and dreams. They are not only victims of the state, neither are their identities only tied to a deified revolt. In all of Ekkas writing, the female protagonists are evocative individuals who live in consonance with their immediate surroundings while retaliating against the structure of an oppressive society that continually denies them basic rights. They assert their roots but also do not romanticise the tribulations within the community. They toil hard, experience and extend pristine love and caring friendships with people across communities, and sing songs while sowing rice. They work hard at both home and school, but while the upper-caste male friends get access to opportunities, the Adivasi women do not. They are left behind.

Ekka does not gaze at the Adivasi community from a distance; she is not studying them, neither is she observing them. She is documenting what she has lived and what she has loved. Reading her today is surreal, for everything she has written continues to hold true, mostly despondently, and yet, sometimes, optimistically so.
Forest communities in India and elsewhere are central to protecting forests and forest resources.

In November 2018, Balarampur village in the district of Dhenkanal, Odisha, saw a heated conflict between the people and the state concerning the acquisition of forestland by a corporate bodythe Industrial Development Corporation of Odishafor the construction of breweries. The community was largely dependent on the forest produce for their livelihoods. The bottling unit was sanctioned in 2016 and the villagers were engaged in resisting its establishment by raising the issue in the gram sabha. They appealed to all concerned authorities in vain. They resisted by not allowing the company officials to enter the allotted site. However, they were caught unawares when around 1,000 mature trees were cut down in the wee hours of 17 November 2018 in an attempt to start the unit. The villagers staged huge protests, in which the women hugged trees to halt attempts to cut them. Some protesting villagers were arrested and forcibly removed from the site, but ultimately, the government had to give in to the pressure from the villagers and the media coverage, finally withdrawing from the land acquisition and stalling the setting up of the brewery.

Forest communities in India and elsewhere have been central to protecting forests and forest resources even if the specific practices might have undergone changes with the passage of time as well as the introduction of and amendments to legal and institutional structures. There exist several practicesdirect and indirectthat contribute to forest governance by the forest-dwelling communities. Indirect ways refer to those customs practised in everyday living or worship with an emphasis on sustainability and their inextricable and symbiotic linkages with forest resources. Direct ways of forest governance refer to those that take the form of formal or informal arrangements aimed at protecting the forest.

The Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act (FRA), 2006 institutionalised the rights of forest-dwelling communities by law, but there are several traditional practices that the communities have engaged in since the enactment of the FRA. In Gujarat, the Bhil community of Rampuri village started a cooperative society, Dharihar Dungru Vruksh Utpadhan Sahkari Mandli, as early as 1986, which prevented anyone from entering the forest without permission. A four-member watch group was formed with a monthly payment to protect the forest. In Karnataka, mapping of the sacred sites of the Soliga community in Biligiri Rangaswamy Temple Hills is another example of communities protecting their spaces and boundaries within the forests.

In Odisha, at sites like Ranapur and Kandhmal, communities perform rituals such as Girigobardhan Puja, Benguli dance, and Dharani Penu Puja to renew their commitment to protecting forests and livelihoods. During the 1970s, to meet the demands of rapid industrialisation, several areas within the district of Nayagarh witnessed rampant illegal felling of timber. This gave rise to negative externalities such as shrinking livelihoods, especially of women, scarcity of daily items of forest produce, drying up of streams, and so on. Dengajhari and other nearby villages decided to undertake regular patrolling to counter this attack on their forests. This continued for a decade. As a larger measure to ensure womens participation in forest governance and vigilance, the non-governmental organisation Vasundhara helped set up a Mahila Committee in Dengajhari village. It was in one of the committee meetings that the women expressed their disappointment over the inefficient patrolling and threats from the timber mafia. They decided to engage in patrolling through Thenga Pali. Thenga means lathi or stick and Pali means rotation. The protecting community patrols the forest in groups. The Thengas, at the end of the shift in the evening, are placed in front of those houses whose members would undertake patrolling the next day. This system was introduced in a structured manner, ensuring that the work is evenly distributed among the villagers with ownership and accountability. In October 1999, a massive timber-felling exercise was thwarted by these women by grouping and stationing themselves on the path leading to the forests. Thereafter, these women took up the practise of Thenga Pali in Dengajhari in a more systematic manner.

What are the factors that may have induced a tribal community to adopt this mechanism for the protection of forest resources? This is, at the outset, indicative of the ineffectiveness of the state infrastructure in protecting the forest. Sasi Mausi, a Kandha tribal woman in her late 60s, is a pioneer in bringing about a structural change in the forest management of this area over three long decades. She and the other women from the community have led the rejuvenation of four streams in the forest and the successful diversion of water for paddy cultivation every year for at least one crop since 2006.

During a visit to Landabaga village of Sundargarh district, we learnt that since 2000, the villagers have been involved in the protection of the forest. Prior to this, there was a considerable reduction in forest produce due to the overuse of forest resources by people from other villages. Unmindful of the resentment by other villagers, every day, a group of men patrolled the forest. To further strengthen and institutionalise the process to ensure its sustainability, they adopted the method of self-declaration through Pathar Gada. At the entrance of the village, a big rock is installed on which the main rules and regulations about forest laws are inscribed. This method was first used in a neighbouring village, and after due discussion among key stakeholders in both the villages, it was replicated in Landabaga too, where all deforestation has since stopped.

In all these villages, there is a high degree of transparency and visibility of each others activities, ensuring that people abide by the rules that were collectively decided. Felling of timber for commercial purposes is prohibited and is undertaken only for agriculture or building. For the purpose of fuel, only those pieces of wood that are dry and have fallen on the ground are collected. Only economically poor families who depend on firewood for their livelihood are allowed to collect and sell dry and fallen wood. Collection of bamboo and date palm leaves for making mats and baskets is allowed.

Celebrating festivals commemorating changing seasons and other nature-related rituals as well as practices such as Thenga Pali or Pathar Gada for forest vigilance are not only instruments of solidarity but also symbols of ownership. These have become significant in the wake of the acquisition of forests and settlements of forest-dwelling communities for development projects. Such acts of sustainability and governance signify the networking of social and human capital that results in community-level solidarity within the ambit of a robust social system to deal with adverse scenarios created either by the state or any other entity.

This article is drawn from the report Forest Dwelling Community and Forest Rights Act 2006: Evidence from 24 Sites by the Council for Social Development, Hyderabad, and Vasundhara, Bhubaneswar. The authors thank Kalpana Kannabiran and Y Giri Rao for their encouragement and suggestions at different stages of the study.


This paper maps out the key drivers, actors, and policies that have shaped the shrimp aquaculture industry in post-independence India. While the existing aquaculture regulations vilify the farmers for the industrys socioecological disaster, this paperthrough its analysisshifts the liability to the multilateral consultancies and technical research institutions that were arbitrated by the postcolonial developmental state with the help of international aid under the guise of food security and alternate livelihoods while the shrimps were being exported.

In 2014, culture fisheries surpassed capture fisheries as a source of seafood at the global level for human consumption (Tacon and Metian 2018). The sector, dominated by Asian countries, constitutes 89% of the total global production (in volume terms) in the last 20 years (FAO 2020a). Even as India looks to further amplify its exports in the coming decade, it has already risen to the top, only behind China, in aquaculture production in the world (FAO 2020a) and is the leading supplier of shrimp and frozen fish in the international seafood markets1 (Televisory 2019).

The Revolution Blues: Context and Problem

The Blue Revolution in capture fisheries (Blue Revolution 1.0) led to the establishment of a dual fishing economy in Indiaone consisting of the artisanal fishers and the other of the mechanised boat fishers (or shrimpers) in the 1960s (Bavinck 2001). Similarly, another Blue Revolution 2.0 has emergeda revolution in culture fisheries, with its first wave in the 1990s and the second one in the prior decadethat has created a third fishing economy of the fish farmers.2 What is similar between the two? Both the revolutions served to tap on the export potential of shrimp in India, also called the Pink Gold Rush (Cruz-Torres 2000; Rubinoff 2001). Another aspect about the two revolutions is that as one fishing economy came to the fore, the other was pushed to the margins.

Industry apologists constantly invoke fairy-tale imaginations of the Blue Revolutions potential contribution to the export economy, while they overlook their effects on the important third-world local ecosystems and dependent livelihoods. Several empirical studies have documented the socioecological crisis of the shrimp industry as it continues to expand, contributing about 73% of Indias $7 billion seafood exports as of 201920 (MPEDA 2020). The soaring export potential of the new economy becomes a source of pride for the policymakers and liberal economists (Economic Times 2018), but for small-scale fishers, the newcomers were at best a nuisance and sometimes even a disaster (Bavinck 2001).

The literature on the socioecological impacts of the industry as a result of the 1991 economic reforms has laid a predominant emphasis on the argument of the neo-liberal turn and the consequent culpability of the individual farm owners and entrepreneurs for the same. This understanding has paved the way for outright prohibition (S Jagannath v Union of India and Ors 1997) and regulation of the industry at the level of the farm and individual farm owners (GoI 2005), which has largely proved to be ineffective, as seen in the empirical studies that have followed such regulatory measures (Jayanthi et al 2018, 2019).

What then is the problem? What were and are the key drivers, actors, and policies that continue to perpetuate this socioecological disaster? This paper aims to answer this question by tracing the evolution of the aquaculture industry from the post-independence period and its consequences for fisheries resources and artisanal fisher livelihoods.

Major Events

As the narrative unfolds from the post-independence period to 2020, the timeline of the events has been divided into five different phases for our analysis, and the developments occurring in each of the phases are presented in detail in the following sections.

Incubation phase (194779)Institutions and strategic land invasion: The Indian fisheries sector was characterised as primitive, ignorant, unorganised, ill-equipped, and caste-based by the National Planning Committee in 1946 (Kurien 1985), therefore suggesting a social rigidity that would prevent economic efficiency (Karnad 2017). This framing of the industry attracted special attention during the post-independence periodwith the institution of planned developmentthrough successive five-year plans and setting up of technical research institutions. In 1947, two major research stations were set up under the Ministry of Food and Agriculturethe Central Inland Fisheries Research Station (CIFRS) in Kolkata, West Bengal and Central Marine Fisheries Research Station (CMFRS) in Mandapam Camp, Tamil Nadu (Silas 2003).

In 1953, the first shrimp consignment of just 13 tonnes was exported from Kerala by a private merchant to the United States (US), which immediately attracted a demand for the shrimp species from India (Kurien 1985). The newly formed CMFRS in collaboration with the IndoNorwegian Project (INP) conducted marine resource surveys, discovered the untapped shrimp resources available off the coast of Kochi, and introduced bottom trawling technologies for capturing the newly discovered shrimp for export in 1958 (Kurien 1985).

A few years later, the research stations of CIFRS and CMFRS were elevated to the status of research institutes and transformed to the current Central Inland Fisheries Research Institute (CIFRI) and the Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI) in 1959 (CIFRI 2010) and 1961 (James 1986), shifting their headquarters to Barrackpore, West Bengal and Kochi, Kerala, respectively. In 1967, around the same time when the green revolution in the agriculture sector was unravelling, these institutes were bought under the administrative control of the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), envisioning a similar revolution for the fisheries sector. In 1972, the Marine Products Export Promotion Council (MPEPC) which was established by the Government of India (GoI) in September 1961, converged with the Marine Products Export Development Authority (MPEDA), a statutory body that was instituted by the MPEDA Act, 1972 with the exclusive mandate to promote marine product exports in the country (MPEDA 2018).

Fishers who released the shrimps they caught back into the waters until the 1960s as some worm from the sea started recognising their export potential and brought them to the landing sites in the 1970s.3 The word about the quick profits in the pink gold4 spread swiftly to other states and led to the Blue Revolution 1.0 in the 1960s and the 1970s. From 2,238 tonnes at `4.8 thousand per tonne in 1962, the shrimp exports rocketed to 23,181 tonnes at `13.5 thousand per tonne in 1970 to 53,511 tonnes at `41.7 thousand per tonne in 1979 (Table 1). It was at this stage thatas the prices of shrimps were soaring owing to the Blue Revolution 1.0the Blue Revolution 2.0 was conceived.

Shifts from capture to culture: In the early 1970s, both CIFRI and CMFRI shifted their focus towards aquaculture research for the first time. The dearth of foreign exchange ensured that the government grasped every possibility to secure export earnings (Bavinck 2001). With the increasing pressure on the natural shrimp stocks, reduced yield from conventional fisheries, and expected changes in the law of the sea (UNCLOS III5), governments began to devote attention to aquaculture as an alternative source for shrimp. Five All India Coordinated Research Projects were launched from 1971 to 1973, which were considered to be a turning point in the history of Indian aquaculture.

The Aquaculture Development and Coordination Programme (ADCP), a project under the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO), conducted a regional workshop on aquaculture planning in 1975 in Thailand. Each of the 10 participating nations came up with a National Aquaculture Development Plan (NADP) for the following decade and set an overall targeted production of 3 million tonnes, to which India pledged to contribute the maximum (41%) (FAO 1976).

The proposed argument justifying the plan to promote aquaculture in India was the increasing demand for seafood from its growing population (George and Sinha 1976). But in 1973, just before drafting the plan, as reported in the plan document itself, India was exporting a total of 49,000 tonnes, mainly of shrimp and other crustaceans worth `795.8 million. This accounted for 2.5% of the countrys total export income and contributed to nearly a quarter of the international trade in shrimp products back then, while it was importing just 2,500 tonnes of freshwater fish purely to meet the immediate requirements of the Northeast states. Therefore, the argument that India needed aquaculture to fulfil its seafood demand was not true.

A strategic, well-phased programme was designed towards fostering aquaculture in India for the next 10 years. Vast areas of land that were assumed to be derelict and available for aquaculture were identified and production targets were set for each year for different cultivable species of fish and shrimp. However, it must be noted that there was no specific emphasis for shrimp aquaculture in the plan, as it formed only 2.3% of the overall target production of 1.06 million tonnes of cultured fish for the 10-year plan period. The main objectives of the plan were to secure a greater flow of institutional finance for fish culture programmes, make water areas available to farmers on long-term leases, etc, thereby increasing the export income of marine products. The FAO workshop also set the stage for alluring foreign investments and technical know-hows for aquaculture from around the world and acknowledged the need for external assistance to promote aquaculture in the country.

Maturation phase (1979 to the early 1990s)Era of techno-scientific advancements: With the increasing export prices of shrimp, the Sixth Five-Year Plan in 1979 came out with goals for further ramping up of seafood export, particularly of the high-valued shrimps, and the budget for the fisheries sector was increased from 3.52% to 5.62% of the total agricultural outlay (Krishnan and Birthal 2002). Halfway through the NADP in 1979, the government realised that any further increase in area and production cannot be achieved without hatcheries6 in the country. Until then, India was largely dependent on local fry catchers for the collection of seeds. Therefore, the Sixth Five-Year Plan made available subsidies for setting up shrimp hatcheries and commissioned for all-India surveys on marine and inland fish marketing. The books published by these studies conducted by the Indian Institute of Management-Ahmedabad (IIM-A) in 1986 are clearly indicative of the complete shift of the discourse from brackish water fish farming to export-oriented prawn farming at the end of the 10 years of the NADP (Srivastava and Vathsala 1984; Srivastava et al 1987).

This phase marked major policy decisions that gave way for the commercial shrimp aquaculture industry in India. International consultancies funded by development agencies were solicited by the GoI for developing hatchery and feed technology in the country and facilitating training and outreach programmes, some of which are elucidated in the following subsection.

Role of the state, research institutions, and international agencies: A two-member mission from the Department of Fisheries, Thailand visited Tamil Nadu for a month in 1981 at the request of the Indian government. This consultancy was funded by the Swedish International Development Cooperation Authority (SIDA) and executed by the FAO under the

Bay of Bengal Programme (BoBP). The major objective of the consultancy was to select a suitable site and technology for setting up a hatchery. The team visited the 10 demonstration farms that were built by the fisheries department in 1979 and the only two private farms back then in Tamil Nadu along the coast that were owned by big corporates, namely Hindustan Lever Ltd and Tata Oil Mills Cooperation (Chalayondeja

and Saraya 1982).

One of the several recommendations of the consultancy was to encourage the lake fisherfolk to convert their lesser productive fishing grounds to fish farms that were potentially more productive after acquiring sufficient training from the extension services of the fisheries research institutions (Chalayondeja and Saraya 1982). This recommendation was echoed in the study conducted by IIM-A that unapologetically charged the artisanal fishers for haphazardly exploiting the brackish water resources using their traditional fishing gears. With the stagnation of exports after maximum exploitation of shrimps from the marine capture fisheries in the 1970s, the study by Indias top business school concluded that it was necessary to ensure optimum exploitation of brackish water resources in order to meet the export demands of the country (Srivastava et al 1987). The study recommended that the lands reserved for the economically weaker sections of the society, which are vested with the state governments, be leased out for long periods on liberal terms to private entrepreneurs, citing that they have not bought any economically productive results. The traditional paddy-cum-shrimp farms in Kerala were considered as not economically remunerative and therefore it was advocated for formulating land utilisation policies that encourage their conversion to perennial shrimp farms (Srivastava and Vathsala 1984).

The discourses in these studies reflected the extreme push for export-oriented aquaculture while completely sidelining the traditional livelihoods of small-scale fishers as economically inefficient and unproductive. As per the recommendations of these studies, several training and extension programmes were conducted to convert the brackish water resources of small-scale fishers to shrimp farms along the coast. These various extension activities triggered the so-called scientific culture in areas where shrimp farming was non-existent (Srivastava et al 1987).

The ICAR with the assistance of the UNDP started a subproject in 1979the Centre of Advanced Studies in Mariculture at the CMFRI that facilitated scientists to go abroad for training in specialised subject areas in aquaculture (Silas 2003). Another study conducted by the BoBP recommended for the adoption of shrimp hatchery technology in the Indian private sector and funded training programmes to attract private investments to the industry. Utilising these programmes, several small-scale shrimp hatcheries were set up for commercial production. The ICAR also set up the Central Institute for Brackishwater Aquaculture (CIBA) in 1987 to serve as a nodal agency for brackish water aquaculture in India (CIBA 2019a).

With recommendations for converting traditional riceshrimp fields to perennial shrimp farms and bringing newer areas under cultivation, the linkage between integrated riceaquaculture fields were being delinked (Edwards 2015) by the end of this phase. Previously, in states like West Bengal where traditional shrimp farms were common, the ponds natural flora and fauna were its sole feed sources. States like Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu where there was no history of traditional shrimp farms, farmers had adopted supplementary feed practices made from locally available materials like trash fish. This method of feed preparation was time-consuming and the availability of the raw materials throughout the year was a concern, which affected the yield in the farms (Wood et al 1992).

The ICAR approached the United Kingdom (UK) government-funded post-harvest fisheries project of the FAOs BoBP again for its technical assistance but this time for developing the shrimp feed industry. The poor quality of the locally manufactured shrimp feed and the chronically short supply of the raw materials created a case for the multilateral consultants to suggest the permit for import of quality fishmeal into India at non-prohibitive rates of duty. Therefore, in 1992, a Thai multinational conglomerate started investing in India, honouring the invitation by the then Prime Minister P V Narasimha Rao (CP Aquaculture India nd), which later started its first commercial fishmeal industry at Chennai in 1996.

At the end of this phase in 1990, India was exporting approximately 61,900 tonnes of shrimp (Thulasimani 2004), out of which 35,000 tonnes (56.54%) (FAO 2020b) were from the brackish water aquaculture compared to only 5.84% at the end of its previous phase, but the shrimp prices had dropped from `41.7 thousand per tonne to just `13.29 thousand per tonne in 1990 with the increasing supply (Table 1). By the end of this phase, the Blue Revolution 1.0 was on a decline and the stage was now set for the rise of the Blue Revolution 2.0.

The disaster (from the early 1990s to the early 2000s)The boom, the bust, diseases, and conflicts: Several studies suggest that the Indian coastal aquaculture was a sunshine sector that emerged during this phase with the governments new economic policy in 1991 (Krishnan and Birthal 2002; Mukul 1994; Pokrant and Reeves 2001), but as was shown in the previous two phases, the idea for Blue Revolution 2.0 was already conceived, incubated, and nurtured since the early 1970s as a follow-up to the Pink Gold Rush from the Blue Revolution 1.0 of the 1960s. The premise for the rise of the sector post-liberalisation was staged by the strategic techno-scientific advancements and policy recommendations that occurred in the industry in its previous four decades since independence. In fact, at the end of the previous phase, shrimp aquaculture was already contributing 56.54% of the shrimp exports that further increased to 86.45% at the end of the first wave of the Blue Revolution 2.0 in 2000 (Table 1).

The enticement of the exploitable profits in the industry fostered by the enabling environment of the state policies, research institutions, and multilateral consultancies led to the development of several large-scale shrimp aquaculture projects in the country during this phase. The sales income of six fishing companies soared by 176.1% to `83.8 crore in the first half of 199394, while their net profits nearly tripled by 269.2% to `6.8 crore (Mukul 1994). However, the sudden boom in profits in the first half of the decade was immediately busted in the middle of 1994 with infections caused by several viral diseases, especially the white spot disease in tiger shrimps (Karunasagar et al 1998). The disease was previously reported in other countries and is argued to have spread to India through illicit import of seeds from Thailand to the farms of Andhra Pradesh (Sangamaheswaran and Jeyaseelan 2001). With the diagnosis of the virus, the farmers drained the infected ponds directly into the local streams that affected even the natural stocks of tiger shrimps and other species, thus completely hurting the industry for any possible revival.

Along with the disease, the industry faced widespread demonstrations and conflicts along the coastal areas due to the ingress of salinity and degradation of agricultural lands and coastal commons, etc. The term rape and run was coined by a former FAO aquaculture officer Imre Csavas (1994) as a derogatory analogy to denote the practice of shrimp farmers who turn significant profits and abandon the ponds after contaminating the land and groundwater sources. A public interest litigation was filed in the Supreme Court by S Jagannath, a Gandhian (Mukul 1994) from the Bhoodhan movement working in Tamil Nadu along the Cauvery delta (Rigby 1987). The extremity of the ecological damage and conflicts due to shrimp farms can be seen listed in the final judgment of the Supreme Court. The bench ordered for the demolition of all farms in the Coastal Regulation Zones (CRZs) and to constitute an authority to compensate the local villagers and restore the ecological damage caused (S Jagannath v Union of India and Ors 1997).

The European Union and the Middle Eastern countries imposed a ban on marine products from India stating quality reasons. The US, too, insisted on strict quality inspection of products (Thulasimani 2004), which caused several corporates and new farmers to start withdrawing from the industry after incurring heavy losses during the later stages of this phase. Major instability in production and yield during a disease breakout was observed in Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, and Gujarat compared to Kerala, West Bengal, and Odisha where some form of traditional aquaculture was already present. This phase reflected the huge trade-off in risk between intensifying production for profits versus carrying out extensive aquaculture for livelihoods (Krishnan and Birthal 2002). Though the price of shrimp increased from `13.29 thousand per tonne to `40.06 thousand per tonne and the overall production increased by 80.73% during this phase (Table 1), the ramifications of the socioecological disaster from this phase were much more visible in its following phase in India.

The void phase (200109)Dubious silence: The calm before the storm: This phase was a seemingly silent period as the industry faced a major setback at the end of its previous phase. The 7%10% annual increase in exports that the industry was experiencing every year in its previous phase had come down to an average of a 0.41% increase in quantity and a 0.47% increase in value with highly fluctuating prices in the export markets (MPEDA 2020) (Figure 1). Compared to the 80.73% increase in the previous phase, this phase had only a total of 16.7% increase in quantity. This trajectory of the industry was opposite to the Indian economy that was growing at about 5%6% annually since 2003 (Corbridge 2010) and is indicative of the large-scale ecological, social, and economic damage that was caused during the earlier phase, leading to an absolute collapse of the industry.

The Supreme Court judgment in December 1996 that mandated the formation of an authority by January 1997 was finally established eight years later in June 2005 with the enactment of the Coastal Aquaculture Authority (CAA) Act (GoI 2005). The CAA was expected to compute the compensation for damage to the ecology by the shrimp farmers and implement the polluter pays principle, demolish the farms in the CRZs, take measures to reverse the ecological damage, etc. However, it ended up being a mere licensor for aquaculture farms and its allied industries with little to no intent of doing any damage control. Within a couple of years, a total of 11,387 shrimp farms had been registered by the CAA (2009), completely missing its intended purpose as stated in the Supreme Court judgment.

Shrimp farming in India until 2009 was synonymous with monoculture of giant tiger shrimp (Penaeus monodon) and after the disease breakout, most of the South East Asian countries started shifting towards the culture of the exotic whiteleg shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei), a native of the Pacific coast (Thitamadee et al 2016). The GoI authorised the CAA to grant permission for importing broodstock7 of the exotic species after a pilot-scale study initiated in 2003 was successful. Initially, the six suppliers of the specific pathogen-free (SPF) Litopenaeus vannamei broodstock were identified and nine hatcheries were given approval for the import of broodstock and seed production of the SPF Litopenaeus vannamei (CAA 2009). In 200910, 15 more hatcheries were approved by the CAA and a total number of 30,600 broodstock were imported to the country. Further, 6,378 farms were registered with the CAA, under which 107 farms were given permission to cultivate the new species of shrimps (CAA 2010).

Technically, the new species has several advantages for the entrepreneurs intent on huge profit-making. It could be stocked at high densities due to their less-aggressive nature leading to a much higher production for the same unit of land. The new species also resides in the water column unlike the tiger shrimp that rests on the soil beneath, making the land more contaminated and difficult for feeding. Further, to increase the production, the ponds will just have to be dug deeper to increase the height of the water column rather than increasing the area under cultivation like for the previous species, thereby directly affecting the groundwater table. Stocking at higher densities also require intensive farm management, the lack of which might lead to a higher organic content in the effluent water, affecting the local ecologies.

At the end of this phase, the stage was set for the second wave of the Blue Revolution 2.0 in India. Lands that were abandoned in the 1990s were now being encouraged by the CAA and MPEDA to cultivate shrimp again but of the Litopenaeus vannamei species. By the end of this phase, the CAA evolved to become more of a disease and less of an environment regulating authority. Any intent of protecting the environment shown by the CAA was to avoid recirculating the polluted water released from the farm back into the farm that would affect the yield or cause disease in the farm and not for protecting the local ecologies per se or reversing the ecological damage caused by the farm, which was expected of the authority as in the Supreme Court judgment.

The crop boom phase (2010 to present)The era of resurgence: From 2010 to the present, Indias seafood exports have flourished with an exponential increase (Figure 2, p 51) of 105.26% by quantity (319.28% for shrimps alone) and 363.4% by value (482.99% for shrimp alone) with an all-time high of $7.08 billion ($4.85 billion from shrimp alone) in 2018 (MPEDA 2020). The value of shrimp increased to about `51.78 thousand per tonne in 2018 from the low `32.03 thousand per tonne at the end of the previous phase in 2009. The export value of the newly introduced species reached its maximum in 201314 at `64.25 thousand per tonne after which the prices have begun to fall again and are expected to crash even lower due to the COVID-19 pandemic (PTI 2020).

The number of hatcheries increased to 259, out of which 252 are located in Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh and broodstock numbers increased to 6,05,264 in March 2016 (CAA 2016) compared to the nine hatcheries and 30,600 broodstock in 200910. There have been reports of several small-scale hatcheries illegally using locally reared broodstock from aquaculture ponds in order to reduce the high costs of importing and quarantine checks. Such seeds are said to be unhealthy, making the industry vulnerable to another disease breakout like in the 1990s. Newer companies have entered the feed businesses and existing feed companies expanded their production. As of 2015, India had 25 major feed companies with a total production estimated to be around 1.25 million metric tonnes (MT), excluding the several smaller feed mills that have developed along the coast (Shrimp News International 2015).

Current Scenario: What Is at Stake?

Different concepts like blue growth, blue economy, blue revolution, and blue finance have been on the rise in the global discourse on oceans following the Earth Summit in 2012, with the adoption of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in 2015 and the UN Ocean Conference in 2017. Although given different names, they all have the same vision of tapping the untapped economic potential of the oceans through the creation of newer frontiers to serve the worlds growing population.8

In accordance with the international discourse, India launched the Neel Kranti Mission in 2016 and approved a total central budget of `3,000 crore for five years with the objective to triple its production and export earnings by 2020 (GoI 2017). For the first time after independence, the annual budget in 2019 allocated funds for setting up a separate ministry for fisheries at the centre. With the Neel Kranti Mission coming to a close in 2020, the newly formed ministry launched its first scheme, the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana in September 2020 that aimswith an investment of `20,050 croreto further enhance exports to `1 lakh crore by 202425, which is more than double the current export value9 (GoI 2020). This is the highest-ever investment made in the fisheries and aquaculture sector in the country. India also came up with a draft mariculture policy, shifting the focus now to mariculture farms in the seas with the idea of commercialising the mariculture technologies being developed in the laboratories. The currently praised and acclaimed brackish water production of around 6 lakh MT fades away in contrast to the estimated production of 48 million MT (GoI 2019) from mariculture in India.

The scheme and the policy documents read very similar to the studies that were conducted in the 1970s and 1980s, making the case for shrimp aquaculturehighlighting the current needs and its potential for the future, strategically selecting suitable areas for leasing in the seas by the government, enticing private players to step into the industry to tap the export potential, and all of this under the pretence of providing food and nutritional security for the nation and livelihood and entrepreneurial opportunities to the coastal communities (GoI 2019). Meanwhile, the newly formed social sciences division in the fisheries and aquaculture research institutes has largely limited itself to training and extension services, glorifying aquaculture for its economic benefits and encouraging more entrepreneurs to adopt sustainable shrimp farming (CIBA 2019b).

Conclusions and the Way Forward

There have been very few academic studies critically analysing the socioecological impacts of the Blue Revolution 2.0 from its second wave (Jayanthi et al 2019; Jayanthi et al 2018; Salunke et al 2020), while most of the media reports have continuosly lauded it for its rapid growth (Economic Times 2018). The widespread animosity towards shrimp farming from the 1990s at the local level has been forgotten or suppressed by the shrimp farmers through the display of placatory acts like building temples, water tanks, and other charities (Immanuel and Narayanan 2022).10 A recent remote sensing study by a researcher from CIBA has documented an increase in aquaculture area under cultivation by 879% to 37,512 ha from 1988 to 2013, but only 15,274 ha have been registered with the CAA (Jayanthi et al 2018). Mangroves have contributed 5%, agricultural lands 28.1%, and mudflats 51.65% to the overall aquaculture expansion (Jayanthi et al 2018). This expansion is expected to have further increased in the past decade with the second wave of the Blue Revolution 2.0. It can be argued that the flow of export value has merely been a disguised form of loss of value from the local ecosystems, spirited away from the local communities (Robbins 2012), while the seafood traders in the distant capitals return significant profits.

There have been increasing complaints of white spot disease in the pacific whiteleg shrimp as well, but since the natural stock in the Pacific coast is not affected due to the release of effluents from the diseased ponds directly to the Indian waters, the industry has been managing to survive from a widespread disease outbreak. The threat of the virus from the contaminated effluents affecting the natural stocks of the native species in the Indian coast are highly possible, and such seafood species reach the local markets through capture fisheries without any quarantine checks, giving rise to questions of availability of healthy and sustainable seafood consumption options for the local population.

The increase in feed companies has led to creating newer markets for by-catches11 owing to excessive trawling. This is highly unsustainable as the by-catches have become more valuable in the recent years because of the demand for the feed from the shrimp aquaculture industry, supporting the already unsustainable trawling industry from the Blue Revolution 1.0. Recent studies have shown that 69% of fishmeal and 75% of fish oil production went to seafood farming as of 2016, with fishing vessels systematically plundering the oceans for species that have not been previously used for fishmeal production, including the juvenile fish (Changing Markets Foundation 2019), leading to unsustainability of both capture and culture fisheries.

One of the several reasons the industry is being promoted in India is in the interest of food security, but for the first time in 2018, India exported more frozen shrimp (111.10%) than what was actually cultured during the year. Until 2009 (from 1979 to 2009), India was exporting only 25%30% of the total shrimp (capture + culture), but in 2018, India exported 57.48% of its total shrimp production (Table 1). In fact, the Blue Revolution 2.0 has been doing more damage to the nations food security than securing it, especially in the last decade, but this is consciously disregarded while celebrating its heroic contributions to the export economy under the guise of food security. The pressing global discourse on blue growth (FAO 2016, 2018) and the shifting focus to mariculture in the current scenario of ramping up of production for exports have the potential for the enchanted fish farmers to expand and conquer further into the traditional fishing grounds of the artisanal fishers in the seas. This can lead to what is now being increasingly studied as Ocean Grabbing (Barbesgaard 2018; Bennett et al 2015) policies or initiatives that dispossess small-scale fishers of their coastal commons (Immanuel and Narayanan 2022) and undermine their historical access to the seas. Tracing the history of aquaculture, it is clear that the powerful nexus between the state, research institutions, and multilateral agencies was key in promoting the unsustainable intensification of the shrimp aquaculture industry, but the existing regulations have vilified the individual farmers who came much later into the scene in the 1990s. The paper through its analysis shifts the liability to the multilateral consultancies and technical research institutions that were arbitrated by the postcolonial developmental state with the help of international aid. This nurturing of the industry for increasing the shrimp exports in the first 40 years post-independence enabled the environmentally destructive intensification of the shrimp farms post the structural reforms in the 1990s.

But should we avoid aquaculture or mariculture completely? With pressures from climate change and increasing sea levels, can aquaculture be considered as an alternate or diversification of livelihood option for small-scale fishers? Can aquaculture be (re)imagined and done differently? Can the artisanal fishers be included in aquaculture instead of enticing entrepreneurs and traders from the hinterlands for profits? Can aquaculture account for maintaining healthy local food diversity rather than plantations of pink gold? The paper calls for the defenders of the Blue Revolution 2.0 to reimagine the challenges involved in performing blue growth and blue revolution and shift their attention towards inclusive, bottom-up approaches that centre the demands of the small-scale fishers, their livelihoods, seafood diversity, and the nations food security even as its different actors conceive its next phase (Blue Revolution 3.0: Mariculture) in the oceans.

Notes

1 This is 23% of the global total export volume.

2 More specifically, the Penaeus monodon shrimp farmer in its first wave and Litopenaeus vannamei shrimp farmer in its second.

3 Interview with Arivazhagan, native to Koothankuli, an artisanal fishing village in Tuticorin district, Tamil Nadu on 6 February 2019.

4 Coined after the discovery of pink shrimp Penaeus duorum off the coast of Florida in the Gulf of Mexico in 1949.

5 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) is an international agreement that establishes a legal framework for all marine and maritime activities. The convention resulted from the UNCLOS III conference held between 1973 and 1982 that placed limits on the national claims to territorial waters for the ratifying nation states.

6 Hatcheries help induce artificial spawning of shrimps from broodstock under controlled conditions. This relieves the demand for the shrimp seeds from the local estuaries.

7 Broodstock are healthy mature female shrimps that are used in hatcheries to artificially produce shrimp seeds.

8 As portrayed in every single policy document.

9 Export Value 201920 = `46,662.85 crore.

10 This was the case in one of the study villages, Perunthottam, Nagaipatinam district of Tamil Nadu where field work was conducted as part of the larger study.

11 By-catches are unintended catches, also called as trash fishes. They are usually small fishes that cannot be consumed as food for human consumption and are caught accidentally while fishing for commercial varieties like shrimp and tuna. Though they are called trash, they form an important part of the food cycle of other species in the ocean.

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With EUIndia clinching a post-Brexit trade negotiation, the present paper proposes to examine whether the free trade agreement between the two regions would increase production efficiency and thereby social welfare. Using the partial equilibrium model, the study reveals that the EUIndia FTA yields less positive trade and welfare gains in India after Brexit specifically, for consumer, industrial, and capital goods, whereas it would still be in Indias interest towards the specific benign impact of an FTA in raw materials, intermediate goods, and agricultural goods. From the policy perspective, India is not well-served by its pursuit of protectionist agenda and instead should push for trade liberalisation as a better path for the global trading system.

On 23 June 2016, the United Kingdom (UK) decided to exit the European Union (EU) with a majority vote of 52% in the Brexit referendum. Finally, on 31 January 2020, the UK formally left the EU and the immediate effects have started to be felt not only in the EU and advanced economies but also in developing and emerging economies, both in their stock markets and in the foreign exchange via the price of the pound. Brexit, as the UKs exit from the EU has been termed, has resulted in financial markets volatility and has a significant effect on the Indian economy as it is the largest export market for India. Further, the Brexit decision has added new problems to the already existing issues in the EUIndia free trade agreement (FTA).

Since 2007, India and the EU have been working on a broad-based trade and investment agreement but failed to reach the proposed EUIndia FTA because of the inability to reach a consensus on several issues. Generally, Indias restrictive trade policy and regulatory framework have come up as hurdles related to matters such as foreign direct investment (FDI), greenhouse gas emissions, nuclear energy, farming subsidies, regulation of the financial sector, tariff and non-tariff barriers, and technology transfer. These hurdles failed to resolve the differences regarding the EUIndia FTA in some specific sectors like dairy, textiles, beverages, and automobiles. Since import duties for these products are relatively high, the reduction of import tariffs is considered to affect these sectors to a large extent. On the other hand, the EU imposed a ban on 700 drugs clinically tested by an Indian drug company.1 The EU is keen that India should adopt stringent intellectual property protection standards even if that means compromising public health.2 Simultaneously there are many barriers to the movement of professionals due to cumbersome rules on work

permits, visa restrictions, and non-recognition of professional qualifications by the EU. India wants harmonised and easy access to these rules.

EUIndia FTA after Brexit

Hence, if an FTA between India and the EU (the 27 nation bloc, excluding the UK) is implemented, it will have a different economic impact compared to the situation when the UK was a member of the EU. The UK alone accounted for 20%, that is, $9 billion of the total exports to the EU from India in 2016.

Against this background, the present study posits that if the EU and India adopt a more liberalised trade deal to enhance trade with each other, then the trade negotiation would not be as profitable as it would have been if the UK was still a member of the EU. Hence, the present study proposes to examine whether trade liberalisation between the two nations under an FTA would help to improve their economic and social welfare after Brexit. The study is particularly interested in the agricultural sector in India, given the high protection for agricultural liberalisation and Indias policy goals relating to self-sufficiency in foodgrains and poverty reduction. India has a trade surplus with the EU in agri-food products, and yet the growth in agricultural trade has remained much slower than in other sectors and the country has been unable to increase its share of world markets.3 Moreover, tariff rates are very high in India for agricultural and allied products and processed foods. While the average import tariff rates are quite low in the EU compared to India, therefore, an FTA between these two would mean a more substantial change in production efficiency in India compared with a very small change in the EU.

Using the Software for Market Analysis and Restrictions on Trade (SMART) simulation model at a disaggregated level, this study reveals that trade could be accelerated, and the welfare agenda could be realised if Indias protectionist policies are removed in all the sectors under consideration, including the agriculture sectors. The paper shows that Brexit would not be as profitable for India in terms of trade and welfare as it would have been if the UK was still a member of the EU.

Literature Review

There have been a few studies on the proposed EUIndia FTA. A study by CARS-CUTS (2007) shows that there is little similarity in comparative advantage patterns between India and the EU which suggests that liberalisation in the goods sector will lead to an ambiguous welfare effect. Powell (2008) estimates a net welfare gain of $250 million for India under a potential EUIndia FTA. Meincke (2008) indicated that tariff elimination and liberalisation by the Indian government could have negative effects on the most vulnerable and marginalised groups in India and hamper human development. Achterbosch et al (2008) using a computable general equilibrium (CGE) model found that India could gain very little from an FTA with the EU if it is only involved in tariff reduction in the trade with the EU. On the other hand, the study by Polaski et al (2008) suggests that Indias exports would increase by $3.5 billion (5.5%), imports would increase by $2.6 billion (3.4%) and also India would experience a very small welfare loss ($250 million) under an FTA. Ecorys (2009) has conducted an impact assessment of the EUIndia FTA on trade and sustainable development, concluding that the FTA after the reduction of import tariffs will bring significant gain both in terms of gross domestic product (GDP) and an increase in trade flows in India as compared to the EU. The Centre for the Analysis of Regional Integration at Sussex (2007) did a quantitative analysis of the potential implication of the EUIndia FTA and noted several trade opportunities between India and the EU. A study by Archana (2019) shows that in a scenario where China and India go for trade liberalisation, there could be huge potential to create an impact on trade and welfare in specific areas where they enjoy a comparative advantage.

Roy and Mathur (2016) examined the trade aspect of the EUIndia FTA and analysed the obstacles related to tariff and non-tariff barriers associated with exports and imports of goods and services. Their simulation results indicate that the liberalisation of trade is beneficial for India and the EU in terms of welfare increases. One important finding from their study is that compared with the removal of a tariff, the reduction of non-tariff barriers has a much greater impact on welfare. It further indicates that when the UK is a member of the EU, the gains for both India and the EU in welfare are greater compared with the situation when the UK is out of the EU.

This study is in concordance with the contributions to the literature on preferential trade agreements (PTAs)/FTAs using both theoretical and empirical research. It examines the impacts of tariff policy changes between the EUIndia FTA before and after Brexit on trade and social welfare detailed at HS 6-digit in the standard group of products and specifically the agriculture sector for the first time. A SMART partial equilibrium model has been used that allows analysing of the effects on Indias trade and welfare in ample detail. Still, the study must cope with the substantial limitations of the SMART model discussed below.

EUIndia Trade and Tariff Picture

Indias economy is not so open to global markets because of its high tariff, especially on agricultural products.4 India is the EUs ninth largest partner, with the value of EU exports of goods to India amounting to `41.7 billion in 2017. Indias overall bilateral trade with the EU for 201617 stood at $89.55 billion comprising Indias exports to the EU at $47.20 billion (17.10% of Indias exports) and imports at $42.36 billion (11.02% of Indias imports). During the first 10 months of 2017, the trade balance in goods was in Indias favour by $4.41 billion. The trade balance increased by $1.69 billion in 2017 compared to the trade balance of $2.71 billion during the corresponding period in 2016 (JanuaryOctober 2016). The EUIndia bilateral trade in services was $32.25 billion in 2016 comprising Indian exports of services to the EU worth $16.61 billion and Indian imports from the EU worth $15.64 billion.

If we look at the structure of Indias trade with the UK and the remaining 27 countries of the EU between 2000 and 2015, it reveals that Indias balance of payment has been positive with the UK since 2004 but largely negative with the other 27 countries of the EU in the same period. Indias exports to EU countries minus the UK increased from $8 billion in 2000 to $35.8 billion in 2015, while its imports increased from $7.8 billion in 2000 to $38.5 billion in 2015, leaving a deficit of $2.7 billion. On the other hand, Indias trade deficit with the UK turned into a trade surplus in 2004 and since then India has maintained a positive balance of trade with the UK, which reached $3.5 billion in 2015.

Agricultural trade: As far as agriculture is concerned, in 2014, Indias total agricultural exports to the EU was of the order of $5,078.90 million. Indias principal exports during this period were agri-food products like edible fruits and nuts, shrimp and prawns, molluscs, cashew nuts, grapes, coffee, tea, mate and spices, rice, soya oilcake, tobacco, etc. During the same period, Indias agricultural import from the EU was of the order of $629.159 million. Indias principal imports were whey, vegetable seeds, olive oil lactose and lactose syrup, chocolate and other food preparations, whiskies, animal feed preparations, beverages, spirits and vinegar, etc. Indias agricultural export to the EU is showing an increasing trend and has a surplus agricultural trade with the EU from 201314 to 201617 (Figure 1).

Revealed comparative advantage: To explore the comparative advantage, revealed comparative advantage (RCA) was calculated for all the HS codes from 1 to 97, starting from 2011 and ending in 2017 (Table 1). Based on the RCA analysis, India has a strong comparative advantage vis-a-vis the EU for most of the productsfish and crustacean, mollusc; coffee, tea, mate, and spices; lac, gums, salt, sulphur, plastering, mate, lime; articles of leather; silk; cotton; other vegetable textile fibres, paper yarn; carpets and other textile floor coverings; art of apparel and clothing access, other made-up textile articles, worn clothing; and natural/cultured pearls, precious stones and metals, etc.

Existing tariff structures: Import tariffs for almost all products are much higher in India compared to those in the EU. Tariffs on UK exports into India are estimated to be around 14.8% on average, while Indian exports into the UK face tariffs of around 8.4% on average. Tariff rates are high in India for agricultural and allied products (paddy, vegetables, oilseeds, other crops, cattle, forestry, and fishing), processed foods (meat, sugar, vegetable oils, and dairy products), and motor vehicles and parts. The average agriculture tariff rate between India and the EU are 33.5% and 13.2%, respectively. The highest import protection is for agriculture and processed foods, most significantly for beverages, wine and spirits and tobacco products, sugar, vegetables, fruits, and nuts.5

The proposed EUIndia FTA aims to eliminate duties on 90% of the tariff line at the HS 6-digit level within seven years of negotiation in force. The remaining 10% of products have been classified as sensitive products and included in the negative list. India has identified over 400 products as sensitive, out of which 150 are agricultural goods.6

Sources, Data, and Hypotheses

Since the present study wants to make the analysis exhaustive, the data on all products would be taken from the United Nations (UN) COMTRADE (International Trade Statistics Database) at the 6-digit level, which has the maximum level of disaggregation available.

The study focuses on the implications of a potential bilateral agreement between the EU and India when both economies open to each other. First, the simple method which uses trade indicators to draw specific inferences about Indias comparative advantage in different sectors as well as trade complementarity with the EU is presented.

To analyse the potential gains from an EUIndia FTA when the UK is a member of the EU and after Brexit, the study design two scenarios(i) the implications of EU (28)India FTA (the UK as a member of EU); (ii) the next scenario considers the EU(27)India FTA (after Brexit, when the UK is not a member of EU).

The following presents the framework of a partial equilibrium model known as the SMART model that has been used in analysing the trade, tariff revenue, and welfare effects of an EUIndia FTA.

Based on this the study intends to examine the following hypotheses:

Hypothesis 1: Trade liberalisation by India under an FTA between India and the EU (28 members, when the UK is a member of the EU) increases the economic profitability (in terms of trade, welfare and consumer surplus) in India.

Hypothesis 2: Simulation results would show that trade liberalisation under an FTA between India and EU28 (when the UK is a member of the EU) increases the economic profitability (in terms of trade, welfare and consumer surplus) more than an FTA between India and EU27 after Brexit in India.

Methodology: According to Vu (2016)

Kehoe and Kehoe (1994), Mikic (2005), Plummer et al (2010), Karingi et al (2005), and Philip et al (2011), the ex ante impact assessment of an FTA can be carried out by different methods, but the most common ones include(i) trade indicators; (ii) the partial equilibrium through the adoption of the SMART; and (iii) the CGE through the GTAP model (Global Trade Analysis Project).

Each method can be used to evaluate specific aspects of the impacts of an FTA and has its advantages and disadvantagestrade indicators are used to evaluate or compare trade flows of the country over time or across countries (Mikic 2005).Plummer et al (2010) and Vu (2015) revealed that this method fails to provide the impact of an FTA on trade and welfare, and therefore, it is only regarded to be a first step to assessing the future impact of an FTA. The GTAP is a comprehensive way of quantifying the impacts of an FTA on different aspects of an economy such as GDP, trade, employment, investment, price, and environment (Kehoe and Kehoe 1994) because it examines the interactions among sectors and markets (Nguyen 2014). However, the GTAP model also has its disadvantages because it is constructed on the grounds of a series of complicated constraints and heavily depends on equilibrium conditions (Andreosso-OCallaghan 2009; Cassing et al 2010; Nguyen 2014). The CGE cannot handle disaggregated data while a partial equilibrium model like the SMART allows evaluating the impacts of an FTA at a much-disaggregated product level (Ahmed 2010). The SMART model is used to estimate the impact of tariff changes in a single market on trade flows (split into trade creation and trade diversion), tariff revenue and social welfare of a nation at HS 6-digit (Cheong 2010; Ahmed 2010; Othieno and Shinyekwa 2011; Choudhry et al 2013).

Partial Equilibrium Model

The SMART model: The Smart model focuses on one importing market (in our case India) and its exporting partners (in our case EU [28] and EU [27]) and assessing the impact of a tariff change. The supply-side in the SMART model is that for a given good different countries compete to supply (export to) a given market. SMART assumes infinite supply elasticity that is the export supply curve is flat and world prices of each variety are exogenously given. The demand-side of the market in the SMART is based on the Armington assumption that commodities are differentiated by their country of origin. This assumption applies that particular commodity imports from one country are an imperfect substitute for imports from another country.

SMART calculates,

Trade effects: In the SMART modelling framework, a change in trade policy affects not only the price of the level of the composite goods but also the relative prices of different varieties.

Trade creation: This is defined as the direct increase in imports following a reduction in tariff imposed on good G from country C.

Trade diversion: This is the diversion of trade away from non-members to member countries. If the tariff reduction on good G by country c is under preferential trade agreements (that is, it does not apply to other countries), then imports of good G from country c are further going to increase due to the substitution effect. This is the trade diversion effect in the SMART model.

Price effect: The increase in trade value due to an increase in the world price for exports.

Revenue effect: The revenue effect captures the loss in government revenue that arises when the reduction or elimination of import tariffs causes a loss in custom revenue.

Welfare effect: The existence of both trade creation and trade diversion in any FTA arrangement implies that FTA member countries are likely to experience both positive and negative effects, and it is the net impact that will determine whether there will be overall welfare gain or loss. The welfare effect, which is a summation of consumers and producers surplus, presents the net welfare effect for each of the FTA member countries due to the implementation of the FTA (Figure 2, p 65).

Limitations of the SMART model: The main limitation is that it is a partial equilibrium model, which means the effects of trade policy change are only in one market. The model ignores the effect of trade policy change in other markets (inter-industry effects) and the spillover to related markets. The model also neglects constraints on resources such as labour, land and capital, and the movement of resources between sectors in an economy.

Results and Discussion

Trade complementarity and trade intensity indices: We calculated the trade complementarity index (TCI) and trade intensity index (TII)7 for India and the EU for four years2014, 2015, 2016, and 2017. The TCI for four years is 64.42, 64.87, 63.91, and 64.62, respectively, and the value of the TII for the same years is 51.62, 54.30, 54.68, and 51.73. Both the indices indicate that India and the EU lie in between being ideal trading partners and perfect competitors (Table 2).

SMART Simulation Results

The SMART model includes all World Trade Organization (WTO) agricultural products at HS 6-digit level. For region aggregation the SMART model includes 28 regions for IndiaEU FTA and 27 regions after Brexit.

The preliminary trade indicators suggest that it would be feasible for both economies to be in a trade agreement. The RCA shows that agriculture is not export competitive. The model simulations identified trade creation and trade diversion effects after 100% tariff removal by India on its imports from its trading partners of the EU (28) bloc (with the UK a member) and EU (27) bloc (after Brexit) for HS 6-digit products.

Under full liberalisation by India, most of the products would be cheaper than the domestic market and an increase in imports from the FTA members would replace high-cost domestic production. This will improve the welfare and consumer surplus as domestic resources are allocated more efficiently and create competition from foreign producers. This is called the trade creation effect. However, under the EUIndia FTA there would be an increase in Indias imports from the EU only. This is called the trade diversion effect, which lowers welfare because the low-cost production from the rest of the world is replaced by less efficient FTA members and production is forced to shift away from the comparative advantage. The results reveal that trade creation dominates over trade diversion in all the products under the zero-tariff scenario, which improves net welfare gain under both the scenarios of EU (28) and EU (27) under consideration.

Sectoral impact when India reduces its tariff to zero on its standard product group from EU 27 (when the UK is not a member of the EU): The study shows some standard product group results for trade, welfare gains, and tariff revenue. The standard groups of products considered for the present study are raw materials, intermediate goods, consumer goods, industrial goods, capital goods, agricultural goods and petroleum goods. The study found that when the UK is a member of the EU, Indias gain in welfare is greater compared with the situation when it is not a member.

If India opens a trade to the EU (27), that is, after Brexit and goes for trade liberalisation, the value of welfare gains would be less, that is $451 million, than under the EU (28), which is $610.96 million (Table 3). However, assessing the total trade (trade creation + trade diversion), the study found that the total trade effect is also considerably more before Brexit than after Brexit, wherein before Brexit the value is $2.85 billion while after Brexit is $2.66 billion. These findings suggest that the EUIndia liberalised trade negotiations to enhance trade with each other yield less positive trade gains and welfare effects in India after Brexit, compared to if the UK is still a member of the EU.

The group of products in which India would gain more in terms of total welfare after Brexit is raw materials ($329.11 million) and intermediate goods ($197.48 million) (Table 3) and all other products like consumer goods, industrial goods, capital goods and agricultural goods, total welfare would deteriorate after Brexit. In terms of total trade effect, the highest gainer is raw materials ($2.78 billion) followed by intermediate goods ($2.45 billion) and agricultural goods ($1.54 billion) after Brexit.

We can see from the above analysis that when the UK is a member of the EU, then India would gain more in terms of trade and welfare if it opens its economy fully, particularly the consumer goods, industrial goods and capital goods, whereas after Brexit India would be more comfortable opening its raw materials and intermediate goods only. However, for agricultural goods, there is a mixed result in terms of welfare and trade gains, a reduction in welfare gains and an increase in total trade. An FTA may benefit a host country, even if there is trade diversion, if its benefits on growth and local demand are big enough to raise import demand; this may be more relevant in the case of the recent EUIndia FTA after Brexit. The revenue effect estimated using the SMART model has also been validated by calculating the revenue loss from tariff reduction. The value of loss in revenue to India would be higher after Brexit ($9.07 billion) than when the UK was still a member of the EU ($8.56 billion). However, the gain in consumer surplus would be higher for India before Brexit which is $2.17 billion than after Brexit which is $2.13 billion.

Sectoral impacts of trade liberalisation scenario in agriculture at HS 6-digit level: The study is particularly interested in agricultural sectors at the 6-digit product-level because agriculture is showing a mixed result. The results indicate that EU-India FTA after Brexit could be more rational in economic trade terms but less rational in social welfare after tariff elimination. After opening its agricultural sectors Indias gain in total trade will be greater in the main agricultural products by creating competition but its social welfare will deteriorate for whisky, brandy, and other liquors.

The gains in terms of welfare and trade would increase for edible vegetables and cereals, chickpeas, dried, shelled (HS Code 71320) and wheat and meslin (HS Code 100199), lentils, and would substantially deteriorate for coffee, tea, mate and spices; miscellaneous edible preparations; beverages whisky (HS Code 220830), grape brandy (HS Code 220820), gin and geneva (HS Code 220850), alcoholic liqueurs, spirits and vinegar under IndiaEU FTA after Brexit (Table 4). India has the worlds largest market for liquors, which is highly protected by tariffs. The results conclude that lowering the tariff on liquors under EUIndia FTA after Brexit could be less rational in welfare terms. Therefore, it is clear that India would be keen on having more liberal trade policies with the UK.

Conclusions and Recommendations

The present study contributes to the ex ante literature on the interest of the developing countries to negotiate with high-income partners. The study analysed full liberalisation by India under IndiaEU (28) FTA (before Brexit) and IndiaEU (27) FTA (after Brexit) for the standard group of products and a 6-digit group of agricultural goods. The study uses the trade indicators and partial equilibrium model, taken from UN COMTRADE. Under trade indicators, the trade complementarity index suggests that it would be an interest of both partners to be in trade as they are in between the ideal trading partners and perfect competitors. The RCA indicates that India has a competitive advantage for most of the products vis-a-vis the EU and opening the market under the IndiaEU FTA could increase the efficiency of production by creating competition.

Keeping in mind the limitation of the SMART model, the study briefly shows the principal findings from the simulation results as broadly indicating that the UKs exit from the EU would not be as profitable for India, as it would have been if the UK was still a member of the EU. Indias a trade and welfare would substantially decline in consumer goods, industrial goods, and capital goods whereas India would be more comfortable opening its raw materials and intermediate goods after Brexit. However, the study suggests that by opening the agricultural sectors under the India-EU FTA, there would be deterioration in welfare gains but an increase in the efficiency of agricultural trade by creating competition.

The study for the first time using HS 6-digit analysis, particularly for agricultural goods, indicates that it would still be in Indias interest towards a specific benign impact after Brexit in certain areas like chickpeas; wheat and meslin and lentils, broad beans, horse beans, and cereals. Lowering tariffs for whisky, grape brandy, gin and geneva, alcoholic liqueurs, coffee, tea, mate and spices, and miscellaneous edible preparations after an FTA would present an important market opportunity for India but it would no longer remain so after the UK exit.

If a country like India can gain access to regional integration agreements, this may pave the way towards deeper integration for India, with potential benefits. There is empirical support for the claim that Indias protectionist policy is counterproductive; hence, the pursuit of trade liberalisation is the way forward.

Notes

1 Press Release, Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Government of India, https://pib.gov.in/newsite/PrintRelease.aspx?relid=124337.

2 India worries that any commitment over and above the WTOs intellectual property rights (Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights, TRIPS) will undermine its capacity to produce generic drugs.

3 As per the Central Statistics Office (CSO), Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation, the share of agricultural and allied sectors in gross value added fell from 5.6% in 201314 to 0.6% in 201516.

4 As per WTO, 2017 data, Indias average WTO-bound tariff for agricultural products is 113.5%. Applied rates are also relatively high and on a trade-weighted basis, the average agricultural tariff is 32.8%.

5 Currently, very little trade take place in these sectors (less than 0.3%).

6 ActionAid, 2008.

7 Trade complementarity index indicates to what extent the export of a country matches with the import of its partners. A high index may indicate that the two countries would gain from increased trade under bilateral trade or regional trade agreements.

Trade intensity indicates the export competitiveness of one country in relation to other.

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Philip, M J, E Laurenza, F L Pasini, V A Dinh, H S Nguyen, A T Pham and N L Minh (2011): The Free Trade Agreement Between Vietnam and the European Union: Quantitative and Qualitative Impact Analysis, Hanoi: MUTRAP III.

Plummer, M G, D Cheong and S Hamanaka (2010): Methodology for Impact Assessment of Free Trade Agreements, Asian Development Bank, Manila.

Polaski, S A, S Ganesh Kumar, M P McDonald and S Robinson (2008): Indias Trade Policy Choices, Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, Washington, DC.

Powell, S (2008): The EU-FTA: Initial Observations from a Development Perspective, Traidcraft, London.

Roy and Mathur (2016): Brexit and IndiaEU Free Trade Agreement, Journal of Economic Integration, Vol 31, No 4, pp 74073.

Vu, H T (2016): Assessing Potential Impacts of the EVFTA on Vietnams Pharmaceutical Imports from the EU: An Application of SMART Analysis, SpringerPlus, Vol 5, No 1.
A bipartisan effort to focus Congress's attention on aging, caregiving, and the costs and quality of long-term health care is being applauded by a leading expert on long-term health care planning.

Matt McCann told a group of insurance and financial professionals that getting Congress and the public to focus on the growing long-term health care crisis in America will benefit American families in the decades ahead.

I applaud Representatives Bryan Steil (R-WI) and Ann Kuster (D-NH) for establishing the new 21st Century Long-Term Care Caucus in the House of Representatives. This bipartisan effort will help American families address the long-term health care needs many of us will need in the future.

Matt McCann

McCann said that long-term care is both a cash flow issue for most American families and a family issue. Most default caregivers are daughters or daughters-in-law.

These family caregivers are unpaid, untrained, and unprepared for the demanding role. It is physically and emotionally challenging to help anyone, much less a loved one, with personal hygiene and other personal care. It's also hard for most people to balance their careers, families, and caregiving. Too many are unaware that planning options are available and programs like the Long-Term Care Partnership Program are available.

Matt McCann

He said there is a role for government on all levels to ensure quality care options for everyone. McCann said that if more people own private Long-Term Care Insurance, the pressure on Medicaid budgets will ease, allowing for more resources to provide quality care and pay caregivers better wages on all levels.

Role for Government

"Instead of the government being punitive, I would prefer the government provide incentives for people to prepare for the costs of long-term care services. Tax incentives, expansion of health savings accounts, and better promotion of the partnership program are all common sense things Congress can do to help American families address the consequences of aging," McCann said.

Long-Term Care Insurance Has a Huge Role

McCann said that LTC Insurance is a significant part of the equation to ensure quality care and asset protection and to help more loved ones have the time to be family instead of caregivers.

Premiums are based partly on your age, health, family history, and the total amount of benefits in the policy. Premiums do vary over 100% between insurance companies. Underwriting criteria also vary between insurance companies.

Working with a Specialist Saves Money

McCann represents the top companies and helps people nationwide. His unique process allows consumers to speak with him on the phone while viewing his computer screen on their device from the safety of their home. This easy and safe process enables consumers to shop all the top companies from one trusted source and get free and accurate quotes and professional recommendations.

McCann reminded the group that long-term care is both a cash flow problem and a family problem.

It is important to understand the role of caregivers, both unpaid family caregivers and professional caregivers who do everything they can to help our older loved ones.

Matt McCann

He noted remembering the words of former First Lady Rosalynn Carter, who said:

There are only four kinds of people in the world. Those who have been caregivers. Those who are currently caregivers. Those who will be caregivers, and those who will need a caregiver.

McCann represents the top insurance companies that offer long-term health care solutions. Licensed in all 50 states and the District of Columbia, he helps people nationwide prepare for the future costs and burdens of aging. His unique process allows consumers to speak with him on the phone while viewing his computer screen on their device from the safety of their home. This easy and safe process enables consumers to shop all the top companies from one trusted source and get free and accurate quotes along with professional recommendations.

Consumers can shop the companies that offer Long-Term Care Insurance from one trusted source. Get free and accurate quotes along with professional recommendations - Free and Accurate Quotes.
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SKOPJE, North Macedonia (AP)  German Chancellor Olaf Scholz visited North Macedonia and Bulgaria on Saturday in a bid to resolve the dispute between both countries that has seen European Union membership talks with both North Macedonia and Albania blocked.

Bulgaria refuses to approve the EUs membership negotiation framework for North Macedonia, effectively blocking the official start of accession talks with its smaller Balkan neighbor.

Scholz said that the Western Balkans are of strategic importance for Germany and that his country is serious in supporting European integration of the region.

North Macedonia and Albania deserve to start the membership talks, Scholz said at joint news conference with North Macedonia Prime Minister Dimitar Kovachevski in the capital, Skopje.

Bulgaria insists North Macedonia must formally recognize that its language has Bulgarian roots, to mention a Bulgarian minority in its constitution and to stamp out allegedly anti-Bulgarian rhetoric. North Macedonia says its identity and language aren't open for discussion and that the solution must be based on European values.

Kovachevski said that North Macedonia has fulfilled all criteria to start membership talks with the EU, based on a merit system, and again called on EU leaders to give the green light for opening talks at the forthcoming EU summit on June 23.

North Macedonia and Albania cannot be hostages in this process because of the only one EU member state blocking, Kovachevski said.

Scholz left Skopje and traveled to Bulgaria's capital where he reiterated that he strongly supports the start of EU accession talks with North Macedonia and Albania.

Scholz  speaking to reporters in Sofia, the final stop of his two-day tour to the region  voiced optimism that progress will be made before the close of France's EU presidency on June 30.

The German chancellor discussed the war in Ukraine and the reduction of energy dependence on Russia with Bulgarian officials.

I am convinced that we together, as Europeans, are responsible for the EU and for the stability of the Balkans. It is important that we use the enlargement process now, for the benefit of Europe, he said.

Scholz said that North Macedonia needs a solid European perspective and added that it wasn't easy to overcome the differences between the two Balkan neighbors.

Our historical experience shows, however, that it is enriching for all countries when mistrust is overcome and friendly relations are built with neighbors, he said.

Its very important to bring a new dynamic into this process, Scholz said after talks with Bulgarian Prime Minister Kiril Petkov and added that North Macedonia must meet certain conditions to kick-start the process.

I will advocate that the next steps happen, Scholz said.

Bulgaria has three main priorities, about which the EU must be part of the guarantees, so that we can move forward  through the European process, to ensure the inclusion of Bulgarians in the constitution of North Macedonia, Petkov said.

At the same time, we have a framework position and a good-neighborliness agreement. So, each decision must include these three priorities, he said and added that the EU can provide potential opportunities to have European guarantees that this will happen.

North Macedonia applied for EU membership in 2004 and received a positive assessment from the European Commission a year later.

EU leaders agreed to formal accession talks with Albania and North Macedonia after Skopje settled in 2018 a nearly three decade-long dispute with neighboring Greece over the countrys name, which saw it renamed North Macedonia.

Western Balkan countries are at different stages of EU membership talks. Serbia and Montenegro have already started negotiating some chapters of their membership agreements. Kosovo and Bosnia have signed a Stabilization and Association Agreement, the first step toward membership.

___

Veselin Toshkov reported from Sofia, Bulgaria.
Veteran NCIS agent Leatrice De Bruhl-Daniels first met her suspected terrorist love interest at his house in Dubai at a dinner with some friends. Nadal Diyas wife would be the first person to greet her at the door.

Diya, 49, would later show affection for De Bruhl-Daniels, the agent testified on Friday in the federal trial that accuses her of hindering a counterterrorism investigation into the Syrian businessman. Eventually, he told her he loved her and mused that she could be wife No. 2, De Bruhl-Daniels said in a Houston courtroom.

Their relationship went on to include walks along the beach, hourslong dinners and sexual relations. De Bruhl-Daniels said, however, she never considered their relationship to be intimate because of past trauma with men.

The 48-year-old U.S. Naval Criminal Investigative Service agent was the last person to testify in the trial where De Bruhl-Daniels is facing 13 charges, including allegations she lied, tampered with evidence, meddled with witnesses, bribed public officials and outright impeded justice to protect Diya.

During the trial, prosecutors suggested the federal investigation targeted Diya potentially because of his relationship with business associate Labib Arafat and their possible connections to ISIS. If convicted of concealing the fact she told Diya he was the target of the counterterrorism investigation, De Bruhl-Daniels's sentence could be subjected to a terrorism enhancement that would give the judge the option of elongating her punishment.

On HoustonChronicle.com: Federal agent faces trial in Houston after romantic involvement with terror suspect

When the two first met, De Bruhl-Daniels said, Diyas wife greeted her at the house and they all had dinner. During a moment outside, Diya learned she was a U.S. federal agent and asked her if she could help him obtain a visa.

Then, as they remained in contact, Diyas affection for De Bruhl-Daniels began to show.

He was always flirting, she said. He always found a way to slip in something.

I had no interest at first, of course, she said of Diya. When he started expressing his affection to me, I got confused with my emotions.

It was equally confusing for Diya, according to his Wednesday morning testimony in the case, but the two kept in contact despite her former boss R. Todd Foley, then the NCIS resident agent in charge in Dubai, telling her on at least two occasions to stay away after an FBI agent informed him of the agencys investigation.

But they continued to contact each other, with Diya eventually throwing De Bruhl-Daniels a lavish birthday party, helping her pay for a Greek vacation, buying her expensive jewelry and giving her then-23-year-old son a job, according to federal prosecutors. He even organized her reconversion to Islam, the faith she grew up in and left when she was around 30 years old due to her ex-husband being Christian, she said.

On one occasion, they had an argument at her home in Dubai, but he kissed her afterward.

One thing led to another, De Bruhl-Daniels said, and she and Diya had sex for the first and only time.Their relationship, however, wasnt intimate, she said in court, because of her strict definitions of intimacy. When asked why, De Bruhl-Daniels said she was raped at 14 and that the men who she had been romantically involved with later in her life, including the father of her son, were sexually and physically abusive.

When the relationship with her sons father became abusive, I ran away with my son, she said.

Since being put on indefinite suspension with NCIS in 2018, De Bruhl-Daniels said she has tried to find work with Diya, the Dubai Police Department, as a hotel security manager and even at her dentist office in Dubai, but she has mostly worked in retail.

During closing arguments on Friday, federal prosecutors argued that De Bruhl-Daniels betrayed her ... country and endangered national security with her relationship with Diya, but her defense lawyers said she was taken advantage of by a wealthy man who thought she could help him get what he wanted.

U.S. District Judge Gray Miller is hearing the case. Jurors got the case Friday afternoon and will resume deliberations Monday.

jhair.romero@chron.com
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Kimberly Gonzalez, 20, slipped on her burnt orange graduation gown from James Madison High School on Saturday morning and prepared to take another walk  not across the stage for a diploma, but in San Antonios March for Our Lives.

Gonzalez and her 15-year-old sister joined around 500 activists who marched in the blazing heat along downtown streets from Milam Park to City Hall, where they took part in a rally calling for gun control in the wake of yet another mass shooting, this one not far from home.

On May 24, an 18-year-old gunman killed 19 students and two teachers at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde.

Im walking for them, Gonzalez said. Im hoping at least in spirit I can honor them, because theyll never get to walk the stage at graduation.

Gonzalez is a criminal justice major at Texas A&M University-San Antonio, and she remembers being in elementary school and watching news coverage of the mass shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School. A 20-year-old armed with a rifle entered the Newtown, Conn., school on Dec. 14, 2012, and killed 26 people, 20 of them children.

The list of those killed keeps getting longer. So why is it we make so many excuses for the politicians standing in the way, she said. They say its about people, not the guns; well then, we need to make it harder for people to get access to guns.

On ExpressNews.com: Fierce, with a beautiful, contagious smile: Uvalde mourns Alexandria Aniyah Rubio, 10, killed in the Robb Elementary school shooting

That sense of frustration was shared by many at the march and rally in San Antonio, which brought out people of all ages calling for stricter gun safety laws  whether banning assault-style weapons or raising the minimum age to purchase them from 18 to 21.

Other measures the activists support include outlawing high-capacity magazines and passing so-called red flag laws, which allow authorities to temporarily take firearms away from people deemed to pose a danger to themselves or others.

The marchers also called for expanding background checks to include all gun sales, including those at gun shows, and establishing a cooling-off period of several days before someone who purchases a firearm can actually take possession of it.

Carlos Javier Sanchez, Contributor

One of the loudest chants throughout the event was vote them out, directed mostly at Gov. Greg Abbott. The governor has called for a special legislative committee to focus on school and gun safety but has rejected demands that he summon the entire Legislature into special session.

Speakers at the rally criticized Abbott and other top Texas Republicans for focusing on mental health programs and school security in the wake of the Uvalde massacre, instead of championing gun control.

References to the Uvalde tragedy could be seen on T-shirts and handmade posters and in images of the green Converse high-tops worn by 10-year-old victim Maite Rodriguez, whose body was so badly disfigured that she could be identified only by her sneakers.

March for Our Lives is a coordinated series of protests across the nation that was first organized by young activists in response to the 2018 mass shooting at Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Fla., where a 19-year-old killed 17 students.

On Saturday, thousands of people rallied on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., for the second March for Our Lives rally. The 2018 event attracted more than 200,000 people, but the focus this time was on smaller marches at an estimated 300 locations, including San Antonio, Austin and Houston.

San Antonios march organizer Frank Ruiz is no longer a student. Hes a father of three young children who works in financial services.

On May 24, when he heard news reports about the mass shooting at Robb Elementary, just 85 miles away, he was sad, but then he started getting angry  to the point that he felt like he had to do something.

On ExpressNews.com: Uvalde victims father to advocate for gun reform

We had the news on, and I didnt know whether to change the channel or keep it on. We kept the TV on and afterward tried to explain to our 8-year-old what had happened, he told the crowd at the rally. She had questions that I just didnt have any good answers for.

Neither do the educators who often have to answer their students questions, including why they have to hold lockdown drills and practice hiding in the corner, said Alejandra Lopez, president of the San Antonio Alliance of Teachers and Support Personnel, the union representing teachers and staff at San Antonio Independent School District.

My thoughts were with the teachers who had to go to school the next day, she said. You learn to nurture a childs sense of curiosity and discovering, but there are some things that are incredibly difficult to find the words for, like school shootings.

Lopez, a former elementary school teacher, says the unions members overwhelmingly support gun reforms.

Carlos Javier Sanchez, Contributor

These reforms shouldve been enacted when I was a kid after the tragedy at Columbine, she said, referring to the 1999 high school shooting in Littleton, Colo., in which two students killed 13 people and then killed themselves.

These reforms should have been enacted after any of the hundreds of school shootings that have occurred in the past two decades, and we are here to demand that they are enacted now, she said, her voice cracking and tears welling as the crowd cheered.

How do we explain that this doesnt happen in other countries? That students in the UK or Canada are objectively safer when they go to school. We deserve better. Our children deserve better. We wont stop until our elected officials do better.

The Associated Press contributed to this story.

laura.garcia@express-news.net
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Two weeks after the Uvalde shooting, the room in Benson Elementary School was filled with stuffed animals, toys, coloring books, fidget spinners, kinetic sand and piles of snacks.

A second-grader  who had been down the hall from the classroom at Robb Elementary School where an 18-year-old gunman killed 19 students and two teachers May 24  sat at a table running his hands through the sand.

He and his mom were with Kathy Johnson, a North East Independent School District crisis intervention counselor, one of more than 200 school counselors from the greater San Antonio area who have come to Uvalde to help.

On ExpressNews.com: Remembering the lives lost in Uvalde

At that developmental age, in second grade, the way they process the grief is sometimes just playing with the stuff on the table, and that is great, Johnson said.

She kept it light, knowing the child needed time before he could talk about what he had experienced. She asked him what his favorite flavor of ice cream was.

The influx of counselors to talk to students, parents and school staff affected by the tragedy is being coordinated by the Texas Education Agencys Region 20 office, working with the nonprofit Communities in Schools.

For students who were in Robb Elementary that day, it usually means working on breathing exercises, self-regulation and getting them back into normal routines, said Chloe Palacios, a spokesperson for the Childrens Bereavement Center of South Texas, a San Antonio-based organization that has leased space in downtown Uvalde to continue to provide services through the summer.

A lot of the grief work cant happen until children can regulate their emotions. They might not be able to have the ability to express verbally what is going on, she said.

Johnson focused on helping the second-graders mom deal with new behaviors her son started showing after the shooting. Every day around 11 a.m., he would get irritated. He didnt want to take showers. At night, he didnt want to go to bed  and if he did sleep, he woke up from nightmares.

I told her it was OK to let him sleep in her bed with her, Johnson said. He needs that extra security right now.

Johnson said she stressed how important routines were going to be  things as simple as getting outside and seeing friends, and even going back to school, which will trigger strong emotions at first.

Continue to love him, to be positive with him, Johnson recalled telling the mom. When he has those moments, it could be the grief.

Reaching out

Josie Norris, San Antonio Express-News / Staff photographer

Shortly after the shooting occurred, a counselor with Uvalde Consolidated Independent School District reached out to the Region 20 Education Service Center for help, said Tracy Reinen, the centers mental health coordinator.

Ever since the Sutherland Springs shooting in 2017, the service center, whose South Texas region includes 56 school districts and 37 charter networks, has prepared designated teams of counselors ready to go at any moment when a school needs help with a tragic event.

Oftentimes, when you have a traumatic event on campus, the campus people are the closest to it, and so it is hard for them to do all the administrative pieces and be able to provide support for staff, students and families, when they quite possibly are also going through that grieving process, Reinen said.

Even with a plan in place, Reinen was amazed at how many school districts offered their help. So far, some 25 districts and charter schools have provided counseling in Uvalde.

I hate to say it was easy, but it was easy because this is just what school counselors do, she said. We know how hard it is going to be and how difficult it is going to be, but that is what we do. We provide services. The community was hurting, and they needed us.

This week, Northside ISDs crisis team trained the Region 20 counselors on classroom guidance lessons designed to support skill-building for students to be able to recognize and talk about grief and trauma, Reinen said.

Maria Spain, a school counselor at South San ISD, spent three days in Uvalde, much of it speaking with parents and staff about survivor guilt and the fear of the unknown.

Spain herself struggled with the unknown of what each day would bring, wondering if she would be able to meet the communitys needs.

I was just trying to prepare mentally, not knowing what it was going to be like, she said. In the past when I had to respond (to similar incidents), smaller communities tend to want to grieve together. And we were coming in as outsiders, and so there is that lack of trust there.

It takes time for them to see that we are there to help and to try to build that trust, but we dont have a lot of time, Spain said.

Once she got to Uvalde, she saw how much the families just needed a place where they could feel safe and be together.

They werent really comfortable being at home. They werent really comfortable being at the memorial, not knowing really where to go, Spain said. So they congregated where everyone else was. They congregated to familiar people.

The priority now is to ensure Uvalde has continued services throughout the summer and into the fall.

Im very worried about August, Johnson said. When it quiets down, that is when the grief hits. There is a lot of support right now, but in August is when we can really help even more because that is when everyone is going back to school.

Susan Arciniega, the health coordinator for Somerset ISD, who volunteered in Uvalde, said the attention needs to be long-term.

Usually when things happen within the first few weeks, maybe even longer, you get all of this support, but you dont want to forget to check in on every single person, she said.

At the same time, its important not to overwhelm the community and trample its privacy, Arciniega said.

You have to gauge how much is too much and how much is not enough, she said. I think that they can perfectly tell you. It takes asking them: What do you need from us?

About 50 counselors will continue going to Uvalde over the next three weeks to provide classroom guidance lessons to students at all five Uvalde CISD campuses conducting summer school, Reinen said.

Students not in summer school will be able to get services provided by the Childrens Bereavement Center, Reinen said.

Plans are in the works for more counselors from as far away as Houston to assist Uvalde throughout the summer via Communities in Schools, a nonprofit organization based in San Antonio that has counselors embedded in most San Antonio school districts.

I have never, ever seen anything to this magnitude, this level, Johnson said. It was heartbreaking to be there so close to it.

I cant really describe it. It just makes it more real, not that it wasnt real before, my heart just aches, Johnson said. Im still processing it today. I feel this connection with Uvalde now, just because when people are sharing those types of stories, you just have a connection and a bond with them.

claire.bryan@express-news.net
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Anyone who has an opinion about the 2021 insurrection, especially if its clinging to Donald Trumps lies, must watch the Jan. 6 congressional hearings.

Its a patriotic duty.

The panels first session Thursday night previewed the powerful, chilling testimony it has collected about an attempted coup.

It points to a coordinated, sophisticated attack on the U.S. Capitol, where results of the 2020 presidential election would certify President Joe Bidens victory.

That, ultimately, happened but not before a violent attack on the United States unfolded, the worst since the Sept. 11 attacks. This time, the terrorists were home-grown.

The country owes much to the Jan. 6 panel.

It interviewed more than 1,000 witnesses and collected more than 140,000 records, including video of the right-wing extremist Proud Boys, a group Trump summoned on national television during a presidential debate, asking them to stand by.

The panel aired remarkable footage showing coordination between the Proud Boys and the Oath Keepers, another right-wing extremist group.

Wed previously seen its military-styled formations, or stacks, headed up the U.S. Capitol steps. The Proud Boys headed to the Capitol before Trump riled up supporters at the Ellipse that infamous day.

The panel laid out a plan that will connect the dots from a politician enraged by potential defeat to a coup attempt.

Some of the testimony was stunning, especially from former Attorney General Bill Barr and Trumps daughter Ivanka Trump.

Barr, then the nations top law enforcement official, used colorful language to say Trumps claims of a rigged election were unfounded. Ivanka Trump testified she believed Barr.

The events already add up to treason and sedition, culminating with attacks on police and threats against elected leaders.

None was more at risk than Vice President Mike Pence.

Among the other highlights Thursday night:

 Jan. 6 wasnt spontaneous or unplanned.

 Trump ignored pleas to intervene and stop the mob.

 While describing chaotic scenes of war, Capitol police officer Caroline Edwards testified officers like her arent trained for combat. She recalled slipping on peoples blood.

 Pence led the response against the insurrection. He was, essentially, in charge. His orders to the military and police to intervene were described as direct and unambiguous.

 In some of the most chilling testimony, Trumps staff said he described the mob as doing what they should be doing and that perhaps our supporters have the right idea. Mike Pence deserves it. Insurrectionists were chanting, Hang Mike Pence.

 Leaders of the Proud Boys and the Oath Keepers met in a parking garage the day before the Capitol attack.

 U.S. Rep. Scott Perry of Pennsylvania and other unidentified Republicans sought presidential pardons from Trump for their roles in the Jan. 6 insurrection. Their names are likely to surface.

 Trump led a sprawling seven-part conspiracy to overthrow the government and remain in power.

Watch.

If youre a patriot, watch.

If you care about democracy, watch.

If you think its all unfair to Trump, watch.

The panels leaders were remarkable Thursday. They were calm, prepared, unrelenting.

U.S. Rep. Bennie Thompson, a Democrat from Mississippi, is a black man from a part of the country where slavery and lynching were justified.

U.S. Rep. Liz Cheney, a Republican from Wyoming, is a white woman from a famed family of political conservatives who decided to side with her country above her party.

Tonight, she said, in one of the most stirring lines, I say this to my Republican colleagues who are defending the indefensible: There will come a day when Donald Trump is gone, but your dishonor will remain.

It has been a difficult couple of weeks. The nation has been reeling from one unspeakable piece of breaking news after another.

But on Thursday night, two leaders gave us hope.

Theyre patriots who respect the rule of law. More importantly, theyre holding the line against all those who believe theyre above it.

eayala@express-news.net
I have a favor to ask of Republicans.

Lets imagine a scenario.

A Democratic president loses his re-election bid to a Republican challenger. The president refuses to accept his defeat, even though election officials in the three battleground states he needs to flip  and the presidents own data expert and campaign attorney  insist that the results are legit.

This Democratic president tries to fight it out in the courts and loses 60 attempts to challenge the election results.

When the legal challenges fail, he pressures his acting attorney general to put the heat on swing-state election officials in order to get the results thrown out. When the acting attorney general refuses, the president threatens to fire him and put in place a toady wholl comply with the presidents wishes.

This Democratic president makes attempts to convince the Defense Department, the Justice Department and the Homeland Security Department to confiscate voting machines in key counties where the results werent to the presidents liking.

He calls the secretary of state in one of the battleground states he lost and tries to browbeat that official into finding him the votes he needs.

When all else fails, the president tells his vice president to block the national certification of official election results. He also incites his loyalists to congregate in Washington, D.C., on the day of the vote certification and exert pressure on Congress.

When the vice president refuses to go along with the election overthrow plan, an angry mob calls for the hanging of the vice president. In the Oval Office, the president tells his confidants that the mob has the right idea.

As a Republican, think about how you would feel if all this played out; if a Democratic president defied 233 years of national precedent and refused to accept the peaceful transfer of presidential power.

Hold on to that feeling. Its the way you should feel about the actions of your partys standard-bearer, Donald Trump, in the weeks after his loss to Joe Biden in the 2020 presidential election.

In this era of rabid tribalism, it might seem quaint to talk about the rule of law and the need to put country over party. But Ill take quaint any day over seditious.

On Thursday, we got a Cliffs Notes version of the case against Trump when a House select committee investigating the Jan. 6, 2021, domestic terrorist uprising at the U.S. Capitol held its first public hearing.

The hearing offered a reminder of why Jan. 6 was one of the darkest days in this countrys history.

We saw footage of the Trump-worshipping, white nationalist Proud Boys attacking Capitol Police, smashing windows, breaching the Capitol and rampaging through the building.

We heard testimony from Caroline Edwards, a Capitol police officer, who was knocked unconscious by the insurrectionists. She described the scene as a war zone featuring hours and hours of hand-to-hand combat.

Edwards recalled slipping on the blood of her fellow officers as she tried to walk outside the Capitol.

Regardless of your party affiliation or your ideological leanings, you should be disgusted by what happened Jan. 6  and by the pathological behavior from Trump that made it happen.

But because the images from Jan. 6 are so disturbing and bizarre, theres a temptation to place too much emphasis on that day.

The truth is that even if the Jan. 6 insurrection hadnt occurred, the aftermath of the 2020 election would still be the story of an attempted coup from a president who refused to relinquish his office and abused his power in a desperate bid to hang on.

Trumps tactics included the attempted weaponization of the federal government, phone calls to convince Republican legislators to flip the electoral votes of Biden states to Trump and a scheme to manufacture a fake slate of pro-Trump electors in seven key states and send them to Congress.

Much of this behavior has the smell of criminality.

It all amounted to uncharted territory for this country, where even cutthroat politicos such as Richard Nixon were conditioned to believe that you had to accept presidential defeat with a measure of grace.

The danger is that it could become a commonplace occurrence and one thats increasingly fortified by an insurrectionist political infrastructure.

After all, Pennsylvanias current GOP gubernatorial nominee, Doug Mastriano, marched in the Jan. 6 uprising and has bragged that as governor he could decertify every (voting) machine in the state with a stroke of a pen.

With that in mind, Ill ask Republicans for one more favor.

Think long and hard about the implications of this madness. Think about the way our system is getting warped. Most of all, think of country before you think of party.

ggarcia@express-news.net | Twitter: @gilgamesh470
What is the Jan. 6 committee for? Committee members and Democratic operatives have been telling reporters what they hope to achieve with the hearings that began Thursday evening. My Times colleagues Annie Karni and Luke Broadwater wrote an article with the headline, Jan. 6 Hearings Give Democrats a Chance to Recast Midterm Message. Democrats, they reported, are hoping to use the hearings to show midterm voters how thoroughly Republicans are to blame for what happened that day.

Other reports have suggested other goals. The committee members are trying to show how much Donald Trump was involved with efforts to overturn the election, so he is forever discredited. They are expected to use witnesses like the former White House aide Cassidy Hutchinson to show exactly what went on inside the administration that day and in the lead-up to it. One lawmaker told the Washington Post that voters have shifted their attention to issues like inflation and the pandemic, so it is key to tell a gripping story that actually breaks through.

No offense, but these goals are pathetic.

Using the events of Jan. 6 as campaign fodder is small-minded and likely to be ineffective. If you think you can find the magic moment that will finally discredit Donald Trump in the eyes of the electorate, you havent been paying attention over the past six years. Sorry, boomers, but this is not the Watergate scandal in which we need an investigation to find out who said what to whom in the Oval Office. The horrors of Jan. 6 were out in public. The shocking truth of it was what we all saw that day and what weve learned about the raw violence since.

We dont need a committee to simply regurgitate what happened Jan. 6, 2021. We need a committee that will preserve democracy on Jan. 6, 2025, and Jan. 6, 2029. We need a committee to locate the weaknesses in our democratic system and society and find ways to address them.

The core problem here is not the minutiae of who texted what to chief of staff Mark Meadows on Jan. 6 last year. The core problem is that there are millions of Americans who have three convictions: that the election was stolen, that violence is justified in order to rectify it and that the rules and norms that hold our society together dont matter.

Those millions of Americans are out there right now. I care more about their present and future activities than about their past. Many of them are running for local office to be in a position to disrupt future elections. Id like the committee to describe who they are, what motivates them and how much power they already have.

This is a movement, not a conspiracy. We dont need a criminal-type investigation looking for planners or masterminds as much as we need historians and scholars and journalists to help us understand why the American Republican Party, like the Polish Law and Justice party, or the Turkish Justice and Development Party, has become a predatory semi-democratic faction.

We need a committee to explore just how close America is to rampant political violence. I had some problems with Barbara F. Walters recent book, How Civil Wars Start, but I wish all the committee members would read it if only to expand their imaginations.

She demonstrates that the conditions for political violence are already all around us: The decline of state effectiveness and democratic norms. The rise of political factions that are not based on issues, but on ethnic identity and the preservation of racial and ethnic privilege. The existence of ferocious splits between urban and rural people. The existence of conflict entrepreneurs  political leaders and media folks who profit from whipping up apocalyptic frenzies. The widespread sense that our political opponents are out to destroy our way of life.

We need a committee to look at how conditions in America compare to conditions in countries around the world that have already seen their democracies slide into autocracy and violence. We need a committee to explore what political violence might look like in this country. Writing in Foreign Affairs, Steven Levitsky and Lucan Way foresee a future of endemic regime instability: frequent constitutional crises, contested or stolen elections, periods of dysfunctional democracy followed by periods of authoritarian rule.

Writing in the Atlantic, George Packer imagines what might happen if a contested election were finally decided by the Supreme Court or Congress: Half the country explodes in rage. Protests turn violent. Buildings get firebombed. Law enforcement officers take sides.

Im trying to understand why committee members are not gripped by these realities. After more than a century of relative democratic stability maybe its hard for some people to imagine precisely how the fits of political violence that bedevil other nations could hit our shores. Maybe the committee members are imprisoned in the categories set by past investigation committees  Watergate and 9/11.

Either way, we need a committee that will be focused not on the specific actions of this or that individual but on the broad social conditions that threaten to bring American democracy to its knees.
I live out of state, but my grandchildren live in Texas, and I want them to be safer.

Lets get into the Wayback Machine and go back to the year you were a senior in high school. There are some good memories there. Now lets narrow your memories to specific students, especially those who were antisocial, angry, violent, delusional, drugged up, accusatory, or the one with the hair-trigger temper, the one who hated everyone and everything or the frightening kid whom others walked a wide berth around.

When we are talking about raising the age to purchase an AR-15 to 21, this is the kid we are talking about. If you are a regular kid and want to shoot an AR-15, one of your parents, or your uncle or grandfather, might take you to a range. You might enlist in the Army and get training in its appropriate use. If you were curious about them, you could find a way to legitimately satisfy that curiosity.

The 18-year-old who wants to buy one to kill people is probably looking for something completely different: Fame, youll be sorry, revenge, punishment, a twisted sense of glory, the validation of a shadowy internet group. This kid is not looking to satisfy curiosity or to defend our country. The thinking, decision-making brain doesnt fully mature until 25.

Is it too much to raise the age to purchase an AR-15 to 21?

Mary Thompson, Freeland, Wash.

Make noise and vote

It sounds like the people who still want assault rifles are mostly Republicans, so it seems the ones to vote for are Democrats.

My father and his buddies here in New Braunfels in the old days were good hunters and they didnt need assault rifles. They actually used the meat for us to eat. We were taught gun safety at home.

Assault rifles shred your insides and make it near impossible to save a person or an animal. They certainly arent concerned with the Second Amendment, either. People who are concerned with that dont need an assault rifle to protect themselves.

The new Texas law that lets anyone carry a gun without training or a license is terrible, too. How ridiculous can it get? Make noise and vote.

Marie Oelkers Helsley, New Braunfels

Does gov have answers?

Re: Response to gunman beyond failure, Editorial, May 28:

Days after the mass murder at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Gov. Greg Abbott said he was livid about the initial misinformation given to him about the shooting.

Well, governor, have heads rolled? Has anyone been disciplined for giving you wrong information? Are you any closer to getting a time chronology of the order of events that occurred that day? Are you ready to share with the residents of Texas what exactly happened that day?

Jesse Ortiz
When Montana Resources opened in 1985, it helped steady Buttes declining population at around 30,000, at least half of what it was during the Montana towns prime mining days in the 1920s. Montana Resources operates the citys last-standing open-pit mine, which is a source of both pride and concern for those who live nearby. (Katheryn Houghton of Kaiser Health News)

BUTTE, Mont.  Steve McGrath stood in an empty lot a block from his home watching for dust.

In this southwestern Montana city nicknamed The Richest Hill on Earth, more than a century of mining left polluted soil and water that has taken decades to clean.

But at that moment, looking across the road toward Buttes last operating open-pit mine, McGrath was worried about the air.

Here comes another truck, McGrath said, pointing to a hillside across the street as a massive dump truck unloaded ore for the mines crusher. A brown cloud billowed into the air. And theres the dust.

In the Greeley neighborhood, where McGrath lives, many people have a hard time believing the air they breathe is safe. A two-lane road separates the roughly 700 homes from the Continental mine, an open-pit copper and molybdenum mine operated by Montana Resources.

Residents have received assurances that the level of particulate matter in their neighborhood isnt hazardous, but some doubt those standards protect human health. People breathe in particles all the time, but the size, abundance, and chemical makeup determine whether theyre dangerous. Now, the Environmental Protection Agency is evaluating whether its threshold for the density of harmful particulate matter should be lowered, saying it may not go far enough.

McGrath, 73, grew up in Butte and has long been one of the voices in the neighborhood asking whether the dust that settles on his roof and car includes a dangerous mix of toxic metals.

Is this a health concern? McGrath said. Weve never gotten a really satisfactory answer.

For years, the company and the state Department of Environmental Quality have collected air samples in the neighborhood. The results have been consistent: Pollution levels dont warrant alarm.

Montana Resources established a monitor to track metals in the air around Greeley, and an independent review found no threats to human health, which the state health department backed. However, additional studies, which government and mine officials have often bucked, have indicated potential problems  such as elevated levels of metals, including aluminum and copper, in the area and traces of arsenic and lead in the ground  and called for more testing.

This year, the nonprofit advocacy group Montana Environmental Information Center asked a contractor to review the data that Montana Resources and DEQ collected. Ron Sahu, the mechanical engineer who did the review, said not enough research has been done to determine conclusively whether the mine is harming Butte residents. According to Sahu, the data had multiple shortcomings, such as time gaps. He also said that one air-monitoring station may miss harder-hit areas and that the risk to residents of prolonged exposure to the dust is still unknown.

On a recent night in Butte, Sahu presented his findings to mine officials, representatives of the state, a local health advisory committee, and a handful of Greeley residents. State health and environmental quality staffers repeated what has been said before: All the recorded emissions meet federal standards.

Even so, Sahu said, the pollution levels exceed the public health safety recommendations made last year by the World Health Organization. For example, the EPAs maximum annual average for the finest particles is a concentration of 12 micrograms per cubic meter, while the WHOs limit is 5. From 2018 through 2020, the Greeley air-monitoring station recorded annual averages that range from more than 7 to nearly 10, according to Sahus review.

The EPA is studying whether to lower its 12-microgram standard and expects to release any proposed changes this summer.

In the meeting, resident Larry Winstel said he didnt care about the data. He held up a square sheet of plexiglass covered in dust.

This is whats on my picnic table, he said. This is three weeks worth. How much of this is being deposited over a year?

The manager of environmental affairs for Montana Resources, Mark Thompson, said the company goes beyond whats required to mitigate dust. He said it uses 240-ton trucks to water the mines gravel roads and air filtration systems to trap particulate matter.

Thompson said he agrees more must be done to determine whether air in Greeley is unsafe and, if so, why.

If there is a problem in that community, I want to know about it, Thompson said. My son, my daughter-in-law, and my two baby granddaughters live a block from the main gate of the mine.

Butte became a gold and silver mining camp in the 1860s, and people traveled from around the world to work in the city. The area was the battleground of the Copper Kings in the 1890s as mine owners raced to extract the metal used to feed the countrys growing electrical infrastructure and manufacturing industry.

People who grew up in Butte and nearby didnt often question what the presence of mines or smelters meant for their health. The extractive industries offered good jobs. Many are proud their city helped electrify the nation and produced as much as a third of the worlds copper supply during its heyday.

Atlantic Richfield Co., which bought the Anaconda Co., shut down the Butte mines in 1982. Butte and a stretch of the Clark Fork River, where the mining waste washed downstream, were designated a federal Superfund site in 1983. A few years later, Montana Resources began operating, and its jobs helped steady the towns population at about 30,000. The cleanup of the historical lead, arsenic and other contaminants continues today.

The boundary of that work borders the Greeley neighborhood to the west, while the Continental mine cups the neighborhood to the northeast. Some residents worry the mines operations add another layer of harm.

I know about the air-monitoring station down here and that they say it doesnt pick up anything dangerous, said Bob Brasher, who has a view of the Continental mine from his front yard. But I dont see how it couldnt when we have those days and you look out here and you can see the dust blowing this way and settling.

Just down the road, Haley Rehm said she didnt think about the dust until a recent test of her 2-year-old sons blood found elevated lead levels. The cause isnt clear  toxic metals can be ingested in multiple ways. But the mines proximity prompted Rehm to test her home for lead; she was still waiting for the results in May.

People often speculate that local cancer cases are linked to the areas mining past and present.

Jeanette Cooksey, 70, cant remember a time she wasnt worried about the dust. It has especially been on her mind since she was diagnosed with stage 4 uterine cancer two years ago.

I have to wonder if living in this neighborhood my whole life has something to do with it, Cooksey said.

A state health department analysis found the incidence rate for cancer from 1981 through 2010 wasnt elevated in Silver Bow County compared with the rest of the state.

Not everyone is worried. For some people, even talking about potential health effects equates to an anti-mine mentality.

Al Shields rolled his eyes when asked whether the dust concerned him and nodded toward his clean trucks, saying they hadnt been washed for days.

What people dont understand is if the mine goes, Butte is done, he said. If you dont like it, leave.

Montana Resources employs 380 people and is a significant source of tax revenue. Those pushing for more research into the mines effects and what can be done about the dust have said they arent trying to close the operation.

We want a clean and healthy environment, said Ed Banderob, with the Greeley Neighborhood Community Development Corporation Inc.

When Buttes health advisory committee meets again in the fall, the state will share the air-sampling data it has collected in the hopes that staffers can answer lingering questions. Meanwhile, Montana Resources hopes to set up more air-monitoring equipment around the neighborhood by the end of the year.

KHN (Kaiser Health News) is a national newsroom that produces in-depth journalism about health issues. Together with Policy Analysis and Polling, KHN is one of the three major operating programs at KFF (Kaiser Family Foundation). KFF is an endowed nonprofit organization providing information on health issues to the nation.

The post The dust next door: Butte concerned about dust from mine appeared first on Daily Montanan.
Concerns are growing over the spread of avian influenza following reports of the disease continuing to circulate in seabirds, causing the death of thousands of birds in Scotland alone.

RSPB Scotland has warned that the 2021-22 outbreak of highly-pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) is still affecting wild bird populations in the UK.

The outbreak has been described as the UK's worst ever, and has affected a large number of commercial and backyard poultry sites.

In England alone, there has been 98 cases of bird flu in poultry and captive birds since the start of October 2021, while Scotland and Wales have recorded eight and five cases respectively.

But the RSPB Scotland said the outbreak has also had an 'unprecedented impact' on wild birds, causing the loss of a third of the Solway barnacle geese population.

"We have been in unchartered territory with the disease this year and its effects on wild birds," the charity said, "This is continuing with the focus now being on seabirds in Scotland."

Late last summer, sick and dead great skuas were found in Shetland, Orkney, St Kilda and the Flannan Isles and they tested positive for HPAI.

This happened just prior to migration  the species winters off North and West Africa  so the scale of impact on the population was unclear.

RSPB Scotland said: "Now the skuas are back and RSPB Scotland is collating data from colonies to assess impacts, but we were not expected to find great skuas again sick and dying from HPAI.

The charity added: "We are also seeing eider ducks and other seabirds including gannets succumbing to HPAI."

Britain's seabird populations are of global significance, with the UK holding 56% of the worlds northern gannet population.

Scotland holds nearly half (46%) of the worlds northern gannets and 60% of the worlds great skuas. Both these species are amber listed in Birds of Conservation Concern 5.

"There is great concern for the potential impacts of HPAI on our already beleaguered wild birds," RSPB Scotland warned.

It comes after the disease was confirmed on a Shropshire poultry farm last week, making it England's 98th case of the virus since the start of the 2021-22 bird flu season.

All birds on the infected premises were humanely culled, and a 3km Protection Zone and 10km Surveillance Zone have been put in place around the site.

The case was of renewed concern to the poultry sector, as it came just one month after the government eased the UK's mandatory poultry housing order.

The strict measure was introduced on 29 November 2021 to help stem the UK's outbreak of HPAI.

As part of the order, it was a legal requirement for all farmers and keepers to keep their birds indoors and to follow strict biosecurity measures.
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Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - June 10, 2022) - African Energy Metals Inc. (TSXV: CUCO) (FSE: BC2) (OTCQB: NDENF) ("African Energy Metals" or the "Company") intends to complete a non-brokered private placement (the "Financing") of 5,000,000 units (each a "Unit") at a price of CAD $0.05 per Unit for aggregate proceeds of CAD $250,000. Each unit will consist of one common share of the Company (a "Share") and one-half of one common share purchase warrant (with two half warrants being a "Warrant"). Each Warrant will entitle the holder thereof to acquire one additional common share in the capital of the Company (a "Warrant Share") at a price of $0.15 per Warrant Share at any time prior to 5:00 p.m. (Vancouver time) on the date (the "Expiry Date") that is 24 months following the Closing Date.

The Private Placement has been fully subscribed and immediately upon receipt of TSX-V approval, the Company will close the Private Placement, issuing 5,000,000 Units for gross proceeds of $250,000.

The proceeds from the Financing will be used for general working capital purposes. The securities issued pursuant to the Financing will be subject to a hold period under applicable securities laws, which will expire four months plus one day from the date of closing of the Financing. Closing of the Financing is subject to receipt of all necessary corporate and regulatory approvals, including approval of the TSX Venture Exchange.

About African Energy Metals

African Energy Metals is a natural resource company with a focus on the acquisition, exploration, development, and operation of copper, cobalt, and lithium energy metals projects in the DRC. The Company is implementing a carbon credit program complementary to mining operations. The carbon credit program will meet important ESG requirements and present an opportunity for a significant early and long-term revenue stream. African Energy Metals has the intention of acquiring interests in additional concessions or relinquishing concessions in the normal course of business. African Energy Metals has an experienced management team located in the DRC.

For further information, please contact:

Stephen Barley, Executive Chairman

Phone: (604) 834-2968

Email: info@africanenergymetals.com

Website: www.africanenergymetals.com

Reader Advisory

Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

This news release may contain "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable securities laws. Although the Company believes, considering the experience of its officers and directors, current conditions and expected future developments and other factors that have been considered appropriate, that the expectations reflected in this forward-looking information are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on them as the Company can give no assurance that they will prove to be correct. The statements in this press release are made as of the date of this release. The Company undertakes no obligation to comment on analyses, expectations or statements made by third parties in respect of the Company its securities, or its financial or operating results.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/127367
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - June 10, 2022) - International Battery Metals Ltd. (CSE: IBAT) (OTC Pink: IBATF) (the "Company" or "IBAT") is providing this bi-weekly status report pursuant to National Policy 12-203 - Cease Trade Orders for Continuous Disclosure Defaults ("NP 12-203").

On June 1, 2022, the Company announced (the "Default Announcement") that, for reasons disclosed in the Default Announcement, the filing of the Company's audited financial statements, accompanying management's discussion and analysis, and related CEO and CFO certifications for the fiscal year ended January 31, 2022 (collectively, the "Annual Filings"), would not be completed by the prescribe deadline of May 31, 2021.

As a result of the delay in filing the Annual Filings, the Company's principal regulator, the British Columbia Securities Commission, granted a temporary management cease trader order (the "MCTO") effective as of June 1, 2022. The MCTO prohibits all trading by the CEO and CFO of the Company, and such other directors, officers and persons as determined by the applicable regulatory authorities, until the MCTO has been revoked.

As of the date of this press release, the Company has now satisfied all information requests of its auditors, Davidson and Company LLP (the "Auditor"), and will now convene a meeting of its Audit Committee to review the Annual Filings with the Auditor and finalize its recommendation to the Company's Board of Directors. The Company anticipates that it will be able to complete its Annual Filings by no later than Wednesday, June 15, 2022.

Pursuant to the provisions of the alternative information guidelines specified by NP 12-203, the Company reports that since the Default Announcement there have been no material changes to the information contained in the Default Announcement. Furthermore, there is no other material information concerning the affairs of the Company that has not been generally disclosed. The Company confirms, that since its Default Announcement, there have been no failures by it in fulfilling its stated intentions with respect to satisfying the provisions of the alternative information guidelines under NP 12-203.

Until the Annual Filings have been filed, the Company intends to continue to satisfy the provision of the alternative information guidelines specified by NP 12-203 by issuing bi-weekly status default repots in the form of press releases, which will also be filed on SEDAR at www.sedar.com.

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD

"Dr. John Burba"

Dr. John Burba,

CEO & Director

Tel: (778) 939-4228

Neither Canadian Securities Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the Canadian Securities Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. This news release may contain assumptions, estimates, and other forward-looking statements regarding future events. Such forward-looking statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties and are subject to factors, many of which are beyond the Company's control that may cause actual results or performance to differ materially from those currently anticipated in such statements.

Forward-looking and cautionary statements

This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities, nor shall there be any sale of securities in any state in the United States in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful. The securities referred to herein have not been and will not be registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration or an applicable exemption from registration requirements. This release may contain statements within the meaning of safe harbour provisions as defined under securities laws and regulations.

This release may contain certain forward-looking statements with respect to the financial condition, results of operations and business of the Company and certain of the plans and objectives of the Company with respect to the same. There is no assurance that the company's apparatus will be able to commercially produce lithium at the stated capacity. The purpose of the tests is to determine if it will be able to do so and successful completion of the tests cannot be assured as they are subject to risks and uncertainties associated with any new mineral processing method and characteristics of the material being processed.

By their nature, forward-looking statements involve risk and uncertainty because they relate to events and depend on circumstances that will occur in the future and there are many factors that could cause actual results and developments to differ materially from those expressed or implied by these forward- looking statements.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/127365
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - June 10, 2022) - Santacruz Silver Mining Ltd. (TSXV: SCZ) ("the Company" or "Santacruz") announces with great sadness that a valued employee lost his life in a fatal accident at the Reserva mine in Bolivia.

Grover Coro Gomez, age 38 was working as a driller's helper with a senior driller when trying to release stuck ore in the ore chute. He walked inside the ore chute without its life-line. When the material resumed its free fall to the ore chute it got him caught and killed him.

Safety personnel immediately followed mine rescue protocols to close the mine, rescue the injured, inform the family and authorities and conduct a detailed investigation. The Company extends its condolences and is taking care of the family in this time of need.

The Company emphasizes safety as the top priority in all its mining operations. The investigation conclusions and recommendations will be reviewed with key mine-site management and all workers at all mining operations to better understand what more can be done to improve safety performance.

About Santacruz Silver Mining Ltd.

The Company is engaged in the operation, acquisition, exploration and development of mineral properties in Latin America, with a primary focus on silver and zinc, but also including lead and copper. The Company currently has six producing projects, the Zimapan Mine, the Bolivar, Porco, Tres Amigos, Reserva and Colquechaquita Mines, holds two exploration properties in its mineral property portfolio, the La Pechuga Property and the Santa Gorgonia Prospect, and one development project, the Soracaya Project in addition to the San Lucas ore sourcing and trading business.

'signed'

Arturo Prestamo Elizondo,

Executive Chairman

For further information please contact:

Mars Investor Relations

Telephone: (778) 999 4653

scz@marsinvestorrelations.com

Arturo Prestamo Elizondo

Santacruz Silver Mining Ltd.

Email: info@santacruzsilver.com

Telephone: (604) 569-1609

Forward looking information

Certain statements contained in this news release constitute "forward-looking information" as such term is used in applicable Canadian securities laws, including statements relating to production at the Zimapan Mine and the Company's plans to grow it.

Forward-looking information is based on plans, expectations and estimates of management at the date the information is provided and is subject to certain factors and assumptions. In making the forward-looking statements included in this news release, the Company has applied several material assumptions, including that the Company's financial condition and development plans do not change as a result of unforeseen events and that future metal prices and the demand and market outlook for metals will remain stable or improve. Forward-looking information is subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties and other factors that could cause plans, estimates and actual results to vary materially from those projected in such forward-looking information. Factors that could cause the forward-looking information in this news release to change or to be inaccurate include, but are not limited to: the risk that any of the assumptions referred to above prove not to be valid or reliable; market conditions and volatility and global economic conditions, including increased volatility and potentially negative capital raising conditions resulting from the continued, or escalation of the COVID-19 pandemic and risks relating to the extent and duration of such pandemic and its impact on global markets; controls or regulations and political or economic developments in Mexico and Bolivia; risk of delay and/or cessation in planned work or changes in the Company's financial condition and development plans; risks associated with the Company's plan to undertake certain post-closing reorganization steps in respect of the target entities; the uncertainty of the geology, grade and continuity of mineral deposits and the risk of unexpected variations in mineral resources, grade and/or recovery rates; risks related to gold, silver, base metal and other commodity price fluctuations; employee relations; relationships with and claims by local communities and indigenous populations; availability and increasing costs associated with mining inputs and labour; the speculative nature of mineral exploration and development, including the risks of obtaining necessary licences and permits and the presence of laws and regulations that may impose restrictions on mining; risks relating to environmental regulation and liability; the possibility that results will not be consistent with the Company's expectations, as well as the other risks and uncertainties applicable to mineral exploration and development activities and to the Company as set forth in the Company's continuous disclosure filings filed under the Company's profile at www.sedar.com.

There can be no assurance that any forward-looking information will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, the reader should not place any undue reliance on forward-looking information or statements. The Company undertakes no obligation to update forward-looking information or statements, other than as required by applicable law.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/127368
The Bell of World Peace and Love Rings in Turkey: Seven International Leaders Pray for World Peace

ISTANBUL, Turkey, June 10, 2022) was invited by Dr. Akkan Suver, president of the Marmara Group Foundation, to participate in the 25th Eurasian Economic Summitin Istanbul, Turkey on June 7-9.



Dr. Akkan Suver, who initiated the Eurasian Economic Summit, warmly welcomed all participants to the event, one of the world's most important summits, which is held annually and brings together decision makers and experts in the fields of economics, politics, religion, energy, sociology, and security. Through dialogue, the Summit fosters active collaboration among leaders in various fields for sustainable development.

This year's summit, under the theme of "Build Back Better," focused on the post-pandemic era and the major impact of the conflict between Russia and Ukraine on the world, while addressing issues, such as new energy economy, global partnership, digitalization, a greener planet, dialogue among cities, food and commodity crisis, hunger, poverty, climate change, involuntary migration, and others. It was attended by hundreds of distinguished guests from over 40 countries, including heads of state and government, ambassadors, ministers, mayors, and leaders from all walks of life.

Dr. Hong, Tao-Tze, president of FOWPAL, delivered a speech, emphasizing, "We firmly believe that a culture of peace and a culture of conscience are the foundation that sustains all cultures of the world, and they are also the core of sustainable economic development. A good culture nurtures a good education while a quality education leads to a healthy economy. Through the promotion of a culture of conscience and conscience-driven education, and by integrating the strengths of other cultures and education systems, we will be able to foster national economic growth and usher in stability and prosperity." He pointed out, "To resolve conflicts with love and conscience is the embodiment of great wisdom."

FOWPALhas been promoting the International Day of Conscienceand the importance of consciencein the past few years and has received warm responses during the Summit. FOWPAL was invited to deliver five sessions of cultural performances, including martial arts, dance, music, and singing. The fabulous performances and profound cultural meanings touched people's hearts and electrified the audience. In the opening session of the summit, FOWPAL amazed the attendees with an elegant "Peacock Dance," which symbolized love, peace, and warmth, brought blessings to the Summit, and conveyed FOWPAL's best wishes for the end of the war and pandemic.

Young volunteers for FOWPALalso performed a number of inspiring songs, such as "We Can Change the World," "A Prayer for Peace," and "We Are One World," conveying their voices and their vision of a united world where people treat one another as family, which was in line with the spirit of the Summit. Through these performances, FOWPAL encouraged people to work together and take action to create a peaceful and sustainable world. FOWPAL's performances not only gave people a sense of joy and positive energy, but also spread the culture of conscience, which resonated with the audience.

Another highlight of the summit was the ceremonies of ringing the Bell of World Peace and Love. The Bell of World Peace and Love, which weighs 240 kg and has consolidated the wishes for peace of over 400 leaders, rang in Turkey for the first time. On the closing dayof the conference on June 9, the organizer invited FOWPALto specially host the solemn ceremony of ringing the "Bell of World Peace and Love." Seven influential leaders rang the Bell, including President Emil Constantinescu of Romania, and Djabir Doko, Deputy Minister of Political System and Inter-Community Relations of North Macedonia. President of Croatia Stjepan Mesic (2000-2010), who rang the Bell in 2016 in India, also attended the summit.

Dr. Akkan Suverrang the Bell and stated, "For peace! For peace! For peace!" He said in the name of peace, stability, love, and world peace, the bell ringing ceremony was conducted. This was the first time that Dr. Suver participated in such a ceremony. He emphasized that it is important for everyone to work together and have dialogue to promote stability and conscience. "We need a dialogue, and if we have a dialogue, we can find any solution to any problem." He congratulated the FOWPAL delegation and expressed his gratitude to FOWPALfor organizing the bell ringing ceremony.

Filip Vujanovic, president of Montenegro, president of Romania (1996-2000) wished for peace and understanding.

Moncef Marzouki, president of Tunisia (2011-2014), when interviewed by FOWPAL during the summit, stated, "We need peace. What's happening between Ukraine and Russia is danger not only for this region, but the whole world because it could lead to the Third World War, so we badly need initiatives like yours. And I do support what you're doing because once again, peace is the most important thing for everybody. We cannot talk about human rights unless we have peace." "What you are doing is extremely important. I would like to congratulate you. Please go ahead. We need every initiative, everybody supporting peace."

Dr. Hong, Tao-Tze, president of FOWPAL, presented to bell ringers special gifts created by FOWPAL, including the Compass Clock of Conscience, An Anthology of Conscience by Dr. Hong, the "Key to the Heart," and a book entitled The History of International Day of Conscience. The clock represents time, direction, and goal, guides people toward the right path of life, and reminds them to seize every moment to apply conscience and do good deeds. The anthology is a collection of the excerpts on conscience from Dr. Hong's speeches presented on various occasions around the globe, which serves as a wellspring of wisdom for the recipients in the promotion of a culture of conscience. The key symbolizes that conscience is the key to unlocking a brighter future for the world. The book entitled The History of International Day of Conscience documents major events leading up to the United Nations' designation of April 5 as the International Day of Conscience.

Dr. Werner Fasslabend, who is former defense minister of Austria and rang the Bell in 2018, stated that conscience is "a personal regulator, a personal principle that makes you go the right way. And if everybody does it, it will lead into a world of love and peace. Only when there is love in the world, when people try to understand each other, when we try to cooperate, not be against the other side, but to do something in common, then you can reach peace and stability. This is also the basis for freedom."

The top of the Bell of World Peace and Love is engraved with "Love of the World, A Declaration of Peace." FOWPALhopes that people can return to a peaceful world in which there is no pain, no fear, no war, and no suffering. To date, 417 important leaders from 128 countries have rung the Bell, including 49 heads of state and government, seven Nobel Peace Prize laureates, United Nations ambassadors, and leaders from all walks of life. FOWPAL just finished its trip to Stockholm, where it hosted ceremonies of ringing the Bell of World Peace and Love on June 1-3, 2022, during Stockholm+50, and eleven leaders, including environment ministers, UNEP officers, and environmental activists, rang the Bell to pray for the sustainable development of all humanity.

FOWPAL has been actively involved in environmental protection. It participated in the World Summit on Sustainable Development, where six visionary leaders, including the then President of Ethiopia Girma Wolde-Giorgis, rang the Bell.

The 2012 United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development, and 25 visionary leaders rang the Bell, including the then President of Costa Rica Laura Chinchilla Miranda; President of East Timor and 1996 Nobel Peace Prize laureate Jose Ramos-Horta; the then Prime Minister of Bhutan Jigme Thinley; Pedro Passos Coelho, the then Prime Minister of Portuguese Republic; and Angel Gurria, the then Secretary General of Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), consolidating more positive energy and hope for a sustainable future of love and peace on Earth.

FOWPAL urges everyone to take action to support love, peace, conscience, and human rights. To date, the Declarations for Human Rights of World Citizens and Peacehave been endorsed by over 3.7 million people in 179 nations, and the Declaration for the Movement of An Era of Conscience and Declaration of International Day of Consciencehave been endorsed by 330,000 people in 196 nations. FOWPAL hopes that everyone will act with conscience so that the world will be peaceful, and that everyone will be joyful so that every family will be happy.

About the Federation of World Peace and Love: Established in 2000 in the United States by Dr. Hong, Tao-Tze, FOWPAL is an international love and peace organization, with members from around the world. It is guided by the principle that changing the world for the better starts with one good thought. Over the past two decades, FOWPAL has promoted conscience, love, and peace globally and attended Earth Summits to promote SDGs. It had worked with various Permanent Missions to the UN through conferences, bell ringing ceremonies, and declaration signing, making the UN's adoption of the International Day of Conscience in July 2019 possible. They have held over 55 webinarsin the past two years, fostering conscience-based sustainability.

Media Contact:

Lily Chen

Representative

info@fowpal.org

626-202-5268

www.fowpal.org

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/f2a1472e-0731-4de7-bd49-6f5663e62163

The photo is also available at Newscom, www.newscom.com, and via AP PhotoExpress
RIYADH, Saudi Arabia, June 11, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Jazeera Paints, the leading manufacturer of paints, colors, and construction solutions, held on Wednesday, June 8, 2022, in Hilton Riyadh, its All in One seminar. The seminar highlighted the company's 42-year journey to the groundbreaking achievement it holds today in the industry. All in One is a slogan for the solutions Jazeera Paints, as a company, provides to its valued clients. Products ranging from architectural, decorative, industrial, and marine products to protective paint, wood paint, and fire-resistant paint products, among other unique products. The product range has been carefully designed to meet the needs and expectations of customers when it comes to preference for base paints, pastes, insulation, external textures, and interior paints.

Guests arrived around 6:30 p.m. and were greeted by Jazeera Paints' managers. Government representatives from various Saudi ministries, such as Ministry of Health and Ministry of Sport, delegates from prominent Saudi banks, and renowned Saudi engineers and interior designers were among the attendees. The seminar was well-received by the audience, witnessing the variety of Jazeera Paints' products and the extent to which a local brand can adhere to the highest international standards. The evening's star was Rust Effect, which invited engineers and interior designers to marvel at its breathtaking beauty and uniqueness among the company's other products. The seminar came to an end with a discussion of the Rust Effect, its characteristics, and various applications.

Mr. Abdullah Al-Romaih, CEO of Jazeera Paints, expressed his joy and pride in what the company has accomplished thus far in the paints, colors, and construction solutions industry, exceeding all expectations. The seminar honors the company's and employees' efforts to provide the best and finest products for our valued customers. Jazeera Paints set out to provide high-quality products that meet international standards to the Saudi, GCC, and MENA markets.

About Jazeera Paints

Founded in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia in 1979, Jazeera Paints is a pioneering paint manufacturer in the Gulf Cooperation Council and Middle East and North Africa region, with an established reputation for manufacturing and exporting high-quality and eco-friendly paints. Since the founding of the company, its production capacity has grown to 400,000 tons annually, and Jazeera Paints is now displayed in more than 650 active showrooms!

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NEW YORK, June 11, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- As per the Zion Market Research study, The global end cartoning machine market is expected to grow at a 5.1% CAGR during the forecast period. The global market is projected to surpass $9.2m by 2028. The report analyzes the end cartoning machine market's drivers, restraints/challenges, and the effect they have on the demands during the projection period. In addition, the report explores emerging opportunities in the global end cartoning machine market.

Key Industry Insights & Findings of the End Cartoning Machine Market Reports:

As per the analysis shared by our research analyst, the End Cartoning Machine Market is expected to grow annually at a CAGR of around 5.1 % (2022-2028).

(2022-2028). Through the primary research, it was established that the End Cartoning Machine Market was valued at projected to reach roughly USD 9.2 Million by 2028.

Million by 2028. The global end cartoning machine market is anticipated to be dominated by Asia-Pacific registering the highest CAGR during the forecast period.

registering the highest CAGR during the forecast period. The heavily invested healthcare industry is also expected to boost the global market share of North America during the forecast period.

during the forecast period. The Middle East and Latin America have also been showing signs of growing exponentially in the global market for the forecast period.

Zion Market Research published the latest report titled "End Cartoning Machine Market By Product Type (Less Than 70 CPM, 70 CPM To 150 CPM, 150 CPM To 400 CPM, And More Than 400 CPM), By Orientation (Horizontal And Vertical), By Dimensions (Less Than 200 CC, 200 CC To 1,000 CC, 1,000 CC To 5,000 CC, 5,000 CC To 10,000 CC, And More Than 10,000 CC), By End-Use (Food & Beverage, Personal Care, Healthcare, And Others), And By Region: Global And Regional Industry Overview, Market Intelligence, Comprehensive Analysis, Historical Data, And Forecasts 2022 - 2028" into their research database.

End Cartoning Machine Market: Overview

End cartoning machine is the equipment used at the very end of the packaging process. The global market is spread across multiple sectors including pharmaceuticals, food & beverages, and personal care which have shown the most use for the product.

Cartoning machines are used to mechanically pick one single piece of carton from a folded stack of cartons, erect the selected carton, fill the sealed carton from the open end and then completely seal it from all ends. End cartoning is an important aspect of packaging since it helps in maintaining the product's quality.

End cartoning machines are sometimes specially designed as per business needs and are patented for further use. Cartoning machines can be categorized mainly into two types: horizontal and vertical. Their use depends on business requirements.

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Industry Dynamics:

End Cartoning Machine Market: Growth Drivers

Increase in demand for sundry goods, packaged food items, FMCG products, and cosmetics to become critical growth drivers.

The global market has been witnessing a surge in demand for packaged food items, cosmetics, FMCG, and sundry goods. The changing customer preference is propelling the global market toward growth. Business leaders have also been utilizing the global market demand in their favor by launching multiple options for the same kind of products. The availability of multiple options is a key tactic to increase global market size. Consequently, this will increase the demand cycle for the end cartoning machines causing the global end cartoning machine market to grow during the forecast period.

Increased investment in advanced technology/innovation and brand differentiation to propel market growth.

The competitive global market has forced market leaders to constantly look for innovative technologies to meet versatile market demands. The increased monetary and non-monetary investment in innovation is anticipated to become a leading growth driver in the global market.

Multiple business competitors are added to the market daily. Hence brand differentiation becomes important for businesses to leave a mark on consumers. The need for brand differentiation has been higher than ever in current market situations propelling the global market growth.

Rise in e-commerce and automation to assist global market growth

In the last few years, e-commerce has shown exponential growth. Meeting the rising demands caused by e-commerce has forced the global market to grow simultaneously.

Market leaders are keen on automating as many processes as they can to eliminate manual errors and save time & energy. The increase in automation in monotonous processes to become a key global market growth driver.

End Cartoning Machine Market: Restraints

Non-essential cost reduction to restraint global market growth.

The volatility of the global market has caused businesses to re-do and work within the budget to garner profits. This has caused many organizations to cut down on non-essential expenses. With this decision, packaging can sometimes become a part of the non-critical component of the product. This restrains the growth of the global end cartoning machine market.

Changes in climatic conditions to affect the global market growth

Drastic changes in climatic conditions affect the working capacity of end cartoning machines. This adversely affects the maintenance of machines and hampers the quality of the service provided negatively impacting the growing global market.

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Global End Cartoning Machine Market: Opportunities

Investment in end cartoning machines catering to multiple requirements is showing growth prospects.

With the changing market demands and dynamics, investing in the manufacturing of multi-purpose machines is an excellent opportunity for business owners. This will improve the quality of the service and will help in meeting business demands on time.

Expanding mechanization to provide more opportunities for growth.

The need of the hour is to mechanize redundant work to maintain demand and supply balance. With the number of businesses increasing every day, their requirements are likely to rise exponentially in the coming future. Forecasting and preparing for the future demands is showing excellent opportunities for end carton machine manufacturers.

Global End Cartoning Machine Market: Challenges

Dynamic carton complexity and variation pose a challenge to the global market.

Advancement in need for complex cartons or need-based variations in cartons poses a challenge to the global market growth. Since end cartoning machines are expensive investments, it becomes difficult to cater to the varying needs of users causing challenging situations in the global end cartoning machine market.

Lack of flexibility may challenge the global market growth.

The consumer market has become flexible with its needs. Manufacturers are seen facing challenges to match up with the demand flexibility of the end-users. The lack of flexibility on time is anticipated to create challenging situations in the global market during the forecast period. Current machines are designed to create one type of end carton diminishing the capacity to meet newer needs.

Automation to create challenges due to delays in technical support

Automation solutions typically run on closed systems. Technical support is outsourced in such cases. Solving a problem related to the machines becomes time-consuming, creating a challenge for the manufacturers to deliver on time.

Global End Cartoning Machine Market: Segmentation

The global end cartoning machine market is segmented based on the product type, orientation, dimension, end-user, and region.

Based on product type, the global market is segmented into less than 70 CPM, 70 CPM to 150 CPM, 150 CPM to 400 CPM, and more than 400 CPM. The market share is led by 70 CPM to 150 CPM because they can cater to the needs of multiple manufacturers including small and large scale manufacturers.

Based on orientation, the global market is segmented into horizontal and vertical. Horizontal machines are projected to establish higher growth owing to their cost-effectiveness and flexibility.

Based on dimension, the global market is segmented as less than 200 CC, 200 CC to 1,000 CC, 1,000 to 5,000 cc, 5000 CC to 10,000 CC and more than 10,000 cc. Dimensions of 200 cc to 1000 cc are expected to grow more than the rest since most of the packed items can fit into these dimensions.

Based on end-user, the global market is segmented into food & beverages, personal care, and healthcare amongst others. Food & beverages claim the highest share in the market because of product efficiency found in the market. Healthcare is showing signs of registering the highest CAGR following the use of tracking technology where products can be traced during the packaging process. Consumer goods are expected to show moderate to substantial growth.

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List of Key Players in End Cartoning Machine Market:

Omori Machinery Co.

PMI Cartoning Inc.

ROVEMA GmbH

ACG Worldwide Private Limited

Molins Langen

EconoCorp Inc. (US)

Douglas Machine Inc.

IWK Verpackungstechnik GmbH

Bosch Packaging Technology

IMA AUTOMATION

Pakona

Langley Holding PLC

PMR Packaging Inc.

Cama 1 S.P.A

Coesia S.P.A

Key questions answered in this report:

What are the growth rate forecast and market size for End Cartoning Machine Market?

What are the key driving factors propelling the End Cartoning Machine Market forward?

What are the most important companies in the End Cartoning Machine Market Industry?

What segments does the End Cartoning Machine Market cover?

How can I receive a free copy of the End Cartoning Machine Market sample report and company profiles?

Report Scope:

Report Attribute Details Revenue forecast in 2028 USD 9.2 Million Growth Rate CAGR of almost 5.1 % 2022-2028 Base Year 2020 Historic Years 2016 - 2021 Forecast Years 2022 - 2028 Segments Covered By Product Type, By Application, and By End Use Forecast Units Value (USD Million), and Volume (Units) Quantitative Units Revenue in USD million/billion and CAGR from 2022 to 2028 Regions Covered North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America, and Middle East & Africa, and Rest of World Countries Covered U.S., Canada, Mexico, U.K., Germany, France, Italy, Spain, China, India, Japan, South Korea, Brazil, Argentina, GCC Countries, and South Africa, among others Companies Covered Omori Machinery Co., PMI Cartoning, Inc., ROVEMA GmbH, ACG Worldwide Private Limited, Molins Langen, EconoCorp Inc. (US), Douglas Machine Inc., IWK Verpackungstechnik GmbH, Bosch Packaging Technology, IMA AUTOMATION, Pakona, Langley Holding PLC, PMR Packaging Inc., Cama 1 S.P.A, Coesia S.P.A Report Coverage Market growth drivers, restraints, opportunities, Porter's five forces analysis, PEST analysis, value chain analysis, regulatory landscape, market attractiveness analysis by segments and region, company market share analysis, and COVID-19 impact analysis. Customization Scope Avail customized purchase options to meet your exact research needs. https://www.zionmarketresearch.com/custom/3430

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Recent Developments:

January 2020 witnessed the introduction of horizontal machines by Marchesini Group, a USA -based supplier of individual machines & complete packaging line. The machine consists of technology that can adjust according to the product. It is equipped with a digital indicator to assist quality functioning.

witnessed the introduction of horizontal machines by Marchesini Group, a -based supplier of individual machines & complete packaging line. The machine consists of technology that can adjust according to the product. It is equipped with a digital indicator to assist quality functioning. In July 2019 , Douglas Machine Inc, a USA -based secondary packaging solutions provider, innovated a packaging machine that creates 34 cases per minute used in packaging frozen food cartons. They named the product 'Axiom IM Case Packer'. The cartoning machine works on the quality handling of cartons and operates at high speed.

, Douglas Machine Inc, a -based secondary packaging solutions provider, innovated a packaging machine that creates 34 cases per minute used in packaging frozen food cartons. They named the product 'Axiom IM Case Packer'. The cartoning machine works on the quality handling of cartons and operates at high speed. In August 2018 , Robert Bosch LLC, a German MNC in engineering and technology, launched a Kliklok end-load cartoner that can generate 170 containers per minute. It is a mid-range end load cartoner designed to maintain food safety while reaching high standards of production.

Regional Dominance:

Huge demand for advanced packaging solutions.

The global end cartoning machine market is anticipated to be dominated by Asia-Pacific registering the highest CAGR during the forecast period. India and China are expected to lead the market share in the Asia Pacific owing to the huge demand for advanced packaging solutions to meet the market demands. The spurt in e-commerce is also attributed to the high market share owned by these regions.

This is followed by North America, given the huge consumer demands for packaged food products. The heavily invested healthcare industry is also expected to boost the global market share of North America during the forecast period.

The Middle East and Latin America have also been showing signs of growing exponentially in the global market for the forecast period. The underlying reason is the growing investor portfolio in these territories along with higher awareness of well-packaged food items.

Europe has been on a steady growth curve owing to the adoption of carton 4.0 by countries like Italy and Germany. The focus of packaging manufacturers in Europe has been on tying up with domestic manufacturers to better reach the target market.

Global End Cartoning Machine Market is segmented as follows:

End Cartoning Machine Market: By Product Type Outlook (2022-2028)

Less than 70 CPM

70 CPM to 150 CPM

150 CPM to 400 CPM

More than 400 CPM

End Cartoning Machine Market: By Orientation Outlook (2022-2028)

Horizontal

Vertical

End Cartoning Machine Market: By Dimension Outlook (2022-2028)

Less than 200 CC

200 CC to 1,000 CC

1,000 to 5,000 cc

5000 CC to 10,000 CC

More than 10,000 cc

End Cartoning Machine Market: By End-user Outlook (2022-2028)

Food & beverages,

Personal care

Health care

Others

End Cartoning Machine Market: By Region Outlook (2022-2028)

North America

The U.S.

Canada

Europe

France

The UK

Spain

Germany

Italy

Rest of Europe

Asia Pacific

China

Japan

India

South Korea

Southeast Asia

Rest of Asia Pacific

Latin America

Brazil

Mexico

Rest of Latin America

Middle East & Africa

GCC

South Africa

Rest of Middle East & Africa

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19th Shangri-La Dialogue kicks off in Singapore

Xinhua) 14:15, June 11, 2022

SINGAPORE, June 11 (Xinhua) -- The 19th Shangri-La Dialogue, hosted by International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS), opened here Friday evening after a two-year COVID-19 pandemic hiatus.

Leading the Chinese delegation to the dialogue, Chinese State Councilor and Minister of National Defense Wei Fenghe will address a plenary session on Sunday.

He is expected to introduce China's policy, principles and actions on safeguarding true multilateralism, regional peace and stability, and building a shared future for humanity.

Wei, on the sidelines of the dialogue, are to meet heads of other delegations on international and regional situation, as well as bilateral cooperation on defense and security.

Important topics on the agenda of the dialogue include China's vision on regional order, geopolitical competition control, and climate and maritime security.

Since its launch in 2002 by the British think tank IISS with the support of the Singaporean government, the Shangri-La Dialogue, officially known as the Asia Security Summit, has been held annually except for 2020 and 2021.

(Web editor: Zhong Wenxing, Bianji)
NEW YORK, June 11, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- As per the Zion Market Research study, The global silicone adhesives and sealants market attained a revenue growth of USD 4.52 billion in 2021 and is projected to expand with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of approximately 5.1 percent over the forecast period to reach around USD 5.89 billion by 2028. The research examines in-depth parent market trends, macroeconomic factors & indicators, and controlling variables, as well as market attractiveness by segment. The qualitative influence of key market variables on market segments and regions is also mapped in the report.

Key Industry Insights & Findings of the Tissue Sealants and Tissue Adhesive Market Reports:

As per the analysis shared by our research analyst, the Tissue Sealants and Tissue Adhesive Market is expected to grow annually at a CAGR of around 5.1 % (2022-2028).

(2022-2028). Through the primary research, it was established that the Cognitive and Memory Enhancer Drugs Market was valued at approximately USD 4.52 Billion in 2021 and is projected to reach roughly USD 5.89 Billion by 2028.

Billion in 2021 and is projected to reach roughly Billion by 2028. The Asia Pacific region holds over 45 percent share and is expected to keep its dominance during the forecast period. Due to expanding domestic demand, escalating income levels, and easy access to resources, Asia Pacific has emerged as one of the top manufacturers and consumers of adhesives and sealants.

region holds over 45 percent share and is expected to keep its dominance during the forecast period. Due to expanding domestic demand, escalating income levels, and easy access to resources, has emerged as one of the top manufacturers and consumers of adhesives and sealants. Asia Pacific region's economic growth, especially in emerging markets like India , Malaysia , Taiwan , Thailand , Indonesia , and Vietnam , is contributing to a rise in the number of infrastructure investments, which is anticipated to boost the demand for silicone adhesives and sealants in the building and construction industry.

region's economic growth, especially in emerging markets like , , , , , and , is contributing to a rise in the number of infrastructure investments, which is anticipated to boost the demand for silicone adhesives and sealants in the building and construction industry. North America has also emerged as a major revenue contributor in the global market with a market share of 35 percent.

Zion Market Research published the latest report titled "Silicone Adhesives And Sealants Market By Type (One-Component And Two-Component), By End-User Industry (Transportation, Building & Construction, Electrical & Electronics, Healthcare, Packaging, And Other End-User Industries), And By Region - Global And Regional Industry Overview, Market Intelligence, Comprehensive Analysis, Historical Data, And Forecasts 2022 - 2028" into their research database.

Tissue Sealants and Tissue Adhesive Market: Overview

Silicone adhesives and sealants are adhesives with silicon and oxygen atoms that are used to seal or attach substrates in an assembly. Its chemical makeup differs from that of other organic polymer-based adhesives. Other chemicals, moisture, and weathering are all resistant to silicone sealants. Silicone sealants are frequently used to join surfaces including plastic, metal, and glass. Silicone adhesives, which are based on electrometric technology, provide unrivaled flexibility and exceptional heat resistance, making them superlative for several applications in the electronic, electrical, aerospace, automotive, and construction sectors.

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Industry Dynamics:

Tissue Sealants and Tissue Adhesive Market: Growth Drivers

Increased demand from the building and construction sector may boost market growth.

The residential building sector is being driven by population growth and urbanization in emerging nations such as India, China, Indonesia, Brazil, Vietnam, and Mexico. In these nations, there is a mounting want for lasting housing, which is fueling the requirement for silicone adhesives and sealants. Silicone sealants and adhesives are used in a variety of building applications, including carpet, wallpapers, tiling, and external insulation systems. Insulated glass modules and curtain wall panels are also held in place with adhesives and sealants.

Tissue Sealants and Tissue Adhesive Market: Restraints

Stringent regulations on the use of adhesives and sealants may hamper the market growth.

The manufacture of chemical and crude oil-based goods is heavily regulated in North America and Europe by environmental legislation. The manufacture of solvent-based goods in these regions is regulated by organizations such as the Epoxy Resin Committee and the European Commission. Due to such regulations manufacturers in Europe and North America are suffering. Further, these environmental laws are forcing manufacturers to work on developing environmentally friendly adhesives which may also affect the market growth.

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Global Tissue Sealants and Tissue Adhesive Market: Opportunities

Increasing demand for sustainable and eco-friendly adhesives is likely to offer better growth opportunities for market growth.

The United States Environmental Protection Agency, Registration, Evaluation, Authorization, and Restriction of Chemicals in Europe, Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design in the United States, and other regional regulatory bodies have forced manufacturers of adhesives and sealants to create sustainable and environmentally friendly products with no or low VOC levels. However, manufacturers have benefited greatly from the trend toward more environmentally friendly products. Henkel, a leading adhesives and sealants firm, provides solvent-free solutions including H4710, H4500, H4720, and H3151 that comply with environmental requirements. Sustainable and green adhesive solutions created from recycled, renewable, biodegradable, or remanufactured materials are becoming more popular as the demand for ecologically friendly or green buildings grows. All of these factors are projected to drive opportunities for the global silicone adhesives and sealants market in the coming period.

Global Tissue Sealants and Tissue Adhesive Market: Challenges

A shift in standards and rules poses a major challenge to the market expansion.

In terms of norms and rules, the silicone adhesives and sealants sector is always changing. The Construction Products Regulation (CPR) imposed new regulations for the advertising of construction products in the EU, such as regulation (EU) No 305/2011. Manufacturers must carry an additional burden in terms of labeling and documentation, as well as additional external testing expenses, to verify conformity under the new standards. Additional material warnings concentrating on biocides and waste packaging are issued on a regular basis, causing regulatory requirements to shift. To market, their products, adhesives, and sealants producers must follow the norms and changing requirements. Manufacturers are facing hurdles as a result of this.

Global Tissue Sealants and Tissue Adhesive Market: Segmentation

The global silicone adhesives and sealants market is bifurcated into type, end-use, and region.

Based on type, the market is categorized into one component and two-component. The end-user segment of the market is segregated into building & construction, transportation, healthcare, electrical & electronics, packaging, and others.

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List of Key Players in Tissue Sealants and Tissue Adhesive Market:

3M

ALSTONE

Henkel Corporation

Mc Coy Soudal

Momentive

Dow Corning Corporation

Aerol Formulations Private Limited

MASTERBOND

Sika AG

AVERY DENNISON

ACC Silicones Ltd.

Wacker Chemie AG

Novagard Solutions

American Sealants Inc.

Nitto Denko Corporation.

Key questions answered in this report:

What are the growth rate forecast and market size for Tissue Sealants and Tissue Adhesive Market?

What are the key driving factors propelling the Tissue Sealants and Tissue Adhesive Market forward?

What are the most important companies in the Tissue Sealants and Tissue Adhesive Market Industry?

What segments does the Tissue Sealants and Tissue Adhesive Market cover?

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Report Scope:

Report Attribute Details Market size value in 2021 USD 4.52 Billion Revenue forecast in 2028 USD 5.89 Billion Growth Rate CAGR of almost 5.1 % 2022-2028 Base Year 2020 Historic Years 2016 - 2021 Forecast Years 2022 - 2028 Segments Covered By Product Type, By Application, and By End Use Forecast Units Value (USD Billion), and Volume (Units) Quantitative Units Revenue in USD million/billion and CAGR from 2022 to 2028 Regions Covered North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America, and Middle East & Africa, and Rest of World Countries Covered U.S., Canada, Mexico, U.K., Germany, France, Italy, Spain, China, India, Japan, South Korea, Brazil, Argentina, GCC Countries, and South Africa, among others Companies Covered 3M, ALSTONE, Henkel Corporation, Mc Coy Soudal, Momentive, Dow Corning Corporation, Aerol Formulations Private Limited, MASTERBOND, Sika AG, AVERY DENNISON, ACC Silicones Ltd., Wacker Chemie AG, Novagard Solutions, American Sealants, Inc., and Nitto Denko Corporation. Report Coverage Market growth drivers, restraints, opportunities, Porter's five forces analysis, PEST analysis, value chain analysis, regulatory landscape, market attractiveness analysis by segments and region, company market share analysis, and COVID-19 impact analysis. Customization Scope Avail of customized purchase options to meet your exact research needs. https://www.zionmarketresearch.com/custom/3453

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Recent Developments:

August 2021 , Arkema has agreed to buy Ashland's Specialty Adhesives business, which is a first-class leader in high-performance adhesives for commercial applications in the US with a distinctive and creative product range. This idea fits in well with the company's goal of becoming a pure specialized adhesive materials company by 2024.

, Arkema has agreed to buy Specialty Adhesives business, which is a first-class leader in high-performance adhesives for commercial applications in the US with a distinctive and creative product range. This idea fits in well with the company's goal of becoming a pure specialized adhesive materials company by 2024. February 2020 , Henkel opened its new work site in Kurkumbh, Pune, India . The business unit, which has a total investment of almost USD 57 million , intends to meet the expanding need for high-performance sealants and adhesives surface treatment products in Indian industries. The new facility, which was designed as a smart factory, is capable of a wide variety of Industry 4.0 processes and fulfills the highest sustainability criteria.

, Henkel opened its new work site in Kurkumbh, . The business unit, which has a total investment of almost , intends to meet the expanding need for high-performance sealants and adhesives surface treatment products in Indian industries. The new facility, which was designed as a smart factory, is capable of a wide variety of Industry 4.0 processes and fulfills the highest sustainability criteria. November 2020 , Full-Care 5885 was created by H.B. Fuller to fulfill the expanding need for natural-based hygiene products in the industry. This adhesive provides excellent performance by providing high-performance 100 percent cotton bonding with reduced application costs.

Regional Dominance:

The Asia Pacific to dominate the global market over the forecast period.

Geographically, Asia Pacific led the global silicone adhesives and sealants market. The region holds over 45 percent share and is expected to keep its dominance during the forecast period. Due to expanding domestic demand, escalating income levels, and easy access to resources, Asia Pacific has emerged as one of the top manufacturers and consumers of adhesives and sealants. One of the largest users of adhesives and sealants in this region is the automobile and transportation industries. Asia Pacific region's economic growth, especially in emerging markets like India, Malaysia, Taiwan, Thailand, Indonesia, and Vietnam, is contributing to a rise in the number of infrastructure investments, which is anticipated to boost the demand for silicone adhesives and sealants in the building and construction industry. North America has also emerged as a major revenue contributor in the global market with a market share of 35 percent.

Global Tissue Sealants and Tissue Adhesive Market is segmented as follows:

Tissue Sealants and Tissue Adhesive Market: By Type Outlook (2022-2028)

One-component

Two-component

Tissue Sealants and Tissue Adhesive Market: By Application Outlook (2022-2028)

Transportation

Building and Construction

Electrical and Electronics

Healthcare

Packaging

Other

Tissue Sealants and Tissue Adhesive Market: By Region Outlook (2022-2028)

North America

The U.S.

Canada

Europe

France

The UK

Spain

Germany

Italy

Rest of Europe

Asia Pacific

China

Japan

India

South Korea

Southeast Asia

Rest of Asia Pacific

Latin America

Brazil

Mexico

Rest of Latin America

Middle East & Africa

GCC

South Africa

Rest of Middle East & Africa

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The global Blow Molded Plastics Market accrued earnings worth approximately 76.1 (USD Billion) in 2020 and is predicted to gain revenue of about 99.2(USD Billion) by 2028, is set to record a CAGR of nearly 3.5% over the period from 2021 to 2028. Fatty Esters Market - Global Industry Analysis : The global Fatty Esters Market accrued earnings worth approximately 21.1 (USD Billion) in 2020 and is predicted to gain revenue of about 32.1 (USD Billion) by 2028, is set to record a CAGR of nearly 5.7% over the period from 2021 to 2028.

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Browse through Zion Market Research's coverage of the Global Chemical & Materials Industry

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NEW YORK, June 11, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- As per the Zion Market Research study,The global tissue sealants and tissue adhesive market was worth around USD 1.5 billion in 2021 and is estimated to grow to about USD 2.9 billion by 2028, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of approximately 8.6 percent over the forecast period. The report analyzes the tissue sealants and tissue adhesive market's drivers, restraints/challenges, and the effect they have on the demands during the projection period. In addition, the report explores emerging opportunities in the tissue sealants and tissue adhesive market.

Key Industry Insights &Findings of the Tissue Sealants and Tissue Adhesive Market Reports:

As per the analysis shared by our research analyst, the Tissue Sealants and Tissue Adhesive Market is expected to grow annually at a CAGR of around 8.6% (2022-2028).

(2022-2028). Through the primary research, it was established that the Cognitive and Memory Enhancer Drugs Market was valued at approximately USD 1.5 Billion in 2021 and is projected to reach roughly USD 2.9 Billion by 2028.

Billion in 2021 and is projected to reach roughly Billion by 2028. Large population and technical advancements, North America accounted for the largest share of tissue sealants and tissue adhesive.

accounted for the largest share of tissue sealants and tissue adhesive. State-of-the-art medical research facilities and rising investments in healthcare infrastructure in this region, and also heightened understanding among both physicians & patients relating to therapeutic approaches, enhanced life expectancy, and a rising population will push growing demands for tissue sealants and tissue adhesives in the Asia Pacific region.

Zion Market Research published the latest report titled "Tissue Sealants And Tissue Adhesive Market By Product (Natural Or Biological Sealants & Adhesives And Synthetic & Semi-Synthetic Adhesives), By Application (General Surgery, Orthopedic Surgery, Gynecology Surgery, Cardiovascular Surgery, Cosmetic Surgery, Neurosurgery, And Other Applications), By End-User (Ambulatory Surgery Centers, Specialty Clinics, And Hospitals), And By Region - Global And Regional Industry Overview, Market Intelligence, Comprehensive Analysis, Historical Data, And Forecasts 2022 - 2028"into their research database.

Tissue Sealants and Tissue Adhesive Market: Overview

Sealants are materials used by surgeon to heal tissue that has been injured by a surgery or injury. Skin, internal organs, and blood vessels are among the tissues that have been damaged. Sealants are used in combination with mechanical procedures like sutures and staples to assist minimize blood loss and avoiding leaks. Tissue adhesives are liquid monomers that, when exposed to a moist surface (skin), begin an exothermic reaction, transforming into a polymer that establishes a strong tissue connection.

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2022 Updated Report Introduction, Overview, and In-depth industry analysis

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Zion Market Research methodology

Industry Dynamics:

Tissue Sealants and Tissue Adhesive Market: Growth Drivers

Increase in number of orthopedic and cardiovascular procedures to foster the market.

Over the forecast period, rising cardiovascular and orthopedic surgeries are expected to drive revenue growth in the global tissue sealants and tissue adhesive market. The ease of availability of novel tissue adhesives and tissue sealants among end users, combined with rising disposable money, is a major driver in the global increase in such procedures. Adhesives are essential in general surgery. Natural and manufactured polymeric materials can be used to create three-dimensional networks that adhere to target tissues chemically and physically, acting as adhesives, sealants, or hemostats. Because adhesives and sealants are such an important aspect of general surgery, demand for them will rise as the number of procedures performed increases. As a result, market growth is likely to be boosted.

Tissue Sealants and Tissue Adhesive Market: Restraints

Less market penetration for tissue sealants and adhesives in developing countries hinders the growth.

The market's growth is also likely to be hampered by the dearth of acceptance of tissue glue and bio-adhesive sealants in developing markets. This is due to a lack of knowledge about the advantages, cost-effectiveness, therapeutic application, and reliability of tissue adhesive and tissue sealants against alternative procedures or products, as well as tissue healing therapies.

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Global Tissue Sealants and Tissue Adhesive Market: Opportunities

Technological advancement for product launches creates numerous opportunities for market growth.

Companies have been working on the development of novel tissue glue and bio-adhesive sealants to reach a variety of consumers, including toddlers, and young and elderly patients, during the last few years. Tissue sealants are currently used to protect sensitive, fragile, skin from damage, and to prevent cross-contamination & infection transmission. For innovative product launches, major companies are investing heavily in R&D activities. All such factors are likely to generate numerous opportunities for the global tissue sealants and tissue adhesive market growth during the forecast period.

Global Tissue Sealants and Tissue Adhesive Market: Challenges

Limitations in the development of tissue adhesive to act as a major challenge for the market growth.

Despite the fact that many tissue adhesives form strong connections with tissue, they are frequently not designed for specific tissue applications. Tissue adhesives, in particular, do not biodegrade at a rate consistent with tissue repair, cause an unwanted inflammatory response upon adhesion or disintegration, fail to cohere in high-load-bearing applications, or do not match the characteristics of the underlying tissue. In the early stages of development, rigorous differentiation of target applications and greater in-depth investigation of tissue-surface features and tissue-environmental parameters are necessary. Despite the fact that the surface of the tissue and the surrounding environment change amongst tissues, the most typical technique is to utilize one type of adhesive for all conceivable tissues. This "one-size-fits-all" approach frequently results in tissue adhesive misuse, leading to inferior performance and dampening enthusiasm for potentially promising new materials. This could also lead to an incorrect cost-effectiveness analysis for specified unmet clinical requirements in the early stages of development, culminating in an exaggeration of cost in later stages of development and obstructing clinical translation. A failure to understand the physiological effects of adhesive materials after implantation is another factor for the research-to-product mismatch. All such limitations may pose challenges to market growth.

Global Tissue Sealants and Tissue Adhesive Market: Segmentation

The global tissue sealants and tissue adhesive market is categorized based on product, application, end-user, and region.

Based on the product, the market is divided into semi-synthetic & synthetic adhesives and biological or natural sealants. The application segment consists of neurosurgery, cosmetic surgery, cardiovascular surgery, gynecology surgery, orthopedic surgery, general surgery, and other applications. The end-user segment is bifurcated into ambulatory surgery centers, specialty clinics, and hospitals.

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List of Key Players inTissue Sealants and Tissue Adhesive Market:

Integra LifeSciences

C.R Bard

Smith & Nephew

Exapharma

Johnson & Johnson

Baxter International Inc.

Tissuemed Ltd.

Chemence Medical Inc.

Cohera Medical Inc.

Luna Innovations Incorporated

Key questions answered in this report:

What are the growth rate forecast and market size for Tissue Sealants and Tissue Adhesive Market?

What are the key driving factors propelling the Tissue Sealants and Tissue Adhesive Market forward?

What are the most important companies in the Tissue Sealants and Tissue Adhesive Market Industry?

What segments does the Tissue Sealants and Tissue Adhesive Market cover?

How can I receive a free copy of the Tissue Sealants and Tissue Adhesive Market sample report and company profiles?

Report Scope:

Report Attribute Details Market size value in 2021 USD 1.5 Billion Revenue forecast in 2028 USD 2.9 Billion Growth Rate CAGR of almost 8.6 % 2022-2028 Base Year 2020 Historic Years 2016 - 2021 Forecast Years 2022 - 2028 Segments Covered By Product Type, By Application, and By End Use Forecast Units Value (USD Billion), and Volume (Units) Quantitative Units Revenue in USD million/billion and CAGR from 2022 to 2028 Regions Covered North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America, and Middle East & Africa, and Rest of World Countries Covered U.S., Canada, Mexico, U.K., Germany, France, Italy, Spain, China, India, Japan, South Korea, Brazil, Argentina, GCC Countries, and South Africa, among others Companies Covered Integra LifeSciences, C.R Bard, Smith & Nephew, Exapharma, Johnson & Johnson, Baxter International Inc., Tissuemed Ltd., Chemence Medical, Inc., Cohera Medical, Inc., and Luna Innovations Incorporated Report Coverage Market growth drivers, restraints, opportunities, Porter's five forces analysis, PEST analysis, value chain analysis, regulatory landscape, market attractiveness analysis by segments and region, company market share analysis, and COVID-19 impact analysis. Customization Scope Avail of customized purchase options to meet your exact research needs. https://www.zionmarketresearch.com/custom/3454

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Recent Developments:

In January 2020 , Polyganics, a medical technology business that develops, manufactures, and sells bioresorbable medical devices, revealed that LIQOSEAL, its effortless and unique dural sealant patch, has received CE certification and will be available in Europe immediately.

, Polyganics, a medical technology business that develops, manufactures, and sells bioresorbable medical devices, revealed that LIQOSEAL, its effortless and unique dural sealant patch, has received CE certification and will be available in immediately. In December 2019 , Johnson & Johnson Medical Devices Companies announced that Ethicon has released VISTASEAL Fibrin Sealant (Human) to assist surgeons minimize bleeding during surgery. VISTASEAL Fibrin Sealant (Human) is made up of fibrinogen and thrombin, which are both clotting proteins present in human plasma. It creates a fast, adherent, and permanent clot after placed on the bleeding site and has been shown to maintain hemostasis (blood stoppage) in high-risk patients.

Regional Dominance:

North America is the leader in the global market.

Among the regions, North America is estimated to lead the global tissue sealants and tissue adhesive market during the forecast period. Because of its large population and technical advancements, North America accounted for the largest share of tissue sealants and tissue adhesive. However, the market for tissue sealants and tissue adhesives is expected to expand significantly in Asia Pacific countries. Factors such as state-of-the-art medical research facilities and rising investments in healthcare infrastructure in this region, and also heightened understanding among both physicians & patients relating therapeutic approaches, enhanced life expectancy, and a rising population will push growing demands for tissue sealants and tissue adhesives in Asia Pacific region.

Global Tissue Sealants and Tissue Adhesive Market is segmented as follows:

Tissue Sealants and Tissue Adhesive Market:ByProduct Outlook(2022-2028)

Natural or Biological Sealants and Adhesives

Synthetic and Semi-Synthetic Adhesives

Tissue Sealants and Tissue Adhesive Market: By ApplicationOutlook (2022-2028)

General Surgery

Orthopedic Surgery

Gynecology Surgery

Cardiovascular Surgery

Cosmetic Surgery

Neurosurgery

Other Applications

Tissue Sealants and Tissue Adhesive Market: By End-user Outlook (2022-2028)

Hospitals

Specialty Clinics

Ambulatory Surgery Centers

Tissue Sealants and Tissue Adhesive Market:By Region Outlook(2022-2028)

North America

The U.S.

Canada

Europe

France

The UK

Spain

Germany

Italy

Rest of Europe

Asia Pacific

China

Japan

India

South Korea

Southeast Asia

Rest of Asia Pacific

Latin America

Brazil

Mexico

Rest of Latin America

Middle East & Africa

GCC

South Africa

Rest of Middle East & Africa

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Orthopedic Navigation Systems Market - Global Industry Analysis : The global Orthopedic Navigation Systems market accrued earnings worth approximately 2.1(USD Billion) in 2020 and is predicted to gain revenue of about 7.3 (USD Billion) by 2028, is set to record a CAGR of nearly 14.7% over the period from 2021 to 2028.

The global Orthopedic Navigation Systems market accrued earnings worth approximately 2.1(USD Billion) in 2020 and is predicted to gain revenue of about 7.3 (USD Billion) by 2028, is set to record a CAGR of nearly 14.7% over the period from 2021 to 2028. Intravenous Infusion Pumps Market - Global Industry Analysis : The global Intravenous Infusion Pumps market accrued earnings worth approximately 4.7 (USD Billion) in 2020 and is predicted to gain revenue of about 8.9 (USD Billion) by 2028, is set to record a CAGR of nearly 8.1% over the period from 2021 to 2028.

The global Intravenous Infusion Pumps market accrued earnings worth approximately 4.7 (USD Billion) in 2020 and is predicted to gain revenue of about 8.9 (USD Billion) by 2028, is set to record a CAGR of nearly 8.1% over the period from 2021 to 2028. Disposable Hospital Gowns Market - Global Industry Analysis: The global Disposable Hospital Gowns market accrued earnings worth approximately 2.02 (USD Billion) in 2020 and is predicted to gain revenue of about 5.72 (USD Billion) by 2028, is set to record a CAGR of nearly 13.8% over the period from 2021 to 2028.

Browse through Zion Market Research's coverage of the Global Medical Device Industry

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About Us

Zion Market Research is an obligated company. We create futuristic, cutting-edge, informative reports ranging from industry reports, and company reports to country report. We provide our clients not only with market statistics unveiled by avowed private publishers and public organizations but also with vogue and newest industry reports along with pre-eminent and niche company profiles. Our database of market research reports comprises a wide variety of reports from cardinal industries. Our database is been updated constantly in order to fulfill our clients with prompt and direct online access to our database. Keeping in mind the client's needs, we have included expert insights on global industries, products, and market trends in this database. Last but not the least, we make it our duty to ensure the success of clients connected to us-after all-if you do well, a little of the light shines on us.

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Introducing unique, interactive, immersive learning experiences for the future of education

PHOENIX, June 11, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- In June 2022, GeniusX Inc. announced the closing of $1.68M in seed funding at a $20M market cap. As an indie development studio in the frenzied virtual reality ecosystem with a concentration in VR Education, the CEO & Co-Founder, Nick Janicki, says, "Our mission is to create experiences that have utility, longevity, and uplift the human spirit. Our first VR title, Retreat, is basically an immersive hero's journey for tangible real-world skills." Co-Founder, Lyle Maxson, adds, "We are creating the first social VR platform centered around educational influencers."

Retreat is a virtual reality education application that creates interactive, immersive learning experiences with the world's top experts in the Metaverse. With photo realistic backgrounds and real-life videos of educators, students get to choose their own virtual reality adventure through interactive learning worlds, customized group classrooms, and exquisite immersive environments.

Retreat production is fully booked through 2022 with dozens of immersive courses being created. The line-up ranges from wellness practices such as yoga, breath work, & art therapy to professional development content, including financial literacy, public speaking and career skills.

A lead investor of GeniusX and founder of ETW, Lee Benson, stated: "When I think about the future of education, VR and AR have the ability to take it to the next level."

Retreat will be free to download and offers in-app purchases for courses and other educational content. GeniusX is actively onboarding the world's top experts per category.

For any questions or requests, reach out to laura@geniusx.com for more information.

GeniusX Inc.

https://retreatvr.io

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On January 5, 2022 local time, State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi held talks with Minister of Foreign Affairs of Eritrea Osman Saleh Mohammed in Asmara.



Wang Yi said, it has been 32 years in a row for Chinese foreign ministers to visit Africa at the beginning of the year. This demonstrates the solidarity and cooperation between China and Africa, and also shows that China's diplomacy always stands on the side of developing countries. Eritrea is the first country on this tour to Africa. China cherishes its traditional friendship with Eritrea and is willing to open up new prospects for the development of bilateral relations. The greatest outcome of this visit is that the two sides reached a consensus and the two heads of state have made major political decisions to elevate China-Eritrea relations to the strategic partnership, which serves the fundamental and long-term interests of the two countries and two peoples. China would like to take this opportunity to advance bilateral all-around mutually beneficial cooperation, open a new chapter in bilateral relations and bring more benefits to the two peoples. The two sides should strengthen the synergy of the "nine programs" put forward at the Eighth Ministerial Conference of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation to inject strong impetus into future cooperation.

Wang Yi said, as strategic partners, China and Eritrea should more firmly support each other on issues concerning each other's core interests and major concerns. We should strengthen coordination and cooperation in international and multilateral affairs, hold high the banner of multilateralism, and oppose hegemony and power politics. We stay committed to promoting democracy in international relations and safeguarding international fairness and justice. China will always stand by our African brothers, and China's vote in the United Nations always belongs to developing countries.

Osman said, the establishment of the strategic partnership between Eritrea and China will push bilateral relations to a new height. Eritrea fully agrees with the "nine programs" initiative proposed by President Xi Jinping, and is ready to work with China to align and implement the cooperation framework plan, strengthen cooperation in infrastructure, ports, industrial parks and other fields, and translate the willingness of cooperation into tangible results. Eritrea and China share common ideas on issues such as peace and stability, sovereignty and independence, mutually beneficial development, and equity and justice. Eritrea firmly pursues the one-China policy and supports China's just position on issues related to China's Taiwan, Hong Kong, Xinjiang, and the South China Sea. It is Eritrea's long-standing tradition to stand with China. Eritrea is ready to strengthen coordination and cooperation with China to jointly safeguard the legitimate interests of developing countries.

Following the talks, the two sides signed the Joint Statement by Foreign Ministers of China and Eritrea.
On June 7, 2022 local time, State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi held talks with Kazakh Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mukhtar Tileuberdi in Nur-Sultan.

Wang Yi said, China-Kazakhstan relations have withstood the tests of twists and turns over the past 30 years, and the two sides have established a permanent comprehensive strategic partnership. Our mutual trust and friendship have reached an unprecedented high, setting a model for state-to-state relations. China-Kazakhstan friendship embodies the painstaking efforts and wisdom of several generations of leaders and people of the two countries and should be cherished all the more. China always regards Kazakhstan as a brotherly neighbor with high mutual trust and a strategic partner for win-win cooperation. China is ready to follow through on the strategic arrangements of the two heads of state, earnestly take stock of the valuable experience in the development of bilateral relations over the past 30 years, carry forward traditional friendship, enhance strategic mutual trust, firmly support each other, be a strong buttress for each other's stability and revitalization, and jointly forge the next golden three decades of China-Kazakhstan relations.

Tileuberdi warmly welcomed Wang Yi's visit, saying that this visit is of great significance for deepening Kazakhstan-China permanent comprehensive strategic partnership. Under the guidance of the two heads of state, Kazakhstan-China relations have maintained a high level of development. Kazakhstan regards China as an eternal neighbor and all-weather friend, attaches great importance to the unique and special friendly relations between the two countries, always prioritizes relations with China in Kazakhstan's diplomacy, and is full of confidence in the future of Kazakhstan-China relations. He expressed readiness to take the opportunity of the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties to well plan the prospects of bilateral strategic cooperation, deepen practical cooperation in a wide range of areas, and constantly inject new impetus into the development of Kazakhstan-China relations.

The two sides agreed to advance high-quality Belt and Road cooperation, and give full play to mechanisms such as the China-Kazakhstan Cooperation Committee, the dialogue on production capacity and investment cooperation, and the China-Kazakhstan Sub-national Cooperation Forum, so as to pursue diversified, in-depth and high-level bilateral cooperation.

The two sides are pleased with the strong resilience shown by the robust recovery of bilateral economic and trade cooperation, and are ready to strengthen cooperation on production capacity, investment and energy, expand cooperation in manufacturing, and prioritize the implementation of social and livelihood projects in Kazakhstan, so as to help diversify its economic structure. The two sides will explore new growth drivers of high-tech cooperation such as 5G, artificial intelligence and green energy, and jointly build a green Silk Road and a digital Silk Road.

The two sides will continue to enhance connectivity and forge efficient, convenient and digitalized freight train service, which has been hailed as a "steel camel fleet". The land ports on the China-Kazakhstan borders have all resumed operation, and the two sides will make good use of the joint prevention and control mechanism to speed up the passage of goods.

Both sides agreed to strengthen anti-pandemic cooperation. Tileuberdi expressed heartfelt thanks to the Chinese side for its timely and important assistance in Kazakhstan's fight against the pandemic. The two sides will promote the establishment of a traditional Chinese medicine center in Kazakhstan and deepen cooperation in traditional medicine.

The two sides agreed to promote the establishment of cultural centers in each other's countries and carry out people-to-people and cultural exchanges in diverse forms, so as to enhance people-to-people ties.

The two sides agreed to facilitate personnel exchanges and set up consulates general in Xi'an and Aktobe respectively. The Kazakh side said that it would extend the visa-free period for Chinese citizens from 72 hours to 14 days.

The two sides agreed to continue to support each other in the international arena, strengthen coordination and collaboration in regional organizations, fully leverage the strengths of the new platform of the "China+Central Asia" (C+C5) cooperation mechanism, and work together for the success of the upcoming third C+C5 Foreign Ministers' Meeting. The two sides also agreed to vigorously carry forward the Shanghai Spirit and maintain the momentum of the steady development of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization. China supports Kazakhstan in hosting the sixth Summit of the Conference on Interaction and Confidence Building Measures in Asia, and will work with Kazakhstan to safeguard regional security and development, and prevent the turbulence in Europe from being replicated in the region. Kazakhstan is welcome to take an active part in BRICS Plus cooperation.

The two sides also exchanged views on the regional situation and other issues of common concern.

After the talks, the two sides jointly met the press.
On June 4, 2022, Chinese Ambassador to Cyprus Liu Yantao published an article titled "Pooling Strength to Drive Global Development" in Cyprus Mail, the English newspaper with the largest circulation in Cyprus. The article elaborates on the international context, profound connotation and practical significance of the Global Development Initiative (GDI) solemnly proposed by Chinese President Xi Jinping at the General Debate of the United Nations General Assembly in September 2021, which has gained positive response and support from the international community. Ambassador Liu calls on China and Cyprus to give full play to their respective advantages, expand extensive cooperation and seek common development and prosperity. The GDI conforms to the historical trend and meets the needs of all countries, welcome the active participation of all countries including Cyprus, and inject new impetus for the smooth realization of the 2030 Agenda and global sustainable development. The full text is as follows:

We live in a time when the world is beset by global changes and a pandemic both unseen in a century. The deficits in peace, development, trust, and governance are very prominent. In particular, development has become the most pressing issue facing countries around the world. The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Report 2021 released by the United Nations (UN) shows that the pandemic has severely hampered the efforts to achieve the SDGs. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres recently called on the international community on a series of UN occasions to rescue the SDGs with stepped-up efforts to bring them back on track. He said that we must rise higher to rescue the SDGs and make it our highest common priority.

Last September, Chinese President Xi Jinping solemnly proposed the Global Development Initiative (GDI) at the General Debate of the 76th Session of the United Nations General Assembly, calling on the international community to accelerate implementation of the 2030 SDGs for stronger, greener and healthier global development and foster a global community of development with a shared future. The priority areas for cooperation include poverty alleviation, food security, COVID-19 response and vaccines, development financing, climate change and green development, industrialization, digital economy and connectivity. Over six months since the GDI was proposed, more than 100 countries have expressed support and 55 countries have joined the Group of Friends of the GDI in UN. Many countries have begun to cooperate on strengthening policy dialogue, sharing good practices, and promoting practical cooperation, which has gained early harvest. On May 9, 2022, the High-level Virtual Meeting of the Group of Friends of GDI themed as Deepening Cooperation under GDI for Accelerated Implementation of the 2030 Agenda, was held at the UN Headquarters in New York. More than 150 representatives from over 60 countries attended the Meeting, including UN Secretary-General Guterres and high-level government officials from different countries. The participants applauded China's leading role in promoting the implementation of the SDGs, and conducted in-depth exchanges with the UN development agencies on practical cooperation under the GDI framework, looking forward to working with the group members to deepen cooperation in priority areas and contribute to the global development. The increasing attraction of GDI can be mainly attributed to three aspects:

First, the GDI has sublimated the concept of development. It upholds the core concept of a people-centered approach, and takes the improvement of people's livelihood and the achievement of all-round development of people as the starting and end point. It advocates that people all over the world have the right to pursue and live a better life, facilitates accelerated development of developing countries - particularly the vulnerable ones facing exceptional difficulties and supports the common development of vulnerable groups within a country. It encourages all countries in the world to achieve sustainable development while actively addressing challenges such as the digital divide, climate change, and growth traps, without leaving a single country behind. Embedded in the spirit of true multilateralism, the GDI opposes the politicization and marginalization of the development issue, and supports all countries in the world to find a development path that best suits them based on their own national conditions. The GDI firmly safeguards the international system with the UN as its core, unswervingly supports the overall coordination role of the UN in the process of sustainable development, and advocates to jointly practice the global governance concept of extensive consultation, joint contribution and shared benefits.

Second, the GDI has created a consensus on development. The practice of various countries tells us that development is the foundation and key to solving all problems. Currently, the world economic recovery has suffered setbacks, the development gap between the North and the South has widened, and the momentum of development cooperation has weakened. In particular, regional conflicts have exacerbated worldwide energy and food crisis. The GDI puts sustainable development atop the international cooperation agenda, in line with the strong expectation of all stakeholders for sustainable development. At the recent Jakarta Forum on China-ASEAN Relations 2022, ASEAN countries agreed that the prolonged pandemic and the turbulent international situation have further delayed the implementation of the 2030 Agenda. It is necessary for the international community to strengthen coordination for joint responses. Strengthening the strategic alignment of the GDI with the vision of the ASEAN Community will also help build the ASEAN Community and inject new impetus into the process of regional integration. More and more facts have proved that the GDI responds to the call of the times, meets the needs of various countries, and reflects the world trend as well as peoples aspiration.

Third, the GDI has coordinated the resources for development. It echoes the key directions of the 17 SDGs, tackles the most urgent challenges in global development, and provides useful platforms for all parties to match development needs and conduct project-based cooperation. The GDI facilitates the sharing and exchanges of development experiences among developed and developing countries so as to create synergy for coordinated global development. To achieve the SDGs, the UN has launched in recent years multiple processes that involve regional and sub-regional mechanisms and UN development agencies. The GDI focuses on coordinated development at the global, regional and national levels to generate multiplier effect, and encourages international organizations, governments, business, academia and civil societies to play their roles to strike up the symphony for the implementation of the 2030 Agenda.

China is a champion for global development, and more so a country of action of development cooperation. In the future, the GDI will focus on four key aspects to deliver more concrete results: coping with global crises, promoting the implementation of the UN 2030 Agenda, working to deepen South-South cooperation, and tapping the potential of development resources. China will take multipronged measures to implement the GDI, such as holding a high-level conference on global development, increasing investment in resources for development, enhancing support for the China-UN Peace and Development Fund, establishing a GDI project database, releasing the GDI Report, promoting international exchange and sharing of development know-how.

Currently Cyprus is at a crucial juncture of economic recovery, transformation and development. The country promotes the development strategies including "Cyprus Tomorrow" and "Vision 2035", and takes concrete steps in the areas of green digital transformation, economic competitiveness reshaping, and health system reform. Meanwhile, it also faces many challenges such as sustainable growth, energy, climate change, poverty reduction, and illegal immigration. In the Joint Statement on the Establishment of Strategic Partnership between China and Cyprus in 2021, the two countries proposed to "promote cooperation in various important areas in the agenda of the UN including poverty alleviation, fight against COVID-19, climate change, etc., and add incentives to expediting the implementation of the Agenda 2030 for Sustainable Development and achieving stronger, greener and healthier global development. China stands ready to work with Cyprus under the framework of strategic partnership and the GDI, to further enhance the alignment of development strategies of the two countries, deepen cooperation in jointly building the "Belt and Road" in particular the green, digital, health and innovative Silk Roads. The two countries shall give full play to their respective advantages, expand cooperation across the board, and strive for common development and prosperity, and embrace a brighter future. Together we will contribute ChinPrus (a coined word of China and Cyprus) strength to the implementation of 2030 Agenda and the global development.
On June 3, 2022 local time, Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea (PNG) James Marape met with State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Port Moresby.

Marape warmly welcomed Wang Yi's visit and recalled with pleasure his visit to China in February this year to attend the opening ceremony of the Olympic Winter Games Beijing 2022 on behalf of Pacific Island Countries and his fruitful and friendly exchanges with Chinese leaders. PNG admires the remarkable achievements China has made in its development and appreciates that China has accomplished its goal of poverty alleviation as scheduled and enabled its people to live a better life. PNG highly recognizes that developing countries have the same legitimate right to development. The Belt and Road Initiative proposed by China has brought extensive benefits to developing countries including PNG. He thanked China for its great support to PNG in accelerating development, especially in infrastructure construction.

Marape said, the important consensus reached by the two sides is becoming a reality, and the two countries have established strong political relations and close economic and trade ties. PNG firmly pursues the one-China principle and its friendship with China has become the consensus of the ruling and opposition parties. PNG has learned from China's development experience to set up special economic zones and yielded positive results. PNG will continue to dedicate itself to deepening practical cooperation between the two countries, accelerating the negotiation and conclusion of the free trade agreement and facilitating Chinese enterprises to invest in PNG.

Wang Yi said, PNG is a bellwether of regional development and the "locomotive" of cooperation between China and South Pacific Island Countries. Bilateral relations have stood the test of the international landscape, and the two countries have built solid mutual trust. China appreciates PNG's full understanding of and firm support for China's efforts to safeguard its core interests. China also unhesitatingly stands with PNG, speaks up for PNG on the international and multilateral stage and supports PNG in actively exploring a development path suited to its national conditions. As PNG moves towards revitalization and prosperity, China will always be a good friend and good partner that PNG can trust.

Wang Yi said, bilateral cooperation between China and PNG has shown vitality of multi-dimensional, multi-level and all-round development. China is ready to further synergize development strategies with PNG to explore new areas and open up new prospects for bilateral cooperation. The Chinese side supports PNG in establishing special economic zones, vigorously developing processing industries, increasing the added value of goods, speeding up industrialization, enhancing its capacity for self-driven development and translating its strengths in resources into advantages in development. China is ready to share development opportunities with PNG and welcomes PNG to expand its export of quality products to China.

The two sides agreed to enhance people-to-people and cultural exchanges and people-to-people connectivity. Marape said, China is a member of the Pacific family, and the Pacific connects the PNG people and the Chinese people. PNG will remain firmly committed to its friendship with China. Wang Yi expressed his hope that people of the two countries will become good friends with mutual understanding and close exchanges, and more young people will join the cause of friendship between the two countries so that the friendship will be handed down from generation to generation.

On the same day, Wang Yi held talks with Foreign Minister of PNG Soroi Eoe, attended the signing ceremony of cooperation documents and jointly met the press.
Press release

Rwanda Bridge Builders (RBB), a Consultation Framework which brings together Rwandan Civil Society Organizations and Opposition Political Parties in exile, held its Ordinary General Meeting on 2-3 April 2022.

Considering the principles of the Rwanda Bridge Builders aimed to:

Promote equality for all Rwandans before national laws;

Combat all forms of discrimination between Rwandans, in particular ethnic discrimination in Memorial Ceremonies of victims of war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide since October 1, 1990 in Rwanda and Zaire-DRC;

Ensure the respect of equal justice for all those killed in Rwanda and neighboring countries.

Reaffirming the resolution on the Genocide against the Hutu taken by the Rwanda Bridge Builders General Meeting held on November 6, 7, 20 and 21, 2021 which, after having examined and analysed the massacres committed against the Hutu since 1990 in Rwanda and in Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), has unequivocally affirmed that the said massacres indeed constitute a Genocide against the Hutu;

Determined to uphold and implement the resolution on the Genocide against the Hutu;

Based on the following clear and complementary facts:

October 1990 : the genocide committed against the Hutu in all regions of Rwanda began with the war of invasion that the Rwandan Patriotic Front (RPF)-Inkotanyi launched against Rwanda from October 1, 1990 to July 1994. The genocide against the Hutu continued after 1994;

October 1996: the attack on refugee camps in Zaire by the RPF-Inkotanyi in October 1996 resulted in the extermination of hundreds of thousands of Hutu refugees;

October 2010: the UN Mapping Report on RPF crimes in the DRC between 1993 and 2003 was published on October 1, 2010. These crimes were qualified as war crimes, crimes against humanity and crimes of genocide against Rwandan Hutu refugees and have led to the death of millions of Congolese citizens.

During its General Meeting of 2 to 3 April 2022, Rwanda Bridge Builders (RBB) has adopted the following resolutions:

An Annual Mourning Ceremony to commemorate the victims of the Genocide perpetrated against the Hutu in Rwanda and in the Democratic Republic of Congo will take place in October of each year. Rwanda Bridge Builders (RBB) will make every effort to support access to justice for the families of Hutu victims and to obtain adequate reparation for them to the same extent as their Tutsi compatriots. Rwanda Bridge Builders will continue to participate in the commemoration of the Genocide perpetrated against the Tutsi in April each year as acknowledged by the United Nations. Rwanda Bridge Builders supports its member organizations and will participate in Memorial Ceremonies commemorating their loved ones based on personal or historical reasons.

These resolutions are made public on June 9, 2022

Rwanda Bridge Builders (RBB)

Coordinating Committee

Courriel rbbnew2021@gmail.com Telephone +337 85 64 67 93
Despite the what appears to be a waning pandemic, COVID-19 still has something of a grip on Benton County.

Right now, were in a plateau of high transmission, April Holland, Public Health deputy director, said during the Board of Commissioners meeting Tuesday, June 7. She said the disruptions from the virus continue to disrupt daily life and impact the most vulnerable.

Holland said the COVID-19 data from the week starting May 29 showed 245 cases, a rate of 259 per 100,000, were reported in the county, down from the week priors 305 reported cases.

However, she said the COVID-19 testing positivity rate is quite high at 14.4% in Benton County, where testing prevalence is second only to Multnomah County in the state.

We can use that positivity rate, given how undercounted cases are, to show that theres still a lot of COVID out there, even if our numbers are going up and down a bit, Holland said.

In terms of Centers for Disease Control and Prevention community metrics, the county is currently at a medium risk level, according to Holland, who said one of two criteria would push that to high risk.

The first criteria is if new COVID-19 hospitalizations reach 10 per 100,000 or more. The second one is if staffed hospital beds for COVID-19 patients reach 10% or more in the multicounty region.

Holland said the county is currently at four hospitalizations per 100,000 and COVID-19 patient beds are at 3.6%.

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We know that hospitalizations are a lagging indicator, she said. So, as our cases are plateauing, our hospitalizations are continuing to increase somewhat.

To reduce the risk of transmission, Holland suggested wearing effective masks in public indoor spaces and staying updated on COVID-19 vaccination. She said taking extra measures in higher risk settings can make a difference, regardless of the type of health threat.

Its harm reduction, Holland said. And harm reduction is public health.

Cody Mann covers Benton County and the cities of Corvallis and Philomath. He can be contacted at 541-812-6113 or Cody.Mann@lee.net. Follow him on Twitter via @News_Mann_.

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Final Phase 1/2 Study Results for AT-01 (Evuzamitide), Attralus's Novel Pan-Amyloid Imaging Agent for the Detection of Systemic Amyloidosis



Repeat PET/CT Imaging of a Patient with Systemic Amyloidosis using AT-01 (Evuzamitide) Identifies Organ-Specific Amyloid Regression

SAN FRANCISCO, June 03, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Attralus, Inc., a clinical stage biopharmaceutical company developing transformative medicines to improve the lives of patients with systemic amyloidosis, today announced that final data from the University of Tennessee Graduate School of Medicine from its Phase 1/2 trial of iodine evuzamitide (124I-AT-01), the companys pan-amyloid binding peptide in development as a radiotracer for the diagnosis of systemic amyloidosis, will be presented in both oral and poster presentations at the 2022 Society of Nuclear Medicine & Molecular Imaging (SNMMI) Annual Meeting. The SNMMI Annual Meeting is scheduled to be held June 11-14, 2021, in Vancouver, BC, Canada.

Oral Presentation Details

Abstract Title: Final Results of The First-In-Human Study of The Amyloid-Reactive Peptide 124I-p5+14, (Iodine[124I] Evuzamitide; AT-01) For the Detection of Systemic Amyloidosis

Presenter: Jonathan Wall, Ph.D., Distinguished Professor and Director of the University of Tennessee Graduate School of Medicines Amyloidosis and Cancer Theranostics Program

Jonathan Wall, Ph.D., Distinguished Professor and Director of the University of Tennessee Graduate School of Medicines Amyloidosis and Cancer Theranostics Program Session: Integrated Session 9: Cardiac Amyloidosis: Advances in Imaging and clinical applications

Integrated Session 9: Cardiac Amyloidosis: Advances in Imaging and clinical applications Date/Time: June 14, 2022, 8:45 a.m.  9:00 a.m. PDT



Poster Presentation Details

Abstract Title: Repeat PET/CT Imaging of a Patient with Systemic Amyloidosis Using iodine (124I) evuzamitide (124I-p5+14) Identifies Organ-Specific Amyloid Regression

Presenter: Emily Martin, PhD, Associate Professor, University of Tennessee Graduate School of Medicine

Emily Martin, PhD, Associate Professor, University of Tennessee Graduate School of Medicine Session: Meet-the-Author Poster Hall Reception

Meet-the-Author Poster Hall Reception Date/Time: June 13, 2022, 5:45 p.m.  7:00 p.m. PDT



For additional information, please visit the SNMMI Annual Meeting website.

Systemic amyloidosis is a group of progressive and debilitating diseases affecting more than 500,000 patients globally. It is a difficult disease to diagnose, and many patients are diagnosed years after the onset symptoms, said Gregory Bell, M.D., Chief Medical Officer of Attralus. Attralus is developing the first and only non-invasive, pan-amyloid, whole body imaging diagnostic designed to detect all types of systemic amyloidosis. We look forward to the presentation of these encouraging new data from Dr. Jonathan Walls Phase 1/2 trial for AT-01, at the SNMMI Annual Meeting.

About AT-01 Pan-Amyloid Diagnostic

AT-01 utilizes the companys pan-amyloid binding peptide as an amyloid-specific radiotracer to image all types of systemic amyloidosis by PET/CT imaging. In initial clinical trials, AT-01 has been shown to detect multiple types of amyloid deposits, including AL and ATTR, in major organs such as the heart, kidney, liver and spleen. Attralus obtained exclusive rights to commercialize 124I-AT-01 under a commercial license agreement with the University of Tennessee Research Foundation. The same PAR-peptide technology is utilized in AT-02 and AT-04, two of the companys therapeutic candidates.

About Systemic Amyloidosis

Systemic amyloidosis encompasses a diverse group of rare diseases that occur due to accumulation of toxic amyloid deposits in tissues and organs, a consequence of aberrant protein misfolding events. These diseases are progressive, debilitating and often fatal. Systemic amyloidosis is significantly underdiagnosed due to low awareness, lack of specific symptoms, and no current disease-specific diagnostics. The two most common forms of systemic amyloidosis are immunoglobulin light-chain-associated (AL) amyloidosis and transthyretin-associated amyloidosis (ATTR). There is a significant unmet need for new therapies and diagnostics in systemic amyloidosis.

About Attralus

Attralus is a clinical stage biopharmaceutical company focused on creating transformative medicines to improve the lives of patients with systemic amyloidosis. The companys proprietary pan-amyloid removal (PAR) therapeutics are designed to directly bind to and remove toxic amyloid in organs and tissues. By targeting the universal disease-causing pathology in systemic amyloidosis diseases, PAR therapeutics have the potential to treat and reverse disease in patients with all types and stages of systemic amyloidosis. Attralus was founded by scientific experts in the field of amyloidosis and the company is headquartered in San Francisco.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements, including statements related to the efficacy, continued development and potential of AT-01. Words such as novel, developing, first and only, potential, shown and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are based upon Attralus' current expectations. Forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties. Attralus' actual results and the timing of events could differ materially from those anticipated in such forward-looking statements as a result of these risks and uncertainties. Attralus expressly disclaims any obligation or undertaking to release publicly any updates or revisions to any forward-looking statements contained herein to reflect any change in Attralus' expectations with regard thereto or any change in events, conditions, or circumstances on which any such statements are based.

Contact:

Luke Heagle

Real Chemistry

(910) 619-5764

lheagle@realchemistry.com
ZURICH, Switzerland, June 10, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Ad hoc announcement pursuant to Art. 53 LR  Achiko AG (SIX: ACHI; OTCQB: ACHKF; ISIN CH0522213468) (Achiko, the Company) announces that Achiko will publish its annual report and its annual financial statements for the year 2021 on June 20, 2022 at the latest. As a company listed on SIX Swiss Exchange, Achiko is required to publish its annual report, together with the annual financial statements, within four months of the balance sheet date.



Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, new staffing, and training under difficult conditions in consequence of measures taken by several countries required a lot of management capacity. As a result, the publication of the annual report 2021, together with the annual financial statements and the audit report, will occur in the month of June 2022. Achiko has filed an exemption request with SIX Exchange Regulation (SER) regarding the publication of the annual report and the annual financial statements 2021. On April 28, 2022, SER granted Achiko the requested extension. Achiko filed a second extension request with SER regarding the publication of the annual report and the annual financial statements 2021. On May 30, 2022, SER granted Achiko the second extension. Achiko filed a third extension request with SER regarding the publication of the annual report and the annual financial statements 2021. On June 3, 2022, SER granted Achiko the third extension. Achiko filed a fourth extension request with SER regarding the publication of the annual report and the annual financial statements 2021. On June 10, SER granted Achiko the fourth extension.

The delay is a result of the matters previously announced including continuity of operations in the second half of the financial year as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic and the higher-than-expected manual administrative workload, in particular regarding the auditory reconciliation documentation.

Ahead of the Audited Financial Statements being published, the Company advises the following unaudited key financial figures:

2021 (USD$000s) 2020 (USD$000s) REVENUE 63 2,806 EBITDA LOSS 8,295 14,217 OPERATING LOSS 9,396 14,069 CURRENT LIABILITIES 6,144 5,496 TOTAL ASSETS 1,914 1,772 SHAREHOLDERS EQUITY (4,647) (4,052)

In an earlier announcement on May 19, 2022, the Company reported an unaudited adjusted EBITDA loss of USD$5.258m and noted the adjustments of stock-based items had yet to be completed. The final unaudited stock-based payments (share options, interest, financing costs, etc.) is USD$2.711m and includes an interest component of USD$0.835m. The difference between the earlier reported adjusted EBITDA loss and the final unaudited EBITDA loss of USD$8,295m is attributable to: (1) USD$0.713m in costs associated with a Swiss subsidiary and a result of retrieval of accounting records; (2) re-inclusion of director's fees of USD$0.500m (the Board of Directors and Advisory Board fees are substantially outstanding, unpaid and majority subordinated); (3) USD$1.876m of non interest Stock based payments; and (4) other miscellaneous adjustments.

In all, the operating losses in 2021 compared to the prior year, reflect continued investment in bringing AptameX , to commercialization in a challenging operating environment, and substantial cost reductions in the second half of 2021. Given the Companys position at year end, its focus was on commercializing AptameX. To that goal, and subsequent to the end of the reporting period, the company has successfully reported in-vivo performance results of AptameX indicating a highly sensitive and highly specific test at low viral loads for Covid-19, sales and marketing agreements with the largest Islamic organization in the world, Nahdlatul Ulama in Indonesia, updated production contracts with production partner Indofarma in Indonesia, obtaining a CE Mark enabling the Company to be able to sell AptameX in Europe, and has accepted USD$1.25m in financing in a range of equity and debt instruments.

As required by SER, Achiko hereby reprints para. I of SERs respective decision:

"The exemption application of Achiko (Issuer) dated June 10, 2022, requesting a fourth extension of the deadline to publish its 2021 annual report and to file such report with SIX Exchange Regulation AG until June 20, 2022, at the latest is granted with the following reservation (lit. a) and under the following conditions (lit. b):

SIX Exchange Regulation AG reserves the right to suspend trading of the registered shares of the Issuer in case its 2021 annual report is not published in accordance with the provisions on ad hoc publicity (Art. 53 of the Listing Rules [LR] in connection with the Directive on Ad hoc Publicity [DAH]) and not filed with SIX Exchange AG until Monday, June 20, 2022, 11:59 pm CET, at the latest. Achiko is required to publish a notice in accordance with the provisions on ad hoc publicity (art. 53 LR in connection with the DAH) concerning this decision until Friday, June 10, 2022, 23.59 am CET, at the latest. The notice must contain:

 the unaltered reproduction of the wording of para. I. of this decision, placed in a prominent position;

 the reasons for the application of the Issuer requesting a fourth extension of the deadline to publish its 2021 annual report and to file such report with SIX Exchange Regulation AG.

- the updated unaudited key figures such Net Revenues, EBITDA, EBIT, profits/loss, balance sheet total, equity etc. for the annual results 2021."

The date of the next annual general meeting will be announced in due course, once the Company has published its annual report and its annual financial statements for the year 2021.

ABOUT ACHIKO AG

Achiko AG (SIX: ACHI.SW; OTCQB: ACHKF; www.achiko.com) is developing disruptive diagnostic solutions that puts people first. The companys lead product is a rapid, reliable Covid-19 test with a companion app offering a user-friendly digital health passport. The test and companion app were launched in Indonesia in mid-2021 and an application for CE Mark approval in Europe will be submitted in 2022.

Achiko creates and develops aptamer-based diagnostics through its biotechnology division, AptameX and companion health apps via its digital mobile health technology division, Teman Sehat. The AptameX DNA aptamer tests can be rapidly chemically synthesized, are cost-effective and have wide potential across multiple disease diagnostics. Leveraging AptameX and Teman Sehat, Achiko aims to deliver fast, accurate and affordable diagnostic testing for a range of pathogenic diseases and therapeutic indications in the rapidly evolving healthcare diagnostics field.

Headquartered in Zurich, Achiko has offices in Jakarta, and staff around the world.

Media contacts:

ACHIKO AG

Investor Relations

E: ir@achiko.com

Switzerland & Global

Marcus Balogh

Farner Consulting Ltd.

E: achiko@farner.ch

T: +41 44 266 67 67

Disclaimer

This communication expressly or implicitly contains certain forward-looking statements concerning Achiko AG and its business. Such statements involve certain known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors, which could cause the actual results, financial condition, performance, or achievements of Achiko AG to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Achiko AG is providing this communication as of this date and does not undertake to update any forward-looking statements contained herein as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
Vancouver, British Columbia, June 10, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Imperial Helium Corp. (TSXV: IHC) (the Company or Imperial) is pleased to announce that it has today filed and mailed its management information circular (the Information Circular) and related meeting and proxy materials (collectively, the Meeting Materials) for its special meeting of the holders of common shares and preferred shares (collectively, the Imperial Shares) of the Company (the Shareholders) to be held on Tuesday, July 12, 2022 at 10:00 a.m. (Vancouver Time) at 1200 Waterfront Centre  200 Burrard Street, Vancouver, British Columbia, V7X 1T2 (the Meeting).



The purpose of the Meeting is to consider, and if thought advisable, to pass a special resolution, with or without variation (the Arrangement Resolution), approving the previously announced plan of arrangement with Royal Helium Ltd. under the provisions of the Business Corporations Act (British Columbia) (the Arrangement). Pursuant to the Arrangement, Royal will acquire all of the issued and outstanding Imperial Shares. Shareholders will receive 0.614 of a Royal common share (each whole share, a Royal Share) for each Imperial Share held (the Consideration).

The record date for determining the Shareholders that will be entitled to receive notice of and vote at the Meeting was fixed as the close of business on June 1, 2022 (the Record Date).

On June 2, 2022, the Company obtained an interim order (the Interim Order) of the Supreme Court of British Columbia (the Court), which, among other things, authorizes the calling and holding of the Meeting, stipulates the dissent rights granted to the Shareholders, and specifies certain other matters relating to the conduct of the Meeting. The granting of the Interim Order is a condition precedent to the completion of the Arrangement in addition to a final order of the Court concluding as to the the fairness of the terms and conditions of the Arrangement to minority Shareholders participating in the Arrangement at a hearing to be held following the Meeting, in the event the Shareholders approve the Arrangement. In accordance with the Interim Order, the Meeting Materials have been mailed to the Shareholders and are also available under the Companys profile on SEDAR at www.sedar.com.

Board Recommendation

After a thorough and careful review and consideration of the best interests of the Company, the terms of the Arrangement and its impact on the Shareholders and the Companys other stakeholders, a special committee (the Special Committee) consisting of R. Campbell Becher, Samuel Kyler Hardy, Peter Putnam, and Stephen Burleton, has concluded that the Consideration to be received by the Shareholders pursuant to the Arrangement is fair to such Shareholders and that the Arrangement is in the best interest of the Company. Accordingly, the Special Committee recommended that the Board approve the arrangement agreement between Royal and Imperial dated May 2, 2022 (the Arrangement Agreement) and that the Shareholders vote in favour of the Arrangement.

ON THE RECOMMENDATION OF THE SPECIAL COMMITTEE, THE BOARD RECOMMENDS THAT SHAREHOLDERS VOTE FOR THE ARRANGEMENT RESOLUTION.

Required Approvals

To be effective, the Arrangement Resolution must be approved by a special resolution passed by (i) at least two-thirds (66 %) of the votes cast by Shareholders who are present in person or represented by proxy and entitled to vote at the Meeting; and (ii) a simple majority of the votes cast by the Shareholders who are present in person or represented by proxy and entitled to vote at the Meeting, excluding votes for the Imperial Shares required to be excluded under Multilateral Instrument 61-101  Protection of Minority Security Holders in Special Transactions. Holders of approximately 16% of the issued and outstanding Imperial Shares on a diluted basis as of the date of the Information Circular, representing the directors and/or officers of the Company (the Supporting Shareholders), have entered into support agreements, pursuant to which the Supporting Shareholders have agreed, among other things, to vote in favour of the Arrangement.

The Imperial Shares are currently listed for trading on the TSX Venture Exchange (the TSXV). After the Arrangement, Royal intends to apply to have the Imperial Shares de-listed from the TSXV. Royal also intends to apply to the applicable securities regulatory authorities for an order declaring the Company to no longer be a reporting issuer in each of its reporting jurisdictions.

Your vote is important. The Meeting Materials provide a description of the Arrangement and the Arrangement Agreement and include certain additional information to assist Shareholders in considering how to vote on the Arrangement. You are urged to read this information carefully and, if you require assistance, to consult your tax, financial, legal or other professional advisors.

Whether or not you are able to attend, the Company encourages you to ensure that your Imperial Shares are voted at the Meeting by one of the means described in the Meeting Materials.

If you are a registered Shareholder of the Company and are unable to attend the Meeting in person, please sign and date the form of proxy included in the Meeting Materials and deposit it with Odyssey Trust Company (Odyssey) at United Kingdom Building, Suite 350  409 Granville Street, Vancouver, British Columbia, V6C 1T2, Attention: Proxy Department, by 10:00 a.m. (Vancouver Time) on Friday, July 8, 2022, or not later than 48 hours (excluding Saturdays, Sundays and holidays) before the time of the Meeting or any adjournment thereof at which the proxy is to be used.

If you are a non-registered Shareholder of the Company and receive the Meeting Materials through your broker or another intermediary, please complete and return the materials in accordance with the instructions provided to you by your broker or such other intermediary. If you are a non-registered shareholder and do not complete and return the materials in accordance with such instructions, you may lose the right to vote at the Meeting.

If you have any questions relating to the Arrangement, please contact Samuel Kyler Hardy, at 250-877-1394 or by email at khardy@cronincapital.ca. If you have any questions relating to the deposit of the Imperial Shares, please contact Odyssey, at 1-587-885-0960 or by email at sales@odysseytrust.com.

The Arrangement is expected to close in July 2022, subject to obtaining all required approvals and consents, as well as satisfying all required conditions, but no later than July 31, 2022.

Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and recent Provincial and Federal guidance regarding public gatherings, Shareholders and proxyholders are strongly encouraged not to attend the Meeting in person so that the Company can mitigate potential risks to the health and safety of Shareholders, employees, and the community. There will be strict limitations on the number of persons permitted entry to the physical meeting location and guests will not be permitted entry. Rather, the Company urges all Shareholders to vote by proxy in advance of the Meeting date.

About Imperial Helium Corp.

Imperial Helium Corp. is focused on the exploration and development of helium assets in North America, initially through the anticipated commercialization of its Steveville, Alberta helium discovery. With increasing helium supply shortfalls around the world, the Company is committed to becoming a supplier of helium to help meet the needs of the many critical industries which rely on this irreplaceable resource, including healthcare, electronics and semiconductors as well as aerospace and leak detection. Driven by Canadian geoscience and engineering expertise and supported by strategic alliances with key players in the helium and capital markets ecosystem, Imperial intends to leverage its proprietary well database to support longer-term growth. Imperial is based in Calgary, Alberta, and listed on the TSX Venture Exchange under the symbol IHC. To learn more about the Company and expand on the subject of helium, please visit www.imperialhelium.ca.

On behalf of the Board of Directors:

(signed) Samuel Kyler Hardy

Samuel Kyler Hardy

Executive Co-Chairman and Director

For more information please contact:

Imperial Helium Corp.

Tel: 250-877-1394

e-mail: khardy@cronincapital.ca

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

This news release contains certain forward-looking information and statements within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities laws concerning the proposed transaction and the business, operations and financial performance and condition of Imperial. Forward-looking statements and forward-looking information include, but are not limited to, the date and time of the Meeting; the Companys expectations that the Arrangement Resolution will be passed; and the Companys expectations with regards to the timing of the final order of the Court and the closing of the Arrangement. Except for statements of historical fact relating to Imperial, certain information contained herein constitutes forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are frequently characterized by words such as plan, expect, project, intend, believe, anticipate, estimate and other similar words, or statements that certain events or conditions may or will occur. Forward-looking statements are based on the opinions and estimates of the management of Imperial at the date the statements are made, and are based on a number of assumptions and subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual events or results to differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements. Many of these assumptions are based on factors and events that are not within the control of Imperial and there is no assurance they will prove to be correct.

Factors that could cause actual results to vary materially from results anticipated by such forward-looking statements include: risks of the helium exploration and development industry; the spread of COVID-19 and its variants and the impact of government policies to ameliorate COVID-19 and its variants; failure of plant, equipment or processes to operate as anticipated; changes in market conditions; risks relating to operations; fluctuating helium prices and currency exchange rates; changes in project parameters; and the possibility of project cost overruns or unanticipated costs.

These factors are discussed in greater detail in Imperials most recent managements discussion and analysis, which is filed on Imperials SEDAR profile and provides additional general assumptions in connection with these statements. Imperial cautions that the foregoing list of important factors is not exhaustive. Investors and others who base themselves on forward-looking statements should carefully consider the above factors as well as the uncertainties they represent and the risk they entail. Imperial believes that the expectations reflected in those forward-looking statements are reasonable, but no assurance can be given that these expectations will prove to be correct and such forward-looking statements included in this presentation should not be unduly relied upon.

Although Imperial 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.

Imperial does not undertake any obligation to update forward-looking statements if circumstances or managements estimates or opinions change except as required by applicable securities laws. The reader is cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements.
ISTANBUL, Turkey, June 10, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The pain and suffering brought forth by the war between Russia and Ukraine that broke out a few months ago has allowed the people of the world to deepen their understanding about the importance of peace. The Federation of World Peace and Love (FOWPAL) was invited by Dr. Akkan Suver, president of the Marmara Group Foundation, to participate in the 25th Eurasian Economic Summit in Istanbul, Turkey on June 7-9.



Dr. Akkan Suver, who initiated the Eurasian Economic Summit, warmly welcomed all participants to the event, one of the world's most important summits, which is held annually and brings together decision makers and experts in the fields of economics, politics, religion, energy, sociology, and security. Through dialogue, the Summit fosters active collaboration among leaders in various fields for sustainable development.

This years summit, under the theme of "Build Back Better," focused on the post-pandemic era and the major impact of the conflict between Russia and Ukraine on the world, while addressing issues, such as new energy economy, global partnership, digitalization, a greener planet, dialogue among cities, food and commodity crisis, hunger, poverty, climate change, involuntary migration, and others. It was attended by hundreds of distinguished guests from over 40 countries, including heads of state and government, ambassadors, ministers, mayors, and leaders from all walks of life.

Dr. Hong, Tao-Tze, president of FOWPAL, delivered a speech, emphasizing, We firmly believe that a culture of peace and a culture of conscience are the foundation that sustains all cultures of the world, and they are also the core of sustainable economic development. A good culture nurtures a good education while a quality education leads to a healthy economy. Through the promotion of a culture of conscience and conscience-driven education, and by integrating the strengths of other cultures and education systems, we will be able to foster national economic growth and usher in stability and prosperity. He pointed out, To resolve conflicts with love and conscience is the embodiment of great wisdom.

FOWPAL has been promoting the International Day of Conscience and the importance of conscience in the past few years and has received warm responses during the Summit. FOWPAL was invited to deliver five sessions of cultural performances, including martial arts, dance, music, and singing. The fabulous performances and profound cultural meanings touched peoples hearts and electrified the audience. In the opening session of the summit, FOWPAL amazed the attendees with an elegant "Peacock Dance," which symbolized love, peace, and warmth, brought blessings to the Summit, and conveyed FOWPALs best wishes for the end of the war and pandemic.

Young volunteers for FOWPAL also performed a number of inspiring songs, such as "We Can Change the World," "A Prayer for Peace, and "We Are One World," conveying their voices and their vision of a united world where people treat one another as family, which was in line with the spirit of the Summit. Through these performances, FOWPAL encouraged people to work together and take action to create a peaceful and sustainable world. FOWPAL's performances not only gave people a sense of joy and positive energy, but also spread the culture of conscience, which resonated with the audience.

Another highlight of the summit was the ceremonies of ringing the Bell of World Peace and Love. The Bell of World Peace and Love, which weighs 240 kg and has consolidated the wishes for peace of over 400 leaders, rang in Turkey for the first time. On the closing day of the conference on June 9, the organizer invited FOWPAL to specially host the solemn ceremony of ringing the "Bell of World Peace and Love." Seven influential leaders rang the Bell, including President Emil Constantinescu of Romania (1996-2000), President Filip Vujanovic of Montenegro (2003-2018), President Moncef Marzouki of Tunisia (2011-2014), President Petru Lucinschi of Moldova (1997-2001), President Fatmir Sejdiu of Kosovo (2006-2010), Dr. Akkan Suver, and Djabir Doko, Deputy Minister of Political System and Inter-Community Relations of North Macedonia. President of Croatia Stjepan Mesic (2000-2010), who rang the Bell in 2016 in India, also attended the summit.

Dr. Akkan Suver rang the Bell and stated, For peace! For peace! For peace! He said in the name of peace, stability, love, and world peace, the bell ringing ceremony was conducted. This was the first time that Dr. Suver participated in such a ceremony. He emphasized that it is important for everyone to work together and have dialogue to promote stability and conscience. We need a dialogue, and if we have a dialogue, we can find any solution to any problem. He congratulated the FOWPAL delegation and expressed his gratitude to FOWPAL for organizing the bell ringing ceremony.

Filip Vujanovic, president of Montenegro (2003-2018), rang the Bell of World Peace and Love and wished for peace, unity, and love. Emil Constantinescu, president of Romania (1996-2000) wished for peace and understanding.

Moncef Marzouki, president of Tunisia (2011-2014), when interviewed by FOWPAL during the summit, stated, We need peace. What's happening between Ukraine and Russia is danger not only for this region, but the whole world because it could lead to the Third World War, so we badly need initiatives like yours. And I do support what you're doing because once again, peace is the most important thing for everybody. We cannot talk about human rights unless we have peace. What you are doing is extremely important. I would like to congratulate you. Please go ahead. We need every initiative, everybody supporting peace.

Dr. Hong, Tao-Tze, president of FOWPAL, presented to bell ringers special gifts created by FOWPAL, including the Compass Clock of Conscience, An Anthology of Conscience by Dr. Hong, the Key to the Heart, and a book entitled The History of International Day of Conscience. The clock represents time, direction, and goal, guides people toward the right path of life, and reminds them to seize every moment to apply conscience and do good deeds. The anthology is a collection of the excerpts on conscience from Dr. Hongs speeches presented on various occasions around the globe, which serves as a wellspring of wisdom for the recipients in the promotion of a culture of conscience. The key symbolizes that conscience is the key to unlocking a brighter future for the world. The book entitled The History of International Day of Conscience documents major events leading up to the United Nations designation of April 5 as the International Day of Conscience.

Dr. Werner Fasslabend, who is former defense minister of Austria and rang the Bell in 2018, stated that conscience is a personal regulator, a personal principle that makes you go the right way. And if everybody does it, it will lead into a world of love and peace. Only when there is love in the world, when people try to understand each other, when we try to cooperate, not be against the other side, but to do something in common, then you can reach peace and stability. This is also the basis for freedom.

The top of the Bell of World Peace and Love is engraved with "Love of the World, A Declaration of Peace." FOWPAL hopes that people can return to a peaceful world in which there is no pain, no fear, no war, and no suffering. To date, 417 important leaders from 128 countries have rung the Bell, including 49 heads of state and government, seven Nobel Peace Prize laureates, United Nations ambassadors, and leaders from all walks of life. FOWPAL just finished its trip to Stockholm, where it hosted ceremonies of ringing the Bell of World Peace and Love on June 1-3, 2022, during Stockholm+50, and eleven leaders, including environment ministers, UNEP officers, and environmental activists, rang the Bell to pray for the sustainable development of all humanity.

FOWPAL has been actively involved in environmental protection. It participated in the World Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD) in Johannesburg, South Africa in 2002 and hosted ceremonies of ringing the Bell of World Peace and Love, where six visionary leaders, including the then President of Ethiopia Girma Wolde-Giorgis, rang the Bell.

The 2012 United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development (Rio+20) was held in Rio, Brazil to discuss the challenges and opportunities of sustainable development. During the conference, FOWPAL hosted the ceremony of ringing the Bell of World Peace and Love, and 25 visionary leaders rang the Bell, including the then President of Costa Rica Laura Chinchilla Miranda; President of East Timor and 1996 Nobel Peace Prize laureate Jose Ramos-Horta; the then Prime Minister of Bhutan Jigme Thinley; Pedro Passos Coelho, the then Prime Minister of Portuguese Republic; and Angel Gurria, the then Secretary General of Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), consolidating more positive energy and hope for a sustainable future of love and peace on Earth.

FOWPAL urges everyone to take action to support love, peace, conscience, and human rights. To date, the Declarations for Human Rights of World Citizens and Peace have been endorsed by over 3.7 million people in 179 nations, and the Declaration for the Movement of An Era of Conscience and Declaration of International Day of Conscience have been endorsed by 330,000 people in 196 nations. FOWPAL hopes that everyone will act with conscience so that the world will be peaceful, and that everyone will be joyful so that every family will be happy.

About the Federation of World Peace and Love (FOWPAL) : Established in 2000 in the United States by Dr. Hong, Tao-Tze, FOWPAL is an international love and peace organization, with members from around the world. It is guided by the principle that changing the world for the better starts with one good thought. Over the past two decades, FOWPAL has promoted conscience, love, and peace globally and attended Earth Summits to promote SDGs. It had worked with various Permanent Missions to the UN through conferences, bell ringing ceremonies, and declaration signing, making the UNs adoption of the International Day of Conscience in July 2019 possible. They have held over 55 webinars in the past two years, fostering conscience-based sustainability.

Media Contact:

Lily Chen

Representative

info@fowpal.org

626-202-5268

www.fowpal.org

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/f2a1472e-0731-4de7-bd49-6f5663e62163

The photo is also available at Newscom, www.newscom.com, and via AP PhotoExpress
TORONTO, June 10, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Honey Badger Silver Inc. (TSX-V: TUF) (Honey Badger or the Company) is pleased to announce that it has entered into a non-binding term sheet (the Term Sheet) to acquire from Aftermath Silver Ltd. (Aftermath) its 100% interest in the Cachinal De La Sierra Silver-Gold Project (the Cachinal Project or Cachinal), located in the Cachinal de la Sierra area in Chile's Antofagasta region (Region II). The proposed transaction includes an exclusivity period that ends on August 15, 2022. Honey Badger and Aftermath are working diligently to finalize a definitive agreement on or before this date.



Cachinal Project Highlights

Open-pit Indicated Resource of 15.03 Moz of silver grading 97 g/t of silver and 20.05Koz of gold grading 0.13 g/t gold;

Open-pit Inferred Resource of 0.41 Moz of silver grading 73 g/t of silver and 0.43Koz of gold grading 0.07 g/t gold;

Underground Indicated Resource of 1.29 Moz of silver grading 182 g/t of silver and 1.65Koz of gold grading 0.22 g/t gold;

Underground Inferred Resource of 2.07 Moz of silver grading 180 g/t of silver and 2.18Koz of gold grading 0.19 g/t gold;

Proximity to Austral Gold Limiteds (Austral Gold) operating Guanaco Mine and Mill complex, located just 16 km to the south;

Good potential to confirm and incrementally expand existing resources and discover additional mineralization on the property and in the region.

The mineral resource was independently prepared by SRK Consulting (Canada) Inc. in a technical report filed on Aftermaths SEDAR profile at www.sedar.com, with an effective date of August 10, 2020 and prepared in accordance with National Instrument 43-101  Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects of the Canadian Securities Administrators ("NI 43-101").

Chad Williams, Director and Non-Executive Chair of Honey Badger stated, We are very pleased to announce a further accretive addition to our growing portfolio of silver assets. Cachinal is a significant known silver resource located in a favorable jurisdiction. Moreover, its proximity to Australs Guanaco mine and mill complex may offer substantial synergies to advancing Cachinal to production in a timely manner. We believe Cachinal will be transformational for Honey Badger.

We were also greatly encouraged and inspired by a recent speech delivered by H.E. Gabriel Boric, President of the Republic of Chile, at an event hosted by the Canadian Council for the Americas. During this event, Mr. Boric strongly signalled his commitment to property rights, and the rule of law in addition to welcoming direct foreign investment. Chiles long-standing partnership with Canada to generate economic growth and jobs for all was reiterated in meetings with Prime Minister Trudeau during his visit.

Transaction Summary

The Term Sheet contemplates that Honey Badger or an affiliate will acquire all of the issued and outstanding shares of Minera Cachinal S.A., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Aftermath, according to the following terms:

Share Payment: C$1,000,000 in shares of Honey Badger payable at closing and priced at the greater of: (i) the volume weighted average share price of the Honey Badger common shares on the TSXV for a period of thirty (30) trading days immediately preceding the date of announcement of the transaction and (ii) the maximum discounted price allowed under the policies of the TSXV.

C$1,000,000 in shares of Honey Badger payable at closing and priced at the greater of: (i) the volume weighted average share price of the Honey Badger common shares on the TSXV for a period of thirty (30) trading days immediately preceding the date of announcement of the transaction and (ii) the maximum discounted price allowed under the policies of the TSXV. Cash Payments: a) C$400,000 payable at closing, b) C$452,000 six months after closing, c) C$400,000 on May 21, 2023 and d) C$400,000 eighteen months after closing.

a) C$400,000 payable at closing, b) C$452,000 six months after closing, c) C$400,000 on May 21, 2023 and d) C$400,000 eighteen months after closing. Royalty: Honey Badger shall grant a 1% Net Smelter Return Royalty with a complete buyback option at Honey Badgers sole discretion for a purchase price of C$8,500,000;

Honey Badger shall grant a 1% Net Smelter Return Royalty with a complete buyback option at Honey Badgers sole discretion for a purchase price of C$8,500,000; Production Payments: Upon commencement of commercial production, Honey Badger shall pay in cash or shares at Aftermaths option, C$0.50 per payable silver ounce produced at the Cachinal Project, capped at C$2,000,000 in payments.

The detailed terms and conditions of the proposed transaction will be set out in definitive documentation to be negotiated between the parties, which will contain customary representations, warranties and covenants of the parties as well as customary indemnities and closing conditions. There can be no assurance that the proposed transaction will be completed on the terms contemplated, or at all. Readers are referred to the section below entitled: Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Information.

While the Term Sheet is non-binding, the parties have agreed to a mutual break fee of C$250,000 in the event a definitive agreement is not entered into prior to the expiry of the exclusivity period due to a partys action or inaction, subject to certain exceptions outside the control of the parties. The proposed transaction will be subject to regulatory approval, including the approval of the TSX Venture Exchange (the TSXV).

Cachinal Asset Overview

Cachinal is a low-sulphidation epithermal deposit located in the Paleocene Gold Belt of northern Chile, which hosts several significant gold and silver deposits, including Yamana Golds El Penon Low Sulfidation Epithermal goldsilver mine and Austral Golds Guanaco gold-silver mine-complex, just 16 kilometers to the south. Shallow drilling at Cachinal has defined the current mineral resources principally to a depth of 150 metres below surface and provides sufficient evidence to interpret the presence of high-grade shoots within the vein system extending below the base of a potential open pit.

Cachinal Location

The Cachinal silver-gold project is located in Chile's Antofagasta region (Region II). The project is located about 40 km east of the Pan American Highway, in a nearly flat plain at an elevation of around 2,700 metres above sea level, 16 km north of Austral Gold's Guanaco gold-silver mine and mill complex.

Cachinal NI 43-101 Resource Estimate

The Cachinal Mineral Resource was documented in a technical report prepared following the guidelines of NI 43-101 and Form 43-101F1, and in conformity with the generally accepted CIM Estimation of Mineral Resources and Mineral Reserves Best Practice Guidelines (2019) by SRK Consulting (Canada) Inc., authored by independent qualified persons Glen Cole, P.Geo of SRK Consulting, and Sergio Alvarado Casas, CMC of Geoinvest SAC E.I.R.L. (Chile), on behalf of Aftermath Silver Ltd., with an effective date of August 10, 2020.

RESOURCE

CLASSIFICATION MATERIAL TYPE TONNES

(MT) SILVER

(G/T) GOLD

(G/T) SILVER

(MOZ) GOLD

(KOZ) Indicated

Open Pit 4.83 97 0.13 15.03 20.05 Underground 0.22 182 0.22 1.29 1.65 TOTAL 5.05 101 0.13 16.32 21.70 Inferred

Open Pit 0.17 73 0.07 0.41 0.43 Underground 0.36 180 0.19 2.07 2.18 TOTAL 0.53 145 0.15 2.48 2.61



Notes on the Cachinal Mineral Resource Estimate:

For complete details on the Cachinal Mineral Resource estimate, please refer to the NI 43-101 technical report titled Independent Technical Report for the Cachinal Silver-Gold Project, Region II, Chile, by Qualified Persons G. Cole, (P.Geo) of SRK Consulting (Canada) Inc. and S. Alvarado Casas, of Geoinvest SAC E.I.R.L. (Chile), dated September 11, 2020 with an effective date of August 10, 2020, filed on the Aftermath Silver SEDAR profile.

Cachinal mineral resources were classified according to the CIM Definition Standards for Mineral Resources and Mineral Reserves (May 2014).

Mineral Resources that are not Mineral Reserves do not have demonstrated economic viability.

All figures have been rounded to reflect the relative accuracy of the estimates.

Cut-off grades are based on metal price assumptions of US$22.00 / ounce of silver and US$1,550 / ounce of gold, and metallurgical recoveries of 85% for both silver and gold using milling and cyanide leaching.

The portion of the Mineral Resources that has been determined to be amenable to extraction through open-pit methods was reported to a cut-off of 30 g/t silver equivalent.

The open-pit Mineral Resource is constrained within Lerchs-Grossman optimised pit shells that assume mining dilution & losses of 2.5%, 50-degree overall slope angles, mining costs of $2/t rock, general and administrative costs of $2/t rock, processing costs of US$15/t for processing using milling and cyanide leaching.

The portion of the Mineral Resources deemed to be amenable to extraction through underground methods are reported at a cut-off of 150 g/t silver equivalent. This assumes a mining cost of US$90/t, general and administrative costs of $2/t and a processing costs of US$15/t.

Past Work at Cachinal

The Cachinal deposit was mined from underground workings during the 20th century. Drilling by previous owners of the project since 2005 has delineated near-surface silver mineralization associated with a network of steeply dipping, north-to-northwest trending low-sulphide quartz veins.

The epithermal veins and breccias have been recognized by trenching and drilling over a strike length of at least 2 kilometers and are known to have been mined to a depth of at least 300 meters. They range in thickness from a few centimetres to 2 meters, reaching up to 20 meters locally at the intersection of two structures. The main veins trend north-northwest and northwest with a secondary set trending east-northeast to east-west, best developed at the southern end of the deposit.

Technical information in this news release has been approved by Glen Cole, P.Geo., a Principal Consultant (Resource Geology) with SRK Consulting (Canada) Inc. and qualified person for the purposes of National Instrument 43-101.

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD

Chad Williams

Director and Non-Executive Chair



About Honey Badger Silver Inc.

Honey Badger Silver is a Canadian Silver company based in Toronto, Ontario focused on the acquisition, development and integration of accretive transactions of silver ounces. The company is led by a highly experienced leadership team with a track record of value creation backed by a skilled technical team. With a dominant land position in Ontarios historic Thunder Bay Silver District and advanced projects in the southeast and south-central Yukon including the Plata property 180 kms to the east of the Keno Hill silver district, Honey Badger Silver is positioning to be a top-tier silver company.

For more information, please visit our website above, or contact:

Ms. Christina Slater: cslater@honeybadgersilver.com

(647) 848-1009

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 news release contains "forward-looking information" within the meaning of the applicable Canadian securities legislation that is based on expectations, estimates, projections and interpretations as at the date of this news release. The information in this news release and any other information herein that is not a historic fact may be "forward-looking information". Forward-looking information are often identified by terms such as may, should, anticipate, will, estimates, believes, intends, expects, and similar expressions which are intended to identify forward-looking information as such. More particularly and without limitation, this news release contains forward-looking information concerning the proposed acquisition by the Company of the Cachinal Project, the proposed consideration and structure of such acquisition (including the mutual break fee payable in certain circumstances), and the ability of the parties thereto to complete the proposed transaction on the terms and timelines agreed. Although the Company believes that the assumptions and factors used in preparing the forward-looking information in this news release are reasonable, no assurance can be given that such events will occur in the disclosed timeframes or at all. The Company cautions that all forward-looking information is inherently uncertain, and that actual performance may be affected by a number of material factors, assumptions and expectations, many of which are beyond the control of the Company, including: risks relating to failing to negotiate the definitive documentation concerning the proposed acquisition of Cachinal on the terms expected or at all; risks relating to the potential payment of the break fee in certain circumstances; risks relating to inability to secure necessary third-party consents or regulatory or other governmental approvals on a timely basis, or at all; general political risks and risks relating to changing laws, risks inherent with uncertain economic conditions, among other risks and uncertainties. Accordingly, the reader is cautioned not to place undue reliance on any forward-looking information contained in this news release. The forward-looking information contained 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 information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, other than as required by law.
TORONTO, June 11, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- It is with great sorrow that Rogers Communications Inc. ("Rogers") today announces the passing of Loretta Rogers at the age of eighty-three, peacefully in her home, surrounded by family.



A beloved wife to the late Ted Rogers, mother, and grandmother, Loretta lived a full and vibrant life who dedicated herself to family, friendship, community and business.



Loretta believed passionately in Teds vision for the company, and through 45 years of a deeply loving marriage, Loretta and Ted supported each other to grow Rogers into the company that it is today. Following Teds death, Loretta devoted herself to keeping his vision alive and making Rogers the absolute best it could be.

Mrs. Rogers served as a corporate director of Rogers Communications since 1964 and was a member of the Advisory Committee of the Rogers Control Trust.

She deeply believed in building a better future for all Canadians, investing financial support and her time. In 2014, Loretta led an unprecedented donation to establish the Ted Rogers Centre for Heart Research aimed at improving the future of heart health, in addition to founding the Loretta A. Rogers Chair in Eating Disorders at Toronto General & Western Hospital and the Ted Rogers Family Chair in Heart Function at the Peter Munk Cardiac Centre.

Mrs. Rogers served on the board of directors of the University Health Network Foundation since 2004, was on the Bishop Strachan School Foundation from 1980 to 2009, was President & Director of the Canadian Lyford Cay Foundation since 1980, was on the board of directors of the Robert Bateman Foundation since 2012 and was the founding Director of Sheenas Place.

Edward Rogers, Chairman of Rogers Communications, said, Lisa, Melinda, Martha, and I are profoundly saddened by our mothers passing. We are grieving for an amazing woman who had love and compassion in her heart, kindness in her soul, and who possessed an incredible strength of character. She lived a full and vibrant life and we, like all those who knew her, will deeply miss her leadership and guidance.

The Board of Directors and all employees of Rogers Communications express their deepest condolences and sympathy to the Rogers family for their loss.

Media contact

media@rci.rogers.com

1-844-226-1338




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The third free practice session for the Azerbaijan Grand Prix is scheduled for early Saturday afternoon. On the street circuit of Baku, the lights will jump to green at 12:00 UK time. It is the last chance for the Formula 1 drivers, including Charles Leclerc and Max Verstappen, to find the optimal set-up for the rest of the weekend.

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F1 LIVE | FP3: Azerbaijan Grand Prix

It is certain that Red Bull Racing and Ferrari will once again decide who will fight for pole position, but which team will eventually take the first starting spot is still uncertain. During the first two free practice sessions, the margins were minimal, although Ferrari seems to be slightly faster than Verstappen and Sergio Perez over one lap.

Different set-ups Red Bull and Ferrari

Red Bull has opted for a low-downforce set-up with its car. The RB18 is incredibly fast on the straights and gains mainly there compared to Ferrari's F1-75. The Italian racing team from Maranello is driving in Baku with more wing and has better traction, so they are gaining a lot of time in the slower sections of the track.

It will be interesting to see how the proportions are in the midfield. Mercedes and AlphaTauri seem to be the numbers three and four based on Friday, but things can change tremendously in Formula 1 within a 24-hour period. For McLaren, at least, there is work to be done. The team that we usually see back in Q3, has to recover from a poor first day in Azerbaijan.
BWX Technologies, Inc. (BWXT) will build the first advanced nuclear microreactor in the United States under a contract awarded by the US Department of Defense (DoD) Strategic Capabilities Office (SCO). The Project Pele full-scale transportable microreactor prototype will be completed and delivered in 2024 for testing at the Idaho National Laboratory.

SCO has partnered with the US Department of Energy to develop, prototype and demonstrate a transportable microreactor that can provide a resilient power source to the DoD for a variety of operational needs that have historically relied on fossil fuel deliveries and extensive supply lines. Transportable microreactors deliver clean, zero-carbon energy where and when it is needed in a variety of austere conditions for not only the DoD, but also potential commercial applications for disaster response and recovery, power generation at remote locations, and deep decarbonization initiatives.

The prototype will be built under a cost-type contract valued at approximately $300 million, depending on options selected, by BWXT Advanced Technologies LLC in facilities in Lynchburg, Virginia and Euclid, Ohio. Over the next two years, BWXT expects that approximately 120 employees will work on the project, including roughly 40 skilled trades, engineers and other positions that will be hired to support this effort and other projects.

The high-temperature gas-cooled reactor (HTGR) will operate at a power level between 1 and 5 MWe and will be transportable in commercially available shipping containers. It will be powered by TRISO fuel, a specific design of high-assay low-enriched uranium (HALEU) fuel that can withstand extreme heat and has very low environmental risks.

As a High-Temperature Gas Reactor using HALEU TRISO fuel, Project Pele is a fourth-generation nuclear reactor, which can serve as a pathfinder for commercial adoption of such technologies.

The transportable reactor core and associated control system is designed to maintain safety under all conditions, including transitional conditions throughout transport. The fuel has been tested and verified to temperatures far exceeding the operating conditions of the reactor.

The transportable design consists of multiple modules that contain the microreactors components in 20-foot long, ISO-compliant CONEX shipping containers. The reactor is designed to be safely and rapidly moved by road, rail, sea or air. The entire reactor system is designed to be assembled on-site and operational within 72 hours. Shut down, cool down, disconnection and removal for transport is designed to occur in less than seven days.

A diverse team of experienced companies are joining BWXT to support delivery and successful operation of the Project Pele prototype. BWXT is the prime contract and integration lead, and is responsible for reactor module manufacture. Among the other companies playing key roles on the team are:

Northrop Grumman

Aerojet Rocketdyne

Rolls-Royce LibertyWorks

Torch Technologies, Inc.

The reactor and fuel will be safely shipped separately, with fueling to occur at the test site. Once fueled, the system will undergo up to three years of testing at Idaho National Laboratory to confirm performance and operability. The test program will demonstrate that the reactor can produce reliable off-grid electric power. Power generated by the reactor will be transferred to load banks that accurately mimic the operational load that a power source would see in actual application. In addition, the system will be disassembled and re-assembled to prove transportability.

Consistent with the non-commercial nature of the project, testing and operation of this prototype reactor will proceed under authorization by the Department of Energy. The Nuclear Regulatory Commission, consistent with its role as an independent safety and security regulator, is participating in this project to provide SCO with accurate, current information on applicable regulations and licensing processes.

SCO considered engineering designs developed by two competing teams: BWXT and X-energy, LLC, Greenbelt, Maryland.
Examine. Explore. Encourage.

This language characterizes the way in which the Town of Greenwich Affordable Housing Plan advances its affordable housing goals, action steps, and strategies. The plan makes clear from the outset that this is a non-binding document. Its adoption does not commit the town to take specific action, nor the state to enforce implementation. Any specific financing and development commitments must come from the towns governing bodies after full and transparent public debate. The plans stated intent is to prompt, encourage and frame that dialogue.

Consider. Discuss. Investigate.

On Monday the Greenwich Representative Town Meeting (RTM) is to vote on this affordable housing plan that has already been approved, without controversy, by the Planning and Zoning Commission and Board of Selectmen.

The plan was created to meet a state requirement that all Connecticut municipalities prepare an affordable housing plan at least once every five years. This state legislation, enacted in 2017, calls for completion of the initial municipal five-year plans by June 1, 2022.

More than half Connecticuts municipalities, still working on their plans, have missed this deadline. The Greenwich plan, if approved Monday, will make it to the states Office of Policy and Management (OPM) before the end of June.

When the Board of Selectmen approved the plan last month, Selectwoman Janet Stone-McGuigan called it excellent work, as quoted in an article by Greenwich Time reporter Ken Borsuk.

The authors of the plan  members of the Planning and Zoning Commissions committee for drafting an affordable housing plan  have indeed been diligent in their work and have produced an informative document that lays firm substantive groundwork for further dialogue and possible future amendments to the plan.

Although the plan might have been more progressive in its vision and bolder in its action orientation, that approach would likely have doomed it to immediate death at the hands of the selectmen and the RTM. Progressive vision and bold action are not the Greenwich way, especially when it comes to affordable housing.

Rather, the plans tone conforms to the various versions of the slogans we see on signs around town, particularly in the Fourth Ward: Yes to Affordable Housing; No to Overdevelopment.

The expectation might be that this non-binding, non-controversial, informative document with its tentative suggestions should have smooth sailing through the RTM. After all, in advocating for an increased level of affordable housing, it seeks to change as little as possible.

Many of the ideas it puts forward have been part of local and statewide affordable housing discourse going back to the 1980s. As the plan points out, it is a continuation and expansion of the affordable housing goals specified in the towns Plan of Conservation and Development that the RTM approved in 2019.

Smooth sailing?

That seems to have been too much to expect. During this past weeks RTM committee and district meetings, one of three motions the Budget Overview Committee (BOC) will put forward is to defer approval until September to allow more careful review, ignoring the drafting committees considerable outreach and incorporation of valuable community feedback.

Havent we already deferred addressing critical housing needs for long enough?

Another BOC motion wants the plan to declare that the states 1989 affordable housing appeals legislation (8-30g) and 2021 accessory dwelling unit legislation will have an adverse local budgetary impact because the potential increase in population will strain current infrastructure and school capacity.

In other words, our affordable housing plan should signal that Greenwich cant afford any increase in population, while singling out very specific potential sources of population growth.

This exclusionary amendment does not belong in our affordable housing plan.

Peter Berg, RTM Land Use Committee chair and member of the affordable housing drafting committee, criticized this exclusionary approach in one of our recent email exchanges.

In the 32 years since 8-30g was adopted, Greenwich has approved scores of subdivisions resulting in the construction of hundreds of new single-family homes, he wrote, Where was the objection to the impacts on our infrastructure, schools, water, sewers, roads?

The RTM should approve the plan, and without such damaging amendments. The plan provides a well-considered framework for moving forward to the actual work of providing the housing our community needs, maybe even someday through bold action driven by a progressive vision.

Alma Rutgers served in Greenwich government for 30 years.
WINDSOR LOCKS  Windsor Locks is the home of a canal, Bradley International Airport, and now, apparently, a moose.

A moose has been spotted hoofing it on the highway and making its way across the Connecticut River in the past week, with most sightings in Windsor Locks, according to a wildlife biologist with the state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection.

In all, there were seven sightings in as many days, Andrew LaBonte said Friday.

Its not extremely common, he said.

One explanation is that spring, especially May and June, is calving season, LaBonte said, when mama moose gives birth to new calves and kicks out last years newborns.

They are dispersing, he said. So theyre in search of their own habitat.

Unlike deer, which travel in groups, moose are solitary animals, LaBonte said.

DEEP has 31 reports of moose sightings since Jan. 1, but the string of recent ones in north central Connecticut started on June 3.

A moose was seen that day in Suffield, near River Valley Animal Center, LaBonte said. The neighborhood is not far from Bradley International Airport.

Someone later reported seeing a moose on Poole Road in Suffield, northeast of the veterinarian.

The next day, on June 4, the moose was spotted at the American Honda Motor Co. building in Windsor Locks. Later in the day, it was seen in the Connecticut River, near a water treatment plant. It had a close encounter with a boat, one person wrote on Facebook, according to LaBonte.

Moose are excellent swimmers, he said.

Windsor Locks police Sgt. Wayne Kulas said he heard about some of the sightings.

Last I heard, it was seen down by the river, wading, Kulas said.

Suffield police Capt. Robert Palmer said the moose went back and forth, from Windsor Locks to East Windsor on the other side of the river.

This moose traverses back and forth between East Windsor and Windsor Locks, Palmer said.

The same day it was swimming, it also was seen on Interstate 91, near Route 159 in Windsor Locks, LaBonte said.

Highway sightings are not to be taken lightly because moose can do a lot of damage to an oncoming car and the people in it. When their long legs are struck, their massive bodies can fall onto the windshield and injure the front-seat passengers. On average, female moose  or cows  weigh 750 pounds, while males  bulls  weigh 1,000 pounds, according to the DEEP.

Thats how a New Hampshire resident died on the Merritt Parkway in New Canaan in 2007, LaBonte said, the only fatal moose-car collision in Connecticut he recalls in his 20 years at the agency.

In the Windsor Locks case, no accidents were reported, although a car on Route 20 in Granby did hit a 550-pound moose a few weeks ago, he said. The mooses two back legs were broken and it had to be euthanized.

Connecticut has one to six car-moose crashes a year, LaBonte said.

The Windsor Locks moose took a while to move away from I-91. On June 5, it was spotted nearby on South Center Street in town, he said.

As of Friday afternoon, the most recent sighting was reported Thursday on Bent Road in Windsor, farther to the west.

Other moose sightings

Thats not the only moose that is roaming around Connecticut.

Also this week, there were moose sightings in Farmington (Monday) and in Bristol (Tuesday). One was reported in Mansfield on June 3 as well, LaBonte said.

Moose travel 5-10 miles a day sometimes, he said, even farther if they are breeding, which happens in the fall, specifically September and October.

There are an estimated 100-150 moose in Connecticut, LaBonte said. The number has dropped over the years from its high in the 2000s because living conditions are not ideal for the animals. Moose get stressed by the heat, and need lots of evergreen trees to keep cool year-round. Thats why most are in northwestern Connecticut.

Moose usually try to avoid being near humans, but people who see one should keep their distance, LaBonte said.

Take a photo at a safe distance if you can, just so we can verify that it is a moose, he said.

People with pictures of moose are asked to email them to Andrew.labonte@ct.gov. All sightings should be reported on the environmental agencys website.
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SEOUL, South Korea (AP)  A fire caused by suspected arson spread through an office building Thursday in South Koreas Daegu city, killing at least seven people and injuring dozens, fire and police officials said.

Dozens of firefighters and vehicles quickly put out the blaze, which began in the late morning on the second of a seven-floor office building near the citys district court.

Seven people were confirmed dead, including an unidentified man who police suspect set the fire in a lawyers office. At least 49 others were hurt, mostly from smoke inhalation, and 31 of them were being treated in hospitals, the Daegu Fire Department said.

The high number of casualties was possibly because the building didnt have sprinklers on office floors, according to Park Seok-jin, chief of Daegus Suseong district fire department. He didn't answer directly when asked whether there were any lapses in legally required safety standards.

Jeong Hyeon-wook, an official from Daegu Metropolitan Police, said security camera footage shows the suspect leaving his home holding an apparent container with both hands that may have been used to set the blaze. Jeong said all of the dead were found in the same room and that police were investigating possible motives. A team from the National Forensic Services was also deployed to the site.

With the suspect dead, its unclear whether anyone will be prosecuted over the fire unless police find an accomplice, Jeong said.

Photos showed people awaiting rescue on the roof and crowded balconies as smoke emerged from the building in Beomeo-dong, an affluent business district in Daegu, which is South Koreas fourth-largest city and home to more than 2.4 million people.

Rescue workers wearing helmets and oxygen masks escorted people out of the buildings front door and used ladders and broke windows to get inside the second floor before carrying out the dead on stretchers. Police and forensic investigators were later seen examining the severely damaged and blackened walls and doors.

Daegu was the site of one of the worst arson attacks in South Koreas history in 2003, when 192 people died after a 56-year-old man set fire on a subway train.
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ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP)  A large fire burning in the tundra of southwest Alaska continued to move toward an Alaska Native village on Saturday, but fire managers said its pace had slowed.

The East Fork fire, which was started by lightning May 31, remained about 5 miles (8 kilometers) from the Yupik village of St. Marys, a statement from the Alaska Wildland Fire Information said.

The fire was listed at 169 square miles (438 square kilometers) in size, more than double the last estimate. The increase was attributed to better mapping.

Tundra is a treeless area covered with low-lying plants, and the fire was being fed by extremely dry grass and brush filled with alders and willow.

There were 180 personnel working the fire, with more crews expected to arrive Monday.

There are no mandatory evacuation orders, but about 700 residents of St. Marys and the nearby community of Pitkas Point were told to prepare in case they needed to leave.

There have been voluntary evacuations by residents, as well as others living in the nearby communities of Mountain Village and Pilot Station.

Early Saturday morning, firefighters completed a defensive burnout on the west side of the East Fork of the Andreafsky River to protect equipment and structures near a fish weir  a fence placed in flowing water to direct the movement of fish. The weirs have traditionally been used to catch fish but also can be used for management and research of a fish stock, according to the Alaska Department of Fish and Games website.

St. Marys, a subsistence community, sits on the bank of the river. Firefighters were also working to protect structures on the east side of the weir, as well as fortifying a fire line a half mile (800 meters) outside St. Marys. Aircraft have also been dropping retardant along that line.

Boats have been used to shuttle firefighters to protect structures upriver of St. Marys. Crews also have also been working to protect Alaska Native properties.

Hot, dry conditions were expected to continue Sunday, but a low pressure system moving in from the west could bring favorable conditions and a chance of showers by Monday. It could also bring a wind switch that would help push the fire away from the villages, officials said in the statement.

St. Marys and Pitkas Point, which is situated to the south at the confluence of the Andreafsky and Yukon rivers, are located about 450 miles (724 kilometers) west of Anchorage.
The Pacific Daily News continues to share recipes through their partnership with 671 Guam Recipes founded by Cel Montague.
Eating is sightseeing in Singapore, and while the small city-state is home to some world-class fine dining, their legendary hawker centers are the real culinary stars.

Located throughout the city, hawker centers are home to many, many stalls  and in some cases are even multiple levels. The food itself is Malay, Indian, Indonesian and beyond thanks to Singapores thriving immigrant history.

In fact, according to Singapores National Heritage Board, hawker centers themselves owe thanks to the industrious immigrants of the 1800s. People from all over Southeast Asia and beyond came to Singapore to make a new life, bringing their sense of comfort food along with them.

These hawkers walked the streets of Singapore with portable kitchens, selling their specialty to hungry customers. It wasnt until after World War II that the government of Singapore looked to regulate these hawkers, as their lack of access to a proper kitchen posed a public health threat.

Upon gaining their independence in 1965, Singapore began shifting these street hawkers into 110 and counting strategically located hawker centers across the country. Now, no matter where you are in Singapore, youre never far from a bustling collection of mouthwatering and affordable local dishes.

Hawker centers are so central to Singapore that in 2020, Hawker Culture in Singapore was added to the UNESCO Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. And when you find yourself queuing alongside fellow diners for 20 minutes, building the anticipation for a delicious bowl of laksa or plate of chicken rice, that intangible wonder feels very, very real.

In my opinion, hawker centers and the meals they offer are the crown jewel of any trip to Singapore. Id be hard pressed to think of a reason not to have lunch at one every day, plus a dinner or two.

In fact, you could even plan your sightseeing itinerary around accessing celebrated stalls throughout the city!

Tips

Here are my tips and tricks for making the most of your hawker center adventures.
Department of Public Health and Social Services employees and Guam National Guard personnel conduct a drive-thru COVID-19 community testing near the old carnival grounds in Tiyan in this June 2022 file photo. Guam Visitors Bureau and Public Health announced they will provide COVID testing for visitors at several hotels.
The CHamoru Village will not be increasing rent any time soon, but an increase must come some time down the road in order to improve the quality of the popular community stop for vendors and customers, according to Department of CHamoru Affairs President Melvin Won Pat-Borja

Won Pat-Borja said Thursday that the issue of rent at the village, now just $250 a month for a single vendor unit, has to be addressed. But he clarified Friday that it would not happen for another year and a half at least, and not unless CHamoru Villages facilities could be significantly upgraded.

CHamoru Affairs is supposed to address rental costs every three years, but historically hasnt, he said, even as costs for everything from lightbulbs to building materials have gone up. The agency is currently seeking a grant from the U.S. Treasury to overhaul the facilities, build up the old farmers market, and create a new community space. If the grant goes through by this fiscal year, construction could start in 2023.

The upgrade is meant to improve opportunities for vendors, Won Pat-Borja said, and give them something in return for higher rent. He believes one of the core issues is that the dilapidated space isnt welcoming to the community, so people dont spend timeor moneythere.

They come because it has something that no one else has. And thats great, its just that only really works one night of the week, Won Pat-Borja said.

Once that happens, a reassessment of the value of the property has to be done. Even when an increase comes, the rate will be lower than the market value, he said, in order to keep space in the village accessible to local start-up companies.

Itll still be way cheaper than anywhere else youre gonna rent in Hagatna, but it just cant stay in this 1990 rate ... the government cant afford it either, Won Pat-Borja said.

Restructure

The way the village is handled also has to be revamped to improve its quality, Won Pat-Borja said.

While its meant to be an incubator, helping small businesses get started by offering low rent for a short period of time, officials dont want to throw businesses to the wolves and the lease conditions arent enforced, leaving businesses stuck in limbo or paying low rent after they are well established.

Hes hopeful that renovations can lead to a restructuring of how the village operates and creates a scaffolded approach. The concrete huts that take up one piece of the property will be enclosed, and remain a true incubator zone, where leases are strictly enforced. The rest of the facilities can be a more competitive area where vendors will have to pay premium rentthough still below market value.

That way, they kind of have an idea of what its going to take for them to survive in the open market  if you decide, hey, you know, Im ready for the big time, I want to go to GPO, then best of luck, he said.

Beyond that, he said hed like to hand some of the business operations over to the Guam Economic Development Authority, who have more expertise, but still have CHamoru Village housed under CHamoru Affairs.

That would leave CHamoru Affairs open to developing more culturally based programs for the village, which could increase the value of the space, he said.

CHamoru Village, if its done right, is a goldmine. It really does generate valuable revenue for our people, for our culture, for preservation, Won Pat-Borja said.
Southern High Schools class of 2022 closed out graduation season with a bang.

The school hosted its graduation ceremony on Friday at Paseo Stadium where 242 of Southern High Dolphins were ready to receive their diplomas.

The ceremony had humor and hope with the humor coming from valedictorian Danny C. Quinata. Quinata utilized spam sushi and musubi, and said that the snacks were integral to the class daily routine, and that the last bite of sushi was the best due to the lessons theyve learned along the way.

Quinata then advised his fellow graduates to continue to support one another as they venture on to new journeys.

The longevity of relationships, and more importantly what we set together, is fun to the manifestation of greatness and bestows a universal understanding, Quinata said.

VillaflorWith Pride month continued to be celebrated this month, salutatorian Alexandre Villaflor took the opportunity to remind those afraid to come out that there will always be support for them.

I know what its like to be confused of who you are, Villaflor said. Never give up, no matter how dark the road may be, no matter what obstacles comes in your way, you must remember who you are.

FernandezThis was also the final graduation the Guam Department of Education Superintendent Jon Fernandez attended before he steps down from his position next month.

What a way to top off my 10 years as your superintendent, Fernandez said. Im very proud to be a part of the class of 2022.

The ceremony ended with a fireworks and sparklers display.
Most Reverend Michael J. Byrnes is the archbishop of Agana.

Editors note: This letter was edited for length. Please visit guampdn.com and click on the Opinion section to view this letter in its entirety.
If you were looking for the Charlestown Democratic Town Committee website and ended up here, try this





Got news tips, gossip, suggestions, complaints?E-mail us: progressivecharlestown@gmail.com We strive to avoid errors in our articles. Our correction policy can be found here




Haiti - FLASH : The Palace of Justice stormed by the 5 seconds gang





After the kidnapping of all the passengers of 2 minbuses at the end of the morning https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-36882-haiti-flash-the-izo-gang-kidnaps-38-passengers-and-the-drivers-of-2-minibuses-video.html men of the "5 second" gang of Village de Dieu stormed the Court of First Instance (TPI) of Port-au-Prince at the Bicentenaire.



Intense automatic weapon fire was heard in the afternoon for more than an hour between the bandits and the police forces, sowing panic... Everyone was running in all directions breathlessly, some abandoning their vehicle too exposed to save their lives.



Registrars, lawyers, judges and staff who were still in the TPI were unable to leave the premises without risking falling under the bullets...



Thanks to the intervention of the security forces supported by two police armored vehicles, all the people were finally able to be evacuated from the courthouse. A prosecutor was reportedly shot in the leg, but no deaths were reported.



Friday evening the Minister of Justice Berto Dorce confirmed that the police had regained control of the court and the area with armored vehicles declaring the members of the Village-de-Dieu gang "[...] fired on the court but did not could not enter" a declaration that contradicts Me Aine Martin President of the Association of Clerks, who affirms that "The clerks and the lawyers among others were taken hostage and that the bandits vandalized and looted the TPI."



For his part Me Jacques Lafontant, the Government Commissioner of Port-au-Prince told the media that at least 6 vehicles of the security forces and 4 others belonging to Government Commissioners were now in the hands of the gang.



S/ HaitiLibre






















Haiti - News : Zapping...





Release of filmmaker Arnold Antonin's wife

On the night of Thursday, June 9, 2022, the kidnappers released for ransom the wife of filmmaker Arnold Antonin kidnapped on June 7 https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-36865-haiti-news-zapping.html



4 customs employees kidnapped

Thursday, June 9, armed individuals kidnapped 4 Port-au-Prince customs employees at rue des Casernes. On Friday, to protest against these kidnappings and demand the release of the hostages, the employees paralyzed all customs activities.



Duckens Nazon transfer value

Spanish daily AS has published the list of the 20 players with the highest transfer value. The Haitian player Duckens Nazon finds himself in 16th position with a value of 1.2 million dollars. On the podium: 1st the Brazilian Vinicius Junior (111.5 million dollars), 2nd the Argentinian Lautaro Martinez (70.8 million) and 3rd the Uruguayan Federico Valverde (67.6 million).



CSC/CA : Audit of Pandemic Response Management

The Superior Court of Accounts and Administrative Disputes (CSC/CA), published this month an audit report on the management of the government response to the covid-19 pandemic period March 2020 - January 2021. In general , the Court says it has observed, problems that concern the management of the Government Response as a whole. "In any case, they can be attributed to a lack of preparation, coordination or planning, which would lead to the exposure of complex management or organizational problems, which are not resolved as they arise for empower ministries and public bodies, and improve the quality of the services they are called upon to provide to the population."



DR : voluntary returns of Haitians

Several buses full of Haitians from the Dominican Republic at the Jimani-Malpasse border have returned to Haiti voluntarily, according to the focal point of the Jesuit Service for Migrants (SJM-Haiti) in Malpasse.



A few hours before the match Haiti - Guyana

Due to torrential rain that has been falling for two days on Georgetown, the Haitian technical staff decided, after the rest of the players, to take them to the gymnasium in groups of 5. This is how it began the preparation of the Grenadiers for the match against the "Golden Jaguars" of Guyana, leading Group B with 6 points which is the team to beat this Saturday, June 11 at the National Track & Field Leonara https://www.icihaiti.com/en/news-36871-icihaiti-league-of-nations-2022departure-of-the-grenadiers-for-guyana.html



HL/ HaitiLibre


















Over 3 mln police deployed to secure China's national college entrance exam

Xinhua) 14:58, June 11, 2022

BEIJING, June 10 (Xinhua) -- More than 3.1 million police officers had been dispatched to secure the national college entrance exam for 2022 across the country, according to China's Ministry of Public Security.

The police personnel were tasked with maintaining order, securing the test centers and surrounding areas, cracking down on exam-related crimes, and offering any required assistance to the candidates.

Public security organs released more than 32,000 pieces of exam-related travel information, including traffic conditions and temporary traffic control measures around test centers.

More than 306,000 ID cards and more than 46,000 temporary ID cards have been expeditiously issued to candidates since May, according to the ministry.

The police are, meanwhile, also working with relevant departments to crack down on violations of laws and regulations such as sales of cheating equipment.

(Web editor: Zhong Wenxing, Bianji)
Welcome Guest! You Are Here:
Among the hundreds of marches planned across the country as part of the March For Our Lives movement, only one was planned in Montgomery County. Around 200 attendees came out in The Woodlands Saturday morning to demand action on gun violence in America.

Following the mass shooting at Robb Elementary in Uvalde that left 21 people dead and 17 more injured, the national anti-gun violence organization March For Our Lives  founded by survivors of the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School mass shooting in 2018  planned a nation-wide day of protest. Over 300 marches were planned across America, but only two were planned in the Houston area.

Attendees of the event in The Woodlands gathered at Northshore Park on Lake Woodlands Drive at 9 a.m. ready to walk the quarter mile across the nearby bridge and back to demand action on gun violence. Nancy Hathaway, the events organizer, did not want this to be a partison event and asked participants not to chant but to walk quietly.

I know that that is what attracted some people to this particular  Im not calling it a march or a protest, Im calling it an advocacy  peaceful advocacy, Hathaway told the gathered crowd before they began walking. We need to start somewhere. Maybe just deciding that gun violence is bad, and that there needs to be an en, we need to be working to an end. Thats what this march is about.

On HoustonChronicle.com: Texans rally for stronger gun laws today after school shootings at March for Our Lives

Hathaway was pleased with the event turnout. While the event was featured on the national March For Our Lives website, the starting time information was an hour off, stating that the event started at 10 a.m. instead of 9 a.m. A little over 200 people came to show their support at 9 a.m. despite the inaccuracy.

I know, for at least a couple of people, this was their first involvement in advocacy and I think they had a positive experience, so that was the main thing I wanted, Hathaway said. And for people to see that there are people in our area that really care about gun violence. I hope we made an impression on some people.

Dozens of members of the local chapter of Moms Demand Action, a national organization that advocates for gun safety, showed up in force. The matching red and white T-shirts were easy to spot in the crowd. But not all attendees came from already organized groups.

Marches ranged in age, race, and advocacy experience. For Anastacia Hippely, 19 years old, this was her first political march but she said it wont be her last.

No one should be afraid to go to school. I just got out of school and I dont want to see any of my little brothers, or any of my family, or even the teachers I love get hurt, Hippely said. We shouldnt value an inanimate object over a human life.

Brady Fisher said she was honored that Hippely invited her to the event and wanted to come support her friend.

I have a son and he has not only had drills but actual lock-downs at school and as a parent you feel so completely helpless because you cant go to them, you cant go get them, Fisher said, noting that when she was a student the biggest worry was tornato drills, not active shooter drills. Now these kids have to worry about someone coming in there and literally taking their life. So, if we can speak out even in a small way here in The Woodlands, then maybe someone will pay attention, maybe someone will listen.

Attendees started making their way to the bridge from the park at around 9:20 a.m. After the quiet march across and back, some attendees stayed on the bridge to wave their signs at passing cars on the busy road, garnering some honks of support from those traveling by.

Lashay Black, a member of Moms Demand Action and a veteran of the U.S. Army Reserves, held up a sign that read I march for my kids and yours! Dont Look Away. Along with attending Saturdays event, Black has been calling her state and local representatives to demand legislative change and show them that they have constituents that want to see action against gun violence.

I think this is a great turnout for this area, especially being in Texas and kind of the more affluent area, Black said. Im a black woman and my children are black. I worry not only about things such as mass school shootings, or shootings at a mall, or shootings at a grocery store  such as what happened in Buffalo  but I also have the additional worry about police brutality and police violence against black people, black children, black little boys like Tamir Rice who is the same age as my son now. That is something that I am constantly terrified about.

As a veteran who owns guns and has used guns, Black said she doesnt have a problem with people who own guns in order to protect their home. But she doesnt see the need for civilians to have to need assault weapons.

I carried one while I was in Iraq. Its not necessary if were not in war, if were not fighting against the enemy, Black said.

Although the event was not partisan, it was not completely void of political action. Independent volunteers trained through the county were on hand to help register people to vote or help people check their voter registration status.

Not entirely finished marching, some attendees made their way down to Houston where a larger March For Our Lives event started at 10 a.m. at Houston City Hall.

jamie.swinnerton@chron.com
MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP)  A state commission has voted to move a vacant circuit court judgeship from Jefferson to Madison County, ruling that there is a greater need for the position there.

The Alabama Judicial Resources Allocation Commission took the action on Thursday, Chief Justice Tom Parker said in a statement. Parker serves as chairman of the commission.

Parker said the group met to decide whether to reallocate a vacant judgeship in Jefferson County but decided, based on the most recent weighted caseload study, that the judgeship should be moved to Madison County. He said the study showed the 10th Judicial Circuit in Jefferson County had an excess of judges while the 23rd Judicial Circuit in Madison County had a deficit.

Parker said there is a need for 20 additional judges across the state.

While there is a need for 20 judgeships across the State (12 circuit judgeships and 8 district judgeships), the Legislature created this mechanism of reallocation to correct the needs gradually, although it will not take care of the entire need, or the immediacy of the need, Parker said.

Sen. Roger Smitherman, a Democrat from Birmingham, objected to the change, saying the state should be adding the needed judges and not shuffling the positions. He said the state's largest metropolitan area often handles more complex cases and said he thought the workload analysis used a faulty process

Its going to create a more dangerous situation for our citizens in that we have the most murder and assault cases in our circuit because we are the largest county. There is no justification to take it from us, Smitherman told al.com. It did not solve the problem; all they did was shift deficiency from Madison to Jefferson County.
SHREVEPORT, La. (AP)  A federal judge in Louisiana has sentenced an Atlanta man to nearly three years in prison for a jury duty phone scam that started while he was in a Georgia state prison.

Judge Donald E. Walter sentenced Andre Deaveon Reese, 32, to two years and nine months in prison and ordered him to pay the two Louisiana victims nearly $9,800 restitution, U.S. Attorney Brandon B. Brown said in a news release Friday. The victims were 75 and 78 years old.
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PARIS (AP)  French prosecutors on Friday laid out their sentencing demands in the historic Paris trial of 20 men suspected of critical roles in Frances worst peacetime attack, the Islamic State massacres that killed 130 people in 2015. For Salah Abdeslam, the only surviving member of that night's attacking jihadis, prosecutors demanded a life sentence.

Three prosecutors summarized nine months of testimony since the start of the marathon trial last September, held in a specially built secure complex inside Paris original 13th century Justice Palace, with 12 overflow rooms to accommodate victims, lawyers and journalists.

The Friday night killing spree on Nov. 13, 2015 at a Paris music hall, cafes and the national stadium led to intensified French military action against extremists abroad and a security crackdown at home.

Fourteen of the defendants have been in court. All but one of the six absent men are presumed  but not confirmed  to be dead in Syria or Iraq. Most suspects are accused of helping create false identities, transporting the attackers back to Europe from Syria, providing them with money, phones, explosives or weapons.

In all, French prosecutors demanded 10 life sentences; five for people presumed dead, five for other suspects who were physically in court.

Abdeslam, a leading suspect in the trial, waited until April to break his silence.

Not everyone is a jihadi, but all of those you are judging accepted to take part in a terrorist group, either by conviction, cowardliness or greed, prosecutor Nicolas Braconnay told the court this week.

Claims that France was targeted because of its role in the multinational coalition against the Islamic State  as some defendants have claimed  are an alibi, Braconnay contended, adding, All of those who use it are obliged to add a religious argument: You are unbelievers.

Abdeslam, the only member of the Paris attackers who did not join the self-proclaimed IS caliphate in Syria, has told the court that he was a last-minute add-on to the group. He said he renounced his mission to explode himself in a bar in northern Paris. Prosecutor Nicolas Le Bris rejected the claim, telling the court that hes trying to put you to sleep.

Abdeslam's brother, who was among those who attacked cafes in Paris, was killed on the spot.

Another key defendant, Mohammed Abrini, accompanied the group to Paris the night before the attacks then returned to Belgium. He was arrested after the March 2016 terror attacks in the Brussels airport and subway. Prosecutors want a life sentence for him as well.

Salah Abdeslam and Mohammed Abrini made no mystery of their jihadi engagement, but both tried to cover the tracks about their ideas, prosecutor Le Bris said.

He noted that the cafe in the Brussels district of Molenbeek run by Abdeslam and his brother sold alcohol and drugs but also offered jihadi propaganda.

The cafe became the headquarters of a fan club for Abdelhamid Abaaoud, the man presented as the mastermind of the attacks. He was killed by French police while holed up outside Paris.

The trial will continue with defense pleas. Final words from the defendants are set for June 27, with a verdict expected on June 29.
OnScene.Tv

A man fatally shot his brother and injured his nephew Friday night during an apparent family altercation in north Houston, according to police.

Officers responded to reports of a shooting around 8 p.m. to the 800 block of Marcolin near Veterans Memorial Drive and found an unidentified man man dead in the front yard of a residence with at least one gunshot wound, HPD Lt. Larry Crowson said.
Regarding Opinion: Calling to impeach Biden? Crenshaws at it again with the political theatrics., (June 8): I did attend the Border Security Summit. I do not live in Congressman Crenshaws district but I attended in order to learn more about our broken border with Mexico. I did hear a 30-second sound bite about the lack of enforcement of existing border regulations and the cancellation of prior effective policies being grounds for impeachment.

However, what I also heard at the meeting was two hours of discussion and presentation about the horrible situation at our southern border. I heard about the role the Mexican cartels play in human trafficking and smuggling of fentanyl and other drugs across our border. Thousands have died in Mexico and near the border as a result of the violence perpetrated by these cartels. Thousands of Americans have died because of the drugs that these cartels have helped feed into our country. It is estimated that cartels reap millions of dollars from fees they impose on those who they help cross the border into the United States.

I heard a former acting Department of Homeland Security secretary, a former acting ICE director, the president of the 18,000-member National Border Patrol Council, and a representative of the director of the Texas Department of Public Safety share their experiences and observations based on decades of work at the border. We have a crisis at our border and Congressman Crenshaws Border Summit shed a lot of light on the issues surrounding that crisis. It is a shame that the reporting of this event essentially dealt with a sound bite.

Jim Robertson, Houston

Regarding 2021 was a study in how Texas Republicans quash gun control proposals after mass shootings (June 2): So, Rep. Matt Schaefer is opposed to expanded background checks because it would not allow unauthorized immigrants to buy guns. They are entitled to the God-given right to self-defense. What a great way to control the border; let anyone come to Texas to buy guns.

This is as bad as our governor blaming mental health for mass murders while diverting state health funding to support his border fiasco.

George Loftin, Jersey Village
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Southern Berkshire Schools Awarded Grant for Students to Attend Curiosity Camp

SHEFFIELD, Mass.  Southern Berkshire Regional School District has been awarded a grant amounting in $15,000 for Early College Supports by Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE).

The Early College Support grant will allow for five students to attend a two week summer program at Bard College at Simons Rock. Curiosity Camp is an academic program for students in grades 9, 10, and 11. The grant will cover tuition, room, board, and off campus excursions.

"We are so thankful that we are able to offer this incredible opportunity to our students this year," said Superintendent Beth Regulbuto. "Curiosity Camp is perfect for students who are looking to take the next steps in exploring their academic and creative interests," continued Regulbuto. "Students who partake in this camp will gain college living experience by taking classes, while also having the benefit of being part of a small cohort of 30 classmates. Students who are interested in this opportunity should speak with Mount Everett High School Principal, Jesse Carpenter."

Students will participate in an active and engaging daily Writing and Thinking workshop along with a seminar. Students will also be able to choose different art and science courses while experiencing diverse academic offerings. While students indulge in the academic experiences that Simons Rock has to offer, they will also be able to take advantage of the 275-acre wooded campus and scenic nature trails.

For more information about Curiosity Camp at Simons Rock please visit: https://simons-rock.edu/academics/beyond-the-classroom/curiosity-camp.php
Mount Greylock Regional School graduates 73 seniors on Saturday.

Mount Greylock Class of 2022 Urged to Know Themselves



The class was told they were a resilient group who'd overcome plenty of obstacles during the pandemic. See more photos here. WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass.  The Mount Greylock Regional School class of 2022 had to overcome more than a few obstacles on their way to graduation on Saturday.

Class President Henry Art said it was a "singular example of the resiliency" the cohort of 73 had shown particularly through the last three years.

"High school itself is a challenging environment in many different ways for many different people  academically, socially, logistically. But adding in the pandemic on top of that created an obstacle which at times felt insurmountable, and, indeed, for many of us, this time in our lives has caused great pain and suffering," he said. "The strain of growing up in such an uncertain time has taken considerable toll on our mental health. And yet, here we sit."

He'd missed out on senior week activities after a positive test for COVID-19, and he recalled those times when they were all isolated at home while also attending class. He'd listened to a podcast about a triathlete who described the obstacles in his way as "great mental training."

"I resolved to do the same. Whenever being isolated felt difficult, I reminded myself that it was great mental training and that going through it would make this moment right here all the sweeter," he said. "What comes next is completely uncertain, and may not always be enjoyable. Things happen all the time that are completely out of our control. In those situations, we only cause ourselves more suffering by attempting to change our circumstances. Instead, you must play the hand that you're down and make the best of what we have."

The best on Saturday was an in-person graduation in the gymnasium with plenty of recollections, inside jokes, serious advice and warm congratulations.

Superintendent Jason McCandless said he wouldn't miss nose-swabbing duty but he would very much miss this community of learners who had excelled in so many fields.

"Seeing each of you simply being you serves as a daily reminder to me and many others of why being a public school educator is simply the most optimistic and hopeful profession one can choose to go into," he said. "All of you deserve all the accolades that you've gotten and will get. You deserve all the attention and you deserve all of the love that you're going to receive today."

He offered some advice he'd received from a college mentor, professor Robert J. Starratt of Boston College: Know yourself.

That mean's knowing what you value, what you're good at, where your courage lies, what you really believe in and when you need help.

"If you know yourself, no one else gets to define you. If you know yourself, you'll be comfortable and you'll be confident in that self and you'll be celebratory in who everybody else is," said McCandless. "You'll have the courage to admit your mistakes and to learn from them and the grit to press on even though you're embarrassed by those mistakes. If you know yourself, you will really truly be authentic. ...

"Then share that self and share that love with others as you move into a larger world where each of you will live learn and lead to make wherever you are a much, much better place as you have the Mount Greylock Regional School District."

The selected class speakers also touched on connections and differences, with the class's chosen speaker Alayna Schwarzer pondering how they had had no time or space to deal with that loss of normal class cohesion caused by the pandemic. She found an anology in the class's sophomore year on the "last normal day."

"One orange, one apple and one fork managed to find their way into a toilet on the first floor. On their flushing, they caused the entirety of the first floor to become inundated with the contents of both the septic and plumbing systems," she said to laughter. "I think, in a way, that apple, that orange and that fork work as a beautiful metaphor.

"The moral of the story is although they may look and act differently, they nonetheless managed to come together to achieve something. The utter dysfunction of these past three years kind of forced us to develop stronger identities as individuals, which I think if anything, makes our class an even more compelling as a group of people."

Anthony Welch, selected by the faculty, said the school was the one thing they all had in common  whether they'd been together since kindergarten or met this year "through a glitchy Chromebook screen."

"The only thing I am sure about our futures is that they are unsure. And that is OK. Because when you come to a task or a problem all you have to do is look inside of yourself and find the lesson you learned ... I want you all to remember, wherever you all are in life, whatever challenge you're tackling, do it your way."

Principal Jacob Schutz urged them to continue to use their imaginations as they set forth.

"Your experience and education from your time here matter, your acquisition of skills and understanding matters. What you intend to study matters," he said. "Your contributions to this planet will be meaningful, productive and their own unique ways. But never settle academically. Continue to be curious. Don't stop asking the hard questions. Don't just peek behind the curtain, but keep ripping it down.

Ceremonies included the recognition of student awards before the diplomas were presented by School Committee Chair Christina Conroy, McCandless and Schutz. The school orchestra and band played several selections.

Graduates Katherine Swann and Emma Sandstrom made the presentations of Staff Member of the Year Award to Bridget Balawender of the guidance office and Teacher of the Year to English teacher Rebecca Tucker-Smith, who expressed how the joy her students found in their pets convinced her to become a first-time owner of two fluffy cats that now populate her lessons.

"When we create this narrative about who we are, or about what we kind of can or cannot do or do or don't like, we're sometimes closing ourselves off from opportunities for joy or connection," she said. "I hope you connect with people who are kind and supportive and that you are kind and supportive to the people around you. And you should all become teachers and get cats."

The Mount Greylock Regional Class of 2022




iciHaiti - 9th Summit of the Americas : The Dominican Government denies having reached an agreement with the PM of Haiti





Following statements by Acting Prime Minister Ariel Henry, after a bilateral meeting with Dominican President Luis Abinader at the 9th Summit of the Americas https://www.icihaiti.com/en/news-36875-icihaiti-9th-summit-of-the-americas-meeting-between-the-pm-and-the-dominican-president-abinader.html and those of the Haitian Prime Minister who declared that Prime Minister Ariel Henry and President Luis Abinader have agreed to regularize the situation of immigrants and Haitian workers in the neighboring Republic, the Dominican Government issued the following statement:



Dominican Government Statement :



"The Dominican Government specifies that in the bilateral conversation held on June 9, 2022, within the framework of the Summit of the Americas, between the President of the Dominican Republic, Luis Abinader, and the Prime Minister of Haiti, Ariel Henry, it there has not been any type of commitment to regularize the situation of Haitian immigrants and workers in the country or to support the candidacy of the former Haitian Minister of Public Health, Florence Guillaume Duperval, for the post Director General of the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO). The position of President Luis Abinader on these two issues was as follows :



Concerning immigrants and workers : The Haitian government must make every effort to provide official Haitian documents to all immigrants and workers in the Dominican Republic.



Regarding the candidacy for PAHO : The Dominican President indicated that he could not define any support given that the Government of Panama also has a candidacy for the same position and is also an ally...



The Dominican Government has very clear positions regarding the bilateral agenda with the Haitian Government. The only valid information on the agreements or discussions within the framework of the Summit of the Americas is that emanating from the official authorities of the Dominican Republic."



IH/ iciHaiti


















There are few things, it seems, that are harder than getting employees who have grown used to working remotely to come back to the office. There are a lot of good reasons for that. Maybe the best of those is that, in many cases, those employees are just as productive--if not more--as when they were commuting to your office to sit in a cubicle for eight hours five days a week.

Still, there are valid reasons to want your team back in the office. There definitely are roles and teams that benefit from being together in person. No matter how used to meeting on Zoom we get, it will never replace face-to-face conversations in terms of building relationships. Some types of collaboration are still easier when you're all in a room together.

That's why striking a balance between the needs of your business and the needs and desires of your individual team members is one of the most difficult challenges many leaders are facing right now. That's true for both small businesses and giant corporations.

Take Google, for example, which has put a lot of effort into figuring out the way forward. Sundar Pichai, Google's CEO, has talked publicly about how the company is thinking about that balance. The company has invested in new types of workspaces, implemented a hybrid work plan, and given employees the flexibility to work remotely on a permanent basis when it fits.

Pichai has highlighted three things that every business should consider as it thinks about and creates a plan to return to the office:

1. Purpose

What's the real reason you're bringing people back to the office? If the answer is that you feel better having everyone in one place because it makes them easier to manage, you're doing it wrong. On the other hand, smart leaders are focused on articulating the purpose and benefits of bringing people back together in one place.

"A set of our workforce will be fully remote, but most of our workforce will be coming in three days a week," Pichai said in an interview with The Wall Street Journal last year. "But I think we can be more purposeful about the time they're in, making sure group meetings, collaboration, creative brainstorming, or community building happens then."

2. Flexibility

"The thing I'm most excited about is I think the future of work will be flexible," Pichai said. The point is that not everyone's situation is the same, so your plan should have flexibility as a core value.

At Google, that means giving people choices. Some employees will be back in the office full time. Others will adopt a hybrid approach where they work in the office three days a week, and from home the rest of the time. In other cases, employees might choose to relocate and work fully remotely for a period of time.

"Many of us would also enjoy the flexibility of working from home a couple [of] days [a] week, spending time in another city for part of the year, or even moving there permanently," Pichai wrote in a blog post last year. "Google's future workplace will have room for all of these possibilities."

Even if you're a small business, you might be surprised how many different options you can create for your team when you start with the assumption that your plan has to include an element of flexibility.

3. Choice

It's not enough to simply have different ways for people to work. You have to allow your team to have a say in what works best for them as a team, and as individuals. That's a challenge because there will always be a tension between what a manager thinks is best for his or her team, and what an individual has decided is best for themself.

"The sense of creating community, fostering creativity in the workplace, collaboration all make you a better company," Pichai said in an interview at Stanford University in April. "I view giving flexibility to people in the same way, to be very clear. I do think we strongly believe in in-person connections, but I think we can achieve that in a more purposeful way, and give employees more agency and flexibility."
The Johnny Depp v/s Amber Heard defamation case has become one of the most discussed and talked-about cases in the history of America.

While fans have seen several celebrity couples spitting and parting ways, things that conspired between Depp and Heard gained momentum and became an everyday dinner-table conversation for fans all over the world.

Web Screen Grab

On June 1, the Virginia jury found Heard liable for defaming Depp. Depp was awarded USD 10 million in compensatory damages and USD 5 million in punitive damages, the latter of which the judge reduced to USD 350,000.



AFP

Heard, who filed a countersuit against Depp, was granted USD 2 million in compensatory damages.



AFP

In a new interview with Benjamin Chew and Camille Vasquez, the lawyers backing Johnnys case have dropped a significant hint about Depp waving off the damage claims for Heard.



In a conversation with Good Morning America, the host, George Stephanopoulos, asked the lawyers if there was any chance for a settlement where Amber forgoes the appeal, leading to Depp waiving off the monetary damages.

Reuters

Emphasizing the importance of discretion, Chew said, "We obviously cannot disclose attorney-client communication." He also added for his client, Johnny, "It was never about money. This was about restoring his reputation, and he had done that."



Watch the video here:

Earlier, Amber Heard's lawyer, Elaine Bredehoft, had made similar claims, saying Heard couldnt pay the $10.4 million she owes Johnny Depp.

Reuters

Multiple sources have claimed that Heard is "broke" due to hefty legal fees associated with the defamation trial.

Reuters

"Oh, no, absolutely not," Heards attorney, Elaine Bredehoft, told NBCs "Today" when asked if the actress would be able to pay off the hefty judgment handed down by the jury after the trial.



Depp had filed the case against Heard after she wrote a 2018 op-ed for The Washington Post labeling herself as a public figure representing domestic abuse. Heards personal essay did not mention Depp by name.

AFP

However, Depps lawyers argued that her op-ed was part of an elaborate hoax, per prior court documents obtained by E! News.



(To get the latest updates from Bollywood and Hollywood, keep reading Indiatimes Entertainment.)


In a report released last month, the United States Trade Representative (USTR) highlighted its issues with patents in India. It stated that India is one of the most difficult large economies to protect and enforce intellectual property. It has opted to keep India, along with Argentina, Chile, China, Indonesia, Russia, and Venezuela, on its Priority Watch List.

Concerns regarding what can be patented, patent waiting times, reporting requirements, and data security are among the topics identified in the report. Last year, India conducted an intellectual property review, with input from the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade, Ministry of Commerce and Industry; Confederation of Indian Industry (CII); Department of Pharmaceuticals, Ministry of Chemicals & Fertilisers; Department of Agriculture Research and Education, Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare and Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI), as well as various legal associates.

What is Indias Patent Regime?

A patent is a property right granted to an inventor by a sovereign body. In exchange for a complete disclosure of the innovation, the inventor receives exclusive rights to the patented process, design, or invention for a set length of time.

The Indian Patent Act of 1970 governs Indian patents. Patents are granted under the statute if the innovation meets the following criteria:

It must be unique.

It should have an innovative step or be non-obvious.

It should be capable of being used in an industrial setting.

It should not be subject to Sections 3 and 4 of the Patents Act of 1970.

File image

The first step of the patent in India was Act VI of 1856. The main objective of the legislation was to encourage the respective inventions of new and useful manufactures and to induce inventors to reveal their inventions and make them available for the public.

The Indian Patent and Design Act, 1911 repealed all previous acts. The Patents Act 1970, along with the Patent Rules 1972, came into force on 20 April 1972, replacing the Indian Patent and Design Act 1911. The Patent Act is basically based on the recommendations of the report Justice Ann.

The Ayyangar Committee headed by Rajagopala Iyengar. One of the recommendations was the allowance of process patents in relation to inventions related to drugs, drugs, food and chemicals.

WTO

India has progressively aligned itself with international intellectual-property-rights frameworks. Following its membership to the World Trade Organisation on January 1, 1995, it became a party to the Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS) Agreement. TRIPS establishes minimum standards for the regulation by national governments of different forms of intellectual property (IP) as applied to nationals of other WTO member nations.





Issues raised by USTR

Last month, the United States released its annual Special 301 report, which highlights the state of intellectual property rights protection in several nations that are trading partners of the United States across the world. The report's India section noted a number of concerns ranging from copyright and piracy to trademark counterfeiting and trade secrets, concluding that India "remains one of the world's most challenging major economies in terms of IP protection and enforcement."

It highlighted the threat of patent revocations, lack of presumption of patent validity and narrow patentability criteria as issues which impact companies across different sectors.

The issue of narrow patentability criteria was again raised in relation to Section 3(d) of the Patent Act,





What is Indias take over the issue?

Article 3(d) of the Indian Patent Act has been a major topic of controversy between India and the United States. In both of the USTR reports released earlier, this point is raised as a source of concern.

Section 3 deals with what does not qualify as an invention under the Act, and Section 3(d) in particular excludes the mere discovery of a new form of a known substance which does not result in the enhancement of the known efficacy of that substance or the mere discovery of any new property or new use for a known substance or of the mere use of a known process, machine or apparatus unless such known process results in a new product or employs at least one new reactant from being eligible for protection under patent law.

Unsplash/Representational image

This was addressed by the Parliamentary Standing Committee as well, which pointed out that the section acts as a safeguard against frivolous inventions in accordance with the flexibility provided in the TRIPS agreement.

Section 3(d) prevents what is known as evergreening of patents. In India, patents are granted for a maximum term of 20 years (provided it is maintained by paying annuity fees). After the expiry of the patent, the invention goes into the public domain which is free for use, manufacture, sell, or import.

However, sometimes the patentees (mostly pharmaceutical companies) attempt to extend this monopoly right beyond the limited period of 20 years. When the term of the patent is about to end, these companies make trivial /insignificant variations to the existing patented invention and file for a new patent, thus extending their monopoly. This is known as the Ever-greening of a patent.

According to the Parliamentary Standing Committees report, Section 3(d) allows for generic competition by patenting only novel and genuine inventions.

The United Nations Secretary-Generals High-Level Panel on Access to Medicines Report, 2016 also validated Indias stand on Section 3(d). It concluded that India must not compromise on the patentability criteria under Section 3(d) since as a sovereign country it has the flexibility to stipulate limitations on grants of patents in accordance with its prevailing socio-economic conditions. However, it suggested that India and the US work out their disputes over the disqualification of incremental inventions through bilateral talks.

Reuters

Recently, after India and several other nations sought a temporary relaxation of some requirements of the TRIPS agreement to deal with the COVID-19 epidemic, India, TRIPS, and concerns relating to the global patent regime became pertinent. The waiver of these rights was sought in order to encourage the development of vaccinations, treatments, and equipment to combat the epidemic.





For more on news and current affairs from around the world please visit Indiatimes News.
Amid the fears of another wave of COVID-19 in the country, India on Saturday added 8,329 new infections in the past 24 hours.

With this, the total number of confirmed cases in India till now has reached 4,32,13,435.

BCCL

With an increase of 4,103, the count of active cases jumped to 40,370, according to Union Health Ministry data on Saturday.

In the past 24 hours, India also reported 10 deaths from COVID-19 taking the tally so far to 5,24,757.

The daily positivity rate was recorded at 2.41 per cent and the weekly positivity rate at 1.75 per cent, according to the health ministry.

Maharashtra, Kerala account for more than 60% cases

Among the states, Maharashtra on Friday recorded 3,081 new COVID-19 infections, the highest in nearly four months.

BCCL

State capital Mumbai alone accounted for 1,956 new cases, highest since January 23. On Thursday, the state had recorded 2,813 new cases and one death. Friday's rise in cases was the highest since February 13 when the state had recorded 3,502 cases. The number of active cases in Maharashtra now stands at 13,329. Only Gondia district has zero active cases.

Kerala on Friday saw 2,813 new COVID-19 cases. Maharashtra and Kerala accounted for 66 percent of the new infections in the country.

Delhi, Karnataka also see increase in new cases

In the past 24 hours national capital Delhi added 655 new COVID-19 infections.

New COVID-19 cases in Karnataka breached the 500-mark in the past 24 hours.

The state added 525 new COVID cases, the highest in three-and-a-half months.

BCCL

Fourth wave of COVID? Not yet says ICMR

With infections rising in many states there is a growing concern about the fourth wave of COVID-19 in India.

However, a top health expert from the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), Delhi ruled this out as the fourth wave.

It's wrong to say 4th wave is coming, we need to examine district-level data. High number of cases in few districts can't be considered as unifrom increase in cases across country. Not every variant is variant of concern," Dr Samiran Panda, Additional director-general of ICMR told ANI.

AFP

He also said that panic does not serve as a COVID pandemic response or public health response as it does not help analyse the data, therefore, panic doesn't serve any purpose.

"Panic does not serve as a COVID pandemic response or public health response because a panic does not help to analyse the data or looking carefully to be so that's why panic doesn't serve a purpose," Panda said.

For more on news, sports and current affairs from around the world, please visit Indiatimes News.
The Alps, known for their snow-clad peaks are slowly losing the white snow and getting replaced with green vegetation, thanks to climate change.

via Earth.com

Also read: Scientists Say Young People Below Age 40 Will See Climate Change Cataclysm

The phenomenon is referred to as greening and it is expected to boost climate change, reveals a novel study by University of Basel researchers.



Reported first by AFP, the study looked at 38 years of satellite imagery across the popular mountain range. They examined regions at 1,700 meters above sea level to exclude areas used for agriculture as well as forested areas and glaciers.

Researchers found that across most of the regions covered, ten percent of the studied area didnt have any presence of snow.

Researchers claim that climate change is to blame for these massive changes and they warn that this could set the course for numerous harmful consequences.

Firstly, a massive amount of drinking water that originates from melting snow will disappear faster via rivers. Moreover, the habitat species that have evolved and adapted specifically to this region would also experience disruption.

This will also massively affect the tourism industry thats one of the biggest economic drivers of the region.

Moreover, snow is known to reflect 90 percent of solar radiation, however, vegetation absorbs most of it and radiates it back in the form of heat, which will only boost the warming, and eventually cause more vegetation.

AFP

Also read: Earth's Oxygen Level Slowly Dropping Say Scientists, Will Vanish After Billions Of Years



Sabine Rumpf, an ecologist at the University of Basel, told AFP, "It is climate change that is driving these changes. Warming means that we have longer vegetation periods, we have more benign conditions that foster plant growth, so plants can just grow more and faster. The warmer it gets, the more precipitation falls as rain rather than snow."



Rumpf added, "In terms of snow, it's pretty straightforward. I would expect the snow cover to disappear more and more, especially at lower elevations."

Researchers hope to repeat the observations in a few years.

Keep visiting Indiatimes.com for the latest science and technology news.
A Place for All Conservatives to Speak Their Mind.
A well-known loyalist has been remanded in custody after a court was told that police discovered weapons and ammunition in a bag in the boot of his car.

Winston Irvine, 46, from Ballysillan in north Belfast, was arrested on Wednesday as police were investigating a security alert that led to Simon Coveney being evacuated from a peace event.

Irvine has been charged with possession of a firearm and ammunition in suspicious circumstances, possession of a prohibited firearm, possession of a handgun without a certificate and possession of ammunition without a certificate.

He appeared by videolink at Belfast Magistrates Court on Saturday wearing a red T-shirt.

Asked if he understood the charges, Irvine said: Yes, I do.

A PSNI detective inspector told the court he could connect Irvine to the charges.

The officer told the court that officers had planned an operation to arrest Irvine on Wednesday in relation to an unrelated matter.

He said police observed Irvines car in Glencairn Street when a van parked behind it and Irvine was seen opening the boot of his vehicle.

The detective inspector said Irvine was then stopped in Disraeli Street and officers discovered a number of firearms, magazines and more than 200 rounds of ammunition in a holdall in the boot.

The officer told the court that Irvine said he had not been aware of what was in bag.

A search of Irvines home discovered a quantity of cash as well as a UVF plaque and pendants, the court heard.

The detective inspector objected to an application for bail.

He said: The police case would be that this has the hallmarks of a paramilitary operation, given the amount of ammunition and range of weaponry and component parts that were found, that this is typical of the type of stuff that paramilitary organisations in Northern Ireland have access to.

Persons who would have access to such large amounts would only be trusted members of the organisation.

Defence lawyer Joe Brolly told the court that Irvine should be granted bail.

He said: The applicant for bail is a renowned peace builder in this community.

A simple internet search will show over the last 15 years he has been intensively involved in the peace process, in reconciliation and in peace programmes.

He has worked across the divide for the last 20 years, that is not in dispute.

He not only works with ex-loyalist prisoners but is also engaged intensively with ex-republican prisoners and continues to do so.

He has publicly spent his life advocating peace in difficult situations.

There are tensions, particularly in the loyalist community, and his role throughout is to keep a lid on this.

District Judge George Conner denied the application for bail, saying a significant haul of weapons and ammunition had been recovered.

Irvine was remanded in custody to appear in court again on July 1.

Irish Foreign Affairs Minister, Simon Coveney, was evacuated from a peace event in March (Hume Foundation/PA)

A 51-year-old man arrested in Ballymena on Wednesday as part of the same investigation remains in custody.

The two arrests were made as part of a PSNI investigation into a security alert on March 25 when a peace event, organised by the John and Pat Hume Foundation, was disrupted.

The Houben Centre in the Crumlin Road was evacuated while Mr Coveney was giving an address and a funeral service at nearby Holy Cross Church was disrupted.

Police said the driver of a van was threatened by two gunmen and forced to drive a device, which he believed to be a live bomb, to the church.

The item in the van turned out to be a hoax bomb.
Thomas Reid is tuned into talk radio these days.

Normally, he is more inclined toward music stations like Nova, '70s rock, his kind of tunes.

But the An Bord Pleanala story has him changing his habits. He listens to his battery-run radio set for some snippet of news on the beleaguered institution, and sometimes he nearly sees the chickens, heading home to roost.

When an item on the story comes on, he might pull out his tape recorder and press record, a practice that would be unknown to most people.

Over the years, he has grown accustomed to keeping a record of anything to do with planning, as if he was assembling pieces of a jigsaw.

Thomas Reid is a primary example of why public confidence is required in An Bord Pleanala (ABP). He represents the David who is supposed to be equal to Goliath before the law.

He never really had confidence in the boards impartiality, but the current revelations have thrown up some practices that rang a bell with him and his long struggles against planning, as it affected his life.

Home for generations

Thomas lives on his 70-acre farm in the house where his father lived, and his father's father before him.

The holding hugs the busy R148 road between Leixlip and Maynooth in Co Kildare.

On the far side of the road sits the still waters of the Royal Canal.

Bordering his farm on one side is the exclusive Carton House resort. And on the other side, the bane of his life for the last 20 years, the computer chip giant, Intel.

In 2013, the High Court ruled that the Industrial Development Agency (IDA) was entitled to compulsorily purchase Thomas 70-acre farm.

The IDA claimed that it was in the national interest to secure a compulsory purchase order (CPO) for the farm on the basis of Intels projected requirement.

The court noted the international competition for mobile capital and jobs and concluded that the national interest should outweigh that of the individual.

The need, never greater, to increase employment and generate business, demands that many sacrifices be made, the judge ruled.

Thomas Reid was thus told to suck it up. Two years later, the Supreme Court reversed the ruling, noting that the IDA was engaged in land-banking, or storing up the land for some unspecified future use.

Thomas Reid at his home in Leixlip, Co Kildare; the house has no electricity; he cooks using a gas burner; he doesnt possess a television or own a car. Picture: Moya Nolan

There was no provision in legislation for this so Thomas Reid was allowed to keep his farm.

The saga was captured brilliantly in the award-winning documentary film, The Lonely Battle of Thomas Reid. The film scoped both his character and lifestyle.

He wouldnt be a fan of modernity: His home has no electricity; he cooks using a gas burner; he doesnt possess a television or own a car.

He travels to Maynooth for his weekly shopping by bike. He leads a solitary life, with little domestic comforts and the transistor radio for company.

My grandfather bought this house, I think it was in 1904, he says.

The long battle to ward off the state from commandeering his holding took a toll.

I wouldnt trust too many people now, he says.

And things havent been great the last while, the farm has gone down a bit.

A year after his Supreme Court win, Intel put in an application to expand their plant into the fields to the rear of Thomas holding. They wanted 30 acres and Kildare County Council granted the planning permission.

Thomas was peeved but didnt think there was much he could do about it.

He was of the opinion that it was the applicant, rather than the merits of the specific case, that ensured planning permission. He objected and An Bord Pleanala examined his case.

The main investigation conducted by ABP to determine whether to grant or reject an appeal is a report on the planning application compiled by an inspector.

The inspector turned up here on September 20, 2019, the day there was that climate protest, Thomas remembers (the Greta Thunberg-inspired School Strike for Climate world protest).

Thomas spoke to the inspector, and the man went about his business.

The inspector recommended granting the permission and the board ruled accordingly.

But Thomas Reid had an itch.

His long, bitter experience had familiarised him with the planning process and he reckoned the boards ruling was full of holes.

The only problem was he couldnt get anybody to represent him. Then, through a friendly intermediary, he was introduced to solicitor Brian Harrington.

The Intel manufacturing plant in Collinstown Park, Leixlip, Co Kildare. Picture Colin Keegan, Collins Dublin

The subsequent judicial review did throw up some serious issues as to how the board went about its work.

In a judgement issued in 2021, Judge Richard Humphreys was scathing about the lack of professionalism that appeared to be available to a board making such a major decision.

One of the environmental aspects of the case involved the emission of ammonia.

The judge noted that ABP disagreed with the proposition that it should know what the appropriate emission standard or ammonia is.

Instead, ABP argued, it could rely on what the developer (Intel) said the standard was and that the county council had already assessed the material.

But the councils view is irrelevant because what is before the board is an appeal, Judge Humphreys ruled.

The notion of relying on other peoples judgements more generally is flawed and, if it were to be applied, would be an abdication of the boards independent statutory role.

Indeed, it is a circular argument  how can the board know that the developers advisers are in fact competent experts that can be relied on if the board doesnt itself have, or have access to, equal competence and expert knowledge."

The logic that 'other people have looked at this, therefore it must be OK' is the sort of thing that leads to systems failures.

"It is the stuff of Challenger, Columbia, Grenfell Tower, and pre-crash financial regulation, Judge Humphreys ruled.

I dont accept that the board would be complying with its critically important independent evaluative obligations if it took that approach, although I emphasise that I say that in the context of endeavouring to clarify the boards obligations.

"Im not finding that the board did take that approach here. Likewise, the boards argument that it 'doesnt have infinite resources' is facile and hollow.

"Developers dont have infinite resources either, yet they manage to assemble teams of experts to deal with all technical issues.

Despite such a scathing assessment, Judge Humphreys ruled on the substantive issue that the appeal be dismissed and the expansion could go ahead.

There was also another issue, one that resonated with the current controversy in ABP.

It turned out that one of the board members  the current vice chair Paul Hyde  requested of the inspector that he adjust his report.

One of the board members  the current vice chair Paul Hyde  requested of the inspector that he adjust his report.

The issue of requests or demands of inspectors to change their reports has come to the fore in recent months.

Inspectors compile reports and present them to the board of ABP with a recommendation to feed into the boards decision.

The board is not obliged to accept the inspectors decision but should give a reason when deviating from it.

In recent weeks, the Irish Examiner has detailed cases where inspectors were asked to change reports, a practice that is regarded as highly dubious.

Last month, the trade union representing inspectors complained to management about the incidences in which they were asked to change reports or recommendations.

Discharges into Ryewater river

In the Intel case, an issue arose over discharges in the Ryewater river, which borders the computer giants compound and flows into the Liffey.

A question arose as to whether a study should be done to check whether four areas of Special Conservation in Dublin Bay might be affected by the discharge.

Mr Hyde related in an affidavit that he had a conversation with the inspector as to whether they could exclude the possibility of any likely significant effect on the Dublin Bay sites.

On foot of this conversation, I had an expectation that the matter would be clarified by an amendment to the inspectors report, Hydes affidavit states.

In the circumstances, I considered it reasonable to screen out the Dublin Bay sites, in that there was no possibility of likely significant effects on those sites and drew up a board order and board direction to reflect that, and, in light of my expectation of the clarification, noted agreement with the inspector.

However, the inspector, despite the conversation with Mr Hyde, did not adjust his report; the reasons for not doing so are unknown.

Either the inspector neglected to make the adjustments or determined that his report was a full reflection of his work and would stand on that basis.

What unfolded was that the board made its decision as if the report had been adjusted, apparently unaware that this was not the case.

Although the board order accurately reflects the boards decision on the application and on the question of appropriate assessment, it does not contain a note explaining its difference in approach to that set out in the inspectors report on the question of screening the four Dublin Bay sites, according to Hydes affidavit.

I believe that it is clear that this difference in approach could not have made any difference to the outcome of the appropriate assessment.

The judge didnt think so either and refused the application from Thomas Reid.

The question that arises is how could five members of ABP make their order, stating, as the minute for the meeting does, that they generally accepted the inspectors report, when quite obviously they did not.

The five members included chairperson Dave Walsh and a question arises as to whether they actually read the inspectors report because if they had they would have seen that they were not accepting it.

The planned expansion got the nod.

However, the legal challenge taken by Thomas Reid did provide an insight into the workings of ABP and the result was not pretty.

Judge Humphreys assessment pointed to a totally unprofessional approach to verifying the science as presented by one of the parties. And the failed attempt to have an inspectors report adjusted raised other serious questions.

Thomas believes that his case should be seen in a different light due to the current controversy.

It should be quashed over what is coming out now, he says.

Thomas Reid at his home in Leixlip, Co Kildare with the Intel plant in the background. Picture: Moya Nolan

Notwithstanding that, any reopening of the case is highly unlikely. Ultimately, despite all the flaws, a high court judge did rule that it could go ahead.

Whether the case forms any wider review in the near future remains to be seen.

For Thomas Reid, the recent revelations confirm the kind of suspicions he has long had.

I dont trust them, he says. His view of Intel is equally jaundiced.

These lads think they can get away with whatever they want, he says.

To be fair to all, the planning process in his case was endorsed by a judge after a complete review, the extent of which is obvious from Judge Humphreys detailed ruling.

For now, Thomas will continue to keep an eye on things. One of his recent recordings from the radio concerned an interview with junior minister, Peter Burke, who proposed that access to judicial reviews be tighter than currently is the case.

That really got me going, he says. It made my blood boil.

Without access to the courts, Thomas feels that the Davids of this world like himself are completely sunk.

Battles are not over

For now, he will continue to monitor what is unfolding in An Bord Pleanala and see whether the possibility arises of a reopening of his case.

On the gate in the front of his property, there are faded handwritten notes and an allegation that supporting documentation to a planning application had not been supplied.

Its as if the battles, as far as he is concerned, are not over and he will continue to make his stand.

He could have had a different life. He could have sold up, bought a farm elsewhere, made a very tidy profit, moved on to a life of comfort, free from worry or fear of conspiracy.

He has chosen otherwise.

Some might put it down to stubbornness, but that would be a disservice to his motivation.

Thomas Reid has chosen how to live by his values and fate and persistence have provided him with the means to do so.

His disposition might have in the past led some to foolishly believe that he was ill-equipped to stand up to powerful forces. Not any more.
August in South Florida usually tends to be scorching hot. Well, its about to get mas caliente on Key Biscayne this summer.

Veteran politician, and Miami-Dade County government official Joe Rasco became the first resident to jump into the 2022 Key Biscayne mayoral election pool early this week.

And, it didn't take long for a couple of other well-known figures on the island to dive in, forming what is expected to be a sizzling Aug. 23 primary election.

Fausto Gomez, president of the Key Biscayne Condominium Presidents' Council, and Katie Petros, who served on the Village Council from 2016-2020, officially qualified Friday.

It will be the first mayoral primary on Key Biscayne since Oct. 1, 1998, when Rasco collected 735 votes to win a three-way race against Michele Padovan (now Estevez), who collected 478 votes, and Jim Peters, who had 287. Rasco, falling just 16 votes short of a majority, went on to defeat Padovan by collecting 61% of the November vote.

In the previous election, in 1996, John Festa emerged in another rare, three-way primary race. The other two candidates at that time were Raul Llorente, who gave up his Council seat for the mayoral race, and Ed Meyer.

Rasco, 67, who was part of the Village's 1991 incorporation efforts and a member of the first Village Council, was re-elected as Mayor in 2000. He had served as Vice Mayor in 1993-94.

"After much reflection and with full support from my wife and children, it is an honor that I announce my candidacy for Mayor for the Village of Key Biscayne," he wrote in a statement for Islander News. "This election will be the most important election in our Village's history.

"We need a Mayor who will listen to our residents, lead ethically with honesty and transparency, and work for the best interests of our residents and not any special interests."

He closed by saying: "Throughout this campaign I look forward to speaking with all of our residents and earning your support to serve you as Mayor once again."

Rasco, who has lived on Key Biscayne for more than 40 years, has been representing District 7 on the Virginia Key Advisory Board, and is the Director of Internal Governmental Affairs for Miami-Dade County.

For Gomez, 68, although not a stranger to politics having served as chief of staff for legendary City of Miami Mayor, Maurice Ferre, this will be his first public office election.

He was born in Cuba, came to South Florida when he was 6, and has owned property on Key Biscayne for 22 years.

"I have the knowledge, resources, time and desire to contribute to my community," he said Friday. "I was successful for 38 years in Tallahassee (as a lobbyist), representing some of the biggest interests in Florida, as well as the most needy organizations, including the March of Dimes, Goodwill and groups dedicated to those who are developmentally disabled.

"I also represented Key Biscayne and obtained close to $15 million in support from the state, as well as passed important legislation to fund Crandon Boulevard, maintain our fire department and maintain our transportation funding."

Gomez also has served as Ocean Club president for six years "at the time it was being re-imagined with a total rebuild and refresh of the property," and also is the current president of Lake Tower at the Ocean Club, where he resides.

"I'll be running a campaign so my neighbors get to know me and what my vision is for Key Biscayne," he said. "Every candidate criticizes; I don't. I build upon what is there and make (what's best for the community)."

Petros won enough votes in 2016 to gain a Council seat despite having no previous public political experience.

She was part of the Protect KB Paradise political committee supporting the General Obligation Bond referendum that passed in 2020, designed to protect the Village from sea level rise, storms and climate change.

In a September 2020 letter, published in Islander News, Petros thanked the Key Biscayne Community.,

I will continue to be an active participant in matters that concern us all. Going forward, I will have the opportunity to devote more time to projects of which I am personally invested, including infrastructure upgrades, beach and water quality concerns, and an enhanced library.

Now a Senior Financial Account Manager for Pilot.com, she confirmed her intention to run for Mayor in an email to Islander News earlier this week.

Will others join the mayoral race?

New mayoral candidates, who have until June 17 to fill all the proper paperwork to qualify, will be vying to replace Mike Davey, who ran unopposed in 2020 to gain his second two-year term.

The trio of candidates will occasionally campaign in the brutal summer heat for a non-paying role.

"August is going to be hot," Gomez said, "temperature, and politically as well."

Meanwhile, the qualifying period for the Village Council election is from noon on Aug. 15 to noon on Aug. 25.

Aspiring candidates for the four-year terms can schedule an appointment with the Village Clerk by calling (305) 365-5506.

Additionally, the Village has organized a Clean Campaign Class sponsored by the Miami-Dade Commission on Ethics and Public Trust and the Miami-Dade County Department of Elections.

The two-hour seminar will provide essential information to avoid legal pitfalls, correctly raise and report funds, properly keep records, and understand the legal and ethical obligations of seeking public office.

The seminar is scheduled for 6 p.m. on Thursday, June 23, 2022 at the Village Council Chamber 560 Crandon Boulevard (behind the fire station).

For more information, contact the Village Clerks office at (305) 365-5506.
This Week in Review

A weekly review of the best and most popular stories published in the Imperial Valley Press. Also, featured upcoming events, new movies at local theaters, the week in photos and much more.
Johnson City, TN (37604)

Today

Scattered thunderstorms during the evening. Partly cloudy skies after midnight. Low near 70F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 40%..

Tonight

Scattered thunderstorms during the evening. Partly cloudy skies after midnight. Low near 70F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 40%.
Facts about Russia-Ukraine conflict: Ukrainian president signs sanction decrees on Russian president, officials

Xinhua) 14:59, June 11, 2022

BEIJING, June 10 (Xinhua) -- The following are the latest developments in the conflict between Russia and Ukraine:

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Thursday signed two separate decrees imposing sanctions on Russian President Vladimir Putin and more than 200 Russian officials, the presidential press service reported.

The restrictions targeting Putin banned him from carrying out trade operations such as exports and imports, transiting through Ukrainian territory and participating in the privatization of Ukraine's state property.

- - - -

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Wednesday warned that the Ukraine conflict may trigger social and economic chaos around the world.

The three-month-old conflict brings new bloodshed and suffering for those on the ground. For people around the world, the conflict, together with the other crises, is threatening to unleash "an unprecedented wave of hunger and destitution, leaving social and economic chaos in its wake," he said at the launch of a second report by the Global Crisis Response Group on Food, Energy and Finance over the Ukraine conflict.

- - - -

Far from the Russia-Ukraine conflict, Africa is paying the price. Communities are going hungry as food prices continue to escalate, exacerbating an already worse situation compounded by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Africa relies on grain imports from Russia and Ukraine, but with the ongoing crisis, which closed ports in Ukraine and Western sanctions against Russia, the supply chain is disrupted. Humanitarian agencies are arguing that the blocked supplies are worsening the hunger situation in Africa where some parts have been hit by persistent drought, desert locust infestation and insecurity.

- - - -

Reduced exports of food commodities from Ukraine and Russia risk leaving between 11 million and 19 million more people with chronic hunger over the next year, the UN Food and Agriculture Organization said on Friday.

According to the food agency, Russia and Ukraine are the world's largest and fifth-largest wheat exporters, respectively. Together, they provide 19 percent of the world's barley supply, 14 percent of wheat and 4 percent of maize, making up more than one third of global cereal exports.

(Web editor: Zhong Wenxing, Bianji)
Congress President Sonia Gandhi has been issued fresh summons by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) to join the investigation in connection with the National Herald case.

She will have to record her statements before ED officials on June 23.

The Congress chief was summoned on June 8 but she wrote to the ED informing that she had Covid-19 and hence, was unable to join the probe.

Her son and former party chief Rahul Gandhi was summoned on June 2 but he couldn't join the probe too as he was abroad. The ED had then issued a second notice to him to join the probe on June 13.

The ED has summoned both Gandhis to appear at ED's Delhi headquarters to record their statements.

A case was lodged by the CBI against various Congress leaders including the Gandhis for allegedly misappropriating National Herald funds and the ED's case was filed on the basis of this.
Delhi Jal Board (DJB) Vice-Chairman Saurabh Bharadwaj has expressed deep concern over river Yamuna's dipping water levels and urged the Haryana government to release Delhi's share of water in the river to manage the water crisis in the national capital.

He claimed that Haryana has stopped releasing water from the river Yamuna which has reduced the water supply in Delhi by nearly 100 million gallons per day (MGD).

"The water level in the Wazirabad water treatment plant's pond has dropped to the bare minimum. This minimum level is determined by measuring it from sea level. As of today, the water level in the Wazirabad barrage has dropped from the normal 674.5 feet to the lowest level of the year at 667.70 feet," said Bhardwaj.

He added that it indicates that the water level is nearly eight feet below the surface.

"If you look at the Yamuna, you'll notice that the depth of the water is only about half a foot, ranging from six inches to half a foot," he said.

The drinking water problem in Delhi has aggravated over the last two days, Bharadwaj added.

According to the DJB, the water level in the Wazirabad pond has dipped to 667 feet as against the normal of 674.5 feet.

"As a result, water production in Delhi has been reduced by about 100 MGD, which represents a significant portion of the city's water supply," he said in a media briefing.

"In Delhi, there is a severe water shortage. In this scorching heat, the Haryana government should provide water on humanitarian grounds to quench the thirst of Delhiites. The Haryana government is being asked to provide water to the citizens of Delhi, as they are entitled to it," he added.

"There's a certain share of water Delhi is entitled to and they must ensure that people's rights are not violated. If Haryana releases Yamuna's water, Delhi will have sufficient water to use for sometime," Bhardwaj added.
The Democratic Republic of Congos army said Friday that Rwanda had shelled a school on its territory, killing two children, in what it called a war crime and crime against humanity.

The army in a statement said Rwandan forces had launched an artillery bombardment on Friday afternoon on two areas of the Rutshuru territory of North Kivu province in the conflict-torn eastern DRC.

Shells hit a school killing two boys aged six and seven, the Congolese army said, while another boy was wounded in the attack.

In addition to the human toll, the Rwandan army bombed an entire school. This constitutes both a war crime and a crime against humanity, it said.

The charge follows a statement by Rwandas defence ministry earlier on Friday which accused the Congolese army of firing two rockets into its territory.

The tit-for-tat accusations come amid a sharp deterioration in relations over the recent resurgence of the M23 militia in the DRCs volatile east.

The DRC has accused Rwanda of backing the primarily Congolese Tutsi group, and last month said it had detained two Rwandan soldiers in its eastern region, holding this as proof of Kigalis involvement.

Rwanda has repeatedly denied backing the M23.

On Friday, the Congolese army also denied firing rockets into Rwanda and suggested that Rwanda had staged an attack on its own soil in a bid to deceive or mislead the international community.

Relations between the DRC and Rwanda have been strained since the mass arrival in the eastern DRC of Rwandan Hutus accused of slaughtering Tutsis during the 1994 Rwanda genocide.

Relations began to thaw after DRC President Felix Tshisekedi took office in 2019 but a flare-up of M23 violence last month has reignited tensions.

The African Union, the United Nations and others have appealed for calm amid spiking regional tensions.

Belgiums King Philippe, who is currently in the DRC for a historic six-day tour of the former Belgian colony, is scheduled to visit the eastern city of Bukavu on Sunday.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said his countrys forces were doing everything to stop the Russian offensive, with fierce battles in the east and the south.

Kyiv said Friday it had launched new air strikes in the captured southern region of Kherson, one of the first areas to be taken by Russia after the February 24 invasion.

But Zelensky said Friday very difficult battles were ongoing, including in the eastern Donbas region where Moscow has concentrated its firepower, especially around the eastern industrial city of Severodonetsk.

Ukrainian troops are doing everything to stop the offensive of the occupiers, Zelensky said in an address.

In the Mykolaiv region near the front line in the south, the regional governor stressed the urgent need for international military assistance.

Russias army is more powerful, they have a lot of artillery and ammo. For now, this is a war of artillery and we are out of ammo, Vitaliy Kim said.

The help of Europe and America is very, very important.

Zelensky said in his address that Ukraine must not allow the world to divert its attention away from what is happening on the battlefield.

In the town of Lysychansk, located just across a river from Severodonetsk, people told AFP about their stark choice: stay and brave the shelling, or flee and abandon their homes.

Yevhen Zhyryada, 39, said the only way to access water was by heading to a water distribution site in the town.

We have to go there under shelling, and under fire, he said.

This is how we survive.

 France offers Odessa help 

Shockwaves from the conflict have reverberated around the world, with fears mounting of a global food crisis  Ukraine is an agricultural powerhouse and a major grain exporter.

An adviser to French President Emmanuel Macron said France was ready to assist in an operation to allow safe access to Ukraines Black Sea port of Odessa.

It has been subject to a de facto blockade by Russia, with grain waiting to be shipped.

France wants victory for Ukraine, the advisor added, after Macron sparked controversy recently by suggesting Russia should not be humiliated.

Moscow poured its troops across the border into Ukraine on February 24 after weeks of warnings from the United States and its allies that Russia was planning an invasion.

US President Joe Biden said Friday that Zelensky had brushed off those warnings.

There was no doubt and Zelensky didnt want to hear it nor did a lot of people, Biden said at a fundraiser. I understand why they didnt want to hear it.

 Shocking death sentences 

Western countries reacted this week with fresh outrage after the pro-Kremlin separatist authorities in the Donetsk region of the Donbas sentenced to death Britons Aiden Aslin and Shaun Pinner, and Saadun Brahim of Morocco.

Germanys foreign ministry said the shocking sentences show once more Russias complete disregard for international humanitarian law.

The United Nations warned that unfair trials of prisoners of war amounted to war crimes.

Zelensky separately praised British leadership and its support for Kyivs fight against Russia during an unannounced visit from UK Defence Secretary Ben Wallace.

Weapons, finance, sanctions  on these three issues, Britain shows leadership, Zelensky said in a video statement.

Kyiv has been critical of countries  including Germany and France  for the slow delivery of aid and for giving too much credence to negotiations with Russias President Vladimir Putin.

 Not artificially created 

Russia has repeatedly cautioned the West against getting involved in the conflict, with some officials warning of the risk of nuclear war.

The worlds chemical weapons watchdog said Friday it was keeping a close eye on Ukraine to monitor threats of use of toxic chemicals as weapons.

Putin has said that what Russia calls its special military operation is meant to de-Nazify Ukraine, suggesting he is merely taking territory back.

But US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin issued scathing criticism of the invasion and its aims on Saturday.

Russias invasion (is) what happens when big powers decide that their imperial appetites matter more than the rights of their peaceful neighbours, he said at the Shangri-La Dialogue security summit in Singapore.

And its a preview of a possible world of chaos and turmoil that none of us would want to live in.

burs-qan/ssy
Bolivian ex-president Jeanine Anez was sentenced Friday to 10 years in prison, more than a year after her arrest for an alleged plot  dismissed as fictional by many  to oust her rival and predecessor Evo Morales.

Anez, who has been held in pre-trial detention since March 2021, has consistently denounced what she calls political persecution.

The former interim leader will serve 10 years in a womens prison in La Paz, the administrative capitals First Sentencing Court announced in a decision that comes three months after her trial began.

Convicted of crimes contrary to the constitution and a dereliction of duties, Anez was sentenced to a punishment of 10 years over accusations stemming from when she was a senator, before becoming president.

Prosecutors had asked for a 15-year jail sentence.

The former leader had already announced she would appeal if convicted, saying: We will not stop there, we will go before the international justice system.

Also sentenced to 10 years were the former head of the armed forces, William Kaliman, and the former head of the police, Yuri Calderon, both of whom are on the run.

Anez still faces a separate, pending court case for sedition and other charges related to her short presidential stint.

At the start of her presidency, Anez had called in the police and military to restore order. The post-election conflict caused 22 deaths, according to the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR).

For that, Anez also faces genocide charges, which carry prison sentences of between 10 and 20 years.

 Political persecution 

Right-wing Anez became Bolivias interim president in November 2019 after Morales, who claimed to have won a fourth consecutive term as president, fled the country in the face of mass protests against alleged electoral fraud.

The Organization of American States (OAS) said at the time it had found clear evidence of voting irregularities in favor of Morales, who had been in power for 14 years.

Many potential successors to Morales  all members of his MAS party  also resigned and fled, leaving opposition member Anez, then vice-president of the Senate, next in line.

Virtually unknown, the lawyer and former television presenter proclaimed herself interim president of the Andean nation on November 12, 2019, two days after Morales resignation.

The Constitutional Court recognized Anezs mandate as interim, caretaker president, but MAS members disputed her legitimacy.

Elections were held a year later, and won by Luis Arce  a Morales protege.

With the presidency and congress both firmly in MAS control, Morales returned to Bolivia in November 2020.

After handing over the presidential reins to Arce, Anez was arrested in March 2021, accused of irregularly assuming power.

The arrest occurred in the city of Trinidad, located in the countrys Beni department, where she was born and where she returned after her tenure in office.

I denounce before Bolivia and the world that in an act of abuse and political persecution, the MAS government has ordered my arrest, she said on Twitter at the time.

In detention, Anez would go on to carry out hunger strikes.

Shortly before the start of her trial in mid-February, she echoed the same sentiment, stating: I assumed the presidency of Bolivia without asking for it, without seeking it and even less expecting it with the sole mission of organizing elections and calming a country in crisis.

According to one of Anezs lawyers, Luis Guillen, the fact that multiple cases were being pursued against her at the same time violated the law.

He additionally maintained that the court that weighed in was not capable of deciding constitutional matters, and that the former president would need trying in congress.

The IACHR described the 22 deaths that occurred at the beginning of Anezs tenure as massacres, and found they indicated serious violations of human rights.

Unlike the other accusations against Anez, the case will be dealt with by congress, which will decide whether or not to hold a trial.
EU chief Ursula von der Leyen visited Ukraine on Saturday to discuss the countrys hopes of joining the bloc, as President Volodymyr Zelensky warned the world not to look away from the conflict devastating his country.

Von der Leyens visit  her second since Russias February 24 invasion  came as fierce battles continued in the east and south of Ukraine.

With President Zelensky I will take stock of the joint work needed for reconstruction and of the progress made by Ukraine on its European path, she tweeted on arrival in Kyiv.

Ukraine has been pushing for rapid admission into the European Union, but officials and leaders in the bloc have cautioned that membership could take years or even decades.

Von der Leyen told reporters the discussions will feed into our assessment of Ukraines readiness to be considered a candidate country to begin lengthy negotiations, including on reforms.

Ahead of a June 23-24 EU leaders summit that will likely take up the matter, Zelensky questioned why some member states were still hesitant.

The European system could lose if words are not accompanied by deeds, he told the 2022 Copenhagen Democracy Summit on Friday.

He later urged the world not to lose sight of what was happening in Ukraine, after more than three months of war that has left thousands dead and sent millions of Ukrainians fleeing.

He said Ukraine must not allow the world to divert its attention away from what is happening on the battlefield.

 Difficult battles 

Zelensky reported continued very difficult battles including in the eastern Donbas region where Moscow has concentrated its firepower, especially around the eastern industrial city of Severodonetsk.

South-west of Severodonetsk, in the village of Soledar, a Ukrainian soldier who gave his name as Sergey was bullish.

The enemy is very defiant, trying to go through our defence with small groups, he told AFP from a field where a Ukrainian tank was hiding near some trees.

But they of course fail, because our infantry units at the front are doing a good job at locating their advances from observation positions. We, of course, repel them.

He added: The truth is on our side, its our land that we are defending.

However, in the Mykolaiv region near the front line in the south, regional governor Vitaliy Kim stressed the urgent need for international military assistance.

The US and other Western allies have provided huge amounts of weapons and cash to Ukraine to help it fend off its neighbour, while also punishing Moscow with economic sanctions.

But Kim said: Russias army is more powerful, they have a lot of artillery and ammo. For now, this is a war of artillery and we are out of ammo.

The help of Europe and America is very, very important.

Further north in Kharkiv, regional governor Oleg Synegubov said Ukrainian forces were making advances but accused Russian forces of targeting attacks on civilian targets.

 France offers Odessa help 

Shockwaves from the conflict have reverberated around the world, with fears mounting of a global food crisis. Before the war, Ukraine was an agricultural powerhouse and a major grain exporter.

An adviser to French President Emmanuel Macron said France was ready to assist in an operation to allow safe access to Ukraines Black Sea port of Odessa.

It has been subject to a de facto blockade by Russia, with grain waiting to be shipped.

France wants victory for Ukraine, the advisor added, after Macron sparked controversy recently by suggesting Russia should not be humiliated.

Moscow invaded Ukraine in February after weeks of warnings from the United States and its allies that Russia was planning an invasion.

US President Joe Biden said Friday that Zelensky had brushed off those warnings.

There was no doubt and Zelensky didnt want to hear it nor did a lot of people, Biden said at a fundraiser. I understand why they didnt want to hear it.

 Shocking death sentences 

Western countries reacted this week with fresh outrage after pro-Kremlin separatist authorities in the Donetsk region of the Donbas sentenced to death Britons Aiden Aslin and Shaun Pinner, and Saadun Brahim of Morocco.

Germanys foreign ministry said the shocking sentences show once more Russias complete disregard for international humanitarian law.

The United Nations warned that unfair trials of prisoners of war amounted to war crimes.

Ukrainian courts have handed three Russian soldiers long prison sentences at war crimes trials since the invasion.

Russia has repeatedly cautioned the West against getting involved in the conflict, with some officials warning of the risk of nuclear war.

The worlds chemical weapons watchdog said Friday it was keeping a close eye on Ukraine to monitor threats of use of toxic chemicals as weapons.

President Vladimir Putin has said that what Russia calls its special military operation is meant to de-Nazify Ukraine, suggesting he is merely taking territory back.

But US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin issued scathing criticism of the invasion and its aims on Saturday.

Russias invasion (is) what happens when big powers decide that their imperial appetites matter more than the rights of their peaceful neighbours, he said at the Shangri-La Dialogue security summit in Singapore.

And its a preview of a possible world of chaos and turmoil that none of us would want to live in.

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ARISS contact is scheduled with students at IstitutoTecnicoIndustrile 'Alessandro Rossi', Vicenza, Veneto, Italy

Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) has received schedule confirmation for an ARISS radio contact between astronauts aboard the International Space Station (ISS) and Italianstudents at the Industrial Technical Institute "Alessandro Rossi",located in Vicenza, Veneto.

ARISS conducts 60-80 of these special amateur radio contacts each year between students around the globe and crew members with ham radio licenses aboard the ISS.

The Technical Institute "Alessandro Rossi" of Vicenza is one of the oldest technical schools in Italy. It was founded in 1876 by the senator and industrialist Alessandro Rossi, who wanted to import the model of the German technical schools into Italy. The institutes students (ages 14 to 19) can specialize in electrical technology, computer science, telecommunications, mechanics, or chemistry. The telecommunications students, supported by a company created by former students, built the antenna for this contact.

The institute collaborates with lower-middle schools (with students ages 11 to 14) to teach the introduction of robotics and artificial intelligence. Two of these schools have been asked to participate in this ARISS contact:the "Don Bosco" Comprehensive Institute, in the municipality of Monticello Conte Otto, a few kilometers from the city of Vicenza, and the "Antonio Barolini" Comprehensive Institute, in Vicenza.

This will be a direct contact via Amateur Radio allowing students to ask their questions of Astronaut Samantha Cristoforetti, amateur radio call sign IZUDF. Local Covid-19 protocols are adhered to as applicable for each ARISS contact. The downlink frequency for this contact is 145.800 MHZ and may be heard by listeners that are within the ISS-footprint that also encompasses the relay ground station.

The amateur radio ground station for this contact is in Vicenza, Veneto, Italy. Amateur radio operators will use call sign I3IRV to establish and maintain the ISS connection.

The ARISS radio contact is scheduled for June14, 2022 at12:08:55pm CEST (Vicenza, ITA)(10:08:55 UTC, 6 :08 am EDT, 5:08am CDT, 4:08am MDT, 3:08 am PDT).

The public is invited to watch the live stream at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-DeYw0Fi0xA

As time allows, students will ask these questions:

1. Guardandodaglioblo' capita di vederesatellitiartificiali?

2. Guardandodallalto la vastita' e la bellezzadellospazio, ticommuovi da essereumano o tientusiasmi da scienziato?

3. Il vostroaddestramento in astronauticavitornera' utile per la vita quotidiana?

4. Sarestidispostaadarrivarefino a Marte?

5. Secondo te e grazie aituoistudi, sara' maipossibileviveresu un altropianeta?

6. Era iltuosogno fin da bambina diventareun'astronauta?

7. Sulla ISS Il giorno e la nottesialternano come sulla Terra?

8. Riesci a riassumere in tre parole le sensazionicheprovivedendo la Terra dallospazio?

9. Qualieffettifisici e mentalisiriscontranounavoltaritornatisulla Terra?

10. Checosapensideiviaggicommercialinellospazio?

11. Hai maiavutodeimomenti in cui ha pensato di lasciarperdere la vita da astronauta? Se si, come haicambiato idea?

12. Durante le tuemissioni, qualisono state l'esperienzapiuemozionante e quellapiu' deludentechehaivissuto?

13. Immaginocheilpercorso per arrivare dove seisiastato molto lungo e ricco di ostacoli, come haitrovato la forza di superarli?

14. Chetipo di difficolta' haidovutogestireduranteiltuopercorsoprofessionale?

15. Dalla ISS potetecomunicare con le vostrefamiglie?

Translation

1. Looking from the portholes, do you happen to see artificial satellites?

2. Looking at the vastness and beauty of space from above, are you moved as a human being or do you get excited as a scientist?

3. Will your training in astronautics be useful for your daily life?

4. Would you be willing to go all the way to Mars?

5. In your opinion and thanks to your studies, will it ever be possible to live on another planet?

6. Was it your dream since childhood to become an astronaut?

7. On the ISS, do day and night alternate like on Earth?

8. Can you summarize in three words the sensations you feel seeing the Earth from space?

9. What physical and mental effects are experienced upon returning to Earth?

10. What do you think about commercial space travel?

11. Have you ever had moments when you thought about giving up your life as an astronaut? If so, how did you change your mind?

12. During your missions, which were the most exciting and the most disappointing experiences you have had?

13. I imagine that the path to get to where you are has been very long and full of obstacles, how did you find the strength to overcome them?

14. What kind of difficulties did you have to manage during your professional career?

15. Can you communicate with your families from the ISS?

About ARISS:

Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) is a cooperative venture of international amateur radio societies and the space agencies that support the International Space Station (ISS). In the United States, sponsors are the Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation (AMSAT), the American Radio Relay League (ARRL), the ISS National Lab-Space Station Explorers, Amateur Radio Digital Communications (ARDC) and NASAs Space communications and Navigation program.

The primary goal of ARISS is to promote exploration of science, technology, engineering, the arts, and mathematics topics. ARISS does this by organizing scheduled contacts via amateur radio between crew members aboard the ISS and students. Before and during these radio contacts, students, educators, parents, and communities take part in hands-on learning activities tied to space, space technologies, and amateur radio. For more information, see www.ariss.org .

Media Contact:

Dave Jordan, AA4KN

ARISS PR

Like us on Facebook. Follow us on Twitter. Search on Amateur Radio on the ISS and @ARISS_status.

Check out ARISS on Youtube.com.
Because of aircraft delivery delays and crew shortages, Flair Airlines is scaling back service between Kelowna and Vancouver, YLW officials said Friday. The airline has suspended all service to Regina.
WASHINGTON  A man armed with a machete once broke into Stephen Breyers vacation home in the Caribbean and took $1,000. Ruth Bader Ginsburg had her purse snatched on a Washington street. David Souter was assaulted by several men while he was jogging.

Supreme Court justices have not been immune to violent crime. But this past weeks late-night incident at Justice Brett Kavanaughs suburban Washington home, where authorities said a man armed with a gun and knife threatened to kill the justice, reflects a heightened level of potential danger not just for members of the nations highest court, but all judges.

One proposal pending in Congress would provide additional security measures for the justices, and another would offer more privacy and protection for all federal judges.

Round-the-clock security given to the justices after the leak of the draft opinion in a major abortion case may well have averted a tragedy.

But the situation had much in common with other recent incidents that ended with the shooting death of a former judge in Wisconsin last week and the killing in 2020 of the son of a federal judge at their home in New Jersey. Troubled men, harboring a warped desire for vengeance and equipped with guns, turned their threats into action.

Were seeing these threats increase in number and intensity. Thats a sign. Thats a signal, said U.S. District Judge Esther Salas, whose son was killed nearly two years ago in the attack that also wounded her husband.

Kavanaughs would-be attacker is Nicholas John Roske, 26, of Simi Valley, California, authorities said in charging him with the attempted murder of a justice. Clad in black, he arrived by taxi outside Kavanaughs Maryland home around 1 a.m. Wednesday.

He spotted two U.S. Marshals who were guarding the house and walked in the other direction, calling 911 to say he was having suicidal thoughts and also planned to kill Kavanaugh, according to court documents. Roske said he found the justices address on the internet.

When police searched a backpack and suitcase he was carrying, they said they found a Glock 17 pistol, ammunition, a knife, zip ties, duct tape and other items Roske said he was going to use to break into the house. He said he bought the gun to kill Kavanaugh.

Roske told police he was upset by the leaked draft opinion in the abortion case and by the school shooting in Uvalde, Texas, and believed Kavanaugh would vote to loosen gun control laws, according to documents filed in federal court in Maryland.

Last week, Wisconsin authorities said Douglas Uhde, 56, shot John Roemer, a former county judge, in a targeted attack against a judge who had once sentenced him to prison. Roemer was found zip-tied to a chair. Uhde had shot himself and later died.

In July 2020, lawyer Roy Den Hollander showed up at Judge Salas home posing as a FedEx delivery person. Den Hollander fatally shot Salas 20-year-old son, Daniel Anderl, and wounded her husband, Mark Anderl. The judge was in another part of the home at the time and was not injured.

Den Hollander, 72, was a mens rights lawyer with a history of anti-feminist writings. He was found dead of a self-inflicted gunshot wound the day after the ambush, when police said they found a document with information about a dozen female judges from across the country, half of whom are Latina, including Salas.

Authorities believe Den Hollander also was tracking Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor, Salas said in a televised interview last year, because they found a manila folder with information about Sotomayor when they searched a locker belonging to Den Hollander.

Over the years, Supreme Court justices have called on Congress to provide more money for their security. But at the same time, the justices often shrugged off protection when it was offered.

In recent years, the court has stepped up security for the justices. The court routinely refuses to discuss protection for the nine justices, but Justice Amy Coney Barrett said earlier this year that she was not prepared for how much more extensive security is now than when she worked for Justice Antonin Scalia in the late 1990s.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., said Thursday that the House would take up a bill with bipartisan support that already has passed the Senate that would expand protection to the members of the justices immediate families.

Gabe Roth of the court reform group Fix the Court said in his view the justices need Secret Service-level protection, which has only become more obvious this week. Ive said it for years.

A separate bill, named in memory of Salas son, would provide more privacy and protections for all federal judges, including scrubbing personal information from the internet, to deal with mounting cyberthreats. The U.S. Marshals Service, which protects about 2,700 federal judges and thousands more prosecutors and court officials, said there were 4,511 threats and inappropriate communications in 2021, compared with 926 such incidents in 2015.

Sen. Bob Menendez, D-N.J., the bills author, said the Kavanaugh incident and Roemers death in Wisconsin make plain the need for the legislation. Our bill is the only existing proposal to protect the personal information of judges and their families, Menendez said in an email.

In the past 17 years, three close relatives of federal judges have been killed in attacks at the judges homes, including Salas son. In 2005, U.S. District Judge Joan Lefkow returned from work to find her husband and mother shot dead in the basement of her Chicago home. The killer was a homeless electrician who had lost a medical malpractice suit in her courtroom.

U.S. District Judge Roslynn R. Mauskopf, who heads the office responsible for federal courts administration, said the incident at Kavanaughs house is just the most recent reminder that threats against judges are real and they can have and have had dire consequences.

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Mountain Amateur Radio Club Field Day event coming up

If youd like to learn more about what hams or licensed amateur radio operators do for fun, you can visit members of the local group at their annual Field Day event on Saturday and Sunday, June 25 and 26, 2022, scheduled this year at Wasuma Elementary School in Ahwahnee.

And, if youre lucky, you might even get to use their radio equipment to communicate with other licensed hams at similar events being held the same day around the United States.

An American Radio Relay League (ARRL) Field Day Guide for this years event states that since the 1930s Field Day has been an event to test the field preparedness and emergency communications abilities of the amateur radio community. Over the years, Field Day has turned into the largest on-the-air event on the ham calendar.

Terry Burley, president of the local Mountain Amateur Radio Club, said operators look forward to testing their skills and showing the public what amateur radio can do. In recent years, however, Field Day events mostly emphasize contesting, points earned and standings among stations in each operating class.

Today, our purpose is to contact as many stations in the nation as possible to win points for the local club, he added.

National Field Day is a 24-hour event that begins at 11 a.m. on Saturday, June 25, and ends the following day at noon. Club members work in shifts throughout the 24-hour period.



Local Mountain Amateur Radio Club members at an annual Field Day event last year in Oakhurst huddle together while making contact on their radios with other ham club members at similar events that day around the United States

Bonus points that add up on Field Day include points per transmitter, media publicity, setting up in a public place, providing an information table, not using power from commercial mains or petroleum-driven generators, having your site visited by an elected official, and involving youth 18-or-younger and several others.

Burley said the Field Day event is free to the public which he encourages to drop by and experience a Get on the Air opportunity. Free refreshments will also be available that weekend, he added.

According to Burley, the Mountain Amateur Radio Club was formed in 1983 and today claims about 50 members. Ham operators are not limited by age and you dont have to be a ham to join the club.

The club will help new members learn what they need to obtain their FCC license which is also regularly administered by the club, he continued.

The club meets monthly at the Sierra Senior Center in Oakhurst, gathers socially every Thursday morning for coffee, etc., at a local restaurant and engages with members in a 2-meter networking session every morning at 7 a.m. For more information about the local ham club and its community service activities, call Burley at 408-310-9648.

Photos by Bob and Janine Burgess, MARC members

Source: https://sierranewsonline.com/mountain-amateur-radio-club-field-day-event-coming-up/
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Im not sure about you, but May 27 cannot come soon enough for me. Finally, after three years, we will get the next installment of Stranger Things and another round of monsters, friendships, and 80s memories.

For those of us Gen X-ers who grew up when all that retro fashion and music wasnt retro, its a return to simpler days. Thankfully we didnt have to worry about demogorgons IRL back then.

Now that the 80s are sadly over, and life has steered me into a career in family medicine, I find a strange similarity between using an electronic health record system and a pivotal season 3 plotline: the zombie blob.

Feel free to read on for those not familiar with this entity and are not bothered by spoilers.

A small Indiana town is mysteriously finding some residents acting peculiarly in the context of otherworld creatures and Russian espionage. It turns out that the bodies of these people have been taken over by an intergalactic creature called the mind flayer, and periodically they migrate zombie-style back to a warehouse where they melt back into a larger blob, all becoming part of this enlarging and morphing creature.

What does this have to do with medicine?

Well, possibly a lot. For the past three years, we have been using a widely used EHR, and chances are you either use it yourself or it has your medical records on file somewhere.

Like all EHRs, this system is designed to have interoperability with others, allowing communication with other systems and integrating the creation of a longitudinal record that is accurate and all-inclusive. Whether a doctor or otherwise, any medical provider can contribute to it. We all may add diagnoses, classify them, review each others notes, and share the entire record with a patient (which is required by law and generally a good thing).

The unintended consequence of this interconnection is that, like the blob, not everything is incorporated cleanly. In Hawkins, Indiana, this may mean a body part sticking out randomly before finally being reconciled into the greater gooey mass. A medical record translates to 4 different physicians entering similar but not identical diagnoses for what is all one disease or an ever-lengthening list of problems for even a relatively healthy person.

For example, lower spine arthritis may be named as such by one physician, L5 radiculopathy by another, lumbar DJD without myelopathy by another, and lumbar spinal stenosis by another. A patient with diabetes with eye, kidney, and neurological complications ends up with multiple diagnoses that can easily conflict with each other.

Why does this matter?

It makes these problem lists long and clunky and can cause us to miss things with too much information. Nearly every time a primary care physician opens a chart, we receive a prompt that there are external problems that need attention. A patient goes to see a specialist who uses a different diagnosis, then we have to add or remove the new one. Then they see a surgeon for the same issue, and it happens again. The same patient goes to a hospital on a similar but not identical platform of the same record system, and the entire problem list gets duplicated, requiring it to be reconciled again and again when the patient returns to their PCP after each hospitalization. This same patient sees a dermatologist or ophthalmologist in another state or whose practice has also joined the same EHR. Those physicians may each add multiple specialty-related diagnoses that the PCP doesnt need on the patients active problem list, and we have to reconcile those too.

The system frequently identifies that a patient has a high BMI and thereby alerts us in the EHR equivalent of all-caps that we need to add and discuss the diagnosis of morbid obesity, even when the patient isnt ready to talk about their weight. This even occurs when the patient is at the office for a specific problem such as migraines. By no means is it not essential to address obesity-related medical ailments, but there is a time and place for all things.

It doesnt sound like such a big deal, right? Isnt this just part of our job to continually review and update problem lists?

My point is that each time we are continually asked to reconcile more and more information, its more time that we are not spending talking to our patients; instead, we are scrolling through all this information either on our own time or during a visit, making eye contact and personal connection minimal. Is the interconnectivity of records important? Of course. If a patient had a significant diagnosis or treatment when they lived 1,000 miles away but forgot to tell us about it, the system can alert us to that, which is desirable and working as designed.

It is the duplicative nature and the focus on classifying diagnoses to their highest degree of specification rather than the effect that these diagnoses have on the patients quality of life that has physicians feeling burned out. More importantly, it leaves patients feeling like their physician is also part of this blob.

One suggestion I have posed for fixing this issue includes having specialists participate in keeping the problem list tidy. A more realistic and palatable solution may be to have the system itself be programmed so that it is held accountable for merging similar diagnoses into one automatically. Ideally, this may still include the subdiagnoses clearly visible under the main diagnoses. Otherwise, all these diagnoses remain listed on one long list, or each physician must manually sort them and categorize them to separate what they dont need to see.

By the time anyone reads this, season 4 will be streaming, and the blob from season 3 will probably be old news. The EHR will continue its gradual spread across the pumpkin patches and fairgrounds of the medical system while physicians and patients try to outrun it.

Meanwhile, I will try to keep doing my job, one patient at a time, attempting to block out EHR minutia that is not patient-centric. Its the only way to stay on the right side up of the Upside Down.

The opinions expressed in this article are solely my own and do not reflect the views and opinions of Brigham and Womens Hospital.

Sarah Sciascia is an internal medicine physician.

Image credit: Shutterstock.com
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Shenandoah, IA (51601)

Today

A mix of clouds and sun with gusty winds. High around 95F. Winds SSW at 20 to 30 mph..

Tonight

Thunderstorms likely, especially this evening. Potential for severe thunderstorms. Low 71F. Winds SSE at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 60%.
Weather Alert

...HEAT ADVISORY NOW IN EFFECT UNTIL 8 PM CDT THURSDAY... * WHAT...Heat index values of 100 to 104. * WHERE...Portions of southwest and west central Illinois. Portions of central, east central, northeast, and southeast Missouri. * WHEN...Until 8 PM CDT Thursday. * IMPACTS...Hot temperatures and high humidity may cause heat illnesses. 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. &&
President Yoon Suk-yeol and U.S. President Joe Biden toast each other during the official banquet following their summit at the National Museum of Korea, Saturday. Yonhap



Korea can still play role at Quad working groups: experts



By Kang Seung-woo



Despite the Yoon Suk-yeol administration's desire to formally join the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (Quad), the United States has not been enthusiastic about adding Korea to the four-way strategic forum, aimed at purportedly containing China's assertiveness. The Quad is comprised of Australia, India, Japan and the U.S.



The U.S. stance contrasts sharply with Washington's warm welcome to Seoul's decision to participate in the Indo-Pacific Framework (IPEF), a recently launched economic initiative that also seeks to counter Beijing's growing influence in the region.



Diplomatic observers believe that the unexpected U.S. response may have to do with its desire not to alienate China further, which could respond strongly to Korea's participation in the Quad, while Washington may also have considered potential Japanese resistance due to its frayed bilateral ties with Korea that could detract from the overall goals of the four-way forum.



During his election campaign, Yoon pledged to take part in the Quad's various working groups like those on climate change and technologies in order to gradually join the network.



A senior U.S. official said it was not considering adding Korea to the security forum, according to media reports, Sunday, one day after U.S. President Joe Biden welcomed Yoon's interest in the Quad in a joint statement following their summit in Seoul.



In addition, White House spokesperson Jen Psaki also said, May 3, that the U.S. had no plan to invite Korea to the Quad, saying that it will continue to engage Korea through a range of mechanisms.



"The Biden administration seems worried that adding Korea could further antagonize China when U.S.-Sino relations are in terrible shape. Team Biden likely thinks that while such a move won't make relations better, it won't make them worse," said Harry Kazianis, the president of the think tank Rogue States Project.



Kazianis, however, said the U.S. decision would be a mistake as it needs as many allies as possible to deter Chinese aggression.



"Korea would be a major addition to the group, perhaps a game changer. President Yoon is taking a great risk in showing interest in joining the group  Biden should embrace that," he added.



Bruce Klingner, a former CIA deputy division chief of Korea and current senior research fellow at the Heritage Foundation, said there were challenges to Korea's membership, including overcoming domestic public opposition fearful of Chinese retribution and potential Japanese resistance due to strained bilateral relations.



"There are also concerns that bilateral Korea-Japanese disputes would detract from overall Quad goals. If Yoon's announced intent to improve relations with Tokyo bears fruit, then formally joining the organization would be more beneficial," Klingner said.





Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, from left, U.S. President Joe Biden, Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi wave to the media prior to the Quad meeting in Japan, Tuesday. AFP-Yonhap
A caricature of William George Aston, a British diplomat in Japan, studying Korean in 1882 Robert Neff Collection



By Robert Neff





Horace N. Allen circa early 1900s / Public Domain Wikipedia

In late 1884, there were only a handful of Westerners residing in Seoul. Some of these men were recognized later as experts on "things Korean." Men like William George Aston, a British diplomat, who studied and learned Korean while in Japan in preparation for being assigned to Korea in 1884.



Paul Georg von Mollendorff, a German diplomat and subsequently the first Western adviser to the Korean government, was another expert on "things Korean." Mollendorff not only learned the language and culture but was accused of "going native" by wearing Korean clothing and accepting Korean titles. He may well have been the first "Koreaboo."



George C. Foulk, a U.S. naval officer attached to the American Legation in Seoul, was extremely knowledgeable about the current affairs  especially political  in the capital. He traveled extensively throughout the country and had a very good grasp of the language.



And then there was Horace N. Allen, an American missionary and later diplomat, who was described by one of his superiors as knowing "more about Korea than any foreigner who ever put his foot there." Years later, one of his contemporaries described him as "the best authority on 'things Korean' in general, in the country."



Allen may have been knowledgeable about many aspects of Korea (especially fables and legends) but language was not one of them. According to his biographer, "concentrated study irritated" Allen and "he never did take kindly to the scholar's ways." But, at least in the beginning, he did try.





A young peddler at Jemulpo (modern Incheon) in the early 1900s Robert Neff Collection



In his diary (Nov. 27, 1884) Allen described the day as cold and crisp  the ground frozen to a depth of about 10 centimeters. It was the American holiday of Thanksgiving, and, somewhat ironically, Allen decided to commence the day by firing his Korean teacher. His 27-year-old teacher, Lee Ha-young, had been in his employ for only six days and was probably, in the beginning, quite eager to teach, but, according to Allen's biographer, "was as dilatory as most Koreans." The biographer seems to have colored Allen's sentiments with his own biases. Allen actually wrote:



"The reason he was discharged was that he always has a lot of friends coming to see him and I could do no studying. I may hire him over again after he has learned his lesson."





Lee Ha-young, date unknown / Public Domain Wikipedia

So who was Lee Ha-young? Lee was born in the Busan area in the summer of 1858. His family was relatively poor so he and his younger brother were forced to sell rice cakes in an effort to provide food for the family's table. Despite their efforts, they did not make enough. Lee lived for a short time as a monk at Tongdo Temple.



At the age of 18, he left the temple and found employment in a Japanese-owned shop in Busan where he learned Japanese quickly. For about eight years he worked hard and saved his money in hopes of starting his own company. At some point, he went into partnership with a man from Pyongyang and together they traveled to Nagasaki to start their own trading company. Unfortunately for Lee, his partner embezzled their money and ran away. Lee had no choice but to return to Korea  disillusioned and broke.



He left Nagasaki aboard the British steamship Nanzing, and it was here that he met a tall, red-haired American who was about his age. The American was Horace Allen. It isn't clear if this encounter took place on Allen's first trip to Korea from Shanghai in September or the second trip in October. I am leaning towards the first trip.



According to Lee, the two men became quite close  "like old time friends." It is hard to imagine they had any deep conversations as Allen spoke no Korean or Japanese and I doubt Lee spoke much, if any, English. In addition, the ship encountered a typhoon in the Korea Strait and most of the passengers were very seasick.



While the encounter had a great impact on Lee (apparently Allen assisted him in obtaining a position at the American Legation as a cook), it had no impact on Allen. Except for the references to firing him as his teacher, Allen never mentioned him in his diary.



Lee went on to have an impressive, if not, controversial, career  he even served at the Korean Legation in the United States.





Horace Allen's second language teacher, Mr. No. "Underwoods of Korea," 1918
On June 11, the Korean Business Research Institute finally announced the brand reputation rankings for boy groups for the month of June this year. From BTS to SEVENTEEN, read to know the full list of the most popular boy groups for June 2022!

BTS Is Still the No. 1 Most Popular Boy Group in June 2022

Remaining at the top once again for their 49th month in a row, BTS snagged the No. 1 spot as the most popular boy group for this month's brand reputation rankings, continuing their streak of four years.

According to the Korean Business Research Institute, BTS had accumulated a total brand reputation index of 11,581,981 for the month of June. This includes a participation index of 1,228,068, a media index of 3,114,881, a communication index of 3,357,302, and a community index of 3,881,730.

For this month, BTS' brand reputation index saw an increase of 0.08 percent, as compared to their brand reputation index of 11,573,221 back in May.

As for the seven-member boy group's related terms, BTS' highest-ranking are "release," "visit," and "appear," while their highest-ranking phrases for keyword analysis include "Proof," "ARMY," and "White House."

In terms of the group's positive-negative ratio, BTS has a positive ratio analyzed to be 94.33 percent.

SEVENTEEN and EXO are in the Top 3 Most Popular Boy Groups in June 2022

Rising two spots to land as the second most popular boy group for this month is 13-member boy group, SEVENTEEN!

For the month of June, SEVENTEEN had accumulated a brand reputation index of 5,823,248, with a participation index of 660,409, a media index of 2,262,947, a communication index of 998,064, and a community index of 1,901,829.

Compared to SEVENTEEN's brand reputation index of 2,377,989 back in May, their index for June rose by 144.88 percent.

Also jumping to third place for the boy group brand reputation rankings is EXO!

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: SEVENTEEN Joins BTS as Only Artists to Record 2 Million First-Week Sales

According to the Korean Business Research Institute, EXO has a total brand reputation index of 2,916,453 for the month of June, with a participation index of 102,476, a media index of 651,833, a communication index of 554,119, and a community index of 1,608,024.

EXO's brand reputation index saw an increase of 38.25 percent compared to their index of 2,109,586 in May for this month.

Top 30 Most Popular Boy Groups for June 2022

1. BTS

2. SEVENTEEN

3. EXO

4. BIGBANG

5. NCT

6. MONSTA X

7. ASTRO

8. THE BOYZ

9. TXT

10. BTOB

11. Super Junior

12. SHINee

13. WINNER

14. Stray Kids

15. TREASURE

16. GOT7

17. NU'EST

18. VIXX

19. 2PM

20. Wanna One

21. ATEEZ

22. ENHYPEN

23. Ciipher

24. SF9

25. TNX

26. P NATION

27. INFINITE

28. Golden Child

29. Highlight

30. PENTAGON

Meanwhile, the brand reputation rankings is based on the total brand reputation index of boy groups by analyzing their consumer participation, media coverage, communication, and community indexes from the big data gathered from May 11 to June 11.

The big data gathered for June 2022 is 65,651,158, which is an increase of 3.44 percent from the big data of 63,469,741 garnered back in May.

For more K-Pop news and updates, always keep your tabs open here on KpopStarz.

KpopStarz owns this article.

Written by Robyn Joan
Vice premier stresses deepening China-Russia connectivity cooperation

Xinhua) 15:04, June 11, 2022

Chinese Vice Premier Hu Chunhua attends the ceremony marking the opening of the Heihe-Blagoveshchensk cross-border highway bridge via video link, together with Yury Trutnev, Russian deputy prime minister and the presidential envoy to the Far Eastern Federal District of Russia, June 10, 2022. (Xinhua/Gao Jie)

BEIJING, June 10 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Vice Premier Hu Chunhua on Friday said that China is willing to work with Russia to deepen cooperation in various fields to bring benefits to the two peoples.

Hu made the remarks while addressing the ceremony marking the opening of the Heihe-Blagoveshchensk cross-border highway bridge via video link.

China is ready to work with Russia to continuously advance connectivity cooperation, and provide better and more convenient customs clearance and logistics services for personnel and trade exchanges, Hu said.

He added that China stands ready to synergize the development strategy of the country's northeast with that of Russia's Far East, deepen practical cooperation in various fields and explore new areas of cooperation, so as to deliver more benefits to the two peoples.

With a length of 1,284 meters and a width of 14.5 meters, the cross-border highway bridge is a key part of a 19.9 km-long highway project that links the Jilin-Heilongjiang expressway in northeast China and a highway in Blagoveshchensk.

(Web editor: Zhong Wenxing, Bianji)
AD Ports Group, the leading facilitator of global trade, logistics, and industry, has signed a head of terms agreement with Enter Engineering Group to launch new businesses providing logistics and freight forwarding services in the Central Asian nation of Uzbekistan.

As per the agreement, the duo will establish joint venture companies to manage logistics and freight forwarding services, including air, sea, land and rail logistics, warehousing, contract logistics and customs clearance.

Enter Engineering Group was incorporated in 2012 and is one of the fastest growing companies in the industrial construction market in Central Asia.

The Head of Terms is the latest in a series of international agreements signed by AD Ports Group to support ports, logistics and digital projects around the world, and is the first agreement of its kind with a leading enterprise in Uzbekistan.

AD Ports Group will also support Enter Engineering Groups work on tenders in the UAE, with a particular focus on the energy sector, said a top official.

Managing Director and Group CEO Captain Mohamed Juma Al Shamisi said: "As part of our mandate from our nations leadership, we are taking the expertise and resources we have developed in Abu Dhabi and leveraging them to support an ambitious programme of internationalisation and global growth."

"We are delighted to sign this agreement with Enter Engineering Group, which is a market leader in Uzbekistans dynamic industrial engineering sector," he noted.

"Working with our new partner, we see significant opportunities for enhancing the capacity and connectivity of logistics channels for that region, which will help drive economic growth and further cement the ties between our two nations," he added.

Bakhtiyor Fazilov, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Enter Engineering Group, said: "We are pleased and proud to sign this agreement, and are confident that the strong synergies we share with AD Ports Group will deliver real benefits for our customers and stimulate new business opportunities."

"This agreement will create jobs, support the needs of businesses within Uzbekistan and open international channels for trade and development," he added.

The UAE and Uzbekistan have made significant progress in developing a portfolio of joint investment projects in recent years, with around 15 projects currently in development with a value of $5 billion, according to the Ministry of Investments and Foreign Trade of Uzbekistan.
Keefe Vacation Rentals, based in in Lake Geneva, has merged with Geneva Lakes Property Consulting, has rebranded to Geneva Lakes Vacations, has moved to a new central office in downtown Lake Geneva, and has recently welcomed a new general manager.

Keefe Vacation Rentals and Geneva Lakes Property Consulting merged in March 2020 and has recently relocated its offices and operations center to 326 Center St. in Downtown Lake Geneva, also known as the Deignan Building.

In addition, Geneva Lakes Vacations has recently welcomed a new general manager to the team to oversee the growing operation. As the short-term rental industry has transformed with the emergence of websites like AirBnb and VRBO, along with increase in traveler demand, these changes represent an evolution in the business to better serve the local community and visitors to the area.

Since 1989, Keefe Vacation Rentals provided local, full-service management to area homeowners and concierge service to visitors looking to rent private homes in the Lakes area, primarily around the areas lakes and gated resort communities such as Geneva National and Abbey Springs.

Geneva Lakes Property Consulting, which was owned by Samantha Strenger, primarily served and operated short-term rentals in downtown Lake Geneva. Owners Tom Keefe and Strenger met in early 2020 and quickly realized a partnership would create a stronger company to serve both customer bases.

Soon after Tom and I met, we realized that we had complementary strengths and areas of expertise and that by combining companies, we could better serve our individual customers, as well as grow to welcome more visitors and deliver a 5-star experience, Strenger said in a press release. We quickly decided to formally partner as of March 1, 2021, and in the past year, the partnership has worked better than I think either of us expected. Our staff has more than tripled and we managed over 5 times as many guests stays in 2021 than our combined 2020 stays. Most importantly, we have maintained an average rating of over 4.9 stars, and we are very enthusiastic about our future.

Just over a year after the merger, the partners are now very excited to announce a new name for the operation, Geneva Lakes Vacations.

As many know, Keefe Real Estate partnered with Compass in November of 2021, but we actually started the process of rebranding Keefe Vacation Rentals prior to those discussions, Keefe said. We hope to grow our company to not only continue to be the premier manager of vacation rental properties, but to also become the trusted name for visitors traveling here to assist them in having amazing vacations and experiences in the area. We felt the name Geneva Lakes Vacations would resonate with them on a deeper level. Tourism is critical to our local economy, and our vision is to be a leader in helping the Lake Geneva area to become known as a destination with exciting, unique and high-quality availability of short-term rental options. This sector of the travel industry is growing faster than any other, and we have a once-in-a-generation opportunity to establish this reputation and continue to benefit our local economy.

Along with the growth of the company and demand, Geneva Lakes Vacations needed a new home and found that at 326 Center St. in downtown Lake Geneva.

With numerous properties under management in the central business district, the new headquarters will get us closer to our customers and enable us to enhance our service, Strenger said. Not only this, we feel it is important to be part of our community so we can contribute to the responsible management and growth of visitors to the area. We strive to be a great neighbor, and we intend to be an active participant to ensure the continued partnership with our local communities.

In addition to these changes, Geneva Lakes Vacations has also recently welcome Patrick Liberg as general manager.

With a background in hospitality and operations, partners Keefe and Strenger look forward to working with Liberg to take over the day-to-day operation responsibilities, while also getting involved with the local tourism and business community.

Liberg, a resident of Twin Lakes, brings over a decade of relevant experience to GLV, I moved the Twin Lakes three years ago and am absolutely in love with everything the Geneva Lakes area has to offer to visitors. With my background in operations and hospitality, I am thrilled to take on the position as GM to continue to build on the success of Geneva Lakes Vacations and help to fulfill the mission of creating amazing experiences for both homeowners and visitors. In addition, I love to be involved and cant wait to work with the local chamber and visitor bureau to find ways to enhance and improve the tourism industry in the area.

For more information about Geneva Lakes Vacations and view properties under management, visit www.genevalakesvacations.com.

If you are an owner looking for more information about renting your property, contact marshall@genevalakesvacations.com; if you are a visitor interested in staying in one of the companys properties, contact alisa@genevalakesvacations.com.

Founded in 1989, Geneva Lakes Vacations, formerly known as Keefe Vacation Rentals, provides full-service management to over 75 rental properties in the greater Geneva Lakes area and works directly with visitors to help them plan their trip to the area. Geneva Lakes Vacations plays an active role in improving the tourism industry by working with community stakeholders to ensure a positive experience for residents and visitors alike.

In addition, Geneva Lakes Vacations operates The Keefe Foundation, which supports local non-profits.
A retiring Badger High School agriculture instructor and FFA advisor recently received a pleasant surprise from his students.

Larry Plapps students recently restored a 1954 model tractor for him as part of his retirement present.

The students presented the restored tractor to Plapp during Badger High Schools FFA award ceremony, May 26.

The tractor was familiar to Plapp as it is the tractor he and his brother, Richard Plapp, used while growing up on the family farm in Malta, Illinois. Plapp said his father purchased the tractor when he began farming in 1958.

It was his first tractor, Plapp said. My brother and I complained about driving that tractor so much that he actually put power steering on it, Plapp said. We both learned how to drive it, and we both had chores around the farm that we did with it.

Plapp said he was dumbfounded and speechless when the students presented him with the tractor. He said he took a lap around the Badger High School parking with the tractor after receiving it.

It was very profound, he said.

Gwynn Braden, one of Plapps students, said she and the other students obtained the idea for the project while Plapp was reading an article about another teaching receiving a restored tractor from his students and jokingly said none of his students would do that for him.

Initially, we were going to get him a little toy tractor, but I talked to another student, and they said we should do it, then it got rolling from there, Braden said.

The students contacted Plapps brother about obtaining the tractor from the family farm. After several receiving the tractor, the students and their parents spent several months restoring it. Several area businesses assisted with the project.

Candice Franks, Badger High School agriculture instructor, said the students took turns keeping the tractor at their homes. She said she is pleased with the work that the students put into restoring the tractor.

It needed a little remodeling and refurbishing, which a lot of people in the community came together and helped with, Franks said. We worked with local businesses and sponsors to make it all happen.

Franks said keeping the tractor a secret from Plapp was difficult at times.

We worked with our school to make sure that we were trying to keep it as quiet as possible, even though we had a lot of different things going on, Franks said. There were a couple of hiccups, but he didnt catch us which was good. I thought we were busted one time.

Carter Volck, student, said he was excited to be involved with the project and to help restore the tractor for Plapp.

I cant stop talking about the tractor, Volck said. He just deserves it so much.

The tractor currently is being stored in a location in the Lake Geneva area. Plapp said he plans to showcase the tractor at the state FFA conference, which will be held in June in Madison.

I believe its going to get there from what my sources tell me, Plapp said. So were going to get the tractor up there, so 3,000 other students get to see it.

After the FFA conference, Plapp plans to have the tractor transported back to the family farm in Malta. He said his family members will be able to see the tractor during a family reunion that is scheduled to be held during Fourth of July weekend.

So the family will be able to see the tractor that theyve heard about and seen on Facebook, he said.

Plapp said the tractor is in working condition now that it has been restored.

Its in tip-top shape again, Plapp said. So its been repainted. They fixed the carburetor, which was the big issue with it and it runs like a top now.

Retiring after 37 years

in educationPlapp is retiring after working in the education field for about 37 years. He has worked at Badger High School for about 30 years and previously worked at Belvidere High School in Belvidere, Illinois for seven years.

He spent his entire career working as an agriculture instructor and FFA advisor.

Plapp said he feels now is an appropriate time for him to retire.

I thought 30 years here was going to be the point, Plapp said. At the beginning of the year, I was 95% sure and it solidified quickly as I fell into the groove thinking this should be it.

Plapp said he mostly is going to miss interacting with the students and helping them learn about agriculture. He said the school district has always been supportive Badgers agricultural program.

If its good for the kids, they want to support it, Plapp said. That was a refreshing way to look at things. Throughout my time here, that has always been the case.

Braden said she has enjoyed having Plapp as a teacher and FFA advisor. She said Plapp has helped her pursue a career in agriculture.

I dont think I would be where I am without Mr. Plapp as a teacher, especially on the ag side of things, Braden said. I started crying giving my retiring address at the awards ceremony.

Volck said Plapp is able to connect with students and help them learn.

Hes a teacher you wish every student had, Volck said. He can connect to almost every basic student. When he connects to them, their lives are probably changed forever.

Plapp said he is going miss working with Franks and the other Badger High School instructors. He said he and Franks often learn from each other and share ideas with each other.

I credit her with giving me longevity in this profession, Plapp said. Its easier to share ideas when were in such a small department like this.

Franks considers Plapp a mentor and said she has enjoyed working with him during her 14 years at Badger High School.

Weve grown together in this department, and weve done some pretty amazing things together, Franks said. He reads my mind, and I read his mind half the time. Weve learned each others quirks and the opposites of each other over the years.

Plapp said he also is going to miss working as an FFA advisor and attending the FFA conferences.

Youre outside the classroom, and you see the kids in a different form. The FFA has always been the icing on the cake, Plapp said. It kind of keeps everything together, and it allows so many cool opportunities for the kids to do.

Braden said she has enjoyed attending the FFA conferences with Plapp, comparing the FFA conferences to a family trip.

The conventions have been a favorite thing, Braden said. He makes those very memorable. We joke that we go out to family dinners with our FFA family.

Changes to Badgers agriculture programPlapp said some of the changes he has noticed to Badgers agriculture program is the use of technology and more of a focus on agri-science.

Were not teaching an entire class on how to raise pigs. Back in the day, we use to have dairy production class, swine production and livestock, Plapp said. We focus more on the elements of the scientific process, the feeding principles. The science of how the animal grows, the illnesses and veterinary care.

Plapp said more students have become interested in agriculture. He said Badgers agriculture program currently has an enrollment of about 260 students and the FFA program has about a hundred members.

He said the program will have three instructors during the next school year, as the district plans to hire additional teachers because of increased interest in the program.

Were seeing a definite interest specifically in the animal science class, and our botany numbers have come up too, Plapp said. As I told people during the awards night, I got two of my favorite things I do on a daily basis and thats working with plants and working with food.

Volck said Plapp helped spark his interest in the agriculture field.

I before I came in FFA and stuff like that, I had a different career that I wanted to get into but he changed my direction more toward agriculture and agri-science, which I truly enjoy now, Volck said. Once I get interested in something like that, I keep at it.

Life after retirementAs part of his retirement, Plapp plans to apply to be a fair judge in the State of Wisconsin.

I would be a fair judge throughout Wisconsin if a county fair would need a judge for the foods part of their show or for the flower arranging or for anything like that, Plapp said. It might be as close as Rock County or it might be up all the way to the edge of the state. I filled out the paperwork, but I havent submitted it yet.

Plapp plans to visit his daughter, Megan, in Rochester, Minnesota more often, as well as visit with past co-workers.

I wont have to leave so early on Sunday to get back because I have school the next day, Plapp said. I look forward to going at my own pace and catch up with people who I worked with at Belvidere who retired ahead of me.

Plapp also plans to revisit his Lionel train collection that he enjoyed as a child.

My brother has showed me eBay, and that has not been a bad thing, Plapp said. My wife is noticing packages that show up at the door now. I can scale model some of that stuff and set up a model train set in the basement.

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CROWN POINT  Two teenagers in their caps and gowns returned fire Sunday after a man in dark clothing began shooting at them, leaving two people wounded as a result of the shootout and causing others to duck for cover behind vehicles, court records state.

Joshua J. Hughes, 17, was charged Thursday as an adult in the shooting Sunday outside the U.S. Steel Yard following a graduation ceremony for more than 200 West Side Leadership Academy students.

Two Lake County sheriff's officers working security at the graduation spotted Hughes and another teen, identified in court records as Calob Hughes, 16, at the southeast side of the stadium and ordered them to lie facedown because they had guns, Lake Criminal Court records state.

A Glock 19 with a 30-round magazine, which still had six live rounds inside, was found on Joshua Hughes, according to court documents.

A Glock 19 with a 31-round magazine, which still had 10 live rounds inside. was recovered from Calob Hughes, records state.

Joshua Hughes, who will turn 18 this week, previously was adjudicated in December 2021 in Lake Criminal Court as a delinquent child for dangerous possession of a firearm, according to court records.

He had not yet made an initial appearance before a Lake Criminal Court magistrate on charges of dangerous possession of a firearm and criminal recklessness, both level 5 felonies.

His bond was set at $50,000 surety or $5,000 cash. If convicted of a level 5 felony, Hughes could face a possible sentence of one to six years.

Another teen, identified as a 16-year-old by the Lake County prosecutor's office, remained charged in Lake Juvenile Court with dangerous possession of a firearm and criminal recklessness.

Gary police were still searching for the man in dark clothing who was shooting at the teens, Cmdr. Jack Hamady said.

The man, who was wearing black pants and a black hoodie, fled south on Maryland Street from East Fifth Avenue after the shooting. Police are asking anyone with photos or video of the shooting to come forward.

Another man, a 20-year-old from Hammond, was arrested the night of the shooting but released earlier this week without being charged, police said.

A 19-year-old Gary man was shot in the chest, and a 19-year-old Gary woman suffered a graze wound to her lower right leg.

There was no indication in court records that the two victims were involved in the altercation between Hughes and the man in dark clothing.

Police could be seen collecting multiple spent shell casings from the sidewalk and parking lot on the southeast side of the stadium, where the two were arrested, and on the south side of East Fifth Avenue in the intersection with Maryland Street.

Police were analyzing ballistics evidence in the case, Hamady said.

The night of the shooting, Gary Mayor Jerome Prince vowed to use all available law enforcement resources to bring whomever was responsible to justice.

"It's infuriating to me to hear of violence and injuries on a special night for our young people and their families," Prince said. "I pray for a full and speedy recovery for anyone who was injured."

Gary Community School Corp. manager Paige McNulty said in a statement released Monday the disruptions of a few overshadowed a special moment for all of the graduates, most of whom conducted themselves "in an excellent manner."

"A day that was meant for celebration has now been marked by tragedy through senseless acts of gun violence," McNulty said. "Our prayers are with those injured, and we continue to extend our congratulations to WSLA graduates. They deserve it."

Times staff writer Annie Mattea contributed to this report.
Nayagarh (Odisha) [India], June 11 (ANI): As many as four people were killed and one was critically injured after an oil tanker at village Itamati in Odisha's Nayagarh exploded on Saturday morning.

According to the reports, the incident took place when the local residents reached the place where the tanker slid off the Bada Pandusara bridge at Itamati.

Also Read | West Bengal | IPS Praveen Tripathi is the New Howrah Police Commissioner & IPS Swati   Latest Tweet by ANI.

The tanker was coming from Paradip at around 1.45 AM when the driver lost control over it and fell off after hitting the bridge's fence.

After the incident, the locals rushed to the spot to launch a rescue operation, but the oil tanker got exploded while the operation was underway, and hence all the four people involved in the rescue were charred to death.

Also Read | Casino Business in Goa Will Benefit From Mopa Airport, Says MoS SP Singh Baghel.

"At about 2 AM, two trucks carrying Diesel and Petrol were coming from Paradip to Nayagarh side when one of them hit the wall of a bridge near Bada Pandusara and fell into the river," Superintendent of Nayagarh Police, Alekha ch Pahi told ANI.

"Meanwhile, the staff of the second tanker went to rescue the members of the first tanker, when a sudden explosion took place and four persons died, while one received severe injuries," he added.

The deceased persons have been identified as Pankaj Nayaj, Dipu Khatua, Sameer Nayak and Chandan Khatua, while the injured Rakesh Samantray was shifted to Bhubaneswar hospital after his conditions deteriorated at Nayagarh district headquarters hospital.

The Itamati Police have registered a case in the matter.

Further investigation is going on. (ANI)

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Purnia (Bihar) [India], June 11: At least eight people were killed when the vehicle in which they were travelling in fell into a ditch in Kanjia village of Bihar's Purnia district late on Friday night, police said.

However, two people have been rescued safely.

Also Read | India Reports 8,329 Fresh COVID-19 Cases, 10 Deaths in Past 24 Hours.

The occupants of the car were travelling from Tarabadi to Kishanganj at the time of the accident.

"Eight bodies have been recovered. They were coming from Tarabadi and going to Kishanganj when it happened. Two people were safely rescued. Bodies have been sent for postmortem," police said. (ANI)

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Kolkata (West Bengal) [India], June 11 (ANI): After fresh clashes between protesters and police at Panchla Bazaar in West Bengal's Howrah on Saturday, the West Bengal government effected changes in the police department.

According to reports, Praveen Tripathi has been made the Commissioner of Howrah Police whereas Swati Bhangalia will now be the Superintendent of Police in Howrah Rural.

Also Read | Congress Expels Its Haryana MLA Kuldeep Bishnoi From All-Party Positions For Cross-Voting In Rajya Sabha Election 2022.

The Mamata Banerjee government has declared C. Sudhakar as the Joint Commissioner of Kolkata Police and Saumya Roy as the Deputy Commissioner of the Southwest Division of the State Police.

Notably, fresh clashes erupted between police and a group of protestors in Howrah over the controversial remarks against Prophet Muhammad by suspended BJP leader Nupur Sharma and expelled party leader Naveen Jindal, after which section 144 was imposed in and around the stretches of National Highways and Railway Stations under the jurisdiction of Uluberia-Sub Division in Howrah till June 15.

Also Read | National Herald Case: Congress Leaders and Ministers to Protest at ED Offices in Mumbai and Nagpur on June 13.

Internet services have been suspended till 6 am on June 13 in Howrah in the wake of protests that erupted in the city on Friday.

A massive crowd had gathered to protest at Park Circus in Kolkata adding to the resentment against the sacked BJP leaders. A BJP office was vandalised and torched in Uluberia, Howrah district, while protests were also staged at Dasnagar railway station on the Howrah-Kharagpur railway route.

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Saturday alleged that certain political parties were behind this violence in Howrah and asked why should people suffer for "BJP's sin".

"As I have said before, violent incidents have been taking place in Howrah for two days now. There are some political parties behind this which want to cause riots, but these things will not be tolerated and strict action will be taken against all who indulged in violence. Why should the common people suffer because of BJP's sins?" she said in a tweet.

Governor Jagdeep Dhankhar also expressed concern over the "worsening" law and order situation and appealed to Banerjee to sternly deal with the lawbreakers.

Taking to Twitter, Dhankar alleged that inaction by police was an "unfortunate endorsement" of the criminality of violators.

"Concerned at worsening law and order situation since May 09. Inaction @chief_west @WBPolice @KolkataPolice is unfortunate endorsement of the criminality of law violators. Appeal #MamataBanerjee to sternly deal with law breakers. All involved be identified and arrested," he tweeted.

Following the protests, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) asked the police heads of states and Union Territories to be prepared and alert as they will be on target. The MHA also has asked all the states to take preventive actions, keep a check on borders and identified sensitive areas.

Notably, a controversy erupted after Nupur Sharma's remarks against the minorities. Some Gulf countries have also lodged their protest. However, India on Thursday reiterated that the controversial remarks concerning Prophet Muhammad do not reflect the views of the Government and added that action has been taken by concerned quarters against those who made the comment. (ANI)

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
New Delhi, Jun 11 (PTI) AirAsia India's two A320 aircraft, which were heading from Delhi to Srinagar, returned to national capital as they faced technical snags mid-air within a span of approximately six hours on Saturday.

The Delhi-Srinagar flight I5-712, which was being operated on A320 aircraft with registration number VT-APJ, took off from the Delhi airport at around 11.55 AM, a passenger who was on this flight told PTI.

Also Read | Prophet Remarks Row: Union Minister Prahlad Patel Blames Pakistan for Violence in India.

After the plane was mid-air for about half an hour, the pilot announced that the aircraft (VT-APJ) is facing a technical snag, the passenger stated.

VT-APJ aircraft safely returned to Delhi airport at around 1.45 PM with all the passengers, the passenger stated.

Also Read | Ratan Tata Conferred Honorary D Litt by HSNC University.

Another A320 aircraft with registration number VT-RED was arranged by the airline to conduct the I5-712 flight so that the stranded passengers could be taken to Srinagar, the passenger said.

Some time after the second plane took off, the pilot announced that this aircraft (VT-RED) too has developed a technical snag and it will have to return to the Delhi airport, the passenger said.

VT-RED aircraft safely returned to Delhi airport at around 5.30 PM with the passengers.

The airline then told the passengers that they can either cancel their flight and get the refund, or they can book another flight within the next 30 days, the passenger stated.

When asked about this incident, AirAsia India spokesperson said, "AirAsia India confirms that flight i5-712 from Delhi to Srinagar had to return back to Delhi on account of a technical snag. The aircraft is being operated after rectification of the snag to recover continuity of operations to and from Srinagar."

"We regret the inconvenience and disruption to the travel plans of our guests and reaffirm our commitment to safety in all our operations," the spokesperson noted.

Airbus, which manufactures A320 aircraft, did not respond to PTI's request for statement on this matter.

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Beldanga (WB), Jun 11 (PTI) A college student was arrested in West Bengal's Murshidabad district allegedly for a social media post that supported the inflammatory comment made by now-suspended BJP functionary Nupur Sharma on Prophet Mohammed, police said on Saturday.

The woman, a first-year undergraduate student, allegedly made the social media post on Friday evening, they said.

Also Read | Prophet Remarks Row: Former BJP Spokesperson Nupur Sharma Summoned by Mumbai Police on June 25.

Demanding her arrest, violent protests broke out in the Beldanga area, where she lives, with the agitators attacking her house, a police officer said.

The protesters also attacked the Beldanga police station, and started hurling stones at police personnel, he said.

Also Read | Anil Firojiya, BJP MP From Ujjain, Loses 15 KG After Nitin Gadkari Promises Him Rs 1,000 Crore for Each Kilo Lost.

Police had to use tear gas to disperse the mob, he added.

"After we received a written complaint from them, we arrested her. Necessary investigations are underway," the police officer told PTI.

Police said they are yet to arrest anyone in connection with the violence.

Searches are on to nab those behind the attacks, the officer said.

The girl was produced before the court on Saturday, which sent her to five days in judicial custody.

Following the violence, internet services were suspended in Beldanga 1 block, covering Beldanga police station area, and Beldanga 2 block, covering Rejinagar and Shaktipur police station areas, till 6 am on June 14.

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
New Delhi, Jun 11 (PTI) The Delhi High Court has directed the Centre to expeditiously take steps for filling up vacant posts, including that of Member (Administration), Member (Law) and Member (Finance or Accountancy) in the Adjudicating Authority under the PMLA within four months.

Justice Prathiba M Singh said steps shall also be taken to fill the posts of Administrative Officer and Registrar on an expeditious basis.

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"It is directed that steps shall be taken for filling up all the vacant posts, especially, Member (Administration), Member (Law) and Member (Finance or Accountancy) on an expeditious basis and in any case within a period of four months from today," the high court said.

The court was dealing with the issue of appointments and vacancies in the Adjudicatory Authority under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).

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The court was informed by the government counsel that vacancies for filling the posts of Member (Administration) and Member (Law) have been advertised and the meeting of the Selection Committee is likely to be held soon and the Centre is also interested in filling up these posts on an expeditious basis.

The court noted that the posts of Administrative Officer and Registrar are still vacant, however, two officials from other departments have been posted here. Regarding the post of Member (Finance or Accountancy), the position has also fallen vacant as the officer who was earlier holding the position has been appointed as Chairperson of the Adjudicating Authority, PMLA.

As the government's affidavit, the post of Registrar has fallen under the category of 'abolished' and an application has been moved by the Department of Expenditure with the UPSC for revival of the proposal for the post.

The court said if the post of Registrar is required in the AA-PMLA, an application shall be moved again for the revival of the post within four months.

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New Delhi [India], June 11 (ANI): The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has filed a prosecution complaint or charge sheet against activist-lawyer Satish Mahadevrao Uke and his elder brother Pradip Mahadevrao Uke in money laundering offence connected with land grabbing case situated at Nagpur.

Advocate Satish Uke has filed several cases against Bharatiya Janata Party leader Devendra Fadnavis, including one for filing a false election affidavit.

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The federal agency filed the prosecution complaint on May 26 of which a special court in Mumbai took cognizance on Thursday (June 9).

Investigation under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002 was initiated on the basis of the First Information Report (FIR) registered by Ajni Police Station, Nagpur against Satish and Pradip, invoking, therein, the offence of land grabbing of original land owners situated at Nagpur, by creating fake and forged documents.

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Investigation under PMLA revealed that Satish and Pradip had resorted to fraud and forgery and created fake Power of Attorney in the name of one Chandrashekhar Namdevrao Matte, and also forged government officials' signatures and usurped the lands from the original land owners with dubious and malafide intentions, said the ED.

"They have thereafter sold some of the lands and amassed huge amount through illegal means and thus have dealt with the proceeds of a crime connected with scheduled offence and thereby have committed offences of Section 3 of PMLA 2002. The proceeds of crime in the case have been quantified at Rs 38 crore," said the ED.

Residential premises of Satish and Pradip situated at Nagpur were searched on March 31 and incriminating documents and digital evidence were recovered.

After recording statements of both Satish and Pradip, the ED said they were placed under arrest on the same day for the commission of an offence under the provisions of Section 3 of PMLA Act, 2002. They were later produced before the PMLA Court in Mumbai and had been remanded to Judicial custody since then.

One of the cases was registered on January 23 based on a complaint lodged by one Mohammad Jaffar, nephew of late Mohammed Samad, who alleged that the Uke brothers had usurped their 5-acre land at Bokhara in Nagpur by creating fake documents.

The second FIR registered on July 31, 2018, is based on a complaint lodged by one Shobharani Nalode, secretary of Aishwari Sahakari Grih Nirman Sanstha, alleging that the Uke brothers had usurped the society's 1.5-acre land at Babulkheda in Nagpur. (ANI)

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Jammu (Jammu and Kashmir) [India], June 11 (ANI): Union Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment Ramdas Athawale on Saturday said that the gates of development opened for Jammu and Kashmir after the abrogation of Article 370 in 2019.

The Minister said this while interacting with the media during a press briefing held at Convention Centre in Jammu.

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He said that the Government of India wants a peaceful and developed Jammu and Kashmir and is committed to developing Jammu and Kashmir on all fronts.

"After the abrogation of Article 370 in 2019, the gates of development have been opened for Jammu and Kashmir which is evident from the fact that all the centrally sponsored schemes and programmes are now implemented in Jammu and Kashmir be that the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana, Jan Dhan Yojana, MUDRA, PM Ujjwala Yojana, Scholarship Schemes for Students, Welfare Schemes for Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and Other Backward Classes," he said.

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Athawale further said that a hundred per cent implementation of many central schemes in Jammu and Kashmir is witness to the fact that government is steadfast to provide social stability at all fronts be that housing, livelihood to the people of Union Territory.

The Minister further informed that under Prime Minister Narendra Modi implementation of the social welfare schemes has picked up the pace.

He also informed that between 2019-22 (June), 1720 De-addiction centres have been either funded or established under Financial Assistance for the establishment of De-addiction centres.

Athawale said that under PMAY (Urban) in Jammu Division, 18590 are the approved beneficiaries out of which 4568 houses have been constructed, under PMAY (Rural), 131945 have been approved, out of which 80008 have been constructed in Jammu Division.

"Under PM Jan Dhan Yojana, 2641995 accounts have been created in Jammu and Kashmir in which 1192312 have alone been created in Jammu division and under PM Ujjwala Yojana, 1316924 gas connections have been provided," the Minister informed the media.

Athawale also took a review meeting related to the implementation of social welfare schemes in Jammu and Kashmir with the senior officials of the Social Welfare Department that was attended by the Director-General, the Social Welfare Department of Jammu and Kashmir, Vivek Sharma besides other senior officials of the department.

Athawale will also take part in the Nelson Mandela Noble Peace Awards Ceremony at Hari Niwas Palace in Jammu. (ANI)

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Ahmedabad, Jun 11 (PTI) Gujarat on Saturday reported 154 COVID-19 cases, taking its tally to 12,26,112, while the death toll remained unchanged at 10,945, a state health department official said.

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So far, 12,14,463 persons have been discharged post recovery, including 58 during the day, leaving the state with an active caseload of 704, he said.

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Ahmedabad led with 80 cases, followed by 34 in Vadodara, 15 in Surat, among other districts, the official added.

A government release said 43,133 people were vaccinated against COVID-19 on Saturday, which took the total number of doses administered to 11.05 crore.

The Union Territory of Dadra and Nagar Haveli, Daman and Diu continued to be coronavirus-free, a local official said.

Gujarat's COVID-19 figures are as follows: Positive cases 12,26,112, new cases 154, death toll 10,945, discharged 12,14,463, active cases 704, people tested so far - figures not released.

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New Delhi, Jun 11 (PTI) The Indian envoy to Tajikistan on Saturday handed over a 'friendship hospital' to the Tajik authorities, the Indian embassy in the energy-rich Central Asian country said.

"On behalf of the government of India, Ambassador of India to Tajikistan Viraj Singh handed over the India-Tajikistan Friendship Hospital (ITFH) to Deputy Defence Minister of Tajikistan Major General Shohiyon Abdusottor on June 11," it said.

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"The entire complement of medical equipment, medicines, stores and support equipment, including an operation theatre, X-Ray machines, laboratories, critical care ambulances and administrative vehicles were also handed over to the Tajik side," it said.

The Indian embassy said that the ITFH was renovated by the Government of India and inaugurated in October 2014 based on a memorandum of understanding (MoU) signed between both sides in January 2013.

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"This fully-fledged 50-bedded hospital has rendered free-of-cost valuable medical services for the last eight years to the armed forces and civilian populace of Tajikistan based on technical support and financial assistance from the government of India," the embassy said in a statement.

It said that the ITFH has an array of medical specialities including ENT, surgery, gynaecology, medicine, paediatrics and dental departments.

"It has provided medical support to more than 100,000 patients over these years including more than 2000 surgeries in the last two years," the mission said.

"A team of Indian Army doctors and medical staff have provided various medical services to Tajik nationals and simultaneously trained numerous Tajik doctors and medical staff. Over 42 tons of 'Made in India' medicines have been sent to ITFH in the last eight years," it added.

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Kochi (Kerala) [India], June 11 (ANI): Kerala Leader of Opposition VD Satheesan on Saturday said that Pinarayi Vijayan should "stay away from the Chief Minister's chair" while he is accused of being involved in a gold smuggling case.

Alleging that attempts have been made to reach a compromise with Swapna Suresh, the prime accused of the case, the LoP said that the state government and the CPIM are moving forward by taking rule of law in their hands.

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"CM Pinarayi should be prepared to investigate the statement. He should stay away from the Chief Minister's chair," he said.

On Tuesday, Swapna Suresh, the main accused of the gold smuggling case gave a confidential statement under section 164 (recording of confessions and statements) of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC) alleging the CM's involvement.

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Amidst the political furore, the state government has appointed a 12-member team led by the Additional Director General of Police (ADGP) to probe Swapna for giving the 164 statement against the CM.

Swapna had also claimed that she was also threatened by the CM's mediator to withdraw her statement.

"If there is a defamation allegation against the Chief Minister, they can approach the Sessions Court. They were not ready for that either. Without doing any of this, the ADGP has been charged with a case that did not even stand on the veranda of the court," LoP said.

He further added that if convicted, Swapna can face up to seven years in prison.

The Kerala gold smuggling case pertains to the smuggling of gold in the state through diplomatic channels. It had come to light after 30 kg gold worth Rs 14.82 crore smuggled in a consignment camouflaged as diplomatic baggage was busted by the customs department in Thiruvananthapuram on July 5, 2019.

Swapna Suresh alleged that in 2016, M Sivasankar, the former Principal Secretary to the Kerala CM, had asked her to send baggage to Dubai which belonged to Vijayan. However, when the bag was brought to the consulate, it was found that it contained currencies and the entire gold smuggling business had begun from then.

The case is being probed by the Enforcement Directorate, National Investigative Agency (NIA) and the customs department. (ANI)

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Panaji (Goa) [India], June 11 (ANI): Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Saturday inaugurated the National Museum of Customs and GST "Dharohar" in Goa as part of the Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav Iconic week of the Ministry of Finance, being celebrated from June 6 to 12.

According to the Ministry of Finance, the dedication ceremony was performed in a unique manner, with the Finance Minister removing the golden sand from single piece of rock art installed at the centuries-old heritage building in which the museum is housed.

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The two-storey 'Blue building', which was earlier known as Alfandega, during the period of Portuguese rule in Goa, has been standing on the banks of the Mandovi River in Panaji for more than 400 years.

Pankaj Chaudhary, MoS Finance and Mauvin Godinho, Minister for Transport, Tourism and Panchayat, Government of Goa were present at the inaugration ceremony.

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Dharohar is one of its kind museum in the country that showcases not only the artefacts seized by Indian Customs but also depicts various aspects of work performed by the Customs Department while safeguarding the economic frontiers of the country, its heritage, flora & fauna and the society.

"Dharohar has 8 galleries viz: Introductory gallery, History of Taxation Gallery, Guardians of our economic frontiers gallery, Guardians of our Art & Heritage, Guardians of Flora & Fauna, Custodians of our social well being, Journey of Indirect taxes -Salt Tax to GST and the GST gallery," the ministry said.

It further informed that the tour de force of Dharohar museum is a unique 'Battle of Wits' gallery which showcases the cerebral battle between the smugglers and the Customs officers. It contains chronicled seizures of antique coins, statues, endangered wildlife, weapons and narcotics.

The Museum provides the rare opportunity of having a peep into the working of the Department over the years ushering in change in its methodologies to meet the emanating challenges while at the same time providing yeomen service to the Nation.

Notable among its displays are the manuscript of Ain-i-Akbari intercepted by the Indian Customs at the Indo-Nepal border at Raxaul, a replica of Amin pillars from Kaurkshetra, medieval period astronomical instruments, seized metal and stone artefacts, ivory items and wildlife items.

GST Gallery is a brand new addition to the Dharohar Museum. A first-of-its-kind initiative in the country, this GST Gallery takes us through the long and arduous journey to GST spanning two decades. Beginning with the Atal Behari Vajpayee Government initiating discussions on GST in 2000, the Gallery chronicles various stages and processes that paved the way for the introduction of reformed unified indirect taxation in the form of GST on 1 July 2017.

An e-catalogue of the Museum contains high-resolution pictures of the various items displayed in the museum along with relevant information. This e-catalogue is downloadable using the QR Code which would serve as a ready reckoner for not just the visitors but also for the scholars of archaeology and ancient history.

'Dharohar' is an important addition to the Tourism Map of India and a must-see attraction in Goa. (ANI)

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Thane, June 11: A 29-year-old man died and seven others sustained injuries when ceiling slabs of an eight-storey residential building collapsed in Navi Mumbai in the early hours of Saturday, a fire brigade official said. Ceiling slabs from the sixth floor to the ground floor collapsed in the building located in sector 17 of Nerul around 12.50 am, the official said.

Local firemen and the police rushed to the scene for the rescue operations, he said. One of the residents Ventakesh Nada, who was buried under the debris, died even before he could be taken to the hospital, while seven injured persons are undergoing treatment at a local hospital, the official said. Maharashtra: Six Injured After Part of Building Collapses in Navi Mumbai; Rescue Operation Underway.

According to civic officials, some drilling work was in progress on the sixth floor, due to which the ceiling slab of the sixth floor fell followed by the other floors. The Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation (NMMC) had last month issued a notice to carry out a structural audit of the building, it was stated.

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New Delhi, Jun 11 (PTI) The Congress on Saturday said opposition parties should rise above their differences and elect a President who can protect the Constitution, institutions and the citizenry from the "ongoing onslaught" by the ruling BJP.

Congress chief spokesperson Randeep Surjewala said while his party has not suggested any particular name, "we owe it to our people to elect a President who can apply a healing touch to the fractured social fabric and defend our Constitution".

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"The time is ripe to rise above our differences for the sake of our nation and its people. Discussions have to be open-minded and in keeping with this spirit. We believe that the Congress along with other political parties should be taking this discussion forward," he said in a statement.

Congress President Sonia Gandhi has reached out and deliberated with NCP leader Sharad Pawar, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and other leaders of anti-BJP parties over the issue of the July 18 poll to elect a successor to President Ram Nath Kovind.

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Because of her Covid infection, Gandhi has deputed Leader of Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge to co-ordinate with other leaders.

"The Congress Party is of the opinion that the nation needs a person as President who can protect the Constitution, our institutions and citizenry from the ongoing onslaught by the ruling party. This is the need of the hour," Surjewala said.

The term of incumbent President Ram Nath Kovind ends on July 24.

Kharge has already initiated discussions with many opposition leaders. He has met Pawar and Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray besides holding telephonic discussions with Banerjee and some other leaders to reach a consensus on a candidate for the post from the opposition camp.

Banerjee, on the other hand, has written to all opposition leaders and convened a meeting on this matter on June 15 in the national capital.

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Pune, Jun 11 (PTI) An FIR has been registered against expelled Delhi BJP media head Naveen Kumar Jindal in Pune city in Maharashtra for allegedly outraging religious feelings through his post on Prophet Mohammad, police said on Saturday.

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The case is registered at the Kondhwa police station in the city on the complaint lodged by a local resident, Zakir Ilyas Sheikh, an officer said.

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"The complaint alleges that Jindal has hurt religious feelings of Muslims by tweeting controversially about Prophet Mohammad on June 1. Based on the complaint, a case has been registered against Naveen Kumar Jindal," he said.

Jindal is slapped with sections 153-a (Wantonly giving provocation with intent to cause riot), 153-b (Imputations, assertions prejudicial to national integration), 295-a (Deliberate and malicious acts, intended to outrage religious feelings of any class by insulting its religion or religious beliefs), 298 (Uttering words, etc., with deliberate intent to wound the religious feelings) and 505-II (statements conducting public mischief) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).

Earlier this month, an FIR was registered against the then BJP spokesperson Nupur Sharma at Kodhwa police station for allegedly making derogatory remarks against the Prophet during a news channel debate.

The case against Sharma was lodged by Abdul Gafur Pathan, a former corporator of the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC).

The BJP had on June 5 suspended its national spokesperson Nupur Sharma and expelled Jindal after their alleged derogatory remarks against the Prophet led to an outrage in India and Gulf countries.

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Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], June 11: Union Minister of Commerce and Industry Piyush Goyal on Saturday thanked the state Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders after his victory in the Maharashtra Rajya Sabha Polls.

"I want to thank former Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis, state party chief Chandrakant Patil and the entire team for the victory," said Goyal while addressing the media persons.

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Earlier senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Devendra Fadnavis on Saturday lauded the party's win in the Rajya Sabha polls in the state and called it 'a happy moment'.

"It's a happy moment for us as all three BJP candidates have won," said Fadnavis.He also highlighted the party's share in the votes.

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"Piyush Goyal and Anil Bonde have received 48 votes each. Our third candidate has received more votes than Shiv Sena's Sanjay Raut," he added.

Out of 6 seats in Maharashtra, BJP won 3 seats. Shiv Sena, Congress, and NCP won one seat each while Shiv Sena's Sanjay Pawar lost the election. (ANI)

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Pune (Maharashtra) [India], June 11 (ANI): A day after protests erupted in parts of the country over the inflammatory remarks against Prophet Muhammad by suspended Bharatiya Janata Party spokesperson Nupur Sharma and the now-expelled leader Naveen Kumar Jindal, Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) MP Supriya Sule on Saturday targeted the central government, saying that it is a signal of something "really simmering".

"The Government of India needs to get its act together. What is happening in the country today is a signal so I hope home ministry take serious cognizance of this and does something. Be it Jammu and Kashmir, Delhi or UP Government of India and Home Ministry has failed this nation," Sule told reporters here.

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"It is a signal of something really simmering. People don't just pelt stones, these are all BJP-run states... The Government of India needs to talk beyond jingoism," he added.

Several incidents of violence were reported from different parts of the country over the controversial remarks of Nupur Sharma and Naveen Jindal on Friday. Following the protests, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) asked the police heads of states and Union Territories to be prepared and alert as they will be on target. The MHA also has asked all the states to take preventive actions, keep a check on borders and identified sensitive areas.

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The NCP leader also congratulated the BJP on their performance in the Rajya Sabha elections in Maharashtra.

"I congratulate BJP on their performance. We accept our defeat. We clearly need to introspect on what went right and what went wrong. If you look at the numbers, clearly we didn't have the right numbers till the end. But we took a chance," Sule said.

In Maharashtra, BJP was certain to get two seats but the party managed to secure a third seat as well with the help of Independents. Union Minister Piyush Goyal, former state minister Anil Bonde and Dhananjay Mahadik from the BJP emerged victorious while one candidate each from Shiv Sena, Congress and Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) won. 285 votes were polled on Friday and 41 were needed to win one Rajya Sabha seat.

Shiv Sena's Sanjay Raut, NCP's Praful Patel and Congress's Imran Pratapgarhi were elected without any hassle. However, all eyes were on the contest for the sixth seat where the BJP has fielded Dhananjay Mahadik and Sanjay Pawar was in the fray as the Shiv Sena candidate. Mahadik's came as a setback for Shiv Sena which was hoping to get two seats in the Rajya Sabha elections.

Commenting on the poll results, Praful Patel said, "Barring a few exceptions, candidates win(in RS polls) on basis of the party's strength. It is natural that a party that has a majority in Vidhan Sabha of a state will have more winning candidates going to Rajya Sabha. Karnataka has BJP government, Rajasthan has Congress."

"MVA government in Maharashtra didn't come with 200 seats. The government was formed with a post-poll alliance. The numbers are definitely more than half but we don't have 200 MLAs, otherwise, the result would have been the same here too," he added. (ANI)

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Chandigarh, Jun 11 (PTI) The Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) urged the Punjab chief electoral officer (CEO) on Saturday to review his decision of refusing approval to posters on the release of Sikh prisoners for distribution on hoardings and billboards for the June 23 Sangrur Lok Sabha bypoll.

Senior party leader Daljit Singh Cheema said it is unfortunate that the media certification and monitoring committee of the Election Commission (EC) has rejected the posters submitted by the SAD on the grounds that those would cause agony and unnecessary unrest in the public.

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Cheema said the posters contained an appeal from Kamaldeep Kaur, the SAD candidate in the Sangrur bypoll, for the release of all the "bandi veer" (Sikh prisoners).

Kaur is the sister of Balwant Singh Rajoana, a convict in former Punjab chief minister Beant Singh's assassination case.

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"A sister has asked for help from Punjabis for the cause of release of the detenues, including her brother Rajoana. It is her right. It is also covered under the right to freedom of speech and expression," Cheema said.

Stating that the Punjab CEO had "erred" in refusing permission for the posters, the SAD leader said there is no question of any disturbance to the peace of the state due to the release of these posters.

"Such posters have been used earlier also during the election of Akali leaders Simranjit Singh Mann and Atinderpal Singh in 1989," he claimed.

Cheema said the SAD is a votary of human rights and would continue to raise awareness about the rights of the Sikh prisoners.

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Diu, Jun 11 (PTI) Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Saturday urged the coastal states to ensure that fisherfolk who venture into the high seas possess easily verifiable Aadhaar cards.

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Chairing a meeting of the Western Zonal Council here, he also advised its member states to identify the existing infrastructure along the coast and integrate it with disaster mitigation plans.

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Zonal councils are advisory councils aimed at fostering cooperation among the states, and Union home minister is their common chairman.

During the meeting, Shah also stressed the need for speedy investigation of rape and sexual offenses against women and children, and awarding of stringent punishment in a time-bound manner, a Press Information Bureau release said.

Additional Director General of Police-level officers, if possible women officers, should monitor the investigation of such cases, he added.

Chief Ministers of Goa and Gujarat and Administrator of the Union Territory of Dadra & Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu, as well as senior ministers from Gujarat and Maharashtra, Union Home Secretary and senior officers participated in the meet.

"While expressing satisfaction over the progress made on the issue of (distribution of) QR code based PVC Aadhaar cards to marine fishermen, the Union Home and Cooperation Minister urged the coastal states to make efforts to ensure that 100 per cent sea-goers including migrants and seasonal fishermen have Aadhaar cards which can be easily verified," stated the release.

Shah also advised the member states and UT to integrate state as well as centrally sponsored schemes on Direct-Benefit Transfer platform.

He also highlighted the need for an all-inclusive local contingency plan and its role in mass rescue operations, and advised member states and the UT to identify the existing infrastructure along the coast and integrate it with disaster mitigation plans.

To expand banking network in rural areas, the Department of Posts will roll out additional 20,715 India Post Payment Bank live touch points, Shah informed, and advised banks including cooperative banks and the India Post Payments Banks to ensure that unbanked villages in the Western Zone are provided facilities within 5 kms in the next year.

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New Delhi, Jun 11 (PTI) Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Saturday sought early investigation of rape and sexual assaults cases against women and stringent punishment against the offenders in a time-bound manner.

He said this at the 25th meeting of Western Zonal Council held in Diu.

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"The home minister stressed the need for early investigation of rape and sexual offenses against women and children and stringent punishment in a time-bound manner in these cases," a home ministry official said.

Shah said additional director general of police level officers, if possible women officers, should be entrusted with the responsibility of monitoring the investigation of all such cases in the police headquarters of each state.

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Referring to expanding banking network in rural areas, the home minister said according to the vision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Department of Posts will introduce additional 20,715 India Post Payment Bank live touch points which will provide banking facilities in addition to regular postal services.

Co-operative banks and other banks including India Post Payments Bank should ensure that every unbanked village in the Western region is provided with banking facilities within 5 km within the next year, Shah said.

He said states should include schemes of all states other than centrally-sponsored schemes on the Direct Benefit Transfer platform.

The home minister said work should be done towards providing mobile connectivity to all the villages in the Western region within a year.

Cash deposit facility through common service centres should be extended in a time-bound manner and all banks should be linked to the platform and this should be reviewed quarterly, he said.

The issue of rates of water supplied to Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu by the Gujarat Water Supply and Sewerage Board was also resolved in the council meeting, the official said.

The regional councils provide a forum for discussion in a structured manner on issues affecting one or more states or issues between the Centre and the states.

In the last eight years under the guidance of Prime Minister Modi, the number of meetings of the Zonal Councils and its Standing Committees have increased by three times, the official said.

There have been 18 meetings of various zonal councils and 24 of their standing committees in the last 8 years, whereas in the corresponding period of last 8 years only 6 and 8 meetings were held respectively.

Out of the 30 topics discussed in the 25th Western Regional Council, 27 have been resolved and only three are left for further discussion.

It shows the resolve and commitment of the government towards the all-round development of the nation in the spirit of cooperative federalism, the official said.

Regional councils help in developing a coordinated approach through discussion and exchange of views between states on important issues of social and economic development, the official said, adding the meetings of the Zonal Council should be used by the states and union territories to share their best practices.

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Mumbai, June 11: Tata Group Chairman Emeritus Ratan Tata has been conferred honorary D.Litt. by Maharashtra's second state cluster university, HSNC University, as a mark of appreciation towards his unparalleled contribution for the society.

The Governor of Maharashtra and the Chancellor of the university Bhagat Singh Koshyari awarded the degree to Tata at a special convocation ceremony of the university held on Saturday.

The university believes that Ratan Tata reflects the philosophy of development, education and upliftment of all, which also resonates with the vision of HSNC University, Mumbai and as a mark of appreciation towards his unparalleled contribution for the society, the university conferred him with its first-ever honorary degree.

"Ratan Tata is not just an industrialist or a corporate icon, he is a great human being who nurtures values of politeness, humanity and ethics. By accepting the honorary doctorate from HSNC University, Tata has honoured each one of us," Koshyari said in his convocation address.

In his acceptance speech, Ratan Tata said, "This university has been constituted with a view of creating young people with capability to lead our country in the coming future, with honesty, purpose, and responsibility. I am grateful to receive the honorary degree from the university, it means so much to me".

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Kent, Jun 11 (AP) A suburban Seattle city will pay more than $1.5 million to settle a dispute with a former assistant police chief who was disciplined for posting a Nazi rank insignia on his office door and joking about the Holocaust.

Former Kent Assistant Police Chief Derek Kammerzell, who had been with the department for nearly three decades, was initially given two weeks of unpaid leave after the 2020 incident. Outraged residents and members of the Jewish community prompted Mayor Dana Ralph to put Kammerzell on paid administrative leave and demand his resignation.

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The city's attempt to essentially discipline Kammerzell a second time led to a dispute between his lawyers and the city that appeared headed for litigation. But interim city Chief Administrative Officer Arthur Pat Fiztpatrick, who is also the city attorney, said Friday the city had resolved the matter through negotiation, The Seattle Times reported.

Ralph, in calling for Kammerzell's resignation in January, acknowledged that the decision to revisit the discipline issue would likely come at a high cost. The city said Friday it would pay him $1,520,000 to resign.

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Had the city simply fired him, officials said, he likely would have won back his job through arbitration due to federal and state labor laws.

An internal investigation concluded Kammerzell knew the meaning of the insignia he placed above the nameplate on his office door in September 2020  that of an obergruppenfuhrer  a high official in Hitler's paramilitary Schutzstaffel, or SS, which was responsible for the systematic murders of millions of Jews and others in Europe during World War II.

The insignia was taken down after four days when a detective in the investigations bureau, which Kammerzell commanded, filed a complaint.

Kammerzell also was overheard joking about the Holocaust, according to the internal investigation.

Messages left by the newspaper with Kammerzell's attorney and with the Kent Police Officers Association were not immediately returned.

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Johannesburg, Jun 11 (PTI) The African Union is India's fourth largest trading partner after the United States, China and the United Arab Emirates, propped up by diversification in Indian exports to the continent, a senior State Bank of India official has said in a seminar here.

With a share of 8.52 per cent in global trade, India's total trade with Africa in 2019-20 was valued at USD 68.33 billion.

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India has a negative trade balance with Africa, implying a dominance of imports over exports. In 2019-20, India's trade deficit with Africa was valued at USD 9.1 billion, which accounted for nearly 6 per cent of India's total trade deficit in the case of trade in goods, Syam Prasad, CEO of State Bank of India in South Africa said on Wednesday.

In terms of bilateral trade, the African Union is one of India's largest trading partners after the US, China, and the UAE, he explained.

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India's trade with Africa has been diversified from exporting mainly textile yarns to petroleum products, pharmaceutical products, chemicals and manufactured products, he asserted.

At the same time, India's import basket, though dominated by primary products and natural resources, is still diverse given the wide natural resource base in Africa, he said.

Within the African Union, India's top trading partner is Nigeria (20.91 per cent). Ten countries account for nearly 60 per cent of India's total trade with Africa.

Of them, India enjoys a positive trade balance with Egypt and Mozambique, while having a deficit with the rest of the countries.

Nearly 61 per cent of India's imports from the African Union comprise fuels, mainly crude from Nigeria, Angola and Algeria.

This is followed by precious stones and glass (20 per cent) from Ghana, South Africa and Botswana.

Other imports include vegetables, metals and minerals that originate from various African countries such as Benin, Sudan, Zambia, South Africa, Morocco and Cote d'Ivoire.

There is more diversity in India's exports to Africa. About 20 per cent comprises fuels  including non-crude petroleum oil to Mozambique, Togo, Tanzania, Kenya and South Africa; chemicals (18.5 per cent), including pharmaceutical products to Nigeria, Egypt and Kenya; and machines and electricals (12.59 per cent) to Nigeria, South Africa and Egypt, Prasad said.

Going forward, Prasad said SBI has been reinvesting its own capital into the continent for the past 25 years to expand its footprint in Africa.

This has been bringing in dollars for investments in Africa through an indirect role in African trade by way of funding to South African banks through syndications by offering bilateral credit lines to multilateral institutions such as the Afri-Exim Africa Finance Corporation, and others, he said.

We offer bilateral lines in the form of trade loans to the other major banks present in African countries and also offer IFC-backed credit lines to the smaller banks and those present in smaller nations. The funding to these institutions indirectly reaches smaller corporates in the African nations, where direct reach would have been difficult, the banker added.

India's Consul General in Johannesburg Anju Ranjan said her consulate supported Indian businesses in South Africa on issues such as ensuring the safety of their investments, speeding up business visas and avoiding double taxation.

Despite the advent of the COVID-19 pandemic and the global slowdown in the past two years, trade between India and South Africa actually increased to where we have surpassed the target set by the leaders of the two countries by 111 per cent to USD 11.6 million, Ranjan said.

The diplomat added that she was also very encouraged by the increase in application for new company visas.

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Dushanbe [Tajikistan], June 11 (ANI): Ambassador of India to Tajikistan Viraj Singh handed over the India-Tajikistan Friendship Hospital (ITFH) to Deputy Defence Minister of Tajikistan Major General Shohiyon Abdusottor on Saturday.

"On behalf of the Government of India, Ambassador of India to Tajikistan H.E Mr Viraj Singh handed over the India-Tajikistan Friendship Hospital (ITFH) to Deputy Defence Minister of Tajikistan H.E. Major General Shohiyon Abdusottor on 11 June 2022," read a press release by Indian Embassy in Tajikistan.

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The entire complement of medical equipment, medicines, stores and support equipment, including an Operation Theatre, X-Ray machines, laboratories, critical care ambulances and administrative vehicles were also handed over to the Tajik side.

It may be recalled that ITFH was renovated by the Government of India and inaugurated in October 2014 based on an MoU signed between both sides in January 2013. This fully-fledged 50-bedded hospital has rendered free-of-cost valuable medical services for the last 8 years to the Armed Forces and civilian populace of Tajikistan based on technical support and financial assistance from the Government of India.

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Presently, the ITFH has an array of medical specialities including ENT, Surgery, Gynecology, Medicine, Pediatrics and Dental departments. It has provided medical support to more than 100,000 patients over these years including more than 2000 surgeries in the last 2 years.

A team of Indian Army doctors and medical staff have provided various medical services to Tajik nationals and simultaneously trained numerous Tajik doctors and medical staff. Over 42 tons of "Made in India" medicines have been sent to ITFH in the last 8 years.

Apart from the ITFH, the Government of India has also provided medical support in other forms to Tajikistan. India provided 2 million doses of oral polio vaccine through UNICEF in 2010 after the outbreak of Polio in southwest Tajikistan.

In March 2018, India gifted 10 ambulances to various regions of Tajikistan. In May 2020, India provided 50,000 HCQ tablets and 100,000 paracetamol tablets to Tajikistan. In 2021, approx 700,000 'Made in India' Covishield vaccines were supplied to Tajikistan.

The Embassy has every confidence and hope that the Tajik side will continue to run the hospital effectively and efficiently with the capacities created by India. The ITFH will continue to be a symbol of the close and friendly relations between India and Tajikistan, as per the release. (ANI)

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Annapolis (US), Jun 11 (AP) A West Virginia man was charged with murdering three co-workers at a Maryland machine shop as well as attempted murder and other charges, authorities said late Friday.

The name of the alleged shooter, Joe Louis Esquivel, 23, of Hedgesville, West Virginia, was also released by the Washington County sheriff's office on Friday.

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Esquivel, who was hospitalised after a shootout with police, is currently being held by the Washington County Detention Centre on no bond.

Authorities say Esquivel arrived Thursday morning for his normal shift at Columbia Machine Inc in the small rural community of Smithsburg in western Maryland. He allegedly worked until he left the building to retrieve a weapon, went back inside and fired on employees in the area of a breakroom. Police responded to a 911 call at about 2:30 pm.

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The sheriff's office has not released a motive.

Smithsburg police who arrived first on the scene found a wounded person outside the business. As deputies arrived, three additional victims, all deceased, were located inside, the Washington County sheriff's office said.

Esquivel left the scene in a car and was quickly met by Maryland State Police. A Maryland state trooper who was injured in a shootout with the suspect was treated and released late Thursday, authorities said.

The 25-year veteran of the Maryland State Police was shot when police said Esquivel fired multiple rounds at troopers. At least one trooper returned fire, striking the suspect, state police said.

A search warrant was executed at the suspect's West Virginia residence, and additional firearms were located, the sheriff's office said.

Washington County Sheriff Doug Mullendore identified those killed in the shooting as Mark Alan Frey, 50, of Hagerstown, Maryland; Charles Edward Minnick Jr, 31, of Smithsburg, Maryland; and Joshua Robert Wallace, 30, of Hagerstown.

Reached by telephone Friday, Nelson Michael, the father of Brandon Michael, 42, who was wounded in the machine shop shooting, said his son was still in the hospital, but he didn't know more about his condition.

"He's surviving, he said. I'm glad he's alive, but it's going to work on his nerves. I know that.

Nelson Michael said he didn't know why the gunman shot the victims.

I'm not saying any more. I'm just glad my son's alive, and I feel so bad for the families of the other ones, he said.

Authorities said the investigation is ongoing.

Mullendore said the suspect used a semiautomatic handgun, which was recovered after the shootout.

Smithsburg, a community of nearly 3,000 people, is just west of the Camp David presidential retreat and about 75 miles (120 km) northwest of Baltimore. The manufacturing facility was in a sparsely populated area northeast of the town's centre with a church, several businesses and farmland nearby.

Based in Vancouver, Washington, Columbia Machine manufactures equipment for concrete products, and its Smithsburg location builds molds and works on parts and repairs for other plants. The company's CEO, Rick Goode, issued a statement calling the deaths of three employees and the wounding of a fourth tragic.

Our highest priority during this tragic event is the safety and wellbeing of our employees and their families, he said.

Dennis Stouffer lived about a half-mile from Frey, one of the victims, and said he would see Frey at the mailbox when he drove by.

He described Frey as a solid individual and a good guy.

Stouffer said in a phone interview that Frey once made meat hooks for a deer-meat processing shop he used to run in Smithsburg.

He didn't make a bunch of noise or anything. He just went about his work, Stouffer said.

Speaking late Friday morning, Stouffer said the reason for the shooting remained a big mystery to people in the community.

We're all in shock and disbelief, and that's an understatement, Stouffer said. (AP)

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Islamabad [Pakistan], June 11 (ANI): The visit of 15 members of a Pakistani American delegation to Israel last month has mainstreamed the debate surrounding the formalization of ties between the two countries.

In Pakistan, the people are taught from their childhood that Israel is the topmost enemy of Islam but it seems that Islamabad can't afford to remain the last Sunni Islamist bastion resisting Saudi normalization with Tel Aviv.

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The 2020 accord which the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Bahrain signed with Israel was named Abraham Accord to emphasise the commonality of the fatherhood of Jews and Muslims, Islam Khabar reported.

Pakistan, which claims it to be the citadel of Islam, does not have diplomatic relations with Israel and does not allow its citizens to visit Israel or play games with it. That is the reason why there is so much of hue and cry over the Israel visit of Pakistani Americans.

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Even the country's military dictators Gen Ziaul Haq (1977-88) and Gen Pervez Musharraf (1999-2007) had soft corner for Israel but were afraid of those who could launch a campaign against them if they signalled recognition of Israel.

At present, Arab countries including Saudi Arabia, are reportedly relaxing their attitudes toward Israel, and many enlightened Pakistanis make bold to speak their mind in public.

Interestingly, there is a lot of hypocrisy in Pakistan about relations with Israel. In the 1980s when Pakistan was fighting American Jihad against the Soviet troops in Afghanistan, Israeli military advisers were in Peshawar to help Pakistani/US "jihadis" against the Soviet troops.

Former Prime Minister Imran Khan's case is pathetic. He married a Jew wife and received millions of Pounds from his Jew father-in-law to build up his party and fight elections, according to Islam Khabar. The Jamiat-ul-Ulema-i-Islam call him a Jewish agent in Pakistan.

While the Muslims and Jews have common fatherhood in Abraham, Pakistan and the Jew State, Israel, have their common creator in the British.

According to Islam Khabar, the British decided to agree to the Jews' longstanding demand to rehabilitate in Palestine.

Interestingly, British first created a Muslim State (Pakistan), by breaking up India, so as to dismiss the Muslim world's objections to the creation of a Jew State (Israel) in Palestine.

It is now evident that Pakistan and Israel are not twin children of the British machination. (ANI)

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Islamabad, June 11 (UNI) Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif told a special court hearing the Rs16 billion money laundering case against him and his son, Punjab Chief Minister Hamza Shehbaz, that the entire case is a "pack of lies" and "will be buried", Geo News reported on Saturday.

PM Shehbaz and Hamza were summoned by the Special Court (Central) on Saturday for questioning, after the prosecutors concluded their arguments against an extension in interim bail which the father and son have sought.

The court reserved its verdict on all requests for bail, including those by PM Shehbaz and Hamza.
Islamabad, Jun 11 (PTI) Ailing former military dictator General Pervez Musharraf should face "no obstacle" in his return to Pakistan in order to spend his remaining life with dignity, Defence Minister Khawaja Asif said on Saturday.

The past events should not have any bearing on the former president and military ruler's return to the country, Asif said, a day after Musharraf's family confirmed that he was suffering from Amyloidosis, a rare disease, and he was going through a "difficult stage where recovery is not possible."

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Musharraf, 78, who ruled Pakistan from 1999 to 2008, was charged with high treason and given a death sentence in 2019 for suspending the Constitution.

In view of General Musharraf's ill health, there should be no obstacle for him to return home. Past events should not be allowed to interfere in this regard. May Allah give them health and they can spend their time with dignity in this part of life, Asif said in a tweet, in the first public statement by a senior minister from the Shehbaz Sharif government after Musharraf's health condition was made public.

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Musharraf's family clarified on Friday that he was not on a ventilator but had been hospitalised for the last three weeks. The family issued the statement after false news of his demise started circulating on social media.

The retired general's illness came to light in 2018 when the All Pakistan Muslim League announced that he was suffering from the rare disease amyloidosis, the Dawn newspaper reported.

Amyloidosis is the name for a group of rare, serious conditions caused by a build-up of an abnormal protein called amyloid in organs and tissues throughout the body. The build-up of amyloid proteins (deposits) can make it difficult for the organs and tissues to work properly.

Party's Overseas President Afzaal Siddiqui had said that Musharraf's condition had "weakened his nervous system". At the time he was being treated in London.

Musharraf overthrew Nawaz Sharif's government in 1999, and the former prime minister and his brother were taken into custody. The general ruled the country until 2008.

On March 30, 2014, Musharraf was indicted for suspending the Constitution on November 3, 2007.

On December 17, 2019, a special court handed Musharraf the death sentence in the high treason case against him. The death sentence was later overturned.

The former military ruler left the country in March 2016 for Dubai to seek medical treatment and has not returned to Pakistan since.

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Kabul [Afghanistan], June 11 (ANI): The Taliban have arrested a Panjshiri journalist in Kabul while he was doing his job, local media reported amid the growing incident of human rights violations in the country.

Farhad Amiri's family members said that they have no information about his whereabouts, Aamaj News reported.

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The news comes as relatives of human rights activist Maiwand Wafa, told Aamaj News that the intelligence forces of the Taliban arrested him nine days ago.

The islamic outfit has refused to comment on such issue.

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Taliban security forces in northern Afghanistan's Panjshir province have unlawfully detained and tortured residents accused of association with an opposition armed group, Human Rights Watch (HRW) said on Friday.

Since mid-May 2022, fighting has escalated in the province as National Resistance Front (NRF) forces have attacked Taliban units and checkpoints. The Taliban have responded by deploying to the province thousands of fighters, who have carried out search operations targeting communities they allege are supporting the NRF.

During search operations in other provinces, Taliban forces have committed summary executions and enforced disappearances of captured fighters and other detainees, which are war crimes.

"Taliban forces in Panjshir province have quickly resorted to beating civilians in their response to fighting against the opposition National Resistance Front," said Patricia Gossman, associate Asia director at Human Rights Watch. "The Taliban's longstanding failure to punish those responsible for serious abuses in their ranks puts more civilians at risk."

A human rights advocate who has interviewed several former detainees and a source with direct information about Taliban detentions spoke to Human Rights Watch about the Panjshir situation.

Former detainees in early June reported that Taliban security forces detained about 80 residents in Panjshir's Khenj district and beat them to compel them to provide information about the NRF. After several days, the Taliban released 70, but have continued to hold 10 people whose relatives they accuse of being members of the group, a form of collective punishment.

Former detainees said the district jail held nearly 100 others who have alleged links to the NRF. None had access to their families or lawyers. Others have been held in informal detention facilities. (ANI)

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Colombo, Jun 11 (PTI) The top official of the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) is planning to visit Sri Lanka on the invitation of Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe at a time when the crisis-hit island nation is grappling with an impending food shortage.

The Prime Minister's request comes after experts have warned of a possible shortage of rice and other essential food items from September this year because of lower production due to the impact after President Gotabaya Rajapaksa had enforced a ban on fertilisers in April last year and due to the inability to import amid an acute dollar shortage.

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Prior to the fertiliser ban, Sri Lanka was self-sufficient in rice production.

Wickremesinghe said he spoke to David Beasley, the Executive Director at the UN WFP on Friday and invited him to visit Sri Lanka. He accepted my invitation and is planning to visit shortly. We appreciate all the support extended to us by the WFP, Wickremesinghe tweeted on Friday.

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On Friday, the United Nations appealed for USD 47.2 million to provide life-saving assistance to crisis hit Sri Lanka, as it noted that shortage of medicines and surgical consumables will ease in the medium term with the support of a credit line from India and other partners.

The UN team in Sri Lanka and non-governmental organisations launched the joint Humanitarian Needs and Priorities Plan on Thursday, calling for USD 47.2 million to provide life-saving assistance to 1.7 million people worst-hit by the economic crisis in Sri Lanka over a four-month period between June and September.

Additionally, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) is also planning to send an in-person mission in the coming weeks to Sri Lanka for policy discussions on a financial arrangement, its spokesman has said but emphasised that the country needs to take steps to restore debt sustainability before the global lender can move on a financing programme.

Clearly Sri Lanka is facing a very difficult economic condition and severe balance of payments problems. We are deeply concerned about the impact of the ongoing crisis, particularly the humanitarian concern, that is the impact on people, IMF Spokesperson Gerry Rice told a briefing on Thursday.

Meanwhile, India has also provided a USD 55 million Line of Credit to Sri Lanka for the import of fertilisers, in a bid to help the island nation tide over its food scarcity, the Indian High Commission said on Friday.

Earlier this month, Wickremesinghe met senior officials of the FAO as well as the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and briefed them about the situation faced by the country.

The Prime Minister lamented that fertilisers and fuel shortage are the two biggest hurdles facing the country's agricultural sector.

Addressing the Parliament on Tuesday, Wickremesinghe said Sri Lanka will need USD 5 billion to ensure that the people's daily lives are not disrupted for the next six months.

The nearly bankrupt country, with an acute foreign currency crisis that resulted in foreign debt default, announced in April that it is suspending nearly USD 7 billion foreign debt repayment due for this year out of about USD 25 billion due through 2026.

Sri Lanka's total foreign debt stands at USD 51 billion.

In May, the IMF said it requires sufficient assurance from the country that it will restore debt sustainability during the debt restructuring process.

The economic crisis has prompted an acute shortage of essential items like food, medicine, cooking gas and other fuel, toilet paper and even matches, with Sri Lankans for months being forced to wait in lines lasting hours outside stores to buy fuel and cooking gas.

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Geneva [Switzerland], June 11 (ANI): The Myanmar junta's announced decision to enforce death sentences against four individuals, including two prominent activists, marks the start of what could be a spate of death pronouncements, two UN experts have warned.

"The illegitimate military junta is providing the international community with further evidence of its disregard for human rights as it prepares to hang pro-democracy activists. These death sentences, handed down by an illegitimate court of an illegitimate junta, are a vile attempt at instilling fear amongst the people of Myanmar," the experts said.

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In the face of increasing human rights violations, the experts urged the international community to exert greater pressure on Myanmar's military.

"Without imposing serious costs on the military for its attacks on fundamental rights, we should expect increasing numbers of these death penalty pronouncements from the junta," they said. "The international community - chiefly Member States and the Security Council - must demonstrate that these actions will not go unpunished and do more to target the military's needs for money, weapons and legitimacy."

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The experts stressed that one of the condemned individuals is a former member of parliament from the National League for Democracy, while another is a leader of the 88 Generation activist group that stood up to former dictator Ne Win's regime.

They were sentenced to death by a military tribunal in January 2022, on charges of treason and terrorism. If the executions proceed, they will be the first judicial executions in Myanmar since 1988.

"The junta's announced decision to execute the activists illustrates how the military seeks to use all apparatuses of the state to persecute those that oppose its attempt to return Myanmar to military authoritarian rule," they said.

The UN experts stressed that the imposition of the death penalty was taking place alongside the military's extrajudicial killings of civilians, estimated now to stand at nearly 2,000.

"The world must not lose sight of the fact that these death sentences are being meted out in the context of the military murdering civilians nearly every day in its widespread and systematic attack on the people of Myanmar. The military has killed civilians during massacres, crackdowns on protestors, and airstrikes against civilian locations, and has tortured detainees to death," the experts said.

The four individuals were tried and convicted in military tribunals, and reportedly without access to legal counsel during their rejected appeals - in violation of international human rights law.

Since the military coup on 1 February 2021, at least 114 people have reportedly been sentenced to death, including 41 in absentia.

Without recognising its legitimacy, the Special Rapporteurs called on the Myanmar junta to immediately and permanently halt the imposition of the death penalty and commute all capital sentences handed down to date. (ANI)

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Singapore, June 11 (ANI): US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin on Friday underlined the important role of India and other partner countries for peace in the Indo-Pacific region, which he described as a "priority theatre" for Washington.

Speaking at the Shangri-La Dialogue here, he explained how the US commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific is at the heart of American national security strategies, and the power of the partnerships that regional nations have built with the US forms the core for a peaceful world.

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"We're also weaving closer ties with other partners. And I'm especially thinking of India, the world's largest democracy. We believe that its growing military capability and technological prowess can be a stabilizing force in the region," Austin said.

American strategists no longer talk about the "US pivot to Asia," said Austin while adding that the Indo-Pacific is Washington's "priority theatre" with more than 300,000 American service members in the region working with allies and partners to ensure the rules-based international order is maintained.

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He has noted that US partnerships with Indo-Pacific nations have grown and matured. "We've moved together toward our shared vision for the region," he said. "The journey that we've made together in the past year only underscores a basic truth: In today's interwoven world, we're stronger when we find ways to come together."

The US Defence Secretary underlined how the United States works with treaty allies Japan, Australia, New Zealand, South Korea and the Philippines. "America also works closely with the members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations and the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue group alongside India, Japan and Australia."

He said the US is doing exercises and training with its partners and allies for interoperability in the Indo-Pacific. "So we've stepped up the complexity, the jointness and the scale of our combined exercises with our allies and partners," he said.

"Last spring, the USS Theodore Roosevelt Carrier Strike Group rotated through the Indian Ocean and we conducted simultaneous joint operations with the Indian Navy and the Indian Air Force has integrated air power and anti-submarine warfare," he added.

Austin's address comes a day after the US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin met with Chinese Defense Minister Gen. Wei Fenghe to discuss US-China defence relations.The two met on the fringes of the Shangri-La Dialogue.

The two discussed global and regional security issues and the bilateral defence relationship between the United States and China. They spent most of the meeting discussing Taiwan.On the global and regional security issues, the two discussed North Korea and the challenges in Northeast Asia. They also discussed the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

Austin and Wei discussed the need for crisis communication between the two militaries. Austin urged the Chinese Army to participate more proactively in crisis communications and crisis management mechanisms. "General Wei was responsive to that," the official said.

Austin reiterated to Wei that there is no change in US policy toward Taiwan. He spelt out the US policy, "which is that we are [to] remain committed to our 'One China' policy as enumerated in the Taiwan Relations Act and the Six Assurances, the Three Joint Communiques," the official said.

Austin also made it clear that the United States does not support any unilateral changes to the status quo, and the United States does not support Taiwan's independence. (ANI)

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Jharkhand | Security forces deployed alongside imposition of Sec 144 in 12 PS areas of Ranchi. Visuals from & near the temple which was affected in yesterday's protest & violence



The district administration has also extended suspension of internet services till tomorrow morning pic.twitter.com/zdBb1X8dvP ANI (@ANI) June 11, 2022

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Search teams in Brazil have discovered "apparently human" remains in the river where the missing British journalist and Brazilian indigenous expert were last seen in the Amazon rainforest.

Aljazeera News reported that police said it may be the biggest break yet in the five-day investigation on the disappearance of the two men.

Federal police noted that "organic material" is being sent for forensic analysis along with blood found on a suspect's boat that will be compared with genetic material from journalist Dom Phillips and Indigenous expert Bruno Pereira.

Police noted that the investigation into the disappearance of the two men had led to the arrest of one man.

The suspect was caught in possession of drugs, a shotgun and ammunition restricted for military use. However, the suspect was not named, as reported by The Guardian.

Police sources said they had detained a man named Amarildo da Costa de Oliviera earlier in the day on similar charges. However, the Amazonas state police chief told reporters it was too early to connect any suspect directly to the pair's disappearance.

Carlos Alberto Mansur said that they have material that makes them suspect there is a link to the fact, but it is still "just a suspicion," and is still being investigated. Mansur said that they still do not have a strong indication that a crime was committed.

Da Costa has a nickname known as Pelado and was reported to have threatened Philips and Pereira and a group of 13 Indigenous people on Saturday morning.

READ NEXT: Brazil: Pele Calls to 'Intensify' Search for Missing British Journalist, Brazilian Expert in Amazon

Missing Men in Brazil

Police said that the genetic material collected will be used in comparative analysis with the blood found on the boat.

Phillips was in the Amazon reporting for a book on sustainable development and was accompanied by Pereira, who is an explorer and Indigenous advocate who had years of experience in navigating the rivers and forest.

Another The Guardian report noted that Pereira had been threatened before for his work in the area, helping indigenous communities protect their traditional lands from invaders.

State Judge Jacinta Silva dos Santos said that the proceedings are under seal and she could not comment on whether other audiences are planned for the fisherman Pelado.

Da Costa was one of the last people to see Phillips and Pereira on Sunday.

State police detectives said their focus is on poachers and illegal fishermen in the area.

Probe on Amazon Disappearance

Paulo Marubo, the president of a Javari Valley association of Indigenous people, Univaja, said that Phillips and Pereira had been threatened by the men brandishing guns.

Marubo said that the British journalist photographed the men at the time, including local resident da Costa.

Phillips and Pereira went to a nearby federal base that has the permanent presence of Brazil's bureau office for Indigenous affairs, known as FUNAI.

Raimundo Mayoruna said that they went there but did nothing, adding that officers did not go after Pelado at all, according to a Washington Post report.

FUNAI and the National Guard has yet to comment on the matter.

READ MORE: Brazil: Mining Firms Eyeing to Expand to Protected Indigenous Lands in Amazon Rainforest

This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Mary Webber

WATCH: Dom Phillips and Bruno Pereira filmed on Amazon expedition in 2018 - from Guardian News


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Need to accord priority to reforms: Piyush Goyal 15 Jun 2022 | 10:31 PM New Delhi, June 15 (UNI) Union Minister of Commerce and Industry Piyush Goyal on Wednesday stressed the need to accord priority to the reform needs especially to the crisis at the Appellate body of World Trade Organisation (WTO). see more..

Canara HSBC Oriental Bank of Commerce Life Insurance renames itself as Canara HSBC Life Insurance 15 Jun 2022 | 7:08 PM Mumbai, Jun 15 (UNI) Canara HSBC Oriental Bank of Commerce Life Insurance on Wednesday said that it has rebranded and renamed itself as Canara HSBC Life Insurance and launched its first brand campaign. see more..

Bizongos Artwork flow records more than 100 pc Q-o-Q customer growth in FY22 15 Jun 2022 | 6:40 PM Mumbai, June 15 (UNI) B2B trade enablement platform, Bizongo has reported more than a 100 percent quarter-on-quarter growth in total customers on its cloud-based packaging and labeling artwork management solution, Artwork flow in FY22. see more..

SentinelOne plans US$50 mn investment for expansion in India in next 5 yrs 15 Jun 2022 | 6:33 PM Bengaluru , June 15 (UNI) SentinelOne on Wednesday announced the launch of SentinelOnes Operations Centre here to help organizations in the broader region address the growing threat of cyberattacks. see more..
Laois may not have a county museum, but a priceless Irish book written here is to be restored and put on display next to the Book of Kells in Dublin.

Pages from the Book of Leinster, which was written in the 12th century, are to be restored and digitised for viewing online.

The painstaking conservation of the ancient handmade vellum pages, written in organic ink by monks, is thanks to funding from the Bank of America.

The pages are long in safekeeping in Trinity College Dublin but are too delicate to be put on display or used by researchers, according to a report by RTE News this week.

The book was written over the course of 50 years by Abott of Terryglass in Tipperary Aed Ua Crimthainn and his pupils.

It was called Lebor na Nuachongbala, that is the "Book of Noghoval", written in a monastery in Oughaval in Stradbally.

The manuscript may have been commissioned by Diarmait Mac Murchada (d. 1171), king of Leinster, who had a stronghold in Dun Masc, the Rock of Dunamase, and passed down to Strongbow in a dowry with the King's daughter Aoife.

Written in Middle Irish, it contains stories, poems, medical knowledge and folklore. It has been described by Caoimhe Ni Ghormain, manuscripts curator at TCD, as a "snapshot of the middle ages".

Its 400 pages have separated but it is hoped that following conservation they can be rebound as a book.

Speaking on RTE's News At One, Ms Bioletti said that the book captures different texts, decoration and imagery but was damaged prior to coming to Trinity College.

Restoration is expected to take 18 months.

"It brings this earlier language back to life and is a really important part of the tradition and our valuing of the past," she said.

The Book of Leinster will then form part of the Virtual Trinity Library, globally accessible online.
The new Skoda Fabia is quoted by the Czech car manufacturer as being the car that delivers a revolution in design language. In its 23 year history, various generations of the Fabia have offered customers terrific value for money, usable practicality and excellent build quality, while affordable running costs also added to the Fabias desirability.

Now Skoda has launched the new Fabia (five-door bodystyle only) which is longer and wider than its predecessor, more sophisticated, and supplied with more active and passive safety technology than ever before. In an effort to make the new Fabia look distinctly modern and sporty, designers reduced the roofline by 8mm compared to the previous generation.

Modern Underpinnings

The original Skoda Fabia made its debut in 1999 and replaced the ageing Felicia, which was based on the Favorit, the last car designed and developed by the brand before it was taken over by Volkswagen.

A second-generation Fabia arrived in 2007, followed by an all-new model in 2014. Now in its fourth generation, the new Skoda Fabia is the last of the Volkswagen Groups core superminis to switch onto its MQB-A0 platform. Other cars currently using this platform are the Seat Ibiza, VW Polo and Audi A1  all of which are from brands within the VW Group itself.

The major benefits of the new platform include improved refinement, extra cabin space, and improved cabin quality, along with cutting-edge safety technology. Despite the continued growth of SUVs and Crossovers, superminis such as the Skoda Fabia are still very popular, with many owners favouring the compact dimensions of a supermini when manoeuvring in and out of tight parking spaces.

Petrol-Only Power

The engine line-up in the new Fabia consists solely of petrol powered units, with no plans to introduce a diesel engine, or electrification to the range.

The entry-level engine is a three-cylinder one-litre MPI naturally-aspirated unit with a choice of 65bhp or 80bhp and mated to a five-speed manual gearbox, while a three-cylinder one-litre TSI turbo-charged unit comes with 95bhp or 110bhp in five-speed manual or seven-speed DSG automatic transmission guises respectively  all of which send power to the front wheels.

Buyers of the new Skoda Fabia can choose from Active, Ambition, Style and Monte Carlo trim levels.

Impressive Safety

The new Fabia scored the maximum five stars in the Euro NCAP crash safety test. Achieving 78 per cent of the maximum available points, the Fabia is one of the safest vehicles in its class. The Fabia received 85 per cent of the maximum points for adult protection and 81 per cent for child safety, and thus performed particularly well in these two areas.

The top rating for the new Fabia builds on Skoda Autos impressive record; since 2008, each of the 14 new Skoda models evaluated has received the highest five-star rating.

With almost 80 per cent of the new Fabias components made of high-strength steel, the MQB-A0 platform not only provides the Fabia with a highly torsion-resistant body, but also supports the integration of several advanced assistance systems for the first time.

Test Car Details

My Fabia Style 1.0-litre TSI test car was finished in striking Race Blue metallic paintwork with a black roof, door pillars and door mirror casings. The exterior design of the new Fabia brings its right up-to-date with other members of the Skoda family, and it is certainly very smart, modern and presentable in every respect.

Producing 95bhp and 175Nm of torque, the Fabias refined 999cc engine enables the car to sprint from 0-100km/h in 10.6-seconds, while a fuel return of 5.1l/100kms is achievable on a combined driving cycle.

The car feels solid and secure through corners, and handles like a car from a class above. A natural feel to the Fabias steering, along with excellent handling characteristics, precise gearing, and comfortable ride quality make the new Fabia very relaxing to drive.

The standard five-speed manual transmission proves its worthiness when driving in city traffic, but the Fabia is equally impressive at motorway speeds too. Suspension still comprises steel coil springs, with MacPherson struts at the front and a torsion beam at the rear, while ventilated disc brakes at the front, and drums at the rear ensure that the Fabia responds well to soft and hard braking.

Key Style features include 16-inch alloy wheels with black aero inserts, keyless entry/start system, and a Bolero infotainment system to include an eight-inch colour touchscreen display. Thanks to a wheelbase that has grown by 120mm, cabin space within the new Fabia is impressive, with ample head, leg and shoulder room for three occupants in the rear of the car.

Verdict & Pricing

The new Skoda Fabia excels in all of the important areas, with its ride quality being a particularly impressive stand-out feature. It is the most spacious car in its class, and it makes the most of the space on offer with useful storage solutions  including an umbrella concealed within the drivers door trim.

The new Fabia is priced from just 19,150 (ex-delivery).
Washington, June 11 (UNI) US Defense Secretary Lloyd J Austin on Saturday met his South Korean counterpart Lee Jong-sup in Singapore to discuss the recent missile launches by the North.

Both leaders decided to coordinate closely on responses to future Pyongyang's provocations and re-affirmed that trilateral cooperation with Japan sends a strong deterrent signal to the region, according to Defence Department.

The US and South Korea committed to continuing robust conversations on extended deterrence and trilateral security cooperation.

The department further said, "Secretary Austin and Minister Lee also exchanged views on the Indo-Pacific security environment. Both sides affirmed the importance of the international rules-based order, peaceful resolution of disputes, and freedom of navigation.

"They also confirmed the importance of preserving peace and stability inthe Taiwan Strait."

During the meeting, Secretary Austin underscored that the US commitment to the defense of Seoul is "ironclad and underpinned by the full range of US capabilities, including nuclear".

UNI RNJ
A Sligo man who raped a woman he had just met on Tinder has been jailed for nine years.

Christopher Feeney (59) was found guilty of four counts of raping and sexually assaulting the woman at his home address at Millbrook, Riverside, Sligo on April 26, 2015, following a Central Criminal Court trial last September.

The court heard, at an earlier sentence hearing last December, that after gardai were alerted to the woman's plight, they told her to hang a towel on the balcony so they could identify which apartment she was in.

They arrived at the apartment a short time after the woman managed to do this and Feeney was arrested. He admitted sexual intercourse had taken place between himself and the woman, but claimed it was consensual.

A local sergeant told Leo Mulrooney BL, prosecuting, at the sentence hearing last December that Feeney and his victim, then aged 54, met on the dating app Tinder and she travelled from another county to meet him in Sligo town. The pair went out for drinks before returning to Feeney's home in the early hours of the morning.

During the attack, described by Mr Justice David Keane as an ordeal that continues to haunt his victim, Feeney told the woman that nobody could hear her screams as she cried and begged him to stop.

Feeney fled the jurisdiction while gardai were awaiting instructions from the Director of Public Prosecutions. He was arrested in the UK in 2019 and brought back to Ireland. He has been in custody since then.

Feeney pleaded not guilty to one count of rape, one count of oral rape, two counts of sexually assaulting the woman and one count of false imprisonment. He was found guilty on all counts except for the false imprisonment charge, which the jury was unable to agree on.

Eoin McGovern BL, defending, said his client does not accept the verdict of the jury. Feeney has one previous conviction for drink-driving.

Mr Justice Keane commended the woman for giving simple and direct evidence to the jury during the trial.

There is no doubt she has suffered considerable psychological harm, he said.

The judge noted that Feeney has shown no remorse, made no amends and has not embarked on any rehabilitation because he continues to deny his crimes.

In a victim impact statement handed into court and read out by counsel, the woman said she has never told her family what happened to her as she is so ashamed.

I feel such shame, even though I know it's not my shame. It's his as the perpetrator, the woman wrote. She said she struggles with anxiety in the wake of the attack and has dark days where she fears she will never have a partner again.

My constant thoughts on that terrible night were: Am I going to get out of here alive? she said. The woman was not in court for the sentence hearing.

Mr Justice Keane had previously adjourned the sentence after indicating that he would impose a nine-year sentence. He said he wanted a report from the Probation Service to ascertain if he could suspend any of that sentence.

On Wednesday, June 1, Mr Justice Keane noted that although the probation report concluded that Feeney was at a low risk of re-offending, Feeney had not provided any evidence in relation to any of the mitigation he had put forward on his own behalf.

The judge noted that there was no supporting evidence to Feeneys assertions about his current family support, his previous history of employment, his former addiction to alcohol or his rehabilitation from that addiction.

He said that these factors could reduce Feeneys risk of re-offending but because there is no supporting evidence to his claims very little weight can be placed on it.

Mr Justice Keane said he was therefore not in a position to suspend any of the sentence.

He imposed concurrent sentences of nine years for each the rape and oral rape and two concurrent terms of four years for each of the sexual assault offences, resulting in an effective nine-year jail term. He also imposed a three-year post release supervision order and Feeney was registered as a sex offender.

ADDITIONAL EVIDENCE

The woman, who is legally entitled to anonymity, told gardai that her heart sank when she saw that the sleeping arrangement in Feeney's apartment was two beds pushed together. She told Feeney she wanted to get to know him first and he suggested they put pillows down the middle of the bed.

As soon as they were in bed, Feeney started trying to touch her. The woman resisted and he left the bedroom. She dozed off and woke to find him back in bed with her. He pinned her arms back and proceeded to sexually assault and rape her.

Throughout the ordeal, which lasted for about an hour, the woman said she thought she was going to die. She screamed repeatedly in the hopes the neighbours would hear, but Feeney told her there were no neighbours to hear her.

When the woman managed to get out of the bedroom and in to the bathroom, she texted a friend saying: Help, this is serious. Call the police.

When gardai phoned her shortly afterwards, the woman told them what apartment block she was in before being told to hang a towel on the balcony to help identify her location.
In Quebec, there is no minimum age to work. Employers must obtain written authorization from the parents for minors under 14 years of age. DANIEL SLIM / AFP

At an age when some children still play with Legos, Adrien dutifully stacks cans on a shelf. Every night, the young boy runs out of school to come to work in this supermarket on the north end of the island of Montreal. Working two hours every day after school makes for a busy schedule for this 12-year-old boy. At the cash registers of this same supermarket, very young adolescents like him help customers fill their bags. How many hours a week do they work, at what wages? The manager refuses to answer.

However, in theory, the employment of these minors is perfectly legal. In Quebec, there is no minimum age required to start working. The law on labor standards only lists a few restrictions: The employer must make sure to obtain the written authorization of the parents for minors under 14 years of age. Up to the age of 16, they may not work during school hours, and night shifts are prohibited.

In 2016, a survey conducted by the Institut de la Statistique du Quebec found that one in three schoolchildren had a paid job during the school year. This is a very special situation, which makes Quebec, and Canada more generally, an exception among the members the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) when it comes to child labor.

More on this topic Subscribers only Canada: The temperature is rising for Montreal's housing market

'Child Empowerment'

"In the late 1990s, the deregulation of evening and weekend retail hours led to an explosion in the need for part-time labor," said Elise Ledoux, a professor of ergonomics and specialist in labor issues at the Universite du Quebec in Montreal. "Schoolchildren, freed from classes in the early afternoon under Quebec's school schedule, were an ideal workforce for a few hours a day."

Today, the phenomenon is reaching an unprecedented scale. According to a Statistics Canada study, the employment rate of minors in Quebec exceeds 51%. The province's current economic situation  an unemployment rate of only 3.9% and a worker shortage exacerbated by the Covid-19 pandemic, with some 240,000 vacancies  is increasing the pressure on employers. The side effect is that immigrant labor and minors are particularly courted. On the nation's highways, fast-food giants such as Tim Hortons and McDonald's are aggressively advertising on huge billboards that promise parents that a job with them "will help [their] child's career."

Whether they are tasked with baking bread in a bakery, stocking shelves or waiting tables, children, like their elders, are at the mercy of burns, falls or injuries

"In our very North American culture, the empowerment of children through work has always been encouraged by parents, regardless of their income level. At the same time, their offspring were happy to be part of consumer society," said Charles Fleury, a sociologist at Laval University in Quebec City.

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A COUNCILLOR gave a very poor review of Limerick City and County Councils support of Friars Gate theatre in Kilmallock.

Cllr Mike Donegan was speaking during a Cappamore-Kilmallock municipal district meeting. The councillors were approving general municipal allocations (GMAs) under roads, tourism and community nominations 2022.

Under Cllr Donegans discretionary allowance of 4,285 in community grants he gave 1,000 to Friars Gate,

The reason I allocated 1,000 of my contribution is because I was very disappointed when I saw a letter from this council in relation to Friars Gate. They were denied a community grant in the recent grant announcement from this council, said Cllr Donegan.

The Fianna Fail councillor said Friars Gate has been closed for two years due to Covid.

It is just finally getting back on its feet. When I became a councillor in 2009 it was 10,000 we used to give Friars Gate, then it was 8,000, then it was 6,000. We are down to 3,000 albeit they do get a small amount from the arts council as well.

Friars Gate is the only full-time theatre in County Limerick. I was disappointed (they werent successful in the grant application). They would have applied for around approximately 1,000 hence my allocation of the extra 1,000, said Cllr Donegan.

Cllr Eddie Ryan wished to support his fellow councillor.

The people in Friars Gate are volunteers and they are trying to keep the show going within the town. I go there anytime I can. It is a lovely venue and should be supported more. I think we should do a little bit more and we should be consistent in the budget for it. That and Lough Gur and the Maigue Rivers Trust are a couple of jewels in the crown that should be maintained and should be financed, said Cllr Ryan.

All the councillors thanked council staff and Cathaoirleach Martin Ryan for the hard work that went into finalising the GMAs and dividing up the loaves and fishes as Cllr John Egan put it.
GARDAI are appealing to Limerick people to be careful about what they post on social media when they are away on holidays this summer.

Figures circulated at the quarterly meeting of the Limerick Joint Policing Committee show the number of burglaries at homes across Limerick has increased by 39% so far this year compared to 2021.

While the increase is being attributed to the easing of Covid-19 restrictions, gardai are concerned there may be a further increase over the coming months as thousands of people are set to go on holidays for the first time in three years.

"If you are going on holiday and your home is going to be vacant, be mindful of what you post on social media. Even if you have enabled strict privacy settings, your holiday plans could be shared and your dream holiday could turn into a nightmare," said divisional crime prevention officer Sergeant Ber Leetch.

"Avoid posting upcoming travel plans and do not post status updates about your holidays while you are still away. Do not post pictures while you are away," she added suggesting that holidaymakers should also consider turning off the location settings on their phones.

Gardai are also advising homeowners across Limerick to review their security arrangements as they return to the office - either full time or part time.

"People may have become used to working from home and their security routines or checks may have become lax. It is important to stay vigilant, check that windows and doors are secure and that the alarm is set if you are going back into the office," added Sgt Leetch.
There's no shortage of blame here.

Supply chain disruptions have led to nationwide shortages of several items, most recently baby formula, which caused fear and panic across the nation.

Now, there's another product shortage in the realm of women's health: tampons.

Supply chain issues have led to empty store shelves across the country. But rather than blaming the usual suspects, Tampax maker Procter & Gamble is pointing to one unlikely public figure: Comedian Amy Schumer.

What Is Amy Schumer's Tampax Tampon Commercial?

Schumer has filmed several commericals for the brand. In one, titled "What's Your Combo?", which aired in July 2020, Schumer sought to normalize conversations about menstruation and personal hygiene. In the clip, she talks to a girl who just had her first period and asks her what size tampon she needs, explaining the different sizes that Tampax has available and how during a woman's menstrual cycle her sizes will vary and change.

It was a trailblazing commercial at the time, centering around talking about the different stages of a person's flow instead of simply showing the intricacies of the Tampax tampon itself.

Related: Procter & Gamble is a Hold For Now But Look to Buy in the Second Half

A second commercial shows Schumer trying to insert a Tampax tampon into a jelly doughnut while an OBGYN instructs her on how to properly complete the task before Schumer puts her signature comedic spin on the matter and bites the donuts.

Both commercials were well-received, the company said.

Tampax spokesperson Cheri McMaster told TIME that retail sales growth "has exploded," noting that demand had increased an estimated 7.7% since the roll out of the commercial.

Why is Procter & Gamble Blaming Amy Schumer for the Tampax Tampon Shortage?

According to Time, Procter & Gamble is partially blaming the shortage on an increase in demand for Tampax products, specifically calling out Schumer's commercials.

P&G said that the Tampax factory has been running 24/7 to keep up with the demand of the popular product.

All of Tampax's products are created in one factory located in Auburn, Maine.

Related: The Baby Formula Shortage: Everything You Need to Know About the Crisis Affecting Millions

A study from Nielsen IQ shows that the price of feminine hygiene products has shot up nearly 11% since 2021, which seems to be a factor independent of Schumer's commercials and Tampax specifically.

Amy Schumer's History With Endometriosis

Though she often keeps her banter lighthearted, last fall, Schumer shared with her nearly 12 million Instagram followers that she would be undergoing a surgery to treat endometrosis.

In September 2021, the comedian shared on Instagram that in order to treat the underlying condition of endometriosis, she had undergone a hysterectomy and appendectomy.

"[Women] are made to feel like they are just supposed to 'tough it out' but that is bullsh*t," the comedian captioned the video of her in a hospital bed candidly. "We have a right to live pain free."

In the video clip, Schumer shared that her doctor found over 30 endometriosis spots that had spread to her appendix, and she hoped to share her story in an effort to raise awareness about her condition.

"I'm feeling really hopeful and I'm really glad that I did it," Schumer told viewers. "I think it's gonna change my life."

Amy Schumer Responds to Accusations

In typical Amy Schumer fashion, the comedian posted a screenshot of an article by the NY Post regarding the P&G accusations titled "Why Amy Schumer is being blamed for the tampon shortage."

In her caption, Schumer, trying to make a joke out of a serious situation said, "Whoa I don't even have a uterus," in reference to her hysterectomy last September.

Within its first two hours, Schumer's post received over 19,000 likes and 550 comments, including a "What????" from journalist Katie Couric and a "LOL" from television host Padma Lakshmi.

Schumer has not yet commented further on the matter.

As of early Thursday afternoon, P&G was up around 7.5% year over year.

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Extreme, hilarious chaos is whats to be expected from Nicolas Hellers upcoming short Out of Order. Does the directors name not ring a bell? Try New York Nico, the self-proclaimed unofficial talent scout of New York City, who has used Instagram  where he boasts more than 908,000 followers  to capture the citys kookiest, funniest people on the street.

Nicos new film captures exactly that  but this time follows a 30-year-old, played by Kareem Rahma, who just really needs to poop before a big date. (The movies title, Out of Order, pays homage to the famous excuse for folks not letting you use their toilet.)

The trailer offers a one-minute glimpse, backed by the soundtrack of Frank Sinatras New York New York, of the bowel-moved protagonist as he runs across the city trying to find a restroom as he encounters dozens of NYCs kookiest individuals.

Gorilla Nems, the originator of bing bong, makes an appearance. Tiger Hood, the Tiger Woods of the streets, joins in too. And Wayne Diamond, the hella-tanned fashion designer from Uncut Gems appears in the movie as well. Fans will see the likes of Matthew Silver (the Italian dude who loves saying Mozarella online and goes by Lil Mo), Yo Chill, Silk Nik, and Tommy the Nose are also in the film.

You got dooky on your pants, man, Tiger Hood tells Rahmas character to end the trailer for the film that premieres on June 11.

The Tribeca Film Festival-selected short was written by Rahma, while it was produced by Yasir Masood and executive produced by Theodore Liouliakis.
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This is not a movie, Ukraine president Vladimir Zelenskyy told the crowd Friday night at the fundraising gala for Sean Penns humanitarian relief organization CORE.

The embattled leader addressed the dinner event with a pre-recorded video that urged the wealthy and powerful attendees at the Hollywood Palladium event to find ways to support Ukraine. His five-minute plea was intercut with scenes of the detritus of war large and small, from buildings being blown up to a close-up of a battered and bloodied stuffed animal left behind on a road by a fleeing family.

This is our reality, said a grim-faced Zelenskyy, who wore a green T-shirt and fatigues while sitting in front of a tactical map. The actor, who became Ukraines president in 2019, addressed the industry crowd as a fellow professional. Its not VFX, its not computer graphics. All of this is our reality, he said.

Ukrainians have been resisting Russian advances for 107 days and counting, Zelenskyy said. He cited the symbolic gesture that Hollywood made during WWII in making Oscar statuettes out of plaster when all available metal was needed for the war effort.

Any help is valuable and important for combatting this evil which is called Russian full-scale aggression, Zelenskyy said. Fight for Ukraine because Ukraine is fighting for the whole world.

Earlier in the evening, Ukraines cause was also championed by Dakh Daughters, an avant-garde trio of female musicians, who performed several numbers (under white pancake makeup) and closed by unfurling a large Ukrainian flag emblazoned with Arm Ukraine.

Penns Community Organized Relief Effort was born out of the actors desire to bring help to Haiti after the January 2010 earthquake that devastated the island. Penn recalled how President Bill Clinton and CAAs Bryan Lourd saved our asses when the fledgling organization needed help on the ground in Haiti. A dozen years later, surveying the scope of the organization and its work, Penn reflected, I walk into this building tonight and I think, How the hell did this happen?'

Clinton was on hand to present one of the nights honors to investor Frank Giustra. John Legend came out for a solo piano rendition of Bob Marleys Redemption Song. Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti also took the stage to pay tribute to CORE for its help in running the countrys largest COVID testing and vaccination sites.

Host Aida Rodriguez got the crowds attention from the start, ribbing them about being woke and warning that my comedy is confrontational.

The long night included an auction component. Auctioneer Letitia Frye, a familiar fast-talking voice from the Hollywood charity circuit, was on hand to help bring in the bucks. She sold off original artworks as well as the chance to have Legend perform a solo concert in the winning bidders living room  a one-of-a-kind offering that went for $1 million. Frye at one point got a little help from attendee Sharon Stone, who cut quite a figure in a bright pink suit.

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The stars of Apple TV+s comedy whodunit The Afterparty still laugh at how wrong their friends and family members were in guessing the shows killer.

My brother said Tiffany, says star Sam Richardson, referring to Tiffany Haddish, who plays the police detective investigating the crime. He was like, Oh, interesting. She knows all the clues! And Im like, thats what a detective does.

Haddish said friends were sending her direct messages, also asking if her character did it. They were like, no, you did it. Tiffany. I know you did it! Im like, sure.

Ben Schwartz says his father thought it was the child of the characters played by Ike Barinholtz and Zoe Chao. He thought was the kid. He said it the whole way from the first episode, Schwartz says. A bunch of people in the beginning said it was me, and then they lost that and they went somewhere else. A lot of people thought it was Zoe.

Adds Richardson: I think a lot of Walt [Jamie Demetriou] earlier, like right up until Walts episode. I think Walt was a great red herring, verybody had their theory that it was like kind of hidden right in plain sight, but like, but obvious enough so people would bite on to Walt. My dad guessed Mr. Shapiro.

Varietys Awards Circuit podcast recently spoke with The Afterparty stars Tiffany Haddish, Sam Richardson and Ben Schwartz about shooting this very unique show. Spoiler alert if you dont know the ending to Season 1, as it is discussed heavily  as is whether that murderer will show up in Season 2.

But first, our Awards Circuit roundtable is back, and discussing the Emmy comedy and limited series categories and much more. Listen below!

The Afterparty, from Chris Miller and Phil Lord, is a comedic murder mystery that takes place after a high school reunion, as pop star alum Xavier (Dave Franco) invites his former classmates to an afterparty at his mansion. But when Xavier falls to his death, everyone there becomes a suspect in his murder. Haddish plays Det. Danner, who shows up and interrogates Xaviers classmates one by one, starting with Aniq (Richardson), who becomes the primary suspect but is really there to reconnect to his high school crush Zoe (Chao). Each episode takes on a different kind of film genre, including a musical edition starring Schwartz as Yasper, who still aspires to a music carrer that never took off.

People were emotionally invested, Schwartz says. Will Tiffany get the person? Is it Sam? Is it me? And so it was very exciting through that limelight that people were really obsessed with.

Haddish says the appeal of Lord and Miller brought her to the project. I just love working with those guys. So when they hit me with this first script, I read it and I was like yeah. Because first of all, I dont think anyone has seen me in that light. And I felt like it was an opportunity for me, especially with everything that was going on in the world at the time when we were shooting, to show a detective from my point of view and from my community. And then the opportunity to work with everybody to do a scene with everybody was the best.

The cast remains close, and maintains an active text chain. So many things. Weve celebrated through text messages together. A baby has come through. OK guys, I have a baby. Im not supposed to tell everybody but I bought a baby.

Thats just a taste of the raucous conversation between Haddish, Richardson and Schwartz in this edition.

Varietys Awards Circuit podcast, produced by Michael Schneider, is your one-stop listen for lively conversations about the best in film and television. Each week Awards Circuit features interviews with top film and TV talent and creatives; discussions and debates about awards races and industry headlines; and much, much more. Subscribe via Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, Spotify or anywhere you download podcasts. New episodes post every Thursday and Friday.

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The so-called Lost Weekend, when John Lennon, from late 1973 through 74, separated from Yoko Ono and relocated to Los Angeles, where he became a hard-drinking rock-club night owl while carrying on an affair with the 22-year-old May Pang (who had been John and Yokos assistant), has long been part of rock mythology. Its been covered by everything from E! documentaries to Albert Goldmans The Lives of John Lennon. Like many Lennon observers, Ive always felt like I knew the basic bones of it.

I knew that John and Yoko, after marrying in 1969 and seeming like inseparable soulmates in art and life, began to have problems as a couple. That Yoko, trying to save the marriage, made the decision to set up John with May Pang, basically instructing the two of them to have a romantic affair. That in L.A., John, for the first time since the breakup of the Beatles (and maybe since the Beatles began), let his hair down and began to enjoy a more relaxed, fraternizing, at times carousing rat-pack existence. That he became a fixture at the Rainbow Bar & Grill on Sunset Boulevard along with Harry Nilsson, Alice Cooper, Bernie Taupin, Mickey Dolenz, and others who became known as the Hollywood Vampires. That after 18 months of partying and soul searching, John returned to Yoko, commenting at the time (in one of the wittiest quips of his life, which is saying something) that The separation didnt work out. And that his decision to go back made the entire episode look like Yokos version of a Jedi mind trick.

The central figure in the new documentary The Lost Weekend: A Love Story is May Pang, who has told her tale many times (in her memoir, and on talk shows like Geraldo  in the film, we see a lot of clips of those appearances). The movie, directed by Eve Brandstein, Richard Kaufman, and Stuart Samuels, is told entirely from her point of view. Its a portrait of the May Pang who grew up in Spanish Harlem as a second-generation Chinese-American (a minority among minorities, she says), and how she fell in love with rock n roll and fell into fame with a kind of karmic destiny.

In the photos that we saw at the time of her and John, she always had a waifish beauty, and a certain mystery behind those tinted hexagon glasses. But in The Lost Weekend, we see that May Pang was a tough ambitious city girl, who spoke with a slight but blunt New York accent, and that after dropping out of college she had the chutzpah to talk her way into a job at the Apple Records offices on Broadway. She was a schmoozer, and when she began to work for John and Yoko, doing every makeshift task available  avant-garde film production assistant, costume designer  she had an ebullient smile and an easy-to-be-with vivacity. She was fun but circumspect (she didnt drink or do drugs).

of John Lennon unmoored, trying to find himself in a world that had caught up to him. The movie is also a portrait of Pangs romantic passion, which as she portrays it was both innocent and deeply serious. To say that she was in over her head would be an understatement. She was 10 years younger than Lennon (and 17 years younger than Yoko), who was her boss and a Beatle. Once they were together, Yoko would phone her incessantly, wanting to know what was happening. It was all a lark; Pang was just going with the flow. But she relates, with a dailiness thats convincing, how she and John became convivial and erotic companions, their affair rooted in a genuine affection and in Lennons discovery that he didnt have to live in a way that was always so chained to his legend. (In the early 70s, hed become a real political scold; after the drubbing received by 1972s Some Time in New York City, that was part of what he was letting go of.)

Theres amazing archival material throughout, and it gives you an unusually rich sense of what Lennon was like away from the limelight. The dark side is very much there. We hear Pangs stories about how Lennon, in a drunken fit of confronting his demons, smashed up their place in L.A., and how he would hit her sometimes. And there are startling photographs that document the recording of Rock n Roll, the album of early rock chestnuts that Lennon made with Phil Spector, who was entering his full mad-dog phase. But according to Pang, the fabled tales of Lennons misbehavior, as when he and Harry Nilsson, after too many Brandy Alexanders, got kicked out of the Troubadour nightclub for heckling the Smothers Brothers, were more the exception than the rule. Its no coincidence that he reconciled with Paul during this period. In a way thats as casually stirring as it it surprising, we see them bury the acrimony and rediscover their friendship.

The narrative that shapes The Lost Weekend is May Pangs gently building insistence that she and Lennon were truly in love. And we have to take that on faith, since its all very subjective and not necessarily borne out by what happened. Did Yoko really set the whole thing up? According to May Pang, she totally did, walking into Pangs office at the fortress-like Dakota, where John and Yoko had moved to feel more secure (Lennon, at that point, was being seriously harassed by the FBI, since President Nixon wanted him deported), and basically giving her an executive order: Youre going to have a relationship with John. Yoko had observed Johns infidelity, so she figured that she would let him stray with a woman she could control. It was, by any standard, a decision of seriously kinky manipulation.

Yet this was the bed-hopping, do-what-you-feel 70s, so it all seemed a little less weird at the time. It wasnt Yokos idea that the two of them move to L.A.; that was Johns impulsive decision. The documentary chronicles how after about a year there, they returned, just as impulsively, to New York, moving into a small apartment on E. 52nd St., where they lived through the first months of 1975. We see Pangs photograph of Bob Gruen snapping his famous photograph of Lennon in a New York City T-shirt. One night, she and John saw a UFO from the rooftop (Lennons description and sketch of it are haunting), and according to Pang they were talking about buying a house in Montauk.

But Yoko had already re-entered the picture, showing up backstage to see John at the premiere of an Off Broadway show based on Sgt. Pepper. There are moments in the film when Yoko, to say the least, does not come off well  notably in Pangs description of how Yoko attempted to cut off Lennons relationship with his son, Julian. Julian is interviewed throughout the film, and he (like his mother, Cynthia) maintained a close bond with Pang. That Pang helped to bring John and Julian back together, despite Yokos machinations, seems more convincing than not.

What doesnt seem convincing, at least as the film presents it, is the final twist in this extraordinary rock n roll soap opera. After John, seemingly out of nowhere, goes back to Yoko, and Pang confronts him about it, he says, quite simply: Shes letting me come back. Letting him? That doesnt square with what the film has implied  that Lennon had drifted away from Yoko. His comment suggests that their separation was always contingent on an understanding between them. But thats something wed have to guess at, since the life of John Lennon remains, for all the ways its been chronicled, not quite knowable. The Lost Weekend is a compelling movie and a valuable puzzle piece, but its only pretending to be the whole puzzle.

Reviewed online (Tribeca Film Festival), June 9, 2022. MPAA Rating: Not rated. Running time: 97 MIN.

Production

Producers: Christal Curry, Eve Brandstein, Richard Kaufman, Stuart Samuels. Executive producers: Micki Purcell, Peggy Taylor, Eric Dewitt, Randy Fix, Kate Morris, John Morris, Fred Freeman, Harri Mark, Bob Francis, Jonathan Gould, Dan Braun, Josh Braun, Ben Braun, David Dinerstein.

Crew

Directors: Eve Brandstein, Richard Kaufman, Stuart Samuels. Editor: Luis Martos. Music: Ace Vaptsarov, John Lennon.

With

May Pang, Julian Lennon.

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SPOILER WARNING: THIS STORY CONTAINS DISCUSSION OF MAJOR STORYLINES AND SCENES IN INTERCEPTOR.

First-time director Matthew Reilly admits he never anticipated his feature film debut Interceptor to do as well as it has since its release on Netflix earlier this month. The movie, which follows a U.S. Army captain (Elsa Pataky) who must prevent a nuclear missile attack forged by domestic terrorists in cahoots with Russians, climbed to No. 1 on the streamers top 10 list with about 50 million hours viewed.

Its blown me away, Reilly told me on Friday morning when I caught up with over Zoom. I was hoping to sneak into the top 10 on Netflix, but coming in at number one everywhere?

I dont think anybody was expecting it to take the world by storm, he continued before laughing. Im just as confused as everybody else.

Produced by Patakys husband Chris Hemsworth, Reilly co-wrote the screenplay with Stuart Beattie (Obi-Wan Kenobi).

Interceptor takes place in one location  a floating military base in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, equipped with a defense system that has the ability to intercept nuclear missiles. The film touches on a variety of hot button issues, including #MeToo (Patakys characters military career is stalled when a five-star general is discharged after she accuses him of sexual misconduct), Russian aggression, xenophobia and right wing conspiracy theories. The dialogue is peppered with unforgettable one-liners, including a soldier (Meyen Mehta) quipping to the bad guy (Luke Bracey), Ive seen you in the shower. I could see why youre obsessed with missiles.

Another doozie has a Bracey henchman (Aaron Glenane) justifying his acts of terrorism by proclaiming, Im not a murderer, Im a fucking patriot.

The copious bloodshed varies from Pataky fatally stabbing an attacker in his eye with a gun to another baddie being beheaded by barbwire.

Im very aware of what the movie is, says Reilly, 47, who was born and raised in Australia before moving to Los Angeles a few years ago.

Yes, hes read some of the brutal critiques of the movie on social media. If you dont like my movie, say you dont like my movie. I dont mind that, Reilly says. But somewhere in recent years we got to this extreme bottom end and people who say, I dont like your movie therefore I hate you therefore you should die a painful miserable death and never make movies again.

Hes not letting the hate get to him. So much so that hes already written an Interceptor sequel. Netflix likes it, Reilly says.

Before landing in the directors chair, Reilly was a best-selling novelist of action thriller fiction.

Ive been writing bonkers fast paced action novels for 25 years, Reilly explains. Its very well known that Ive sold them all to studios in Hollywood but theyre too big. Theyre $120 million to $150 million movies. Ive always wanted to direct, so Interceptor was designed to be filmed on the cheap in a single location. But what I would do is give it that energy, that enthusiasm, that bonkers gonzo pace.

Reilly said Netflix has forbid him from revealing his budget. If they let me do the sequel, then Ill do my T2 or then Ill do my Road Warrior, he said, referring to the Terminator and Mad Max sequels.

Hemsworth makes a cameo in the film as a stoner employee of an electronics store. Netflix said they wanted to work with Elsa and Chris said hed be involved as an EP, Reilly says. Naturally somebody at Netflix goes, Hey, Chris, you might want to be in the movie. I got Chris straight off the Thor set. I got to direct him for two hours. He doesnt mess around. Hes laser-focused.

Does Hemsworths character make an appearance in the sequel?

I dont want to speak for him but I reckon Interceptor was a one-and-done, Reilly says, But lets just say the sequel is about 10 times bigger. If he wants to be in it, Im pretty sure we can fit him in somewhere.

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The City of Laredo reported an increase in COVID-19 cases in Webb County, which prompted the risk level ranking to increase from low to medium based on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The news comes after the city referenced the Texas Department of State Health Services for the increase in positive cases since June 1. As the localized dashboard was removed and replaced with the DSHS monitoring tool, 2022s probable cases reached 4,557 in Webb County.

As such, the city health department is encouraging residents to follow the precautionary measures to mitigate the spread of COVID-19 and for those high risk for severe illness to speak to a health care provider about the measures they should take.

The Laredo Health Department continues to stress the importance of receiving a COVID-19 vaccine and/or a booster shot, the city stated. The Food and Drug Administration most recently announced that it will have a meeting on Wednesday, June 15 to discuss the distribution of COVID-19 vaccines to the 6 months to 4/5-year-old population

Surveillance testing and wearing face masks are also highly encouraged during this stage, especially if someone experiences symptoms, has traveled or been in large crowds or plans to gather with family or friends who may be at high-risk of severe illness.

The increase in cases comes at a time where the city approved the usage of bridge funds to hire the Healthcare Management Associates consulting agency to find solutions regarding Laredos health care needs, finding funding mechanisms to support needed expenses and addressing how to solve the staffing shortage. According to the firms representative, Stephen Palmer, services would take approximately six months and cost around $225,000.

It will have to be seen how the increase in COVID-19 cases would be measured and analyzed into the firms course of actions and solutions. As of June, masks are now used in public places less frequently and it residents of Webb will heed the announcement after almost three years of guidance amid the pandemic.

Regardless, COVID-19 vaccines and testing services are offered at the City of Laredo Health Department (at no cost) along with other clinics and pharmacies (which may have cost) across the city. The clinic at the Laredo Health Department (vaccine and testing operation) is open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. and is located at 2600 Cedar Ave.
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WASHINGTON (AP)  A man armed with a machete once broke into Stephen Breyer's vacation home in the Caribbean and took $1,000. Ruth Bader Ginsburg had her purse snatched on a Washington street. David Souter was assaulted by several men while he was jogging.

Supreme Court justices have not been immune to violent crime. But this past weeks late-night incident at Justice Brett Kavanaughs suburban Washington home, where authorities said a man armed with a gun and knife threatened to kill the justice, reflects a heightened level of potential danger not just for members of the nation's highest court, but all judges.

One proposal pending in Congress would provide additional security measures for the justices, and another would offer more privacy and protection for all federal judges.

Round-the-clock security given to the justices after the leak of the draft opinion in a major abortion case may well have averted a tragedy.

But the situation had much in common with other recent incidents that ended with the shooting death of a former judge in Wisconsin last week and the killing in 2020 of the son of a federal judge at their home in New Jersey. Troubled men, harboring a warped desire for vengeance and equipped with guns, turned their threats into action.

Were seeing these threats increase in number and intensity. That's a sign. That's a signal, said U.S. District Judge Esther Salas, whose son was killed nearly two years ago in the attack that also wounded her husband.

Kavanaugh's would-be attacker is Nicholas John Roske, 26, of Simi Valley, California, authorities said in charging him with the attempted murder of a justice. Clad in black, he arrived by taxi outside Kavanaugh's Maryland home around 1 a.m. Wednesday.

He spotted two U.S. Marshals who were guarding the house and walked in the other direction, calling 911 to say he was having suicidal thoughts and also planned to kill Kavanaugh, according to court documents. Roske said he found the justice's address on the internet.

When police searched a backpack and suitcase he was carrying, they said they found a Glock 17 pistol, ammunition, a knife, zip ties, duct tape and other items Roske said he was going to use to break into the house. He said he bought the gun to kill Kavanaugh.

Roske told police he was upset by the leaked draft opinion in the abortion case and by the school shooting in Uvalde, Texas, and believed Kavanaugh would vote to loosen gun control laws, according to documents filed in federal court in Maryland.

Last week, Wisconsin authorities said Douglas Uhde, 56, shot John Roemer, a former county judge, in a targeted attack against a judge who had once sentenced him to prison. Roemer was found zip-tied to a chair. Uhde had shot himself and later died.

In July 2020, lawyer Roy Den Hollander showed up at Judge Salas' home posing as a FedEx delivery person. Den Hollander fatally shot Salas' 20-year-old son, Daniel Anderl, and wounded her husband, Mark Anderl. The judge was in another part of the home at the time and was not injured.

Den Hollander, 72, was a mens rights lawyer with a history of anti-feminist writings. He was found dead of a self-inflicted gunshot wound the day after the ambush, when police said they found a document with information about a dozen female judges from across the country, half of whom are Latina, including Salas.

Authorities believe Den Hollander also was tracking Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor, Salas said in a televised interview last year, because they found a manila folder with information about Sotomayor when they searched a locker belonging to Den Hollander.

Over the years, Supreme Court justices have called on Congress to provide more money for their security. But at the same time, the justices often shrugged off protection when it was offered. When Justice Antonin Scalia died on a hunting trip in Texas in 2016, for example, he did not have a security detail with him.

In recent years, the court has stepped up security for the justices. The court routinely refuses to discuss protection for the nine justices, but Justice Amy Coney Barrett said earlier this year that she was not prepared for how much more extensive security is now than when she worked for Scalia in the late 1990s.

Sotomayor likes to walk among guests at her public appearances, often joking about the armed officers who are there to protect her. The guys up here. The big guys with stuff around their waist and things. Theyre here to protect you from me, she said to laughter at an event this year. They get nervous if you get up unexpectedly. ... Please dont make them nervous.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., said Thursday that the House would take up a bill with bipartisan support that already has passed the Senate that would expand protection to the members of the justices' immediate families.

Gabe Roth of the court reform group Fix the Court said in his view the justices need Secret Service-level protection, which has only become more obvious this week. Ive said it for years.

A separate bill, named in memory of Salas' son, would provide more privacy and protections for all federal judges, including scrubbing personal information from the internet, to deal with mounting cyberthreats. The U.S. Marshals Service, which protects about 2,700 federal judges and thousands more prosecutors and court officials, said there were 4,511 threats and inappropriate communications in 2021, compared with 926 such incidents in 2015.

The legislation, also widely supported by lawmakers in both parties, has been blocked by Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., who wants it to apply to members of Congress as well.

Sen. Bob Menendez, D-N.J., the bill's author, said the Kavanaugh incident and Roemer's death in Wisconsin make plain the need for the legislation. Our bill is the only existing proposal to protect the personal information of judges and their families, Menendez said in an email.

A similar bill in the House has not even gotten a hearing.

We talk a lot about what can be done. How about we stop arming the public with information they are using to kill us? How about we do that? Salas said Friday in an interview with The Associated Press.

The internet has made it much easier to find personal information pertaining to judges, and everyone else.

But even before the digital age, judges were sometimes the targets of people who harbored grudges about their treatment in the criminal justice system. In a book, retired Texas Judge Susan P. Baker details 42 judges, including three at the federal level, who were murdered or otherwise met suspicious ends in the 20th century.

In the past 17 years, three close relatives of federal judges have been killed in attacks at the judges' homes, including Salas' son. In 2005, U.S. District Judge Joan Lefkow returned from work to find her husband and mother shot dead in the basement of her Chicago home. The killer was a homeless electrician who had lost a medical malpractice suit in her courtroom.

U.S. District Judge Roslynn R. Mauskopf, who heads the office responsible for federal courts administration, said the incident at Kavanaughs house is just the most recent reminder that threats against judges are real and they can have and have had dire consequences.
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (AP)  For almost 40 years starting in the 1930s, as government researchers purposely let hundreds of Black men die of syphilis in Alabama so they could study the disease, a foundation in New York covered funeral expenses for the deceased. The payments were vital to survivors of the victims in a time and place ravaged by poverty and racism.

Altruistic as they might sound, the checks  $100 at most  were no simple act of charity: They were part of an almost unimaginable scheme. To get the money, widows or other loved ones had to consent to letting doctors slice open the bodies of the dead men for autopsies that would detail the ravages of a disease the victims were told was bad blood.

Fifty years after the infamous Tuskegee syphilis study was revealed to the public and halted, the organization that made those funeral payments, the Milbank Memorial Fund, publicly apologized Saturday to descendants of the study's victims. The move is rooted in America's racial reckoning after George Floyd's murder by police in 2020.

It was wrong. We are ashamed of our role. We are deeply sorry, said the president of the fund, Christopher F. Koller.

The apology and an accompanying monetary donation to a descendants' group, the Voices for Our Fathers Legacy Foundation, were presented during a ceremony in Tuskegee at a gathering of children and other relatives of men who were part of the study.

Endowed in 1905 by Elizabeth Milbank Anderson, part of a wealthy and well-connected New York family, the fund was one of the nation's first private foundations. The nonprofit philanthropy had some $90 million in assets in 2019, according to tax records, and an office on Madison Avenue in Manhattan. With an early focus on child welfare and public health, today it concentrates on health policy at the state level.

Koller said there's no easy way to explain how its leaders in the 1930s decided to make the payments, or to justify what happened. Generations later, some Black people in the United States still fear government health care because of what's called the Tuskegee effect.

The upshot of this was real harm," Koller told The Associated Press in an interview before the apology ceremony. It was one more example of ways that men in the study were deceived. And we are dealing as individuals, as a region, as a country, with the impact of that deceit.

Lillie Tyson Head's late father Freddie Lee Tyson was part of the study. She's now president of the Voices group. She called the apology a wonderful gesture and a wonderful thing even if it comes 25 years after the U.S. government apologized for the study to its final survivors, who have all since died.

Its really something that could be used as an example of how apologies can be powerful in making reparations and restorative justice be real, said Head.

Despite her leadership of the descendants group, Head said she didn't even know about Milbank's role in the study until Koller called her one day last fall. The payments have been discussed in academic studies and a couple books, but the descendants were unaware, she said.

It really was something that caught me off guard, she said. Head's father left the study after becoming suspicious of the research, years before it ended, and didn't receive any of the Milbank money, she said, but hundreds of others did.

Other prominent organizations, universities including Harvard and Georgetown and the state of California have acknowledged their ties to racism and slavery. Historian Susan M. Reverby, who wrote a book about the study, researched the Milbank Funds participation at the fund's request. She said its apology could be an example for other groups with ties to systemic racism.

Its really important because at a time when the nation is so divided, how we come to terms with our racism is so complicated, she said. Confronting it is difficult, and they didnt have to do this. I think its a really good example of history as restorative justice.

Starting in 1932, government medical workers in rural Alabama withheld treatment from unsuspecting Black men infected with syphilis so doctors could track the disease and dissect their bodies afterward. About 620 men were studied, and roughly 430 of them had syphilis. Reverby's study said Milbank recorded giving a total of $20,150 for about 234 autopsies.

Revealed by The Associated Press in 1972, the study ended and the men sued, resulting in a $9 million settlement from which descendants are still seeking the remaining funds, described in court records as relatively small.

The Milbank Memorial Fund got involved in 1935 after the U.S. surgeon general at the time, Hugh Cumming, sought the money, which was crucial in persuading families to agree to the autopsies, Reverby found. The decision to approve the funding was made by a group of white men with close ties to federal health officials but little understanding of conditions in Alabama or the cultural norms of Black Southerners, to whom dignified burials were very important, Koller said.

One of the lessons for us is you get bad decisions if  your perspectives are not particularly diverse and you dont pay attention to conflicts of interest, Koller said.

The payments became less important as the Depression ended and more Black families could afford burial insurance, Reverby said. Initially named as a defendant, Milbank was dismissed as a target of the men's lawsuit and the organization put the episode behind it.

Years later, books including Reverby's Examining Tuskegee, The Infamous Syphilis Study and Its Legacy, published in 2009, detailed the fund's involvement. But it wasn't until after Floyd's death at the hands of Minneapolis police that discussions among the Milbank staff  which is now much more diverse  prompted the fund's leaders to reexamine its role, Koller said.

Both staff and board felt like we had to face up to this in a way that we had not before, he said.

Besides delivering a public apology to a gathering of descendants, the fund decided to donate an undisclosed amount to the Voices for Our Fathers Legacy Foundation, Koller said.

The money will make scholarships available to the descendants, Head said. The group also plans a memorial at Tuskegee University, which served as a conduit for the payments and was the location of a hospital where medical workers saw the men.

While times have changed since the burial payments were first approved nearly 100 years ago, Reverby also said there's no way to justify what happened.

"The records say very clearly, untreated syphilis," she said. You dont need a Ph.D. to figure that out, and they just kept doing it year after year.

___

Reeves is a member of AP's Race and Ethnicity Team.
We will be in Storm Alert Weather mode today as dangerous heat and humidity continue across the Tennessee Valley. High temperatures will reach Read More
Cinthia Rodriguez holds her daughter at a park in San Salvador, El Salvador, on May 17. El Salvador has prosecuted at least 181 women who experienced obstetric emergencies in recent decades.
A court has heard how a young mother of four crashed into the back of a van while fleeing from a domestic row on the outskirts of Longford town last year.

Nicole Flynn, of 8 Stoneyvale, Rooskey, pleaded guilty to dangerous driving, no insurance and drink driving on December 2, 2021 at Clooniher, Longford.

Garda Paul Stuart told the court of how gardai had been alerted to reports of dangerous driving along a stretch of the main N4, and when officers arrived they found an extensively damaged van.

When he spoke to Ms Flynn, she admitted she had been driving with Garda Stuart also observing four children inside the vehicle.

He said all four children had head injuries and required treatment as a result.

A demand was made for Ms Flynn's driving documentation which resulted in the accused admitting she didn't hold current licence.

She was consequently taken to Granard garda station where a sample of her breath was taken.

Eleven days later, Ms Flynn's partner made a statement to gardai alleging she had taken a vehicle without his permission.

Judge John Brennan was told the driver of the other vehicle involved in the incident was taken to hospital but was later deemed well enough to be discharged.

Defence solicitor Frank Gearty said while the issue was a disturbing one, it was which had been, in part, caused by her decision to flee a very serious domestic related issue at home.

He said Ms Flynn had since separated from her now ex partner and was engaged with substance abuse and misuse counselling.

He added she was now residing in a women's refuge in Tipperary.

I spoke to her social worker at length and what I can say is Tusla are supportive of her and have not taken the children into care, he said.

She has got herself out of that relationship and she has a lot of supports in her life and will be getting a safety order in due course.

It's absolutely shocking, you could not think of anything worse and she has to live with that.

Taking note of Ms Flynn's alcohold breath test result, Judge Brennan said it was a very high reading'.

He added: They (Tusla) have given her travel vouchers and she has been travelling since 6am to be here.

Judge Brennan, upon listening to both the evidence provided and mitigation offered up, described the episode as a very serious matter.

He added: Thank God, it didn't lead to more serious consequences.

He also added an aggravating factor the court could not ignore was how Ms Flynn was over the legal limit to drive, stating it was indicative of why a growing number of motorists are being faced with increasingly higher premiums.

She has a lot of regret in relation to the four children and I note she was fleeing a domestic situation and that she was co-operative to gardai all the way through.

It was a situation of high tension.

Judge Brennan agreed with Mr Gearty's earlier suggestion of the court considering the preparation of a probation report.

It is appropriate and what is important is that Ms Flynn has no previous convictions and is a hardworking mum.

I do note she is in a refuge and has the support of Tusla and if she does engage fully with the Probation Services, she can put all of this behind her.

Ms Flynn was remanded on continuing bail until September 6, 2022.
The annual Manistee Elks Lodge Flag Day services will be held at 6 p.m. on June 14. The services are set to be hosted on the Riverwalk directly behind the Elks Lodge on River Street. In case of rain, the services will be held in the lodge room of the Elks Lodge. Several military organizations and local Girl Scouts and Boy Scouts will also participate.

40 YEARS AGO

Martin Marietta strike update

While dust has been gathering on the negotiating table and the opposing sides of management and labor are not speaking officially, there is anything but silence at the strike-closed Martin Marietta plant.

It was almost a month ago that striking members of Steelworkers Local 14450 walked off their jobs on the midnight shift and set up picket lines at the companys main plant on Eastlake Road.

Those on strike said that two weeks of negotiations with plant management had failed to resolve complaints about outside construction firms being called to perform in-plant work which could have been done by union members.

Safety issues were also a problem. The strike has also been filled with rocks and threats, according to company management which obtained warrants against three union members who have been charged with misdemeanor offenses of assault with a dangerous weapon, assault and malicious destruction of property under $100.

60 YEARS AGO

Crowning the queen

A new development in the Manistee Forest Festival Queen contest to be held this Friday evening at 8 p.m. in the Ramsdell Opera House has created a great deal of excitement with the 10 finalists competing for the title of queen of the Manistee County Forest Festival. For the first time in its history Manistee County will have a representative take part in the statewide Miss Michigan contest that will be held this year in Muskegon during the first week in July.

Jointly cooperating in the sponsorship of our queen-to-be will be the Manistee Forest Festival group and the Manistee Jaycees. The ten finalists are Lynette Raatz, Jo Ann Knight, Linda Lindeman, Margaret Raskey, Mary Gielczyk, Karen Lee Orsick, Joan Miller, Marilyn Harthun, Carol Wills and Nancy Tabaczka.

80 YEARS AGO

Draftees sent off

A large crowd joined last night in giving a rousing sendoff to Manistee Countys June draftees at a party held in the Eagles lodgerooms. Of the 78 men in this months quota, 44 were in attendance as honored guests. After the opening prayer led by Rev. Gabriel of St. Josephs Church and the singing of America by the group, a splendid turkey dinner was enjoyed.
Pope Pius XII, wearing the ring of St. Peter, raises his right hand in a papal blessing at the Vatican in Sept. 1945.
Friday afternoon saw Barcelona officially announce two new friendlies to complete their tour of the United States. Specifically, a match against Real Madrid on 23 July in Las Vegas and a second match against Juventus in Dallas on 26 July.

These two friendly matches are in addition to the ones the Catalan team will play against Inter Miami FC on 19 July and New York Red Bulls on 30 July.

The match against Real Madrid will be the second Clasico to ever be held in the United States.

The first was played in July 2017, at the Hard Rock Stadium in front of 64,000 spectators. This summer the match is at Allegiant Stadium, with a capacity of 65,000 fans. It will also be the first time that Barcelona will play in Las Vegas.

Three days after the Clasico, Barcelona will play against Juventus at the Cotton Bowl Stadium in Dallas, a stadium with a capacity of 92,100 spectators.

Back to work on 4 July

Xavi Hernandez's squad is scheduled to begin pre-season training on 4 July. Initially, they will combine medical check-ups with team training sessions. After these first few days, they will head to the United States.
Rotheram 'shocked' CCTV footage outside stadium at Champions League final has been erased

Rotheram 'shocked' CCTV footage outside stadium at Champions League final has been erased

Liverpool mayor Steve Rotherham has issued scathing criticism of the Champions League final which saw both Liverpool and Real Madrid fans endure things no one should have to expect at such an event.

Footage and first-hand accounts emerged straight away, but in the days that followed the showpiece event it became even clearer how much trouble there had been.

The view held by many, both of a red and white persuasion, is that the unfortunate scenes had been the product of mismanagement by authorities.

Rotherham has joined those voices, with particularly harsh words for the French police.

"While fans travelled to the ground hoping for the night of their lives, it appears that the Gendarmerie [French national police] went looking for conflict," said Rotherham.

"[UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin] was not interested in what was happening outside. In fact quite the opposite; his arrogance astounded me.

"He was saying the authorities have killed themselves to get that game on - and I appealed to him and said 'well don't kill the fans outside' and he stopped the conversation."

Rotherham said that he witnessed first hand the brutal welcome fans received outside the stadium in Paris.

"Indiscriminate use of tear gas, that is not how you control," Rotherham told the French senate.

The metro mayor also revealed that he himself was robbed of personal items.

Many fans, both of Liverpool and Real Madrid, have told of how organised gangs of criminals had easy access to prey on them as they attempted to make their way to the stadium.
Actor Chris Evans has been promoting his new 'Buzz Lightyear' film that comes out on June 17 worldwide, he was already asked about Shakira on the red carpet of the film's premiere. However, a Chilean journalist wen't a little further by showing him some memes of the love triangle with Henry Cavill. Initially, Evans laughed at the images he was shown but then he got a little embarrassed.

Clearly, he wasn't expecting to get so much attention for following one of the biggest pop stars on the planet on Instagram. Naturally, it would be a Latin American journalist the one who would press him deeply about this topic. Countless Shakira fans are rooting for her to find love again and this journalist is doing their bidding.

What did Chris Evan say, exactly?

It all happened during a press junket where a Chilean journalist initially asked him simple question about the whole thing. Evans was asked if he was aware of this fuss or if he would be interested in dating Shakira. When the memes were shown, Chris laughed the hardest at the one where he and Henry Cavill are on a 'Civil War' for Shakira.

Then the journalist flat out told Chris that he might be able to hook him up with Shakira if interested. This is how Chris Evans responded: "I wasn't aware, I don't think I spend a lot of time on social media, but she is spectacular. Would I go out with Shakira? Are you trying to set me up with her? Oh man, that may be too much for the camera."

When Chris Evans talked about this being too much for the camera, clearly he was already a little blushed with all the pressing. But he wanted to talk about this off camera, just to really see what all the fuss is about. If Shakira didn't have his attention then, he has it now and we are here for it.

Don't be surprised if in a few months, we see Chris Evans hanging out with her becausue he is single, as far as we are concerned. There were rumors that he was dating actress Alba Baptista but nothing has been confirmed yet. Unlike Henry Cavill, Chris can definitely slide into Shakira's DMs and see if anything is possible with her.
RTHK: Australia to compensate France over scrapped sub deal

Australia Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said on Saturday that his government had reached a 555 million euro($583.58 million)settlement with France's Naval Group over the decision last year to scrap the French submarine deal.

"This is a fair and equitable settlement," said Albanese in a news conference.

He said the settlement followed discussions with French President Emmanuel Macron and he thanked him for the cordial way in which the relationship between Australia and France was being re-established.

Australia last year scrapped a multi-billion-dollar order for submarines with French military shipyard Naval Group and opted instead for an alternative deal with the United States and Britain. The move enraged Paris and had triggered an unprecedented diplomatic crisis. (Reuters)

This story has been published on: 2022-06-11. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
Xinjiang locals tell real tales of joy, prosperity

Xinhua) 15:17, June 11, 2022

URUMQI, June 10 (Xinhua) -- Some Xinjiang people of various ethnic groups on Thursday shared their own stories at a press conference held via video link and attended by representatives from over 60 countries and international organizations.

Hami melon is a specialty of northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. Standing in a Hami melon field in Turpan City, Mayla Litip, an e-commerce celebrity, said that the local government has organized melon farmers to establish a specialized cooperative to help boost their profits, and has promoted new varieties, mechanized cultivation and new planting technologies.

In spring this year, the planting area of Hami melons in Turpan reached over 6,000 hectares, and now they have entered the peak sales season.

"We now have nearly 40 varieties of Hami melons, and every year from June to September, fruit traders from all over the country would come here to buy our melons. I heartily invite you to Xinjiang to have a taste of the Hami melons, grapes and other fruit which are as sweet as our life here," she said.

Atlas silk is the most popular cloth among women in Xinjiang and a symbolic element for costumes of local ethnic minority groups. In 2008, Atlas silk was added to the national intangible cultural heritage list.

Buwyzorhan Matrozi has been working in an Atlas silk production company in Hotan City for 14 years. She noted that it is a great blessing to be able to do what you love.

"The vigorous development of Atlas silk industry has attracted many young people. Some have set up studios or cooperatives, while some work as technicians. I believe that everyone's life will be as colorful as Atlas silk in the future," she said.

Xinjiang today is no longer afflicted by the frequent terrorist attacks that had long plagued the region in the past. It is a place of prosperity and stability, said Xu Guixiang, spokesperson for the regional government.

"Xinjiang has undergone profound changes over the years," Xu said, adding that it is today teeming with joyful stories and warmth.

(Web editor: Zhong Wenxing, Bianji)
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JUNEAU, Alaska (AP)  The special primary for Alaska's only U.S. House seat moved forward as planned Saturday following a tense legal fight over ballot access issues that had cast a shadow over the election.

The legal drama was the latest twist in what has already been an extraordinary election, packed with 48 candidates running for the seat left vacant by the death in March of U.S. Rep. Don Young. Young, a Republican, held the seat for 49 years.

The Alaska Supreme Court on Saturday reversed and vacated a lower court order that barred state elections officials from certifying the results of the special primary until visually impaired voters were given a full and fair opportunity to participate.

Attorneys for the state had interpreted Friday's order from Superior Court Judge Una Gandbhir as preventing elections officials from concluding voting as scheduled on Saturday. They asked the supreme court to reverse the order.

The high court said an explanation of its reasoning would follow at a later time.

Gandbhir on Friday ruled that Alaska elections officials could not certify the results of the by-mail special primary until visually impaired voters are provided a full and fair opportunity to participate in the election. She did not specify what that would entail.

The ruling came in a case filed earlier this week by Robert Corbisier, executive director of the Alaska State Commission for Human Rights. Corbisier sued state elections officials on behalf of a person identified as B.L., a registered voter in Anchorage with a visual impairment.

Attorneys for Corbisier said the election lacks options that would allow people with visual impairments to cast ballots without invasive and unlawful assistance from a sighted person. Attorneys for the state said that adequate methods for secret voting were available.

An attorney for Corbisier did not respond to a request for comment.

This is the first election under a system approved by voters in 2020 that ends party primaries and uses ranked choice voting in general elections.

Prominent candidates include former Gov. Sarah Palin, Nick Begich, Tara Sweeney and Josh Revak, all Republicans; independent Al Gross; and Democrats Christopher Constant and Mary Peltola. A self-described independent, progressive, democratic socialist whose legal name is Santa Claus has gotten attention but has not been raising money.

Each voter picks one candidate in the special primary, which will whittle the list from 48 to four. The four candidates who win the most votes advance to a special election in which ranked choice voting will be used. The winner of the special election will serve the rest of Youngs term, which ends in January.

The special election is set to coincide with the Aug. 16 regular primary. The regular primary and November general election will decide who serves a two-year term beginning in January.

The special primary is mainly being conducted by mail, which elections officials said they opted for given the tight timeline to hold an election after Youngs death.

As of Friday afternoon, around 130,000 ballots had been returned to the Division of Elections. Ballots began going out in late April.

For some voters, trying to sort through 48 candidates was daunting. Candidates tried to distinguish themselves from their opponents and break through with their messages.

Peltola, a former state lawmaker from Bethel who has been involved in fisheries issues, said she entered the race with low name recognition but believed that had changed and that she has momentum behind her candidacy.

She and Constant, an Anchorage Assembly member, have run perhaps the most visible campaigns among the six Democrats in the race, which also includes 22 independents and 16 Republicans.

Most of those running have reported no fundraising to the Federal Election Commission. Of those who have, Palin reported the biggest haul between April 1 and May 22, more than $630,000. Gross, an orthopedic surgeon who ran unsuccessfully for U.S. Senate in 2020, reported receiving about $545,000 between March 23 and May 22.

Begich, who began running for the House seat last fall, had the most available cash as of May 22, about $715,000. He has loaned his campaign $650,000 so far.

Independent Jeff Lowenfels, a gardening expert with a legal background, reported bringing in about $150,000 from April 1 to May 22, which includes $100,000 he loaned his campaign.

Palin was endorsed by some national political figures, including former President Donald Trump, and took time to campaign in Georgia last month for David Perdue, who lost the Republican primary for governor in that state to incumbent Brian Kemp.

Trump participated in a telerally for Palin, saying she would fight harder than anybody I can think of, particularly on energy issues.

Some Alaskans questioned Palin's commitment. She resigned partway through her term as governor in 2009, months after her unsuccessful run for U.S. vice president. In a radio ad, she seeks to assure voters: Im in this for the long haul. ... Im going to see this thing through and earn your support.

During the campaign, opponents seized on that point. Gross said Palin quit on Alaska. Begich and Sweeney made points of saying they are not quitters.

Begich, a Republican from a family of prominent Democrats, earned endorsements from conservatives in the state along with the Alaska Republican Party. Sweeney was assistant secretary of Indian Affairs in the U.S. Interior Department under Trump and has been endorsed by a group representing leaders of the states influential Alaska Native regional corporations.

Gross, in an email to supporters, said Palin and Begich are candidates who will be hard to beat but said he is ready and able to take on this fight.

He stood in the morning drizzle in Juneau on Saturday, waving signs with supporters and said he felt good about his campaign.
Kathy Space and her husband, Stephen, own Space Studios, located three miles west of Midland, just off of M-20, at 16 North Winding Drive. They said, just look for the big orange sign.

Within the two-story building are two studios. On the ground level, Kathys studio has a space where they teach pottery and a space with a glaze bar. On the upper level is a party room which can be rented out for different occasions. You can have them lead you in a project or you can just use the space. Theyve hosted birthday parties, team building activities for companies, and family events. In the pottery area, after you learn how to do it, you can become a member and work out there on your projects anytime.

Stephens studio is on the upper level, where he does graphic design work for outside clients. He also designed the building, sign, letterhead, and more recently, the website. Space Studios has one employee and several contracted instructors, some of whom also make pottery for the glaze bar.

Kathy and Stephen have been married for 38 years. They have two children. Shes from Iron River in the west end of the Upper Peninsula, and a graduate of West Iron County High School. Hes from Owosso. They met at the Kendall College of Art & Design in Grand Rapids. He earned a bachelor of fine arts degree in illustration.

Kathy answered the questions below.

How long have you owned your business? Finished building the building in 2006. We opened the door in November 2006.

What inspired you to start this business? I was doing it in my basement. He was working at the house. Some women would come over to do pottery. There started to be too many of us. We needed a bigger space. What influenced my husband was the women all found it very therapeutic. He also needed a better space to interact with clients. We were getting too big for the house.

What makes Midland a great place to own a business? I love the diversity of the cultures that Midland draws because of Dow. These people are coming from other places that have places like this, so when they find us, theyre so glad were here.

What are some ways your business is active in the local community? We have paired up with Big Brothers/Big Sisters. When the Big brings in a Little and buys something, the Little is free. Weve donated a lot of things to different charities, gift certificates, pottery. We have whats called Adopt-A-Pot every November. We put it on our website. People come in and pick up pottery thats been made for free.

What are some of your interests and hobbies? Pottery. I love gardening. Reading.

Final thoughts to share with the community? We built this for the community. There was a need for something with a non-corporate structure. Come in when were open and choose a piece.
ATALAIA DO NORTE, Brazil (AP)  Family members of the sole person to be arrested in the disappearance of a British journalist and Indigenous official in the Amazon said Friday that he was innocent and alleged that police were torturing him to try to force a confession.

Freelance journalist Dom Phillips and Indigenous official Bruno Pereira were last seen on Sunday morning in the Javari Valley, Brazils second-largest Indigenous territory, which sits in an isolated area bordering Peru and Colombia. The two men were in the Sao Rafael community. They were returning by boat to the nearby city of Atalaia do Norte but never arrived.

The claims of the family of fisherman Amarildo da Costa de Oliveira, also known as Pelado, were the latest development in a disappearance that has garnered international attention, a search involving several agencies and criticism of Brazilian authorities for an allegedly slow response. The family's claims, made to The Associated Press, also came a day after witnesses made contradictory allegations about de Oliveira to the AP.

De Oliveira was arrested on Tuesday at his home in the Sao Gabriel riverine community, close to where the pair went missing on Sunday. He was initially arrested for illegal gun possession, but police have since said he was now being considered a suspect in the disappearance and was being held at a police station in Atalaia do Norte.

Osenei da Costa de Oliveira, 41, also a fisherman, said Friday he had visited his brother in jail.

He told me he was at his house when they handcuffed him, said Osenei da Costa de Oliveira, speaking outside the police station where his brother is being held. Then they put him on a boat under the sun and began to travel to Atalaia do Norte. When they reached the Curupira rivulet, they put him on another boat. Then they beat him, tortured him, put his head under water, stepped on his leg and pepper-sprayed his face. They also drugged him twice, but I dont know what they used.

They wanted him to confess but hes innocent," Osenei da Costa de Oliveira added.

The public security secretariat of Amazonas state, which oversees local police, said in a statement it would not comment on the family's accusations because the investigation into the disappearance was now being handled by the Federal Police. The Federal Police on Friday did not answer requests for comment.

Brazilian authorities are coming under enormous pressure to find Phillips and Pereira. A growing number of celebrities, politicians, civil society groups and international news organizations have called for the police, army and navy to bolster the search efforts.

The mother of Amarildo da Costa de Oliveira, Maria de Fatima da Costa, said she was at the Atalaia do Norte port when her son arrived with police. He was taken from the boat wearing a hood, could barely walk on his own and was soaking wet, she said.

I told the police he was not a criminal to be treated like that, she told the AP.

She also said that blood that police have said was found in her son's boat was likely from a pig he had slaughtered a few days before being arrested. Authorities have said the blood was being analyzed at a lab.

In a statement Friday, Federal Police said they were also analyzing human matter found in the Itaquai River, near Atalaia do Nortes port. No more details were provided.

Members of Indigenous group of watchmen, who were with Pereira and Phillips on Saturday, the day before they disappeared, told the AP on Thursday that de Oliveira and two other men had brandished guns at them. Paulo Marubo, the president of a Javari Valley association of Indigenous people, Univaja, also told the AP that Phillips photographed the men at the time.

The suspect's family also disputed the claim of brandishing weapons. Father-in-law Francisco Conceicao de Freitas said he and de Oliveira were on a fishing boat together and that his son-in-law waved an oar, not a rifle, at the group that included Phillips and Pereira. De Freitas said his son-in-law did that because they felt threatened by the watchmen, who de Freitas said were armed, and wanted to make it seem as if they too were armed. Carrying weapons, both legally and illegally owned, is common in the Amazon.

The family said they had not been illegally fishing inside the Javari Valley Indigenous Territory, a frequented area for illegal fishing and hunting. The family also said de Oliveira doesn't have a criminal record and his only previous brush with law enforcement was once being detained for a few hours under an unfounded suspicion he was transporting drugs.

Phillips and Pereira had been speaking with people just outside the protected area, but never entered it, according to multiple people whom the AP interviewed in the area.

The Amazonas state police have long been accused of extrajudicial killings and unlawful raids. Since Gov. Wilson Lima took office in 2019, three massacres involving local officers have taken place. One of them, in October 2020, ended in 17 deaths in capital Manaus, in the heart of the Amazon. Police denied wrongdoing in all three cases.

Last year, Brazilian daily Folha de S.Paulo reported that local police in Tabatinga, the closest major city to Atalaia do Norte, had made seven extrajudicial killings they thought had links to the murder of an officer. Some of the victims had been tortured, and their relatives received death threats. Police never responded to the accusations.

Phillips, 57, has reported from Brazil for more than a decade and has most recently been working on a book about preservation of the Amazon.

Pereira has long operated in Javari Valley for the Brazilian Indigenous affairs agency. He oversaw their regional office and the coordination of isolated Indigenous groups before going on leave to help local Indigenous people defend themselves against illegal fishermen and poachers. For years, Pereira had received threats for his work.

____

AP journalist Mauricio Savarese contributed to this report from Sao Paulo.

____

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.
ROME (AP)  Italian rescuers on Saturday located the bodies of seven people, including four Turkish and two Lebanese businessmen, who died when their helicopter crashed in a heavily forested, mountainous area in north-central Italy during a storm, authorities said.

Col. Alfonso Cipriano, who heads an air force rescue coordination unit that led the search since Thursday, said rescuers were tipped off to the crash site after a mountain runner reported seeing what he thought was a part of the mangled chopper during an excursion on Mount Cusna on Saturday morning.

Air crews confirmed the site and ground crews initially located five bodies, and then the other two, Cipriano told The Associated Press. The location was in a hard-to-reach valley and the chopper remains were hidden to air rescuers from the lush tree cover, but some branches were broken and burned, he said.

The helicopter disappeared from radar screens Thursday morning as it flew over the province of Modena in the TuscanEmilian Apennines. Electric storms had been reported in the area at the time, Cipriano said. The chopper was carrying seven people, including four Turkish citizens, two Lebanese and the Italian pilot, from Lucca to Treviso to visit a tissue paper production facility.

The two Lebanese were identified in Lebanon as Shadi Kreidi and Tarek Tayah, both executives at INDEVCO, an international manufacturing and industrial consultancy group. The two were said to be on a business trip.

Tayahs wife, Hala, was killed two years ago in the massive explosion at Beirut's port, which took the lives of more than 215 people and injured thousands. Their daughter, Tamara, who was 11 at the time, was one of the few victims who met French President Emmanuel Macron when he flew to Beirut following the blast, gifting him a pin shaped like the map of Lebanon made by her mother, a jeweler, and getting an emotional hug in return.

Tarek and Hala Tayeh had two other children besides Tamara.

The Turks on board worked for Turkish industrial group Eczacibasi, which said they were taking part in a trade fair.

Eczacibasi confirmed in a statement with great pain and sadness that its director of factories, director of hygienic papers at its Yalova province factory, director of investment projects and production director at its Manisa province factory had died in the crash and relayed their condolences.

The crash site was about 10 kilometers (six miles) from where rescuers initially began searching based on the last cellular pings from the passengers' phones. Cipriano said it might have taken hours more or even days to locate the site had it not been for the runner's tip, given the difficult, lush terrain.

___

Zeina Karam in Beirut, and Zeynep Bilginsoy in Istanbul, contributed to this report.
A 27-year-old native of Muzaffarnagar in UP, who landed at Ahmedabad international airport from Kuwait on June 7 at 3 am, was intercepted by three people posing as Customs officers outside Terminal-2. They took away a 100-gram gold biscuit he was carrying and 2000 Saudi Riyal (around Rs 42,000). The fraudsters also divested Rs 20,000 from the victims friend who had come to receive him.

Interestingly, the victim Mohammed Shah Faizal Nazimhasan had cleared the Customs and Immigration before he was intercepted by the trio while he was about to board an auto-rickshaw with his friend Abdul Aahad Mohammed Ayyub. Cops have arrested four men in the case, all working with a company at the airport, and are on the lookout for a fifth.

The entire incident has raised the question as to how Faizal managed to clear Customs without getting detected for the gold biscuit that he was allegedly carrying in his underwear. Sources said police are baffled that airport employees outside the terminal knew what the complainant was carrying after he had passed the Customs check.

As per the FIR, the traveller working in Riyadh for about two-and-half years landed at the airport, cleared Customs and Immigration before he came to Terminal-2 where his friend awaited him.

As they were about to board an auto, three men intercepted them and identified themselves as Customs officials. They were in civvies with walkie-talkies in hand. They took the two men to the parking lot and checked them. They found a gold biscuit hidden in the elastic strap of the complainants undergarment. They took away the biscuit weighing around 100 gm and the foreign currency from the victim. They also robbed his friend of Rs 20,000. They then asked them to leave the place or face 10 years

in jail. Frightened, the complainant and his friend left, but returned the next day and filed an application with the Airport police station.

Namaste G staff caught

With the help of CCTV footage, the complainant identified Jeetendra Tomar and Rutvik Rathod, who were later arrested. Tomar works as a supervisor with Namaste G, which looks after the parking facilities at the airport, while Rathod works as a shift in charge with the same company. It has emerged that Rathod has a case of theft registered against him in Gandhinagar.

Later during interrogation, the name of Prakash Maheria, another supervisor and Santosh Maurya, a guard with Namaste G, who were part of the set up also emerged. Maurya and Maheria were then arrested by the police. Cops are now hunting for another accused named Shashikant Tiwari who was part of the operation.

Tiwari, a resident of Noblenagar is suspected to have been involved in selling off the extorted goods.

Inspector RR Desai did not respond to calls.

DCP -Zone -4 Mukesh Patel confirmed the incident and said the investigation was on in the case. Police sources said cops have also sought the bill for purchase of the gold biscuit from the complainant.
ATLANTA (AP)  A federal judge has found that a Georgia sheriff's office was illegally discriminating when it denied gender reassignment surgery to a deputy.

U.S. District Judge Marc Treadwell ruled June 2 that Houston County cannot exclude surgery for the transgender woman from its health insurance plan, citing a 2020 U.S. Supreme Court decision finding that a Michigan funeral home couldn't fire an employee for being transgender.

The case involves Sgt. Anna Lange, an investigator in the middle Georgia county who began her transition in 2017 after being diagnosed with gender dysphoria.

I can confidently move forward with my life knowing that gender affirming care is protected under federal law," Lange said in a statement released by the Transgender Legal Defense & Education Fund, which represented her. "This decision is not only a personal victory, but a tremendous step forward for all transgender Southerners who are seeking insurance coverage for medically necessary care.

David Brown, legal director for the fund, told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution that the ruling is believed to be the first of its kind in the South.

Neither Talton nor the countys lawyers responded to requests for comment.

Treadwell wrote in his order that Lange, a 16-year-employee, told the sheriff and other county officials in 2018 that she wanted to begin dressing as a woman at work, while inquiring about whether Houston County's health plan would cover gender reassignment surgery.

Sheriff Cullen Talton, first elected sheriff in 1972, initially took it as a joke, Treadwell wrote, and then said he doesnt believe in sex changes, before ultimately granting permission for Lange to dress as a woman, but warned she would need tough skin to deal with her coworkers.

But the county health plan had excluded sex change surgery and drugs since 1998. Lange was denied authorization for surgery in November 2018 after county personnel director Kenneth Carter told the insurer the county wanted to keep the exclusion, even though the insurer had advised Houston County in 2016 that the rule was discriminatory under the federal Affordable Care Act.

County commissioners voted unanimously to keep the exclusion in 2019, after Lange had asked them to pay for the surgery in a public meeting, claiming they were trying to keep health insurance costs low. The surgery she was seeking was estimated to cost $25,600 at the time.

Treadwell found it's undisputed that Lange's surgery medically necessary" and questioned whether the concern about costs was just a smokescreen to discriminate against Lange.

Certainly, the county now professes concern about costs, but that argument is undercut by the undisputed fact that the county built its cost defense after the fact," Treadwell wrote.

But the judge said the Supreme Court made clear in a 2020 case that treating someone differently because they are transgender violates a section of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 prohibiting discrimination on the basis of sex. For example, the judge noted the county health plan would pay for a mastectomy for cancer treatment, but not to treat gender dysphoria.

Discrimination on the basis of transgender status is discrimination on the basis of sex and is a violation of Title VII, the judge wrote.

Lange's case is not yet over. Treadwell must still rule on what remedies are appropriate. He also denied Lange's claims for money damages and for discrimination under the Americans with Disabilities Act.

Public records obtained by Lange's lawyers show the county has spend more than $690,000 defending the case.

It just shows the length people are still willing to go to discriminate against transgender people, Lange told the Journal-Constitution.
The next round of hearings won't take place in prime time like the debut on Thursday, but lawmakers will go into greater detail about specific aspects of the insurrection.

U.S. Rep. Dan Kildee, D-Flint, said he was moved by the statement made by the Capitol Police Officer Caroline Edwards about the violence and injuries she faced during the attack.

I have a particular gratitude to her and to the others because they saved my life, Kildee said. I was one of the members that was trapped and could not get out of the capital when it was evacuated. So when she was describing how they were able to hold the line  even for a short period of time  it occurred to me that was one of the things that allowed us to have precious time we needed to get out when we did.

He said a complete and accurate record of what happened that day at the capitol needs to be established and said it was disturbing that this simply was not a march that got out of hand. Based off what the committee presented, Kildee said it was clear that the attack on the capitol was planned by extremist groups like the Oathkeepers and the Proud Boys.

As for Trump himself, Kildee said Trump incited the crowd before the attack and created the falsehoods related to the elections.

Trump was very much aware that he had lost the election and then all of his attempts to overturn the election were with the full knowledge that he legitimately lost the presidency, but was still unwilling to leave office, Kildee said. That was chilling.

The Daily News also reached out to U.S. Rep. John Moolenaar, R-Midland, for comment.

Moolenaar did not respond to the request.

Here's a snapshot of what the committee says is ahead:

False and fraudulent

Rep. Liz Cheney of Wyoming, the Republican vice chair of the committee, said lawmakers will present evidence Monday at the second hearing showing that Trump engaged in a massive effort to spread false and fraudulent information that the election had been stolen  even though advisers and allies told him repeatedly he had lost.

The panel touched on that theme in its first hearing with a clip from former Attorney General Bill Barr, testifying that he repeatedly told the president in no uncertain terms that I did not see evidence of fraud" that would have affected the election.

As well, Trump campaign lawyer Alex Cannon was shown discussing conversations with then White House chief of staff Mark Meadows sometime in November 2020.

I remember sharing with him that we werent finding anything that would be sufficient to change the results in any of the key states," Cannon said.

When asked how Meadows responded, Cannon said: I believe the words he used were, so theres no there there.'"

Pressure on the Justice Department

Cheney says the third hearing Wednesday will focus on how Trump pushed for the Justice Department to "spread his false stolen election claims in the days before January 6." Senior Justice Department officials refused, telling him his claims were not true.

She noted how Trump sought to elevate Jeffrey Clark, an environmental lawyer at the department, to the job of acting attorney general. Clark had drafted a letter to send to Georgia and five other states saying the Justice Department had identified significant concerns that may have impacted the outcome of the election."

Trump nearly gave the top job to Clark but backed down when senior Justice Department leadership and White House lawyers threatened to resign, testimony has shown.

The men involved, including Acting Attorney General Jeff Rosen and Acting Deputy Attorney General Richard Donoghue, were appointed by President Trump," Cheney said. These men honored their oaths of office. They did their duty, and you will hear from them in our hearings.

Clark has invoked his Fifth Amendment privilege against self-incrimination and refused to testify to the committee.

Spotlight: Mike Pence

Cheney said the fourth hearing will focus on Trump's efforts to pressure Vice President Mike Pence to stop Congress from certifying some electoral votes for Biden on Jan. 6  something he had no power to do in his ceremonial role.

There was a gasp in the hearing room when Cheney read an account Thursday from inside the White House. When Trump was told the Capitol mob was chanting for Pence to be hanged for refusing to block the election results. Trump responded that maybe the mob was right, that he deserves it, Cheney said.

The day promises plenty of political intrigue as both Trump and Pence seek to shape the Republican Party for years to come, and perhaps make a run for the presidency in 2024.

'Find' the votes

Cheney said the fifth hearing, expected the following week, will focus on the president's efforts to pressure state legislators and state election officials to change the election results, including additional details about Trump's call to Georgia officials urging them to find 11,780 votes.

She also is promising new details about efforts to instruct Republican officials in multiple states to create false electoral slates and transmit those slates to Congress, Pence and the National Archives, falsely certifying that Trump won states he had actually lost.

Back to Trump

Cheney said the final two hearings will focus on how Trump summoned supporters to march on the Capitol, and when the violence was underway, failed to take immediate action to stop them.

The last hearing will have a moment-by-moment account of Trump's response to the attack from former White House staff, both through live testimony in the hearing room and via videotape.

There is no doubt the President Trump was well aware of the violence as it developed," Cheney said. White House staff urged President Trump to intervene and call off the mob."
As the Michigan Veterans Affairs Agency focuses on supporting women veterans as an underserved veteran population, Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer proclaims Women Veterans Recognition Day on June 12 of this year.

Sunday, June 12 will honor more than 43,000 living women veterans and the many more who served before them, according to the state in a press release issued Friday by Whitmer's office. Women Veterans Recognition Day was first recognized in Michigan in 2018.

The state's effort to make sure women veterans have access to quality, appropriate health care, mental health services and affordable housing includes the Michigan Veterans Affairs Agency's awareness campaign called She Is A Veteran and its first-ever Women Veterans Conference on June 10-11 in Lansing.

"Women veterans have proudly and selflessly served our nation for 250 years, and they deserve the proper recognition and support for heeding the call to duty," Whitmer said in the release. "Im honored to declare June 12 as Women Veterans Recognition Day. Its a public reminder that weve got to continue to make sure our women veterans have year-round support when they return home."

Whether disguising themselves as male soldiers in the American Revolution or serving as combat pilots in Afghanistan, women have been fighting for their country since its inception.

But it wasnt until the late 1970s and early 1980s that women were formally granted veteran status, opening doors for them to take advantage of the federal and state benefits they earned for their service, according to the state.

There are about 2 million women veterans in the nation, representing 11% of the veteran population. That number is projected to increase to 2.2 million in 2046, when women veterans will represent 18% of the veteran population, while the number of male veterans falls sharply, according to the state.

"Women veterans face many challenges  from dealing with military sexual trauma to inadequate health care to homelessness. Our hope is that the more we raise awareness, the better veteran-specific services will become for our women veterans," Zaneta Adams, the director of the Michigan Veterans Affairs Agency and an Army veteran said in the release.

Erika Hoover, the agency's women veterans and special populations coordinator and Navy veteran, noted that women veterans are two to four times more likely to become homeless than women who are not veterans.

And, the suicide rate of women veterans is 1.8 times higher than that of women non-veterans, according to Hoover.



"By raising public awareness that women are veterans too, and by encouraging them to first identify as veterans and then to take advantage of available resources, we can better help our women veterans thrive in all facets of their lives," Hoover said in the release.

For instance, Jill Mathews of Muskegon Heights spent 32 years in the Army, rising to the rank of sergeant major. But Mathews struggled with the transition to civilian life, feeling lost and becoming depressed, according to the release. She found her calling again by volunteering for other women veterans. Because of the roles she had in the military, Mathews often sees when another veteran is struggling and will do what she can to help.

"Half the time you don't have to do anything," Mathews said in the release. "You just have to say, Hey I'm a veteran too and I see you. I see what you need and if you need me, call me. And that's it. Just be there for them."

Are you a woman veteran interested in connecting to other veterans in your community?

A Facebook forum created by the Michigan Women's Commission is a great way to connect locally for meetups and get to know women veterans that live nearby. The page is for Michigan women veterans only and available here.
At a time when other banks are closing branches, Chase Bank is betting heavily on the Connecticut retail banking market.

Since 2019, the bank has opened 10 locations statewide, according to Chase officials. And by this winter, Chase expects to have added seven additional locations.

Chases retail banking focus in Connecticut prior to 2019 was in Fairfield County, with a smattering of New Haven County locations. Ashlee Kelly, a Rhode Island-based executive who is in charge of Chases branch network expansion, said the current effort to add new branches is a matter of expanding into parts of Connecticut where we werent before.

Chase has always had a commercial and private banking presence across Connecticut, and in terms of a retail presence, we were concentrated in one place, Kelly said. In those Connecticut locations where we didnt have branches, we were really only giving them a piece of the full JPMorgan Chase experience. We view the expansion as a way to remind customers that JPMorgan Chase is here to support them through any portion of their financial journey.

The current expansion effort includes Shoreline communities like Branford and Madison as well as along the Interstate 91 and Connecticut River Valley corridors.

Chases New Haven County presence prior to the current expansion effort included a Boston Post Road location in Milford that opened almost a decade ago and two Elm City branches, one on Amity Road near the border with Woodbridge and the other on Church Street near the New Haven County Courthouse.

Kelly said Chase currently has 52 branch locations, which is the banks second largest presence in New England after Massachusetts.

Kelly said Chase officials are starting to evaluate whether to add branches east of the river along the Interstate 95 corridor to the Rhode Island border.

Chases new branches are a mix of new construction and renovating locations that had previously been home to other banks, she said.

Our prototypical location is about 3,000 square feet, Kelly said. Our new branches have a very different look, more modern and more open and comfortable. We like to leverage the space for community events, so its more of a living room type setting.

By contrast, during the past decade, bank branches in Connecticut have been closing at a faster rate than the rest of the country. A total of 59 branches around the state closed in 2021 alone.

So far in 2022, six branches have closed in Connecticut, according to data from the federal Office of the Comptroller of the Currency and the states banking department.

John Carusone, president of the Bank Analysis Center, a Hartford-based industry consultant, said Chases branch expansion in Connecticut is a complete reversal of what the banks strategy in the state appeared to be as recently as the middle of the last decade,

They had a pretty ambivalent attitude toward Connecticut at that time, Carusone said. They probably closed as many branches as they opened.

Two factors are responsible for Chases refocusing in Connecticut, he said.

I think part of it has to be that the exodus of individuals and businesses to Connecticut a a result of the pandemic has forced them to make a pretty significant strategic decision, Carusone said. Clearly, upper income, high net worth individuals are exiting New York and coming to Connecticut. And Chase has chosen to follow them.

The other factor, he said, is the two major banking deals that have been completed since the end of 2021: M&T Banks acquisition of Bridgeport-based Peoples United and the merger of Webster Bank with New York States Sterling Bancorp.

In the wake of merger and acquisition activity, there is always a power vacuum, Carusone said. They (Chase) may believe there is some customer dissatisfaction in the market that may provide an opportunity.

luther.turmelle@hearstmediact.com
JACKSON, Wyo. (AP)  A woman accused of intentionally providing wrong information in the search for a missing Irish hiker in Grand Teton National Park has been banned from the park and ordered to pay restitution.

Heather Mycoskie, 40, must stay out of the park in northeastern Wyoming for five years and pay $17,600 under a deferred-prosecution agreement, park officials said in a statement Thursday.

Such agreements allow defendants to avoid prosecution if they meet certain requirements.

Mycoskie allegedly reported last June that she had seen Cian McLaughlin, 27, of Jackson, the day he disappeared almost two weeks earlier and that he was headed toward Taggart Lake because he planned to jump off his favorite rock into the water.

The information proved false, and other people told investigators Mycoskie fabricated the sighting to ensure that search efforts continued, the statement from park officials said.

All other sightings put McLaughlin, who is still missing following his disappearance June 8, 2021, on trails heading toward a different area of the park, according to the statement.

It wasn't clear whether McLaughlin knew Mycoskie. McLaughlin's mother, Grainne McLaughlin, told The Associated Press she was not aware of any connection between the two.

McLaughlin had dual Irish-U.S. citizenship and in 2019 moved to Jackson Hole, where he worked as a bartender and snowboard instructor, she said.

While Cian McLaughlin spent most of his life in Ireland, his father was from Montana and he lived there for several years as a young child. He maintained a close connection with the States and the mountains in particular, his mother said.

Cian was an incredible person, full of joi de Vive and we miss him dearly, Grainne McLaughlin said in an email to the AP.

The allegedly false report from Mycoskie meant officials spent more than 500 fruitless hours searching, conducting investigations and completing reports, park officials said.

The deferred prosecution agreement allows Mycoskie to continue to use Jackson Hole Airport, which is located within Grand Teton, and the main highway through the park, as long as she does not stop or recreate.

Mycoskie's attorney until the deferred prosecution agreement was signed in February, Darci Phillips, has since been appointed as a Wyoming district judge and declined to comment Friday.

Mycoskie, formerly of Jackson, recently moved to Costa Rica. She did not immediately return an Instagram message Friday seeking comment.

She was previously married to TOMS Shoes founder Blake Mycoskie, who sold his Jackson home in November, the Jackson Hole News&Guide reported.

Searchers plan to continue looking for McLaughlin this summer.
On the sixth anniversary of his death, Sgt. David LeBlanc of Nottingham, N.H., was laid to rest at the New Hampshire State Veterans Cemetery in Boscawen in a quiet, dignified ceremony.

LeBlanc became the first New Hampshire National Guardsman interred there under a new law that allows members of the Guard and Reserves to be buried in state veterans cemeteries, alongside their brothers and sisters in arms.

Cheryl LeBlanc said she is "thrilled" that her husband is interred at the veterans cemetery, which the couple had visited for the funerals of friends. "Every time we would go up there, we were in awe over its serenity and its beautiful setting," she said. "It's just a beautiful, earthly heaven for them to rest in peace."

High school sweethearts at Manchester High School West, the LeBlancs married about three years after graduation.

David LeBlanc underwent a bone marrow transplant in 2003, and soon after, the couple bought their retirement home in Nottingham, earlier than they had planned, his widow said. They both enjoyed hiking, biking and running.

LeBlanc said she kept her husband's urn at their home these past six years, hoping that someday he  and eventually she  could be buried in the state veterans cemetery. "I was hoping that, at some point before I died, this policy would be changed," she said.

And now that it has, she said with a laugh, "I think he's probably very happy now that he's in one place. Because I used to move him around the house in different rooms.

"Now he can truly rest in peace."

The Burial Equity for the Guards and Reserves Act

Rep. Chris Pappas sponsored the Burial Equity for the Guards and Reserves Act, and Sen. Jeanne Shaheen sponsored an identical bill in the Senate; the other two members of the state's Congressional delegation, Rep. Annie Kuster and Sen. Maggie Hassan were co-sponsors. The measure was tucked into an omnibus bill that President Joe Biden signed into law in March.

In a speech on the House floor Thursday morning, Pappas paid tribute to LeBlanc, noting he was born and raised in Manchester and worked in the line department at Public Service of New Hampshire for more than 30 years. LeBlanc was an avid runner, and his legacy lives on through the Manchester running club he founded with his wife, Pappas said.

LeBlanc "honorably served the state and his country as a member of the Army National Guard," Pappas said.

Pappas said he's proud to have sponsored the law change. "The National Guard and Reserves are a critical component of our military, and sacrifice so much to keep us safe," he said. "So as we honor the memory of David LeBlanc, let us honor the memory of all of our veterans and ensure that they're never forgotten."

Shawn Buck, director of the veterans cemetery, said the cemetery staff has been busy processing applications for burial from those newly eligible. They have 180 pending applications and 16 have been approved.

"This is such a big win for all of us, in my opinion, without question," he said.

Cheryl LeBlanc said her husband must be "beaming" after Thursday's ceremony. "Wherever he is, he's very proud," she said. "He loved his country, he loved his family, he loved his friends.

"This made his eternity."

The new rules

According to Buck, the updated law allows veterans of the Guard and Reserves to be interred in the veterans cemetery if they meet one of the following criteria:

They completed at least one term of enlistment or, in the case of an officer, the period of initial obligation.

They were discharged for disability incurred or aggravated in the line of duty; or

They died while a member of the Selected Reserve.

Applicants must provide official paperwork that indicates the term of service and characterization of discharge.

Qualified dependents of Guard and Reserves veterans are also eligible for interment. There is no state residency requirement to apply. Fees apply in certain cases.
Read the original article on Business Insider.

The U.S. Army activated the 11th Airborne Division in Alaska this week, reestablishing it as an Arctic-focused unit in what the Pentagon sees as a valuable outpost to project power in the region, into Europe, and across the Pacific.

"We expect them to be masters of their craft in the Arctic warfighting, in extreme cold weather, in mountainous and high-altitude terrain, and we expect them to develop innovative ways of operating in this environment," Army Chief of Staff Gen. James McConville said at a press conference on Monday.

The two major Army units in Alaska  the 1st Stryker Brigade Combat Team based at Fort Wainwright and the 4th Infantry Brigade Combat Team (Airborne) based at Fort Richardson  were previously under the Hawaii-based 25th Infantry Division.

Those units, along with the headquarters unit U.S. Army Alaska, are now part of the 11th Airborne Division  a redesignation that Army leaders say underscores the unit's Arctic orientation and will enhance its soldiers' sense of mission and identity.

"There's a collection of different unit patches that we're all wearing right now," Maj. Gen. Brian Eifler, who led U.S. Army Alaska and now commands the 11th Airborne Division, said at the press conference. "What we're doing is consolidating under one."

"Arctic warfighting is not just what they do. It's really who they are, and that's the identity that these great soldiers are going to have in the 11th Airborne Division," Eifler said.

Command Sgt. Maj. Max Jeanphilippe proudly displays the shoulder patch of the newly activated 11th Airborne Division during the divisions activation ceremony June 6, 2022, at Ladd Army Airfield on Fort Wainwright, Alaska. (John Pennell/U.S. Army)

Survive and thrive in the Arctic

The Army Arctic Strategy released last spring emphasized the need for Arctic-specific training and equipment and infrastructure that could support operations over the region's long distances and tough terrain.

The Army conducted a "gap analysis" to determine what was needed and sought to address "near-term deficiencies" in its 2023 budget request. In that request, Army asked for $101.8 million to support the strategy by buying 13 new cold-weather, all-terrain vehicles, acquiring more Arctic clothing and gear, and continuing to winterize equipment, an Army budget official said this spring.

The budget official also said that money would cover "exportable" Combat Training Center rotations, allowing Alaska-based troops to do large-scale training in Alaska rather than the Army's training centers in Louisiana and California.

Training in Alaska allows soldiers "to train the way we're going to fight" and fielding new vehicles along with "the right equipment and the right clothing" means they will "not only survive in this environment but they will thrive," McConville said Monday.

The 1st Stryker Brigade Combat Team will shed its more than 300 Stryker vehicles, which will be upgraded for use elsewhere or stripped for parts, and become a light or air-assault-capable infantry brigade combat team, Eifler said.

"The structure of the organization will change slightly inside of it," Eifler said of the Stryker unit, "but their focus will be on dismounted [operations] and Arctic mobility and capabilities to sustain operations in the Arctic, in extreme cold weather, and in addition to providing those capabilities in other cold-weather environments, like Nepal and India."

The airborne brigade will remain airborne "and it'll have the Arctic capabilities that go along with that," McConville said.

"You're going to see a lot more training in the [Alaskan] training areas, dismounted. You'll probably see a lot less Strykers [and] maybe a little bit more airborne operations up here, because again, the only Arctic airborne capability is in this unit," Eifler said.

'A tough new airborne division'

The 11th Airborne Division was first activated in February 1943. Its paratroopers and glider-borne soldiers fought in the Pacific and developed tactics and concepts for airborne operations during and after World War II.

The division has "a storied history of valor" and "a proud history of innovation," McConville said. "They were the ones that actually tested and validated the effectiveness of division airborne operations that actually gave confidence to the leaders that it could be used during D-Day."

Eifler said the former Stryker brigade will "spearhead" the effort to "refine and develop our techniques, tactics, and procedures, our equipment, [and] the structure that's needed to fight and win in the Arctic."

Maj. Gen. Brian Eifler, 11th Airborne Division commanding general, speaks to 11th Airborne Division veterans after the reflagging ceremony for the 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 11th Airborne Division at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson June 6, 2022. The necklace was a gift for the new division commander from an Alaska Native group. (Army photo/John Pennell)

That effort will draw on soldiers and equipment in Alaska and on allies and partners  "the Canadians and Norwegians and folks around the world," Eifler said.

Alaska-based soldiers regularly train with Canadian forces, and in May, Alaska-based paratroopers trained in Norway for the first time, an exchange that Norwegian and U.S. officials want to continue.

U.S. Army Alaska soldiers trained with Indian troops in October during the Yudh Abhyas exercise and plan to train in India later this year.

Eifler said Monday that Nepalese army officials are also interested in training together: "They want to do a joint expedition on Everest with us, and they want to do a lot more training with this Arctic force."

Those exercises reflect Alaska's role in defense of the US and in operations in Europe and the Indo-Pacific region, which the Pentagon wants to capitalize on amid increasing competition with Russia and China.

"I think what's happening today represents a sea change in the Pentagon's focus on the Arctic," Sen. Dan Sullivan said at the press conference on Monday.

"With the 11th Airborne Division, we now have a strategically located, tough unit that can deploy thousands of airborne troops anywhere in the world," Sullivan said. "Just take a look at a map, very quickly, within hours, [it can reach] Korea, China, Russia, you name it."

The Army has about 12,000 soldiers in Alaska and doesn't currently plan to change that, but other services are "plussing-up" their presence. The Air Force has deployed 54 F-35s to join the F-22s stationed there, and the Navy is looking at additional basing and ports.

"China, North Korea, and Russia are soon going to realize that the US just put 100 fifth-gen[eration] fighters and a tough new airborne division in their rear and on their flanks," Sullivan said. "Although that might not make Putin and Xi Jinping happy, it enhances our national security for our country very significantly."
The Rays announced a number of roster moves today, reinstating Shane Baz from the 60-day injured list, optioning Ralph Garza Jr. to Triple-A, and transferring Andrew Kittredge to the 60-day injured list, per Rays broadcaster Neil Solondz (via Twitter).

The Kittredge move opens a spot on the 40-man roster for Baz, but it was a foregone conclusion after the revelation that Kittredge needs Tommy John surgery. Hell be out for the rest of this season and potentially all of next season as well.

Bittersweet as the moment may be, the Rays will be excited to get Baz back on the hill. Still just 22 years old, Baz burned through the minors last season in time to make three starts at the end of the regular campaign. He has been out so far this season after undergoing arthroscopic surgery on his right elbow. The Rays believed in Baz enough to give him the start in game two of the American League Division Series.

He will make his debut start against the Twins. Theoretically (health provided), Baz should become a rotation staple alongside Shane McClanahan, Drew Rasmussen, and Corey Kluber, giving Tampa a more traditional rotation than theyre accustomed to in recent years.

As for Garza, the 28-year-old has made 11 appearances on the year for Tampa, logging 22 innings with a 3.27 ERA/4.64 FIP. Garza was claimed off waivers from the Red Sox, for whom he never made an appearance.
The Red Sox a series of roster moves to reporters, including Ian Browne of MLB.com. Right-hander Garrett Whitlock is heading to the 15-day injured list, with right hip inflammation, retroactive to June 9. Fellow righty Phillips Valdez, who was just optioned yesterday for the activation of Hansel Robles, will take his roster spot. Optional assignments usually require a 15-day minimum stint before returning to the roster, though exceptions are made when a player goes on the IL or for double-headers. Additionally, the previously-reported selection of outfielder Rob Refsnyder has been made official, with infielder Jonathan Arauz being designated for assignment to create a spot for him.

A native of Panama, Arauz was originally signed by the Phillies as an international free agent back in 2014. The following year, he was traded to the Astros as part of the Ken Giles deal. The Red Sox selected him in the 2019 Rule 5 draft, with Arauz sticking on the roster through the entirety of the pandemic-shortened 2020 season.

Of course, the Red Sox were undergoing a miserable season in 2020, finishing dead last in the AL East with a record of 24-36. As the team has put some distance between themselves and that campaign, Arauz has done little to justify hanging onto a roster spot. In 59 career games over the past three seasons, hes hit .204/.280/.320 for a wRC+ of 62. Even in Triple-A, things havent gone much better, as Arauz has hit just .228/.303/.329 in 92 career games there.

The Red Sox will now have a week to trade him or put him on waivers. Despite his light-hitting stat line, he could still garner some interest, as he is still very young at only 23 years old, making it possible he still has some development ahead of him. He also brings versatility to the table, as he is a switch-hitter and is capable of playing shortstop, second base and third base. He still has options remaining, meaning a team that acquires him could keep him in Triple-A for depth purposes.

As for Whitlock, he was scheduled to start Sundays game, meaning the club will have a rotation hole to fill. He started the year in the bullpen but has gradually been shifted into the rotation. He was getting better results as a reliever, though its possible this hip issue has contributed to his dampened results. Through the end of April, he had a 0.54 ERA, though its been 5.06 since.
Rapper Amerado once again has once again shown how creative he can be on a new project he calls 'Counsellor'.

This creative piece saw Amerado as a counsellor addressing marital and relationship issues with his clients in a rap song.

Amerado's creative prowess was much exhibited in the early 2020s as the curator of Yeete Nsem, Ghana's first news casting rap series.

Amerado's recent connection with young producer ItzJoe Beatz saw the birth of Counsellor with video direction from Kojo Myles.
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa on Friday dodged questions over a multi-million-dollar cash heist that has put him on the back foot in a heated rivalry within his ruling party.

For a second day, his previously planned appearances at parliament were overshadowed by hecklers from the opposition, who scuffled with security as some lawmakers were physically dragged from the chamber.

The scandal erupted last week when a former spy chief filed a police complaint alleging that thieves had stolen $4 million in cash from Ramaphosa's farmhouse, where the money had been stashed inside furniture.

After his parliamentary appearance, he took questions from reporters for over an hour but clung to his line that he could not comment.

"The robbery that took place on my farm... in 2020 is the subject of a criminal complaint and the law must be allowed to take its course. In other words, due process must be followed," he said.

"I have listened to the views of a number of (lawmakers) ...who have raised thoughts, suggestions and proposals on this matter. Some of the views have been to counsel me and yet others have been laced with insults."

"I will not respond to insults. I should, however, say the counsel and suggestions that have been made raise points I should consider," he added.

Ramaphosa is a former trade unionist who amassed a reputed $450-million fortune as a businessman in post-apartheid South Africa before returning politics.

He took office in 2018 vowing to clean up the corruption that defined the presidency of his predecessor Jacob Zuma.

South Africa's former intelligence boss Arthur Fraser accused Ramaphosa of hiding the heist from police and the tax authorities.

Instead, Fraser alleged, Ramaphosa organised the kidnapping and questioning of the burglars, and then bribed them to keep quiet.

Ramaphosa has acknowledged the burglary but disputes the amount of money involved. He says the cash came from legitimate sales of game.

He denies the alleged kidnapping and bribery, saying he reported the burglary to the police after he had learned of it.

Ramaphosa will face party members at a conference in December during which he could be ousted from the top job by the ruling African National Congress (ANC).

South Africa's top anti-corruption official, herself the target of years of legal battles, opened a case into the affair.

Ramaphosa suspended her on Thursday as parliament prepared impeachment proceedings against her. The case against him will remain, but the timing only added fuel to his rivals' criticisms.
Tema, June 10, CDA Consult  Tema is a wealthy city on its own, it has the biggest harbour in the country, a well-planned city, industries, majority of quality workers in Ghana, the Greenwich among others, but currently there is nothing to talk about Tema and attract people here, Tema must be revived for people to visit the place, Dr Prince Kofi Kludjeson, a Past President of the Association of Ghana Industries (AGI) has stated.

Dr Kludjeson who is the President of Celltel Networks Limited disclosed that his outfit was engaging authorities on how best to transform Tema into a smart city, saying the very old building could be redesigned into modern ones, while every home must have the provision of wifi and other modern items.

He said the need to have such technological provisions in homes and industries could not be over emphasized as it would aid productivity, education, health and other aspects of life and the economy of Tema and Ghana as a whole.

Dr Kludjeson, who is also a Chief Technical Advisor for the Centre for Greater Impact Africa (CGIA), was speaking at the Ghana News Agency-Tema Industrial News Hub Boardroom Dialogue platform on the topic, The new global economy and technological education, which was monitored by the Communication for Development and Advocacy Consult (CDA Consult) in Tema.

The GNA Tema Industrial News Hub Boardroom Dialogue is a media think-tank platform for state and non-state and commercial and business operators to communicate to the world and address global issues.

The President of Celltel Networks Limited called for collaboration among the various private and state owned institutions in Tema to turn the harbour and industrial city into a smart city.

There must be the collaboration between TDC Development Company, TMA, companies and even the citizenry to transform Tema into a smart city, Dubai used to be a desert which was transformed to what is there today, he said.

Over the years, chief executive officers of the Tema Metropolitan Assembly (TMA) has come up with various slogans and visions geared towards transforming Tema, with some bordering on restoration agenda, and make Tema shine again among others.

However, realizing those vision to get Tema to what it used to be some decades back, often becomes unrealistic by the time the MCEs leave office due to the loss of their party in an election or the inability of the sitting president to re-nominate them to the position.

Dr Kludjeson explained that to cure such unrealistic moves, it was important that the TMA gets every institution located in Tema involved in the planning and decision to turn Tema into a smart city just like that of Dubai.

He said until that was done it would be difficult for any meaningful development and transformation to occur adding that whereas in some places, mayors were very important and could achieve a lot, in Ghana due to the political nature of MCEs, it was difficult for them to achieve much on their own.

Dr Kludjeson stated for instance that good policies such as the One million dollars per each district could help a long way in developing a place like Tema adding however that MCEs were handicapped because such monies among others never materialize.

According to him, he gets sad whenever he visited Tema knowing what it used to be, adding that the harbour cum industrial city had all it takes to be glamourous and rich than what it was now.

The Reverend Dr. Samuel Worlanyo Mensah, Executive Director for the Centre of Greater Impact Africa, on his part said the development of a comprehensive plan for digital development, would be the catalyst for the country to catch up with the rest of the world.

He said the issues of unemployment which was a national threat could easily be solved with the digital economy.

Dr Mensah added that the employment structure within the technological environment was huge and it could therefore be harnessed to solve the countrys developmental deficits.
Amsterdam, June 10th, 2022  The Executives of NDC Holland Chapter, on behalf of NDC Members in The Netherlands, wish to convey congratulations to the National Democratic Congress in Ghana and members of the party on the 30th Anniversary of the formation of the Umbrella Family under the leadership of the late Ex-President Jerry John Rawlings.

For millions of supporters of NDC, today is also a day of national joy. It is not only 30 years since the official establishment of Umbrella Fraternity, but an anniversary of a victory for our new democratic government in Ghana: NDC fought hard for sovereignty and the Fourth Republic of Ghana.

The sacrifice of thousands of Ghanaians was not in vain. The blood of those heroes and martyrs, during AFRC and PNDC regimes, watered our freedom and ushered us into our current free democracy in Ghana.

In these thirty years, hundreds of Comrades, in different sectors, have rendered their selfless services to this party.

Let us celebrate the brotherhood, between social democracy and the centre-left think-tank ideologists. Let us preserve what has been achieved under the leadership of our Founder, late Ex-President Flt.Lt. Jerry John Rawlings. Let us continue working to strengthen those historical ties between the Cadres of June 4th Revolutionand 31st December Movements, with the guidance of NDC policy of Transparency, Probity and Accountability.

Finally, on behalf of NDC Holland Chapter and various Branches, we congratulate our incoming Flagbearer, H.E. President John Dramani Mahama; Chairman Samuel Ofosu-Ampofo, General-Secretary, Johnson Asiedu Nketiah; our Distinguished Members of Parliament; our National Executives; Regional Executives; Constituency Executives; Branch Executives; Foot Soldiers; and all members of the Akantamanso Families. We wish NDC success under his management to continue the good works to bring victory in the 2024 General Elections.

Long live NDC!

Long live Ghana!

Long live the friendship between our people!

Eye zu, eye za

Signed,

Communication Office
11.06.2022 LISTEN

The outspoken Afia Schwarzenegger has returned fire on Chairman Wontumi, the Ashanti Regional Chairman of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) moments after she was sued for defamation.

The socialite posted a picture of herself on her Instagram page with the caption, A wise man once said, and I quote, Any idiot can go to court.

Chairman Wontumi sued Afia Schwarzenegger for defamation of character after she claimed in her Instagram video that she has once had sexual intimacy with him (Chairman Wontumi).
11.06.2022 LISTEN

Residents of Sunyani and some other parts of the Bono region on Friday June 10, 2022, defied an early morning downpour to take part in the governments afforestation drive dubbed Green Ghana Day.

The first session of the Bono regional edition of the programme took place at the Sunyani Technical University (STU) while the concluding part was held at the University of Energy and Natural Resources (UENR).

The Green Ghana initiative, introduced last year, seeks to create enhanced national awareness of the necessity for collective action toward restoration of degraded landscape in the country and inculcate in youth the value of planting and nurturing trees and their associated benefits.

It further seeks to mitigate watersheds, enhance livelihoods towards communities through engagement in the production of tree seedlings and beautify our communities and environment in general.

Punctuality

Even though the event was scheduled to start at 09:00am, by 08:15am, the Bono Regional Minister and his entourage made up Dr Ebenezer Ajagbeley, the Director of Operations of the Forestry Commission, Accra; the Regional Police Commander; the Sunyani Municipal Chief Executive, Ansu Kumi and other officials of the Bono Regional Co-ordinating Council were at the event grounds, poised for action.

They were joined the Vice-Chancellors of STU and UENR, Ing. Prof Kwadwo Adinkrah-Appiah and Prof. Elvis Asare-Bediako and staff of the two universities to commemorate the day.

The Regional Minister, Justina Owusu-Banahene urged all those taking part in the exercise not to do so for just for the sake of it but for the benefits humanity would gain from the trees planted.

And so, because we know the importance of these trees to human lives, were considering many species of tree seedlings for planting today. They include medicinal and food trees and many others, she said.

The minister warned that anyone who allows his animals to graze on any of the trees planted would not be spared but would be dealt with according to the law.

Climate change

Earlier in his welcome remarks, the Vice-Chancellor of STU, Ing. Prof Kwadwo Adinkrah-Appiah noted that with just eight years left for us to attain the 2030 UN SDGs, climate change continues to derail our efforts, as it impacts negatively on the fundamentals required to achieve these goals.

In light of the above, as responsible corporate citizens committed to the UN SDGs, the staff and students of Sunyani Technical University will plant Two Thousand Tree seedlings today to commemorate the Green Ghana day.

We will also continue to plant and nurture Ten Thousand more trees within the year as a legacy project for our 55th Anniversary Celebration, which is climaxing on November 5, 2022, in support of the Green Ghana Project.

He encouraged individuals to own the trees by embossing their names on them so that in future they can look back with pride that they played a part in this important exercise.

Commendation

The Vice-Chancellor of UENR, Prof. Elvis Asare-Bediako, commended government for the introduction of the Green Ghana Day and encouraged everyone to actively get on board.

Dr Ebenezer Ajagbeley, the Director of Operations of the Forestry Commission, Accra, said the maiden edition of the Green Ghana Day, which was held last year was over 70% successful.

He also underscored the importance of trees on the environment and for the survival of human beings.

Commemorative trees

At the two sessions at both STU and UENR, the Regional Minister planted the first tree seedling to kick-start the occasion.

The Vice-Chancellors of STU and UENR, together with their respective Registrars as well as the Sunyani Municipal Chief Executive and other dignitaries took turns to plant various tree seedling to commemorate the day.

Members of the public also had the opportunity to plant trees as part of the occasion. This years Green Ghana Day is under the theme, Mobilizing for a Greener Future.

The Bono region is expected to plant over on million trees this year while approximately 20 million trees are expected to be planted nationwide.
King of the Igbo community in Ghana, His Royal Majesty, Eze (Dr.) AMB Chukwudi J. Ihenetu, has been honored as the Champion Newspaper Personality of the year 2021 in the diaspora.

The award ceremony, held at the Victoria Island at the Eko Hotel and Suits, Lagos in Nigeria saw many other dignitaries honored on the night.

The major award of the night, the Champions Newspaper Personality of the year award 2021 was bestowed o Eze Igbo Dr. Chukwudi Ihenetu.

In an interview, the Igbo King expressed his gratitude to the organizers for the honor done him for working to promote the Igbo culture in the diaspora.

He said, I am grateful to the Government of Ghana, the traditional rulers and queen mothers for giving us the opportunity to promote the Igbo culture in Ghana.

The Igbo King in Ghana dedicated the award to his elders who have supported him all these years to do the kind of work he is doing in Ghana.

HRM Eze Ihenetu is best known for his philanthropic nature and also a lead promoter of the Igbo culture in the diaspora.

Other award winners of the night included presidential hopeful of the New Nigeria People Party (NNPP), Dr. Rabiu Musa Kwakwanso for winning the Champions Newspaper Youth Empowerment icon of the year, with Dr. Uche Sampson Ogah winning the Champions Newspaper Minister of the year award while NEM Insurance Plc won the Champions Newspaper Insurance Company of the year. Enditem

Source: newsghana.com.gh
The Bono Regional Minister, Madam Justina Owusu Banahene, has called on Senior Public Officers to offer mentorship as well as guidance and counsel to their subordinates usually juniors and newly recruit to help promote and sustain professional development for the benefit of national development.

She explained that usually, these proteges have barely any experience since what is done on the job, mostly, differs from what is studied at the schools and lending a helping hand to acquire the requisite skills needed for the job will go a long way to build the nation.

The Minister made the call when she met Heads of Departments and staff of the Dormaa East District Assembly on Wednesday, June 8, 2022 during her visit to the District.

The visit was also to enable her, discuss security issues with the District Security Committee (DISEC), commission some completed projects across the district, and assess the state of others in progress.

In her discussions with the assembly staff at the meeting, the Minister also appealed to junior staff especially mentees and newly recruits to eschew every form of pride in their dealings with the experienced officers to create an atmosphere; healthy enough for openness, guidance and the goodwill to train.

Madam Justina Owusu Banahene advised workers to continuously add value to themselves by upgrading their certificates, ensure responsible lifestyles and maintain good interpersonal relationships with both family and others in order to guarantee a better future.

The Bono Regional Chief Director, Mr. Andrew Nawil Okuma, encouraged public workers to be optimistic and neutral in the discharge of duties. He as well advised them to be regular, on time and ensure integrity in order to make the most out of the little for a better Ghana.

The minister commissioned a 4 unit and a 3unit classroom blocks at Presbyterian Primary A and at Methodist Primary respectively in Wamfie. At Wamanafo she cut the sod for the opening of a new lorry station.

She did the inspection of an earth dam project at Nsresresu, CHPS Compound project at Asuotiano and the Dormaa Akwamu Police Station Project all underway in the District.
11.06.2022 LISTEN

To restore our oceans to health, we need to protect more ocean places. Our country is blessed with sandy beaches, rocky bays, towering sea cliffs and an astonishing variety of ocean wildlife along our shores. Yet there are challenges.

The previous administration pushed for oil and gas drilling in some portions of our coastal waters. Species from the right whale in the Atlantic to the southern resident in the pacific are staring at extinction.

And too little of our ocean is protected. We should do all we can to protect our oceans and the wildlife that lives in them.

From Accra to Takoradi, our country is blessed with beautiful coasts and abundant ocean wildlife. These are the beaches where families and friends come together, where kids experience what our elders and chiefs called the continual miracle of the sea. These are the waters where seals surf the waves, sea turtles patrol the reefs, and great whales migrate up and down our coasts. They remind us, as Rachel Carson did, that in every curving beach, in every grain of sand, there is a story of the earth.

Offshore oil and gas drilling is a direct threat to the coastal waters and wildlife we love. As a passionate citizen of our mother Ghana.

I feel strongly that our shores still need serious protection against oil spillage, and more importantly plastic waste. A serious debate ought to be started about the impact of oil exploration at our shores and the adverse impact on our coastal areas in terms of health and the bio diversity at these shores. Human activities are to be blamed for the loss of the beauty our existing coastal situation. Today is World Ocean Day.

As we celebrate it today in 2022, I would hope that key industries and governmental agencies that play a huge role in the management of coastal related matters ought to take our ocean very serious. Before you take a plastic bag, kindly think of the beauty of our beaches, the wildlife at the sea and the fact that too many loads of plastics in Ghana end up at the shore.

In an age of remarkable advances in energy conservation and renewable energy technologies, at a time when global warming poses an existential threat to future generations, sacrificing our beaches and ocean wildlife is no longer, if it ever was, the price we must pay for progress. Thats not a world we have to live in anymore. Nor is it the future our children deserve.

Dr. Adomako Kissi

Member of Parliament

Anyaa Sowutuom

Source: Richard Obeng Bediako/Kingdom FMOnline. com
Civil Society Organisations(CSOs) in Natural Resource Governance in Northern Ghana, has urged the government to open up space for a broader conversation around the contentious AGYAPA Royalties Deal which is currently tearing the country apart.

The Agyapa Royalties Deal started two (2) years ago when the Minerals Income Investment Fund (Act 2018) was passed by Parliament with the mandate to manage the equity interests of Ghana in mining companies and receive royalties on behalf of the government.

The royalties and revenue received will then be invested for higher returns, and thus support the government development agenda.

To effectively achieve this, the law gives power to the Minerals Income Investment Fund to establish Special Purpose Vehicles (SPVs) to manage the investments.

Based on the Amendment, the Minerals Income Investment Fund set up a Special Purpose Vehicle, Agyapa Royalties Limited, an offshore limited liability company incorporated in Bailiwick of Jersey in the UK, which happens to be a tax haven. It was incorporated in Bailiwick to avoid the high tax charges to the returns that will accrue to the government from the investments.

But at a one-day stakeholders' Forum held on Wednesday, June 8, 2022, in Tamale, the CSOs, numbering over 50, said the terms and conditions in the deal, were not clear to Ghanaians, hence their inability to contribute meaningfully to shape the deal to save in their interests, and called for wider and nonpartisan consultation on the matter

The forum was organised by the Foundation for the Transformation of Marginal Areas (TAMA Foundation) Universal, a non-governmental organisation, in collaboration with the Ford Foundation.

The meeting brought together about 50 Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) from the Northern, Savannah, North East, Upper East and West regions of the North as well as the academia and the media to discuss the good and the bad of the AGYAPA Deal

It also created a platform for experts in the Miles and energy as well as natural environment to explain to the participants the loopholes in the deal and its negative impact on Ghana

The CSOs, in a communique, raised concerns about the lack of coordination among regulatory bodies mandated to oversee the equitable and fair extraction of minerals in Ghana as well as its income and ownership of the beneficiary holders of the deal

The group also called for citizens' accountability in the use and management of the Income gotten from the nation's minerals

They also said the AGYAPA Deal, in its current form, was bad for Ghana as a country, hence the need for the government to rethink its decision

The CSOs further called on the government to make sure that the citizens, benefited satisfactorily from the mineral resources that the nature has given to the state

"The key issue with the AGYAPA Royalties Deal is the beneficiary ownership and the lack of transparency regarding the deal is quite worrying," they said

Furthermore, they urged stakeholders especially the media, to be interested in the AGYAPA Deal, by bringing out the issues in it to help inform the citizens to be able to make a conscious decision so that the government would not impose it on Ghanaians

"We the Civil Society Organisations in Northern Ghana, recommend that we demand a broader, wider and adequate consultation on the AGYAPA Royalties Deal to let the citizens know what is in it," the CSOs said.
Three great forces rule the world: stupidity, fear, and greed, Albert Einstein said in one of his many inspiring and educational statements. One of my biggest issues as a writer is deciding what to write about that is interesting to readers but not to me. As a result, I chose one of Einsteins quotations to write about today.

Who is Albert Einstein, and where did he come from? He was a well-known German theoretical physicist who was largely regarded as one of history's greatest physicists. He is most recognized for creating the theory of relativity, but he also contributed significantly to quantum physics. He is regarded as one of the most intelligent people who has ever lived.

Was Einstein correct in his assertion that the three forces that dominate the world are stupidity, fear, and greed? He is correct, in my opinion, and these are my thoughts. Natural disasters, diseases, and war have made the planet an insecure and dangerous place to live. I'll go into more detail on the latter.

Stupidity is one of the key factors that contribute to war. For example, there is no peace around the globe because powerful countries desire to demonstrate their power. China wants to show America that it is a great country, and America wants to show China that whatever you can do, we can do better.

Nobody hates to be walked on or intimidated by others, which is one of the reasons North Korea nearly went to war with the US government because it believes in its own ability to battle and destroy America. Isn't this arrogance among great nations?

People do not always have the necessary experience or knowledge to manage or rule a country, but since they are foolish, they use stereotypes to create the impression that they can rule, but if given the opportunity, they ruin everything and make life incredibly tough for others.

Stupidity does not always originate with the ruler, but rather with the people. People are easily persuaded, and because their demands are limitless, they readily accept lies and deceptions. Even on social media, individuals are more interested in unworthy topics than in smart topics, demonstrating that idiocy does really dominate the world.

Occasionally, the illusion is formed that stupidity triumphs over all. In Ghana, for example, many people sell indigenous medicines on public transportation, in the streets, and in markets. What perplexes me the most is that the vendor uses effective marketing to convince consumers that medicine alone can heal asthma, piles, any skin disease, diabetes, and a variety of other ailments. Isn't it stupid that people start buying right away?

Take the second factor: how does fear control the world? Let's talk about leadership once more. Why do certain African presidents insist on staying in power? Why do so many people fear illness, old age, criticism, death, and poverty to the point where they will leave all behind and go after death if they obtain fortune through corruption?

Throughout their lifetimes, millions of people are exposed to any or all of these concerns. They are continuously afraid, and as a result, many of them have nervous breakdowns. Many African governments have become dictators as a result of their fear, declaring war on press freedom and imprisoning anyone they see as a threat.

Fear has an impact on both the financial and spiritual parts of a person's life, preventing them from satisfying their fundamental necessities of food, shelter, and clothes. Fear diminishes a person's initiative, passion, and ambition, as well as self-confidence.

People who do bad things are always terrified of something because they are afraid of the consequences of their actions. If a leader does the right thing, he never has to worry about the law. Corrupt African politicians, for example, are constantly afraid of a coup because they know what will happen to them if the military takes power.

Fear is hazardous because it lurks in a person's subconscious mind and can make them miserable and unwell. You can take an anti-anxiety medicine, but it won't assist you any more than managing yourself and removing fear from your life by doing the right thing.

Finally, we must consider the consequences of greed. "The Earth provides enough to meet everyone's needs, but not everyone's greed," Mahatma Gandhi observed. Greed is to blame for every tragedy that has befallen mankind today. It is because greed, poverty, corruption, challenges, and other issues are destroying humanity.

Greed is defined as a person's excessively aggressive drive to obtain as much as possible of all sorts of commodities, both material and non-material. Because selfish people's behavior impacts others, it is not the most appealing quality of human character. Most African officials, for example, are so corrupt that their activities have an impact on regular people.

It could be about anything, including money, food, pleasure, power, information, and attention. If a person is greedy, he wants to have everything he could possibly need in unlimited numbers. Greed is also defined as a desire for accumulation, a refusal to share, and a desire to not lose what you have saved.

When we examine the situation, we can see that fear is the catalyst for greed. Because of his lack of trust in his own talents, fear drives a person to hold on to whatever he has. Fear is also one of the causes that has contributed to greed being an unmanageable issue and to the prevalence of corruption in politics.

Politicians and civil workers are afraid of becoming impoverished after they are no longer in power or employed. Because fear breeds greed, an African politician can amass wealth in the shortest amount of time. He has amassed an incredible amount of riches and assets that he will never be able to achieve in his lifetime.

More specifically, there is always fear underlying greed, but it presents itself in different ways  in one situation, a person is terribly terrified of losing something and in another, he tries to drown out his anxiety by seeking more.

I am a pretty tough guy, but I have a fear that I will never be able to live in Ghana due to the country's political and business environment. Because tremendous corruption has infiltrated the entire system of Ghana, it is far easier for a firm to fail than to succeed.

People continue to harm others, especially ordinary people who have no means of survival, depending on what they want more at one point or another in their lives. Greed is not an illness that can be treated with medication. It is only through your willpower that you can suppress that deceptive and terrible urge to improve the lives of others.
11.06.2022 LISTEN

Mr. Paul Adom-Otchere, the host of the Good Evening Ghana show on Metro TV, an Accra-based television station, has revealed that his admiration for President Akufo-Addo dates back to when he was in opposition.

Speaking on his 'Good Evening Ghana' show on Friday, June 10, 2022, Mr. Otchere stated that he has every right to support Akufo-Addo.

According to him, those attacking and describing him as "a stomach journalist" are unreasonable.

"People think supporting Akufo Addo means you are a stomach journalist, but those who do the same for John Mahama are not.

When you say stomach journalist, what does it mean? I am acting on the conviction that Akufo Addo is the greatest President of his generation for Ghana. You can think differently...but allow me to think that Akufo Addo is the best, and my thinking of Akufo Addo being the best is not new, it dates back to when he was losing elections so those young people who don't know the history, and think that I just jumped on a bank wagon, I have supported Nana Addo forever.

So when you talk about stomach journalist, you are being illogical and these days when you support Akufo Addo you are a stomach journalist but when you support Mahama you are not... You mean if John Mahama wins election next time you won't find journalist in there? he explained.

Mr. Adom-Otchere has been receiving punches everywhere after he went hard on Togbe Afede XIV, the Paramount Chief of the Sogli Traditional Area and the former chairman of the council of state, for refusing to accept an amount paid to him as an ex-gratia.

This criticism got many describing him as a stomach journalist, including Oliver Barker Vormawor, the lead convener of the #FixTheCountry fix the country movement, who rained fire on him. Dr. Paul Adom-otchere. First of his name. Diagnoser of Megalomaniacs. House Boy Econometrician. Stomach Infrastructure Builder. If Inferiority Complex had a name. The Footsoldiers success story. Like President Like Ass-Kisser. MC of Greatest Evening Comedy Show. Grand Master of Serial Callers Anonymous. Airport flower Bouquet Kleptomaniac."
The Ghana Tertiary Education Commission (GTEC) has called on the media in the country to form a collaboration that will help expose and deal with unaccredited tertiary institutions in the country.

Prof. Mohammed Salifu, Director-General of the Ghana Tertiary Education Commission made this appeal to journalists on Thursday, June 9, 2022, when GTEC held the first-ever seminar for the media in the country in Accra.

The aim of the seminar by GTEC, a body merged from the erstwhile National Council for Tertiary Education (NCTE) and the National Accreditation Board (NAB) was to strengthen collaborations with all stakeholders to have a better chance of overcoming the challenges in order to excel in what is required of the commission.

Delivering a presentation on the mandate of the commission as stated in Article 1023, Prof. Mohammed Salifu disclosed that one of the challenges facing his outfit is the influx of unregistered tertiary institutions hiding and pretending to be offering programmes that are uncertified to unsuspecting Ghanaians who end up just wasting money.

Stressing that GTEC is keen on clamping down on such institutions, the Director-General of GTECT implored the media to help protect the public by exposing these institutions.

We need to protect the public. There are so many institutions out there purported to provide tertiary education and are not even responding as required, we need you to help us find them out and bring them to conform to the law.

We cant protect the integrity and prestige of our territory education system if the qualification that are awarded are not the required qualification, Prof. Mohammed Salifu told journalists at the GTECT seminar.

He continued, Last but not the least I want to call on you finally for us to build that partnership so that we can maintain eternal vigilance and hold our tertiary education institutions accountable so that they deliver what they promised to deliver to our young people who are desirous to attaining higher education.

On his part, the board chairman GTEC Prof. Kwame Boafo-Arthur expressed appreciation to all the journalists that attended the seminar for the media.

He underscored the importance of the media, insisting that they are key to the work of GTEC to make tertiary education better.

He stressed that through a collaboration between GTEC and the media, there will be huge contributions not only to education but to national development as well.
Deputy Minister for Communications and Digitalisation and Member of Parliament for Juaben Constituency, Ama Pomaa Boateng on Friday, 10th June, 2022 led staff and officers as well as other heads of departments of state agencies under the Ministry on behalf of the Sector Minister, Hon Ursula Owusu-Ekuful to plant seedlings in commemoration of the second edition of the Green Ghana day.

Addressing the media at the Ministry, the Deputy Minister, acknowledged the relevance of the occasion, stressing that, "This is part of efforts to recover the countrys lost forest cover and also enhance the quality of the air we breathe.

She therefore urged the public to embrace the idea from government and be involved in any drive aimed at encouraging people to plant trees.

The Deputy Minister, further said it behoves on all of us to nurture the trees that we plant, take personal charge of them, water them and see that they are properly established.

According to her, "MoCD is happy to be part of the green Ghana day. As part of our mandate, everything electronics is with us and we all know that from our cars, to our homes to what we study or work with, we use all these electronic gadgets. The resources used for these electronic gadgets are raw materials derived from our forest. Therefore, cutting down of trees or replacing them is one of the areas that we are very interested in.

For instance, gold, silver, plastics, etc are all components that make up the gadgets that we use. And once trees are cut, that means that we are getting our resources in manufacturing these gadgets, so we need to replace them.

In replacing them, our focus is on the electronic wastes, whether to recycle or to do the tree planting, but we are doing both. We will continue to create the awareness for all of us to know that once we live the digital life, whether we learn, work or play, we need to replace these raw materials that are being used for these electronic gadgets."

So with lots of pride, the Ministry is supporting the other Ministries and all Ghanaians to make sure that we replace the trees that are being cut and also make sure that we pay serious attention to climate change and as well educate the general public to know that whatever gadgets that we're using has an effect on the trees that we are cutting down.

We are very excited that all Ghanaians are onboard to make this a very eventful and successful program. MoCD with all our agencies have come together to make sure that we replace what is being cut down."
Australia on Saturday unveiled a substantial compensation deal with French submarine maker Naval Group, ending a contract dispute that has soured relations between Canberra and Paris for almost a year.

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said the French firm had agreed to a "fair and an equitable settlement" of 555 million euros in compensation for Australia's termination of a decade-old multi-billion-dollar submarine contract.

The settlement draws a line under a spat that caused leader-level recriminations and threatened to torpedo talks on an EU-Australia trade agreement.

"It permits us to turn a page in our bilateral relations with Australia and look to the future," said French Defence Minister Sebastien Lecornu.

Albanese said he would travel to France soon to reset a relationship which had been beset by "pretty obvious" tensions.

'Liar' Morrison sneaks out of sub deal

The tussle began in September 2021, when Australia's then-prime minister Scott Morrison abruptly ripped up a long-standing contact with the French state-backed Naval Group to build a dozen diesel-powered submarines.

He also stunned Paris by revealing secret talks to buy US or British nuclear-powered vessels.

The decision drew the fury of French President Emmanuel Macron, who publicly accused Morrison of lying and recalled his ambassador from Australia in protest.

Relations were on ice until earlier this summer when Australia elected centre-left leader Albanese.

Albanese tries to rebuild trust

Since coming to office, he has rushed to fix strained relations with France, New Zealand, and Pacific Island nations, who objected to the previous conservative government's foot-dragging on climate change.

"We are re-establishing a better relationship between Australia and France," Albanese said, after speaking to Macron about the settlement.

"I'm looking forward to taking up President Macron's invitation to me to visit Paris at the earliest opportunity."

Speaking on the sidelines of the Shangri-La Dialogue security summit in Singapore, Lecornu said France valued its "friendship" with Australia.

"Just because a government in the past did not keep its word, it does not mean we have to forget our strategic relationship," he said.

"Australia has a new team in power, we are happy to be able to work with them."
The Obuasi Municipal Assembly (OMA) has indicated that it will soon roll up a program to grow more grasses and trees in open spaces within the Municipality. This according to the MCE Honorable Elijah Adansi-Bonah will complement the Government's Green Ghana Agenda.

Speaking with the media at the Launch of the Green Ghana Day in Obuasi, the Obuasi MCE said the Assembly will work with the Obuasi office of the Ministry of Food and Agriculture ( MOFA) as well as the Physical planning department to identify open spaces in the Municipality to grow grasses and plant trees. This is intended to make Obuasi greener and mitigate the effects of climate change.

Introduced in 2021, the Green Ghana initiative seeks to create enhanced national awareness of the necessity for collective action towards restoration of degraded landscape in the country and inculcate in youth the value of planting and nurturing trees and their associated benefits.

The theme for this years edition was Mobilizing for a Greener Future.

Touching on the importance of the program to the people of Obuasi, Honorable Adansi-Bonah said Obuasi as a mining town has witnessed portions of its green vegetation depleted as a result of legal and illegal mining activities .

"Due to this, a conscious effort was needed to be taken to reduce if not to stop it hence we deem the introduction of the Green Ghana Day by the Government as a timely intervention.".

He assured that this years celebration will not be business as usual but the Assembly has put in place concrete measures to ensure that seedlings planted are nurtured so that they reach maturity.

The Obuasi MCE also lifted the lid on plans by the Assembly to deal with those who indulge in indiscriminate cutting of trees. He said the Assembly is in the process of reviewing its bye-laws and would consider introducing punitive action against those who destroy the vegetation cover, in its bye-laws.

The Senior Manager Sustainability, Anglogold Ashanti, Obuasi Mine Emmanuel Baidoo said the company in support of the Green Ghana initiative by the Government will grow 1000 trees every year.

" AGA together with AGA Malaria Control and other stakeholders in the communities is committed to plant 1000 trees every year. This year, we are aiming to scale it up to 2000. We will make sure the trees that are planted are well nurtured and end up being developed to contribute to the diversity we all anticipate "

Henry Yeboah, the Supervisor of the Obuasi office of the Forestry commission said due to the successful implementation of the program last year, Government decided to increase the seedlings from 5 million to 20 million.

He gave the seedlings planted in Obuasi in 2021, a 70% survival rate and promised to continue to monitor those that are given out this year.

He reiterated that Obuasi has been given 19,000 seedlings to be given out freely to individuals, Churches and organizations. He further advised beneficiaries to maintain and protect them.

OBUASI MCE DONATES 700 COCONUT SEEDLINGS TO 21 FARMERS

In a related development, Hon ElijahAdansi-Bonah has distributed 700 coconut seedlings to 21 farmers in the Obuasi Municipality. This was after the Mce donated 1000 coconut seedlings to some farmers in the Municipality about a month ago.

The donation forms part of the Governments Planting for Export and Rural Development Program.

Nananom, Assembly Members and Heads of Department were all present.
11.06.2022 LISTEN

Two Ghanaian medical doctors on Brussels - Accra flight received a standing ovation after they saved a French man who was dying from heart attack.

The two Ghanaians medical practitioners that were involved in the life-saving situation on June 7, 2022, were Dr Charles Ababio and Dr Diana Boakye.

According to a passenger on board the flight, Ike Sherdrack, the man was unconscious with his mouth half opened, his chin against his chest and being attended by his helpless wife.

Ike Sherdrack, on his facebook wall wrote that the sick mans wife was trying to straighten up the unconscious man in his seat.

Immediately the flight attendant rushed to the scene. She again rushed back then struggled about some couple of seconds to get grip of the microphone then she announced if there was a doctor on the flight he wrote.

A young lady sitting in the front roll of the unconscious man's seat rushed to the man and began pressing on the man's chest. A couple of seconds later a young man also rushed to the sceneit looks like an operation theatre where a doctor is asking for a specific action to be taken by his colleague he narrated.

He continued that after a couple of minutes, l heard the two doctors simultaneously saying he is breathing now. He is fine", yet they suggested to the flight attendant to let the man lie flat on his back. Gently the two doctors lifted the man to the back of the rear seat.

The doctors have requested for oxygen. Then a flight attendant rushed to where the man was lying. In her hand was a big red bottle of oxygenthen the copilot followed. After a few minutes the pilot announced that the old man now is okay, Ike also wrote.

He said the announcement by the pilot brought excitement to all the passengers, who were hitherto, quiet standing up from their seats praying for the man.

He added that the pilot diverted its course from Abidjan in the Ivory Coast to Palma, Majorca in Spain to seek further medical treatment for the sick man.

After half an hour we landed in Spain. The ambulance personnel got on board took, the man on a stretcher followed by his wife a big smile of relief on her face then spontaneously, the silence broke with a standing ovation with a loud clap from all the passengers, he concluded.

Dr Charles Ababio is an Emergency Physician Specialist at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH) and Dr Diana Boakye also works at H.C.A., United Kingdom

Source: Ghana/otecfmghana.com/Francis Appiah
The central regional deputy Youth organiser for the Opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC)Mr Bright Botchway has described the ruling government led by President Akuffo-Addo as the most insensitive administration in the political history of Ghana.

According to him, the president breaking all odds to build cathedral for the country is entirely needless while the citizens are wallowing in hardship.

He reiterated that, the development under the very watch of the heartless Akuffo-Addo and his inept government has given birth to untold Hardship in the country.

" Instead of using such huge money allocated for the building of the supposed National Cathedral to help with the construction of roads, schools and hospitals in the country , he rather see such uncalculated move as a means of rescuing the country which is inimical to the progress of Ghana"

He further said, President Akuffo-Addo who is so bent in constructing a cathedral for mother Ghana is utterly a slap in the face of suffering Ghanaians.

Mr Botchway apostrophed that, the misuse of scarce resources on the avoidable creature comforts of the president must be condemned because it is an unpardonable show of disrespect and insensitivity to the predicament of the suffering masses to build cathedral.

'Using such huge money which alone Constituted an unconscionable waste of the country's money which could be channelled to change lives through creation of jobs"

He added that, the resources entrusted into the hands of President Akuffo-Addo must be used judiciously for the public good, not for the excessive comfort of Nana Addo and his cabals"

If the building of the cathedral is avoided, paramount money could be saved to address some of the pressing issues in the country.

He explained" Country like Cote Dvoire spent close to 600$Million to build the Basilica Our Lady of Peace Catholic church which is a minor basilica built and dedicated to Our Lady of Peace in Yamoussoukro, the administrative of capital of Cote d'Ivoire. , even after building this in cote dvoire Civil War erupted thus it is not about the cathedral that President Akuffo-Addo will build which will speed up the economy fortunes of the country but rather we need Good managers to steer the affairs of this country and not cathedral builders"

He cleared the doubts that,Ghanaians should know that the National Democratic Congress (NDC) is not against the building of the Cathedral but rather against the illegality perpetuated by the government in procurement and the u turn of the president by using state funds to to erect to his own political promise to God is very preposterous.

"Ivory coast spent close to $600million to build the basilica and that triggered a lot of tension in the country due to hardships and unemployment in the country push them into civil war"

The made these pressing comments at winneba during the Constituency Anniversary celebration of the 30 years of the great NDC party.

He also touted the achievements of the since it's inception saying numerous infrastructure facilities and developments in the country are the handiwork of the NDC.

Party stalwarts present were the former member of Parliament for Effutu Constituency who was also the Former Minister of works and housing during NDC Era, Hon Mike Ellen Hammer , Dr James Kofi Annan 2020 parliamentary candidate and other Dignitaries including Constituency executives and cadres.

By Lawrence Odoom
11.06.2022 LISTEN

The 110th Session of the International Labour Conference (ILC ) is currently underway in Geneva, Switzerland. The ILC is the highest decision-making body of the ILO and held annually in June to advance the core mandate of the ILO. The Conference brings together all tripartite delegations from the ILOs 187 Member States.

The Conference commended with a plenary session on 27th May, 2022 with the election of the conference functionaries. Mr. Claudio Moroni from Argentina as Conference President; Mr. Ali Samihk Al Marri, Government Vice President; Mr. Alexandre Furlan, Employers Vice President; and Mrs. Paola del Carmen Egusquiza Granda, Workers Vice President. This was followed by the adoption of operational arrangements of the conference as well as the constitution of conference Committees.

The Director General of the ILO, Mr. Guy Ryder, presented his last report to the ILC dubbed; Least Developed Countries; Crisis, Structural Transformation and the Future of Work. The Report underscored the fact that the process of recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic has been uneven and incomplete with least developed countries (LDCs) at the brunt of it. The Report admonished Member States to do more and called for the adoption of the Doha Programme of Action for the LDCs to consign the pandemic effects to history, address prevailing crisis and pursue structural transformation towards a more sustainable future for all.

The Chairperson of the Governing Body, H. E. Ms. Anna Jardfelf, also addressed the Conference. Her presentation focused on the resolution concerning the recurrent discussion on the strategic objective of Social Protection (Social Security); resolution concerning a global call to action for a human centered recovery from the COVID-19 crisis; and the inclusion of a safe and healthy working conditions in the ILOs framework of fundamental principles and rights at work.

The Conference established six Committees based on the standing and technical items adopted. The Standard-Setting Committee on Apprenticeships was tasked with the view to set a new international labour standard on apprenticeships with focus on expanding scope and strategies for quality apprenticeship. In relation to this item, the Ghana Pre-Tertiary Education Act, 2020 (Act 1049) was promulgated to promote Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) of which apprenticeship is inclusive. Although Ghana has apprenticeship instruments in place as compared to other countries, the new instrument to be adopted by the ILO will provide additional directions and guidance in this regard.

The General Discussions Committee examined the key challenges and opportunities on decent work and the social and solidarity economy (SSE). The Committee also underscored the role of government and social partners in promoting decent work and the SSE towards sustainable development and future of work for all. The Recurrent Discussion Committee discussed challenges in different parts of the world linked to structural transformation, economic diversification, climate change, modern technologies, and demographic realities resulting in rising inequalities, slow and uneven recovery from COVID-19, and huge decent work deficits in the world of work. The Committee acknowledged the need for an employment policy framework that would promote sustainable economic growth and productivity in employment.

On the other hand, the General Affairs Committee advocated for the inclusion of safe and healthy working conditions in the ILOs framework of fundamental principles and rights at work. The Committee also recommended amendments to the Maritime Labour Convention (MLC) 2006 to reflect the changing world of work especially within the maritime sector. It is envisaged that the proposed amendments and adoption of same would contribute to the passage of the Draft National Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) Bill into law to guarantee adequate OSH systems for all.

By convention, the Finance Committee is usually composed of Government representatives since Government funds the activities of the ILO. The Committee considers the financial report and audited consolidated financial statements for the previous year; the scale of assessments of contributions to the budget for 2023; the composition of the Administrative Tribunal of the ILO; and the appointments to the ILO Staff Pension Committee.

The Committee on the Application of Standards (CAS) considers the Report of the Committee of Experts on the Application of Conventions and Recommendations (CEACR). The Report entails in particular, the observations on the application of ratified Conventions, as well as the Report of the General Survey under articles 19 and 22 of the ILO Constitution. This 2022 Report focussed on securing decent work for nursing personnel and domestic workers, key actors in the care economy.

In addition to the above, there side events and meetings including ARLAC, Africa Group Meetings and the commemoration of International Day Against Child Labour and the World of Work Summit.

The Conference ends on 11th June, 2022 with the adoption of various Reports. These Reports culminate in the introduction of new international instruments which provide guidance to Members States including Ghana to shape the World of Work We Want and ensure decent work for all.

The Ghana delegation was led by some members of the Parliamentary Select Committee on Employment, Social Welfare and State Enterprises, the Deputy Minister for Employment and Labour Relations, Hon Bright Wireko Brobby , the Chief Director, Mr Kizito Ballans , the Chief Labour Officer, Mr. Eugene Kollotey and other directors as well as representatives from the Social Partners.

By Charlotte Hanson

The writer is the Head of Public Affairs with the MELR & Staff of ISD
As a person of northern extraction who hails from Tumu in the Upper West region of Ghana, I should ordinarily be seen jumping at any opportunity to support, as they say, my countrymen who may want to contest for positions in the NPP. I cannot however, do this for my brother Salaam Mustafa who's vying for the position of national youth organiser, for reasons I shall expand soon.

First of all, it's important for readers to know who Salaam Mustafa is in order for you to appreciate my arguments. Abdul Salaam is a presidential staffer who specifically works at the office of the Vice President, H.E. Dr Alhajj Mahamadu Bawumia. There's no gainsaying that he has benefited tremendously from the largesse that come with his current position. Not many hardworking party youth have benefited from the government like Salaam Mustafa has. I'm happy for him on that score.

Salaam Mustafa, like any party members, has the right to put himself up to be elected to any position in the party. This is a right I will defend. But, if I may ask, in line with the good old adage, is everything that's allowed, necessarily expediently beneficial? Obviously no, many, if not all, would immediately answer. In this respect, I find the decision by Salaam Mustafa to contest for the position of national youth organiser as politically incorrect. His move, will in the least, be a spokes in the wheel of his boss, Dr. Bawumia.

There are some party members who think that Dr. Bawumia should be allowed to lead the party simply because he's a northerner. This is a contention I find problematic because ours is a party that believes in the rule of law and democratic ideals such as free and transparent elections. Many good party stalwarts like Hon Francis Addai-Nimoh, Hon Alan Kyeremanteng, etc are all entitled to contest same way as Dr. Bawumia is. Be it as it may, those who are cooking this idea would be better off if they advised Dr. Bawumia's aide, Salaam Mustafa to step aside from his ambition if he truly wants to see his boss succeed.

My reason is simple. Salaam Mustafa, who's riding on the glory of Dr. Bawumia to contest for youth organiser, may end up causing aparthy for his boss, as his move may create an impression in the minds of many party people of a move by the Vice President to capture the soul of the party with his cronies. His move will give vent to those who think the Veep is only comfortable working with people of a certain cultural extraction. Especially when there're thoughts out there that the Veep is bankrolling Salaam Mustafa's campaign.

Assuming the veep succeeds in becoming a flagbearer, which I see as a daunting, task if not impossible, task, he would need a more diversified party machinery to look appealing to people from different parts of Ghana. I'm not sure with Salaam Mustafa in there, if the veep can achieve that appeal. Further, there's nothing in respect of the northern votes that Salaam Mustafa could possibly add to the Veep's fortunes since the Veep himself is enough to achieve such votes if any. So considering that Salaam Mustafa cannot add anything from the south nor the north, his addition to the party, in the unlikely event that the veep becomes the flagbearer, would be a liability.

Many delegates may be forced, in the face of these stark realities, to jettison one of the two. And since Dr. Bawumia is interested in the ultimate, he should immediately realise that his boy is likely to cost him his ambition if he turns away from these weighty issues. Therefore, it's up to Salaam Mustafa to choose between his own ambition to become a youth organiser and the ambition of his boss to become a flagbearer or his boss may have to advise him accordingly.
PEOPLE OFTEN say goodbye when they are parting or leaving a place for somewhere else. But Jesus Christ never said goodbye to His disciples when He was ascending to heaven. That was because He said He would continue to be with them until the end of the world. Thus, Christ Jesus has been coming to His true servants and disciples.

Anyone who thinks Jesus Christ does not exist must be daydreaming. Christ is alive, and appears to people who sincerely love Him and are willing to keep His commandments. The Lord Jesus Christ very often appears personally to His chosen people through dreams, visions or trances. He appeared to the apostle John on the Island called Patmos (Revelation 1: 9- 10). When Stephen was about to be stoned to death after testifying about Jesus to the Jews, his spiritual eyes opened and he saw Jesus alive. But he (Stephen) full of the Holy Spirit, gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God, the Father (Acts 7: 55- 56). Similarly, the living Lord revealed Himself to Ananias in a vision: Now there was a disciple at Damascus named Ananias. THE LORD SAID TO HIM IN A VISION, ANANIAS. AND HE SAID, HERE I AM, LORD. AND THE LORD SAID TO HIM, Rise and go to the street called Straight, and at the house of Judas look for a man of Tarsus named Saul, for behold, he is praying, and he has seen in a vision a man named Ananias come in and lay his hands on him so that he might regain his sight (Acts 9: 10- 12). Jesus also appeared to Paul in visions on several occasions after his dramatic conversion from Judaism to Christianity (Acts 9: 3- 6). AND THE LORD SAID TO PAUL ONE NIGHT IN A VISION, Do not be afraid, but go on speaking and do not be silent, FOR I AM WITH YOU, and no one will attack you to harm you, for I have many in this city who are my people (Acts 18: 9- 10). He manifested Himself to Paul again: THE FOLLOWING NIGHT, THE LORD STOOD BY HIM (PAUL) AND SAID, Take courage, for as you have testified to the facts about me in Jerusalem, so you must testify also in Rome (Acts 23: 11). The Lord Jesus appeared to Paul again while pouring his heart out to God in prayer: When I had returned to Jerusalem and was praying in the temple, I FELL INTO A TRANCE AND SAW HIM (JESUS) saying to me, Make haste and get out Jerusalem quickly, because they will not accept your testimony about me and I said, 'Lord, they themselves know that in one synagogue after another I imprisoned and beat those who believed in you. And when the blood of Stephen your witness was being shed, I myself was standing by and approving and watching over the garments of those who killed him. And he said to me, 'Go, for I will send you far away to the gentiles,' (Acts 22: 17- 21). Similarly, the Lord appeared to John and instructed him to write letters to seven real churches in Asia where He praised some of the churches and criticised others. These were the churches in Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia and Laodicea. He again revealed Himself to Paul, giving him timely instructions, concerning his ministry and the church. What do these tell you? They should send a strong signal to all of us that Christ is still alive with greater concern for the building of His church. The church is His. It is His body. So, Jesus is still committed to His declaration that HE WILL BUILD HIS CHURCH. He is not man, that He should lie, or a son of man, that He should change his mind. Has he said, and will He not do it? Or has He spoken, and will He not fulfill it (Numbers 23: 19). The Lord continues to reveal Himself and exercise authority in building His Church. Therefore, anyone who plays with it will not go unpunished.

In this generation, scores of servants of Christ have also experienced the visitations of the Lord Jesus.

Prophet Kenneth E. Hagin, a respected servant of God who lived in the United States of America, explained how the Lord Jesus spoke with him in visions and taught him to understand some specific scriptures. In Ghana, I have heard Bishop Dag Heward-Mills, an international minister of the gospel, explaining how Jesus appeared to him in visions. Many other servants of Christ of our time have also seen the Lord in visions and trances.

Another way by which the Lord Jesus comes to true worshippers is through the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. He dwells in the hearts (spirits) of Christians. I can see that this is Christ's commonest manifestation to His chosen ones. The presence of the Holy Spirit in and upon the believer is the fulfillment of the Lord's promise to come back to dwell with them. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, even the Spirit of Truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him.

You know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you. I will not leave as orphans; I will come to you.

(John 14: 16  18). Look at the scripture carefully. Jesus told the disciples that they ALREADY KNEW the Helper He would ask the Father to send to them. In verse 17 of John chapter 14, Jesus said, the Helper DWELT WITH THEM, AND WOULD BE IN THEM. This means that the Helper was with them in their midst guiding, helping, teaching and comforting them. Who was this Helper that dwelt with the disciples? In fact, there could be no Helper at that particular time than the Lord Jesus Christ Himself, who prayed for them, fed them, protected them, taught them and saved them. This is confirmed by the verse 25 of John chapter 14, where Jesus explained that He was the one who was still with them. These and many more interactions He will be having with believers who sincerely long for His Presence, are the reasons why Jesus never said goodbye. Try and build a personal relationship with Him so you can also feel His Presence, see Him, talk to Him and do His bidding in your life.

By James Quansah

Email: [email protected]
Tema, June 11, CDA Consult  Tema Regional Directorate of the Commission for Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) has reiterated that the fight against corruption should be a collective effort, all stakeholders must work together with state and non-state actors to deal with the canker.

The Tema Regional CHRAJ assured the public that the commission has shown enough commitment to prosecute persons who commit any act of corruption, particularly public officials.

Madam Fatimata Mahami, the CHRAJ Tema Regional Director, therefore, advised the citizenry to desist from withholding corruption related cases and assured the public of being protected by the law against victimization, should they report corrupt public officials.

Speaking on the theme: "Is the fight against corruption a mirage or reality, Perspective of CHRAJ," at the 13th Edition of the Stakeholders Engagement And Worker's Appreciation Day Seminar of the Tema Regional Office of the Ghana News Agency, Madam Mahami encouraged the citizenry to report incidents of corruption to the appropriate state institutions to ensure that justice is served. Information gathered by the Communication for Development and Advocacy Consult (CDA Consult) in Tema confirms.

The GNA Tema Stakeholder Engagement is a platform rolled out for state and non-state actors to address national issues and serves as a motivational mechanism to recognize the editorial contribution of reporters toward national development in general and the growth and promotion of the Tema GNA as the industrial news hub.

The engagement also saw Dr. Stephen Ayisi-Addo, Programme Manager, the National AIDS/STI Control Programme who spoke on the topic: "Ghana's HIV strategies in line with the global health strategy for HIV, STI, and Viral Hepatitis; An integrated approach to prevention.

Madam Mahami said, "reporting incidents of corruption to state institutions including CHRAJ will help us to deal with the issue, stressing when people know that their corrupt acts would be reported they will stop, as it will also help promote national peace and security, boost economic development and improve the living conditions of many citizenries.

The CHRAJ Tema Director emphasized that the commission is permitted by law to deal with corruption but the citizenry ought to report people involved in the practice to the commission to enable it to execute its constitutional mandate.

Madam Mahami explained that many roads, hospitals, schools, and other public facilities are in bad conditions sometimes due to corrupt acts and called on the public to report and expose perpetrators of the social menace for the sake of national development.

Mr. Francis Ameyibor, the Ghana News Agency Tema Regional Manager in welcoming remarks tasked the media to continue to led strong advocacy that will make the grounds infertile for corruption to thrive.

He said the fight against corruption will bear no fruit without the active participation of the media in raising awareness of its dangers, both in the public and private sectors and enlightening the citizenry of their duty to combat it.
Tema, June 11, CDA Consult  The blue economy feeds about 3.7 million people globally, Ghana must take full advantage of the potential to create more jobs along the value chain, Nii Ashitey Odamtey II, Tema Chief Fisherman has stated.

On top of the traditional ocean activities such as fisheries, tourism, and maritime transport, the blue economy entails emerging industries including renewable energy, aquaculture, seabed extractive activities, and marine biotechnology, and bioprospecting.

The Tema Chief Fisherman, therefore, called on fishermen and Ghanaians to adopt positive attitudes that would help preserve and conserve the ocean for future generations, if we cannot protect the ocean, then we are doing great harm to ourselves.

Nii Odamtey II stated during a beach cleanup exercise organized by Pioneering Food Cannery (PFC) monitored by the Communication for Development and Advocacy Consult (CDA Consult) in Tema.

According to the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs document, The blue economy, also known as the sustainable ocean-based economy, comprises a range of economic sectors and related policies that aims to foster economic and social progress while maintaining the health of our oceans and coasts.

For instance, the ocean food sector provides up to 237 million jobs globally and provides key nutrients and protein to over 3 billion people. In fact, food from the sea is the primary source of protein to over 50 per cent of the population in least developed countries.

Coastal and marine ecosystems contribute up to 11.5 billion USD to global tourism, while also protecting our coasts from storms and floods, providing habitat for biodiversity, carbon storage, and detoxification.

In terms of the global economy, around 90 per cent of all internationally traded goods are shipped by sea, and the market value of marine and coastal resources and industries is estimated at US$3 trillion per year or about 5 per cent of global gross domestic product. Sustainable use of ocean, seas and marine resources, as set out in SDG14, lies at the center of a sustainable blue economy, though common principles are yet to be determined.

Therefore, Tema Chief Fisherman indicated that the preservation of marine life did not only have to do with replacing the fish population but also mitigating human activities such as pollution, habitat destructions, overfishing, and a lot more.

Nii Odamtey II explained that aquatic lives would be lost due to indiscriminate human activities on land including the disposal of plastic waste into the ocean.

He said the ocean had been the major source of income, solving unemployment problems, oxygen among others, and any activity that would lead to the destruction of the ocean must be abolished.

He explained that ocean reservation is key in resisting global climate challenges, stressing it is one of the environmental concerns affecting the world at large adding that the injury of the ocean is also damage to animal protein essential to human health, loss of jobs linked to the oceans, and others.

When it rains and you stand around the Chemu Lagoon, you will see the lagoon carrying a lot of plastics into the sea, he said.

He called on the stakeholders to provide all the necessary tools for the implementation of the Operation Clean your Frontage initiative to reduce the rate at which people deposited industrial and domestic waste into water bodies.
President Akufo-Addo has announced that an amount of US$10 million has been set aside to refurbish and construct new tourist sites in the country.

Nana Akufo-Addo says part of the money will be used to renovate the Cape Coast Castle , the Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Park, among others.

Speaking at the commissioning of the newly renovated Ghana National Museum in Accra, Nana Akufo-Addo said the tourism industry needs to be given the needed attention.

Government has committed US$ 10 million to rehabilitate and build a number of tourist and heritage attractions including the Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Park, Cape Coast and Elmina Castles, Manhyia Palace Museum, Gbewaa Palace Museum and the Yaa Asantewaa Palace among others.

Despite the enormous potential of Ghana's tourism sector, most facilities in the sector are in dilapidated states and have seen no renovation since establishment.

Others, too, have their road networks in deplorable states.

Recently, the Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Park, for instance, was temporarily closed for repair works .

The closure took effect from Friday, May 27, 2022, until further notice, according to the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture.

This is to help upgrade the Memorial Park to a standard that befits the stature of the former President.

But President Akufo-Addo believes the rehabilitation works will pave the way for the true Ghanaian identity.

As we reopen the doors of these Museums to the public, there is great hope from us that the development of the museum will enable the history of Ghana and Africa to be told in a manner that inspires hope and confidence in our youth and which will illustrate that our culture is a true expression of the African identity, a culture that emphasizes unity, hard-work, creativity, innovation, solidarity and family, he stressed.

Tourism has been a sector in the country that needs revitalization and more exposure, as it has the potential of helping to boost employment in the country.

By Citi Newsroom
The Coalition of NGOs in Water and Sanitation (CONIWAS) has presented a petition against the government for the lack of safe drinking water and improved toilet facilities (with changing rooms) in public and private basic schools across the country.

The Petition presented to the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) was to enable the Commission to investigate and establish the number of public and private basic schools without access to safe drinking water, toilet facilities and urinals.

It was also for CHRAJ to widen its scope to include Senior High Schools and tertiary institutions as it may deem fit.

Mr Yaw Attah Arhin, the Chairman of CONIWAS, presenting the petition to the Registrar of the Commission, said the Coalition, under its Rights to Water, Sanitation and Hygiene services Advocacy Project conducted a desk study into the Education Management Information System (EMIS).

The petition is against the government through the Ministry of Education (MOE), Ghana Education Service (GES), National Schools Inspectorate Authority, Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs) and any relevant agency.

He said the information system compiled data on all public and private basic schools with and without safe drinking water, improved toilet facilities and urinals.

The Chairman said their study of the EMIS 2020 revealed that 25 per cent (5,471) of public basic schools lack access to safe drinking water, 26 per cent (5,725) do not have toilet facilities, while 31 per cent (6,843) lack access to urinals.

He said in private basic schools, where the situation was a little better, 17 per cent (1,966) lack access to safe drinking water, 11 per cent (1,273) do not have access to toilet facilities, while 16 per cent (1,840) have no urinals.

He said the research revealed that the lack of access to these basic school infrastructure promotes absenteeism, truancy, loss of teaching and learning time, and generally poor academic performance.

Mr Arhin said sadly, even some public basic school infrastructure, which were recently constructed were without safe drinking water, toilet facilities and urinals.

 Indeed, nine out of 10 girls in Ghana regularly miss school during menstrual periods, he added.

He said this was because such girls who reached the age of puberty did not find the school environment safe or conducive.

It is our considered opinion and belief as a coalition that this is at the core of the right to education and dignity, he added.

He said the lack of access to these basic facilities, therefore, violated the fundamental human right to education and dignity of the thousands of children who are affected by this unfortunate situation.

He said it was their firm contention that the government, acting through MOE, GES, inspectorate Authority and any other relevant body, were violating their rights to health and life.

He said when children were in school and have no water to drink, no toilets to empty their bowels and no water to wash their hands, their health and wellbeing were obviously compromised, and their life is equally threatened.

Mr Arhin said this was against Article 13(1) of the 1992 constitution which reads no person shall be deprived of his life intentionally except in the exercise of the execution of a sentence of a court in respect of a criminal offence under the laws of Ghana of which he has been convicted.

The Chairman said as a national human rights institution, CHRAJ should take all legally necessary steps to ensure the appropriate State agencies including MOE, GES, NASIA and MMDAs collaborate to provide safe drinking water, improved toilet facilities and urinals in all public and private basic schools within acceptable timelines.

He called on the Commission to make a declaration that no new public or private basic school infrastructure may be constructed without access to safe drinking water, improved toilet facilities and urinals.

He said to make the school environment conducive for girls, who have reached the age of puberty, and to ensure that menstruating girls did not miss school, all school toilet facilities should have changing rooms for girls.

GNA
Tema, June 11, CDA Consult - The Tema West Municipal Assembly (TWMA) is to plant 5,000 trees as part of the 2022 Green Ghana Tree Planting Campaign Ms. Anna Adukwei Addo, the Tema West Municipal Chief Executive has stated.

As part of the mandate, the Assembly planted some seedlings around The Place Restaurant at Baatsona and at the Sakumono TWMA Junior High School where coconut trees were planted.

Ms. Addo stated that the assembly was working in collaboration with the Forestry Commission, Educational Director, Regional Coordination Council, and other stakeholders to help with the project, the Communication for Development and Advocacy Consult (CDA Consult) has gathered.

She said it is the Assemblys responsibility to ensure that the plants grow well and that with support from the Agriculture department, environmental, and sanitation team.

Trees are significant in our lives therefore we must make it a point to grow them and I believe we can make this project work when we work together. There would be constant monitoring after we have successfully planted all the seedlings and it is not going to be just a one-day show.

I love plants and have a handful of them at my residence hence the joy of working on this project to Green Tema West Municipality, she expressed.

Ms Addo noted that the Tema West Municipal Assembly joined the Green Ghana Tree Planting campaign which was an initiative by the government to plant 20 million seedlings across the country this year.

She recounted that about 60 percent of the trees planted last year in the municipality survived adding that others that did not were due to the harsh weather conditions but had been replaced.

She appealed to the public to take the Green Ghana project seriously because human beings depended on trees for survival adding that if there were no tress, I do not know what will happen to mankind, and as the adage goes, when the last tree dies the last man also dies.
11.06.2022 LISTEN

Tema, June 11, CDA Consult - The Commonwealth Regional Conference for Heads of Integrity Commissions and Anti-Corruption Bodies has awarded Dr Roger Oppong Koranteng, who is the Commonwealth Secretariats Head of Public Sector Governance for demonstrated commitment to the fight against corruption across the commonwealth.

Dr Koranteng was awarded among other reasons for establishing a vibrant and important network of Integrity Commissions and Anti-Corruption Bodies in the Caribbean.

A citation obtained by the Communication for Development and Advocacy Consult (CDA Consult) indicated that the award was presented at St Kitts and Nevis in the Caribbean during the Commonwealth Regional Conference for Heads of Integrity Commissions and Anti-Corruption Bodies.

Dr. Koranteng in an acknowledgment speech said it is such a great honour to receive this recognition recognizing the work I have done not only in the Commonwealth Caribbean but the whole of the Commonwealth region.

Dr Koranteng, therefore, dedicated the award to participants of the conference and stated, we are all in this fight against corruption together, so, I want to say thank you all, and most importantly to the Secretary-General for guidance and support, and for the steadfast commitment to combatting corruption across the Commonwealth.

He urged Integrity Commission and Anti-Corruption Bodies in the Commonwealth Caribbean to take advantage of best practices and knowledge shared by international organisations and practitioners, as well as other countries, to design and implement innovative anti-corruption projects and programmes.

A brief profile of Dr Koranteng available to the CDA Consult indicates that over years, he has established and strengthened Governance and Anti-Corruption Institutions around the world.

Since joining Commonwealth, Dr. Koranteng has also delivered papers at many Executive Seminars and Capacity Development Programmes in governance, management, and anti-corruption around the world - Africa, Caribbean, Asia, and Pacific countries.

In 2011, he established a successful and vibrant Association of Anti-Corruption Institutions in Commonwealth Africa to promote inter-agency collaboration and learning through the sharing of experiences and best practices in the fight against corruption and to promote good governance and development.

In 2013, he established the Commonwealth Africa Anti-Corruption Training Centre in Botswana as a partnership between the Commonwealth Secretariat and the Government of Botswana, the Centre builds and strengthens the capacity Anti-Corruption Agencies and the public sector institutions in Commonwealth Africa.

In 2015, he also established the Association of Integrity Commissions and Anti-Corruption Bodies in the Commonwealth Caribbean, which provides a forum for sharing experiences, best practices, and the benchmarking efforts in the fight against corruption and to promote good governance and a lot more
One person has been killed with others injured after a military truck rammed into shops and containers in Zebilla, near the Custom Barrier in the Bawku West District of the Upper East Region.

Eyewitnesses told modern Ghana reporter that the truck was on top of a speed from Bolga direction to Bawku when it hit a pot hole losing control of the vehicle.

The witnesses indicated that the vehicle veered off the road destroying shops and containers along the roadside.

One person who was on his motorbike infront of the military truck was hit from behind killing him instantly.

Some traders sustained injuries. Three motorbikes parked by the roadside were also destroyed.

The Zebilla District Police Command, NADMO and the soldiers were all at the scene to control the traffic.

Meanwhile, residents of Zebilla are appealing to the contractor, Quiroz Galvao, working on the Bolga- Pulmakom road to immediately fix speed ramps in the township to prevent similar accidents.
The Brotherhood of Anlo, a non-profit group of young Anlo men, is demanding an apology from Paul Adom-Otchere, host of Good Evening Ghana on Metro TV, over his comments against Togbe Afede XIV, the Agbogbomefia of Asogli State, for returning his Ex-Gratia.

The group deemed the comments disrespectful, disparaging and discriminating and, thus, must be withdrawn.

Mr Adom-Otchere, on his Good Evening Ghana show, alleged that the Agbogbomefia of the Asogli State had a record of poor attendance at Council meetings and did not merit the payment of the emolument.

A statement signed by Mr Evans Amuzu, the Secretary/Convener of the group and copied to the Ghana News Agency, advised the TV host to refrain from such divisive acts.

It asked Mr Adom-Otchere to withdraw his comments and apologise to Togbe and the good people of the Ewe origin and give Tobge the respect he would accord any other chief in Ghana.

At this time that our nation is saddled with issues of unemployment and revenue challenges, Paul should be praising Togbe for being so patriotic by returning his Ex-Gratia to government and by extension the suffering people of Ghana due to the economic meltdown, the statement said.

It expressed gratitude to Togbe Afede for his donation of GH100,000.00 each to Members of Parliament of the three coastal districts of the Volta Region affected by tidal waves.

GNA
UK Parliament has invited members of the Constitutional, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Committee of Ghanas parliament to a meeting over the anti-gay bill, Chair of the Committee, Kwame Anyimadu-Antwi, has disclosed.

He told TV3 in an exclusive interview that the lawmakers will be leaving Kotoka International Airport (KIA) on Sunday June 12 and then walk into the meeting on Monday June 13.

The invitation came to the Speaker and the Speaker forwarded it to Committee. Four members of the committee including myself and the ranking member will be attending this important meeting. We tale off Sunday, we were supposed to have gone today but because of flight arrangement we will go on Sunday so we walk into the meeting Monday morning and by Wednesday we are done, he said on Saturday June 11.

The controversial bill has divided opinion in the Ghana.

While some, particularly the religious and traditional groupings, supported the Bill and hopeful of its passing, others say it could incur the wrath of the international community against Ghana.

The bill is being promoted by Ningo Prampram lawmaker Samuel Nartey George and some of his colleague legislators.

3news.com
More FM is proud to present Royal New Zealand Ballets brand spanking-new production Cinderella.

The Ballet dream team, choreographer Loughlan Prior and composer Claire Cowan have reunited to create the Ryman Healthcare Season of Cinderella, showcasing fashion-forward designs by Australian designer Emma Kingsbury.

This is not your usual glass slipper, settle down with a prince kind of Cinderella story, but rather a modern take for our time.

The world premiere of RNZBs Cinderella will be the first production the company will perform back on their home stage at St James Theatre in Wellington, 3rd August.

This is a must see production whether youre a Ballet-lover or not - it really is a show for everyone!

Tickets available here

Season Details

Wellington: St James Theatre  3-6 August 2022

Auckland: Kiri Te Kanawa Theatre  10-13 August 2022

Napier : Municipal Theatre  20-21 August 2022

Christchurch: Isaac Theatre Royal  25-28 August 2022

Dunedin : Regent Theatre  3 September 2022

Image: RNZB Principal Mayu Tanigaito in promotional shot for the Ryman Healthcare Season of Cinderella, 2022. Photography by Ross Brown.
Energy-related issues are gaining significant attention in the nations capital, and thats compelling industry associations to increase their vigilance.

Theres so much going on in D.C., observed Dan Naatz, senior vice president, government relations and political affairs with the Independent Petroleum Association of America. There is a lot of rhetoric and talk about obscene profits, price gouging and implementing a profits tax and price controls.

That talk may not be gaining much traction, he said, but if its being discussed in Washington, D.C., the IPAA and other associations need to ensure they dont happen.

There are actions the Biden administration could take on energy prices, especially gasoline prices, that drive the conversation, he said Wednesday during a visit to Midland.

Hopefully, Naatz added, the concerns raised by energy prices and energy supplies could lead to a real look at energy policy and how US producers could get back to what they do best.

Responding to claims US producers arent doing enough to increase supply and lower prices, he said, Our contention is private companies are doing a lot. Look at the production numbers in the Permian Basin and other basins. The issue is the administration, on a regulatory level, wants easy answers.

There are no easy answers regarding energy, he said. We need thoughtful policies that move us forward.

When President Biden took office, Naatz said, he made it clear climate change was a top priority and fossil fuels were to be phased out.

Then, for a variety of reasons, looking at high gasoline prices, high energy prices, theyre spinning a different story, he said.

The key to addressing energy concerns  supply and prices  is leadership in the nations capital that understands how important oil and gas is, how important private oil and gas companies are, he added.

The other message, said Midlander Steve Pruett, who is serving as the IPAAs vice chair, is the US produces the cleanest oil and gas in the world, creates jobs, pays taxes, pays royalties. Foreign producers dont create jobs, dont pay taxes, dont pay royalties. Our production is also locally positioned rather than putting it on ships.

Its maddening, Pruett said, to see the administration discourage US producers yet turn to Venezuela or Saudi Arabia for more production.

Said Naatz, We believe theres a better way, to have a energy policy that works, but it takes time. We want to be a partner with the administration  any administration  not an adversary.

The industry, he said, should help craft regulations that work well, are effective and benefit everyone. What have been put in place in the past 18 months we think are misguided policies, misguided direction and were seeing the results.

IPAA members  and others in the industry  are doing a lot to address energy concerns, Naatz reiterated.

We understand how important national energy security is and that translates to global energy security, he said. Were proud of what our members do, our advances in environmental protection, reducing emissions, reducing the environmental footprint. Were not asking for more of the world. Let us produce oil and gas thats cleaner than anywhere else in the world. We have the answers, we need to have partners in the administration to move forward.
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PHNOM PENH, Cambodia (AP)  Cambodias prime minister urged military-ruled Myanmar to reconsider the death sentences against four political opponents, suggesting that executing them will draw strong international condemnation and complicate efforts to restore peace to the strife-torn nation.

Hun Sens letter on Saturday to Myanmar ruler Senior Gen. Min Aung Hlaing adds to worldwide concern and protest over the intended executions of four men involved in the struggle against military rule. A copy of the letter was received from Cambodias foreign ministry.

Hun Sen wrote that with deep concern and sincere desire to help Myanmar achieve peace and national reconciliation, I would like to earnestly request you and the State Administrative Council (SAC) to reconsider the sentences and refrain from carrying out the death sentences given to those anti-SAC individuals.

The letter is unusual because Southeast Asian governments rarely issue statements that could be considered critical of each other's internal affairs. Hun Sen himself has a reputation as a leader who has been willing to employ authoritarian methods to stay in power for 37 years. However, Cambodia's Constitution of 1989 abolished the death penalty.

A Myanmar military spokesperson announced on June 3 that Phyo Zeya Thaw, a 41-year-old former lawmaker from ousted leader Aung San Suu Kyis party, and Kyaw Min Yu, a 53-year-old veteran pro-democracy activist better known as Ko Jimmy, would be executed for violating the countrys counterterrorism law.

Spokesperson Maj. Gen. Zaw Min Tun said the decision to hang the two along with two other men convicted of killing a woman they believed was a military informer was made after their appeals against their military court judgement were rejected.

No date was announced for the planned executions.

Myanmars army in February last year seized power from Suu Kyi's elected government, triggering widespread peaceful protests that soon erupted into armed resistance, and the country slipped into what some U.N. experts characterize as a civil war.

Hun Sen has a special interest in Myanmar because Cambodia this year chairs the 10-member Association of Southeast Asia Nations, ASEAN, to which Myanmar belongs.

ASEAN has sought to play a role in promoting an end to the violence in Myanmar and provide humanitarian assistance there. But Myanmars military has failed to cooperate with ASEANs plans.

Cambodian Foreign Minister Prak Sokhonn is ASEANs special envoy to Myanmar, but Hun Sen has publicly expressed pessimism about achieving a breakthrough in dealing with Myanmar's generals.

U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has called for all charges to be dropped against those arrested for exercising their fundamental freedoms and rights and for all political prisoners in Myanmar to be released immediately.

On Friday, two U.N experts added sharper condemnations.

"The illegitimate military junta is providing the international community with further evidence of its disregard for human rights as it prepares to hang pro-democracy activists, said a statement issued by Thomas Andrews, special rapporteur on human rights in Myanmar, and Morris Tidball-Binz, special rapporteur on extrajudicial summary or arbitrary executions.

These death sentences, handed down by an illegitimate court of an illegitimate junta, are a vile attempt at instilling fear amongst the people of Myanmar.

They also noted that the military already stands accused of carrying out the extrajudicial killings of almost 2,000 civilians.

The Assistance Association for Political Prisoners, a non-governmental organization that tracks killing and arrests, said Friday that 1,929 civilians have been killed by security forces. It said 114 other people had been sentenced to death.

Western governments have also blasted the death sentences.

Myanmar's foreign ministry on Monday rejected such criticism, declaring that its judicial system is fair and that Phyo Zeya Thaw and Kyaw Min Yu were found guilty and sentenced to death as they were proved to be masterminds of orchestrating full-scale terrorist attacks against innocent civilians to instill fear and disrupt peace and stability.



Peck reported from Bangkok.
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SAN SALVADOR, El Salvador (AP)  Teodora del Carmen Vasquez was nine months pregnant and working at a school cafeteria when she felt extreme pain in her back, like the crack of a hammer. She called 911 seven times before fainting in a bathroom in a pool of blood.

The nightmare that followed is common in El Salvador, a heavily Catholic country where abortion is banned under all circumstances and even women who suffer miscarriages and stillbirths are sometimes accused of killing their babies and sentenced to years or even decades in prison.

When Vasquez regained consciousness, she had lost her nearly full-term fetus. Instead of an ambulance, officers drove her in the bed of a pickup through heavy rain to a police station. There she was arrested on suspicion of violating El Salvadors abortion law, one of the world's strictest. Fearing she could die, authorities eventually rushed her to a hospital, where she was chained by her left foot to a gurney. She was prosecuted, convicted and given 30 years in prison for aggravated homicide.

This is the reality that we have lived, and I am not alone, said Vasquez, who ended up serving more than 10 years for what she has always said was a stillbirth. Any woman who arrives to jail accused of having an abortion is seen as the most evil, heartless being.

From the moment we get pregnant, we become incubators, said Vasquez, who was freed in 2018 after her sentence was commuted. We lose our rights because the only possibility that we have of a life is taking care of the product inside us. Its violence against us.

Abortion rights activists say the law has led to widespread human rights violations against Salvadoran women and should serve as a cautionary tale for the United States, where more than 20 states are expected to ban abortion if the Supreme Court overturns the landmark 1973 Roe v. Wade ruling in the coming weeks.

Some states may retain exceptions for cases such as rape or incest, but others are likely to have none save for a threat to a pregnant woman's life. That would mean some rape victims may be forced to carry unwanted pregnancies to term and obstetric emergencies could be mistaken for intentional abortions, according to Catalina Martinez Coral, Latin America and Caribbean director for the New York-based Center for Reproductive Rights.

These states are going to live similar situations that women are living in El Salvador, Martinez Coral said.

Some anti-abortion leaders in the U.S. say they oppose prosecuting women who have abortions, but others think differently. Louisiana legislators unsuccessfully pushed a bill this year that would have allowed such prosecutions, for example, and Tom Ascol, a top contender to become the Southern Baptist Conventions next president, favors classifying the procedure as homicide.

___

Women used to be able to seek abortions in cases of risk to their life, severe fetal malformations incompatible with life, or rape in El Salvador, a country of 6.5 million people nestled between Guatemala and Honduras along Central America's Pacific Coast.

But that ended in the late 1990s with a law championed by anti-abortion activists, conservative lawmakers and the Catholic Church, followed by a constitutional amendment defining life as starting at conception.

Today it is one of four countries in the Western Hemisphere with total bans  but it stands out for its aggressive prosecutions. While abortion carries a two- to eight-year prison sentence, dozens of women have, like Vasquez, been convicted of aggravated homicide, punishable by 30 years behind bars.

Overall, El Salvador has prosecuted at least 181 women who experienced obstetric emergencies in the past two decades, according to the Citizen Group for the Decriminalization of Abortion, which has been working to win freedom for such women since 2009. At least 65 imprisoned women have been released with the help of the organization and its allies.

Everywhere in the world its understood that there are pregnancy losses for natural reasons. ... Here, thats punished, said Morena Herrera, the nonprofits director.

El Salvador expects doctors and nurses to report suspected abortions under threat of prosecution, so women who show up at hospitals following miscarriages or botched abortions are sometimes turned over for investigation.

Prosecution and punishment overwhelmingly fall on poor, young women who lack sufficient access to medical services and cannot afford to travel overseas for an abortion or pay for good legal defense if they run afoul of the law. Sometimes they are victims of rape, in a country with a high incidence of that crime.

One such woman, Imelda, was repeatedly raped from age 8 to 18 by her mothers partner and became pregnant by him. In 2017 she unexpectedly gave birth to the baby in a latrine and then lost consciousness. The child survived, but Imelda was accused of attempted murder due to the circumstances of the birth.

She was freed from prison in 2018 after a court determined that she had not tried to kill her baby.

Imelda firmly believes that a woman should not be forced to carry to term a fetus conceived by rape. Since her release she has been studying to become a nurse and hopes to set an example to medical providers by treating patients in similar situations better than she was.

What young girl is going to want to be a mother? Theyre innocent, Imelda said. What they really want is to play, to study. Ive always wanted to study, not be a mother.

The Associated Press generally does not identify people who say they have been sexually assaulted; The AP is identifying Imelda only by her first name.

Another woman, Karen, was 21 and pregnant when she fainted alone in her grandmothers home. She woke up handcuffed to a hospital gurney and lost the pregnancy. A police interrogation led to an aggravated homicide conviction in 2015 and a 30-year prison sentence.

They told me that I was a murderer and that I was going to pay for what I had done, she said, that I was going to rot in jail.

In prison, other inmates told Karen she didnt deserve to live. She spent seven years locked up, drawing strength from her son and belief in her innocence, and was released in December.

Like some other women interviewed by AP, Karen shared her story and agreed to be photographed on condition her full name not be disclosed out of concerns over privacy, possible reprisals and societal stigma over abortion.

Today Karen tries to make up for lost time by playing soccer with her 14-year-old son and cooking his favorite meals, refried beans and fried plantains. She holds onto her Catholic faith but has grown disenchanted by some of the churchs positions, including its staunch opposition to abortion.

If it was up to them, we shouldnt have been freed, Karen said. We should still be paying a sentence for a crime that we committed, according to society and the church.

___

The Catholic Church and the growing number of evangelical churches have vast influence in the overwhelmingly Christian country, where some lawmakers cited Scripture last year as they voted to uphold the abortion ban.

In his office in El Salvadors congress, lawmaker Guillermo Gallegos maintains what he calls his altar  a wooden table with an open Bible; images of Jesus that he got on a trip to Russia; a plastic bottle filled with water blessed by Pope Francis during a visit to the Vatican; a statue of the Virgin Mary; and a silver one of Moses holding the Ten Commandments.

In an interview, Gallegos said allowing abortion would countermand deeply held beliefs among a large majority in El Salvador.

There is no valid reason why abortion can be decriminalized in our country, Gallegos said. There are strong movements in the country in favor of abortion for some reasons, but fortunately that has not been able to prosper here in the parliament, where the decision would have to be made.

Approving abortion, well, that would go against our faith, he added.

The Vatican has long been strenuously opposed to abortion, and that hasn't changed under Francis. The pontiff has repeatedly denounced it as evidence of throwaway culture, and in 2019 he asked at a Catholic-sponsored conference, Is it licit to hire a hitman to resolve a problem?

After celebrating Mass on a recent morning at St. Francis of Assisi Parish in the Salvadoran capital, San Salvador, Cardinal Gregorio Rosa Chavez praised Francis' views and echoed his theme of abortion as a violent act.

We live in a culture of death, the cardinal told the AP, saying it leads us to a total disaster.

Anti-abortion activists say that women sharing their stories did kill their babies and that their arguments are led by abortion-rights nonprofits to try to ease the law. Local anti-abortion groups did not respond to interview requests or declined to talk to the AP.

El Salvadors health minister declined to comment via a spokesperson for the presidency, who also said no other government officials would be available for interviews.

___

With Roe v. Wade in jeopardy in the United States, Latin American abortion rights activists who once looked to their northern neighbor as a model have shifted their sights elsewhere to countries such as Argentina, Colombia and Mexico, which have loosened restrictions in recent years under pressure from womens movements pushing the issue through the courts.

The Center for Reproductive Rights was one of several organizations that litigated and lobbied for decriminalizing abortion up to 24 weeks in Colombia. It is now working to preserve Roe.

We hope that this green wave is also going to inspire our sisters in the United States, Martinez Coral said, referring to the colorful handkerchiefs worn at demonstrations by supporters of abortion rights in the region. It needs to be protected everywhere.

Jocelyn Viterna, a Harvard University sociologist, has reviewed court documents from dozens of cases in which Salvadoran women were convicted of pregnancy-related homicide.

If this plays out the way it does in El Salvador, in the United States women who have naturally occurring miscarriages may much more frequently be under suspicion for abortion, Viterna said. We may be asking, Did they take a pill? Did they drink too much when they shouldnt? What leads you to lose that child?

Herrera, of the Citizen Group, agreed with U.S. activists' fears that their country may see a disproportionate impact among women of color and low-income women if Roe disappears  similar to the ban's effect in El Salvador, where it has upended poor families.

Jesus, 22, was 8 years old when his mother was arrested in 2008 after losing her pregnancy. He and his 5-year-old brother were left in the care of their grandparents, subsistence farmers. The boys' mother, who in court proceedings was identified only as Manuela, succumbed to cancer in 2010 while serving a 30-year sentence.

Death, Jesus said. Thats what the state of El Salvador caused when it sentenced my mom  it killed her and sentenced her children to a bad life.

Tormented for years by the accusations against his mother, he finally found some closure last November when the Inter-American Court of Human Rights ruled that El Salvador had violated her rights.

The court found that Manuela's lost pregnancy was due to a complication known as preeclampsia and that health care workers wrongly prioritized reporting her to authorities instead of treating her health situation. It ordered the government to pay damages to her two boys.

Tapping his feet nervously during an interview, Jesus said he decided to tell their story in hopes that other children wont have to face the same suffering: My moms name is a memory that will never fade.

___

Vasquez also grew up poor in rural El Salvador, helping her parents farm before moving to the capital as a teen. She entered prison at age 24. Having attended school through just the fourth grade, she earned her high school degree behind bars and became a de facto spokesperson for others serving time.

When she was released in 2018, she vowed to fight to free other women and help them transition to new lives. Today she has become the public face of the abortion rights movement in El Salvador, traveling nationwide to meet with women in similar cases and recruit them to join her group, Mujeres Libres  Spanish for free women. Its motto: Dont let this history repeat itself.

Inside a loaned home that the group helped repair, Mujeres Libres holds theater performances, music lessons for their children and workshops on how to run small businesses. The walls are decorated with a photo of Nelson Mandela and pictures of the women from their time in incarceration.

The pain of one woman is every womans pain, said Vasquez, who was awarded a human rights and democracy prize by Sweden in 2018. She recently graduated from college with a degree in communications and was featured in a documentary.

The group attracts women like Mariana Lopez, 40, who was also imprisoned after losing a pregnancy in 2000 and served 17 years. Back on the outside, she joined Mujeres Libres and took out a loan to become a baker, a childhood dream.

Teodora has had the greatest struggle, because shes the one who has had enough courage to stand up to others, Lopez said.

Her 7-year-old daughter takes music lessons at the home with other children, and they live off sales of the baguettes that Lopez bakes before dawn in her humble home about two hours from San Salvador.

Perhaps we could have had the courage, but we needed someone to give us a little push, Lopez said, adding, Now we feel a bit better, maybe even happy, because we can share with each other in another stage of life  in freedom.

Another woman, Cindy, was imprisoned in 2014 after having a stillbirth in a shopping mall bathroom. At the time she had a 4-year-old son, Justin, and was studying tourism and English. Parenting and her education were put on hold, and it was four years before she was able to see Justin again.

What I reflect on the most is the losses. ... The total loss of all family, homes, houses, studies, work, children. Everything is lost, Cindy said. What makes you think the most is how are you going to start over? How are you going to recover time with your family?

Now 30 and out of prison, she has to travel to a judicial office in the capital every month to sign her parole papers. She and Justin live with her parents, and she's back in school. She makes and sells pinatas to get by, and crafted one for her son's birthday in the form of a dinosaur  he wants to become a paleontologist.

They dream of traveling abroad together: To forget everything, Cindy said, to start again in a new place.

Vasquez said she is heartened by the children of the women, who tell her they will carry on her legacy long after shes gone.

It gets my hopes up because I really think that these processes must start when were young, Vasquez said. So the message  especially for mothers worldwide should be: Teach your girls to know their rights now, so that they will be able to defend human rights.

Its really important to try to change El Salvador, she continued, so our history doesnt get repeated elsewhere and by future generations.

___

Associated Press journalists Marcos Aleman in San Salvador and Marko Alvarez in Bogota, Colombia, contributed to this report.

___

Associated Press religion coverage receives support through the APs collaboration with The Conversation US, with funding from Lilly Endowment Inc. The AP is solely responsible for this content.
Marilyn Nieves/Getty Image

The lawsuit brought forth to remove Laura Nodolf as Midland Countys district attorney is actually not new concept for elected officials in Midland.

In October of 2020, a non-profit organization called Save Lee Rebels and its board president, Carie McNeil, filed a petition that called for the removal of five Midland ISD board members in 238th District Court.
Westlake Ace Hardware

Westlake Ace Hardware in Midland and the Salvation Army are celebrating 10 years of fan drives. This years fan drive, in which donations are being accepted to purchase fans for those in need beat the summer heat, will last through June 19.

Donations can made at the local Westlake Ace Hardware, 1004 Andrews Highway, or online at westlakehardware.com/fan-drive. Westlake customers can also donate by rounding up their purchases at the register.
Anyone else enjoy those drama-free weeks in Midland?

Well, they are over.

I have no problem with what David Wilson thinks he needs to do, filing a suit for what he believes will be better government. If that is what the process requires, it will make our community stronger.

What this situation does  that I am not crazy about  is divide the community.

Take the situation at hand. District Attorney Laura Nodolf has been thrown into the fire recently. That is part of the position of being arguably the most impactful person in the county. But for the life of me, I cant remember a series of high-profile events that put the Midland County DAs Office under such a public microscope.

In 2017, a Midland police officer was involved in a crash that killed an elderly man.

In 2019, David Wilson shot and killed a Midland police officer.

Earlier this year, Midland police arrested officials from Midland Christian School and Trinity School of Midland for failing to report the supposed sexual assault of a student.

One can make judgements on how those cases have been or were handled, but I want to hear the argument there was a good outcome in any of those. There wasnt one. In fact, what I think is most fascinating about the predicament that Nodolf now finds herself in is its a battle with so many fronts.

On one front is the Wilson team. That one is pretty easy to understand, and it will play out in open court.

We know after Friday that Nodolf remains in a divisive relationship with County Judge Terry Johnson, who stirred up his supporters by firing off a comment on the Reporter-Telegrams Facebook page that Midland deserves a better DA. Make no mistake about it. Johnson was sending a message to Nodolf.

She has opposition from the Midland Municipal Police Officers Association, who took the incredibly rare step -- by its own admission -- of offering public statement of how the Midland County District Attorneys Office handled the Midland Christian officials case in front of the grand jury.

She also has at least one very formidable person  former federal prosecutor Glenn Harwood -- already indicate his intention to run against her in 2024.

No way those battles end peacefully for all involved.

--

Getting back to the original statement in the article  the end of peace even if it was a short period here in Midland.

It seems like this community has been going through a 24-7 cycle of controversies  some large and others not-so-much -- going back to the Midland ISD bond election of 2019. When one ends, another begins. That makes the next three years or so very uneasy for this longtime Midlander.

There will be more elections, more requests for tax money, more public conservations needing to be had and very high-profile events/controversies that we cant get away from.

My hope is that we remember who we are, that there is a proper way to have the conversations that are coming our way, that leaders lead, and we avoid looking like other communities where leadership is a part of the problem and not part of the solution.

Want to highlight or perpetuate the divide on a government board, do it elsewhere. Respect the fact that voters have made their decisions, fight your good fight and move on to the next problem. Our politics in Midland should be better than what we see in Washington, Austin and other communities across the state. Lets act like it.
China voices firm opposition to European Parliament's Xinjiang resolution

Xinhua) 15:20, June 11, 2022

BEIJING, June 10 (Xinhua) -- A spokesperson of China's top legislature on Friday voiced stern opposition to a so-called resolution newly adopted by the European Parliament on "the human rights situation in Xinjiang."

China firmly opposes the European Parliament's "political manipulation and gross interference in China's internal affairs under the guise of human rights," said You Wenze, spokesperson for the Foreign Affairs Committee of the National People's Congress.

Since the founding of New China over 70 years ago, continuous progress has been made in the human rights cause in China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, You said.

The country's efforts in counter-terrorism and deradicalization have ensured the safety of life and property of people of all ethnic groups in Xinjiang to the greatest extent, and made positive contributions to the cause of human rights across the world and the global fight against terrorism, You added.

"Xinjiang is currently in the best period of development in history with social stability, economic prosperity and residents living a peaceful and happy life," he said.

Attempts by anti-China forces in the European Parliament to smear and slander China's Xinjiang policy are aimed to sow discord among various ethnic groups in China, taint China's image and contain its development, You said, adding that all such acts are doomed to fail.

Xinjiang-related issues are by no means about human rights, ethnicity or religion, but about fighting violent terrorism and separatism, You said.

Xinjiang affairs are purely China's internal affairs and brook no external interference, You said, urging the European Parliament to immediately stop interfering in China's internal affairs under the pretext of Xinjiang-related issues.

(Web editor: Zhong Wenxing, Bianji)
Although some groups have resumed meetings, others schedules may have changed because of pandemic restrictions. It is recommended you contact the group in advance to verify details. Any changes in meeting schedules can be emailed to JJCsocial@myjournalcourier.com.



ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS

217-370-4002

Jacksonville locations:

 First Baptist Church, 1701 Mound Ave. Wheelchair-accessible.

 Club HOW, 638 S. Church St.

Monday

 Closed discussion, 7:30 a.m. at Club HOW.

 Closed discussion, noon at Club HOW.

 Closed discussion, 8 p.m. at First Baptist Church. Bowen Group.

 Closed discussion, 8 p.m. at Club HOW.

Tuesday

 Open discussion, noon at Club HOW.

 Womens open meeting, 5:30 p.m., First Christian Churchs Fireside Room.

 VIRGINIA: Closed discussion, 7 p.m. at Grace Lutheran Church, Main and Washington streets.

 ROODHOUSE: Closed discussion, 12-step/12 traditions, 8 p.m. at Grace Center, 114 W. Palm St.

Wednesday

 Closed discussion, noon at Club HOW.

 Closed discussion, 8 p.m. at Club HOW.

Thursday

 Closed discussion, 7:30 a.m. at Club HOW.

 Closed discussion, noon at Club HOW.

 Closed discussion, 8 p.m. at Club HOW. Newcomers Group.

Friday

 Closed discussion, noon at Club HOW. TGIF Group.

 Closed discussion, 5:15 p.m., Big Book Study at Club HOW.

 VIRGINIA: Closed discussion, 8 p.m. at United Methodist Church, 401 E. Broadway Ave.

Saturday

 Open speaker, 8 p.m. at Club HOW.

 Open meeting, noon at Club HOW.

Sunday

 Closed discussion, 8 p.m. at Club HOW. 12 & 12 Group.

 Closed discussion, 10 a.m. at Club HOW. (Second Sunday is open)

 SPRINGFIELD: AA for Women, 10 a.m. at Discovery Club, 313 W. Cook St.



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Meetings are nonsmoking and open to anyone. The only requirement is that there be a problem of alcohol with a loved one or friend. 217-248-6434.

Wednesday

 Al-Anon, 7:30-8:30 p.m. at Centenary United Methodist Church, 331 E. State St. (use Morgan Street entrance).

Thursday

 Al-Anon, noon at First Presbyterian Church, 870 W. College Ave. (open meeting).



NARCOTICS ANONYMOUS

All meetings are nonsmoking. Not affiliated with any religious organization.

Jacksonville locations:

 First Christian Church, 2106 S. Main St. (enter through far southeast door). 217-883-1975.

 Lutheran Church for the Deaf, 104 Finley St. (enter through back door). 217-883-1975.

Wednesday

 Open discussion group, 8 p.m. at Lutheran Church for the Deaf.

Friday

 Open discussion group, 7:30 p.m. at First Christian Church.



OTHER MEETINGS

Monday

 Addicts Victorious, 7-8 p.m. at Faith Tabernacle, 571 Sandusky St. Use side entrance to church hall.

 PITTSFIELD: Addicts Victorious, 7-8 p.m. in the basement of Subway in Pittsfield. 1-800-323-1388.



Tuesday

 Jacksonville Sunrise Rotary, 7 a.m. Holiday Inn Express meeting room, South Jacksonville. 217-243-6895.

 Bereavement support group, 10-11 a.m. Jacksonville Memorial Hospital, Meeting Room 4.

 American Legion Post 279, first Tuesday of every month, 7 p.m. at 903 W. Superior Ave.



Wednesday

 Breastfeeding support group, 6 p.m., Jacksonville Memorial Hospital, Meeting Room 2.

 ROODHOUSE: Women with Hearts of Love (WWHOL), 6-7 p.m. at House of Restoration, 208 W. Franklin St. 217-602-1670.



Thursday

 Jacksonville Area Chess Club, 6-9 p.m. at Jacksonville Public Library. 217-370-0882.

 Jacksonville Kiwanis Club, noon at Hamiltons.

 WHITE HALL: Addicts Victorious, teens 5:30-6:30 p.m.; adults 7-8 p.m. in the Fellowship Hall of New Life Church, 626 Curtis St.



Friday

 Jacksonville Rotary Club, noon at Hamiltons.

 PITTSFIELD: Addicts Victorious, 6 p.m. at Assembly of God, 575 Piper St. 800-323-1388.



Saturday

 Jacksonville Amateur Radio Societys Net, 9 p.m. Transmitted on K9JX repeater. K9JX.com.

 Scott County Alzheimers support group, 9-10:30 a.m. third Saturday, Winchester United Methodist Church, 20 N. Walnut St., Winchester. Free | Open to all caregivers who help care for Alzheimers- and dementia-affected persons. For more information, call 217-742-3610 or Pam Hembrough at 217-743-6427.
stockcam/Getty Images

NEW BERLIN  Olivia Killion of New Berlin has been named to the spring semester chancellor's honor roll at the University of Mississippi.

To be named to the chancellor's list, a student must earn a 3.75-4.0 grade point average.
A Jacksonville High School graduate took time while still in high school to ensure that veterans have a productive work environment. As a future veteran, he may someday be able to use it himself.

Steven E. Doss earned his Eagle Scout award for what he has done for veterans who use AmVets Post 100's Vet-to-Vet room.

"Before Steven started his project, the room was a storage room and did not have the environment people needed to work," said David Elmore, Troop 107's assistant Scout master. "This is an area for veterans who do not have internet access to utilize a workspace for job applications and printing of needed documents. He deep-cleaned the room, replaced light covers, removed the fold-down tables from the walls and sanded and stained them. He then reinstalled the fold-down tables and decorated them with large service emblems of the military branches."

Doss began his Scouting journey with Cub Scout Pack 113 at South Jacksonville Elementary School, where he advanced through the ranks from Cub Scout to Webelo and earned his Arrow of Light in May 2015. Shortly after, he followed in his brother's footsteps and joined Troop 107; he has been an active troop member for seven years.

"In 2018, he was a counselor-in-training at Camp Bunn," Elmore said. "Steven has held several leadership positions within the troop, including scribe, patrol leader and senior patrol leader. In the summer of 2019, Steven was tapped to become a member of the Order of the Arrow and served as treasurer for Illinek Lodge 132. In his sophomore year of high school, he was accepted to attend the Freedoms Foundation Conference in Valley Forge, Pennsylvania, sponsored by Illinois AmVets."

While at JHS, Doss lettered in cross country all four years, serving as captain his junior and senior years. He also was voted "most dedicated" his senior year, lettered as a member of the JHS swim team during his junior and senior years, and was involved in tap dancing.

"He is a percussionist in the band, playing quints in drumline and vibraphone during symphonic band," Elmore said. "He has served as both pit squad leader and cymbal squad leader" and was active in vocal music, singing with the JHS men's and women's ensemble for one year and Madrigals for three years. "Steven was selected to District Choir and All-State Choir his senior year ... he has performed in many plays and musicals while at JHS."

Now that Doss has graduated, he will ship out for basic training and military occupational specialties school with the Marine Corps Reserve. After training, he intends to enroll in a four-year college or university with a long-term goal of becoming a professional pilot for Delta Airlines.

Doss also was presented in 2020 with the God and Life medal at his church, Faith Lutheran.
Ukraine: Russia said to be using more deadly weapons in war

Ukraine: Russia said to be using more deadly weapons in war View Photo

KYIV, Ukraine (AP)  Ukrainian and British officials warned Saturday that Russian forces are relying on weapons able to cause mass casualties as they try to make headway in capturing eastern Ukraine and fierce, prolonged fighting depletes resources on both sides.

Russian bombers have likely been launching heavy 1960s-era anti-ship missiles in Ukraine, the U.K. Defense Ministry said. The Kh-22 missiles were primarily designed to destroy aircraft carriers using a nuclear warhead. When used in ground attacks with conventional warheads, they are highly inaccurate and therefore can cause severe collateral damage and casualties, the ministry said.

Both sides have expended large amounts of weaponry in what has become a grinding war of attrition for the eastern region of coal mines and factories known as the Donbas, placing huge strains on their resources and stockpiles.

Russia is likely using the 5.5-tonne (6.1-ton) anti-ship missiles because it is running short of more precise modern missiles, the British ministry said. It gave no details of where exactly such missiles are thought to have been deployed.

As Russia also sought to consolidate its hold over territory seized so far in the 108-day war, the U.S. defense secretary said Moscows invasion of Ukraine is what happens when oppressors trample the rules that protect us all.

Its what happens when big powers decide that their imperial appetites matter more than the rights of their peaceful neighbors, Lloyd Austin said during a visit to Asia. And its a preview of a possible world of chaos and turmoil that none of us would want to live in.

___

GOVERNOR: FLAMETHROWERS USED IN LUHANSK

A Ukrainian governor accused Russia of using incendiary weapons in a village in the eastern province of Luhansk, southwest of the fiercely contested cities of Sievierodonetsk and Lysychansk.

While the use of flamethrowers on the battlefield is legal, Luhansk Gov. Serhii Haidai alleged the overnight attacks in Vrubivka caused widespread damage to civilian facilities and an unknown number of victims.

At night, the enemy used a flamethrower rocket system  many houses burnt down, Haidai wrote on Telegram on Saturday. His claim could not be immediately verified.

Sievierodonetsk and neighboring Lysychansk are the last major areas of Luhansk remaining under Ukrainian control. Haidai said Russian forces destroyed railway depots, a brick factory and a glass factory.

The Ukrainian army said Saturday that Russian forces also were to launch an offensive on the city of Sloviansk in Donetsk province, which together with Luhansk makes up the Donbas,

Moscow-backed rebels have controlled self-proclaimed republics in both provinces since 2014.

___

ZELENSKYY SEEKS MORE EU SANCTIONS ON RUSSIA

During a visit to Kyiv by the European Unions top official, Ukrainian President Volodymr Zelenskyy called for a new round of even stronger EU sanctions against Russia.

Zelenskyy called for them to target more Russian officials, including judges, and to hamper the activities of all Russian banks, including that of gas giant Gazprom, as well as all Russian companies helping Moscow in any way.

He spoke during a brief appearance with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen at the heavily guarded presidential office compound in Ukraines capital.

The pair discussed Ukraines aspirations for EU membership. Zelenskyy, speaking through a translator, said Ukraine will do everything to integrate with the bloc.

Russia wants to divide Europe, wants to weaken Europe, he said.

Von der Leyen said the EUs executive arm was working day and night on an assessment of Ukraines eligibility as a candidate. The goal is to share it with existing members next week.

Zelenskyy and some EU supporters want Ukraine admitted quickly.

Von der Leyen described the membership process as a merit-based path and appealed for Ukraine to strengthen its rule of law, fight corruption and modernize its institutions. She said the EU would assist with the countrys reconstruction.

___

UKRAINE PRESIDENT ADDRESSES NATION

Zelenskyy said later, in his nightly video address, that fierce street battles were continuing in Sievierodonetsk and he was proud of the Ukrainian defenders who for weeks have held back the Russian advance.

Remember how in Russia, in the beginning of May, they hoped to seize all of the Donbas? the president said. Its already the 108th day of the war, already June. Donbas is holding.

Zelenskyy said Russian forces are being pushed out of parts of the Kherson region they occupied early in the war. He also reported some success in the Zaporizhzhia region.

He added that no one knows how long the war will last, but Ukraine should do everything it can so the Russians regret everything that they have done and that they answer for every killing and every strike on our beautiful state.

___

BATTLE AT A CHEMICAL PLANT

Hundreds of Ukrainian troops remained blockaded inside a chemical plant on the outskirts of Sievierodonetsk, but some of the civilians with them have started to come out, an envoy for Russian-backed separatists said Saturday.

Several hundred civilians could still be inside the Azot plant, where they sought safety from the shelling in underground shelters, Rodion Miroshnik said via Telegram.

As the circle around the Ukrainian troops tightens, he said, the civilians will be able to leave and Russian forces are preparing transportation for their evacuation. The troops will be allowed to leave only if they lay down their arms and surrender, he added.

Luhansk Gov. Haidai said the Russians shelled the plant for hours and a big fire broke out. He made no mention of the troops or civilians referenced by Miroshnik.

___

EXPLOSION IN THE WEST

In the western Ternopil province, which has largely been spared from the fighting, an explosion rocked the town of Chortkiv late Friday, the governor said.

There was no immediate information about the cause of the explosion, and Gov. Volodymyr Trush told residents not to take pictures or comment on social media.

He said local officials decided to turn off supplies of natural gas while dealing with the consequences of the explosion.

___

RUSSIA SETS UP COMPANY TO SELL UKRAINES GRAIN

Russian-installed officials in Ukraines southern Zaporizhzhia region have set up a company to buy up local grain and resell it on Moscows behalf, a local representative told the Interfax news agency on Saturday.

Yevgeny Balitsky, the head of Zaporizhzhias pro-Russian provisional administration, said the new state-owned grain company has taken control of several facilities.

He said the grain will be Russian and we dont care who the buyer will be.

It was not clear if the farmers whose grain was being sold by Russia were getting paid. Balitsky said his administration would not forcibly appropriate grain or pressure producers to sell it.

Ukraine and the West have accused Russia of stealing Ukraines grain and causing a global food crisis that could cause millions of deaths from hunger.

The head of Ukraines presidential office accused Russias military of shelling and burning grain fields ahead of the harvest. Andriy Yermak alleged Moscow is trying to repeat a Soviet-era famine that claimed the lives of over 3 million Ukrainians in 1932-33.

Our soldiers are putting out the fires, but (Russias) food terrorism must be stopped, Yermak wrote Saturday on Telegram.

His and Balitskys claims could not be independently verified.

___

RUSSIAN PASSPORTS FOR UKRAINE RESIDENTS

Russian forces occupying parts of southern Ukraine began handing out Russian passports to local residents Saturday.

In the Kherson region, 23 residents accepted the documents, including the new Moscow-installed governor, Russian state news agency RIA Novosti reported.

For me this is a truly historic moment. I have always thought that we are one country and one people, the news agency quoted Gov. Volodymyr Saldo as saying.

Soldiers also started giving out passports in the occupied city of Melitopol, according to Russian state news agency Tass, which cited a Russian-installed local official as the source of the information. It did not specify how many residents had requested or received Russian citizenship.

Melitopol is located outside of the Donbas in the Zaporizhzhia region.

___

CHILD DEATH TOLL

Nearly 800 children have been killed or wounded in Ukraine since the beginning of Russias invasion, Ukrainian authorities said Saturday.

According to a statement by the Office of the Prosecutor General of Ukraine, at least 287 died as a result of military activity, while at least 492 more have been hurt. The statement stressed the figures were not final.

The office said children in Donetsk province have suffered the most, with 217 reported killed or wounded, compared with 132 and 116, respectively, in the Kharkiv and Kyiv regions.

___

CIVILIAN KILLED IN BEACH BLAST

Officials in the city of Odesa said Saturday that a man was killed by an explosion while visiting a beach on the Black Sea, where mines are a growing concern.

The city council said via Telegram that the man was there with his wife and son despite warnings to stay away from beaches. He was testing the waters temperature and depth when the explosion erupted.

Russia and Ukraine each have accused the other of laying mines in the Black Sea.

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Follow APs coverage of the Ukraine war at https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine

By DAVID KEYTON and JOHN LEICESTER

Associated Press
MADRID (AP)  Algeria on Friday appeared to have backed down in its dispute with Spain after its mission at the European Union issued a statement saying the northwest African country had never suspended the friendship treaty it holds with Spain.

In an odd development, Algeria said, As regards the alleged measure by the Government to stop current transactions with a European partner, it exists in fact only in the minds of those who claim it and those who hastened to stigmatize it.

There was no immediate comment by the Spanish government.

The statement came hours after top European Union officials said the bloc was treating the crisis between Algeria and Spain with the utmost concern and warned it was prepared to take action to defend the interests of its members.

The Algerian mission said it deplores the haste with which the European Commission has reacted without prior consultation or verification with the Algerian government to Algerias suspension of a bilateral political treaty with a European partner, in this case Spain.

The Algerian presidents office announced Wednesday that the North African nation was immediately suspending a two-decade-old friendship treaty with Spain, indicating a freeze on trade and cooperation between the two countries.

The suspension was seen as the latest move by Algeria to put pressure on Madrid after it changed its long-standing policy regarding the contested territory of Western Sahara. Algeria recalled its ambassador to Spain in March after Madrid came out in support of Moroccos attempts to keep Western Sahara under its rule. Algeria supports the territorys independence movement.

Earlier Friday, European Commission executive vice president Valdis Dombrovskis and EU foreign affairs chief Josep Borrell issued a statement saying the decision to suspension appeared to be in violation of the EU-Algeria Association Agreement, in particular in the area of trade and investment.

This would lead to a discriminatory treatment of an EU member state and adversely affect the exercise of the Unions rights under the Agreement, the EU said.

While urging dialogue to resolve the dispute, the EU officials said the EU is ready to stand up against any type of coercive measures applied against an EU nation.

That statement came after Spanish Foreign Minister Jose Albares traveled to Brussels to discuss the crisis.

Albares said the unilateral measure taken by Algeria violated the accord with the EU but insisted that what we want is dialogue and were not going to give any excuse for any escalation.

The EU on Thursday had urged Algeria to reverse its decision.

Spains chief worry had been that the suspension might affect important gas supplies from Algeria, but the government said that so far this has not happened. Algeria supplies 23% of Spains gas needs.

Spain and the rest of the 27-nation bloc are hustling now to find alternatives to Russian energy imports to protest Russias war in Ukraine.

Spain was the colonial power in Western Sahara until it was annexed by Morocco in 1975. Since then, neighbors Algeria and Morocco have been at odds over the fate of the region.

By CIARAN GILES

Associated Press
Biden, leaders reach migration pact despite attendance flap View Photo

LOS ANGELES (AP)  President Joe Biden and other Western Hemisphere leaders on Friday announced what is being billed as a roadmap for countries to host large numbers of migrants and refugees.

The Los Angeles Declaration is perhaps the biggest achievement of the Summit of the Americas, which was undercut by differences over Bidens invitation list. Leaders of Mexico and several Central American countries sent top diplomats instead after the U.S. excluded Cuba, Nicaragua and Venezuela.

A set of principles announced on the summits final day includes legal pathways to enter countries, aid to communities most affected by migration, humane border management and coordinated emergency responses.

Each of us is signing up to commitments that recognize the challenges that we all share, Biden said on a podium with flags for the 20 countries that joined the accord extending from Chile in the south to Canada in the north.

This is just a start, Biden said, expressing hope that more countries join. Much more work remains, to state the obvious.

The White House highlighted measures that were recently announced and some new commitments. Costa Rica will extend protections for Cubans, Nicaraguans and Venezuelans who arrived before March 2020. Mexico will add temporary worker visas for up to 20,000 Guatemalans a year.

The United States is committing $314 million to assist countries hosting refugees and migrants, and is resuming or expanding efforts to reunite Haitian and Cuban families. Belize will regularize Central American and Caribbean migrants in the country.

It is a blueprint already being followed to a large extent by Colombia and Ecuador, whose right-leaning leaders were saluted at the summit for giving temporary legal status to many of the 6 million people who have left Venezuela in recent years.

President Guillermo Lasso of Ecuador last week announced temporary status for Venezuelans in his country, estimated to be around 500,000. He said at a panel discussion Tuesday that his country was paying back the generosity of Spain and the United States for welcoming large numbers of Ecuadoreans who fled more than two decades ago.

Lasso was the only other leader to speak at a brief ceremony Friday. President Jair Bolsonaro of Brazil arrived late.

I would like to highlight that migration is a significant phenomenon and it demands joint actions under the principle of shared responsibility and differentiated between countries of the region, Lasso said.

President Ivan Duque of Colombia, who stood next to Biden at the ceremony, got standing ovations at an appearance Thursday for describing how his government has granted temporary status to 1 million Venezuelans in the last 14 months and is processing another 800,000 applications.

We did it out of conviction, Duque told The Associated Press, saying he couldnt be indifferent to Venezuelans who lost their homes and livelihoods and was prepared to suffer in approval ratings.

They were invisible (in Colombia), he said. They couldnt open bank accounts, they couldnt work, they couldnt get health care. They were practically a community with no future.

While the measures are not universally popular  Duques vice president, Marta Lucia Ramirez, has said Colombia has reached its limit and Ecuadoreans notice when a Venezuelan commits a high-profile crime  Venezuelans have generally assimilated without major backlash.

The two most dangerous phenomena are xenophobia and indifference, and I believe we have managed to conquer both (in Colombia), Duque said.

The United States has been the most popular destination for asylum-seekers since 2017, posing a challenge that has stumped Biden and his immediate predecessors, Donald Trump and Barack Obama.

But the U.S. is far from alone. Colombia and neighboring South American countries host millions of people who have fled Venezuela. Mexico fielded more than 130,000 asylum applications last year, many of them Haitians, which was triple from 2020. Many Nicaraguans escape to Costa Rica, while displaced Venezuelans account for about one-sixth the population of tiny Aruba.

Key countries that send or receive migrants, or serve as transit corridors joined the agreement: Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Mexico, Panama, Peru and the United States. Also participating are Argentina, Barbados, Belize, Jamaica, Paraguay and Uruguay.

The absence of the presidents of Mexico, northern Central America and other counties deprived Biden of symbolic heft.

What are those countries expected to do to contribute to shared responsibility? said Adam Isacson of the human rights advocacy group Washington Office on Latin America.

U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas said Thursday that the summit declaration acknowledged migrations regional dimensions. He and other U.S. officials applauded efforts of Colombia, Ecuador, Costa Rica and Panama, among others, for accepting migrants and refugees, and noted that the U.S. has granted refuge from natural disasters and civil strife to hundreds of thousands of Salvadorans, Haitians, Venezuelans and others under what is known as Temporary Protected Status.

Its a hemispheric challenge, Mayorkas said.

The responses of Colombia and Ecuador cannot be replicated, said Jose Samaniego, the U.N. refugee agencys regional director for the Americas. Each country is different, and migration from Central America is more complicated than Venezuela.

You dont want to copy and paste, he said, but there are good practices.

Ronal Rodriguez, a researcher at University of Rosario in Colombia, said some Venezuelans have faced problems with bank or commercial transactions despite having legal status and that much will depend on who voters select in June 19 elections to succeed Duque, who is limited to a single term.

___

Associated Press writers Astrid Suarez in Bogota, Colombia, and Gonzalo Solano in Quito, Ecuador, contributed.

By ELLIOT SPAGAT and CHRIS MEGERIAN

Associated Press
Daniel Lindsey sentenced to over 20 years for sex crimes View Photo

Sonora, California  A Jamestown man will spend the next nearly 21 years in prison for admitting to sex crimes with two female children.

54-year-old Daniel Lindsey was sentenced to 20 years and 8 months in prison to be served at 85%, according to Tuolumne County District Attorney Cassandra Jenecke.

Lindsey had earlier pled guilty to two counts of continuous sexual abuse and forcible lewd acts with a child under 14 years of age, along with witness intimidation. As earlier reported here, he was arrested in November for juvenile sex abuse after two victims came forward.

Jenecke detailed, Lindsey sexually assaulted one minor from the age of 7 to 11, telling her that if she told anyone, she would regret it. He sexually assaulted another minor from age 8 to 10. Showing great courage and strength, the minors reported the abuse to a family member.

At the sentencing on May 27th, one of the minors and some family members read statements regarding the impacts of these crimes.

Jenecke noted, The overwhelming support the minors have received from their loved ones as well as the strength these young ladies have demonstrated in coming forward ensures that Lindsey will serve a substantial prison sentence, unable to harm other children.
Maryland shooting suspect charged, name released View Photo

A West Virginia man was charged with murdering three co-workers at a Maryland machine shop as well as attempted murder and other charges, authorities said late Friday.

The name of the alleged shooter, Joe Louis Esquivel, 23, of Hedgesville, West Virginia, was also released by the Washington County sheriffs office on Friday.

Esquivel, who was hospitalized after a shootout with police, is currently being held by the Washington County Detention Center on no bond.

Authorities say Esquivel arrived Thursday morning for his normal shift at Columbia Machine Inc. in the small rural community of Smithsburg in western Maryland. He allegedly worked until he left the building to retrieve a weapon, went back inside and fired on employees in the area of a breakroom. Police responded to a 911 call at about 2:30 p.m.

The sheriffs office has not released a motive.

Smithsburg police who arrived first on the scene found a wounded person outside the business. As deputies arrived, three additional victims, all deceased, were located inside, the Washington County sheriffs office said.

Esquivel left the scene in a car and was quickly met by Maryland State Police. A Maryland state trooper who was injured in a shootout with the suspect was treated and released late Thursday, authorities said.

The 25-year veteran of the Maryland State Police was shot when police said Esquivel fired multiple rounds at troopers. At least one trooper returned fire, striking the suspect, state police said.

A search warrant was executed at the suspects West Virginia residence, and additional firearms were located, the sheriffs office said.

Washington County Sheriff Doug Mullendore identified those killed in the shooting as Mark Alan Frey, 50, of Hagerstown, Maryland; Charles Edward Minnick Jr., 31, of Smithsburg, Maryland; and Joshua Robert Wallace, 30, of Hagerstown.

Reached by telephone Friday, Nelson Michael, the father of Brandon Michael, 42, who was wounded in the machine shop shooting, said his son was still in the hospital, but he didnt know more about his condition.

Hes surviving, he said. Im glad hes alive, but its going to work on his nerves. I know that.

Nelson Michael said he didnt know why the gunman shot the victims.

Im not saying any more. Im just glad my sons alive, and I feel so bad for the families of the other ones, he said.

Authorities said the investigation is ongoing.

Mullendore said the suspect used a semiautomatic handgun, which was recovered after the shootout.

Smithsburg, a community of nearly 3,000 people, is just west of the Camp David presidential retreat and about 75 miles (120 kilometers) northwest of Baltimore. The manufacturing facility was in a sparsely populated area northeast of the towns center with a church, several businesses and farmland nearby.

Based in Vancouver, Washington, Columbia Machine manufactures equipment for concrete products, and its Smithsburg location builds molds and works on parts and repairs for other plants. The companys CEO, Rick Goode, issued a statement calling the deaths of three employees and the wounding of a fourth tragic.

Our highest priority during this tragic event is the safety and wellbeing of our employees and their families, he said.

Dennis Stouffer lived about a half-mile from Frey, one of the victims, and said he would see Frey at the mailbox when he drove by.

He described Frey as a solid individual and a good guy.

Stouffer said in a phone interview that Frey once made meat hooks for a deer-meat processing shop he used to run in Smithsburg.

He didnt make a bunch of noise or anything. He just went about his work, Stouffer said.

Speaking late Friday morning, Stouffer said the reason for the shooting remained a big mystery to people in the community.

Were all in shock and disbelief, and thats an understatement, Stouffer said.

By BRIAN WITTE and SARAH BRUMFIELD

Associated Press
DHAKA, Bangladesh (AP)  Thousands of people marched in Bangladesh's capital and in parts of India on Friday to urge Muslim-majority nations to cut ties with India and boycott its products unless it punishes two governing party officials for comments deemed derogatory to Islam's Prophet Muhammad.

Two protesters died of gunshot injuries sustained during clashes with police in the eastern Indian city of Ranchi, the capital of Jharkhand state, said Prabhat Kumar, a senior doctor at the Rajendra Institute of Medical Sciences, on Saturday. Another 10 people were being treated for various injuries at the hospital.

Authorities imposed a curfew on Friday night in parts of Ranchi after clashes between protesters and police left six officers injured, police said.

The protesters in Dhaka also criticized their country's government for not publicly condemning the comments made last week by the two officials in Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's governing Bharatiya Janata Party.

One official has been suspended and the other expelled after the BJP denounced insults of religious figures, but protesters in Bangladesh and India said the actions were not enough.

In Bangladesh, they marched after Friday prayers through streets near the main Baitul Mukarram Mosque in downtown Dhaka. Many chanted slogans against Modi.

The global Muslim community has been united. We ask the whole world to boycott Indian products, said Moulana Imtiaz Alam, leader of Islami Andolan Bangladesh, a grouping of Islamist parties that support the introduction of Islamic law in the country.

Alam called for the two Indian officials to be arrested and punished.

In India, thousands of Muslims took to the streets after Friday prayers and hurled rocks at police in several towns and cities.

Police used wooden batons and tear gas to disperse protesters in Hyderabad, Saharanpur, Prayagraj, Moradabad and Kanpur. Some demonstrators hurled rocks at security forces from rooftops, TV images showed.

In Prayagraj in northern Uttar Pradesh state, the protesters set several motorcycles and pushcarts on fire and damaged a police vehicle on Friday. Police used batons and tear gas to disperse them.

One police officer was injured when he was hit in the face with a rock thrown by protesters, said police officer Ajay Kumar.

Prashant Kumar, the states top police officer, said 136 protesters were arrested in six districts for rioting.

Mohammed Salim Qureshi, a protester outside New Delhis main Jama Masjid Mosque, also demanded the arrest of the two BJP officials.

Ahmed Bukhari, the imam of Jama Masjid, said the protest was spontaneous.

A paper effigy of BJP spokesperson Nupur Sharma was burned in Hyderabad, the capital of Andhra Pradesh state.

In the Indian-controlled portion of Kashmir, authorities locked down two towns and cut mobile internet service in several towns and in Srinagar, the regions main city, fearing anger against the comments could turn into larger anti-India protests.

Scores of Muslim residents protested against the two BJP officials in Srinagar, where shops and businesses shut spontaneously Friday. Authorities did not allow Friday prayers in Srinagar's main mosque or in the remote, mountainous towns of Bhaderwah and Kishtwar.

Protests nevertheless erupted for a second day in Bhaderwah, leading to clashes with government forces. No injuries were reported.

On Thursday, thousands protested in the town after a Hindu man posted a representation of the Prophet Muhammad and his wife on social media. Police have brought a case against the suspect.

Police also were investigating two Muslim men accused of delivering speeches against Hindus during Thursday's protest.

Tensions have been high in the divided Muslim-majority Himalayan region, also claimed by Pakistan, since 2019, when New Delhi ended its semi-autonomy and took direct control of the portion it administers.

At least five Arab nations have lodged official protests against India, and Pakistan and Afghanistan also reacted strongly this week to the comments made by the two BJP officials. They follow increasing violence targeting Indias Muslim minority by Hindu nationalists who have been emboldened by Modis silence about such attacks since he was elected in 2014.

Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has maintained a warm relationship with India for more than a decade despite growing anti-India sentiment in Bangladesh, India's neighbor and a major trading partner.

___

Associated Press journalists Aijaz Hussain in Srinagar, India, Ashok Sharma in New Delhi and Al-emrun Garjon in Dhaka, Bangladesh contributed to this report.
SEOUL, South Korea (AP)  The earliest photo Joo-Rei Mathieson has of herself was taken when she was about 4. Her head is shaved, her eyes cast downward. She has just arrived at perhaps the worst place a child could be sent in South Korea.

The black-and-white mugshot is from a November 1982 Brothers Home intake document that describes Mathieson as a lost street kid brought in by police. It notes that shes capable of labor  chillingly for a government-sponsored vagrants facility that survivors have told The Associated Press often worked children to death.

She spoke no words for days, the document says, after entering Brothers, a now-destroyed facility in the southern port city of Busan where thousands of children and adults  most of whom were grabbed off the streets  were enslaved and often killed, raped and beaten in the 1970s and 1980s.

She was so scared and traumatized, Mathieson said of herself, as she imagined in an AP interview the feelings of the girl in the photo who'd been given the name Hwang Joo Rei, because of the Jurye-dong district where Brothers once stood.

Mathieson was one of the lucky ones. In August 1983, she and 21 other young children from Brothers were transferred to an orphanage in another part of the city. Her escape may have been made possible because of overcrowding at the Brothers sprawling compound.

Mathieson then slipped into an international adoption system that separated thousands of Korean children from their families as part of a lucrative business under the military governments that ruled South Korea from the 1960s to the late 1980s.

She was given an approximate birth date and other arbitrary details to accommodate a haphazard immigration process that was designed to send more children abroad as fast as possible. Mathieson was then flown to meet her Canadian adoptive parents in November 1984, becoming part of a child export frenzy that created the worlds largest diaspora of adoptees.

Mathieson said she spent most of her adult life in a tunnel vision moving forward, never questioning her past and living as a Canadian while traveling around the world, before settling in Hong Kong to work in the hospitality industry.

But her Korean past jumped back at her in recent months as she began to feel she was on a mission to discover her roots and locate her Korean parents if they are alive.

Because of privacy worries, she used the name on her adoption documents in a 2019 AP report that broke the news that Brothers was in the adoption business. Mathieson, however, is now willing to speak publicly for the first time to improve her chances of finding her Korean relatives, including a possible sibling named Lee Chang-keun.

That name appears on the adoption papers of another Korean adoptee who, along with his younger brother, was sent to a family in Belgium in 1986. Mathieson connected with him in October last year after commercial DNA tests  increasingly used by Korean adoptees seeking reunions  found that they were most likely siblings.

Mathieson said it was exhilarating to discover a blood relative and gain a tangible connection to her biological roots despite not knowing her true name, birthdate or hometown.

I think no other human on this earth except for adoptees will understand what its like to go through life with no link to their origins. Its something that normal people will take for granted, Mathieson said in a Zoom interview, using air quotes for the word normal. To see someone that looked so much like me was so exciting.

The finding also raised disturbing questions about the circumstances of her adoption and that of her newfound kin, who didnt respond to APs requests for comment.

His paperwork says he and his younger brother were adopted from an orphanage in Anyang, a city near the capital, Seoul, that is about 190 miles away from Busan. It says the boys were found abandoned in August 1982, months before Mathiesons arrival at Brothers, and that they had another brother, Lee Chang-keun, who was at a different Anyang orphanage.

Theres no mention whether Lee was adopted. Mathieson hopes Lee remained in Korea and that she can now find him. Shes desperate for information about her Korean parents, and how they were separated from their children.

Neither Mathiesons adoption papers nor those of the brothers in Belgium describe any meaningful effort to locate their original families despite the years they spent in the orphanage system.

Mathieson says she's filled with questions: Did her parents leave her with a relative in Busan while scrambling to search for their missing sons? Was she kidnapped by police, like many other inmates at Brothers?

A lot of the adoptions, rather, were from new parents that had to give up their child right after birth, Mathieson said. For a family to relinquish, voluntarily relinquish, three kids between the ages of four and six? It just didnt add up for me  I knew that (the) true story was so far deep.

Through documents obtained from officials, lawmakers or through freedom of information requests, the AP found direct evidence that 19 children were adopted out of Brothers between 1979 and 1986, and indirect evidence suggesting at least 51 more adoptions.

Mathiesons memories from before she left Korea  of watching children playing in an almost empty outdoor pool, of towering black iron gates, of flowers in a garden courtyard where she was hurried out for a photograph  were all vague and benign before the AP first told her that she'd been at Brothers in 2016.

She now connects those memories with Brothers photos showing children playing in the low water of a concrete pit behind huge barred gates that confined thousands  including homeless and disabled people as well as random pedestrians who'd been snatched off the streets  before a prosecutor exposed the facilitys horrors in 1987.

Brothers was the largest of the nationwide facilities that accommodated aggressive roundups ordered by military leaders eager to clean the country's streets. Adoptions were another way to remove the socially undesirable, including children from unwed mothers or poor families, and to reduce the number of mouths to feed.

About 200,000 Korean children were adopted by families in the West in the past six decades, including 7,924 in 1984, the year Mathieson was adopted. Roots are often untraceable because most of the children were listed as abandoned, even when they had known relatives, which made them easily adoptable.

Mathieson plans to bring her case to Seouls Truth and Reconciliation Commission, which has interviewed hundreds of Brothers survivors or their families, but so far no adoptee. While still determined to get information about her biological parents, Mathieson treasures the snippets of her past that have emerged as she presses on with her search.

It was nice to get additional photos, Mathieson said about images recently sent from the Korea Welfare Service, her adoption agency. I will cherish them.
June 1

Plainview police arrested 35-year-old Isaac Ramos Perez on June 1 at the 2100 block of W. 25th St. after responding to the location in reference to a suspicious person. The reporting party told officers they observed someone pushing a vehicle from a parking lot in the area. The reporting party said the man fled the area on foot. Officers searched the area and located Perez. He was charged with unauthorized use of a vehicle, which is a felony.

A probation violation was reported on June 1 at the 1000 block of Garland St.

Officers conducted a traffic stop on June 1 at the 500 block of Houston St.

A crash was reported at the 1700 block of W. 5th St. on June 1. Injuries were reported.

Theft was reported at the 2000 block of W. 18th St. Officers initially responded to the location in reference to a person wanting to report a stolen firearm. No suspects have been named at this time.

Harassment was reported at the 1000 block of Baltimore St. on June 1.

An online scam was reported to the Plainview PD on June 1.

June 2

An assault was reported at the 3300 block of Olton Road on June 2.

Police arrested 43-year-old Veronica Ann Esquibel on June 2 at the 1300 block of Portland St. The individual was found to have an outstanding felony warrant for possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver.

A violation of a court order was reported at the 1600 block of W. 7th St.

A crash resulting in injury was reported on June 2 at the 1500 block of W. 11th St. EMS treated the injured at the scene.

A traffic stop conducted for racing resulted in the arrest of two men at the 400 block of W. 5th St. on June 2. Officers brought a K-9 to the scene after reasonable suspicion that the passengers were engaged in other criminal activity. The K-9 alerted officers to contraband in the vehicle and a probably search was conducted. Cocaine was located and both occupants  33-year-old Justin Ray Calderon and 36-year-old Michael Tijerina Jr.  were arrested. Calderon was charged with two felony counts of manufacture or delivery of a controlled substance. Tijerina was charged with one count of the same offense.

June 3

Fraud was reported at the 1400 block of W. 5th St. on June 3. Officers were dispatched to the location in reference to abuse of a debit card. Responding officers met and spoke to a man who said his wifes debit card was used without consent to make a purchase.

Officers stopped a vehicle for speeding at the 1100 block of N. Columbia on June 3. During the stop, officers detected an odor of marijuana. The passenger in the vehicle admitted to possessing some. The marijuana was seized and a criminal citation was issued.

A crash resulting in an injury was reported at the 300 block of S. Broadway on June 3. Injured parties were transported to Covenant Hospital for treatment.

A theft was reported at the 800 block of Garland St. on June 3.

Police responded to the Walmart Supercenter at the 1500 block of N. I-27 on June 3 in reference to a man violating an active criminal trespass citation. The 22-year-old man was located and arrested for criminal trespass.

Officers responded to the 1600 block of W. 16th St. on June 3 in reference to someone shooting a pellet gun at cars passing by. Two possible suspects were located but no arrests were indicated.

June 4

Police arrested a 31-year-old man at the 2800 block of Quincy St. on June 4. The man was found to have an active warrant for displaying expired license plates/expired registration insignia.

A crash resulting in vehicle damage was reported on June 4 at W. 28th and Fresno.

A 16-year-old was arrested on June 4 at the 1600 block of W. 16th St. The teen was charged with unauthorized use of a vehicle, which is a felony.

An assault was reported at the 2800 block of W. 24th St. on June 4.

Shoplifting was reported on June 4 at the 1500 block of N. I-27.

A 24-year-old man was arrested at the 1600 block of W. 5th St. on June 4 during a traffic stop. The individual was found to have active warrants for failure to appear/bail jumping and for no seat belt.

June 5

An assault was reported at the 1400 block of Travis on June 5.

A hit-and-run crash resulting in vehicle damage was reported on June 5 at the 1400 block of Smythe St.

An assault was reported at the 710 block of Fresno St. on June 5.

June 6

Police arrested 22-year-old Gabriel David Monzon on June 6 at the 1700 block of W. 24th St. during a traffic stop. The stop was initiated for a vehicle running a stop sign. Monzon was arrested for driving while intoxicated, third or more offense, which is a felony. He was also found to have an active warrant for theft.

An assault was reported at the 700 block of Fresno St. on June 6.

A theft was reported at the 1300 block of E. 5th St. on June 6.

Three crashes resulting in vehicle damage were reported on June 6. The crashes occurred at the 1100 block of Kermit, the 1500 block of N. Columbia and the 500 block of Ennis.

Violation of a court order was reported at the 800 block of Denver St. on June 6.

A crash resulting in vehicle damage was reported at the 2000 block of W. 24th St. on June 6.

Theft was reported at the 700 block of Fresno on June 6.

June 7

A 27-year-old man was arrested on June 7 at the 900 block of Ennis St. during a traffic stop. The man was found to have active warrants for failure to maintain financial responsibility, for operating an unregistered motor vehicle and for failure to appear/bail jumping.

A crash resulting in vehicle damage was reported at the 1800 block of W. 5th St.

A theft was reported at the 4000 block of Olton Road on June 7. Police arrested a 33-year-old woman for active warrants including one for theft.

A crash resulting in damaged property was reported at the 100 block of SE 10th St. on June 7.

An aggravated assault was reported at the 900 block of Lexington St. on June 7.

A theft was reported at the 600 block of W. 28th St. on June 7.

A theft was reported at the 1500 block of Walter Griffin on June 7.

A crash resulting in vehicle damage was reported at W. 5th and Columbia on June 7.

Damaged property was reported at the 1400 block of Floydada St.

A 43-year-old woman was arrested on June 7 at the 2800 block of Olton Road. The individual was charged with active warrants for assault causing bodily injury and for speeding.

Police were dispatched to the 100 block of Ash St. in reference of two women located in an abandoned building.
(Editors note: This project is a collaboration between the Plainview Herald and Saint Francis Ministries to showcase kids who are cleared for adoption.)

Texas is a curious and energetic young boy with a big personality.

Rain or shine, he will take any excuse to be outside.

The 7-year-old enjoys other children, especially if theyre willing to explore the playground with him.

Hes not much for being cooped up inside, but he might sit still long enough play with toys and games, especially if Superman, Black Panther, or Sonic the Hedgehog are involved.

Texas has an appetite the size of, well, Texas! He will never say no to spaghetti or pizza.

Texas loves spending time and bonding with the adults in his life and if there are four-legged friends involved, even better.

He is eager to learn new games and skills and take part in activities with others. Texas shares his bright, contagious smile with ease. He is exploring the world around him at a rate that will keep you on your toes.

Blink, and you might miss him. Can you keep up with Texas?

---

Texas is among the children listed on the Texas Adoption Resource Exchange (TARE) website. Visit https://www.dfps.state.tx.us/Application/TARE/Home.aspx/Default for more details.

Saint Francis Ministries is a nonprofit organization and a community-based care provider for the Texas Department of Family Protective Services Region 1. This region includes 41 counties across the Panhandle and South Plains.

To learn more about fostering or adopting, those interested are encouraged to attend one of the monthly virtual meetings hosted by Saint Francis Ministries and other child placing agencies. The meetings provide information about how to get started, the basic qualifications and more, in addition to providing opportunity for attendees to ask questions.

Those interested can visit Saint Francis Texas on Facebook @SFMtexas to register for the online meetings, which can also be found below:

The meetings are scheduled for the second Thursday of the month (Lubbock area  https://lubbock-area-foster-care-adoption.eventbrite.com) and the third Thursday of the month (Amarillo area  https://amarillo-area-foster-care-adoption.eventbrite.com).

For more information, please contact Erin Baxter at (806) 317-5631 or email texasinfo@st-francis.org. Visit Saint Francis Ministries online at https://saintfrancisministries.org.
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ANKARA, Turkey (AP)  Russia and Turkey voiced support Wednesday for a safe corridor in the Black Sea to allow Ukrainian grain exports, but Kyiv rejected the proposal, saying it was not credible. The European Union accused Moscow of weaponizing food supplies to gain an advantage in the war.

Russia also demanded Ukraine remove mines from the Black Sea, and both Moscow and Ankara said the West should ease sanctions on Moscow to allow the export of Russian grains amid an escalating world food crisis. While food exports are technically exempt from the sanctions, Russia claims that restrictions on its ships and banks make it impossible to deliver its grain to global markets.

Ukraine is one of the worlds largest exporters of wheat, corn and sunflower oil, but Russia's invasion and a blockade of its ports have halted much of that flow, endangering food supplies to many developing countries, especially in Africa. Many of those ports are now also heavily mined.

Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu hosted his Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov in Ankara on Wednesday for discussions focused on a United Nations proposal to free Odesa and Ukraine's other Black Sea ports and allow 22 million tons of grain sitting in silos to be shipped out. Ukraine was not invited to the talks.

U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has been working on a package for weeks that would allow Ukraine to export wheat and other commodities from Odesa and enable Russia to export grain and fertilizer to global markets.

He told reporters Wednesday the package is essential, especially for millions of people in developing countries facing the threat of an unprecedented wave of hunger.

Guterres said saying anything more in public about the talks would jeopardize the chances of success."

Russia and Turkey appear eager to dictate the terms and cement further control over the Black Sea. Turkey has maintained its close ties to both Ukraine and Russia. It has criticized Russias invasion of Ukraine, but hasnt joined the international sanctions against Russia.

Russia has urged Ukraine to remove mines from the area near Odesa to allow safe grain exports, and Russian President Vladimir Putin pledged that Moscow wouldn't use the corridors to launch an attack. Both Ukrainian and EU officials cast doubt on the pledge; it was Putin who also insisted earlier this year that he had no plans to invade Ukraine.

But Lavrov said Wednesday that Russia is ready to formalize the guarantee for Odesa. The Russian envoy promised that Moscow would not abuse its naval advantage if the mines were removed from Ukraine's ports and would take all necessary steps to ensure that the ships can leave there freely.

Turkey says it would facilitate and protect the transport of the grain in the Black Sea. The Greek government has also offered the countrys powerful shipping fleet for the task, but Ankara has not made any mention about Athens being part of the possible deal. The Turkish government has recently ramped up rhetoric against neighbors including Greece and Cyprus over historical disputes.

Turkey has other vested interests in helping to secure a deal: Ankara needs Moscows approval to continue its presence in northern Syria, where it plans to launch a new cross-border offensive against Syrian Kurdish militia that Ankara views as a security threat.

Turkey really needs Russias blessing in order to be able to carry on this operation," said Merve Tahiroglu, Turkey program coordinator at Project on Middle East Democracy. "I think theyre really going to try to get that kind of a concession out of the Russian side.

Turkey also depends heavily on Russian and Ukrainian wheat imports for its own food supplies and is eager to burnish its reputation in Africa, which has been severely affected by the food crisis, said Eleonora Tafuro Ambrosetti, a Milan-based research fellow at the Italian Institute for International Political Studies.

Ankara has been investing quite a lot in its image in Africa as a benevolent country, she said.

Russia, meanwhile, is trying to portray itself as a country willing to compromise, to reach a deal," Tafuro Ambrosetti added.

Lavrovs meeting came as Turkey  a NATO member  has voiced strong opposition to Sweden and Finlands recent bids to join the alliance. Moscow has also objected to the Nordic countries candidacy  which analyst say may play a role in discussions concerning Syria.

The head of Ukraines grain traders group scoffed at Turkeys effort to negotiate a deal.

Turkey doesnt have enough power in the Black Sea to guarantee security of cargo and Ukrainian ports, Ukrainian Grain Union chief Serhiy Ivashchenko said Wednesday. He said it would take three to four months to remove sea mines, and also alleged that it was Russia that mined the area.

At a joint news conference with Lavrov, Cavusoglu said Turkey considers the plan to be a reasonable and feasible one, although he acknowledged that it would require negotiations between Kyiv and Moscow.

The Turkish minister also backed easing Western sanctions against Russia for its invasion of Ukraine.

European Union officials emphatically pushed back Wednesday.

Lets be very clear, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said at the European Parliament in Strasbourg, France. "Our sanctions do not touch basic food commodities. They do not affect the trading of grain or other food between Russia and third countries. And the port embargo specifically has full exemption on agricultural goods. So lets stick to the truth. Its Putins war of aggression that fuels the food crisis and nothing else.

At the European Parliament on Wednesday, European Council President Charles Michel accused the Kremlin of "weaponizing food supplies and surrounding their actions with a web of lies, Soviet-style.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan discussed the creation of a safe sea corridor last week, the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry said Tuesday. The ministry also called for security guarantees, such as a supply of weapons to defend against maritime threats and the participation of NATO ships in the Black Sea.

Addressing the possibility of resumed peace talks between Kyiv and Moscow, Cavusoglu said Wednesday that Turkey was much more optimistic," and he reiterated Ankara's offer to oversee a meeting between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Putin.

Lavrov said Russia was willing to hold further talks but accused Zelenskyy of changing his position all the time over conditions for a leaders summit.

___

Wieting reported from Istanbul. Associated Press writers Andrew Wilks in Istanbul; Lorne Cook in Brussels, Frances D'Emilio in Rome, and Edith M. Lederer at the United Nations contributed to this report.

___

Follow the APs coverage of the war at https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine
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Yet another damning report about Ginni Thomas efforts to overturn the 2020 election results has emerged.

It turns out that Thomas, who just so happens to be married to Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas, didnt just contact two Arizona Republican legislators about rejecting electors for Joe Biden in the state he won, as The Washington Post reported last month. The actual number, the Post reported on Friday, was 29.

On Nov. 9, two days after the race was called, Thomas used an online platform called FreeRoots to search for and send identical emails to 20 state House members and seven state senators, according to the report.

In the emails, Thomas urged them to stand strong in the face of political and media pressure, saying they had power to fight back against fraud. Thomas also requested meeting them in person or virtually so I can learn more about what you are doing to ensure our states vote count is audited and our certification is clean.

On Dec. 13, 24 hours before the electors would go on to cast their votes for Biden, Thomas emailed 22 members of the House, as well as one senator. Before you choose your states Electors  consider what will happen to the nation we all love if you dont stand up and lead, Thomas wrote.

The next day, a group of Trump supporters falsely claimed they were the states duly elected and qualified Electors. One of them was then-Rep. Anthony Kern, whom Thomas had contacted. Kern also filed an unsuccessful lawsuit along with Rep. Louie Gohmert (R-Texas) and others against then-Vice President Mike Pence over his role as overseer of the Electoral College certification in Congress. Around this time, those in Trumps orbit like John Eastman and Jenna Ellis were pushing the notion that Pence could reject Biden electors.

In addition to reaching out to Arizona lawmakers, Thomas pressured the Trump White House and GOP congressmen to work to have the election results thrown out. Through all this, Republicans in Congress have largely been silent when it comes to conflict of interest concerns regarding Thomas and her husband.
WASHINGTON -- International travelers will no longer need to show proof of a negative coronavirus test before boarding flights to the United States, federal health officials announced Friday, ending one of the nation's last pandemic-related travel requirements.

The requirement will end at 12:01 a.m. Sunday.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said science and data show the requirement is no longer necessary.

"[The] CDC has determined that travelers have access to tools (e.g., vaccines, therapeutics, and recommended prevention measures) and guidance that allow travelers to make informed choices about the use of pre-departure testing and other prevention measures," the order read.

The agency said it continues to recommend that individuals test before and after travel and after any known exposure to a person with covid-19.

The CDC will reassess the decision in 90 days and would reinstate the requirement if necessary.

"This step is possible because of the progress we've made in our fight against COVID-19. Right now, we have life-saving vaccines and widely available treatments -- effective against prevalent variants -- preventing serious illness and death," said Xavier Becerra, secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services in a statement shortly after the order requiring pre-departure testing was rescinded. "The CDC continues to recommend COVID-19 testing prior to air travel of any kind and will not hesitate to reinstate a pre-departure testing requirement, if needed later."

Travelers who are not U.S. citizens, U.S. nationals, lawful permanent residents or traveling to the United States on an immigrant visa must still show proof of vaccination before boarding their flight.

U.S. Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg characterized CDC's decision as "welcome news," and said over the next 48 hours and beyond, USDOT would "assist to ensure a smooth transition for travelers and airlines alike."

The Biden administration in April dropped its requirement that people wear masks on airplanes, buses and in other public transportation settings after a federal judge ruled the CDC overstepped its authority by putting the mandate in place. The ruling by U.S. District Judge Kathryn Kimball Mizelle of Florida is being appealed.

When the Biden administration dropped enforcement of the mask mandate, the travel industry hoped the administration would also end the requirement that people flying to the United States show proof of a negative coronavirus test before boarding their flights. Instead, it remained in place.

Friday's announcement drew praise from the travel industry, which has campaigned for months to have pandemic-related requirements lifted. Travel groups recently met with White House officials to press their case, noting that the United States was one of the few countries that still required proof of a negative coronavirus test for those arriving from overseas.

"Today marks another huge step forward for the recovery of inbound air travel and the return of international travel to the United States," said Roger Dow, chief executive of the U.S. Travel Association. "The Biden administration is to be commended for this action, which will welcome back visitors from around the world and accelerate the recovery of the U.S. travel industry."

Nicholas E. Calio, chief executive of trade group Airlines for America, said ending the testing requirement would boost the U.S. economy while connecting people who have been kept apart by the pandemic.

While demand for domestic air travel has been strong for months, the end of the testing requirement could spur more interest in international destinations, particularly among travelers reluctant to fly for fear of being stranded if they test positive. It could also prompt others to rethink their trips, since fliers will join passengers who haven't had to test negative.

The end of the requirement will reduce costs for some travelers since they no longer must pay for testing.

Elaine Sosnowski, of Arizona, said she and her family are scheduled to fly back to the United States as the order takes effect on Sunday. They have been in Italy for two weeks on a trip originally scheduled to take place in 2020.

"We are currently scheduled to get preflight tests in about 11 hours at a cost of about $300 and a fair amount of inconvenience," she said in an email. "It would be great to avoid this cost and avoid the hassle of getting everyone in for a test."

The announcement was so fresh on Friday, she said, that neither the U.S. Embassy in Rome nor the airline through which she booked the tickets, Delta Air Lines, could confirm the policy had changed.

"Such is the life of international travel," she wrote. "All in all still worth it, but fingers crossed this requirement will be lifted before incurring this expense."

The U.S. began requiring proof of a negative test from all international travelers age 2 and older in January 2021. Federal health officials viewed testing and masking as key strategies for stopping the spread of the coronavirus, particularly as new, more transmissible variants emerged.

In November, as the Biden administration prepared to lift a ban on travelers from 33 countries -- including China and more than two dozen European nations -- it also began requiring non-U.S. citizens to show proof of vaccination in addition to a negative test result.

The travel industry initially supported testing as a way to reopen the country, but in recent months has become increasingly vocal about the need to end it.

In a letter sent last month to Ashish Jha, the White House's coronavirus response coordinator, industry officials noted many countries -- including the United Kingdom, Germany and Canada -- no longer require pre-departure testing for travelers who have been vaccinated. They also pointed out the United States does not require proof of a negative test for those who come to the country via land borders, although travelers who are not U.S. citizens must provide proof of vaccination.

"Given the slow economic recovery of the business and international travel sectors, and in light of medical advancements and the improved public health metrics in the U.S., we encourage you to immediately remove the inbound testing requirement for vaccinated air travelers," industry officials wrote in the letter.

Health experts said the end of the testing requirement -- combined with the lifting of other pandemic-related travel mandates -- signals a new phase in which individuals will increasingly have to make their own determinations about safety.

"It's just becoming more of a personal assessment of your risk tolerance," said Henry Wu, associate professor of infectious diseases at Emory University's School of Medicine and director of the Emory TravelWell Center. "The good news is these recent cases tend to be milder, particularly if you're vaccinated or boosted, so the concern is much less than it was before."

Still, he said even those who contract mild cases can have symptoms that linger, which may prompt some to continue masking and testing, even as the government no longer requires either.

David Freedman, president-elect of the American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, and professor emeritus of infectious diseases at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, said the strategy behind testing and masking was always to slow the spread of the virus.

"You're never going to keep it out, no matter what you do," he said. "But if we are able to delay its introduction in a way that's widespread until we get better vaccines, that helps," he said.

Freedman said it is difficult to determine what effect the reduced pandemic-related travel measures will have on the number of infections. As the nation move into a new phase, he said he hopes people will continue to be cautious while keeping in mind that the virus still poses risks.

- - -

The Washington Post's Tyler Pager contributed to this report.
The Geico gecko has long touted the company's claims of "great service and savings on car insurance." But in the case of a Missouri woman who said she caught a sexually transmitted disease after having sex in the car of a Geico member, the state's appeals court ruled this week that the insurance company needed to do more - and now potentially owes her millions of dollars.

The Missouri Court of Appeals upheld a $5.2 million judgment on Tuesday involving a Jackson County, Mo., woman who said she unknowingly caught HPV, the human papillomavirus, during unprotected sex in the luxury sedan of a former male romantic partner in 2017. After the woman notified Geico that she was seeking monetary damages, an arbitrator with Jackson County Circuit Court ruled last year that the man was liable for not disclosing his infection, saying the sex in the car "directly caused, or directly contributed to cause" of the woman's contraction of HPV.

Geico had argued the judgment did not fall in line with Missouri law, claiming to the court that the man's policy covered injuries that only came "out of the ownership, maintenance or use of the . . . auto." The company also claimed the injuries to the woman, identified in court documents as M.O., "arose from an intervening cause - namely, her failure to prevent transmission of STDs by having unprotected sex."

In an opinion published this week, a three-judge panel sided with the lower court, saying Geico did not have a strong case for appeal once a judgment was entered and the $5.2 million damages were determined.

"At the time of Geico's intervention, liability and damages had been determined by an arbitrator and confirmed by the trial court," Court of Appeals Judge Edward R. Ardini Jr. wrote in the opinion. "Geico had no right to re-litigate those issues."

A Geico spokesperson did not immediately respond to a request for comment early Thursday. An attorney for the woman is not listed in court documents.

The story was first reported by the Kansas City Star.

M.O. and the man, identified in court documents as M.B., began a romantic relationship in late 2017, records show. Sometime during that relationship, the couple had sex inside M.B.'s 2014 Hyundai Genesis - a luxury sedan that Kelley Blue Book raved "leaves very little to criticize."

The woman alleged the Kansas man had been previously diagnosed with HPV - the most prevalent STD in the United States and a precursor to a variety of cancers - but "did not tell M.O. about it or take measures to prevent transmitting the virus to M.O." At a gynecology exam about a year after the relationship began, the woman was diagnosed with HPV, according to court records.

"She later learned that she contracted the virus from M.B.," the complaint says.

Knowing that M.B. was insured by Geico, the woman sent a letter to the insurance company in February 2021 demanding $1 million in damages for "negligence and negligent infliction of emotional distress."

"Let me know," M.O. wrote.

After Geico investigated the claim, the insurance company argued that the man told the woman he had been diagnosed with HPV-positive throat cancer and that the man was not diagnosed with the STD before 2017, according to court documents. Geico also suggested the woman might have been infected from another sexual partner, and argued the couple had sex in locations other than the insured vehicle, records show.

When the insurance company denied the settlement and said the woman failed to prevent her STD infection, the case was sent to arbitration. In May 2021, an arbitrator sided with M.O. and awarded her $5.2 million in damages to be paid by Geico. The insurance company called for a new hearing and the award to be tossed out, arguing that the judgment had violated Geico's rights to due process. Geico ended up filing a formal appeal to the state when those requests were denied by the lower court.

In a separate opinion on Tuesday, Court of Appeals Judge Thomas N. Chapman agreed with his colleagues in their decision to side with the lower court's settlement, but wrote that he believed Geico was given "no meaningful opportunity to participate" in the woman's lawsuit and existing state law "relegat(es) the insurer to the status of a bystander."

Whether Geico will end up paying the settlement stemming from the HPV infection remains unclear. The insurance company is contesting the decision in federal court, arguing that the claim is not covered under the policy, the Star reported. The outcome of that case could determine whether Geico is forced to pay M.O. more than $5 million in damages.

The case could have a lasting influence on how insurance companies pay out incidents that happen inside an insured vehicle, U.S. Magistrate Judge Angel D. Mitchell wrote last year.

"This case presents novel and potentially important issues about whether an insurance carrier can be held liable under such policies for the consequences of two adults voluntarily having unprotected sex in the insured's automobile," Mitchell wrote last year. "Interpretation of these policies could have far-reaching implications for other policies with similar terms."
(Natural News) Around 120 participants from 21 countries attended the 68th Bilderberg Meeting from June 2 to 5 in Washington, D.C.

The participants, made up of political leaders and industry experts from finance, academia, labor and media, were invited to discuss various topics from geopolitical alignments and looming financial meltdown to post-pandemic health and the Russia-Ukraine war.

Founded in 1954, the Bilderberg Meeting is an annual secretive meeting designed to foster dialogue between Europe and North America, with 120 to 140 attendees invited under the Chatham House Rule. This means that while participants are free to use the information they receive during the event, they cannot disclose the identities or affiliations of the speakers or participants.

Despite confirming a list of attendees and the agenda for the conference, the group kept their location secret this year. U.S. journalist Max Blumenthal was denied entry to the meeting, as participants had been barred from revealing the location and from quoting anyone during off-record sessions. Blumenthal also pointed out that the gathering had a more secretive and forbidding feeling to it.

Because of the nature of the meeting, participants were encouraged to take part as individuals and not in their official capacities, so they are not bound by the conventions of their offices or positions.

This is the first Bilderberg meeting since before the pandemic, and the elite global summit has rebooted its high-powered guest list to include the heads of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), the British Government Communications Headquarters (GCHQ), the U.S. National Security Council, two European prime ministers, some tech billionaires, and former Secretary of State, Henry Kissenger, who recently courted controversy by suggesting Ukraine cede its territory to end the war with Russia.

The group, which had been planning on taking control of the western world order, is now facing some problems that they didnt anticipate pre-pandemic. This year, the group put on their agenda the geopolitical pivot of Russia and China away from the West, including the possibility of a global financial meltdown. (Related: Bilderberg Group constructs continuity of government emergency plans amid economic upheavals caused by globalist policies.)

The last time the group met in 2019, the conference had a more optimistic agenda that included topics such as stable strategic orders and a future-forward look at Europe. This year, the topics are more ominous. Among the things that the group discussed include the overall geopolitical realignment of Ukraine, as its resulting economic repercussions are given a lot of importance.

The conference itself is a high-level council of war headlined by NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg and joined by Ukrainian Ambassador to the U.S., Oksana Markarova and the CEO of Naftogaz, the state-owned Ukrainian oil and gas company.

The meeting also convened experts in Russia and Ukraine, including Assistant Secretary of Defense for International Security Affairs Celeste Wallander and ex-Deputy National Security Adviser Nadia Schadlow, who is on the elite steering committee of the Bilderberg.

Members of the group also likely spoke with Ukraines President Volodymyr Zelensky, who earlier met with Alex Karp, a Bilderberg member and U.S. Intelligence representative. Karp is also known to run Palantir, the infamous CIA-funded surveillance and data analysis company that has been set up by another Bilderberg insider, Peter Thiel, who agreed to give digital support to the Ukrainian army.

Bilderberg 2022 guests include military advisers, intelligence chiefs and former spies

While the Bilderberg conference is sometimes dismissed as a group of conspiracy theorists, it is still a major diplomatic summit that is attended by politicians, the U.S. commerce secretary and the president of the European Council.

The participant list for this years meeting also included military advisers,one of whom is the former chairman of the joint chiefs of staff and other big names from Washington, including James Baker, who serves as head of the sounding office of net assessment.

Among this years invitees were four active intelligence chiefs: the director of Frances external intelligence agency; the head of the U.K.s GCHQ; the leader of the US Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency; and the U.S. national security adviser. Former spy chiefs from the CIA and MI6 were also present, one of whom is now a board member of Bilderberg.

Meanwhile, many compared the Bilderberg to the World Economic Forum, which is headed by Klaus Schwab, who is a former member of Bilderbergs steering committee. Schwabs Great Reset Agenda also looms over the Washington conference, which discussed the disruption of the global financial system.

Watch the video below for some insight on the Bilderberg Group.

This video is from the Hiddenrevealed channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

Peoples Court to prosecute WEF-controlled globalists who used the pandemic to commit crimes against humanity.

Bilderberg power masters meet in the US  are presidential candidacy decisions in their hands?

The World Economic Forum seeks absolute control over world populations, demands consolidation of power.

Sources include:

Expose-News.com

PeoplesWorld.org

TheGuardian.com
(Natural News) In 2016, U.S. diplomats stationed in Havana, Cuba complained about headaches, nausea, hearing loss and balance issues. Following an investigation, it was determined that they had been on the receiving end of an attack using directed-energy weapons that could cause traumatic brain injuries and possible damages to the central nervous system.

About three dozen people were affected by the attack, and their illness had since been called the Havana Syndrome.

In 2021, the Havana Act became a law. It authorizes the Central Intelligence Agency, the Department of State and other agencies to provide payments to agency personnel who incur brain injuries from hostilities while on assignment. But human rights activist Mariana Maritato believes the directed-energy weapons are also being used against civilians.

Its not a conspiracy theory or anything like that. Its actually been acknowledged by the U.S. government. But Havana Syndrome is only acknowledged so far in government employees and not in civilians, Maritato told host Dr. John Diamond during the June 7 episode of America Unhinged on Brighteon.TV. Civilians are also being assaulted with directed-energy weapons.

A directed-energy weapon is a ranged weapon that damages its target with highly focused energy such as laser, microwaves and particle beams. The technologys potential applications include weapons that target personnel, missiles, vehicles and optical devices. (Related: US Embassy in Vietnam warned VP Kamala Harris that she may have suffered a brain injury called HAVANA SYNDROME from secret pulse weapon.)

The National Academy of Sciences says that its most likely caused by radiofrequency pulse weapons. And also the Director of National Intelligence report also says its most likely caused by pulsed radiofrequency weapons. And so its been highly acknowledged so far that the cause of Havana Syndrome is radiofrequency pulse weapons. There can be a variety of these kinds of weapons. They can be laser, ultrasound or microwaves, Maritato said.

Government creates two investigation panels to find out more about directed-energy weapons

The U.S. government has set up two investigation panels to find out more about the technology behind the attacks. Renowned neuroweapons expert Dr. James Giordano, who is on one of the panels, has been talking about civilians that are being assaulted with these weapons.

Giordano said the components needed to build directed-energy weapons are not hard to find  and theyre not even that expensive. People can buy them for just $300 on the black market or even on the internet.

Maritato said this is already a global phenomenon and its about time to acknowledge that civilians around the world are exposed and vulnerable to these weapons. The human rights activist noted that an international class action lawsuit has already been filed in Belgium and nonprofit organizations around the world are working together to find out who is behind these attacks.

Many other experts have talked about the directed-energy weapons, including former Special Rapporteur for the United Nations Dr. Nils Melzer, National Security Agency (NSA) whistleblowers Dr. Bill Binney and Dr. Karen Melton Stewart, Dr. Robert Duncan and Dr. Nick Begich.

According to Maritato, Begich testified in front of the European Parliament with scientific evidence proving that directed-energy weapons are real. He actually took one of those machines to demonstrate how the technology works, she said. These weapons can be used in many different ways and these technologies have enormous potential for harm.

Follow MilitaryTechnology.news for more news related to high-tech weapons.

Watch the full June 7 episode of America Unhinged below. Catch new episodes of the program from Monday to Friday at 9-10 a.m. on Brighteon.TV.

More related stories:

NRL successfully transmits electrical energy using microwave technology.

Diplomat accuses State Department of cover-up over directed energy weapons attacks.

U.S. diplomats in Cuba were attacked by microwave beam weapons.

Mysterious Havana syndrome affects more American diplomats, soldiers and spies than previously thought.

Sources include:

Brighteon.com

DewAgency.org
(Natural News) Another surge of the Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) is coming in the fall and it is going to be caused by the vaccinated.

This was according to podcaster Steven Ben-Nun, who discussed the COVID resurgence intel he received with host Dr. Bryan Ardis and United States Counterterrorism and Emergency Management National Advisor Dr. Tau Braun during the June 8 episode of The Dr. Ardis Show on Brighteon.TV.

So I was getting a new update. In fact, the gentleman that I work with in Washington is a nuclear physicist. And so he says to me, Well, were getting about a year break. They werent really planning on doing it that way. Ive already been told though that this coming fall going into the first of the year, were going to have a new resurgence of the coronavirus. And this time around, its going to be caused either directly or indirectly by the vaccinated,' said Ben-Nun, who got the intel in a meeting at the Pentagon.

Ben-Nun added that another lockdown is coming as a result of the new outbreak, but it will be sometime next year.

The podcaster also mentioned that a German scientist, who is working with the COVID people in Europe, told him that there is a new virus discovered in the Netherlands that is not terrestrial. He added that the European scientists are tracking it now.

According to Ben-Nun, it doesnt matter how many vaccines people get. They will still get sick because the vaccine is not doing any good in the first place.

Braun also believes that a COVID-19 resurgence is going to happen.

The clinical psychologist said the next wave would be vaccine-related and will involve all viruses and bacteria. He noted that vaccinated people have become similar to a Petri dish in a lab, giving the space in a compromised immune system for viruses to thrive.

SARS-CoV-2 and spike proteins are stage one of a purposeful attack

Braun also said the SARS-CoV-2 and the spike proteins are only stage one of a purposeful attack. He also called the SARS-CoV-2 with its spike proteins and the vaccines a binary bomb.

The counterterrorism and emergency management expert explained that for the COVID-19 binary bomb to actually have its full effect on the planet, it has to be followed by other components such as other viruses that will then cause the explosion that brings the bigger death toll.

According to Braun, the biggest reason why COVID-19 vaccines will always fail is because you cannot create a vaccine against a pathogen that is closely matched to food as it will set off autoimmune and inflammatory diseases, as well as cancers.

The clinical psychologist said supplements are needed, along with the building blocks of life against a system that depletes gut bacteria, gut biome and proteins. He said amino acids, amino acid complex and gut health are key to healthy immunity. (Related: Simple vitamin D supplementation could halt covid pandemic, research finds.)

Braun also noted that metals in the body like copper and zinc are now more essential than ever as bioweapons like SARS-CoV-2 do their work by putting themselves in and dismantling metalloproteins.

Follow Outbreak.news for more news about the COVID-19 pandemic.

Watch the full June 8 episode of The Dr. Ardis Show below. The Dr. Ardis Show airs every Wednesday at 10-11 a.m. on Brighteon.TV.

More related stories:

Israel conducts nationwide war games to prepare for future post-vaccine COVID-19 outbreaks.

Dr. Jane Ruby tells Stew Peters: COVID vaccines are making people MORE vulnerable to disease.

The COVID-19 pandemic was never what they claimed, but the vaccine pandemic is REAL.

Sources include:

Brighteon.com

DrTauBraun.com
(Natural News) Rep. Jim Jordan (R-OH) revealed that the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has been punishing employees who harbor conservative viewpoints. Whistleblowers from within the federal agency who reached out to him attested to the FBIs suppression.

Jordan, a ranking member of the House Judiciary Committee, wrote to FBI Director Christopher Wray on June 7 about the allegation. He pointed out how the agency had been retaliating against FBI employees for engaging in disfavored political speech. The congressmans letter served to follow up a May 6 letter that elaborated on how the FBI suspended the security clearances of several employees for simply exercising their First Amendment rights.

Since our May 6 letter, we have received new protected whistleblower disclosures that suggest the FBIs actions are far more pervasive than previously known. Multiple whistleblowers have called it a purge of FBI employees holding conservative views, wrote Jordan. (Related: The FBI is now mainly a weapon against Republicans.)

The Republican cited two instances of FBI employees being singled out for harboring conservative opinions, specifically those about the Jan. 6 Capitol siege.

The first whistleblower initially found his security clearance suspended after sharing his opinion that the FBI was not being entirely forthcoming about the events of Jan. 6. The bureau later escalated this to an indefinite suspension from duty without pay. The whistleblower, who served in both Iraq and Kuwait, was highly commended in the military and had a clean record with the bureau prior to the disciplinary actions. According to the FBI, the first whistleblower espoused conspiratorial views and promoted unreliable information which indicates support for the events of Jan. 6.

The second whistleblower, who has since left the bureau, said they faced retaliation for criticizing the FBI in an anonymous employee survey circulated days after the Jan. 6 Capitol siege. Just like the first one, the second whistleblower had a spotless record until he expressed his opinion. The bureau allegedly escalated an adverse personnel action against the second whistleblower.

We remind you that whistleblower disclosures to Congress are protected by law and that we will not tolerate any effort to retaliate against whistleblowers for their disclosures, warned Jordan.

FBI being weaponized against political foes

We are conducting oversight to ensure the FBI is not retaliating against employees for exercising their First Amendment rights and engaging in disfavored political speech, the letter noted. Aside from Wray, House Judiciary Committee Chairman Rep. Jerry Nadler (D-NY) and Inspector General Michael Horowitz were also furnished with copies of the letter.

The GOP lawmaker subsequently appeared on the Fox News program The Ingraham Angle on June 7 to talk more about the matter. He revealed that a total of six whistleblowers have come forward to the House Judiciary Committee. Four of these  including the two whistleblowers in the letter  attested to the FBIs retaliatory action against those espousing contrary views regarding the events of Jan. 6.

We now have had six agents come forward as whistleblowers, [with] four now regarding Jan. 6. That is a concern to us, he told program host Laura Ingraham.

Jordan also mentioned the whistleblowers he described in his June 7 letter to Wray. He confirmed that the first whistleblower was indeed a decorated Iraq War veteran being run out of the FBI. His allegiance to the country is being questioned because he had the gall to say something that offended the FBI leadership about the Jan. 6 investigation.

Regarding the second whistleblower, the Ohio congressman added the same thing [was happening] to them simply because, on an anonymous questionnaire, they said something that the leadership disagreed with them about Jan. 6.

Its the weaponization of government against [its] political foes. [That is] exactly whats going on. This is happening and it is as wrong as wrong can be, remarked Jordan.

Watch Rep. Jim Jordans June 7 interview with Laura Ingraham below.

This video is from the NewsClips channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

FBI investigating whether foreign sources funded Capitol riot.

Ohio lawmaker demands answers from FBI on Hunter Bidens illicit foreign deals.

During January 6 hearing, Schiff doctored text messages between Mark Meadows and Rep. Jim Jordan.

We feel like were on a terror watch list: FBI wont stop harassing couple who never entered Capitol on Jan. 6.

House Judiciary GOP leaders demand Amazon answers to allegations of censorship against conservative viewpoints.

Sources include:

100PercentFedUp.com

Republicans-Judiciary.House.gov [PDF]

BizPacReview.com

Brighteon.com
(Natural News) Agents from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) raided the home of Nicholas John Roske, 26, in Simi Valley, California. Roske was arrested on June 8 for attempting to kill Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh.

Federal agents converged on the Roske familys one-story house in Simi Valley on the evening of June 8, busting down the front door after obtaining a search warrant. Neighbors of the Roskes also mentioned that agents were in the area, speaking with residents and asking questions about the perpetrator. The FBI later confirmed that court-authorized law enforcement activity in connection to the arrest was underway at the perpetrators residence.

Zach Quadri, a neighbor, said of the Roskes: They were always nice people, so its a surprise more than anything.

Another neighbor who opted to remain anonymous said he was glad that nobody was hurt. I just pray for the outcome and [Roskes family] because theyre going through a lot right now, he added.

Roske was arrested during the early hours of June 8 outside Kavanaughs home in Maryland. Law enforcement took him into custody after he called 911, with officers arriving as he was in the middle of the call. The 26-year-old confided that he was having suicidal thoughts and had gone all the way from California to Maryland to kill a certain Supreme Court justice. (Related: Police ARREST man who wanted to kill conservative SCOTUS Justice Kavanaugh.)

A Glock 17 pistol, ammunition, a knife, pepper spray, a hammer, a screwdriver and duct tape were found on his possession.

He was charged with one count of attempting to murder or kidnap a U.S. judge, which carries a sentence of up to 20 years in prison. Roske told investigators that he began thinking about how to give his life purpose and decided that he would kill the Supreme Court justice, court documents show. He subsequently appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Timothy Sullivan, pausing several times as he responded to routine inquiries.

Roske angry over school shootings, potential overturn of abortion ruling

I think I have a reasonable understanding, but I wouldnt say Im thinking clearly, Roske said in response to a question if he understood what was happening and whether he was thinking clearly. He added that he is a college graduate and is taking medication, but did not say what it is or why he is taking it.

Initial evidence revealed that Roske was angry over the leaked draft of a Supreme Court opinion on abortion. The opinion penned by Justice Samuel Alito could overturn the 1973 Roe v. Wade ruling on abortion if adopted by other justices on the bench.

Roske was also upset over the recent school shootings in Buffalo, New York and Uvalde, Texas. An affidavit stated Roske was of the belief that Kavanaugh, who was appointed by former President Donald Trump, would vote to loosen gun control laws.

This kind of behavior is obviously behavior we will not tolerate, Attorney General Merrick Garland told reporters on June 8 following the arrest. Threats of violence and actual violence against the justices strike at the heart of our democracy, and we will do everything we can to prevent them and to hold people who do them accountable.

Meanwhile, Deputy White House Press Secretary Andrew Bates said in an email that President Joe Biden praised authorities for quickly apprehending Roske.

We are hearing that the individual arrested near the home of Kavanaugh was armed, and did make threats against the justice. The reckless rhetoric directed at the [Supreme] Court only fuels such extremist threats, tweeted John Turley, attorney and legal analyst.

Targeting the homes of justices only increases such dangers that unhinged, violent actors will seek to mete out their own retributive justice. Calls for aggressive protests at these homes are reckless and wrong.

Watch this Newsmax report about Roskes June 8 arrest.

This video is from the NewsClips channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

Pro-abortion leftists DOX and TARGET conservative SCOTUS justices following leak of draft opinion overturning Roe v. Wade.

Left-wing abortion terrorists vow to target conservative Supreme Court justices who signed on to draft repeal of Roe v. Wade.

Abortion activists call for PROTESTS at conservative SCOTUS judges houses following leaked Roe v. Wade opinion.

Doug Billings slams Biden administration for not protecting Supreme Court justices  Brighteon.TV.

ABC, NBC ignore leftist abortion activists doxxing SCOTUS home addresses.

Sources include:

NYPost.com

ABC7.com

Twitter.com

Brighteon.com
(Natural News) America is going through an apocalyptic surge in gas prices. For the first time in the nations history, the national average price of a gallon has breached the $5 mark.

This is according to GasBuddy, a crowdsourced real-time gas price reporting platform, which also first reported back on March 7 that America broke the previous all-time record for national average gas price when it hit $4.10 per gallon. (Related: Price of gas has more than doubled since Bidens first day in office.)

Over the past month alone, gas prices have risen by 66 cents.

AAA, another nationally recognized tracker for the price of gas in the United States, is currently showing an average of $4.986 per gallon, or a difference of less than two cents.

According to GasBuddys platform, 18 states and the District of Columbia currently have statewide average gas prices above $5. California leads the pack with an average gas price of $6.389 per gallon. It is followed far behind by Nevada with a statewide average of $5.605 per gallon.

The 16 other states that charge $5 or more per gallon of gas are Illinois, Alaska, Oregon, Washington, Hawaii, Arizona, Indiana, Michigan, Ohio, Idaho, Pennsylvania, Maine, Vermont, New Jersey, Massachusetts and Utah.

Eight other states and Puerto Rico are less than 10 cents away from breaching the $5 mark. These states are led by New York and Rhode Island, which both have statewide averages of $4.995. They are followed closely behind by Puerto Rico, with a territory-wide average of $4.992 per gallon.

The six other states close to breaching the $5 marker are Maryland, New Hampshire, Delaware, Connecticut, Wisconsin and West Virginia.

Demand still going up despite high prices, signaling continued surge in prices

In a statement, GasBuddy attributed the continued price increases to high seasonal demand, supply constraints that began during the Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic lockdowns like the lowered capacity to refine oil into gasoline. Domestic supply constraints were never resolved by President Joe Biden, despite having the ability to boost domestic production.

All of these factors have created an environment ripe for a surge in gas prices, while Americans balk at the prices but continue filling up as demand has seen a little decline, wrote the organization in a statement.

Patrick De Haan, GasBuddys head of petroleum analysis, noted that Americans are still filling up their tanks and driving long distances despite the surging price of gas.

Its been one kink after another this year, and worst of all, demand doesnt seem to be responding to the surge in gas prices, meaning there is a high probability that prices could go even higher in the weeks ahead, said De Haan. Its a perfect storm of factors all aligning to create a rare environment of rapid price hikes.

De Haan further warned that, along with demand, freak weather patterns and unexpected issues arising at the nations largest refineries could also make gas prices surge even higher.

Learn more about the surging gas prices at FuelSupply.news.

Watch this episode of World Alternative Media as host Josh Sigurdson talks to Tim Picciott, the Liberty Advisor, about the gas price apocalypse and what Americans can do to prepare for the coming economic collapse.

This video is from the World Alternative Media channel on Brighteon.com.

More related articles:

DISMANTLING AMERICA: Massive Texas oil refinery to shut down amid record-high gas prices.

Interest rate hikes and Biden refusing to increase oil production will make Americas economic woes EVEN WORSE.

Biden regime mandates more corn ethanol in gasoline to damage the engines of cars and trucks across America.

Increased demand and inflated oil prices cause airfares to surge by nearly 50%.

American fuel prices about to breach $5 per gallon mark just as country enters summer travel season.

Sources include:

Brighteon.com

TheDrive.com

NationalReview.com

GasPrices.AAA.com

GasBuddy.com

TheHill.com
(Natural News) As corporations waste millions of dollars to advertise PRIDE month, the homosexual community is reporting new outbreaks of MONKEYPOX. Some of the earliest cases of monkeypox were contracted in Spain at gay bars and gay saunas. A Belgium festival that celebrates sexual fetishes, also reported monkeypox outbreaks among gay and bisexual men. The first monkeypox patient to speak with the media said he caught monkeypox after having homosexual interactions with ten different partners. The 35-year-old monkeypox patient tried to get a hold of health officials in the UK, but he is currently being ignored.

First monkeypox patient to speak with media warns that the homosexual community is spreading the disease

The patient, James M., was recently deported from Dubai because it is illegal to have homosexual activity there. After testing positive for HIV in January, James was deported to France. On his way to London, James said he had a good time having gay sex with around 10 new partners. After the sexual encounters, he started to show symptoms of monkeypox. James said the disease caused really weird aches in his lower back, exhaustion, extreme thirst and pain when he used the toilet. On May 25, an STI clinic told James to avoid public transport or close contact with others. Monkeypox patients are told to avoid contact with the public for 21 days and abstain from sexual activity.

James had many underlying symptoms, but he did not get lesions, scabs or spots that often accompany a case of monkeypox. He does remember one of his sexual partners having spots on his body.

According to PCR test results on May 28, James was positive for monkeypox. The PCR test is not an accurate diagnosis for a specific infection, so its hard to confirm exactly what James was afflicted with, especially with his underlying HIV diagnosis. Nevertheless, James says he has not been properly contact traced by UK Health Security Agency and is therefore not self-isolating at home. He warns that there is a lack of awareness about monkeypoxs lesser-known symptoms and his case is not being taken seriously by the government health agencies.

Public health experts are conflicted as monkeypox spreads among homosexual community

Some experts in the UK have warned gay men not to have sexual encounters if they have any symptoms of monkeypox; however, many government health officials do not want to be seen as homophobic, so they underplay the matter and refuse to comment on gay mens sexual relations.

Its PRIDE month after all. The world is supposed to celebrate gay sex and all sorts of sexual perversion. Parents are supposed to introduce their children to transgenderism and accept the lie that there are multiple genders. One would think that asking gay men to stop having sex with dozens of random strangers to prevent the spread of this virus would be a wise decision in the interest of public health, writes Chris Menahan from Information Liberation.

Experts at the World Health Organization (WHO) previously warned against summer festivals because they could spread monkeypox. But now WHOs Andy Seale is coming out in support of gay pride parades this summer. Gay pride parades should go ahead as normal despite the fact that the virus can be spread by close contact, he said. Its important that people who want to go out and celebrate gay pride, LGBTQ+ pride, to continue to go and plan to do so, said Seale.

This same contradiction in public health messaging was observed in 2020, when health officials supported antifa, black lives matter and social justice protests, but continued to advocate for lock downs on small businesses, churches and health freedom rallies.

Sources include:

Yournews.com

Dailymail.co.uk

NaturalNews.com

InformationLiberation.com

NaturalNews.com
(Natural News) As Pride Month continues more and more U.S. businesses are unveiling their LGBT advertisements with a focus on transgenderism.

(Article by Clare Marie Merkowsky republished from LifeSiteNews.com)

While LGBT propaganda is normal for Pride Month, U.S. businesses are now embracing transgenderism and other more radical LGBT ideas, the Washington Times reported.

Companies have long supported the LGBTQ community because they know that inclusion in all its forms is simply good for their bottom line, network CEO Todd Sears told the Times in an email.

But the president of the relatively conservative New Tolerance Campaign, Gregory T. Angelo, believes embracing a more radical LGBT agenda could cost businesses. He expects they will lose long-time customers.

Gay has become boring, so the left needs to find new oppressed identities to feed the cash cow, said Angelo, who is himself gay. When you embrace a wide array of non-traditional identities, youre going to alienate traditionalists.

As an example, he referenced NASCARs new Pride flag, which attempts to appeal to an array of LGBT activists, with gay, transgender, and intersex symbols.

As we celebrate the LGBTQ+ community, we acknowledge that recent actions have not aligned with NASCARs mission to be a welcoming sport for all. We remain steadfast in our commitment to create a more inclusive environment  in our workplaces, at the race track & in the stands. pic.twitter.com/r0h232xaXd  NASCAR (@NASCAR) June 1, 2022

As part of Pride Month, NASCAR, the nations premiere stock car competition organization, which features the biggest names in auto racing and has hitherto appealed to a more conservative segment of American society, announced that it has partnered with an LGBTQ+ organization to promote diversity, equity, and inclusion training.

One response to NASCARs new campaign questioned the motive for supporting LGBT propaganda, suggesting that businesses take up LGBT propaganda for financial gain.

Another reply pointed out the slippery slope of accepting and celebrating homosexuality.

Pride Month has also brought to light a number of stories in which children are particularly targeted for LGBT propaganda. An Austin, Texas elementary school recently directed students as young as four years old to keep LGBT Pride Week class discussions secret, as shown by written class rules shared through social media. A Dallas, Texas gay bar hosted a Drag the Kids to Pride drag queen lunch event. Californias Senator Scott Wiener has responded to parental concerns by offering to propose a bill that would bring Drag Queen 101 lessons to schools.

Meanwhile, children attending Pride Parades are routinely subjected to obscenities, adult nudity and pornography.

Read more at: LifeSiteNews.com
(Natural News) New legislation proposed in Russia would make it a crime for anyone in the country to promote unnatural sexual relations, or what the government there is calling LGBT propaganda.

Russias State Duma received the draft legislation on Tuesday and it is currently being reviewed by the state-building and legislation committee. Those who violate its provisions would face fines of up to $160,000, reports indicate.

An amendment to existing administrative law, the bill would restrict the transmission of all information promoting non-traditional sexual relations. In its current form, administrative law only prohibits such information from being spread to minors, which is also known as grooming.

An explanatory note attached to the document explains that family, motherhood and childhood in their traditional understanding, which comes from our ancestors, are the values that ensure the continuous change of generations, act as a condition for the preservation and development of a multinational people, and therefore need special state protections.

Can you imagine something like this being proposed in the United States using such language, let alone being taken seriously by our corrupt government officials? It sure seems like Russia is a whole lot more Christian than the West these days.

Russia isnt going to let its culture be destroyed by foreign influences

According to the provisions of the bill, fines would be levied for propaganda aimed at forming non-traditional sexual attitudes, the attractiveness of non-traditional sexual relations, a distorted idea of the social equivalence of traditional and non-traditional sexual relations, and the imposition of information about non-traditional sexual relations, causing interest in such relations.

As long as no criminal offense is committed, fines for individuals would range between 40,000 and 50,000 rubles, which is the equivalent of about $660 to $830. Government officials who violate the new law would be fined a greater amount at between 100,000 and 500,000 rubles, or between $1,660 and $8,300.

Legal entities would be fined anywhere from one million to five million rubles, or about $16,600 to $83,000, as well as a forced suspension of all activities for up to 90 days.

The punishments would be more severe if the suspected violations were carried out with the use of mass media or the internet, in which case the fines would range from 100,000 and 500,000 rubles ($1,660- $8,300) for ordinary citizens, 500,000 to one million rubles ($8,300-$16,600) for officials, and up to 10 million ($166,000) for legal entities, RT explains.

Foreign citizens are also mentioned in the bill, as they could also face fines of between 40,000 and 100,000 rubles ($660-$1,660) or from 100,000 to 500,000 ($1,660- $8,300) if they use the internet for the promotion of such relationships. Alternatively, foreign citizens or people without citizenship could face a 15-day administrative arrest followed by expulsion from the Russian Federation.

The bills authors note that while it is important to provide reasonable protection for the rights of all individuals, at the same time, the threats arising from the imposition of foreign standards that break the generally accepted way of life in the field of family and marriage begs the question about a need to protect the culture of the majority, including by introducing additional legal regulation.

In other words, foreigners with foreign beliefs and ideologies are seeking to change the culture of Russia, and Russia is not having any of it. Punishment will be given to anyone who violates this for the protection of Russian culture and the Russian way of life.

It is important to note that the bill explicitly does not infringe upon personal freedoms or the right of individuals in Russia to determine their own sexual orientation. All it does is protect the rest of Russia from being forcibly converted to the Cult of LGBT, which is what is currently happening in the West.

More related news about LGBT perversion can be found at GenderConfused.com.

Sources for this article include:

RT.com

NaturalNews.com
(Natural News) Twitter has imposed a weeklong suspension on the account of writer and political activist Danny Haiphong for a thread he made on the platform disputing the mainstream Tiananmen Square massacre narrative.

(Article by Caitlin Johnstone republished from CaityJohnstone.Medium.com)

The notification Haiphong received informed him that Twitter had locked his account for Violating our rules against abuse and harassment, presumably in reference to a rule the platform

Specifically, we do not permit the denial of violent events, including abusive references to specific events where protected categories were the primary victims. This policy now covers targeted and non-targeted content. https://t.co/leiuuyqDbE  Twitter Safety (@TwitterSafety) June 1, 2021



 target=_blank rel=noopener ugc nofollow>put in place a year ago

which prohibits content that denies that mass murder or other mass casualty events took place, where we can verify that the event occurred, and when the content is shared with abusive intent.

This may include references to such an event as a hoax or claims that victims or survivors are fake or actors, Twitter said of the new rule. It includes, but is not limited to, events like the Holocaust, school shootings, terrorist attacks, and natural disasters.

That we are now seeing this rule applied to protect narratives which support the geostrategic interests of the US-centralized empire is not in the least bit surprising.

The US government thought police at Twitter locked journalist Danny Haiphong @SpiritofHos account, threatening to suspend him because he contradicted the Western propaganda narrative on Tiananmen, calling it abuse. There is only free speech for US regime propagandists here pic.twitter.com/t9CeCGIBeK  Benjamin Norton (@BenjaminNorton) June 5, 2022

Haiphong is far from the first to dispute the mainstream western narrative about exactly what happened around Tiananmen Square in June of 1989 as the Soviet Union was crumbling and Washingtons temporary Cold War alignment with Beijing was losing its strategic usefulness. But we can expect more acts of online censorship like this as Silicon Valley continues to expand into its role as guardian of imperial historic records.

This idea that government-tied Silicon Valley institutions should act as arbiters of history on behalf of the public consumer is gaining steadily increasing acceptance in the artificially manufactured echo chamber of mainstream public opinion. We saw another example of this recently in Joe Laurias excellent refutation of accusations against Consortium News of historic inaccuracy by the imperial narrative management firm NewsGuard.

As journalists like Whitney Webb and Mnar Adley noted years ago, NewsGuard markets itself as a news rating agency designed to help people sort out good from bad sources of information online, but in reality functions as an empire-backed weapon against media who question imperial narratives about whats happening in the world. The Grayzones Max Blumenthal

Corporate/national security state censorship operation @NewsGuardRating is preparing to blacklist several anti-imperialist sites including @TheGrayzoneNews. We will not grovel for approval from spooks that rated CNN highly & deny the US backed a coup in Ukraine. My response: pic.twitter.com/ZOwIf9zkn3  Max Blumenthal (@MaxBlumenthal) April 27, 2022



 target=_blank rel=noopener ugc nofollow>outlined

the companys many partnerships with imperial swamp monsters like former NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen and chief propagandist Richard Stengel as well as imperialist cutouts like the German Marshall Fund when its operatives contacted his outlet for comment on their accusations.

Lauria compiles a mountain of evidence in refutation of NewsGuards claim that Consortium News published false content about the 2014 US-backed coup in Ukraine, copiously citing outlets which NewsGuard itself has labeled accurate sources of information with its green check designation system. It becomes clear as you read the article that NewsGuards real function is, as John Kiriakou put it, guarding the country from the news.

US State-Affiliated NewsGuard Targets Consortium News https://t.co/pAT3ZofeNw  Consortium News (@Consortiumnews) June 3, 2022

Then youve got Wikipedia, which blacklists the same sites as NewsGuard and whose operatives run relentless smear campaigns on anti-imperialist voices, thereby guaranteeing a view of history that is wildly tilted in the favor of empire-authorized narratives. Jimmy Wales, the co-founder of Wikipedia, also happens to serve on NewsGuards advisory board.

This idea that anyone can ever be an impartial arbiter of objective reality is logically fallacious and is invalidated by facts in evidence. It is clear that imposing regulations on peoples efforts to understand world events on the platforms where people have come to congregate to share ideas and information will necessarily lead to an information ecosystem that is skewed to the benefit of whatever power structure is imposing those regulations. When that power structure is an alliance of oligarchs and government proxies whose interests are served by the ongoing dominance of the US-centralized empire, the information ecosystem will be biased in favor of that empire.

The most impressive feat of engineering in the 21st century has been of the social variety. The social engineering necessary to continually keep people confused and blinkered about whats going on in the world despite a sudden influx of information availability is one of the most astonishing achievements in the history of civilization, despite its depraved and destructive nature.

The empire has had mixed feelings about the internet since its creation. On one hand it allows for unprecedented surveillance and information gathering and the rapid distribution of propaganda, which it likes, but on the other it allows for the unprecedented democratization of information, which it doesnt like.

Its answer to this quandary has been to come up with fact checking services and Silicon Valley censorship protocols for restricting misinformation (with facts and information defined as whatever advances imperial interests). Thats all were seeing with continually expanding online censorship policies, and with government-tied oligarchic narrative management operations like NewsGuard.

Read more at: CaityJohnstone.Medium.com
Botanists were surprised to discover a rare orchid species that had been considered to be extinct in Vermont for more than 100 years.

Believed to be Extinct

According to the Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department, the little whorled pogonia has not been sighted in Vermont since 1902, despite several futile searches, and was thought to have died out in the state.

However, Chittenden County's Winooski Valley Park District discovered a tiny clump of fragile plants.

In a statement, Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department Botanist Bob Popp remarked, "Discovering a thriving population of a federally threatened species unknown in our state for almost a century is astonishing; it's Vermont's version of uncovering the ivory-billed woodpecker."

Local Community Scientists

John Gange and Tom Doubleday, two local community scientists from Shelburne and Colchester, discovered the orchid population. To safeguard the endangered species, the Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department will not publish the specific location of the colony.

Assistant Botanist Aaron Marcus of the Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department stated that John is a dedicated and experienced botanist. The latter specializes in orchids and regularly monitors the sightings people record on the community science app iNaturalist.

In July, John noted that birder and retired greenhouse manager Tom Doubleday had asked for help identifying an unknown wildflower on iNaturalist. He contacted us with the news that the little whorled pogonia had very likely recently been discovered in Vermont.

The little whorled pogonia, sometimes known as "the rarest orchid east of the Mississippi," is protected by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service. It is listed as a threatened species by the US Fish and Wildlife Service and an endangered species in 14 of the 18 states where it grows naturally.

Also Read: Rare $480-Worth Chinese Medicine Plant Learns to Hide From Humans

Little Five Leaves Orchids

The uncommon orchid, known by its scientific name Isotria medeoloides or by its nickname "little five leaves," is found mainly throughout the Appalachian range, from Ontario southwards, with three major population concentrations in New England, the Blue Ridge Mountains, and coastal Virginia.

It gets its name from its distinctive elliptical whorled pointy leaves, which it normally has five of. When in bloom, the orchid bears one or two yellow-green blooms, which Gange and Doubleday discovered when they discovered the new Vermont population. Only 104 orchid communities have been identified, most of which are quite tiny, with less than 25 unique plants.

At Risk

This orchid species is extremely uncommon because of the devastation of its habitat owing to land conversion from forests for housing, industrial, or highway construction.

Other dangers include being eaten by deer, snails, and insects, trampled by wild pig herds or knocked over by off-road vehicles, and even harvested for horticulture or study.

Protecting the Flower

The Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department will now collaborate with the Winooski Valley Park District to seek more little whorled pogonia samples in the area and monitor the population to ensure it remains safe from habitat damage.

"We're quite lucky that this little whorled pogonia population is on Winooski Valley Park District land," Popp said. It emphasizes the significance of habitat protection; we seldom know all of the species that live on a piece of land we save, but we do know that maintaining entire natural communities gives the greatest odds for sustaining Vermont's biodiversity, from common to rare species.

Related Article: Weird Nature: 5 of the Most Bizarre Bug Eating Plants on the Planet

For more news about rare plant species, don't forget to follow Nature World News!
Several of the 5,500 marine RNA virus species recently discovered by scientists may help push carbon absorbed from the atmosphere to permanent storage on the ocean floor, according to a study.

The findings also show that a tiny number of these newly discovered species have "borrowed" DNA from the infected animals, which might aid researchers in determining their supposed hosts and functions in marine processes.

A Greater Understanding

The research leads to a greater understanding of the outsized impact these small particles play in the ocean environment, in addition to charting a wealth of core ecological data.

"The findings are critical for model building and anticipating what is occurring with carbon in the right direction and at the right scale," said Ahmed Zayed, co-first author of the paper and a research scientist in microbiology at The Ohio State University.

When considering the immensity of the ocean, the topic of size is a crucial concern.

Professor of microbiology Matthew Sullivan of Ohio State University anticipates discovering viruses that, when created on a large scale, may act as programmable "knobs" on a biological pump that controls how carbon is deposited in the ocean.

"We're becoming increasingly conscious that we may need to adjust the pump at the ocean scale," he said. Sullivan says society relies on that technology cure but is challenging to solve.

Science published the study online.

Also Read: Data Shows that Carbon Dioxide Levels Are At Record Breaking High

Assessing Harms

These RNA viruses were discovered in plankton samples gathered by the Tara Oceans Consortium, a global study of the impact of climate change on the ocean conducted on board the schooner Tara. The international effort aims to learn more about the mysterious organisms that live in the sea and do the majority of the work of absorbing half of the human-generated carbon in the atmosphere and producing half of the oxygen we breathe to predict how the ocean will respond to climate change.

Though these marine viral species are not harmful to humans, they function like all viruses, infecting another creature and exploiting its cellular machinery to replicate themselves. Though the consequence may always be dangerous for the host, a virus's actions may have environmental advantages, such as assisting in dispersing a toxic algal bloom.

The key to determining their place in the ecosystem has been the development of computational approaches that can extract information on RNA virus activities and hosts from tiny genome segments by genomics standards.

Guillermo Dominguez-Huerta, a former postdoctoral researcher in Sullivan's lab, remarked, "We let the data be our guide."

The team used statistical analysis of 44,000 sequences to classify RNA virus communities into four ecological zones: Arctic, Antarctic, Temperate, and Tropical Epipelagic (closest to the surface, where photosynthesis occurs), and Temperate and Tropical Mesopelagic (most relative to the surface, where photosynthesis occurs) (200-1,000 meters deep). These zones are similar to the zone designations for the almost 200,000 marine DNA virus species found earlier by the researchers.

There were some unexpected outcomes. While biodiversity tends to increase near the equator and decrease near the poles, Zayed said a network-based ecological interaction study revealed the variety of RNA virus species in the Arctic and Antarctic was higher than predicted.

"Viruses don't care about the temperature when it comes to variety," he stated. "The great variety we see in polar locations is large because we have more viral species vying for the same host. We observe fewer species of hosts but more viral species infecting the same animals," says the researcher.

Identifying Hosts

To identify possible hosts, the researchers employed a combination of methods, first inferring the host from the viruses' categorization in the context of marine plankton and then generating predictions based on how the virus and host amounts "co-vary" since their abundances are dependent on one another. Finding evidence of RNA virus incorporation in cellular genomes was the third technique.

"The viruses we're researching don't insert themselves into the host genome, but many do by mistake, which is a hint about the host because if you discover a viral signal within a host genome, it means the virus was within the cell at some point," Dominguez-Huerta explained.

While most dsDNA viruses infect bacteria and archaea, which are widespread in the ocean, this recent study discovered that RNA viruses primarily infect fungus and microbial eukaryotes and invertebrates to a lesser level. Only a small percentage of marine RNA viruses can infect bacteria.

The researchers also discovered 72 distinct functionally different auxiliary metabolic genes (AMGs) sprinkled among 95 RNA viruses. These provided some of the best clues as to what kinds of organisms these viruses infect and what metabolic processes they're trying to reprogram to maximize virus "fabrication" in the ocean.

Further Research

Further network-based research discovered 1,243 RNA virus species linked to carbon export, with 11 being suggested to be active in facilitating carbon export to the ocean's bottom. Two viruses connected to algal hosts were chosen as the most promising targets for further investigation.

"We're getting to the point where we can create metabolic maps out of bags of genes," says Dr. Richard Sullivan, an associate professor of biogeosciences.

Sullivan, Dominguez-Huerta, and Zayed are Ohio State's EMERGE Biology Integration Institute members.

Related Article: Is Air Pollution Deadlier than Climate Change?

For more environmental news, don't forget to follow Nature World News!
An worldwide team of scientists is studying the underwater noises created by coral to learn more about the marine critters using artificial intelligence, or AI.

Coral are tiny invertebrates that form massive rock-like formations called reefs in warm seas.

To understand, the scientists listened to aquatic sound records obtained off the islands of central Indonesia.

Corals communicating through sounds

They discovered that coral reefs emit a variety of noises and are rich in animal and plant life. Last month, scientists from British and Indonesian institutions published their findings in Ecological Indicators, as per Learning English.

The researchers utilized hundreds of sound recordings to teach a computer software to listen to coral reefs and track their health.

The sound of a healthy reef is complex and "crackling, campfire-like." Because of all the species that live on and in it. Ben Williams, the team's main researcher, described a sick reef as forlorn.

The AI system collects data from the recordings, such as the frequency and volume of the noises. According to the study, the AI system can determine if a reef is healthy or sick 92 percent of the time based on this information.

The researchers anticipate that the AI system will assist environmental organizations all around the world in monitoring the condition of coral reefs.

The researchers also plan to collect undersea records from reefs in Australia, Mexico, and the Virgin Islands to aid in the tracking of coral-rebuilding operations.

Carbon dioxide emissions, according to scientists, are harming coral reefs.

According to scientists, heat-trapping carbon gases warm ocean surfaces by.13 degrees Celsius every ten years.

They also claim that ocean acidification has grown by 30% ever since beginning of the industrial revolution.

According to the Global Coral Reef Monitoring Network, a United Nations organization, 14 percent of the world's coral was destroyed from 2009 and 2018.

Read more: One of the Most Vibrant Coral Reef Systems in the World Faces a Dangerous Threat

What have found underwater?

While presenting these findings to the Acoustical Society of America, Lauren Freeman, senior oceanographer at the Naval Undersea Warfare Center, stated that soundscaping provides a "very great pulse" of what's going on on the reef, as per The Guardian.

Overfishing, pollution, and climate change are all putting a strain on coral reefs.

Between 2019 and 2020, Freeman and her colleagues studied the acoustics of reefs off the coast of Hawaii, comparing them to soundscapes from the ocean around Bermuda and New England.

They buried underwater microphones in water for up to six months, recording soundscapes at regular intervals.

They sought to recreate what was happening underneath by breaking down the resultant noises and analyzing them down to the microsecond level: various fish species eating, whales passing by, and boat motors roaring in the distance.

Most reefs are noisy when it is warmer and just before the sun sets and rises. Hotter weather tends to correspond with higher levels of activity in ecosystems; for example, many species give birth in the spring, while twilight and dawn create a type of underwater "rush hour" between diurnal and nocturnal organisms, according to Freeman.

The researchers discovered that unhealthy coral ecosystems sound less lively and generate more high-frequency noises.

While healthy reefs have readings ranging from 2 to 8 kilohertz, less diversified reefs tend to have readings over 12kHz as they become overpopulated with macroalgae, which produce oxygen bubbles that float to the top and rupture, producing a particular high-frequency sound.

The findings will let more academics employ soundscapes to study reefs and track the success of existing restoration programs.

Traditional reef surveying offers several obstacles, including high costs for boats and personnel, time constraints for divers below, tiny sections of coral that can be surveyed, and the fact that there are just too many reefs to monitor. Sound surveys have the potential to change all of that.



Related article: Strange Fish Songs Reveal That Indonesia's Coral Reefs Are Rapidly Recovering
A recent study finds that there are over three million shipwrecks on sea bottoms throughout the world, many of which are built of wood, and these sunken wooden islands are proving to be a flourishing breeding environment for deep-sea bacteria.

Most of them will never be discovered, but searchers have begun unearthing even the oldest and deepest wrecks since the 2010s.

Microbe diversity found on shipwrecks

According to scientists, these man-made structures have a significant influence on the sensitive organisms at the ocean's bottom, to a degree that has not before been recognized.

Deep sea bacteria living on buried shipwrecks are at the bottom of the undersea food chain, so changes to them may have an impact on other marine species - and, eventually, anything living on land.

According to Leila Hamdan, a molecular microbial ecologist at the University of Southern Mississippi, microbial communities are crucial to be aware of and understand because they give early and obvious evidence of how human activities impact life in the ocean.

Hamdan and his colleagues chose two 19th-century shipwreck sites in the Gulf of Mexico for their investigation. They placed pine and oak blocks around the locations, up to 200 meters (656 feet) away, and left the material there for four months.

After that, the wooden blocks were collected and tested for bacteria, archaea, and fungus. Microbial diversity varied according to distance from the crash sites, peaking at around 125 meters (410 ft).

The kind of wood also made a difference, with oak being more beneficial to microbial biodiversity than pine.

Natural hard habitats, such as trees that have fallen into rivers and seas, are already well recognized for impacting the richness of the water into which they fall. This study demonstrates that human-caused shipwrecks have an impact on microbial life beneath the sea.

"Ultimately, these biofilms are what allow harsh ecosystems to evolve into islands of biodiversity," Hamdan explains, as per Science Alert.

Overall, the presence of the shipwrecks boosted microbial richness in the surrounding water and affected the composition and distribution patterns of the biofilms containing bacteria, according to the researchers.

Although further study is needed to explore the phenomena at a wider range of sites, these preliminary findings indicate that shipwrecks are an essential factor in underwater biodiversity.

The researchers behind this recent study believe that other man-made structures, such as oil rigs, may have a similar influence on deep sea microbiomes, and that further research is needed to find out details.

While we are aware that human influences on the bottom are expanding due to various economic applications, scientific discovery is not keeping up with how this alters the biology and chemistry of natural undersea environments, according to Hamdan.

Read more: Anchor from St. Paul's Shipwreck Recovered in Malta, Researchers Claim

Why more shipwrecks being discovered?

Shipwreck hunting has grown more profitable for a handful of reasons, according to David L. Mearns, author of The Shipwreck Hunter: A Lifetime of Extraordinary Discoveries on the Ocean Floor.

For starters, records all across the world have been digitized and are thus more easily accessible.

Second, underwater remote technology has improved to the point where the actual labor of searching for wrecks is considerably more efficient.

The wreck of Ernest Shackleton's Antarctic expedition ship Endurance has discovered in March 2022 thanks to the deployment of cutting-edge technology and a search craft capable of slapping away ice with ease that Shackleton could only dream of in 1915.

The SA Agulhas, constructed in 2012 to feed South Africa's Antarctic outposts, was well fitted to battle its way through the infamously difficult sea ice of the Weddell Sea, where Endurance had been crushed 107 years previously.

Related article: Legendary Orichalcum Metal From Atlantis Discovered in 2,600-Year-Old Shipwreck
More than 20 amino acids have been discovered by Japanese researchers on the space rock Ryugu, which is more than 320 million kilometers from Earth.

Scientists studied samples from the said near-Earth asteroid. The samples were retrieved by the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency's (JAXA) Hayabusa2 spacecraft, which landed on Ryugu in 2018. This was the first time that signs of life were discovered on an asteroid.

In 2019, the spacecraft collected 5.4 grams from the surface and subsurface of the asteroid, stowed it in an airtight container, and returned it to Earth on a precise trajectory.

Near-Earth Asteroid Ryugu

Ryugu is made up of many small rocks rather than a single large boulder, and scientists believe the asteroid's unusual spinning top shape is due to rapid rotation.

Ryugu is a carbonaceous, or C-type, asteroid with a lot of carbon-rich organic matter on it, most of which were made from the same nebula that gave birth to the Sun and the planets of the Solar System approximately 4.6 billion years ago. The asteroid may also contain water, as per previous sample analysis.

While outlining the initial findings at the Lunar and Planetary Science Conference in March, Hisayoshi Yurimoto, a geoscience professor at Hokkaido University, pointed out that the Ryugu material is the most primitive in the Solar System ever studied. Yurimoto is the leader of the Hayabusa2 mission's initial chemical analysis team.

The pitch-black asteroid samples, which reflect only 2% to 3% of the light that hits them, have not been altered by interactions with Earth's environment, giving them a chemical composition with better resemblance with that of the early solar system. Such characteristic is unlike the organic molecules found on earth.

Hiroshi Naraoka, a planetary scientist at Kyushu University, explained that their team detected various prebiotic organic compounds in the samples, including proteinogenic amino acids, and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons similar to terrestrial petroleum, and various nitrogen compounds. Naraoka is the leader of the team which looked for organic matter in the samples.

He went on to say that these prebiotic organic molecules have the potential to spread throughout the Solar System, possibly as interplanetary dust from the Ruygu surface due to impact or other factors.

According to Japan's education ministry, sample analysis initially detected 10 amino acid types, but the number has now surged to more than 20. Amino acids are the basic building blocks of all proteins and are highly necessary for life to exist on Earth.

Read also: Oxygen in Earth's Atmosphere Could Help Identify Signs of Life Beyond Our Solar System

Signs of Life

Organic molecules from space were discovered in a group of 3.3 billion-year-old rocks discovered in South Africa, according to a 2019 study published in the journal Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta, raising the possibility that some, if not all, of these life-building molecules first reached the Earth through comets and asteroids. The Ryugu findings support the case that asteroids carry these molecules.

Kensei Kobayashi, a professor emeritus of astrobiology at Yokohama National University, gave a statement to Kyodo News, saying that proving amino acids exist in the subsurface of asteroids increases the probability that the compounds originated from space.

According to Kobayashi, amino acids could be found on other planets and natural satellites as well, indicating that life may have originated in more places in the Universe than previously thought.

Ryugu samples are still being analyzed, and more data about the asteroid's development and composition will be available soon.

Aside from Ryugu other space rocks are being studied. Another diamond-shaped asteroid named Bennu was sampled by NASA's OSIRIS-REx spacecraft in 2021.

Samples from Bennu are expected to reach Earth in 2023. Scientists are leaning on the possibility that signs of organic matter contained within the collected samples could provide important clues into the evolution of the solar system and its materials, and how life emerged from them.

Related article: Blueprint for Life: Scientists Detect All Bases of DNA and RNA in Meteorites
Champaign, IL (61820)

Today

Partly cloudy and windy. Record high temperatures expected. High 98F. Winds SSW at 20 to 30 mph..

Tonight

A few clouds with an isolated thunderstorm possible after midnight. Low around 75F. Winds SW at 15 to 25 mph. Chance of rain 30%.
How do cancer cells differ from healthy cells? A new machine learning algorithm called "ikarus" knows the answer, reports a team led by MDC bioinformatician Altuna Akalin in the journal Genome Biology. The AI program has found a gene signature characteristic of tumors.

When it comes to identifying patterns in mountains of data, human beings are no match for artificial intelligence (AI). In particular, a branch of AI called machine learning is often used to find regularities in data sets  be it for stock market analysis, image and speech recognition, or the classification of cells. To reliably distinguish cancer cells from healthy cells, a team led by Dr. Altuna Akalin, head of the Bioinformatics and Omics Data Science Platform at the Max Delbruck Center for Molecular Medicine in the Helmholtz Association (MDC), has now developed a machine learning program called "ikarus." The program found a pattern in tumor cells that is common to different types of cancer, consisting of a characteristic combination of genes. According to the team's paper in the journal Genome Biology, the algorithm also detected types of genes in the pattern that had never been clearly linked to cancer before.

Machine learning essentially means that an algorithm uses training data to learn how to answer certain questions on its own. It does so by searching for patterns in the data that help it to solve problems. After the training phase, the system can generalize from what it has learned in order to evaluate unknown data.

It was a major challenge to get suitable training data where experts had already distinguished clearly between 'healthy' and 'cancerous' cells." Jan Dohmen, first author of the paper

A surprisingly high success rate

In addition, single-cell sequencing data sets are often noisy. That means the information they contain about the molecular characteristics of individual cells is not very precise  perhaps because a different number of genes is detected in each cell, or because the samples are not always processed the same way. As Dohmen and his colleague Dr. Vedran Franke, co-head of the study, reports, they sifted through countless publications and contacted quite a few research groups in order to get adequate data sets. The team ultimately used data from lung and colorectal cancer cells to train the algorithm before applying it to data sets of other kinds of tumors.

In the training phase, ikarus had to find a list of characteristic genes which it then used to categorize the cells. "We tried out and refined various approaches," Dohmen says. It was time-consuming work, as all three scientists relate. "The key was for ikarus to ultimately use two lists: one for cancer genes and one for genes from other cells," Franke explains. After the learning phase, the algorithm was able to reliably distinguish between healthy and tumor cells in other types of cancer as well, such as in tissue samples from liver cancer or neuroblastoma patients. Its success rate tended to be extraordinarily high, which surprised even the research group. "We didn't expect there to be a common signature that so precisely defined the tumor cells of different kinds of cancer," Akalin says. "But we still can't say if the method works for all kinds of cancer," Dohmen adds. To turn ikarus into a reliable tool for cancer diagnosis, the researchers now want to test it on additional kinds of tumors.

AI as a fully automated diagnostic tool

The project aims to go far beyond the classification of "healthy" versus "cancerous" cells. In initial tests, ikarus already demonstrated that the method can also distinguish other types (and certain subtypes) of cells from tumor cells. "We want to make the approach more comprehensive," Akalin says, "developing it further so that it can distinguish between all possible cell types in a biopsy."

In hospitals, pathologists tend only to examine tissue samples of tumors under the microscope in order to identify the various cell types. It is laborious, time-consuming work. With ikarus, this step could one day become a fully automated process. Furthermore, Akalin notes, the data could be used to draw conclusions about the tumor's immediate environment. And that could help doctors to choose the best therapy. For the makeup of the cancerous tissue and the microenvironment often indicates whether a certain treatment or medication will be effective or not. Moreover, AI may also be useful in developing new medications. "Ikarus lets us identify genes that are potential drivers of cancer," Akalin says. Novel therapeutic agents could then be used to target these molecular structures.

Home-office collaboration

A remarkable aspect of the publication is that it was prepared entirely during the COVID pandemic. All those involved were not at their usual desks at the Berlin Institute for Medical Systems Biology (BIMSB), which is part of the MDC. Instead, they were in home offices and only communicated with one another digitally. In Franke's view, therefore, "The project shows that a digital structure can be created to facilitate scientific work under these conditions."
Around one in 500 men could be carrying an extra X or Y chromosome  most of them unaware  putting them at increased risk of diseases such as type 2 diabetes, atherosclerosis and thrombosis, say researchers at the universities of Cambridge and Exeter.

In a study published in Genetics in Medicine, researchers analyzed genetic data collected on over 200,000 UK men aged 40-70 from UK Biobank, a biomedical database and research resource containing anonymized genetic, lifestyle and health information from half a million UK participants. They found 356 men who carried either an extra X chromosome or an extra Y chromosome.

Sex chromosomes determine our biological sex. Men typically have one X and one Y chromosome, while women have two Xs. However, some men also have an extra X or Y chromosome  XXY or XYY.

Without a genetic test, it may not be immediately obvious. Men with extra X chromosomes are sometimes identified during investigations of delayed puberty and infertility; however, most are unaware that they have this condition. Men with an extra Y chromosome tend to be taller as boys and adults, but otherwise they have no distinctive physical features.

In today's study, the researchers identified 213 men with an extra X chromosome and 143 men with an extra Y chromosome. As the participants in UK Biobank tend to be 'healthier' than the general population, this suggests that around one in 500 men may carry an extra X or Y chromosome.

Only a small minority of these men had a diagnosis of sex chromosome abnormality on their medical records or by self-report: fewer than one in four (23%) men with XXY and only one of the 143 XYY men (0.7%) had a known diagnosis.

By linking genetic data to routine health records, the team found that men with XXY have much higher chances of reproductive problems, including a three-fold higher risk of delayed puberty and a four-fold higher risk of being childless. These men also had significantly lower blood concentrations of testosterone, the natural male hormone. Men with XYY appeared to have a normal reproductive function.

Men with either XXY or XYY had higher risks of several other health conditions. They were three times more likely to have type 2 diabetes, six times more likely to develop venous thrombosis, three times as likely to experience pulmonary embolism, and four times more likely to suffer from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

The researchers say that it isn't clear why an extra chromosome should increase the risk or why the risks were so similar irrespective of which sex chromosome was duplicated.

Even though a significant number of men carry an extra sex chromosome, very few of them are likely to be aware of this. This extra chromosome means that they have substantially higher risks of a number of common metabolic, vascular, and respiratory diseases  diseases that may be preventable." Yajie Zhao, PhD student, Medical Research Council (MRC) Epidemiology Unit, University of Cambridge, the study's first author

Professor Ken Ong, also from the MRC Epidemiology Unit at Cambridge and joint senior author, added: "Genetic testing can detect chromosomal abnormalities fairly easily, so it might be helpful if XXY and XYY were more widely tested for in men who present to their doctor with a relevant health concern.

"We'd need more research to assess whether there is additional value in wider screening for unusual chromosomes in the general population, but this could potentially lead to early interventions to help them avoid the related diseases."

Professor Anna Murray, at the University of Exeter, said: "Our study is important because it starts from the genetics and tells us about the potential health impacts of having an extra sex chromosome in an older population, without being biased by only testing men with certain features as has often been done in the past."

Previous studies have found that around one in 1,000 females have an additional X chromosome, which can result in delayed language development and accelerated growth until puberty, as well as lower IQ levels compared to their peers.

The research was funded by the Medical Research Council.
A mass survey of citizens aged 50 to 89 years examined whether cognitive decline could be detected by sagittal spinal balance measurement based on a radiological approach. Doctors from Shinshu University observed associations of sagittal vertical axis (SVA) anteriorization and higher age with lower cognitive function. The sagittal vertical axis is the length of a horizontal line connecting the posterior superior sacral end plate to a vertical plumbline dropped from the centroid of the C7 vertebral body (Photo 1). The more the head and neck protrude in front of the pelvis when viewed from the side, (the greater the length) the more likely subjects are to show symptoms of mild cognitive decline. In males, the SVA was associated with cognitive decline independently of age. In females, cognitive decline was more likely in cases of SVA that is equal or greater than 70mm regardless of age.

Mild cognitive impairment is cognitive complaints from the individual or associates and no dementia. Dementia, frail, and bedridden status maybe prevented by catching mild cognitive impairment at a reversible stage in communities where expensive special testing equipment or additional medical testing time is limited for the older population. First author Hikaru Nishimura is an occupational therapist that research problems faced by the elderly from a rehabilitation perspective. Exercise training in older adults could prolong the extent of decline towards dementia or prevent it all together.

Corresponding author Doctor Shota Ikegami of Shinshu University states that poor posture is a manifestation of "frail" in the elderly. Hidden cognitive decline, a component of frail can be detected by posture screening. Older adults in the town of Obuse, Nagano were examined for the mass survey and were found that in Japanese older adults, those who exhibited anteriorization of the spine was more likely to also have cognitive function decline. Cognitive decline was reliably detected by combining age and the degree of spinal imbalance. Males with SVA  100 mm at any age, SVA  90 mm at  70 years, and SVA  70 mm at  80 years were likely to have cognitive decline, while females with SVA  70 mm at any age are likely to have cognitive decline.

The prefecture of Nagano boasts some of the highest health longevity in Japan. With this study and others, doctors hope to prevent future need for care through rehabilitation interventions for frail found during screenings.

This work was supported by a grant from the Japan Orthopaedics and Traumatology Research Foundation, Inc. [no. 339], Shinshu Public Utility Foundation for Promotion of Medical Sciences, Research Funding from the Japanese Society for Musculoskeletal Medicine, the Promotion Project of Education, Research, and Medical Care from Shinshu University Hospital, and The Nakatomi Foundation. None of the above funding sources had any role in the design, execution, analysis, interpretation of data, or writing of the study.
(Newser)  Sunday is Russia Day, and along with the festivities celebrating the country's independence, citizens in some locations will be able to grab a cheeseburger and fries where their old McDonald's used to stand. Reuters reports that 15 of the fast-food giant's former restaurantsshuttered earlier this year after the brand exited Russia due to the war in Ukrainewill open Sunday under a rebrand, though it's not yet clear what the eatery's new name will be. What has been revealed is the updated restaurant's new logo, which features a hamburger patty and two french fries in the shape of the letter "M," against a green background. The Guardian notes that some are already criticizing the logo, comparing it to Marriott's.

Russian media reports that the country's patent office received from the new restaurant chain a list of suggested names, among them "Fun and Tasty" and "The Same One," per Insider. The RIA Novosti news agency reports that the McDonald's app in Russia has been renamed "My Burger," though the company says that's just a placeholder. Among the locations set for a grand opening Sunday is the one in Moscow's Pushkin Square, which was the site of the first McDonald's to open in Russia in 1990. McDonald's announced last month it was selling its restaurants in Russia to businessman Alexander Govor, who says he hopes to open all 850 of the former McDonald's restaurants within the next two months, as well as expand to open even more down the line. (Read more McDonald's stories.)
(Newser)  It's a story out of Pennsylvania that Today describes as "something straight out of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory." The local fire department received quite an unusual call on Thursday, when it was informed that two maintenance workers at the Mars Wrigley plant in Elizabethtown, known for making M&Ms and other sweet treats, had fallen into a vat of chocolate and couldn't get out. According to the Lancaster County 911 dispatch, the chocolate was said to have been about waist-deep, reports PennLive.com.

The dispatch notes that the employees fell into the vat shortly before 2pm local time. Fire crews tried to pull the workers out of the tank but couldn't, so instead, they had to "cut a hole in the side of the tank to get them out," dispatch communications supervisor Brad Wolfe tells CNN, adding that it wasn't yet clear how the workers fell into the vat. WHTM reports that the first employee was freed at around 3:10pm, and the second 15 minutes later.

Both were taken to area hospitals, likely as a precaution, as Wolfe tells CNN that no injuries had been reported. A Mars Wrigley spokesperson said the company was "extremely grateful for the quick work of the first responders," per WHTM. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration is investigating the incident. (Read more chocolate stories.)
(Newser)  March for Our Lives is planning hundreds of demonstrations across the country this weekend to demand changes to gun laws, driven partly by a series of mass shootings in the US. More than 450 rallies have been organized in at least 45 states, Axios reports, with protests possible at US embassies in other countries, as well. "Right now we are angry," said Mariah Cooley, a board member of the organization and senior at Howard University. "This will be a demonstration to show that us as Americans, we're not stopping anytime soon until Congress does their jobs. And if not, we'll be voting them out."

The event in the capital is scheduled to begin at noon at the Washington Monument. Speakers include March for Our Lives co-founder David Hogg, Rep. Cori Bush, and Yolanda Renee King, granddaughter of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., per USA Today. She spoke at the first protest in 2018, when she was 9. This DC event is intended to be smaller than that first one, with the organization emphasizing holding smaller marches at more places. "We want to make sure that this work is happening across the country," said Daud Mumin, co-chairman of the march's board of directors. "This work is not just about DC, it's not just about senators." March for Our Lives has a march finder here. (Read more March for Our Lives stories.)
(Newser)  Rudy Giuliani could be prohibited from practicing law in the District of Columbia, after the disciplinary arm of the DC Bar filed an ethics case over his advocacy of false fraud claims in the 2020 presidential election. The charge involves claims Giuliani made in a federal court about a lawsuit by former President Donald Trump's campaign to throw out the voting results in Pennsylvania, Axios reports. The suit sought a court order invalidating 680,000 to 1.5 million mail-in ballots that had been counted, saying they were in violation of Pennsylvania law. A judge eventually dismissed the suit. Giuliani's license to practice law in New York was suspended a year ago.

The DC filing says that Giuliani brought the Pennsylvania case "without a non-frivolous basis in law and fact" and that his conduct was "prejudicial to the administration of justice," per CNN. During oral arguments, Giuliani told the court, without citing evidence, that the "best description of this situation is it's widespread, nationwide voter fraud of which this is a part." He said the fraud was happening in places "controlled by a Democratic machine that have quite an impressive list of voter fraud convictions." The DC filing quotes Giuliani's words to the court. Attempts to obtain comment from a lawyer for Giuliani were unsuccessful. He has 20 days to answer the DC charge, per CBS News. The DC Court of Appeals has the final say in the matter. (Read more Rudy Giuliani stories.)
(Newser)  Canada is on its way to putting a health warning on every cigarette sold in the country, in what would be a global first. "It's a warning that you simply cannot ignore," Rob Cunningham of the Canadian Cancer Society said. "It's going to reach every smoker, with every puff." A public comment period began Saturday, the Guardian reports, and the government plans to add the requirement in the second half of next year. "We need to address the concern that these messages may have lost their novelty, and to an extent we worry that they may have lost their impact as well," said Carolyn Bennett, minister of mental health and addictions.

Smokers, especially young ones, often don't have to look at the warnings on cigarette packs because they're given one cigarette at a time in social situations, per the BBC. Canada added photo warnings to packages in 2001, but Bennett said they make less of a difference than the government had hoped. Statistics Canada reported last month that 10% of Canadians say they smoke regularly, a share the government wants to cut in half by 2035. That includes about 11% of people 20 and older who say they smoke; the share is 4% for those ages 15 to 19. Overall, smoking fell 3% in Canada between 2015 and 2019.

"This is going to set a world precedent," said Cunningham, who hopes the policy spreads to other nations. Some researchers were skeptical that the warning-on-every-smoke policy will make much difference, per the New York Times. Curbing availability and raising taxes on cigarettes does work, they say. A spokesman said the Canadian subsidiary of Philip Morris supports the warnings. The government hasn't decided on wording yet, but the frontrunner is "Poison in every puff." (Read more anti-smoking stories.)
(Newser)  Update: The FDA on Sunday posted its analysis of Pfizers COVID-19 vaccine for children under age 5, announcing that the kid-sized doses do appear to be safe and effective. The agency posted a similar analysis of Moderna's vaccine for the youngest age group last week. Next up: Wednesday's meeting, when votes will be held, the AP reports. Our original story from Saturday follows:

Parents anxious to finally vaccinate their youngest children against COVID-19, strap in: A lot is set to happen over the next week. On Wednesday, both Moderna and Pfizer will have to convince what's essentially a science courtadvisers to the Food and Drug Administrationthat their shots work well in babies, toddlers, and preschoolers. The FDA weighed in late Friday with its own analysis of Moderna's vaccine, finding the shots appear safe and effective for children as young as 6 months old, per the AP. A federal review of Pfizer's vaccine for the littlest kids is expected by Monday. Kids under 5 are the only group not yet eligible for COVID-19 vaccination in the US.

If the FDA's advisers endorse one or both shots for themand the FDA agreesthere's still another hurdle. The CDC must recommend whether all tots need immunization or just those at high risk from the virus. Adding to the complexity, each company is offering different dose sizes and number of shots. And the week won't even start with the littlest kid debate: Moderna first will ask FDA's advisers to support its vaccine for older children. Pfizer's COVID-19 vaccine is the only type the FDA allows for children of any age. Two doses plus a booster are cleared for everyone 5 and older. Shots for the 5- to 11-year-olds contain a third of the dose given to teens and adults. For kids younger than 5, Pfizer and its partner BioNTech lowered the dose even more, to 1/10th of the adult dose. The trade-off is a need for three shotsthe first two given three weeks apart, and the last at least two months later.

Moderna is seeking FDA clearance for two shots, each a quarter of its adult dose, given about four weeks apart for kids younger than 6. (Moderna tested a slightly different age limit than Pfizer.) If the FDA authorizes one or both shotsa decision expected shortly after its advisory panel's meetingall eyes move to the CDC. That agency recommends how to use vaccines. Which tots should get COVID-19 vaccination will be an important debate as the coronavirus doesn't tend to make children as sick as adults, yet nearly 500 deaths in US children under 5 have been reported. The CDC's own vaccine advisers are scheduled to meet next Friday and Saturday, and a final decision by the CDC's director, Dr. Rochelle Walensky, should come shortly after they're done. If all those steps fall into place, vaccinations could begin in many areas June 21. Much more here for parents of small kids.

(Read more coronavirus vaccine stories.)
(Newser)  The government of President Daniel Ortega has authorized Russian troops, planes, and ships to deploy to Nicaragua for purposes of training, law enforcement, or emergency response. In a decree published this week and confirmed by Russia on Thursday, Ortega will allow Russian troops to carry out law enforcement duties, "humanitarian aid, rescue and search missions in emergencies or natural disasters." The Nicaraguan government also authorized the presence of small contingents of Russian troops for "exchange of experiences and training," the AP reports.

Russia's foreign ministry spokeswoman, Maria Zakharova, told the Russian news outlet Sputnik that the measure was routine. "We are talking about a routinetwice a yearprocedure for the adoption of a Nicaraguan law on the temporary admission of foreign military personnel to its territory in order to develop cooperation in various areas, including humanitarian and emergency responses, combatting organized crime and drug trafficking," Zakharova said. She noted the law also authorizes troops from the US, as well as Mexico and other Central American countries, to come for such purposes.

Ortega has been a staunch ally of Russia since his days in the leadership of the 1979 revolution that ousted dictator Anastasio Somoza. Ortega served as president from 1985 to 1990, before being reelected in 2007. Ortega's government arrested dozens of political opposition leaders, including most of the potential presidential candidates, in the months before his reelection to a fourth consecutive term last year. His government has shut down dozens of nongovernmental groups that he accuses of working on behalf of foreign interests to destabilize his government. Tens of thousands of Nicaraguans have been chased into exile.

(Read more Nicaragua stories.)
(Newser)  Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin stressed American support for Taiwan on Saturday, suggesting at Asia's premier defense forum that recent Chinese military activity around the self-governing island threatens to change the status quo. Speaking at the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore, Austin noted a "steady increase in provocative and destabilizing military activity near Taiwan," including almost daily military flights near the island by the People's Republic of China, the AP reports. "Our policy hasn't changed, but unfortunately that doesn't seem to be true for the PRC," he said.

Austin said the US remains committed to the "one-China policy," which recognizes Beijing but allows informal relations and defense ties with Taipei. Taiwan and China split during a civil war in 1949, but China claims the island as its own territory and has not ruled out using military force to take it. China has stepped up its military provocations against democratic Taiwan in recent years. "The PRC's moves threaten to undermine security, and stability, and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific," Austin said. He drew a parallel with the Russian invasion of Ukraine, saying that the "indefensible assault on a peaceful neighbor has galvanized the world and ... has reminded us all of the dangers of undercutting an international order rooted in rules and respect."

Austin met Friday with Chinese Defense Minister Gen. Wei Fenghe on the sidelines of the conference, a senior American defense official said. If Taiwan were split from China, Wei told him, the Chinese military would have to "fight at any cost," per the BBC. Austin reportedly made clear that while the US does not support Taiwanese independence, it has major concerns about China's recent behavior. Wei, meanwhile, complained to Austin about new US arms sales to Taiwan announced this week, saying the deal "seriously undermined China's sovereignty and security interests," a Chinese media report said.

(Read more Taiwan-China relations stories.)
(Newser)  Thousands of people attended rallies across the country on Saturday to call for new gun control laws, saying the issue can no longer be ignored after the recent series of horrific mass shootings. "If you listen closely, you will hear the cries of our fallen loved ones, in our churches, our synagogues, our schools and now our grocery stores," Raymond Whitfield told the crowd at the Washington Monument, CNN reports. His mother, Ruth, who was 86, was shot to death at a Buffalo supermarket last month. "Lower your weapons, and let us replace the hate," her son said.

More than 450 rallies were planned by March for Our Lives, an organization formed by survivors of the high school mass shooting in Parkland, Florida, in 2018, per NBC News. The largest was in Washington, which organizers said drew 40,000 people, per USA Today. People gathered in smaller places, as well, including West Melbourne, Florida, where an 8-year-old girl addressed 300 people about the fear in schools. "I learned to lock the door, turn off the lights, and hide in a classroom before I learned to read," Addisyn Mayer said, asking the nation's leaders, "What if the kids that are asking for change are the answer to your thoughts and prayers, and you're just not listening to us?"

In Washington, Manuel Oliver, whose son, Joaquin, died in Parkland, called out politicians. "Our elected officials betrayed us and have avoided the responsibility to end gun violence," she said. A college student told a Los Angeles rally the movement is led by students and why, per the Los Angeles Times. "We are the ones who have to go through the active shooter drills every semester. We are the ones who wake up in the morning and wonder if our school is next," said Shaadi Ahmadzadeh, 19. "We are the ones who go off to college or into the workforce and text our younger siblings to make sure they've made it home that night." (Read more March for Our Lives stories.)
Fairbanks, AK (99707)

Today

Partly cloudy skies this evening will become overcast overnight. Low 53F. Winds WSW at 5 to 10 mph..

Tonight

Partly cloudy skies this evening will become overcast overnight. Low 53F. Winds WSW at 5 to 10 mph.
Singapore and Japan have signed an enhanced memorandum on defence exchanges that identifies new areas of cooperation, the Ministry of Defence (MINDEF) said in a statement on Saturday (Jun 11).

These areas include logistics support, exchanges on defence technology, protection against Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Explosive (CBRE) threats, strategic communications and maritime security, MINDEF said.

Minister for Defence Dr Ng Eng Hen and Japan Minister of Defense Nobuo Kishi signed the agreement on the sidelines of the Shangri-la Dialogue.

The Memorandum on Defence Exchanges was first signed in 2009 between then-Minister for Defence Teo Chee Hean and his Japanese counterpart Toshimi Kitazawa.

The original agreement formalised defence interactions between both defence establishments, such as exchange of visits by defence officials, conduct of policy dialogues and military staff talks, as well as the cross-attendance of courses and seminars.

The 2009 deal also allowed both countries to broaden defence cooperation on areas such as humanitarian assistance and disaster relief and peace support operations.

On Saturday, Singapore and Japan also announced the commencement of negotiations on an agreement concerning the transfer of defence equipment and technology.

The agreement will establish a legal framework for the import and export of defence equipment and technology between the two countries, but does not oblige either party to sell or buy equipment from the other party, MINDEF said.
Manoeuvres by China and Russia have sharpened security concerns in East Asia, Japanese Defence Minister Nobuo Kishi said in unusually strong comments on Saturday, adding that Japan was on the front lines as neighbours tried to upend international norms.

Japan is surrounded by actors that possess, or are developing, nuclear weapons, and that openly ignore rules, Kishi said in Singapore at the Shangri-La Dialogue, Asias premier security meeting.

In May, China and Russia conducted a joint aerial patrol in waters close to Japan and Taiwan, their first since Russias invasion of Ukraine.

Joint military operations between these two strong military powers will undoubtedly increase concern among other countries, he said.

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida made the same point in no uncertain terms in his Shangri-La Dialogue keynote speech the night before, saying his country would call for increased defence spending and possibly seek advanced strike weapons.

Ukraine may be East Asia tomorrow, he said.

Security and stability of the Taiwan Strait was also important for the security of Japan and the wider world, Kishi said on Saturday, calling China a nation of concern.

Russias invasion of Ukraine, which Moscow calls a special military operation, has alarmed Tokyo, because it could establish military force as a way to settle international disputes and encourage China to try and take control of Taiwan, which lies close to Japan and maritime trade routes that feed its economy.

In his speech, Kishi also criticised North Korea, which has carried out at least 18 missile tests this year, saying the regime could not be allowed to threaten Japan, the region and the international community.
Asia kicks off key security meeting on regional security after two-year suspension

Xinhua) 15:26, June 11, 2022

A policeman is on duty for the 19th Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore on June 10, 2022. The 19th Shangri-La Dialogue is to be held here from Friday to Sunday. (Photo by Then Chih Wey/Xinhua)

SINGAPORE, June 10 (Xinhua) -- The 19th Shangri-La Dialogue will be held here from Friday to Sunday after a two-year suspension due to the COVID-19 pandemic, focusing mainly on security in the Asia-Pacific region and viable solutions, including the China-proposed Global Security Initiative (GSI).

The three-day summit will hold seven plenary sessions, two ministerial roundtable meetings and three simultaneous special sessions for delegates from more than 40 countries or regions to exchange views on regional and global security issues. Senior defence ministers from Southeast Asia and the wider Asia region, Europe, North America and the Middle East are also expected to attend and speak at the Dialogue.

According to the agenda, Chinese State Councilor and Minister of National Defense Wei Fenghe will address a plenary session and is expected to introduce China's policy, principles and actions on safeguarding true multilateralism, regional peace and stability, and building a shared future for humanity.

A highlight of the summit is China's GSI, seen as another global public good that contributes Chinese solutions and wisdom to address global security challenges. Analysts said the initiative's implementation will attract enormous attention at the Shangri-La Dialogue.

"We look forward to welcoming Wei Fenghe to the IISS Shangri-La Dialogue and to hearing his views at this critical time for the regional and global security order," said James Crabtree, executive director of the London-based International Institute for Strategic Studies-Asia.

Mahmud Ali, associate fellow of the Institute of China Studies, University of Malaya, said China's GSI can be interpreted as a step toward developing "a community with a shared future."

The GSI views humanity as an indivisible, singular and united body sharing a single home planet, whose security affects every individual and society and therefore must be defended and advanced collectively, he said.

The expert believed that the vision has expanded the dimension of security from its "narrowly-defined political-military parameters" to "focus on the shared nature of planetary existence, dilute the emphases on divergences, and enable collaborative approaches to tackling trans-border challenges."

Other topics for discussion include managing geopolitical competition in a multipolar region, the Myanmar situation, climate security and maritime security.

Meanwhile, analysts also cautioned that the United States may use Asia's top security meeting this week to further pitch its Indo-Pacific Strategy, during which U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin will make a speech titled "Next Steps for the United States' Indo-Pacific Strategy."

Senior Colonel Zhang Chi, an associate professor at the National Defense University of China, told Xinhua that the United States has spared no effort in implementing its Indo-Pacific Strategy to isolate China, divide Asian countries and undermine the central role of ASEAN in the region.

Additionally, Washington is trying to stoke tensions in the region by stirring up sensitive security issues involving Taiwan and the South China Sea to establish a "NATO for the Asia-Pacific" to encircle China, he added.

"Its purpose is to contain China's development, coerce or induce countries in the region to take sides with either China or the United States," Zhang noted, adding that it will "destroy regional solidarity and harmony and cause split, or even conflicts."

(Web editor: Zhong Wenxing, Bianji)
CONCORD, N.H. (AP)  New Hampshire's ban on late-term abortion no longer applies in cases in which the fetus has been diagnosed with abnormalities incompatible with life.

Gov. Chris Sununu signed a bill Friday adding an exception to the ban on abortions after 24 weeks gestation that took effect Jan. 1. The ban, which Sununu had signed into law as part of the state budget, previously had exceptions only for pregnancies that threaten the mothers life or health. It also required ultrasounds to be performed before any abortion, but the bill signed Friday limited that requirement.
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ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP)  Jacqueline Powell and her fourth grade classmates toiled over pencil and paper to write a letter in Spanish about what they did in class this year.

Powell explained the assignment in perfect Spanish before struggling to translate the words to end her sentence. The 10-year-old charter school student raised her forearms to her temples in a show of mental effort, making her large round glasses seesaw up and down.

That struggle, fought every week at the New Mexico International School in Albuquerque, has put her speaking ability far ahead of some of her high school peers. It has allowed her to speak in Spanish with her grandmother, who is from Chihuahua, Mexico, and she has fostered a secret language between her and her mom, whose husband and step children cant speak Spanish.

While dual language programs are offered in thousands of schools across the U.S., New Mexico is the only state where the right to learn in Spanish is laid out in the constitution.

Dual language programs like the one at the New Mexico International School are championed by Hispanic parents who want their children to cultivate cultural roots. They are also seen by education experts as the best way for English learners to excel in K-12 schools.

The question for lawmakers in the nations most heavily Hispanic state is why New Mexicos dual language programs arent being used by the students who most need them.

Legislative analysts are expected in the coming weeks to release a report that will highlight challenges facing dual language and other multicultural programs. It will include a look at decades-old trends such as a lack of oversight by education officials, declining participation, and a reduction in the number of multicultural programs, said Legislative Finance Committee spokesman Jon Courtney.

The report also will acknowledge the lack of information about how well language programs are doing after two years without comprehensive academic testing due to the pandemic.

The number of dual language immersion programs has increased from 126 before the pandemic to 132 last year.

State officials are supposed to assess the programs every three years. But the New Mexico Public Education Department has done only one in-person visit and evaluated only one school over the past three years, said department spokeswoman Judy Robinson.

The department has started a series of forums for parents around the Hispanic Education Act, a state law that informs multicultural programs.

While there isnt a consensus among educators as to how to best teach young children languages, a New Mexico court found in 2018 that well-run dual language programs are the gold standard for English learners.

The alternative, more popular in Arizona, is to separate children out for remedial instruction.

In New Mexico, English learners make up a larger share of dual language program participants. They comprise 63% of participants in the current school year, up from 53% last year.

At the New Mexico International School in Albuquerque, around half of students are Hispanic, like Jacqueline, and reflective of the citys population.

Many of their parents are trying to reclaim the language, school principal Todd Knouse said.

English-speaking parents say they have an easier time learning about the benefits of dual language programs and jumping through the hoops to get into charter schools. The schools are free but dont provide bussing.

Its almost like a privilege type of experience to get your kid into these programs because it does take a lot of research. Tracking down the programs, the distance of how long youre willing to drive, the (admission) lottery, said Mary Baldwin, 34, whose daughter attends the Albuquerque school.

And then theres so much shame that gets placed on the Spanish language or the culture itself, she said. Some families might not be aware that being bilingual is a huge strength not just culturally but also professionally.

Baldwin immigrated to the U.S. from Honduras when she was 10. Her daughter is the same age now and is fluent enough to cook banana-leaf-wrapped tamales with her Spanish-speaking grandmother as a result of the dual language program.

Fans of New Mexicos programs say they elevate Spanish-speakers skills and give them confidence in an environment where everyone is equal as they learn a new language. The programs also increase fluency and literacy in their home language.

Its generally beneficial to have two languages, said Stephen Mandrgoc, a University of New Mexico historian who has studied bilingual programs in the southwest and oversees Spanish colonial heritage programs.

When it comes to languages spoken by New Mexicos Native American tribes and pueblos, there are some state laws that protect student rights. Still, only two dual language programs are offered in Native American languages  both in Dine, the language of the Navajo people.

Some tribes like Jemez Pueblo face a more pressing existential threat to their language because of a small population and cultural taboos that limit the creation of language materials. Other tribes like Santa Clara Pueblo say underinvestment is a problem.

New Mexico officials have appropriated millions of dollars to support curriculum projects, but much of the funds go unspent. Advocates say one problem is the time in which grants must be spent, from less than a year to sometimes as short as a month before it reverts back to the state.

___

Attanasio is a corps member for the Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative. Report for America is a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on under-covered issues. Follow Attanasio on Twitter.
YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK, Wyo. (AP)  A government panel has renamed a Yellowstone National Park mountain that had been named for a U.S. Army officer who helped lead a massacre of Native Americans.

Mount Doane will now be called First Peoples Mountain after the unanimous vote by the U.S. Board on Geographic Names, the National Park Service announced Thursday.

The 10,551-foot (3,200-meter) peak in southeastern Yellowstone in Wyoming had been named for Lt. Gustavus Doane, who in 1870 helped lead an attack on a band of Piegan Blackfeet in northern Montana.

Doane bragged for the rest of his life about what become known as the Marias Massacre. The attack in response to the alleged slaying of a white fur trader killed at least 173 American Indians, including many women, elders and children suffering from smallpox, Yellowstone officials said in a statement.

Besides being a leader of the massacre, Doane was a key member of a Yellowstone expedition the same year. Yellowstone became the worlds first national park in 1872.

Yellowstone officials consulted with 27 tribes on the name change, according to the statement.

This name change is long overdue. We all agreed on First Peoples Mountain as an appropriate name to honor the victims of such inhumane acts of genocide, and to also remind people of the 10,000-year-plus connection tribal peoples have to this sacred place now called Yellowstone, Piikani Nation Chief Stan Grier said in a statement Wednesday.

The Piikani Nation's traditional territory covers much of Montana, including the site of the Marias Massacre, and the Canadian provinces of Alberta and Saskatchewan.
On Dec. 14, 2012, 20 elementary school students and six teachers lost their lives to gun violence. Immediately after the shooting, a group of West Haven residents drove up to Sandy Hook to provide whatever comfort we could. The late Tim Wrightington and his wife, Lisa, even dressed up as Santa and Mrs. Claus to try and give the children some sort of diversion from the tragic reality. Those were very dark days from which we still have not healed.

Almost eight years ago to the day, on June 15, 2014, West Haven dedicated the pink playground on Sea Bluff Beach as a remembrance to Charlotte Bacon, a bubbly 6-year-old who loved all things pink, animals and visiting West Havens beaches. Hundreds of volunteers from all walks of life gave up an entire weekend to construct that playground on Sea Bluff Beach. Students left school early, parents took days off from work, and strangers became close friends as every single Westie worked around the clock to ensure that the playground was built. There were so many volunteers that weekend that it seemed like every resident of West Haven was down on that beach. Today, that pink playground stands as a tribute to not only Charlotte, but to the innocent lives taken on that horrific December day.

In the time following this senseless act, an outpouring of pleas urging lawmakers to do whatever it took to prevent another shooting flooded the media. West Havens entire delegation was pushing for stricter gun control measures and it seemed as if Congress was listening.

The mass shooting in Uvalde, Texas, is just the latest mass shooting of many that have occurred since Sandy Hook, which was not the first. It goes without saying that all mass shootings are horrible, as are all violent crimes, but the shooting in Uvalde really strikes a nerve. Most of the victims were just little kids in their classroom. If you look at the statistics, mass shootings do not occur as often in other countries as they do here in the United States, especially not in schools. As you watch each of these nightmares unfold, ask yourself why that is. What have they done that we have not? Our elected officials must seek out an answer. This appalling violence must stop.

I have thought about the children that we lost in Sandy Hook, the children of Uvalde and all of the other victims over these years. I have also thought of all of the good people that drove up to comfort the residents of Sandy Hook and the countless amount of people that came out to help install a playground on the beach in just one weekend. It does not take away the pain and suffering, but it does give me some hope that the good people far outweigh the bad.

In closing, I would like to ask our elected officials, once again, from every level of government to put party politics aside and get to work on solving this problem. Keep in mind that the victims in the most recent shooting, as well as in Sandy Hook, were mostly children. Their futures were taken from them and their families. Please let that guide you in your efforts, and the efforts of your colleagues, to put in place measures that will protect and save the futures of all students. I know this goal is daunting and a complex one, but nonetheless, it should be the goal. May all of the victims rest in peace and may all of the families affected find comfort knowing that you are not alone in holding our leaders accountable for finding the solution.

Ed OBrien is former mayor of West Haven.
The Muslim community took to the streets in Delhi and across Uttar Pradesh to protest Nupur Sharma's disparaging statements, only days after horrific rioting in Kanpur over an alleged insult to the religion.

The Muslim community took to the streets in Delhi and across Uttar Pradesh to protest Nupur Sharmas disparaging statements, only days after horrific rioting in Kanpur over an alleged religious insult.

Following Friday prayers at Delhis Jama Masjid, a large crowd gathered on the streets and chanted slogans against BJP candidate Nupur Sharma. Many people brandished posters depicting BJP spokespeople Nupur Sharma and Naveen Jindal, while others shouted slogans. Community leaders have stated that anything less than the arrest of BJP spokespersons will not enough, and that they must be imprisoned for uttering disrespectful remarks against their religion.

#WATCH People in large numbers protest at Delhi's Jama Masjid over inflammatory remarks by suspended BJP leader Nupur Sharma & expelled leader Naveen Jindal, earlier today



No call for protest given by Masjid, says Shahi Imam of Jama Masjid. pic.twitter.com/Kysiz4SdxH  ANI (@ANI) June 10, 2022

The protests and sloganeering were not confined to Delhi. Many places in Uttar Pradesh, including Moradabad, Lucknow, and Saharanpur, witnessed their congregation following Friday prayers.

Although videos show the Muslim community demonstrating in the streets and demanding the arrest of anyone who makes disparaging remarks about the religion, no violence has been recorded. They requested from the government that anyone who commits blasphemy be dealt with harshly and that no pity be granted to them.
The majority of Srinagar's stores and businesses were closed, but public transportation was still running.

On Friday, a lockdown was imposed in Srinagar over two now-suspended BJP politicians inflammatory remarks about Prophet Mohammad (PBUH), and mobile internet connections were suspended after a curfew was established in Jammus Bhaderwah town the day before owing to ethnic unrest.

The majority of Srinagars stores and businesses were closed, but public transportation was still running.

On Thursday, trouble occurred in Bhaderwah after someone uploaded ostensibly official announcements from a local mosque, causing friction between the two populations.

The people who made the incendiary remarks have been charged by the police.

Omar Abdullah, the former Chief Minister of Jammu & Kashmir, and Union Minister Jatindra Singh have both urged for peace.
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MILFORD >> On the night Hollywood released the horror movie, Annabelle, a sell-out audience at Lauralton Hall was spellbound, hearing about the real Annabelle  a demonic doll  from paranormal investigator Lorraine Warren, who cracked the real-life case, along with her late husband, Ed Warren.

The real Annabelle doll lives in a locked box at Warrens Occult Museum at her Monroe home.

REVIEW: 2019 'Annabelle' is smart, scary

The doll in the movie is a frightening looking porcelain doll in a childs image, with long hair and the real Annabelle  the one in Warrens museum  is a plain-looking classic Raggedy Ann doll with red yarn for hair.

But the Raggedy Ann at the Warrens Museum is no ordinary doll. According to the Warrens, it is inhabited by an inhuman spirit, and there is a warning on the glass case not to touch.

More Lifestyle Milford Ghost Camp introduces kids to the supernatural

One museum-goer who ignored the warnings and taunted the doll, died in a motorcycle crash shortly after being told to leave the museum.

The movie is a prequel to The Conjuring, based on the Warrens real-life case involving the doll. The couple had a lot of input in the first movie, but Annabelle, is fabricated.

Warren, who mostly along with her late husband, has investigated more than 10,000 cases of paranormal activity, presented the talk and slide show of cases at the Catholic girls high school with the help of her son-in-law Tony Spera, also a paranormal investigator.

Warren, now 87, soft spoken and sweet to all those who engaged her in conversation at a meet and greet, said presenting at Lauralton was like going home, because she attended the school in the late 1930s, but had to leave because of illness.

Warren said her presentations are in extra demand during September and October because fascination with the subject is heightened during, Hallows Eve, as she calls it.

A Roman Catholic, Warren now and in the early career with her husband, often works with priests and other clergy because they rely on blessings and sometimes exorcism to resolve a case.

She said the power of faith has gotten her out of many scary situations because its often about fighting the demonic with goodness. Holy water is a tool.

Warren said her Catholic faith is both her protection and her drive.

Warren began by telling the audience that ever since the age of 7 or 8 she saw lights or auras around people, but was afraid to tell her parents, for fear they would think she was, crazy. She spent many years praying about it because, I didnt want to be different, she said.

Warren recalled a story from her Lauralton days. She had a favorite teacher, a nun who taught French, and once told her, referring to her aura, Your lights are brighter than Mother Superiors.

Warren said she was told to go to the chapel and pray about it, and it will go away. Her Lauralton audience, many with no connection to the school, but there as Warren fans, roared with laughter.

At first she didnt even tell Ed Warren, whom she met at 16 about her abilities. But later he would tell her, You are different.

Ed, a self-taught demonologist  an interest he developed after growing up in a house he said was haunted  and Lorraine, would pool their talents and go on to become world-famous paranormal investigators. Her career has spanned 65 years.

The Warrens have done jobs throughout the United States and in faraway places that Japan, England, Scotland, France, Australia. The couple charged only travel expenses  nothing for the actual investigating  but built an empire on books, movie work and lectures about their cases. In 1952, Ed Warren founded the New England Society for Psychic Research. Their investigations often included other professionals, including nurses, doctors, police officers, researchers.

Some of their famous cases besides Amityville and Annabelle include: the Demon murder; Werewolf; Smurl family; The Perrons; Stepney Cemetery; Borley Church; Union Cemetery; The Haunting in Connecticut.

Warren said most unwanted spirits enter through vehicles such as Ouija boards, Tarot Cards and psychics, and urged the audience to keep their kids away from such things. Spera said seven of their 10 cases involves someone with a Ouija board asking, Is there a spirit here?

If you go into a very happy home, very seldom, bad things will be found, Warren said.

She and Spera continued the work after Eds death in 2006 and are currently working on a haunting case in Stratford, she said. Every town in Connecticut has paranormal activity, Warren said, noting a recent exorcism-like event on a New Haven man, 31.

Going into haunting experiences, there were some bad ones, scary ones. My faith was always my protection, she said.

She said that some five years ago a retiring priest moved into an apartment on her grounds, and not only does he help on jobs, but, We have mass every day in our house, she said, adding, Its beautiful how God works.

The presentation Friday, which drew lots of audience oohs and ahhs, included a slide show of findings on cases such as images of people from the beyond or ghost-like forms appearing in photographs.

Spera spent part of the talk on the eery, real life Annabelle story and emphasized that of all the items in the familys Occult Museum, that doll is what Id be most frightened of. Curators believe the doll has the power to kill, according to a film on the Annabelle case.

Noting the case of the motorcyclist who died after leaving the museum, Spera said, Never take things like this lightly, thinking its a joke.

According to a clip Spera showed, the real-life Annabelle story began in 1970 when a 28-year-old nurse received the Raggedy Ann doll as a birthday gift from her mom. She put the rag doll on her bed and began to notice it changing positions. A leg would be crossed, or the doll would be lying on its side. Then the girl and her roommate began to find parchment paper on the floor with written messages, such as, Help me, help us. They had no parchment paper in the house. The doll began appearing in different rooms and at one point appeared to be leaking blood.

Then, one day, a male friend was taking a nap and woke up with the doll staring at him, as he felt like he was being strangled. There were deep scratch wounds on his upper body.

The girls at first thought maybe an intruder was moving the doll around and leaving notes. When they ruled that out, according to the Occult Museum website, Not knowing where to turn they contacted a medium and a seance was held. The girls were introduced to the spirit of Annabelle Higgins, said to be a young girl that resided on the property before the apartments were built and died there at age 7.

According to the website, the spirit related to the medium that she felt comfort with the two roommates in the apartment and wanted to stay with them and be loved.

The roommates gave Annabelle permission to inhabit the doll, but things got worse.

The Warrens took an interest in the case and contacted the women. They came to the immediate conclusion that the doll itself was not in fact possessed but manipulated by an inhuman presence, according to the Warrens website, which goes on to say, Truly, the spirit was not looking to stay attached to the doll, it was looking to possess a human host.

Spera said the Warrens took the doll and Ed Warren told his wife they should avoid the highway because he was going to be a rough ride home. He was right. At some point he had to sprinkle the Annabelle doll with Holy water to calm it down.

The movie Annabelle doesnt resemble the real-life story. In the movie, the doll is owned by a young couple, given to the woman for her doll collection. As the woman nears her pregnancy due date, a pair of Satanic cultists break in, stab the pregnant woman in the belly, and end up dead in their home. One of the cultists is named Annabelle Higgins, and some of her blood lands on the doll. Thats when the doll starts doing over-the-top scary things.

Spera and Warren said they dont really care that the producers of Annabelle fabricated the story for the movie because it still serves the purpose of warning the public about demons.

Eeveryone in the audience who believes in God must also believe theres a Devil, Spera said. Ghosts, devils, demons are real.

He said while most people are focused on the bad stuff, regarding ghosts, there are beautiful stories, as well, such as the soldier who appeared to visit a loved one. Spera said its a ghost if it is a stranger appears and an apparition if you recognize the person.

The key is dont open any doors, Spera said.
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SEYMOUR  A crash between a truck and a car on Route 8 early Friday left a box truck on its side and closed the highway for more than two hours, according to Seymour Volunteer Fire Departments Citizens Engine Company No. 2.

The crash occurred in the southbound lanes near Exit 20.
DERBY - The city has rejected a proposal to merge its senior center with neighboring Ansonias.

The decision came via a 5-4 vote at the Board of Aldermens Thursday meeting, and was immediately criticized by Derby Mayor Rich Dziekan and Ansonia Corporate Counsel John Marini.

Derby seniors can still pay a fee to use Ansonias senior center when it is built.

I am disappointed the alderman chose not to provide our seniors with a brand new facility that is double the current square footage, with greatly improved access and parking, that offered Derby a true shared management oversight and responsibility of the entire program as they have now and the ability to have greatly expanded programming, Dziekan said. I think to vote against such a proposal, and do so saying our seniors can simply pay an annual fee and participate demonstrates a lack of understanding in what our seniors deserve and is a huge disservice to them and the value they are to our city.

The vote will not deter Ansonia from moving ahead with building its new center, Marini said.

While this news does not alter the citys plans to establish the best senior center in the Valley, we are saddened to learn that it will not be a joint venture with Derbys seniors, he said. The Valley is always stronger when working together.

The cities have had discussions over the terms of the potential merger since last year, and Ansonia officials had sent a proposal to Derby on June 6. According to the proposed deal, Ansonia and Derby would share the center for 30 years, and Derby would pay $300,000 over 10 years to help with construction. Ansonia would pay for building maintenance.

The Ansonia aldermen and Derby Board of Apportionment and Taxation would jointly establish the centers annual budget, which the two cities would split.

But while Ansonia officials expressed enthusiasm for a possible merger, Derby aldermen rejected the proposal mostly along party lines, citing concerns over costs and distrust toward its neighbor to the north. The two Republicans on the board, Charles Sampson and Gino DiGiovanni voted yes. Democratic aldermen Ron Sill and Kevin Sharkey also voted yes for the merger. Democrats Barbara DeGenarro, Anita Dugatto, Sarah Widomski and Brian Coppolo, and unaffiliated member Robert Hyder voted against it.

DeGennaro said she wasnt sure what the true financial costs of the merger would be. She said the operating costs that Derby would be responsible for is still an unknown number.

Hyder said he was concerned about Ansonia Mayor David Cassettis past behavior toward Derby.

Im hesitant to get in any sort of agreement with the City of Ansonia based on Mayor Cassettis comments over the holidays. And then he followed through with pulling our fuel from the city of Derby, Hyder said.

Hyders comments referenced Cassettis 2021 appearance on WICC radio, where he joked that the city would cut Derby off from fueling city owned vehicles at an Ansonia fuel pump if the city did not agree to merge its senior center with Ansonias.

Several Derby residents and officials took offense at the comments, and Derby has since partnered with Shelton for fuel.

Dziekan said there would be a contract between the two cities, but Hyder wasnt convinced.

Regardless of where were at, as far as agreement is, I mean, is that (the) kind of relationship we want to get involved in again? Hyder said.

Ansonia officials on the other hand said the proposal was a good way to consolidate resources. Economic Development Director Sheila OMalley previously said the senior center was a no-brainer and Derby Chief of Staff Walt Mayhew said the agreement appeared favorable.

Derbys senior center has fallen into disrepair and is in need of major renovations, at a potential cost of millions of dollars, according to former Derby Chief of Staff Andrew Baklik. Both Ansonia and Derbys administrations argued for the merger since both sides said it would save the two cities money in the long run.

The new Ansonia building will be on the first floor of the same building that also houses the Ansonia police headquarters. It is expected to be completed by September.

As for what Derby will do next, Dugatto said Derby residents could still use the Ansonia facility, albeit by paying a fee to participate as a guest.
GUILFORD  Police were notified after a Guilford High School student said they had a gun while boarding a bus after school Thursday, according to a school official.

As students were getting on the bus Thursday, one student called out that they had a gun, Guilford High School Principal Julia Chaffe said in an email to parents Friday evening.

The bus driver called for an administrator, and administrators took the student from the bus. Officials also notified police of the incident and said law enforcement followed up with the student and their family. Police are also continuing to speak with students who were on the bus at the time, according to Chaffe.

At no time were students in danger, nor do we have any indication that there was an actual threat, she said in the email. School administrators have addressed the incident with the student and their family to ensure that all students at GHS remain safe.

Guilford Public Schools Superintendent Paul Freeman said there was no gun on campus.

A student made a very unfortunate comment that police and administration responded immediately, he said.

The Guilford Police Department was not immediately available to respond for comment Friday night.

Chaffe advised parents to talk to their children about the serious nature of joking about guns or gun violence.

If a student is concerned that someone may threaten themselves or the school community, Chaffe asked them to report it to an administrator or School Resource Officer Gingras. Gingras can be reached from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday at GingrasS@GuilfordSchools.org.

Anonymous reports can also be made through the Say Something Anonymous Reporting System at www.SandyHookePromise.org/Say-Something-Tips.

As always, our students safety is our top priority, Chaffe said.
LAS VEGAS (AP)  The Nevada Department of Education says it is willing to take over the Clark County School District for not complying with a sweeping decentralization law that is supposed to put more power in individual schools.

Officials with the Las Vegas-based district acknowledge some shortcomings but say theyre substantially following the 5-year-old law. They accuse the state of overreach and spinning a damaging, false narrative, the Las Vegas Sun reported.

We are, as far as were concerned, down to two, maybe one last piece of compliance, Kellie Kowal-Paul, the districts chief strategy officer, said at a meeting between school district and state officials in May. Theres frustration in misinterpretation but by no means open defiance of compliance.

The Nevada Board of Education, with the backing of State Superintendent of Instruction Jhone Ebert, has been steadily working toward takeover since late 2021 to force CCSD to comply with the law.

The potential worst-case scenario is receivership, where a third-party, state-appointed manager would have the power to override decisions by Clark County schools Superintendent Jesus Jara and the School Board related to decentralization.

State board member Mark Newburn said the department was serious, and that the state attorney generals office agreed the state education department had the authority to step in.

The superintendent, according to them, could put the district in receivership next week, but the intent is not to do that, Newburn said at the May meeting. The intent is to lay out this whole process.

THE REORGANIZATION LAW

In 2015, the Nevada Legislature passed a law giving Clark County school principals more control over schools and budgets. State lawmakers in 2017 with Assembly Bill 469, detailing how the Clark County School District would institute the power shift starting with the 2017-18 school year.

Large school districts are prone to develop large, complex and potentially inefficient, cumbersome and unresponsive bureaucracies that tend to become too dependent upon a centralized operational model where most decision-making is made by central services, the law said.

The bill language said the top-down structure may result in an entrenched and inflexible operational paradigm that failed to take into account the particularized, specialized or localized circumstances, needs and concerns of each local school precinct.

The law targets large school districts with at least 100,000 students, making it applicable statewide only to the Las Vegas-based district, the fifth-largest in the nation with more than 300,000 students and 350 schools.

The reorganization law gives principals authority to select teachers and most other school staff, balance their site budgets, and procure most equipment, services and supplies.

The law also created school organization teams -- a mix of staff and parents who oversee the schools operational and budget -- and required 85% of unrestricted district funds to be allocated to individual schools. Only 15% of dollars could be for centrally controlled and funded purposes.

The school district central office retains control over busing, food services, payroll, information technology, utilities, police services, union negotiations, building maintenance and custodial services, capital projects and administration of certain federally guaranteed programs including special education.

The laws give the states education department authority to ensure the reorganizations implementation.

State takeovers, or at least the possibility, are common around the U.S.

In May, Massachusetts declined to take over Boston Public Schools, but lawmakers made clear they wanted improvements after a state report outlined problems with school violence, busing, special education, English language-learner programs and central office bureaucracy.

In Arizona, the state board of education can place a district in receivership for insolvency or gross mismanagement. The Arizona law also allows the state board to terminate the districts superintendent and chief financial officer.

Michigan law allows state liaisons to help districts navigate state rules. New York allows monitors for academic and financial oversight.

STEPS TO RECEIVERSHIP

Receivership is a five-step process, according a potential sequence that the education department drafted in May:

 The state issues the school distict a notice of noncompliance

 The state develops and institutes a plan of corrective action and appoints a compliance monitor. The school district would pay for this monitor.

 The monitors assessments would be placed on School Board agendas for six months.

 If the district is still not in compliance after that period, the district superintendent and school board president would have a hearing before the Nevada Board of Education. Based on this hearing, the state superintendent would decide if the district should be placed in a full or partial receivership.

 If the state superintendent appoints a receiver, the position is paid for by the district. The receiver would make decisions to achieve compliance with decentralization and have extensive access to district personnel and operations. This includes the ability to reorganize policies, regulations, budgets, departments and to negotiate employment contracts.

The district must be in compliance for at least 30 days before being taken out of receivership.

WHAT ELSE THE STATE SAYS

In September, the education department listed several items to be resolved.

They included principals ability to select staff, along with the associated language in the teacher and support staff collective bargaining units allowing principal autonomy; and the procurement of equipment, services and supplies, whether selected by the schools or provided by the district.

State officials cite a line in the legislative measure that says the state superintendent shall take such actions as deemed necessary and appropriate to ensure that each large school district carries out the reorganization.

In January, Newburn said, We are probably going to need more than good intentions to get the Clark County School District in full compliance.

My hope is that were going to be able to engage the trustees, finally, and bring the district into compliance  but theres also a really good chance thats not going to happen, he said. The district has repeatedly, I would say almost brazenly, indicated that they somehow have the authority to determine which law they would like to follow or not.

In May, Clark County School Board member Lola Brooks told Newburn that nobody from the state asked to meet with board members that that because so much work happens behind the scenes, its very easy for you to exploit a narrative in this manner.

WHAT ELSE THE DISTRICT SAYS

CCSD admits that principals dont have authority to select their staff the way the law envisioned.

In a September progress report to the state superintendent, Legislature and governor, the district pinned this on the teacher and support staff unions.

The reorganization law puts the authority in the hands of the principal, but the current collective bargaining agreements for licensed educators and support professionals essentially put the authority in the hands of the employee, the report said.

In a May letter to Ebert acquired by the Sun, Jara said the district had tried expressly to have employment contracts reflect the law, but the unions have refused without substantial limitations on principals ability to select employees.

The district also says its possibly compliant in achieving the 85% to 15% funding balance.

Its close, with an estimated 79% of funds going to individual schools for the next fiscal year. But a document Clark County school administrators prepared for its May joint meeting said hitting the 85/15 split will be extremely difficult.

Everything else is in line, including the ability for principals to purchase their own services and to carry forward unspent funds into the next year, the district argues.

Kowal-Paul, whose job is to get the district in compliance, said in an April letter to the state board that the possibility of receivership could affect CCSDs ability to finance projects such as building and refurbishing schools through bonds.

She takes issue with even the possibility, though.

The Nevada Legislature did not authorize a complete takeover of the Clark County School District in order to resolve a few (alleged) minor issues with compliance, she wrote.

The state thinks its allowed, the state boards lawyer, Deputy Attorney General David Gardner, said at a March meeting of a subcommittee that focuses on decentralization.

If youre looking for the word receiver it is not in the statute, but the term take such steps that are deemed necessary and appropriate is a large enough term to allow for the receivership, he said.

Ebert, who would be tasked with final say, chimed in that receivership was the last resort, and the state was readying.

I would prefer not even to go down this road. If the school district and the superintendent come in compliance, then this is moot. All of this work is moot she said. But if the school district does not come into compliance, now we have laid out steps that we would take.
WASHINGTON (AP)  Rudy Giuliani, one of Donald Trumps primary lawyers during the then-president's failed efforts to overturn the results of the 2020 election, must now answer to professional ethics charges, the latest career slap after law license suspensions in New York and the District of Columbia.

The Office of Disciplinary Counsel, the disciplinary branch of the District of Columbia Bar, filed the charges against the former federal prosecutor and New York mayor alleging that he promoted unsubstantiated voter fraud claims in Pennsylvania. The action was filed June 6 and became public Friday.

At issue are claims Giuliani made in supporting a Trump campaign lawsuit seeking to overturn the election results in Pennsylvania. That suit, which sought to invalidate as many as 1.5 million mail-in ballots, was dismissed by courts.

The counsel's office said Giulianis conduct violated Pennsylvania Rules of Professional Conduct in that he brought a proceeding and asserted issues therein without a non-frivolous basis in law and fact for doing so and that he engaged in conduct prejudicial to the administration of justice.

The counsel asked that the D.C. Court of Appeals Board on Professional Responsibility take up the matter. Giuliani has 20 days to respond, according to the filing. An attempt Saturday to reach a lawyer for Giuliani was unsuccessful.

The step is the latest against Giuliani for his role in Trumps debunked claims that the 2020 presidential election was fraudulent.

Last June, an appeals court suspended him from practicing law in New York because he made false statements while trying to get courts to overturn Trumps loss. An attorney disciplinary committee had asked the court to suspend his license on the grounds that he had violated professional conduct rules as he promoted theories that the election was stolen through fraud.

The D.C. Bar temporarily suspended him last July although the practical implication of that action is questionable, given that Giulianis law license in Washington has been inactive since 2002.

News of the counsel's action follows the first public hearing by the House committee investigating the Capitol riot on Jan. 6, 2021. Giuliani met for hours with the committee last month.
Vic Eng / Hearst Connecticut Media Group Vic Eng / Hearst Connecticut Media Group Vic Eng / Hearst Connecticut Media Group Vic Eng / Hearst Connecticut Media Group Vic Eng / Hearst Connecticut Media Group

The Assumption Greek Orthodox Church hosted its 41st annual Danbury Greek Experience Festival from June 10 to June 12, 2022. The festival returned after a two-year hiatus, and featured traditional Greek food, music and dancing. Were you SEEN?
Reasons have emerged as to why the former Governor of Zamfara State, Ahmed Sani Yari who was one of the presidential aspirants was not abl...

Reasons have emerged as to why the former Governor of Zamfara State, Ahmed Sani Yari who was one of the presidential aspirants was not able to clear the votes of the delegates from his state during the just concluded APC presidential election.

One of the delegates who declined sharing his identity said although Yarima was the doyen of Zamfara politics but he has lost his political relevancies due to some factors.

Speaking with Dailypost in Gusau, the State capital, the politician explained that almost 90 present of Zamfara State indigenes have lost political interest in the former Governor because of his parochial political strategy.

We are all aware of the anti-party activities played by senator Ahmed Sani Yarima during the reign of former president Good Luck Jonathan

Senator Yarima claimed that he was not a member of the Peoples Democratic Party(PDP) but he organized 53 Islamic clerics in 2015 to Saudi Arabia to pray for Jonathan against APC he claimed to be his party

The funny thing about the whole issue is that senator Ahmed Sani Yarima is a Muslim while former president Good Luck Jonathan is a Christian, then how can such a combination work perfectly 

That and other political problems linked to senator Yarima destroyed his political dynasty in the State. Even the locals in the State cannot speak good about the senator

Continuing, he stated that when Governor Bello Mohammed Matawalle, former Governor Abdul Aziz Yari and senator Kabiru Garba Marafa were having political problems within the APC in the State which he said led to factionalizing the party, Yarima refused to amend the cracks on the walls of the party.

Yarima who claims to be the doyen of Zamfara politics could not call the warring factions to order since he actually made all of them politically but he formed an unholy alliance with Governor Matawalle

Even the only 4 votes he got from Zamfara State delegates, 2 came from Bakura, his own Local Government Area while the other two came from Anka Local Government where his mother came from and where he was born

He said over twenty-five delegates followed the new political godfather in the state, who is the former Governor, Abdul Aziz Yari, saying they would go wherever he goes politically

Though senator Ahmed Sani Yarima brought former Governor Abdul Aziz Yari to a political limelight, the former Governor has relegated Yarima to the background politically because Yarima sold his political relevance
Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi State on Friday told Bola Tinubu, the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC, that he le...





Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi State on Friday told Bola Tinubu, the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC, that he learnt a lot from the little lecture he gave him.





Bello stated this when Tinubu visited him in Abuja, barely 72 hours after the former Lagos State governors emergence as the flag presidential bearer of the APC for the 2023 election.





He also announced that he had collapsed his Presidential Campaign Council and would donate the building to Tinubus campaign organisation.





Recall that Tinubu had defeated the likes of Bello, Rotimi Amaechi, and Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, among others, during the APCs presidential primary election in Abuja on Wednesday.





Bello said, Today, I have collapsed my Presidential Campaign Organisation. Im donating my campaign organisation secretariat to you. Ive learnt a lot from the little lecture you gave to us.





What elders see when theyre in the valley, the younger ones wont see it.





Bello noted that the primary election had come and gone and promised to lead the youth to campaign for Tinubu to ensure that APC would win convincingly.





Never again will the PDP lead this country. Thank you, all my colleague governors, for giving me the opportunity to learn from you.





Senator Abdullahi Adamu (APC national chairman) has never lost an election and we will win the 2023 election. Our convention went well and peacefully, Bello added.





Tinubu was accompanied on the visit by three governors Babajide Sanwo-Olu (Lagos), Abdullahi Ganduje (Kano) and Bello Matawalle (Zamfara).





A former Governor of Edo State and ex-APC National Chairman, Adams Oshiomhole, was also at the meeting.
The Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, has described alleged proposal by the main political parties in the country to present Muslim-M...

The Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, has described alleged proposal by the main political parties in the country to present Muslim-Muslim presidential tickets as a recipe for crises, insisting that it will resist such a plan.

CANs National Secretary, Joseph Daramola, said it was wrong for one religion to seek to occupy the offices of the president and vice president at the same time, stressing that Christians in Nigeria will make a categorical statement during the 2023 elections should its warning be left unheeded.

In a statement made available to our correspondent on Friday, CANs scribe said: We once again warn the leading political parties to bury the thought of Christian/Christian or Muslim/Muslim presidential ticket in 2023. We want to unequivocally state that it is a threat to the fragile peace and unity of Nigeria.

We congratulate the Presidential Candidates of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the Labour Party (LP): Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar and Mr. Peter Obi respectively, including other parties that are participating in the forthcoming Presidential election.

CAN urges that a balance of both religious practitioners be considered in the choice of running mates of the presidential candidates. We do not subscribe to Christian/Christian ticket or Muslim/Muslim ticket.

Politicians can talk politics but we have stated our view long before now. Any party that tries same religion ticket will fail. This is not 1993.

Even when we have joint Muslim/Christian ticket, the church still goes through hell. Only God knows the number of Christians that have been killed in the last seven years with no one apprehended or prosecuted.

Imagine how bad it will be if we have two Muslims in power? The extant Nigerian Constitution promotes religious balance. So, if any political party wants to try Muslim/Muslim ticket, its at its own peril. CAN is only forewarning, but will make a categorical statement in the event our warning is not heeded.

The Presidential running mate for the APC presidential flag bearer, Asiwaju Ahmed Tinubu should be a Christian from the North, Atikus running mate should be a Christian from the South while Obi should choose his own among the Muslims from the North.

Anything contrary to the above means that the leadership of these political parties do not bother about the unity of this entity called Nigeria.

Those who are planning Muslim/Muslim ticket should also find out what was the outcome of MKO Abiola and Kingibe ticket in 1993. If they try Muslim/Muslim ticket this time around, the outcome will be worse because our fault lines are very visible.

There is no party that has no great, good and patriotic Christians who can preside over the affairs of this nation not to talk of being the Vice President as some mischievous people are trying to say. If merit and competence are used as yardsticks, we have many qualified Christians in all the 774 Local Government Areas of this country.

In the ongoing dispensation, CAN leadership cried in vain to ask President Muhammadu Buhari to break the monopoly or dominance of the security architecture with people of same faith.

We are all seeing the outcome now. It is obvious that the Nigeria of today is different from that of 1993. Our politicians should stop flouting the Constitution by respecting the North and South dichotomy and religious factor.

To those arguing that people do not care about the religions of their leaders once they are competent and credible, we dare APC to pick its Presidential running mate from the South and PDP pick its own from the North and see what follows.

When the late sage, Papa Obafemi Awolowo picked Chief Mrs Oyibo Odinamadu, a fellow Christian and Southerner, as his runningmate in 1979, we all know the consequences of his performance in the North. Our politicians should be doing what will unite us instead of what will further polarise the country.
Nollywood actress, Mary Njoku, has noted that the industry was arguably controlled by women. In an Instagram post on Saturday, the founder o...





Nollywood actress, Mary Njoku, has noted that the industry was arguably controlled by women.





In an Instagram post on Saturday, the founder of ROK TV noted that women sign almost all the cheques.





This is as she narrated how a family member wrote her off as an actress whose career refused to blow.





She said, Dear women, women are doing big things too! Few weeks ago, a family member needed a guarantor for her rent and I went to the lawyers office to sign.





I spent over 45 minutes trying to convince her I can afford the rent but she didnt believe me. She thought I was an actress whose career has refused to blow. She needed proof that I am truly the Founder of ROK or the CEO of the studio.





I googled my name but she didnt agree. In her eyes, I cant be me. I am a small girl. The agent and I begged her to do her small research but refused.





I told her I will get the CEO of IROKOTV to co-sign but she said I was calling big big names. She insisted on seeing my business card. I had none. Business card that I can write anything on!





I had to call a male colleague whose career is stronger than mine to help be the guarantor. She was a fan and super happy.





I was sad for her. She lives in a box; an old one.





Today, Nollywood is arguably controlled by women. We sign almost all the cheques! But I guess I am too young and too simple to be ME.





I had no entourage. I waited at their reception. I was super polite to her. She even asked for the name of my grandfathers village. I was nice. Yet she insisted on being a fool. Sad.
Osas Ighodaro, the Nigerian actress, has dismissed claims that she is in a relationship with Wizkid, the Grammy-winning musician. There ...

Osas Ighodaro, the Nigerian actress, has dismissed claims that she is in a relationship with Wizkid, the Grammy-winning musician.

There have been rumours in some quarters that the pair are in a relationship.

But speaking during the latest episode of  Off Air , the podcast hosted by Gbemi and Toolz, Ighodaro said the duo are just friends.

The film star also addressed reports that she flew from Nigeria to London to attend a concert by the Essence crooner.

Ighodaro said when Wizkid was holding the concert in London, she was in Dubai but eventually travelled to attend the event.

The actress, who declared that she is still single, added that Wizkid has neither asked her out for a date nor made any advances toward her.

She also recounted how the musician stood by her when she lost her mother.

Hes my friend, weve been cool for a long time. You know what it is, hes such a cool guy and a friend, she said.

So, he took a friend and I out to enjoy ourselves, and during that time I lost my mum. He just wanted to really show us a good time.

Osas tied the knot with Gbenro Ajibade in 2015 and welcomed a daughter in 2016. The union, however, crashed a few years later.
Watertown, NY (13601)

Today

Partly cloudy. High 81F. Winds ESE at 5 to 10 mph..

Tonight

Partly to mostly cloudy with scattered showers and thunderstorms overnight. Low 69F. Winds SSE at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 60%.
A Customs and Border Protection Air and Marine Operations boat crew rescued people from a rustic vessel taking on water about 8 miles south of Key West, Fla., after Sector Key West watchstanders were notified of their distress, May 30. The people were repatriated to Cuba on June 2. U.S. Customs and Border Protection AMO/TNS
No one pretends to have a magic bullet for reducing the gun violence that is wounding the New Orleans area. But three ways to start are more gun control, more police and changing the political leadership, according to The Times-Picayune Power Poll.

Those options were preferred over six others in this weeks poll of 655 influential people in Jefferson and Orleans parishes. Whats clear is that much work is to be done.

Here are the weighted results for "rank the top three ways to reduce gun violence":

More gun control - 1.7

More police - 1.2

Change political leadership - 0.9

Improve social services - 0.6

Improve public education - 0.4

Crack down on gun industry - 0.4

Longer prison sentences - 0.4

Improve public health services - 0.3

Less gun control - 0.0093.

Hunters don't need assault rifles; psychologically damaged 18-year-olds buy them on the open market, few questions asked, said the author Jason Berry. A mental health issue? Sure. It also shows the folly of an absolutist free market belief. Slavery was a free market for the free. ...

Change the laws, save children and help communities heal the traumatized. We need metanoia, Greek for radical change of heart.

Betsy Threefoot Kaston, past president of Jewish Family Services of Greater New Orleans, agreed on the assault weapons: There is no reason for hunters, or for citizens wanting to protect their homes or businesses, [to] need military-style assault weapons. There is every reason for people who are gun owners or purchasers [to] be educated on proper gun use and safety.

The Rev. Bill Terry, rector of St. Annas Episcopal Church, called for a holistic approach: We cannot alter this culture with more police, though we need them. We cannot legislate our way out of this culture by liberalizing or restricting access to guns.

We must develop a consistent 10-year comprehensive plan that works with children at a very early age, mentors children who are called at risk and provides them with assets that they do not have. We must invest in clinical social workers as a cohort along with teachers at a ratio of something sane rather than 100 to 1. Until we enfranchise our entire city, gun violence will remain systemic and cultural.

Polling background

Conducted online Tuesday through Thursday, The Times-Picayune Power Poll is not a scientific inquiry. But because it asks questions of the top Jefferson and Orleans influencers in business, politics, arts, media, nonprofits and community affairs, it does afford non-partisan insight into the thoughts and opinions of those who steer the region. Of 655 Power Poll members surveyed this week, 108 voted, for a participation rate of 16.5%.

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On another issue, now that were 10 days into the Atlantic basin hurricane season, two thirds of Power Poll respondents say the region is better protected now that the federal government has completed $14.5 billion in improvements since Hurricane Katrina  even as the sea rises, land subsides and hurricanes grow more intense.

Are we better protected than we were before Katrina, about the same or less protected?

Better - 63%

63% About the same - 19%

19% Less protected - 10%

10% Not sure - 8%.

No expert will say the hurricane protection built after Katrina is the right system for New Orleans, considering its people, property and infrastructure. However, we are far better protected than prior to August 2005, said Sandy Rosenthal, founder and president of levees.org. Gates and auxiliary pumps were added to the mouths of the three major drainage canals as well as the Industrial Canal to prevent water from entering from Lake Pontchartrain. And a giant surge barrier was built east of the city to prevent water from entering from the Gulf of Mexico. These and many other changes result in the current better system.

Ruthie Frierson, founder of Citizens for One Greater New Orleans, also credits the levee board reforms that her organization championed after Katrina. The east bank and west bank flood control authorities, she said, brought the talent, focus, and independence needed to provide oversight of the design and construction and ongoing maintenance for miles of levee and pumping stations that protect our three-parish area.  With the 100-year protection completed, we are far safer than ever before, but we must stay informed, and be prepared and proactive should a major hurricane come our way.

Entergy's bill

We also asked who should pay the estimated $5 billion for Entergy Corp. to recover from hurricanes of recent years. Almost three quarters of poll respondents said its mostly, or entirely, the responsibility of Entergy and its shareholders.

Who should pay the estimated $5 billion in Entergy Corp.'s hurricane recovery costs?

Entergy and its shareholders should pay 100% - 39.8%

39.8% 75% Entergy, 25% customers - 33.3%

33.3% 50% Entergy, 50% customers - 22.2%

22.2% 25% Entergy, 75% customers - 2.8%

2.8% Customers should pay 100% - 1.8%.

The Times-Picayune Power Poll is a partnership between New Orleans' daily newspaper and powerpoll.com, a nonpartisan survey, news and information company focused on the opinions of influential people. Powerpoll.com is based in Nashville, Tennessee, and surveys in 29 metropolitan markets.
Tapping into the craft beer revolution while contributing to a worthy cause, local microbrew enthusiasts are cooking up the ninth annual Larry Hartzog Twisted Brew Fest and Homebrew Competition.

The makers and consumers of craft beer will gather for the event on June 25 at the Castine Center near Mandeville. Its a chance for craft breweries, along with home-brewers who create beer on their kitchen stoves or backyard patios, to showcase their concoctions while raising money to benefit the Northshore Humane Society.

The fest is expected to feature more than 200 beer samplings from home-brew and commercial breweries around Louisiana. Breweries including Abita, Chafunkta, Gnarly Barley, Port Orleans, Bayou Teche, Urban South and Great Raft will be serving their top sellers along with their newest brews, organizers said.

In addition to sampling beers, attendees will be able to enjoy food, music, vendors and a peoples choice competition among the amateur at-home brewers.

The annual event is hosted by the Mystic Krewe of Brew, a north shore-based club of home brewers dedicated to creating tasty suds and providing a platform for brewers to support one another and exchange ideas. The events name honors the memory of Larry Hartzog, a craft beer enthusiast and club member who died in 2012.

The fest started at a Covington-area pizzeria before catching the tail wind of the craft beer revolution. It moved to the Castine Center five years ago and was gaining momentum before the COVID-19 pandemic took the wind out of its sails. The event was canceled in both 2020 and 2021.

Organizers are looking for 2022 to be a big bounce back year, predicting this years event will be bigger and better than ever.

Were hoping everyone is ready to get back out there and have some beer and some fun, said Susie Kaznowitz, marketing director for the Northshore Humane Society, which in addition to being the sole beneficiary is helping to organize the event.

The craft beer movement, which began more than a decade ago, has had an impact on the beer market and consumer tastes. According to the American Homebrewers Association, there are over 1.2 million home-brewers across the United States. Over the past decade, craft beer has also seen a significant jump in dollar share of the total U.S. beer market.

The Mystic Krewe of Brew is the oldest home-brew club on the north shore. Started in 1995 by craft beer lovers, the krewe's mission is to promote the hobby and enjoyment of home-brewing beer.

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Adam Henning, a Krewe of Brew member, said the organization is one of camaraderie and support of an enjoyable pastime.

We brew beer, taste it, talk about making it and help (one) another out, he said of the organization, estimating it has about 40 active members.

Henning described the Larry Hartzog Twisted Brew Fest and Homebrew Competition as a great event for a great cause and one that honors a great guy. He said the event also helps draw attention to the art of home-brewing.

The Larry Hartzog Twisted Brew Fest and Homebrew Competition will take place June 25 from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. inside the Castine Center. General admission tickets are on sale for $45. Tickets at the door will be $50. Organizers are also selling early-entry tickets for $55. These tickets will allow for a 3 p.m. entry, which will give participants extra time to enjoy festivities and chat up the brewmasters about the art of creating beer, Kaznowitz said.

Designated driver tickets, which allow people to take part in all festivities except beer drinking, are being sold for $10, or $15 for early entry, which gives visitors an extra, less-crowded chance to chat with the brew masters. You must be 21 or over to attend the beer festival.

Tickets available on Eventbrite at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/9th-annual-larry-hartzogs-twisted-brew-fest-tickets-314835630847.

Each person with a paid ticket will be allowed to vote on their favorite home-brewed beer. Designated drivers will not receive a vote. The home-brewer who receives the most votes will be crowned the winner of the fest.

Contest participants must bring at least 5 gallons or two cases of home-brew to the festival. Homebrewers must register in advance to ensure a spot. The brewers should plan to pour drinks for guests since no staff will be available to do so. Brewers can go to the People's Choice section of larrybrewfest.com for information.

Friendly dogs are welcomed at the event. In addition, the humane society will have dogs available for adoption at the fest.

All proceeds from the event will go directly to the Northshore Humane Society. Founded in 1953, the society is an independent, no-kill, nongovernmental rescue organization that operates a shelter on Harrison Avenue in Covington, which is known informally as Dog Pound Road. It typically rescues about 1,500 animals a year and has about 200 animals in its care at any given time.
New Orleans police have obtained warrants for two men and three male juveniles they say criminally damaged police vehicles, terrorized onlookers, rioted and shut down roadways at the intersection of St. Claude and St. Roch avenues Sunday afternoon during a display of stunt driving.

Police are seeking Tyler McKinney, 21, of New Orleans, who allegedly drove a gray Chrysler 300; Eduardo Gomez, 26, of New Orleans, an alleged driver; and a 17-year-old male from Denham Springs; a 17-year-old male from Metairie and 16-year-old male from Kenner.

New Orleans Police Superintendent Shaun Ferguson said Friday that when it came to charges, "we're going as far as we can possibly go." All five individuals are charged with aggravated obstruction of highway or commerce, which carries a sentence of up to 15 years in jail. The suspects may also face federal charges, if applicable, Ferguson said.

In the past, stunt drivers using public roads faced reckless driving charges, which carry a fine of up to $500 and up to six months in jail.

New Orleans City Council member Oliver Thomas, whose district includes New Orleans East  an area favored by stunt drivers  says these motorists exhibit "malicious intent" when they close down public roadways, wielding guns and creating potential hazards for other drivers.

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"All they want to do is disrupt our community and be seen," Thomas said. "Everything I have seen in terms of how they have advertised (this event) shows that."

Jonathan Fourcade, a spokeperson for New Orleans Emergency Medical Services, said no one who was being transported to the hospital by ambulance died as a result of the stunt show, but that could happen in a situation where seconds count. By their very nature, "pop-up" stunt shows advertised on social media are difficult to predict, Ferguson said, and deputies responded to Sunday's event as soon as they became aware of it that day.

"All we could do is to try to get in front of them, to hopefully be at the right place before they happen and deter them before they occur," Ferguson said.

In addition to aggravated obstruction of a highway, McKinney and the three juveniles are charged with felony simple criminal damage to property, simple assault, disturbing the peace and rioting. Additional charges for Gomez include rioting and disturbing the peace.
New Orleans city leaders keep saying they want to move Gordon Plaza residents out of a subdivision built atop a toxic landfill, but details on how theyd pay for it have been vague.

This week, the City Council gave the clearest indication yet how it would cover the costs of relocation. A proposed ordinance filed by Council President Helena Moreno would divert $35 million from various stalled city projects to buy the subdivision, move residents and convert the land into a solar energy farm.

Moreno said the move represents the final step in a decades-long effort to move residents off the former Agriculture Street landfill, a place the city redeveloped in the 1970s and promoted as inexpensive housing for Black residents. In the 1990s, the federal government determined Gordon Plaza was one of the most toxic sites in the South.

"The residents of Gordon Plaza were given a truly rotten deal, Council Vice President JP Morrell said. For too long, the soil on which their homes stand has poisoned the health of residents with carcinogens and other harmful toxins. When we discuss environmental racism, we must discuss Gordon Plaza.

The council will vote on the ordinance on June 23.

Residents are cautiously optimistic about the proposal, said Jesse Perkins, a member of Residents of Gordon Plaza Inc., a nonprofit representing the subdivisions residents.

This is one step in the right direction, he said Friday. But its not a victory until we get checks and the checks clear the bank.

In January, the council proposed a similar measure, but the $35 million wasnt secured through a budget line and it was opposed by Mayor LaToya Cantrell.

This time around, the funding source has been designated and the mayors office backs the plan.

The money will come from bond proceeds allocated to road upgrades, building repairs and other capital projects that have been delayed. The projects will be refunded after the next bond sale later this year. Council members say shifting the money around in this manner will have no effect on the projects or their timelines.

The city plans to convert some of the 95-acre landfill site into a 5-megawatt solar farm that could provide power for the citys drainage and pumping system or be fed into the larger power grid.

Perkins likes the idea that a site that has caused illness and hardship could one day offer clean, renewable energy.

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Ive lived here all my life, he said from his home. What happens here matters. If we can use it to supply power to our city, Im all for that.

Most of the 65 homes that remain at Gordon Plaza are owner-occupied.

In 2019, a report from the Louisiana Tumor Registry found that the Desire neighborhood, which includes Gordon Plaza, has the second-highest consistent rate of cancer in the state.

The sites toxic legacy wasnt widely known until 1994, when it was labeled one of the U.S.s most contaminated Superfund properties by the federal government. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency fenced off part of the site, removed about 2 feet of soil in some areas and then placed mats and clean dirt over some of the contaminated soil.

Last month, the EPA indicated it could help pay for relocations. The agency had either paid for, or forced another entity to pay for, the relocations of residents living on or near a toxic site in almost a dozen communities over the past three years.

In March, 5,000 current and former Gordon Plaza residents scored a rare legal victory with a $75 million judgment against the city and the other developers of the subdivision. But some residents question whether the city will pay the settlement and how much of it will trickle down to residents after attorneys take what is expected to be a very large cut.

The judgment came less than two months after the city prevailed in a separate legal battle with residents. In February, the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in New Orleans upheld a district court decision that found the city was taking proper steps to protect the health of Gordon Plazas residents.

The citys done strange things in the past, so I dont want to get over-confident about this (ordinance), Perkins said. Weve won judgements and had victories in the past, but nothings come out of it.

+3 EPA says it could help pay for Gordon Plaza relocations after site tests, review A week after New Orleans officials said the Environmental Protection Agency would not pay for the relocations of residents who live atop the f
Every summer, Sue Bordelon starts to worry.

Her son Clarke, 28, has autism and a chromosomal disorder that makes him medically fragile. When hurricanes come, it's hard to go without power. But the horror of evacuating for Katrina taught them it's even more difficult to leave.

After Hurricane Ida struck their Algiers home last year, they lost $1,600 of bone marrow medication when the electricity went out for two weeks. Day after day, Bordelon and her sister took turns fanning Clarke to keep him cool and encouraging him to read as a distraction. As she sat in sweltering temperatures, keeping a close eye on a manual feeding tube, Bordelon felt a familiar sense of despair.

I told my sister, the next hurricane, I wish it would come right this way, completely take us out, she said, breaking into tears. Then we wouldnt have to figure out what to do.

In the aftermath of Ida, caregivers for the medically fragile who rely on ventilators and other medical devices panicked as the hours stretched into days and weeks without electricity. The city encouraged seniors and desperate families to call 311 and sign up for its special needs registry, but little was done in the days following the storm. Seven seniors died in their apartment homes before the city evacuated the buildings.

As hard as it is to say, this was a gap, said Dr. Jennifer Avegno, city health director, of the senior deaths.

Since then, the city has worked on dismantling the special needs registry and replacing it with another system called Smart911. A new ordinance requires senior apartment homes to have plans and communicate with city officials about what they are. But as residents stare down another active hurricane season, one that experts predict will result in 6 to 10 hurricanes and 3 to 6 major hurricanes of Category 3 or greater, advocates and vulnerable people wonder if these changes will make a difference.

Bordelon, a 63-year-old widow and former chemotherapy nurse who stopped working so Clarke could meet income requirements for federal insurance, said she just doesnt have the money to go to a hotel for weeks.

Even evacuating to a relative's house is out of the question. After Katrina, they decided to come back to a flooded house because Clarke, who doesn't do well without routines or in crowds, sprinted for the highway in a town outside of Lafayette. She and her sister chased after him, landing in the mud. She held onto him by the foot. He told her he was just trying to get back home.

Bordelon said she has called 311. Her son is on the registry. But shes never heard of Smart 911.

At this point, she expects no help.

I dont even bother, she said.

The transition to Smart911

The special needs registry was started in 2013. Over the next few years, the city went door-to-door in low-income apartments to find vulnerable people. Officials also used Medicare data to pinpoint how many people might need help powering life-sustaining medical devices.

But what started with good intentions has become unmanageable. The list grew from 750 to 4,800 people by the time Ida rolled through, according to Meredith McInturff, the citys public health emergency coordinator.

It kind of became this tool that was being promoted by all city leadership as, if you need any sort of assistance during a hurricane, you should get signed up for it, she said in a presentation to advocates.

But the system didnt have the organization or workforce to follow through on that.

It set up an unrealistic expectation, said McInturff, that every single person signed up would be evacuated out during a storm.

Although special needs registries have caught on in disaster-prone states like Florida, Texas and California, they rarely work, said June Kailes, a disability policy researcher.

Nobody can keep it updated, said Kailes. People who need it dont register anyway. Theres no data that says it works.

In that sense, the Smart911 system, a communication platform that allows residents to create profiles detailing everything from whether they have a COVID infection to needs like medical equipment and ventilators, is an improvement.

The city can also use the system for other purposes, such as alerting emergency responders that the person calling may be hard of hearing or pregnant. It allows an entire household to sign up, and tech-savvy family members can assist others in the process, said McInturff.

But advocates say the changes are not enough to address the thousands who need extra help in disasters. Smart911 offers an easy way to text or contact registrants, but it requires them to renew every six months. Participants need a smart phone to download the app or have the ability to register on a clunky interface on a computer.

It almost is no change, said Claire Tibbetts, the administrative manager of Autism Society of Greater New Orleans. Instead of trying to fix the problems, they were just gonna eliminate the registry and dial back to only the thing that they were willing to provide in the first place.

A new ordinance with lax compliance

The City Council also passed a new ordinance for low-income senior apartment homes that requires that property owners communicate with the city about their emergency plans and whether they have back-up generators to power elevators on site. That way, Avegno said, the city has eyes on who needs help.

But it does not require that the building owners have generators.

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Augustus Johnson, 88, uses a walker to shuffle along the scuffed hallways in the Flint Goodridge apartments in Central City, a former hospital built in the 1930s that has been turned into low-income apartments for seniors. In the days following Ida, Johnson was stuck on the fourth floor when the lone elevator stopped working. Outside, the heat index was 105. After a dead body was found in the building, the result of the loss of power that left a resident without a working oxygen machine, Johnson was carried down the stairs and evacuated to Shreveport.

A lone security guard brought food for residents and kept their phones charged, said Johnson. Without him, they would have caught holy hell, he said.

They dont care about you in this building, said Johnson. They dont give a damn about nobody.

After the evacuation, Johnson was hospitalized for a prostate issue he attributed to the long bus ride to multiple shelters.

The residents havent heard anything about a new plan. Theyd like to see a generator, or just have the peace of mind to know someone is looking out for them.

Who can we call on if something happens to us? said Johnson. We have to go through the same thing, begging somebody to come here to help us.

The city is working on getting emergency plans from more than 70 buildings, but only 41 have complied so far. HRI Properties, the New Orleans developer that owns Flint-Goodridge, did not respond to messages. The Archdiocese, which owns several low-income apartments for seniors, also did not respond to questions about a new plan.

Johnson and half a dozen residents around the building this week had never heard of a special needs registry or Smart911.

SMART 911 pitfalls

For those who have heard of Smart911, the sign-up has proved to be difficult.

Jack Dee, an 80-year-old retired Marine who lives in Gentilly, called 311 to register for the new system from his government-issued flip phone on Tuesday. But the woman who answered the phone wanted him to pick a password with multiple symbols and numbers.

I said, What? Im 80. Im technology challenged. I wouldnt know how to create a number on this Obama phone if you paid me a million bucks,' said Dee.

He gave up on the Smart911 profile, even though hes got walking issues and was hospitalized for heat stroke after Ida last year. His sister in Oklahoma offered a plane ticket before the storm, but he didnt think the flight would go well. A toolbox on his front porch serves as his mailbox because a short walk to the street is hard on him.

After being treated for heatstroke, Dee was dropped back off at his powerless home, where he lives alone. He went to a cooling center on the corner of Fillmore and Marconi at a NORD facility, but there was no air conditioning, water or food. Neighbors with a generator took him in until his power was restored weeks later. He worries about other people his age.

Youre going to have thousands of senior citizens get lost in the shuffle, said Dee. Theyre going to try to sign up, theyre going to hit that brick wall, and thats going to be it. Theyre just going to fade away.

Will the same thing happen?

Even if evacuation is offered, it often doesnt work for families.

Charlie Nero, 36, signed up for the special needs registry because her daughter has cerebral palsy and relies on several medical devices. But when she got the offer to evacuate with Chloe, 6, before Ida, she was told she could only bring one bag. Her 13-year-old daughter wouldnt be allowed on the bus. The equipment Chloe requires to live  multiple chairs, suction devices, bottles of milk, diapers, feeding tubes and a pump  would take up an entire van.

Chloe has so much stuff, said Nero. You cant just say Im gonna have just one bag. It wont work like that.

Nero evacuated with family instead, who were able to pay for a hotel room. But this year shes concerned because Chloe no longer fits in her car seat, and she cant get reimbursed for another one until shes 14. The only way she can transport Chloe, who uses trach to breathe, is by holding her in the backseat. Nero will have to depend on her mom to drive. Shes never heard of the Smart 911 system.

Advocates welcome some of the changes, but worry Smart911 may have the same issues as the registry, said Nicole Williams, the education advocate for Families Helping Families NOLA. Williams, who has spina bifida, is on the registry herself.

When I first signed up for special needs registry, I was under impression when a hurricane situation happened, someone from the city would start calling families, said Williams. Those phone calls never happened. Will that same thing happen switching over?

Even if the communication platform does work better, services fall short. For Williams, it highlights just how difficult it is to have a disability in New Orleans. She knows families who have moved to cities with fewer disasters and more assistance. When asked if New Orleans is a good place for people with disabilities, she doesnt hesitate in her answer.

Im born and raised here. I love my city, said Williams, who lives in New Orleans East. But no. Even though the resources are there, they are slow to reach out to families. They make you jump through hoops and go through miles and miles of red tape.

As Bordelon prepares for another season, shes thinking back to Katrina. She wishes she got out of the city then.

I would leave here in a second, said Bordelon. Disabled people are not respected here.

But she cant. So she waits, hoping for a summer without electric fans or 311 or tracking the slow drip of food into her sons feeding tube in the dark, keeping watch so it doesnt get clogged without the pump.

Every beginning of summer its on our mind, said Bordelon. When is it coming?
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Merrillville-based Lakeshore PBS is launching a new season of the locally produced program "Friends and Neighbors."

The award-winning half-hour-long show will premier its fourth season at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday. It explores life and culture in Northwest Indiana.

The new season will feature stories about rugby, robotics, craft beer, Legos, equestrians and veterans.

The team and I work diligently to accurately expose the vibrancy of life within our communities. None of this would be possible without the passion and dedication we find throughout the Region, Lakeshore Public Television Vice President of Production Tony Santucci said. These are their stories, we just do our part by sharing them.

Friends and Neighbors has won multiple awards in recent years, including Communicator Awards from the Academy of Interactive and Visual Arts, national Telly Awards and Indiana Broadcasters Association awards.

At Lakeshore Public Media we share a commitment and passion for our community, which drives us to venture out to find stories that celebrate the uniqueness of our region and its people, Lakeshore Public Medias President and CEO James Muhammad said. Ultimately, its about building and enriching our community through the work that we do.

The program gets funding from the Legacy Foundation, the John W. Anderson Foundation, Strack & Van Til, NIPSCO, Purdue University Northwest and viewer donations.

Lakeshore Public Media has been broadcasting across Northwest Indiana and greater Chicagoland for 35 years. It can be viewed over the air on Channel 56 as well as on DirecTV, Dish Network, AT&T U-verse, LakeshorePBS.org or the free PBS Video App.

For more information, visit LakeshorePBS.org.

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GARY  Federal and local law enforcement officials made 46 arrests, cleared 58 felony arrest warrants and seized five firearms during a two-week-long operation targeting fugitives wanted for violent crimes and known gang members, authorities said.

During Operation Washout, authorities also identified numerous Lake County fugitives who fled Indiana and will be tracked by U.S. Marshals Service task forces in other areas of the country in an effort to apprehend them, according to the U.S. Marshals Service Great Lakes Regional Fugitive Task Force.

Some of those taken into custody were wanted on warrants for murder, attempted murder, armed robbery, aggravated assault with a firearm and assault, officials said.

The Great Lakes Regional Fugitive Task Force is a congressionally supported multi-agency task force tasked with focusing efforts on arresting violent fugitives and helping to reduce violence in communities.

The task force partnered with the Gary Police Department, its Multi-Agency Gang and Narcotics Units and the Gary for Life initiative to add more street patrols and conduct targeted enforcement from May 16 to 27 in areas most affected by violent crime.

"The goal of this collaborative effort is to make a significant impact regarding the reduction of violent crime in our communities," said Todd L. Nukes, U.S. marshal for the Northern District of Indiana. "The Marshals Service remains committed to working with our law enforcement partners in addressing those individuals committing violent crimes in the areas we serve."

The U.S. Justice Department named Gary in fall 2021 as one of 10 National Public Safety Partnership sites, which gave the city access to more federal law enforcement resources because of its high rates of violent crime.

Gary police Cmdr. Jack Hamady said he reassigned several officers to work full-time with the Great Lakes Regional Fugitive Task Force during Operation Washout, which was funded by the Marshals Service.

"It was a great partnership," he said. "It was really successful, and we look forward to more operations in the future."

In addition to the Marshals Service, the city hopes to partner with other federal agencies in the future to reduce violent crime, he said.

The Marshals Service highlighted five arrests made as a result of the operation.

Dawan Glenn Jr., 22, was arrested May 19 in the 600 block of East 54th Place in Merrillville on charges linked to a shooting Dec. 13, 2021, on Interstate 465 in Marion County that left one person dead and seriously wounded a second person.

Multiple pistols and an AK-47 "Draco" were used in the expressway shooting, the Marshals Service said.

Glenn is an alleged member of a multistate gang known as the Risky Road Runners, the agency said.

Joseph T. Durden, 33, was arrested May 4 in the 9300 block of Racquet Ball Way in Indianapolis by task force members and the Indianapolis Metro Police Department.

Durden had been wanted since March on a murder charge in the July 2020 homicide of 29-year-old Keith Daniel, of Gary, in the 600 block of Maryland Street.

Charles B. Winston, 21, was arrested in the 5500 block of South Union Avenue in Chicago.

He's facing multiple felony charges, including aggravated battery, in connection with allegations he pinned an East Chicago officer's leg in a car door Aug. 11, 2021, before police shot both him and a woman riding in the car he was driving.

Winston was wanted by multiple other agencies, including law enforcement in the Northern District of Illinois for a federal probation violation; Kosciusko County, Indiana, on a charge of possession of marijuana; and Wayne County, Indiana, on a forgery charge, the Marshals Service said.

Raymond A. Johnson III and Rafael J. Sanchez were arrested while working as traveling carnival staff in Chesapeake, Virginia, on attempted murder charges stemming from a shooting Aug. 8, 2020, in Hammond. Two men were wounded by the gunfire, Hammond police said.

Johnson and Sanchez are believed to be affiliated with a gang in Hammond, the Marshals Service said.

Sanchez also was wanted in Bergen County, New Jersey, on charges of aggravated assault on a police officer, the agency said.

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GARY  For a self-described blue-collar kid from Steger, Ill., David A. Roberts has put his college and military experience to good use. And Purdue University Northwest Chancellor Thomas L. Keon is no slouch, either.

Both men were honored Friday during PNWs Roaring Ahead Scholarship Gala at Hard Rock Casino Northern Indiana.

Roberts, a 1974 PNW alumnus, was honored as the first inductee to the new PNW Alumni Hall of Fame. Keon, having served as PNW chancellor for 10 years, received the Sagamore of the Wabash award from Indiana Gov. Eric Holcomb.

Dave Roberts epitomizes the many ways alumni carry on PNWs mission to transform students lives and our metropolitan region. He achieved great success in his career, and he champions the advancement of education, technology and manufacturing jobs, said Keon. We are proud to recognize Dave for his accomplishments, which show current students just how far their aspirations can take them.

PNW established the Alumni Hall of Fame to honor alumni who are high-achieving leaders in their fields, involved in their communities and who have engaged with PNW well beyond their student days.

Roberts recently committed $3 million to establish the PNW Impact Lab, which will provide opportunities for economic development, fostering innovation and entrepreneurship.

His support led to the establishment of the David Roberts Center for Innovation and Design near the PNW campus in Hammond. This facility offers students a location to work as interdisciplinary teams within various engineering technology fields. Roberts also provided significant support for PNWs Commercialization and Manufacturing Excellence Center and has established faculty and student internships and employment opportunities.

Professionally, Roberts has held engineering, manufacturing, management and leadership roles across automotives, office equipment, printing and management services. He retired in 2020 as CEO and chairman of the board of Carlisle Companies in Charlotte, N.C., a supplier of innovative building products and energy-efficient solutions to create sustainable buildings.

A Marine Corps veteran, Roberts earned his bachelors degree in technology with distinction from the PNW Hammond campus and his masters in business administration from Indiana University.

Originally employed at the Budd Company in Gary, Roberts began as a tool and die apprentice and then as a welder before joining the Marine Corps. Upon his military discharge, Roberts said, I realized that I could put the leadership skills that the Marines taught me to use in industry but knew I needed a formal education.

Purdue Northwests reputation for a quality education was ideal, and its location allowed me to attend school full-time while holding a full-time job, he added. The decision to attend Purdue Northwest was one of the best decisions of my life. It has been a fantastic ride.

Roberts, who wants to bring manufacturing jobs back to the U.S., predicted more CEOs will come from PNW. All they need, he said, is to be given the tools to succeed.

The Alumni Hall of Fame will be located in the Student Union and Library Building on the PNW Hammond campus.

Later in the evening, after receiving one award from PNW, Keon was asked to remain on stage for one additional message, this one from the governor.

In a prerecorded video message, Holcomb praised Keons transformational leadership, building partnerships between the university and its surrounding communities.

Pointing to PNWs growth, the governor noted Keons impactful contributions toward these successes.

From new buildings, a new doctorate and 17 teams in NCAA Division II, Holcomb said Keon has transformed PNW from a local hometown campus to a global talent powerhouse.

The governor called Keon the very definition of an honorable and true Hoosier.

Cited during the evening for his leadership at school and in the community, Keon said he always felt "its important to get things done and provide the best we can for Northwest Indiana.

Adding that I want to make Northwest Indiana my home, Keon noted this burning desire to make sure young people have the same opportunity to get an education as the people who can afford to go downstate.

The Sagamore of the Wabash honors those who have made significant contributions to life in Indiana. The designation was created in the late 1940s during the administration of former Gov. Ralph Gates.

An Algonquian term sagamore refers to a lesser chief or someone to whom the true chief turns for wisdom and advice.

The gala was the culmination of PNWs yearlong 5-75 Roaring Ahead anniversary celebration of the fifth year of Purdue Northwest and the 75th year of its legacy institutions, Purdue Calumet in Hammond and Purdue North Central in Westville.

The evening event also raised funds for PNW student scholarships. University officials reported that, prior to the Gala, the school had already raised $100,000, an amount that Roberts said he and his wife, Susan, will match.

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EAST CHICAGO  Residents living near the former West Calumet Housing Complex wrote in comments submitted to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency that it would be endorsing the permanent destruction of a once-vital community if it approves plans for a logistics center at the lead- and arsenic-contaminated site.

The loss of residential character in the Calumet neighborhoods likely would result in significant decreases in remaining residents' property values over time, according to the East Chicago Calumet Coalition Community Advisory Group.

The addition of a new industrial use in the area likely would negatively affect human health and the environment and further decrease the desirability of the Calumet and East Calumet neighborhoods as places to live, the group said.

The site, which EPA now calls "modified Zone 1," includes land once occupied by the now-demolished public housing complex, Goodman Park and a utilities corridor.

The West Calumet Housing Complex was built in the early 1970s atop the former Anaconda lead factory site at East 151st Street and McCook Avenue. Modified Zone 1 is within the U.S. Lead Superfund site, which is named after a different lead smelter that once operated nearby.

In summer 2016, the East Chicago Housing Authority ordered the evacuation of up to 1,200 residents  about two-thirds of them children  after EPA discovered lead and arsenic contamination in the soil at the public housing complex was far greater than expected.

"The site included more than 100 residential structures, where more than 1,000 people lived and raised families," the community group said. "It included an elementary school and playgrounds. This is the kind of neighborhood that should be allowed to rebuild and thrive again at this site."

EPA wants to enter a prospective purchaser agreement with Industrial Development Advantage, which has been working with East Chicago since 2019 to develop a campus that includes plans for a 500,000-square-foot warehouse and logistics center.

East Chicago Mayor Anthony Copeland signed a letter of intent in December 2019 to sell the site to IDA. He later told The Times any housing development there would be doomed from the start because of the extent of the contamination and a state law that governs housing standards.

The East Chicago Common Council voted in May 2020 to rezone the site for light industrial use, and IDA was expected to take title to modified Zone 1 this summer, EPA said.

The proposed agreement would require IDA to remove lead- and arsenic-contaminated soil to a depth of 1 foot, dispose of it off-site and backfill and cover excavated areas. The site would be cleaned to a lead standard of 800 parts per million.

EPA and the Indiana Department of Environmental Management would oversee the cleanup and ensure it meets EPA requirements, EPA said.

A public comment period closed earlier this month for the prospective purchaser agreement; a proposed explanation of significant differences, which would officially select a commercial/industrial remedy for the site; and a proposed administrative settlement agreement and order on consent.

The draft agreement and order on consent would require five companies, all of which owned and operated lead-processing facilities in the area, to provide financial assurances totaling $13.5 million for future cleanup efforts. The companies also would agree to reimburse EPA $18 million in past cleanup costs.

EPA said it planned to release a document in response to public comments. It will release its decision on the proposals after conferring with the state and the U.S. Department of Justice.

The prospective purchaser agreement requires IDA to notify EPA when it obtains title to the site prior to finalization of that agreement, EPA said.

"EPA has not been notified that IDA has obtained title to the former housing complex property," the agency said Friday.

Residents have long advocated for an excavation down to native sand, and they still think such a cleanup is appropriate, the Community Advisory Group's comments said.

However, the group is now advocating for excavation to a depth of at least 2 feet with a standard for lead of 400 parts per million. That's the residential standard EPA used when it cleaned up soil in nearby areas referred to as Zones 2 and 3.

"The contamination from lead and arsenic goes deep into the ground in this area, thus requiring remediation to further depths," the group said.

Digging to just 1 foot with a standard of 800 ppm would leave some of the most highly contaminated soil at the site, posing a risk to residents' homes in the event of a flood or during construction and any future sewer or utility work, the group said.

Residents also fear contamination could seep into groundwater, which in turn seeps into their homes and poses health risks when they use their basements.

Residents asked EPA to immediately disclose information about IDA's remedial design and action work plan, who IDA plans to hire as a contractor for the cleanup and what steps will be taken to protect residents' health during excavation work.

EPA told The Times it doesn't plan to publicly release draft work plans.

"EPA plans to hold a public meeting before construction begins to discuss the cleanup approach, including methods that will be used to ensure the cleanup is done correctly and safely," the agency said.

IDA designated Verdantas, of Columbus, Ohio, as its design contractor's point of contact, EPA said.

The agency said it had not observed widespread concentrations of lead or arsenic in shallow groundwater above maximum contaminant levels.

"The placement of clean soil coupled with the construction of hardscapes such as buildings and paved areas will prevent infiltration of rainfall to underlying soils and reduce the potential for future groundwater contamination," EPA said.

EPA will require IDA to implement controls requiring workers to follow certain safety measures when sewer or utility work is conducted after construction of the logistics center, the agency said.

EPA doesn't have the authority to address residents' concerns about increased air pollution from truck exhaust, noise, traffic or other issues related to the planned logistics center.

"EPA is ensuring that Zone 1 is cleaned up in accordance with the protective selected remedy, and that the construction does not interfere with the remedy or release any contamination into the community," the agency said.

The city will be responsible for enforcing local ordinances, EPA said.

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One federal law enforcement official, who did not want to be identified because he was not authorized to speak about the matter, said the most radicalized activists from both the right and the left did not appear to have a clear set of objectives.

For a lot of these folks, the attention is the endgame, said the official. If you really sat down and said, What are the policy objectives youd like to see? They wouldnt want that because theres so much that comes with this, like having your voice heard in these settings and validating you to other followers.

Lauryn Cross, an organizer with the Milwaukee Alliance Against Racism and Political Repression, said activists have had to prepare differently because of the rising threat of right-wing counterprotesters. They have to do more security planning, including examining more closely the routes they plan to march and scoping out the area before an event.

Protesters in Portland have also been reassessing their approach. Mr. Monson said demonstrators have started using vehicles to shield the front and back of protest marches. Protesters are using lookouts and code words to alert one another while watching for potential attackers, he said.

Many of them are growing jittery about vehicles revving their engines and unfamiliar faces in the crowds. And some are bringing weapons: The police in Portland reported that two of 29 protesters arrested at a demonstration on Sunday night were carrying pistols.

Mr. Monson said protesters have repeatedly come to him asking if they need to purchase weapons and obtain concealed-carry licenses.
The opening House hearing into the events surrounding the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol was a compact and controlled two hours, designed as an overview of what was described as a methodical conspiracy, led and coordinated by President Donald J. Trump, to thwart the peaceful transfer of power and democracy itself.

It was also an enticement to the American people to watch the next five scheduled hearings.

Here are some takeaways:

Trump was at the center of the plot.

The committees chairman, Representative Bennie Thompson, Democrat of Mississippi, and vice chairwoman, Representative Liz Cheney, Republican of Wyoming, began laying out what they described as an elaborate, intentional scheme by Mr. Trump to remain in power, one unprecedented in American history and with dangerous implications for democracy.

Jan. 6 was the culmination of an attempted coup, Mr. Thompson said.

Both leaders had blistering words for Mr. Trump and about the threat he poses to American democracy. They made it clear that, for all his ongoing bluster about stolen elections, Mr. Trump had knowingly spread claims about election fraud that people closest to him knew were false, tried to use the apparatus of government and the courts to cling to power, and then when all of that failed, sat back approvingly in the White House as a mob of his supporters stormed the Capitol threatening to hang his vice president.
I swear to God, on my kids life, that is a lie, she said.

The arguments over the quotation came as Mr. Cosbys legal team introduced what are expected to be the final witnesses in the case, which is expected to go to the jury for deliberations early next week.

The 12-person panel, sitting in a courthouse in Santa Monica, will be asked to provide its verdict based on a preponderance of the evidence. Only nine of the 12 will have to agree on a finding to reach a verdict, unlike the unanimity required in a criminal case.

Ms. Mizrahi said she wrote the 2018 essay after she left The Enquirer because she wanted to draw attention to Mr. Cosbys celebrity power. The earlier article that Ms. Mizrahi was working on in 2005, for which Ms. Huth was interviewed, was never published. Ms. Mizrahi said The Enquirer canceled the article after Mr. Cosby agreed to a full interview with the publication.

Ms. Huth contacted The Enquirer after reading another article about Mr. Cosby that questioned his conduct with a woman. When Ms. Mizrahi called her back, the former reporter testified that she asked Ms. Huth whether she had any evidence to support her account.

Ms. Huth said she had photographs of herself with Mr. Cosby at the Playboy Mansion. Two photographs of Mr. Cosby and Ms. Huth together have been entered into evidence at the trial.
Susan Allen, senior manager for tax practice and ethics at the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, said she had opened a Roth at age 16, with her fathers encouragement; he matched part of what she earned from working in retail and teaching ballet.

I have every intent to do it with my own children, too, when they have earned income, she said.

To help things go smoothly, keep documents showing that the contribution was valid in case of a tax audit, financial planners recommend. A child who receives a paycheck will get a W-2 form showing the earnings. If the money is from self-employment, its smart to keep a detailed log, noting the date, service provided and amount paid (such as June 18, babysitting for the Smiths, $50).

It may be helpful to have the child file an income tax return, Mr. Slott said, even if the income falls below the federal filing threshold. The return will document the earned income, he said, and can help with tracking contributions. Unlike contributions to a traditional I.R.A., contributions to a Roth I.R.A. (but not the earnings) can be withdrawn at any time, for any reason, without penalty, he said.

And note: A child who earns more than $400 in self-employment income after expenses may have to file a return anyway; consult a tax professional.

Most kids wont earn much, but even a little can get the account started  and early saving can make a big difference over time. According to a hypothetical example from Fidelity, someone contributing $3,000 per year to a Roth from age 15 to 20, and then contributing the maximum allowed amount annually until age 70, could accrue more than $3 million, assuming an annualized return of 7 percent. The same person starting at age 20 would accumulate about a million less.

Roths also offer flexibility. In general, to avoid taxes and penalties, an account owner cant withdraw earnings before age 59, and the Roth must have been open for at least five years. But there are exceptions for early withdrawals for certain reasons, like a down payment on a first home or college expenses.
A veterinarian in Thailand likely contracted the coronavirus from an infected pet cat last year, researchers concluded in a new study. It is the first documented case of suspected cat-to-human transmission, although experts stress that the risk of cats infecting humans with the virus remains low overall.

One of the cats two owners, who both had Covid-19, probably passed the virus to the cat, which then sneezed in the veterinarians face, according to the paper, which was written by scientists at Thailands Prince of Songkla University. Genomic sequencing confirmed that the cat and all three people were infected with an identical version of the virus, which was not widespread in the local population at the time.

Cats are far more likely to catch the virus from people than to transmit it to them, scientists say. But the case is a reminder that people who are infected with the virus should take precautions around their pets  and that veterinarians and shelter workers who may come into contact with infected animals should do the same, said Dr. Scott Weese, an infectious diseases veterinarian at the University of Guelph in Ontario.
The eloquent restraint of the committees leaders was equal to the gravity of the task before them. The chair, Bennie Thompson, a Black former schoolteacher from Bolton, Miss., called back to history. He invoked the words of Abraham Lincoln, who wrote, before the critical election of 1864, This morning, as for some days past, it seems exceedingly probable that this administration will not be re-elected. Then it will be my duty to so cooperate with the president-elect, in making a solemn commitment to accept the results even if a loss might have meant the end of our Union.

The vice chair, Liz Cheney of Wyoming, who has been marginalized by her fellow Republicans for condemning Mr. Trump, warned of judgment from generations to come. Addressing her colleagues defense of the indefensible, she said, There will come a day when Donald Trump is gone, but your dishonor will remain.

The chilling videos and interviews aired in the two hours of the hearing did far more than replay the familiar horrors. They were revelatory and dramatic, showing how Mr. Trump urged his followers to violate the Constitution and refused to rein them in even when his most loyal aides pleaded with him to do so.

Republican politicians, with brave exceptions such as Ms. Cheney, have dismissed the hearings as unimportant, a partisan show trial and an unwarranted political attack on Mr. Trump. The House Republican leader, Kevin McCarthy  whose office was seen being overrun in one of Thursday evenings clips  declared that congressional Republicans will issue their own report on Jan. 6, focusing on the security preparations. This misdirection tries to obscure the truth of what is in that footage: Many of the same Republicans had to flee their chamber in panic as a howling mob rampaged through the Capitol.
In addition to the settlement, the city pledges to review its policies, procedures, and training (especially related to custodial interrogations) and to revise them, as needed, to prevent any recurrence of what happened in your case, Ms. Casper wrote.

In a statement quoted by The Associated Press, Mr. Tapp, 45, said: No dollar amount could ever make up for the over 20 years of my life I spent in prison for crimes I did not commit. However, the settlement will help me move forward with my life.

On June 13, 1996, Ms. Dodge had been sleeping when Mr. Dripps broke into her apartment in Idaho Falls, raped her and then nearly decapitated her, the authorities said. Her killing went unsolved for about a year, until a friend of Ms. Dodges was arrested in an unrelated rape that also involved a knife.

Mr. Tapp, who was 20 at the time, was friends with the man and had emerged as a suspect himself. Representatives of the Innocence Project, which works to overturn wrongful convictions, said that investigators had threatened to pursue the death penalty against Mr. Tapp and offered him immunity if he confessed to killing Ms. Dodge, which he did and later tried to renounce.
Betsy DeVos, Mr. Trumps education secretary, told USA Today this week that she raised with Vice President Mike Pence whether the cabinet should consider the 25th Amendment. But Mr. Pence, she said, made it very clear that he was not going to go in that direction.

She decided to resign. So did Matt Pottinger, the deputy national security adviser.

Eugene Scalia, then the labor secretary, discussed with colleagues right after the attack the need to steady the administration, according to three people familiar with the conversations.

Mr. Scalia called an aide to Mr. Pence, they said, to say that he was uncomfortable with Mr. Trump functioning without something of a check on him in that moment, and that there needed to be more involvement from the cabinet. Mr. Pences team did not want to make such a move.

Mr. Scalia also had a conversation with Mr. Pompeo, which Mr. Pompeo shared with multiple people, in which Mr. Scalia suggested that someone should talk to Mr. Trump about the need do something to restore confidence in the government and a peaceful transition of power. In Mr. Pompeos rendering of that conversation, disputed by others, Mr. Scalia also suggested that someone should talk to Mr. Trump about resigning.
GUANTANAMO BAY, Cuba  A disabled Iraqi prisoner at Guantanamo Bay has reached an agreement with military prosecutors to plead guilty to war crimes charges related to his role as a commander of insurgent forces in Afghanistan in the early 2000s, lawyers disclosed in court Friday.

The secret agreement in the case of Abd al-Hadi al-Iraqi is the first reached during the Biden administration, which has indicated it would support plea bargains to resolve long-running, sometimes stalemated war crimes cases at Guantanamo Bay. Prosecutors are also negotiating with the five men who are accused of plotting the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, a process that is expected to be more complicated because of the crime and the punishment sought, the death penalty.

But the case of Mr. Hadi is poised for a more swift resolution.

Lawyers disclosed in court Friday that they had reached a preliminary agreement in May and completed a document on Thursday that accounts for his crimes as a way of averting a trial.
But for journalists, not every story is as black and white as a mob storming the United States Capitol to try to overturn a free election. Often, there are areas of gray.

Gerrymandering is a classic example. Its not always easy to identify heroes and villains when writing about the redrawing of district boundaries. Republicans have had more success with redistricting lately, and theyve often run afoul of voting rights laws, but both parties manipulate political maps for their own ends. In New York, for instance, Democratic legislators sought to maximize their number of House seats, only to run into a court order throwing out their maps.

So is gerrymandering a fundamental threat to democracy, as some would argue? Is it a tool politicians use to protect their jobs or gain an edge over rivals? Something in between? The details matter.
After a series of puzzling financial decisions that put tens of millions of dollars at risk, the executive board of a little-heralded United Nations agency took the rare step on Friday of voting to swiftly enforce a series of reforms.

The actions by the board of the Office for Project Services, or UNOPS, followed a report by The New York Times that revealed a series of questionable investments at the agency, totaling about $61 million, of which more than one-third may have been lost.

Fridays moves by the board of the agency, which supplies logistical services to other U.N. agencies, imposed strict limitations on all financial reserves at UNOPS and suspended work at its investment unit. Its auditing and ethics watchdog functions will also be overhauled and its current business model re-evaluated, among other actions.
Pay phones were stationary monotaskers. Before cellphones, if you wanted to talk to someone, you did it at home, at work or in a booth. Your telecommunications were contained to these discrete spaces, separate from the rest of your life. Pay phones may be nearly obsolete, but theres nothing stopping us from reinstituting some of their boundaries in a post-pay-phone world.

What might this look like for you? For me, it would mean pulling over to the side of the road to send a text rather than dictating my message to Siri. Id step out of the pedestrian flow and into the phone booth of the mind to listen to voice mail. I wouldnt check social media while waiting for a friend to arrive at a bar. Long phone calls would take place at home, not while Im on a walk or sitting on a park bench, ostensibly enjoying the outdoors.

My sentimental ideal of the phone booth  Richard Dreyfuss calling Marsha Mason from outside her apartment in the rain at the end of The Goodbye Girl  is a time capsule, a romantic vision of the past. But the phone booth as metaphor, as inspiration for creating boundaries between virtual and real life, still seems useful today.

Programming note: Starting this week, my colleague Gilbert Cruz, the Culture Editor at The Times, offers his recommendations for what to watch, read, listen to and more. Scroll down to the Culture Calendar to check them out.  Melissa
All of this suffering wasnt for naught, of course. America was not a functioning democracy before the campaign my father and his fellow activists fought. In Mississippi, for instance, only 6.7 percent of eligible Black voters were registered to vote in 1964. So workers all across the state of Mississippi organized, fought and strategized to bring about what would become the Voting Rights Act of 1965, enforcing the 15th Amendment right to vote. This is when America became a true democracy.

I have spent my entire life hearing about righteous American wars, how we sent troops to other countries to fight to restore, preserve or install democracy. The troops who risked their lives to fight these wars, some of whom came back injured physically or mentally, are entitled to certain rights and benefits, including disability compensation, medical and educational benefits, housing assistance, burial allowances, counseling and sometimes pensions. While the Veterans Affairs benefits come with their own sets of problems and shortcomings that need to be addressed, at least theyre a start.

My dad and other activists like him have no such benefits. Many also have gone for decades without adequate health care  which speaks to the larger missing safety net that leaves far too many Americans unprotected. Ive seen so many of my dads friends limp to old age because they never got their broken hips or torn ligaments or cracked bones fixed after they were beaten in the 1960s. Ive also had to watch my dad and his friends pool together money to bury their friends who died in poverty. Imagine how many civil rights veterans could benefit from mental health support. They all deserve better.

Its also important to note that there are precedents for benefits being extended to veterans of liberation movements in other places around the world. In India, for example, freedom fighters who resisted British rule before the countrys independence in 1947 are entitled to medical care, pensions and railway passes. Anti-apartheid soldiers in South Africa were promised similar benefits and have fought to make the country fulfill its promise.

The first question I get when I broach this topic is: How do we determine who gets the resources? The easiest way is to use the names of people who were on the payrolls and meeting minutes for civil rights organizations such as the Congress of Racial Equality, the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee and the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People in the 1960s. But that doesnt encompass all the people who need these benefits  a shrinking group of Americans, mostly Black but some not, now in their 70s or older.

For a more comprehensive list of the people who made the movement, we should look to voter registration lists of the era from across the South. Just trying to register to vote as a Black person in the Jim Crow South was an act of defiance. Most who tried were denied, and many faced violence and threats. In 1963 in Mississippi, 83,000 of those mostly disenfranchised voters voted in an alternative election known as the Mississippi Freedom Vote. It helped prove that voter suppression in the South was creating illegitimate elections and demonstrated what a free and fair election could look like. All of the brave citizens who submitted ballots  many of whom also housed volunteers, kept freedom fighters safe and made invaluable contributions to the movement  should be among the first to get V.A. benefits for their service to our nations democracy.
Those who challenge Mr. Bolsonaros assertions are treated as if they are threatening sovereign territory. In 2019, when Dom asked Mr. Bolsonaro about deforestation and other environmental concerns at a news conference, he replied: The Amazon is ours, not yours.

I have reported on the rainforest for 25 years and have watched the rising insecurity and violence with concern.

With Dom and Brunos disappearance, though, the violence appears to have crossed a line. Journalists have been murdered in Amazonian cities, but they have not been murdered in the deep forest for decades. While members of Indigenous communities, leaders of other forest peoples, environmentalists and activists have been killed, criminals have generally not targeted journalists, especially foreign ones, for pragmatic reasons: Its bad for business. It attracts more press, brings attention from authorities, and invites international scrutiny.

Only Indigenous people and a handful of troops carried out search operations initially. There were no helicopters in the air during the first, crucial days. When the alarm was sounded on Dom and Brunos disappearance, the Army said on Monday that it was ready to conduct a humanitarian search-and-rescue mission; however, action will only be taken under orders from the upper echelon. Those orders came woefully late. Mr. Bolsonaro seemed to be dismissive of Dom and Brunos plight  an unrecommended adventure, he said.

We are still hoping for a miracle, still hoping Dom Phillips and Bruno Pereira are alive; still hoping that, if they are not, their bodies can be found.

The large-scale destruction of the Amazon began during Brazils military dictatorship (1964-85), and it did not stop with the return of democracy. Under Mr. Bolsonaro, though, the Amazon is racing toward catastrophe. Scientists say the Amazon may be close to a tipping point, which will be reached when deforestation hits 20 to 25 percent. It is now approaching 20 percent. If the rainforest becomes incapable of fulfilling its role as a great climate regulator, the global effects will be ruinous.
Lately, Ive been saying that my level of burnout feels like Covid of the soul. Which is to say I mostly feel normal, and that weve gradually been able to ease back into the rhythms of our prepandemic life, but there remains a residual exhaustion, partly psychic, that I havent had time to fully resolve. There are some days when my alarm goes off and the first thought that occurs to me is: I cant believe I have to get up and do all the things again.

I certainly had this thought in 2019  I even wrote a guide that year about how to avoid parental burnout when you have little kids, so clearly it had already crossed my mind before Covid. But I have more days like this now, when I exhibit one of the signs researchers have used to define the phenomenon. Though it isnt a clinical diagnosis, according to psychologists, to qualify as having parental burnout, you need all four of these symptoms: overwhelming exhaustion, emotional detachment from your children, loss of productivity and pleasure in ones parental role, and a change in your behavior.

Like you, I think of myself as a pretty OK parent, but: Sound familiar?

Last month, The Timess Catherine Pearson reported on a survey about parental burnout from Ohio State University that was conducted between January and April of last year  one of the bleaker stages of the pandemic, before most adults were fully vaccinated and when a lot of children were still not in in-person school full time. That survey, Pearson wrote, found that 66 percent of working parents meet the criteria for parental burnout.
INTERNATIONAL

An article on Friday about Naason Joaquin Garcia, the head of the church La Luz del Mundo, who was sentenced to more than 16 years in prison for sexually abusing minors referred incorrectly to Alondra Ocampo. She is a woman.

NATIONAL

An article on Friday about Representative Liz Cheney and her role in the Jan. 6 hearings misstated the number of children that Ms. Cheney has. She has five children, not four.

ARTS & LEISURE

An article on Page 7 this weekend about the Paul Taylor Dance Company and its upcoming performance at the Joyce Theater misstates the programs end date at the Joyce. It runs until June 19, not June 18. It also incorrectly includes Fibers among the dances with designs by Robert Rauschenberg. Additionally, it describes incorrectly an evening of the choreographer Paul Taylors works in 1957. It was one of his first evening-length performances, not the first time he showed original works.
The missing hiker, Cian McLaughlin, is from Ireland and was last seen on June 8, 2021.

About two weeks after Mr. McLaughlin disappeared, Ms. Mycoskie told investigators that she had seen and spoken with him and that he was heading south toward Taggart Lake where he planned to jump off his favorite rock into the water.

Parks officials said a subsequent investigation revealed that this did not happen.

Other potential sightings of Mr. McLaughlin were north of Taggart Lake on a trail system that leads to Garnet Canyon, Surprise and Amphitheater Lakes, and Delta Lake. An updated missing persons flier says he was last seen on the Lupine Meadows trail system leading to those lakes.

Mr. McLaughlin had searched online for Delta Lake, an alpine lake and popular destination in the park, before his hike, park officials said.
Then in 2019, a tour guide at the University of Pittsburgh pointed out a blue light emergency alarm system for students to summon security. The beacon was supposed to symbolize safety. For Mr. Mbacke, though, it conjured thoughts of a different outcome should his towering presence on campus ever be seen as a threat. Hes 6-foot-3, his mother said. Thats the description of every Black man they put on the news.

But after seeing Morehouse College in Atlanta, he was beaming, she recalled.

His coming-of-age has been Mike Brown and Trayvon Martin and all the litany of young Black men that looked like him that have been killed too soon and taken away from their mothers and their families, Dr. Abdul-Mbacke said. Theres no golden key, no golden ticket when youre Black in America, she added. Youre going to have to work hard, and if you can have a fair chance then you go for it. And he found that space.

The Missouri Effect

Americas first Black college, called the African Institute, was opened in Philadelphia in 1837 by a Quaker philanthropist. Later renamed Cheyney University, it had a mission to train teachers and prepare workers for trades. After the Civil War, dozens of such schools for the formerly enslaved and their children began to populate the southern states, sustained by federal land grants, freedmens societies, churches and benefactors.

Over their history, H.B.C.U.s have educated most of the nations Black judges, half of its Black doctors and 40 percent of the Black members of Congress, as well as the current vice president, Kamala Harris. Though the schools  from research institutions to two-year programs  make up only 3 percent of the countrys colleges and universities, they produce 13 percent of all African American graduates, according to the United Negro College Fund.
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When a reported 7,000 African Americans from the Deep South were recruited to work on the Manhattan Project starting in 1942, they knew little except that the positions were well-paid. Drawn by newspaper ads, word of mouth and recruiters subcontracted by the military, the workers arrived by train or bus in a heavily patrolled town outside Knoxville, Tenn. Signage around the plants commanded: See nothing. Hear nothing. Say nothing.

What exactly their blue-collar work was supporting, and the profound ways it would alter the course of history, would remain a secret until after the United States unleashed atomic bombs on Japan at the end of World War II, killing approximately 100,000 to 200,000 people.

But even now, the eastern Tennessee city of Oak Ridge is not widely recognized for the contributions of its African American work force to a monumental project in U.S. history and its role as one of the first public school systems to desegregate in the South.
Mr. Wilsons background, unsurprisingly, was eclectic. He was a classics major at Columbia University but dropped out. He helped start a psychedelic church, and he pondered, briefly, a career as an antiwar activist (an attempt to bomb a draft headquarters in red paint fizzled) before hitting the hippie hashish trail, as many of his peers did, traveling through the Middle East and South Asia.

He visited all the usual spots and had all the usual adventures before settling in Tehran to study Persian Sufism. With the ouster of the Shah of Iran in 1979, he returned to the United States and moved into an apartment on Manhattans Lower East Side.

Mr. Wilson worked out his disillusionment with the failed promise of the 1960s  the revolution that never came  in provocative writing that appeared in avant-garde journals like Semiotext(e), where French intellectuals like Michel Foucault mingled with American Beats like Ginsberg and William Burroughs and radical feminists like Kate Millett and Kathy Acker, the postpunk novelist and performance artist.

By all accounts, Mr. Wilson was erudite about the recondite, a prolific author of some 60 books on topics ranging from angels to pirate utopias and all manner of renegade religions. He was for years an East Village fixture and the host of The Moorish Orthodox Radio Crusade, a late-night program on WBAI, the Manhattan countercultural radio station. On his show, he might declaim on higher mathematics, play a selection of esoteric music like Sufi chants or Greek rembetika, and review zines, the D.I.Y. journals that flourished in the late 1980s and 90s.

But because his writing often included erotic imagery of young teenage boys, he was controversial.

I always had a fairly conflicted position about how to handle the issue, Mr. Fleming said. Whether to downplay it or try to defend it in some way. He identified as gay, but I never knew him to have a sexual partner, or an actual sex life. His sexual practices were what I call Whitmanesque, imaginal only.
Mr. Trumps allies have dismissed the hearings as a partisan effort to damage him before the 2024 election when he may run for president again. And legal defenders argued that the facts presented by the panel did not support the conclusions that it drew.

Unless theres more evidence to come that we dont know about, I dont see a criminal case against the former president, said Robert W. Ray, a former independent counsel who investigated President Bill Clinton and later served as a defense lawyer for Mr. Trump at his first Senate impeachment trial.

Whatever the Proud Boys had in mind when they stormed the Capitol, I dont see how youd be able to prove that Trump knew that that was the purpose of the conspiracy, Mr. Ray added. Whether or not he lit the fuse that caused that to happen, the government would have to prove he knowingly joined that conspiracy with that objective.

Beyond the legal requirements of making a criminal case, the prospect of prosecuting a former president also would entail far deeper considerations and broader consequences. Criminal charges against Mr. Trump brought by the administration of the man who defeated him would further inflame an already polarized country. It would consume national attention for months or longer and potentially set a precedent for less meritorious cases against future presidents by successors of the opposite party.

Thats a hill that no federal prosecutor has tried to climb, prosecuting a former president, said John Q. Barrett, a former associate independent counsel in the Iran-contra investigation. Its very fraught, he said. Its a massive undertaking as an investigation, as a trial, as a national saga and trauma. But he added that accountability was important and that the threat to the continuity of our government is about as grave as it gets.
Modernas coronavirus vaccine for children under 6 is effective in preventing symptomatic infection without causing worrisome side effects, the Food and Drug Administration said on Friday night.

Advisers to the F.D.A. are scheduled to meet next week to decide whether to recommend that the agency grant Modernas request for emergency authorization of its vaccine for children ages 6 months to 17 years. They will also consider an application from Pfizer and its German partner, BioNTech, to clear its pediatric vaccine for children under 5. The F.D.A. is expected to release its analysis of Pfizers application on Monday.

The F.D.A. cautioned that estimates of the efficacy of Modernas two-dose pediatric vaccine were based on relatively few cases of Covid-19. The agency also said that, like adults, pediatric recipients would probably require a booster shot to counteract the vaccines waning potency over time.
A month later, Mr. Ramaphosa lamented the impact that the conflict was having on bystander countries that he said are also going to suffer from the sanctions that have been imposed against Russia.

Brazil, India and South Africa  along with Russia and China  are members of a group of nations that account for one-third of the global economy. At an online meeting of the groups foreign ministers last month, Moscow offered to set up oil and gas refineries with its fellow partners. The group also discussed expanding its membership to other countries.

Other nations that abstained from the United Nations vote, including Uganda, Pakistan and Vietnam, have accused the U.S.-led coalition against Russia of shutting down any chance of peace talks with its military support of Ukraine. U.S. and European officials maintain that the weapons and intelligence it has provided serves only to help Ukraine defend itself from Russias military.

The growing urgency in the Biden administration is embodied in the presidents plans to visit Saudi Arabia, despite his earlier denunciations of its murderous actions and potential war crimes. Mr. Bidens effort, which is already being criticized by leading Democrats, is partly aimed at getting Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates to help on the margins with Ukraine. One goal is to have those nations coordinate a substantial increase in oil production to help bring down global prices while the United States, Europe and others boycott Russian oil.

U.S. officials have been disappointed by the proclaimed neutrality of the two Gulf Arab nations, which buy American weapons and lobby Washington for policies against Iran, their main rival.

Israel, which also buys American weapons and is the United States closest ally in the Middle East, has expressed solidarity with Ukraine. At the same time, however, it has resisted supporting some sanctions and direct criticism of Russia.
In part for that reason, the agency for years steered clear of trying to identify remains in those graves, and focused instead on field expeditions to recover missing American dead from overgrown jungle foxholes or remote airplane crash sites  expensive efforts that resulted in few identifications.

That changed after 2015, when Congress, frustrated with the slow pace of recoveries, mandated that the agency nearly triple its output to at least 200 identifications a year. The only way to do it was to dig into the unknown graves.

The agency has since opened more than 1,000 graves from World War II and the Korean War, and has made hundreds of new identifications. But as the agency acknowledges, it has also frequently found remains that were mixed, mismatched and misidentified, though it would not give a figure for how many.

As technology advances, we will sometimes encounter mistakes from the past, said Dr. John Byrd, the agencys laboratory director. We attempt to correct it in real time as the case progresses, to include full transparency with the affected families.

Captain Walkers case and others like it reveal just how tough it can be to untangle the mistakes of the past.

The whole thing is fubar, to use a term from the time, said John Eakin, a Vietnam veteran whose cousin, Pvt. Arthur Kelder, who went by the nickname Bud, died during World War II in a Japanese prison camp in the Philippines called Cabanatuan, along with 2,700 other men. About 1,000 have never been identified.
Hes known as taking a more progressive, pro-immigrant type of stance, said Jacob Friesenhahn, who leads the religious studies program at Our Lady of the Lake University, a Catholic school in San Antonio.

A contingent of conservative Catholics argues that the churchs teachings, including on self-defense and preserving the common good, justify owning and carrying a gun. But scholars said that Archbishop Garcia-Sillers position is arguably more aligned with Catholic teachings and represents a forceful stance among Catholic leaders that has grown out of their exasperation over unremitting violence.

I dont think hes going out on a limb at all, said Father Dorian Llywelyn, a Jesuit priest and the president of the Institute for Advanced Catholic Studies at the University of Southern California. Its not like hes making some radical new statement.

Other Catholic leaders have spoken out against guns in the days since the Uvalde massacre. Bishop Daniel Flores of the Diocese of Brownsville, Texas, said on Twitter, Dont tell me that guns arent the problem, people are. Cardinal Blase J. Cupich, who, as archbishop of Chicago, has become one of the Catholic Churchs most persistent critics of gun violence and the forces behind it, acknowledged that efforts for change might feel futile given the recurring bloodshed.

The size of the crisis, and its sheer horror, Cardinal Cupich said in a statement, make it all too easy to toss up ones hands and declare nothing can be done. But that is the counsel of despair, and we are a people of hope.

In a letter to Congress responding to lawmakers efforts to enact some gun control measures, several bishops urged elected officials to pursue concrete action to bring about a broader social renewal.
There are scary echoes of 2011, said Daniel Maxwell, a professor of food security at Tufts University who co-wrote the book Famine in Somalia.

For now, the merciless drought is forcing some families to make hard choices.

Back at the Benadir hospital in Mogadishu, Amina Abdullahi gazed at her severely malnourished 3-month-old daughter, Fatuma Yusuf. Clenching her fists and gasping for air, the baby let out a feeble cry, drawing smiles from the doctors who were happy to hear her make any noise at all.

She was as still as the dead when we brought her here, Ms. Abdullahi said. But even though the baby had gained more than a pound in the hospital, she was still less than five pounds in all  not even half what she should be. Doctors said it would be a while before she was discharged.

This pained Ms. Abdullahi. She had left six other children behind in Beledweyne, about 200 miles away, on a small, desiccated farm with her goats dying.

The suffering back home is indescribable, she said. I want to go back to my children.
Thousands of migrants set off from southern Mexico last week in one of the largest caravans seeking to reach the United States in recent years. The mass movement coincided with a recent meeting in Los Angeles, of leaders from the Western Hemisphere, where migration was a key focus.

Though migrant caravans have become a common phenomenon and are usually broken up by the authorities long before they reach the U.S. southern border, the latest march by some 6,000 people walking along Mexican highways has drawn significant international attention.

[Over the weekend, Mexican immigration officials said the caravan had dissolved after talks with the migrants.]
DHARWAD, India  The task was gargantuan: assembling a team of more than 3,500 language specialists, academics and enthusiastic amateurs to determine just how many distinct languages still exist in India, a country of stunning linguistic diversity.

Ganesh Narayan Devy has been obsessed with that question since, as a young scholar of literature, he came across a linguistic census from 1971 that listed 108 mother tongues spoken by Indians. At the end of the report, at No. 109, it said all others.

I wondered what all others could be, he said.

It turns out to be a huge number: His teams survey, perhaps the most exhaustive such effort ever in India, has researched 780 languages currently being used in the country, with hundreds more left to be studied.
NEW DELHI  Two young demonstrators were killed on Friday in Indias eastern Jharkhand State amid protests across South Asia by Muslims angered by a comment from an official in Indias governing party that they believe profaned the Prophet Muhammad.

The protesters were shot during demonstrations that erupted after Friday Prayers in Ranchi, Jharkhands capital. Protesters there called for the arrest of Nupur Sharma, a spokeswoman for Prime Minister Narendra Modis party, who last week made speculative comments on a television talk show about the relationship between the prophet and his youngest wife.

That comment, along with another about the prophet, made by Naveen Kumar Jindal, also an official in the governing Bharatiya Janata Party, prompted outrage across the Muslim world, forcing the government to try to contain the growing diplomatic fallout.
Three and a half months into the war, it has become clear that some of the most intense barrages of sanctions ever meted out by the West  and the torrent of Western companies voluntarily leaving Russia  have failed to completely dismantle the Russian economy or spark a popular backlash against President Vladimir V. Putin.

The impact of sanctions will be deep and broad, and the consequences are only beginning to play out. Living standards in Russia are already declining, economists and businesspeople say, and the situation is likely to get worse as stocks of imports run low and more companies announce layoffs.

But the economic decline is not as precipitous as some experts had expected it would be after the Feb. 24 invasion. Inflation is still high, around 17 percent on an annual basis, but it has come down from a 20-year peak in April. A closely watched measure of factory activity, the S&P Global Purchasing Managers Index, showed that Russian manufacturing expanded in May for the first time since the war began.
AMMAN, Jordan  Astride century-old tracks that cut through the modern metropolis of Amman, a historic train blared a horn to announce its departure. That sound spurred families bearing bags of food, pots of coffee, coolers of soda, grills, hookahs and lots of children into action, scrambling up iron ladders to settle into the trains wooden cars.

But the party had already begun in car No. 9, where a group of women and dozens of children were clapping along to an Arabic pop song blasting from a battery-powered speaker with flashing disco lights.

The train blew its horn again and lurched to life, jolting the partyers, who laughed as they righted themselves and burst into applause at the sight of the world outside their windows slipping by.
For anyone seeking legal clarity about whether an unpaid internship at a for-profit entity is in fact a job for which compensation is necessary, the Department of Labor offers a seven-part test. It includes whether training is similar to what interns might get in a classroom and whether their work complements, rather than displaces, the work of paid employees while providing those educational benefits. Unpaid internships for public sector and nonprofit charitable organizations, where the intern volunteers without expectation of compensation, are generally permissible, the memo adds.

Amid this squishiness, employers have seen fit to put people to work in about one million unpaid internships per year, according to an estimate from the Center for Research on College-Workforce Transitions at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

Of the students who are not interns, 67 percent would like to be, according to a different survey from the center. Having an existing job and not being able to afford the low wages were two reasons respondents checked off when reporting obstacles to taking an internship, though unsure how to find internship was the reason they cited most.

Handing them the $20.76 per hour that paid interns make on average, according to the National Association of Colleges and Employers, would presumably make it easier to take any position they could find. So what  and who  could make employers pay everyone?

In theory, President Biden could go further by issuing an executive order ending unpaid internships throughout the federal government. White House representatives did not respond to several messages asking why he didnt (and for comment on the hoped-for demographics of their future interns).

Last June, Mr. Biden issued an order instructing various agencies to promote and increase paid internships. It was a start, with anything like an end likely to be years away. There are, among other things, budgetary practicalities. At the White House, money for the interns is coming from newly enacted legislation.
The remains of Europes largest ever land-based hunter which measured more than 10 metres long and lived 125 million years ago have been found on the Isle of Wight.

Several prehistoric bones belonging to the two-legged, crocodile-faced spinosaurid dinosaur were discovered on the island off the south coast of England and have been analysed by scientists from the University of Southampton.

The spinosurid would have lived at the beginning of a period of rising sea levels and would have stalked lagoonal waters and sandflats in search of food.

PhD student Chris Barker said: This was a huge animal, exceeding 10m (32.8ft) in length and probably several tonnes in weight.

Judging from some of the dimensions, it appears to represent one of the largest predatory dinosaur ever found in Europe  maybe even the biggest yet known.

Its a shame its only known from a small amount of material, but these are enough to show it was an immense creature.

The discovered bones of the White Rock spinosaurid  named as such because of the geological layer in which the remains were found  include huge pelvic and tail vertebrae.

They were found by dinosaur hunter Nick Chase, who has since died, near Compton Chine, on the south-west coast of the Isle of Wight in the Vectis Formation geological structure and are now on display in the Dinosaur Isle Museum in Sandown.

Dr Neil Gostling, corresponding author of the study published in the journal PeerJ, said: Unusually, this specimen eroded out of the Vectis Formation, which is notoriously poor in dinosaur fossils.

Its likely to be the youngest spinosaur material yet known from the UK.

Co-author Darren Naish said: This new animal bolsters our previous argument  published last year  that spinosaurid dinosaurs originated and diversified in western Europe before becoming more widespread.

We hope that additional remains will turn up in time.

Because its only known from fragments at the moment, we havent given it a formal scientific name, Mr Naish added.

We hope that additional remains will turn up in time.

The scientists suggest that marks on the bone including little tunnels bored into a lump of pelvis, show that the body of the giant dinosaur would have been picked over by scavengers and decomposers after it had died.

Co-author Jeremy Lockwood, a PhD student at the University of Portsmouth and Natural History Museum, said: We think they were caused by bone eating larvae of a type of scavenging beetle.

Its an interesting thought that this giant killer wound up becoming a meal for a host of insects.
A man who appeared on a charge of assault causing harm was told to sit on his hands in future by Judge Miriam Walsh at Tullamore District Court.

Garda Christopher Ward said the injured party had been out celebrating his Leaving Certificate in Rhode village. Afterwards he was outside waiting for his parents to collect him when the defendant Joe Quinn,(24) Cannakill, Croghan, Rhode, struck him in the mouth causing damage to his teeth.

The injured party was advised that his tooth, which is loose, will have to come out in the next week or so.

Mr Quinn had no previous convictions. His solicitor Patrick Martin said it was an aberration on his character on the night. Mr Martin said there had been an incident involving the defendants sister previously. Mr Quinn is a plumber and is extremely remorseful. He had hoped to go to Canada. He had been forthcoming and pleaded guilty. He had brought 400 to court. Mr Martin said the injured partys medical bills would be covered by his medical card. He said it was a once off issue.

Judge Miriam Walsh asked why the injured party had gone to two different dentists and Mr Martin said he had hoped to save his tooth.

In addition to the payment of 400 Judge Walsh imposed a fine of 350 and gave him two months to pay. Mr Martin reminded Judge Walsh that Joe Quinn hoped to go to Canada and asked if he could make a donation to Saint Vincent de Paul instead.

Judge Walsh agreed and adjourned the case to July 27, 2022. In future sit on your hands she told the defendant.
AN Offaly teenager will climb Ireland's highest mountain in August to raise funds for charity in memory of his grandfather.

Oisin Carroll (14), who lives in Ballinagar, will scale the 1038.6 metres (that's over 3,400 feet) of Carrauntoohil on August 5 while at the same time raising funds for the Irish Lung Fibrosis Association (ILFA) in honour of his grandad John.

My grandad John Carroll of Tullamore, Co Offaly was a man who lived life to the max and never let anything get him down especially after he was diagnosed with Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis (IPF) in 2008, he continued to enjoy and live life to its fullest, Oisin explained.

John Carroll sadly passed away on March 1 last at the age of only 61 and Oisin says ILFA gave him great support and comfort through his long battle with IPF.

After visiting Kerry in 2021, I decided I would like to climb Carrauntoohil, just for the challenge and spoke of my wishes to do so with my granddad who was as always full of support and encouragement, so I think it now fitting to climb Carrauntoohil in his honour and to give something back to ILFA for all the help and support they gave my grandad and other people over the years, Oisin added.

It would also be an opportunity to raise awareness about Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis (IPF) and The Irish Lung Fibrosis Association (ILFA).

Oisin is appealing to the public to donate through this gofundme page -

https://www.gofundme.com/f/oisins-climb-for-ilfa?qid=32a9a2fdcaef65d8dc148e2f613e0d6c

I would really appreciate your generosity in supporting my efforts to raise funds for this amazing and much deserved charity, he said.

By Wednesday evening (June 8), Oisin had already raised more than 2,100.
A man is due to appear in court charged with a number of offences after he was arrested by detectives investigating a security alert that led to an Irish Government minister being evacuated from a peace event.

The 46-year-old has been charged with possession of a firearm and ammunition in suspicious circumstances, possession of a prohibited firearm, possession of a handgun without a certificate and possession of ammunition without a certificate.

He is due to appear at Laganside Magistrates Court on Saturday.

Irish Foreign Affairs Minister Simon Coveney had to leave the peace event, organised by the John and Pat Hume Foundation, in north Belfast on March 25.

The Houben Centre in the Crumlin Road was evacuated and a funeral service at nearby Holy Cross Church was disrupted.

Police said the driver of a van was threatened by two gunmen and forced to drive a device, which he believed to be a live bomb, to the church.

The item in the van turned out to be a hoax bomb.

The man who has been charged was one of two arrested by police on Wednesday.

Two firearms were also seized after operations in the Shankill area of Belfast and in Ballymena, Co Antrim.
A well-known loyalist has been remanded in custody after a court was told that police discovered weapons and ammunition in a bag in the boot of his car.

Winston Irvine, 46, from Ballysillan in north Belfast, was arrested on Wednesday as police were investigating a security alert that led to Irish Government minister Simon Coveney being evacuated from a peace event.

Irvine has been charged with possession of a firearm and ammunition in suspicious circumstances, possession of a prohibited firearm, possession of a handgun without a certificate and possession of ammunition without a certificate.

He appeared by videolink at Belfast Magistrates Court on Saturday wearing a red T-shirt.

Asked if he understood the charges, Irvine said: Yes, I do.

A PSNI detective inspector told the court he could connect Irvine to the charges.

The officer told the court that officers had planned an operation to arrest Irvine on Wednesday in relation to an unrelated matter.

He said police observed Irvines car in Glencairn Street when a van parked behind it and Irvine was seen opening the boot of his vehicle.

The detective inspector said Irvine was then stopped in Disraeli Street and officers discovered a number of firearms, magazines and more than 200 rounds of ammunition in a holdall in the boot.

The officer told the court that Irvine said he had not been aware of what was in bag.

A search of Irvines home discovered a quantity of cash as well as a UVF plaque and pendants, the court heard.

The detective inspector objected to an application for bail.

He said: The police case would be that this has the hallmarks of a paramilitary operation, given the amount of ammunition and range of weaponry and component parts that were found, that this is typical of the type of stuff that paramilitary organisations in Northern Ireland have access to.

Persons who would have access to such large amounts would only be trusted members of the organisation.

Defence lawyer Joe Brolly told the court that Irvine should be granted bail.

He said: The applicant for bail is a renowned peace builder in this community.

A simple internet search will show over the last 15 years he has been intensively involved in the peace process, in reconciliation and in peace programmes.

He has worked across the divide for the last 20 years, that is not in dispute.

He not only works with ex-loyalist prisoners but is also engaged intensively with ex-republican prisoners and continues to do so.

He has publicly spent his life advocating peace in difficult situations.

There are tensions, particularly in the loyalist community, and his role throughout is to keep a lid on this.

District Judge George Conner denied the application for bail, saying a significant haul of weapons and ammunition had been recovered.

Irvine was remanded in custody to appear in court again on July 1.

A 51-year-old man arrested in Ballymena on Wednesday as part of the same investigation remains in custody.

The two arrests were made as part of a PSNI investigation into a security alert on March 25 when a peace event, organised by the John and Pat Hume Foundation, was disrupted.

The Houben Centre in the Crumlin Road was evacuated while Mr Coveney was giving an address and a funeral service at nearby Holy Cross Church was disrupted.

Police said the driver of a van was threatened by two gunmen and forced to drive a device, which he believed to be a live bomb, to the church.

The item in the van turned out to be a hoax bomb.
A number of people were identified as being in Ireland illegally during a search of a commercial premises in Co Meath, police have said.

The Garda National Immigration Bureau (GNIB) and officials from the Department of Social Protection and Work Relations Commission carried out a multi-agency search operation at a commercial premises on Wednesday.

A police spokesperson said the operation was focused on identifying offences relating to the employment of illegal immigrants and formed part of a wider investigation into human trafficking, targeting those involved in facilitating illegal immigration into Ireland.

The spokesperson added: In the course of the operation, a significant number of persons working at the premises were identified as being illegally present in the state and working in breach of the Employment Permits Act on the basis of fraudulent documentation.

All persons present were interviewed and a number of fraudulent documents were seized, along with personnel files and mobile phones.

From intelligence obtained during the operation, a subsequent follow-up search was carried out at a nearby private residence.

A number of items were seized including fraudulent European ID documents and electronic devices.

The operation involved more than 40 personnel, including interpreters and document examiners.

Investigations are ongoing.
Chinese ambassador: healthy, stable development of China-Australia ties beneficial to two peoples

Xinhua) 16:24, June 11, 2022

PERTH, Australia, June 11 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Ambassador to Australia Xiao Qian said here on Saturday that a healthy and stable development of the bilateral relations is in line with the fundamental interests of the two peoples.

Xiao made the remarks while addressing the national conference of the Australia China Friendship Society (ACFS) held in Perth, capital of the state of Western Australia.

This year marks the 50th anniversary of the establishment of the China-Australia diplomatic relations. Xiao noted in the past 50 years, the bilateral practical cooperation not only boosted China's economic and social development but also brought prosperity to Australia's various industries and helped it weather several global or regional economic and financial crises.

"During the past five decades, China has always been looking at the bilateral relations from a strategic and long-term perspective, and committed to friendly exchanges and cooperation with Australia in the spirit of mutual respect and mutual benefit. This policy remains unchanged."

Stressing the bilateral ties is at a "new juncture", the ambassador said it also faces some new opportunities.

The two countries could continue to deepen traditional cooperation while exploring new opportunities in green technology, new energy, healthcare, digital economy, and creative industries, and aligning green development strategies.

Xiao stressed that China and Australia could and should coexist in harmony despite their differences in many aspects.

"It's important to respect the diversity of civilizations, respect a country's choice of development path in accordance with its own national conditions, and make exchanges and mutual learning among civilizations a powerful bond for maintaining world peace and promoting common development."

Xiao also spoke highly of the role of Western Australia as a "major driving force and great contributor" for the China-Australia cooperation, and hailed the two peoples' friendship as a foundation for the bilateral relations.

He said the embassy and the Chinese Consulates-General in Australia stand ready to work with the Australian federal government, state governments and friends from all walks of life to move forward the China-Australia relationship along the right track to benefit the two countries and peoples.

(Web editor: Zhong Wenxing, Bianji)
Human Rights Watch has condemned the Myanmar military junta's detention of Sean Turnell, as Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Foreign Affairs Minister Penny Wong called for the Australian's release.
Melbourne won 26-18 but Felise Kaufusi was accused of collecting Sam Walker in the head with his elbow, and there were fresh concussion concerns for Luke Keary.
The European Commission president is in Kyiv as the EU reviews Ukraine's bid to eventually join the bloc. Meanwhile, Mariupol's exiled mayor has warned of a cholera risk in the occupied city. DW has the latest.
Claims the Prince of Wales has criticised the UK scheme to send some asylum seekers to Rwanda makes headlines.
Moves to deport the first few dozen asylum seekers to Rwanda on 14 June will proceed, after a legal challenge attempting to block it failed.
Australia announced a large compensation figure for France over a scrapped submarine deal. The deal was canceled after Australia opted to join a defense pact with the US and the UK known as AUKUS.
Russia and China have opened a cross-border bridge spanning one kilometre, which they hope will lighten the effects of economic sanctions from the West over Russian President Vladimir Putin's invasion of Ukraine.
The US Defense Secretary said Chinese military activity around the self-governing island threatened to change the status quo. Lloyd Austin said Washington would continue to stand by Taiwan at an event in Singapore.
Watch VideoChina's defense minister accused the United States on Sunday of trying to "hijack" the support of countries in the..

Newsy 12 Jun 2022
Newsy 12 Jun 2022

Watch VideoChina's defense minister accused the United States on Sunday of trying to "hijack" the support of countries in the..
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The EU Commission president, visiting Kyiv, said the EU would be able to finalise its assessment "by the end of next week" over Ukraine's membership bid.
Nine NATO eastern flank nations met in Bucharest to request better protection from the military alliance in the light of Russia's aggresslon in Ukraine.
Andy Murray reaches his first tour-level final on grass in six years as he beats Nick Kyrgios at the Boss Open in Stuttgart.
Visiting Skopje, the German chancellor called for the EU to start membership talks, but seemed to achieve little progress in Sofia which reiterated its objections.
Manchester United and Portugal player Cristiano Ronaldo was accused of raping a woman in a Las Vegas hotel room in 2009. A $25 million lawsuit has been thrown out and the lawyer behind the claim has been castigated.
While the prospects for Ukraine and Moldova look good, Georgia is accused of backsliding on democracy.
Washington Commanders defensive coordinator Jack Del Rio has been fined $100,000 by the team for his comments about protests in the..

Upworthy 10 Jun 2022
The Solomon Islands Minister of Education and Human Resource Development Lanelle Tanangada says Fee Free education is not possible and parents have to pay for it.

The minister announced this during her constituency tour last week in Gizo, Western Province.

The fee free education option would not be possible and parents will have to find some sorts of contributions to complete their childrens school fee.

Its understood this comes as government is also struggling financial.

Minister Tanangada said, government will only support schools through the release of school grants.

The first payments to schools have been done and is currently making progress.

The minister has highlighted that a new fee range has been set for primary, junior secondary and senior secondary school for both rural and urban areas.

The education minister further added hopefully once the new Education Bill is carried forward, the country will see what is the real cost of a student starting from when he/she begins and end his/her academic year while analyses will be carried out.

If the analysis is done, responsible government and authority will see and meet the requirements needed for the children of the Solomon Islands and then parents contribution would be known.

Following the announcement of the fee option for the rural parents where they have the option to pay cash or in kind, some parents expressed dissatisfaction.

Some said that its good that both rural and urban parents should be treated equally.

A concerned parents from Gizo who wants to remain anonymous said everyone went through the COVID-19 pandemic and many parents have lost their jobs because of the no jab, no job policy.

Therefore, why cant the minister waive the school fees to support struggling parents.

Prior to the start of the classes, there were calls for school fee subsidy. The fee-free basic education policy was introduced by the former Derek Sikuas led government.





By ULUTAH GINA - Solomon Star

Gizo News Bureau





Next: UK Discuss Priority Projects with Solomon Islands Government
British High Commissioner to Solomon Islands, H.E. Thomas Edward Coward visited the Office of the Solomon Islands Prime Minister and Cabinet to begin dialogue with care taker Prime Minister Hon. Manasseh Maelanga on the national governments priority projects.

H.E Thomas Coward meets with the acting Prime Minister Hon. Manasseh Maelanga. [Photo by GCU]

Care taker Prime Minister and Minister for Infrastructure Development Hon. Maelanga discussed with H.E. Thomas Edward Coward a number of priority projects including Transport Links between the provinces and the capital city.

The transport link is a priority and a long-term project, achievable in the long run, said Hon. Maelanga.

Road linking non-economical routes continue to be a major challenge. This is important as remote communities must be linked to the rest of the country.

H.E. Thomas Coward says he is keen to further enhance the United Kingdom-Solomon Islands partnership.

There are deep historic links and strong bonds of friendship between our two countries and I look forward to working together in partnership to further strengthen our great nations.

On the bilateral front, renewable energy remains a priority in terms of the United Kingdoms assistance to Solomon Islands.

A British health team has just completed KiluufiI hospitals first emergency Ward, he adds.

In Agriculture, some of the highest valued chocolate in UK is from Solomon Islands cocoa.

Scholarships, roads, bridges, airports, COVID 19 and a host of other funding assistance to the government and people of Solomon Islands.

His Excellency adds, there are more partnership opportunities under the World Trade Organisation which Solomon Islands can tap into.

More discussions will follow at the ministerial level in terms of priority projects for the country.

Solomon Islands and the United Kingdom enjoy deep and rich historic ties.





Source: GCU

Next : Commonwealth Secretariat Observer Group to observe PNG Elections
EDITOR'S NOTE: In early May, Daily News Editor Dave Clark and Managing Editor Dan Chalk sat down for a 33-minute interview with Dow, Inc. President and CEO Jim Fitterling. Following is an excerpt from the interview that includes questions and answers about positive and negative aspects of the company's history, and what Dow is doing to protect the communities in which it operates.

DAILY NEWS: This seems like a perfect opportunity to reflect on not just your past, but also the companys impact on Midland and where the company is going. So, let me start by asking: In regards to the anniversary, I understand Dow has several initiatives its promoting related to the theme Imagine Better. Can you talk about what those are, and update us on Dows plan to become carbon-neutral and its plastics circularity initiative?

JIM FITTERLING: Yeah, I think we want to do several things with our 125th anniversary, and the theme Imagine Better I think really describes not only the history, but the future of where were going. We want to celebrate the history  I think its important for this community, its important for a lot of retirees and employees whove put a lot into Dow over that timeframe. To celebrate where we are today coming off a record year last year and a really strong spin out of the Dow/DuPont merger, which was a big change for us.

And then, focus on the future, which we believe means being net-zero, being carbon-neutral. And also addressing circularity issues in plastics, but in literally every product line that were in. The pressures there from consumers and from brand owners to be circular in all aspects of the business are increasing. So its a good time to not only reflect on what weve done in the past, but also channel that into what we want to do in the future, and sustainability and circularity are key drivers of our strategy in every product line.

DAILY NEWS: What do you feel are the three key reasons that Dows been a successful company for 125 years, and how much has the Midland community played into that success?

FITTERLING: Great science would be a fantastic starting point. You know, the research work that we do to develop new products and new processes for chemistry are fundamental. You go back to Herbert Dow in the very beginning. The process for making chlorine and bleach and bromine and iodine from the natural salt deposits, brine deposits under the state of Michigan, was revolutionary at the time.

We were also a big energy user at the time because that was electrochemistry, so a lot of electricity to make that happen. (Dow) was an early patent holder with George Westinghouse on co-generation, which was the most affordable way to basically make steam and electricity for operations. So there was always a sustainability mindset and a low-cost, a low-energy mindset and a consideration about that.

Great engineering would probably be the second thing that I would say. Mr. Dow was a hands-on engineer himself. He was very focused on how machinery operated, how the plants operated. He spent time in the operations, and he was obviously looking at better ways to do things all the time. And I think he would be pretty proud of the engineering and research teams that we have here today and what were doing. Just to give you an idea of the importance of the research work, about every five years we turn over a third of our product line. So when you think about it, a third of our products are new every five years. Meaning we bring something to market that displaces something that we sold five years ago. And we have a pretty simple rule of thumb in research, which is it not only needs to be a better-performing product; it needs to be more sustainable than the product it replaced. And Im very proud of the work the teams been able to do.

And then the last thing I think he would be proud of is just how important we are to people and communities. Midland was here as a lumber town at a time where the lumber industry was slowing down and the future was not quite certain around Midland. And he brought a different industry into Midland and had a big impact on this community. And you look around and you say, I wonder what Midland would look like without the impact  and not just Dow, but many families that worked for Dow that became wealthy and put money back to work here through foundations and through different organizations that still continue to drive a lot of the quality of life that is here today. And that was important when we went to Freeport, Texas, to Lake Jackson. It was important when we went to Louisiana, when we went to the Netherlands, when we went to Stade, Germany, when we went to Brazil and to Argentina. So I think he would look around and be proud that, in every one of those communities, in every one of those plant sites where you go see Dow, you walk into that operation, you feel Dow. It doesnt matter that its in a different country. You just see a way of operating and a way of people dealing with each other and dealing with their communities that is second to none. And thats not just coming from me; that comes from a lot of people outside: government leaders, third-party organizations that we work with. Theyre proud to have Dow in the community because Dows a big part of the community and gives back.

DAILY NEWS: Those are great points that you made. And it just shows what the company's been able to do. But there have been times in Dows history where its been viewed very negatively by the public. Im talking about producing products that were used in Vietnam, dioxin in the Tittabawassee, millions of dollars in EPA fines. How do you reconcile that past as you move into the future?

FITTERLING: Well, I think with any company and any industry, as you move through time, you find out things about different products or different chemistries that are used, and weve seen it in a lot of industries over time. And I think that Dow stepped up to address many of those concerns and tried to do it in a way that was positive and constructive. You know, I cant speak to the fines at the time and what that situation was, but I think if you look at how we addressed the situation, we tried to be constructive, tried to work with the government, tried to work with the community, to work through those. And out of every one of those incidents we learned something, and we build that into how we move forward and do things in a better way. And so I think if you look at the last 30 years of progress that weve made here, things have been a lot different for Dow, and I think were on a much more positive foot going forward. And we want to try to sustain that. It doesnt mean that something might not happen in the future that turns out to be negative, but were going to do our best to try to avoid that.

DAILY NEWS: What is Dow doing today to help protect the communities that it operates in?

FITTERLING: Were working on a lot of different fronts. I talked about product chemistry before. So whenever we look at a new class of chemistry, one of the first screens we do with that chemistry is around known carcinogens. So we look at combinations of chemistry and we rule out certain combinations because were worried that they would be something that would be a problem in the future. So it becomes a design parameter. You design your experiments to say, "Im going to make a new product to address a certain need, but Im going to do it within certain chemistries that would be acceptable and want to avoid other chemistries." Thats a big one. How we operate our assets  we take a look holistically at how we operate the sites. You talked about dioxin- Midland here for a number of years has been a facility where we really tightly control discharged water back to the river, and we have to look at very, very low threshold levels of waste. Weve got a tremendous environmental operations practice here that does that for us. We do that at all of our sites around the world.

We look at not only things like our air emissions  so, any greenhouse gas emissions  we look at our water emissions. Were looking more and more these days at the impact to our communities on fresh water. So how much fresh water do we take in, how much of it might go through the facility one time, as cooling water, for example, and go back into a body of water? How can we eliminate that? How can we make that maybe completely, fully contained within a site? Terneuzen in the Netherlands, for example, today, we do a project with industry park and the municipality there where we use more recycle water within our facility, which takes the load off the fresh water for them. The municipality uses more fresh water, and then we both take more recycle water from the municipality, not only just for Dow but for other industry partners into their operations as well. And around the world, the idea is to go through our locations because water scarcity is going to become as big an issue as carbon neutrality, and make sure that we have a way to address water scarcity. Weve always tried to manage our own water needs at the sites. We do that through a reservoir system in Texas. We do that in different ways at different sites. But elevating that.

And then Id say thirdly is transparency and data sharing with the public. If you look at our 2021 ESG (Environmental, Social and Governance) report called "Intersections," youll see a pretty comprehensive reporting of our impact on the environment. That's only going to become more comprehensive and more transparent as we move forward. As we get more demands put on us, were going to have to disclose more information. As we get better monitoring and as we develop more targets on things like the water circularity, youll see us divulge more of that in every annual report. So if you look at this years report, which will come out some time in June, youll compare it to last years report and youll see another level of detail come out of that. And I think thats a continuation of the mindset that Mr. Dow had: if you cant do something better, why do it? So we try to bring that to life through that reporting and that engagement with the communities.
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Huron County Sheriff Kelly J. Hanson has been named Administrator of the Year by the Police Officers Association of Michigan.

Hanson was honored during the associations annual convention in Grand Rapids on May 26.
File photo

THOMPSONVILLE  Lisa Sagala, Manistee County controller/administrator, has been elected to serve on the board of directors for the Michigan Association of County Administrative Officers.

Sagala was among those selected to serve on the 2022-23 board during its recent conference held in Thompsonville in May.
BIG RAPIDS  Officers with the Big Rapids Department of Public Safety responded to the following calls. All calls may not be reported. All suspects are assumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

 A larceny was reported in the 600 block of Clark Street. A suspect allegedly bullied another person to give her a debit card, and the suspect allegedly went on a spending spree of over $200. Both parties reportedly have moderate mental impairments, according to police. Guardians of both are involved.

 A domestic issue was reported in the 1100 block of Catherine. A male was arrested for probation violation and domestic assault, second.

 A check wellbeing request was made in the 1100 block of Fuller. Caller wanted his 7-month-old daughter checked on as she was with mother who he thought was at the bar and not with the child. Child was checked and found fine at home with mom. Mother wanted to file harassment complaint against the father. Both were advised to limit contact to child related issues.

Wednesday, June 8

 A report of malicious destruction of property was made in the 400 block of South State Street. Complainant reported someone allegedly spray painted the outside door of the apartments, as well as his individual apartment door. Police noted that his story changed several times while speaking with him. Case is under investigation.

 Suspicious activity was reported in the 300 block of South Third. Complainant called and reported seeing people in her yard dealing drugs. Case is under investigation.

 A report of fraud was made in the 100 block of East Bridge. Complainant reported putting her Social Security number on multiple casino apps. She allegedly is out $2,000. Case is under investigation.

 A domestic situation was reported in the 1000 block Fuller. Incident involved a juvenile versus mom and sister after the sister accused him of allegedly taking her phone. Petition to be sought. Parties separated.

Thursday, June 9

 A civil situation was reported in the 600 block of Adams. Complainant wanted to report that her ex was at her house ringing the doorbell. She was upset that he was there and claims she and her kids fear him. She wanted him and his wife trespassed.

 Officers responded to a property damage accident near State and Oak.

 A civil right complaint was made. Complainant was upset and believes his wife's civil rights were violated during an informal hearing. He was advised to seek a formal hearing.

 A larceny was reported in the 200 block of Gilbertson. Complainant reported that sometime in the past 24 hours, a power washer, weed whip and a rake were stolen. Area canvass completed.

 Suspicious activity was reported in the 100 block of North Stewart. Officers were originally dispatched to the 100 block of South Stewart for a male trying to get into a garage. After checking the area and canvass, officers located the complainants on North Stewart. Suspect was located nearby and identified. He is out on bond from Osceola County for operating while intoxicate. Report to be forwarded.

 Officers stood by with Children's Protective Service for paperwork delivery in the 400 block of Finley. Subject has a valid warrant from Ottawa County, which wanted to place a hold, however he wasn't located.

 A check wellbeing request was made in the 1100 block of Catherine. Caller wanted a check wellbeing done on her daughter. She was located with her father.
VERNON, Calif. (AP)  Meat-packing giant Smithfield Foods said Friday it will close its only California plant next year, citing the escalating cost of doing business in the state.

The Farmer John meat-packing plant in Vernon, an industrial suburb south of Los Angeles, will shut down in February, with its 1,800 employees receiving severance and job placement support along with bonuses for those who choose to stay on the job until the closure, said Jim Monroe, vice president of corporate affairs.

Some workers, who on average earn about $21 per hour, also will have opportunities to relocate to other facilities owned by the Virginia-based Smithfield Foods Inc.

The Vernon plant slaughters pigs and packages products such as ham and bacon. Some operations will be moved to other facilities in the Midwest, but the overall reduction in processing capacity is prompting Smithfield to reduce its sow herd in Utah. The company also said it is exploring ways to exit its farms in California and Arizona.

Monroe said operating costs in California are much higher than in other areas of the country, including taxes and the price of water, electricity and natural gas.

Our utility costs in California are 3 1/2 times higher per head than our other locations where they do the same type of work, he said.

The shutdown is not expected to reduce supply or increase costs on products, and Farmer John Products will still be sold in California, Monroe said.

There wont be any impact on our customers, he said.

The Vernon plant has been the target of repeated protests by animal rights activists over its treatment of hogs. It also was hard-hit during the COVID-19 pandemic, with some 300 employees exposed to infections in 2020. Several were hospitalized.

Californias Division of Occupational Safety and Health fined Smithfield Foods about $60,000 for safety violations that exposed workers to infection.

Smithfield Foods was founded in Smithfield, Virginia, in 1936 and according to its website provides more than 40,000 jobs in the United States. It was acquired in 2013 by Hong Kong-based WH Group.
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Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso (PANA) - Eleven Burkinabe gendarmes were killed on Thursday, in a new armed attack against the Territorial Gendarmerie Brigade of Seytenga (Seno Province, Sahel region), the Burkinabe national army announced in a statement on Friday
Conakry, Guinea (PANA) - An International Monetary Fund (IMF) staff team has completed a week-long visit to Guinea, observing that the economy remains resilient in the context of a difficult environment
Tripoli, Libya (PANA) - The United Nations Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) has expressed concern over Friday night's armed clashes between armed groups in Tripoli, putting lives of civilians at risk
Tripoli, Libya (PANA) - The gun battles between two armed groups in Tripoli on Friday night, which reiterated the persistence of insecurity in the city, have attracted widespread condemnation for the threat they pose to the security and lives of citizens, as well as the need to hold their perpetrators accountable
Photo: (Photo : Emma McIntyre/Getty Images)

Ezra Miller, who headlines as the superhero The Flash in the "Justice League" films, has been accused by the parents of a North Dakota teenager of brainwashing, grooming and manipulating their daughter.

Tokata Iron Eyes was then 12 years old when she met Miller for the first time. Now 18 years old, Tokata changed her name to Gibson and has identified with the pronoun they/them. Her parents, Chase Iron Eyes and Sara Jumping Eagle, filed a protective order against Miller, 29, with the Standing Rock Sioux Tribal Court.

A judge granted the request but this could not be served to Miller since they could not locate the actor nor Gibson. Chase and Sara believe that Miller and their daughter are "on the run," per People.

Read Also: Outraged Parents Want Action on Culprits Posting Disturbing Photos of Special Needs Students in School Bathroom

Gibson Releases a Statement

However, two days prior to the granting of the protective order, Gibson posted a message on their Instagram account to defend Miller. Calling the actor a "comrade," Gibson wrote that Miller has been nothing but supportive and protective of them as they mourned the death of another friend.

Gibson's parents, however, do not think that their daughter wrote the Instagram post because, allegedly, Gibson relied on Miller and does not own keys, bank cards, or a driver's license. In another statement to Rolling Stones, Gibson clarified that they have not been brainwashed.

The 18-year-old girl also implied that they tried to be civil towards their parents but Chase, who is a lawyer and an activist, apparently has transphobic views that contradict his daughter's choices in life. The teenager said it's the parents who have been psychologically manipulating as Chase and Sara have made attempts to remove Miller from Gibson's life.

In addition to the statement, Gibson also made an Instagram video to reiterate that they wrote the statement despite not having a phone by choice. Gibson said that whatever is happening to their life is "nobody's business and nobody is owed a story."

Gibson and Miller's Friendship

Chase and Sara said that Miller was drawn to Gibson since their first meeting and has been grooming, brainwashing and corrupting her with drugs, alcohol and controlling behavior. Miller apparently paid for the girls' education at Bard College in Massachusetts, which he later used "to create a sense of indebtedness."

In December 2021, Gibson quit school and stayed with Miller in Vermont. Gibson was also with Miller when he had gotten into a legal altercation in Hawaii.

The parents said their daughter was able to go home to North Dakota once to "detoxify" when they picked Gibson up from a mental facility. But then she flew to New York to be with the actor again. Sara said she has serious concerns about her daughter.

According to TMZ, which first reported the filing, a court hearing has been set for July. If the actor doesn't personally appear in court, the order will be in effect and Gibson will have to return to her parents who have court-mandated temporary guardianship over her.

Related Article: Amber Heard Claims She Fought Johnny Depp Over His Daughter Lily-Rose Who Took Marijuana at 14
Photo: (Photo : Jill Torrance/Getty Images)

Nebraska dad Tesfaye Ailbe was filled with grief and heartbreak when the police said that his 18-year-old daughter, Hannah Wadiso, died in a car crash. Hours later, however, he received a hopeful call informing him that she was still in the hospital.

Ailbe initially rushed to the scene when he learned of the car crash that happened during the Memorial Day weekend, according to People. The police allegedly confirmed that his daughter's body was on top of the car that rolled over and injured 20 more people. The dad broke down right on the street and prayed for his daughter.

With a heavy heart, Ailbe returned home and got then unexpected call. Wadiso did not die in the crash, but she was in critical condition at the hospital. Doctors told the father that she had crushed her pelvis, yet they expected her to recover.

Read Also: Father Who Lost Both Legs in Hit-and-Run Remains Positive He'll Walk Again

Dad Knew Something Bad Was Going to Happen

Before the car crash, Ailbe had a bad feeling that something bad would happen after his family celebrated Wadiso's high school graduation. That night, the teenager asked permission from her dad to watch a street race because everyone she knew would be there.

Ailbe told KETV that something inside him didn't settle down, so he tried to follow his daughter and her friends. He couldn't find them anymore, so he decided to go home. After four hours, Ailbe got a stranger's call saying something had happened to his daughter. That person helped pull Wadiso out of the crash.

However, when the father arrived, the police told him the most devastating news any parent never wanted to hear. On Friday, June 10, the local police department issued a statement acknowledging their mistake as they evaluated the response to the accident.

"We recognize the grief this tragic misunderstanding caused for all involved," Police Chief Teresa Ewins said, per KOLN. "We continue to work with Mr. Alibe and have acknowledged our sincere regret."

Despite this, Ailbe is more than relieved to be worrying about paying for his daughter's medical bills and not planning her funeral. She is expected to undergo more than ten weeks of rehabilitation.

What Happened at the Car Crash

According to reports, Kyvell Stark, the 18-year-old driver who caused the car crash, was going at 90 miles per hour. He had a learner's permit only and was also positive for marijuana.

The police charged Stark with two counts of manslaughter for the deaths of Edith Hermosillo, 22, and Emily Siebenhor, 20. He is also facing charges of driving while under the influence.

The teenager is currently at the Lancaster Community Corrections with a $50,000 bond. If convicted, Stark could stay in prison for 46 years.

Ailbe said he has no anger in his heart for the driver but feels terrible for the other victims and their families. The father said he wants to focus on his daughter's recovery and embrace how God has been good to spare Wadiso's life.

Related Article: Community Mourns Death of 4 Family Members in Memorial Day Weekend Boat Crash
Photo: (Photo : CHANDAN KHANNA/AFP via Getty Images)

Illiana Trevino, 11, may have survived the Uvalde school shooting, but she had also experienced the physical and emotional trauma of losing her best friend. Her mother, Jessica Trevino, said that Illiana is recovering from cardiac arrest after going to Amerie Jo Garza's memorial.

Garza, one of the 19 kids who died in the Uvalde school shooting, often protected Illiana from bullies. While Illiana had no cardiac issues before this, Jessica believed her daughter was still reeling from a broken heart after losing her best friend in one of the deadliest mass shootings in the U.S.

According to People, Illiana's heart rate spiked after she laid down flowers and a teddy bear at Garza's memorial at Robb Elementary School. They had to rush her to the hospital, where doctors told Jessica her daughter nearly had a cardiac episode.

"Her heart [rate] skyrocketed because she couldn't take the trauma," Jessica said.

Read Also: Husband of Uvalde Hero Teacher Dies of a Heart Attack Due to Grief

Illiana Trevino's Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder

Uvalde doctors recommended Illiana's transfer to a San Antonio hospital, where she was initially admitted to the intensive care unit. After a week, the 11-year-old was moved to a regular room, but her doctors have not yet permitted her discharge.

According to the GoFundMe page, Illiana's heart isn't responding to her medication. The doctors worry that her condition will turn for the worst if she goes home as she has post-traumatic stress disorder.

While Illiana escaped from the gunman, she saw Garza's face in the news later that day. Jessica said that Illiana screamed and cried when she learned Garza was dead. Garza was targeted because she tried to call 911 for help during the attack. All the mother could tell her daughter was that there are "some ugly people in the world."

Two days following the attack, Joe Garcia, the husband of another victim, the teacher Irma Garcia, died of a heart attack. He was also returning home from the memorial when he collapsed and could no longer be revived. The Garcia family believed that Joe also suffered from a broken heart because Irma was in his life for 24 years.

The pain continues for this community, and will long after we stop yelling at each other over what to do to honor those who died and protect children in the future



Support Illiana Trevino and her family as she grieves for her best friend  #Uvalde https://t.co/Y7Lc9YJpEI  Jake Tanumihardjo (@tanumihardj0) June 9, 2022

The Broken Heart Syndrome

A cardiac episode resulting from a broken heart is medically known as Takotsubo cardiomyopathy or stress cardiomyopathy. Per Harvard Health Publishing, this condition is characterized by sudden emotional stress and may commonly happen in people who have lost someone they love. Broken heart syndrome is not the same as a typical heart attack, where the arteries are blocked and must be treated immediately.

Jessica said that Illiana is also worried about returning to school, knowing that her protector and best friend will not be there anymore.

"[Illiana] is still dealing with some hard issues," Jessica added and said that this will be a long road to her daughter's recovery.

Related Article: Kids From Robb Elementary School Ask Uvalde Officials to Demolish the Building Where 21 Died


Photo: (Photo : ERIC BARADAT/AFP via Getty Images)

A TikTok mom received the ire of many parents after she uploaded a video of her daughter as a newborn baby with ear piercing. The new mother did not expect her post to elicit such an angry response.

Lara, the TikTok mom's username, meant to share the video to compare her daughter's growth as a newborn and a 3-month-old. However, her followers could not help but notice that the baby had flower earrings. Many commenters said they would wait until the child was old enough to decide if they would get their ears pierced since there could be risks, which will be a permanent choice.

The TikTok mom came under fire when she commented that her baby did not react "when the doctors gave her the holes." She said babies do not feel any pain in their ear lobes two or three days after the birth because it's very soft.

Some of the parents said that she was naive to think this way because ear-piercing feels the same regardless of age, which could sting a little.

Read Also: Illinois Baby, Who Spent First Year of His Life in NICU, Finally Goes Home

It's Common in Other Cultures

However, some of the TikTok mom's followers said that ear piercing in newborn babies in some cultures is not a shock. The mother is based in Colombia, and ear piercing after birth is done in their hospitals. One young mother defended Lara and said she went through the same thing as a newborn and didn't die or have a bad reaction.

In 2019, actress Hilary Duff received the same type of backlash when she shared a photo of her daughter, then eight months old, with her new earrings. Fans castigated the actress for child abuse.

Two years later, Duff's second daughter also had an ear piercing at seven months old, and the celebrity mom also uploaded the photo. She wrote in the captions about netizens likely calling her a child abuser for a second time.

Pediatrician Dr. Anastasia Gentles said via Fox News that the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) does not have a recommended age for ear piercing. If the parents can look after the baby for adverse reactions, there shouldn't be an issue. If it's a cultural belief, then it should not be a problem as well.

Risks of Ear Piercing in Newborns

Some experts, however, recommend delaying ear piercing in newborn babies because they could be at risk for infection or develop fever and get hospitalized. Ideally, parents need to wait until the baby has gotten her tetanus vaccine as a proactive approach, per WebMD.

Though there have been no documented cases of a baby who died from ear piercing, one 11-year-old girl in the U.K. was reported to have developed an infection that poisoned her blood. Doctors believed there was no sterilization before the girl underwent the process, as she was among friends when they got their ears pierced together.

The experts said that parents should ensure that the person doing the ear piercing is qualified and has clean tools. They also need to get their kids hypoallergenic earrings and keep this on for at least six weeks before changing to another piece.

Parents must also watch for signs of infection 24 hours after the procedure, such as redness, swelling, pain, or pus. If their child is still young, they should also be looking for frequent touching. Older children can control themselves more and not fiddle with their ears.

Related Article: Hilary Duff Hits Back at 'Child Abuse' Criticisms After Baby's Ear Piercing
Photo: (Photo : RAMON VAN FLYMEN/ANP/AFP via Getty Images)

Summer swimming activities are back on! Following two years of staying away from crowded beaches or pools, the kids are ready and raring to enjoy the water. However, along with this, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) reminds parents to make water safety a priority to avoid accidents or deaths.

Child drowning is still the leading cause of death among children below 15 years old. Before the pandemic, fatal drownings involving kids averaged 389 a year. Most accidents happen in pools when these can be avoided if only families have a solid water safety protocol.

Some of these protocols include never leaving the children unattended in the water. According to the CPSC, families must always have an adult water watcher who doesn't have undivided attention. They should not be reading or looking at their phones if they are tasked to watch over the kids.

Read Also: CPR Awareness: Mom Saves Husband's Life With 7-Minute Chest Compressions After Cardiac Arrest

Families with a pool or a spa in their backyards should have self-latching safety barriers and door alarms installed. The drains must also have covers that ascribe to the safety standards of the federal government.

Parents should also consider taking their children to swimming lessons and CPR training. Many venues offer these skills, including online CPR classes.

Two Teen Brothers Drown in Community Pool

The reminders come as two teenage brothers drowned in a community pool in New Jersey. According to NBC News, the brothers, who were not named, went swimming around 8:30 p.m. at the Lincoln Community School.

There were three lifeguards on duty when the accident happened. Life-saving measures were applied when the brothers were removed from the water, but the Bayonne Medical Center could no longer do anything when they were brought to the hospital.

The authorities were still conducting investigations. One of the brothers was a recent high school graduate, while the other brother was in his junior year. Mayor Jimmy Davis extended his sympathies to the families.

Meanwhile, two kids under six also died in a community pool in Las Vegas. According to the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police, the boy was found unresponsive, while the girl was initially in critical condition until her death. The police had to reiterate to the parents that child drowning is a preventable incident.

Parents Must Be Proactive

Fire Department Assistant Chief Eugenio Cardenas said via KRGV that parents should be proactive and not rely solely on lifeguards if they value water safety. The chief said that it's still the responsibility of the parents to keep an eye on their children in the pool, especially when drownings "can happen in the flash of a second."

Parents must also bring their children to the doctor if they have experienced near-drowning. They need to be monitored because these incidents may lead to complications.

Related Article: Father and Son Save Neighbor's Toddler With Autism from Pool Drowning; Parents Offer Water Safety Tips
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A new report out of China today states that as Apple's main contract manufacturers continue to transfer some production capacity from China to Vietnam, Foxconn is facing a talent war in the Southeast Asian country.

Foxconn Chairman Liu Yangwei said Saturday that the company's Chinese rivals in Vietnam have established operations near Foxconn's campuses to poach the company's employees. "Such a move cannot be tolerated."

Currently, Foxconn has three mainland rivals in Vietnam: Luxshare, which produces AirPods, Goertek, and BYD, which is preparing to produce iPads. Foxconn, a key assembly partner for Apple, has been producing electronics in Vietnam for years.

Liu Yangwei said Foxconn currently employs about 60,000 people in Vietnam. Vietnam is Apple's largest manufacturing base outside of mainland China. Foxconn will "substantially" increase the number of employees in Vietnam in the next one to two years, he said, without giving specific figures.

While Foxconn still relies on China for most of its production, the world's largest electronics contract maker is making adjustments. Foxconn had planned to move some iPad and MacBook production to a new factory in Bac Giang province in northern Vietnam, which was scheduled to start production in 2021. The Vietnamese government said at the time that Foxconn could invest $700 million that year.

At this time Foxconns Liu Yangwei didnt reveal any legal recourse against their competitors for poaching employees.
The World Bank says that additional policy reforms in investment and trade facilitation can further enhance trade flows between Ghana and the rest of the sub-region.



In its Ghana Trade Competitiveness Diagnostics report, it urged the Government to among other things, take either administrative or regulatory steps to reduce port charges, revise outdated transshipment regime, reduce the number of police checkpoints and resolve the VAT charge on transit trade services.



Several steps are required to simplify and harmonize import and export procedures, and to overhaul the governance framework of the Port of Tema, the report noted.



While commending Ghanas progress in the transport and logistics services where maritime cargo volume increased by 7.6 percent on average per annum over the period of 2010 to 2020, the Bank has called for infrastructure investments that facilitate shipping through containers.



The report titled, Strengthening Ghanas Trade Competitiveness in the Context of AfCFTA also revealed that Ghanas trade regime in goods was restrictive as far levels of tariff and non-tariff barriers (NTB) were concerned.



In comparison with other countries as of 2019, the report showed that Ghanas trade-weighted Most Favored Nation (MFN) tariff rate was 10.57 per cent, higher than most comparators except for Kenya, which has a trade-weighted MFN of 13.35 per cent.



The number of non-tariff measures (NTMs) imposed by Ghana is higher than in Nigeria and Cote dIvoire but below levels in Vietnam although further analysis is required to ascertain the extent NTMs are enforced in a discriminatory way, the report highlighted.



Speaking at the launch of the report in Accra, Mr Pierre Laporte, World Bank Country Director for Ghana, Liberia and Sierra Leone, said that regional integration, digital innovation, and trade policy was key to driving Ghanas economic transformation agenda.



The country, he added, could strengthen its trade competitiveness and optimize benefits under the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA) and the Global Value Chain (GVC) through the elimination of NTBs, implementing trade facilitation reforms and enhancing regulatory framework for services.



Mr Herbert Krappa, Deputy Minister of Trade and Industry, said the findings of the diagnostics report were a wake-up call for government in pursuing its transformation agenda.



Government will continue to intensify our best efforts at enhancing our merchandise trade competitiveness. We will continue to invest in trade-related infrastructure including ICT digital trade, he said.

Source: GNA









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En el marco de la publicacion del reglamento de la Ley 31458, que reconoce las ollas comunes y garantiza su sostenibilidad y trabajo productivo, el premier Anibal Torres acompana al presidente Pedro Castillo en el encuentro con representantes de estas organizaciones sociales. pic.twitter.com/hljehupz2B
The Bekwai Circuit Court has sentenced a couple for assaulting the man's girlfriend.



Oko Agyemang admitted conspiring with Christiana Annan, his wife, to assault Helena Opoku and was sentenced to pay 50 penalty units equivalent to GH600 or in default serve two months imprisonment in hard labour whilst his wife, Christiana Annan was sentenced to pay a fine of 60 penalty units equivalent to GH720 or in default serve three months imprisonment in hard labour.



In addition, Oko was granted bail for assaulting Helena, which he denied, and he was ordered to go back to the Court on Monday, June 13, 2022, for the trial.



Police Chief Inspector Christian Osborn Amartey had earlier told the court that Helena, the complainant was unemployed and a neighbour to the couple at Ahenema- Kokoben in the Ashanti Region.



He said about three months ago, Agyemang proposed to Helena after convincing her that he had divorced his wife.



The prosecution said the complainant agreed and they started dating on the blind side of Annan.



He said as the relationship progressed, the complainant travelled to her hometown at Asante Bekwai and on her return, she gathered that Agyemang was still married to his wife hence she (the complainant) could not go to his house again so, she went to her mothers house.



The prosecution said on April 18, 2022, at about 7pm, the complainant went to Agyemangs house and met Annan and decided to apologise to her for accepting Agyemangs proposal.



He said Annan took offence and started beating her with a metal bar.



The Court heard that in the process, Agyemang joined his wife and dragged the complainant to the ground with Annan inserting her fingers into her vagina.



The prosecution said the couple later took the complainants phones and locked her up in a room till the next day.



It said the complainant, with bruises over her body and a cut on her right thumb, reported the case to the police leading to the arrest of the couple.

Source: graphiconline.com









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Per his own words, he is a rugged and resolute defender of the Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo government and would go every length to use his platform to defend the interest and image of the government.



Paul Adom-Otcheres unrestrained rant dubbed editorial on his show has seen him clash with a number of people with the latest being Togbe Afede, the Agbogbomefia of the Asogli state.



From Asiedu Nketia to Manasseh, the Good Evening Ghana host has taken on a number of high-profiled people with late former President Jerry John Rawlings being a victim.



Safe to say that Rawlings was not a fan of Adom-Otcheres opinion-based journalism as he once chided him publicly for spewing nonsense.



Addressing a durbar to climax the 38th anniversary of the 31st December Coup D'etat, Jerry John Rawlings chastised the host of Good Evening Ghana, Paul Adom-Otchere, saying that he always spews out nonsense on his television programme.



That small boy called Adom-Otchere or something wakes up every day to speak nonsense, he said.



Recounting the circumstances that led to the 1981 coup, Mr Rawlings stated: During the Acheampong regime, the banking sector, especially the Ghana Commercial Bank, was plunged into unimaginable corruption.



He further observed: The bank served as an avenue for cronies and a particular ethnic group to feed fat on loans without collateral. Sadly, these loans were never paid.



He said further, A two-man committee established then to look into the fraudulent activities of the bank had their activities come to an abrupt end when one of the members was killed and burnt under mysterious circumstances. How bad could the situation have been to warrant such a heinous and atrocious crime in an attempt to conceal their misconduct? These and many more wicked and morally disgusting actions were common place.



It is however unfortunate that some have chosen to siphon the negatives, leaving out the overwhelming gains made by these interventions of the people. The two interventions, 1979 and 1981, were not about Rawlings. They were the effects of the mood of the country and the mood of the people. In telling the story, the context and the circumstances cannot be discounted or overlooked, he stressed.





Source: Ghanaweb.com









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The National COVID-19 Trust Fund has presented over GH1.8 million to the Centre for Plant Medicine and Research (CPMR) for research into the development of herbal products against SARS COVID-Two virus and the COVID-19 virus.

The financial support is also intended to enable the CPMR at Akuapim Mampong to undertake a full-scale research and the development of antiviral and immunomodulatory herbal products.



The Chairperson of the National COVID-19 Trust Fund, Justice Sophia Akuffo, at a signing ceremony at the office of the trust fund at the Jubilee House in Accra yesterday[June 9, 2022], said: It was in consideration of the innate national value of the work of the centre that the trust fund deemed it appropriate to support its request for financial support to further develop the two products.



She said it was also to collaborate with the centre in any other relevant potential research initiative aimed at discovering more efficacious local solutions to the health challenges the country faced, particularly in view of the COVID-19 pandemic.



So far, they have done a lot of work on the Immune and Ampoforte which has been registered by the Food and Drugs Authority. These two herbal products are formulated to support the immune system for the effective treatment of SARS, COVID-Two and the COVID-19 disease, Justice Akuffo stated.



Objectives

Sharing her experience on how medicine from the CPMR had cured her ailment as a child, Justice Akuffo said, she expressed belief in the efficacy of the work that was being done at the centre.



She said the main objective for the support was to enable the centre to carry out pre-clinical studies on the two registered products and six other medicinal plant extracts to confirm and establish pre-clinical efficacy against the virus and safety.



Justice Akuffo also mentioned the formulation and reformulation of immune support anti-viral products against COVID-19, saying the role of plant medicine in the health delivery system in the country had gradually improved with the CPMR playing a pivotal role in the field.



Background

The CPMR was established in 1975 and it focuses on research into herbal medicine and the development of herbal products.



The centre also seeks to meet the needs of both patients and industry through innovative scientific research and productive partnerships.



It has developed two herbal products known as Immuniom and Ampoforte which serves to support the immune system.



Donations

Touching on donations and activities of the trust fund since it was set up in March 2020, the former Chief Justice said:



The COVID-19 National Trust Fund has to date received an amount of GH62.34 million in donations.



At the same time, she said the fund had disbursed GH50 million in support of preventive health, detective and curative areas.



It was also to educate the public against stigmatisation and to encourage the public to vaccinate, among others.



Ms Akuffo further cautioned Ghanaians against forgetting the devastation caused by COVID-19 and pointed out that COVID-19 had come to stay and therefore we dare not lose our guard only to be taken by surprise.



She also appealed to all corporate institutions, civil society organisations, social groups and individuals among others to support the fund for the discharge of its mandate with more donations in cash and in kind.



Success story

A minister of State at the Presidency and Minister responsible for the COVID-19 National Trust Fund, Freda Prempeh, urged the media to tell the success story of the fund.



Let the public know that the amount of money that people are donating to the trust fund is being used judiciously and it is affecting and impacting lives, she stated.



The Presidential Advisor on Health, Dr Anthony Nsiah Asare, for his part, expressed the hope that the country would be able to produce its own vaccine within the next decade.



He said a committee set up by President Akufo-Addo to see to the processes was working together with all the research bodies at the universities and other institutions in the country to make sure in 10 years we shall come out with our vaccine.



The Director of CPMR, Professor Alex Asase, who signed on behalf of the centre was grateful for the gesture and described it as timely and significant.



He said the centre had carried out several studies using its Internally Generated Fund (IGF) since the inception of the pandemic and appealed to the stakeholders to help the centre with the necessary funding to embark on a rigorous drug development exercise from medicinal plants.



He said the studies led to the development of two immune boosters and initial studies showed that the products had antiviral properties.





Source: graphiconline.com









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An Associate Professor of the Institute of Statistical, Social and Economic Research, Professor Charles Godfred Ackah, has said that Africa needs accelerated growth and structural change in order to develop.

That, he said, would be by creating decent jobs to deliver the people from poverty.



He said structural change was the process of reallocation of economic activity across the sectors of agriculture, manufacturing and services.



Prof. Ackah said this when he delivered a paper on Promoting Structural Transformation through IntraAfrica Trade at the Ghana Academy of Arts and Sciences public forum in Accra last Monday.



The event, held in collaboration with UMB, was dubbed: African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA): Challenges and Prospects.



Prof. Ackah said the main determinants of the nature of structural transformation were the industrial and trade policies implemented by the various governments, and that the importance of industrial development in bringing about the needed structural transformation of African economies cannot be overemphasised.



Aspirations

Africa needs to industrialise to meet the development aspirations of its people and create high quality jobs and prosperity for all.



This is the only sure way of creating progressively the conditions for the realisation of the long term objectives of self-reliant and selfsustained development, Prof. Ackah said.



He noted that Africa must no longer accept to be a continent of raw materials for Europe, and that there is no denying the fact that industrialisation is a critical tool for economic transformation in Africa.



African trade policy, he said, must, therefore, focus on economic diversification and value creation, and not exploitation.



Investment, infrastructure.

African governments, Prof. Ackah said, must invest in adequate physical infrastructure, including regional transport links and telecommunications network, together with institutional arrangements for their management.



He said poor infrastructure had been cited as a central barrier to progress in Africa, and that the continents road densities are the lowest in the world.



He said African governments must invest in more vocational and technical training to close the skills gap, stressing that the way to benefit from the AfCFTA was not more of primary and secondary school graduates, and that several African entrepreneurs and multinational corporations cited the lack of skills as a major obstacle which had restrained fi rms on the continent from being competitive.















Source: graphiconline.com









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The Ghana Armed Forces has explained that a viral video of a number of soldiers involved in an accident, occurred on Thursday at a spot along the Suhum  Anum Apapam road in the Eastern region.

According to GAF, 16 military personnel sustained various degrees of injuries in the accident while on an operation (Operation Halt II), to stop illegal mining on some river bodies in parts of the Eastern Region.



The injured were initially treated at the Anum Apapam clinic before being evacuated to the 37 Military Hospital for further treatment.



There was no fatality.



The disconcerting video of the accident seen by Graphic Online has some of the soldiers strewn about the accident scene, some with broken limbs while their colleagues in a second vehicle attend to them offering First Aid as they awaited ambulance services.



Voices in the video suggest the driver may have lost control of the vehicle after hitting a bad patch of the road.



The accident vehicle, a pick-up truck marked 81, with registration number 76 GA 39, and said to belong to the Southern Command, is seen turned on its side with some of the soldiers seen searching it if anyone was trapped under it.



Below is a statement issued by the Ghana Armed Forces Public Affairs Directorate, signed by Naval Capt. Michael A. Larbi, Director of Public Relations.



GAF PERSONNEL EMBARKING ON OP HALT II DUTIES INVOLVED IN ROAD TRAFFIC ACCIDENT AT ANUM-APAPAM



In reference to a viral video depicting a road traffic accident involving some military personnel, the Ghana Armed Forces wishes to clarify that the personnel drawn from the Southern Command, were embarking on an operation (Operation Halt II), to stop illegal mining on some river bodies in parts of the Eastern Region. The accident occurred on Thursday 9 June 2022, along the Suhum  Anum Apapam Road when the military truck in which they were traveling suddenly developed a mechanical fault causing it to tip over.



About 16 military personnel sustained various degrees of injuries and were initially treated at Anum Apapam clinic before being evacuated to the 37 Military Hospital for further treatment. The Military High Command has visited the personnel on admission and as at this morning, 12 out of the injured personnel had been discharged while the remaining four (4) are in a stable condition and responding to treatment.



The Ghana Armed Forces wishes to express its appreciation to the residents of Anum Apapam and the surrounding areas and the Apapam Clinic Staff who came to the aid of the injured personnel, and also the National Ambulance Service for the swift evacuation of the victims to the 37 Military Hospital.



GAF will continue to count on the support of all Ghanaians in curbing the illegal mining on our water bodies and also in the fight against all other illegal activities



Signed

MA LARBI

Naval Captain

Director Public Relations



















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Henceforth, students in tertiary institutions will not need a guarantor to access loans from the Students Loan Trust Fund (SLTF).



With this policy, a student only needs an admission letter and the Ghana Card to access the loan.



This followed the launch of the No Guarantor Students Loan Policy by the Vice- President, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, last Wednesday at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST).



Present at the ceremony were Vice- Chancellors of public universities, a Deputy Minister of Education, Rev. Ntim Fordjour; the Ashanti Regional Minister, Simon Osei-Mensah, and some metropolitan, municipal and district chief executives.



Also present were some tertiary and secondary school students from the region.



Accessible



At the launch in Kumasi, he said the policy was aimed at making tertiary education accessible to all Ghanaians.



He stated that it was also in fulfilment of a manifesto promise made by the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) during the 2020 election to remove barriers to accessing financial support for tertiary education.



Digitalisation



Dr Bawumia said the guarantor-free loan application for students was one of the benefits of the digitalisation process being undertaken by the government build the economy.

This is one of the benefi ts we derive as a country by prioritizing digitalisation. When we said that we were entering the fourth industrial revolution and we were going to build a data based economy with digitalisation as anchor, many people didnt quite understand us, he said.



According to the Vice President, the current world order required that every economy was digitalised, adding that If you dont digitalise, you

can forget it.



Traceability



He said the Ghana Card gives us all the data we need about the students to take a decision about their loan and we are very confident that card provides us all the information we would need to recover the loan.



Dr Bawumia indicated that an echo-system was being built around the Ghana Card such that it contained all the information one needed on the passport, including digital address, would be embedded in the card.



The Ghana Card number is now your National Health Insurance Scheme number, your Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT) number, and Tax Identifi cation Number (TIN), and from July we will link all your bank accounts to your Ghana Card number, he said.



Need for policy



Dr Bawumia said the implementation of the Free Senior High School (SHS) policy opened the floodgates for more people to have access to tertiary education.



However, he pointed out that due to lack of funds, some brilliant students were unable to access tertiary education and for those who were able to do so, the requirements for the students loans were such

that some were unable to qualify for it.



Development



The Minister of Education, Dr Yaw Osei Adutwum, said there was a correlation between tertiary education enrolment and development of countries.



He said studies had shown that most of the development countries had a very high tertiary education enrolment while poor countries had a lower tertiary education enrolment.



According to him, even though the countrys tertiary education enrolment was more than twice that of

the sub regional average, there was more to be done.



He said the tertiary education of the sub Saharan Africa was nine per cent while that of Ghana was 20 per cent.



The no guarantor policy, according to him, would ensure that more students got enrolled into tertiary institutions to acquire skills and build human capacity for the development of the country.



Barrier



The Executive Director of SLTF, Nana Kwaku Agyei Yeboah, admitted that getting guarantors to help students secure a student loan was a big challenge to most students.



As a result, he said only a few qualified students secured the loans to pursue their education.



The new policy, he explained, would help more students to access financial help for their tertiary education.



It would also bring more pressure on the trust to find more sources to fund its activities.



Interest



The President of the National Union of Ghana Students (NUGS), Dennis Appiah Larbi-Ampofo, expressed gratitude to the government for the policy.



He was, however, worried that the loans accrued interest while students were still in school and, therefore, called for the anomaly to be corrected.



He suggested that the loans should start accruing interest after students had completed school

Source: graphiconline.com









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The Gana Police Service has announced the interdiction of one of its officers, No. 42681 General Sergeant Isaac Sowah Nii.



The officer was captured in a viral video during a heated confrontation with a man who identified himself as One Day.



The video opens with One Day walking into a corner where General Sergeant Sowah was seated with a group of men and holding a lit substance suspected to be a narcotic drug.



One Day is heard accusing Sergeant Sowah of being a smoker who is also an informant and threatened to expose his deeds.



Interspersed with Ga Language and English, the police officer and his confronter argued about the allegation.



Amidst swears, Sergeant Sowah denied being an informant while One Day maintained he will expose him on social media.



In a statement confirming the identity of the officer, the Ghana Police Service said No. 42681 G/Sgt Isaac Nii Sowah is stationed at the Accra Regional Police Command.



Investigation is ongoing and the Sergeant will be taken through the necessary disciplinary and legal action, the police said.





The police administration said the interdicted officer further to the investigation will be given psycho-social support in line with the new strategic police welfare policy.



Watch the viral video below:





View this post on Instagram A post shared by   (@utvghana)















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Mr Michael Kwakuga Fianu, Assistant District Manager for Sogakope-Denu Forest District of the Forestry Commission (FC) has expressed satisfaction with the survival rate of trees planted last year.



He said 84.5 percent of the trees planted during the maiden Green Ghana Project in 2021 survived and were growing well.



Mr Fianu disclosed this to the Ghana News Agency on Friday when his outfit led the Municipal Chief Executive (MCE), Heads of Departments in Ketu South and the Police to plant seedlings to mark the Green Ghana Day.



The day saw the team planting royal palm seedlings at the premises of the Municipal Assembly.



Royal palm and mango seedlings were planted at the premises of the Ketu Divisional Police Headquarters.



The FC official hoped for better survival planted seedlings for this year, 2022.



Mr Fianu said: Were looking at planting 39,000-41,000 seedlings including cassia and acacia this year in Ketu South. Were pleased with the survival rate of the trees planted last year, but with my outfits determination to grow and tender for them coupled with good climatic conditions, survival rate for this years will be better.



Mr Fianu disclosed that there were enough seedlings at the central nursery at Denu for distribution to stakeholders including Assembly members from all the six political districts the office serves.



He singled out the Church of Pentecost as the group that had shown keen interest in the Green Ghana Project and called on others to join so the objective of the project, under the auspices of the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources to preserve and protect the countrys forest and vegetation cover for a balanced ecology could be realized.



Mr Maxwell Koffie Lugudor, MCE for Ketu South said the Assembly would play its part in nurturing the plants to grow by detailing personnel who would go round the Municipality weekly to monitor saying, they could not afford the harmful effects of climate change.



We just marked the day today. Every weekend, well be going round to plant more seedlings.



Todays ceremony was scheduled for Salakope island but because of the rains, we couldnt go. Well go back there for the tree planting. We also have some 30 acres of reclaimed land in the Nogokpo areas where we intend to plant cassia, cashew and coconut seedlings.

Source: GNA









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THE GHANA Health Service (GHS) has urged the public to go back to the wearing of face masks in the light of the reported emergence of new strains of the COVID-19 Omicron variant currently in circulation across the country.



The Omicron variant of COVID-19 was the main driver of the countrys fourth wave, peaking at more than a thousand new cases daily.



Addressing the media Wednesday, Director-General of the GHS, Dr. Patrick Kumah Aboagye, recommended the wearing of face masks in schools, churches and other enclosed areas as a means to curtail the spread of the virus.



According to him, the cases were identified through the testing of 12 suspected cases, including one case that was reported from the Western Region. While health officials work to contain the Monkeypox virus, COVID-19 infections are on the rise, with more cases of the Influenza A virus being reported at several health facilities, he said.



As the infections begin to rise again, scientists at the West African Centre for Cell Biology of Infectious Pathogens (WACCBIP) say they have detected two new strains which are resistant to the vaccines currently available in the country.



Emphasising on the importance of adhering to the established protocols, Dr. Yaw Bediako, a research fellow at WACCBIP, noted that If we look at the data, we cannot say that COVID-19 has skipped Africa. Zero prevalence rate, zero positivity of over 70 close to 80 percent means 8 out of 10 people have been within the past 6 months exposed to the virus, so we cannot say that the outbreak is over.



Meanwhile, five cases of Monkeypox have been confirmed in the Eastern, Bono and Greater Accra Regions, the GHS has revealed.



One of the cases was recorded in a Ghanaian who travelled to the United States of America from Ghana.













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Former National Organizer of the NDC and Member of Dr. Kwabena Duffuors Ahotor Project Team, Yaw Boateng Gyan says the National Chairman for the opposition National Democratic Congress, Samuel Ofosu Ampofo called off the project launch at the partys Headquarters in Accra.



According to him, all was set for the event at the Headquarter when the National Chairman through the National Communications Officer Sammy Gyamfi called to inform him that the relaunch has been put on hold.



In the morning of Monday June 6, 2022, while preparing for the relaunch on Tuesday, Sammy Gyamfi called me and delivered a message from the National Chairman, Hon. Ofosu Ampofo that the relaunch of the Ahoto has been put on hold.



This was the last communication regarding the relaunch of the Ahotor Project with FEC, the former NDC National Organizer explained in a statement.



He added that We are still waiting for FEC official communication regarding the relaunch of Ahotor Project.



Below is the full statement from the former National Organizer of the NDC



For Immediate Release.



Re: Re  Ofosu Ampofo Goes Dirty



Our attention has been drawn to a publication with the above heading purporting to be coming from the general secretary of the National Democratic Congress Johnson Asiedu Nketiah dated June 9 but issued on June 8 2022, relating to the relaunch of the Ahotor Project.



We wish to explain as follows:



On Wednesday, June 1 2022, Dr. Kwabena Duffuor and I, Yaw Boateng Gyan Former National Organiser of the NDC, met with the NDC Functional Executive Committee (FEC) and presented a draft agreement on the implementation of the Ahotor Project for the NDC Grassroots, for the consideration of FEC.FEC deferred the draft agreement to the two lawyers, Hon. Alex Segbefia and Sammy Gyamfi for their study.At this same meeting, FEC proposed, and we all agreed to relaunch the Ahotor project at the headquarters on Tuesday, June 7 at One11 am.After the agreement to relaunch the Ahotor Project on Tuesday, June 7, we thanked the members of FEC and left the meeting on Wednesday, June 1 2022.On the evening of Thursday June 2 2022, Lawyer Sammy Gyamfi, the national communications officer presented an edited version of the draft agreement to us for or consideration.On this same Thursday evening we also presented additional edits to the national communications officer, Lawyer Sammy Gyamfi for their consideration. We did not hear from FEC throughout the weekend, so focused on the preparations for the relaunch on Tuesday June 7, 2022.In the morning of Monday June 6, 2022, while preparing for the relaunch on Tuesday, Sammy Gyamfi called me and delivered a message from the National Chairman, Hon. Ofosu Ampofo that the relaunch of the Ahoto has been put on hold.This was the last communication regarding the relaunch of the Ahotor Project with FEC. We are still waiting for FEC official communication regarding the relaunch of Ahotor Project.We wish to assure the NDC membership that our resolve to equip the base with the necessary tools for financial independence is still as strong as ever.



Long Live NDC



Long Live Ghana



Signed



Yaw Boateng Gyan



Former National Organiser and Member of Ahotor Project Team





Source: starrfm









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YEREVAN, JUNE 11, ARMENPRESS. Assistant Secretary for the Bureau of European and Eurasian Affairs Dr. Karen Donfried will travel to Azerbaijan, Georgia, and Armenia June 14 to 19 to emphasize the U.S. commitment to peace, democracy, and prosperity in the South Caucasus region. Marking the 30th anniversaries of diplomatic relations with all three countries, Assistant Secretary Donfried will emphasize U.S. support for their sovereignty and independence, underscoring the right of Azerbaijan, Georgia, and Armenia to chart their own paths. She also will highlight the readiness of the United States to help build a lasting peace in the South Caucasus, including by supporting the development of political, economic, and people-to-people connections across the entire region, ARMENPRESS was informed from the press service of the U.S. Department of State.

Dr. Donfried will visit Baku, Azerbaijan, on June 15 and 16, where she will meet with President Ilham Aliyev, other government officials, and civil society members. The Assistant Secretary will underscore U.S. support for the diplomatic efforts between Azerbaijan and Armenia toward a lasting peace, thank Azerbaijan for humanitarian support to Ukraine, and highlight the partnership in promoting European energy security, combatting transnational threats, supporting fundamental freedoms, and advancing bilateral trade and investment.

On June 17, Assistant Secretary Donfried will visit Tbilisi, Georgia, where she will give remarks at the Tbilisi Womens International Conference organized by President Salome Zourabichvili. Dr. Donfried will also meet with Prime Minister Garibashvili and other government officials, opposition representatives, and civil society representatives in Tbilisi to discuss the Kremlins unprovoked war against Ukraine, and steadfast U.S. support for Georgias sovereignty and territorial integrity within its internationally recognized borders. The Assistant Secretary will also discuss how the United States can further support Georgia in advancing democratic development and rule of law, diversifying Georgias economy, and building a prosperous future.

Assistant Secretary Donfried will then travel to Yerevan, Armenia, on June 18, where she will meet Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and other government officials. The Assistant Secretary will express U.S. support for the diplomatic efforts between Armenia and Azerbaijan towards a lasting peace. She will underscore our strong partnership, based on shared values, and our mutual commitment to Armenias democratic development.
Thousands of Donald Trump's supporters, fueled by his claims of voter fraud, flooded the nation's capital to protest the expected certification of Joe Biden's White House victory by the US Congress, and the former president was behind it, an inquiry by Capitol Hill lawmakers has found.



A congressional inquiry on Thursday, June 9, heard the former president played a crucial role in trying to violently stop the presidential elections from being authorized.



Trump said the election had been stolen and rigged by supporters of Joe Biden, claims which have been categorically proven false.

A huge mob, some of them armed, forced their way through police lines, many threatening to kill politicians inside, including vice president Mike Pence as they overran the building where legislators were meeting to certify the results of the election he lost to Joe Biden on January 6, 2021.



The inquiry on Thursday heard an account that claimed Trump said his former number two deserves it as crowds chanted they would hang Mr Pence.



Five people died and more than 130 police officers were injured, as they battled to stay in control of the capitol hill.



Congresswoman Liz Cheney said: President Trump summoned a violent mob.



When a president fails to take the steps necessary to preserve our union  or worse, causes a constitutional crisis  were in a moment of maximum danger for our republic.





The hearing was played 12 minutes of new footage of the deadly violence, as well as testimony from Trumps inner circle including his daughter Ivanka and son in-law Jared Kushner.



The House committee said the former presidents 'repeated lies' about election fraud and his public effort to stop Joe Bidens victory led to the capitol attack.



Congressman Bennie Thompson, chairman of the panel, said during the hearing: Democracy remains in danger.



January 6 was the culmination of an attempted coup, a brazen attempt, as one rioter put it shortly after January 6, to overthrow the government.



The violence was no accident.













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Seasoned Journalist, Kwesi Pratt Jnr. has raised concerns over the establishment of the National Cathedral by the Akufo-Addo administration.



President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, prior to the 2016 elections, made a vow to God to construst a Cathedral for him if God grants him victory in the elections.



After winning the elections, the President has sought to fulfil his promise and acquired a land, which initially on it were seated houses for Justices.



The houses have been demolished to build the cathedral on the land.



The President has committed taxpayers' monies to the establishment, although the government had told Ghanaians they wouldn't bear any financial obligations towards the National Cathedral.



The Cathedral became a topic for discussion on Peace FM's "Kokrokoo" programme on Friday, June 10, 2022 after politician cum Pastor Charles Owusu, a former employee at the Forestry Commission, stressed its importance.



He stated emphatically that nothing will prevent the government from completing the project because, to him, the Cathedral will serve lots of good purposes for Ghana.



However, Kwesi Pratt vehemently disagrees with those supporting and urging the President on to build the Cathedral.



Mr. Pratt questioned if God would inhabit the Cathedral at the expense of innocent suffering Ghanaians who need the monies that the government is pumping into the establishment to improve their living conditions.



He wondered why the President isn't using his own money since it's his personal promise to God but wants to involve all Ghanaians.



"Our President, His Excellency Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo said he is contesting elections and that he has prayed to his God. He's prayed to his God that, if his God grants him victory, he will establish a cathedral to His glory. It's an agreement between the President and his God. I am not part of this; I wasn't there. I didn't promise the President's God. It's the President who has promised his God and if you have promised your God, must you use our money to build for your God?"



He further slammed the religious leaders making wild arguments about how important it is for Ghana to have such a religious edifice.



He asked; "Has God told you he wants a house to sleep in? When did God tell you he wants a house to sleep in?"



"Some of you, Pastors, spoil the name of God when you talk. The things some of you, Pastors, say is like you are tarnishing the name of God . . . Ghana is not a Christain State. You have to understand that. Ghana is a secular State. As a secular State, it doesn't dabble in religious affairs," Mr. Pratt added.







Source: Ameyaw Adu Gyamfi/Peacefmonline.com/Ghana









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Former President John Dramani Mahama has assured Ghanaians of better years ahead and asked Ghanaians, including the youth to rise, and with collective and patriotic energies rescue the nation from decay.



On this auspicious 30th anniversary, June 10, 2022, I ask all NDC members and sympathisers, including the youth of Ghana; and all Ghanaians to Arise, arise for Ghana wherever we find ourselves, the former President said.



In a statement to mark the 30th anniversary celebration of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), the former President, who is also the Leader of the NDC, said the nation needed the collective and patriotic energies of all Ghanaians to rescue the nation from decay.



"We have done it before; bringing tangible socio-economic infrastructure to your communities and ensuring the economy works for all of us and not just a privileged few." Mr Mahama said in a statement to mark the 30th Anniversary Celebration of the Party.



"Ghana needs our collective and patriotic energies to rescue her from the decay we see today."



He said 30 years ago the NDC was birthed with the objective of delivering Unity, Stability and Development to all Ghanaians.



He noted that through the leadership of former President Jerry John Rawlings, supported by his formidable team, the NDC emerged out of the PNDC as the vanguard leading the nation in the establishment of a new constitutional democracy, which guaranteed the rights and freedoms of all Ghanaians.



"On this solemn day, I commend our forebears who have sacrificed their all to get us here."



He said the NDC genuinely believes that the essence of democracy was to make life better for all citizens; adding that "this is why every time it has had the privilege of leading this country, the NDC strives to create opportunities for all Ghanaians, irrespective of ethnic, religious or political affiliation".



He said the NDC also believed democracy was beyond enriching family and friends because it involved using the nation's resources responsibly to address the felt needs of all Ghanaians.



Mqr Mahama said democracy, transparency and accountability were bedfellows, and therefore, while creating opportunities for all, leaders were also required to wage a strong battle against corruption.



He said the NDC knew that a media cowed into silence and an intimidating citizenry do not constitute the appropriate resource for sustainable progress and national development.



"We believe, therefore, that the ability of citizens to express themselves freely is a right and not a privilege," Mr Mahama said.



He urged the Government to learn to tolerate criticisms and enhance free speech while protecting journalists from harm.

Source: GNA









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Australia's veterinary industry is in the midst of a mental health crisis.

New research shows nearly 70 per cent of vets have lost a colleague or peer to suicide and about six in 10 have sought professional help for their mental health.

For those with decades of experience, including former Australian Veterinary Association national president Dr Warwick Vale, the figures come as no surprise.

Like many, he's struggled with mental illness and had close colleagues take their own lives.

"(A lot) don't have (my) same sort of optimism and haven't probably had the same luck or good fortune to have the benefits realised for themselves in their career," Dr Vale told AAP.

"That's not right - it's a tragedy. It's an issue we've got to solve and I think the problem is probably getting worse."

The research, led by Dr Nadine Hamilton with the backing of petfood maker Royal Canin, reflects long-running issues in the sector.

Another larger study by the veterinary association showed about 67 per cent of vets have experienced a mental health condition at some point.

Dr Vale puts vets' worsening mental health down to increasing client demands, changes in attitudes towards veterinary care, increasing costs and dealing with people who can't afford them.

"It's quite demotivating for vets to have to cut corners on treatment or euthanise animals because of a lack of resources to treat the animal," he said.

Dr Vale said the profession has a lot of "housekeeping" to do when it comes to better supporting workers and ensuring the industry's viability.

He said some work 12-hour days without lunch breaks, earn $50,000 a year and deal with abuse from clients.

"We're trying to fix people after they're broken, when really we should be concentrating on preventing them from breaking," he said.

Melbourne vet Dr Morgan Baum was lucky enough to find a supportive workplace that mitigates the hardships faced by other new graduates.

Story continues

However she and Dr Vale agreed there's a big disconnect between vets and the community.

Dr Hamilton's research found nearly eight in 10 Australian pet owners do not know the incidence of suicide among vets is four times the national average.

About four in 10 believe vets' salaries are more than $100,000, when entry-level vets with up to three years' experience earn an average of $87,810.

"People are truly treating their pets as their children and if they want the best care ... it's important vets are of sound mind and happy, and enjoying what they're doing to provide that care," Dr Baum said.

She said vets were constantly in a flux of highs and lows; moving from one euthanasia appointment, to an appointment with a family's new puppy or kitten.

"When you go home with your family and friends, you're just too drained to talk to anyone."

Dr Vale said unlike medical services for humans, animal services received little government support, with no tax incentives for pet care and few resources for training.

He pointed to one vet in Western Australia that has had to suspend its weekend emergency service.

"Without a community contribution and the community recognising that we'll be poorer and worse off without a veterinary service ... then we're going to see closure, especially in country and regional areas," Dr Vale said.

Lifeline 13 11 14

beyondblue 1300 22 4636
WSOP Champs Cada and Gold Are Giving Away Signature Poker Tables

June 11, 2022 BBO Poker Tables

WSOP Main Event champions Joe Cada and Jamie Gold, along with Lon McEachern and Norman Chad are celebrating the new chapter of the 2022 WSOP at Ballys and Paris Las Vegas. Each are giving away one of their Signature Line poker tables in an epic Last Longer contest for players in this years Millionaire Maker, Colossus, and The Main Event.

Designed and created in conjunction with BBO Poker Tables of Las Vegas, each Signature Line Poker Table was designed to capture the excitement of Joe and Jamies legendary Main Even bracelet runs as well as Lon and Normans decades-long impact on the sport of poker.

George Chao, CEO of BBO Poker tables commented, We are extremely excited to witness the new stories and legends to come out of this years WSOP; and because last year was so uncertain with restricted international travel, our champions and all agreed that they wanted to do something special for this years event.

Winning your very own BBO Signature Line table signed by the champions is easy and completely free. Players playing in the Millionaire Maker, Colossus and The Main Event can enter for free on BBO Poker Tables website and the player that lasts the longest in the event automatically wins the table!

Joe Cada is sponsoring the Millionaire Maker event; Jamie Gold will be sponsoring the Colossus event, and Lon and Norman in The Main Event.

About BBO Poker Tables

Established in 2006, BBO Poker Tables the premier poker table company specializing in design, build then carefully shipping stunning tables to customers all around the US and globally. BBO has been the preferred poker table partner of world-class organizations such as the Golden State Warriors, WPT, and more. BBO designs exquisite custom tables that allow you to share unforgettable memories with friends and family.
The 2022 WSOP Event #18: $1,000 Freezeout No-Limit Hold'em booked 2,663 entrants, a $2,370,070 prize pool, with 400 players paid.

After 15 hours of play, 35-year-old Chicago native Bryan Schultz took down the title for his maiden WSOP bracelet and the grand prize of $330,057.

WSOP 2022 Event #18: $1,000 Freezeout No-Limit Hold'em Final Table Results

*Place Winner Country Prize (USD)* 1 Bryan Schultz USA $330,057 2 Young Sik Eum USA $203,949 3 Angela Jordison USA $151,544 4 Harry Rubin USA $113,532 5 Nick Palma USA $85,761 6 Robert Hofer USA $65,326 7 Tony Dam USA $50,180 8 Michael Holtz USA $38,874 9 Kevin Legerski USA $30,375

Winner's Reaction

Before today, Schultz's biggest result was winning a circuit ring title in 2011 for $111,000. The Chicago native was asked by PokerNews what he expected today going into Day 2 and he said, ''I mean, winning a bracelet seemed so far away. I didn't even think it was possible''.

''This is way better'' said Schultz when asked how today feels versus the circuit ring win.

The 35-year-old ex-pat was questioned on his cool and calm demeanour going into action today. Schultz said he was ''really tuned in. I feel like I was prepared, so I was ready for all the spots that came at me. I wasn't nervous''.

To his lifestyle, living in Colombia and mostly grinding online mid-stakes tournaments, Schultz said he'd been out there for six years.

''It's cheaper, the cost of living. People are nice. Weather is good''.

Schultz will return to South America with over $330,000 in winnings, but more importantly, of course, the gold bracelet.

Day 2 Recap

Final table play started with Kevin Legerski's king-seven falling to Young Sik Eum's king-queen to send him out in ninth place. Mike Holtz was next to go, losing with ace-nine to Schultz's pocket jacks and exiting in eighth place.

Schultz then had a huge double with ace-king versus the ace-ten of Rubin, before Tony Dam busted in seventh to Schultz, where once again pocket jacks held up against ace-seven. Schultz then flipped it with ace-queen against pocket nines and eliminated Robert Hofer in sixth.

Momentum paused after Schultz doubled Eum up with fours running into sevens before Nick Palma was busted by Eum's turned nut straight in fifth. Schultz then got Harry Rubin to commit his stack with top pair against Schultz's over-pair to send Rubin out in fourth.

Eum then eliminated Angela Jordison in third after getting it all-in preflop and getting help on the river with an ace from space.

When they got heads-up, they traded stacks, but once Schultz got the chip lead, he didn't relinquish it, eventually busting Young Sik Eum when his ace-queen held up against Eum's jack-deuce.

That concludes events from today's WSOP. We will be back tomorrow with all the updates from Bally's and Paris for the latest events. Stay here at PokerNews for all the action.
Angered by the unrelenting toll from gun violence, tens of thousands of people are expected at rallies this weekend in the nations capital and around the United States demanding that Congress pass meaningful changes to gun laws
The Aiken City Council and Municipal Development Commission are set to meet in executive session Monday to receive information regarding contractual negotiations for Project Pascalis.

On the agenda for the Aiken City Council meeting is a notice that the council and the commission will meet together for an executive session at 5 p.m. Monday in the city's municipal building located at 214 Park Ave.

Project Pascalis is a name used by the city and its related entities to describe the planned redevelopment of a block bounded by Laurens Street, Richland Avenue, Newberry Street and Park Avenue. Plans are to build a hotel, apartments, parking garage and conference center in the block.

The meeting will come two hours before the city council meets and one day before the corporation meets.

Neither group is expected to take action on the project at their meetings.

Action on Project Pascalis is not on either agenda and adding an action item would require a vote of two-thirds of the members present.

Tim O'Briant, economic development director for the city, told the municipal development commissioners in May that the next step for the project is to bring new designs for the project to the city's Design Review Board. He added the new designs could be presented to that board at its June 21 meeting.

He said the ball was in the court of the Aiken City Council regarding the potential use of the municipal building on Park Avenue as a conference center. O'Briant said City Manager Stuart Bedenbaugh would be working to get a sense of whether the council would want to do that or not.

On the agenda for the city council meeting are second and final readings of ordinances annexing and zoning a property on Dougherty Road, annexing and zoning a property at the intersection of Whiskey Road and Powderhouse Road, approving an incentives application for senior apartments to be constructed in Southview Estates and setting the millage and establishing the city's budget for the next fiscal year.

Bedenbaugh said Thursday that the property at the intersection of Whiskey Road and Powderhouse Road would be across Whiskey Road from the Holiday Inn and contain a 50,000 square foot grocery store to be named later.

The agenda adds it will contain 20,000 square feet for outparcels and 48 townhomes behind the grocery store.

Bedenbaugh said the city's property tax rate would remain the same as it has been since 1989.

An ordinance making year-end adjustments to the city's budget for the current fiscal year is set to be introduced at the meeting.

The city council is also expected to issue a proclamation for Juneteeth, recognize a scout project, receive an update on the downtown development association and receive a smoke free certification from the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control.

Requests for a June 26 fireworks display at Generations Park and to use penny sales tax funds to repair a well along Pine Log Road are also on the agenda. As is the acceptance of a grant from the South Carolina Rural Infrastructure Authority for a storm water project.

Bedenbaugh said the grant was $500,000 for a project to stabilize a bank of dirt between Aiken Estates and Hitchcock Woods.

The city council meeting is scheduled for 7 p.m. Monday at the municipal building located at 214 Park Ave.
A member of Aiken County's delegation to the South Carolina General Assembly will likely be determined Tuesday.

S.C. Rep. Bart Blackwell, R-Aiken, is running against Betsy Lamb in the primary for House District 81.

The race will likely decide who represents House District 81 when the General Assembly returns in January because Blackwell and Lamb are the only two candidates to file.

House District 81 is a roughly triangular shaped district that includes the southern part of the city of Aiken, the south Aiken suburbs and rural Aiken County along S.C. 19 and 302 to U.S. 278.

Blackwell, 61, is the owner of B&S Machine Tool. He has represented District 81 since 2017.

Blackwell said his biggest accomplishment in the most recent session of the House was working with Gov. Henry McMaster and the Republican majority to pass changes to the state's election laws.

"This law brings much needed reform to our states election process so that it is now easier to vote and harder to cheat in South Carolina," Blackwell said via email. "My constituents demanded action and my colleagues and I delivered."

Blackwell added that he was pleased the work done to provide additional funding for law enforcement and first responder agencies and to make South Carolina more attractive for veterans by eliminating state income tax for veterans' retirement pay.

Lamb, also 61, is a semi-retired real estate agent and farmer.

She said she decided to run because she was concerned about the overreach from the federal government and a lack of legislation from the General Assembly to protect the state's residents from it.

Lamb said she was redistricted into House District 81 when the S.C. House of Representatives redrew its districts after the 2020 Census.

"After looking at his [Blackwell's] record, I was pretty appalled by his failing to support any gun rights bills, any anti-abortion bills or to have introduced one piece of legislation in the six years, he's been in office," Lamb said.

Blackwell has voted in favor of a concealed carry with training act and a bill that would have banned abortions after the detection of a fetal heartbeat. Blackwell has introduced several resolutions since he was elected, however, most of them have been referred to a committee and have never moved forward from there.

Lamb said what really pushed her to run was Blackwell's vote in favor of an amendment that removed protections for people working in the private sector that chose not to get one of the COVID-19 vaccines.

Blackwell previously said that every member of the House Republican Caucus voted in favor of the amendment.

Lamb said over 600 people in House District 81 lost their jobs for refusing the vaccines.

"I have a real problem with that and that's what pushed me over the edge," Lamb said. She also criticized Blackwell for receiving most of his campaign financing from special interest groups and political action committees.

She added she had already been fighting to use alternative treatments to COVID-19 and to stop social credit scoring.

Blackwell said since he being elected in 2016, it has been his goal to work hard to make Aiken and South Carolina a better place to live, work and raise a family.

"I will work to this end by using my experience as a manufacturer and entrepreneur along with my position on the Labor, Commerce, and Industry Committee to promote economic development and growth for our region with a conservative, pro-business approach that will attract industry and the good paying jobs that come with it," Blackwell said.

He added he would push for a budget that provides additional funding for education and law enforcement while continuing to return surplus revenue to the taxpayer.

"Finally, in order to improve competition and provide more choices for health care services in our community, I will work to reform or repeal our states Certificate of Need (CON) program," Blackwell said.

Lamb said she would work to stop censorship of conservative voices, to stop gender fluency, to stop employer-mandated vaccines and masks, and to prevent social credit scores and digital currency from taking over the country. She also said she would work to make South Carolina a Second Amendment sanctuary.

A list of precincts and their locations is included in today's paper. Information about where to vote is available on SCVotes.gov or on voter registration cards.

Results of the House District 81 primary, the Aiken County Council races and several statewide races will be available on AikenStandard.com Tuesday evening and in the Wednesday print edition.
Whit Gibbons knows a lot about the animals of the world, and he wants everybody to share his enthusiasm.

As the director and a founder of the Savannah River Ecology Laboratorys Environmental Outreach and Education Program, Gibbons introduced thousands of children  and their teachers and parents  to snakes, turtles and other creatures.

With his encouragement, many overcame their trepidation and touched the scaly skin of a serpent for the first time or learned to appreciate an animal they once feared.

Gibbons also is the author, coauthor or editor of more than 20 books, including Salamanders of the Southeast, Amphibians and Reptiles of Georgia and the recently published Turtles of the World: A Guide to Every Family.

In addition, the outgoing herpetologist writes the weekly Ecoviews column that has appeared in the Aiken Standard for many years.

Im not trying to make people become ecologists, he said. Im trying to make them understand that the environment is special and something we need to protect. Thats whats important.

Gibbons, 82, was sitting on the screened porch at his home in Aiken Estates while reflecting on his life. Right outside was a busy bird feeder that was attracting a lot of robins. A curious young opossum strolled by, pausing for a moment to look at Gibbons and his interviewer.

I think we have a lot to learn about animals, and I think they can teach us a lot, Gibbons said. Animal behavior is fascinating.

Gibbons is a native of Alabama. While growing up, he also lived in the New Orleans area for a while.

Gibbons father, Robert Faucett Gibbons, was a college English professor and a novelist.

The elder Gibbons wrote Bright is the Morning and The Patchwork Time, which were published in the 1940s.

Reviewers compared his books and short stories favorably to the works of more renowned authors such as Thomas Wolfe, William Faulkner and Erskine Caldwell.

Harper Lee, who wrote To Kill a Mockingbird, was a family friend and neighbor.

She was engaged to one of my uncles, one of my dads brothers, Gibbons said, but it didnt work out for them.

Gibbons met the famous writer when he was around the age of 6.

She was at my grandparents house where I lived, Gibbons said. My mother told me to come into the living room, and she (Lee) was there with a handful of other people. She and my daddy were in writing club together.

Gibbons told the group story.

It was about an exciting experience that I had had, he recalled. I was taken to a baptism in a creek by our housekeeper.

Coincidentally  or not  that incident, Gibbons said, was similar to one in To Kill a Mockingbird, when the Finch children  Jem and Scout  attend church with their familys housekeeper, Calpurnia.

To Kill a Mockingbird first was published in 1960.

Also among Gibbons memories are his adventures outdoors. With the blessing of his parents and grandparents, he explored the nearby fields and forests.

I grew up looking for animals and plants, Gibbons said. Fortunately, my family was receptive to it. They let me keep snakes and turtles in the house.

When he was a teenager, Gibbons served as a field assistant to a scientist, Don Tinkle and helped him capture critters for his studies.

That set the stage for Gibbons enrollment at the University of Alabama, where he earned B.S. and M.S degrees in biology.

He also met his wife-to-be, Carolyn, when they wound up in the same herpetology course and he assisted her with water snake research.

They got married in 1963 and not long afterward, left Alabama.

I decided I wanted to continue in graduate school outside the South, Gibbons said. I applied to a few of the Ivy League schools, the Big 10 schools and California schools. Michigan State had the best fellowship, so thats where I went.

But the effort to expand his horizons didnt produce the result that Gibbons expected.

I wanted to learn more about the world and people and society, and you know what I found out? People are the same everywhere, whether they are in Michigan or Alabama or Louisiana, and probably in other places, Gibbons said.

Because of the move to Michigan, Gibbons plan to focus his research on snakes didnt work out.

There are not that many snakes there compared to turtles, Gibbons said. There are lots and lots of turtles, so it was a place where I could do a long-term study on turtles, and for years and years, I kept going back there and catching the same turtles.

After getting a doctorate in zoology, Gibbons was ready to live someplace closer to his regional roots.

It happened to be in an era when a lot of World War II veterans who had come back were retiring from positions that they had had (at universities) before the war, Gibbons said. There were jobs everywhere in academia. Everybody who was a graduate student then had job offers.

From his options, which included positions in New York, Illinois and Mississippi, Gibbons selected the University of Georgias Savannah River Ecology Laboratory, or SREL, at the Savannah River Site.

It was the lowest paying job, Gibbons recalled, but they said, You can have a post-doc. Come down for two years and just do what you want to do in terms of research, which meant looking for reptiles and amphibians.

The fit was a good one for the both Gibbons and SREL. Their association has lasted for decades.

Gibbons, who retired officially in 2008, is a senior research ecologist emeritus at SREL and a professor of ecology emeritus at the Odum School of Ecology at the University of Georgia.

Among the fruits of Gibbons labor were stacks of scientific papers, many of them detailing the environmental impacts of humans.

He also received numerous awards for his research and teaching.

Ive had a lot of students  undergraduates and graduates  who have gone on to do good things, Gibbon said.

In terms of his legacy, Gibbons believes, his mission to educate probably will be more important than the studies he has conducted.

Im just trying to make the world a better place, he said.

Gibbons especially enjoys interacting with the public.

Its amazing how you never have a bored audience when youre showing them a rattlesnake in a cage or something like that, he said. I love it.

Gibbons, who has four children and four grandkids, also gets a kick out of taking visitors to the 100 acres he owns in northeastern Aiken County near Salley, where there are swampy areas, a stream and a longleaf pine ecosystem.

Some dragonfly experts came out, and I spent the day with them, Gibbons said. We didnt look for a single reptile or amphibian, but we found 32 different kinds of dragonflies. Some were purple, some were red, and some were blue. I was amazed.

Ive brought a lot of biological experts out there, too, he continued. Geologists have been out there, and archaeologists have been out there. There is so much to learn outside, and were never going to ever going to learn it all. But its something thats fun to try to do.
One of the biggest financial institutions in South Carolina is further cutting back its brick-and-mortar network, saying the move was prompted partly by changes in consumer behavior since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.

SouthState Bank, which was headquartered in Columbia before it merged with a Florida lender two years ago this month, is closing 30 branches across its regional footprint, or about 13 percent of the total.

In the Palmetto State, six retail offices are set to go dark later this year, including two in the Charleston region, leaving it with about 83 locations, according to filings with federal regulators.

The closings are expected to take effect by Sept. 30 and will cost the bank about $8 million, primarily for expenses related to personnel, facilities and equipment, SouthState told investors.

The consolidation plan is expected to generate annual savings of about $10 million starting next year.

The bank's Winter Haven, Fla.-based parent company said the cutbacks were partly driven by a need to reduce overhead as "part of its ongoing evaluation of customer service delivery and efficiencies, particularly in light of the changing foot traffic and customer practices" over the past two years, including an accelerated shift to mobile technology after banks closed their doors to walk-in business.

"Like every other bank, weve experienced high levels of digital adoption accelerated by the COVID-19 pandemic, which has resulted in less traffic to our branch banking locations," said Kellee McGahey, executive vice president and director of marketing and corporate communications.

All but one of the six South Carolina offices are within two to seven miles of another SouthState location, she said. The exception is in Winnsboro, where customers will have to travel about 23 miles.

Elsewhere, SouthState is shuttering 16 branches in Florida, five in Georgia, two in North Carolina and one in Virginia.

Customers have already been notified.

The cutbacks mark the single largest round of branch closings the lender has announced since June 2020, when SouthState was created from the merger of CenterState Bank Corp. and Columbia-based South State Corp. The $2.3 billion deal paired two healthy regional franchises with about 300 retail offices combined, a figure that has since been pared to about 275.

The SouthState family tree dates back to a tiny rural bank that was formed in Orangeburg during the Great Depression and eventually became SCBT Financial Corp. The growth-focused lender made a series of targeted acquisitions starting around 2010, including First Federal of Charleston, that expanded its reach to key markets around the Southeast.

SouthState is now the fifth-largest of the 75 banks operating in South Carolina, after Wells Fargo, Bank of America, Truist and First-Citizens. It had more than $10 billion in deposits at roughly 90 offices across 29 counties as of mid-2021, according to the latest federal data.
A Charlotte developer plans to build a 193-unit apartment development with a storage facility on the upper peninsula where other multifamily projects already are under construction or in the planning stages.

The project by Proffitt Dixon Partners calls for three four-story buildings on a nearly 8-acre parcel near Meeting Street Road and Cherry Hill Lane in the Charleston Neck area.

A pair of 96- and 97-unit apartment structures are proposed, along with a 124,707-square-foot storage building and 322 parking spaces.

South of the site, FIDES Development of Atlanta plans to build The Darby, a multifamily project with 365 units on Meeting Street Road near Greenleaf Street.

Also to the south, plans call for the Pepsi bottling plant off Algonquin Road to be redeveloped into a mix of uses just north of 303 units in the Cormac nearing completion by Lennar's apartment division where Morrison Drive meets Meeting Street Road.

Relocating

A Charleston-based engineering firm recently bought a nearly 2-acre parcel in North Charleston and plans to relocate its Ladson outpost to the site.

Daniel Island-based Infrastructure Consulting & Engineering plans to move the office at 9565 William Aiken Ave. to Blue House Road in the Ingleside development near Interstate 26 and U.S. Highway 78.

CEO Elham Farzam said plans call a two-story, 13,000-square-foot office building with a one-story, 7,500-square-foot material testing lab behind it.

The firm, with 80 employees in the Charleston area, specializes in engineering and highway construction, he said.

The new office, with plenty of visibility off heavily traveled I-26, is geared for company employees who live in Goose Creek, Ladson, North Charleston and Summerville so they won't have to travel to the main office on Daniel Island, Farzam said.

He said the project is in the design stage, but he hopes to start construction in 2023. A 10- to 12-month buildout is projected. Mashburn Construction is the contractor.

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The property sold for $745,000 and was bought through CHS Office Partners LLC, according to the commercial real estate firm NAI Charleston, which handled the transaction for the seller, Turnstone Group. Real estate firm Sadler Group represented the buyer. The property is next to a Home2Suites by Hilton Hotel.

Infrastructure Consulting employs 380 workers in offices in the Carolinas, Georgia and Florida.

Acquisition

A Mount Pleasant-based investment firm has finalized an Upstate retail acquisition near a major mall.

Ziff Real Estate Partners said it recently purchased Crosspointe Plaza, a 124,375-square-foot shopping center in Greenville. Public property records show the sale price was $18.5 million. The deed was recorded June 1.

The property, which was redeveloped by the previous owner over the past decade, is in a prominent retail corridor along Haywood Road and next to the 1.24 million square-foot Haywood Mall. Tenants at Crosspointe include TJ Maxx, DSW, JoAnn and Play It Again Sports, with Chipotle and Jasons Deli on outparcels.

Elsewhere in Greenville, Ziff also owns Garlington Park, 119,077-square-foot office and warehouse development in the northeast part of the city.

New homes

A new 500-residence community in the growing Nexton development near Summerville is offering tours of a completed model home.

Home developer Centex will have its single-family Ibis model on display at 109 W. Bradford Point Drive in the Bradford Pointe community on June 11-12. The open-concept floorplans start in the high $300,000s, with three to five bedrooms and two to four baths. One- and two-story homes range in size from 1,700 square feet to more than 2,600 square feet.
COLUMBIA  For decades, South Carolina's Sisters of Charity Foundation has geared money toward nonprofits that are addressing people's immediate needs with various ministry initiatives, such as grocery distributions and rental assistance.

While those efforts are well-intended, leaders at the Columbia-based foundation say they've increasingly realized the cycle of poverty can't be broken unless there are systemic changes. That's why Sisters of Charity's latest $1.5 million in grant distribution is funneling more money to nonprofits they believe can help lift people out of poverty.

"Looking at the long game, we know that we have to invest in organizations that are working to influence and guide change in structural systems that have created, sustained or reinforced the marginalization of families and individuals experiencing poverty in South Carolina," said incoming President Donna Waites.

The total list of grantees can be found on the Sisters of Charity website, sistersofcharitysc.com. Several of the groups are in the Lowcountry, including Charleston Legal Access, a nonprofit legal firm. Sisters of Charity increased its funding amount to CLA because the organization is working to fill the "justice gap," foundation leaders said.

CLA provides low-cost legal representation and assistance to those who, although experiencing poverty, do not qualify for free legal services or cannot afford a private attorney. The clients include those facing invalid and predatory debt collection, foreclosures, evictions, landlord-tenant disputes, wage theft, financial exploitation or custody disputes.

CLA's work is especially important considering the rising costs of housing across the state, Waites said. Those who are evicted often face repeated financial hardships thereafter, she said.

"As soon as you're evicted that one time, it becomes a spiral," she said.

CLA said it's thrilled to get another batch of funding from the foundation, which has financially supported the nonprofit law firm since 2018. The funding will help the organization accomplish its goal of rectifying the broken justice system, said Lana Kleiman, executive director of CLA.

Most people don't view legal services as a basic need. But legal representation is necessary, especially considering North Charleston's eviction crisis that's been brought to light in recent years, Kleiman said.

"We dont view legal services as a means to an end, but as a tool to help people preserve homes, assets and financial sustainability," Kleiman said. "As a legal service provider, we try to keep people in their homes."

Since 1996, the Sisters of Charity Foundation of South Carolina has awarded over 3,200 grants to South Carolina nonprofits totaling over $82 million.

Since 2020, Sisters of Charity has increased its overall grant investments in organizations that are working to break the poverty cycle and change systems by almost 20 percent, Waites said.

"We are increasing our investments and our staff time in the area of systems level change because we believe this to be the only real way to move the needle on poverty in South Carolina," she said.
Hours after the Jan. 6 committee said it had uncovered evidence that former President Donald Trump was at the center of the conspiracy to overturn the 2020 election, Trump lashed out at the panels primetime presentation.

In posts Friday on his fledgling social media platform Truth Social, Trump downplayed the deadly attack on the U.S. Capitol by a violent mob of his supporters on Jan. 6, 2021, and denied he incited it.

The so-called Rush on the Capitol was not caused by me, it was caused by a Rigged and Stolen Election! he fumed.

Trump railed against former Attorney General William Barr, who was shown on video testifying to the bipartisan committee that he had told Trump repeatedly that his election fraud claims were bulls***.

President Trump and his post on social media. (Photo Illustration: Yahoo News; photo: AP, via Truth)

Bill Barr was a weak and frightened Attorney General who was always being played and threatened by the Democrats and was scared stiff of being Impeached, Trump wrote in one post. How do you not get impeached? Do nothing, or say nothing, especially about the obviously RIGGED & STOLEN Election.

The Democrats hit pay dirt with Barr, Trump continued. He was stupid, ridiculously said there was no problem with the Election, & they left him alone.

In another post, Trump referred to Barr as a coward who had specifically refused to investigate his claims of rampant fraud in Philadelphia.

The former president did not offer evidence to support his claims.

A noose hangs on makeshift gallows on Jan. 6, 2021, as supporters of then-President Donald Trump storm the Capitol. (Photo by Andrew Caballero/AFP via Getty Images)

Trump disputed the assertion by Rep. Liz Cheney, R-Wyo., the committees vice chair, who said that testimony from his aides will show Trump was not concerned that his supporters were threatening Vice President Mike Pences life on Jan. 6. According to Cheney, when Trump learned they were chanting Hang Mike Pence! he said, "Maybe our supporters have the right idea," adding that Pence deserves it.

I NEVER said, or even thought of saying, Hang Mike Pence, Trump wrote. This is either a made up story somebody looking to become a star, or FAKE NEWS!

Story continues

The videotaped testimony of Ivanka Trump appears on a video screen during Thursday's hearing of the Jan. 6 committee. (Jonathan Ernst/Reuters)

Trump also seemed to shrug off video of testimony by his daughter and adviser, Ivanka Trump, who told the committee that she agreed with Barr that there was no evidence to support her fathers claims of election fraud, and that she accepted his loss.

Ivanka was not involved in looking at, or studying, Election results, Trump wrote. She had long since checked out and was, in my opinion, only trying to be respectful to Bill Barr and his position as Attorney General (he sucked!).

_____

The rioters got within 2 doors of Vice President Mike Pence's office. See how in this 3D explainer from Yahoo Immersive.
One way the state monitors community transmission of COVID-19 has not been done in Charleston and some other areas of South Carolina for more than two months.

At least one scientist who tracks COVID-19 locally said they are 'flying blind" without widespread testing and wastewater surveillance to look for the virus and provide a key indicator of how much is circulating. The Charleston area may actually be in the midst of another surge based on modeling of what data is available, said Dr. Michael Sweat of Medical University of South Carolina. A Clemson University scientist is urging caution as well.

The S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control said it is working to take over wastewater surveillance testing for the virus from a lab at the University of South Carolina, which has been reporting those results to the National Wastewater Surveillance System at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

"It has been some time, I think, since USC submitted samples to the CDC for reporting out," Dr. Linda Bell, the state epidemiologist, acknowledged.

A spokesman for USC did not return calls seeking comment.

Wastewater surveillance can pick up trends in virus levels shed in human waste from people who may not have symptoms yet four to six days before it is likely to be picked up by clinical testing, so it can provide an early warning of outbreaks, according to the CDC. It is meant as a complement to other surveillance, but CDC Director Rochelle Walensky praised the testing this year for providing an early signal of outbreaks beginning in the Northeast.

Wastewater treatment plants regularly pull samples for other testing, so it is a matter of taking part of that sample and shipping it off for testing. The labs carefully handle and filter the samples to get something that can be subjected to the same diagnostic testing as patients, said Dr. Delphine Dean, director of the Clemson Research and Education in Disease Diagnosis and Intervention (REDDI) Lab. Bell said it is a recent addition to surveillance but it has value.

"The concept, that wastewater surveillance can be a big benefit to early detection of transmission in a community that does not rely on somebody having to to go a healthcare facility to be tested, it does have really significant attributes in that way," she said.

According to the CDC's data, Charleston has not had its wastewater checked for COVID-19 since at least April 7. The same goes for Darlington and Lexington counties, while Richland, Horry, Georgetown and some other areas of the state have not been monitored since around mid-May.

In almost every case, the virus levels were rising when last checked. The only current data is coming from monitoring done at Clemson for Anderson, Greenville, Greenwood and Pickens counties. There, "it is kind of steadily increasing week to week," Dean said. It is not the explosion of cases seen in some previous surges, with the delta and early omicron variants, but it is rising, she said.

That may also be true for the Charleston area, said Sweat, director of the MUSC COVID-19 Epidemiology Intelligence Project. In its monitoring of Charleston, Berkeley and Dorchester counties, cases per day per 100,000 population increased 10 percent this past week, from 31 to 34, Sweat said.

Recent modeling by Johns Hopkins University and the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation suggest that only about 10 percent of actual COVID-19 cases are being picked up by testing due in part to a large amount of home tests. Even using a conservative sixfold multiplier would put the actual cases in the community at 204 per 100,000, or about where cases were during the onslaught of the delta variant last fall, Sweat said.

"Were in a surge, its pretty obvious," he said. "I think there is a lot of transmission, and it is continuing to go up. Because of vaccination and prior infection, were not seeing the same numbers hospitalized and dying" due to better protection against severe disease. That is validated by internal numbers: MUSC closely tracks its own staff who come down with COVID-19 and those numbers are approaching what they were during the delta surge, Sweat said.

Wastewater surveillance would provide a better window into how much virus is actually circulating in the community, he said.

"Having wastewater would be really valuable; there is consensus in the field about that," Sweat said. When the state stopped widespread testing in favor of home tests, "the value of the case reporting diminished because we were getting vast undercounts. That kind of left us in that flying-blind mode," he said. Wastewater surveillance for the virus was supposed to help alleviate that, but the area is without it, Sweat said.

"We need it," he said. "I think it would be valuable to see that."

It is one reason DHEC is trying to do the testing itself. After meetings over the past week, the DHEC Public Health Laboratory is now working to validate its testing as it prepares to take over the wastewater surveillance, the agency said in a statement to the Post and Courier. That process may continue all summer, DHEC Media Relations Director Ron Aiken said.

But even without it, the state is reporting many other good metrics, such as cases per 100,000 population and hospitalizations, that allow people to know what is happening with COVID-19 in their communities, Bell said.

"We do encourage people to continue to look at the traditional surveillance systems," Bell said.

U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy, in a White House COVID-19 briefing on June 9, also encouraged people to maintain vigilance. "We are not done with the pandemic," he said. "The virus is still here."

Clemson was monitoring virus levels in its wastewater on campus and also closely tracking how many people tested positive on campus so it could validate how valuable the wastewater data was in predicting infections, Dean said.

"It allowed us to build pretty good estimates on how the wastewater relates to total case counts," she said. Its data allows Dean to estimate that 1-1.5 percent of the population is infected in the areas they monitor. It translates into an elevated level of risk, Dean said.

"That means if you are going to be in an indoor setting with a larger group of people, youre pretty likely to have someone in there who has COVID, so you should take precautions," she said.
Sunrise peered onto a chilly morning four months ago when Christian Gordon arrived at an outpatient surgery center in Hilton Head with her three children. She released her youngest, 3-year-old Owen Fields, into the care of a pediatric dentist.

Owen arrived seemingly healthy that day, Feb. 8, with no known allergies, weighing 32 pounds. His dentist planned to remove four front teeth and place six crowns.

A medical team put Owen under general anesthesia and began the procedure. It took just over half an hour.

Outside, sitting in her car with her other two children, Owen's mother considered what to cook for dinner that night, something soft for him like mashed potatoes and peas. Periodically, her phone lit up with text updates about his progress. Everything was going well.

When Owen arrived in a recovery room at 8:54 a.m., the dentist noted he was crying and trying to pull the oxygen mask from his face.

But he soon struggled to breathe. He went into respiratory distress.

Then cardiac arrest.

Just what happened in those moments leading up to the toddlers death remains unclear to his grieving family. Four months after burying Owen, they still grapple with questions about why an apparently healthy little boy died after receiving dental sedation, something an estimated 100,000 to 250,000 children in America undergo each year with few complications.

Among their added concerns, the surgery center didn't report Owen's death, or its investigation into what happened, as the state requires. State Law Enforcement Division agents also are assisting in an active child fatality investigation, a spokeswoman confirmed, although she declined to provide details.

Owen's mystery is set into a larger unknown. Although general anesthesia remains safe even for the youngest children, exactly how often they suffer severe complications related to dental procedures remains unclear. No central federal or state reporting mechanism tracks them.

Whatever happened to Owen, seven minutes after he arrived in the recovery room, someone dialed 911.

His mother noticed the text updates had stopped.

Elusive data

Given his front teeth had shown clear decay, Owen's parents did not question the need for dental surgery. Plus, Owens older brother had received general anesthesia for a dental procedure with no issues.

Owen had early childhood caries  basically, cavities that occur in the youngest children. It's among the most common chronic childhood diseases. And because the children who develop it are so young and not apt to tolerate tooth extractions and crowns, they typically require moderate sedation or general anesthesia.

Healthy children put under general anesthesia very rarely die. Wake Up Safe, a national registry, tracks these deaths at its member hospitals. They report fewer than one death in every 2 million anesthesia cases. But their data doesn't include deaths at dental offices or at facilities that don't participate in the registry.

Deaths from dental procedures involving anesthesia are very much of a black hole," said Dr. Rita Agarwal, professor of anesthesiology at Stanford University's School of Medicine.

A decade ago, researchers tried to quantify these deaths by scouring news reports. They found reports of 44 children who died after sedation or general anesthesia over the previous three decades. Most were around Owen's age: 2 to 5 years old.

One of those researchers was Dr. Helen Lee, a pediatric anesthesiologist and associate professor at the University of Illinois' medical school in Chicago. She later wrote in an American Academy of Pediatrics journal article, Children should never, ever die during sedation for a dental procedure. Such deaths are eminently preventable. Yet, they continue to happen."

One challenge: Dentistry isn't regulated the same way as medical care.

Take South Carolina. One agency regulates dental facilities. Another regulates hospitals and ambulatory surgery centers. Yet dental procedures are performed in all three settings.

Suspect wrongdoing? If you suspect wrongdoing at a healthcare facility or service regulated by DHEC, fill out the agency's online complaint form or call (803) 545-4370 or 1-800-922-6735.

The state Department of Health and Environmental Control, which licenses hospitals and surgery centers, requires these facilities to report serious incidents that occur at them within 24 hours. The centers then must report to DHEC details of investigations they conduct within five days.

Outpatient Surgery Center of Hilton Head did not do that in Owen's case, DHEC spokesman Ron Aiken said after The Post and Courier requested the reports.

"We will be following up with the facility based on the information you've provided," he said.

A DHEC employee then made an unannounced visit to the surgery center and cited the business for failing to report Owen's hospitalization and death. The center has until June 18 to file a corrective plan.

Jason Weaver, the surgery center's CEO, told The Post and Courier in a statement: We are all incredibly saddened by Owens death and our hearts go out to the family. Clinical quality is our first priority and we are cooperating fully with DHECs investigation.

Meanwhile, as the days and months pass, Owen's family still struggles with many questions cloaked in grief.

Seven minutes

Attorney Eric Roden is helping Owen's family gather the toddler's dental and medical records to figure out what went so tragically wrong. The documents help paint a picture of what happened that day, but not why.

Not long after Owen arrived in the procedure room at 7:41 a.m., his medical team started an IV to deliver medications. His dentist, Dr. Terri Hubbard, prepared to begin.

Dr. Philip Zitello, a general anesthesiologist, and a nurse anesthetist inserted a tube down Owen's trachea to connect him to a ventilator, the dentist later wrote in her notes.

The nurse anesthetist said that the childs lungs sounded junky" and "tight, Hubbard, the dentist, wrote. A nurse's note describes sounds that can be heard with a stethoscope when secretions or mucus obstruct an airway.

She asked if they should continue, Hubbard noted.

The anesthesiologist said to proceed, and they did, Hubbard wrote. (Zitello's attorney said he could not comment about patient treatment due to privacy laws. Neither Hubbard nor her attorney responded to requests for comment.)

The procedure went quickly. At 8:36 a.m., Owen's medical team removed the tube connecting him to a ventilator without complication, Hubbard wrote.

She also noted that Owen had a laryngospasm, when the vocal cords snap shut, a reflex that can keep things like saliva or blood from slipping into the airways. But the spasms can become life-threatening if they cut off oxygen for too long. Active respiratory infections can increase the risk of having one. Going under, and waking up from, anesthesia also mark critical times when these spasms can occur.

Medications relaxed the spasm in Owen, Hubbard wrote.

At 8:54 a.m., when he arrived in the recovery room, he was alert and receiving Albuterol, used to treat or prevent breathing difficulties such as wheezing. Hubbard wrote that she observed Owen stable in the recovery room, crying and trying to remove his mask. His vital signs were good. She transferred his care to the recovery room staff.

Yet a nurse soon noted that Owen began to cough and get irritated by the mask. The toddler became unstable, the note says without providing details.

Owen began wheezing, then went into respiratory arrest, the coroner's report says.

With the anesthesiologist and the nurse anesthetist at Owen's bedside, the team suctioned his mouth and nose. Zitello used a handheld, self-inflating device to breathe for Owen, a nurse noted.

Another nurse rushed to get a cart with equipment used in emergency resuscitations.

The nurse anesthetist began CPR.

Hubbard later wrote that she was leaving the recovery room when she heard someone call for the cart. She saw the team working on Owen. A nurse told her that he had suffered another vocal cord spasm, and his airways had tightened. His heart rate plummeted.

At 9:01 a.m., someone called 911.

Seven minutes had passed since Owen was wheeled to the recovery room, the records show. When emergency crews arrived a few minutes later, the medical team was trying to insert a breathing tube. The little boy lay unresponsive, pale with no pulse.

'It's urgent'

During the procedure, Owen's mother sat in her car with his two older siblings, 8-year-old Cailyn and 4-year-old DeAndre, who shared a bedroom with his little brother so close in age.

The family had risen early to drive about 45 minutes from Beaufort to Hilton Head. When they pulled into the surgery center's tree-lined parking lot, Owen spoke on the phone to his father, Derrick Fields, who was at work.

Then they all waited.

Owen was their baby, the quieter youngest child. He loved school and dinosaurs and pizza. He wanted to be a firefighter.

Around 8:45 a.m., Gordon got a text update telling her to come inside the sand-colored building, that the procedure was over. Owen was headed to the recovery area.

Gordon went into a waiting room with Owen's siblings. While they sat there, she barely noticed an ambulance arrive or an EMS crew walk by. The outpatient surgery center handled all kinds of procedures, from breast surgery to colonoscopies, according to its website.

My child was just getting teeth taken out, Gordon said.

And her son was healthy. He had sickle cell trait but not the disease, nor any other medical issues that she knew of. He'd had a well check-up less than a month earlier.

Gordon did notice that it seemed to be taking a long time. The notifications had stopped. After what felt like 20 to 30 minutes, a woman appeared in the waiting room and approached her. She wore a strange expression.

Its urgent, Gordon recalled her saying. Your son, his heart stopped.

Weighing risks

Respiratory problems are key risk factors for complications during and immediately after dental surgery.

Even common colds in children can set them up for potentially catastrophic complications, said Dr. Nicole McCoy, pediatric anesthesiologist at the Medical University of South Carolina. (McCoy, who is board certified in pediatric and adult anesthesia and general pediatrics, did not play a role in Owen's care.)

The challenge is that young children get sick often, and most show symptoms of 10 to 12 viral infections a year. Finding a window to perform a procedure when they haven't had a recent infection can be tough. These infections aren't always obvious either. Owen's parents said they didn't see symptoms of any illness before his procedure.

Plus, if congestion or other respiratory issues are discovered after a child is sedated, the doctor must decide whether to stop the procedure or continue. When the nurse anesthetist noted that Owen's lungs didn't sound clear, the doctor faced a common  and difficult  dilemma.

What it really boils down to is: Is the procedure worth taking the risk? McCoy said. She generally will reschedule procedures that don't involve emergency care.

But that means stopping sedation already under way. The child must return for another appointment when a parent can take time off work. And even then, there's no guarantee the child will show up with clear airways.

Many anesthesiologists will move forward at least sometimes, even if a child has congestion. It's a judgment call, one that underscores the importance of added training in pediatric care, several doctors said.

"Having an anesthesia team that is very familiar with pediatric physiology and pediatric-specific complications is paramount to providing a safe environment for children undergoing procedures under anesthesia," McCoy said.

When a child has a respiratory infection, the entire airway can become irritable and spastic, including the vocal cords and lungs. Inserting a tube down the windpipe can increase that irritability, as can secretions from dental surgery.

Vocal cord spasms can quickly become life-threatening. Treatments usually couple pressure, such as giving a large breath, to force the vocal cords open while medications attempt to relax them.

If they dont relax, air cannot reach the lungs. And one vocal cord spasm can lead to another.

Its a very feared complication, McCoy said.

On June 8, four months after the procedure, Owen's family received his autopsy.

"The lungs show extensive acute inflammation," the pathologist wrote. He added that Owen died of pneumonia with sudden cardiac arrest following the dental procedure.

Saying goodbye

An emergency medical crew took over chest compressions on Owen. The medical team intubated him.

At 9:30 a.m., they shifted Owen to a pediatric backboard secured to a stretcher and whisked him to an ambulance.

As the crews worked on Owen, his mother stood outside the room. The doors were open, but she couldn't see her son. When the ambulance left with him, a facility staff member drove Gordon and her other two children just under 2 miles away to Hilton Head Hospital.

When they arrived, she saw Owen lying on a bed, someone sticking him to get an arterial line. His feet and toes looked blue and purple. His breaths sounded strange.

Gordon clutched his hand, praying for him to wake up.

Instead, another crew soon ferried him away, this time toward a waiting helicopter. Someone gave Gordon the address of a hospital an hour's drive south in Savannah.

When the family arrived, someone said a chaplain would come soon. Owen's father knew what that meant.

A doctor told them Owen was basically in a vegetative state.

Gordon couldn't process that. In her mind, she was still planning dinner for her child, mashed potatoes and sweet peas.

Owen's siblings, who had been with her all day, remained at the hospital amid a family-wide vigil of tears and prayer. At one point, Owen's parents let the other children call him. They put them on speaker phone so they could tell Owen goodnight, that they loved him, as they usually did before bedtime.

The kids kept asking: Did Owen wake up yet?

He did not. Two days after the dental procedure, his parents agreed to remove him from life support. To them, Owen was already gone.
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It costs money to grow South Carolinas economy. Sometimes to create a better-educated workforce. Sometimes to build roads or provide high-speed internet access. And sometimes to dole out tax incentives.

Tax giveaways are sometimes unavoidable when were competing with other states to recruit a marquee corporation, but since they dont have the larger benefit to society that other investments have, its especially important to ensure were getting our moneys worth.

Weve talked a lot about all the tax incentives the S.C. Commerce Department gives away in the name of economic development. About what looks at times like flimsy cost-benefit analysis. About the agency's reflexive secrecy and how until recently it hasn't bothered to claw back the incentives when businesses dont live up to their job-creation agreements.

Overlooked in the discussion of how our government secretly shifts the tax burden away from a handful of hand-picked corporations and onto the rest of us has been the role that county councils play.

Its a huge one. And the cost when a countys gamble goes bad is particularly perverse.

A report released last month shows that county councils gave away more than $500 million in school tax revenue last year through their own economic development efforts. Thats right: not county government money. School money. The money we use to pay for one of our best economic development investments.

The Washington-based Good Jobs First, which tracks economic development incentives, reports that South Carolina once again led the nation in local school funds diverted to businesses through tax incentives.

Worse, that amount has grown each year since the information was first made public, from $326 million in 2017 to $534 million in the fiscal year that ended last summer. That means our counties are now abating an average of $850 per student per year  money that either the schools have to do without or taxpayers have to make up in higher taxes.

Worse still, the reason we know about the tax giveaways isn't that there's an S.C. law that requires counties to show the public how it gives away future school tax revenues; there's not. We know because "generally accepted accounting principles" were changed in 2015 to require governments across the country to publicly report the type and value of tax incentives they give to businesses.

And even then, Good Jobs First reports, S.C. counties are largely ignoring the new requirement or complying with it in a limited way. Instead, the organization gleaned the total from reports filed by school districts, which have no control over the incentives that take away their revenue.

The $535 million was diverted from schools last year through fee-in-lieu-of-taxes and two related tax incentive programs that counties use to lower the property tax bills of manufacturers and even some retailers for decades into the future. The lower rates apply to all property taxes, but since most property taxes go to schools, they lose the most.

We'd love to do away with fee-in-lieu deals, which are a problematic work-around for the problem of too-high industrial property tax rates. But fixing that has proven elusive, so at least in the short term we need to tweak the program to eliminate the worst part: allowing counties to give away school tax revenues. That's like letting the Commerce Department raid the Education Departments budget to pay for its recruitment efforts.

As the accounting rules have begun to give us a better idea of how much school revenue county councils are giving away, it has become clear that the Legislature should allow school districts to opt out of or limit their exposure in future fee-in-lieu agreements, much like they can opt out of tax increment financing districts.

Industrial recruiters say fee-in-lieu deals are worthless if they dont apply to school taxes, but we believe schools would agree to participate in solid deals. And the Legislature can increase the odds of solid deals by requiring counties to provide economic analyses that justify the incentives, and let the public weigh in before they are approved. Counties also should be required to provide annual reports to the public on how much tax money is being abated each year and how much progress companies are making toward meeting their requirements  the type of information theyre supposed to be providing to bondholders but are now doing spottily at best.
The final dance event of Spoleto Festival USA highlighted a dynamic group of Cuban dancers from the Malpaso Dance Company. Presented at the College of Charleston Sottile Theatre, the varied program of contemporary works had its strongest moments when the full company took to the stage.

Malpaso, which means misstep, a tricky word for dancers, works with top international choreographers but gives equal importance to nurturing new voices of Cuban dance makers and emphasizes the collaborative process. The evening of June 11 consisted of a solo, duet and two full company works for the 12 energetic and versatile performers.

Co-founder of the company Daileidys Carrazana created "Lullaby for Insomnia" from 2020 during the pandemic when many artists grappled with being creative in quarantine. Soloist Heriberto Manesses glided through a sleepless night with fluid movement interspersed with isolated movements and gestures hinting at the tormented search for rest to the piano composition by Jodi Sabates.

Next, "woman with water," a 2021 work by the esteemed Swedish dance maker Mats Ek was a mysterious duet danced by Dunia Acosta and Osnel Delgado. Dressed in a vibrant orange dress and using the prop of a green bench, the female dancer moved with articulated and sweeping gestures.

Joined by her partner, he poured her a glass of something spellbinding, transporting her at first to another state with expansive and strong jumps and long extensions. But with the next drink she fell to the floor in a comedic twist and was then mopped off the stage by her devilish cohort. Quirky and whimsical, this feels like a dark "Alice in Wonderland" variation.

"Tabula Rasa," a 1986 work by Israeli choreographer Ohad Naharin, is set to music of the same name by Arvo Part. The haunting meditation for piano and violin created an atmospheric and thought-provoking exploration of loneliness and connection.

This 36-year-old critical work still holds relevance in todays world. The full company of 12, strongest as a whole, are dressed in street clothes as they expertly executed Naharins signature Gaga movement style with its silky power, which comes in waves of explosive movement sequences interwoven by canons and intricate partnering.

Dancers crashed into one another, spilling to the floor only to continue into energetic jumping sequences. In a second section, an endless crossing of rocking and repetitive movement gives way to a love triangle trio breaking the monotony of loneliness with human interaction. The dancers beautifully immersed themselves in this significant work and showed their depth of expression and skill.

The final piece titled "Why You Follow" was created by Ronald K. Brown, founder of his company, Evidence, which was commissioned by the Joyce Theatre in a series of dances that expressed a joyful rendition of African and Caribbean movement and rhythms with hints of hip hop and contemporary dance styles.

There was nothing abstract or unknown here, only a celebration of the body in motion. Swings, reaches and percussive footwork filled high-energy sequences set to a collage of drums, song and electronic beats and was the perfect closer for the show where the charisma and generosity of the dancers matched the driving rhythms in this entertaining evening.
If you talk to any of my friends, they will tell you the same thing: "McNinch doesn't think like everyone else." It is true. I am crazy about  Read more
A UK government move to unilaterally override the Northern Ireland Protocol could endanger the wider Brexit trade deal, an Irish minister has warned (PA) (PA Archive)

A UK Government move to unilaterally override the Northern Ireland Protocol could endanger the wider Brexit trade deal, an Irish minister has warned.

Foreign Affairs Minister Simon Coveney urged Boris Johnson to commit to further engagement with the EU to resolve the Irish Sea trading dispute, rather than breaking international law by acting alone.

Tensions between London and Brussels are intensifying over the prospect of Mr Johnson using domestic legislation at Westminster to nullify parts of the Brexit Withdrawal Agreement that require checks on goods moving between Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

Foreign Secretary Liz Truss is expected to formally announce a plan to legislate on the protocol on Tuesday, although an actual parliamentary Bill is not expected to be published at that point.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson (centre left) arrives at Hillsborough Castle during a visit to Northern Ireland for talks with Stormont parties. (Liam McBurney/PA) (PA Wire)

Mr Coveneys comments came ahead of Mr Johnsons visit to Northern Ireland on Monday for emergency talks with Stormonts political leaders in a bid to break a deadlock linked to the protocol.

Mr Johnson was booed and jeered by around 200 people who gathered at the gates of Hillsborough Castle as his cavalcade drove in.

Protesters, including campaigners for the Irish language, victims campaigners and anti-Brexit activists, were among the crowds who held aloft banners.

The power-sharing institutions in Belfast have been plunged into crisis in the wake of the recent Assembly election, with the DUP refusing to re-enter a devolved government in protest at trading arrangements the party claims are undermining the union.

The EU has made clear that unilateral action from the UK to walk away from the protocol deal would represent a clear breach of international law.

Mr Coveney, who was in Brussels on Monday, warned that the entire UK-EU Trade and Co-operation Agreement deal  the TCA  could be jeopardised if Mr Johnson takes unilateral action on the protocol.

This is a time for calmness, its a time for dialogue, its a time for compromise and partnership between the EU and the UK to solve these outstanding issues, he told reporters.

Story continues

If that is the approach taken by the British Government then we can make significant progress and we can make progress quickly to respond to the concerns of both the business community and the unionist community in Northern Ireland.

That alternative is unilateral action which means tension, rancour, stand-offs, legal challenges and of course calls into question the functioning of the TCA itself, because the TCA and the Withdrawal Agreement are interlinked, they rely on each other.

That is the last thing Europe needs right now, when we are working so well together in the face of Russian aggression and responding to the support needed for Ukraine at this time.

Prior to his visit to Northern Ireland, where he will hold talks with the five main parties at Hillsborough Castle, Mr Johnson insisted he did not favour scrapping the protocol, rather amending it to reduce disruption on Irish Sea trade.

Northern Irelands 1998 Good Friday/Belfast peace agreement contains provisions to protect and develop relations both on a north/south basis on the island of Ireland and on an east/west basis between the island and Great Britain.

Irish Foreign Affairs Minister Simon Coveney (Liam McBurney/PA) (PA Wire)

Mr Johnson claims the protocol has upset this delicate balance of unionist and nationalist aspirations by undermining the east/west dynamic.

On Monday, a Foreign Office source told PA Media that Ms Trusss priority was about upholding the Good Friday/Belfast agreement and restoring stability.

Were not after a fight with the EU, the source insisted.

In an article in the Belfast Telegraph, Mr Johnson said the UK will have a necessity to act if the EU is unwilling to reach a compromise in the deepening row over the protocol.

However, he stressed the Government remained open to genuine dialogue with the European Commission.

He said the protocol had been negotiated in good faith, adding that those who want to scrap the protocol, rather than seeking changes, are focusing on the wrong thing.

The Prime Minister added: We have been told by the EU that it is impossible to make the changes to the protocol text to actually solve these problems in negotiations because there is no mandate to do so.

We will always keep the door wide open to genuine dialogue.

And we will continue to protect the single market, as it has been protected throughout the existence of the protocol so far, and the open border with the Republic of Ireland which will always be of paramount importance.

There is without question a sensible landing spot in which everyones interests are protected.

Our shared objective must be to the create the broadest possible cross-community support for a reformed protocol in 2024 (when the Assembly will vote on the continuation of the arrangements).

I hope the EUs position changes.

If it does not, there will be a necessity to act.

The Government has a responsibility to provide assurance that the consumers, citizens and businesses of Northern Ireland are protected in the long-term.

Contention over the protocol will not be the sole focus of Mr Johnson on Monday as he will also use his visit to pledge delivery of three pre-existing commitments: a stalled language and culture package; ensuring women and girls have full access to abortion services; and introducing new measures to deal with the legacy of the past.

The protocol, agreed by the UK and EU to maintain a free-flowing Irish land border, requires customs and regulatory checks on the movement of goods between Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

Foreign Secretary Liz Truss is expected to outline plans to legislate on the protocol on Tuesday (PA) (PA Wire)

It has been the source of resentment and anger among many unionists and loyalists who believe the arrangements have weakened Northern Irelands place in the union.

However, a majority of MLAs in Stormonts newly elected Assembly represent parties that support retaining the protocol, claiming that it offers Northern Ireland some protection from the negative economic consequences of Brexit.

They point to the unfettered access Northern Ireland traders have to sell into the EU single market as a key benefit of the protocol.

The new Assembly has been unable to convene due to the DUPs refusal to engage in the institutions until major changes to the protocol are secured.

The Stormont election saw Sinn Fein displace the DUP to become the overall largest party in Northern Ireland for the first time.

The DUP remains the largest unionist party in the region and, under Stormont rules, a new executive cannot be formed unless it agrees to nominate to the post of deputy First Minister.

The DUP has also blocked the nomination of a new Assembly speaker, meaning the legislature at Parliament Buildings cannot meet while the impasse continues.

The party has made clear it needs action rather than words on the protocol from Mr Johnson before a return to power-sharing can be countenanced.

Sinn Fein, which is now entitled to the First Ministers role, has accused the DUP of holding the people of Northern Ireland to ransom by not allowing Stormont to function in the midst of a cost-of-living crisis.
It comes from the U.K., via the London Times: Ministers quietly abandon green crap as focus shifts to food security. The threat of starvation, like the prospect of hanging, concentrates the mind:

Boris Johnson has scaled back plans to rewild the country as the government retreats from the green agenda to focus on the cost-of-living crisis. Ministers last year announced a post-Brexit scheme that would pay farmers up to 800 million a year  a third of the farming budget  to transform agricultural land into nature-rich forests, coastal wetlands, peatlands and wildflower meadows.

Because who needs food? But that was then and this is now:

But the fund, called the landscape recovery scheme, has been quietly slashed to just 50 million over three years, less than 1 per cent of the budget.

The war in Ukraine has precipitated worldwide food shortages:

The UK is hugely reliant on imports, producing roughly 64 per cent of our food, down from 78 per cent in the 1980s. A new national food strategy, due to be published tomorrow, will confirm a shift in emphasis, saying that land management schemes should reflect farmer demand.

Environmentalists are irate, mostly because they hate modern farming, which relies on fertilizers that come in large part from natural gas, as well as other chemicals needed to control pests. Sure, we could go back to farming techniques of, say, the 17th century. And thereby support a global population equal to that of the 17th century.

As for the heartwarming phrase in this posts title, it comes from former Prime Minister David Cameron:
TV Rating Guides Rebecca Bunch posts the ratings for the January 6 Committees show trial hearing this past Thursday evening. The headline declares the ratings decent.

Well, that is disappointing if accurate. If you take your television viewing from the broadcast networks, however, your only choice was to turn the thing off. The networks graciously handed their prime time slots over to the committees motley crew in unison, Soviet style.

Providing a link to the ratings, the Washington Free Beacon adds a poignant twist. Reporter Collin Anderson homes in on CBS (which lagged the field) and finds that CBSs broadcast of the hearing could not keep up with the rerun of Young Sheldon [?] that aired in the same time slot last week:

Just 3.24 million people watched the networks Capitol Assault Hearings coverage Thursday night, according to the TV Ratings Guide. Exactly one week prior, 3.86 million people tuned into CBS to watch a Young Sheldon rerun, meaning an old episode of the coming-of-age sitcom garnered roughly 600,000 more viewers than the inaugural hearing.

It gets worse (better):

That gap is even more pronounced for new Young Sheldon episodes. More than seven million people, for example, watched the shows season five finale, titled A Clogged Pore, a Little Spanish, and the Future, during CBSs 8 p.m. slot on Thursday, May 19. Three weeks earlier, 6.9 million people watched a new episode titled, Uncle Sheldon and a Hormonal Firecracker.

To be filed under Laughter Is the Best Medicine

FOOTNOTE: Among the columns worth reading on the hearing are Byron Yorks The House committees grand unified theory of Jan. 6 and Andrew McCarthys What the January 6 Committee Hearing Left Out (behind NROs paywall).
The New York Times has posted the Biden variant of the Dump Feinstein campaign that Steve has been tracking. In an alert to subscribers, the Times directs readers to Reid Epstein and Jennifer Medinas story on the Democratic whispers that perhaps Biden should step aside in 2024 (and announce his decision to do so after the midterms). This just in: Democrats fear he may not be up to the task. And you thought the Times has lost its nose for news.

The Times story is so predictable as to be funny. It nevertheless comes fully loaded with Schadenfreude of the Emperors New Clothes variety. I wouldnt want to have missed it.

Thats good enough for me. However, Howard Deans comment on the Democratic bench is worth savoring:

Howard Dean, the 73-year-old former Vermont governor and Democratic National Committee chairman who ran for president in 2004, has long called for a younger generation of leaders in their 30s and 40s to rise in the party. He said he had voted for Pete Buttigieg, 40, in the 2020 primary after trying to talk Senator Chris Murphy, 48, of Connecticut into running. The generation after me is just a complete trash heap, Mr. Dean said.

His generation of Democrats is a complete trash heap too, of course, but that is beautiful. In a time of intense division he has expressed a sentiment on which we can all agree.
My wife filled up her gas tank this morning and took this picture:

I filled up this afternoon and took this one:

So we spent $248.71 on gasoline today. We are fortunate: we can still afford to eat dinner, and we arent canceling our trip to New Hampshire next week for my college reunion. Most Americans are not so lucky. And most Americans also understand that the Democratic Party is doing this to us on purpose, to advance its perverted political agenda.

Are the Democrats deliberately trying to destroy the middle class, or is the middle class merely collateral damage? I started out believing the latter, but I increasingly wonder whether doing away with the middle class is the Democrats long-term objective. That hypothesis certainly explains most of what they do.

Either way, I think the November blowout will be worse for the Democrats than anyone is now predicting.
Movie title: Strangers

Date released: April 29, 2022

Running time: 1 hour 58 minutes.

Producer: Banji Adesanmi

Director: Biodun Stephen

Cast: Lateef Adedimeji, Bimbo Oshin, Bolaji Ogunmola, Debbie Felix, Femi Adebayo, Ndamo Damaris, Chris Iheuwa, Jide Kosoko, Bimbo Akintola, Mide Glover Nonso Odogwu, Waliu Fabemi, and Taiwo Ibikunle

Strangers, in no strange way, is a roller coaster ride of emotions, with a straightforward narrative and apt delivery in both the acting and cinematography.

Unlike many big-budget Nollywood movies, Strangers  has proven that you do not need a star-studded cast or, better still, a luxury setting or a twisted plot to make a great movie.

When Strangers was yet to be released, the movie had already won the Gold award for Directing at the International Independent Film Awards held in Los Angeles.

A true-life event inspires the faith-based film. The movie follows the life of a remote village boy, untamed by civilisation but hit by catastrophic events that change the course of his existence.

Plot

The movie opens with the narrators voice-over, a letter on his journey through life.

The story is about Adetola, fondly called Ade, who lives in the beautiful remote village of Ireti, a hamlet somewhere in the heart of the Southwestern part of Nigeria, surrounded by a river that knits the entire town together in its naturally aesthetic landscape.

Adetola, fondly called Ade, lives with his pregnant mother, his elder sister and his grandfather, who is a witch doctor.

His journey through life all started with a dream. Ade dreamt that he was in turbulent water, a flood, and as he drowned, losing hope in life, he was rescued by a stranger. He shared his dream with his elder sister, who laughed at his goal hysterically, as she claimed that the dream was a result of hunger or malaria.

Days became weeks, and weeks ran into months. Ade had already forgotten the dream.

As usual, he went swimming with his friends, but he came home with a strange hitching on his leg this time. The hitching metamorphosed into a peculiar injury that defiled all herbal treatments his grandfather could administer.

While Ade is left in agony as his wound has grown to be complicated and a foul odour emanates from the injury, no one dares to come close to him, except for his struggling mother, who was in arduous distress and worse pain, as she helplessly watched her son slowing dying in her arms, what could be worst for a poor widow?

When they lost all hope and the family was prepared for the worst, a set of evangelists came visiting. Luckily for Ade, there was a medical outreach with foreign medical experts visiting the village.

They came to his age, but there was little or nothing they could do. Ade needed to be transferred from the village to the hospital in Lagos.

Thankfully for Ade, after the evangelists put up his story, a strange woman outside the country decided to help him through his surgery and get back on his feet, a feat that led his mother to Christ.

Years later, Ades story captivated the heart of his benefactor, who sponsored his primary education.

Ade started schooling at the age of 13, but he decided he would finish school and become a medical doctor despite the frustration. Unfortunately for Ade, his dream was cut short when his benefactor died, and the money she left could only take him through secondary school.

He graduated as the best student of his set and was set for the higher institution, but with what fund? Would this village boy reach for his dreams? What does life have in stock for him?

PROPS

Strangers is a movie that takes the viewers on a journey of emotions and deep thoughts.

The directors choice of actor brings every character to life in a very demonstrative manner, and you can feel the passion, the agony, the stress, the pain and the joy in both verbal and non-verbal cues. You could even feel goosebumps.

Watching the movie, the viewers see a comic synergy between the characters, which will provoke intermittent laughter.

Strangers is another typical example of telling a story in its raw form, as evident in several Nollywood films of recent. From a rich blend of indigenous culture, a colourful transition from one decade to another, and character morphology, the director was spot on when he decided to create a narrative that evokes nostalgia.

The transition of the character Adetola, which starts with Lateef Adedimeji as the narrator, down to the younger versions portrayed by Daniel Bogunmbe and Mide Glover, was brilliant.

The transition took the audience through the life of Ade as a young boy up to his times and trials as a grown man, he was no stranger to pain, and the actors hardly took a foot wrong.

These three casts had in common that they walked in the same pattern and sounded much alike. After the younger Ade, played by Daniel Bogunmbe, had surgery on his leg, it affected how he walked.

Away from the acting, the different locations on their own were an integral part of the story, from the interior village to the hospital, the CGS school, to the University of Ibadan. There was little improvisation with the location, making the narrative very relatable.

The movie is educative, demonstrative and didactic. It takes the viewers from one leap of emotion to another, from jumpy histrionics to depressed defeatism.

The movie highlights strong themes like love, humanity, the power of coincidence, sheer goodwill, lifes journey, and fate.

Language

As observed lately, there is a deliberate infusion of various Nigerian indigenous languages into Nollywoods recent works. It goes to show the background of the story and the characters.

However, while maintaining the new trend of indigenous language infusion, the movie employed the Yoruba language and creole.

Creole, a derivative of pidgin, is spoken by some people in Jamaica, Sierra Leone, Cameroon, and parts of Georgia and South Carolina.

The way Ades mother called Pastor Paitor and Ade pronounced some words, which shows their educational background, were instances where they spoke Creole in the film.

Also, the movie featured a Cameroonian actress Damarise Ndamo, who played the role of Mrs Macauley, the wife of Mr Macaulay ( Chris Iheuwa), Ades foster mother.

After her triumphant performance in Kang Quintus Fisherman Diary, Damarise aims high as she makes her top debut appearance in a Nollywood movie. Damarise and Iheuwa, who played the role of a couple, were fond of using the french language to communicate. The use of french also brought an understanding of Mrs Macaulays character, and she runs an international NGO.

Downside

Narrating a story based on a true-life event cuts across diverse people and places. Even if the focus is on a particular person, a glimpse into the life of others around the story gives the narrative a more concrete and enjoyable substory, and this is where Strangers falls short.

The movie brought to our notice that Ades mother had a son, but in the narration, we only knew that he was sent to the city to become a mechanic. The mother did not tell us about Ades relationship with his only brother.

What becomes of Ades sister? How about the pastor who brought Ade to the hospital? Two or three scenes about these sub-stories could have sufficed.

However, it is pretty understandable that the scriptwriters intentionally avoided these sub-stories to focus on Ades central character so as not to thwart the storyline.

In all, Strangers is an imperfect yet emotional grass-to-grace story.

Rating: 7/10
Ferdinand Udohs house in Abakaliki, the capital of Ebonyi State, is a camp of sorts for his displaced relatives. For nearly two years, Mr Udoh said, the communal war ravaging his native Effium community in the Ohakwu Local Government Area of the state in Nigerias southeast has uprooted his kin, who now occupy his home.

As I speak to you, my grandmother, aunts and brothers and their children are living with me because they have nowhere else to go, the humanitarian worker in Ebonyi told PREMIUM TIMES. The ongoing war is really affecting my progress and Im pained.

Mr Udohs Effium community has for many years been a theatre of violent conflict between his own Ezza ethnic group and their Uffiom neighbours. Locals are invested in the conflict, organising themselves to contribute funds  taxes  towards the prosecution of the fight.

When a fresh war broke out in the community last year, Mr Udoh said he travelled to his hometown in Effium to evacuate his family members after their houses were razed amid the violence.

During his visit, he had taken gory photos of dead bodies that littered the clay streets of the town. The photos, independently verified by PREMIUM TIMES, showed stripped women hacked to death, mutilated bodies of men said to have been killed while returning from the farm and lifeless children soaked in their own blood.

It was a deadly unforgettable day, Mr Udoh narrated to PREMIUM TIMES. A lot of people were killed. The bus I hired to carry my people on that day was full of residents crying for help and looking for a way to move out of the town.

Devastated by ethnic violence drawn out by land disputes and vested political interests, the Effium community has been deserted by the majority of its residents as the conflict consumes hundreds of lives and properties in the war-torn area.

As I am talking to you, nobody dares go to Effium without strong military escorts, he said. Even soldiers had been attacked many times in the community since the war started again.

When the might was right

Over a century ago, natives of Uffiom, a non-Igbo people originally from the Orri tribe in Cross River, had settled in a barren landscape now known as the Effium community in Ebonyi. The Effium community would later come under the attacks of its neighbouring Izzo and Ngbo communities, according to historical records obtained and reviewed by PREMIUM TIMES.

Dwindled by the war, the Uffiom people invited the Ezza-Ezekuma, an Igbo sub-group in Ebonyi known for commercialising warfare. Effium, the stronghold of the Uffiom people, was dying, save for the intervention of the Ezza forces.

In our previous reporting on the violent communal conflicts in Ebonyi, PREMIUM TIMES revealed the ancient involvement of the Ezza fighters, who supported the Ezzilo community  by invitation  to win a war against their invading neighbours. The Ezza people would later feud with their Ezzilo neighbours, after decades of swearing to live together in peace, leading to a violent wave.

The Ezza offered to protect them from annihilation in exchange for farming rights, Captain Chapman, an assistant district officer of the Abakaliki Division of the then-Eastern Province, said in a 1930 British (colonial) intelligence report seen by PREMIUM TIMES. Ezza has now absorbed all the land, and, as far as it can be done peacefully, is annihilating the Orri (also known as the Uffiom people).

However, the Ezza and the Uffiom natives had lived peacefully for decades after both sides had a covenant to never shed each others blood. But in 2002, the covenant was broken when fights over who to occupy some councilorship positions in Effium stirred the age-long bitterness between the two ethnic groups, locals said.

When the might was right, we helped them win a war against their enemies and now they turned us to their enemies, said Monday James, an Ezza man and elder in the Effium community. The major cause of this war is that the 1999 Nigerian constitution has never been in operation in that community.

Taxed to kill their neighbours

For Mr Udoh, it is against the will of God to donate money to buy arms to kill his neighbours. But many of his Ezza kinsmen, who have more generous means, said even if they can not fight with guns, they can support the local warriors to achieve victory.

Mr Udoh said he had been taxed many times by elders in his community who asked him to pay up to a N100,000 morale support fee but he had declined. He said as a Christian, his bible has taught him not to contribute to the shedding of blood.

But others have a different way.

Even as a journalist working for a radio station in Ebonyi, Christopher Gideon  his name changed to protect his identity for security reasons  cannot bury his bias on the violent conflict ruining lives in Effium.

Mr Gideon, an Ezza man, said he could spend his last dime to ensure victory and protect the interest of his people. Therefore, whenever he is approached for such money, he complies without any reservation, he said.

Its like Ukraine vs Rusia war, Mr Gideon said. Everybody must participate for victory. Its actually not a one-man battle. It is our battle and we must fight it.

PREMIUM TIMES on-the-ground reporting  based on interviews with stakeholders and displaced persons from Uffiom and the Ezza-Effium  established that the two warring groups are taxed to donate either money or foodstuff to support local warriors hiding in the forests of the Effium community to kill their neighbours and cause mayhems.

Our interactions with displaced persons from both sides revealed ordinary citizens in Effium villages are also taxed by community leaders fueling the war to push some political agenda. Several sources from the Ezza-Effium and Uffiom, who feared they could be killed if their identities were revealed, told PREMIUM TIMES they received donations from their bloodlines abroad to fight the war.

Our brothers from diaspora also help us with funds to fight the war, one youth leader said  his claim was supported by other sources interviewed for this story. We cant win the war without their support.

Playing politics with lives

On a Sunday evening in March, Mr Udoh sat at the bar of a hotel in Abakaliki, sipping his beer. The father of three was reluctant to return home after a long busy day at work. He would stay at the hotel until late at night before going back home  to avoid unnecessary billings from these my people.

Chatting at the bar with this reporter, he recalled his cordial relationship with Clement Odah, an Uffiom man and the Chairman of the Ohakwu Local Government Area. Just before the ethnic violence broke out again in 2021, he was part of the team promoting Mr Odah for another political office in 2023 but things have now gone sour between them.

You know when there is war, the relationship is no more cordial, he said, his eyes became bloodied as the PREMIUM TIMES reporter probed further. You know he is from Uffioum and I am from Ezza so we can no longer work together because of this war.

On several occasions, Mr Odah, the Ohakwu local government chairman, and Chinedu Awo, an Ezza man and lawmaker representing Ohakwu north constituency in the state house of assembly, have been probed by the state government for fuelling the communal war to promote their individual political ambitions.

In January 2021, members of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) in Ohakwu loyal to Mr Odah clashed with Mr Awos loyalists in the union, killing and injuring scores, PREMIUM TIMES gathered from eyewitnesses. The violence degenerated, the following month, into a full-blown war between the Ezza-Effium and Uffiom natives, leading to the loss of more than 50 lives, according to accounts from locals.

During our visit to Ebonyi in March this year, we attempted to interview Mr Odah and Mr Awo. However, we understand they were still detained by the state government over the matter and were not allowed to speak to journalists from detention.

Governor Umahi rains curse on warmongers

In February 2021, after announcing the death of 25 persons killed during another clash in the community, David Umahi, the governor of Ebonyi, blamed Mr Odah and Mr Awo for the crisis, totally exonerating himself.

The governor claimed the crisis would have ended had the two politicians listened to his instructions.

Let us not forget that this problem was started by the Council Chairman, Clement Odah and Hon. Chinedu Awo, the House of Assembly member, Mr Umahi said in a meeting with stakeholders of Effium over the carnage in the community. When the problem started between them, I called them severally one-on-one, three of us. We sat and I pleaded with them. In fact, at a time, one of them walked out on me.

Although concerned citizens and critics in Ebonyi blamed Mr Umahi for his consistent self-exoneration from the ongoing crisis in the state, the governor ordered the suspension of payment of all civil servants from the Effium community on accounts that they were donating funds to fuel the lingering crisis.

There is no way the Ezzas will say that they dont know what is happening at Effium and there is no way that the Uffiom will say that they dont know what is happening at Effium, Mr Umahi said. If they ask you to contribute money whether you know what the money is for or you dont know what the money is for, the moment you contribute to the spilling of blood, it means that you and your generation to the 5th generation will be cursed.

If you are here or know anybody contributing money to buy arms to spill innocent blood, you have to go home and begin prayers because come rain come sunshine, the word of God must come to pass, whether you like it or not, he also said.

Ambition truncates possible solution

During our visit to the state in March, the Ebonyi government moved to find a lasting solution to the lingering crisis. After granting amnesty to the local militants fighting the war, the government asked them to drop weapons voluntarily for peace to reign and pledged to release persons detained over the crisis.

After an extensive interaction in respect of finding a lasting solution to the Effium / Ezza Effium crisis, the warring parties have agreed to a ceasefire, Monday Uzor, the chief press secretary to the deputy governor of the state, Eric Igwe, said in a statement seen by PREMIUM TIMES. All warring factions in the community are hereby requested to embrace this olive branch of His Excellency the Governor and embrace the amnesty beginning from Wednesday 2nd of March 2022.

On March 8, the day the state pledged to restore peace in Effium, Mr Umahi, who was supposed to lead the peace movement, fought for his seat as the governor in court over defection. The governor had left the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC), stirring anger and lawsuits from his former party.

When Mr Igwe, his deputy, was on his way to end the crisis in Effium on behalf of the governor, he received the news that he and his principal had been sacked by the Federal High Court in Abuja on the basis that they lack substantial reasons to defect from PDP, the party that took them to power, to the ruling APC party.

Unfortunately, the Ezza-Effium and the Uffioum local militants took advantage of the situation to spill each others blood again, frustrating the peace deal. The deputy governor, PREMIUM TIMES gathered, had to turn back after the community forces went berserk, killing and burning houses.

They killed more than ten of our people on that day, said Philip Agena, a local chief in the Effium community, showing the reporter some pictures of persons allegedly murdered on that day. The government made a move to end the crisis but it was not successful.

Editors Note: Some names, as indicated, were changed in this story to protect the identity of the sources for security reasons.

This is the second of a series on the underreported violent communal conflicts in Ebonyi State, with spillover effects on neighbouring states.

The story was done with the support of the Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD).
The Abuja-based Human Rights Radio has announced the suspension of an initiative to raise funds for striking university lecturers after the teachers union rejected the offer.

The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) on Saturday rejected an offer by the anchor of the popular Brekete radio, Ahmed Isah, to raise money for the union through crowdfunding, to enable lecturers return to work after a lengthy strike.

The president of ASUU, Emmanuel Osodeke, who was at the radio station on Saturday, announced that the union would distance itself from the campaign and that its name should be removed.

PREMIUM TIMES had reported Mr Isahs announcement that he will mediate between the striking lecturers and the Nigerian government.

ASUUs objection

The president of ASUU, Mr Osodeke, a professor, while speaking as a guest at the station on Saturday, said the union was distancing itself from the fundraiser and that ASUUs name should be removed from the account name.

He said; Please I want to appeal that we shouldnt be associated with the money that we are seeing on the floor here. Take notice that ASUU is not part it.

We saw that the account opened also has ASUUs name on it. If ASUUs name is on it, ASUU requests that you kindly remove it.

Mr Osodeke was referring to a N50 million cash displayed in the studio by Mr Isah.

The N50 million, he said, was received from Governor Udom Emmanuel of Akwa Ibom State as part of the fundraiser.

We will come, we will talk about our issues. But definitely ASUU is not part of what we are seeing here. So also, we will also like to reiterate that we love what you are doing. Everybody has the right to launch a fund for anything including the university, ASUU president added.

Mr Osodeke, however, explained that his comments were aimed at setting records straight so that the public would not think that his union has accepted money from the radio station.

He said all the money being requested from the government is not meant for his union, but for all the public universities.

He added that ASUU as a union does not receive money from the government and that all funds are sent directly to the universities involved.

Brekete family can decide to say we are doing a project XYZ in each of the universities, there is nothing wrong with it. You can put your name, your picture, he said.

Isah suspends crowdfunding

Reacting to ASUUs position, Mr Isah immediately ordered the suspension of the Brekete ASUU Intervention Bank account and donation to the accounts.

Mr Isah, popularly known as ordinary president, had on June 2, announced the creation of two accounts with the name at the Guaranty Trust Bank (GTB) and Jaiz Bank to crowd-fund for ASUU.

He said more than N12 million naira has been received into both accounts. The live update of the funds posted on the stations website.

Mr Isah said he requested the banks to integrate the live update of the funds as they are received online.

Mr Isah also announced and displayed N50 million cash donated by Governor Emmanuel.

Meanwhile, another group of people, Arochukwu Youth Association (AYA) in Abuja, also donated N100,000 during the live programme.

But callers on the programme appealed to Mr Isah not to discontinue the fundraising.

In response to the appeal, he said: I will think about it. But it remains suspended for now, he finally said.

Strike

Apart from ASUU, other campus-based unions including the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU), Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions (NASU) and the National Association of Academic Technologists (NAAT), are also on strike, demanding better welfare for their members and the fulfilment of agreement they had with the government.

ASUU is demanding the deployment of the University Transparency and Accountability Solutions (UTAS) as a payment platform for its members and the conclusion and implementation of the renegotiated 2009 agreement the encompasses the welfare packages for its members.

Other demands by the union include the revitalisation fund for universities and the release of white papers on the visitation panel to universities last year.

The government had enrolled ASUU members on the Integrated Personnel Payroll Information System (IPPIS), a single payment platform for all federal government employees.

ASUU has however described IPPIS as fraudulent.
The All Progressives Congress (APC), on Wednesday, concluded its special national convention where it elected Bola Tinubu as its presidential flag bearer for the 2023 general elections.

The former Lagos State governor secured 1,271 votes to win the partys flag. His closest challenger, ex-minister of transportation Rotimi Amaechi got 316 votes while Vice President Yemi Osinbajo came third with 235 votes.

The two-day national convention was held at the Eagle Square in Abuja, amidst tight security and disruption of government activities as most government agencies around the Three-Arm Zone were forced to shut down.

Pre-convention

The choice of weekdays by the APC for its convention and barricade of access roads to the Eagle Square led to the shutdown of some MDAs and the National Assembly. On Monday, there was an altercation between security personnel and civil servants who tried to access their offices.

Even journalists cleared to cover the event were not spared from brutality. PREMIUM TIMES reported how police officers at the venue teargassed journalists and used horses to attack them.

Furthermore, the choice of weekdays also put a strain on transportation in the entire city, as the blockage of roads meant diversion to other roads and coupled with the fuel scarcity in the city, people in Abuja faced hardship in those three days.

Poor planning at the APC convention

Despite extending the event by one week, and holding it for three days, the primary was a far cry from the PDPs convention which was smooth and transparent.

Although the PDP had only 774 delegates, the process was so smooth the election and announcement of results happened before midnight.

The reverse was the case in the convention of the ruling party, from accreditation of delegates to the main voting. In the course of the accreditation, the ad hoc staff from Lagos protested that the committee removed their names from the list.

The protest delayed the process for a while until the intervention of Governor Dapo Abiodun of Ogun State, who was the chairman of the accreditation committee. Several mistakes were made by the accreditation committee that almost truncated the process.

Allegation of change of delegates list

Less than an hour into voting on Wednesday, delegates from Anambra State accused the election committee of changing the delegates list. According to some of the delegates, they were accredited on Tuesday and issued tags. However, when they were about to vote, the election committee brought out a separate list and called for fresh accreditation.

After about 45 minutes of protest, the committee allowed the delegates to vote. The protest almost led to a fist fight between election committee members and some delegates.

The official explanation was that there was a mix-up of the delegates list and it was resolved. Subsequently, it became glaring that the mix-up was not peculiar to Anambra State.

After delegates from Bayelsa voted, voting was paused for about two hours. The official explanation was that the committee on security had to clear the voting area.

It later became obvious that the explanation was a lie, judging by the way the co-chairmen of the election committee, governors Atiku Bagudu of Kebbi and Hope Uzodinma of Imo, were moving around frantically trying to sort out the delegates list.

Voting did not resume until the list was sorted out around 4 a.m. At this point, most of the delegates were exhausted and some had slept off, most of them on the bare floor

Hostility against Vice President Yemi Osinbajo by Southwest delegates

All through the convention, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo endured hostility from delegates from the southwest. This came from the notion that the vice president should not have contested against Mr Tinubu, his erstwhile political leader.

On Tuesday, when the vice president arrived at the venue and tried to greet the delegates, the hostility forced him back to his car. The chants of betrayer traitor were deafening at the ground.

APC Governors take over

The decision of Mr Buhari not to endorse any of the candidates handed the party to the governors, who decided to back the former Lagos State governor.

The governors had earlier on Monday pushed back against the national chairman of the party, Abdullahi Adamu, who had announced Senate President Ahmad Lawan as the consensus candidate.

In his acceptance speech, Mr Tinubu acknowledged the role of the governors in getting him the ticket.

To the governors, I dont even know what I did right that gave you the confidence of nominating me today, but I have one man right on my left side (Atiku Bagudu), they have been worrying us, but in full cycle, we worry and eliminate them.

Also, the endorsement of Mr Tinubu by Jigawa State Governor Abubakar Badaru and Ekiti State Governor Kayode Fayemi signalled the direction of the governors.

Gbajabiamila effect

Mr Tinubu was full of praise for the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila.

This may not be unconnected with the fact that the conversation around Mr Tinubus presidency appeared to have been stronger in the House of Representatives.

While Mr Tinubu was hospitalised in the United Kingdom, the Leader of the House, Ado Dogwa, led some members of the Northern Caucus to visit him.

During the visit, Ahmed Lado, a member of the House from Niger State, referred to Mr Tinubu as Mr President.

Ministers stayed away

Most cabinet ministers stayed away from partisan activities during this election.

Some allies of Mr Tinubu, who are members of the Federal Executive Council, stayed away from the election.

Setting the tone for the general election

From Mr Tinubus acceptance speech, Nigerians will have to brace themselves for another campaign filled with inflammatory rhetorics.

Words like devour and eliminate were used by the candidate.

The cat that lies down quietly is not a pretension of death but breeding of its energy to devour its enemies. Now we are here, we will roar. We will do it. We will tell Poverty Development Party. They call themselves PDP, 16 years of failures of wastefulness, we day step aside, be buried and leave the way for us. We will repair our country.

Muslim-Muslim

The issue of Muslim/Muslim presidential ticket was raised at the convention by Nicholas Felix, who later stepped down for the vice president. According to Mr Felix, the country cannot afford a Muslim/Muslim ticket.

Apart from North and South, Nigerians are divided along the line of two religionsMuslims and Christians. We cannot have a Muslim/Muslim ticket in this election, that is why I have decided to support the Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo.

Earlier, the Tinubu Campaign Organisation claimed that some persons were targeting delegates with text messages that Mr Tinubu will pick a Muslim northerner as running mate.

Despite the challenges, the party has produced a candidate. And the candidate has commenced fence-mending in the party in preparation for the campigns and election .
Japan has hidden agendas following Washington's anti-China policy

Xinhua) 16:25, June 11, 2022

TOKYO, June 11 (Xinhua) -- Former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has recently talked nonsense regarding the Taiwan question at a forum, once again casting "what happens to Taiwan" as "also Japan's business" and claiming to force China to "give up Taiwan's reunification by force," Japan's Sankei Shimbun reported.

Experts found that in recent years, Japan has become increasingly hawkish towards China in line with the Unites States' Indo-Pacific strategy, serving as a main accomplice of Washington in containing China in the Asia-Pacific region.

Closely following Washington's anti-China stance, Japan seeks to loosen control over military and reshape its own standing in Asia. However, such a move does no good to regional peace and stability or the healthy development of China-Japan relations, and Japan will surely pay the price, observed analysts.

FOLLOWING U.S. STEP

During his visit to South Korea and Japan in late May, U.S. President Joe Biden attended multilateral events to peddle his Indo-Pacific Strategy and roped in U.S. allies to contain China.

Japan was the most active on the sidelines of Biden's visit, not only making gestures on such issues as the East China Sea, the South China Sea, Hong Kong, Xinjiang and Taiwan.

Incumbent Prime Minister Fumio Kishida told a news conference that Japan will cooperate with the United States to force China to "fulfill its responsibilities in accordance with the rules of the international rules."

In recent years, with mounting U.S. containment and suppression of China, Japan's policy toward China has also shifted to confrontation.

As for politics and security, Japan actively participated in the core framework of Washington's Indo-Pacific Strategy -- a quadrilateral mechanism involving the United States, Japan, India and Australia.

Japan kept linking up with other U.S. allies to strengthen the alliance system for the United States, and made great efforts to push those outside the region to turn their attention to the Asia-Pacific region.

Japan also drummed the so-called "free and open Indo-Pacific" into other countries and meddled in the South China Sea issue, providing military equipment to relevant countries and driving a wedge between them and China.

Together with Washington and other Western countries, Japan has frequently intervened in China's internal affairs, bolstering "Taiwan independence" forces and Hong Kong rioters, and manipulating the so-called "Xinjiang human rights issue."

Economically, Japan followed the United States in suppressing Chinese technology companies and promoting economic decoupling in the name of "national security." According to Bloomberg, Japan launched a 240 billion yen (2.2 billion U.S. dollars) economic stimulus package for its companies to shift production out of China, including 220 billion yen (2 billion dollars) for those moving back to Japan.

Japan also played an active role in supply chain cooperation with the United States and joined in U.S.-led regional economic frameworks aimed at excluding China, including the Trans-Pacific Partnership and the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework.

HIDDEN AGENDAS

Despite Japan's efforts to fawn on the United States, Washington has little respect for this important and "well-behaved" ally.

Its attitude towards Japan was evident in many diplomatic details. During an official visit to the United States in April 2019, Abe and his wife were forced out of red carpet during a photo session with then-U.S. President Donald Trump and his wife.

Like his predecessor Trump, Biden didn't have his plane landed at any Japanese airport in his trip to Tokyo, but instead at a U.S. military base.

Ukeru Magosaki, a former Japanese foreign ministry official, said that Japan and the United States do not have a relationship of equals, but a master-slave relationship.

According to analysts, there are hidden agendas behind Japan's efforts to curry favor with the United States and its anti-China rhetoric. Japan's ruling Liberal Democratic Party has long been attempting to break through the limits of its post-World War II (WWII) pacifist constitution.

To this end, Japan constantly hypes up the "China threat" as an excuse to build up its military power, and takes the opportunity to suppress China. By acting as an accomplice, Japan has been playing up to Washington in exchange for the latter's loosening control over Japanese military.

Meanwhile, Japan remained the leading economy in Asia for a long time after the WWII, but in recent years it has been replaced by China as the second largest economic power in the world. Japan cannot rationally accept China's rise, and is increasingly hostile to China.

Atsushi Koketsu, emeritus professor at Yamaguchi University, pointed out that Japan is becoming a "medium country," a fact that many Japanese politicians and people cannot face up to. They hope that Japan and the United States will cooperate to bolster Japan's political and military strength to compensate for its decaying economic power, so as to confront China, said the expert.

REPERCUSSIONS TO BE FELT

Many experts pointed out that China's development benefits the Asia-Pacific region, while the U.S. "Indo-Pacific strategy" will only lead to confrontation and division. Japan has harmed the interests of all countries in the region, including itself, in following Washington.

Currently, the U.S. intention of creating tensions in East Asia is absolutely not conducive to regional stability, and Japan's bowing to U.S. interests often hurts its own, Magosaki said.

A large number of U.S. military bases in Japan are like "a country within a country," and a series of problems, such as crimes, accidents, noise, environmental pollution and COVID-19 prevention, have brought indescribable suffering to Japanese people.

The United States incited Japan to suppress Huawei and other Chinese tech firms, causing heavy losses to many Japanese companies.

Japan made concessions in trade negotiations and opened its agricultural market, but did not get tariff concessions on auto parts exported to the United States.

Experts pointed out that China and Japan have close economic and cultural exchanges, and China has been Japan's largest trading partner for a long time. If Japan continues to follow the United States on the anti-China path, it will certainly affect the China-Japan economic cooperation, and the Japanese economy will be impaired.

It is disgraceful that the Japanese government has been taking a position subordinate to the United States, Koketsu said.

Only by becoming an independent and peaceful country can Japan gain trust and respect, advance historical reconciliation with China, and further strengthen their economic cooperation, thus contributing to stability in the Asia-Pacific region, he added.

(Web editor: Zhong Wenxing, Bianji)
The headline in The Citizen for June 22, 1972, alerted the residents of Auburn and Cayuga County to an eminent weather threat. Flood danger rising in city, county areas, it warned. The Cayuga County Sheriffs Office reported the outlet had swollen by more than 2 inches of rain that had fallen in the past 24 hours, and warned the towns of Throop and Mentz and the village of Port Byron to expect intensive flooding. The upper pumping station on Owasco Lake confirmed that more than 2 inches of rain had fallen, and said the lake level had risen by more than 1 foot in one day.

The Cayuga County Historian's Office has a large file preserving the record of the flooding over the years, and especially the devastation caused by Hurricane Agnes in New York state in June 1972.

I have written a previous column of our Owasco volunteers who took a bus trip to Corning with a group of teenagers from the village, and how the chattering youth were suddenly silent when they saw the devastation from their bus window seat. It looked like a war zone. Wrecked houses tilted off their foundations. Debris and mud everywhere. In early July, the odor of decay was indescribable. The flood had changed the way of life for many in Painted Post and Corning. The young people under my care as leader of the crew that day never forgot it, being a part of history.

In June of 1972, a total of 6.39 inches of precipitation had fallen in Auburn, compared to 2.34 in 1971, for a total of 19.31 inches compared to 12.61 in 1971. Cayuga Lake had risen from 10 to 16 inches in 24 hours  the highest in 12 to 13 years, according to the Department of Transportation in Syracuse.

The emergency increased when on June 26, when the newspaper reported, "State dam weakens and 10,000 evacuated." It further stated, "a loosening of a support raceway near Swift Street caused the evacuation of one third of Auburn." A friend told me he was 9 years old then, and his family lived on Church Street and were told to evacuate. He remembers being told a 50-foot wall of water could flood their area if the dam ruptured. A picture with this column shows Washington Street and the overflow cursing across the highway near the Dunn and McCarthy plant, which had water up to its windows.

Areas both north and south of the lake were evacuated Thursday night. Help came from everywhere. Dozens of city and county employees and volunteers from the Owasco Fire Department worked until 1 a.m. buttressing the state dam that controls the lake level. More than 2,000 sandbags were placed at both ends of the dam to prevent any danger of the force of the water weakening its side banks. The Red Cross provided hot coffee for the 100 men working at the dam. Gates were opened to relieve the water pressure.

At Auburn Correctional Facility, 800 inmates on the south side facing the outlet were evacuated to other cell blocks in case "the wall of water," it was predicted if the dam broke, could have collapsed the wall" according to Superintendent Robert Henderson. One hundred off-duty officers were called in.

William Catto, chief engineer for the city, notified the radio and television stations and the Port Byron Fire Department to expect a 1-foot rise in the outlet if the gates in the dam were opened.

A later assessment of the damage and help for the businesses, homes and areas affected by the flooding were reviewed by officials. Assemblyman Steve Riford said that Cayuga County was not among the 14 counties in the state included in a telegram by Gov. Nelson Rockefeller to President Richard Nixon. Nixon declared the counties a disaster area at Rockefeller's request. Steve Riford said he believes Cayuga County should be declared a disaster area." Later reports said that local governments may receive direct grants. Individuals and businesses could be helped with low-interest loans.

Laurel Auchampaugh is the Owasco historian and can be reached at the Owasco Town Hall from 1 to 4 p.m. Tuesday afternoons or at historian@owascony.gov. Sources used in this column include The Citizen's 200th anniversary celebration book and Wikipedia.

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Clashes between armed groups erupted in Libyas capital Tripoli Friday night leading to the death of one person, according to local media.

The clashes are happening as the country reels from a failed coup attempt three weeks ago.

Heavy exchanges of gunfire and explosions ricocheted across several districts of Tripoli, an AFP journalist reported, while images broadcast by local press showed civilians fleeing heavily trafficked areas.

The intense fighting involved two influential militias from western Libya, local media reported.

No motive for the fighting was immediately apparent, but it is the latest violence to rock the country as two rival prime ministers vie for power.

After a 2011 revolt toppled longtime dictator Mouammar Kadhafi, political infighting to fill the power vacuum has plagued oil-rich Libya.

Last month, politician Fathi Bashagha attempted to seize power by force, sparking pre-dawn clashes between armed groups supporting him and those backing interim premier Abdulhamid Dbeibah.

Mr Dbeibah was appointed under a troubled UN-led peace process early last year to lead a transition to elections set for December 2021, but the vote was indefinitely postponed.

In February, parliament appointed Mr Bashagha, a one-time interior minister, to take over, arguing that Mr Dbeibahs mandate had ended.

But Mr Dbeibah has insisted he will only relinquish power to an elected administration.

READ ALSO: Libyan interior minister survives assassination attempt in Tripoli

The coastal road of Tripoli was closed to traffic due to the fighting which also led to panic among women and children, footage aired on local media showed.

Another clash reportedly broke out in Omar Muhtar, the most important street in the capital.

The Tripoli-based February TV channel announced that the 444th Brigade of the Defense Ministry was deployed to the Suk es-Sulesa region where the clashes erupted to quell the crisis and rescue families that were trapped.

(AA/NAN)
A 29-year-old employee of Lagos State Waste Management Authority (LAWMA) and his colleague have been arrested by the police for allegedly faking his kidnap and collecting N150,000 as ransom.

The police spokesperson in the state, Benjamin Hundeyin, confirmed the arrest on Friday in a statement.

Mr Hundeyin said that detectives from the State Criminal Investigation Department of the command carried out the arrest after a painstaking investigation on the suspects.

According to him, the 29-year-old suspect, after faking his own kidnap, travelled to Lugbe in Abuja where he made a video of himself in captivity.

Mr Hundeyin said that the suspect informed his 32-year-old co-worker of his plan and they demanded for N5 million ransom but got N150,000 after extensive negotiation before they were arrested.

Investigations revealed that the first suspect, who was arrested in Abuja conspired with second suspect to self-stage his kidnap and made the video that was sent to the co-worker for ransom.

The first suspect also confessed to have shared the ransom equally with the second suspect and used his share in acquiring a generator and other items for himself.

Suspects will be arraigned in court at the conclusion of investigations, he said.

The spokesperson said the Commissioner of Police in Lagos, Abiodun Alabi, commended the detectives for a job well done.

Mr Hundeyin reassured Lagos residents that perpetrators of crimes would not go undetected and unpunished.

(NAN)
The Ondo State government has canceled this years June 12 celebration earlier slated for Sunday 12th June, 2022.

June 12 is Democracy Day in Nigeria, a national holiday signposting the June 12, 1993 elections won by the late M.K.O Abiola.

Ondo State has been at the forefront of marking the day even before the Federal Government declared it a national holiday.

But the state will not be holding the usual parade of events after terrorists killed about 22 persons and injured many more in last Sundays attack on St Francis Catholic Church in Owo.

Flags in the state are already flying half-mast as a sign of morning across the state, while condolences have been pouring in from across the country to console the bereaved and the state.

Governor Rotimi Akeredolu also aborted his trip to Abuja for the APC presidential primaries after the attack on Sunday.

Rumours of the arrest of the culprits had filtered in on Friday, but the police clarified that they were still on the trail of the attackers, urging the public to disregard the reports.

A statement by the Chief Press Secretary to the Ondo State governor, Richard Olatunde, said the cancelation was consequent upon the terror attack on innocent worshipers at St. Francis Catholic Church, Owo, on Sunday.

The cancelation is to enable the entire people of Ondo State mourn their loved ones who lost their lives in the horrific attack, the statement said.

Recall that the Ondo State Governor, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, SAN, had directed that all flags in the state be flown at half -mast for seven days in honour of the victims of the terror attack.

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Security operatives have demolished kidnappers hideout in Oba community, Idemili South Local Government Area of Anambra State.

The hideout, an old bungalow building, was demolished when the states joint security task force carried out a raid in the area on Friday.

The operation lasted for about five hours, PREMIUM TIMES learnt.

Christian Aburime, the spokesperson to Governor Charles Soludo, confirmed this in a statement on Saturday.

He said the demolition exercise would serve as a deterrent to other criminals terrorising the state.

Mr Aburime said a locally made pistol, charms, concoctions, and Indian hemp were recovered during a recent raid in the area.

In a video clip posted on social media, Mr Soludo was seen addressing journalists on the outcome of the raid.

The governor said the demolition was in line with the state governments policy to confiscate or demolish any property used for criminal activities in the state.

That building demolished was being used as a den for criminal activities, and the governments policy will not allow any criminality to reign in the state, he said.

Mr Soludo urged the people to be security conscious at all times and report criminals operating in their communities to security agencies.

He assured that his administration was fully determined to ensure the state is safe for everyone, and that people can move freely around without fear.

Anambra, like other states in the South-east, is grappling with deadly attacks by armed men.

There has also been an increase in kidnap incidents in the state lately.

The latest raid comes barely a week after police operatives in the state killed some suspected kidnappers in Ekwulobia, Aguata Local Government Area of the state.

The suspects were said to have been killed after the operatives foiled their attempt to abduct an unidentified resident of the area.
ONE

Early this year, the national leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, stated his lifetime ambition is to be Nigerias president and he had decided to give it a shot in 2023.

He first told President Muhammadu Buhari and then told Nigerians.

This week, Mr Tinubu was declared as the winner of the presidential primary of the APC.

But he did not expect to win and thats why he said he was intoxicated with victory.

Could that be his first step to victory in the 2023 elections?

Well, thats left for Nigerians to decide.

TWO

The former Lagos state governor has already promised Nigerians that he will end terrorism if elected as Nigerias president.

But thats not enough, he has assured security personnel of better days and rewards in real-time.

President Muhammadu Buhari has congratulated Mr Tinubu and said he looks forward to working with governors to ensure Mr Tinubu wins the 2023 election.

THREE

Meanwhile, before the political activities overtake events, Nigeria takes the lives of her people, this time around their place of worship.

Some armed men invaded the St Francis Catholic Church in Owo, Ondo State, and attacked members of the church.

Many lives were lost and some sustained varying degrees of injuries.

Governor Rotimi Akeredolu said 40 worshippers including children were killed in the attack while 80 people were severely injured.

Pictures and footage of the attack were indeed sad and pathetic.

FOUR

Still in the week, there was a meningitis outbreak in Jigawa state.

About 65 children in 14 local governments of the state have died.

My colleague who visited some of the outbreak areas was told that many children have been complaining of fever and numbness in their legs.

Unfortunately, the government has largely abandoned the communities since the outbreak, my colleague was told.

I know I started by reminding you to pursue your lifelong ambition. But how about, we all pause to make Nigeria work then we go after our lifetime ambitions?
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Friday said its centres across south-eastern states have recently witnessed sudden turnout of prospective registrants.

INEC said it has, therefore, deployed additional 209 voter enrolment machines to the five South-eastern states as well as Lagos and Kano to ease the congestion at the ongoing Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) centres.

The commission disclosed this in a statement by its National Commissioner and Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee in Abuja on Friday.

Mr Okoye said that the commission received reports from states indicating an unprecedented surge in the number of citizens that wished to register as voters and the challenges they faced across the country.

He said that the reports indicated that in some states, sudden turnout of prospective registrants was overwhelming.

Consequently, the commission convened an urgent meeting with all the Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs) on Thursday, to review the situation so that eligible Nigerians who wish to register are able to do so.

The necessity to urgently deploy more voter enrolment machines to ease the congestion at the registration centres was identified as a priority.

In response, the commission has immediately released additional 209 machines deployed mainly to the five South Eastern States, Lagos and Kano where the pressure is most acute.

The commission will monitor the situation over the next few days. Thereafter, it will meet to review the progress of the exercise, he said.

Mr Okoye said that every step would be taken and all options would be explored to ensure that eligible Nigerians were given the opportunity to register as voters.

The commission appeals for patience and understanding of all citizens.

Every Nigerian who is 18 years of age and above has the constitutional right to register and vote in any part of the country he/she resides without let or hindrance, he said.

Mr Okoye said that the sudden surge was an affirmation of the increasing confidence Nigerians have in INEC electoral process.

He said that the commission would continue to ensure that the confidence was sustained.

(NAN)
The FCT High Court has set aside its earlier judgement barring the Federal Capital Territory minister, Mohammed Bello, from inaugurating the newly elected council chairmen and councils.

In its May 13 judgement, the court had granted a one year extension to the outgoing chairmen and councillors of the six FCT Area Councils, thereby leading to the suspension of the May 19 inauguration ceremony of the newly elected council chairmen.

In protest to the FCT Ministers compliance with the ruling, supporters of the six chairmen and 62 councillors on February 12 took to the streets and highways within Abuja to express their grievances.

PREMIUM TIMES reported Mr Bellos defence and how he said his decision not to inaugurate the elected executives were backed by the court order.

Admitting to his mistake vacated his first judgment, Justice Ibrahim Mohammed, on Thursday, ordered that newly directed that the new area council chairmen who were elected and issued certificates of return be sworn-in with immediate effect.

In compliance with the new judgement, the minister, in a statement issued on Friday after obtaining a copy of the verdict, slated the inauguration for June 14.

We want to reiterate that as a law-abiding organisation, the FCTA will equally obey this new judgement just as it had complied with the earlier judgement. The Chairmen shall accordingly be inaugurated at 10:00hrs prompt on Tuesday, June 14, 2022. Further details will be provided in due course.

Residents are once again reminded that the FCT is a creation of law and all actions of the FCT Administration are guided by the rule of law and this case will not be an exception, the ministrys spokesperson, Anthony Ogunleye, said the statement.
The presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Bola Tinubu, on Friday, continued his fence-mending within the party with visits to some former presidential aspirants in the just concluded primary election.

Mr Tinubu visited the governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello, and former governors of Rivers and Akwa-Ibom State, Rotimi Amaechi, and Godswill Akpabio.

They were all presidential aspirants of the party.

During the primary election on Tuesday, Mr Akpabio stepped down for the former Lagos State governor, who eventually won the election with 1,271 votes.

Mr Amaechi had polled 316 votes and the Kogi State governor got 47 votes.

Mr Tinubu was accompanied by the governor of Lagos, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, Governor Umar Ganduje of Kano, Bello Matawella of Zamfara and Adams Oshiomhole, a former governor of Edo State

While hosting the team, Mr Bello said he would donate his campaign office to Mr Tinubu.

Today, I have collapsed my President Campaign Organisation. I am donating my campaign organisation secretariat to you, he said.

In his reaction, Mr Tinubu described Mr Bello as his son. He also praised President Muhammadu Buhari for providing the needed level playing field.

The man of the convention, the man of democracy for that day is Muhammadu Buhari. He said, if you want to run, run; you want to crawl, crawl; you want to dance, dance, he said.

In the home of Mr Amaechi, the ex-governor of Lagos said they had a genuine discussion among family members.

We had a genuine conversation. There will always be anger and disagreement. A loss of oneness is a loss of hope. We have had a fruitful discussion. We have resolved to work together, Mr Tinubu said

The same trip was also made to the home of Mr Akpabio.

Mr Akpabio was the first to withdraw from the race and backed the eventual winner.

PREMIUM TIMES had reported how Mr Tinubu paid the vice president a surprise visit at his office on Thursday.
The residents of Tior-Tyu Mbakor, a community in Tarka Local Government Area of Benue State, said they had no forewarning of the impending attack on the community on April 10. When gunshots rang out in the night, Msugh Iorver, 42, was already asleep.

His wife said she woke him up, and they both tried to run out of their home quickly. Dazed, Mr Iorver couldnt run as fast. He was seized by the assailants and taken away. His decapitated body was found three days later.

I hid in the bush till morning. I met other villagers who asked me that they learnt I was taken hostage by the Fulani with my husband, I said no, Msurshima Iorver said. Then today, their bodies were discovered in the bush  three persons.

They had been married for over 10 years although they had no child. Mrs Iorver said her husband was kind and loving. Overwhelmed by grief, she wept as her husband was interred in a body-bag under the scorching sun behind their thatched mud house. The family said they had no money to buy a casket.

Dickson Anuma, who was also killed in the attack, had fled his native Tse-Alashi community in Guma Local Government Area of the state. Anthony Akosu, a survivor, said 32-year-old Mr Anuma moved to the community a month earlier after learning of a planned invasion of his home town by armed herders.

In preparation for the farming season, following incessant attacks at Tse-Alashi by invaders, Dickson Anuma arrived at Tior-Tyu last month. Unfortunately, he was killed two days ago during the night invasion by herdsmen, Mr Akosu said in April.

Gladys Okpara, a 45-year-old farmer and trader, said she miraculously escaped the attack with her four children. After being woken up by gunshots, she grabbed two of her younger children with the older ones tagging along as they ran into the bush where they stayed till dawn.

The police spokesperson in state, Sewuese Anene, said the attack was being investigated and that there have been more police deployment across communities in the state. She spoke a day after Tior-Tyu residents blocked the Makurdi-Gboko highway in protest over the killings.

The young people at Tior-Tyu told us that there is a route at River Benue that people can come to attack. They believed that is the route the attackers used, she said.

She dismissed the dominant narrative of reprisal attacks by invaders. We did not receive any information about any one rustled cattle anywhere. But if that is, is that the reason to take lives? she wondered.

Governor Samuel Ortom said similar attacks in the state were carried out by herders and defended his call on residents to defend themselves. The governor said the federal government had abdicated its responsibility of providing security for the people, and his call on residents to defend themselves was based on the helplessness of security agencies to protect citizens who are being mowed to death.

Benue, in Nigerias middle belt region, has witnessed violent attacks in recent years, many of them attacks between armed herders and indigenous communities. Perhaps the worst incident in the last seven years occurred in February 2016 in Agatu LGA where armed herders killed over 500 villagers and displaced about 7000. Residents said the figure was more.

A leader of the Gan Allah Fulani Association, Saleh Bayeri, one of the pastoralists groups often accused in the attacks, said at the time that the bloody raid was a reprisal attack against the Agatus whom he accused of killing, in 2013, a prominent Fulani.

From Tarka to Logo, Jato-Aka, Kwande and Katsina-Ala, hundreds of kilometres from Makurdi, violent attacks persisted over the years as the governments struggled to contain them. In May 2021, PREMIUM TIMES reported how over 100 persons were massacred and many others rendered homeless in Katsina-Ala LGA of the state.

Things seemed to have improved in recent months. But residents and local officials say deadly attacks have continued, unreported. The Tior-Tyu attack in April is one of the most recent incidents. As with similar attacks in the past, many children were affected.

The farming community, known for its yam and rice farming, is located along the Makurdi-Gboko highway, 20 kilometres from Makurdi, the state capital. Previous attacks left the community largely deserted. During a recent visit, there were only a few residents and security personnel in the area.

The April 10 attack started at about 11 p.m. and 15 people were killed that Monday, residents said. As families grieved over the gruesome killing of their loved ones, the injured, many of them children, were taken to the Benue State University Teaching Hospital in Makurdi.

When PREMIUM TIMES visited the hospital, two-year-old Comfort Iorshe and Doobee Iorhon, seven, were fighting for their lives. Comfort was shot alongside her father, Samuel Iorshe. Her mother, Faith Iorshe, said her 35-year-old husband was hit in his lower abdomen, and the exiting bullet shattered their daughters thighs.

The father, Samuel Iorshe had held her in the bid to flee when the attackers bullet hit his lower abdomen, killing him. Comfort was shot in the thighs with the bullet tearing her genital, Mrs Iorshe said while fanning the injured toddler as she lay sleeping at the accident and emergency ward of the teaching hospital.

Doobee survived miraculously after the attackers shot her in the back of her neck, tearing her left jaw, her uncle, Vershima Iorhon, who cared for the girl at the hospital, said.

Four-month-old Fanen Chen has been deprived of breast milk after the marauders shot her 25-year-old mother, Lydia in her breasts during the night attack at Tior-Tyu. Mrs Chens fingers were ripped apart as she tried to shield her daughter from the gun-toting attackers.

It was about to rain when the attackers stormed our village. Then they began shooting. So, I tried to run with my baby, they shot at us injuring me on my breasts and fingers, because I wanted to protect my baby, Mrs Chen said.

I was crying and calling for help, but the herdsmen kept hitting me with sticks after I fell down with my child. Now, I cannot breastfeed my baby as a result of the injuries  we are both starving, the distraught mother narrated.

At Anyiin in Logo local government areas, seven-year-old Linus Akpe and his three younger siblings Doofan, Terver and Aondona are sheltering at an internally displaced persons camp.

Their mother, Rebecca, recounted how armed invaders killed her husband  Raphael Akpe on his farm in April 2021. The attack of April last year, led us to the IDPs camp here at Anyiin, Mrs Akpe said.

Now, all four of my children are out of school because their father was killed on his farm, and he was our breadwinner, the widow said.

Renewed Attacks

Most local government areas of Benue have been affected by violence that has gripped the state for years. Areas like Katsina-Ala, Ukum, Kwande and Logo, which lies at the boundary between Nasarawa and Taraba States, have been some of the most hit.

Kundushima Akaa, former vice chairman of Logo LGA, said the attacks have not abated due to ineffective policing of rural communities. He blamed the shoddy implementation of the Open Grazing and Ranching Establishment Law in the state to the spate of attacks.

As someone who lost members of his family to the attacks, Mr Akaa said when cows are impounded by Livestock Guards for violating the anti-open grazing law, the communities within the area of the arrest become vulnerable to attacks by the armed herdsmen.

Grace Igbabon, the local government chairperson of Gwer West, said the attacks have created a lot of humanitarian problems for Gwer-West, her local government area.

The scale of the humanitarian crisis has seen thousands living for years as displaced persons in schools and camps with little adequate support from the authorities.

A lot of people have been displaced. They have no homes. They are occupying schools as IDP camps. It has affected education because the schools no longer have enough spaces to carry students, Mrs Igbabon said.

The people too are not going to their farms, as those who manage to sneak to their villages to get food are ambushed and killed.

The secretary, Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association (MACBAN), Benue State chapter, Galma Ibrahim, denied that Fulani herdsmen were unleashing violence on farming communities in the state.

I will not accept those allegations, because unknown criminal elements are the ones responsible for such attacks, he told PREMIUM TIMES in a telephone interview.

Usually, when cows are impounded, the communities where the arrests were made often get scared of reprisals, and abandon their homes. Then some of the farmers themselves move in and begin to cause havoc.

Governor Ortom disagreed. Since 2017, over 100 security operatives have been killed by the marauding herdsmen, Mr Ortom told PREMIUM TIMES. Therefore, the people are right by saying they would defend themselves. And I will support them.

Displaced persons abandoned

The displacements caused by the attacks on rural communities across the state have brought unimaginable misery and hardships to the people, Emmanuel Shior, the Executive Secretary of the State Emergency Management Agency.

People are being killed on a daily basis; the locations of the IDPs are dangerous, he said.

He said the federal government has failed to assist in dealing with the humanitarian crisis in the state.

We have an IDPs population of over 1.5 million, but the Federal Government doesnt talk about it. The Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs doesnt talk about it.

The problem of IDPs in Benue should be the responsibility of the Federal Government, Mr Shior said.

The population of the IDPs portends a big security problem; they are just there, vulnerable; ready to be used by anybody. Their sources of livelihoods have been destroyed, they are waiting for anybody that brings handouts to them, he said.

At the Anyiin IDP Camp, 100 metres away from the family home of Gabriel Suswam, a former governor of the state and a current senator, Utim MsughAondo, a displaced person, said, attackers cross River Benue from Nasarawa to destroy farms.

He has been at the camp since his community was attacked in 2018. Mr MsughAondo coordinates the camps daily operations. The facility holds 487 households with a population of 3, 409 persons.

Over time, he said their stay at the camp has become increasingly unbearable.

We are only staying here because there are armed herdsmen in our communities. That is what is hindering us from going back home, he said. Let the government arrest and prosecute the armed Fulani herdsmen, so that we can have access to where we buried our ancestors.

Samson Akpi, another displaced person, said, We are no longer comfortable here. If at the end of this year, the government does not take us home, we better go and be killed in our homes. Our living condition is bad.

At the Lower Benue River Basin Development Authority in Jato Aka, Kwande LGA, 60-year-old Iwanger Dazua, who fled Mbakyaai with her father and four children, after the community came under a midnight attack in October 2019, said their community has since been taken over by the invaders.

When her father died in early 2021, they could not take the body back to his ancestral home. At Debam, in Moon Council Ward, you dare not go near because armed Fulani herders displaced people and have built their own homes, she said.
PREMIUM TIMES has obtained images of some of the multi-billion naira assets allegedly owned by the suspended Accountant General of the Federation (AGF), Ahmed Idris.

The properties which are mostly in Kano, his home state in Nigerias northwestern region, are said to be worth billions of naira, significantly more than his monthly salary as a public officer.

Part of the assets is the Gezawa Commodity Market in Kano State.

Also, an Ultra-Modern Mall, located in Kano State, is said by sources at the EFCC to be worth more than N700 million.

From the pictures obtained, the mall is built with bricks and sited on a large expanse of land.

However, while the major exterior works have been perfected, work is still ongoing inside with facilities like elevators and escalators being installed.

The accountant-general had in 2021 launched Gezawa Commodity Market and Exchange Limited which he had openly admitted to owning.

Mr Idris reportedly made the remarks when he met with a delegation of the Kano Concerned Citizens Initiative led by its then chairman, the late Bashir Tofa.

The enclosed market is made up of over 20 blocks of shops painted yellow and a spacious parking space.

The space is occupied by fleets of pick-up vans. Our reporter cannot independently ascertain if the new vehicles belong to the suspended official.

EFCC investigations

Mr Idris is being investigated by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over allegations of corruption I involving over N80 billion in alleged looted public funds.

The suspended AGF, although released after spending nights in the EFCC custody, is also facing allegations of criminal conspiracy.

Our sources said the EFCC has for some time now been investigating a case of diversion of at least N80 billion in public funds which were allegedly laundered through some bogus contracts.

The companies used in laundering the funds have allegedly been linked to family members and associates of the suspended accountant-general, investigators said.

The Finance Minister, Zainab Ahmed, suspended the accountant-general without pay on May 18, following his arrest and interrogation over corruption allegations.

The minister said his suspension was to begin effectively on May 18, 2022.

Following your recent arrest by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on allegations of diversion of funds and money laundering, I write to convey your suspension from work without pay effective 18th May 2022, the ministers letter read in part.

Others connected to the alleged diversion have also been arrested.

A former governor of Zamfara State, Abdulaziz Yari, was also arrested over N22bn SURE-P fraud linked to the accountant-general.

Mr Yari is yet to be released from the EFCCs custody as he is still being grilled on other corruption accusations related to Mr Idris.

PREMIUM TIMES reported last week how the former governor is also being investigated for allegedly conspiring with the suspended AGF to siphon an estimated N84billion in public funds.

Those familiar with the matter told this newspaper that the diverted funds were part of the 13 per cent derivation funds meant for payment to eight oil-producing states.
AUBURN  Two historical markers acknowledging the work of historical suffragists were unveiled in the city Friday.

One, denoting the location of the Auburn branch of the Women's Educational and Industrial Union, founded by suffragist Eliza Wright Osborne, was installed on South Street, in front of the New York State Equal Rights Heritage Center. The second, marking the location of the Cayuga County Political Equality Club, founded by Emily Howland for the building that was at 9 Exchange St., is in the Exchange Street Plaza.

Over 50 people attended an event at the center celebrating the markers. Both markers are a part of the National Votes for Women Trail, which spotlights the people and organizations involved in the U.S. women's suffrage movement, with over 200 markers throughout the country. The markers were funded by the William G. Pomeroy Foundation and the federal Women's Suffrage Centennial Commission and other organizations were involved in the efforts and the event.

Karen Pastorello, who spearheaded the efforts to get the two markers, was one of the event speakers, which included Auburn and Cayuga County officials. Pastorello, author, historian and former director of the women and gender studies program at Tompkins Cortland Community College, said "we're here to honor Auburn's place in the suffrage movement." She added most early suffragists, including Wright Osborne, didn't live to see the passage of the 19th Amendment in 1920, which gave women the right to vote.

"Although not common knowledge, the work of Eliza Wright Osborne and Emily Howland can be directly linked to the passage of the 19th Amendment and by extension, to women's political and economic rights today," Pastorello said. "We have come together, both women and men, to recognize Eliza Wright Osborne and Emily Howland, two suffrage leaders who represent the collective efforts of generations of Cayuga County women."

Lithgow Osborne, a relative of Wright Obsorne, also spoke. Osborne said Wright Osbrone donated the money for the construction of the Women's Educational and Industrial Union building and supported it until she died. He also talked about Wright Osborne's background, including she was the daughter of Martha Coffin Wright, a suffragist and abolitionist who lived in Auburn.

Osborne added Wright Osborne's son, Thomas Mott Osborne had four sons and his great-grandfather had three sons, with no daughters.

"Despite the absence of daughters, the message was clear: Women are equals, their independence necessary, their education paramount. This conviction remains strong in my family. Its remains strong in my sisters and my cousins and our entire family," Osborne said. "We place this marker here to remind us of our progress, knowing that we have so much more to achieve."

Remarks by Larry Bell, historian at the Howland Stone School Museum in Sherwood, included the friendship between Howland and Harriet Tubman, the iconic abolitionist who lived in Auburn.

"Imagine what they talked about, imagine the conversations they shared. This is 1873, (the Civil War) had only been over for eight years ... they had a shared vision of a more equal society. You could imagine those few days, binding them together in deeper layers of friendship."

The other speakers were Auburn Mayor Mike Quill, Tracy DiGenova, a representative of Gov. Kathy Hochul, Auburn City Councilor Ginny Kent, who read a communication from U.S. Rep. John Katko and Courtney Kasper, visitor experience manager for the center, who read a letter from the Pomeroy Foundation.

The crowd later moved to the nearby marker acknowledging the Women's Educational and Industrial Building. Pastorello, Bell, Kasper, Lithgow Osborne and Frederick Osborne, who is also related to Wright Osborne, posed next to the marker as crowd members snapped photos.

Attendees then walked to Exchange Street, where the marker for the Cayuga County Political Equality Club was unveiled. Pastorello then explained why she spent so much time working on them.

"It needs to be commemorated, not only for our generation but for the future generations. I don't think women realize how hard women had to fight, over three generations ... fought just to gain suffrage and we're still fighting to hang on to our rights that were supposedly won in the 20th century."

Staff writer Kelly Rocheleau can be reached at (315) 282-2243 or kelly.rocheleau@lee.net. Follow him on Twitter @KellyRocheleau.

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At least 55 scrap metal collectors lost their lives in a series of attacks coordinated by Boko Haram insurgents in the last three weeks in Borno.

The Commissioner of Police in the state, Abdu Umar made this known while speaking on the sideline of a security stakeholders meeting on Saturday in Maiduguri.

The stakeholders comprised the Police, Army, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), and Department of State Security (DSS) among others.

The meeting was to deliberate and proffer a solution to the incessant attacks on scrap metal collectors in the state.

Mr Umar said the insurgents killed 32 scrap metal collectors at Modu village in Kala-Balge Local Government Area while 23 others were murdered at Mukdala village of Dikwa LGA, respectively.

He said the victims sneaked into the forests, located about 25 kilometers from the towns without informing the security agencies for scrap metal collection.

He said that Governor Babagana Zulum directed security agencies to adopt proactive measures to stop the killings to forestall future occurrence of the incident.

The state government is working to come up with a policy plan to checkmate these activities.

This is because the government have had bad experience where infrastructure and individual vehicles, especially in liberated communities are being vandalised by scrap metal collectors.

And it is surprising that the unions said none of the victims in Kala Balge and Dikwa were their members.

The government is really concerned about the welfare and safety of every citizen, it set up a committee to check these activities with a view to fashioning out ways to forestall future occurrences, he said.

ALSO READ: Police arrest man for allegedly raising false alarm of Boko Haram invasion

Also commenting, Umar Usman, Chairman, Scrap Metal Association in the state, said the victims of the Kala-Balge and Dikwa attacks were not registered members of the association.

He alleged that the victims were Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in the affected communities.

According to him, the association is monitoring the activities of over 3,000 registered scrap metal collectors across 27 LGAs of the state.

The chairman further refuted the alleged vandalism of critical infrastructure by its members, adding that the association liaised with the security agencies and community leaders before transacting on scrap metals. (NAN)
The striking Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has said the University Transparency and Accountability Solution (UTAS) is undergoing another round of tests by the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA).

This is the third test being carried out on the UTAS accounting software by the government agency.

ASUU President, Emmanuel Osodeke, said UTAS passed over 90 per cent in the first and second tests carried out on it, but that NITDA concluded that the payment platform failed some tests.

On UTAS, we are going for a third test. Like I told you, the second one, we scored 99 per cent. The test is ongoing, he said.

Mr Osodeke, who spoke on Human Rights Radio in Abuja on Saturday, also touched on several issues surrounding the ongoing strike and why the strike has lingered.

ASUU had embarked on the current strike on February 14 for an initial four-week period. But following the governments failure to heed the unions requests, it has continued to roll it over, and it is now more than 140 days.

ASUU has previously told PREMIUM TIMES that the deployment of UTAS, which is dependent on NITDAs approval, is one of the two core demands of the union. The other is the renegotiation of the 2009 agreement that contains the welfare of the lecturers.

ASUUs other demands include the release of white papers on reports of the presidential visitation panels to universities and the proliferation of universities especially by the state governments.

When he spoke on Saturday, Mr Osodeke accused NITDA of already showing signs of bias because the ministry is already interfering.

The ASUU president suggested that the tests are being frustrated due to his unions opposition to the professorship awarded the minister of communications and digital economy, Isa Pantami.

NITDA is an agency under Mr Pantamis ministry and ASUU has consistently suggested that its opposition to his professorship is stalling the approval certification of UTAS.

NITDA had earlier denied the allegation and said the software was only undergoing due tests.

Meeting Briggs-led committee

Meanwhile, ASUU said it has met the Nimi Briggs-led committee on renegotiation of the 2009 agreement, and is hoping that it will not be stalled like that of the Munzali Jibril-led committee.

The ASUU president, who said the suspension of the strike depends on the outcome of the meetings with the government, however, refused to elaborate on the ongoing negotiations.

The FGN-ASUU 2009 Munzali Jibril-led renegotiation committee had concluded renegotiation with ASUU and came up with a draft document in May 2021. But the government said the recommendations in the draft were not feasible for implementation.

Speaking on autonomy for universities, Mr Osodeke faulted a situation where universities need permission from the head of service before they can employ.

He also condemned the use of federal character in staff employment saying the process should be solely by merit.

A vice chancellor cannot employ a professor without getting permission from the head of civil service, which is against all the rules in the world. Who is a head of civil service compared to a vice-chancellor, he said.

He added: You employ a professor and federal character commission will run after you saying you did not follow federal character principle. In which country do you use federal character to employ a professor. You employ a professor by merit.

On the incessant industrial actions by the union, ASUU said the governments insincerity has always been the main driver of its actions.

He recalled how the administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan had promised to pay N220 billion yearly for six years, but failed woefully in implementing the agreement.

According to Mr Osodeke, only N50 billion of that amount has been paid since 2014.

He said: He (Mr Jonathan) called us to a meeting and told us; if we have to sit for three days, we have to finish the meeting before we go. We met for 14 hours with him and we agreed that N1.3 trillion should be spread over six years as the government cant just bring N1.3 trillion at a go. They would release N200 billion initially, then every year they will release N220 billion for the system, which he released, but we later found out that he took out from TETFund without informing the public.

But since 2014 and now, this government has only given N50 billion naira for all the Nigerian public universities, there are about 90 of them now.

Mr Osodeke also condemned the proliferation of universities, especially by state governors who he noted could not fund them and yet go ahead to create more universities.

He said ASUU is not against the creation of new universities but that the government should set aside funds to fund them for five to ten years before they start to benefit from TETFund.

Qosim Suleiman is a reporter at Premium Times in partnership with Report for the World, which matches local newsrooms with talented emerging journalists to report on under-covered issues around the globe.
I returned to the hospital the following morning to see him. He was sleeping and breathing normally, without being unconscious. By evening, however, the rhythm of his breathing had become a bit faster At 11.33 pm on that Saturday, his breathing stopped, and his prayers had been answered.

Tick tick tick And the breath stopped suddenly at 11.33 p.m. on Saturday, June 4.

It was the moment I lost my beloved motherly father and brotherly friend; my dad, Imam Abdulhameed Shuaib Agaka (PhD).

I had arrived Ilorin on Friday and met him at a private hospital where he had been admitted for the treatment of malaria. I gently collected the prayer rosary from his fingers and held his hand gently, even if a bit tightly He responded with a very brief smile, without uttering a word.

Inside me, I felt that his prayer over the past two years was about to be answered. Yet, I refused to accept that it could come so soon. I recall that on his 75th birth in February 2020, he told me, as the eldest child and in the midst of my siblings, that we should be strong, as he would soon depart for the world beyond.

That encounter influenced my homage to him during my birthday on October 10, 2020, titled, A Tribute To My Father: Imam Shuaib Agaka.

While he prayed for his transition to occur, we prayed vehemently against it. We were not unmindful of the fact that he had been having a running battle with diabetes and hypertension. He was even advised to reduce his participation in public engagements, which was quite hectic, including his weekly Islamic radio programmes, sermons, advocacy visitations and other activities outside the house.

From that period in 2020, he had devoted more of his time to Quranic recitations, remembrance of the Almighty, and prayers and nothing else.

As I held his hands tightly, praying, and with tears rolling down my face, I had a sudden recall of the circumstances of the year 1998, when he finally agreed to accept the title of Imam Agaka, a community with close proximity to the Emir of Ilorins palace.

Since he had made up his mind, we couldnt stop him from leaving Kano, where he was fully established as a respected spiritual leader, Islamic preacher and Arabic scholar, even with a PhD in Arabic Morphology and Quranic Grammar from Bayero University Kano in 1992.

At that moment, I pleaded with the Almighty Allah to kindly grant my father more time, so that he could counsel and pray for me as he usually did, at least for the last time. I wanted to experience his jokes, smile, prayers and embrace, even if for only one more moment.

He voluntarily retired from the public service afterward and to start a new life in Ilorin.

His family compound in Agaka hosts one of the oldest Quran as well as Quranic centre in Ilorin, where members of the royal family, including the late mother of the current Emir Sulu-Gambari, learnt basic Islamic teachings.

Apart from his prayer to be buried close to the grave of his parents in Agaka, he had refused all appeals to travel outside the town in the last five years, not even for a visit to Abuja, for the fear that he could die far away from his preferred burial ground close to his parents.

We shared great moments together and he was always glad about his childrens accomplishments.

On May 26, when I told him about my plan to travel to Daar es Salaam in Tanzania for the annual African Public Relations Conference and Awards, he had urged me to return as soon as possible to Ilorin with the award, in order for him to bless it as he had always done on similar occasions in the past.

On my return, I received a message that he had a fever and had been admitted into a private hospital. Earlier on that Friday morning, I had packed the awards that I intended to present to him, as part of my most recent professional acknowledgements, which I was certain would cheer him up, and boarded a 40-minute flight to Ilorin. On arrival, I rushed to the hospital to see him. As mentioned earlier, he noted my presence by opening his eyes, but he could not talk.

As I collected the rosary of prayer beads from his hands, he was still using his fingers consciously in counting the Tasbiu (Muslim prayers). I clapped his hands and he responded with a brief smile.

At that moment, I pleaded with the Almighty Allah to kindly grant my father more time, so that he could counsel and pray for me as he usually did, at least for the last time. I wanted to experience his jokes, smile, prayers and embrace, even if for only one more moment.

I beseeched the Almighty to restrain the Angel of Death for another instant to allow me to present our latest publication and awards to him in a state of full consciousness.

We were consoled by the kind words of many leaders and scholars, and even the Emir of Ilorin, Alhaji Sulu-Gambari whose exhortation reminded us of how Imam Agaka had positively impacted Arabic scholarship and Islamic teaching in the North.

With my eyes raised to the high heavens, I implored: God, this man has devoted the last few years doing nothing else but just praying and praying and praying. Please spare him some moment so we can talk.

I was at this and hardly knew when my sister and in-laws took me away for medical attention in a nearby health centre. I was thereafter checked into a hotel close to the hospital, to calm down, while sleeping away the stress and trauma.

I returned to the hospital the following morning to see him. He was sleeping and breathing normally, without being unconscious. By evening, however, the rhythm of his breathing had become a bit faster.

At 11.33 pm on that Saturday, his breathing stopped, and his prayers had been answered.

I momentarily became an adult orphan and lapsed into deep grief. My thoughts were suffused with sadness, loneliness and an overwhelming sense of grief. I equally experienced fatigue, confusion and anxiety in heightened measures.

We were consoled by the kind words of many leaders and scholars, and even the Emir of Ilorin, Alhaji Sulu-Gambari whose exhortation reminded us of how Imam Agaka had positively impacted Arabic scholarship and Islamic teaching in the North.

It has now dawned on me how it really feels to lose a truly loved one.

My sincere apologies to all those whose calls I have been unable to pick or whose messages I am yet to respond to in the last week of a final caregiving leave in the honour of my late father. May we all find the fortitude to bear the deep losses that come with life when these come our ways, while still retaining the presence of mind to keep giving thanks to God despite everything.

Yushau A. Shuaib is Editor-in-Chief of PRNigeria, Abuja.
Gunmen have killed a youth leader of the All Progressive Grand Alliance in Utuh, a community in Nnewi South Local Government Area of Anambra State, Nigerias South-east.

The victim, Emeka Alaehobi, was abducted, Thursday, by gunmen from his residence at Ukpor community.

He was said to have been killed on Saturday, two days after his abduction, and his remains dumped at Utuh junction in the area.

Ukpor, where the victim was abducted, is about 11 minutes drive to Utuh, where the gunmen dumped his corpse.

The police spokesperson in the state, Tochukwu Ikenga, confirmed the incident to PREMIUM TIMES on Saturday.

He said the victims corpse had been removed before the police operatives got to the area where it was dumped.

Mr Ikenga, a deputy superintendent of police, said the police have launched an operation to track down the killers.

Worsening insecurity

Security in Nigerias South-east has deteriorated lately with frequent attacks by armed persons.

Anambra State has witnessed some of the worst attacks in the region.

The attacks often target security agencies, government officials and public facilities.

The latest attack comes less than three weeks after gunmen abducted and then beheaded Okechukwu Okoye, a lawmaker representing Aguata 2 Constituency in Anambra House of Assembly.

Mr Okoye was killed on May 21 with his aide, Cyril Chiegboka, six days after they were abducted along Aguluzigbo Road, Anaocha Local Government Area of the state.

The Nigerian government has accused the outlawed Indigenous People of Biafra of being responsible for the deadly attacks in the region. But the group has repeatedly denied the accusation.

The separatist group is leading agitation for an independent state of Biafra to be carved out from the South-east and some parts of the South-south of Nigeria.

The leader of the secessionist group, Nnamdi Kanu, is in detention in Abuja where he is facing trial for terrorism.
Not all of the election reform bills passed recently in the state Senate are bad bills.

But Sen. George Borrello, R-Sunset Bay, is right to point out a major flaw  no funding to carry out the states goals. Senators recently passed a package of legislation that includes a pay increase for election inspectors to $300 and coordinators to $350 in New York City; prohibiting conflicts of interest among board of elections employees; requiring mandatory training curriculum for poll workers; establishing minimum staffing levels for local board of elections; requiring election commissioners to meet certain qualification; making commissioners full-time employees of the board; and creating a way to remove an election commissioner.

The impetus for some of the bills was a botched 2020 House of Representatives election between Rep. Claudia Tenney and Anthony Brindisi that was officially undecided for roughly four months. A state judge ruled Tenney won the race by 109 votes and ordered the results to be certified. The legal battle included a judicial ruling on 1,100 affidavit ballots that were challenged and led to criticisms by the judge overseeing the case of county elections boards in the House district for a series of issues that led to confusion over whether some contested ballots were officially thrown out or not.

Some change is necessary. Elections officials involved in the race between Brindisi and Tenney were inconsistent, confused and ill-prepared to handle a difficult race during an election process made more difficult by quickly written pandemic voting rules. It makes sense to have more training and clearer expectations for local elections officials.

But if the state isnt going to back the new training and staffing rules with increased funding to local boards of elections, it will be on county taxpayers to foot the bill for new requirements from Albany.

 Dunkirk Evening Observer

Despite all the help wanted signs in Chautauqua County business windows, the countys work participation rate for temporary assistance programs is just a little more than half what it was 10 years ago.

There are many reasons for the decrease. Some who are on temporary assistance may have child care issues that keep them from working. Some may have transportation issues. Some may have hit the benefit cliff, a phenomenon that happens when those on public assistance find working isnt as beneficial to them financially because they lose too much in state-offered benefits. Some may simply be choosing not to work until they dont have a choice. Some may be holding out for employers to offer higher wages.

Whatever the reason, a 5.7% work participation rate in Chautauqua County is troubling. At least Chautauqua County has only seen a 4.3% decrease in work participation rate.

The states paltry 10.8% rate is downright alarming. Ten years ago the states work participation rate was 34.2%. Its worth keeping in mind that nothing changed at the state level during a legislative session in which Democrats in both houses of the state Legislature thought it was worthwhile to pass some truly head-scratching bills, like one that allows EMS responders to provide basic life-saving help to pets in the midst of an EMS shortage. Yet the states pitiful workforce participation rate escaped legislative attention.

Chautauqua County officials are working to reverse the countys low workforce participation rate. We wish we could say the same of Democrats in the state Legislature.

 Jamestown Post-Journal

Call us the Not-So-Big Apple: Census data show New York City lost a staggering 300,000 residents from April 2020 to June 2021.

NYC bureaucrats argue the 2020-2021 numbers are driven by the COVID response that shuttered schools and sent businesses reeling. Yes, this response was disastrous. People couldnt shop, work or get their kids educated for months on end, so its a miracle more didnt flee.

And now a mainstay of the citys life, office work, has changed. Gotham will be lucky to get back to 70% of pre-pandemic office occupancy.

But blaming only COVID lets the authors of the bigger catastrophe off the hook, as the pandemic only accelerated a longer trend. New Yorks population has been shrinking for years, more so relative to the nation: We had 45 House seats in 1952, 39 in 1982; next year itll be 26.

And now were headed off the cliff, as the Empire State has led the country in population decline at least since 2019, with a drop of 1.6% overall year on year as of July 2021. Net migration has since 2010 pushed us back below 20 million.

That collapse comes strictly by design, a result of progressive policies that drive up crime, wreck schools and crush small business and the middle classes with regulations, high costs and taxes.

From the Climate Leadership Community Protection Act, which is making it impossible for New Yorkers to pay their electric bills and locking in future supply shortages (i.e., blackouts), to our disastrous Raise the Age and no-bail laws, which have fueled a statewide crime wave, to our bank-busting budgets and state education leadership that opposes excellence, progressivism tells anyone who can afford it to leave.

The absolute population drop now underway marks a crisis point: Wall Streets been moving back-office jobs out of New York for years, and now big firms are moving their entire operations away. The markets themselves may stay here, but with vanishingly few people and a lot of computer programs doing the trading.

This falls elections may be the last chance to veer from the brink, if enough voters revolt.

 New York Post
During President Xi Jinping's latest inspection in southwest China's Sichuan Province, he called for efforts in overcoming difficulties in economic development while stressing that the dynamic zero-COVID-19 approach must be unswervingly upheld.

President Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, started his inspection on Wednesday, and visited the cities of Meishan and Yibin.

Promoting green agricultural development

Promoting agricultural modernization was highlighted when Xi visited the village of Yongfeng. Relying on the advantages of the rice industry and technology, the village has built the largest pilot test base of new rice varieties in the province.

After learning about local efforts to advance high-standard farmland development, boost grain production and promote rural revitalization, Xi said efforts are needed to strengthen the application and training of modern agricultural science and technology and actively develop green, ecological and efficient agriculture.

"Chinese people have the confidence to keep the rice bowl firmly in our own hands," he said, adding that it is important to ensure food security, particularly grain production.

Protecting ecological environment in Yangtze River basin

Protecting the ecological environment was another focus during Xi's inspection tour.

Protecting the ecological environment of the Yangtze River basin is the prerequisite for promoting high-quality development of the Yangtze River Economic Belt, said Xi when he visited Sanjiangkou, where the Jinsha and Minjiang rivers converge into the Yangtze River.

The Yangtze River Economic Belt covers nine provinces and two municipalities, accounting for over 40 percent of the country's population and economic aggregate.

China's top leadership has called for efforts to turn the economic belt into the country's focus for green development, the major artery for a smooth "dual circulation" of domestic and international markets, and the main force spearheading high-quality economic development.

Ensuring people's normal life and production

During the inspection, Xi also called for measures to facilitate employment of college graduates, promote scientific and technological innovation in enterprises, and enhance the country's capacity for independent innovation.

The president was deeply concerned about the rescue and treatment of the people injured in the magnitude-6.1 earthquake in Ya'an of Sichuan on June 1.

He urged local authorities to make appropriate arrangements for residents affected by the quake, ensure the supply of daily necessities and make plans for recovery and reconstruction.

Speaking of recent floods and geological disasters in some parts of China, he called for early contingency preparations to safeguard people's lives and property. He also demanded swift rescue efforts after disasters to minimize casualties and loss of property.

https://news.cgtn.com/news/2022-06-09/Xi-Jinping-inspects-southwestern-Chinese-city-of-Yibin-1aIZLohONTG/index.html

SOURCE CGTN
LONDON, June 10, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- In February 2022 Judge Malcolm Simmons was appointed resident judge and Her Majesty's Coroner of the Falkland Islands, South Georgia, the South Sandwich Islands and the British Antarctic Territory. He is also Acting Supreme Court Judge. In addition to his judicial role, he sits as Chair of the Criminal Justice Committee and Chair of the Sentencing Guidelines Committee. Judge Simmons continues to advise on matters relating to justice reform.

Asked about his new role, Judge Simmons said "I am delighted to return to the bench and it is an honour to be appointed to serve the people of these Islands. This is a challenging role with a varied caseload including criminal, family, civil and probate. In addition, I am the coroner for a large geographical area."

The significance of the Falkland Islands to the UK is further demonstrated by the recent appointment of a senior Foreign Office diplomat to replace the outgoing Governor. Alison Blake CMG, former UK Ambassador in Kabul will become Governor in July.

Since 2017, Judge Malcolm Simmons has advised the senior judiciary of the Maldives. A Criminal Courts Bench Book drafted by Judge Malcolm Simmons is currently being rolled out by the Maldives judiciary. The bench book provides guidance for judges hearing complex criminal cases and include suggestions on how judges should facilitate giving evidence by victims of sexual and gender-based violence, vulnerable adults and children. The Bench Book will be available online to all judges and magistrates and will be regularly updated by a committee established by the Department of Judicial Administration.

Judge Malcolm Simmons recently conducted an assessment of the judicial training curriculum in the Maldives and has been instrumental in rolling out a new judicial performance evaluation policy. He has trained senior judiciary in legal reasoning and judgment writing, case management and sexual and gender-based violence. He has for several years run a training of trainer's program for judges and magistrates in the Maldives.

Judge Simmons is also coordinating a training program for court communication officers. He was recently asked to advise on the introduction of a digitalization program for courts.

In November last year, Judge Malcolm Simmons was again in the Maldives delivering a training program that was led by Judicial trainers Judge Simmons had previously trained as part of a 'Training of Trainers' program facilitated by the Maldives Judicial Academy and supported by the UNDP.



The training was delivered to 29 court presidents and senior judges and addressed sexual and gender-based violence, judicial ethics, case management, legal reasoning and judgment writing.



Judge Malcolm Simmons began the three-day training by describing the role of the judge. "The law that the courts are required to apply is becoming technically more complex. Social relations increasingly demand the intervention of justice. In our democratic and open societies, there are multiple and often conflicting rights and expectations that demand to be recognized and guaranteed. In addition, there are growing expectations of non-discrimination, equality, social equity and redistribution. Inevitably, Judges must administer justice within the constraints of limited resources." Simmons stated.

Judge Simmons went on to say "Knowledge of substantive law is no longer sufficient. In a rapidly evolving world where technologies, social context and law change with extreme regularity, judges must constantly improve and update their professional knowledge, skills and behaviour. Judicial education and training are essential to the development of an efficient, competent and independent judiciary."



Judge Simmons explained how the Bench Book will assist judges and magistrates in the Maldives criminal courts to interpret and apply the criminal procedural rules. The bench book provides explanations and examples for judges hearing complex criminal cases and includes, for example, suggestions on how judges should facilitate children and vulnerable adults and victims of sexual and gender-based violence when giving evidence; the process to be adopted when exercising judicial discretion; admissibility of evidence; legal reasoning and judgment writing. The Bench Book is the most comprehensive tool available to judges to assist them in the exercise of their judicial function. The Bench Book will be available online to all judges and magistrates and will be regularly updated by a committee established by the Department of Judicial Administration. Superior courts judges will be invited to contribute to the Bench Book that will contain decisions of Maldives appellate courts, practice directions, etc.



Judge Malcolm Simmons: "The bench can be a lonely place for judges. Judges are often required to make quick decisions in often complex situations. Judges sitting in small island communities do not often have the opportunity to meet regularly with judicial colleagues. The Bench Book will provide judges with an invaluable resource that will assist them in understanding and applying often complex legal provisions. The Bench Book is a 'living tool' that will evolve on a daily basis. It is critical that it is regularly updated."



The Criminal Courts Bench Book will be accompanied by a Sexual and Gender-Based Violence Bench Book and a Handbook for Judges on Legal Reasoning and Judgment Writing that have also been drafted by Judge Malcolm Simmons.

Judge Malcolm Simmons served as an international judge from 2004 to 2017 hearing war crime and serious and organised crime cases. He presided in some of the most complex war crime and serious organised crime cases in Bosnia & Herzegovina and Kosovo during their troubled post-war periods. He served as President of EU International Judges from 2014 to 2017. He is particularly well-known for his judicial reform work and has more that 20 years of experience training judges, prosecutors and lawyers. In addition to his work in the Maldives, Judge Malcolm Simmons has worked in judicial reform projects in Bosnia & Herzegovina, Kosovo, Serbia and Pakistan.

SOURCE Edward Montague Associates Limited
NEW ORLEANS, June 10, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Former Attorney General of Louisiana, Charles C. Foti, Jr., Esq., a partner at the law firm of Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC ("KSF"), announces that KSF has commenced an investigation into AbbVie Inc. (NYSE: ABBV).

Facing the loss of patent protection for its key drug, Humira, in 2023, and the resulting increased competition from generic drug products, throughout the first half of 2021, the Company promoted its drug product, Rinvoq, a Janus kinase ("JAK") inhibitor purposed for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis ("RA"). During this time, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced warnings resulting from studies of another JAK inhibitor, Xeljanz, which the Company downplayed as unrelated to Rinvoq. In September 2021, the FDA ordered "new and updated warnings" for Xeljanz, as well as other JAK inhibitors including Rinvoq, "since they share mechanisms of action with Xeljanz." On December 3, 2021, the Company announced the updated warning for Rinvoq to include "additional information about the risks of malignancy and thrombosis, and the addition of mortality and MACE (defined as cardiovascular death, myocardial infarction and stroke) risks within the Boxed Warnings and Warnings and Precautions sections."

The Company was subsequently sued in a securities class action lawsuit for failing to disclose material information, violating federal securities laws, which remains ongoing.

KSF's investigation is focusing on whether AbbVie's officers and/or directors breached their fiduciary duties to the Company's shareholders or otherwise violated state or federal laws.

If you have information that would assist KSF in its investigation, or have been a long-term holder of AbbVie shares and would like to discuss your legal rights, you may, without obligation or cost to you, call toll-free at 1-877-515-1850 or email KSF Managing Partner Lewis Kahn ([email protected]), or visit https://www.ksfcounsel.com/cases/nyse-abbv/ to learn more.

About Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC

KSF, 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 to recover investment losses due to corporate fraud and malfeasance by publicly traded companies. KSF has offices in New York, California, Louisiana and New Jersey.

To learn more about KSF, you may visit www.ksfcounsel.com.

Contact:

Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC

Lewis Kahn, Managing Partner

[email protected]

1-877-515-1850

1100 Poydras St., Suite 3200

New Orleans, LA 70163

SOURCE Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC
Vendor Landscape

The market structure is expected to remain fragmented during the forecast period. Vendors are deploying different organic and inorganic growth strategies to compete in the market.

The report analyzes the market's competitive landscape and offers information on several market vendors, including:

Alphabet Inc.

Apple Inc.

Comcast Corp.

Deezer SA

iHeartMedia Inc.

Microsoft Corp.

Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.

Sirius XM Holdings Inc.

Sony Corp.

Spotify Technology SA

View more about the market's vendor landscape highlights with a comprehensive list of vendors and their offerings.

Key Market Segmentation

Segmentation by End-User:

Individual Users:



Individual consumers' share of the music streaming industry will expand significantly during the projection period. Individual consumers are expected to have a large proportion of the global music streaming market during the projected period, owing to growing use of broadband infrastructure and mobile devices globally.



Commercial Users

Request a Sample of this report for more highlights on the market segments.

Regional Market Outlook

North America will account for 44% of the market's growth. In North America, the United States is the most important market for music streaming. The market in this region will increase at a quicker rate than the market in other regions.

Over the projected period, the enormous portfolio of music subscribers handled by music streaming service providers will assist the expansion of the music streaming market in the region.

Apart from regions, if we look at the country-wise market growth, the US, China, UK, Germany, and Japan will contribute to the highest market growth.

Download our sample report for more key highlights on the regional market share of most of the above-mentioned countries.

Latest Trends, Driving the Music Streaming Market

Market Driver:

The increase in mobile advertising spending is one of the primary elements driving the music streaming market's rise. One of the key driving causes for the rise of digital music is the rising adoption of smartphones and tablets around the world. Vendors also provide free mobile device download and streaming services. Mobile advertising is one of the most important sources of revenue for digital music service providers, which helps the music streaming market develop.

Market Challenge:

One of the major roadblocks to the music streaming market's growth is fierce competition and variable user preferences. Markets in emerging countries like India are extremely fragmented, with a large number of international and domestic companies. As a result, there is fierce competition among mobile app vendors, resulting in price wars. Because cost is one of the primary differentiating criteria for customers in these countries, pricing wars have a considerable negative impact on market growth.

Find additional information about various other market drivers & trends mentioned in our sample report .

Need More? Are You Looking for Information Not Covered in This Report?

Want to understand more about the various research methodology?

Evaluate a specific segment or region in detail

Identify key suppliers, customers, or other market players

Analyze market regulations

Do reach out to our analysts for more customized reports as per your requirements. Speak to our Analyst now!

Related Reports:

Transactional and Marketing Emails Market by Application, End-user, and Geography - Forecast and Analysis 2022-2026

Advertising Services Market by Type and Geography - Forecast and Analysis 2022-2026

Music Streaming Market Scope Report Coverage Details Page number 120 Base year 2020 Forecast period 2021-2025 Growth momentum & CAGR Accelerate at a CAGR of 14.83% Market growth 2021-2025 $ 24.42 billion Market structure Fragmented YoY growth (%) 14.00 Regional analysis North America, Europe, APAC, South America, MEA, North America, Europe, APAC, South America, and MEA Performing market contribution North America at 44% Key consumer countries US, China, UK, Germany, and Japan Competitive landscape Leading companies, Competitive strategies, Consumer engagement scope Key companies profiled Alphabet Inc., Apple Inc., Comcast Corp., Deezer SA, iHeartMedia Inc., Microsoft Corp., Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd., Sirius XM Holdings Inc., Sony Corp., and Spotify Technology SA Market dynamics Parent market analysis, Market growth inducers and obstacles, Fast-growing and slow-growing segment analysis, COVID 19 impact and recovery analysis and future consumer dynamics, Market condition analysis for forecast period Customization purview If our report has not included the data that you are looking for, you can reach out to our analysts and get segments customized.

Table of Contents

1 Executive Summary

2 Market Landscape

2.1 Market ecosystem

Exhibit 01: Parent market



Exhibit 02: Market characteristics

2.2 Value chain analysis

Exhibit 03: Value chain analysis: Advertising

3 Market Sizing

3.1 Market definition

Exhibit 04: Offerings of vendors included in the market definition

3.2 Market segment analysis

Exhibit 05: Market segments

3.3 Market size 2020

3.4 Market outlook: Forecast for 2020 - 2025

Exhibit 06: Global - Market size and forecast 2020 - 2025 ($ billion)



Exhibit 07: Global market: Year-over-year growth 2020 - 2025 (%)

4 Five Forces Analysis

4.1 Five forces summary

Exhibit 08: Five forces analysis 2020 & 2025

4.2 Bargaining power of buyers

Exhibit 09: Bargaining power of buyers

4.3 Bargaining power of suppliers

Exhibit 10: Bargaining power of suppliers

4.4 Threat of new entrants

Exhibit 11: Threat of new entrants

4.5 Threat of substitutes

Exhibit 12: Threat of substitutes

4.6 Threat of rivalry

Exhibit 13: Threat of rivalry

4.7 Market condition

Exhibit 14: Market condition - Five forces 2020

5 Market Segmentation by End-user

5.1 Market segments

Exhibit 15: End-user - Market share 2020-2025 (%)

5.2 Comparison by End-user

Exhibit 16: Comparison by End-user

5.3 Individual users - Market size and forecast 2020-2025

Exhibit 17: Individual users - Market size and forecast 2020-2025 ($ billion)



Exhibit 18: Individual users - Year-over-year growth 2020-2025 (%)

5.4 Commercial users - Market size and forecast 2020-2025

Exhibit 19: Commercial users - Market size and forecast 2020-2025 ($ billion)



Exhibit 20: Commercial users - Year-over-year growth 2020-2025 (%)

5.5 Market opportunity by End-user

Exhibit 21: Market opportunity by End-user

6 Market Segmentation by Type

6.1 Market segments

Exhibit 22: Type - Market share 2020-2025 (%)

6.2 Comparison by Type

Exhibit 23: Comparison by Type

6.3 Free - Market size and forecast 2020-2025

Exhibit 24: Free - Market size and forecast 2020-2025 ($ billion)



Exhibit 25: Free - Year-over-year growth 2020-2025 (%)

6.4 Paid - Market size and forecast 2020-2025

Exhibit 26: Paid - Market size and forecast 2020-2025 ($ billion)



Exhibit 27: Paid - Year-over-year growth 2020-2025 (%)

6.5 Market opportunity by Type

Exhibit 28: Market opportunity by Type

7 Customer landscape

8 Geographic Landscape

8.1 Geographic segmentation

Exhibit 30: Market share by geography 2020-2025 (%)

8.2 Geographic comparison

Exhibit 31: Geographic comparison

8.3 North America - Market size and forecast 2020-2025

- Market size and forecast 2020-2025 Exhibit 32: North America - Market size and forecast 2020-2025 ($ billion)

- Market size and forecast 2020-2025 ($ billion)

Exhibit 33: North America - Year-over-year growth 2020-2025 (%)

8.4 Europe - Market size and forecast 2020-2025

- Market size and forecast 2020-2025 Exhibit 34: Europe - Market size and forecast 2020-2025 ($ billion)

- Market size and forecast 2020-2025 ($ billion)

Exhibit 35: Europe - Year-over-year growth 2020-2025 (%)

8.5 APAC - Market size and forecast 2020-2025

Exhibit 36: APAC - Market size and forecast 2020-2025 ($ billion)



Exhibit 37: APAC - Year-over-year growth 2020-2025 (%)

8.6 South America - Market size and forecast 2020-2025

- Market size and forecast 2020-2025 Exhibit 38: South America - Market size and forecast 2020-2025 ($ billion)

- Market size and forecast 2020-2025 ($ billion)

Exhibit 39: South America - Year-over-year growth 2020-2025 (%)

8.7 MEA - Market size and forecast 2020-2025

Exhibit 40: MEA - Market size and forecast 2020-2025 ($ billion)



Exhibit 41: MEA - Year-over-year growth 2020-2025 (%)

8.8 Key leading countries

Exhibit 42: Key leading countries

8.9 Market opportunity by geography

Exhibit 43: Market opportunity by geography

9 Drivers, Challenges, and Trends

9.1 Market drivers

9.2 Market challenges

Exhibit 44: Impact of drivers and challenges

9.3 Market trends

10 Vendor Landscape

10.1 Vendor landscape

Exhibit 45: Vendor landscape

10.2 Landscape disruption

Exhibit 46: Landscape disruption



Exhibit 47: Industry risks

11 Vendor Analysis

11.1 Vendors covered

Exhibit 48: Vendors covered

11.2 Market positioning of vendors

Exhibit 49: Market positioning of vendors

11.3 Alphabet Inc.

11.4 Apple Inc.

Exhibit 55: Apple Inc. - Overview



Exhibit 56: Apple Inc. - Business segments



Exhibit 57: Apple Inc. - Key news



Exhibit 58: Apple Inc. - Key offerings



Exhibit 59: Apple Inc. - Segment focus

11.5 Comcast Corp.

Exhibit 60: Comcast Corp. - Overview



Exhibit 61: Comcast Corp. - Business segments



Exhibit 62: Comcast Corp. - Key offerings



Exhibit 63: Comcast Corp. - Segment focus

11.6 Deezer SA

Exhibit 64: Deezer SA - Overview



Exhibit 65: Deezer SA - Product and service



Exhibit 66: Deezer SA - Key offerings

11.7 iHeartMedia Inc.

Exhibit 67: iHeartMedia Inc. - Overview



Exhibit 68: iHeartMedia Inc. - Product and service



Exhibit 69: iHeartMedia Inc. - Key news



Exhibit 70: iHeartMedia Inc. - Key offerings

11.8 Microsoft Corp.

Exhibit 71: Microsoft Corp. - Overview



Exhibit 72: Microsoft Corp. - Business segments



Exhibit 73: Microsoft Corp. - Key news



Exhibit 74: Microsoft Corp. - Key offerings



Exhibit 75: Microsoft Corp. - Segment focus

11.9 Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.

Exhibit 76: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd. - Overview



Exhibit 77: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd. - Business segments



Exhibit 78: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd. - Key news



Exhibit 79: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd. - Key offerings



Exhibit 80: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd. - Segment focus

11.10 Sirius XM Holdings Inc.

Exhibit 81: Sirius XM Holdings Inc. - Overview



Exhibit 82: Sirius XM Holdings Inc. - Business segments



Exhibit 83: Sirius XM Holdings Inc. - Key offerings



Exhibit 84: Sirius XM Holdings Inc. - Segment focus

11.11 Sony Corp.

Exhibit 85: Sony Corp. - Overview



Exhibit 86: Sony Corp. - Business segments



Exhibit 87: Sony Corp. - Key news



Exhibit 88: Sony Corp. - Key offerings



Exhibit 89: Sony Corp. - Segment focus

11.12 Spotify Technology SA

Exhibit 90: Spotify Technology SA - Overview



Exhibit 91: Spotify Technology SA - Business segments



Exhibit 92: Spotify Technology SA - Key news



Exhibit 93: Spotify Technology SA - Key offerings



Exhibit 94: Spotify Technology SA - Segment focus

12 Appendix

12.1 Scope of the report

12.2 Currency conversion rates for US$

Exhibit 95: Currency conversion rates for US$

12.3 Research methodology

Exhibit 96: Research Methodology



Exhibit 97: Validation techniques employed for market sizing



Exhibit 98: Information sources

12.4 List of abbreviations

Exhibit 99: 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 provides actionable insights to help businesses identify market opportunities and develop effective strategies to optimize their market positions. With over 500 specialized analysts, Technavio's report library consists of more than 17,000 reports and counting, covering 800 technologies, spanning across 50 countries. Their client base consists of enterprises of all sizes, including more than 100 Fortune 500 companies. This growing client base relies on Technavio's comprehensive coverage, extensive research, and actionable market insights to identify opportunities in existing and potential markets and assess their competitive positions within changing market scenarios.

Contact

Technavio Research

Jesse Maida

Media & Marketing Executive

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UK: +44 203 893 3200

Email: [email protected]

Website: www.technavio.com/

SOURCE Technavio
The growth of global music market, growing popularity of hybrid synthesizers, and rise in demand for paraphonic synthesizers will offer immense growth opportunities. However, rise in demand for substitute products, growing preference for DIY synthesizers, increasing availability of pre-used music synthesizers will challenge the growth of the market participants.

To make the most of the opportunities, market vendors should focus more on the growth prospects in the fast-growing segments, while maintaining their positions in the slow-growing segments. Download Sample Report.

Music Synthesizers Market Segmentation

The retail shops sector will gain a considerable proportion of the music synthesizers market. The availability of skilled employees who can provide correct information on the numerous music synthesizer devices on offer is a crucial aspect that contributes to the success of retail outlets. Customers are better able to make informed judgments based on product knowledge as a result of this.

Furthermore, improving economic conditions are encouraging retail sector growth in APAC and South America, among other places, as well as a growing number of multinational merchants looking for growth prospects.

As a result of the large number of retail locations in the worldwide music synthesizers industry, this distribution channel generates the most revenue.

Learn more about the additional trends impacting the future of the market and the positive and negative consequences on the businesses., download sample:

https://www.technavio.com/talk-to-us?report=IRTNTR70484

Music Synthesizers Market Scope

Technavio presents a detailed picture of the market by the way of study, synthesis, and summation of data from multiple sources. Our music synthesizers market report covers the following areas:

This study identifies the continuous development of new products as one of the prime reasons driving the music synthesizers market growth during the next few years.

Music Synthesizers Market Vendor Analysis

The report analyzes the market's competitive landscape and offers information on several market vendors, including:

Allen & Heath Ltd.

Alphabet Inc.

Arturia Tous droits reserves

Casio Computer Co. Ltd.

Elektron Music Machines Mav AB

Focusrite Plc

KORG Inc.

Moog Music Inc.

Roland Corp.

Yamaha Corp.

Find additional highlights on the growth strategies adopted by vendors and their product offerings, View Sample Report .

Music Synthesizers Market Key Highlights

CAGR of the market during the forecast period

Detailed information on factors that will assist music synthesizers market growth during the next five years

Estimation of the music synthesizers market size and its contribution to the parent market

Predictions on upcoming trends and changes in consumer behavior

The growth of the music synthesizers market

Analysis of the market's competitive landscape and detailed information on vendors

Comprehensive details of factors that will challenge the growth of music synthesizers market vendors

Do reach out to our analysts for more customized reports as per your requirements. Speak to our Analyst now!

Related Reports:

Disc Jockey (DJ) Consoles Market by Product and Geography - Forecast and Analysis 2022-2026

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Music Synthesizers Market Scope Report Coverage Details Page number 120 Base year 2020 Forecast period 2021-2025 Growth momentum & CAGR Accelerate at a CAGR of 2.33% Market growth 2021-2025 $ 62.9 million Market structure Fragmented YoY growth (%) 1.43 Regional analysis North America, APAC, Europe, MEA, South America, North America, APAC, Europe, MEA, and South America Performing market contribution North America at 48% Key consumer countries US, Japan, China, Germany, France, and Canada Competitive landscape Leading companies, Competitive strategies, Consumer engagement scope Key companies profiled Allen & Heath Ltd., Alphabet Inc., Arturia Tous droits reserves, Casio Computer Co. Ltd., Elektron Music Machines Mav AB, Focusrite Plc, KORG Inc., Moog Music Inc., Roland Corp., and Yamaha Corp. Market dynamics Parent market analysis, Market growth inducers and obstacles, Fast-growing and slow-growing segment analysis, COVID 19 impact and recovery analysis and future consumer dynamics, Market condition analysis for forecast period Customization purview If our report has not included the data that you are looking for, you can reach out to our analysts and get segments customized.

Table Of Contents :

1 Executive Summary

2 Market Landscape

2.1 Market ecosystem

Exhibit 01: Parent market



Exhibit 02: Market characteristics

2.2 Value chain analysis

Exhibit 03: Value chain analysis for leisure products

3 Market Sizing

3.1 Market definition

Exhibit 04: Offerings of vendors included in the market definition

3.2 Market segment analysis

Exhibit 05: Market segments

3.3 Market size 2020

3.4 Market outlook: Forecast for 2020 - 2025

Exhibit 06: Global - Market size and forecast 2020 - 2025 ($ million)



Exhibit 07: Global market: Year-over-year growth 2020 - 2025 (%)

3.5 COVID-19 impact and recovery of the market

4 Five Forces Analysis

4.1 Five forces summary

Exhibit 08: Five forces analysis 2020 & 2025

4.2 Bargaining power of buyers

Exhibit 09: Bargaining power of buyers

4.3 Bargaining power of suppliers

Exhibit 10: Bargaining power of suppliers

4.4 Threat of new entrants

Exhibit 11: Threat of new entrants

4.5 Threat of substitutes

Exhibit 12: Threat of substitutes

4.6 Threat of rivalry

Exhibit 13: Threat of rivalry

4.7 Market condition

Exhibit 14: Market condition - Five forces 2020

5 Market Segmentation by Distribution channel

5.1 Market segments

Exhibit 15: Distribution channel - Market share 2020-2025 (%)

5.2 Comparison by Distribution channel

Exhibit 16: Comparison by Distribution channel

5.3 Retail stores - Market size and forecast 2020-2025

Exhibit 17: Retail stores - Market size and forecast 2020-2025 ($ million)



Exhibit 18: Retail stores - Year-over-year growth 2020-2025 (%)

5.4 Online - Market size and forecast 2020-2025

Exhibit 19: Online - Market size and forecast 2020-2025 ($ million)



Exhibit 20: Online - Year-over-year growth 2020-2025 (%)

5.5 Impact of COVID-19 pandemic and recovery by distribution channel segment

5.6 Market opportunity by Distribution channel

Exhibit 21: Market opportunity by Distribution channel

6 Market Segmentation by Type

6.1 Market segments

Exhibit 22: Type - Market share 2020-2025 (%)

6.2 Comparison by Type

Exhibit 23: Comparison by Type

6.3 Digital synthesizers - Market size and forecast 2020-2025

Exhibit 24: Digital synthesizers - Market size and forecast 2020-2025 ($ million)



Exhibit 25: Digital synthesizers - Year-over-year growth 2020-2025 (%)

6.4 Analog synthesizers - Market size and forecast 2020-2025

Exhibit 26: Analog synthesizers - Market size and forecast 2020-2025 ($ million)



Exhibit 27: Analog synthesizers - Year-over-year growth 2020-2025 (%)

6.5 Market opportunity by Type

Exhibit 28: Market opportunity by Type

7 Customer landscape

8 Geographic Landscape

8.1 Geographic segmentation

Exhibit 30: Market share by geography 2020-2025 (%)

8.2 Geographic comparison

Exhibit 31: Geographic comparison

8.3 North America - Market size and forecast 2020-2025

- Market size and forecast 2020-2025 Exhibit 32: North America - Market size and forecast 2020-2025 ($ million)

- Market size and forecast 2020-2025 ($ million)

Exhibit 33: North America - Year-over-year growth 2020-2025 (%)

8.4 APAC - Market size and forecast 2020-2025

Exhibit 34: APAC - Market size and forecast 2020-2025 ($ million)



Exhibit 35: APAC - Year-over-year growth 2020-2025 (%)

8.5 Europe - Market size and forecast 2020-2025

- Market size and forecast 2020-2025 Exhibit 36: Europe - Market size and forecast 2020-2025 ($ million)

- Market size and forecast 2020-2025 ($ million)

Exhibit 37: Europe - Year-over-year growth 2020-2025 (%)

8.6 MEA - Market size and forecast 2020-2025

Exhibit 38: MEA - Market size and forecast 2020-2025 ($ million)



Exhibit 39: MEA - Year-over-year growth 2020-2025 (%)

8.7 South America - Market size and forecast 2020-2025

- Market size and forecast 2020-2025 Exhibit 40: South America - Market size and forecast 2020-2025 ($ million)

- Market size and forecast 2020-2025 ($ million)

Exhibit 41: South America - Year-over-year growth 2020-2025 (%)

8.8 Key leading countries

Exhibit 42: Key leading countries

8.9 Market opportunity by geography

Exhibit 43: Market opportunity by geography ($ million)

9 Drivers, Challenges, and Trends

9.1 Market drivers

9.2 Market challenges

Exhibit 44: Impact of drivers and challenges

9.3 Market trends

10 Vendor Landscape

10.1 Overview

Exhibit 45: Vendor landscape

10.2 Landscape disruption

11 Vendor Analysis

11.1 Vendors covered

Exhibit 48: Vendors covered

11.2 Market positioning of vendors

Exhibit 49: Market positioning of vendors

11.3 Allen & Heath Ltd.

Exhibit 50: Allen & Heath Ltd. - Overview



Exhibit 51: Allen & Heath Ltd. - Product and service



Exhibit 52: Allen & Heath Ltd. - Key offerings

11.4 Alphabet Inc.

Exhibit 53: Alphabet Inc. - Overview



Exhibit 54: Alphabet Inc. - Business segments



Exhibit 55: Alphabet Inc. - Key offerings



Exhibit 56: Alphabet Inc. - Segment focus

11.5 Arturia Tous droits reserves

Exhibit 57: Arturia Tous droits reserves - Overview



Exhibit 58: Arturia Tous droits reserves - Product and service



Exhibit 59: Arturia Tous droits reserves - Key offerings

11.6 Casio Computer Co. Ltd.

Exhibit 60: Casio Computer Co. Ltd. - Overview



Exhibit 61: Casio Computer Co. Ltd. - Business segments



Exhibit 62: Casio Computer Co. Ltd. - Key offerings

11.7 Elektron Music Machines Mav AB

Exhibit 63: Elektron Music Machines Mav AB - Overview



Exhibit 64: Elektron Music Machines Mav AB - Product and service



Exhibit 65: Elektron Music Machines Mav AB - Key offerings

11.8 Focusrite Plc

Exhibit 66: Focusrite Plc - Overview



Exhibit 67: Focusrite Plc - Business segments



Exhibit 68: Focusrite Plc - Key offerings



Exhibit 69: Focusrite Plc - Segment focus

11.9 KORG Inc.

Exhibit 70: KORG Inc. - Overview



Exhibit 71: KORG Inc. - Product and service



Exhibit 72: KORG Inc. - Key offerings

11.10 Moog Music Inc.

Exhibit 73: Moog Music Inc. - Overview



Exhibit 74: Moog Music Inc. - Product and service



Exhibit 75: Moog Music Inc. - Key offerings

11.11 Roland Corp.

Exhibit 76: Roland Corp. - Overview



Exhibit 77: Roland Corp. - Product and service



Exhibit 78: Roland Corp.  Key news



Exhibit 79: Roland Corp. - Key offerings

11.12 Yamaha Corp.

Exhibit 80: Yamaha Corp. - Overview



Exhibit 81: Yamaha Corp. - Business segments



Exhibit 82: Yamaha Corp.  Key news



Exhibit 83: Yamaha Corp. - Key offerings



Exhibit 84: Yamaha Corp. - Segment focus

12 Appendix

12.1 Scope of the report

12.2 Currency conversion rates for US$

Exhibit 85: Currency conversion rates for US$

12.3 Research methodology

Exhibit 86: Research Methodology



Exhibit 87: Validation techniques employed for market sizing



Exhibit 88: Information sources

12.4 List of abbreviations

Exhibit 89: 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 provides actionable insights to help businesses identify market opportunities and develop effective strategies to optimize their market positions. With over 500 specialized analysts, Technavio's report library consists of more than 17,000 reports and counting, covering 800 technologies, spanning across 50 countries. Their client base consists of enterprises of all sizes, including more than 100 Fortune 500 companies. This growing client base relies on Technavio's comprehensive coverage, extensive research, and actionable market insights to identify opportunities in existing and potential markets and assess their competitive positions within changing market scenarios.

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Bowleven PLC, the Africa-focused oil and gas company, was this weeks best performer after it revealed it has a new partner on its Etinde permit, located offshore Cameroon.

The company has been informed by New Age (African Global Energy) Limited, the operator of the Etinde joint venture (JV), that New Age has signed a definitive conditional agreement with a subsidiary of Perenco SA to transfer all of New Age's participating interests in the Etinde permit, and operatorship of the Etinde JV, to Perenco.

Bowleven will continue to be entitled to a final investment decision payment of US$25mln from its Etinde JV partners which, following completion of the transaction, would include Perenco.

The news sent the companys shares 80% higher.

IG Design Group PLC (LSE:IGR), up 42%, enjoyed a relief rally after it extended the term of its existing banking agreement to 31 March 2024.

Our seasonal order book remains strong and this revised facility provides us with sufficient funding for our working capital requirements," said Stewart Gilliland, the chair of the stationery and paper bag company.

The annual general meeting of Parity Group PLC (AIM:PTY), the recruitment group, was probably a happy one after the company issued an upbeat statement.

The company said that as a result of cost reductions implemented in 2021, it has had scope to make investments in building capability in areas where the market is stronger and where it can deliver on new business opportunities in the second half of the year.

Parity shares leapt 29%.

Caspian Sunrise PLC (AIM:CASP) is apparently not as Russian as you might think, which cheered the market considerably.

The shares climbed 28% to 5.05p  back to pre-invasion levels  as the company emphasised its oil is Kazakh oil, not Russian oil.

It is only an accident of geography that the current delivery mechanism takes it through Russia. We sell in Kazakhstan to international oil traders, who can then sell anywhere in the world. We expect the Kazakh government shortly to rename the oil produced in Kazakhstan to differentiate it from oil produced in Russia, the company said.

To date there we have had no problems in accessing the Russian pipeline network to deliver our international oil and we do not believe there will be any issues in this respect no matter how long sanctions continue. Whatever happens, we do not see these pipelines being closed, it added.

Netcall PLC (AIM:NET), the customer engagement software firm, raised profits guidance after signing a multi-year contract with an S&P 500 international financial services firm.

The revenue for the initial three-year cloud subscription period is US$19mln and is expected to generate similar margins to Netcall's overall group margin, providing a significant contribution to the group's revenue and profit.

The shares rose 22% this week.

Renalytix PLC (AIM:RENX) shot up 23% this week after it announced that its KidneyIntelX bio-prognostic testing system successfully risk-stratified adult patients with type 2 diabetes and early-stage chronic kidney disease (stages 1 through 3) for key clinical outcomes, including heart failure hospitalisations and death.

These results show the potential of KidneyIntelX to enrich clinical trials for patients at higher risk of these complex conditions, which could improve trial efficiency for pharmaceutical companies,2 said Steven Coca, the co-founder of Renalytix.

Its safe to say the result of the drilling of Clontarf Energy (AIM:CLON) PLCs Sasanof-1 exploration well in Western Australia was a big disappointment.

No commercial hydrocarbons were intersected and the well was plugged and permanently abandoned.

Investors promptly abandoned the shares and the oil exploration company lost around three-quarters of its value.

Also taking a tumble was eve Sleep PLC, a humble mattress manufacturer that tried to pass itself off as some kind of sleep science company (it even had the trendy but annoyingly pointless all lower-case first word in the company name).

The company put itself up for sale as it believes it needs additional investment to accelerate its push into the wider sleep wellness space.

Floated in May 2017 at 101p, when it was valued at 140mln, the shares slumped 39% this week to a penny and a market capitalisation of just 3mln.

ADVFN PLC (AIM:AFN), the financial information provider, has been the subject of a power struggle in recent years and the market was probably wondering why this week as the shares lost a third of their value following a trading update.

Sales this year have been disappointing, the company said, with the run rate broadly flat, sales below the preceding six-month period and down year-on-year.

In particular, advertising sales have been disappointing reflecting among other things a softer market for financial media, the company said.

Full marks, at least, for not sugar-coating the bad news or leading with some inconsequential smidgen of positive news and then burying the bad news in paragraph 12, although it did wait until the fifth paragraph to drop the bomb about suspended dividend payments.
The owner of Yves Saint Laurent plans to make the luxury clothing designer a mega-brand - and some analysts are convinced they will.

Citigroup's Pavan Daswani advised clients on Thursday to buy the stock and said the share price could soar more than 40% to 740.

His broker note was published after a committee meeting held by the fashion brand yesterday, which focused primarily on the Saint-Laurent brand.

The company is due to host further updates on its Gucci and other retail brands later today.

Saint-Laurent accounts for about 15% of the fashion brand houses group sales and underlying earnings, making it the second-largest brand sold by the clothing house beside Gucci, alongside a raft of other fashion brands including Balenciaga and Alexander McQueen.

Citi anticipates that Kerings other non-Gucci brands will increasingly matter to its investment case, exemplified by the remarkable transformation of Saint Laurent over the past decade.

The investment bank said the companys management presented a detailed and convincing long-term plan which should turn it into a mega-brand".

Estimates for the Saint-Laurent brand in 2022 include the company closing in on its 3bn in sales goal and 30% underlying earnings margin. The brand has a medium-term target to generate 5bn in sales, which it seeks to achieve partly through new store openings.

The Kering group posted revenue of 17.6 billion in 2021 on a margin of 36.7%, increasing its net income by 47.7% to 3.18 bn.

It delivered earnings per share of 25.49 in 2021, a 48% year-over-year boost, according to data available on its website.

Kerings shares are currently trading at 524.40.
Kodiak Copper Corp. (TSX-V:KDK) CEO Claudia Tornquist joined Proactive's Stephen Gunnion with an update on the company's 2022 exploration program at its MPD copper-gold project in British Columbia.

Tornquist telling Proactive that the project is progressing well and drill results will begin to be reported in late June. Drilling of up to 25,000 metres (m) is on schedule and as of June 8, the firm said 11 holes for 7,065m had been completed.

Notably, she said this year's holes at the Gate Zone have hit prospective, porphyritic host rock between Gate and the historic Prime Zone to the north, and to 875m depth at the south end.
Beirut, June 11 : The Lebanese Labor Minister has called for international support for Lebanon in securing a quick and safe return of Syrian refugees inside the country to their homeland, the National News Agency (NNA) reported.

"Lebanon can no longer bear the burden of hosting Syrian refugees as the country has suffered heavy economic losses, not to mention its high unemployment and crime rates, as a consequence of hosting the largest number of displaced per capita," Mustafa Bayram was quoted by NNA as saying on Friday.

The Lebanese Minister made the remarks during his virtual participation in the 110th session of the International Labor Conference held in Geneva, Xinhua news agency reported.

"It is the right of Syria to take back its citizens for them to rebuild their country with international organisations giving them aid inside their country," Bayram said.

He also urged international compensation for Lebanon's losses in having hosted Syrian refugees for more than a decade.

In May, Lebanese Social Affairs Minister, Hector Hajjar told an international conference that Lebanon wants a compensation of $30 billion for hosting Syrian displaced people.

Lebanon remains the country hosting the largest number of refugees per capita, with the government estimation of 1.5 million Syrian refugees.
CHATSWORTH, Calif.  Veteran performer/director Jay Crew goes into surgery Monday to have his prostate removed after doctors discovered an agressive cancer growth on the organ, Crew tells AVN.

Following a recent biopsy, Crew said, "Two thirds of my prostate [showed] the form of very slow, non-aggressive [cancer signs], which the surgeon said most men over the age of 60 will have some form of that and it could take 20 years before it ever becomes an issue. But [I] have one spot and one third of it that is on the aggressive, but the low end of aggressivethey have a real weird scaling of how to say what is and what isn't.

"Anyway, we came to a conclusion that surgery would be the best option rather than trying to do any kind of radiation," he continued. "So just last week, I went in for a PET scan, and they confirmed that everything was isolated just to the prostate, there was nothing outside of that. So everything is looking very good."

A veteran of the Air Force who just turned 65, Crew is having the surgery performed at the Los Angeles Veteran Affairs Medical Center. Relating what he learned about the prostate's function during his consultations about the surgery, he explained, "It's kind of like just a gateway from your bladder as well as your ejaculate tubes that allow you to cumso one door closes which allows the other door to open to allow flow. So once they take the prostate out ... attached to the prostate is the nerve endings that allow for you to achieve an orgasm. These nerves hang at the bottom of it."

When learning this, he said, "My wife was with me, and says, 'I think you need to tell the surgeon what kind of work you're in.' And so I did, and he goes, 'Ohhh, okay ... well we better make sure those all come off without a problem.' The whole thing's being done robotically. So he [told] me that it looks like that will be fine. I should be 85 to 90 percent of what I currently am. But the downside is ... he goes, 'You'll have orgasms, but no ejaculate.'"

As to what that means in terms of the future of his performing career, Crew has an optimistic outlook. "I spoke to the people over at Jeff's Models as well as some of the other companies that I do shoot for, and ... you know, the industry has always called the pop shot the 'money shot.' I mean, it's almost what the entire scene is about. Or at least they make it out that way. So they said, 'Look, we'll just movie-magic it, we will [have] you only have to do creampies, that way you could just simulate it.' So we'll see what happens."

Crew said he expects to be in the hospital for two days and return home Wednesday, after which he'll be in bed for another three to four days recovering. He also noted that he'll be using a catheter for the first week following the surgery, and then need to go into rehab to learn how to control his bladder. "I didn't know that your bladder had a sphincter," he joked. "I only thought there was one, but no, you have two. But it happens to be a small one, and so you have to train it.

"But I just look at it this way," he concluded. "It'll be gone, and it'll be done, and I don't have to worry about it. Because it hasn't been a good thing in my family, so if I can add more years to me by doing this now, I'd rather do it, and whatever happens in the adult industry happens in the adult industry."

Those who would like to send Crew well wishes for his surgery and recovery may contact him via his Twitter page @jaycrew57.

Photo of Jay Crew from his Twitter page
Moscow, June 11 : Russian President Vladimir Putin and visiting Turkmen President Serdar Berdimuhamedov signed the Declaration on Deepening Strategic Partnership in Moscow.

The document published by the Kremlin on Friday sets out the priorities for future Russia-Turkmenistan cooperation in the political, trade and investment, cultural and humanitarian, and security fields.

In addition to the declaration, 14 other documents were also signed during Berdimuhamedov's official visit to Russia, his first foreign trip after the inauguration as the Turkmen President in March, Xinhua news agency reported.

After their talks in the Kremlin, Putin told a briefing that the meeting with Berdimuhamedov took place in a friendly atmosphere, underlining "the truly partnership and mutually beneficial nature of cooperation between Russia and Turkmenistan".

The Russian President presented the Order of Friendship to the Turkmen President "for his great contribution to strengthening the strategic partnership between the two countries".

Latest updates on Russia-Ukraine War
Bogota, June 11 : At least four people were killed by an explosion in the Colombian town of Cartagena del Chaira in the department of Caqueta, the Colombian government reported.

"At about 10:30 a.m, there was an explosion, a terrorist attack against a police patrol that was circulating in the sector. The victims were civilians travelling in a motorcar and on motorcycles," Mayor of Cartagena del Chaira, Edilberto Molina Hernandez said on Friday.

"The cowardly attack (...) which claimed the lives of four people, including a minor, is an attack against all Colombians," Defense Minister Diego Molano posted on Twitter.

A driver, a mother and a three-year-old child died, while a 57-year-old woman later died from her injuries, Xinhua news agency reported.

Two people who sustained injuries were taken to nearby medical centres, according to authorities.

Molano accused the Jorge Briceno Suarez structure of the dissidents of the former guerrilla group, the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), of carrying out the attack.

He also said that he had instructed the Army and the National Police to activate the necessary operations to capture and prosecute those responsible for the attack.

Cartagena del Chaira is one of the municipalities that, according to the Ombudsman's Office, are at risk of attacks in the electoral process that the country is going through, ahead of the second presidential round on June 19.
Moscow, June 11 : Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin signed an order authorising the country's withdrawal from the World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO).

The proposal was made by the Russian Foreign Ministry, which had reached an agreement with relevant government bodies, according to the published order released on Friday.

UNWTO members voted to suspend Russia from the organisation on April 27, when the Russian delegation announced its withdrawal, Xinhua news agency reported.

Later on Friday, the Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement that the UNWTO was monopolised by the European Union countries, "which use it in their own interests".

Moscow criticized the "politicisation" of the UNWTO's activities and the "discrimination" against Russia.

Latest updates on Russia-Ukraine War
Tunis, June 11 : Tunisian President Kais Saied held a meeting with visiting Libyan Foreign Minister Najla Mangoush to discuss the Libyan crisis, according to a statement released by the Tunisian presidency.

During the meeting on Friday, Saied recalled Tunisia's firm position on Libya's situation, which is based on supporting a peaceful Libyan-led and Libyan-owned solution free of foreign interference, according to the statement.

Tunisia rejects any attempt to divide Libya, according to the Tunisian President, who also reiterated Tunisia's constant readiness to support Libya in reaching a political settlement, Xinhua news agency reported.

For her part, Mangoush expressed gratitude to Tunisia for its active role in pushing for a peaceful settlement.

Earlier on Friday, Tunisian Foreign Minister Othman Jerandi met with his Libyan and Algerian counterparts over strengthening ties and regional issues.

During the meeting, the Ministers expressed the willingness to strengthen ties and explore new horizons for cooperation between the three north African countries.
Srinagar, June 11 : A Hizbul Mujahideen (HM) terrorist has been killed in an ongoing encounter between terrorists and security forces at Khandipora area in south Kashmir's Kulgam district, police said on Saturday.

"One terrorist of proscribed terror outfit HM killed. Operation in progress," police added.

There have been a series of anti-terror operations in Kashmir over the last few months in which many terrorists and their commanders have been eliminated.

Most of the operations have been jointly conducted by the police and the Army on the basis of specific intelligence inputs.

There were two encounters on Tuesday in Kashmir. One terrorist was killed in an encounter in south Kashmir's Shopian district while two LeT terrorists were killed at Chaktaras Kandi area in north Kashmir's Kupwara district.

On Monday, Pakistani terrorist, Hanzalla, was killed in an encounter between terrorists and security forces at Sopore in north Kashmir's Baramulla district.
Montreal, June 11 : The Consulate General of South Korea in Montreal and the Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) are jointly hosting a conference titled "30 Years of Biodiversity: A Legacy from Rio to Future Generations" on June 16 in Montreal.

The CBD is a landmark multilateral environmental agreement opened for signature on the occasion of the historic UN Conference on Environment and Development held in Rio de Janeiro in June 1992, where representatives of 178 states, including 118 heads of state or government, gathered.

Along with the CBD, two additional watershed multilateral environmental agreements were established: the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change and the UN Convention to Combat Desertification.

The CBD's main objectives are the conservation and sustainable use of biological diversity, as well as the fair and equitable sharing of benefits arising from the use of genetic resources.

The convention is designed for the realisation of those objectives through the guiding principles contained within it, as well as through the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety and the Nagoya Protocol on Access and Benefit-Sharing.

The CBD is deemed a second generation multilateral environmental agreement as it takes a comprehensive and holistic approach, in contrast with the preceding generation of agreements that took a more sectoral approach.

The CBD is also considered as one of the most successful multilateral environmental agreements in place, as it enjoys almost full universality with 196 contracting parties.

This year is the right moment for marking the achievements and successes of the CBD and discussing its future. Recent events such as the Covid-19 pandemic and the rise of climate change-related disasters bring about strengthened awareness on the importance of biological diversity.

This year is also a midpoint between the CBD's adoption and 2050, a target year of the long-term vision for biological diversity.

The fact that the 15th Conference of Parties (COP15) is underway and the Post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework is in the formulation on the occasion of COP15 makes this year even more meaningful.
Singapore, June 11 : The 19th Shangri-La Dialogue, hosted by International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS), opened in Singapore after a two-year Covid-19 pandemic induced hiatus.

The Shangri-La Dialogue is Asia's premier defence summit. It's a unique meeting where ministers debate the region's most pressing security challenges, engage in important bilateral talks and come up with fresh approaches together.

Since its launch in 2002 by the British think tank IISS with the support of the Singaporean government, the Shangri-La Dialogue, officially known as the Asia Security Summit, has been held annually except for 2020 and 2021, reports Xinhua news agency.

About 500 delegates from more than 40 countries are expected.

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida gave the opening keynote address on Friday during which he outlined Japan's vision for regional security.

He is the first Japanese Prime Minister to speak at the summit since 2014.

On Sunday, Chinese Defence Minister Wei Fenghe will address a plenary session during which he is expected to introduce the country's policy, principles and actions on safeguarding true multilateralism, regional peace and stability, and building a shared future for humanity.

Among the other prominent speakers, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky will address the forum via video link on Saturday.

On the sidelines, a trilateral between US Secretary of Defence Lloyd Austin, Japanese Defence Minister Kishi Nobuo and South Korean Defence Minister Lee Jong-sup is also scheduled.
New York, June 11 : The US Department of Justice announced that an Indian has been charged in a continuing crackdown on a gang from India that preyed on the elderly with fraud and physical threats.

On Friday, Southern Texas Federal Prosecutor Jennifer Lowery announced that the Indian citizen Anirudh Kalkote, 24, has been charged in a large nationwide conspiracy involving at least five people to commit fraud against the elderly.

He was in custody in Virginia and brought to Houston to appear in court, the Justice Department said.

Also charged with him is MD Azad, 25, an illegal migrant living in Houston, who had been arrested in August 2020, the Department said.

Azad's nationality was not disclosed.

They are charged with participating during 2019-2020 in a fraud ring which operated from several cities including Houston and targeted the elderly, according to the department.

Three Indians living illegally in the Houston area, Sumit Kumar Singh, 24, Himanshu Kumar, 24, and MD Hasib, 26, have already admitted in court to being guilty of participating in the fraud scheme and are awaiting sentencing, the Justice Department said.

"The ring tricked and deceived victims using various ruses and instructed them to send money." They allegedly used many techniques and one of them was to trick the victims into believing their computers needed fixing and pretended to be tech support to get access to their machines and collect personal information and bank and credit card data, according to the Department.

Another was to tell the victims that they had overpaid for their services and claiming to make a refund get access to their bank and credit card accounts and manipulate them to show excess refunds.

The members of the ring would then allegedly ask the victims to make up for the non-existent overpayment by sending money through Western Union or MoneyGram, or through gift cards or by mailing cash to alias names via FedEx or United Parcel Service, according to the Department.

They threatened bodily harm if the victims did not pay up, it added.

(Arul Louis can be reached at arul.l@ians.in and followed @arulouis)

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
London, June 11 : After examining Google and Apple's "duopoly" for a year, the UK's Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has decided that they "hold all the cards" in the mobile phone market.

According to Engadget, it is now consulting on the launch of a market investigation into the tech giants' market power in mobile browsers, as well as into Apple's cloud gaming restrictions.

In addition, the CMA has launched a separate investigation into Google's Play Store rules, the one that requires certain app developers to use the tech giant's payment system for in-app purchases, in particular.

The CMA has concluded after its year-long study that the tech giants do indeed exhibit an "effective duopoly" on mobile ecosystems, the report said.

A total of 97 per cent of all mobile web browsing in the UK is powered by Apple's and Google's browser engines. iPhones and Android devices typically come with Safari and Chrome pre-installed, which means their browsers have the advantage from the start.

Further, Apple requires developers to make sure their iOS and iPadOS apps are using its WebKit engine to browse the web. That limits the incentives Apple may have to invest in Safari, the CMA said.

The agency also pointed out that Apple enforces policies that prevent cloud gaming apps from being available to download from its App Store.

Under its rules, cloud gaming services would have to individually submit each playable game for review and approval if they want to be listed. The company eventually carved out an exception, but only to make services like Xbox Cloud Gaming available on iOS devices through a browser.

In its announcement, the CMA explained that the lack of intervention would allow the tech giants to maintain and even strengthen their hold not just over mobile browsers, but also over mobile operating systems and app stores.

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
Kabul, June 11 : The Taliban-led government in Afghanistan has rejected a recent report by the Human Rights Watch (HRW) which expressed concerns over the violations of human rights, especially those of women and girls, in the war-torn nation.

In a statement on Friday, spokesman of the Taliban's Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (IEA) government Zabihullah Mujahid said that citizens were currently being provided with better human rights than any other period in the country, reports TOLO News.

"The Islamic Emirate asks the UN and human rights advocate agencies not to listen to the propaganda... They must consider and accept the truth in the country. Human rights are respected in comparison to the past 20 years in Afghanistan," he said, adding that the HRW report was "incorrect and baseless".

Mujahid's remarks came a day after the HRW released its report which also called for an end to an exemption on travel bans of the IEA.

"Human Rights Watch has issued a new statement today calling for some specific action by the Security Council of the UN in response to the rising level of abuses by the Taliban against women and girls in Afghanistan," Heather Barr, Associate Director of the Women's Rights Division at the HRW, was quoted as saying in the report.

"In June, the travel ban exemptions that are currently in place for fourteen members of the Taliban leadership will expire, at that point we are asking the Security Council, not only to end those exemptions but also to consider whether there might be a need for a travel ban against additional individuals." Travel bans on some IEA leaders were first imposed in 1999 as part of the UN response to violent activities in Afghanistan and it was partially suspended three years ago to allow 14 members of incumbent Taliban government to attend peace talks, reports TOLO News.

Meanwhile, the UN Security Council will hold a meeting on human rights, particularly concerning women, in June.
Beacon UU: Annual Labyrinth Walk Service Jun 12  Flagstaff Community Labyrinth, 136 E. Paseo del Rio, Flagstaff. (928) 779-4492. 10-11 a.m., There will be NO LIVE SERVICE AT BEACON on June 12th. On June 12th at 10:00 a.m., please join us for Beacon's ANNUAL LABYRINTH WALK SERVICE at the Flagstaff Community Labyrinth. All are welcome! Please wear sensible walking shoes. Children are welcome to walk the labyrinth with a spirit of reverence or, under the supervision of their parents, to visit the nearby Sawmill Park. Unfortunately, the labyrinth is not currently wheelchair-accessible. Three parking options and a google map can be found on the "Where Is It?" page of the Flagstaff Labyrinth website: https://www.flagstafflabyrinth.com/where-is-it Perched on the edge of a small cliff, the Flagstaff Community Labyrinth, is composed of 15 tons of lichen-covered lava boulders. The path is quarter of a mile long. COME TO THE OPEN HOUSE AFTERWARDS AT PAUL AND MARYANNS HOUSE Following the walk service, you are welcome to mingle with other Beaconites on Maryann and Pauls fully-enclosable deck just across the canyon from the labyrinth at 140 E Paseo del Rio. If you're unable to join us for the Labyrinth Walk Service, consider dipping into our Beacon UUC YouTube library or watching the livestream of the 10:30 a.m. UU Congregation of Phoenix service. The worship Zoom link can be found on their home page: https://www.phoenixuu.org/. https://go.evvnt.com/1180655-0.

The Episcopal Church of The Epiphany Jun 11  The Episcopal Church of the Epiphany, 423 N. Beaver St., Flagstaff. 928-774-2911. 8 a.m.- June 12, 10:30 a.m., WELCOMING ALL: with Rev Alison Lee: SAT 5:30PM; SUN: 8:00AM & 10:30AM (COVID masks are required)- with organ, and congregational singing; IN PERSON or on-line at epiphanyaz.org ; 928-774-2911. https://go.evvnt.com/1189558-0.

Church of the Resurrection Sunday Church Services: May 8  740 W. University Heights Drive S., 740 W. University Heights Drive S., Flagstaff. 928-853-8522. 10-11:30 a.m., Church of the Resurrection Presbyterian Church in America (PCA): We invite you to join us for worship at 10 a.m. on Sundays at 740 W. University Heights Drive South as Rev. Joshua Walker preaches through the book of Acts. Please feel free to contact us for information on our mid-week gatherings and for more information on our church. You can find us at www.cor-pca.org and www.facebook.com/CORFlagstaff or we can be reached at corflagstaff@gmail.com and (928) 699-2715.

Flagstaff Federated Community Church: Please join us for in person services Sundays at 10 a.m. We are located at 400 W Aspen Ave. on the corner of Aspen and Sitgreaves in Downtown Flagstaff. All are welcome to our services. For more information about Flagstaff Federated Community Church please call our office at 928-774-7383, Mon  Thurs 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Living Christ Lutheran Church: Living Christ Lutheran Church is a diverse and LGBTQ-affirming community of disciples embraced by God's unconditional love and enduring grace. You are invited to celebrate with us God's love and presence in your life, grow in your discipleship, and leave empowered to be God's hands in the world. We worship through music, teaching, prayer, and the sacraments each Sunday at 10 a.m. with Rev. Kurt Fangmeier leading. We offer worship both in-person (masks are respected, not required; encouraged for unvaccinated) and online. Learn more about us at our new website: lclcflag.org.

Leupp Nazarene Church: The church, near mile post 13 or Navajo Route 15, has been holding services by teleconferences and doing drive-up meetings. For information, call pastor Farrell Begay at 928-853-5321. Teleconference number: 1-7170275-8940 with access code 3204224#. Services are 9 a.m. and 6 p.m. Sundays and 6:30 p.m. Wednesdays.

Christian Science Society of Flagstaff: 619 W. Birch Ave. The Christian Science Society of Flagstaff has opened for Sunday services while continuing to have them available via Zoom for online and phone. Wednesday testimony meetings are available only via Zoom. For phone Sunday Services: Dial: 669-900-9128, Meeting ID: 369 812 794#, Passcode: 075454#. For phone Wednesday meetings, dial: 669-900-9128, Meeting ID: 971 672 834#, Passcode: 894826#. The access for Zoom on Sundays is: https://zoom.us/j/369812794. The Zoom access for Wednesdays is: https://zoom.us/j/971672834. The password to use to enter both is CSS. We welcome all to attend our Sunday Services in person, or live by Zoom, at 10:00 oclock, and to attend our Wednesday Testimony meetings live by Zoom, at 5:30 oclock. Our Reading Room will be open on Wednesdays from 4:00 - 5:00 p.m. and Saturdays from 10-12 noon. For further information please call 928-526-5982.

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Bengaluru, June 11 : The Karnataka government has announced strict implementation of Covid-19 safety protocols from Saturday after fresh infections in the state crossed the 500-mark in the past 24 hours.

Wearing of masks in public places, social distancing and other measures will be strictly enforced with the help of police and civic authorities.

According to the state Health department, 525 new Covid cases were registered -- the highest in three-and-a half months -- pushing the positivity rate to 2.3 per cent.

Though the police has been roped in, a decision on imposing fines for violations of the protocols is yet to be taken. If the trend of steady increase in the count continues, then there will be no other way but to impose fines, a source said.

Since the past ten days, the state has been witnessing a continuous rise in Covid cases prompting the Technical Advisory Committee on Covid to recommend strict implementation of the mask rule. The government has directed the BBMP and district administrations to ensure that the people follow Covid Appropriate Behaviour by deputing marshals.

As per the data, the number of active cases (3,177) in the state have crossed 3,000 mark. However, no deaths have been reported. They are being treated at hospitals and residences.

The health department had conducted 22,000 tests. A total of 516 Covid cases were reported on February 26 and now again the number has crossed the 500-mark.
Seoul, June 11 : North Korean leader Kim Jong-un called for stronger "self-defence" measures to tackle "very serious" security challenges as he presided over a key ruling party session earlier this week, Pyongyang's state media reported on Saturday.

But there was no specific message issued from the fifth enlarged plenary meeting of the party's eighth Central Committee with regard to the possibility of the secretive regime carrying out another nuclear test, reports Yonhap News Agency.

The North stopped short of delivering new major messages toward the US or South Korea through the three-day high-profile session that ended Friday.

It instead announced the promotion of Vice Foreign Minister Choe Son-hui, who used to play a key role in denuclearization talks, to the post of foreign minister.

Foreign Minister Ri Son-gwon has been tapped to lead the party's United Front Department tasked with handling inter-Korean relations.

The North said that the right to self-defence is a matter of protecting national sovereignty, stressing that the security circumstance for the North is "very serious" and at risk of being further aggravated, according to Pyongyang's official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA).

He then reaffirmed the principle of "power for power and head-on contest" and urged efforts to accomplish the goal of bolstering national defence capabilities "as soon as possible", the KCNA said.

The KCNA did not specify whether Kim made a direct mention of the North's reported plan for another nuclear test.

During the party session, the North also focused on the issue of controlling the current Covid-19 outbreak.

Kim was quoted as saying that the state anti-epidemic work has currently "entered a new stage" from a blockade-based prevention system to preventing the spread of the virus based on both a lockdown and eradication of the virus.
Chitradurga, : June 11 (IANS) A Hindu fringe group in Karnataka has threatened Kannada litterateur B.L. Venu over his comments on the textbook revision issue in the state, police said on Saturday.

A letter, containing threats and warnings, in the name of "Sahishna Hindu" was posted to his residential address on Friday. The handwritten letter contains no address.

"You (B.L. Venu) have joined Socialist Democratic Party of India (SDPI), Popular Front of India (PFI) and Campus Front of India (CFI). You are supporting anti-nationals and aiding Opposition leader Siddaramaiah and former CM H.D. Kumaraswamy. You have to apologise in public for making light comments on Veer Savarkar," read the letter, police said.

It also objects to the author's comments that poisonous seeds should not be sowed in the minds of children.

The miscreants have asked him to advise the vicious group of 61 litterateurs in this regard, adding that there is great respect for Venu for penning a novel on the history of rulers of the region.

It is also mentioned that he has joined Left thinkers, Naxals, terrorists and supporting an anti-national organization like SDPI.

"Being a Hindu, you should stop raising your voice against Hindus. You need to lecture anti-nationals, political leaders and convince Muslim religious leaders," the letter said.

Not taking any chances, the Karnataka Police has started investigation.

Leftist thinkers, activists and writers like Gauri Lankesh and Prof M.M. Kalburgi in Karnataka were killed for their alleged "anti-Hindu" stands and remarks on Hindu Gods.
Washington, June 11 : International air travellers to the US will no longer require Covid test before entering the country from June 12, the media reported.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) will re-evaluate the decision in three months.

Reuters first reported the development that will allow people flying into the US not to take a Covid test before take-off, at least until the summer travel season is over.

According to the CDC, vaccinated and unvaccinated passengers had to get a Covid test done before they entered the US to date.

The only exceptions were children under two years old, who did not have to be tested.

The UK also allows travellers not to take "any Covid-19 tests" upon their arrival in England. Countries like Mexico, Norway, and Switzerland have a similar lack of requirements.

Meanwhile, two new Omicron sub-variants are on the rise in the US, adding to concern of health experts whether they may fuel a summer surge in Covid-19 cases.

The sub-variants, known as BA.4 and BA.5, were estimated to make up nearly 13 per cent of all new US Covid-19 cases in the latest week ending June 4, the CDC said this week.

BA.4 made up 5.4 per cent of the new cases, while BA.5 made up 7.6 per cent, according to CDC estimates.

The two sub-variants represented the highest percentage of cases in a region that includes Texas, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Arkansas and Louisiana, according to the CDC.

The US is currently averaging about 1 lakh Covid-19 cases and 300 deaths each day, the latest CDC data showed.

Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19)
San Francisco, June 11 : Cloud major Oracle, which just completed its $28.4 billion acquisition of electronic health records company Cerner, is developing a national health records database.

Oracle's board chairman and chief technology officer Larry Ellison said that patient data would be anonymous until individuals give consent to share their information, reports medcitynews.com.

"We're building a system where all American citizens' health records not only exist at the hospital level, but they also are in a unified national health records database," Ellison told the media during Oracle's 'The Future of Healthcare' webinar.

Ellison assured that Oracle's database will anonymise all patient data.

Oracle's new health records database will also involve the patient engagement system the company has been developing throughout the pandemic, the report said late on Friday.

Oracle is also working on the patient engagement system's ability to collect information from wearables and home diagnostic devices.

According to Ellison, the incorporation of wearables will advance clinical research even further by allowing more people to participate in trials.

"You can be at a rural hospital and share this information with your doctors and the people who are running the clinical trial. So it gives us a much more diverse population in clinical trials," he was quoted as saying.

Oracle in December last year announced to acquire Cerner through an all-cash tender offer for $95.00 per share, or approximately $28.3 billion in equity value.

Cerner is a leading provider of digital information systems used within hospitals and health systems to enable medical professionals to deliver better healthcare to individual patients and communities.
San Francisco, June 11 : Apple CEO Tim Cook wrote a letter to US lawmakers voicing his support for a recent bipartisan effort to draft a comprehensive federal privacy law.

In the letter, which was obtained by AppleInsider, Cook echoes many of his past talking points on federal privacy legislation. He said he was "encouraged" by the draft proposals recently introduced by a bipartisan group of legislators.

The legislation was introduced on June 3 by Representative Frank Pallone, the House Energy and Commerce Chair, and Senators Cathy McMorris Rodgers and Roger Wicker, ranking members of the Senate Commerce Committee, the report said.

Cook's letter is addressed to those three, as well as Sen. Maria Cantwell, chair of the Senate Commerce Committee.

Dubbed the "American Data Privacy and Protection Act", the bipartisan bill would provide a standard on what kind of data companies can harvest from Americans across the US. It would also ban pay-for-privacy practices and would enforce high levels of data security.

The bill would pre-empt state consumer data privacy laws, except for Illinois biometric privacy protections and a section of California privacy law concerning data breaches.

It also includes a private right of action, which would allow individuals to sue companies for alleged privacy violations, the report said.
Thiruvananthapuram, June 11 : In the wake of the "damning" revelation by Swapna Suresh on the involvement Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and his family in the gold and currency smuggling case in which she is the prime accused, M.R. Ajith Kumar IPS, Additional Director General of Police was shunted out from his post.

The development took place late on Friday night.

In her revelation early this week, Swapna had said that Shaj Kiran, a middleman who was trying to settle the case with her, had mentioned about a connection between Kumar and an additional director general of Police- Law and Order (whom she did not name, but gave his designation).

While Kumar maintained stoic silence, the ADGP law and Order- Vijay Sakhre said he has no clue of why his name was being dragged when he had no role in it.

Meanwhile, Vijayan who is yet to speak to the media after his candidate was humbled at the Thrikkakara by-election when votes was counted on June 3, has gone into a shell. Mediapersons covering his function in Kottayam, have been asked to be present inside the venue an hour before he arrives on Saturday.

Also, no body wearing a black face mask would be allowed.

This kind of caution is an exception as such guidelines are issued only when the Prime Minister or President visit the state.

Ever since the revelations, no media person has been allowed near him.

Reacting to the developments, senior Congress legislator and former Leader of Opposition, Ramesh Chennithala, who had gone hammer and tongs against Vijayan when the gold smuggling case surfaced in 2020, said on Saturday that latter is trying to escape by finding scapegoats.

"His role in the case has to come out. He is hiding inside a fortress of police personnel as he fears the media," said Chennithala, who is also a former Home Minister.

Meanwhile, Swapna who has been the media's delight since Monday, has said she is indisposed and will not be meeting the media for the coming two days.
Quetta, June 11 : Lawmakers in Pakistan's Balochistan have accused Sindh of stealing the province's water share, blaming the Indus River System Authority (Irsa) for its failure in ensuring a fair distribution of water among the federal units.

Speaking on a point of order during a provincial Assembly session, former senior minister Mir Zahoor Buledi alleged that Sindh was stealing Balochistan's water despite repeated complaints, The Express Tribune reported.

"Sindh continues to steal our water share," Buledi told the session, chaired by Deputy Speaker Sardar Babar Khan Musakhail. His views were endorsed by Balochistan Minister for Communications and Works (C&W) Sardar Abdul Rehman Khetran.

"Sindh and the federal government are stealing the water share of Balochistan," Khetran said. "This has severely affected the farmers and growers in the green belt of the province." Lawmakers from both the treasury and opposition benches strongly condemned the continued theft. The house unanimously urged the Sindh government to take notice of this practice to address the grievances of the farmers of the province.

Balochistan has always accused Sindh of stealing its water share. The farmers in the Naseerabad and Jaffarabad districts have been protesting against this practice for the last few years, The Express Tribune reported.

During the session, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf member Mubeen Khilji drew the attention of the house towards the objection raised by the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) towards the delimitation of constituencies.

Khilji said that the constituencies should have been formed on the basis of merit and not on anyone's personal wish.

The lawmakers criticised the recent delimitations in Balochistan and demanded of the ECP to review its decision in this regard to address the grievances of political parties.
Addis Ababa, June 11 : Ethiopia has repatriated around 35,000 nationals from Saudi Arabia in the past two months, an official said here.

Speaking to local media, State Minister of Government Communications Service Selamawit Kassa said the government has been able to repatriate tens of thousands of Ethiopians from Saudi Arabia in a series of airlift operations between March 30 and the end of May, reports Xinhua news agency.

"The Ethiopian government is providing mental counseling services as well as other types of assistance to help Ethiopian returnees successfully integrate back into their home communities," Kassa said.

"However, the repatriation figures for our citizens over the last two months have only met 35 percent of our original repatriation target numbers." The Minister also disclosed the Ethiopian government plans to scale up diplomatic efforts to return home the remaining nationals living in difficult conditions in the Middle Eastern country in the coming months.

He called on the Ethiopian public to help in the government's efforts to crack down on human trafficking networks, while urging parents to teach their kids about the danger of illegal migration, encourage them to make use of domestic economic opportunities, as well as make sure their kids use legal routes for migration.

According to the Foreign Ministry, more than 750,000 Ethiopians are living in Saudi Arabia, 450,000 of them without proper documents.

Estimates suggest that thousands of Ethiopians are trafficked to the Arabian Peninsula via Djibouti and war-torn Yemen every year, risking imprisonment and killings along the way.

In recent months, Ethiopia has stepped up efforts to take back its citizens stranded overseas, mainly in Saudi Arabia, as part of the government's "citizen-centred diplomacy".

The government is also working to dismantle sophisticated human trafficking networks and create economic opportunities for nationals with low incomes.
New Delhi, June 11 : Delhi Police have registered a case against people who protested outside the Jama Masjid in the national capital a day ago, an official said on Saturday.

"A case has been registered under section 188 (Disobedience to order duly promulgated by public servant) of the Indian Penal Code against protesters on Friday," Deputy Commissioner of Police (Central District) Shweta Chauhan said.

The people of the minority community, in large numbers, had on Friday gathered outside the Jama Masjid, here, to register their protest against the controversial remarks made by suspended Bharatiya Janata Party leaders Nupur Sharma and Naveen Kumar Jindal.

The agitators were demanding immediate arrest of Sharma and Jindal.

Jama Masjid's Shahi Imam Ahmed Bukhari said no call was given for the protest. "I don't know who the protesters are," he said.

Pertinent to mention here that an FIR was also previously lodged against Nupur Sharma and several others for their alleged hate remarks during a debate on a TV news channel.

"We have lodged the FIR against those who were spreading messages of hate, inciting various groups and creating situations which are detrimental to the maintenance of public tranquility. One case has been registered against Nupur Sharma and another one has been registered against multiple social media entities based on the analysis. Notices will be sent to the social media intermediaries for the details," Delhi Police PRO Suman Nalwa had said on Thursday.

The controversial statement made by Nupur Sharma set off an international furore. Several Muslim nations, including Afghanistan, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain, Indonesia and Iran, as well as the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation have officially protested their statements and demanded an apology.

Following the uproar, the BJP suspended Sharma and another leader, Naveen Kumar Jindal, who also made insulting comment against Prophet Muhammad on social media.

However, soon after her comments, Sharma was targetted on social media and received thousands of death threats following which the police provided a security cover to her.

She had lodged a complaint with the Delhi Police on May 27 alleging that she has been receiving death threats and target hatred against her.

Based on this complaint, an FIR was registered under sections 506 (Punishment for criminal intimidation), 507 (Criminal intimidation by an anonymous communication) and 509 (Word, gesture or act intended to insult the modesty of a woman) of the Indian Penal Code at the Special Cell police station against unidentified people.

Later, section 153 (Promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion, race, place of birth, residence, language, etc., and doing acts prejudicial to maintenance of harmony) of the IPC was also added to the FIR.
Extremism came clearly into focus this week.

The Department of Homeland Security issued a warning that the US was in a heightened threat environment over the next six months. Reasons included the midterm elections as well as the immigration crisis at the border with Mexico.

The warning also noted the looming Supreme Court decision on abortion, a concern that became a reality Wednesday when a man was arrested in connection to an assassination attempt on Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh.

Stories of extremism did not stop there. On Thursday night in front of a national television audience, the House panel investigating the Jan. 6, 2021, insurrection included dramatic capitol police dispatch audio audio and details from panel members that placed the blame on former President Donald Trump.

Trump downplayed the investigation on social media and House Republicans believe the findings are a distraction from current problems that will backfire on Democrats during the midterms.

Earlier in the week, it was revealed five members of the Proud Boys will stand trial in August over conspiracy charges in connection to the events of Jan. 6.

Following a deadly shooting in Buffalo, New York governor Kathy Hochul signed a package of new gun control laws. It included a ban of anyone under the age of 21 from buying or owning a semiautomatic weapon.

Beyond Buffalo, multiple shootings, most notably the deadly school shooting in Uvalde, Texas, led to hearings on Capitol Hill. The House ultimately passed bills that are unlikely to gain traction in the closely divided Senate. Lets listen to those stories, as well as testimony from family and victims, as well as reactions from lawmakers.

For the city of Detroit, urban violence will be the focus of law enforcement this summer.

Seven states held primaries on Tuesday with 78 seats for the House of Representatives on those ballots. But perhaps the most dramatic result of the day was a recall election for a sitting prosecutor in San Francisco.

As the COVID-19 pandemic continues, there were a couple of stories related to vaccine options for Americans.

In other national news, parents in need of baby formula should start seeing more available in stores in the near future as a factory was reopened. Former Olympic gymnasts are among the assault victims wanting the FBI to be held accountable.

A stamp honoring Former First Lady Nancy Reagan was unveiled. A man accused of being a serial rapist is now facing additional charges. And man has been arrested after cocaine was discovered in an unusual location.

In international news, the week began with the conclusion of festivities honoring Queen Elizabeths 70 years on the throne.

Monday marked the 78th anniversary of the D-Day landing in Normandy, France, and marked the return of larger ceremonies since the start of the pandemic.

In other news, the future of the pope is in question and tensions between Russia and the United States remain high. Russia began returning the bodies of dead Ukrainian soldiers from a steel plant, while more bodies are being discovered in the rubble. And President Biden spoke on the future of this hemisphere.

Gas prices have been soaring and by Thursday the national average for a gallon hit another record high. More on that story from the Associated Press, and for additional tips on how to save money on fuel, be sure to listen to the PennyWise podcast.

Did you ever pick up an item at a grocery store and think the packaging got a little smaller? Your eyes are not deceiving you. Shrinkflation is a thing and a way for producers to save money during times of rising prices.

We look at that story as well as rising mortgage rates, Target canceling orders, the global economic outlook and the status of workers.

And finally, one endangered species is getting some help in an effort to prevent extinction.

 Compiled and narrated by Terry Lipshetz from Associated Press reports

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New Delhi, June 11: Prime Minister Narendra Modi is always at his best during election time. He has already started overshadowing his rivals quite effortlessly, whether he is in Gujarat or Himachal Pradesh.

Barely after a fortnight,the Prime Minister is going to hit the ground again - this time at Dharamshala, the second most important hill town in the state's Kangra district. He is planning a road show in the town, which is on the international map as it is the abode of the revered Tibetan spiritual icon, His Holiness the Dalai Lama.

Kangra, state's biggest district with 15 assembly seats, is important for the BJP, and also the Congress, as the road to power in the state practically passes from here. BJP National President J.P.Nadda has already made two visits to Kangra and now Modi will hard sell his presence by spending two days with a night halt.

His earlier roadshow in Shimla - state's capital proved to be a big draw, giving Modi a huge political mileage as he tried to connect with the town and also some of the people he knew personally.

"Is Deepak still going to Jakhu temple every morning (on foot)" Modi asked state's Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur the moment he landed at Annandale helipad.

Deepak happens to be a modest BJP worker in Shimla and a prominent devotee of lord Hanuman. Modi knew Deepak since his days as party in charge in Himachal Pradesh, 24 years ago.

In fact, it is said Deepak had remained Modi's best host whenever Modi desired to relish simple home cooked food in Shimla .'Deepak Bhojanalaya'-- Deepak's vegetarian dhaba at Middle bazar was Modi's best place to eat and relax, after his long tours in the hills .

That is how the Prime Minister finds a connection with the hill state, which, he says, remains his second home, and it enjoys a special place in his heart.

The BJP wants to go to the polls with Modi as its biggest brand for breaking the myth that the incumbent party never returns to power in Himachal Pradesh, after a five- year rule .

In fact, before 1998-2003, when Prem Kumar Dhumal headed the BJP-HVC coalition government, the BJP could not even complete its five- year term in the state.

"Under Modi's leadership, many old myths are breaking down. Himachal Pradesh will set a new trend on returning the BJP back to power as happened in four states viz UP, Goa, Manipur and also Uttarakhand" Chief Minister Jairam Thakur said at a rally in Mandi - his hometown.

Though Modi's official agenda for Dharamshala visit on June 16 and 17, is to preside over two-state conferences of the states with Chief Secretaries - a first ever such event proposed in Himachal Pradesh, there is no secret about his larger engagement in the two states going to the polls this year end.

"If I tell the congress friends that Modi ji has two other visits as he is also due to travel to Chamba and later Bilaspur to respectively oversee commissioning a hydel project and inaugurate AIIMS, they will get a shock of their life," Thakur said.

The fact remains that Modi's focus on Himachal Pradesh ahead of the polls, has created quite a discomfort in the opposition Congress camps, as also the AAP - which is trying to gain some foothold in the state after the victory in Punjab.

The new Congress President Pratibha Singh has also suddenly become active and begun touring the districts with her son Vikramaditya Singh, a sitting MLA. Leader of opposition Mukesh Agnihotri and party's campaign committee chief Sukhwinder Sukhu are also going around giving tips to the party workers as to how they should shun factionalism and unite to oust the BJP from power.

"Is Congress afraid of Modi and his engagements in Himachal? When asked Agnihotri retorted: "Every party has the right to bring their national leaders to campaign but the question arises, what has Modi really given to Himachal Pradesh during eight years of his government. Did he announce any new project or give a debt-ridden state a bail-out package?" he asks.

Yet, the Congress having lost its potential leadership, after the demise of six-time CM Virbhadra Singh and Kangra strongman G.S.Bali, is struggling to cobble together a united face to encash on issues like anti-incumbency, unemployment, and price rise.

Nevertheless, while Congress tires to get its act together, AAP is also trying its utmost to seize the initiative.

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, is on his third visit to Himachal Pradesh on June 11 along with Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann. After Mandi - Chief Minister's home district and Kangra - a hotbed of state's politics, he has chosen Hamirpur - the home district of Union Minister for Information and Broadcasting Anurag Thakur.

Last week, the party also reconstituted its state unit - a jumbo body and chose Surjeet Singh, a farmer from Rajgarh area of Sirmaur to head the organisation. The party still struggles for a credible face to lead it to the polls.

Besides, the recent arrest of Satyendra Jain, health minister in Delhi, who was made poll in charge, the AAP has received a huge blow to its efforts to make penetrations into Himachal Pradesh's rural spaces.

With BJP going all out to hit the roads much in advance, Modi is once again its flag bearer. His pat for Jai Ram Thakur during May 31 Shimla rally has given Chief Minister - who is party's face for leadership - a real booster dose ahead of the polls.

(The content is being carried under an arrangement with indianarrative.com) --indianarrative
New Delhi, June 11: Russia-led Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) has decided to prepare in advance for security challenges likely to emerge after the Ukraine conflict.

Foreign ministers of the CSTO member countries Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Armenia - which chairs the organisation currently - met in Yerevan on Friday to discuss the state of international and regional security and its impact on the security, especially in the Central Asian region.

Armenia's Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, who is also the Chairman of the CSTO Collective Security Council, received the participants in the Ministerial Council meeting, including Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov.

As CSTO celebrates the 30th anniversary of the signing of the collective security treaty and the 20th anniversary of the creation of the security organisation, Pashinyan said that it was not only an occasion to analyse the path travelled, mention the achievements but also to talk about the shortcomings.

Lavrov, in particular, highlighted that "special attention" needs to be paid to the coordination of foreign policy positions on international platforms, joint speeches with statements on key issues on the international agenda.

The Russian Foreign Minister also emphasised the need to launch the work of the Coordination Council of Authorized Bodies on Biological Safety Issues created within the framework of the CSTO as soon as possible.

"At the Russian initiative, a list of practical measures to increase cooperation between the CSTO, the CIS and the SCO was considered," said the Russian Foreign Ministry.

Fast-changing geopolitical realities - the Armenia-Azerbaijan war, massive unrest in Kazakhstan earlier this year, situation in Afghanistan and the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict - has forced the CSTO to re-focus on its priorities in recent times.

Referring to the situation in the CSTO area of responsibility and around it, CSTO Secretary General Stanislav Zas said that all foreign ministers spoke in favour of strengthening the cohesion of the CSTO member states, further increasing the Organization's activity in all three priority areas of its activity - foreign policy coordination, military cooperation, countering new challenges and threats.

"If you characterise it as a whole, then, unfortunately, the situation around the entire perimeter of the CSTO remains tense," he noted.

In a statement later adopted by the attending foreign ministers, the CSTO member states expressed their deep concern about the "ongoing degradation" of the international security system.

They also confirmed their common position to uphold and strictly observe the principle of equal and indivisible security, and emphasised the inadmissibility of strengthening the security of some states at the expense of the security of others.

"We stand for the further strengthening of the leading role of the UN Security Council in maintaining international peace and security, entrusted to it by the UN Charter," the statement mentioned.

It added: "CSTO member states call for building a world free from wars and conflicts, violence and pressure, for the development of comprehensive, equal and mutually beneficial cooperation, for the achievement of a comprehensive, sustainable and cooperation-based security, taking into account the interests of all states and peoples".

(The content is being carried under an arrangement with indianarrative.com) --indianarrative

Latest updates on Russia-Ukraine War

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
Hyderabad, June 11 : Two workers were killed while two others sustained injuries in an accident during demolition of an old building in Telangana's Warangal town on Saturday.

The incident occurred in the Charbowli area of the town when an old structure was being pulled down. A portion of the structure fell on the workers, burying them under the debris, police said.

Other workers on the site along with police and municipal employees launched a rescue operation. Bodies of two workers were pulled out of the debris.

Two other workers, who sustained injuries, were shifted to MGM Hospital.

It is being said that the negligence of some of the workers engaged in the demolition led to the tragedy. The municipal authorities have ordered a probe into the incident.
Bengaluru, June 11 : When the hijab crisis is settling down in Karnataka, it is now the skull cap versus saffron shawls in the state.

A section of Hindu employees of the state-owned Bengaluru Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC) objecting to the Muslim drivers, conductors and others wearing skull caps, are now attending duty donning saffron shawls.

Following the unrest in the state due to the hijab row, the Hindu employees objected to the wearing of skull caps by their Muslim colleagues, saying that it was in violation of the uniform rules set by the BMTC.

The BMTC has specified uniforms for its employees.

However, Muslim employees who wear the skull caps during work hours have squarely refused to remove themm.

This has prompted the Hindu employees to don the saffron shawls in retaliation.

They have also formed an association in the name of "Kesari Karmikara Sangha" aimed the implementation of strict uniform rules in BMTC and shunning of wearing the skull cap.

The sources said that about 1,500 employees were registered under the association and they have decided to wear saffron shawls until the skull caps are banned during duty hours.

Meanwhile, BMTC Vice Chairman M.R. Venkatesh said he came to know about the situation only when he saw it in the media.

"I request the media not to give importance to this news. BMTC has a uniform code similar to the police department. The employees will have to follow uniform rules like how they are following all these days. They will have to be disciplined. There is no confusion," he said.

When asked about the formation of "Kesari Karmikara Sangha", he said this won't be encouraged and legal action would be initiated.

"We will give directions to all depots and manage the situation efficiently without giving room for confusion."
Kolkata, June 11 : Fresh violence has erupted in certain pockets of Howrah district on Saturday morning as agitators staged demonstrations over the recent controversial remarks over Prophet Muhammad.

Tension broke out at minority-dominated Panchal area in Howrah district on Saturday morning after protesters attacked and ransacked a local club there. When the police tried to disperse them, the agitators pelted stones on the cops. The police had to resort to lathi charge and also fire teargas shells to disperse the mob.

Tension also prevailed in the minority-dominated Domjur area where the police station was attacked on late Friday evening. Some police vehicles were torched and around 12 policemen were injured in the incident.

The state government has taken certain steps to arrest the spread of violence in Howrah, which has become the state's epicentre of violence over the prophet row. Internet services have been suspended in the entire district both under the jurisdiction of Howrah rural district police and Howrah Police Commiserate till 6 a.m. on June 13 to prevent the rumours from spreading. Section 144 has also been imposed till 6 a.m. on June 15 in different pockets of the state like Panchal and Jagatballavpur areas, which are mostly minority dominated.

The West Bengal government has given a strong message and held BJP responsible for this. "I have said it before and saying it again that for the last two days there have been attempts to destabilize normal life in Howrah through violence. Some political parties, who are trying to create riots are responsible for this. This will not be tolerated. The common people cannot suffer because of the sin of the BJP," Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said.

Meanwhile, BJP's national vice president and party MP, Dilip Ghosh reached a ransacked party office at Howrah's Mansatala on Saturday at around 11.30 a.m. "Tension was deliberately created in the media by spreading rumours through the social media. The police remained inactive against those who ransacked the office," Ghosh alleged.

Meanwhile, several senior BJP leaders were stopped by police from visiting tension-prone areas in Howrah district. BJP's state president in West Bengal and party MP, Sukanta Majumdar was stopped at his residence at New Town in the northern outskirts of Kolkata. BJP leader and advocate, Priyanka Tiberwal's car was also stopped on Second Hooghly Bridge that connects Kolkata with Howrah. BJP Lok Sabha member, Soumitra Khan has written to Union Home Minister, Amit Shah requesting him to initiate deployment of central armed forces in tension-prone pockets in the state to control the situation.

Meanwhile, a number of imams in West Bengal have issued appeals to the people to refrain from agitation and stay calm.
Chennai, June 11 : Tamil Nadu health department has sent missives to collectors of eight districts of the state asking them to increase the vaccination rate and to coordinate with the health officials for the same.

Apparently, vaccination rate has been low in Chennai, Chengalpattu, Ranipet, Tiruppatur, Tiruppur, Madurai, Myladuthurai, and Theni.

With a mega vaccination drive on June 12, the health department is planning to make up for the low rate of vaccination in certain districts as Covid -19 cases have shown a comeback across the country.

As many as 1 lakh vaccination centres across the state will inoculate people as part of the drive.

Tamil Nadu has identified Omicron variant of the Covid virus in the recent Covid cases and the whole genome sequencing of the samples has shown that BA 4 and BA 5 sub-variants of Omicron were in circulation among Covid patients in the state.

Notably, Tamil Nadu has administered 11.18 crore doses of vaccine to date with 93.87 per cent of people above the age of 18 receiving the first dose of the vaccine. Around 83.06 per cent of the people have received the second dose of the vaccine. The second dose coverage is low among those aged above 18 in the districts of Ranipet, Tirupattur, Madurai, Namakkal, and Theni, health department officials said.

The state health department has found that to date 43 lakh persons in Tamil Nadu are yet to take the first dose of the vaccine and 1.21 crore people are to take the second dose.

The health department is worried that the new sub-variant of BA 4 and BA 5 will spread through those who have not taken the vaccines and the state health department has urged people to complete their vaccination in the mega camp to be held on Sunday.

State health minister Ma Subramanian told IANS: "People must take the jab in this mega vaccine camp as there is a slight increase in Covid -19 cases across the country and Tamil Nadu is not an exception. Everyone should make use of the opportunity of the mega vaccine camp on June 12th, Sunday as we have arranged vaccination in 1 lakh centres. This is a good opportunity and those who have failed to take the first and second doses of the vaccine must complete this we have directed all the district collectors, district health officials, and the district superintendents of police to monitor the vaccination and make sure that maximum number of people are inoculated."

Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19)
Chennai, June 11 : The International Association of Tamil Research (IATR) on Saturday announced it will organise the 11th World Tamil Research Conference in Sharjah in July 2023.

In a statement, the IATR said the meeting also called International Conference Seminar on Tamil Studies will focus on the challenges faced by the Tamil language in the internet age.

The conference will conduct deliberations on music, drama, sculpture, linguistics, comparative Indian languages and literature studies, literature, psychology, journalism, and social media.

The meeting will have participation of leading Tamil scholars, writers, social activists, artists, musicians, historians, psychologists, and Tamil media persons.

Lincoln University of Business Management, Sharjah, is associating with the IATR for the conference.

The statement said that academics and research scholars can send their abstracts in either Tamil or English before September 30.
Situated in the same time and space, the 'City of Dreams' often has had some unsavoury brushes with the 'City of Crime' as gangsters tried to muscle into Bollywood. Some instances made national headlines, some did not.

The role of the infamous D-Company is well-known, but the first target of gangland action was the maker of a Bollywood classic in the early 1980s and the case required the street-smarts of a canny cop to be untangled.

For light on this sordid episode, dating back to September 1982, when one of the producers of the landmark film 'Shakti', where Amitabh Bachchan faced off against Dilip Kumar, was waylaid, abducted, and tortured until he agreed to pay Rs 20 lakh as ransom (a substantial amount in those days), we must turn to the compelling memoirs of the retired Mumbai Police officer, Isaque Ismail Bagwan.

Bagwan, who retired as an ACP after more than three decades of active service, and had first-hand experience of some of the lurid crimes of the times -- gang wars on the streets, 1993 blasts, the 2008 terror outrage, is credited with Mumbai Police's first encounter killing as he describes it in his book, "Me Against the Mumbai Underworld" (2018).

In this book, he also tells us how he ensured the kidnappers of producer Mubashir Alam, who formed a partnership with fellow filmmaker Mohammad Riaz, were identified and brought to justice as a result of Alam's observations and Bagwan's own quick thinking and situational awareness.

As Bagwan recounts, he was then in the Crime Branch, under the legendary (then) Inspector Madhukar Zende, in the Mumbai Police headquarters, when one day they were informed that actor Dilip Kumar had come to meet city police chief Julio Ribeiro. They concluded that it must be in connection with an arms licence or some such thing. but they became curious when Zende was summoned to the Commissioner's office. And he took Bagwan along.

There, they found that the actor was accompanied by two others -- later identified as the producer duo of Mushir-Riaz, and the Commissioner, introducing Zende and Bagwan as his "super cops", asked his visitors to share their problem.

Mushir then said how he had been waylaid by two or three abductors near Haji Ali a couple of days back, blindfolded and taken forcibly to their hideout where the Rs 20 lakh demand was made, and he was only freed after he gave them part of it the same day and promised the rest as soon as possible. He was, however, unable to identify the people or the area he was taken to.

Here, Bagwan says he had a few questions but was unsure whether he should speak in front of his superior officers. Zende, who knew his subordinate too well and sensed his quandary, gave him the cue.

And Bagwan, in a feat of deduction worthy of Sherlock Holmes, with a series of questions on how much time it took from his abduction to reach his space of confinement, the area's ambient smells, sounds, and other details of the building in question, such as the number of stairs and other features, zeroed on the place.

A raid was carried out and the building identified. Data from informers and the local police led to the ascertainment of which gang used it and was behind this crime.

It was found that it was the Pathan gang of the mafioso Karim Pathan's kin Amirzada and Alamzeb. Lying low and facing a funds crunch after the killing of Dawood Ibrahim's elder brother Sabir, they had planned the crime to recoup their fortunes.

A hunt was launched for them and they were suspected to be hiding under the protection of Gujarat gangster Abdul Latif -- later portrayed by Shah Rukh Khan in "Raees".

Some patient and painstaking work led to the arrest of Amirazad from Ahmedabad and with his interrogation, the story of why the film producer was targeted came out.

As Bagwan relates, it came to be known that a young man, who worked as a production assistant with an associate of Mushir, had been introduced to Amirzada and was overawed by the cordiality with which the gangster greeted him and invited him to various events, including family functions.

The young man was soon to learn that this conviviality came with a price -- and though he tried to distance himself from Amirzada after coming to know about the dangerous activities of the brothers, he was stuck.

One day, the gangsters came to his house and asked him to inform them of anyone in the industry who had a dispute that could be not resolved through the usual licit means, or had stashed away black money. He was reluctant to become an informer, but had no choice. He gave him the name of Mushir's associate -- whose standing the gang members checked out on their own -- before putting their plan into action.

Amirzada and Alamzeb were soon eliminated by their Dawood gang rivals before they could be brought to book for this crime, let alone the myriad others they were accused of.

And while this episode ended rather happily for the victim, due to a police official's local knowledge and acumen, future incidents would not be so easily resolved.

(Vikas Datta can be contacted at vikas.d@ians.in)
Seoul, June 11 : The defence chiefs of South Korea, the US and Japan discussed combined military exercises, including missile warning drills, during their talks in Singapore on Saturday amid North Korea's growing security threats.

South Korean Defence Minister Lee Jong-sup made the remarks after holding trilateral talks with his US and Japanese counterparts, Lloyd Austin and Nobuo Kishi, on the margins of the annual Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore, reports Yonhap News Agency.

The meeting came amid growing concerns that the North has completed preparations for what would be its seventh nuclear test.

"The issue of the South Korea-US-Japan military exercise was discussed at a comprehensive level," Lee said.

"There were more concrete talks about such things as missile warning trainings or missile tracking and monitoring (drills)." He was referring to the warning trainings that the three countries already have in place but have not disclosed to the public since 2018 amid Seoul's diplomacy for inter-Korean rapprochement.

Prior to the trilateral session, Lee and Austin met bilaterally and discussed joint deterrence to counter North Korean threats.

They strongly condemned the North's recent series of missile launches and its preparations for a nuclear test, calling them "provocative acts that seriously threaten peace and stability" on the peninsula and beyond.

Saturday's meeting marked the first face-to-face talks between Austin and Lee since the latter took office last month.
Hyderabad, June 11 : Hyderabad police on Saturday began questioning five juveniles arrested in connection with the May 28 gang rape of a 17-year-old girl in a car. The police until now was questioning only the accused who is a major.

The minors were brought to Jubilee Hills police station from Juvenile Home, where they have been lodged since their arrest a few days ago.

The police had requested Juvenile Home authorities to make arrangements for questioning the minors in their premises but that was not possible. The juveniles were then brought to the police station.

The Children in Conflict with Law (CCL), as the minors are called by the police, will be questioned from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. every day. After 5 p.m., CCL will be handed over to Juvenile Home.

The Juvenile Justice Board on Thursday granted police a five-day custody of three CCLs. However, they could not be questioned on Friday, as the day was lost in the tussle over the location of questioning.

With the Board allowing five-day police custody of the remaining two CCLs on Friday, the police decided to bring all of them to the police station for simultaneous but separate questioning.

The investigators are likely to show CCL the evidence gathered by the police against them including the CCTV footage to make them confess to the crime.

Meanwhile, police continued questioning Saduddin Malik, who is the only major accused in the sensational case. Police officers were grilling him for the third consecutive day on Saturday.

The police are seeking to gather more information to piece together the sequence of events, role played by each of the offenders to build a strong case against the accused.

The police also plan to conduct reconstruction of crime scene and potency tests on the accused. Potency test is a medical test which establish whether a person is capable of engaging in sexual acts or not.

If necessary, the police may approach the court for extending the police custody of Malik which is expiring on Sunday.

The police officials are also reportedly collecting information from the accused as to who helped them in escaping after committing the crime. The accused were reportedly arrested from places in other states including Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Goa.

Since the accused belong to politically influential families, police have come under flak from going soft on those who helped them flee or might have tampered with the evidence.

Out of five accused who sexually assaulted the girl, four are aged 16-17. The fifth accused is 18-year-old Malik, who is the prime accused.

The sixth accused who has been charged with molestation is one month short of turning 18. He is the son of an MLA of Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (MIM).

The leader is also the chairman of a government-run body. Two others are said to be sons of TRS corporators in Greater Hyderabad and Sangareddy. One of them is said to have played the key role in trapping the victim and lure her into the car.

Malik (18) and four CCL have been booked under IPC's Sections 376 D (gang rape), 323 (causing hurt), Section 5 (G) (gang penetrative sexual assault on child) read with Section 6 of Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, 366 (kidnapping a woman) and 366 A (procuration of a minor girl) and Section 67 of Information Technology Act.

Police say the accused could face punishment for not less than 20 years or imprisonment for life till death or even death penalty.

The sixth CCL was not involved in rape but he kissed the victim in the car. He has been booked under IPC Section 354 (assault or criminal force to woman with intent to outrage her modesty), 323 and Section 9 (G) read with 10 of POCSO Act. He could face 5-7 years imprisonment.

The incident occurred on May 28 after the victim and accused attended a daytime party at a pub in upscale Jubilee Hills.
A 43-year-old Lincoln man and registered sex offender will serve decades in prison after being convicted of five felonies for offering marijuana to teenage girls in exchange for sexual favors.

A Lancaster County judge Tuesday sentenced Terran McKethan to 100 to 125 years in prison for the acts, which took place between October 2020 and February 2021, when a 15-year-old girl told the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services she had been communicating with McKethan on the social media app Snapchat.

McKethan had pleaded guilty to four counts of first-degree sexual assault and one count of attempted child enticement with an electronic communication device. Those charges were amended as a part of a plea deal that saw a sixth charge dropped.

In court records, Lancaster County Sheriff's Office investigators alleged McKethan, a convicted sex offender, posed as a 17-year-old on Snapchat while meeting young girls and offering them marijuana in exchange for sex acts.

The 15-year-old who reported McKethan told investigators he picked her up in his car in December 2020 and drove around before parking and telling the teen, "You won't get the weed until the job is done," Deputy Tyler Loos said in the affidavit.

The teen said she then committed sex acts in exchange for the marijuana, said Loos, who was among a handful of local Special Victims Unit investigators who watched McKethan's sentencing via Zoom on Tuesday.

McKethan, who was sentenced to 20 to 25 years on each of the five counts, will serve the sentences consecutively, Judge Kevin McManaman ruled.

With credit for 138 days served, McKethan won't be eligible for parole until 2072.

Reach the writer at 402-473-7223 or awegley@journalstar.com. On Twitter @andrewwegley

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Belgrade, June 11 : Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic and visiting German Chancellor Olaf Scholz disagreed on the necessity to impose sanctions on Russia after their discussion on the Ukraine war.

The German Chancellor "in a decisive, clear and sharp manner" asked Serbia to join Western sanctions against Russia, and even offered help for the construction of energy capacities, Vucic told a press conference after their meeting here.

"I spoke about our position, and the specific situation which Serbia has around Kosovo and Metohija province," Xinhua news agency quoted the President as saying, referring to the country's southern province which unilaterally declared independence in 2008 after Serbia was heavily bombarded by NATO in 1999.

"As much as you like the integrity of Ukraine, we love the integrity of Serbia," he said, reminding Russia's support for Serbia's territorial integrity at the UN Security Council, Serbia-Russia traditional friendship, and energy cooperation.

Vucic said that Serbia has a different position when it comes to the necessity to impose sanctions on Russia.

"We Serbia remember what sanctions look like and on the other hand we had a different kind of relations with the Russian side for centuries." Scholz voiced the European Union's (EU) expectation that "all (EU) membership candidates should join those sanctions", repeating Germany's support for Serbia's accession to the bloc.

Scholz's Balkan tour started on Friday in Pristina and Belgrade.

The next stops include Greece, North Macedonia and Bulgaria.

Latest updates on Russia-Ukraine War
Hubballi, : June 11 (IANS) Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai on Saturday held a high-level meeting with top police officials against the backdrop of violent protests in Uttar Pradesh and national capital over "controversial" remarks on Prophet Muhammad made by two now-suspended BJP leaders.

Speaking to mediapersons in Hubballi, Bommai said that presently the situation is peaceful in the state. The police have been instructed to deploy the forces in sensitive areas. The deployment of KSRP contingents is already on. "I have spoken to Police Commissioner of Hubballi-Dharwad and the SP of Dharwad to take appropriate measures." Police Inspectors of all the police stations have been instructed to interact with community leaders of their respective areas to maintain peace and harmony, he said.

He further stated that experts would be asked to formulate more stringent laws to deal with those who indulge in acid attacks, CM Bommai said.

Responding to a question on another acid attack case in Bengaluru, he said: "It is very unfortunate. We are mulling to further strengthen the existing laws to deal with those who indulge in acid attacks. We will come out with tough laws to deal with them in the coming days."
New Delhi, June 11 : A Delhi Court has summoned Huawei India CEO Li Xiongwei and four other top officials on a complaint of the Income Tax department stating the "willful failure" of providing account books and relevant documents during a search at the Chinese electronic company's Gurugram office.

"The culpable mental state of the accused persons is to be presumed," stated Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Anurag Thakur in a recent order, stating that there is sufficient material on record to summon the accused persons under 275-B and section 278-B of the Income Tax Act, 1961 (Deals punishment for failure in facilitating an authorized officer to inspect the books of account or other documents).

As per the complaint, on February 15, the Income Tax department conducted a search at Huawei Communications' Gurugram office for the verification of the books of accounts.

However, during the course of the search, company CEO Li Xiongwei, Sandeep Bhatia, Amit Duggal and Long Cheng, willfully and deliberately did not comply with the department, it said.

They also alleged that the company officials failed to provide adequate facilities to the IT officers and did not provide the relevant documents asked.

The court also noted that Xiongwei and others deliberately chose to give vague answers to some questions in their statement to the IT department.

It further noted that the accused were only trying to somehow confuse the authorised officer in order to deny access to documents and unreasonably took a long time for furnishing data and information which have been readily available.

Recently Xiongwei had approached the Delhi High Court seeking quashing of a Look Out Circular (LOC) against him which restrained the Chinese national from leaving the country.
Panaji, June 11 : Union Minister of State (MoS) for Law and Justice S.P. Singh Baghel on Saturday said that Mopa airport will help boost Casino business in Goa.

Baghel, while on a Goa's north district tour, said that (another) airport was needed for Goa. "Not only to Goa but it will benefit country," he told reporters.

"When tourists come to India, they visit Taj Mahal in Agra and also Goa. Not only the taxi drivers, hotels, shopping centers, malls, but casinos will also benefit from the new Mopa airport," Baghel said.

As Goa's airport at Dabolim in South Goa belonged to defence, there were limitations for air traffic. "But after Mopa airport gets commissioned, it will get connected with all the states of India and tourism will get boosted with charted planes coming in. This will also help to increase Per capita income of Goa," he said.
Chennai, June 11 : Tamil Nadu Chief Minister, M.K. Stalin on Saturday directed officials to contain the spread of Covid-19 without any further surge. In an official statement, the Chief Minister said that the officials must make sure that treatment facilities are ready even as the virus has been found to be minimal.

The Chief Minister directed the officials that appropriate containment measures must be taken by health, municipal administration, revenue, and disaster management departments.

Stalin held a review meeting with the officials on Saturday at the secretariat and the general opinion was to make all people vaccinated. The first dose coverage is 93.82 per cent and that of second dose is 82.94 per cent.

The Chief Minister also directed the officials to conduct an awareness programme about the importance of vaccination and get everyone vaccinated.

The official statement said, "if a few people get affected by the virus at work places, festivals, weddings, meetings and events, the Chief Minister orders all of them to be examined, monitored continuously, and provided appropriate treatment." The Chief Minister also directed officials to create awareness among people to strictly adhere to Covid-19 protocols such as wearing masks, regular washing of hands, social distancing, and the need to follow adequate testing, monitoring, treatment, and vaccination.

Covid-19 impact is being felt in Chennai, Chengalpattu, Kancheepuram, Coimbatore, and Tiruvallur districts. Covid clusters have also been reported from a few educational institutions in Chennai.
Hyderabad, June 11 : A theft has taken place at Telangana's upcoming police command control centre coming up at Banjara Hills in the heart of Hyderabad.

Unidentified persons stole copper wire bundles worth several lakhs from the under construction centre.

Project manager lodged a complaint of theft with the Banjara Hills police station.

The stolen material is estimated to be worth Rs 10 lakh. Police registered a case and took up investigation.

Suspecting the role of insiders, the police began questioning some of the workers on the site.

The state government is building the prestigious Command and Control Centre on Road Number 12 in Banjara Hills.

Being built at a cost of over Rs 585 crore, the multi-storied centre will be a state-of-the-art facility aimed to monitor the law and order situation in the entire state.

Using the latest technology, the facility will keep a tab on the large gatherings, especially during various religious festivals.

Home minister Mahmood Ali had said last month that 95 per cent of the work had been completed.

The centre comprises of five towers. A tower will house the Hyderabad Police Commissioner's office while another tower will be a technology fusion centre - managing the emergency response management system, Dial 100 and the war room.
San Francisco, June 11 : Amid claims that Sheryl Sandberg misused company resources, Meta's lawyers are investigating the outgoing COO, media reports said.

The investigation goes back "several years" and is scrutinising Meta employees' work on Sandberg's personal projects, Engadget reported, citing The Wall Street Journal (WSJ).

When Sandberg first announced her departure from the company, WSJ reported the company was examining whether she had improperly used company resources in planning her upcoming wedding. Now, the report has shed a little more light on the investigation.

Meta lawyers are reportedly looking at Facebook staff's involvement with Sandberg's foundation Lean In, and their work to help her promote her most recent book, "Option B".

The company is also investigating reports that Sandberg used Facebook staffers in an attempt to kill a negative story about her former partner, Activision CEO Bobby Kotick, the report said.

The company could be looking to head off regulatory concerns that could arise if such work wasn't properly disclosed to the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Sandberg eventually "could be asked to repay the company for employee time spent on her personal work", according to the report.

Meta declined to comment to the WSJ.
Bhubaneswar, June 11 : At least four persons were killed and another seriously injured in an oil tanker explosion in Odisha's Nayagarh district early on Saturday, police said.

The incident occurred on a bridge over the river Kusumi around 2 a.m. near Badapandusara under Itamati police limits of Nayagarh.

According to the police, two oil tankers were coming from Paradip and heading towards their destination drop-off points on the national highway connecting Nayagarh and Bolangir.

Howver, one of the oil tankers plunged off the bridge into the river and three staffers of the second tanker came to rescue the injured driver and helper when the tanker exploded, the police said.

The deceased were identified as Sameer Nayak, Pankaj Nayak, Dipu Khatua, and Chandan Khatua. All were local residents of Nayagarh.

The injured person was first admitted to Nayagarh district headquarters hospital and later shifted to a hospital in Bhubaneswar. His condition is stated to be critical, the police said.
Shanghai, June 11 : Shanghai will carry out Covid-19 testing on more than half of its 25 million residents this weekend, fuelLing fears of a return to more stringent restrictions just days after the financial hub emerged from two months of painful lockdown, media reports said.

The mass testing announcements sparked fears of a return to stringent, prolonged lockdown among Shanghai residents, many of whom had been confined to their homes for two months or more since March, CNN reported Those fears have triggered panic buying. On Thursday, Shanghai residents rushed to supermarkets to stock up on food and other daily necessities, forming long lines at checkouts and leaving shelves empty, according to photos and videos that circulated on social media, it reported.

At least seven of the city's 16 districts, with a combined population of 15 million people, will roll out mass testing over the weekend, Zhao Dandan, deputy head of the Shanghai Municipal Health Commission, said at a news conference.

The districts include Shanghai's most populated areas and busy business hubs, such as Pudong and Xuhui.

Districts that have reported positive cases since Shanghai lifted its citywide lockdown on June 1 will be placed under "closed management" during the collection of test samples, Zhao said. She did not specify how long the sampling period will last.

In China's zero-Covid policy lexicon, "closed management" usually refers to restrictions that bar people from leaving their residential communities or workplaces, CNN reported.

Changning district, home to the Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport and 700,000 residents, announced on its official social media account that it will carry out mass Covid testing on Saturday.

"During the sampling period, closed management will be enforced on residential communities, where (residents) can only enter but not leave," the statement said.

Earlier on Thursday, Songjiang district also said on social media that its 1.9 million residents are all required to undergo Covid testing over the weekend, CNN reported.
Chennai, June 11 : AIADMK Joint Coordinator K. Palaniswami on Saturday, slamming the DMK government in Tamil Nadu headed by Chief Minister M.K. Stalin, wondered if it needs any more reasons than the increasing number of suicides to ban online gaming.

Palaniswami said people are wondering whether the DMK government, by forming a committee to study the impact of online gaming, seems to be taking a dilatory action.

A former Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, Palaniswami said 23 people affected by online gaming have committed suicide till date and added "does the Tamil Nadu government need any more reason to ban it?" He said the DMK government should bring an ordinance banning online gaming in the state.

On Friday, at a meeting chaired by Stalin, the government decided to appoint a committee headed by Madras High Court retired judge K. Chandru, to study the impact of the advertisements of online gaming companies, the financial loss and suicide and other impact on the public.

According to the government, the committee will submit its report in two weeks.

The other members of the committee are -- IIT technology expert Shankaraman, founder of SNEHA and psychologist Lakshmi Vijayakumar and Additional Director General of Police Vinit Dev Wankhede.

The government also said several people attracted by the online gaming have lost their money and have committed suicide after running up huge debt.

Leading political parties like AIADMK and PMK have demanded the DMK government enact a law banning online gaming and termed it as online gambling.

The erstwhile AIADMK government had brought a law banning the online gaming but the Madras High Court struck that down.
Volunteer riders teamed up to recreate the 1860s mail delivery route, the Pony Express, touted in history as having joined eastern and western America. The 2022 Pony Express Re-Ride traveled through the Panhandle recently.

This one enterprise (the Pony Express) has become a fascination for a whole nation, Jerry Lucas, local historian, said. There have been a group of people who keep that fascination alive, have done re-rides. They do one every year. One from the east one year, one from west the next year.

This year, the Pony Express re-ride got underway on June 6 when a rider carrying the mochila departed St. Joseph, Missouri. Riders transported the mochila, or saddle bag loaded with 800 letters, west on a 10-day journey to Sacramento, California.

Cathy Stevens, president of the Nebraska Pony Express Association, explained that the mochila used throughout each re-ride is made in the state hosting the National Pony Express Convention held every September.

Whatever state is hosting the convention for that year, they built the mochila that is carried by (riders across) the entire eight states for that year, she said. So the mochila will be stamped Utah. They have the honor and the privilege this year of having not only a mochila personalized with their state, but this September, theyre hosting the national convention, which is a big deal.

This year, Stevens has been tasked with carrying the mochila from the 150th Nebraska celebration, and she uses it to show the four locked side pouches where mailed letters are kept on the mochila carried by the riders.

These pouches are called cantinas, Stevens said, explaining the Re-Ride. We actually carry United States postal mail. It is stamped and postmarked with that years (Pony Express) stamp. If you look at the mochila that the riders are carrying today, it is locked. That is because this is serious. We are underwritten by National Park Service and we are carrying United States Post.

The Pony Express was a business venture of Russell, Majors and Waddell, businessmen who owned a freight hauling company and it ran from April 3, 1860, to Oct. 26, 1861.

The first rider out was on the 3rd of April 1860, Lucas said. And that ride took nine days and 23 hours west bound, that was the one from St. Joe. The one from Sacramento took 11 days and 12 hours to cover the distance.

Melva Sanner, president of the National Pony Express Association, said there were abbreviated re-rides in 1960 but the east or west rides covering all eight states began in 1978. She said the route stays within a mile of the original one that was ran for 18 months.

On June 9, 12 riders, wearing red shirts and many outfitted with Pony Express vests, exchanged the mochila every one to two miles covering over 60 miles from Bridgeport to the Nebraska-Wyoming border near Lyman.

Its important that young kids especially, that they realize that this was the form of communication back in 1860 and how far things have come, Sanner said. Maybe then, you know, theyll appreciate it a little more.

The volunteer riders and support crew ride the Re-Ride in all weather conditions and even at night to complete the 10-day trek.

What we do is, each person takes a mile or two at a time, Casey Debus, a 23-year veteran of the Re-Ride, said. And then after every one has gone once we rotate through again. We have just over 60 miles to travel so everyone gets to ride several times.

When asked why she participates in the Re-Rides, Stevens said, I love it. This is important; to preserve this part of Nebraska history is just really important to me. Its like leaving a legacy to the younger generation.

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Kolkata, June 11 : West Bengal BJP President Sukanta Majumdar was arrested on Saturday afternoon while he was on his way to Howrah where tension has been brewing for the past few days over remarks made against Prophet Muhammad by two now suspended BJP spokespersons.

On Saturday morning, the police did not allow Majumdar to come out of his residence in New Town on the northern outskirts of Kolkata. However, after a lot of arguments, he stepped out of his house headed towards the tensed pockets in Howrah district.

But as soon as his vehicle reached the toll plaza on the Vidyasagar Setu, the principal connecting point between Kolkata and Howrah, it was stopped by a large team from the Howrah Police Commiserate.

The police informed Majumdar that since Section 144 has been imposed in the tensed pockets of Howrah district, he would not be allowed to go there.

Majumdar started arguing with the police but soon after he was arrested and taken to the central lock-up of Kolkata Police headquarters. Later, BJP workers staged a protest outside the Kolkata Police headquarters.

Reacting to the development, the leader of the opposition in West Bengal Assembly, Suvendu Adhikari, said that the manner in which the state BJP leaders are being stopped from going to Howrah shows that the state administration is hiding something.

Meanwhile, West Bengal Governor Jagdeep Dhankhar has also slammed the state government over the violent protests in Howrah district.

"Since June 9 in particular there has been an awful administration failure that took no preventive and precautionary measures. Law breakers were allowed to have a free for all. Only prompt exemplary action can be a deterrent," the Governor tweeted.

State minister and Trinamool Congress Secretary General Partha Chatterjee said that at a time when the situation is coming under control, the BJP leaders are trying to go to Howrah to provoke further tension there.

"The police and the administration have done the right thing by stopping them midway," Chatterjee said.
Mumbai, June 11 : Hip Hop artiste Raja Kumari, whose track 'Goddess' in collaboration with Krewella and NERVO features in the newly released superhero miniseries 'Ms Marvel', has called the show a cultural landmark as it presents brown or desi culture in its full glory.

Elaborating on the same, she said, "I have been a fan of the Marvel series. This is one of the ventures that is a cultural landmark for South Asians. In more ways than one, the show is unapologetically brown. It makes frequent references to Shah Rukh Khan." Talking about what makes the series click with the south Asian community, she said, "It has snippets of the best of South Asian music. Anyone of South Asian descent will instantly identify with the series and may recognise the songs mentioned in the first two episodes." Speaking of the series' soundtrack, Raja Kumari's 'Goddess' was joined by S P Balasubramaniam's voice, A R Rahman's 'Oh Nanba' from Rajinikanth's Lingaa, Ritviz's 'Sage', music by Kully Bhamra and Ishq Bector, and Angus Campbell's 'Disco Gully'.

After the resounding success of her latest 'EP HBIC', Raja Kumari is all set to announce exciting music soon.
New Delhi, June 11 : The Delhi High Court has sought the response of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on a plea moved by jailed conman Sukesh Chandrashekhar alleging that the Tihar prison authorities have extorted around Rs 12.5 crore from him in the last two years.

Issuing notice in the writ petition, Justice Yogesh Khanna, in a recent order, directed the CBI to file a status report in this regard while posting the matter for the next hearing on August 5.

Talking to IANS, Sukesh's counsel Ashok K. Singh said: "A request has been made to CBI to probe into the matter. The matter in question is very serious in nature, which involves most senior Jail officers including the DG of Tihar jail, as they are involved in extortion racket run inside the jail thereby they threaten prisoners and extort money from their families members in the name of safety of the life and comfort inside the jail." The plea contended, that in February, a probe has been ordered against three Tihar jail officials for allegedly receiving money from Chandrashekhar.

The matter was probed by Delhi Police Economic Offence Wing which later had recommended action against 82 jail officials, who allegedly helped him by providing him luxurious facilities inside the prison.

The 27-yr-old Chandrashekhar, a native of Bengaluru, faces 15 FIRs.

To lead a lavish lifestyle, he duped people of several crores in Bengaluru and Chennai.

Further, Chandrashekhar has, multiple times, claimed a threat to his life inside the prison.

In a handwritten complaint lodged at the Hari Nagar Police station on March 9, he alleged that the jail officials are threatening to kill him if he does not fulfill their demands.

Chandrashekhar was arrested last year for allegedly cheating and extorting money from some high-profile people, which includes former Fortis Healthcare promoter Shivinder Mohan Singh's wife Aditi Singh.

Bollywood actors and models have been questioned by the Enforcement Directorate for their alleged links to Chandrashekhar.

He is also accused of allegedly playing middleman to help TTV Dinkaran allegedly get the AIADMK party symbol Two Leaves for Rs 60 crore in 2017.
Kolkata, June 11 : Following the tension and violence in pockets of Kolkata's adjacent Howrah district over the controversial comments on Prophet Muhammad during the last couple of days, the West Bengal government on Saturday removed two top police officials of the district - the Police Commissioner and the Superintendent of Police, Rural.

Police Commissioner C. Sudhakar was removed and sent to Kolkata as Joint Commissioner. Kolkata Police's Additional Commissioner-IV, Praveen Kumar Tripathi, take his place.

Similarly, the Superintendent, Rural, Soumya Roy, has deputed as Deputy Commissioner of Kolkata Police. The Deputy Commissioner, South West (Behala) will succeed him.

Incidentally, demands for removal of Roy from Howrah were first raised during the mysterious death of student leader Anis Khan in February this year. However, that did not happen then.

Meanwhile, after instructing suspension of internet services in the entire Howrah district till 6 a.m. of June 13, the state administration has imposed internet suspension in pockets of minority-dominated Murshidabad. The blocks in Murshidabad district where this suspension will be effective till 6 a.m. on June 14 include Rejinagar, Beldanga-I, Beldanga-II, and Shaktipur.

It is learnt that minor tension erupted in these pockets on late Friday evening following a Facebook post. However, the situation was brought under control and the person who made this Facebook post was also arrested. However, since tension is still brewing in these areas, the state government decided to suspend internet services there for the time being.
Bhopal, June 11 : Union Minister Prahlad Patel on Saturday alleged Pakistan's role behind violent protests that rattled various parts of the country on Friday over the raging row on controversial remarks of a BJP spokesperson against Prophet Muhammad. The minister said that "certain elements are jealous of India's growing stature." The Minister's remarks came during a visit to Madhya Pradesh's Jabalpur district on Saturday. The society should have to be vigilant against such activities, said the Minister.

"The Centre is vigilant and whatever is permissible under the law will be done in this matter. However, such a tendency to fuel rift in multicultural countries is a challenge and a concern as well," he added.

"It's an open secret that Pakistan is the country which is jealous of India. All these protests are being held by some fanatics. Such incidents are sponsored by vested elements," Patel said while talking to the press in Jabalpur.

On Friday, the protests were also held in several parts of Madhya Pradesh, including Bhopal, Jabalpur, Chhindwara and Damoh districts.

A large crowd staged a demonstration at Chhindwara district headquarters in protest against the controversial statement by former BJP spokesperson Nupur Sharma. A procession was carried out from Raja Talkies amid heavy police security.

The protest was carried out despite the administration denied permission citing imposition of prohibitory orders in the wake of local body polls.

As per the police, a large number of Muslims crossed police barricades to hand over a memorandum to district police. However, no incident of violence was reported in the state.

Reacting on Friday's march, state Home Minister Narottam Mishra said it's a matter of 'research' as to who was behind crossing the police barricades in Chhindwara.

"We should thank Madhya Pradesh police which maintained a peaceful atmosphere in the state. No untoward incident was reported. If someone makes an attempt to disrupt peace in the state, police will take strict action against them," Mishra, who is also the spokesperson of the state government said on Saturday.
Madrid, June 11 : Real Madrid have reached an agreement over the transfer of French midfielder Aurelien Tchouameni from AS Monaco, the two clubs announced on Saturday.

Tchouameni, who was the subject of interest from Liverpool and Paris Saint-Germain, will sign a six-year contract. The 22-year-old is due to undergo a medical check-up next week before being presented officially on Tuesday.

"Real Madrid CF and AS Monaco have agreed on the transfer of the player Aurelien Tchouameni, who will be linked to the club for the next six seasons," the Spanish club said in a statement.

"Next Tuesday, June 14, at 12:00 at Real Madrid City, the presentation ceremony for Aurelien Tchouameni as a new Real Madrid player will take place after the corresponding medical examination. Aurelien Tchouameni will then appear before the media," it added.

Tchouameni becomes Real Marid's second signing of the summer following the free transfer of Antonio Rudiger ahead of his Chelsea contract expiring.

Considered to be one of the most exciting young talents, Tchouameni is already a regular in France's national team and was part of the starting 11 in last year's Nations League final against Spain.
Mumbai, June 11 : Exploiting a wave of perceived angst of smaller parties and Independents propping up the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government, the opposition BJP in Maharashtra dealt an embarrassing blow to the ruling alliance in the Rajya Sabha elections despite lacking in numbers.

Several members of the MVA grudgingly complimented Leader of Opposition Devendra Fadnavis, with Nationalist Congress Party supremo Sharad Pawar even crediting him with pulling off a miracle, after the BJP won the crucial sixth seat by trouncing its former ally Shiv Sena's candidate.

Three BJP nominees won Rajya Sabha seats, Union Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal, BJP Kisan Morcha General Secretary Anil Bonde and state party spokesperson and ex-MP Dhananjay Mahadik from Kolhapur, with the latter routing Sena's Sanjay Pawar, also from Kolhapur.

The MVA netted three RS seats - Sena chief spokesperson Sanjay Raut, NCP's ex-Union minister Praful Patel and Congress' Imran Pratapgarhi - but the Sena's hopes to ensure Pawar's victory were ignominiously dashed.

A daylong of post-mortem comments by the dejected Sena leaders largely threw up the usual causes, with Raut blaming allurements, big bucks and threats that dissuaded several Independents and smaller parties from backing Sanjay Pawar despite assurances.

BJP's Mahadik romped home with 41 votes while Sena's Pawar got 39 votes with the minimum winning quota being 41 for all the contestants in the electoral college comprising 288 MLAs. The actual voting strength reduced as one Sena MLA died recently, while two from NCP were denied temporary bail to cast vote.

Similarly, Goyal and Bonde each got 48 votes, Pratapgarhi secured 44 votes, Patel netted 43 votes and Raut scraped through with 41 as one Sena vote was rendered invalid early on Saturday by the Election Commission of India (ECI).

Raut claimed that the MVA was deprived of three votes of the Bahujan Vikas Aghadi led by Hitendra Thakur, and some Independents like Sanjay Patil and Devendra Bhuyar, though the latter denied his contentions.

"We know who they are, we have the list... There were some 'horses' who were ready to be traded. It's not the people's mandate but that of 'horse-trading'," Raut said, vowing to improve MVA's performance in the upcoming elections.

He also accused the ECI of favouring the BJP by invalidating one Sena vote though the MVA had objected to two votes of BJP's Sudhir Mungantiwar and Independent Ravi Rana, but no action was taken on this.

Senior leader Sharad Pawar said that he was not shocked or surprised by the outcome, especially since all the MVA candidates polled the votes as per their quota.

"Only Patel got an extra vote and we don't know where it came from, it was not the MVA's vote but from the opposite side," he said.

He admitted that the gap was big for the sixth seat, and even though the MVA made all-out efforts to bridge the gap, it did not succeed.

"I must say Fadnavis knows how to keep his people together. He has performed a 'miracle' despite the numbers," said Pawar.

On the BJP side, boisterous celebrations erupted in Mumbai, Nagpur and Kolhapur besides other towns following Mahadik's victory, with Fadnavis prophesying that the "BJP's winning spree has begun again and will continue till 2024 when it would oust the unholy MVA which was formed out of 'backstabbing' after the 2019 Assembly polls".

Now, with the RS elections over, all the parties are concentrating on the June 20 biennial elections to the Maharashtra Legislative Council, with more trepidations in store for the MVA as there are 13 candidates vying for 10 seats, including 5 from the BJP, and one Independent supported by it vis-a-vis MVA's 7 nominees.
Hamirpur : , June 11 (IANS) Slamming the Congress and the BJP for "looting the country", Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Saturday said the Britons enslaved India for 200 years but after independence both the parties made the people slave.

Addressing a gathering here, the Chief Minister said both the Congress and the BJP played "friendly match" with each other for plundering the public wealth. He said that like the Britons, they also robbed the people of their rights but people had no other option except electing them again and again.

Mann said but now in form of AAP people have found a catalyst of change in the country and the people are rejecting both the parties by opting for the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP).

The Chief Minister said the winds of change that started from Delhi under Arvind Kejriwal had then engulfed Punjab and now it is ready to sweep the entire country.

He said AAP is ready to storm Himachal Pradesh adding that the Congress and the BJP will be routed out from the hill state.

Mann urged the people to oust then for carving out a new and prosperous Himachal.

Training his guns against Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, the Chief Minister said even after crossing 50 years of age, the scion of Nehru-Gandhi family is still a youth leader.

He said a youth is debarred from getting government job after crossing 37 years of age but on the other hand a 94-year-old person contests the poll for becoming MLA or MP which is completely unjustified.

Mann said AAP is pivot of change in the country a reflection of which is that more than 70 MLAs in Punjab are less than 35 years of age.

The Chief Minister said that while the successive governments had turned schools into mid-day meal buildings, the AAP governments at Delhi and Punjab have transformed them into temple of learning from where job-givers and not job-seekers are being produced.

Describing quality education as panacea of all ills, he said that it is a powerful tool which can only transform the lives of people.

Mann said the people should support AAP to empower a common man through quality education as being done in Delhi and Punjab.

Striking an emotional chord with people of Himachal Pradesh, the Chief Minister recalled the days when he visited the state.

He said Dev Bhoomi Himachal Pradesh is a blessed land and he is fortunate to be here. Mann said the youth of Himachal Pradesh is very talented and the time has come when their enormous potential is tapped for the progress of state and prosperity of its people.
Mumbai, June 11 : At a time when the 1997 killing of music mogul Gulshan Kumar was still fresh in public memory, actor and filmmaker Rakesh Roshan was confronted by two sharpshooters in full public view and shot at twice on January 21, 2000.

He had just made 'Kaho Naa ... Pyaar Hai', which turned out to be superhit and launched the career of his son, Hrithik Roshan. Recounting the incident soon after it took place, Hrithik, who was in London shooting for 'Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham', said in an interview with the American-British comedian and TV personality Ruby Wax: "My father was in debt because we had borrowed a lot of money to make the film. The film struck big time -- it was the biggest hit in the past five-six years." The moment the underworld got a whiff of this Bollywood success story, they could smell money -- and Rakesh Roshan became their prime target.

On the evening of January 21, 2000, the filmmaker was shot at by two unidentified assailants near his office on Tilak Road at Santacruz West in Mumbai.

Of the two bullets aimed at him, one hit him on the left arm and the other grazed his chest. As Rakesh Roshan fell on the ground next to him, the two assailants fled the scene.

The filmmaker was quick to recover. He got into his car and his driver Aatish sped him to the Santacruz police station. The police then accompanied him to Nanavati Hospital, where Dr Sharad Pandey, father of Bollywood actor Chunky Pandey, successfully operated on him for an hour to remove the bullet.

The assailants were later identified as Sunil Vithal Gaikwad and Sachin Kamble, both on the payrolls of Ali Budesh, the Bahrain-based ganglord who rose to prominence in Mumbai's underworld reportedly after he took on the might of Dawood Ibrahim and aligned with the UP don, Shubhash Singh Thakur. Rakesh Roshan is believed to have been resisting demands from the Ali Budesh gang for a share of the overseas earnings of 'Kaho Naa...'.

According to the journalist Praveen Swami, the attack on Rakesh Roshan was not made with the intent of killing him, but to send out the signal that the Shiv Sena, which had just been voted out in Maharashtra, could no longer protect Bollywood.

It was important to send this message out because, as Swami noted, Bal Thackeray's daughter-in-law, Smita Thackeray (she was married to Jaidev Thackeray till the couple got divorced in 2004), had emerged as a credible and above-board alternative to the mafia as a film financier.

Sunil Vithal Gaikwad, one of the two men who pulled the trigger on Rakesh Roshan, was caught only on October 9, 2020, by when he was wanted in 11 cases of murder and seven of attempt to murder.
Bhubaneswar, June 11 : The Economic Offence Wing (EOW) of Odisha police arrested another two accused -- Rakshith and Sushanth for their alleged involvement in cheating people through fake loan mobile apps, the police said on Saturday.

Rakshith and Sushanth, both residents of Udupi district, Karnataka, were arrested in Bhubaneswar and forwarded to court on Saturday, the EOW officials said.

The accused persons were cheating people by forming illegal shell companies named as Mudmate Technologies Private Limited, Yellow Tune Technologies Private Limited and Pinkleaf Aryan Communications Private Limited.

Police said that both the accused were acting as director of the shell companies to facilitate the transaction of illegal lending and recovery process through illegal digital loan apps. They were doing this in connivance and collaboration with many other shell companies like IWT-India etc.

They were also managing a call centre from Bengaluru which used to make threatening and humiliating calls and messages to victim loanees and their contacts.

They have disclosed many important information which gives indication towards a very complex and well organized racket, the details of which are being investigated, said the officials.

Earlier, the EOW had arrested three persons for allegedly cheating people through a fake loan mobile app. The police authority had also asked Google to remove 45 illegal loan apps from its play store.
Billings is turning to the healing power of barbecue.

After a rash of stabbings, chases, gunfire between Billings Police officers and suspects and one armed hostage situation, city officials are looking for ways to draw the community together.

"There is no single cause...and there are no simple solutions," six council members and Mayor Bill Cole wrote in an open letter to the community on Friday. "As local government officials, we feel that a good starting point is to bring back the tight-knit communities that many of us grew up with, and that starts with building strong neighborhoods."

To that end, Cole and the six council members are calling on Billings residents to organize a neighborhood barbecue.

"Gather for a night and enjoy the company of old friends," they wrote. "Shoot the breeze with the family across the street and connect with the folks who live next door. It will be great for you and great for our community."

Hanging like a backdrop over the recent spasms of violence in Billings are a number of high-profile national mass shootings last month from Uvalde, Texas, to Buffalo, New York, to Tulsa, Oklahoma.

These events take a heavy toll on their communities, particularly on the families of the victims and the law enforcement officers involved, Cole said.

While Billings has seen dramatic police shootouts and car chases this spring, violent crime in the city has fallen 17% from this time last year, said Billings Police Chief Rich St. John.

Much of that 17% has come in a drop of sex offenses and partner or family member assaults, St. John said.

That's a result of more active enforcement and engagement from the officers and prosecutors who specialize in these crimes due to increased funding from the public safety mill levy passed by voters last year, he said.

However, police have seen an increase in assault cases, particularly strangulation.

"People do not know how to disagree," St. John said.

And so Billings' elected leaders are encouraging more neighborhood bonding with a good barbecue to help build up the tight-knit communities of the past.

"We know that a neighborhood barbecue will not solve all our communitys problems, but the longest journey begins with a single step," they wrote. "Billings is special. Lets keep it that way  one neighborhood at a time."

City leaders acknowledged throwing together a neighborhood barbecue can be expensive and so to help they've offered to connect those organizing a barbecue with individuals or organizations that can offer assistance if it's needed.

Cole and the council members involved  Ed Gulick, Kendra Shaw, Danny Choriki, Denise Joy, Mike Boyett and Tom Rupsis  even said they'd show up and help.

"If scheduling allows, we welcome the chance to help cook, serve, or clean up," they wrote.

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Srinagar, June 11 : Hizbul Mujahideen (HM) terrorist who was killed in an encounter with security forces at Khandipora area in South Kashmir's Kulgam district on Saturday, has been identified, officials said.

Police said acting on specific information generated by Police regarding the presence of a terrorist in village Khandipora area of Kulgam, a joint cordon and search operation was launched by Police, Army (9RR) and CRPF.

"During the search operation, as the joint search party approached towards the suspected spot, the hiding terrorist fired indiscriminately upon the joint search party which was retaliated effectively leading to an encounter. However in order to evacuate the civilians trapped around the encounter site, the joint team ensured the evacuation of all civilians to the safer places," police said.

"In the ensuing encounter, a categorized terrorist identified as Rasiq Ahmed Ganie, son of Mohd Amin Ganie, resident of Shouch Kulgam of proscribed terror outfit HM was killed and his body was retrieved from the site of encounter." As per police records, the killed terrorist was involved in several terror crime cases including attacks on Police/security forces and civilian atrocities.

"Incriminating materials, arms and ammunition including 303 Rifle along with 23 rounds, Pistol along with 31 rounds, one Hand grenade etc, have been recovered from the site of encounter. All the recovered materials have been taken into case records for further investigation," police said.

Police have registered a case and investigation has been initiated.
Thiruvananthapuram, June 11 : On February 17, 2017, Kerala woke up to the shocking news that one of the most popular actresses in the Malayalam film industry had been kidnapped and sexually assaulted in a moving car.

The actress reached the residence of actor and director Lal in Kochi and informed him of the assault and the trauma she had undergone after she was kidnapped while on her way back to her room after a film shoot. The actor-director at once called up the then Thrikkakara legislator, P.T. Thomas, who immediately informed the police, and a case was registered.

The actress complained to the police that six men were involved in the kidnap and sexual assault and said the assault was filmed to blackmail her. The police swung into action and on the same night, one of the accused was arrested and his two accomplices were also rounded up in the next two days.

Then came the shocker. In a major breakthrough, the Kerala police arrested a former driver of actor Dileep, Pulsar Sunil, on February 23, 2017, and all the accused were charged under Sections 366 (kidnapping) and 376 (rape) of Indian Penal Code, and Section 66 of the IT Act.

From day one after the arrest of the accused, there were reports that Dileep was behind the kidnapping, but the actor slammed the media for carrying "false news" about him. He even took to social media to say that he was being targeted.

The case took an ugly turn when on April 12, 2017, Pulsar Suni wrote a letter to Dileep from jail to say that he was facing a bad time behind bars. In June 2017, Dileep issued a controversial statement blaming the victim for the rape and accused her of having a relationship with Pulsar Suni and they had been together in Goa.

This evoked a sharp response from the actress, who said that she would sue Dileep. At the same time audio tapes were leaked to the media in which Pulsar Suni was heard talking to the manager of Dileep, Appuni, that he needed ransom money and demanded Rs 1.5 crore.

The police then questioned Dileep and his close friend and actor-director Nadirsha for 13 hours at the police club in Aluva on June 28. Thereafter he was arrested.

Dileep, who enjoyed superstar status, and his wife and Malayalam actress, Kavya Madhavan, are still under the police scanner and the case is on trial.

The actress, meanwhile, has alleged that Dileep was attempting to erase the phone calls using sophisticated technology. The actor's advocates are also in the shadow of suspicion, with the senior lawyer being accused of trying to intimidate witnesses.

The Malayalam film industry, aka Mollywood, which was famous for bringing home laurels and acclaim from across the globe, is now under flak over the actions of a superstar. His wife is under the scanner and the victim has acted in several movies with him and was once a close friend of his wife.

Interestingly, Dileep's first wife, Manju Warrier, who got a divorce from the actor after it was known that he had a relationship with Kavya Madhavan, has also deposed before the court and presented all the information she has with her.

Even as it was recovering from the Dileep case, the industry got another rude shock when an upcoming actor complained to the Kochi police that actor-producer Vijay Babu had raped her repeatedly promising her roles in the movies he was making. Immediately after the complaint was lodged, Babu went underground and left for the UAE from Goa.

The Kerala police tried its best to bring the actor back to the country, but he did not move. The cops, however, got his passport cancelled and issued a red corner notice. Vijay Babu did come back to Kerala, but with an order from the Kerala High Court specifying that he be not arrested till his anticipatory bail plea was heard.

The court also directed the actor to approach the investigating officer immediately and give his statement.

With Vijay Babu running from one police station to another and from one court to the other, the same old Dileep story is being repeated here with the difference that it was Babu who is under the allegation of raping the upcoming actress while in Dileep's case he is alleged to have used his cohorts or had given a 'quotation' to rape the super actress of South Indian indu Adoor Gopalakrishnan, Shaji N. Karun, the late G. Aravindan and Pavithran are some of the directors who are respected around the world for their movies and for taking Malayalam cinema to higher levels of excellence. Mammootty, Mohanlal, Suresh Gopi, the late Prem Nazir and Murali are the actors who brought laurels to the industry without even a single blemish to besmirch their illustrious careers.

Other than Dileep and Vijay Babu, Sreejith Ravi, an NIT product and son of Mollywood's most popular anti-hero, T.G Ravi, who has played both character actors and villains, was also charged in a rape case and served a prison term.

And one of the most popular Malayalam producers, Siad Koker, set the cat among the pigeons a couple of years ago when he declared that money sourced illegally, or not accounted for, was finding its way into Kerala's film industry .

On the one side, the industry is nurturing exceptional young talents such as Basil Joseph, the engineer-turned-director who has created Malayalam cinema's first superhero in 'Minnal Murali', and actors like Fahadh Faasil and Dulquar Salman, who are now nationally known, are bringing home accolades, but the industry's black sheep are letting down Mollywood.

With the Dileep case in court, filmgoers who had once been fans of the superstar, have been left disappointed as each passing day leads to murkier details about the actor and the means he has been employing to escape the law coming out in the open. His movies, which were released after the case came to light, bombed in the market, clearly indicating which side the public's sympathy lay.
Srinagar, June 11 : An encounter has started between terrorists and security forces at Drabgam area in South Kashmir's Pulwama district, officials said on Saturday.

"Encounter has started at Drabgam area of Pulwama. Police and security forces are on the job," police said.

This is the second encounter on a single day in Kashmir. Earlier on Saturday, one Hizbul Mujahideen terrorist was killed in an encounter with security forces in South Kashmir's Kulgam district.

There have been a series of anti terror operations in Kashmir over the last few months in which many terrorists and their commanders have been eliminated.

Most of the operations have been jointly conducted by the police and the army on the basis of specific intelligence inputs.

There were two encounters on Tuesday in Kashmir. One terrorist was killed in an encounter in South Kashmir's Shopian district on that day while two LeT terrorists were killed at Chaktaras Kandi area in North Kashmir's Kupwara district.

On Monday, a Pakistani terrorist, Hanzalla, was killed in an encounter with security forces at Sopore in North Kashmir's Baramulla district.
Srinagar, June 11 : One terrorist has been killed in an ongoing encounter with security forces at Drabgam area in South Kashmir's Pulwama district, officials said on Saturday.

"One terrorist killed. Operation going on," police said.

This is the second encounter on a single day in Kashmir. Earlier on Saturday, one Hizbul Mujahideen terrorist was killed in an encounter with security forces in South Kashmir's Kulgam district.

There have been a series of anti terror operations in Kashmir over the last few months in which many terrorists and their commanders have been eliminated.

Most of the operations have been jointly conducted by the police and the army on the basis of specific intelligence inputs.
New Delhi, June 11 : India has decided to display a relic of the Buddha in Mongolia from June 14 for a period of 11 days. The initiative was at the request of the Mongolian government earlier this year when they sought display of the Buddha's relic in Mongolia. The relics, which are kept in the national museum and have very special significance, are usually not taken out of the country. However, as a special gesture it was decided to send the relic of the Buddha to Mongolia.

Mongolia is considered as a Buddhist nation with 53 per cent of the population being Buddhists. Large number of Buddhist monks, who have been keen on higher learning in Buddhism, have traditionally been travelling to India for pursuing Buddhist studies in different institutions. These individuals have formed the bulwark of Buddhist diplomacy between India and Mongolia. One of the most prominent Rinpoches from India who has also contributed significantly towards spread of Buddhism in Mongolia is Bakula Rinpoche, who was posted as the Ambassador of India to Mongolia from 1990 to 2000.

These were crucial years when the communist party's hold on the state had come to an end in the Soviet Union with fall out effect on Mongolia too. As the country became free and people were keen to learn about different religions, Bakula Rinpoche's presence in Mongolia was timely. He became so popular in Mongolia that large number of people visited him from different parts of the country to take his blessings. Bakula Rinpoche is revered in Mongolia till this day and his impressions would remain etched in the minds of the Buddhists of Mongolia for years to come.

The relic of Buddha being taken to Mongolia will be placed at the Gandan Monastery and would be visited by people from all across the country. The senior leadership of the country is expected to visit the relic and interact with the Indian delegation being led by Minister of Law and Justice Kiren Rijiju. This is possibly the third visit of the Minister to the country where he is well known among the Mongolian leadership and prominent people of Buddhist faith.

Another deep association that Mongolia has with Tibetan Buddhism is the fact that the title of 'Dalai' held by the Dalai Lama was given by the Mongol King Altan Khan. In 1578, Altan Khan, a Mongol military leader with ambitions to unite the Mongols and to emulate the career of Genghis Khan, invited the 3rd Dalai Lama, the head of the rising Gelug lineage to Mongolia. They formed an alliance that gave Altan Khan legitimacy and religious sanction for his imperial pretensions and that provided the Buddhist school with protection and patronage. Altan Khan recognized Sonam Gyatso Lama as a reincarnation of Phagpha Lama and gave the Tibetan leader the title of 'Dalai Lama', which his successors still hold.

In order to strengthen the hold of Altan Khan and add value to his rule, the 3rd Dalai Lama in return recognised Altan Khan as a reincarnation of Kublai Khan, who was regarded as the most powerful of the Khans. This recognition added strength to Altan Khan's position and authority significantly. Thus, the connection between the Dalai Lama lineage and Mongolia also remains strong and deep rooted.

The presence of the relic of Buddha in Mongolia on an auspicious day as the Buddha Purnima which is celebrated in Mongolia and several parts of the world on June 14, is a significant feature as this would tend to make this years' Buddha Purnima celebrations in Mongolia very special. The relic is considered as equivalent to the presence of the Buddha and hence the relevance of the relic.

Significantly, with its long border with Mongolia, China has also been involved in the Buddhist circuit in Mongolia and has been trying to create a niche for itself among the Buddhists in Mongolia. Chinese influence in the Mongolian Buddhism circuit is visible though not as prominently. At the same time, being the land of the Buddha, India has a natural attraction for Buddhists from all across the world. The New Delhi based International Buddhist Confederation also plays a critical role in engaging Buddhist leaders and organisations across the world and maintains special relations with the Buddhist leadership in Mongolia as well.
Ahmedabad, June 11 : Union Minister for Home and Cooperation, Amit Shah on Saturday presided over the 25th meeting of the Western Zonal Council in Diu in which he emphasised the need for early investigation of rape and sexual offences against women and children and stringent punishment in a time bound manner.

The meeting was attended by the Chief Ministers of Goa, Gujarat and the administrators of Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu senior ministers of Gujarat and Maharashtra, Union Home Secretaries, Chief Secretaries of the member states of the Western Region, Secretaries, Central and State Ministries including the Inter-State Council Secretariat and senior officers of the departments.

This is the first time that the meeting of the Western Zonal Council has been organised in Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu.

Amit shah mentioned the vision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to take advantage of cooperative and competitive federalism while highlighting the importance of Zonal Councils established under the States Reorganization Act in 1956 for achieving all round development of the country.

The Union Home Minister said that meetings of various Zonal Councils are now being organised regularly by the Inter-State Council Secretariat of the Ministry of Home Affairs in collaboration with the State Governments. In the last 8 years under the guidance of PM Modi, the number of meetings of the Zonal Councils and its Standing Committees has increased by almost three times.

Appreciating the role of the Zonal Councils, the Union Home Minister said that the Zonal Councils take an integrated approach through discussion and exchange of views between the States on important issues of social and economic development.

A total of 36 issues were discussed in the 25th meeting and the 12th meeting of the Standing Committee in Panaji on January 28, 2022. Out of these, six subjects have been identified as nationally important subjects and these are being discussed and monitored regularly in the meetings of various Zonal Councils.

These are -- Improvement of banking services in rural areas, Monitoring of cases of rape and sexual offences against women and children, Implementation of fast track courts for such cases, Verification of identity of marine fishermen at sea, Large scale in seas Development of local contingency plans by coastal states for rescue operations, and, promotion of Make in India through preference in public procurement.

Out of the 30 topics discussed in the 25th Western Regional Council, 27 have been resolved and only three are left for further discussion. It shows the resolve and commitment of the Modi government towards the all-round development of the nation in the spirit of cooperative federalism.

Amit Shah stressed the need for early investigation of rape and sexual offences against women and children and stringent punishment in a time bound manner in these cases. Shah said that additional Director General of Police level officers, if possible, women officers should be entrusted with the responsibility of monitoring the investigation of all such cases in the Police Headquarters of each State.

He expressed satisfaction over the progress made on the issue of QR code based PVC Aadhaar cards to marine fishermen urged the coastal states to make efforts to ensure that 100 per cent sea-goers including migrants and seasonal Fishermen should have Aadhaar cards which can be easily verified.

Highlighting the need for an all-inclusive local emergency plan and its role in mass rescue operations, Shah advised identifying the existing infrastructure along the coast and integrating them with disaster mitigation plans.

Emphasizing on the importance of Direct Benefit Transfer to ensure that the benefits of social security schemes reach the target beneficiaries, he advised that the Direct Benefit Transfer Platform to the States should include schemes of all States, except the Centrally Sponsored Schemes. The cash deposit facility through Common Service Centres be extended in a time bound manner and all banks should be linked to the platform. He advised that quarterly review should be done with a focus on this.
New Delhi, June 11 : Delhi Police have arrested two men who tried to rob a man at gunpoint in the national capital, an official said on Saturday.

The accused have been identified as Vishal Anand (30) and Pawan alias Pappu (35).

The incident took place on June 9 when one person named Amrender Kumar was present near the Ghazipur Paper Market.

"The two accused came on a motorcycle, pointed a country-made pistol at Kumar and asked to hand over all the valuables," DCP Priyanka Kashyap said.

The accused also hit the victim on his head with the pistol butt.

"A police patrol team was passing by and seeing the incident, it swung into action," the officer said.

One of the policemen overpowered one accused person while the other tried to flee from the spot.

"The police team chased and apprehended him and also recovered the country-made pistol," Kashyap said.
New Delhi, June 11 : Congress leader Rahul Gandhi is expected to join the Enforcement Directorate's probe into the National Herald case on Monday.

Rahul Gandhi was summoned on June 2, but he could not join the probe as he was abroad.

"Rahul Gandhi was summoned to appear before the probe agency on June 2. He had requested the ED to give him some time to join the investigation as he was abroad," said an official.

The ED then issued a second notice asking him to join the probe on June 13.

On Friday, Sonia Gandhi was issued a fresh summon by the ED to join the investigation in the same case on June 23.

Earlier she was summoned on June 8, but she wrote to the ED informing that she was infected by Covid-19 and hence was unable to join the probe. Subsequently, the ED issued a fresh summon to her.

Sources said that both have been asked to appear before ED's Delhi headquarters.

The case has been lodged against various Congress leaders, including the Gandhis, for allegedly misappropriating National Herald fund.

Initially, the case was lodged with the Central Bureau of Investigation. The ED case is based on the CBI case.
Moscow, June 11 : The US "with its own hands" pushed the countries, which are not participating in "sanctions wars", to form a "new Big Eight" group with Russia, the Russian State Duma speaker Vyacheslav Volodin said on Saturday.

In a Telegram post, Volodin included a table with IMF data on GDP based on purchasing power parity of countries he calls the "new G8" and of countries forming the current G7 (after Russia's participation in the bloc was suspended over Crimea's vote to join the country in 2014, the G8 effectively turned into the G7), RT reported.

"The group of eight countries not participating in the sanctions wars -- China, India, Russia, Indonesia, Brazil, Mexico, Iran, Turkey -- in terms of GDP at PPP is 24.4 per cent ahead of the old group," Volodin wrote, RT reported.

In his opinion, the economies of the G7 members -- the US, Japan, Germany, Britain, France, Italy and Canada -- continue "to crack under the weight of sanctions imposed against Russia".

Following the launch of Russia's military offensive in Ukraine in late February, the US, EU, UK and many other countries imposed hard-hitting restrictions on Moscow, making Russia the most sanctioned country in the world.

"The rupture of existing economic relations by Washington and its allies has led to the formation of new points of growth in the world," Volodin claimed.

While having serious economic difficulties, the US, according to the Duma speaker, continues "doing everything to solve their problems at the expense of others".

Creating tensions will "inevitably" lead the US to lose its world domination, Volodin stressed, RT reported.

"The US created the conditions with its own hands for countries wishing to build an equal dialogue and mutually beneficial relations to actually form a 'new Big Eight' together with Russia," he said.

Latest updates on Russia-Ukraine War
Guwahati, June 11 : The Assam government has taken a key decision regarding the settlement of indigenous landless families in the state, an official said on Saturday.

More than one thousand applications pending since 1992 will be settled in favour of indigenous landless families on a mission mode, said a government official. It was decided in a state cabinet meeting held in Tezpur on Saturday.

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma-led cabinet has also decided to build a 2.4 km long bridge over the Subansiri river at an estimated cost of Rs 383.67 crore in Lakhimpur district with an aim to cut short the distance between Lakhimpur and Dhakuakhana by about 20 km, which will benefit at least three districts in the state.

The state government will also construct another bridge over the Pagladiya river at Rs 247.90 crore, and a 10-km-long road which can provide a direct route for commercial vehicles from Bhutan border to the lower Assam area.

Moreover, honouring Bir Lachit Barphukan on his 400th birth anniversary, the government has taken up a 150-crore mega project to set up a war memorial near Guwahati to salute the valour of the 17th century war hero.
A legal standoff over grizzly bear killings in Bridger-Teton National Forest will continue as conservation groups challenge a recent court ruling that sided with federal officials and local ranchers.

The bears advocates initially sued the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the U.S. Forest Service and the former Secretary of the Interior in March 2020 over an interagency decision that would allow officials to euthanize up to 72 grizzlies in the Upper Green River over the next 10 years to prevent harm to livestock.

U.S. District Judge Nancy Freudenthal of Wyoming dismissed the lawsuit in May after finding that the plan did not violate the Endangered Species Act, as the conservation groups argued. Western Watersheds Project, Alliance for the Wild Rockies and Yellowstone to Uintas Connection appealed the dismissal on Friday.

The Fish and Wildlife Service and the Forest Service declined to comment on the appeal.

Jonathan Ratner, Wyoming director for Western Watershed Project, said the Upper Green River is the bullseye for grizzly killing to protect private livestock.

Many Wyoming ranchers, politicians and wildlife officials consider grizzly bears to be fully recovered and want them removed from the endangered species list and returned to state control. Conservation groups believe that the bears still face far too many perils, human and otherwise, to have their federal protections lifted.

At stake, from the ranchers point of view, is the ability to protect their herds from a relentless, multiplying predator. But conservation groups say the iconic Yellowstone species' long-term survival is on the line.

The idea that we need to be killing endangered species to protect cattle is mind-boggling, Ratner said.

An estimated 727 grizzlies live in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem, according to the Interagency Grizzly Bear Study Team. Seventy-two grizzly deaths in a decade, Ratner said, would be a huge loss for the rest of the population  especially if many of the bears that die are female.

This is about 10% of that total, Ratner said. Which is quite significant for a species that has very low reproduction rates, and very limited capability to reproduce.

But local ranchers say theyd struggle to stay in business without the states removal of problem grizzlies or its livestock compensation program. Officials killed roughly three dozen grizzlies in the Upper Green River between 2010 and 2018. As grizzlies continue to roam farther from park boundaries, the rate of conflicts could increase.

I lose, on average, 10% of my calf crop every year to grizzly bears, said Coke Landers, president of the Upper Green River Cattle Association, a ranching group involved in the case. You take too many years of that and you can't afford it.

The conservation groups want ranchers to adopt mitigation strategies to protect their animals and spare bears lives, like having someone out herding livestock at all times and raising calves outside of grizzly country. Landers thinks those sorts of measures would take more work, raise costs and do little to fix the problem.

Sometimes, after a grizzly discovers the easy pickings available on ranchlands, it will keep coming back for more, he said. When you can take that one out of the population, it's a benefit to us that he's no longer targeting livestock.

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Tirupati, June 11 : The Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam (TTD) is mulling legal action against newly-wed cine couple Nayanathara and Vignesh Shivan for doing a photoshoot and roaming with footwear on Mada Streets during their visit to Tirumala temple on Friday.

The couple, who took part in Kalyanotsavam, stirred a controversy by doing a photoshoot in violation of rules. The actress was also found walking along the Mada Streets with her footwear on.

Video footage of her walking in the surrounding area of the main temple with her footwear on and posing for photographs soon went viral on social media.

As the action of the couple drew flak from various quarters, TTD, which manages the affairs of the richest temple, reacted on Saturday.

TTD vigilance officer Bali Reddy told the media that Nayanathara wearing footwear while walking along the Mada Streets was unfortunate.

He pointed out that Mada Steers hold high religious significance and as per TTD rules, walking with footwear on in the area is strictly prohibited. He said this happened due to the failure of TTD employees who were on duty.

The vigilance officer said the couple was also found doing a photoshoot which was in violation of TTD rules.

"We will take action against those employees who were on duty at that time as they failed to stop the violations," he said.

As per TTD rules, private cameras are not allowed in the vicinity of the temple and the couple violated the rules by bringing their cameramen along and doing a photoshoot.

He said the TTD board would consult legal experts to proceed legally against Nayanathara and Vignesh Shivan. He hinted that legal notices may be served to the couple.

Meanwhile, Vignesh Shivan has issued a statement apologising for their mistake. He said they were in a hurry to complete the photoshoot and did not realise that they had their footwear on.

He said they wanted to marry at Tirumala but since this was not possible due to some reasons, they came to the temple immediately after the wedding and to get a feeling that their wedding took place at Tirumala they did the photoshoot.
New Delhi, June 11 : Hours after being expelled from the Congress, Haryana MLA Kuldeep Bishnoi on Saturday hit back at the party, accusing it of partisan behaviour.

"Congress also has rules for some leaders and exceptions for others. Rules are applied selectively. Indiscipline has been repeatedly ignored in the past. In my case, I listened to my soul & acted on my morals," he said in a tweet.

In an earlier tweet, he also took a jibe at the party's "swift and strong action".

"Had @incindia acted this swiftly & strongly in 2016 & on every other critical opportunity they've missed, they wouldn't have been in such dire straits," he said.

The Congress on Saturday expelled Adampur MLA Bishnoi from all party positions after he openly cross-voted against official Congress nominee Ajay Maken in Rajya Sabha polls held on Friday.

Congress General Secretary, Organisation K.C. Venugopal said: "Hon'ble Congress President has expelled Kuldeep Bishnoi from all his present party positions including the post of special invitee in Congress Working Committee with immediate effect." Two Congress MLAs cross-voted in Haryana as Maken got only 29 votes out of 31 and Independent candidate backed by the BJP, Kartikeya Sharma defeated him with a slight margin.

Bishnoi was reportedly upset with the party after he was denied the state President's post and had said he will only take a decision after meeting party leader Rahul Gandhi. This meeting did not take place.
Guwahati, June 11 : The Assam government plans to generate 1,000 MW of solar power with an investment of Rs 5,000 crore and to set up joint venture company (JVC) with Neyveli Lignite Corporation (now NLC India Ltd) for the purpose, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma announced on Saturday.

Sarma said that to make Assam self-sufficient in energy, the ambitious solar power project would be taken up and a MoU to be signed soon with NLC India Ltd, a Navratna enterprise, to set up the JVC for the solar power plant.

Already 5,000 bighas of land is allotted for the proposed solar power project in mountainous Dima Hasao district, he told the media.

Sarma on May 31, inaugurated a solar power project at Amguri in Sivasagar district with a generation capacity of 70 MW.

The Rs 300-crore Amguri solar park project was executed by Jackson Power Private Ltd, as solar power developer, with the government-owned Assam Power Generation Corporation Ltd acting as solar power park developer.
Islamabad/New Delhi, June 11 : The reactive politics as visible in Pakistan is indeed unique, especially when it comes to developments in India and on sensitive issues.

In reaction to the statement made by BJP spokesperson Nupur Sharma, one found the Pakistani media and radical Islamic organisations full of strong rhetoric targeting India, the BJP and, of course, the two party members who had made statements on Islam and had come under criticism by the Muslim world.

Protest rallies were held in various cities and towns of Pakistan, PoK and GB including Islamabad, Lahore, Multan, Jhang, Karachi, Peshawar, Quetta, Muzaffarabad, Jhelum Valley, Mirpur, Kotli, Bagh, Haveli, Neelum, Hattian, Chinari, Barnala, Rawalakot, Gilgit against on June 10 against alleged blasphemy by Sharma and Naveen Kumar Jindal.

Protestors carried banners inscribed with slogans such as "we offer our life for the honor of the Prophet", "Hang Nupur the blasphemer" etc. They chanted anti-India/BJP and anti-PM Modi slogans including "gustakh ki saza- sar tan se juda".

Indian flags and Sharma's pictures and effigies were burnt all across. Several demonstrations were organised by Islamist and political parties, trade organisations and lawyers fraternity including JeI, JUI, Sunni Ulema Council, Sunni Tehreek, Ahle Sunnat Wal Jamaat, Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan, Muslim Conference, Markazi Seerat Committee, Jamaat Ahle Sunnat and other Sunni groups. Senate Chairman Sadiq Sanjrani led a rally to the Indian High Commission Islamabad.

Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan held a rally on June 9 at Chinari, Jhelum valley district against defamatory remarks of Sharma and Jindal. It was led by TLP, Jhelum Valley district Amir Mohammed Tasleem Kayani. TLP Mirpur leaders comprising Mufti Rashidul Qadri, Amir TLP Mirpur district, Allama Muhammed Waseem Nazim-e-Ala Mirpur and Muhammed Kashif, secretary publication and media advisor Mirpur district and other leaders, in a joint statement, alleged that Pakistan's silence over blasphemous caricatures in France provided opportunities to the other forces of the world to commit blasphemy.

Mufti Rashidul Qadri urged Pakistan to use military force to deal with this challenge. He also said that the TLP was prepared to play a lead role in this regard. TLP leaders warned India that if it doesn't seek pardon over the blasphemy, TLP will "teach an exemplary lesson to Indian beasts". They urged the Pakistani government to take urgent notice of this incident and respond sternly, as otherwise he said that TLP activists know how to protect the honour of the prophet and offer their lives in his defence.

JeI PoK's acting Amir Sheikh Aqilur Rehman held meetings with various delegations in connection with the protests after Friday prayers. He urged PoK people to participate in protest rallies in an all-out manner and stressed that international community including Muslim ummah must boycott India politically, diplomatically and economically.

JeM leader Naveed Masood Hashmi also demanded boycott of Indian goods not only by the Gulf countries but by all Muslim countries including Pakistan, Turkey, Bangladesh, Malaysia, and Indonesia.

Hashmi mentioned that it is highly shameful that condemned Sharma committed the crime of blasphemy 14 days ago, but Pakistani rulers, media and other powerful sections remained silent for several days. Even clerics were found careless and lethargic in this regard. PM Shahbaz Sharif and other people became aware only when Ulema and common Muslims of Arab countries announced boycott of Indian goods. He questioned as to why protests against blasphemy began late in Pakistan? It is a matter of serious concern as to why Pakistan failed in playing leading role against the attack on the honour of the prophet in India, he stated.

PTI women wing Mirpur district leader Fauzia Butt announced on the eve of Friday protest that those committing blasphemy in honor of the Prophet are fit to be killed. There is no scope of concession for blasphemers.

It is interesting note that the negative rhetoric took time to catch on as Pakistan has been embroiled in its own internal issues which take away most of the time and energy of the people and the government. This all the more reinforces the fact that Pakistan and the Pakistani people should look after their own priority interests at first rather than delve into criticism of others.
Panaji, June 11 : Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Saturday said "together we should create such an environment in the next 25 years, when India will complete 100 years of independence in 2047, that our children and youth should be proud of".

"For 'Amrit Kaal' we will have to work together, when it is 100 years in 2047 for our youth, for our children creates an environment of which they should be proud of," Sitharaman said after inaugurating 'Dharohar', National Museum of Customs and GST in Panaji.

Built by the Portuguese, this blue building was the Customs office under their rule. It was the headquarters of Goa's Indian Customs and Central Excise Department after liberation.

Comic books, digital games and other digital modes to educate people about GST were launched on the occasion.

"All of us will have to be together in building a nation. You have comic books, you have digital things to educate people. Comic books, drawing from children's artwork, give a message to children as well as wardens. This is motivating and inspiring for me," she said.

"Can the ministry otherwise sit and work on budget, sometimes can't be so interesting, has come up with so many different ways of speaking about how this ministry actually has been serving the people and empowering the role of gadgets," Sitharaman said.

She said that her ministry contributes to nation buildings.
Ahmedabad, June 12 : Union Home Minister Amit Shah inaugurated development works of more than Rs 80 crore and the Khukri museum at Diu in Gujarat. He added that "Achhe din abhi aur bhi achhe hone wale hain".

He addressed a public meeting in presence of State Home Minister Harsh Sanghavi, Union Territory (Daman and Diu) administrator Praful Patel and State Revenue Minister Rajendra Trivedi.

Shah said in his address, "I came to Diu for the first time after becaming the Home Minister. Today, for the first time, a meeting of the Chief Ministers of the western states was held in Diu. They went back happy with so much appreciation for the arrangements made by Praful Patel. Earlier when development projects were being distributed, only a miniscule amount finally reached Diu and other Union Territories from Delhi. Now, Praful Patel has cascaded development over here." "The world celebrates the Ocean Day on June 8, raising awareness about marine life, cleaning up islands and eliminating single-use plastics. This was discussed all over the world. We have already done this in Diu, which is the only region that runs entirely on solar energy," he added.

"The Khukri Museum will be a centre of attraction for everyone who loves the land of India. Development is not possible without vision. Praful Patel implemented the vision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Diu, Dadra and Silvassa. I urge my young friends and students to visit this museum and understand the history of Khukri." The cable car facility from Diu to Ghogha was inaugurated on Saturday at a cost of Rs 40 crore.

Work on the Smart City Mission has begun at a cost of Rs eight crore, with the construction of a public plaza outside the Diu Fort at a cost of Rs five crore.

The redevelopment of Pani Kotha, redevelopment of a bus terminal and creation of a beautiful monument at both the entrances to Diu was inaugurated. Therefore, seven welfare schemes at a cost of Rs 80 crore were launched on Saturday.

The Union Home Minister said, "The Khukri monument, which is being unveiled here today, is a tribute to the soldiers of our Army who sacrificed their lives for the country. My advice to the youth and students is that they should understand the history of Khukri by visiting this museum." Shah added, "Modiji's government has completed eight years recently. I have come to you today as a close observer of the government, the first five years as party President and three years as a Cabinet Minister. I have closely watched the hard work by PM Narendra Modi in the last eight years. I have had the opportunity to get a closer look at his planning and vision, by which not only India but the whole world is amazed." "In eight years, he (Modi) has done the work of re-establishing India's honour in the world. The Prime Minister used the technology in such a way that 130 crore people got vaccines and certificates without any hassle. In case of such an epidemic in future also, not a single litre of oxygen has to be imported. Today, we have provided so much facility and help to the athletes that we will soon qualify the Olympics among the top five countries." Through the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Yojana, 2,59,200 people get five kg of free foodgrains every month in this Union Territory, the Union Home Minister said.

PM Modi has helped millions of people in the country with houses, toilets, electricity, food, etc., with uplifting their living standard, he added.

"During the previous Congress-led government, the country was producing countrymade guns, today Modiji has started making missiles in the country," Shah said.

Slamming Rahul Gandhi, the Union Home Minister said: "Rahul Baba used to criticise PM Narendra Modi. So I want to ask him you have ruled the country for 60 years. If you had worked for four generations, why didn't you remember delivering electricity, grain or houses to the poor? Congress has worked to eradicate the poor in the name of poverty alleviation and Narendra Modi has worked to eradicate poverty." Shah praised Praful Patel, the Administrator of Diu, Dadra and Nagar Haveli, and Silvassa.
New Delhi, June 12 : Congress President Sonia Gandhi reached out to NCP chief Sharad Pawar and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and other opposition leaders over the upcoming Presidential election.

She met various opposition leaders on Saturday.

After discussions, Sonia Gandhi has deputed Leader of Opposition (LoP) Mallikarjun Kharge to co-ordinate with other leaders as she is suffering from Covid-19 infection.

"Congress President Sonia Gandhi had reached out and deliberated the issue of the upcoming Presidential election with Sharad Pawar, Mamata Banerjee and some other opposition leaders," said a statement from the Congress.

"As per her discussions with other opposition leaders, she deputed the LoP Mallikarjun Kharge to co-ordinate with other leaders in view of her ill health owing to Covid-19," the statement added.

The statement said that the Congress is of the opinion that the country needs a President who can protect the Constitution, democratic institutions and citizens from the ongoing onslaught by the ruling BJP.

While the party has not suggested a particular name for the presidential polls, it said it owes it to people to elect a President who can apply a 'healing touch' to India's "fractured social fabric".

"The time is ripe to rise above our differences for the sake of our nation and its people. Discussions and deliberations have to be open-minded and in keeping with this spirit. We believe that Indian National Congress along with other parties should be taking this discussion forward," said the party in the statement.
Kiev, June 12 : British Defense Secretary Ben Wallace has pledged to continue providing military aid for Kiev while meeting with his Ukrainian counterpart in Kiev, the Ukrainian Defense Ministry said.

During the talks held on Friday, Ukrainian Defense Minister Oleksiy Reznikov urged more defensive aid from Britain, saying that "we need more heavy weapons to continue the struggle as quoted by Xinhua news agency report.

Wallace said Britain's support for Ukraine will continue, noting that cooperation between the two sides "will be as effective as possible".

In May 2022, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said that the British government will provide 1.3 billion pounds ($1.6 billion) in military aid to Ukraine.

Latest updates on Russia-Ukraine War
New York Citys premier annual Jazz Age Lawn Party returns this summer and announces that tickets are SOLD OUT!

Celebrating its 16th year, the Jazz Age Lawn Party has awoken the vibrations of a timeless zeitgeist. Originating as a small gathering of friends longing for the simpler charms of a bygone era, the event has evolved into an international destination, the worlds most beloved and longest-running event of its kind. The vibrant optimism and inventiveness of Jazz Age culture and its living legacy continue to resonate with generation after generation.

Governors Island becomes the backdrop for this cultural phenomenon. This trip through time begins with a breezy ride aboard a ferry boat with breathtaking views of Manhattan and Lady Liberty en route to NYCs hidden gem, Governors Island. Once ashore, a sprawling green awaits, nestled under a canopy of century-old trees, caressed by fresh sea air, surrounded by historic architecturea dream where the clock stops, nestled right in the heart of New York Harbor.

Josh Cellars presents a wine tasting experience and will be offering an array of varietals at the bar by the glass or bottle including Rose, Prosecco, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, and Cabernet. A selection of refreshing, ice-cold cocktails will be provided by Brooklyns very own Social Hour - a line of canned craft cocktails founded by bartending veterans Julie Reiner and Tom Macy. Sip on the delightfully fizzy G&T made with New York Distilling Companys Dorothy Parker Gin, or the Pacific Spritz made with a combination of house-made Italian pre-meal drink, aperitivo and rose wine; for whiskey lovers, the fiery Whiskey Mule made with New York Distilling Companys Ragtime Rye will be sure to please.

Widely anticipated by flappers, sporting gents and tiny tots alike, the event has been revered year after year by a wide array of families, locals, and tourists.

Jazz Age Lawn Party is committed to hosting a fun and safe event with strict adherence to all NYS COVID-19 protocols that may be in effect.

As always, a delightful array of offerings abounds throughout the day, some of which are listed below.

To purchase tickets, please visit EventBrite.com

For more information on the festival, please visit http://jazzagelawnparty.com/.

PERFORMANCES, ACTIVITIES, & OFFERINGS

***MICHAEL ARENELLA AND HIS DREAMLAND ORCHESTRA is the worlds premier Jazz-Age dance orchestra, specializing in the Hot Jazz of the 1920s. Conductor, composer, musician, and crooner Michael Arenella presents a personally transcribed, one-of-a-kind songbook for your listening and dancing pleasure.***

*QUEEN ESTHER  The renowned vocalist is truly Jazz royalty

*TERRY WALDO  Ragtime piano master

*VINTAGE PORTRAITS  You Ought To Be In Pictures, perched upon one of our Paper Moons

*1920s MOTOR CAR EXHIBITION get up close and personal with flivvers and Tin Lizzies

*VINTAGE CLOTHING VENDORS AND ARTISANS  a veritable village of timeless treasures and inspired creations to take home

*DREAMLAND GENERAL STORE  for your comfort and convenience offers picnic blankets, parasols, hand fans, assorted sundries & more

*And more to be announced! The festival welcomes any brands and organizations interested in collaborations or sponsorships!

Facebook.com/JazzAgeLawnParty | Facebook.com/MADreamlandOrchestra Instagram: @theJazzAgeLawnParty | @MADreamland Twitter: @JazzAgeNYC #JALP2021 | @MADreamland
ZeroNow, a nonprofit organization dedicated to finding preventative solutions to the growing problem of violence at K-12 schools, colleges and universities announced that Florida-based USA Software is the latest powerhouse technology company to join its alliance,

USA Software has developed a behavioral threat assessment instrument that follows the Comprehensive School Threat Assessment Guidelines (CSTAG) developed by Professor Dewey Cornell of the University of Virginia. The instrument is also known as SAI (Safety Assessment and Intervention) by Sandy Hook Promise.

USA Softwares expertise in identification, threat assessment, and case management is a welcome addition to the ZeroNow alliance, said ZeroNow Founder and Board President Ara Bagdasarian. The collaboration among the ZeroNow community drives ideas and innovation. USA Software will be a valuable contributor.

Founder and president of USA Software F.A. "Woody" Spencer said, The ZeroNow alliance of educators, campus law enforcement and technology companies is exactly where USA Software needs to be right now. The stakeholders in preventing campus violence must learn from, and with, one another if we are to succeed in our shared goal of increasing school safety and security.

ZeroNow was founded by technology partners Additional, Axis Communications, Johnson Controls, Omnilert and Telos Corporation, along with campus safety nonprofit partners the International Association of Campus Law Enforcement Administrators (IACLEA), NASPA (the Association of Student Affairs Administrators in Higher Education), Campus Safety Magazine, and VTV Family Outreach Foundation.

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About ZeroNow

ZeroNow is the movement by the safety community to prevent harmful events in our schools. As a member-based nonprofit, ZeroNow facilitates collaboration between industry, association, and education partners to foster new solutions to keep our campuses safe and secure. ZeroNow brings safety assets and education safety leaders together to establish the standards for campus safety technology. We drive a unified voice to educate policymakers on the need for increased investment in school safety. For more information, please visit ZeroNow.org

About USA Software

USA Softwares behavioral threat assessment and case management tool enables data sharing across multiple disciplines to improve accountability and communication while providing data-driven analytics in an easy-to-use digital case management platform. It is a browser-based application that is accessible from multiple device types, including mobile phones, tablets, desktops, and laptops. For more information on USA Software and CSTAG, please visit https://threatassessmenttracking.com.

Contact Information: 1-844-ZERONOW, x 2 for Media Office
On the 24th of February, when the Russian attacked Mariupol, Misha had a panic attack. His mother took him to the bomb shelter at once, but then the lights went out, and the young man got worse. The family moved to the Believe in Yourself centre that Misha used to attend before the war.

When the invasion began, it became a shelter for people with special needs and their families, who couldnt stay in basements for a long time. Besides, there were no bomb shelters in the central part of the city. So, when the life under shelling became unbearable, the woman decided it was time to evacuate. People with mental disorders are very attached to the place where they live. It is important for them that nothing changes: their room, their bed, the centre that they visit, and the people they interact with. New people mean stress. And now we are in the middle of this, Liana recounts.

People with mental disorders are very attached to the place where they live. Its important to them that nothing changes.

They left Mariupol two weeks after the war broke out in a convoy of 15 vehicles organized by the National Assembly of People with Disabilities. The occupied Berdiansk was their first stop. Then, they set off for Zaporizhzhia, then to the Cherkasy Region, Vinnytsia, Poland, Germany, and, finally, the Netherlands. Liana kept reassuring her son on the road, saying they were leaving to meet Mishas favourite wrestler John Cena. That way, he had a goal and understanding of why we were leaving, the woman recollects. On the walls of their now destroyed flat in Mariupol, there were posters of Cena  Misha has been admiring him since the age of 15. Also, there were lots of the wrestlers photos on his tablet, which the Russians took away at a checkpoint.

The 45-year-old John Cena is primarily known as a wrestler holding the most world champion titles in history  sixteen. John also appeared in films and TV shows, including Fast & Furious 9 and 2022s Peacemaker, where he starred. Besides, Cena is into songwriting and rapping.

Eventually, the Rohozhyn family settled in the Dutch town of Huizen near Amsterdam. According to his mother, moving to the new, strange place made Misha so sad that he stopped leaving his room. He was also upset that the whole looking for John Cena turned out false. Then Liana told her son that their journey was not over and they needed to make some money to buy a plane ticket to the USA to see the celebrity.

They didnt have to go anywhere, though. John Cena, who had been filming in London, learned about Misha from the WSJ story and came to visit his fan on Saturday, the 4th of June. Surprised to see his hero, the young man smiled for the first time in a long time. It was out of this world. On the day of the visit, I told Misha that John would come over. He wore his best clothes and prepared to meet his friend, Liana said.And then John came and spent a few hours with us. We made a cake, had tea with him, and then there were many presents. John played with kids, and they flexed, and all. He was so humble and sincere, and everything felt so heart-warming. Misha is still delighted to have met him.
"Everyone at Red Clay our customers interact with is an Oracle Utilities expert, said Jeannie Sargent, Red Clay Director of Shared Services. There is no first level, second level, and so on. Our customers have true 24/7/365 expert support.

Red Clay Consulting, a Gold Level Member of the Oracle Partner Network and a top-tier Oracle solutions implementer, today announces a partnership with a large southern electric and natural gas supplier to provide Oracle Utilities Meter Solutions v1 Operations as a Service (OaaS) support for their Billing Component and Energy Information Platform to support their billing process.

The Utility is a Fortune 500 integrated energy company engaged primarily in electric power production and retail distribution operations across several southern states. The Utility supports 3 million electric and over 200,000 natural gas customers in the region.

With Oracle Utilities Meter Solutions v1 reaching end of support from Oracle, the Utility found themselves in need of a partner to support the system. They selected Red Clay as a partner because of their demonstrated commitment to their customers, deep understanding of the utility business, and ability to provide ongoing support to a critical business application.

Another critical factor in their selection of Red Clay was Red Clays long history with Lodestar, the predecessor application to Oracle Utilities Billing Component. Red Clay has a long history of supporting Lodestar clients like EnerNOC, Exelon, Georgia System Operations, IESO, Knoxville Utilities Board, North American Energy Solutions, Praxair, San Diego Gas and Electric, and TransAlta Corporation. This history makes Red Clay uniquely qualified to support the Utilitys Oracle Utilities Meter Solutions, including Billing Component, Energy Information Platform, and Load Profile and Settlement.

Red Clay Consulting will provide application support for the Utilitys Oracle Utility Billing Cloud and Oracle Utilities Information Platform. To reduce system risk, Red Clay will provide an assessment of their rules language. Red Clay will also expand the knowledge of the Utilitys internal team through knowledge transfer. Red Clay team members will advise the Utility on what capabilities are available, best practices, and how to achieve the most benefit from their solutions.

The Utility was seeking a long-term partner who would contribute to their organizational success through a deep understanding of their systems while easily blending into their project team. They selected Red Clay to support their teams because of the valuable industry expertise Red Clay brings to the table to tackle transformations that optimize the Utilitys business processes.

Through their OaaS partnership with Red Clay, the Utility will have access to Red Clays system experts to ensure continuity for a mission-critical application.

Red Clays Operations as a Service offering complements internal IT staff, subject matter experts, business analysts, testing specialists, report writers, and other key team members. The OaaS teams include former utility employees, experienced Oracle-trained consultants, and IT professionals who provide support custom-tailored by unique client needs. The benefits of OaaS include a formalized cost structure, measured accountability through performance reporting, and the freedom for a utilitys most valuable internal resources to focus their energy elsewhere.

Everyone at Red Clay our customers interact with is an Oracle Utilities expert, said Jeannie Sargent, Red Clay Director of Shared Services. There is no first level, second level, and so on. Our customers have true 24/7/365 expert support.

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About Red Clay Consulting

Focused solely on the utility industry Red Clay advises, delivers, and manages technical and business solutions based on their clients unique needs. Red Clay works hand in hand with Oracle to offer our clients the industrys most comprehensive and flexible software platform. Red Clays strong partnership with Oracle Utilities provides our clients with innovative and proven solutions. For more information, visit https://redclay.com/.
Remote Therapeutics Monitoring is accelerating digital transformation in healthcare, enhancing the quality of care that patients receive outside of the hospital.

Digital transformation in healthcare has accelerated during the global pandemic, with demand for remote healthcare services skyrocketing seemingly overnight. Based on this unprecedented demand, healthcare has shifted its focus to leveraging technology to deliver innovative digitally-connected health solutions that progress the field of healthcare, creating improved patient outcomes and equitable healthcare solutions for patients around the world.

As healthcare organizations look to widen the scope of digitally-enabled remote healthcare solutions, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS)a US federal agency that provides health coverage to more than 100 million people through Medicare, Medicaid, the Childrens Health Insurance Program and the Health Insurance Marketplacereleased an update to the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule proposal (the Proposed MPFS/Rule) that formalizes Remote Therapeutics Monitoring (RTM).

Dogtown Media CEO Marc Fischer is excited about the value that RTM can offer to healthcare organizations as well as patients stating, "Remote Therapeutics Monitoring is accelerating digital transformation in healthcare, enhancing the quality of care that patients receive outside of the hospital."

Under these five CPT codes - a uniform coding practice for medical services and procedures to streamline reporting, and insurance claims, RTM will stand on its own as a formal medical service.

This addition of RTM provides a new avenue of innovation for organizations in the healthcare industry. To foster this innovation, Dogtown Media has set its sights on providing mobile application development services for RTM applications, fortifying Dogtown Medias commitment to standing as a top mobile development studio within the mHealth space. Ushering in Dogtown Medias support for this burgeoning area of mHealth, Dogtown Media has released an eBook titled Remote Therapeutics Monitoring (RTM) that provides key insights regarding the growth of RTM solutions as well as some insight regarding Dogtown Medias unique capability to deliver innovative mHealth mobile technologies.

Dogtown Media is a California-based mobile technology studio that leverages disruptive design strategies and dynamic development to deliver industry-leading apps. To date, Dogtown Media has created over 250 mobile apps in industries including Healthcare app development, IoT, and Artificial Intelligence.


Joel H. Rothstein, chair of the Asia Real Estate Practice at global law firm Greenberg Traurig, LLP, organized and moderated a panel discussion focused on real estate investment strategies and opportunities in Japan at the 2022 PERE Asia Summit held May 31-June 2 in Singapore. Greenberg Traurig also was a sponsor of the event.

The panel, titled Investing in Japan  Perspectives from Market Leaders, addressed Japans reputation as a hotspot for capital allocation, noteworthy sectors, and key strategies for successfully sourcing and closing deals in a competitive market. Other panelists joining Mr. Rothstein included leading executives from private equity funds and financial institutions such as: Tom Silecchia, co-head of Savills Investment Management Japan; Christopher Chiang, head of Real Estate APAC at Credit Suisse Asset Management; Atsushi Takeiri, managing director at Baring Private Equity Asia (BPEA); and Shai Greenberg, senior vice president of Genkai Capital Management.

The PERE Asia Summit is an annual gathering of institutional investors, fund and asset managers, developers, and strategic partners active in private real estate markets throughout the region.

Rothstein, a Real Estate Practice shareholder based in Greenberg Traurigs Tokyo, Shanghai and New York offices, represents clients in international real estate and structured finance transactions. He advises investment banks, financial institutions, private equity funds, sovereign wealth funds, real estate developers, and investors across all major Asian markets and all asset classes. He also leads the firms practice in advising Asia-based outbound cross-border investors in structuring, implementing, and managing equity and debt investments in the United States, Europe, Latin America, and the Middle East.

About Greenberg Traurig's Real Estate Practice: The Greenberg Traurig Real Estate Practice is a cornerstone of the firm and recognized leader in the industry. The firms real estate attorneys deliver diversified and comprehensive counsel for property acquisition and investment, development, management and leasing, financing, restructuring, and disposition of all asset classes of real estate. The team draws upon the knowledge and experience of more than 600 real estate lawyers from around the world, serving clients from key markets in the United States, Europe, the Middle East, Latin America, and Asia. The groups clientele includes a broad range of property developers, lenders, investment managers, private equity funds, REITs, and private owners. The firms real estate team advises clients on a variety of matters across a broad spectrum of commercial, recreational, and residential real estate, including structured equity and debt and the hybrids.

About Greenberg Traurig: Greenberg Traurig, LLP has more than 2400 attorneys in 43 locations in the United States, Europe, Latin America, Asia, and the Middle East. The firm, often recognized for its focus on philanthropic giving, innovation, diversity and pro bono, reported gross revenue of over $2 Billion for FY 2021. The firm is consistently among the top firms on the Am Law 100, Am Law Global 100, NLJ 250, and Law360 (US) 400. On the debut 2022 Law360 Pulse Leaderboard, it is a Top 15 firm. Greenberg Traurig is Mansfield Rule 4.0 Certified Plus by The Diversity Lab and net carbon neutral with respect to its office energy usage. Web: http://www.gtlaw.com.
Wed recommend Performance Brokerage Services to anyone looking to buy or sell a dealership.

Performance Brokerage Services, North Americas highest volume dealership brokerage firm, is pleased to announce the sale of Tucson Subaru in Arizona from Rocky and Mike DiChristofano to Gee Automotive Companies.

Brothers, Rocky and Mike DiChristofano, have been in the automotive industry for more than 30 years. Following in their fathers footsteps, they took over the family business in 1995 after their father Franks retirement. In 2009, they acquired Tucson Subaru, and in 2014 they relocated the dealership to a new state-of-the-art facility with a 31,000-square-foot showroom on more than 8 acres.

Tucson Subaru has been the recipient of the Dealer of the Year award from DealerRater for 8 years running.

Following the sale, Rocky DiChristofano, President of Tucson Subaru, commented I want to thank Jason Stopnitzky of Performance Brokerage Services for his friendship, and for his help with our recent buy-sell. My brother and I really enjoyed working with Jason and the Performance team when we sold our Volvo store a few years ago, and we wouldn't have considered working with any other broker when it came to selling our Subaru store. We appreciated Jasons professionalism, ease of doing business, and extensive resources during the sale process. Jason was able to find us the right buyer, at the right terms, and a fair price. We couldn't be happier with Jason or the transaction. Thank you to Jason for being such a great business partner and friend through the years. I would certainly recommend Jason and Performance Brokerage Services to any dealer looking to sell their store. 

Over the last 5 years, Performance Brokerage Services has advised on the sale of over 250 dealerships, making it the highest volume dealership brokerage firm in North America. In 2021, the company consummated 72 transactions, marking a record-breaking year. Jason Stopnitzky, the exclusive agent for this transaction and the Co-Founder of Performance Brokerage Services commented, Rocky and Mike DiChristofano are true leaders in their community and exemplify the best of the best. We were incredibly grateful for the opportunity to be of service and handle their legacy transition with the utmost respect and honor. We couldnt have found a better fit to take this dealership to the next level than Ryan Gee and Jeff Jackson of Gee Automotive Companies. This is our seventh transaction together, and what they have accomplished starting with a General Motors dealership in Spokane, to where they are today, is truly incredible and inspirational to all their colleagues and fellow dealers observing from the outside. I am excited for the future and to watch the Gee Automotive Group grow their presence.

Gee Automotive Companies was established in 1983 when George and Theresa Gee acquired their first dealership in Spokane. The dealership eventually grew to become the largest Pontiac dealership in the state of Washington. In 2003, their son, Ryan Gee, became the President and CEO. In 2010, Ryan brought on Jeff Jackson who would assume the role of President, with Ryan as CEO and Dealer Principal. With a firm belief that great people grow a great company, Ryan and Jeff have grown Gee Automotive Companies to include 26 brands and 27 dealership locations across Washington, Idaho, Oregon, and Arizona.

Ryan Gee, CEO of Gee Automotive Companies, commented, Jason Stopnitzky and Performance Brokerage are exceptional at what they do. Weve worked with them on many transactions over the years and are always impressed by their professionalism, knowledge of the market, and ability to streamline complex transactions. With the buy-sell market so active, its more important than ever to work with great people who you trust and can facilitate win-win transactions for buyers and sellers. Wed recommend Jason and Performance Brokerage Services to anyone looking to buy or sell a dealership.

The dealership will remain at its current location at 4901 North Oracle Road in Tucson, Arizona.

About Performance Brokerage Services

Performance Brokerage Services, Inc. is North Americas highest volume dealership brokerage firm, specializing in buy-sell activity for automotive, RV, commercial truck, powersports, and equipment dealerships.

With over 25 years of experience, 700 dealerships sold, and a 90% closing rate, the companys reputation is unmatched and governed by the utmost ethical conduct and integrity.

The company offers a unique approach by providing complimentary estimates of value with no upfront fees or retainer, no reimbursement of costs, and paid a success fee only after the transaction closes.

Headquartered in Irvine, California, and supported by 7 regional offices in Utah, Texas, Florida, Virginia, Ohio, New Jersey, and Canada, clients benefit from national exposure with local representation.

As trusted and respected experts in the field, the company utilizes an extensive network of industry related attorneys, accountants, hundreds of registered buyers, and longstanding relationships with various vehicle manufacturers.

For more information about the services offered by Performance Brokerage Services, visit https://performancebrokerageservices.com.


Every writer has had it drilled into them at some point. Its one of the most familiar bits of writing advice there is: Write what you know. And it makes so much senseit worked for John Grisham and Kathy Reichs, right?

The danger is that its safe.

To me, theres richer territory to be tapped by parachuting smack down into the middle of a world completely foreign to your experiencebecause then you have to learn it from the ground up. It puts you and the reader on the same side of the table, both asking, What the hell IS this place? Theres nothing quite so electrifying as writing what you dont know, because in the course of writing it, you come to know it intimately. My father, who fled Germany during WWII, used to say, No native English speaker ever approaches the immigrants peculiar love of the language.

My first novel, Steel Fear, takes place on an aircraft carrier, one of the most bizarre environments on the planet. My familiarity with aircraft carriers? Zero. Military experience? Also zero. Youd think that would be a disadvantage. It was the opposite. Because I had to learn everything about life on a carrierfrom what it smells like, to what they serve for breakfast, to those chain-of-command power struggles no one ever talks aboutI was never in danger of talking down to my reader. It was all as new to me as it was to them.

Thats the beauty of writing what you dont know: the thrill of discovery. The challenge, of course, is getting it right.

In writing Steel Fear I had a secret weapon: my coauthor, Brandon Webb, was a Navy SEAL whod spent 12 months on two different carriers. Brandons military background helped fill in the gaps and infuse the story with authenticity. Even so, we also enlisted the aid of a military doctor, a fighter jet pilot, and the gracious assistance of the current captain and crew of the USS Abraham Lincoln. And thats the first key to getting it right: surround yourself with those who have inhabited that strange world. Ask questions, dig deep, absorb their knowledge and experience.

For the sequel, Cold Fear, which came out June 7, we parachuted our imaginations into Iceland in the dead of winter. Brandon had spent a few days there, whereas Id never set foot in the place. This made it a tantalizing opportunity for both of us to discover a wildly unfamiliar universe. We enrolled a lifelong resident Icelander, who spent hours patiently fielding our scores of detailed questions.

Expert guides can take you only so far, though; at some point you have to get your boots muddy and do your own research. Find the best stuff there is on your uncharted worldthe best journalism, novels, documentariesand fall in love. In tackling Cold Fear, I began reading Arnaldur Indridasons Inspector Erlendur books and fell completely under their spell. Id planned to read one or two titles, but I inhaled them allnot just for the facts and details but for the spirit of Iceland.

 Theres nothing quite so electrifying as writing what you dont know, because in the course of writing it, you come to know it intimately. 

James Patterson has said he is never afflicted by writers block because whenever it threatens, he plunges into more research. While exploring Reykjavik I stumbled upon this weird fact: when the pond at the center of town freezes over, they keep the northeast corner heated... for the ducks. That unplanned tidbit set our entire plot in motion.

Yet research, too, gets you only so far. Expert guides and quality reconnaissance will take you up in a plane over your alien territory. Now you have to strap on the chute and jump. And thats key number three: be willing to hurl yourself bodily into the unknown. There comes a point where the neural impulse has to fly across the synapses for the story to come to lifeand that happens only through the magic of unleashed imagination.

A writers imagination is not the thing so often popularly portrayedthe fevered fit of invention, the acid trip of a wildly eccentric temperament. Its far more sober and intentional. Its more like a state of heightened empathy. Asked how he got the details of his books so right in areas he knew next to nothing about, Donald Westlake said, Ive always believed that if you really think about the world and the characters youve imagined, youll get it right.

And you will. Consult your expert guides. Do your research. Then trust your own innate humanity, and fly.

John David Mann is coauthor of more than 30 books, including several bestsellers. His latest, Cold Fear, coauthored with Brandon Webb, was released by Bantam on June 7.
Sales of graphic novelsespecially mangahave boomed during the pandemic, as have their readership in libraries. Despite lockdowns and supply chain issues, comics remains one of the most popular categories in library lending over the past decade.

But now comics have become the focal point of increasingly strident battles over what material should be carried in school and even public libraries. Challenges and attempted and actual book removals at libraries across the United States have surged: in 2021, the ALAs Office of Intellectual Freedom tracked more than 1,500 individual book challenges or removals, the most in the 30 years it has been reporting.

Organizations such as Moms for Liberty claim that award-winning books often push racial agendas or are obscene and demand their removal from shelves and reading lists. Many librarians counter that these concerns arise from the fact the books creators are Black or identify as LGBTQ, or that the titles touch on queer themes. Maia Kobabes Gender Queer, a memoir about growing up nonbinary, was the most banned book of 2021 and continues to be a flashpoint for controversy. Even acclaimed graphic novels like Art Spiegelmans Maus (which won a Pulitzer Prize) and Jerry Crafts New Kid (which won the Newbery) have become targets for removal.

The challenges have left librarians anxious and intimidated. In Texas and Florida, widespread library challenges have become highly politicized, with librarians in one Texas district being harassed and called groomers, heretics, and child pornographers on social media.

The movement to remove books from libraries and schools has affected school board elections, and laws are being passed to change library reporting structures, resulting in highly confrontational board meetings.

Its just demoralizing, says Tina Coleman, membership specialist for the ALA and liaison for ALAs Graphic Novel and Comics Round Table (GNCRT). Ive talked to librarians who have had to deal with the challenges, and even if its a relatively straightforward, easy challenge, librarians are getting all of this vitriol and being harassed. And we have to work under the assumption that this is going to be going on for an extended period of time.

Indeed, the challenges show no signs of letting upMoms for Liberty just released a fourth list of books it wants removed from libraries, including classics like The Kite Runner, The Perks of Being a Wallflower, and Slaughterhouse-Five (coincidentally adapted into a graphic novel in 2020).

Its a frightening and exhausting atmosphere for librarians across the country, says Matthew Noe, lead collection and knowledge management librarian of Harvard Medical Schools Countway Library, who is wrapping up his second term as president of the GNCRT. A lot of this stuff is sheer intimidation, and its mind boggling, he adds. Noe feels that while the challenges were mounting all through last year, the phenomenon didnt strike a chord in the mainstream news until Maus was removed from a school curriculum in Tennessee. That seemed to be a wake-up call for a lot of people.

Initially, challenges mostly took place in school libraries, where collection guidelines have always been more heavily scrutinizedhowever the drive is moving to public libraries. Llano, Tex., has become a particularly intense battleground. The Republican-led local government has changed the entire makeup of the board that administers library policies, stacking it with politically conservative members, some of whom dont have library cards.

Tactics in some locales have escalated from book removal to criminalization. A proposed law in Indiana could make it a crime for librarians to buy books that are deemed harmful to children, and it doesnt distinguish between school or public libraries, Noe says. He notes that academic libraries could eventually be impacted as well, as local governments control purchasing for many large research libraries.

Defending our collections

Graphic novels are easy targets for challenges, because there are panels that are easy to pull out and throw around on social media and take out of context, Noe says.

Its much easier to flip a comic open and see something that you might object to than it is in a prose novel, where you have to sit down and actually read it, says Robin Brenner, teen librarian at the Public Library of Brookline (Mass.) and president-elect of the GNCRT.

Such is the case with Gender Queer, a major symbol of the ongoing battle. There are only a handful of panels in the 240-page graphic memoir that depict sexual activity, but the entire work has been condemned as obscene and pornographic, despite having won an Alex Award and a Stonewall Award from the ALA.

Controversy can move books off shelves in more ways than oneMaus sales surged to the top of NPD BookScans sales charts after it was banned, and Gender Queer enjoys healthy sales. But for Oni Press, which publishes Kobabes book and other educational graphic novels with queer themes, its no solution. Tara Lehmann, Onis director of publicity, says that selling more copies doesnt fix the intrinsic problem: people are trying to police what others read. We are against the banning of books, of any kind. She adds that Oni supports schools, libraries, and organizations as best it can, but our main focus is being supportive of Maia and making sure were doing the most we can to ensure Gender Queer is available to any and all people who want to read it.

Despite the turmoil, the GNCRT, now in its third year, continues to move forward developing reading lists and additional resources for librarians who are looking to grow their graphic novels collections, and there are hopeful signs of public support. An ALA poll revealed that seven in 10 voters oppose efforts to remove books from public libraries. Teen readers in many communities are forming banned book reading clubs and mounting their own protests to keep books on shelves. And while the challenges have been making headlines, challenged books often remain in collections after going through established proceduresfor instance, a panel designated by the board of education governing an Ohio school library voted to keep Gender Queer on shelves.

Were all very committed to defending our collections, Brenner says. The things that go viral tend to be the negative things, but I know from reading and talking to local folks that there are just as many if not more people coming out on the side of the library.

To try to stem the tide of challenges, ALA has launched #UniteAgainstBookBans, a national campaign aiming to empower readers everywhere to push back against censorship. Twenty-five entities, including major book publishers such as Penguin Random House and Lerner, the Authors Guild, and the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund (CBLDF), have signed on.

More directly, the GNCRT is designing resources to help libraries with procedures and best practices to weather the storm. The need for these guidelines emerged as librarians reached out privately looking for help with challenges. It became clear that we needed more resources and more guidance specific to comics, Brenner says.

The committee has been gathering data via a survey asking for examples of collection development and challenge policies. The goal is to create a toolkit that shows how to address challenges in various stages at public, educational, and academic libraries. The committee hopes to have some of its findings ready before this years annual ALA meeting.

Even when there are established guidelines for libraries, however, organizations like Moms for Liberty are changing the rules regarding who can deal with challenges, which Brenner sees as a particularly troubling move. I think the hardest part is the realization that you can have all those procedures, but it sometimes doesnt matter, she says. Its a publicity fight now, and thats something that libraries arent necessarily as used to handling.

Legal recourse invoking the First Amendment is another way to combat censorship, but its not clear what role the courts will take in a shifting landscape. CBLDF acting director Jeff Trexler says court decisions can be unpredictable. For years the standard response to attempts at censorship has been to highlight procedural irregularities in school and library decisions to remove books, but now were seeing the use of procedure to exclude, he explains. In fact, procedures are now being rewritten across the country to provide for the immediate removal of books once theres a challenge.

Trexler says the CBLDF has been working with the Office of Intellectual Freedom and other anti-censorship organizations to develop new legal strategies for responding to bans and restrictive laws. One key argument now being deployed is based on civil rights law: when books are being removed from curricula or libraries on the basis of their depictions of LGBTQIAA+ or racial identities, there are grounds for finding that the removals constitute illegal discrimination.

Grassroots advocacy is also ascendant among parents who view liberty as free access: Llano County parents are suing to keep books on shelves, claiming the book removals are a coordinated censorship campaign that violates the First Amendment and 14th Amendment.

As national midterm elections rev up, Coleman at the GNCRT expresses concern that increased media attention will lead to even more conflict. I would love to be proven wrong, she adds, but she fears that groups issuing challenges are only going to be strengthened by all of the attention being paid.

The GNCRT marches on

With so much energy devoted to addressing censorship, its easy to forget that libraries are still slowly emerging from two years of a pandemic that fundamentally changed librarianship and the rest of society. But work went on even with libraries closed, and GNCRT board members proudly point to their ongoing progress in the ambitious slate of goals the organization launched with three years ago.

Weve been laying the groundwork, Noe says. Because were still a relatively new round table, weve been setting policies and getting things in place for future work.

In 2021, the GNCRT released a well-received first adult graphic novel reading list, a much-needed tool to help librarians build adult collections. Earlier this year, it debuted its first reading list of graphic novels for kids ages five to 12. Current GNCRT president Moni Barrette is particularly enthusiastic about the organizations collaboration with ALAs Black Caucus on several reading lists, and indicates she hopes to work more closely with other ALA affinity groups, such as the APALA, its Asian American and Pacific Islander interest group.

Another long-term goal for the GNCRT is setting up awards, but that ambition remains on the to-do list. Awards are the logical next step, but its a lot to accomplish, Brenner points out. One thing to be decided: whether to give out a single award like the Newbery, or a whole slate like the Stonewall Book awards presented by Rainbow, the ALAs queer focused round table.

A select GNCRT exploratory committee working on developing a comics librarianship mentoring program has been formed, aiming to team would-be comics librarians with veterans to grow the subsection of the field. Another project may be esoteric to nonlibrary workers but is vital behind the scenes: an overhaul of comics and graphic novel metadata, which helps make comics easier to locate and order. Noe reports that the metadata and cataloging committee has been finalizing a draft, years in the making, which is now out for commentan exciting development for those in the library sciences world.

Supply chain problems hit manga

The explosion in manga readership has been one of the biggest industry stories of the pandemic, but librarians and patrons have been disappointed by interrupted stock, as supply chain issues have left random volumes of popular series such as One Piece unavailable, making it impossible to collect. When anime and manga go viral on BookTok, certain titles become unexpectedly popularBrenner often wonders, Why does everyone want this book right now? she says. And inevitably, its because of BookTok.

Demand from readers for manga remains sky high, says Jillian Rudes, a school librarian at the New York City Department of Education in Queens, N.Y., as well as Japanese culture and manga cooperative collection development librarian for the New York City DOE. The supply chain is a new challenge, and its almost impossible for me to meet the needs of readers, but more students are reading more manga now than ever in my career, Rudes says. During the pandemic, kids were watching a lot of anime, and they are consuming this culture like crazybut we cant get the books for them.

Digital lending has jumped up to fill the gap, with more than 105,000 digital manga circulated in the New York City DOE during the 20212022 school year. Rudes even has a hack for getting print copies of out-of-print manga: going to bookstores, which sometimes still have them on shelves. Its an approach that can call for unorthodox funding methods. Ive been telling librarians to write grants, fund-raise, have a book fair, ask for money, she says. You can go to Barnes & Noble and wipe them clean, because for some reason they sometimes have shelves full of the books were looking for.

Rudes, along with GNCRT member Matthew Murray, has also been producing an ongoing series of webinars to educate libraries about manga, so they can be independent collectors, he says. Weve had 10 webinars so far, and each one comes with a resource list. The need for education is paramountmanga is a huge field, and some popular series, such as Chainsaw Man, are not intended for younger readers, but that may be difficult for novice librarians to determine. Knowing what is generally appropriate for a teen or childrens library is key.

Its tricky, Rudes says. Librarians want to know what to get because theyre afraid of what to buy. They want a list of safe, appropriate manga. But what counts as safe and appropriate where youre from? New York is one thing and Texas is another.

Live and in person

Live comics and book events are coming back this year, with the ALA annual meeting taking place in person for the first time since 2019. As in the past, there will be an artist alley and multiple programming tracks. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles series cocreator Kevin Eastman will be a featured speaker, and Barrette is putting together the Presidents Program panel to kick off her term as president, which spotlights a mix of indie publishers, new creators, people of color, and one of our student liaisons whos currently in library school, she says. Its not just the old guard of the movement.

This years comics-focused Friday Forum will be devoted mostly to challenges, Coleman says. Its not even the elephant in the room anymore; its just the topic of conversationnot just for the comics librarians; for everyone.

Other returning programs include the announcement of the winners of the 2022 Will Eisner Graphic Novel Grants for Libraries. Also, for the first time, the GNCRT will have a dedicated booth, selling merchandise and sharing resources.

Barrette notes that as comics conventions come back, they are also bringing back their library programming. San Diego Comic-Con will be held in person in July, with a day of library programming returning. Whereas the Toronto Comic Arts Festival, held in June, will have its annual library day in virtual format as it did last year. Im very grateful that every major convention company is reaching out to librarians, putting us on the main schedule, and boosting our messaging, Barrette says. Thats something that has really moved forward in the last five years.

Local librarians, though, are still figuring out how to best proceed with in-person events. Libraries launching their own large-scale comics eventscolloquially known as library conswere booming in the before times but are coming back more slowly, Coleman says, given the realities of Covid and the spread of new variants. Being able to do virtual talks to libraries or schools is still important, Coleman says. Librarians have really learned the ins and outs of Zoom, and some have even learned the ins and outs of Twitch and Discord.

Even with conferences coming back, Coleman believes some GNCRT members would like to eventually see a more focused standalone event bringing together librarians and comics publishers in dialogue about how to more practically work together, she says.

For all the progress being made, as librarians gather in 2022, the main topic will undoubtedly remain censorship and challenges. Coleman is hopeful that librarians are up to the task of uniting readers, and standing up for books and the right to read them. Knowing the librarians whom I work with, the members of the roundtable, and the people at the ALA, I trust them implicitly to work on this, she says. They are up to this fight.
Adjusting to being back in school has obviously been a huge focus of this school year, but its not the only challenge librarians have been dealing with. The greatest concern I have about school librarianship today is the misconceptions surrounding the work we do, which have led to incredibly detrimental decisions for libraries and librarians at the cost of our students, says Andrea Trudeau, library information specialist at Alan B. Shepard Middle School in Deerfield, Ill.

Trudeau has observed a steady stream of librarian jobs being cut back or eliminated, including in her own district, where the library assistants in all six local schools were reduced to half-time without any input from the library information specialists. This has seriously impacted the critical work I do in my library and the immense support I work to provide my school community, she says. And it steals so many powerful learning opportunitiesboth academically and socially/emotionallyfrom our students in a time when they need these supports and offerings more than ever.

Trudeau has become a strong advocate for school libraries through a variety of efforts in her school, her district, and beyond. I do not hesitate to share the incredible work we do in our schools library via various platforms, she notes. Twitter has been instrumental for me. I am able to connect with others who are addressing this immense challenge. Theres strength in numbers, and I appreciate having fellow librarians to lament with and problem-solve.

Advocacy has similarly been a critical issue for K.C. Boyd, librarian at Jefferson Middle School Academy in Washington, D.C., who has been nationally recognized for some of her recent efforts. When school librarian positions in her district were under threat, she was an instrumental leader in a multiyear campaign partnering DCPS school librarians; the Washington, D.C., teachers union; and the Black Caucus of ALA with support from AASL, Save School Librarians/EveryLibrary, and others. Their work led to the D.C. City Council passing a budget in August 2021 that ensured that every District school has at least one librarian.

Pointing to another bright note, Boyd says that during the pandemic, what has shifted is that people are starting to really see what school librarians do, and to be a little more appreciative of the work that were doing. And that has been nice.

Librarian Blake Hopper at TazewellNew Tazewell Primary School in New Tazewell, Tenn., has succeeded in navigating a few hurdles as the year went on. My biggest challenge at first was making sure our kids had access to books, he says. That is no longer a problem. We now have open library times all day and circulation has increased drastically. One of the largest problems I have now is getting students to work collaboratively. We couldnt do collaborative work for so long that I think they forgot how. Slowly this has improved, and it is something that should only get better as we start a new year.

Faith Huff, librarian at Albermarle Road Middle School in Charlotte, N.C., shares her experience grappling with a situation thats deeply affecting educators and getting national media attention. As a librarian in North Carolina, one of the biggest issues right now is book challenges and what is considered appropriate for a public school library, she says. There are a lot of groups actively working together to pull books out of libraries. Im in Charlotte, and as a big system, the district is very outspoken about its anti-racist and diverse initiatives. I havent had any challenges aimed directly at me, but all the smaller districts have. I have a friend whos currently trying to work out how to keep people from just walking into her library and taking books. And these are people in the community who do not have children in the school.

Huff believes that in this type of scenario, public schools as a whole are being held to an expectation of one type of person. But those arent the only people we serve. As a librarian, I have books for every student in my building, and that means that they need to reflect every student in my school. Taking away a book about a queer kid is not going to take away the queer kids; its just going to make them feel attacked.

In D.C. public schools, Boyd says, we have not received a formal challenge as of today, but its not if its going to happen, its when. We feel that its better to be proactive than reactive. We want to have all of our ducks in a row, in the event we receive a challenge, so we will be able to deal with it appropriately, and in accordance with the American Library Associations Office of Intellectual Freedom.

Boyd does this work as part of her districts Librarian Corps, a coalition of 12 fellow librarians. When she recently spoke in South Carolina, she recalls, I heard some of the horror stories down there from the librarians and what theyre experiencing and how education policy reform is being shifted to lean towards these book bans. When you look at a more liberal city like ours, were not experiencing it, but I know its coming.

 We are all scared as to what will happen next. Our biggest, most pressing issue should be finding ways to make sure all students have a place where they feel safe and secure and that they have access to books and material.

Elissa Malespina 

The current culture war on books and libraries in our nation is also top of mind for Elissa Malespina, a teacher librarian at Verona High School in Verona, N.J. Censorship takes many different forms, from challenging books to questioning book displays to librarians self-censoring, she says. We are all scared as to what will happen next. Our biggest, most pressing issue should be finding ways to make sure all students have a place where they feel safe and secure and that they have access to books and material.

Huff also faces the obstacle of trying to achieve safety and security for everyone in the school community. I would say another big challenge is figuring out how to kind of reshape the library, to try and make it a social-emotional space, where kids can come to feel peace, to play a game, to interact with each other, she explains. I dont remember where I first heard the term third space in regard to libraries and schools, but I want to make the library a space for kids who are in a million different places, because of the pandemic or because of whatever. There are so many things happening in the world and nationally right now that the kids probably dont fully understand but are still being affected by. How do I make this a space that is safe for everybody, always, even if Im not standing right here? I think thats the biggest challenge: how can the library be a third space for kids who need it, in any way that they need it?

After a particularly difficult year, Steve Tetreault, co-librarian at the William R. Satz Middle School/Holmdel High School complex library in Holmdel, N.J., echoes the sentiments expressed by many of his colleagues across the country. Teachers are feeling beaten down, and there doesnt seem to be any relief on the horizon, he says. Every day there seems to be another video of a small group of adults shouting at meetings about how schools are corrupting children. Being called groomers and pedophiles and all sorts of other names is demoralizing. Although the folks saying these kinds of things are a small minority, the lack of response from the majority to say, Hey, we know thats not true, so knock it off is rough; the silence is deafening.

Return to the main feature.
In The Viral Underclass (Celadon, Aug.), LGBTQ scholar Thrasher examines how Covid-19 and other viruses expose and exploit systemic inequalities in the U.S.

Who is the viral underclass?

The people in society who are most affected by illness, disease, and viruses. Some of these are predictablethose living in poverty and the disabled, for example. But I also include those who are stigmatized and blamed for disease, like immigrants, LGBTQ people, casualties of economic austerity.

What insights into the Covid-19 pandemic did you draw from your research on HIV/AIDS?

This book gave me an opportunity to use the theoretical understanding Id gotten from studying AIDS for so many years to report on the pandemic. The aha moment was when I saw that the same patterns of spread were developing around Covid. I realized these are the same maps I saw with HIV, even though they are very different viruses.

What does the book have to say about those overlaps?

This book was definitely a way to talk about economics and political philosophy, to say this is how neoliberalism operates. Thats a term you hear all the time, and there are all the ways its happening during the pandemic. I hope the book will help students and others to see that the pandemic is an illustration of how this kind of system operates.

Why was it important to interweave your firsthand experience of the pandemic with the sociological research?

I like my writing to be welcoming, and I try to bring people along with me. I went through the experiences all of us did, of heading into this pandemic not knowing what was going to happen. I wanted to be vulnerable to the reader to let them see moments I wasnt an authority, and to benefit from the things Ive been able to learn, namely how the social and the political and the pharmacological and the activist and the media are all affecting each other.

What do you hope readers take away from the book?

I wanted this to be available to general readers, in particular to people who might consider themselves to be in the viral underclass and people who know the millions who have died in the United States and other countries. Beyond that, I hope there are things in this book that help validate readers experiences, that give them ways to think about how the world operates, but also to understand the possibilities that viruses offer us. I dont feel our country has learned the best lessons it couldve from Covid, but our opportunities to learn and grow from this are not over. We are in relationship with one anotherour fates are interconnectedand well keep having the opportunity to learn from this biological reality. I hope this book helps people think about how they can harness that possibility.
Its early in the morning in Vancouver, Wash., but Emiko Jean is speaking cheerfully via Zoom and sipping from a mug, wearing a cream-colored sweatshirt with the word love written on it in black. The message on the sweatshirt, she points out, is appropriate because her new book, Mika in Real Life (Morrow, Aug.), is about loveparticularly the variety between mothers and daughters.

I think this is a universal experience for most mothers, says Jean, 40, who channeled her feelings about having her twins, who are now four and a half, into the book. I was terrified of how much I loved these babies, and so how could I deal with that? How could I process it? I used the page. Thats really where Mika startedthis desire to tell a story about mothers, but try to drill it down into universal experiences.

When the book begins, 35-year-old Japanese American Mika is trying to figure out who she is. Shes been fired from another job she didnt really care about, her relationship with her boyfriend has ended, and shes living with her best friend while trying to relate to her traditional Japanese parents; it seems that in the eyes of her mom, Hiromi, she can never do anything right. Then Mika gets an unexpected call: Penny, the daughter shed given up for adoption 16 years earlier, is on the phone and asks if the two of them can meet.

With that, Mikas world is turned upside down, giving her new purpose and passion as she works to create a life worthy of the daughter she had to give up. But what happens when Penny and her dad, Thomas, find out who Mika really is? And what does Mika have to do for herself in order to truly move forward?

Mika in Real Life is Jeans adult debut, but shes also the author of several YA novels, including the bestselling Tokyo Ever After, which pubbed in 2021. Tokyo Ever After tells the story of Izumi, a Japanese-American high school student who learns that her father, with whom she believes her mom had a one-night stand in college, is the crown prince of Japan. It was a Reeses YA Book Club pick, and PWs review called it a fun, frothy, and often heartfelt duology starter. The sequel, Tokyo Dreaming, was released on May 31.

When you look on the surface of my novels, they seem kind of disjointed, I know, Jean says. Her debut, 2015s Well Never Be Apart, is a YA mystery and psychological thriller featuring a white protagonist. Her sophomore novel, 2018s Empress of All Seasons, is a YA fantasy in which Jean explores historical Japan. But the variety, she explains, was all part of a progression.

I grew up in a mostly suburban white neighborhood, in Beaverton, which is right outside of Portland, and my mom was a reading specialist, Jean recounts. My dad was a principal. They were educators. They were readers. She pauses. I think, like all writers, before I was a writer I was a reader. Thats how we all start.

Jean remembers going to the library to check out books, almost all of which were written by white authors. I would read all of these books and love them so much, she says. But I dont think I read or saw an Asian person until it was in a film, in Mulan, when I was like 16 or 17. Thats why, with my first novel, Well Never Be Apart, I wrote a white protagonist. Then came We Need Diverse Books, which gave her the courage to delve into her Japanese heritage on the page. I was kind of getting back to my roots, so to speak. I wanted to explore contemporary Japanese American identities, and thats what launched Tokyo Ever After.

Before the Tokyo books, Jean had a traumatic pregnancy and birth, and suffered from severe postpartum anxiety. Meanwhile, her career was at a crossroads. After I had my kids, I wasnt sure if I was going to keep writing or not, she says, because my last book, Empress of All Seasons, had come out, and it did okay but didnt do great. And I had written another book that was passed on by the same publisher. I was like, well, thats it for my writing career.

Instead of giving up, she tried something new. I think only my agent knows about this, she says. I self-published four or five romance novels. The books were written under a pen name, Jean explains, and have since been removed from circulation. I was going through this really dark period with kids and all my postpartum anxiety, so it was really great just to write something that was light and fun and cheery.

Ultimately, Jean channeled the character of Mika through motherhood and her own life experience. I think shes modeled, in a lot of ways, after me, Jean says. I was kind of messy as a teen, in all the ways you can be messy. I went to an alternative high school. I underperformed in lots of ways, and now that I look back, I think about the model minority myth and how it tried to put me in a box. I really think my way of rebelling against it was going to the diametric opposite, and so Mika very much is like me in that way.

Jean adds, Im very careful to qualify that Mika represents one version of the Japanese American experience. Thats one of the things that I run into with the publishing industry, because there are so few authors of color, and there are so few novels that feature characters of color, that theres such a strong desire for that novel to represent all of the experiences of a group. It creates so much pressure for us, you know? Its kind of exciting, though, because it really means that I get to write more.

If Jean turned to self-publishing during something of a low point in her career, Mika in Real Life has already proven to be part of a movement in the opposite direction. When the novel was being shopped last year, it created quite a stir; it was at the center of a 10-house auction before being snapped up by Morrow.

Success aside, writing more is exactly what Jean wants to do, no matter the age group (she has another young adult novel in the works). Im looking for that analogy where youve bottled something up, and its kind of all exploding, she says. You go through this, youre exhausted. You rest, but then it just starts filling back up again. Theres a new character. Theres something new to paint. Theres something new to explore, and so its the best. Isnt it the best feeling? Its the best feeling.

In a way, maybe its a little bit like parenthood. The same day I found out Tokyo Ever After was a New York Times bestseller, my daughter went poop on the toilet for the first time, Jean remembers. And I found each of those events very thrilling.

Jen Doll is the author of the YA novel Unclaimed Baggage and the memoir Save the Date: The Occasional Mortifications of a Serial Wedding Guest.
Fewer than 17% of the writers who sign up on the NaNoWriMo website to write a 50,000-word novel during the month of November complete the challenge, according to numbers tracked by wikiwrimo.org. Why such a low number?

Outline, outline, outline

Do too many writers start without an outline? They may have a strong concept, but many will soon begin to flounder because they dont know where the story is going. Its like the old saying, If you aim at nothing, you will surely hit it.

The editors of Writers Life make a strong argument for creating a comprehensive outline before you start writing: A persuasive plot outline... will give you a proper perspective of how your whole novel will pan out and will ensure that you dont get halfway through your story and realize you dont have any idea how to finish it! If you cant commit to an entire outline, consider mini-outlines to keep your momentum going forward.

In a YouTube video for the SinC-Up channel, Edith Maxwell, who writes mysteries under the name Maddie Day, admits that she writes without knowing where her plots are going beforehand. But when she is stuck, Maxwell creates small outlines away from the keyboard. Changing her location, she goes on plotting walks, using her smartphone to capture ideas, or puts pen to paper.

The right tools

Linda Whitaker, author of thriller The Crucible of Steel and current president of the Upstate South Carolina chapter of Sisters in Crime, focuses on using the right tool for various writing tasks. She uses Scrivener for writing but also leans on Google Docs for outlining and critique group submissions. The Google Keep app gives her virtual sticky notes, although she also uses real sticky notes for original storyboarding.

Though Im a huge fan of real sticky notes myself, I love the free Notepad app on my Android phone, which lets me jot down memos and ideas, then email them with just a tap.

Dictation can be a powerful way to keep a project moving forward, and many authors rely on the Dragon speech-to-text software. Not ready to invest? Try the Gmail app on your smartphone, which will capture 100 words at a time in an email with excellent transcription quality. Microsoft Word also has a dictation feature but, in my experience, the resulting word jumble on the screen requires too much editing to be useful.

Schedules and milestones

Novelist and journalist Jeanine Kitchel publishes a post every other Friday on her popular cultural blog, Maya Musings. The longform posts delve into Kitchels research on Mexican history, architecture, persons of interest, and more.

She uses milestones to stay on track, saying a two-week schedule gives me a week to research and develop the theme and the next week to write and polish it. Friday is a natural for deadlines, which makes it easy to pace myself for completing the post. Each post gets hundreds of views, making for a powerful incentive to stick to the schedule.

But even without an immediate audience, you can create your own milestones and celebrate them. Whitaker creates a tracking schedule. It makes me feel like Ive accomplished something when I record my days work, she says, and also makes me push through on some days when I dont feel like writing.

Be realistic

The 10X Rule by Grant Cardone is a popular business book that claims that most of us underestimate the level of effort required to get projects done. Not only that, Cardone writes, but we also underestimate the time commitment and the obstacles well face. We start off wearing rose-colored glasses.

When we dont achieve the goals, we dont get realistic and redouble our efforts. Instead, we either reduce the size of the goal or simply declare failure. Could that be a reason for all of those half-finished novels and abandoned blogs?

Using his favorite catchphrase, Cardone recommends taking massive action to achieve our goals and being starkly realistic when estimating what it takes to finish. Factor in other demands on your time, how well prepared you are, whether a learning curve is involved, and so on.

Think about those unfinished writing projects. Did you underestimate the time to completion? Did a miscalculation make you ditch your goal? Were there obstacles you should have expected? Could you have upped the level of effort?

Finish before fixing

One way writers trip themselves up during the NaNoWriMo challenge is stopping to edit or revise. The forward momentum is broken. In what is essentially a monthlong sprint, backing up several paces and then running over the same ground is a sure way to squander time.

Habit Writing underscores the pitfalls of revising before finishing: This is a trap because it puts us in a place where we just keep changing our story and never feel like we are making progress. This trap can rob you of your momentum and can lead to countless loose threads, inconsistency, and add a whole bunch to the editing process that bogs you down and keeps you from reaching the end.

The solution? Make a note and then write... your current scene as if it was already fixed. Keep going and keep making progress at all costs.

In short, make the change at the point you recognize the need, with a note to self about what to fix in the preceding portion for the sake of consistency. After the entire draft is complete, return to those sections and revise.

Carmen Amato writes mystery and suspense, including the Detective Emilia Cruz police series set in Acapulco, following a 30-year career with the CIA.
Safety, new school construction and teacher retention are top priorities for Mandan School Board candidates.

Six challengers and one incumbent are running for three at-large seats on the nine-person board. Board members Ross Munns and Tim Rector are not seeking reelection. School board members serve three-year terms and receive an annual salary of $4,400.

The candidates are Lorraine Davis, founder of several nonprofit organizations benefiting low-income families; Lori Furaus, Bismarck Public Schools teacher and incumbent who was first elected to the board in 2013; Tom Peters, retired Mandan Public Schools assistant principal; Savannah Schmidt, accountant; Heidi Schuchard, youth worker with the Mandan Police Department; Karmen Siirtola, business owner; and Dustine Simmons, warehouse person at Basin Electric Power Cooperative.

Candidates, who responded to a questionnaire from The Bismarck Tribune, agreed that the two new schools being built in the district will help ensure that students have adequate space as the district continues to grow.

"The district continues to do a great job of looking at enrollment projections and working with the city and other sources to see where growth will most likely occur in the future," Peters said.

Siirtola and Davis said it is important to find a way to balance the budget without putting more strain on taxpayers. Schuchard said as more classrooms are built, the district also needs to focus on finding teachers to fill them.

I believe that our district needs to be more proactive with overcrowding in our schools instead of being reactive, Schuchard said. We need to keep current educators and continue to increase the number of new educators so classroom sizes can be smaller where students are able to have more teacher contact.

More than half of the candidates identified teacher retention as an important issue. When asked how they would support teachers, candidates suggested creating more communication opportunities and taking teachers needs to heart. Schmidt and Peters proposed retaining teachers with desirable benefit packages. Furaus said she would like to provide ways to gather feedback and gain perspective from staff.

One of the best ways to support staff is to provide opportunities for them to have a voice in the decision-making process, Furaus said. Another crucial way to support teachers and staff is to ensure that buildings are adequately staffed and that employees have access to the resources they need to do their job successfully.

Some candidates expressed concern over nationalized politics interfering with academics. A law passed last year by the North Dakota Legislature prohibits schools from including instruction relating to critical race theory, which is defined in the bill as the theory that racism is not merely the product of learned individual bias or prejudice, but that racism is systemically embedded in American society and the American legal system to facilitate racial inequality.

Candidates supported the legislation, saying the theory is inappropriate for K-12 students, or inaccurate.

Critical race theory should have never entered our schools to begin with, Simmons said. How can our kids focus on learning if they are continuously reminded of their race?

Furaus and Davis both said that while they do not support teaching critical race theory in Mandan schools, they hope people will not confuse it with other initiatives.

"I hope people dont mix up critical race theory with diversity, equity and inclusion," said Davis, who is founder and CEO of NATIVE Inc. and the Native American Development Center.

Another national topic making its way to school boards and lawmakers is the use of cameras in the classroom. Davis, Peters, Schmidt and Simmons said they would not support installing cameras in classrooms.

Furaus, Schuchard and Siirtola said they would need to know the reason why the cameras are being used before they would support them in classrooms.

It comes down to motive, Siirtola said. If cameras are needed because of increased safety concerns due to outside forces, then yes, cameras serve a purpose. Overall, we must look at studies that are available regarding the psyche of our children. Do they look at cameras as a plus or a minus? Several avenues should be considered before making the definitive choice.

All of the candidates agreed that community members should play some role in reviewing curriculum.

As a mom, I want to know and understand what my children are learning, Schmidt said. It is important in a successful school district to build connections between parents, communities, staff, and school board. With these connections, we can strengthen the support of our students.

Reach Alex Kautzman at 701-250-8255 or alexandra.kautzman@bismarcktribune.com.

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Another May has come and gone without BookExpo or any other in-person, industrywide spring show taking its place. As the pandemic eases, more and more publishing and publishing-related conferences, meetings, and fairs are moving from online-only events to either in-person or hybrid affairs. That has raised the question of whether theres any interest in seeing a new national in-person trade show emerge that could gather the various segments of the book industry together in 2023. Interviews with a myriad of publishers, booksellers, and other publishing players yielded only one consensus: if a new show is to be developed, it should not look like the retired BookExpo. Indeed, no one wants a new show whose business model would rely on exhibitors taking out large, expensive booths.

In the absence of in-person shows, publishers have turned to various digital initiatives to reach their trade partnersparticularly independent booksellers. Macmillan said that from June 13 to 17 it will be holding the Macmillan Fall into Summer Reading campaign, a weeklong virtual preview of upcoming titles being published in June through December. A handful of online conferences also sprung up to fill the void left by BookExpos demise, including the PW-produced U.S. Book Show. (PW has announced plans for a third U.S. Book Show, currently set for May 2325, 2023.)

The success of their virtual venturesaugmented by their attendance at smaller in-person events, especially those held by the regional bookseller associations plus ABAs Winter Instituteseems to have convinced the biggest companies that they can efficiently reach the audiences they need via Zoom and other online services. As one major publisher observed, The opportunities for account-facing engagements is just not as urgent or productive as pre-Zoom times. All the biggest companies made it clear that their participation in a national in-person conference would be limited.

Smaller and independent publishers were more interested in a national event, but only if the show underwent a complete makeover from BookExpo in its final years. Booksellers were generally the most enthusiastic about a national event. Many said creating a broader version of Winter Institute, but one that would be held in the summer, would be an attractive prospect. That timing, however, poses one of a number of conflicts any new show operator would need to overcome: while booksellers prefer a summer event, publishers generally favored an early spring trade show.

Another point of disagreement is where the show should be located. Some booksellers said New York City, despite its high cost, is a draw. Since the trade publishing world is centered in New York, it makes the most sense to have it there, noted Pamela Klinger-Horn, special events coordinator at Valley Bookseller in Stillwater, Minn. BookExpo was the only time during the year when I could see my contacts from every house, every imprint, and most staff members, she explained. As fabulous as Winter Institute is, not everyone can be there.

John Evans, co-owner of Los Angeless Diesel Bookstore, said he and his partner, Alison Reid, have discussed what a new show should look like since BookExpos demise. He envisions a Summer Institute kind of thing that features some education, but is mostly editor, author, and publisher focused and is only for booksellers. Evans would like to see the show move around the country and possibly be attached to a regional show.

Evans was not the only one to suggest that a national show be conducted with another event. IPG CEO Joe Matthews said he has long thought that a national show could be held in conjunction with annual events hosted by such organizations as IBPA, PubWest, ECPA, or the Book Manufacturers Institute. And Matthews has a firm idea of what he would like to see a new show feature: slots to meet with the industrys big players like Amazon, Ingram, and Barnes & Noble to conduct business reviews. It would be very cost- and time-efficient for them to meet all of their suppliers, and great for me to knock out all those meetings in a week, he noted.

Lindsay Matvick, publicity manager at Lerner Publishing Group, also endorsed the idea of a show that could be connected to another organizationin Matvicks opinion, ABA. Over the past few months we have started attending live library shows, and we feel the absence of a live show aimed at the trade market, she added. Virtual shows are nice in certain situations, but the enthusiasm and energy of live, in-person shows cannot be replaced.

A number of other independent publishers spoke of the strengths and weaknesses of BookExpo. Milkweed Editions publisher Daniel Slager captured the sentiment of many independents when he said he had complicated feelings about a national trade show. He explained that Milkweed had stopped exhibiting at BookExpo because, at Milkweeds size, it became hard to have an impact there. Milkweed has become more invested in Winter Institute, Slager noted, not only to meet indie booksellers but also because its been a great place for us to go and be heard.

 BookExpo was the only time during the year when I could see my contacts from every house, every imprint, and most staff members Pamela Klinger-Horn, special events coordinator at

Valley Bookseller in Stillwater, Minn. 

Still, there are some things that Slager misses about what BookExpo used to be, such as its industry panels, networking opportunities, and media coverage. Winter Institute is not a media show; it really is just for publishers and booksellers, he said, whereas BookExpo would always get media coverage outside of the trade.

Chronicle Books stopped exhibiting at BookExpo a few years ago, and for many of the same reasons as Milkweed. We werent getting enough new eyes on our publishing for the endeavor it commanded, said Tyrrell Mahoney, CEO of Chronicle, adding that she felt the show had begun to feel very insider industry. By comparison, she noted, the annual ALA conference is easy to exhibit at and features the type of authors who can draw crowds to Chronicles booth. In addition to the ALA conference, Chronicle still exhibits at a number of regional and national shows.

Attending shows, Mahoney said, gives the publisher the chance to showcase its brand and feature who we are. Its one of the few times we can put all our books together. And for that reason, she noted, she wouldnt say a definitive no to a new trade fair. Id have to think about whats been lost over this time frame. Id say wed never show at the scale we once did, howeverthat doesnt make sense anymore.

Valerie Pierce, director of marketing, retail, and creative services at Sourcebooks, ticked off a host of reasons why she favors a spring show: It allows us to come together as a publishing community, it provides authors with opportunities to talk to the people who are buying and selling their books, it gives authors and publishing staff a chance to engage in sessions where they can learn about new ideas that can help shape the business, and it creates a platform to launch really big fall books.

The other big benefit of an industrywide show, Pierce said, is that it creates the opportunity for unexpected deals. Our partnership with Americas Test Kitchen came about because of BookExpo, she added.

Pierce would like to see a show that combines the Winter Institute model with the best of BookExpo sprinkled in, naming such features as Buzz Book sessions; publisher-bookseller meet-and-greets; rep, editorial, and publicity speed dating; author keynotes; and author receptions.

Dominique Raccah, founder and CEO of Sourcebooks, agreed that attending BookExpo helped Sourcebooks get its start. The opportunity to meet our customers, to develop relationships with new customers, and to work to grow the business together is exciting and essential to a vibrant and thriving book ecosystem, she said.

Raccah believes a national event should be a key cultural initiative for the industry, and a number of others wondered why the worlds biggest book market did not have its own trade show. IPGs Matthews said the lack of an industrywide event prevents publishings heavy hitters from getting together. We have no national show that brings out heads of houses and CEOs the way London, Bologna, and Frankfurt do, he noted.

As president of the Combined Book Exhibit, which organizes the USA Pavilion at several international events, Jon Malinowski is frequently in touch with foreign publishers and publisher associations. The one comment we hear repeatedly is that the U.S. should have a professional book fair for the business of publishing, and it would not only include rights sales but both retail and online sales, distribution opportunities, digital initiatives, and other items, Malinowski said. They want a place where they can network, exchange ideas, and find new business opportunities.

Networking and schmoozing was also on the minds of many other former BookExpo attendees. Nina Barrett of Bookends & Beginnings bookstore in Evanston, Ill., said dinners and parties shouldnt be overlooked. This is a people business, Barrett said, and if we dont have these social opportunities to hang out with our peers and also to hang out with publishing people and the authors, the whole business becomes a different animalalmost like a world where you do all your book buying online from an impersonal website.

In spite of the value industry members saw in the networking opportunities provided by BookExpo, it seems unlikely that a new national in-person trade show will emerge in 2023. One industry insider captured the quandary any company or organization aspiring to start a new trade show would face: an industrywide show isnt feasible, she said, because the big boys dont care and the small presses that need it more cannot afford it.
All Washington, D.C.area publishers agree: in the years since the American Library Association conference was last in the city in 2019, there have been challenging moments, particularly those first few weeks when we all went home and wondered, now what? says Al Bertrand, editorial director of Georgetown University Press.

The first thing we learned is that we had to pivot our businesses, says Tony Lutkus, president of Diamond Book Distributors. Robin Noonan, director of public relations and marketing at U.S. Naval Institute Press (NIP), notes, Were not going back to the ways we did things before. Below are some of the challenges, pivots, and new ways of doing business described by some members of the D.C. publishing scene.

Slack-ing off

Georgetowns Bertrand wasnt the only person who talked about hybrid working environments, but he was the first one to mention using Slack, the online project-management tool. Its increased transparency and communication for us at a time when we couldnt be face-to-face in our office, he says.

Julie Kirsch, senior v-p and publisher of Rowman & Littlefield, echoes Bertrands sentiments about the positive development that hybrid offices can be, especially when it comes to hiring the best people for the job, regardless of geographic location. And while American Psychological Associations publisher Rose Sokol doesnt encourage actual slacking off by her colleagues, she notes that the APAs mission and publications add workplace emphasis to staff maintaining their own mental wellness: Like everyone else, we had to flip overnight, and we were able to do it because we have a really strong team, and a really good work culture that allows for different situations.

On the download

Many publishers learned a big lesson during the pandemic about digital assets, books, and other types of content. At the National Endowment for the Humanities, Office of Communications deputy director Paula Wasley notes that when an exhibition in partnership between the ALA and the 9/11 Museum to commemorate the 20th anniversary of September 11 had to change due to the pandemic, the posters that had been meant to travel between libraries were digitized and made into print-on-demand files.

At National Geographic Kids Books, v-p and editorial director Rebecca Baines says that the companys extensive and varied backlist allowed it to quickly pull together learning assets, including worksheets and puzzles, to aid parents, teachers and librarians during school closures. But Linda Kean Griffin, chief of the publishing division at the International Monetary Fund, had a more dramatic response: We just put an end to all of our print because we didnt have a warehousing and fulfillment operation in place, she says.

Off-pitch

Rowman & Littlefields Kirsch mentioned, along with several of her colleagues, that even when things worked inside the office, there were glitches with authors, including fewer pitches coming in from journalists, academics and creatives. Everyone has been affected in some way by the pandemic, whether that means illness, caregiving, or burnout, APAs Sokol says. Authors are no exception.

Gary Thompson, editorial director of the Dead Reckoning graphic novel imprint at NIP, agrees that getting good pitches has been tough, noting that hes hoping to see more as people adapt to a new stage of pandemic life and work.

David Boaz, senior fellow at the Cato Institute, adds, When were trying to make our products look as good as possible in the face of restricted resources, mitigating author expectations can be tough. He notes that everything has been slower during the pandemic, ranging from supply chain concerns to distribution challenges, and even for him personally, in learning to edit online instead of with a red pencil.

A little help from our friends

Speaking of distribution, quite a few of the publishers sang the praises of independent bookstores. Shahid Khan, publisher of Arc Manor and its imprints, says bookstores have continued to champion science fiction.

Diamonds Lutkus says that booksellers have had to learn to reach out to their customers beyond their previous comfort zone, and they rose to the occasion. He adds that this will serve bookstores well in the future, because now they can integrate what theyve had to learn about the digital world into their everyday business.

However, an even great number of the publishers sang the praises of libraries and librarians, both in general and in terms of keeping the flames of book discoverability alive during isolation. David Miller, president and publisher at Island Press, says, One thing we started during Covid was lifting the limit on licenses for our books at academic libraries, making these resources more accessible to students.

The new normal

Lutkus attended the 2022 London Book Fair. It was heaven! he says. I was one of about 12 Americans there, and it was great to reconnect with colleagues and meet new ones, and so getting together at ALA is going to be really nice.

The Cato Institutes Boaz says that everyone recognizes some conversations go better in person, and we missed the serendipitous exchange of ideas during breaks and in the hallways. Were coming back to more of that and its a good thing.

Meanwhile, Sokol of the APA says, For the most part, we were able to go completely virtual and still are. Were still following the science about how to move slowly back to in-person gatherings. And when you can get your book content to 500 people who signed up for a webinar, youre reaching so many more than you normally might. So were seeing new opportunities.

There may be other material gainsor one might say losses? Baines of NG Kids specifically mentions the relief she feels in not finding piles and piles of unnecessary printouts on her desk, because now its so much easier to view book layouts online. Were National Geographic. Were concerned about the earth, and I used to have a stack of paper about three feet high on my desk. Im glad those days are gone. The importance of postpandemic attention to sustainability is something everyone in the D.C. publishing scene can agree upon.

Bethanne Patrick is a writer and literary critic based in Northern Virginia.

Read more from our D.C. Spotlight feature:

D.C. Spotlight: The View from the Library Roof

D.C. Public Libraries director Richard Reyes-Gavilan sees libraries offering much more than books.

D.C. Spotlight: Mr. Smith Arrives in Washington

Clay Smith takes the reins as director of literary initiatives at the Library of Congress.

D.C. Spotlight: An Eclectic Publishing Region

The Washington, D.C. publishing community is unique, including not only independent publishers but scores of university presses, think tanks, and government agencies.
Richard Reyes-Gavilan, executive director of the D.C. Public Libraries (DCPL), has a Zoom backdrop of the newly renovated Martin Luther King Jr. flagship library. It displays the facilitys ample light, airy structure and lively designbut what hes most excited about is actually up on the roof. Weve known for a while that the need for outdoor space is more important than ever, he says. A few weeks ago the New York Times ran an article about libraries and outdoor integration. And we already have it, here, with our rooftop deck. The 20,000-square-foot MLK Library rooftop is a safe, beautiful space on which to enjoy library materials, or just to get a little vitamin D in the midst of a study break.

Speaking of those library materials, one of the new programs Reyes-Gavilan wants librarians to know about is Beyond the Book, designed to get students from ages five to eight involved in activities related to a specific title with their families. Its about activating reading in ways other than just putting a book in someones hands, he says. Weve had this gnawing feeling for a long time that we are not doing enough for children who have graduated out of the Books from Birth program. Third grade, as most teachers and librarians know, is a very important milestone for student learning. If you can read at grade level by the time you reach third grade, it is an indicator for future success.

Future success will, most likely, involve future use of librariesand, Reyes-Gavilan says, you want to set the foundation, in libraries, for the exchange of ideas and information, in a welcoming way. In the DCPL, every renovation completed in the past decade or so has prioritized space for people more than in the past, when it was, you know, books front and center, he adds. Now were prioritizing learning spaces, idea spaces, partnership spaces. A recent Night of Ideas held in conjunction with the French Embassy involved incredible conversations with a really nice diverse crowd, on subjects from immigration to global warming.

Cultivating that type of programming serves the librarys mission, which, in Washington, is closely tied to civil rights. From the legacy of Dr. King to our city still not having voting rights in Congress, a lot of what we do here in to provide programming around basic human rights, Reyes-Gavilan says. At the ALA annual conference, Reyes-Gavilan and colleagues will speak on a panel titled Whats in a Name: Renovating a Library Named After Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., talking about programs inspired by Kings vision of justice, equity, and civil rights, he explains. That permeates everything from our childrens programming to our special-collections programming.

The DCPL has long focused on highlighting diverse authors, including in its One Book, One City program, where it chooses authors of color almost exclusively, and by offering book distribution through the DC Public Libraries Foundation, which reaches people who may not have the time or inclination to attend a regular library program, Reyes-Gavilan says. He says it often works with independent bookstores, including Black-owned Mahogany Books in Anacostia, to buy 100 copies of a book to give out locally. He also says he is sensitive to libraries stepping out of their lanes and conducting services that might better be done by other community groups, noting that when something is done in keeping with library location and purpose, it provides a new type of visibility for libraries, and the benefits to the libraries as institutions will be long lasting.

Since Washingtons libraries are more or less evenly distributed around the city, Reyes-Gavilan believes that the next program district libraries will be involved in is crucial. We are participating in a massive device distribution program, along with the citys chief technology officer, to get 10,000 internet-ready items out to those who need them, he says. These wont be on loan. Were saying this is something that people need in order to live. The devices wont be handed out first come, first served. Were working with government agencies like the Department of Aging and Community Living who have identified users.

The DCPL executive director has his own history as a library user that influences his vision for the institution he currently stewards. Having grown up as the child of Cuban immigrants in Queens, N.Y., Reyes-Gavilan often escaped his familys small apartment by heading to the local library. However, I wasnt a big reader, he confesses. That came later, but I loved the anonymity of the library. I could fidget with a lot of things. I was a real dilettante in some ways, which is a great attribute for librarians. I loved the microfilm readers, the dumbwaiter they used for special requests; it was like a factory and I loved exploring it. I hope that aspect of discovery hasnt been completely lost in our age of smartphones.

There will be plenty for ALA attendees to discover this year, since during the previous ALA conference held in the city in 2019, the MLK Library was still under construction. On May 17, we learned we won the American Institute of Architects/American Library Association prize, Reyes-Gavilan says. We were one of five libraries across the country to do soand weve won national historic preservation awards, too. But I mention those awards so that people will know how intentional we were in making the building reflect

Dr. King in ways beyond two-dimensional. I think people are going to be pretty impressed.

He adds, Going back to my own personal original interest in libraries, which wasnt necessarily about books and reading, I want to say: weve built a space for people. In some ways, what people do here once they come in is of less interest to me than just getting them here in the first place. I dont want to tell anyone what they have to do here. I may try to sell you on a great program or inform you about some kind of class but, you know, just coming here and experiencing the buildings overwhelming optimism is well worth everyones time. Go up on the roof and take in the city. Its free. Its the pinnacle of what I think a government can do for its people. Its really cool to be a part of that.

Return to the main feature.
Claiborne Clay Smith, director of literary initiatives at the Library of Congress, arrived in Washington, D.C., last October, when he took over for longtime director Marie Arana, who left to write a book. One of the directors primary responsibilities is to oversee the National Book Festival, and Smith has plenty of experience in that areahis previous job was director of the San Antonio Book Festival. Originally from West Texas, he says he has experienced a little culture shock since arriving in the nations capital.

Smith has moved around before, leaving Texas after earning his classics degree at UT Austin and becoming books editor for the Austin Chronicle in the 1990s. While working in Manhattan in the early 2000s, he got a call from the Texas Book Festival asking if he was interested in the position of literary director. I thought that sounded pretty great, because I wasnt loving living in New York City as much as I was told I was supposed to, he remembers. Being back in his home state was less the draw than learning how to program outside of New York, he says.

Smith returned to journalism in 2012 as editor-in-chief of Kirkus Reviews, but soon heard from the San Antonio Book Festival. Their director had left, and they were in a tight spot, he says. So, for seven years, I had two jobs. Meanwhile, his husband began law school in San Antonio, so in 2019 Smith quit Kirkus and devoted himself to the festival.

I never thought I would end up in Washington with a federal government job, Smith says. One of the main reasons I applied was the National Book Festival. I do feel that it gives me the chance to program for the nation at a moment when its important to think about the whole nation.

This years theme, in fact, is Books Bring Us Together. Smith notes that has a literal interpretation in 2022, as the NBF goes back to an in-person event. Attendees will be together with other book lovers.

For the first time, the Library of Congress will host a panel with the D.C. Public Libraries at the NBF, kicking off the DCPLs annual DC Reads program. Thats just part of how Smith and his team plan to bring new audiences into the long-running festival. For us its not just a question of diversity but also of accessibility, he says. Every festival has to grow. So how do I want to change this one, which is so well established? I dont want to mess with the things we do right, but we do need diversity of subject matter.

One change thats already in progress, Smith notes, is a lifestyle stage, for maybe the biggest publishing category of all, which includes self-help, service, and handbooks. Any session attended will include specific exercises or information, he explains. If an author has written about mindfulness, we might have her conduct a five-minute mindfulness session for the audience.

Smith has already learned that part of working as a government employee means accepting that new things take time. Its been a big learning curve for me, he says, but [librarian of Congress] Dr. Hayden has encouraged me to play the long game. As the director of Literary Initiatives, Smith also oversees the nations literary ambassadorships, including the poet laureate, the national ambassador for young peoples literature, and the Library of Congress Prize for American Literatures, along with the Bollingen Prize in Poetry. And there are also a host of year-round D.C. events, including three in fall 2022 for children and Live at the Library, which features a recent interview by Smith of novelist Joy Williams.

Live events in the district matter, but so does expanding the reach of Americas Library: We have a willingness to step out of our own huge footprint and work with other library systems, Smith says. We also work with all of the state centers for the book to create programming that reflects and adds to the NBF lineups. The reach of the Library of Congress is something that matters to us quite a bit.

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Handling growth, improving communication and meeting academic goals are some of the top priorities for Bismarck School Board candidates.

Nine challengers and one incumbent are running for three seats on the five-person board. Board members Karl Lembke and Matt Sagsveen are not seeking reelection. School board members serve four-year terms and receive an annual salary of $9,000.

The candidates are Amanda Davis, It Works! Global distributor; Emily Eckroth, general practice physician; Natasha Gourd, executive director of the Indigenous Education Coalition; Josh Hager, senior market service representative at WBI Energy; Travis Jensen, welder at Bobcat Co.; Jon Lee, owner of Bread Poets and current school board president; Amanda Peterson, director of educational improvement and support for the North Dakota Department of Public Instruction; Rebecca Pitkin, executive director of the state Education Standards and Practices Board; Nick Thueson, regional manager for a trucking company and owner of Mo's Snow Shack; and Greg Wheeler, senior audio video producer at Basin Electric Power Cooperative.

Candidates who responded to a questionnaire from The Bismarck Tribune also were concerned with school safety, maintaining fiscal responsibility and providing mental health services. Eckroth declined to respond.

"I feel we need to bring the focus back to education to ensure all students are able to succeed and thrive," Jensen said. "There is a need to improve communication and transparency to encourage stakeholder involvement, as I personally believe discussion leads to solutions. Our students today are the future of our community and will ensure Bismarck continues to thrive, so we should receive and explore input from all."

Candidates gave suggestions on how the district should handle growth. Jensen said another middle school should be built, and Lee suggested expanding the career and technical education curriculum into middle schools.

"There is a need for additional classroom space in south Bismarck," Hager said. "The school board will have to determine if additional school expansion is the answer or if a new elementary school needs to be built in south Bismarck. The choice that is made needs to be done in a fiscally responsible way and avoid adding an extra burden on taxpayers."

Davis, Hager and Jensen said finding and retaining staff will play a role in handling future growth. When asked how they would support teachers, candidates suggested reducing their workload, finding more substitute teachers and creating more communication opportunities. Lee, Peterson and Thueson said it is important that teachers are compensated fairly for all of the work they do.

"We have drastically reduced the number of initiatives that are pushed down to teachers and staff, which is a step in the right direction," Lee said. "We recognize that our teachers are professionals whose job is to educate our kids. Therefore, we have to make sure the supports are in place so that they can manage their classrooms effectively and that they arent compelled out of necessity to do work that is outside of their job description."

Most candidates said the district handled COVID-19 appropriately and that they would look at past protocols to make future decisions. Hager added that keeping students in the classroom needs to be a priority.

"We have seen what protocols worked and which ones did not work from the last pandemic," Thueson said. "If we are faced with another pandemic, we will be able to base our decisions on what protocols worked for the district in the past."

Jensen and Davis said parents should have more of a say in decisions regarding their children's health.

"The school board shouldn't have any say over the district about COVID," Davis said. "It should be left up to each family to choose how to navigate."

Many candidates said discussions around national political issues such as critical race theory have created division in the district and have been a source of distraction.

A law passed last year by the North Dakota Legislature prohibits schools from including instruction relating to critical race theory, which is defined in the bill as the theory that racism is not merely the product of learned individual bias or prejudice, but that racism is systemically embedded in American society and the American legal system to facilitate racial inequality.

Thueson, Pitkin and Peterson said state standards and benchmarks should be given more focus.

"This theory, as defined, is not currently being taught in Bismarck Public Schools, so we should focus on supporting teachers in the teaching of content standards and not let national politics dictate local issues," Peterson said. "We need to tackle and prioritize local issues that are having an impact on kids now."

Gourd and Wheeler said the issue is surrounded by misinformation, and effort should be made to better understand it.

"Critical race theory has to be put in context so it is easily understood by all and can be related to everyone," Wheeler said. "I will say, in my personal opinion, you would never ever want to discourage someone from having a voice, no matter what that is. Everyone deserves the right to have a voice and to speak their minds."

Candidates were split on whether cameras should be allowed in classrooms. Wheeler said cameras could help teachers document and solve problems in class if used constructively.

"Video cameras in classrooms can protect students and teachers from bullying, harassment and false accusations," Pitkin said. "They provide hard evidence that allows the school administration to take appropriate action. In some cases, the presence of security cameras alone is enough to reduce bullying."

Others said cameras could create privacy issues and security risks. Peterson said the cost of putting cameras in every classroom would be excessive, and teachers should be trusted more.

Almost all of candidates felt that the community should have some role in reviewing curriculum. Lee said community members and parents must have an active role to build trust and ensure transparency. Pitkin said parents should take advantage of advisory groups and curriculum review committees that already exist.

Gourd was the only one who felt that curriculum should be left up to teachers.

"I believe teachers are the best-trained individuals to create curriculum for students," she said. "I entrust teachers to make the best decisions when it comes to teaching our children."

Reach Alex Kautzman at 701-250-8255 or alexandra.kautzman@bismarcktribune.com.

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Republican voters next week will choose a nominee for North Dakota secretary of state from two candidates who tout distinct backgrounds for the office and different views about election integrity.

Michael Howe, of West Fargo, and Marvin Lepp, of Bismarck, are candidates for the nomination in Tuesday's primary election. The winner will face Democrat Jeffrey Powell, of Grand Forks, in the November general election. Longtime Republican incumbent Al Jaeger is not running. He was first elected in 1992.

Howe, whom the party endorsed, is a farmer and a state representative first elected in 2016. Lepp is an automotive service adviser with a varied resume.

The secretary's office has 33 employees and a two-year budget of about $14 million. It oversees elections; tracks campaign spending reports; registers lobbyists; and licenses businesses, home inspectors, contractors, notaries public, nonprofit groups and other organizations. It maintains a central indexing system of liens against crops, real estate and other property, and is a repository for trademarks and trade names.

The secretary of state's annual salary is $114,486.

Election integrity

Former President Donald Trump continues to push baseless claims of election fraud as the reason for his reelection loss in 2020. The 2021 Legislature handled more than 40 voting-related bills in the wake of the 2020 election, a trend nationwide.

Secretary of state is North Dakota's top election official.

Howe said, "We have to gain the public's trust back in our election process." He advocates education about North Dakota's election administration, having encountered people who have confused the voting process with those of other states.

He called North Dakota's voting system "a great process." He supports public service announcements, voting machine demonstrations, "whatever it takes to gain that trust back in our election process, let's do it."

Howe said that if elected his focus when weighing in on election legislation would be, "Does it make it easier to vote and harder to cheat? If we can achieve those two things in looking at election policy, I think that would be paramount to setting our process moving forward."

Lepp said his "first and foremost" priority would be election integrity, or "the actual evaluation of our elections to make sure that every county, every precinct is run with the same manner."

He said, "There's too many questions regarding the 2020 election," citing "discrepancies" he's found in North Dakota related to voter turnout and addresses. He offered an example of a voter with a street address in one county but a post office box in another county.

"There's too many variables that need to be fixed, and nationally, it's hard to say what happened nationally," Lepp said.

Howe

Howe is a Casselton-area farmer who was agriculture policy adviser for former U.S. Rep. Rick Berg, R-N.D.

He subsequently did policy communication work for the North Dakota Corn Growers Association, then came back to the family farm operation in 2013. He was elected to a District 22 House seat in 2016, representing rural Cass County and serving on the powerful House Appropriations Committee.

He cites his business and farming background and legislative experience in his bid for office.

Howe calls the secretary of state's office a "customer service office." He'd like the office to play a role in helping the state's economy diversify, being a "front door" for new businesses.

"If it's easy to start a business here in North Dakota, we can bring people in to the state and they'll say, 'Hey, that wasn't so bad, that was pretty easy,'" he said. "And combine that in with our low tax structure and our stable regulatory environment ... making that as seamless as possible and really saying, 'Hey, North Dakota is an easy place to do business, it's an easy place to start a business.'"

He commends Jaeger for rolling out the office's online FirstStop business hub in 2019, but sees more work to do for modernizing office technology, such as making the secretary's website "more user-friendly."

Lepp

Lepp touts his background in his candidacy, having "worn a lot of hats over the years" and being "very detail-orientated."

The Lehr native has worked as a corporate trainer for Perkins, and for a short time owned a small business selling cards, comics and toys. After that, he worked in inventory control and as a trainer for Best Buy. Since 2014, he's worked in the automotive industry as a service adviser.

"I dig into subjects. I look at everything from both sides. I don't automatically jump to conclusions because before I speak to something, I want to be able to prove it," Lepp said.

The last two years he's "spent a large amount of time in our North Dakota Century Code" for speaking to local government boards about pandemic restrictions, he said.

"My concerns were more related to why were the mandates being presented as a one-size-fits-all cure and there was no acknowledgement of physical, mental, emotional disabilities that prevents someone from working because they're having to choose between their employee and the mandate?" he said.

"And from there, it expanded forward through the last legislative session -- different groups had me help with drafting a bill that got that forward, interpreting Century Code to help them make sure that what they were presenting to legislators to be brought forward was accurate."

He declined to specify the legislation, saying the bill's sponsors in the Legislature can "keep their credit." He said he tries "to remain as neutral as I can when I'm asked to help with stuff like that because you can't write a piece of legislation based on emotion" or reaction.

Lepp said he's running to "serve the people of North Dakota full time" after considering running for local or legislative offices.

He expects the next secretary of state will bring "a pretty drastic revamp to the system," with Jaeger having served 30 years.

Lepp said he would also focus on streamlining business registration and other office functions, including the secretary's website to make it more mobile-friendly and accessible for its functions, such as providing how-to videos.

Lepp has several collections against him in state district court and a past tax lien. He said all of those issues have been resolved.

The tax lien related to child support and was resolved about 10 years ago, he said. The collections related to a bank's "bad advice" in his business closing, an erroneous "double payment" for college, and a small claims settlement after his business closed, he said.

The Tribune also conducted a background check on Howe.

Reach Jack Dura at 701-250-8225 or jack.dura@bismarcktribune.com.

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Students at NewBrook Elementary School, in Newfane, Vt., learn about where their food comes from during their Community Farm and Field Day on Friday, June 10, 2022.
North Dakota regulators approved a permit for a landfill near Williston that aims to become the states first to accept radioactive oilfield waste. Secure Energy Services, a Calgary, Alberta-based company, still must obtain a $1.125 million bond to dispose of radioactive material at its 13-Mile Landfill, which already accepts other types of waste generated by oil development, said Diana Trussell, who heads the state Department of Environmental Qualitys solid waste program. The agency on Monday renewed the companys permit for its existing landfill and also gave it permission to dispose of up to 25,000 tons of radioactive oilfield waste annually if it can secure the bonding. Critics say allowing such waste disposal isn't environmentally safe.
The war against Russian forces will decide the world orders future rules, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky (on screen) addresses participants at the Shangri-La Dialogue summit in Singapore via a video link, June 11, 2022.

The future rules of the international order are playing out in Ukraines war zones, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy told the Shangri-La Dialogue security forum in Singapore as he rallied support for his country Saturday in its fight against Russias invading forces.

The Ukrainian leader appeared on a giant screen as he addressed delegates from 40 countries, who were attending Asias preeminent international security forum, via a video-link from an undisclosed location in the capital Kyiv.

I am grateful for your support ... but this support is not only for Ukraine, but for you as well, said Zelenskyy, who wore a black t-shirt as he spoke to delegates dressed in formal clothes.

It is on the battlefields of Ukraine that the future rules of this world are being decided along with the boundaries of the possible.

The Russian invasion of Ukraine has divided countries in the Asia-Pacific region, with some finding themselves wedged between Sino-U.S. frictions and strategic differences over the issue.

Russias invasion of Ukraine is what happens when oppressors trample the rules that protect us all, U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said in a speech at the Singapore forum earlier in the day.

Its a preview of a possible world of chaos and turmoil that none of us would want to live in, he said, adding that the rules-based international order matters just as much in the Indo-Pacific as it does in Europe.

In his late-afternoon speech to the high-level delegates gathered in Singapore, the Ukrainian president listed alleged atrocities committed by Moscows forces and said Russia had destroyed all achievements of the human kind.

As Ukraine is unable to export enough food because of a Russian blockade, the shortage of foodstuff will lead to chaos, Zelenskyy said.

We must stop Russia. We must stop the war, he pleaded.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy addresses the Shangri-La Dialogue security forum in Singapore, June 11, 2022. Credit: Screenshot/BenarNews Pre-emptive measures

Responding to a question that drew a parallel between Ukraine and Taiwan, the Ukrainian leader said the world must use pre-emptive measures and come up with diplomatic resolutions to support countries in need, not leaving them at the mercy of more powerful nations.

Zelenskyy did not mention China by name, but Beijing has always insisted that Taiwan is not another Ukraine. Beijing considers Taiwan one of its provinces and as an inalienable part of China.

So far, China has refrained from condemning Russia for its actions in Ukraine. In February Chinese leader Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin proclaimed a no limits partnership with no forbidden areas of cooperation.

In Southeast Asia, most countries have hesitated in denouncing Russia or joining in international sanctions against Moscow. The ASEAN regional bloc has found it difficult to come up with a clear and united framework when dealing with the Russian war.

Some members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations that experienced sanctions in the past are close to Russia and vehemently oppose them.

On Saturday, Cambodian Defense Minister Tea Banh told the security forum in Singapore that the use of sanctions in any form is not the right option to solve problems.

When it was his turn to speak, Malaysias defense chief pointed to how the war in Ukraine was testing regional security alliances such as the North Atlantic Treaty Organization.

Members of NATO have met Russias invasion of Ukraine with outrage, deploying thousands of troops to Eastern Europe to protect their alliance members, Minister Hishammuddin Hussein told the forum.

Even though Ukraine is not a member of the alliance, the potential of the conflict sparking into a much larger world war exists and the fear of it becoming a reality is conceivable, as much as we want to deny it.

Indonesian Defense Minister Prabowo Subianto speaks with an aide during the second plenary session of the 19th Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore, June 11, 2022. Credit: Reuters Rules-based international order

The war in Ukraine has featured prominently during sessions at the Shangri-La Dialogue so far.

Austin, the U.S. defense secretary, said that Russias indefensible assault on a peaceful neighbor has galvanized the world.

Its what happens when big powers decide that their imperial appetites matter more than the rights of their peaceful neighbors, he said in a thinly veiled reference to China.

The Ukraine war highlights the dangers of disorder, Austin said, as he urged countries in the region to cooperate to strengthen the rules-based international order.

Its yet to be seen, though, how his calls resonate among smaller nations in Southeast Asia who, up to now, have remained reluctant to pick sides.

For his part, the defense chief of Southeast Asias largest country indicated that Indonesia was keeping an eye on the situation in Ukraine, but throughout its history as a nation, Jakarta has pursued an Asian way in approaching challenges to its security amid big-power rivalries, he said.

The situation in Ukraine teaches us that we can never abandon our security and independence and never take them for granted. Therefore, we are determined to strengthen our defense. Our outlook is defensive, but we will defend our territory with all of our resources, Indonesian Defense Minister Prabowo Subianto said in his speech Saturday to the Singapore forum.

In our experience, over the last 40 to 50 years, we have found our own way, the Asian way, to solve this challenge. We decided that our shared experience of being dominated, enslaved, and exploited, forced us to struggle and create a peaceful environment, he said.
Lloyd Austin also reaffirmed an American commitment to a free Indo-Pacific, in a speech in Singapore.

US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin speaks at the Shangri-La Dialogue summit in Singapore on June 11, 2022.

UPDATED at 03:00 a.m. EDT on 2022-06-11

The U.S. Defense Secretary emphasized partnership as the main priority for the American security strategy in the Indo-Pacific during a keynote speech on Saturday. However, Lloyd Austin stressed that the U.S. does not seek to create an Asian NATO.

Austin spoke for half an hour at the First Plenary Session of the Shangri-La Dialogue 2022 security forum in Singapore.

While reiterating that the U.S. stays deeply invested and committed to a free and open Indo-Pacific, the defense secretary said: We do not seek confrontation and conflict and we do not seek a new Cold War, an Asian NATO or a region split into hostile blocs.

The United States and its allies in the Indo-Pacific have recently expressed concern over Chinas increasingly assertive military posture in the region.

Beijing, on its part, has been complaining about what it sees as attempts by the U.S. and its partners to form a defense alliance in the region.

When leaders from the U.S., Japan, India and Australia met last month for a summit of the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue, or Quad, China cried foul. Foreign Minister Wang Yi said Washington was keen to gang up with small circles and change Chinas neighborhood environment, making Asia-Pacific countries serve as "pawns" of the U.S. hegemony.

I think Secretary Austin made it very clear that theres no appetite for an Asian NATO, said Blake Herzinger, a Singapore-based defense analyst.

The U.S. values collective partnerships with shared visions and priorities, without the need to form a defense alliance, he told RFA.

'A region free from coercion and bullying'

The U.S will continue to stand by our friends as they uphold their rights, said Austin, adding that the commitment is especially important as the Peoples Republic of China adopts a more coercive and aggressive approach to its territorial claims."

He spoke of the Chinese air forces almost daily incursions into Taiwans Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ) and an "alarming" increase in the number of unsafe and unprofessional encounters between Chinese planes and vessels with those of other countries.

Most recently, U.S. ally Australia accused China of conducting a dangerous intercept, of one of its surveillance aircraft near the Paracel islands in the South China Sea.

Austin met with his Chinese counterpart Wei Fenghe on the sidelines of the Shangri-La Dialogue on Friday. During the meeting, which lasted nearly an hour, the two sides discussed how to better manage their relationship and prevent accidents from happening but did not reach any concrete resolution.

Austin used Saturdays speech to remind Beijing that big powers carry big responsibilities, saying well do our part to manage these tensions responsibly  to prevent conflict, and to pursue peace and prosperity."

The Indo-Pacific is the U.S. Department of Defenses (DOD) "priority theater," he noted, adding that his departments fiscal year 2023 budget request calls for one of the largest investments in history to preserve the region's security.

This includes U.S. $6.1 billion for the Pacific Deterrence Initiative to strengthen multilateral information-sharing and support training and experimentation with partners.

The budget also seeks to encourage innovation across all domains, including space and cyberspace, to develop new capabilities that will allow us to deter aggression even more surely, he said.

The U.S. military is expanding exercises and training programs with regional partners, the defense secretary said. Later in June, the Pentagon will host the 28th Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) naval exercise with forces from 26 countries, 38 ships and nearly 25,000 personnel.

Next year a Coast Guard cutter will be deployed to Southeast Asia and Oceania, he said, the first major U.S. Coast Guard cutter permanently stationed in the region.

An armed US-made F-16V fighter lands on the runway at an air force base in Chiayi, southern Taiwan on January 5, 2022. CREDIT: AFP





Protecting Taiwan

"Secretary Austin offered a compelling vision, grounded in American resolve to uphold freedom from coercion and oppose the dangerously outmoded concept of aggressively-carved spheres of influence, said Andrew Erickson, Research Director of the China Maritime Studies Institute at the U.S. Naval War College, speaking in a personal capacity.

The key will be for Washington to match Austins rhetoric with requisite resolve and resources long after todays Dialogue is over, said Erickson.

It is that follow-through that will determine much in what President Biden rightly calls the Decisive Decade, he added.

Last month in Tokyo Biden announced a new Indo-Pacific Partnership for Maritime Domain Awareness (IPMDA) that Austin said would provide better access to space-based, maritime domain awareness to countries across the region.

The U.S. defense secretary spoke at length about his governments policy towards Taiwan, saying were determined to uphold the status quo that has served this region so well for so long.

While remaining committed to the longstanding one-China policy, the U.S. categorically opposes any unilateral changes to the status quo from either side.

We do not support Taiwan independence. And we stand firmly behind the principle that cross-strait differences must be resolved by peaceful means," Austin said.

The U.S. continues assisting Taiwan in maintaining self-defense capability and this week approved the sale of U.S. $120 million in spare parts and technical assistance for the Taiwanese navy.

The move was condemned by Beijing. Sr. Col. Tan Kefei, spokesperson for Chinas Defense Ministry, said the U.S. arms sales grossly interfered in China's internal affairs and should be immediately revoked.

During the bilateral meeting on Friday Chinese defense minister Wei Fenghe also warned his counterpart that the Chinese military will resolutely crush any 'Taiwan independence' attempts at all cost.

This story has been updated to reflect China's stance in the final two paragraphs.
North Korean police officers, who have a well-earned reputation for brutality, are being told to be nicer as the combination of a devastated economy and an outbreak of COVID cases raises fears of social unrest, sources in the country told RFA.

People in the isolated country have endured so much over the past few years that North Korean leaders are afraid pockets of resistance to the autocratic leadership might develop among people who are struggling the most.

Bullying and harassment, mainstays of North Korean law enforcement, could push frustrated citizens over the edge, hence the call for the new charm offensive.

The internal directive calls for provincial, municipal, county, and regional security departments and agencies to strengthen internal discipline and work toward improving relations with residents, a source connected to the judicial system in the northwestern province of North Pyongan told RFAs Korean Service Wednesday on condition of anonymity for security reasons.

They issued this directive because internal discipline has been lax, and the police are not giving up the idea that they have to dominate over the people, even as social dissatisfaction increases with the COVID-19 situation. If the tyranny of the police officers is left alone, public dissent will accelerate, he said.

North Korea is in a state of maximum emergency due to an outbreak of the coronavirus that spread starting in April. The government was forced to acknowledge its first confirmed cases and deaths after denying it had even a single case since the beginning of the pandemic.

Efforts to keep the virus out included shutting down the Sino Korean border in January 2020 and suspending all trade, which effectively destroyed what was left of the economy already weakened by international nuclear sanctions.

Though rail freight eventually resumed in 2022, it was shut down again with a resurgence of the virus in China.

The police command structure is also being reorganized and each regional department is required to give daily, weekly and monthly progress reports to the Ministry of Social Security in Pyongyang, the source said.

The plan also calls for resolving conflicts with local residents and restoring the image of the police by making decisive improvements to the attitudes of the police officers and to the services they provide. This may go a long way towards addressing problems that arise within local jurisdictions, the source said.

In the northeastern province of North Hamgyong, the provincial security bureaus top brass went out to the various cities and districts to explain the directive to their subordinates, a source connected to the judicial system there told RFA.

Social security officials are very nervous because how they execute this directive may determine the path of their future careers, the second source said on condition of anonymity to speak freely.

The police in the area have had a noticeable change in attitude, according to the second source.

They used to look down on the residents, even swearing at them and beating them up. Now they have become much gentler, he said. Even so, many residents are skeptical as to how long the trend will last.

It is not the first time that the government has issued directives telling police to be nicer, so citizens remain wary that police brutality will soon become the norm again.

In the past, directives from the central government would change how the police acted for a little while, but they would gradually become violent again over time, he said.

Forcing the cops to be nice and friendly can only do so much at a time when so many people are desperate though.

If they really want to boost public sentiment, its important that the authorities realize that their most urgent task should be to provide a way for the residents to make a living, said the source.

The authorities have cooked up half-hearted measures like this to try to deal with the cold public sentiment caused by COVID-19.

Though North Korea has acknowledged that the virus is spreading inside the country, it has only reported a handful of confirmed COVID-19 cases, which 38 North, a site that provides analysis on the country and is run by the U.S.-based Stimson Center think tank, attributed to insufficient testing capabilities.

The country is, however, keeping track of numbers of people who exhibit symptoms of COVID-19. The number of new daily cases peaked at around 754,800 on May 19, before sharply decreasing over the next week.

Wednesday marked the first day since May 19 that fewer than 100,000 new cases of fever were recorded.

The Seoul-based Daily NK news outlet reported Wednesday that the people do not trust the governments figures and believe the coronavirus situations is much worse than they are being told.

Translated by Claire Lee and Leejin J. Chung. Written in English by Eugene Whong.
A former 43North-winning housing startup has pledged to donate $19,000 to Black-led community organizations across the country.

In honor of Juneteenth, the online apartment reviews company Whose Your Landlord will give $1,000 each to 19 Black-led nonprofit organizations that "focus on cultivating community." Juneteenth, celebrated on June 19, commemorates the ending of slavery in the United States and is a celebration of African-American culture.

In celebration of Juneteenth, @WYLandlord is awarding $1000 grants to 19 Black-led community organizations across the country.Nominate an organization making a difference in your neighborhood by tagging them belowAll winners will be announced on June 20. Details: pic.twitter.com/OdvY9rv7R0  WYL (WhoseYourLandlord) (@wylandlord) June 9, 2022

It feels particularly important now to support community organizations, not just in Buffalo in the wake of the Tops Markets mass shooting where a self-proclaimed white supremacist is accused of killing 10 Black people and wounding three others, but across the country, as many people are in a "state of grief" as similar tragedies have unfolded, Whose Your Landlord founder Ofo Ezeugwu said.

43North company partners with Walmart on rent relief program Whose Your Landlord, a 43North portfolio company, is teaming up with Walmart and other partners on a rent relief program.

To nominate an organization, head to any of Whose Your Landlord's social media pages  @wylandlord on Twitter and Instagram, @whoseyourlandlord on Facebook and WYL (Whose Your Landlord) on LinkedIn  and tag the organization in the comments. If the organization is not on social media, leave a link to their website, Eweugwu said.

The deadline to nominate an organization is June 17, and Whose Your Landlord will announce the winners June 20.

The grants will be given through the company's nonprofit arm, BUILD, which supports leaders who build up their communities on a daily basis.

43North startup Whose Your Landlord finds support in WNY Whose Your Landlord is an online platform for apartment reviews. One part of the platform is for residents to rate landlords, property management companies and apartment units. The other part is for landlords to get feedback from residents to increase tenant satisfaction and retention.

Ezeugwu's mission with Whose Your Landlord is to bring more transparency to housing by empowering and informing the rental community.

In 2019, the company won $500,000 in Buffalo's 43North startup contest. Ezeugwu lives part-time in Buffalo and some of the company's biggest clients, such as Ciminelli Real Estate, are in Buffalo. Ezeugwu has plans to make Western New York a significant part of his company's future by building out Whose Your Landlord's tech workforce in Buffalo.

Buffalo Next Must-read local business coverage that exposes the trends, connects the dots and contextualizes the impact to Buffalo's economy. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy.
Myanmars ruling military junta has not issued execution orders for a former lawmaker from the deposed government and a prominent democracy activist sitting on death row after convictions on terrorism charges, despite reports that the men would be hanged Friday evening local time, a Prisons Department spokesman told RFA.

On June 3, the junta announced that it would proceed with the planned executions of former Member of Parliament Phyo Zeya Thaw and Ko Jimmy, a longtime democracy activist and former leader of the 88 Generation Students Group. Anti-regime opponents Aung Thura Zaw and Hla Myo Aung are also facing the death penalty.

Myanmars military, which seized control from the democratically elected government in a February 2021 coup, has cracked down on anti-regime activists, sentencing more than 100 to death. The executions of Phyo Zeya Thaw and Ko Jimmy, whose real name is Kyaw Min Yu, would be the countrys first judicial executions since 1990.

Authorities had not received execution orders from the junta for Phyo Zeya Thaw and Ko Jimmy, who are being held in Yangons Insein Prison, said Prisons Department spokesman Khin Shwe.

We havent receive anything from the superiors, he said. We also dont know about the news that they will be hanged this evening and that there had been religious rites in prison for the inmates.

All four inmates are in good health and have been transferred to death row where they are wearing orange prison suits given to those facing execution, he said.

Junta spokesman, Maj. Gen. Zaw Min Tun, told RFA on Tuesday that all four men would be executed under the regular procedures of the Prisons Department.

Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen, current chair of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), sent a written appeal on Friday to Sen. Gen. Min Aung Hlaing, head of the State Administration Council (SAC), the formal name of the junta regime, to reconsider the sentences and refrain from carrying out the death sentences.

The death sentences and reported planned execution of a number of anti-SAC individuals have attracted great concern among ASEAN member states, as well as ASEAN external partners, he wrote.

If carried out, the executions would trigger a very strong and widespread negative reaction from the international community and hurt efforts to find a peaceful solution to the crisis in Myanmar, Hun Sen wrote.

A former member of the hip-hop band Acid, Phyo Zeya Thaw served as a lawmaker from the National League for Democracy from 2012 to 2020. Following the coup and the subsequent crackdown on peaceful anti-regime protesters, he went into hiding but was arrested in November 2021.

Phyo Zeya Thaw, whose real name is Maung Kyaw, and Ko Jimmy, who was arrested in October 2021, were both sentenced to death by a military tribunal this January for treason and terrorism.

Activist Nilar Thein, who is the wife of Ko Jimmy, said the junta will have to take responsibility for giving her husband the death penalty.

Translated by Ye Kaung Myint Maung for RFA Burmese. Written in English by Roseanne Gerin.
The women said a fellow prisoners miscarriage was the result of guard negligence.

A guard stands outside of Insein Prison in Yangon, in a file photo.

Authorities in Myanmars notorious Insein Prison have cut off the drinking water supply to the cells of female political prisoners who protested poor living conditions in the facility after a fellow inmate who was denied medical treatment suffered a miscarriage, sources said Friday.

Sources who visited the prison on the outskirts of Myanmars commercial capital Yangon told RFA Burmese that dozens of prisoners have been forced to drink from the toilet after the taps were turned off more than two weeks ago, leaving them with no other source of water.

The authorities cut off the drinking water since the protest, said one recent visitor, who spoke to RFA on condition of anonymity.

They put 60-70 female prisoners in one prison hall. I was told that all of them are now forced to drink water from the toilet.

The source said that some of the prisoners have contracted cholera and other diseases after drinking the unclean water.

Last month, a 24-year-old political prisoner at Insein named Cherry Bo Kyi Naing, who is serving a three-year prison sentence for unlawful association, suffered an early-term miscarriage after authorities delayed sending her to the hospital for treatment.

On May 23, the female political prisoners held a protest, claiming that Cherry Bo Kyi Naings miscarriage was avoidable and the result of negligence by the guards. Two days later, prison authorities shut down the protest and relocated all the female political prisoners to the single prison hall, before shutting off the water supply.

When asked by RFA for comment on the situation at Insein, Prison Department spokesperson Khin Shwe denied reports that the women had been cut off access to drinking water.

In Insein prison, we provide adequate water supplies for both drinking and hygiene, he said.

We dont give such punishments for incidents that occur in the prison. We have no such thing.

Attempts by RFA to reach the International Committee of the Red Cross in Bangkok, Thailand, went unanswered Friday. The Bangkok-based Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (AAPP) told RFA it is still making inquiries into the protest at Insein and the response by authorities and was unable to comment.

Kaythi Aye, a former political prisoner in Myanmar who now lives in Norway, told RFA that female prisoners require better hygiene conditions than their male counterparts, and access to clean water is crucial.

Prisoners are in serious trouble when they dont have access to clean water, especially during the monsoon season, when mosquitos proliferate and people suffer skin conditions, she said.

Wet conditions cause disease to spread further. Its inhumane to cut off clean water for the female prisoners.

According to the AAPP, security forces have arrested more than 11,000 civilians in Myanmar since the military seized power in a Feb. 1, 2021 coup. There are nearly 1,200 female prisoners across the country, around 200 of which are held in Insein Prison.

Translated by Ye Kaung Myint Maung for RFA Burmese. Written in English by Joshua Lipes.
The Beauty of Xiaohe, a 3,800-year-old mummy discovered in the Tarim Basin in the present-day Xinjiang region of northwestern China, is shown at the 'Secrets of the Silk Road: Mystery Mummies from China' exhibit at the Bowers Museum in Santa Ana, California, March 24, 2010.

A new Chinese study on the ancient populations of Xinjiang purports to show modern-day residents descend from a mix of ethnicities, but scientists and experts on the region cautioned the findings are being used to support Chinas forced assimilation policy toward the predominately Muslim Uyghurs.

The study from the Institute of Vertebrate Paleontology and Paleoanthropology at the Chinese Academy of Sciences is based on 201 ancient human genomes from 39 different archeological sites in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region (XUAR).

Scientists analyzed the genetic composition, migration and formation of the ancient inhabitants of Xinjiang during the Bronze Age, which lasted from 5,000 to 3,000 years ago, the Iron Age, which lasted between 3,000 and 2,000 years ago, and into the Historical Era, which started about 2,000 years ago.

They published their findings in the April edition of the journal Science in an article titled Bronze and Iron Age population movements underlie Xinjiang population history.

The report states that the regions ancestral population during the Bronze Age was linked to four different major ancestries  those of the Tarim Basin, which includes present-day Xinjiang; Central Asia; and the Central and Eastern Eurasian Steppes.

Archaeological and mitochondrial studies have suggested that the BA [Bronze Age] inhabitants and cultures of Xinjiang were not derived from any indigenous Neolithic substrate but rather from a mix of West and East Eurasian people, whereas BA burial traditions suggest links with both North Eurasian Steppe cultures and the Central Asian BMAC civilization, the report says, referring to the Central Asian Bactria-Margiana Archaeological Complex (BMAC) in the south.

Further mixtures between Middle and Late Bronze Age Steppe cultures continued during the late Bronze and Iron Ages, along with an inflow of East and Central Asian ancestry, the report says.

Historical era populations show similar admixed and diverse ancestries as those of present-day Xinjiang populations, the report says. These results document the influence that East and West Eurasian populations have had over time in the different regions of Xinjiang.

The study by the Chinese Academy of Sciences comes at a time when the Chinese government has stepped up its assimilation of the predominantly Muslim Uyghurs to inculcate a common identity among Uyghurs with other ethnicities in the country. The government rejects claims that the ethnic minority group has its own history, culture, language and way of life.

The Beauty of Xiaohe, a mummy discovered in the Tarim Basin in northwestern China, is shown at the 'Secrets of the Silk Road' exhibit at the University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Feb. 18, 2011. Credit: Associated Press

'We have to think carefully'

Following the beginning of the mass internment campaign targeting Uyghurs and other Turkic minorities in April 2017, Chinese archaeological and anthropological research in Xinjiang entered a new phase. The XUARs Communist Party Committee set a political goal for archaeological research aimed at combating separatism and emphasized that cultural relics should serve the concept that Xinjiang has always been an inseparable part of China.

On March 22, 2017, then-Party Secretary Chen Quanguo said at an archaeological work conference that archaeological work is necessary in establishing and advancing socialist values in Xinjiang, in deepening patriotic education, and in the fight against separatist ideas.

But an expert in the genetics of ancient Central Asian populations based in the United States says the reports findings do not significantly differ from findings on the Bronze Age published recently by a group of international researchers.

Vagheesh Narasimhan, an assistant professor in the Department of Integrative Biology and the Department of Statistics and Data Sciences at the University of Texas at Austin, told RFA that the findings in the Science article are similar to those published late last year by international researchers.

A few months ago there was a report of the sequencing of certain mummies from the Tarim Basin from the Bronze Age, he said. In this paper [from April 1], they also added 200 genomes from various time periods from all over Xinjiang. They co-analyzed the data from the previous analysis with the analysis in this paper, and they tried to draw conclusions combining the data from the previous paper by the international team with data from this group.

Narasimhan said that the two studies found a similar genetic ancestry in Xinjiang from the Bronze Age.

But he said the findings do not refute the idea that Uyghurs are a distinct ethnicity.

You cant think two groups are the same just because they have a common ancestry; in that case, every person in the world would have a common ancestry from Africa, he said. We have to think carefully about which population theyre actually using as a reference.

In its analysis of the Iron Age population of Xinjiang, the Science article stresses that iron materials found during this era were related to the Saks, or the Scythians, an important nomadic culture at the time.

It also notes that many archaeological finds connected to the group have been found in Xinjiangs Ili River Valley and Tarim Basin, and that a diverse conglomeration of many nomadic tribes, including the Saks, Huns, Paziriks and Taghars, appeared around the region.

The Science article also states that from among these groups, the Saks were the descendants of the Andronova, Srubnaya, and Sintashta peoples from the latter periods of the Bronze Age and that the other ancestors of the Saks are connected to the populations of the Bayqal Shamanka and Bactria-Margiana and are related to the language of Hotan, which was part of the Indo-European family. But about 2,200 years prior, the region had become a point of conflict between the Yuezhi (Yawchi or Yurchi), Huns, Hans and Turks.

Thus, Xinjiang represents a key area for studying the past confluence and coexistence of populations with dynamic cultural, linguistic and genetic backgrounds, the report says.

Members of the media view an infant mummy discovered in the Tarim Basin in northwestern China, at the 'Secrets of the Silk Road' exhibit at the University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Feb. 18, 2011. Credit: Associated Press

Suspicious corpses

One Uyghur expert questioned the premises that underlie the analysis by Chinese researchers.

Erkin Ekrem, an associate professor of history at Hacettepe University in Turkey, told RFA that China is attempting a revisionist history that eradicates the regions unique characteristics by portraying East Turkestan, the Uyghurs preferred name for the XUAR, as a mixed-race region.

Im a bit suspicious, he said. Exactly what kind of corpses were given to the researchers? We dont know that at the moment.

In its research on the races  not nations, but races  in East Turkestan, China is always saying that the people from the region are of the Indo-German, Caucasian, Siberian, even Han and Mongoloid types, he said. Its as though they portray East Turkestan as a place where every race and every nation mixed, as though theyre working to eliminate the distinctiveness of this place.

Ekrem also argued that Chinese scholars mention of the Hans, along with Huns and Turks, as peoples who influenced the heritage of the regions ancient population is historically inaccurate.

Neither the Han nor later dynasties of China had populations in the region that would have been capable of influencing local populations, he said.

There are no archaeological or historical sources that support what the Chinese are saying, Ekrem said.

The concept of a people is different from the concept of race as researched through DNA, he said. Its possible that a race is made up of several peoples or that several races can be from one people, because peoples mix with one another over time. This is the nature of history. To say [what China is saying] is to mix nationalist notions with historical notions, and to put them to the service of nationalism.

Jennifer Ring (C) and Hu Guizhen (L) examine the Beauty of Xiaohe, a 3,800-year-old mummy discovered in the Tarim Basin in northwestern China, at the 'Secrets of the Silk Road: Mystery Mummies from China' exhibit at the Bowers Museum in Santa Ana, California, March 24, 2010. Credit: Associated Press

'Highly problematic'

German researcher Adrian Zenz, who provided crucial evidence to a 2021 Uyghur Tribunal about the Chinese governments atrocities against the Uyghurs and efforts to decrease the mostly Muslim population in Xinjiang, told RFA that the papers findings, which are politically motivated, would not be publishable in a proper peer-reviewed scholarly journal or context.

But the Chinese do it themselves and [do] their own study, he said. This could, of course, be reviewed in detail by a Western expert, and I'm sure we would have some interesting findings on that.

These efforts that they're conducting are, in my opinion, obviously highly problematic, all designed to prove the strategy of Xi Jinping for Xinjiang, for assimilating the ethnic groups, said Zenz, who has been sanctioned by the Chinese government for his research on Xinjiang.

James Millward, a history professor at Georgetown University who specializes in Central Asia, the Silk Road and Xinjiang, rejected assertions by Chinese scholars that modern-day XUAR has been a part of China since ancient times.

People traveled either via steppes in the north, across the plains, [or] they traveled along desert roads to oases in what is now southern Xinjiang, he told RFA. And then there was a significant amount of travel which the Silk Road mythology tends to not forget about.

Theres a lot of exchange of people as well and a lot of different languages have been represented.

Millward compared Xinjiang during the medieval period to New York's Grand Central Station and Londons Heathrow Airport.

People [went] through there on their way to other places in all different directions, and that left a legacy of lots of cultural diversity thats reflected in these different languages and different scripts that we have recorded there.

Translated by RFA Uyghur. Written in English by Roseanne Gerin.
Kyiv has defied a Moscow ultimatum to surrender Syevyerodonetsk despite the Russians controlling most of the key eastern city as Western defense ministers gather in Brussels to decide on sending more heavy weapons to the outgunned and outnumbered Ukrainian forces.

Russia has told Ukrainian defenders holed up in the Azot chemical plant in the city to give up their "senseless resistance and lay down arms" early on June 15, promising a "humanitarian corridor" for the civilians sheltering in the plant along with the fighters.

The Russians had planned to take the civilians to territory under the control of Moscow-backed separatists in eastern Ukraine.

Live Briefing: Russia's Invasion Of Ukraine RFE/RL's Live Briefing gives you all of the major developments on Russia's invasion, how Kyiv is fighting back, the plight of civilians, and Western reaction. For all of RFE/RL's coverage of the war, click here.

British military intelligence said in its daily bulletin on June 15 that several hundred civilians were currently in underground bunkers in the Azot plant together with Ukrainian fighters.

The mayor of Syevyerodonetsk, Oleksandr Stryuk, said after the early morning deadline passed that Russian forces attempted to storm the city from several directions but were held back by Ukrainian forces.

"We are trying to push the enemy towards the city center," Stryuk said on television. "This is an ongoing situation with partial successes and tactical retreats."

Stryuk said Ukrainian forces were not completely cut off. "The escape routes are dangerous, but there are some," he said.

Serhiy Hayday, the head of the Luhansk region containing Syevyerodonetsk, said the army was defending the city and keeping Russian forces from Lysychansk, the twin city on the opposite bank of the Siverskiy Donets River.

"Nevertheless, the Russians are close and the population is suffering and homes are being destroyed," he posted online.

The bulletin issued by Britain's Defense Ministry said that it was "highly unlikely" Moscow had anticipated such stubborn opposition from the Ukrainians during its original planning for the invasion.

It added that in the face of the determined Ukrainian response, Russia has resorted to urban-warfare tactics that rely on the heavy use of artillery, causing extensive collateral damage throughout the city.

President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has called both for more heavy weapons and for more EU sanctions against Russia.

In an address via video link to Czech lawmakers on June 15, Zelenskiy urged the European Union to adopt a seventh package of punitive measures against Moscow for its unprovoked invasion after the one agreed last month that will halt the majority of imports of Russian oil.

Earlier, Zelenskiy said late on June 14 that Ukraine needed modern anti-missile weapons now, adding there could be no justification for partner countries to delay delivery.

"We keep telling our partners that Ukraine needs modern anti-missile weapons," Zelenskiy said. "Our country does not have them yet at a sufficient level, but it is in Ukraine and right now that there is the greatest need for such weapons. Procrastination in providing them cannot be justified."

Zelenskiy said Ukraine was also seeing "painful losses" in the Kharkiv region to the east of Kyiv, where Russia is trying to strengthen its position after being pushed back.

Deputy Defense Minister Anna Malyar said earlier that Ukraine had received just 10 percent of the weapons it has requested from the West to help fight the Russian invasion.

"No matter how hard Ukraine tries, no matter how professional our army is, without the help of Western partners we will not be able to win this war," Malyar said in a televised briefing, saying the West should speed up the delivery of the arms.

Western countries have promised to send sophisticated weapons, including advanced rockets, but deploying them is taking time.

Malyar said there should be "a clear time frame" for the deliveries "because every day there's a delay, we're talking about the lives of Ukrainian soldiers and civilians."

Speaking ahead of a June 15 gathering of NATO defense ministers in Brussels, alliance chief Jens Stoltenberg said there was an "urgent need" to send Kyiv more advanced weaponry, but cautioned that familiarizing the Ukrainian military with such weapons systems takes time.

"Ukraine is really in a very critical situation and therefore, there's an urgent need to step up," Stoltenberg told journalists.

Ahead of the two-day NATO meeting in Brussels, dozens of defense ministers from the Ukraine Defense Contact Group are expected to discuss more weapons deliveries to Ukraine.

U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin is poised to lead the discussions of the group of nearly 50 countries, officials said.

NATO is not officially participating in the talks, to avoid being militarily involved in the conflict between Ukraine and Russia, and as nonaligned countries are also part of the group chaired by the United States.

With the Luhansk region with its key city of Syevyerodonetsk almost completely in Russian hands, a senior NATO official told CNN that the war in Ukraine had reached a critical point.

"I think that you're about to get to the point where one side or the other will be successful," said the official.

"Either the Russians will reach Slovyansk and Kramatorsk [in the Donetsk region adjacent to Luhansk] or the Ukrainians will stop them here. And if the Ukrainians are able to hold the line here, in the face of this number of forces, that will matter."

With reporting by Reuters, AP, BBC, CNN, and AFP
Iran and Venezuela have signed a 20-year cooperation plan, Iranian state media reported on June 11.

The plan includes cooperation in the fields of oil, petrochemicals, tourism, and culture.

The signing ceremony was held in Tehrans Saadabad Palace in the presence of visiting Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his Iranian counterpart Ebrahim Raisi.

Signing the pact "shows the determination of the high-level officials of the two countries to develop relations in different fields," Raisi said, according to state TV.

In addition to the 20-year accord inked by the two countries' foreign ministers, "Iran and Venezuela signed documents on cooperation in the political, cultural, tourism, economic, oil and petrochemical fields," the official Iranian government news agency IRNA said.

Maduro, who arrived in the Iranian capital late on June 10, was quoted by Iranian media as praising Tehrans move to send fuel tankers to his energy-hungry nation.

Both Iran and Venezuela are under heavy U.S. economic sanctions.

Based on reporting by Reuters, AP and IRNA
Shelling by Russian forces has caused a massive fire at a chemical plant in the besieged eastern Ukrainian city of Syevyerodonetsk, the local governor said, as Ukrainian leaders continued to plea for additional weapons to fight off the onslaught by invading forces throughout the region.

Speaking on June 11 on national television, Luhansk regional governor Serhiy Hayday did not indicate if the fire at the Azot chemical plant had yet been extinguished, but he said fighting continued to rage in the city, where Ukrainian forces were attempting to push back Russian troops conducting a major offensive against the city.

Live Briefing: Russia's Invasion Of Ukraine RFE/RL's Live Briefing gives you all of the major developments on Russia's invasion, how Kyiv is fighting back, the plight of civilians, and Western reaction. For all of RFE/RL's coverage of the war, click here.

Hayday said Russian forces controlled some 90 percent of the strategic city but that Ukrainian troops were holding out at the chemical plant.



Moscow-backed separatist fighters earlier said they had surrounded the site and that the defenders were trapped.



"A small group of Ukrainian formations on the territory of the Azot chemical plant can no longer leave the factory. All escape routes are cut off for them," Rodion Miroshnik, a separatist official in the Luhansk region, wrote on Telegram. He acknowledged that civilians could also be holding out in the plant.

The claims could not be independently confirmed.



The siege was reminiscent of what occurred in the port city of Mariupol, where residents and fighters took cover in and below the Azovstal steel plant before being surrounded and eventually surrendering to Russian forces after brutal fighting.



Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, meanwhile, renewed his call for Western countries to speed deliveries of weapons as Russian forces pounded much of the east of the country.

Ukrainian troops "are doing everything to stop the offensive, as much as they possibly can, as long as there are enough heavy weapons, modern artillery -- all that we have asked for and continue to ask for from our partners," Zelenskiy said in his nightly video address on June 10.

Zelenskiy said that "very difficult battles" were ongoing, including in the eastern Donbas region, where Moscow has concentrated its firepower.

Zelenskiy said Russia wants to destroy every city in the Donbas.

"Every city, thats not an exaggeration. Like Volnovakha, like Mariupol. All of these ruins of once-happy cities, the black traces of fires, the craters from explosions -- this is all that Russia can give to its neighbors, to Europe, to the world."

The fiercest fighting remains around Syevyerodonetsk, a small industrial city that has become the focus of Russia's advance in eastern Ukraine.

Britain's Ministry of Defense said in its daily intelligence bulletin on June 11 that the Russians had not made advances into the south of the city.

"Intense street to street fighting is ongoing and both sides are likely suffering high numbers of casualties," the ministry said in an intelligence update posted on Twitter.

The update said Russian bombers had likely been launching 1960s-era heavy, anti-ship missiles meant to destroy aircraft carriers with nuclear warheads against land targets in Ukraine. It added that Russia is likely using such weapons because it is running short of more precise modern missiles.

Also on June 11, the Ukrainian Army said that Russian forces were regrouping to launch an offensive on the city of Slovyansk in the eastern Donetsk region.

In its regular operational update, the Ukraine's General Staff said Moscow managed to get a foothold overnight in the village of Bohorodychne, 24 kilometers northwest of Slovyansk, and was preparing to attack the city.

The war in the east is now primarily an artillery battle in which Kyiv is severely outgunned, Ukrainian officials say.

"This is an artillery war now," Vadym Skibitsky, Ukraine's deputy head of military intelligence, told The Guardian.

"Everything now depends on what [the West] gives us. Ukraine has one artillery piece to 10 to 15 Russian artillery pieces."

Germany plans to revise its rules on arms exports to make it easier to arm democracies like Ukraine, Der Spiegel reported on June 10. Berlin has been among the largest suppliers of weapons since Russia invaded but criticized for being slow to supply heavy weaponry to Kyiv.

Another German publication, Bild am Sonntag, reported on June 11 that German Chancellor Olaf Scholz will travel to Kyiv along with France's Emmanuel Macron and Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi sometime before the Group of Seven summit at the end of June.

German officials said they could not confirm the report.

Ukraine also asked for humanitarian support to combat an outbreak of dysentery and cholera in the port city of Mariupol, which has been reduced to ruins.

Mayor Vadym Boychenko told national television that sanitation systems were broken and corpses were rotting in the streets.

"Unfortunately...these infection outbreaks will claim thousands more Mariupolites," Boychenko said.

The Ukrainian Prosecutor-General's Office said on June 11 that it has learned about the deaths of 24 more children in Mariupol as the result of shelling by Russian forces.

In total, the office said that at least 287 children have died since the start of the Russian invasion of Ukraine on February 24. More than 492 have been wounded, according to the tally.

Meanwhile, on June 11, U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin reinforced Washington's commitment to the region in light of the war.

"Russias invasion of Ukraine is what happens when oppressors trample the rules that protect us all," Austin told an Asian security forum in Singapore. "It's a preview of a possible world of chaos and turmoil that none of us would want to live in."

With reporting by Reuters, AFP, and AP
Russian forces in control of territory in Ukraines south are moving forward with plans to hold a referendum on integrating the occupied areas into Russia, according to the mayor of the southern city of Kherson.



Ihor Kolykhayev, who continues running day-to-day operations in Kherson despite efforts by occupying forces to appoint their own mayor, said in an interview that a meeting recently took place in the city where Russian officials and local administrators appointed by them discussed when to hold a vote on whether the region would join Russia.



I was not at this meeting, but more than 70 people were gathered at the administration building, Kolykhayev told Current Time, the Russian-language channel run by RFE/RL in cooperation with VOA. I learned [through sources] that the focus [of the meeting] was the question of a referendum and when to hold it.

Kolykhayev says that no decision has yet been reached, but the two options discussed were either in September or at the end of the calendar year.



A Renewed Push



Reports that Moscow was pursuing plans to hold a referendum on severing Russian-controlled parts of the Zaporizhzhya and Kherson oblasts first surfaced in the spring, but died down following counterattacks by Ukrainian forces that have seen the line of control shift across the south.



Those plans appear to be gaining momentum again, with Russian lawmakers floating the idea of a new federal district within Russia comprising Ukraines Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson, and Zaporizhzhya administrative regions.

The Kherson regions admission into Russia will be complete, similar to Crimea [in 2014], State Duma member Igor Kastyukevich said on June 7, following a visit to Kherson city by Sergei Kiriyenko, the deputy chief of staff of the Russian presidential administration.

Ukraines military intelligence has also said that Russia is making Ukrainian schools switch to its educational curriculum and is handing out Russian SIM cards to connect Ukrainian cell phones to the Russian network. Russian forces have also begun distributing passports to some people in occupied Ukraine, something that Kolykhayev said he has witnessed.

Kolykhayev says that, while it is clear there is a renewed push to devise referendum plans for Kherson, the uncertain timeline is indicative of a fluid front line and continued fighting, which has left Russian forces only in partial control of the wider oblast.



Thats why its a complicated process and likely why they are postponing the so-called referendum to September or even the end of the year, Kolykhayev said.



The Southern Front



Ivan Fedorov, the mayor of Melitopol in Ukraines Zaporizhzhya Oblast who was kidnapped by Russian forces early in the war before later being released as part of a reported prisoner exchange, says that similar referendum talks are under way among Russian-appointed local authorities in the city, but the same uncertainties caused by the continued fighting are holding back agreement on an exact date.



Problem number one is that the Zaporizhzhya region has not been [completely] captured by them, Fedorov told Current Time during an interview. Certain areas have been captured, but this is not enough to say that Zaporizhzhya will be part of some kind of [Russian] district.

Ukrainian defense officials said on June 10 that Russian troops are fortifying defenses after launching a successful counterattack around Kherson and have reclaimed some of the territory they previously lost in that southern area.



The Institute for the Study of War, a Washington-based think tank, said recently that Moscow is stepping up its operations in parts of Kherson Oblast to fortify against more Ukrainian counterattacks.



There have also been reports of Ukrainian partisans carrying out some attacks in the Russian-occupied south, with a cafe close to the new Russian-backed local governments headquarters in Kherson getting bombed on June 7.

At least four people were injured in the explosion targeting the shop and Russian officials described the blast as a terror attack on Russian-held territory in Ukraine. A Ukrainian military official said the cafe was frequented by Russian leaders in Kherson.



Ukraines southern operational command has also claimed that Russian troops have orders to shoot civilians on sight and destroy vehicles at checkpoints on suspicion that they are part of an organized Ukrainian resistance.

Written by Reid Standish in Prague based on reporting by Aleksei Aleksandrov for Current Time
WASHINGTON  Americans who watched Thursday night's congressional hearing on the Jan. 6 insurrection heard then-President Donald Trump's attorney general dismiss his claim that the 2020 presidential election was stolen, calling it, well, cattle dung. They learned that when Trump heard rioters chanting "hang Mike Pence," he replied that maybe his vice president "deserves it" for refusing to play along with his plot to stay in office. And they saw harrowing footage of the melee in the Capitol, where a police officer recalled getting knocked unconscious and later slipping on the spilled blood of her colleagues.

But it is as though some top Republicans in New York didn't see or hear any of that.

Claudia Tenney: a complicated conservative congresswoman-in-waiting for WNY The woman who would be the Southtowns' congresswoman lives near Utica, but she wants you to know that will soon change, and that she knows Buffalo and points south and a thing or two about being a hometown Republican representative in the Trump era.

Rep. Claudia Tenney, a Utica-area Republican who's running to represent a redrawn district stretching from rural Niagara County to the Watertown area, issued a statement dismissing the work of the House Select Committee to Investigate the January 6th Attack on the United States Capitol.

"It is partisan performance art produced by the mainstream media to defame President Trump, attack his supporters, divide the American people and advance the federal takeover of our elections," Tenney said.

And while Tenney described the hearing as "a sham," Rep. Elise Stefanik of the North Country, the House's third-ranking Republican, did several television interviews on friendly right-wing outlets where she called the investigation into the riot a "partisan witch hunt."

North Country's Stefanik rises in GOP leadership Stefanik's election means lawmakers from New York will serve parallel roles on both sides of the aisle in the House.

In other words, Tenney and Stefanik are continuing to do what many Republicans have done in the aftermath of an unprecedented attack by Americans on the nation's Capitol, and an unprecedented attempt by an American president to stay in office after losing an election. In essence, they tried to change the subject.

The Buffalo News contacted both Tenney's office and Stefanik's with several questions about the hearing, but neither responded. That meant the two lawmakers missed out on reacting to some of the hearing's most dramatic moments, such as:

 Then-Attorney General William P. Barr's dismissal of Trump's election fraud claims as "complete nonsense"  and the response of the president's daughter, Ivanka Trump, who testified on video, saying: "I respect Attorney General Barr. So I accepted what he was saying.

 Rep. Liz Cheney's statement that when Trump heard protesters chanting "Hang Mike Pence," the president said: 'Maybe our supporters have the right idea."

 Capitol Police Officer Caroline Edwards' description of being knocked out in the riot and her later comment: "I saw friends with blood all over their faces. I was slipping in people's blood."

 Cheney's preview of the investigation's findings, in which she said: You will see that Donald Trump and his advisers knew that he had, in fact, lost the election. But despite this, President Trump engaged in a massive effort to spread false and fraudulent information to convince huge portions of the U.S. population that fraud had stolen the election.

D.C. officer details alleged attack by Amherst man, others As Amherst resident Thomas F. Sibick remains in custody on charges connected to the Jan. 6 insurrection at the U.S. Capitol, the officer he is accused of assaulting told a congressional committee of the brutal beating he suffered that day.

In statements and appearances on right-wing media outlets, Tenney and Stefanik focused on none of that, instead emphasizing other issues.

The American people are deeply concerned about the historic and unprecedented failures of Joe Bidens Administration, from skyrocketing costs, soaring fuel prices, rising crime, and the erosion of our Constitutional rights," Tenney said in a statement. "Tonights event was a distraction from these very real issues facing our nation."

And on NewsMax, Tenney lit into Cheney, the Wyoming congresswoman who serves as one of two Republicans on the panel and the committee's vice chair.

Tenney accused Cheney of "Trump derangement syndrome," adding: "She is currying favor with the Democrats because she has an obsession with Donald Trump."

Meanwhile, Stefanik appeared on Fox News, Fox Business, NewsMax and Steve Bannon's War Room to offer her alternate take on the hearing.

"This committee is illegitimate," Stefanik said on NewsMax's "Spicer & Co." "It's illegitimate because for the first time in the history of Congress, (House Speaker) Nancy Pelosi shred 232 years of precedent by not allowing the minority party, the Republicans, to appoint members of Congress" to the panel.

Then again, the committee that's investigating the insurrection exists only because congressional Republicans rejected legislation calling for an independent commission to do the job. Both Tenney and Stefanik opposed that proposal, but Rep. Chris Jacobs, an Orchard Park Republican who's leaving Congress at the end of his current term, supported it.

Jacobs' spokesman did not respond to a request for comment for this story, and the congressman did not post any reaction to the hearing on his website or on social media.

But Rep. Brian Higgins, a Buffalo Democrat, offered a blunt reaction on Twitter.

"Clearly, substantial evidence exists of an attempted coup," Higgins said. "Donald Trump & others responsible must have their actions fully exposed & be held accountable."

FBI questions organizers of Buffalo buses to Capitol rally that led to riot Rus and Jul Thompson, well-known right-wing activists, told The Buffalo News on Monday that agents discussed the deadly events in Washington during a two-hour session.

Meanwhile, Cheney and Rep. Adam Kinzinger, the other Republican on the panel, lashed into lawmakers who continue to support Trump.

"I say this to my Republican colleagues who are defending the indefensible: There will come a day when Donald Trump is gone, but your dishonor will remain," Cheney said at the hearing.

And on Twitter, Kinzinger offered a cutting critique of Stefanik's Newsmax performance.

"Man. Id hate to be on your side of the insurrection right now," he said. "Today was just a taste. Truth always wins."

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Ukraine is on the brink of losing the eastern region of Luhansk to Russia and is currently outgunned and running low on ammunition, a senior Ukrainian intelligence official has warned.

The situation is very difficult because the Russians have a significant superiority in the weapons available to them, says Vadym Skibitsky, the deputy head of Ukraines military intelligence.

Now in its fourth month, the war in Ukraine has become an artillery battle of attrition that Skibitsky says is grinding down both Russian and Ukrainian forces, but that Moscow still maintains an advantage in terms of its weapons stockpiles, while Kyiv is almost completely reliant on Western-supplied arms and munitions.



According to our estimates, Russia still has the potential to wage a long-term war against Ukraine, Skibitsky said in an interview with Current Time, the Russian-language channel run by RFE/RL in cooperation with VOA.

We are moving to the NATO standard, which is primarily a 155-millimeter [artillery system]. But today this is still not enough to completely slow down the offensive pace of Russias armed forces.



The warning and assessment from Ukraines military intelligence comes as Kyiv has become more outspoken about its setbacks on the battlefield in the eastern Donbas region where fierce fighting in Syevyerodonetsk, a strategically important city on the Ukrainian front line in Luhansk Oblast, has seen Russian troops slowly advance.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has repeatedly warned that his countrys military can only respond with about one artillery round for every 10 fired by Russia, and Kyiv is expected to present new requests for weapons, ammunition, and defensive equipment to Western governments at a June 15 meeting with NATO in Brussels.

Despite sanctions and diminished capacity, Skibitsky says that Russia can still continue at its current rate of combat without needing to manufacture more weapons for at least another year.



While Moscow has failed in its original plans and currently revised its war aims to concentrate its forces in the east, the Kremlin has not abandoned its initial goal of seizing Ukrainian territory, he warned.

All of Russias efforts are aimed right now at encircling our [military] grouping in the east and trying to at least complete the task that the Russian militarys General Staff set for itself, Skibitsky said.

Kyiv has kept the total number of its military losses secret, but Ukrainian officials have said that between 100 and 200 of the countrys troops are being killed on the front line every day.



Skibitsky says that, should Russia succeed in pushing through Syevyerodonetsk and its twin city Lysychansk, which lies across the Siverskiy Donets River, it is likely to refocus its efforts in the south of Ukraine around cities like Zaporizhzhya and Kherson, where its forces are already digging in for an indefinite campaign.



The main goals of this so-called special military operation have not yet been achieved, Skibitsky said. So [Russian President Vladimir] Putin will continue the war against our country.

Written by Reid Standish in Prague based on reporting by Aleksei Aleksandrov for Current Time.
An Amber Alert for a missing Lockport baby was canceled Saturday afternoon, about two hours after it was issued, after a family member brought her to police in Buffalo, Buffalo Police said.

Police were still searching for her father, who is accused of taking her unlawfully, the Niagara County Sheriff's Office said.

The father was not the person who brought the baby to the Buffalo Police, police said.

An Amber Alert was sent out to residents' cellphones shortly after noon Saturday about the abduction.

"The child was taken under circumstances that lead police to believe that they are in imminent danger of serious physical harm and/or death," the alert said. "Anyone with any information on this abduction is asked to call the (866) NYS-AMBER or dial 911 to provide information on a report or sighting."

The father's name is Anthones Mullen. He is 37 and is 5-foot-5 inches tall and weighs about 165 pounds. He has black hair and brown eyes.

The baby girl's name is Royalty M. Mullen. She has brown hair and blue eyes and was wearing a light blue onesie with the words "Spark and Shine" written on the front when she was last seen.

She was taken from Sweetwood Drive in the Town of Lockport, according to the Niagara County Sheriff's Office.

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Lets admit it: A lot of us have forgotten about the pandemic.

Not that weve disregarded Covid-19 itself. Sniffling and sneezing in public will still evoke worried glances. If you have kids or teens, chances are good that you also have a stack of at-home tests sent home from school. If you get a cold or a cough, you might unbox one, swab your nose and wait 10-15 minutes for the verdict.

The virus has spread widely enough that you likely know many people who have had it, at least once. You likely have battled the virus yourself.

Covid-19 is so consistently a part of our lives that we couldn't possibly forget it. But pandemic restrictions? For many among us, they're nothing but a buried memory. Restaurants are full. We shop. We travel. We gather for weddings, birthdays and graduations. We might wear masks. We might not. Life is being lived.

This is our normal. But how are we actually doing?

The answer is impermanent  like the virus itself, it evolves.

Cases are getting down to much more manageable levels, said Dr. Thomas Russo, chief of infectious disease at the University at Buffalos Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences.

Thats today, as compared to the earlier part of spring. But there's no guarantee how long it will remain true.

Where do our infection numbers stand?

Western New Yorks numbers are among the best in the state. As of June 9, according to state figures, the region had an average of about 14 cases per 100,00 people. Thats down from 62 cases per 100,000 people a month ago, and its considerably better than the current statewide average of 30 cases per 100,000.

Those figures dont represent the actual Covid-19 numbers, which are surely higher because many people take at-home tests and dont report the results. But still, Russo said, The downward trend is unequivocal.

Hospitalizations are heading in the same direction. On June 9, Western New York hospitals had an average of 156 patients with Covid-19. Thats down from 239 at the end of May.

Public health officials often refer to the level of Covid-19 in a region as the community burden of disease. Right now, Russo gauges Western New York's burden at a low to medium level.

My guess is in a couple of weeks, he said, well probably be at pretty low levels.

For people who have been living cautiously, either avoiding crowds or shying away from unmasked situations like restaurants, that means it will be easier and safer to go out, especially in the open-air summer months. But that doesnt mean the virus will remain tamped down.

What are the potential problem scenarios?

The same as before: variants.

Alpha, Beta, Delta, Omicron  theyve all caused issues, and the further they spread, the more they mutate. The original Omicron variant has mutated multiple times into subvariants that spread with nagging and sometimes nerve-wracking efficiency.

The single point of solace is that the variants have  so far  generally led to a less intense version of Covid-19 than was seen at the outset of the pandemic.

The good news is that despite it being incredibly, much more infectious, it does not seem to be much more lethal in the adult population, said Dr. Sharon Nachman, chief of pediatric infectious diseases at Stony Brook Medicine. Is that because we have such a high volume of vaccinated adults? Perhaps. Is it because it perhaps may be less lethal? I don't know.

What doctors and scientists dont know  yet  are the best ways to treat and rehabilitate patients with long Covid.

Although infectious disease experts can say that more variants will emerge, they cannot predict when  or which of those mutations will be most problematic.

Referring to the less-lethal characteristics of the current variations of Omicron, Nachman said, That could change in a minute. And if we have something that was as contagious and then became a bit more lethal, well, that would be very difficult for all of us.

If we cant tell whats coming, what can we do now to prepare?

Gauge the likely level of immunity you have in your household, and act accordingly.

Whats the perfect game plan? Russo said. No one is going to avoid seeing this virus at some point. The perfect game plan is to max your immunity via vaccination, whether thats three or four shots.

If youve been vaccinated and boosted, you likely have strong protection from serious infection. If you have those vaccinations and were previously infected, your protection is likely even stronger. Every little bit of immunity counts, Russo said.

We shouldnt rely solely on vaccination, however. While having a full course of initial vaccines and a booster shot has largely kept otherwise-healthy people out of the hospital, it is imperfect in preventing against infection, Russo said, particularly the further out you get from your most recent boosts.

Likewise, remember that prior infection isnt a guarantee against reinfection. Nachman referred to recent research that shows young people who had Covid-19 or a serious and sometimes-related condition called MIS-C (multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children) are not having cross-protective antibodies against Omicron and are actually incredibly at risk for contracting the virus.

People who are immunocompromised, which can include organ transplant patients and those with HIV/AIDS or blood cancers, are likely living with a greater daily risk than others. Since their immune systems are unable to mount a strong defense even with the help of vaccination, they are wise to take extra protective measures. The same is true for the people around them on a daily basis.

In a March interview with The News, Dr. Brahm Segal, an infectious diseases specialist at Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center, advocated continuing to wear a mask in crowded situations.

Its an added precaution that won't do any harm, he said, and I think would be very helpful.

People 50 and up are eligible for a second booster shot. If youre generally healthy and haven't yet gotten that shot, when is the best time to do it? Now, or closer to the colder months, when people start gathering indoors and the virus is more likely to spread?

The answer, Nachman said, is nuanced.

If youre traveling this summer or planning to attend a larger family gathering, Nachman said, I would say, Get your booster.'  But if you already have your initial vaccines and booster and are considering a fourth shot, but are planning a more relaxed and careful summer around home, she advises waiting until fall.

Russos take on the same question centers on age. If you are 60 or older, he advises, Get the fourth shot. The data shows that (it) decreases the likelihood youre going to land in the hospital and die.

A widely publicized Israeli study published in May affirmed the significant protection a fourth vaccination  or second booster  provides people 60 and up.

For most people ages 50-60, however, Russo has recommended getting the fourth shot immediately only if someone has comorbidities that place them at higher risk of developing a dangerous case of Covid-19. Otherwise, waiting till the winter months are closer might be more advisable.

The best advice, as always, is to consult your own physician.

Focus on, What will it do for you right now?  Russo said. Were at the tail end of this wave right now. If you dont travel and you remain in Western New York, with each passing day, the likelihood that you will get infected is significantly decreasing.

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WASHINGTON  Four weeks to the day since his 86-year-old mother, Ruth Whitfield, and nine others were shot to death in a racist attack on the Tops on Buffalo's East Side, Garnell Whitfield Jr. will stand before a crowd of up to 50,000 on the National Mall on Saturday and call for gun safety measures aimed at preventing such attacks from happening again.

Twenty-five days after the Tops gunman left her son Zaire Goodman with deep wounds in his neck, his back and his left leg, Zeneta Everhart sat stone-faced before a congressional committee, just as Whitfield had a day before, and described the horrors of the attack and the role that racism played in it.

Everhart, Gramaglia testify in favor of gun control, but Republicans resist The words of the witnesses from Buffalo seemed designed to sear the conscience, to break past the partisan divide on race and guns and find a place where all could agree that something should be done when Americans are getting gunned down in grocery stores and classrooms. But that divide remains.

And on that very same day, Pamela Pritchett  whose mother, Pearl Young, was slain in that attack  repeated the mantra she coined at a news conference a day earlier, a phrase that could well serve as the motto for the families of the Tops slaughter.

"Every tear I cry is going to be a fuel for action," she said.

Plenty of tears have been shed since a shooter clad in body armor took aim at defenseless shoppers on that sunny Saturday afternoon in Buffalo  and judging by what those who lost loved ones in that attack said and did this week, there's plenty of fuel for action. Several of those family members were omnipresent on Capitol Hill and in the national media. And to hear them tell it, they will be omnipresent activists for as long as it takes to reform the nation's gun laws and confine racism to history's dustbin.

"Our family made a conscious decision upon the death of our mother not to go quietly into the night, not to just be a victim, but to use the immense pain and anger in a positive way to advocate to advocate for justice for her and the other victims as as well as for impactful change," said Whitfield, who will return to Washington to speak at Saturday's "March for Our Lives," a rally for stronger gun safety measures.

Whitfield said he sees the united families from Buffalo's East Side as the latest in a long line of American activists who have fought for change, from the abolitionists to those who joined the civil rights movement to the Flight 3407 families to the gun safety advocates from Parkland, Fla.

"We're not reinventing the wheel here," said Whitfield, a former Buffalo fire commissioner. "We certainly are trying to model ourselves after those precedents who have successfully advocated for change."

Whitfield and several others who lost loved ones in the attack described themselves as fundamentally changed  and moved to act to try to prevent others from suffering losses such as they have.

Kimberly Salter said she felt she had to work for change to honor her husband, Aaron Salter Jr., the Tops security guard killed in the massacre.

"He made the ultimate sacrifice for everybody and for me, and I'm making the sacrifice for him," she said.

Similarly, Michelle Spight was moved to come to Washington after losing two family members: her aunt, Pearl Young, and her cousin Margus D. Morrison.

"It has fueled my life in a way that I never thought would be," she said of the shooting.

And Pritchett spoke with an unexpected, unbridled passion at two news conferences last week.

"Listen to me," she said after baking in the sun for nearly an hour at the second of those two press conferences. "I sound like I'm preaching, y'all!"

All of this impressed Senate Majority Leader Charles E. Schumer, a New York Democrat, who praised the families as "saint-like."

"Those deaths, as horrible as they were, as searing as they are in our hearts, you are making sure they will not have died in vain," he told the families last week. "We will join you in that effort until we succeed. Thank you and God bless you."

Tops shooting survivor intends to sue accused gunman's parents, seeks court order Documents filed ask a judge to order Payton Gendron's parents to appear in court for pretrial depositions and also to preserve numerous records regarding their son's behavior, his mental health evaluations and his purchases of weapons and other items used in the attack.

The change the families are seeking starts with the nation's gun laws. They're pressing for comprehensive background checks for all gun buyers, thereby closing loopholes that now exist for guns sold online and at gun shows, as well as for moving the minimum age for buying rifles from 18 to 21 and other reforms.

"Lawmakers who continuously allow these mass shootings to continue by not passing stricter gun laws should be voted out," Everhart told the House Oversight and Reform Committee last week.

A bipartisan group of senators is trying to negotiate a deal on guns, but even if one passes, it will likely fall short of what many activists want: a ban on the kind of assault weapons and high-capacity magazines used in the Buffalo attack.

The family members stressed, though, that their advocacy is not just about gun safety.

"The march is all about gun violence in America, and obviously, we are the children of a slain victim of gun violence," said Raymond Whitfield, Garnell Whitfield's brother, who will also attend Saturday's march. "But our particular angle is a slightly different in that we are all about shining a light on the myth of white supremacy as it relates to that gun violence."

That point came particularly clear in Everhart's testimony at that House hearing on the proliferation of guns in America.

Everhart combined her thoughts on guns with comments on race that seemed to make some Republicans at the hearing uncomfortable. Amid a time when Republicans are pressing to downplay the history of race in America in the nation's schools, Everhart repeatedly described herself as a descendant of slaves and said: "We cannot continue to whitewash education, creating generations of children to believe that one race of people are better than the other."

Later that same day, Everhart reiterated that point at a press conference with House members, and further spread her message on interviews on several national television networks.

She expects to be doing plenty more of the same, for a very long time, she said, knowing that the problems she's trying to fix often seem intractable.

"This is a table that we don't ever get up from," Everhart said on Friday before boarding another plane bound for Washington for Saturday's "March for Our Lives. "I have to stay at the table as long as I possibly can until I keel over. I am optimistic, extremely optimistic, but I'm also a realist. I'm a logical thinker, and I live in the real world. So it's going to take some hard, hard work. But I promise that I'm not going to stop until I see some sort of change."

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DHAKA, Bangladesh (AP)  Thousands of people marched in Bangladesh's capital and in parts of India on Friday to urge Muslim-majority nations to cut ties with India and boycott its products unless it punishes two governing party officials for comments deemed derogatory to Islam's Prophet Muhammad.

Two protesters died of gunshot injuries sustained during clashes with police in the eastern Indian city of Ranchi, the capital of Jharkhand state, said Prabhat Kumar, a senior doctor at the Rajendra Institute of Medical Sciences, on Saturday. Another 10 people were being treated for various injuries at the hospital.

Authorities imposed a curfew on Friday night in parts of Ranchi after clashes between protesters and police left six officers injured, police said.

The protesters in Dhaka also criticized their country's government for not publicly condemning the comments made last week by the two officials in Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's governing Bharatiya Janata Party.

One official has been suspended and the other expelled after the BJP denounced insults of religious figures, but protesters in Bangladesh and India said the actions were not enough.

In Bangladesh, they marched after Friday prayers through streets near the main Baitul Mukarram Mosque in downtown Dhaka. Many chanted slogans against Modi.

The global Muslim community has been united. We ask the whole world to boycott Indian products, said Moulana Imtiaz Alam, leader of Islami Andolan Bangladesh, a grouping of Islamist parties that support the introduction of Islamic law in the country.

Alam called for the two Indian officials to be arrested and punished.

In India, thousands of Muslims took to the streets after Friday prayers and hurled rocks at police in several towns and cities.

Police used wooden batons and tear gas to disperse protesters in Hyderabad, Saharanpur, Prayagraj, Moradabad and Kanpur. Some demonstrators hurled rocks at security forces from rooftops, TV images showed.

In Prayagraj in northern Uttar Pradesh state, the protesters set several motorcycles and pushcarts on fire and damaged a police vehicle on Friday. Police used batons and tear gas to disperse them.

One police officer was injured when he was hit in the face with a rock thrown by protesters, said police officer Ajay Kumar.

Prashant Kumar, the states top police officer, said 136 protesters were arrested in six districts for rioting.

Mohammed Salim Qureshi, a protester outside New Delhis main Jama Masjid Mosque, also demanded the arrest of the two BJP officials.

Ahmed Bukhari, the imam of Jama Masjid, said the protest was spontaneous.

A paper effigy of BJP spokesperson Nupur Sharma was burned in Hyderabad, the capital of Andhra Pradesh state.

In the Indian-controlled portion of Kashmir, authorities locked down two towns and cut mobile internet service in several towns and in Srinagar, the regions main city, fearing anger against the comments could turn into larger anti-India protests.

Scores of Muslim residents protested against the two BJP officials in Srinagar, where shops and businesses shut spontaneously Friday. Authorities did not allow Friday prayers in Srinagar's main mosque or in the remote, mountainous towns of Bhaderwah and Kishtwar.

Protests nevertheless erupted for a second day in Bhaderwah, leading to clashes with government forces. No injuries were reported.

On Thursday, thousands protested in the town after a Hindu man posted a representation of the Prophet Muhammad and his wife on social media. Police have brought a case against the suspect.

Police also were investigating two Muslim men accused of delivering speeches against Hindus during Thursday's protest.

Tensions have been high in the divided Muslim-majority Himalayan region, also claimed by Pakistan, since 2019, when New Delhi ended its semi-autonomy and took direct control of the portion it administers.

At least five Arab nations have lodged official protests against India, and Pakistan and Afghanistan also reacted strongly this week to the comments made by the two BJP officials. They follow increasing violence targeting Indias Muslim minority by Hindu nationalists who have been emboldened by Modis silence about such attacks since he was elected in 2014.

Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has maintained a warm relationship with India for more than a decade despite growing anti-India sentiment in Bangladesh, India's neighbor and a major trading partner.

Associated Press journalists Aijaz Hussain in Srinagar, India, Ashok Sharma in New Delhi and Al-emrun Garjon in Dhaka, Bangladesh contributed to this report.

Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
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For decades, people have been coming to the Skatin Place, a closed-off section of Sixth Avenue in Golden Gate Park, to roller-skate and roller-blade along to music.

As David Miles, the founder of the Church of 8 Wheels known as the Godfather of Skate, says, Its as much a part of the park experience as going to the museum.

But on Friday morning, after a few extended closures over the past four months, the Skatin Place reopened with a new look. A large-scale mural, paying homage to the areas decades-long history as a meeting space for skaters, now covers the asphalt, defining it as a dedicated spot for the rollerskating community. Theres a new asphalt slab, too, in place of the old one that had experienced years of wear and tear.

It is an amazing, iconic place and it deserved an amazing makeover, said Tamara Aparton, a spokesperson for San Francisco Recreation and Park. Its just been generations of skaters there, and its a really remarkable, welcoming, inclusive community.

We want to make sure that its there for generations to come.

Jana Asenbrennerova/Special to The Chronicle

The mural was designed by Aimee Bruckner, a San Francisco artist, who has been part of the citys skate scene for more than a decade. Psychedelic Golden Gate Skate, as the piece is called, takes the form of a color-filled 28-by-93-foot oval. The mural, Bruckner says, makes a subtle nod to the Golden Gate Bridge, with lava-lamp-like waves coming in from either side that evoke the citys countercultural history. Naturally, she also put a roller skate right at the center.

Bruckner said she kept the design cool and unique but also not so crazy that when youre out there you get disoriented. And she wanted to be sure the mural didnt overshadow the community that skates there  over the years people have shown up to skate in furry leg warmers and rainbow sequins and butterfly wings.

Its the people and the skaters that bring all the color to this area, she said. I dont want to compete with all the great styles and fashions.

The park means a lot for Bruckner, in part because she found skating at a time when she was dealing with losing the use of her hand and struggling to figure out how to move forward in her art practice. Skating offered an alternative creative outlet  a bit of an escape back to a simpler time, a funner time. Shes since found a path forward with her art, and the mural, for her, symbolizes a really great combination of the two worlds.

As with most things skate-related in San Francisco, the mural  and the Skatin Place, too, really  can be traced back to Miles.

Skating has always had a home in Golden Gate Park  John McLaren, the parks first superintendent, incorporated a rink into the Childrens Playground in 1891  but the sport really hit its stride in the 70s. (So much so that it briefly sparked a public panic.)

By the mid 80s, though, the number of skaters was declining and Miles saw Sixth Avenue as a place to create a protected home for the community. He says he spoke to the city in 1985 about keeping it a street (rather than tearing it up and planting grass) while also keeping it closed off to cars. What started as a 30-day trial became a 60-day trial and then a 90-day trial, and eventually it stuck. Its just become better and better, year after year.

Its the happiest place in Golden Gate Park, Miles says. You have the whole mixture of everybody who makes the city great. Its everything that San Francisco is.

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Jana Asenbrennerova/Special to The Chronicle

When Miles heard that the city would be laying down new asphalt, he pitched the idea of the mural. After some public meetings and the blessing of the park department and the citys Arts Commission, it was a done deal. (Recreation and Park paid for the concrete; Bruckner donated her time working on the piece.)

At a time when rinks are closing, Miles said, its clear the future of skating is outside.

I believe you should have a spot like this in every city, he said. Its really become a source of pride for people.

Miles and the park department are planning an event from 11 a.m. to noon Saturday to really celebrate the Skatin Place and its new look. But hes pretty sure it will be full well before that.

Ryan Kost is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: rkost@sfchronicle.com. Twitter: @RyanKost.
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Amid a fierce, ongoing national debate on guns, protesters of all ages gathered at Frank H. Ogawa Plaza in Oakland on Saturday morning, ready to continue the fight for more gun control by demanding action from lawmakers after the recent massacre of 19 schoolchildren and two teachers in Uvalde, Texas, and continued mass shootings across the nation.

And this time, the kids were in charge.

Its not right to have these people die  without taking action. I think its just the right thing to do, said one of the rally organizers, Alex Ibarra, 11, adding that he wanted to organize the rally because the students who died in Uvalde were near his age. Our main message to Republican senators: Show us that you value us. Show us that you value us living.

Ibarra organized the Saturday rally with fellow Coliseum College Prep Academy students Enemesio Ayala, 13; Brianna Gonzalez, 13; and Blue Lopez, 15, who goes to school in Fremont. The students worked with the national organization March for Our Lives  which was founded by students after the 2018 shooting that killed 17 students and staff at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Fla.  to organize the rally as part of a day of nationwide protests.

If we dont take action, the violence could come over here as well and could spread through our schools, said Ayala. The students said that because of tragic incidents like repeated school shootings, they dont always feel safe at school.

Stephen Lam/The Chronicle

The march was one of many orchestrated across the region and country, as people flocked to state capitols and public spaces, carrying signs requesting gun control measures or reminding that too many children are dying in school shootings. In Washington, D.C., more than 50,000 people were expected to congregate at the Washington Monument.

If our government cant do anything to stop 19 kids from being killed and slaughtered in their own school, and decapitated, its time to change who is in government, David Hogg said in Washington on Saturday. A survivor of the Parkland shooting, Hogg is also a co-founder of the March for Our Lives organization.

Organizers estimated about 700 people had gathered in Oakland on Saturday, to hear the student organizers give speeches and to participate in a letter-writing campaign to senators, before marching. And the message of outrage was clear  with protesters holding signs that said Fear has no place in schools, Close gun loopholes, Ban assault weapons and simply, Enough.

The crowd was filled with families, teenagers and children in strollers. One child as young as 4 years old held a sign that said, Books not bullets.

Stephen Lam/The Chronicle

The young students gave impassioned speeches, their voices laced with outrage, about the impact of gun violence in their own communities. Ayala said he hears gunshots regularly in his Oakland neighborhood, where a park that used to be a family gathering spot has turned into a de facto gun victim memorial site.

Gonzalez, who lives in Oakland, was 3 years old when she saw her uncle get shot. At 7 years old, her grandfather was robbed at gunpoint. She lost another uncle to a drive-by shooting.

I am here to say: enough, she told the crowd of protesters before reading the first name of each student who died at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde.

Jessica Jung, a third-grade teacher at Bridge Academy in Oakland, lauded the students for bringing attention to the impact of mass shootings as well as gun violence in Oakland.

Theyre not mutually exclusive, she said. Its really powerful for our students to lift that issue up, to say, Its not just these mass shootings. We deal with these traumas on a day-to-day basis. 

The power of a youth-led protest ran parallel to many protesters fatigue at the lack of gun reform in the United States. Mindy Finkelstein, who survived a mass shooting at a Jewish Community Center in Los Angeles in 1999, decried the fact that she was still speaking out about the same issue, 23 years later.

Jen Gripman, a teacher at Cornell Elementary in Albany, held a sign that said Angry, scared, heartbroken, exhausted teacher. She was at a loss for words, having to protest in the wake of another school shooting. But, she said, she felt like she has no other choice.

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I cant not go, she said.

Ibarra devoted much of his speech to requests for legislative reform. He called New York Republican Rep. Chris Jacobs, who dropped his re-election bid last week after facing backlash for his support of federal assault weapons ban and limits on high-capacity magazines, incredibly brave.

I applaud his decision to do whats right, not easy, Ibarra said.

Laurie Liber, an Oakland resident and member of East Bay Moms Demand Action, set up a table at Saturdays Oakland rally to urge people to text senators about gun control legislation. She stressed that its important to remember that gun deaths arent just the mass shootings that get a lot of attention  but that firearms take lives every day.

A recent study from the Johns Hopkins Center for Gun Violence Solutions found that in 2020, there were an average of 124 people killed by a gun every day in the United States  15 more than in 2019.

Liber hoped that this time, the outrage over government inaction would not subside.

The Republican senators are hoping the moment passes, again, because it has so many times, she said Were determined that it wont.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Danielle Echeverria and Elena Kadvany are San Francisco Chronicle staff writers.
Driving across the country is as American as apple pie. For millions of people, getting their kicks on Route 66  or more commonly, on Interstate 80  is a rite of passage, an epic adventure, a visceral, are-we-still-in-Nebraska introduction to the heroic scale of the United States. The Great American Road Trip has been the theme of countless movies and books, most famously Jack Kerouacs On the Road. But long before Sal Paradise and Dean Moriarty made their mythical odyssey from New York to San Francisco, a 31-year-old retired doctor from Burlington, Vt., named Horatio Nelson Jackson did it first  albeit going in the opposite direction. Accompanied by a young mechanic and, for much of the trip, a faithful, goggles-wearing bulldog, Jackson pulled off what was thought to be an impossible feat.

The adventure had its genesis on May 19, 1903, in a smoke-filled room in San Franciscos University Club. As recounted in Dayton Duncans Horatios Drive: Americas First Road Trip (a companion volume to Ken Burns eponymous documentary), over drinks a group of men were discussing the future of the new machine that had recently begun appearing on the streets of American cities: the automobile. The consensus among the group was that the newfangled contraption would never amount to anything. It was just a novelty, suitable only for short city drives.

Jackson, a guest at the club, strongly disagreed. The wealthy young doctor, who had retired at age 28 (his wife, Bertha Jackson, had inherited a fortune from her father who founded a popular cure-all called Paines Celery Compound), had stopped in San Francisco after a long trip to buy two automobiles and learn how to drive. Jackson said that a car was more than a rich mans toy, that it could make it across the entire country. Someone bet $50 (more than a months rent at the time) that no one could drive from San Francisco to New York City in less than three months. Jackson immediately accepted the wager.

Jackson hired a 22-year-old mechanic and chauffeur named Sewall K. Crocker to accompany him and purchased a slightly used two-cylinder Winton touring car from a Wells Fargo executive for $3,000 (about $100,000 today). He loaded it up with cooking and camping gear, a rifle and an ax, an extra gas tank, and a block and tackle to use if the car got stuck. With the 225-pound Jackson and the 150-pound Crocker on board, the fully loaded car weighed more than 3,000 pounds. Jackson christened the vehicle the Vermont, after his home state.

Jackson and Crocker set off from San Francisco at 1 p.m. on May 23, 1903. They were facing a daunting task. Automobiles were in their infancy: The first American car had been produced only 10 years earlier. In 1900 there were just 8,000 cars in the entire country. There were no gas stations. And of the 2.3 million miles of road in the U.S., only about 150 miles were paved, with a small additional fraction improved with gravel. The rest were dirt paths. Maps and guidebooks scarcely existed and usually consisted of prose instructions like turn left at the statue. Two earlier attempts to drive across the country, in 1899 and 1901, had ended in humiliating failure, the second bogging down in the sands of Nevada just 530 miles from San Francisco.

Not wanting to go too far off the beaten path, Jackson decided to follow the railroad lines. And to avoid the Nevada desert, he planned to head north to Oregon, even though that would add more than 1,000 miles to the trip.

Their trip started off auspiciously enough. Despite blowing a tire after just 15 miles, they made it to Tracy the first night, having covered 83 miles. But then one mishap after another befell them. On the way to Oroville, they noticed that their cooking gear had fallen off the car. Then they got lost and asked a redheaded young woman riding a horse directions to Marysville. She pointed down a road. We took that road and drove down it for about 50 miles and then it came to a dead end at an isolated farmhouse, Jackson recalled. The family all turned out to stare at us and told us wed have to go back. We went back, and met the red-haired young woman again. Why did you send us way down there? I asked her. I wanted paw and maw and my husband to see you, she said. Theyve never seen an automobile.

They motored on through northeastern California, then across the Sierra Nevada, climbing steep, rocky roads no automobile had ever traveled. Crocker frequently had to fix the clutch; another tire burst. When the trail crossed mountain streams, they had no choice but to drive across them at high speed. One creek was too deep, however, and the Vermont got stuck. They had to wade to the other side, attach their block and tackle to a tree, and pull the car out with the 150-foot rope they had brought. In Alturas, Jackson had to telegraph to San Francisco for a new set of tires, which were to be delivered by Wells Fargo, but after waiting in vain for three days, he decided to drive on.

On they rolled, making time and then breaking down, passing through small towns where the entire population would come out to gawk at them, stalling on the desert floor and having to be lassoed and pulled out by a horseman. They ran out of gas in the middle of nowhere  it was all pretty much the middle of nowhere  and Crocker had to bicycle and walk 26 miles, and then back, to get gas.

In Idaho, Jackson bought a young bulldog he named Bud, who quickly became a favorite with everyone who ran into them, and with the press that was now avidly covering them.

Bud soon became an enthusiast for motoring, Jackson boasted. After he discovered the dust bothered Buds eyes, Jackson put a pair of goggles on him, which became his trademark.

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After countless adventures and misadventures, the intrepid trio finally made it across the country. At 4:30 a.m. on July 26, 1903, Jackson, Crocker and Bud pulled up to the Holland House hotel in New York City. They had crossed the United States in 63 days, 12 hours and 30 minutes.

Jackson was acclaimed as a conquering hero, the automobile Pathfinder whose thrilling dash over roadless country had inspired and transfixed the nation. However, his groundbreaking journey had not been a financial success: Jackson estimated that he spent $8,000 on the trip, including the cost of the car. (He apparently never collected the $50 bet.) The Vermont is now displayed at the Smithsonian Museum of American History in Washington, D.C.

Jackson, Crocker and Buds epic odyssey opened the door to more cross-country car trips and helped inspire the movement to improve the nations roads. Five years later, a family of four drove across country in 32 days. In 1913, the Lincoln Highway, the nations first transcontinental motor route, opened. For better and for worse, Americas automobile age had arrived.

Gary Kamiya is the author of the best-selling book Cool Gray City of Love: 49 Views of San Francisco. His most recent book is Spirits of San Francisco: Voyages Through the Unknown City. All the material in Portals of the Past is original for The San Francisco Chronicle. To read earlier Portals of the Past, go to sfchronicle.com/portals.
Chris Carlson/AP

Two 14-year-old boys died and a third boy was injured Thursday in an ATV crash in Winters, authorities said.

The boys were driving the ATV at an unknown speed when they crashed into a tree. The three were ejected from the vehicle, according to the California Highway Patrol.
Asked to explain his vote in the landslide election to recall San Francisco District Attorney Chesa Boudin, Wen Li had the same reaction as many residents in the Outer Sunset neighborhood: His face lit up.

My whole family voted in favor of the recall, Li said. My friends families voted. Everybody feels unsafe.

In this bustling corner of the city, where homes are packed tightly together and Muni buses haul tourists to Ocean Beach or the San Francisco Zoo, 70% of voters supported ousting Boudin  an overwhelming majority that illustrated the strength of an energized coalition of Asian American residents, and the peril for any politician who fails to captivate those dense, outlying communities.

Chronicle reporters visited several neighborhoods where the pro-recall vote was most decisive, seeking perspective on what residents and merchants want to see in the next district attorney, and how they believe Boudin failed to connect with their communities. Many said they want a more traditional D.A. focused on prosecuting and jailing criminals. Others said they shared Boudins enthusiasm for progressive reforms in the abstract but also felt those reforms were not helping fix street conditions on the ground, including homelessness and retail theft.

The political ramifications of Tuesdays vote  for the district attorney and for San Francisco at large  began taking shape before all the ballots were counted. When a reporter for the community newspaper Sing Tao Daily interviewed recall campaign volunteer Kit Lam during an election night party, Lam had scalding words for city officials who had lined up behind the district attorney, saying they are out of touch with constituents.

He and others invoked pent-up frustrations that boiled to the surface, first with the school board recall in March, and again with the vote on Tuesday to remove Boudin from office. Some expect the fallout to cascade into future elections. Many, however, hoped to heal divisions within city government and build trust with an unsettled, increasingly polarized electorate.

People are fed up, Bill Barnickel, president of the Outer Sunset Merchant & Professional Association, said of his neighbors and the shop owners he represents. Barnickel voted for the recall after watching crime surge on Irving Street, where businesses that had long struggled with robberies and burglaries were suddenly contending with more serious incidents, including assaults and arson.

In one instance that brought tears to Barnickels eyes, a vandal tore a parklet down to the studs, right outside his favorite bar. He said businesses began moving out, unable to bear the escalating crime and the cratering economy. As a result, some of the citys most vibrant retail arteries are pocked with vacant storefronts.

Perceptions of crime, however, may be disconnected from reality in San Francisco. Data from the FBI shows that some violent crime continued trending downward during Boudins tenure, with lower numbers of robberies, rapes and assaults reported last year than in 2018, though homicides, shootings and burglaries ticked up, coinciding with a string of attacks against Asian Americans. Members of Boudins camp said the citys renewed obsession with quality-of-life issues created an opening for various forces that had aligned against the district attorney, including Republicans, tech leaders, local media and police, along with their powerful union.

Barnickel said he would like to see Boudins successor take a more traditional approach to law and order. Elbert Chen, a retiree who was sitting with friends outside Java Beach Cafe on Thursday, echoed those sentiments, arguing that district attorneys should focus on enforcing the law, and leave policy decisions to the Legislature.

I voted yes on the recall, Chen said. Mostly because I think theres not enough seriousness on crime.

Albert Chow, president of the business and community organization People of Parkside/Sunset and owner of a hardware store on Taraval Street, said he wants the next district attorney to work more collaboratively with Mayor London Breed, Police Chief Bill Scott, the courts and the prosecutors serving under him, and not foment discord to the degree that was evident in Boudins administration. Within two days of taking office, he fired at least six attorneys, and several more departed on their own. Two of the attorneys who peeled away become high-profile spokespeople for the recall campaign.

I would like someone who can be a unifier, Chow said.

In the affluent Marina and Pacific Heights districts, 72% of voters backed the recall. Evelyn DeMartini, who was riding a mobile scooter down Chestnut Street on Friday, said she was ecstatic that voters removed Boudin from office.

Look at the way the city is  its awful, DeMartini said, agreeing with Barnickel that the next district attorney should revert to tough-on-crime stances that were popular in previous decades. You cant leave your car outside, somebody could go in and steal everything they want and not get prosecuted.

Though many people who spoke with The Chronicle had strong opinions either for or against Boudin, others described feeling conflicted and anguished. Several Outer Sunset residents said they agree with Boudins philosophy of ending mass incarceration, but that their visceral feelings about public safety outweigh any positive leanings towards his policy ideas. People said the recall ballot measure had divided families or put spouses at odds. A few said they had changed their minds in the last minute.

Boudin was an easy target, Sunset resident James Glover said, while unpacking the trunk of his car on Thursday. He had intended to support the recall but decided on election day to vote against it, believing that Boudin should have the opportunity to finish his term.

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Another Sunset resident, Jean MacCormack, also voted no but took a firmer stance on the issue, saying the district attorney had been unfairly maligned.

I felt the recall was unfair, MacCormack said, adding that she felt a connection to Boudin as both a politician and a policymaker.

When I heard him speak, I felt he was authentic and clear and knowledgeable, she said.

To Chow, the recall conveyed a much larger sense of ambivalence in San Francisco, where residents are enamored of progressive ideals but also fixated on livability issues, such as homeless encampments and drug overdoses. While these problems might not fall directly within the purview of the citys top prosecutor, the intersection seemed strong enough that people blamed Boudin for San Franciscos street conditions. A general sense of unease and disorder and an appetite for more law enforcement appeared to fuel the recall.

Less than three years after electing a progressive visionary, residents appeared to be having buyers remorse, Chow said. He voted for the recall, but praised Boudin as a smart person with well-intentioned ideas that were perhaps too far ahead of the city. Chow remembered the climate in which Boudin was elected, amid resistance to Trump and fervor for racial justice. As the political winds shifted, he saw voters get a sense of buyers remorse.

In San Francisco, we have knee-jerk reactions to big issues, Chow said. When we feel injustice about something, we vote in a person who reflects that point of view.

And, he added, sometimes it goes too far.

Rachel Swan is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: rswan@sfchronicle.com
The first shipments of COVID vaccine for children under age 5  the last group of Americans not yet eligible for vaccination  are expected to arrive within days in the Bay Area, local health officials and providers said, and shots could start going into little arms as soon as June 21, pending federal authorization.

But not all kids will be able to get their first shot right away, because initial shipments wont include as many doses as there are children in the age group, which includes those ages 6 months to 4 years.

The federal government is distributing 10 million doses across the United States to start with, enough to cover slightly more than half of the 18 million U.S. children in the age group. More doses are expected to be distributed in the following weeks.

Senior Biden administration officials believe the 10 million doses will be sufficient to meet immediate demand. Nationwide, demand for vaccination in the youngest age group is projected to be low: Just 18% of parents with children under age 5 say they plan to get their child vaccinated right away, according to a recent Kaiser Family Foundation survey.

Demand will probably be higher in many parts of the Bay Area, which has some of the highest vaccination rates in the country across all ages, including 5- to 11-year-olds, currently the youngest group eligible for shots. In San Francisco, 74% of children 5 to 11 are vaccinated, compared with 35% statewide and 29% nationwide. Vaccination rates for this age group are similarly high  60% or above  in Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin, San Mateo and Santa Clara counties.

For all ages our vaccination rates have been higher than the state and national average, said Dr. Jennifer Tong, associate chief medical officer of Santa Clara Valley Medical Center, the largest public health system in the county. I anticipate that trend will continue for this young age group.

If federal regulators authorize vaccines for babies and young children as expected later this month, it would mark a historic juncture in the COVID-19 pandemic: For the first time, nearly all Americans, with the exception of newborns under 6 months old, could get vaccinated. Babies and young children have generally been far less prone to severe disease and death than older adults, but many have nonetheless been hospitalized and died  and they can pass the virus on to vulnerable adults.

This is an exciting step for all of us, said Dr. Matt Willis, health officer for Marin County. Finally, this is the last gap thats getting closed.

Vaccine advisers for the two federal health agencies that must green-light the shots  the Food and Drug Administration and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention  are scheduled to review vaccine safety and efficacy data and decide whether to authorize and recommend the shots this coming week.

They will be considering two vaccines: the Pfizer vaccine for children between 6 months and 4 years old, and the Moderna vaccine for children between 6 months and 5 years old.

Pfizers three-dose regimen is 80% effective at preventing symptomatic COVID, according to the company. Modernas two-dose regimen is 51% effective at preventing symptomatic disease in children under 2, and 37% effective in children between 2 and 5, the company said. The companies have not yet publicly released detailed safety and efficacy data, but they are expected to by the time the FDA and CDC meet to discuss them.

The FDAs vaccine committee is slated to meet Wednesday. If it recommends that the FDA authorize one or both vaccines, the full agency will probably adopt the recommendation within a couple of days and grant emergency use authorization. The CDCs vaccine committee is slated to take up the matter Friday and Saturday. If it recommends one or both vaccines, the CDC will probably issue a formal recommendation over the weekend.

Then, the Western States Scientific Safety Review Workgroup, which reviews COVID vaccines for California, Oregon, Nevada and Washington state, would have to approve the federal decisions. After that, vaccinations could begin in California.

Vaccines for adults and older children often have been administered at mass vaccination sites, but many of those have been shuttered or scaled way down as the vaccines have been incorporated into standard health care systems and pharmacies. Some but not all public vaccination sites still operating will be immunizing young children, but they are expected to mostly get the shots from pediatricians and family doctors, or small community clinics.

This is in line with how pediatric vaccinations have historically been administered. Babies and young children are more likely than adults to have a regular doctor, and they go to them for routine childhood vaccinations like MMR (measles, mumps and rubella), hepatitis and polio.

San Mateo County, for instance, wont be providing vaccinations for children under 5 at its large-scale public vaccination sites. Instead, the county will operate small-scale clinics at Early Head Start sites and provide staffing to pediatrician offices that serve publicly insured families.

Santa Clara, Marin and San Francisco counties plan to vaccinate the youngest kids at county-run vaccination sites. But theyll probably do them in smaller numbers than they did last year at mass clinics.

Several Bay Area counties that provided numbers for their anticipated first shipments of pediatric vaccines said they expected to receive less than half as many doses as there are eligible children  reflecting the national distribution plan. But that doesnt include doses going to large private providers, and thousands more doses are expected to arrive within a few weeks, health officials said.

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We anticipate that the initial shipment coming into San Francisco across all vaccinating providers will be sufficient to meet demand, the San Francisco Department of Public Health said in a statement.

Santa Clara County has about 100,000 children 6 months to 4 years old and expects to receive about 40,000 doses initially  half Pfizer and half Moderna. Those doses will be spread across private health care providers, county-operated vaccination sites and pharmacies.

Additional doses will go to large health care providers that operate in multiple counties, such as Kaiser and Palo Alto Medical Foundation, which get their supply separately from the state, said Tong, with Santa Clara Valley Medical Center.

For those (parents) who are particularly anxious, Id say dont despair if you cant find an appointment on day one, Tong said. As additional inventory comes in, more appointments will be added by all different types of providers. We anticipate by the second week itll be much easier to find an appointment slot.

Solano County will not be vaccinating children under 5 at its large county-run vaccination site at the Solano Town Center mall in Fairfield. Pediatricians and large hospital systems and clinics that include pediatric practices will probably handle most of the under-5 vaccinations, perhaps during regular visits to administer other childhood vaccinations, said the countys health officer, Dr. Bela Matyas.

Solano Countys vaccination rates more closely mirror state and national patterns than other parts of the Bay Area. There, 35% of children 5 to 11 are vaccinated, and Matyas expects uptake to be lower in the youngest age group.

Theres a generalized reluctance on the part of parents to vaccinate their youngest children, Matyas said. Theres been a lot of discussion in the social sphere about COVID being far less severe in children than adults. That diminishes peoples inherent reason to want the vaccine.

Matyas added that general vaccination fatigue may present challenges to getting the youngest kids vaccinated. Booster uptake, for example, has been dropping, especially in older children.

Catherine Ho (she/her) is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: cho@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @Cat_Ho
On a recent sunny day in San Francisco, I found myself in a situation most of us who live in California have confronted. Walking down a busy street, I came across an unhoused man lying facedown on the asphalt. Over and over, he screamed for help, one arm plaintively raised to the sky, the other limp at his side. A wheelchair that appeared to be his sat discarded on the sidewalk a few yards away.

A stream of cars and pedestrians passed by without stopping. To be fair, he was no waif. Lifting him into the chair, if thats what he even wanted, would have been extremely difficult under the best of conditions  and these were not. The man was almost certainly either under the influence or suffering from mental illness.

He needed more help than any one stranger could give him. So I got out my phone and thought about whom to call.

If a recent story in the Atlantic is to be believed, residents of San Francisco, befitting our progressive values, have no shortage of compassionate options to navigate situations like this. We have the Street Crisis Response Team, EMS-6, Street Overdose Response Team, San Francisco Homeless Outreach Team, Street Medicine and Shelter Health, DPH Mobile Crisis Team, Street Wellness Response Team, and Compassionate Alternative Response Team.

But are any these options actually available on demand?

In one of the most heart-wrenching anecdotes in the Atlantic piece, the author describes an addled man lying naked outside a Safeway. A woman calls for help. But, tellingly, despite our citys so-called wealth of services, it is police who respond. And do nothing.

It could have been worse.

When I was living in downtown Los Angeles several years ago, a homeless man, in a state of emotional distress, climbed to the top of a tall billboard near my apartment. Police officers who arrived on the scene tasered him; he fell several stories to his death before a crowd of onlookers.

Just last month, San Francisco police officers showed up to a dispute between two allegedly unhoused men  and shot them both dead.

For all our supposed compassion in California, it is police who remain the primary point of contact with those suffering in our streets. And they are ill-equipped to handle the task.

All of this was on my mind as I tried to figure out what to do.

If I called 911, would the police come? What if they found drugs on him? Would an arrest record make it even harder for him to get a home one day? Or would the confrontation end with violence if he gave the officers trouble?

In the middle of these deliberations, a voice suddenly sprang up behind me.

Keep walking, it said.

I turned and saw a different homeless man staring back at me.

Keep walking, he repeated, or Im going to f you up.

His expression indicated he was serious. And I had no idea what to do.

Was the man standing up for his friend on the ground? Or were the two in conflict? Should I risk a fight to try to figure out how to help?

I could think of no answers  and the man before me was in no mood to talk. So I walked away.

Do something.

The phrase is repeated unceasingly here in San Francisco and elsewhere in California in regard to the abject conditions on our streets. But what does it mean?

Any examination has to start with what California voters intended when they passed the endlessly controversial Proposition 47 in 2014. If we take voters at their word, they wanted to do as the bill says  to stop treating crimes of poverty and drug possession as felonies.

Unfortunately, while voting is undoubtedly one of the most assertive forms of mass communication, its message is rarely definitive. There is always wiggle room for misinterpretation  or willful misreading.

When I recently spoke with conservative state attorney general candidate Eric Early, he argued that Californians didnt know what they were signing up for with Prop. 47, thanks to the propositions misleading ballot title: The Safe Neighborhoods and Schools Act.

Hes not alone. And hes certainly right that for a bill designed to ease or eliminate sentencing for low-level crimes, that title is Orwellian.

But in 2020, voters shot down the much clearer Criminal Sentencing, Parole and DNA Collection Initiative  which would have rolled back Prop. 47s reforms  by a 62%-38% margin.

The majority of Californians have repeatedly stated that they do not want crimes born of poverty, mental illness and addiction resolved with jail cells.

But is that the end of it?

If youre going to die on the street, San Francisco is not a bad place to do it.

The cynical implication of that line, pulled from the Atlantic piece, is that San Franciscans have willfully fashioned their city a civil libertarian paradise for the troubled. Misfits from across the country can draw from our citys alleged font of resources or misbehave as self-destructively they see fit. In our naive compassion, we are happy to let them do as they please.

At least until this weeks recall.

Putting aside the blatant myths that San Francisco is a migration destination for the criminally indigent or a wellspring of social services capable of offering help to all who seek it, is anyone in this city really fine with rampant theft  even out of necessity? Or with people using the sidewalks as toilets? Or with addicts dying on the street with a needle in their arm?

Its safe to say we are not.

Unstated, but implicit in our voting record, is a broad desire for alternatives to the old status quo of siccing police on poor people, the addicted, the homeless and throwing them behind bars. Voters, in the most direct way we are able, have repeatedly asked for policymakers for new proactive, compassionate solutions.

Instead  and this is true across California  the governmental response in the eight years since Prop. 47 passed has largely been to let chaos reign and argue about its causes. Police rarely respond to low-level crimes or street crises, but neither does anyone else. Meaningful alternatives have been ignored or slow-walked to the point of despair.

This is not what anyone signed up for.

Voters in most major metropolitan areas in California have passed measures allotting billions for supportive homeless housing and treatment services. They have also passed police accountability measures that strongly imply a desire to lessen non-emergency police interactions with the public  which have a history of ineffective, racially fraught and/or violent outcomes.

Its safe to say that, at a bare minimum, Californians want to be able to call someone  not police  who can contact those on the street, intervene if they are in crisis or causing trouble, institute a mental health hold if necessary and/or connect them with food, housing, treatment and social services as needed.

This service obviously isnt the end all be all of crime and homelessness prevention (which, are two separate problems). But it is a prerequisite for meaningfully and compassionately improving our streets and restoring a basic sense of agency over our citys condition.

Unlike most other cities in California, San Francisco has made inroads into building this infrastructure. Mayor London Breeds recent budget noted that the citys Street Crisis Response Team soon intends to field all behavioral 911 calls where no weapon is involved. It currently handles 46%-57% of such calls.

This progress, if it comes to fruition, would be welcome. But the fact that were still ramping up capacity while endlessly arguing over our district attorney and police staffing is gutting.

Were eight years in waiting and voters still dont have the most basic infrastructure we have repeatedly demanded. In its absence, hopelessness pervades  and a desire by some to return to the old status quo has risen.

Right now, the only sense of agency most San Franciscans feel over their citys condition is recall. And thats our biggest failure.

Matthew Fleischer is The Chronicles editorial page editor. Email: matt.fleischer@sfchronicle.com
I spent Wednesday morning watching the anguish of survivors and others affected by the recent shootings in Buffalo, N.Y., and Uvalde, Texas, as they testified at the congressional hearing on gun violence. One mother told committee members of the broken promise of ice cream after school. Another invited politicians to help her clean her sons wounds so they could witness the carnage of the bullets. An 11-year-old described the last moments of her teacher, her friend and how she smeared blood on her own body to play dead. A doctor described the unidentifiable, pulverized and decapitated bodies, and pleaded for lawmakers to do their jobs.

Listening to these stories of individuals and whole communities marked by gun violence were hard enough to take in on their own but the accounts hit me even harder because just last week, the same thing could have happened at my nephews high school in Berkeley.

On May 21, police received a tip that a 16-year-old boy was plotting an attack at Berkeley High School. After obtaining a warrant, police searched the teens home and found a collection of assault rifles and bomb making material. The teen was allegedly trying to recruit other students to help carry out an attack. Fortunately, after police searched his home, the student turned himself in and was arrested.

This incident occurred a week after a 17-year-old was shot at the park across from the high school, a little over a month after a beloved senior at the high school died in a fall witnessed by other students.

If you need help Call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 800-273-8255 to reach a counselor at a locally operated crisis center 24 hours a day for free. You can also text "Connect" to 741741 to reach a crisis counselor anytime for free. See More Collapse

To say that the kids are not OK is beyond an understatement.

We do not live in a red city, red county or a red state. I dont know a single person who owns a gun, or admits to it. There were more Bernie Sanders lawn signs in our city than most, a place often mocked and dismissed as being so far left, it is sometimes dubbed the Peoples Republic of Berkeley.

But it happened here.

I dont need to list the litany of shootings that have occurred nationally over the past 24, 48 or even 72 hours. And it shouldnt need restating that there is a profound need for stricter gun laws, mandatory background checks and waiting periods. But to pretend that this is only a gun control issue is to do a greater disservice to our kids than we have already done, after traumatizing generations of them with the very real notion that school can instantly transform into a war zone.

Two major pediatric organizations declared in the fall that we are in a mental health national emergency for children and adolescents, an announcement that created hardly a ripple. Around that time, the school district in Oakland decided that this would be a good time to announce across the board school closures in some of the neighborhoods hardest hit by the pandemic  to take some of the most impacted, most vulnerable kids who lost the highest number of family and friends during the pandemic, and shut down their neighborhood schools. All this in a state where our governor recently boasted of a near $100 billion budget surplus.

The same day I heard about the averted shooting at Berkeley High School, I attended my other nephews eighth-grade promotion. I tried to reflect back the joy he and his friends were feeling in that moment. Their faces beamed, fresh off the challenges of a middle-school experience forever marked by COVID and remote learning, eager to take their next step. But I knew what their next step was  to attend the local high school where a mass shooting had just been thwarted.

It was hard to harness the joy.

We have lost over a million and counting during this pandemic, driven largely by abject failures at local, state and national levels. We continue to lose record numbers to drug and alcohol-related deaths as well as suicide  what are called deaths of despair. Unless we reckon with the fact that these mass shootings are yet another manifestation of the sickness of the kind of society we have created, where a small sector of the super elite make decisions for the majority, where the huge amount of wealth generated only benefit a select few, where certain deaths are considered acceptable, none of us will ever be safe.

As a health care worker, I can attest to the fact that none of us are OK, either, both on the provider side and on the patient side. There is suicide in the air. A friend who is a mental health worker recently shared she was emerging from a period of suicidality. Another friend, a nurse, had a suicide attempt a few months ago. Two nurses at two different hospital systems in the Bay Area died by suicide.

When I had to take my mom to the emergency room a few weeks back, I told the clinician how sorry I was to hear of their colleagues death by suicide at a sister hospital. She thanked me for the acknowledgment and shared that the suicide had affected the staff in profound ways, Because we are all right there, you know.

Because we are all right there.

Dipti S. Barot is a primary care physician in the East Bay. Twitter: @diptisbarot
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Ramiro Rocha had one word to describe what happened Friday: bittersweet.

The day came with relief when he learned a jury late Thursday had decided that his older brother, Peter, who has long struggled with profound mental illness, was not guilty of murdering a 94-year-old neighbor in an encounter alongside San Franciscos Glen Canyon two years ago.

According to court testimony, Peter Rocha thrust a crutch at the neighbor, Leo Hainzl, who apparently tripped while hurrying away and fatally struck his head.

But the day also yielded dread. Ramiro Rocha learned that his brother, thanks to the same jury verdict, would be released from jail and presumably return to living on the streets with his illness untreated  the same scenario that underpinned the tragedy in the first place.

Katy Raddatz/The Chronicle

A spokesperson for the city Public Defenders Office confirmed Peter Rocha was released from county jail on Saturday with nowhere to go and no guaranteed care.

Before he steps out of that door, there should be somebody there to offer help and direct him, said Ramiro Rocha, who lives out of state.

He said he has heard from his brother in sporadic jailhouse calls. Usually, he said, his brother had just one request: Youve got to get me out of here.

Ramiro Rocha only learned of the verdict when I called him, and he said he had no quick or easy way to help his brother. Told that his brother would be released to fend for himself, Ramiro Rocha said he was angry and disgusted.

Its a failed, disgusting system, he continued. Absolutely disgusting.

Doug Welch, a felony manager at the Public Defenders Office, seemed to have no argument there.

We live in a state where mental health care is so severely underfunded that many of our most vulnerable community members end up unnecessarily incarcerated, he said in a statement. Even the courts cant guarantee access to the care they may need when there is a supply deficit of beds and services.

And so a man who slept for years in a planter box in one of the worlds richest cities  and whose hallucinations about nasty large dogs, his brother said, led him to threaten dog walkers like Hainzl  will be released with nowhere to live, no mental health care and no services.

Failed doesnt even begin to describe it.

Its totally insane, said Supervisor Rafael Mandelman, who has tracked Peter Rochas case. Hes a sick guy, and hes been causing challenges for himself and for neighbors for years if not decades.

In that sense, hes not unlike dozens of other people in District Eight alone, and hundreds of other people in San Francisco, Mandelman continued. Were failing them all.

Mandelmans repeated calls for a stronger approach to conservatorship  compelling people like Peter Rocha to accept care if theyre too sick to understand they need it  have run up against the reality of too few treatment beds. At the same time, the state has closed many of its psychiatric hospitals, and waiting lists for beds are incredibly long.

Sadly, that leaves the jail system as the top provider of mental health care in San Francisco, but theres little continuity in treatment once a person is released, particularly if they arent convicted.

The Public Defenders Office said Rocha planned to seek care from the Department of Veterans Affairs; he served in the Marines for four years after graduating from high school in Daly City. But his brother said he had tried that before and it hadnt worked.

The city this week announced the opening of a 75-bed facility on Minna Street for homeless people in the criminal justice system who suffer from mental illness or substance use disorders. But Rocha doesn't appear to be receiving a placement there; the Department of Public Health, which is funding the facility run by the Adult Probation Department, declined to comment on his case.

There are two longer-term glimmers of hope. Gov. Gavin Newsoms Care Court proposal, which would require counties to provide comprehensive treatment to those suffering from severe psychosis, has cleared the state Senate unanimously and now heads to the Assembly. The measure now contains an amendment allowing judges to compel housing placements in addition to care.

Meanwhile, state Sen. Susan Talamantes Eggman of Stockton is pushing a package of bills that would expand who qualifies for a conservatorship, allow judges to consider mental health history when deciding whether to mandate care, and create a dashboard showing the availability of treatment beds in real time.

Mandelman called those proposals really smart and got most of his colleagues to back a resolution endorsing them.

Its all very late for Peter Rocha, though. The 55-year-old needed intervention and help long before he made headlines in May 2020 when police arrested him for killing Hainzl as the elderly man walked his dog, Rip, near Glen Canyon. Police took him into custody and booked him on suspicion of murder, assault with a deadly weapon and elder abuse.

To his neighbors and Mandelman, the encounter was devastating, but not entirely unexpected. Peter Rocha was well-known in Glen Park, often sleeping on a cushion in a planter box outside St. John Catholic School on Chenery Street. He carried crutches slung over his shoulder that he sometimes waved angrily at passersby.

Neighbors reported him numerous times to police, alleging he threatened them with harm. He almost always targeted women or elderly men walking their dogs alone. Police would show up and offer help, hed decline, and theyd send him on his way, officials said.

Ramiro Rocha said his brother had a longstanding mental illness and had unsuccessfully sought help. He would fall out of his familys life for months and years at a time, his relatives feeling helpless to intervene.

After Peter Rochas arrest, a judge said he was too mentally ill to stand trial and ordered him in December 2020 to a locked state psychiatric hospital. But the waiting list for a bed was so long that he languished in county jail for more than a year.

He was transferred to a hospital soon after I wrote a column highlighting his purgatory behind bars. He was finally brought to trial in May, moving back to county jail to attend court hearings.

Drought Map Track water shortages and restrictions across Bay Area Check the water shortage status of your area, plus see reservoir levels and a list of restrictions for the Bay Areas largest water districts.

Two witnesses described the encounter of May 25, 2020. According to these accounts, the two men argued, apparently over Hainzls dog being off leash, and Peter Rocha thrust a crutch at Hainzl. Hainzl, apparently trying to get away, walked 30 feet downhill while looking back several times and tripped on a curb, striking his head and dying later at a hospital.

Juror Mike Amodeo, a retired nurse practitioner who lives in Visitacion Valley, told me in an interview that the evidence did not prove beyond a shadow of a doubt that Peter Rochas behavior toward Hainzl led to the man tripping and striking his head.

It was unfortunate, but there wasnt a direct connection, he said.

Judith Mahnke, another juror who is a retired teacher who lives in Cole Valley, said Peter Rocha rarely spoke during the trial, seated at the defense table in head-to-toe orange, his gray hair long and wild. She said he covered his face and seemed to cry when the jury declared him not guilty of any of the felony charges.

The panel did find him guilty on one misdemeanor charge of assault for swinging his crutch at Hainzl. His two years in custody will more than cover any potential jail time for that conviction, and he was released Saturday.

Mahnke said jurors werent allowed to take into account anything that happened outside that brief encounter between the two men by the canyon.

The prosecutor in the case asked Judge Stephen Murphy to allow the jury to hear about five previous incidents of Peter Rocha allegedly threatening dog walkers in Glen Park, but the judge denied it. The District Attorneys Office did not return requests for comment on Friday.

The jury deliberated for six hours a day for six days. We were incredibly thorough and got the gravity of this, Mahnke said. It was really hard. One person is sitting in front of you through this, and the other person is dead.

She said she hopes Peter Rocha will be given somewhere permanent to live, as well as food and water  at the very least.

Were the richest country in the world, and weve got people living on the streets like animals, she said.

Thats what Ramiro Rocha wants for his brother, too.

He needs help  thats what Ive been saying this whole time, he said. We dont want him to be back on the street. Hes not safe on the street.

Asked to describe his view of the whole experience, Ramiro Rocha said he was angry his brother was charged with murder in the first place over an accident linked to mental illness. And angry that his brother spent two years in custody for it, only to receive no apparent help upon release.

Im defeated and heartbroken, he said. Like this was all for nothing.

Heather Knight is a San Francisco Chronicle columnist. Email: hknight@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @hknightsf
VICTORIA, BC , June 11, 2022 /CNW/ - For 60 years, the Canadian Coast Guard has been helping mariners in need, responding to environmental threats on the water, and maintaining vital shipping corridors 24/7, 365 days a year. Today, Mario Pelletier, Commissioner of the Canadian Coast Guard, officially opened "Coast Guard Day" as part of the Canadian Coast Guard's 60th anniversary celebration in Victoria, and announced the start of operations on the west coast for the CCGS Sir Wilfred Grenfell.

Coast Guard Day is a one-day open house that provides the community of Greater Victoria with a glimpse into the many roles and services the Canadian Coast Guard plays in the marine community, and an opportunity to learn more about the wide range of exciting careers available.

The open house also provides an opportunity for the public to tour the CCGS Sir Wilfred Grenfell as the ship begins operations on the west coast of British Columbia. Originally from the east coast, CCGS Sir Wilfred Grenfell is a 67.68m high endurance, all-weather patrol vessel capable of carrying cargo, buoy handling, and longline helicopter slinging off the aft deck. After arriving on the west coast, CCGS Sir Wilfred Grenfell underwent a $17.3M refit under the repair, refit, and maintenance pillar of the National Shipbuilding Strategy as an important part of the Canadian Coast Guard's fleet management plan.

Ensuring that the Canadian Coast Guard has the equipment needed to protect British Columbia's waters and all who travel on those waters is a key priority for the Government of Canada. CCGS Sir Wilfred Grenfell will support Canadian Coast Guard programs including light station re-supply, aids to navigation, search and rescue, fisheries enforcement, and other Fisheries and Oceans and Canadian Coast Guard requirements.

Quotes

"I wish everybody attending the Canadian Coast Guard's 60th anniversary celebration open house and marking the start of service for CCGS Sir Wilfred Grenfell in Victoria a great day! Under the National Shipbuilding Strategy, the Government of Canada is ensuring that the Canadian Coast Guard has the equipment they need to protect our coasts. Crewed and supported by the many skilled Canadian Coast Guard personnel, the CCGS Sir Wilfred Grenfell will provide many years of service in British Columbia."

Story continues

The Honourable Joyce Murray, Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard

"It is with great pleasure that I welcome everyone to Coast Guard Day in Victoria. This day is one more opportunity to celebrate in a year full of celebrations marking the Canadian Coast Guard's 60 years of service to Canadians. I invite members of the public to join us, take a tour of the CCGS Sir Wilfred Grenfell, and learn more about the amazing work our employees do every day."

Mario Pelletier, Commissioner, Canadian Coast Guard

Quick Facts

This year's inaugural Coast Guard Day welcomes community members to visit the Canadian Coast Guard Base in Victoria from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. to see demonstrations, tour the CCGS Sir Wilfred Grenfell , and talk with personnel about the wide variety of careers the Canadian Coast Guard offers, including Marine Communications and Traffic Services, engineering, carpentry, marine spill response, technology, light keeping, search and rescue, response planning, and of course, sailing on our ships!

In 2022, the Canadian Coast Guard is celebrating its 60th anniversary. Our theme for this anniversary is "Celebrate the past. Navigate the future." Throughout 2022, we are looking back on all of our accomplishments in the last 60 years, and focussing on our future as a progressive, innovative organization.





This year also marks the 50th anniversary of Inshore Rescue Boat stations operations in British Columbia. Since 1972, the Inshore Rescue Boat program has been providing search and rescue coverage on important parts of the coast, while developing the next generation of leaders.





2022 is the 30th anniversary of the Rescue Specialist Program, which has elevated the level of care that the Canadian Coast Guard is able to provide mariners in distress. Canadian Coast Guard Rescue Specialists are trained at level similar to Emergency Medical Responders (EMR) with additional adjuncts designed to meet the marine and coastal incidents that we regularly respond to. There are over 100 Rescue Specialists onboard Canadian Coast Guard ships and lifeboats in the Western Region.





The CCGS Sir Wilfred Grenfell is based in Victoria, British Columbia, serving the Canadian Coast Guard's Western Region.





CCGS Sir Wilfred Grenfell was constructed in 1985 by Marystown Shipyard in Newfoundland. Originally built as an offshore support vessel, it was converted into a search and rescue vessel by the Canadian Coast Guard, and entered service in December 1987.





After joining the Western Region's fleet, the CCGS Sir Wilfred Grenfell underwent Vessel Life Extension work under the National Shipbuilding Strategy. Work was undertaken by Allied Shipbuilders in North Vancouver and included painting the hull and deck, updating navigation equipment and networks, installing a new cargo hold and hatch, replacing propulsion thrusters, modifying the ballast system and installing new machinery.

Associated Links

Stay Connected

Follow the Canadian Coast Guard on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and YouTube.

SOURCE Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Pacific Region

Cision

View original content: http://www.newswire.ca/en/releases/archive/June2022/11/c2127.html
Mayor London Breed and Supervisor Dean Preston are facing off over how to allocate Prop. I funds. The measure was intended to generate funds for affordable housing much like the Eddy and Taylor Family Housing affordable housing project at 222 Taylor St. in the Tenderloin, shown here.
A tweet by then-President Donald Trump is displayed on a screen during the first public hearing before the House Select Committee to Investigate the Jan. 6 Attack in Washington on Thursday.
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MIDDLETOWN  The city reported a major water main break near Main and Court streets Friday evening.

Crews were still digging up the pavement to reach the pipe Friday night. About a dozen people from the Water and Sewer Department and the Public Works Department will be working through the night to identify the issue and repair the pipe, according to Joe Fazzino, the director of Middletowns Water and Sewer Department.

They will then temporarily repave the intersection the next day, according to the city.

They do not believe this is a quick fix, said Sandra Russo-Driska with the Downtown Business District.

The 12-inch water main is from 1895. With the age and surrounding infrastructure, it broke around 4:45 p.m., Fazzino, told Hearst Connecticut Media in a phone call Friday night.

Its a lot of water flowing, bubbling up the pavement and making a mess of everything, Fazzino said.

A handful of businesses downtown were affected, but, as of 9 p.m., only four businesses in the area were without water service, the city said

Shortly after the break happened, the citys emergency management team and fire department contacted the local hospital and sent a tanker full of water to fill its boilers, according to Bobbye Knoll Peterson, chief of staff for Mayor Ben Florsheim.

After speaking with local and state health officials, Knoll Peterson assured residents their water is safe and the city will not need a boil order.

Residents may see harmless sediment in their water that was churned up by the break, she said. To clear the lines, residents should run their cold water taps for a minute.

The city warned a main break can cause higher than normal flows and scour the inside of water mains and stir up harmless sediment that can cause discolored water.

This is not a health concern, the city said in a statement, but if you are experiencing discolored water we do not recommend you use the washing machine, the dishwasher, ice machines, or other water-using devices until the water has cleared. You should also refrain from drinking the water until it is clear as it will be neither aesthetically pleasing nor good tasting.

If water does not clear after a short period, contact the Water and Sewer Department at 860-638-3500.

Florsheim originally warned residents to Expect no or low pressure for several hours, in a Facebook post. He also advised residents to not call 911 or administrative numbers to report issues in service.

Businesses and restaurants south of the rainbow crosswalk at Main Street Market to College Street were affected Friday night. Restaurants and businesses on Main Street and in downtown north of the crosswalk had water restored earlier in the night, according to Russo-Driska.

The Middletown Police Department said as of 5:40 p.m. that Main Street is closed to traffic from Washington Street, or Route 66, to Dingwall Drive. Court Street is also closed on Main Street, police added.

Police suggested drivers use Broad Street and DeKoven Drive to navigate around the affected area.
BRIDGEPORT  A veteran police detective has been disciplined for a road rage incident that occurred while he was off-duty.

Acting Police Chief Rebeca Garcia, in a personnel notice issued June 7, stated that Detective Joseph Badolato has been penalized five holidays and required to attend a four-hour training in arrest and control procedures.

The notice states that Badolato was found to have violated seven department rules and regulations including the rules prohibiting off-duty arrests, using a firearm while off-duty and failing to conform to laws.

Per PD administration, the BPD will have no comment on this personnel matter, Police Department Spokesman Scott Appleby told Hearst Connecticut Media in an email.

Badolato has been a detective since 2009. He could not be reached for comment.

The police union did not return emails and calls for comment.

Although the department would not comment on the details surrounding Badolatos actions, the detective in January 2019 was involved in an incident that resulted in an investigation by the Office of Internal Affairs. Sources told Hearst Connecticut Media the discipline was a result of that investigation.

At the time of the incident, then-Police Chief Armando Perez confirmed that Badolato had been placed on administrative duty following a road rage incident.

He was involved in a road rage incident recently with another driver and was placed on administrative status while (The Office of) Internal Affairs investigates it, Perez said at the time.

Perez said no one was injured in the incident.

He is a good detective, but sometimes good people do stupid things, Perez said.
Morgan County Home and Community Education Association will have its 85th annual meeting on June 16 at the Morgan County University of Illinois Extension Office, 104 N. Westgate Ave. in Jacksonville.

The public is welcome to attend.

Registration with breakfast treats will be from 9 to 9:30 a.m. The annual business meeting will start at 9:30 a.m. with a program to follow.

Representatives from Ameren Illinois will speak on the topic of green energy. The speakers will share information about Amerens sustainability approach. They will discuss environmental stewardship, climate change, renewable energy including solar, community engagement, why the cost of energy is high and how people can reduce their energy consumption. There will be time for questions and answers.

Morgan County HCE members are organized in local units and also may participate as members-at-large. At local unit meetings, educational lessons provide members the opportunity to learn current and relevant information. New members are always welcome.

All HCE members are encouraged to attend the annual meeting and visitors are welcome. No pre-registration is needed.

The event will conclude before lunch.

 Submitted by Martha Vache

East Side Juniors 4-H

East Side Juniors 4-H club met April 4 at the Morgan County Fair 4-H Building.

The American pledge was led by Hayden White and the 4-H pledge was led by Madi Maro. During roll call, each member shared a country they would like to visit. Talks were given by John Beeley, Braden Hutchison, Ryan Hutchison and Ryker Meyer.

Guest speaker Kari Pratt discussed CPR and how to administer it.

Comments and updates were shared by club leader Carolyn Bartz. The meeting concluded with refreshments provided by the Bonjean and Maro families.

The next meeting will be June 6.

 Submitted by Cortney Bonjean

East Side Juniors 4-H

East Side Juniors 4-H club met June 6 at the Morgan County Fair 4-H Building.

The American pledge was led by Robert Mawson and the 4-H pledge was led by Addison Taylor. During roll call, each member shared a judging tip.

Guest speaker Will Andras brought in three heifers and taught club members about what judges look for in the show ring.

Club members also painted risers that will be used in the 4-H building to display projects.

Comments and updates were shared by club leader Carolyn Bartz. The meeting concluded with refreshments provided by the Ford and Lawson families.

The next meeting will be on Aug 26.

 Submitted by Cortney Bonjean

Jacksonville Noon Rotary Club

The May 27 meeting of Jacksonville Noon Rotary was called to order at noon at Hamiltons by President Cathy Jo Littleton Wahl.

We continued with a moment of reflection, the Pledge of Allegiance and singing one verse of America.

Cathy Jo welcomed our guests, Darcella Speed, Gina Williams and Allen Yow.

She recognized May birthdays, including those of Ryan Byers, April Clarke, Brittany Henry, Joe Horabick, Jeff Soltermann and Kelly Staake, and we sang Happy Birthday.

Our volunteers were thanked, including greeters Jan Ryan and Steve Holt; Phyllis Lape and Breanne VanMetre, 50-50; sergeants-at-arms, Jean Hembrough and Joe Kaufmann; song leader Jean Hembrough; Recognitions, Craig Albers; pianist Sharon Zuiderveld; tech support, Dan Lepper; and note taker Lynne Sheaff.

Announcements:

 The Scholar Athlete banquet was a great success.

 We need one more volunteer for Bread of Love in June.

 We need board members to ride on the Fourth of July parade float.

 Rotary Day at the Ballpark is June 26; tickets are $55 and available through Mike Schneider.

 May 28 -- Positive Impact Project

June 4  Litter Gitters

June 5  Opening day at the Ferris wheel

June 6  Tree Committee meets at Kims at 8:30 a.m.

June 6  Membership Committee meets at the Chamber office at noon

June 6  Community Service Committee meets at 4 p.m.

June 6  First Monday at Bahans at 5 p.m.

June 7  Wheel Committee meets at 5 p.m. at Home Instead

June 8  Board of Directors meet at noon at the Chamber

Craig Albers led Recognitions. Rotations were given by Craig, Lynne, Joe K, Bob McLin, and Cathy Jo.

Cathy Jo presented a $200 check to the Jacksonville NAACP to sponsor childrens games at the Juneteenth festival.

Jenna Tucker introduced our guest speaker, Allen Yow, who gave a fascinating presentation about fireflies.

The 50-50 drawing took place, with Kathryn Grady drawing unsuccessfully for the pot.

The meeting was adjourned at 1 p.m. with the Four-Way Test.

 Submitted by Lynne Sheaf

Jacksonville Sunrise Rotary Club

On a partly cloudy and breezy early summer day, 10 Rotarians and one visitor gathered in the Holiday Inn Express meeting room.

Those attending were President Jane Becker, Don Pigg, Sonie Smith, Linda Meece, Cindy Boehlke, Pat Pennell, Brittany Nickel, Sarah Edmiston, Gordon Jumper and Jay Jamison. Pam Martin, an executive director of the Jacksonville Memorial Hospital Foundation, joined us a bit later.

The Polio Plus jar was passed and news was exchanged while everyone enjoyed the breeze from the box fan. Then the chatter subsided to an expectant silence until President Jane rang the May 31 meeting open at 7:02 a.m. Brittany led the Pledge of Allegiance, Jay led in reciting the Four-Way Test, and Pat gave the invocation. Rotations were made by Pat, Jay, Don and Jane. Then Jane went out with a bang on her last day for Recognitions, providing everyone (even our guest) multiple opportunities to contribute to the scholarship fund.

Jane announced the Troop-on coupon totals: more than $25,000 in savings for food, more than $23,000 in baby items savings, and more than $400,000 in savings in nonfood items. With the help of the public donating manufacturers coupons, our Rotary club could top $500,000 in savings sent to the troops by the end of the Rotary year on July 1.

Don agreed to stand in as president-elect for the 2022-2023 Rotary year.

Finally, Pam strode to the podium and gave an excellent program on the benefits that the foundation has for the community. We learned how the staff of Jacksonville Memorial Hospital adapted to COVID-19 needs, how the foundation is supported, what the foundation is used for, and more. Grants include nurse education  first at MacMurray and then at Illinois College and other local colleges  equipment at the hospital and volunteer support. After answering several questions, Pam received a hearty round of applause.

President Jane Becker rang the meeting to a close at 7:55 a.m. and everyone made their way out to enjoy the sunshine and the rest of their day.

The next Jacksonville Sunrise Rotary meeting is June 7 in the Holiday Inn Express meeting room. All guests and visiting Rotarians are welcome.

 Submitted by Sarah Edmiston

Jacksonville Noon Rotary Club

Jacksonville Noon Rotary Club's June 3 meeting was called to order at noon at Hamiltons and on Facebook by President Cathy Jo Littleton-Wahl. She gave a short Reflection, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance and we sang one verse of "America".

Cathy Jo welcomed visiting Rotarian Eli Goodman of the Springfield Sunshine Club, honorary Rotarian Dan Baldrick and family, and other guests, including Zuzanna Killam and Stanley Wahl. Song leader Maryjane Bradbury led us in a song of welcome and "Smile".

Todays volunteers were thanked, including greeters Lynne Sheaff and Jean Hembrough; Jan Ryan and Alberta Robinson, 50-50; Sandy Sanders and Maryjane Bradbury, sergeants-at-arms; song leader Maryjane Bradbury, Craig Albers, Recognitions; Sandy Sanders, food delivery; Dan Lepper, tech support; and note taker Lynne Sheaff.

Announcements:

Club dues are due. An early bird discount applies until June 15.

June 4  Litters Getters, 9:30 a.m. at Routt Catholic High School

June 5  Opening day at the Ferris wheel, 4-6 p.m. And 4-6 p.m. all following Sundays this summer.

June 6  Tree Committee meets at 8:30 a.m. at Kim's

June 6  Membership Committee meets at noon at the chamber office

June 6  Community Service Committee meets at 4 p.m. on Finley Street

June 6  First Monday at 5 p.m. at Bahans

June 7  Wheel Committee meets at 5 p.m. at Home Instead

June 8  Board of Directors meet at noon at the chamber office

June 16  Oktoberfest Committee meets at 5:15 p.m. at the chamber

June 17  Downtown Concert

June 18  Junteenth Celebration from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on the square

June 21  Parade committee meets at 5 p.m. at 405 Finley St.

June 22  Museum volunteer opportunity, 10 a.m.-1 p.m. and 1-4 p.m.

June 24  Club transition meeting at noon; social at 5 p.m. at Kluges

June 25  Positive Impact Project, 8:45 a.m.

July 2  Fourth of July parade, sign-up sheets next week

July 7  Fair Gate, 1-8:30 p.m.

Bread of Love sign-up sheets for July are available. June is full.

Recognitions were led by Craig Albers. Rotations were given by Ryan Byers, Alberta Robinson ($2,226 given for polio, goal met!), Sharon Zuiderveld, Anne Jackson and Dan Lepper.

The Downtown Concert Series sponsored by Jacksonville Main Street was awarded $500 from the club. Judy Tighe accepted with thanks.

Cathy Jo introduced speaker Eli Goodman, who spoke about his book, "The Adventures of Abe, the $5 Bill".

Steve Holt drew unsuccessfully for the 50-50 pot.

The meeting was closed with the Four-Way Test.

 Submitted by Lynne Sheaf

Jacksonville Sunrise Rotary Club

It was a pleasant June morning, yet cloudy enough that seven Rotarians and one visitor traveled by streetlight to the Holiday Inn Express meeting room on June7. Those in attendance were Jane Becker, Sarah Edmiston, Don Pigg, Sonie Smith, Linda Meece, Brittany Nickel, Pat Pennell and guest Ann Becker. There was chatter and exchanging of news while passing the unbreakable Polio Jar.

At 7 a.m. President Jane rang the meeting to order. Ann led the Pledge of Allegiance, Linda led in reciting the Four-Way Test, and Pat gave the invocation. Rotations were made by Sarah Edmiston, Jane and Sonie. Brittany did an outstanding job of including everyone (including our guest) with Recognitions. There were many donations to the scholarship fund that day. We learned that a former member, Ella Scaggs, has applied for membership. It was moved to accept and the vote was unanimous.

Next, Ann, the daughter of our president, took over the podium and gave the club an update on her college career. She will start her junior year in the fall at Oklahoma State. She changed her major from ag business to hospitality tourism, which meant she had a heavy class load during the spring. Some of these classes helped her with her caramel business. She joined a sorority during her freshman year and that helped her through the COVID-19-related changes. Ann is excited about the prospects of her new major and described her ideas for her future career. After answering several questions, Ann accepted her scholarship from President Jane and pictures were taken.

President Jane rang the meeting to a close at 7:23 a.m. The next Sunrise Rotary meeting is at 7 a.m. on Flag Day in the Holiday Inn Express meeting room. All guests and visiting Rotarians are welcome.

 Submitted by Sarah Edmiston
CLAYMONT, Del. (AP)  Delawares first in-patient substance use treatment facility for pregnant and parenting women will open this summer, serving up to 20 women struggling with the disorder.

The residential treatment facility, the first of its kind for Delaware, will be operated by Gaudenzia, Inc. in Claymont. The nonprofit currently provides a supportive recovery home for pregnant women and their children, but it is a lower level of care compared to a residential treatment facility.

Gaudenzia offers those services in other states and the latest partnership struck with the states Division of Substance Abuse and Mental Health will now bring the much-needed service to Delaware. The organization hopes to open its doors to the higher intensity service July 1, with the step-down services expected to be available in the fall.

This is a historical day for Delaware, Gaudenzia and for a population that desperately needs treatment services, Gaudenzia CEO Dr. Dale Klatzker said in a news release. Research shows that family-centered treatment for pregnant and parenting women is a smart investment with both immediate and long-term economic and social benefits.

The $3.2 million contract, funded through federal dollars, comes on the heels of the Division of Forensic Sciences annual report, which revealed overdose deaths increased more than 15% in 2021 to 515 in Delaware, continuing a deadly trend seen across the country during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Overdose deaths increased 5.4% in 2020 in the First State, with 447 deaths statewide  up from 431 in 2019.

Females accounted for 32% of overdose deaths last year, according to the report. Those aged 31-40 accounted for the highest number of deaths at 144 followed by those aged 41 to 50. Most of the overdose deaths occurred in New Castle County.

Seventy percent of women with substance use disorder also have children but may avoid treatment because of a lack of childcare or fear of losing custody of their children, Gaudenzia statistics show. As a result, Delaware has the nations fifth-highest rate of pregnant women with substance use disorder.

There was a 148% increase in substance-exposed infant births to Delaware women between 2015 and 2019, further highlighting the need for enhanced services.

The proposed treatment facility, which will utilize existing space Gaudenzia has in Claymont, will have one floor providing high-intensity, clinically managed residential treatment for 10 women and another floor for lower-intensity services for 10 women.

Both options will include on-site medical and psychiatric services, case management, on-site childcare, meals, room and board. There will also be 24-hour supervision and access to medical, clinical, childcare and support staff.

Women can receive this treatment while up to two children each are living with them at the facility.

Joanna Champney, director of the Division of Substance Abuse and Mental Health, said Delaware didnt want pregnant and parenting people to have the make the choice of going out of state for services or foregoing them altogether.

We hope that by having services in the state, patients will no longer have to leave the states lines to access these services. It was a critical system gap that we identified, Champney said. There was sober living for pregnant and parenting women, but true inpatient substance use treatment patients would have to leave the state.

Gaudenzia began talks of opening a residential treatment facility in Delaware last year amid the exit of Connections Community Support Programs, which was one of the states largest providers of mental health and substance use treatment.

While Connections settled federal fraud allegations and was bought by Pennsylvania-based Inperium Inc. after filing for bankruptcy, the nonprofits downfall resulted in recovery home closures that only compounded the lack of services for pregnant and parenting women struggling with addiction in Delaware.

Gaudenzia wanted to change that. The nonprofit already offered a supportive recovery home, called Safe Haven, for up to 10 women and their children in Claymont, but it lacked the higher level of care a residential treatment facility would provide.

Gaudenzia opened its first facility for pregnant and parenting women in 1979 in Lancaster, Pa. It currently operates 14 centers for women with children across Pennsylvania, Maryland and New Jersey.

Gail Hannah, executive director for Gaudenzia Eastern Region, said one of the key differences with a residential treatment facility will be services for the whole family.

The children will also receive services. Well be addressing the needs of the entire family, Hannah said. Even if there are children who are not able to come to treatment with the mother, we would incorporate them in services.

Champney said the state will be monitoring the utilization of Gaudenzias program and could expand accordingly. In the meantime, other providers have stepped up to the plate to expand sober living options as well, she said.

While some people may need inpatient care to treat substance use disorder, others may not need that high-intensity care. Meanwhile, those who use inpatient care eventually step down to a sober living environment, often staying longer in that setting, which increases the demand for those services as well, Champney said.

Adding Gaudenzia programming fleshes out the different levels of care and meets the diverse populations needs, she said. There is a whole continuum of care for treatment.
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) 

A former Pennsylvania lawyer who pleaded guilty to threatening to kill Democrats in the U.S. Senate has been sentenced to time served and a $10,000 fine.

Kenelm Shirk III, 72, of the city of Lebanon, pleaded guilty in March to a charge of threatening to murder a U.S. official. U.S. District Judge Jennifer Wilson took his age and health into account in lowering the sentence range from 18 to 24 months.

I think that is sufficient to achieve the goal of just punishment and determent in this case, she said Friday, according to LNP.

Authorities said state police arrested Shirk at a gas station near Shippensburg the day after President Joe Biden's inauguration in January 2021. Found in his car were an AR-15 rifle, two handguns and a box of ammunition, police said.

Authorities began looking for Shirk after his ex-wife reported he had threatened to kill her as well as government officials in the Washington area, according to an affidavit filed in state court. Police spotted his car parked at a gas station just off the interstate, about two hours north of Washington, and arrested him without incident.

Shirk, who was solicitor for Akron borough in Lancaster County before his arrest, was disbarred last year.

Defense attorney John Abom earlier called the case very much making a mountain out of a molehill. He said his client had the guns because hes a target shooter, and was headed to Virginia to visit family.

Before he was sentenced, Shirk apologized to his clients, law enforcement, the courts and his ex-wife for his actions, LNP reported.

I am not a terrorist, he said. I have no excuse. I should never have said what I said.
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SHARPSBURG, Md. (AP)  For most of the American Reconstruction period following the Civil War, a one-room chapel on Sharpsburgs East High Street served as church and school for the local African American community.

As the center of religious gatherings and education for a group that included former slaves, Tolsons Chapel would have been a safe haven for the Black community, according to Edie Wallace, a historian and a past president of the nonprofit The Friends of Tolsons Chapel.

The 1866-built chapel is probably the finest example out there from a historian and architectural historians point of view of the Black experience during Reconstruction, Wallace said.

The National Park Service recognized that importance and designated Tolsons Chapel a National Historic Landmark in January 2021. In the midst of a global pandemic, the honor didnt receive a ceremony at the time. But The Friends of Tolsons Chapel is hosting a dedication and unveiling of a bronze plaque with the national designation at the church this month. The park service will participate in the program.

The chapel, in 2008, was listed in the National Register of Historic Places for its state and local significance, according to the chapels application to become a National Historic Landmark. The former church and school also are listed as a contributing building for the Sharpsburg Historic District listed in the national register.

The timing of the chapels National Historic Landmark application was fortuitous as the National Park Service, which oversees the national landmark program, was looking for buildings or sites representative of the Black experience during Reconstruction, Wallace said.

The only other place in Washington County that is designated a National Historic Landmark is Fort Frederick, which received the honor in 1973, according to the historic landmarks website. A state park, the stone fort near Big Pool was built to be part of the states frontier defense during the French and Indian War.

The landmark designation opens the Tolsons nonprofit up to more grant opportunities and has already led to more visitors for the historic chapel, Wallace said.

A Montessori high school class from Kensington, Md., visited the chapel last year and several younger home-school classes have visited. Wallace said the Montessori educator, looking for buildings representative of the Black experience during Reconstruction, learned about Tolsons through a new website the National Park Service created about the chapel.

The educational experience for the students included a re-enactor who talked about life in Sharpsburg for the Black community and how it came together to build the chapel, she said.

The chapel is open to the public for free tours from noon to 4 p.m. on the first Saturday of the month from April through October.

Edie Wallace, a past president of The Friends of Tolsons Chapel, said the person who donated the pot-belly stove recounted buying it from Virginia Cook and Frances Monroe, among the chapels last members, when the stove was sitting in front of the chapel on sale. Wallace said the stove looked to be from around 1900 to 1920 and would have been used to provide heat.

In the summer, the windows would have been opened or perhaps activities were held outside.

The chapel is named for its first pastor, John Tolson, a Black man assigned to the Hagerstown circuit by the Methodist Churchs Washington Conference  its Black conference, Wallace said. The congregation was established in 1865, a year after the state of Maryland abolished slavery.

The chapels cornerstone was laid in 1866 and in October the following year, the building was dedicated, according to a Tolsons Chapel brochure.

Tolsons wasnt the first church in the Sharpsburg community to serve the Black community, but it was the first Black-run church in the area, Wallace said.

It gave them independence. A space where they were free to be themselves. That they werent being watched, Wallace said.

As of 1860, a year before the start of the Civil War, 1,435 free Blacks lived in Washington County, according to the chapels application to become a National Historic Landmark. That population included Blacks who were born free and former slaves who were set free or who bought their freedom. Census data indicates, per the application, that most free Blacks in the Sharpsburg area worked as servants, housekeepers, farm hands or laborers.

Approximately 10 free Blacks owned real estate. That included Samuel Craig, who along with his wife, Catherine, donated the land for the chapel to create the Sharpsburg Methodist Episcopal Church, according to Wallace and church history. Tolson was reassigned to the Winchester, Va., church circuit, but the Sharpsburg church was named for him after his death in 1870.

Wallace said, to her, the churchs association with the Freedmens Bureau is nationally significant. Congress established the bureau in 1865 to guide the South from a slave society to a free-labor society, according to the chapels register application. The bureaus duties included helping freed people establish schools.

The bureau assigned Ezra Johnson, a white man, to be the first teacher at the American Union School in Tolsons Chapel in April 1868, according to the application and brochure. Later teachers would be Black, including John J. Carter and James Simons. Simonss father, David, was one of the chapels first trustees and who became the schools first teacher during its tenure as a county school, Wallace said.

According to a teachers monthly school report, posted at the nonprofits website, Tolsons had 18 students in April 1868. Of those, three were older than 16. The school included primary students, Wallace said.

The Sharpsburg Colored School operated in Tolsons until 1899, when a frame schoolhouse was built in the area, according to the chapels brochure.

The church operated until 1998, according to the national register website for the chapel. That was two years after the death of the last church member from Sharpsburg, Virginia Cook.

With The Friends of Tolsons Chapel working to become a nonprofit, the Save Historic Antietam Foundation acquired the church in 2002, according to Wallace and the brochure. The Friends became a nonprofit in 2006 and took over ownership two years later, according to the brochure.

The church underwent major restoration in the 2000s. This included removing asphalt shingles that were probably added over the logs and vertical board siding in the 1940s to make the chapel appear brick, Wallace said. About 20% of the original logs were replaced. Replica white pine siding was used to replace about 80% of the vertical boards and all new batten was installed, she said.

The chapel also got new cedar roof shingles and the windows were restored using mostly original materials, according to the nonprofits website.

Wallce said no more burials will occur in the cemetery behind the chapel.

Ground-penetrating radar was used to determine there are potentially 12 unmarked graves behind the chapel, Wallace said.

The cemetery has 36 marked burials with death dates, according to a 2013 preservation assessment of the cemetery. Cook and the Simonses are among those buried in the chapels cemetery. Others buried there include Wilson Middleton, a church trustee and member of the U.S. Colored Infantry; Hilary Watson, who was enslaved at the Otto Farm; and Jeremiah Summers, who was enslaved at the Piper Farm. Both farms are part of Antietam National Battlefield.

A few items from Tolsons Chapel will be part of the reorganized display at Antietam National Battlefield when the visitors center, undergoing an approximately $7 million rehabilitation, is complete, said Park Ranger Keith Snyder, the battlefields chief of resource education & visitor services. Snyder said hes hoping the center is ready to reopen this fall.

Park officials started from scratch in redesigning how to organize the battlefield museum, Snyder said. A team of historians worked around five universal concepts conflict, terror, survival, freedom and memory.

The chapel items will be in the freedom section because freedom is a complicated story, particularly in Maryland, Snyder said.

While freedom is directly tied to the Emancipation Proclamation, which President Abraham Lincoln issued on Jan. 1, 1863, slavery was abolished in Maryland on Nov. 1, 1864, through a new state constitution.

One thing evident is that when the enslaved did get their freedom in Maryland, at least in Sharpsburg, the first things they sought were religion and education, Snyder said.

Tolsons is the perfect example of both because it served as church and school, Snyder said.

The items planned for the new battlefield museum display include a book and inkwell  to represent the school  and a Bible, Snyder said.

The Bible belonged to Nancy Camel, whose last name has been spelled a variety of ways including Campbell.

Camel, 40 years old in 1860, was employed as a servant on the William Roulette farm, according to the chapel nonprofits website. She had been enslaved by Peter Miller, a Roulette family member by marriage, and freed by Andrew Miller in June 1859. It appears Camel immediately took a job at the Roulette home where she stayed the rest of her life, the website states.

Camel was a member of both Tolsons Chapel, to which she donated a large Bible, and to Manor Church, a Dunker church north of Sharpsburg in whose cemetery she was buried, the website states.
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP)  Two Des Moines men who were sentenced to life in prison without parole for murders committed when they were teenagers must stay behind bars, the Iowa Supreme Court ruled on Friday.

James Dorsey and Fernando Sandoval have been trying for decades to have their convictions and sentences overturned. This time lawyers argued that their clients should not have been tried as adults because the crimes were committed when they were 18 and 19 years old.
Kim Phuc Phan Thi, now 59, was nine years old when she was photographed in Vietnam running naked down a highway with her siblings, after her clothes were burned off by one of the napalm bombs dropped on her village. Today she lives in Ajax, Ont., with her mother and husband, and runs a non-profit organization to help kids in conflict. (Sylvia Thomson/CBC - image credit)

Kim Phuc Phan Thi has had quite a week. She marked the 50-year anniversary of a Pultizer Prize-winning photo of herself as a nine-year-old girl, running naked in a Vietnam street after a napalm attack by the South Vietnamese on June 8, 1972.

Media from around the world have called to talk to her and the photographer who took the image, Nick Ut, and the photo has circulated once more on social media.

The image, titled "The Terror of War" but better known as "Napalm Girl," has persisted as a symbol not just of the Vietnam War but the horrors of war itself.

CBC producer Sylvia Thomson met with Kim Phuc Phan Thi in Ajax, Ont., where she now lives with her mother and husband.

They sat down in a park to talk about why she thinks graphic photos of war are important and the message she has for children living through war in Ukraine.

"To be honest, they have the right to be angry and hateful. Me, too," she said.

"The only thing I can share with the children is just to not give up."

Nick Ut/The Associated Press

The discussion has been edited for length and clarity.

It's been 50 years since that photo came out. What did you think the first time you saw it?

The first time I saw my picture, after 14 months being in hospital, oh my goodness. The first time I saw it, I said, 'What!' and 'Why did he take my picture like that?' I felt so ugly and ashamed because I was naked. I was a child. I was really detesting it. I hated that picture  and I feel like, 'Does anyone understand my pain?'

What are we seeing in that photo?

As soon as the napalm touched me, the clothes burned off. I still remember my arm and seeing all the fire. I was so terrified, and I was so scared. And I thanked God my feet weren't burned, and I was able to run out of that fire. We just kept running and running and running for a while  and I cried out 'Too hot! Too hot!' The soldiers tried to help me. They tried to pour the water over me, and at that moment, I lost consciousness.

What is your relationship with the photographer, Nick Ut?

After he took the picture, he saw me burning so badly  he put down the camera and took me to the nearest hospital, and I thought he saved my life. I owe him. He's my hero. Not only did he do his job as a photographer but also, he did extra as a human being. He helped. Now, I feel like he's a part of my family. That's why I call him Uncle Ut.

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Chris Young/The Canadian Press

How did your thinking about the photo evolve?

Yeah, I hated the photo when I first saw it because I was a little girl and I was naked and ugly, and I was so embarrassed. Ten years later, my story became hot news. The [communist] Vietnamese government rediscovered me. And all the journalists from other countries came to visit me, and I became a voice for propaganda  I [didn't] belong to me anymore.

They thought I should be a war symbol for the state. At the beginning, I was happy because I was getting attention  but gradually, it interfered with my school schedule. The government took me out of school and asked me to work with them. They did not want to listen to me. At that time, I hated that picture. I did not want to be that little girl in the famous picture. I just thought the more that picture got famous, the more it would cost my private life.

In that time, there was so much hatred in me, bitterness. Sometimes, I thought of suicide because I thought, 'After I die, I will not have to suffer.' And remember, I still had a lot of physical pain.

Nick Ut/The Associated Press

You ended up spending 14 months in hospital because of your injuries?

Yes, including treatment and rehabilitation. I was really deformed. I could not feel at all, and a machine had to help wake up my nerves. Now, you see me looking normal.

Why did you do all these interviews with journalists all over the world this week on the 50th anniversary of the photo being taken?

Yes, because I want everybody to celebrate my life, 50 years later. I am not a victim of war anymore. I am a survivor. I feel like 50 years ago, I was a victim of war but 50 years later, I was a friend, a helper, a mother, a grandmother and a survivor calling out for peace.

And I work to fulfil my dream to give back to children who are victims of war. I am so thankful that all social media all over the world is just talking about my picture. I think that is so powerful. We have to have the truth. The story has to be told. To show people what happened.

Na Son Nguyen/The Associated Press

So, it's OK to show graphic war photos?

I believe that we need it. Sometimes, it is not pretty, but we need to show that. That kind of education, that kind of reminder is needed to let people know that we need to stop it.

Was Feb. 24  the start of the Russian invasion of Ukraine  a big day for you, seeing a war beginning again?

Yes, it was for me and for my mom. We were just crying because we understand. We understand perfectly how hurt, how lost, how desperate, everything that people have to face right now because we have been there in the same situation. Terrifying, horror.

Emilio Morenatti/The Associated Press

How have the images of kids in Ukraine affected you?

My heart is broken. My heart is broken for all people who lost their lives, especially children. I will never forget Feb. 24, 2022. My mom and I, we cry out every moment thinking what happened to me and my family 50 years ago.

Not necessary. Why is it repeating? I have been there. My house was completely destroyed. All that we had, gone  Then, we became officially poor, poor, poor. We had no money and no rice. And then for me, I had to deal with all the scars and the ugliness and the pain. Not just the deformity but the pain. Also nightmares, traumatized, fearful.

Do you have a sense of how children react in a war. Or what it is like for them?

To be honest, they have the right to be angry and hateful. Me, too. I was in that situation  I was in a deep, deep, deep darkness. The only thing I can share with the children is just to not give up. As a child, I just cried. I just could not bear the pain, and I passed out.

Vatican media handout

What would you tell the children?

Hang on there. Don't lose your hope. Don't lose your dream. There are so many people around who will help you. And whatever they say, children can say from the heart, but they need help.

Would you want to go to Ukraine to speak to people there?

Yes, I am about to go.

Kim Phuc Phan Thi is in preliminary discussions about flying to Poland to help Ukrainian refugee children there. She also plans to speak with teachers and students in Ukraine in July over Zoom.
LAS VEGAS (AP)  A woman accused of drenching a Las Vegas police detective in gasoline has been released on her own recognizance.

KLAS-TV reported Friday that Kayla Powe was initially held on $13,000 bail. But she had a second hearing in front a different judge who allowed her release.

Powe is facing charges of battery with the use of a deadly weapon where the victim is a first responder and assault with the use of a deadly weapon, according to court documents.

The incident happened June 5 around 9 a.m. when the detective was getting gas outside a convenience store. A witness flagged him down, saying a woman was trying to light a fire nearby.

The detective found Powe with a bottle of gasoline and a lighter. Police say the detective knocked the lighter out of her hand when she tried to light a cigarette.

Authorities say Powe then poured gasoline directly over his head. The detective described losing his vision and using a radio to call for help. He feared that she had another lighter and would use it.

A witness says a giggling Powe continued trying to set things on fire with a cigarette or matches.

Powe told police when questioned that she wanted to burn a business.

It was not immediately known Saturday if she had an attorney who could comment on her behalf.
CHICAGO (AP)  A federal judge has dismissed a public corruption case against a construction contractor even before the end of trial testimony.

U.S. District Judge Matthew Kennelly dismissed a charge of wire fraud on Friday against Debra Fazio as part of an alleged $700,000 kickback scheme with the highway commissioner of Bloomingdale Township, near Chicago. Kennelly concluded that prosecutors had not proven that Fazio, who owns Bulldog Earth Movers Inc., knew of the plot or participated in it.
MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP)  Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey has authorized Juneteenth Day  the federal holiday marking the end of slavery  as a holiday for state workers this year in Alabama.

Ivey issued a memo earlier this month authorizing the day as a holiday for state workers. State offices will be closed on June 20 for the holiday. Juneteenth, or June 19, falls on a Sunday this year, so the holiday will be recognized the following Monday.
An Alabama man who planted flowers on the gravesite of his fiancee and was arrested at the direction of the woman's disapproving father was found guilty of littering this week.

About a month after Winston "Winchester" Hagans got engaged, his fiancee, Hannah Ford, was killed in a three-car crash in January 2021 that shattered what was supposed to be the happiest time of their lives. To honor the 27-year-old, Hagans placed a planter box full of fresh flowers and photos of the two of them on her grave in Auburn, Ala.

But earlier this year, Hagans was arrested on a charge of criminal littering. City officials had reassured him that he could put the planter at Ford's gravesite unless there was a complaint. Then he discovered that a complaint had been filed - by the Rev. Tom Ford, his fiancee's father.

"The police don't enforce the law unless the owner of the plot tries to do something about it," Hagans told The Washington Post earlier this year, adding that his late fiancee's father did not approve of their relationship.

Hagans was convicted Thursday on one count of criminal littering and ordered to pay about $300 in fines and court costs, the Opelika-Auburn News reported. The 32-year-old man was also given a suspended jail sentence of 30 days that will remain suspended as long as Hagans does not place any more flowers or planter boxes on his fiancee's grave.

After Hagans was found guilty, his attorney, Jeff Tickal, indicated that a written appeal would be filed within 14 days. If Hagans wins the appeal, a new trial would be granted, and the fines and court costs would be dropped.

Neither Hagans nor Tickal immediately responded to requests for comment early Saturday.

Hagans and Hannah Ford met at a coffee shop in Montgomery, Ala., and bonded over their faith, he wrote on his website. Ford's father was pastor at Grace Baptist Church in Montgomery, and Hagans's father is an evangelist in Opelika, Ala. As the couple kept running into each other at the coffee shop, Hagans said he made sure to bring a deck of cards with him so they could play games of "nines" with each other.

Hannah Ford was a rising star in Republican politics in Alabama. She worked on several political campaigns, including Roy Moore's U.S. Senate campaign in 2017. Moore lost the race to Democrat Doug Jones after a woman accused the Republican of initiating a sexual encounter when she was 14.

Ford, who went on to lobby for conservative issues in Alabama and work for evangelist Scott Dawson's 2018 gubernatorial campaign, had "a kind heart, happy attitude, great wisdom and many talents," her family wrote in her obituary.

"She may have been small in stature, but she was a giant when she walked in a room," Dawson told AL.com last year. "She knew how to deal with senators, members of the House, judicial candidates."

Ford got out of politics around the time that her relationship with Hagans was intensifying. The couple took long drives, shared an appreciation for Winston Churchill and talked about what the rest of their lives would look like, Hagans said. They loved cooking together, with Ford wanting to cook big meals when guests came over for game nights and holidays.

Her father, however, did not approve of the couple's relationship, Hagans said. At one point, the pastor demanded that the couple not communicate with each other for 30 days, Hagans said. When they decided to keep dating, the decision fractured the relationship between Hannah Ford and her father.

"We jumped through all of his hoops to be together," Hagans previously told The Post. "We had to figure out if going through the craziness was worth it. She told me, 'I can't believe you didn't just stop. You had every reason to stop. Why didn't you just move on?' And I was like, 'You're worth it; you're an amazing person.' "

When Hagans and Ford got engaged on Dec. 5, 2020, she shared on Facebook how she had cried her eyes out with "happy tears."

"I still can't believe I actually got to say YES to you!!!" she wrote. "I LOVE YOU and I simply can't wait to be your WIFE!!!!!"

The couple's wedding date was fast approaching, and they began to look at venues. As they were leaving a barn venue, they talked about how they still had much planning to do. She leaned over, kissed Hagans on the cheek and told him she was looking forward to seeing him in a couple days.

"I love you so much. I hate leaving you," he recalled her saying. "I just can't wait until we don't have to be apart."

It was about 7 p.m. on Jan. 16, 2021, and Ford was driving from the venue to her home in Montgomery. But as she was traveling on Narrow Lane Road, the driver of a sedan lost control and collided with another car, which rammed into Ford's SUV, according to police.

When she didn't respond to his texts or voice mails, Hagans contacted her roommate and learned she had not reached home. He knew something was wrong and raced about 60 miles from his home in Opelika to Montgomery.

When he approached the intersection of the crash, he asked whether anyone involved in the wreck matched Ford's description. Paramedics took him to see the crushed car, which caused him to collapse in the middle of the street.

"I was thinking, 'There's no way she could be gone,' " Hagans said. "She was the most loving and kind and hopeful and generous person I ever met."

She died Jan. 17, 2021, just days after her 27th birthday.

"She was one mile away from her home," Dawson told AL.com.

The sadness of losing his fiancee deepened, Hagans said, when her family made it clear to him that he wasn't welcome at her funeral.

Hagans was pulled over by police in Opelika in January. By the time he had gathered his license and registration, he said there were three police cars. Authorities told him there was an arrest warrant for him in Auburn - something Hagans said was "impossible."

"The cop said, 'I've never seen this before, but the warrant is for littering,' " Hagans said. "When I was sitting in the back seat of the police car, I saw that [Tom Ford's] name was on there."

Certain burial plots in the state are owned and controlled by the family of the deceased and are considered private property. David Dorton, a spokesman for the city of Auburn, confirmed to The Post that Hagans was arrested Jan. 24 "after a warrant was signed by another citizen."

"Any citizen has the right to pursue a criminal charge against another upon showing that sufficient probable cause exists to believe that a crime has been committed," Dorton said in a statement.

On Thursday, Tom Ford testified in the nonjury trial at Auburn Municipal Court that Hagans had placed a total of 10 planter boxes on the grave since May 2021, which the father either discarded or sent back to the man who would have been his son-in-law.

"The first box, when I saw where it was, I picked it up and it fell apart," Ford said, according to the Opelika-Auburn News. "It was a rotten piece of wood with some pictures on it, so I discarded it."

Ford testified that the cemetery has regulations on what can be placed at a gravesite. City Prosecutor Justin Clark noted that these regulations outline how "benches, urns, boxes, shells, toys and other similar articles are not permitted to be placed or maintained on any lot of grave in said cemetery."

Neither Ford nor Clark immediately responded to requests for comment.

Ford acknowledged in court that he "certainly did not" approve of the relationship between his daughter and Hagans, adding that he only found out about their engagement from other people. He said he had asked a friend to tell Hagans to "please not put [planter boxes] there anymore, that they weren't wanted, and that they weren't allowed by the city." When the seventh, eighth and ninth planter boxes were removed, Ford filed a criminal complaint with the Auburn Police Department. A 10th planter box was found after the complaint was filed, he said.

"I find no joy to be here, and I did everything I could not to be here," Ford said this week, according to the News.

Before he was convicted, Hagans expressed his gratitude on Facebook to the friends and family who have supported him, "or just let me vent," about not just losing his fiancee but also being tried for putting a planter box of flowers on her grave.

"It means more to me than you will ever know," he wrote. "It has honestly saved my life."
ANNAPOLIS, Md. (AP)  Maryland's highest court has upheld the murder conviction and life sentence for a man who was 16 years old when he fatally struck a Baltimore County police officer with a vehicle.

The Maryland Court of Appeals rejected defense attorneys' argument that it was unconstitutional to sentence Dawnta Harris to life in prison because he was a minor when he killed the officer in 2018. The court ruled on Wednesday that Harris age was properly considered when a judge sentenced him to life in prison with the possibility of parole.
MEXICO CITY (AP)  A judge extended a ban on bullfighting in Mexico City indefinitely, raising the likelihood that the season will be cancelled at what claims to be the worlds largest remaining venue.

La Plaza Mexico, as the stadium is know, issued a statement Friday calling on fans to protest the ruling. The stadium urged bullfight supports to post pictures of themselves with the word freedom written on their hands.

The company said it would appeal the ruling.

The company will postpone the scheduled bullfights and novilladas and will continue with legal defense of Mexican customs and traditions, to the full extent the law allows, Plaza Mexico said in a statement.

However, a higher court has already rejected one appeal against the ruling. Further hearings must be held on whether to uphold the ban, or make it permanent.

The judge originally decreed a temporary ban in May, based on complaints that bullfights violated residents rights to a healthy environment free from violence.

Bull fights had been scheduled at the citys main professional ring in July and September, according to previous announcements.

The decision threatens to mark the end of almost 500 years of bullfighting in Mexico.

According to historians, Spanish conqueror Hernan Cortes watched some of the first bullfights in the city in the 1520s, soon after his 1521 Conquest of the Aztec capital.

Since 2013, four states in Mexico have already banned bull fights, and polls indicate substantial support for a ban. A ban in Mexico City  currently the largest venue for the events  would be an international setback for bullfighting.

Last year, the Mexico City assemblys Animal Welfare Commission gave preliminary approval to a law banning public events at which animals are subject to mistreatment and cruelty that result in their death. But the bill never made it to a vote before the full assembly.
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HUIXTLA, Mexico (AP)  Mexico's migration agency has issued nearly 7,000 temporary documents and transit visas over the last few days to members of a migrant caravan which by Saturday had broken up in southern Mexico.

Hundreds of people were heading north in buses while others were spread out over various towns north of Tapachula, near the Guatemalan border, resting or waiting to receive money from relatives to continue their trip to the United States.

In its statement, the Mexican migration agency did not specify what kind of documents were issued but most of the migrants showed papers that gave them a period of one month or more to leave the country or begin regularization procedures in Mexico. Most want to use the documents to reach the U.S. border.

The migrant caravan left from Tapachula on Monday. But it had split up by Thursday, when regional leaders were meeting in Los Angeles at the Summit of the Americas to talk about migration and other issues.

President Joe Biden and other Western Hemisphere leaders announced on Friday what is being billed as a roadmap for countries to host large numbers of migrants and refugees.

Meanwhile, the bus terminal in the southern Mexican town of Huixtla was filled with migrants looking for tickets north.

Alejandro Gonzalez Rincon, his cousin and six other friends from Venezuela were only able to get tickets to Tuxtla Gutierrez, the capital of Chiapas, because all the other destinations they wanted, such as Mexico City, were sold out. Their plan was to slowly make their way up to the U.S. border, he said.

Venezuelan Eddy Jimenez planned to return to Tapachula as soon as his cousins got their documents. He would wait there until his relatives send him money to resume heading north. He wanted to reach Mexico City and then Monterrey, a big city closer to the border.

Since October, Mexican authorities have dispersed other caravans by offering to move migrants to other cities where they can legalize their status more quickly. The goal was to lessen migrant pressure in the south.

Human rights groups have criticized the migration agency's lack of transparency in carrying out these procedures. Advocates also say authorities sometimes do not respect the documents.
It's been one year this week since the wife and son of a prominent South Carolina attorney were found shot to death on their property.

And while no arrests have been made in the homicide of Paul and Maggie Murdaugh, their deaths have put a renewed spotlight on other death investigations surrounding the Murdaugh family.

Here's a look back at just some of the notable events over the past year and where the other cases currently stand:



June 7, 2021: Alex Murdaugh discovers his wife Maggie and son Paul shot dead at their Colleton County home.

"I need the police and ambulance immediately," he says in the 911 call. "My wife and son have been shot badly!"



The South Carolina Law Enforcement Division is called to look into their deaths.

June 23, 2021: Based on information gathered in the murder investigation, SLED announces it is looking into the 2015 death of Stephen Smith, who was found dead on a Hampton County road.

That development is a huge relief to Stephen's mother, who never believed the story the police had told her.

"They said he was shot in the head," said Sandy Smith. "Then it turned to, it was a hit and run and then he was beaten up. So the story just kept changing."

Fast forward to Sept. 2, 2021: The PMPED law firm launches an investigation into Alex Murdaugh over concerns he had been taking money from the firm and clients for personal use. Murdaugh resigns from the firm the next day.

Sept. 4, 2021: Murdaugh is shot in the head on a quiet Hampton County road.

Ten days later, on Sept. 14, Curtis Edward Smith is arrested in connection to the assisted suicide shooting of Murdaugh. Murdaugh admits the scheme was set up so his surviving son Buster could collect a $10 million life insurance policy. Murdaugh is arrested on multiple charges.

The next day, Murdaugh is named the chief defendant in a wrongful death lawsuit filed by the sons of longtime Murdaugh housekeeper and nanny Gloria Satterfield.

SLED simultaneously announces its opening of a criminal investigation into Satterfield's 2018 death.

Oct. 4, 2021: The law firm representing the estate of Satterfield announces a settlement has been reached.

And last Friday, an attorney representing the Satterfield family confirms SLED plans to exhume Satterfield's body as part of their investigation into her death.

Meanwhile, no arrests have been made in the Murdaugh double homicide.
Denis Edwards, 79, is one of the patients involved in the at-home cancer treatment pilot in Calgary. He gives himself chemotherapy shots twice a month at home, rather than making a trip to the hospital. (Submitted by AHS - image credit)

A unique Alberta study is offering the promise of a bit more independence for some cancer patients and potential relief for a strained health-care system.

Two dozen volunteers with myeloma, a type of blood cancer, are trained by oncology nurses to give themselves a chemotherapy treatment, called bortezomib, at home.

It's administered by injecting a needle under the skin, similar to the way diabetics take insulin. But it's traditionally been given in the hospital.

"I'm 79, pushing 80, and I don't want to waste my time driving back and forth. This is a great gig, you know," said Denis Edwards, one of the study participants in Calgary.

"It was easy from the first."

It used to take him an entire morning to go to the Tom Baker Cancer Centre for his bortezomib injections. Now, twice a month, rather than a trip to the hospital, he injects himself using a pre-filled syringe, with a little help from his wife, Bonnie.

"No one likes to be in a hospital. If they're really ill, fine, fine. But if the time can be cut, that's all the better," said Edwards, who still has to go in once a month for another treatment, given by IV infusion, and a nurse gives him a third dose of bortezomib at that time.

"It's a relief. It's a big relief."

Submitted by AHS

One-of-a-kind pilot in Canada

The idea for the at-home treatment program came from patients themselves, according to Dr. Jason Tay, a hematologist at the Tom Baker Cancer Centre, who is leading the University of Calgary and Alberta Health Services study.

"It seems so simple. [They asked] 'why can't I give this to myself at home if I'm willing, wanting and capable of doing so?' And that's a really good question that we weren't able to answer or have the platform to allow this to happen for many of our patients," he said.

The pilot, which began two years ago and is funded by the Alberta Cancer Foundation, is the only one of its kind in Canada, according to Tay.

He noted many hospitals in the United Kingdom began offering at-home treatments earlier in the pandemic in an effort to relieve pressure on hospitals and keep vulnerable cancer patients safe.

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"Many patients appreciate the opportunity to look after themselves at home, and they find that they don't have to travel as much  and this is a big deal, especially over the winter months," he said.

It can have a positive emotional impact as well, according to Tay, when people aren't constantly reminded of their illness.

"Any sense of normalcy, back in the community and not coming in, that makes a huge difference on their psycho-emotional health."

While it appears to be working well for patients so far, Tay sees potential benefits for strained hospitals, too.

"Having the opportunity to have a release valve for the system makes a lot of sense. So if patients do not have to come to a treatment chair at a particular centre, that means someone else can also benefit from that timely care."

Eighteen patients being treated at the Tom Baker Cancer Centre in Calgary and six from the Cross Cancer Institute in Edmonton are involved in the pilot feasibility study.

If this practice proves safe and effective, it could be offered more widely in the future, according to Tay.

"My ultimate hope  the win-win situation  is that our administrative system in the cancer centre finds this of value to the system and the patients, and they will allow us to do this routinely for patients who are willing and wanting."
RENO, Nev. (AP)  A Nevada honors student has reached a tentative agreement to settle a federal lawsuit against administrators he accused of helping students bully him with hoax calls to an anonymous school threats hotline.

Reno High School junior Lucas Gorelick, 16, graduated Friday, a day after a judge gave his lawyer and Washoe County School District attorneys time to finalize their pact to settle a lawsuit Gorelick filed May 23 in U.S. District Court in Reno.

Terms were not disclosed. Court records show the judge set a June 28 date.

Gorelick said he did not take part in graduation ceremonies.

A district spokeswoman, Victoria Campbell, declined to comment about the lawsuit and said in a statement that Gorelick was welcome to attend and participate in ceremonies.

We wish him and all of our graduates much happiness and success in the future, the statement said.

Gorelick was identified by initials in the lawsuit. The teen, his father, Jeff Gorelick, and their attorney, Luke Busby, agreed to let The Associated Press report his name.

He argued school district officials violated his constitutional rights by repeatedly searching his backpack and pickup truck after hoax calls to a state Department of Education hotline called SafeVoice.

In an interview, he said he also was targeted for bullying that he traced to his Jewish heritage, his work with Democratic party candidates and his school achievements.
NORWALK  On the eve of the United States entrance into World War II, lawmakers established a civilian reserve to watch over crucial ports and to protect the coasts.

Within months of Japans surprise attack on Pearl Harbor in late 1941, one of the first U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary flotillas was formed on the shores of Norwalk by boaters eager to secure the citys harbor.

Known as Flotilla 72, the local group of uniformed volunteers is now one of the most active flotillas in the northeastern United States, according to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.

On Sunday, the flotilla will mark its 80th anniversary with a celebration at its headquarters at Calf Pasture Beach, according to Flotilla Commander Richard Keen.

What makes us so unique is we've been here for so long, said Keen, a longtime boater who leads the group.

Keen said the afternoon celebration will include food, drinks and a screening of black-and-white footage of the auxiliary from its early days in World War II. The event will begin at 1 p.m. and is open to the public.

The local flotilla, which boasts about 75 members, is best known for providing boating education services and offering free vessel exams to the public.

We try to explain to people what they want to do on the water, and what equipment they need to have to make their departure, their return and their entire experience on the water safe, Keen said.

In a statement, Mayor Harry Rilling praised the flotilla and said Norwalk is lucky to be the home of the local organization.

From their boating safety and education classes to their community outreach, they are indeed a valuable asset to our residents and beyond, he said.

Despite being an all-volunteer civilian organization, the auxiliary also assists with what can sometimes be dangerous search-and-rescue missions. Keen said the flotilla reports to the Coast Guard Station in Eatons Neck on Long Island.

We are a piece of the U.S. Coast Guard, Keen said. We supplement the U.S. Coast Guard.

Keen said the flotilla is immensely proud of its storied history, particularly during World War II when German U-boats patrolled the East Coast and even ventured into the Long Island Sound.

Keen attributed the flotillas long existence to its passionate members. He said Norwalks large harbor and several islands draw people who are passionate about recreational boating and maritime safety.

For more information about Sundays event, contact the flotilla at 203 838-1200 or norwalkflotilla72@gmail.com.

richard.chumney@hearstmediact.com
LA GRANGE, N.C. (AP)  A brush fire on a North Carolina farm caused fireworks to explode inside a container where they were stored, killing one person and injuring three firefighters Friday, authorities said.

Lenoir County Emergency Services Director Murry Stroud told broadcast outlet WITN of Greenville that one person was confirmed dead from the afternoon blast and three firefighters were hurt, one of them in critical condition.
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OKLAHOMA CITY (AP)  Oklahoma's attorney general has asked the state's highest appeals court to set execution dates for 25 death row inmates following a federal judge's rejection of their challenge to the states lethal injection method.

In 25 similar filings with the Oklahoma Court of Criminal Appeals on Friday, Attorney General John O'Connor wrote that the federal court's stays of execution are no longer in place and that therefore there are no longer any legal impediments to executing the inmates, who have exhausted their appeals.

The state Department of Corrections has asked that the first execution be set no earlier than Aug. 25, O'Connor wrote. He asked that the dates be set at four week intervals due to the time required for a clemency hearing for each inmate prior to an execution, and that the DOC requested executions be set at least 35 days after the court's order.

For the sake of the victims' families, many of whom have waited for decades  as many executions as possible are set four weeks apart, O'Connor wrote.

O'Connor suggested that the first inmate who should be put to death is James Coddington, whose March 10 execution was postponed after U.S. District Judge Stephen Friot allowed him to join the lawsuit that ultimately failed.

A phone call to the office of an attorney for Coddington rang unanswered Saturday. Defense attorneys have previously said Coddington has a mental illness.

Coddington was convicted and sentenced to die for the 1997 hammer killing in Choctaw of co-worker Albert Hale, who prosecutors said had refused to lend Coddington $50 to buy drugs.

Second on the list, which the filing said was proposed based on when each inmate's appeals were exhausted, would be Richard Glossip, the lead plaintiff in the federal lawsuit. He was hours from being executed September 2015 when prison officials realized they had received the wrong lethal drug.

It was later learned the same wrong drug had been used previously to execute an inmate, and executions in the state were put on hold.

Glossip, who was twice convicted and sentenced to die for killing Barry Van Treese, the owner of the motel where Glossip worked, has maintained his innocence.

Don Knight, Glossip's attorney, noted that a group of Republican lawmakers who question Glossip's guilt have requested a review of the case.

Those findings could reveal exculpatory information previously unknown until this point, Knight said in a statement. Until everyone has the opportunity to examine the final report, the Attorney General has a moral duty to delay the execution of Richard Glossip.

Executions in Oklahoma resumed in October with John Grant, who convulsed on the gurney and vomited before being declared dead. Since then, three more executions were carried out without noticeable complications, most recently inmate Gilbert Ray Postelle, who was put to death Feb. 17.

Federal public defender Jennifer Moreno, one of the attorneys who represented the inmates in the failed federal lawsuit, has said an appeal of Friot's ruling was being considered.

She didn't immediately reply to Saturday messages seeking comment.
PHOENIX (AP)  The last Sunset Limited passenger train rolled out of Phoenixs Union Station, once a bustling hub for people and commerce, on June 2, 1996.

Twenty-six years later, a developer has plans to transform the vacant building in downtown Phoenix and the 10 acres surrounding it into an events venue, with restaurants and potentially a brewery or distillery, office space and a film studio.

Aaron Klusman, founder of Zoyo Neighborhood Yogurt and several other Valley brands, including film studio Rivulet Media, bought Phoenix Union Station in late 2021 for $4 million from Sprint Communications, according to real estate database Vizzda.

The purchase included the old train station near Fourth Avenue and Jackson Street and the land surrounding it, including the historic ice house to the north of the station. The Icehouse already is being used as an event venue, and Klusman plans to hold events at the train station as well.

Aaron is committed to working with the city to keep Union Station, Mo Stein, principal and director of HKS Architects, the project designer and architect, said.

Union Station used to be the entry point into Phoenix for many, many years, he said. It wont be the entry point again, but we have the chance to bring it back for people, and to recognize it as historically important for our city.

The projects first phase will renovate the Union Station building into a combination of event space, restaurant uses, and potentially a brewery or distillery, Stein said.

Offices of Klusmans film company, Rivulet Films, are also planned to locate there and use the space as a production studio and headquarters.

Its like our own little modern-day Warner Brothers studio lot  done with some edge and grit while keeping true to Phoenixs unique storyline, Klusman said in a statement, which I absolutely love.

Most of the existing 30,000-square-foot building has been kept in good condition, Stein said. However, the western portion had been used as a data center, which significantly damaged the building. That portion will likely become the office space. The main building is two stories, which Stein said would function best as a public-facing space, like a food hall.

The plan also includes creating a plaza-like lawn for event space outside the central building.

Restoration and preservation work to the existing buildings is planned to begin this summer, Stein said. Some upgrades, like bringing safety systems and restroom facilities up to code, are needed before the building could be used for events or dining.

We think this project brings a very authentic opportunity within the core of our city to bring something people know and love, Stein said. We can use a lot of the building exactly the way it is.

Beyond the station, Klusman is in the early planning stages for future phases of development on the site.

On the east end of the site, Stein said they are considering a 14-story or more residential building. The new construction would not touch or affect the existing train station.

On the western portion, near Fifth Avenue, they are considering an 11-story hotel that would have parking and amenity decks.

On the southwest of the building, on the side where the building was damaged by the data center uses, the project could include a four-story office building.

Stein said there is no timeline for the new construction and no developer chosen, and any new buildings will be driven by market demand. For now, the attention is on restoring and reusing the existing building.

Christine Mackay, community and economic development director for Phoenix, said the project gives a chance to restore life to the place where people got their first looks at Phoenix about 100 years ago, as well as the driver for much of Phoenixs commerce.

Phoenix Union Station is where people arrived to, she said. It was where people came and had their first experiences of Phoenix arriving on the train. It is intimately woven into the history of Phoenix.

Mackay said the train station was integral in Phoenixs commerce activities, and was the way produce and other goods made their way from the city to destinations throughout the country.

The whole Warehouse District was formed because of Union Station, she said.

And just as the station was a driver for development in the 1920s, Mackay said it could be a catalyst for the area again.

This really can be the center point of redevelopment in downtown, she said, adding that there has been some public sector development, like the Maricopa County Attorneys Offices adaptive reuse of the former jail building, but there has not been much new development from the private sector in the area.

When touring the building with potential buyers before Klusman bought it, Mackay said she always had the fear that someone might want to tear it down instead of preserving it. Klusmans plan to have public-facing amenities in the building has been very exciting for her.

It got into the hands of someone who would revere the building and restore it to its original grandeur, Mackay said.
IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP)  Walking into The James Theater will put a bounce in your step  first by the wow factor of the Art Deco-inspired lobby, then by strolling into the performance space, where the entire floor is sprung.

(The floor) can be a little disconcerting when you dont know it because it does have a little bounce, said Leslie Nolte, 45, of Iowa City, the theaters artistic director. But its so much better on (dancers) knees and ankles.

Thats an important factor for the founder and artistic director of Nolte Academy, the Coralville dance studio she established in 2000.

She and her husband, Mark Nolte, 47, have transformed the former home of Riverside Theatre, at 213 N. Gilbert St., in Iowa Citys Northside neighborhood. Asked about their roles in this venture, Mark Nolte quipped, Shes the talent, Im the labor.

The Cedar Rapids Gazette reports the couple are renting the building from the Gilpin family, who previously rented the space to Riverside Theatre from 1990 to 2020. That troupe, which offered virtual programming during the pandemic, has moved to a newly renovated home on the downtown Pedestrian Mall.

The theaters conversion is complete, and after a series of soft rollouts, The James Theater is ready for its close-up, beginning with June @ The James.

First up is an evening of jazz with the Curtis Taylor Quartet on June 11; followed by MEKTOUB bands Elizabeth album release June 16; the Iowa premiere of Basic Training, Davenport native Kahlil Ashantis award-winning one-person play, on June 17 and 19; and A Punk Rock Show, benefiting the Domestic Violence Intervention Program (DVIP), on June 24, featuring several bands, including Dave Zollo and the Body Electric, and Mark Noltes band, City Park.

A champagne open house, complete with a ribbon cutting, is in the works for July, on a day when people will be out and about for a farmers market or similar event. Leslie Nolte envisions having the theaters doors open so the celebration can leak out into the street, with music changing every hour or so.

The idea is to jump right into the Northside and have people walk in and out and see what we are, she said.

The theater is named in honor of her father, James Bartnick of Arlington Heights, Ill. A huge supporter of all of his daughters endeavors, hell be coming over this summer to see the new facility.

The Noltes envision The James Theater as a community performance space, versatile enough to welcome dance, music and theater productions, as well as vocal and dance recitals, parties, seminars, receptions, workshops and art installations.

The theaters flexibility includes 121 permanent blue velvet seats on retractable risers that can fold away like gymnasium bleachers to create a large studio workshop space.

Theatrical drapes can further define the performance space into various stage depths and even create a proscenium to frame the stage. And if a presenter wants to bring audiences closer to the action, more chairs can be placed on the floor. For a dance party or other standing-room-only event, capacity caps out at 240.

The lobby creates a dynamic first impression, with black and white geometric wallpaper on accent walls and dark gray paint on the gallery walls. Amber lighting fixtures cast a warm glow, and an ornate curved bar with subtle pops of teal immediately draw the eye. Leslie Nolte credits the look to Lisa Fender and Sarah Graf from evolve staging & design in Coralville.

Down the hall, a whimsical giant raccoon face covers the entrances to new mens and womens restrooms. It mirrors the raccoon that Iowa City muralist Ryan Bentzinger painted outside the theater in October.

The raccoon is known as the original masked player, which feeds itself into all kinds of theatrical things, Leslie Nolte said.   And then it was super cool to bring outdoor art and indoor art with Ryan into the space, just to give us something that truly is unique, that nobody else has. Weve got raccoon eyes on our bathroom doors. We are one-of-a-kind in that way.

Art displayed on the opposite lobby wall will greet visitors through July 31. Alicia Browns Jazz Suite x 5 and other works dovetails nicely with the June 11 jazz concert.

Leslie Nolte is especially thrilled to have Browns work christen the gallery, since Brown was her ballet professor and mentor at the University of Iowa.

So to have Alicias art be the first on our gallery wall is a full circle of awesome, Leslie Nolte said.

The James has two full-time employees now  Zoe Fruchter, director of operations, and Julia Corbett, technical director. The Noltes are in the process of hiring a programming director and eight part-time employees. Soon theyll have to replace Fruchter, who is moving home to Brooklyn, N.Y., to be closer to family.

Its been the most incredible project to be a part of, said Fruchter, a graduate of Grinnell College. I feel so lucky to have seen how much this has grown, and to be able to work here.

While tackling such a huge project during the pandemic gave the Noltes down time to figure things out, supply chain snags pushed back deadlines and opening dates. Rising costs and construction delays doubled the initial $250,000 budget to $550,000, and in the end, shot it even higher, to a number the couple declined to reveal.

One of the biggest tasks was chipping out the existing stage to create a level playing field to accommodate multiple uses. That process, which involved a crane, was slow going.

It really was like watching paint dry, Leslie Nolte said. And then there was a hole that we were looking down into the depths of the earth. And then it was a floor. I mean, it was unbelievable.

When contractors didnt want to tackle the sprung floor layer, the project turned into a family affair.

The night before Thanksgiving, all seven of us were here putting foam blocks on the bottom of four by eight sheets of plywood, said Mark Nolte, who has installed those floors before. Thats the kind of family traditions that we have.

The project wasnt a one-day task, and Pat Gilpin, whose family owns the building, brought along some tools and a couple of friends to spend three days working on the floor, Mark Nolte added.

The final big puzzle piece is installing the outdoor signage, designed by MC Ginsberg, then flipping the switch.

When thats lit up, and you can see it all the way down Gilbert Street, Mark Nolte said. Its gonna be cool.
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Phoenix, Las Vegas, Denver and California's Death Valley all posted record temperatures on Saturday, as dangerous heat swept across the American Southwest.

The National Weather Service in Phoenix reported a temperature of 114 degrees Fahrenheit (46 degrees Celsius), tying the record high for the date set back in 1918.

Las Vegas tied a record for the day set in 1956, with temperatures soaring to 109 F (43 C). The National Weather Service said there was a chance the high temperatures in both cities could rise even more.

In Colorado, Denver hit 100 F (38 C), tying a record set in 2013 for both the high temperature and the earliest calendar day to reach 100 F.

Temperatures in several inland areas of California reached triple digits by the afternoon, with a record high for June 11 of 122 F (50 C) reached in Death Valley.

Excessive heat warnings and heat advisories were issued for parts of Northern California through the Central Valley and down to the southeastern deserts.

The National Weather Service also predicted 114 F (46 C) in Palm Springs and temperatures around 100F (38 C) across the San Joaquin Valley and the Sacramento area.

Heat was expected to extend to inland portions of the San Francisco Bay Area but most of the California coastal zones remained free of heat advisories.

The scorching heat in Northern California was expected to subside Saturday evening. Heat advisories in parts of Southern California were extended through Sunday.

Meteorologists warned of very high heat risk in south-central Arizona through the weekend. The high temperatures were likely to approach record-breaking territory  anywhere between 110 F (43 C) and 115 F (46 C). They have urged the public to limit outdoor activities.

Parts of New Mexico and Texas also were also to see triple-digits.

Heat is part of the normal routine of summertime in the desert, but weather forecasters say that doesnt mean people should feel at ease. Excessive heat causes more deaths in the U.S. than other weather-related disasters, including hurricanes, floods and tornadoes combined.

Scientists say more frequent and intense heat waves are likely in the future because of climate change and a deepening drought.
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (AP)  Police have identified the three people who were killed in a Tennessee mass shooting last weekend that also injured 14 others.

Chattanooga Police on Friday said the three people who died are Darian Hixson, Myrakle Moss and Kevin Brown. Police have said that 14 of the 17 victims in the June 5 shooting were hit by gunfire and another three were hit by vehicles while trying to flee the scene.

Of the three who died, two were killed by gunfire and one was killed by a vehicle. Police did not specify the individual causes of death while naming those who died.

Sixteen of the victims were adults and one was a juvenile, police have said. Obituary listings say Hixson was 24, Moss was 25 and Brown was 35.

Authorities have arrested Garrian King on a weapons charge in the shooting. He is charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm, according to court records.

An affidavit filed in U.S. District Court in Chattanooga said King was seen on security camera video exiting a stolen Chevrolet Suburban just after 2 a.m. on June 5 across the street from Marys Bar & Grill. King was one of a group of three men, two of whom have not been publicly identified by authorities. One of the men wore a mask and carried an AR pistol, according to the affidavit.

The shooting occurred outside the view of the surveillance camera, but the affidavit said King was later recorded holding the gun and getting into a white Land Rover that left the area. The Land Rover was located at Kings home Wednesday, according to the affidavit. King admitted to officers that he purchased the gun on May 28. He claimed to have resold it, but the affidavit says officers were able to trace the guns location and believe that King lied about selling it.

At the time of the shooting, King was on supervised release for a 2017 conviction of being a felon in possession of ammunition. He was being held without bond after his Wednesday arrest.

The shooting came one week after six juveniles were wounded during an exchange of gunfire in a downtown Chattanooga business district.
NEWPORT NEWS, Va. (AP)  A Virginia police officer has been arrested on federal charges that he sexually exploited a child.

The Virginian-Pilot reports that Newport News Police Sgt. Michael Nicholas Covey, a 16-year department veteran, was arrested Friday on one count of sexual exploitation of children.

The charge against Covey stems from an investigation in Ohio. Authorities found child pornography in the possession of a convicted sex offender in Hocking County, Ohio, and linked the images to Covey, according to an FBI agent's affidavit.

The Newport News Police Department said it learned about the investigation of Covey on Thursday. The department said it has placed Covey on paid administrative leave pending the outcome of the investigation.
LONDON (AP)  A British newspaper says Prince Charles has criticized the government's plan to start deporting some asylum-seekers to Rwanda, calling it appalling."

Citing unnamed sources, the Times newspaper reported late Friday that the heir to the British throne is privately opposed to U.K. Prime Minister Boris Johnson's policy to send people to the East African country.

A court ruling has paved the way for the first flight under the controversial deal to leave Tuesday with more than 30 people. Britain plans to send some migrants who arrive in the U.K. as stowaways or in small boats to Rwanda, where their asylum claims will be processed. If successful, they will stay in the African country. Human rights groups have called the idea unworkable and inhumane.

The prince's office neither confirmed nor denied the report.

We would not comment on supposed anonymous private conversations with the Prince of Wales, except to restate that he remains politically neutral," Clarence House said in a statement. Matters of policy are decisions for government.

The new policy threatens to overshadow the upcoming visit by Charles and his wife Camilla to Rwanda later this month to attend a meeting of Commonwealth leaders.

The Times said a source had heard Charles express opposition to the policy several times in private, and that he was more than disappointed by it.

Traditionally, British royals don't get involved in political matters.

As head of state, Charless mother, Queen Elizabeth II, has to remain strictly neutral on political matters and doesn't vote or stand for election, according to the royal familys official website.

However, the 73-year-old prince, who is first in line to the throne, has been an outspoken supporter of various causes, such as campaigning against climate change and plastic pollution in oceans. He has also been accused of meddling in politics by speaking up about property developments he opposed and other issues.
A new film has been pulled from cinemas after being accused of blasphemy.

The Lady of Heaven, directed by Eli King, tells the story of Fatima, the daughter of the prophet Muhammad. Its billed as the first ever film to do so.

Cineworld has now decided to pull the films release after it was met with protests. Executive producer Malik Shlibak claimed that he has received death threats.

Why is The Lady of Heaven so controversial?

The depiction of Islamic prophets in film has long been a controversial topic. While the Quran doesnt outright forbid images of Muhammad, some teachings believe visual depictions of Muslims to be blasphemous.

However, due to a split in the use of different schools of the religion, this has become an extremely divisive subject. Most Sunni Muslims believe these depictions should be prohibited, while Shia Islam typically accepts such depictions if they are done with respect.

The Lady of Heaven received much criticism ahead of its release, with Fars News Agency reporting that a number of renowned Islamic scholars have criticised the film for poor background research and inflammatory content.

Criticism of the film is largely focused on the depictions of several supporting characters, including the Prophet Muhammads companions, Abu Bakr As-Sadiq, Umar Ibn Al-Khattab and Uthman Ibn Affan.

UK Islamic Media organisation 5Pillars condemened these depictions as shocking and disgusting after it is suggested there are similarities between their actions and the actions of those of the Islamic State group in Iraq.

Poster for controversial new film The Lady of Heaven (Enlightened Kingdom)

The Iranian government banned The Lady of Heaven from being released, stating it was aimed at dividing Muslims. Ahead of the UK protests, eight Shia scholars in the country criticised the film, saying that it would heighten sectarian tensions between Muslims.

Protesters outside Cineworld claimed freedom of expression should not extend to the discussion of religion, with one saying: You have no right to tell us our history. We will not let this film go on further.

Story continues

Last weekend, hundreds of people turned out to protest the films release in Bradford, Bolton, Birmingham and Sheffield.

Those who have seen the film report that it begins with Isiss invasion of Iraq and features a graphic jihadist murder, before charting the life of Fatima during the seventh century. In the film, Fatimas face is never seen; instead, she is covered by a black veil.

Following the protests, a Cineworld spokesperson said: Due to recent incidents related to screenings of The Lady of Heaven, we have made the decision to cancel upcoming screenings of the film nationwide to ensure the safety of our staff and customers.

On the website of the films production company Enlightened Kingdom, a note reads: In accordance with Islamic tradition, during the making of this film, no individual represented a Holy Personality.

Cineworld has cancelled screenings of The Lady of Heaven after protests (Shutterstock / Chaz Bharj)

The performances of the Holy Personalities were achieved through a unique synthesis of actors, in-camera effects, lighting and visual effects.

In a statement on Sunday (5 June), the Muslim Council of Britain called the film "divisive", stating: "[We] support those scholars and leaders who are advocating for greater unity and for the common good. There are some  including many of this film's supporters or those engaging in sectarianism in their response  whose primary goal is to fuel hatred.

As of writing, the film is available to watch in Vue cinemas, with a representative stating: Vue takes seriously the responsibilities that come with providing a platform for a wide variety of content and believes in showcasing films of interest to diverse communities across the UK.

Decisions about how long a film remains on show are taken on a site-by-site basis and based on a variety of commercial and operational factors.

Its statement came after a rep was forced to deny cancelling screenings of found footage horror film Dashcam for being too offensive.
SAVANNAH, Ga. (AP)  On a warm May day, Sissy Hoffman steps out of the car with a bag of goodies.

In one hand, she holds a basket with peanuts, and in the other, she has mulberries. But before she can gain her composure, a toddler runs out of home yelling Bibi, or grandma.

She and the young child embrace.

Sharing a smile, Hoffman says this is the best job she has had since retirement. When I retire, I want to work with refugee children, she said. This is really the crowning glory.

Hoffman, 70, has spent nine months helping an Afghan refugee family adjust to life in America through the Inspiritus First Families Mentorship program. The program includes teaching English, introducing them to American customs and necessities and providing instruction on how to accomplish daily tasks such as crafting an email.

Inspiritus is a non-profit agency that provides individuals whose lives have been disrupted with resources and basic needs to help re-acclimate them to their community. The agency also provides refugees with resettlement efforts such as securing housing, employment and legal services through their refugee services.

Born and raised in Savannah, Hoffman taught for 40 years before retiring in 2018. Previously, she taught in California and worked with special education students and immigrants.

I always knew I wanted to become a teacher ever since the second grade when they let us go and read to the younger children, she said. I enjoyed that.

In 1996, she was given only six months to live after a mesothelioma diagnosis but is still here and continues to serve her community.

Hoffman said three events in her life inspired her to serve: the Holocaust, World War II and the Vietnam War. She said her family members escaped Europe during the Holocaust.

They were refugees, and many of those perished in the Holocaust. Those who survived were helped by individuals unknown to them.

During her second year of teaching in 1971, she remembers the last group of Vietnamese refugees coming over to America to escape the war. That sparked her interest in helping new Americans, so she taught them English as a second language. When the United States withdrew from Afghanistan in the fall of 2021, she felt the desire to serve again.

Working with people who are in need for whatever particular reason was the way of life and how I was raised.

Hoffman is a mentor to a family of five children: three boys and two girls. She said the family came to the Savannah area in September.

Greeting each other with hugs, that is how Hoffman and her family show love. Her grandchildren live in Washington D.C., while the childrens grandparents are in Afghanistan.

I call them my grandchildren and they call me grandma. They call me Bibi (which translates to lady of rank) and they would hug me around my legs, she said.

She said their father works as an interpreter for the United States. The father speaks English, Pashto and Dari. Two of the older children also speak some English.

This is my the first experience (working with an Afghan family), Hoffman said. The kids are so cute, and the mother wearing a customary headscarf hugged me she cried to think about what she has gone through (leaving the Kabul airport).

One Afghan teenager, Amin, calls Hoffman grandma because of the love she has shared while helping his family adjust to American culture. Amin remembers going to a local Kroger for the first time to buy groceries and applying for a job. When the teen was having a hard time in school, Hoffman helped him with his grades.

She has helped us very much, she is kind and honest, he said. She helped us with everything, and we appreciate her.

In March, Amin and his siblings participated in their first St. Patricks Day festival in Savannah. He has also enjoyed learning Savannah street names and visited local museums as way to learn about American culture.

We are Americans now, he said.

Marwa and Farahnaz said their favorite activity was shopping for birthday supplies such as cakes, decorations and dresses. Both girls also enjoyed going to Lake Mayer to feed the ducks while having pizza and a Pepsi.

A few months ago, Hoffman, along with Coastal Middle School staff and students, collected 300 preschool age and early reader books for Afghan refugees. She said the goal is teaching literacy skills.

Wherever you are, that is your library, she said.

Now she has been helping the kids get signed-up for Savannah-Chatham schools EMBRACESummer program, which is designed to help students catch up on subjects they may have missed over the course of the school year. Recently, Farahnaz was accepted into a marine science summer program at Georgia Southern University.

She is excited to go on the boat for the first time, but Hoffman wants to join in for the fun. She will continue to help the children and other members of the family adjust with daily outings and their English skills.

Look what I am doing, it exceeds anything I could have done in the classroom, she said.

She said working with English language learners was a dream job before she was forced to retire, and the last few months have been worthwhile.

So the surprise of it all is that I did get to have my dream retirement job after all, she said. I get to work with refugees, but not how I originally had planned.
WALLINGFORD, Conn. (AP)  A monument in Wallingford honoring local Vietnam veterans has been the target of two acts of vandalism, police said.

A swastika was recently found spray painted across the names of veterans on the monument in Dutton Park, police told WTIC-TV. That incident followed another in which vandals painted the word die on one side of the and a depiction of male genitalia on the other.
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DALLAS (AP)  There is little evidence that gasoline prices, which hit a record $5 a gallon on Saturday, will drop anytime soon.

Rising prices at the pump are a key driver in the highest inflation that Americans have seen in 40 years.

Everyone seems to have a favorite villain for the high cost of filling up.

Some blame President Joe Biden. Others say it's because Russian President Vladimir Putin recklessly invaded Ukraine. It's not hard to find people, including Democrats in Congress, who accuse the oil companies of price gouging.

As with many things in life, the answer is complicated.

WHAT IS HAPPENING?

Gasoline prices have been surging since April 2020, when the initial shock of the pandemic drove prices under $1.80 a gallon, according to government figures. They hit $3 in May 2021 and cruised past $4 this March.

On Saturday, the nationwide average for a gallon ticked just above $5, a record, according to auto club AAA, which has tracked prices for years. The average price jumped 18 cents in the previous week, and was $1.92 higher than this time last year.

State averages ranged from $6.43 a gallon in California to $4.52 in Mississippi.

WHY IS THIS HAPPENING?

Several factors are coming together to push gasoline prices higher.

Global oil prices have been rising  unevenly, but sharply overall  since December. The price of international crude has roughly doubled in that time, with the U.S. benchmark rising nearly as much, closing Friday at more than $120 a barrel.

Russia's invasion of Ukraine and the resulting sanctions by the United States and its allies have contributed to the rise. Russia is a leading oil producer.

The United States is the world's largest oil producer, but U.S. capacity to turn oil into gasoline is down 900,000 barrels of oil per day since the end of 2019, according to the Energy Department.

Tighter oil and gasoline supplies are hitting as energy consumption rises because of the economic recovery.

Finally, Americans typically drive more starting around Memorial Day, adding to the demand for gasoline.

WHAT CAN BE DONE TO GET MORE OIL?

Analysts say there are no quick fixes; it's a matter of supply and demand, and supply can't be ramped up overnight.

If anything, the global oil supply will grow tighter as sanctions against Russia take hold. European Union leaders have vowed to ban most Russian oil by the end of this year.

The U.S. has already imposed a ban even as Biden acknowledged it would affect American consumers. He said the ban was necessary so that the U.S. does not subsidize Russias war in Ukraine. Defending freedom is going to cost, he declared.

The U.S. could ask Saudi Arabia, Venezuela or Iran to help pick up the slack for the expected drop in Russian oil production, but each of those options carries its own moral and political calculations.

Republicans have called on Biden to help increase domestic oil production  for example, by allowing drilling on more federal lands and offshore, or reversing his decision to revoke a permit for a pipeline that could carry Canadian oil to Gulf Coast refineries.

However, many Democrats and environmentalists would howl if Biden took those steps, which they say would undercut efforts to limit climate change. Even if Biden ignored a big faction of his own party, it would be months or years before those measures could lead to more gasoline at U.S. service stations.

At the end of March, Biden announced another tapping of the nation's Strategic Petroleum Reserve to bring down gasoline prices. The average price per gallon has jumped 77 cents since then, which analysts say is partly because of a refining squeeze.

WHY IS U.S. REFINING DOWN?

Some refineries that produce gasoline, jet fuel, diesel and other petroleum products shut down during the first year of the pandemic, when demand collapsed. While a few are expected to boost capacity in the next year or so, others are reluctant to invest in new facilities because the transition to electric vehicles will reduce demand for gasoline over the long run.

The owner of one of the nations largest refineries, in Houston, announced in April that it will close the facility by the end of next year.

WHO IS HURTING?

Higher energy prices hit lower-income families the hardest. Workers in retail and the fast-food industry can't work from home  they must commute by car or public transportation.

The National Energy Assistance Directors Association estimates that the 20% of families with the lowest income could be spending 38% of their income on energy including gasoline this year, up from 27% in 2020.

WHEN WILL IT END?

It could be up to motorists themselves  by driving less, they would reduce demand and put downward pressure on prices.

There has got to be some point where people start cutting back, I just don't know what the magic point is, said Patrick De Haan, an analyst for the gas-shopping app GasBuddy. Is it going to be $5? Is it going to be $6, or $7? That's the million-dollar question that nobody knows.

HOW ARE DRIVERS COPING?

On Saturday morning at a BP station in Brooklyn, New York, computer worker Nick Schaffzin blamed Putin for the $5.45 per gallon he was shelling out and said he will make sacrifices to pay the price.

You just cut back on some other things  vacations, discretionary stuff, stuff that's nice to have but you don't need, he said. "Gas you need.

At the same station, George Chen said he will have to raise the prices he charges his customers for film production to cover the gas he burns driving around New York City. He acknowledged that others aren't so fortunate.

It's going to be painful for people who don't get pay increases right away, he said. I can only imagine the families who can't afford it."

___

Julie Walker in Brooklyn, New York, contributed to this report.
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP)  More than two months after being impacted by a huge wildfire, the Village of Ruidoso is looking to make a tourism comeback.

The Albuquerque Journal reported Friday that Ruidoso and the state Tourism Department are jointly earmarking $150,000 to help lure visitors to the southern New Mexico community.
GASTONIA, N.C. (AP)  A 17-year-old boy has been charged in a shooting that wounded three people at a North Carolina mall, police said.

Two men and a woman were taken to a hospital with injuries that were not life-threatening after they were shot in the parking lot of the Eastridge Mall in Gastonia on Friday, according to Police Chief Travis Brittain.
NUNN, Colo. (AP)  A Texas 18-year-old was charged with first-degree murder Friday in the stabbing of her baby after giving birth on her own while visiting Colorado with family, prosecutors said.

Leiyla Cepeda told an investigator the baby was quiet and not moving and did not seem to be breathing when she was born but declined to explain why the baby had stab wounds, according to court documents. In an interview with her mother present, Cepeda said she thought she had been pregnant but was not sure, explaining that a pregnancy test she had taken about three to four months before was negative.
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Texas first case of monkeypox, a rare viral disease related to smallpox, was confirmed in a Dallas County resident on June 7 after the patient recently traveled internationally, returning from Mexico. Now, Mexican public health officials are saying the man ignored doctors advice to stay in the country and isolate and instead boarded a plane to Dallas, according to reporting from FOX 4 News Dallas-Fort Worth.

The 48-year-old man started showing symptoms of the disease on May 30 in Puerto Vallarta, FOX 4 reported. He visited a hospital but refused to give the doctors samples and ignored their orders not to fly back to the U.S., according to the article.
After conducting more than 1,000 interviews and collecting nearly 150,000 documents related to the Jan. 6 insurrection on the U.S. Capitol, the Jan. 6 committee held its first public hearing that was broadcast on live television and across various social media platforms June 9.

The hearing shined a light on far-right extremist groups, specifically the Proud Boys and Oath Keepers, both of which had members charged in the conspiracy to seige the Capitol in an attempt to prevent the confirmation of President Joe Biden.

The nine-member Jan. 6 Committee was largely formed through a party-line vote July 1, 2021, has seven Democrats and two Republicans, and is chaired by Rep. Bennie Thompson of Mississippi. Thompson in his opening statement drew a correlation between growing up in a state known for its racism and the events and people involved in the insurrection.

"I am from a part of the country where people justify the actions of slavery, the Ku Klux Klan and lynching," Thompson said. "I am reminded of that dark history as I hear voices today try to justify the actions of the insurrectionists on Jan. 6, 2021."

Thompson said the oath that literally all members of Congress swore to uphold was challenged Jan. 6, 2021 when former President Donald Trump tried to prevent the peaceful transfer of power to his successor as all presidents have done since President Abraham Lincoln.

"Donald Trump lost the presidential election in 2020," Thompson said. "The American people voted him out of office. It was not because of a rigged system. It was not because of voter fraud. Dont believe me? Hear what his former attorney general had to say about it."

The committee then cut to a recording of former Trump Attorney General William Barr. Barr said Trump was adamant there was fraud, and his disagreement with Trump contributed to his decision to vacate the position.

"Donald Trump had his days in court to challenge the results," Thompson said. "He was within his rights to seek those judgments. In the United States, law-abiding citizens have those tools for pursuing justice. He lost in the courts just as he did at the ballot box. And in this country, thats the end of the line."

"Donald Trump was at the center of this conspiracy," he later said.

Thompson said many members of Congress wanted an independent investigation of the insurrection, but claimed it was stopped by the members of the GOP.

Following Thompson's address at the start of the first hearing, Rep. Liz Cheney, a Republican, provided an opening statement. Cheney cited Trump's tweet at 6:01 p.m. following the insurrection in which he not only didn't condemn the actions of the mob, but defended it.

Cheney said despite the urging of "his staff, family and many advisors, Trump refused to instruct his supporters to stand down and evacuate the Capitol."

"Tonight, you will see never-before-seen footage of the brutal attack on our Capitol, an attack that unfolded while, a few blocks away, President Trump sat watching television in his dining room off the Oval Office," Cheney said. "You will hear audio from the brave police officers battling for their lives and ours, fighting to defend our democracy, against a violent mob Donald Trump refused to call off."

"Tonight and in the weeks to come, you will see evidence of what motivated this violence, including directly from those who participated in this attack," she continued. "You will see video of them explaining what caused them to do it. You will see their posts on social media."

For the next hour and a half the hearings continued to show video, testimony and other evidence of the attack on the Capitol.

The hearings will continue to take place over the next couple weeks, with the next hearing scheduled for June 13, at 10 a.m.
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LONDON (AP)  The family of a British man condemned to death for fighting for Ukraine said it is devastated by the outcome of what it termed a show trial" and called Saturday for him to be released and accorded the treatment an international human rights convention guarantees prisoners of war.

A court in the separatist-proclaimed Donetsk Peoples Republic of Ukraine convicted two British fighters and one Moroccan on Thursday of seeking the violent overthrow of power, an offense punishable by death in the eastern territory controlled by Moscow-backed rebels.

The men were also convicted of mercenary activities and terrorism.

Our whole family is devastated and saddened at the outcome of the illegal show trial, the family of one of the British men, Shaun Pinner, said.

A statement issued by Britains Foreign Office on behalf of Pinner's family said the 48-year-old had been a resident of Ukraine for four years.

We sincerely hope that all parties will cooperate urgently to ensure the safe release or exchange of Shaun. Our family, including his son and Ukrainian wife, love and miss him so much and our hearts go out to all the families involved in this awful situation, the statement said.

The family also described Pinner as a proud contracted serving marine in the 36th Brigade, a Ukrainian naval infantry division that helped defend the besieged southern port city of Mariupol before it was captured by Russian forces.

As a member of the brigade, Pinner should be accorded all the rights of a prisoner of war according to the Geneva Convention and including full independent legal representation, the family said.

Ukraine and the West have denounced the proceedings in the unrecognized Donetsk republic as a sham and a violation of the rules of war.

The pro-Russia separatists said Saturday they were preparing to also try a South Korean citizen who had fought on the side of Ukraine, but that the man had escaped. They said they still wanted to have him tried in South Korea, but it was not clear how that could happen.

Ukraine has called on foreigners to join their resistance to Russia's invasion, and some have answered that call, though not all have been accepted in Ukraine's foreign legion.

The Czech Republics foreign minister, Jan Lipavsky, said Saturday that a Czech citizen died in the Donetsk region in Ukraine  the first reported Czech fatality among the foreign volunteers.

___

Follow AP's coverage of the Russia-Ukraine war at https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine
Let me start by saying, I LOVE LIBRARIES. I was fortunate enough to be appointed to the Columbus Public Library Board of Trustees about nine months ago, which is a great honor for me since libraries have been a very important part of my life ever since I was a little boy.

I grew up in McCook, Nebraska, and my favorite summer activity (other than the city pool) involved me hopping on my bike and burning the tires off zig-zagging through town from my family house across from St. Pats, through Norris Park to the McCook Public Library, skidding to a stop under the three extraterrestrial toadstools, jamming my bike into the rack (sans lock, because thats the kind of place McCook was) and running to open the door.

Inside I was regaled with all manner of wonders. I read about superheroes and the founding fathers. I read about science and science fiction. I read mysteries and mythology. I was part of the Book-It generation, where reading was directly tied to free pizza, an irresistible temptation for most kids.

In high school, I combed the shelves for classics, and not just the required reading for my classes. I found The Iliad and The Odyssey, and began binge-reading Stephen King, finishing his entire catalog (at the time) by the time I graduated.

When I went to college, I worked at the music library at UNL where we cared for a large collection of musical scores and recordings, in addition to books about music history and music theory.

Finally, at Law School I worked at the Schmid Law Library for the last two years of my law school career. Being a student librarian gave me such an advantage in being able to use written resources for research.

Now, as a married father of three, the library has given our family so many tools to help teach my children and instill a love of not only reading, but learning and searching for answers about the world around them. The resources available at the library have also continued to grow and change with the world around us.

The library is no longer just a repository for books. Your library card also unlocks a vast universe of information and services, many of which you can access from your desk, kitchen table, or even your phone.

Interested in reading the newest bestseller? You can probably borrow it to read on your tablet without making the trek downtown. Online resources such as Hoopla and Libby (OverDrive) grant library users access to millions of books, graphic novels, record albums, and even movies and television shows using the internet. For free.

Interested in genealogy? DIY car repair? Learning a new language or starting a small business? The library can give you access to resources that normally can become pretty pricey anywhere else. The cost? Free.

I have always loved libraries because of the vast world of information and knowledge they give us access to. If you havent been to our library in a while, why wait a year for the new building to be done? Come down and learn what our Columbus Public Library has to offer for you and your family.

Timothy Matas is a board member of the Columbus Public Library.

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JACKSON, Miss. (AP)  The only woman on Mississippi death row can go to state court to challenge her conviction and sentence, a federal judge has ruled.

Lisa Jo Chamberlin, 49, intends to argue she has received ineffective legal representation, according to a ruling issued June 1 by U.S. District Judge Carlton Reeves.

Chamberlin is in the women's maximum-security unit at Central Mississippi Correctional Facility. She was sentenced to death in 2006 after being convicted on two counts of capital murder in the 2004 killing of two people in Hattiesburg.

She appealed the verdict and sentence, and both were affirmed by the Mississippi Supreme Court in 2008.

In 2015, Reeves ordered a new trial for Chamberlin, who is white, after her attorneys argued Black people had been improperly dismissed from the pool of potential jurors. A panel of the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals initially agreed with Reeves' ruling. But in 2018, the full appeals court returned Chamberlin to death row, ruling that allegations of racial bias were insufficient to reverse her sentence. She has remained in prison, including during the appeal of the 2015 ruling.

Evidence showed Linda Heintzelman and her boyfriend, Vernon Hulett were killed after they argued with Chamberlin and her then-boyfriend, Roger Gillett, at a home they all shared.

Hulett was hit in the head with a hammer and his throat was slashed. Heintzelman was abandoned after being strangled and stabbed.

When her assailants returned to find Heintezlman was still breathing, she was suffocated with plastic bags. Hulett was decapitated. The bodies were stuffed in a freezer and taken to Kansas, where Gillett and Chamberlin were arrested after state agents raided an abandoned farm house near the city of Russell.

Gillett, now 48, also was convicted of two counts of capital murder and initially received a death sentence. His sentence also was overturned, and he was later resentenced to life in prison without parole. He is in the Mississippi State Penitentiary at Parchman.

Chamberlin filed the federal appeal in her case in 2011. While her appeal was pending, the Mississippi Supreme Court ruled in another inmate's case in 2013 that it would recognize a state right to effective post-conviction legal representation in death penalty cases even years after the initial post-conviction petition was decided, Reeves wrote in his June 1 order. That creates the path for Chamberlin's next appeal in state court.

Chamberlins ineffectiveness claims will be dependent, at least in part, on the facts, and the Mississippi Supreme Court has demonstrated a willingness to review such claims when they return from this Court, Reeves wrote.

Appeals in death penalty cases typically last several years. Reeves wrote that he is sympathetic to the States frustration" at delays in Chamberlin's case.

Much of the reason for the recent delay is the difficulty in conducting an investigation during the pandemic; a situation that has affected almost all of the cases on this Courts docket, he wrote.

Reeves wrote that he will monitor Chamberlin's case to ensure she pursues the new state court appeal in a timely manner.
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TEHRAN, Iran (AP)  Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro and Iran's hard-line president signed a 20-year cooperation agreement Saturday, a day after Maduro praised the Islamic Republic for sending badly needed fuel to his nation despite U.S. sanctions.

In an interview with President Maduro after his arrival in Tehran for a two-day visit, Iranian state media reported late Friday that Maduro hailed Irans move to send fuel tankers to his energy-hungry nation.

Tehrans delivery of oil to Caracas was a great help to the Venezuelan people, he said.

Maduro's first visit to Iran comes amid tensions across the Middle East over the collapse of Irans nuclear deal with world powers. U.S. sanctions and rising global food prices are choking Irans ailing economy, putting further pressure on its government and its people.

A high-ranking political and economic delegation from Venezuela  which like Iran is under heavy U.S. sanctions  is accompanying Maduro on his visit, following an invitation from hard-line President Ebrahim Raisi.

In a joint press conference Saturday, Raisi and Maduro signed a 20-year agreement to expand ties in the oil and petrochemical industries, the military and the economy.

Iranian English-language PressTV quoted Maduro before the news conference as saying the two men would meet to discuss the need to well inform the Iranian and Venezuelan nations about the war of sanctions and find ways to counter them with steadfastness.

Maduro said Venezuela and Iran are united by a common vision on international issues and are both victims of coercive measures by the United States and its allies.

Caracas and Tehran have shaped the strategy of (a) resistance economy and are working to expand it, he said.

On his website, Khamenei said that the successful experience of the two countries showed that the only way to face the United States pressures and wars is to resist. He thanked Maduro and the people of Venezuela for their resistance, saying that today, the United States views Venezuela differently.

Maduro is on a Eurasia tour after President Joe Biden decided not to invite him to the Summit of the Americas, which began Thursday. His stops earlier this week included Algeria and Turkey.

Turkey is one of a handful of places around the world  Russia and Iran are among them  where Maduro is welcome amid U.S. sanctions on his country.

Venezuela, Cuba and Nicaragua were not invited to the summit by the Biden administration due to their authoritarianism and human rights violations. That decision led to Mexicos president announcing he would not attend.

Raisi praised Maduro as a leader who has shown a policy of fighting against imperialism and has achieved a good position by overcoming sanctions and threats.

Maduro announced that a direct flight between Tehran and Caracas would begin next month.

The semi-official Tasnim news agency later reported that Iran had delivered the oil tanker Aframax-2 to Venezuelan officials, the second of four vessels Iran was contracted to build for the South American country.

Amid rising tensions with the West, Iran has started removing 27 surveillance cameras from nuclear sites across the country, the head of the U.N. atomic watchdog said Thursday. He warned this could deal a fatal blow to the tattered nuclear deal as Tehran enriches uranium closer than ever to weapons-grade levels.

That development came a day after the International Atomic Energy Agencys board of governors censured Tehran for failing to provide credible information over manufactured nuclear material found at three undeclared sites in the country.

Iran's currency dropped to its lowest value ever after the censure  to 327,500 rials to the dollar.
By Dania Kalaji

Bay City News Foundation

Ancient Egypt is migrating its way to the Golden (Gate) City -- minus the pyramids, Saharan desert sands, River Nile and blazing summer heat.

San Francisco's de Young Museum announced this week that it will host the touring "Ramses the Great and the Gold of Pharaohs" exhibition from Aug. 20 to Feb. 12, transporting museum goers back 3,200 years. This is the first new exhibition dedicated to Egyptian king Ramses II in 30 years, and the first to be presented in San Francisco.

More than 180 newly discovered gold and silver treasures including royal statues, sarcophagi, masks, jewelry and ornate golden tomb objects will be on display -- most of which have never left Egypt before.

Ramses the Great was the third king of the 19th dynasty of ancient Egypt and reigned from 1279 to 1190 BCE, the second longest reign in Egyptian history. He erected more monuments and statues than any other pharaoh and is considered the "height" of Egypt's power and glory.

The troves of work and art come from royal tombs of the 12th dynasty, about 600 to 700 years before Ramses II and of the 21st and 22nd dynasties, about 200 to 300 years after him.

Thomas P. Campbell, director and CEO of the Fine Arts Museum of San Francisco said these "rarely seen" treasures are on an international tour and will soon return to Egyptian museums and they will likely not travel again for decades. The exhibition is currently on display at the Houston Museum of Natural Science until June 19.

"Ramses II is considered to be the greatest king ever to rule Egypt," says Egypt's secretary-general of the Supreme Council of Antiquities, Dr Mostafa Waziri. "This exhibition will illuminate the pivotal moments that earned the great pharaoh his place in history, while bringing visitors face-to-face with absolutely stunning Egyptian artifacts."

Although treasures from Ramses the Great's tomb in the Valley of Kings will not be present, as it was plundered in ancient times, the exhibition makes use of artifacts from other royal tombs like archaeological sites Dahshur and Tanis.

On view for the first time, the grand installation also includes newly discovered animal mummies like small cats, lion cubs and a mongoose from the Saqqara necropolis.

Drone photography, immersive video, multimedia production and photomurals re-create the life and accomplishments of Ramses the Great, including his monumental building projects and triumph at the Battle of Kadesh against the Hittite Empire.

The exhibition offers a virtual reality component called "Ramses and Nefertari: Journey to Osiris," which will be installed in the museum's Piazzoni Murals Room and available for an extra charge.

"Ramses the Great and the Gold of the Pharaohs" is one of the most remarkable exhibitions to ever tour the globe, and it is a true honor for it to visit the great city of San Francisco and the de Young museum. We encourage patrons from across the region, and the country, to make it a point to come and see this splendid display," Waziri said.

The new de Young exhibition follows the popular "Tutankhamun and the Golden Age of the Pharaohs" display back in 2009, which featured over 130 objects from the tomb of King Tut. Tut reigned in the 18th Egyptian dynasty and Ramses the Great followed directly after.

Tickets go on sale July 6, but museum members can purchase as early as June 22. For more information, visit https://deyoung.famsf.org/.

Copyright  2022 Bay City News, Inc. All rights reserved. Republication, rebroadcast or redistribution without the express written consent of Bay City News, Inc. is prohibited. Bay City News is a 24/7 news service covering the greater Bay Area.

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Rya Jetha

Bay City News Foundation

Students led a gun control protest in downtown Redwood City on Saturday morning, one of several taking place around the Bay Area and more than 450 nationwide as part of the March For Our Lives movement.

Students Kaaya Minocha, Lily Arangio, Nicholas Kwok and Christopher Kwok, all of whom have been involved in March For Our Lives since its inception after the 2018 school shooting in Parkland, Florida, organized and led the event in Redwood City.

"This movement stands with the masses," organizer Nicholas Kwok of Sequoia High School said in an interview. "We're rallying up our local area in support of Washington to create federal changes. We have states changing, but we need big federal change to prevent massacres in our schools."

Chanting "What are we marching for? Our lives!" and "Hey, hey, ho, ho, the NRA has got to go," marchers made their way through downtown Redwood City as passing cars honked in encouragement.

"We're here to support the cause and stand for what's right. We want to be safe in our schools. Both our moms are teachers, which makes this even more important to us," Woodside High School students Chloe Nangle and Julia Lopez said.

Teenagers were also joined by young parents, teachers, and the elderly.

Emily Weaver, pushing her 2-year-old son in a stroller at the march, said she ditched a family day trip to attend the protest.

"I shouldn't have to fear for my child's safety when they're at school. I can't believe that I live in country where this is OK and our politicians don't do anything to stop it. It's been going on since I was kid, and it's got to stop," Weaver said in tears.

Another mother, Sapna Singh, who attended the march with her son, felt emotional at the march.

"I don't want to start crying. This is just too much. But seeing so many people here, at least we are not alone," Singh said.

Marchers returned outside the Redwood City Public Library for music, poetry, and speeches from community members. Sequoia High School teacher Justine Rutigliano kicked off the speeches, urging marchers to rethink gun control.

"In the words of political commentator Van Jones, we have to reframe the issue. It is not pro-gun versus anti-gun, it should be responsible gun owners against irresponsible gun interests," Rutigliano said.

San Carlos Mayor Sara McDowell advocated for all cities of San Mateo County to follow in the footsteps of San Carlos and Redwood City and adopt safe storage ordinances, which require all guns stored at home be kept in a locked container or disabled by a trigger lock.

"According to my sources, the cities that do not have a safe storage ordinance yet [in San Mateo County] are Daly City, Pacifica, Atherton, Woodside, East Palo Alto, and Half Moon Bay," McDowell said. "So if you live in any of those cities, or even if you don't, now is the time to advocate for a safe storage ordinance in those cities."

Mishaal Hussain, a recent graduate of Gunn High School, delivered a rousing speech to the crowd, lambasting Republicans in the U.S. Senate for refusing to act in the face of tragedy.

"If you are a government official who believes that your job is not to respond to tragedy with policy, that there is no use for you to do your jobs of legislating because laws are useless, that American cannot improve itself -- get out of your office and make room for someone who actually believes in government!" Hussain said.

Adults at the march praised students for taking the lead on gun control, emphasizing their faith in the next generation of community leaders.

But Stacey Ashlund, a volunteer member of Moms Demand Action, a grassroots movement advocating for public safety measures that protect people from gun violence, said that there is a role for adult leadership too.

"I love that there's student involvement, but I also know that they are just kids. It shouldn't be their responsibility and that's why I'm here. Kids should be enjoying their lives, and it's our problem as adults to keep on our senators until something changes," Ashlund said.

But 17-year-old student organizer Lily Arangio of St. Francis High School, who has been involved in March For Our Lives since she was 13, said that she is more determined than ever to channel her energy into changing America's gun laws.

"When it comes to gun violence, we know that it's easy for the pain we feel to transform into hopelessness and numbness, but together we can make the change that needs to be made and we can take on the NRA and other lobbyists," Arangio said.

Other March For Our Lives protests planned around the Bay Area on Saturday included ones in San Francisco, Mountain View, Redwood City, Walnut Creek, Benicia, Burlingame, Pacifica, and Sonoma.

Copyright  2022 Bay City News, Inc. All rights reserved. Republication, rebroadcast or redistribution without the express written consent of Bay City News, Inc. is prohibited. Bay City News is a 24/7 news service covering the greater Bay Area.

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The final environmental impact report is now complete for the section between San Francisco and San Jose of California's high-speed rail project.

The California High-Speed Rail Authority released the final report Friday on the possible environmental impacts of the roughly 49-mile northern leg of the rail system, which will extend through major population centers in the Bay Area. The report builds on the previous May approval of the San Jose to Merced project section to complete the environmental analysis stage in Northern California, project spokesperson Anthony Lopez said in a statement.

To reduce adverse environmental impact, the project section will blend with the existing Caltrain system, including using the two-track configuration, incorporating boarding platforms at stations shared with Caltrain, and using existing transportation corridors and rights-of-way, according to the report.

Once it's completed, people will be able to travel between San Francisco and San Jose in about 30 minutes. As the northern Bay Area terminus of the rail system, the project section also helps connect the Bay Area to the rest of the state via San Francisco, San Mateo and Santa Clara counties.

"The capacity of California's intercity transportation system, including San Francisco, the Peninsula, and South Bay, is insufficient to meet existing and future travel demand," said the report.

With a growing population and job opportunities in the region, completing this project section will help keep pace with the increasing commuting demand between San Francisco and the South Bay.

The whole project was kick-started in 2008 when California voters approved a $9.95 billion bond measure to support high-speed rail across the state. It would run from San Diego to Sacramento by design and was initially set to be completed by 2030. The timeline has been extended due to cost overruns and delays.

The San Francisco to San Jose section will consist of three stops, the Fourth and King Street station in San Francisco (interim), the Millbrae BART Station and the Diridon station in San Jose. The northern track is planned to ultimately be extended to the Salesforce Transit Center in San Francisco.

According to the report, the proposed preferred alternative would result in displacements of 14 residential units and three community and public facilities. It may also cause direct impacts on more than 100 acres of habitat for special-status plant species.

The authority's Board of Directors will consider the final document for approval during its two-day board meeting on Aug. 17 and 18.

Friday's Marsh Creek Road fire south of Brentwood is currently at 100 percent containment, Cal Fire announced on Twitter at 5:22 p.m.

It remains at 45 acres.

Fire crews responded Friday afternoon to the second wildfire in as many days in the same area of East Contra Costa County.

Fire officials initially posted on social media shortly after 1:15 p.m. about a 50-acre wildfire in the area of Marsh Creek Road and Walnut Boulevard south of Brentwood.

Nearly an hour later, Cal Fire said a more exact estimate of the blaze is that it has burned 45 acres and was 10 percent contained.

Crews earlier Friday got 100 percent containment on a separate 200-acre wildfire that sparked Thursday afternoon in the same area.

No information about the cause of either fire was immediately available.

Regional rail service in Marin and Sonoma counties will increase by 10 trips every weekday beginning Monday.

The Sonoma-Marin Area Rail Transit District suspended weekend service and many weekday trips in early 2020 in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a press release from the district.

Weekend service has already increased by two trips compared to pre-pandemic schedules, SMART spokesman Matt Stevens said.

Starting Monday, there will be three additional trips for both northbound and southbound service on weekday mornings, and two additional trips in the afternoon in each direction.

The additions are being made to increase usability of the rail service, connect riders to local and regional bus service, and provide connections to the Larkspur Ferry, according to the district.

Stevens said the decision was made in response to increased ridership.

"We're not quite back at pre-pandemic levels, but we're trending in the right direction," Stevens said.

The new southbound morning trips will leave Charles M. Schulz Sonoma County Airport at 4:39 a.m., 6:38 a.m., and 7:42 a.m.

In the afternoon, new southbound trips will leave the airport at 2:53 p.m. and 6:05 p.m.

Additional northbound routes will leave Larkspur at 6:08 a.m., 8:16 a.m., and 9:20 a.m. in the morning, and at 4:31 p.m. and 7:43 p.m. in the afternoon and evening.

"Offering 36 weekday trips gets SMART back to pre-pandemic levels of service, and this will help meet the increasing demand we've been experiencing," said David Rabbitt, chair of the rail district's board of directors.

Vallemar Elementary School in Pacifica was briefly placed on "secure campus" status on June 3 after a parent reported that her nearby teenage child was in a fight with siblings and was armed with a knife, police said on Friday.

The mother had flagged down an officer that was on patrol around 4:05 p.m. and requested assistance with her three teenage children, the Pacifica Police Department said.

Officers located the suspect in the parking lot of the elementary school and arrested him on suspicion of brandishing a deadly weapon and delaying or obstructing an officer, PPD said. He was booked into the San Mateo County Juvenile Detention Facility in San Mateo.

While conducting the investigation, Vallemar School became a "secure campus" for approximately five minutes until it could be determined that there was no threat to students or staff. A "secure campus" is different from a lockdown in that classroom instruction is not halted.

A woman from San Leandro pleaded guilty on Friday in federal court to two counts of distributing fentanyl that resulted in the death of an inmate in Santa Rita Jail in Dublin, the Department of Justice announced.

Kameron Patricia Reid, 38, was incarcerated in May of 2021 and admitted to distributing fentanyl to other inmates; she had hidden the narcotic inside a body cavity, authorities said.

On May 16, 2021, she gave two inmates fentanyl and watched them snort it. Shortly thereafter, they both appeared intoxicated and Victim 1 lapsed into unconsciousness and became motionless near her bunk, the DOJ said. In order to avoid getting in trouble, Reid admitted that she did not notify anyone in the jail that Victim 1 appeared to have overdosed. Instead, she flushed any remaining fentanyl she had down the toilet, she said in her plea agreement.

Eventually another inmate called for assistance for Victim 1 after several hours. Paramedics arrived but she was pronounced dead.

Investigators said that Reid lied to them about her involvement in the woman's death. In her plea agreement, she admitted that the fentanyl that she gave Victim 1 had killed her.

Reid pleaded guilty to two counts of distributing fentanyl and faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison, a life term of supervised release and a fine of $1 million.

She is scheduled to be sentenced in federal court in Oakland on Oct. 28.

A Scott's Valley man pleaded guilty on Thursday to federal charges of defrauding investors in a medical technology company, the Department of Justice said.

Jason Nielsen, 48, was a large shareholder in Arrayit, a publicly traded medical device company based in California. He engaged in what is called "scalping" and "spoofing," which involves manipulating the price of stocks.

Nielsen used online message boards to post false and misleading information about the nature of his trading in Arrayit securities to entice others to buy securities and drive up the stock's price, the DOJ said. He also admitted to placing orders for Arrayit stock that he intended to cancel before execution, in an effort to make it appear that there was a demand for the stock that didn't actually exist. He could then sell his shares at artificially inflated prices.

Nielsen pleaded guilty to one count of securities fraud, the DOJ said. He is facing a maximum sentence of five years in prison. He is scheduled to be sentenced on Oct. 24.

Saturday will be partly cloudy in the morning before becoming sunny. It will be breezy. Highs will be in the 60s to the 70s. West winds will be 10 to 20 mph, increasing to 20 to 30 mph in the afternoon.

Saturday night will be mostly clear before becoming mostly cloudy. It will be breezy. Lows will be in the mid 50s. West winds will be 20 to 30 mph before decreasing to 10 to 20 mph after midnight.

Sunday will be mostly cloudy in the morning before becoming partly cloudy. Highs will be in the upper 50s to the lower 70s. Southwest winds will be 10 to 20 mph.

Copyright  2022 Bay City News, Inc. All rights reserved. Republication, rebroadcast or redistribution without the express written consent of Bay City News, Inc. is prohibited. Bay City News is a 24/7 news service covering the greater Bay Area.

Copyright  2022 by Bay City News, Inc. Republication, Rebroadcast or any other Reuse without the express written consent of Bay City News, Inc. is prohibited.
By Alexandra Garcia

Bay City News Foundation

That our very own Milky Way Galaxy is home to millions -- even billions -- of isolated black holes is an observation that scientists have always believed. But they're extremely hard to detect; in fact, these outer space phenomena are invisible without the light of a neighboring star.

Until now, as University of California at Berkeley scientists may have identified a free-floating black hole roaming the galaxy about 2,200 to 6,200 light-years away. The international team, led by UC Berkeley associate professor Jessica Lu and graduate student Casey Lam, discovered the lone black hole using a method known as gravitational microlensing.

"With microlensing, we're able to probe these lonely, compact objects and weigh them," Lu said, "I think we have opened a new window onto these dark objects, which can't be seen any other way."

Lu and Lam estimate the mass of the compact object to be between 1.6 and 4.4 times the mass of the sun. However, they've also cautioned that the discovery may be a neutron star: a similarly compact stellar object, but one whose balanced gravity prevents it from collapsing into a black hole.

"As much as we would like to say it is definitively a black hole, we must report all allowed solutions. This includes both lower mass black holes and possibly even a neutron star," Lu said.

No matter if it's a black hole or a neutron star, Lu's research still surrounds the first "ghost" star wandering the galaxy without a bright companion.

NASA reports that this discovery has allowed astronomers to estimate the nearest isolated black hole to Earth as close as 80 light-years away.

Black holes are widely thought to be the leftover remnants following the death of a star; their gravitational pull is so strong that it warps spacetime, and their presence can only be deduced through microlensing events that speculate how it distorts the light of distant background stars, according to NASA. Prolonged microlensing events that capture the changing brightness of stars for over 200 days indicate the gravitational influence of a black hole.

Locating black holes through microlensing is an extremely rare event, like searching for a needle in a haystack. Only about 1 percent of microlensing events are due to black holes, Lam says, but identifying very long events can help this search.

"How long the brightening event lasts is a hint of how massive the foreground lens bending the light of the background star is," Lam explained.

NASA's Hubble Space Telescope first monitored the dramatic brightening of a star in August 2011, which exposed the foreground black hole that later became the subject of Lu's research in 2020. It took one year for the star to dim back to normal, which is "amazingly long" according to Lu.

Data on the light distortion caused the observed black hole came from two microlensing surveys: the Optical Gravitational Lensing Experiment (OGLE) operated by Warsaw University, and the Microlensing Observations in Astrophysics (MOA) experiment operated by Osaka University.

The wandering ghost star has subsequently been given two names: MOA-2011-BLG-191 and OGLE-2011-BLG-0462, or OB110462, for short.

The UC Berkeley-led team are not the only astronomers to observe OB110462. A competing research team from the Space Telescope Science Institute (STScI) in Baltimore have also been analyzing this stellar occurrence.

Despite the fact that both teams used the same data, they have come to very different conclusions: the STScI team claims that the compact object is indisputably a black hole, while the UC Berkeley team argues it is not possible to distinguish the object between a black hole or neutron star.

"The two teams have slightly different treatments for how to get rid of the influence of the neighboring bright star. We also use different ways to model the data," Lu commented. "These very small and subtle differences may lead to different results."

New data from Hubble showed that the effects of OB110462 on its neighboring star are still observable even 10 years after the event. Through an analysis of this data, the UC Berkeley team have confirmed OB110462's likely status as a lone roaming black hole.

"Luckily, we have more data coming in from Hubble this Fall," said Lu. "Going forward, we hope other astronomers will look for X-rays and radio emission from this dark, free-floating black hole or neutron star."

Since 2008, Lu has been in pursuit of finding a free-floating black hole, hoping to better estimate their population in the galaxy. To her, the journey does not stop with this initial discovery.

"While the discovery of the first such object is exciting, the most interesting astrophysics will come when we have a large sample. Then we can precisely say how many black holes are in the Milky Way," she remarked.

Research on these compact objects are important to our understanding of the evolution of stars and our galaxy as a whole. Scientists like Lu at UC Berkeley are committed to furthering this knowledge. "We will ultimately figure out when massive stars die, what they transform into," she stated, "Black holes or neutron stars."

Copyright  2022 Bay City News, Inc. All rights reserved. Republication, rebroadcast or redistribution without the express written consent of Bay City News, Inc. is prohibited. Bay City News is a 24/7 news service covering the greater Bay Area.

Copyright  2022 by Bay City News, Inc. Republication, Rebroadcast or any other Reuse without the express written consent of Bay City News, Inc. is prohibited.
In the latest developments, the Biden administration is finally ending its pre-departure COVID testing requirement for U.S.-bound international passengers; San Jose gets new trans-Atlantic service next week and United plans a new SFO-Australia route; low-cost European carriers Norse Atlantic and Icelands Play begin flying to the U.S.; Hawaiian Airlines adds an Oakland route next week; two low-cost U.S. airlines and one Asian carrier plan Las Vegas flights; JetBlue eyes an expansion of Mint service to another LAX route; study finds 2022 airfare increases at San Francisco arent as bad as most other U.S. markets; Spirit Airlines postpones its shareholder vote on Frontier merger; a trial date is set for Justice Departments challenge of JetBlue/American Northeast Alliance; and Delta starts testing a futuristic new passenger technology at Detroit Metro Airport.

The Biden administration on Friday finally gave the airline and tourism industries the perfect gift for the beginning of the peak summer travel season: an end to the governments COVID-19 testing requirement for all individuals flying into the U.S. The rule will end at 12:01 a.m. Sunday, June 12, after being in place since January 2021. The mandate had required anyone coming to the U.S.  vaccinated or not, foreigners and U.S. citizens  to get a negative COVID test result no more than 24 hours before boarding their flight, and it had been the target of an industry lobbying campaign for months. That campaign grew more intense as other nations worldwide gradually eased their COVID-related entry requirements. The White House said its decision was based on a determination by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention that the pre-departure testing was no longer needed, although the agency plans to reevaluate the need for testing every three months and could reinstate the rule if the situation changes.

Not only has the testing requirement been a nagging concern of Americans traveling abroad, who fretted over what they would do if the test came back positive just before their return flight, but it has also put a damper on foreign travel to the U.S. Last month, the U.S. Travel Association, an umbrella trade organization for the industry, released the results of a survey of consumers in six major foreign markets, and it found that more than half (54%) said the added uncertainty of possibly having to cancel their trip would have a big impact on their likelihood to visit the U.S. On Friday, USTA said the lifting of the testing requirement could mean an additional 5.4 million foreign visitors coming to the U.S. this year and an extra $9 billion in travel spending.

NurPhoto/NurPhoto via Getty Images

The big international route news for the Bay Area next week is British Airways resumption of London flights from Mineta San Jose Airport, starting June 13. The nonstop 787 flight departs SJC at 10 p.m. and arrives at London Heathrow at 2:15 p.m. the next day. Looking farther ahead, United Airlines announced this week that it plans to introduce a new trans-Pacific route from the Bay Area this fall, starting three 787-9 flights a week between San Francisco International and Brisbane, Australia, in late October. The carrier said that makes it the first U.S. airline to add a new transpacific destination to its global network since the start of the pandemic. United just resumed SFO-Melbourne flights this week; the airline also flies to Sydney from SFO and to Sydney and Melbourne from Los Angeles. Meanwhile, American Airlines has now set Oct. 29 for the resumption of its daily Los Angeles-Sydney flights.

Norse Atlantic Airways, the new Oslo-based trans-Atlantic low-cost carrier, will begin flying to the U.S. next week, and has also revealed plans to add more European destinations in the months ahead, including a route to Germany from the West Coast. The carrier, which has a fleet of 787-9s, plans to start flying from Oslo to New York JFK on June 14, followed by Oslo-Fort Lauderdale on June 18, Oslo-Orlando on July 5 and Oslo-Los Angeles starting Aug. 9. On Aug. 12, Norse Atlantic is slated to begin operations out of Londons Gatwick Airport with service to JFK. And the carrier just announced it will start flying to the U.S. out of Germanys Berlin Brandenburg Airport, with daily flights to JFK kicking off Aug. 17 and three flights a week to Los Angeles starting Aug. 19. Currently, the only nonstops from the U.S. to Berlin are operated by United from its Newark hub.

Remember Icelands Wow Air, which offered low-cost connections from the U.S. to Europe via Reykjavik before it went bankrupt in 2019? A year-old Icelandic low-cost carrier called Play  founded by two veterans of Wow and following the same playbook  is now flying to the U.S. Play began flying to Baltimore/Washington International in April and to Boston in May, and now it has launched service to Stewart International Airport in Newburgh, New York, 60 miles up the Hudson River from New York City. Play flies from all three airports to Reykjavik and offers connecting service from there to several European cities including Paris, Dublin, Copenhagen, Prague and Berlin. How low cost is Play? From Stewart Airport it is offering introductory one-way fares for fall travel starting at $99 to Reykjavik and $129 to other European cities. Since Plays fleet currently has only Airbus A320neo and A321neo aircraft, its unlikely to fly to the West Coast anytime soon.

MediaNews Group/Long Beach Press/MediaNews Group via Getty Images

On the domestic side, Hawaiian Airlines on June 15 will begin seasonal summer service between Oakland International and Kona on the Big Island. The daily A321neo flights are scheduled to continue through Sept. 6. Hawaiian already flies from OAK to Honolulu, Maui, and Kauai. Alaska Airlines has a handful of routes slated to start June 16, including Seattle-Miami, Seattle-Cleveland, Las Vegas-Boise and Idaho Falls-Boise.

Las Vegas is getting some new domestic service this year, including plans by two low-cost airlines  Breeze and Frontier  to start flying from LAS to the same East Coast city. Breeze, started by JetBlue founder David Neeleman, has set Sept. 7 for the introduction of twice-weekly service between Las Vegas and Hartford, Connecticuts Bradley Airport. And Frontier Airlines announced this week that it will kick of daily nonstops in August between the same two airports. The two announcements are part of a Hartford route expansion planned by Breeze and more Las Vegas growth from Frontier. Earlier this month, Breeze introduced new routes from Hartford to Nashville, Akron/Canton, Jacksonville, Richmond, Sarasota and Savannah. With Las Vegas, that will give Breeze 11 routes out of Bradley Airport. Frontier, meanwhile, said that in addition to Las Vegas-Hartford, it will also begin new routes in August from LAS to Kansas City, Baltimore/Washington and Buffalo.

In other Breeze news, AirlineGeeks.com reported that Long Beach Airport in southern California has awarded a pair of takeoff and landing slots to Breeze, enough for it to begin one daily flight out of the airport, although the airline hasnt yet said where it might fly from Long Beach.

Las Vegas is also getting some new international service. Korean Air said it will resume flights from LAS to Seoul Incheon on July 10, operating three flights a week with an Airbus A330-200.

JetBlue, which is engaged in a fierce market share battle against Delta in Boston, plans to introduce its premium front cabin service  Mint suites  in a new transcontinental market. The Mint cabins will be introduced on two flights a day between Boston and Los Angeles starting Aug. 6, according to The Points Guy. Currently, the airline only offers the fancy front cabin on select routes out of New York JFK, LAX and on its London flights out of New York (and from Boston starting this summer).

Justin Sullivan/Getty Images

Its well established that airfares are soaring this year as consumers unleash their pent-up demand for summer vacations. But fares are not rising by the same amount in all markets, and researchers at CheapAir.com, the big travel booking site, took a look at which cities are being hit the hardest. The company said that as of late May, the lowest domestic airfares are up 26% overall from 2021, but it found that residents of smaller cities are seeing bigger fare increases than those in major markets. For San Francisco, the study found, the 2022 fare increases are among the lowest in the country  up just 17% year over year. The lowest increases were at Manchester-Boston Regional Airport (up 14%), Houston (15%) San Juan (16%) and Newark, tied with San Francisco at 17%.

Compare those fare hikes with a city like Dayton, Ohio, where fares increased by an average of 42%. Also high on the list were Greensboro, North Carolina (up 38%); Flint, Michigan (38%); Des Moines, Iowa (36%); and Spokane, Wash. (35%). Smaller airports offered fewer flights and itineraries than other, bigger cities, but during the pandemic things really shut down. And now that the countrys travelers are ramping back up, theres still a more limited flight schedule than can support the consumers right now. When scarcity meets demand, you get inflated prices, the company said.

CheapAir.com suggested that in general, consumers should book as early as possible to have a chance of getting a lower fare. Those who live in smaller markets, at least for now, should get used to much higher fares in general, the company said  or consider driving to the nearest large airport if fares there can provide significant savings.

Spirit Airlines was supposed to conduct a special shareholder meeting on Friday (June 10) to vote on its plan to merge with Frontier, but now the company has postponed that action until June 30. The companys plans changed after JetBlue, which also wants to acquire Spirit, made another revision to its takeover offer, promising to pay Spirit a $350 million reverse breakup fee if it agrees to a merger but the deal is later overturned by the Justice Department over antitrust concerns. Spirit said it delayed the Frontier merger vote so its board could continue discussions with Spirit stockholders, Frontier and JetBlue Airways Corp. Nonetheless, Spirit said it remains bound by the terms of the merger agreement with Frontier, and has made no change to its recommendation that Spirit stockholders adopt the merger agreement with Frontier.

SOPA Images/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images

Speaking of Justice Department antitrust concerns, a federal judge has set Sept. 26 as the trial date for DOJs lawsuit challenging the JetBlue/American Airlines Northeast Alliance, by which the two airlines coordinate their schedules and code-share on each others flights in the New York and Boston markets. JetBlue and American argue that the northeast partnership is necessary to help them compete against Delta and United in the affected markets, but DOJ claims that the alliance goes too far and gives the two airlines an unfair level of competitive power. DOJ was joined in its suit by the attorneys general of several states. Despite the governments legal threat that could end the alliance, the two carriers continue to move ahead with it. American said recently that it will introduce six more New York routes this fall as part of the partnership with JetBlue, including flights from LaGuardia to Tulsa, Little Rock, Asheville, North Carolina, and Key West, as well as new international service from New York JFK to Bermuda and Monterrey, Mexico.

Delta customers at Detroit Metro Airport will be able to sample a mind-bending new technology starting June 29, when the airline starts beta testing a Parallel Reality experience created by a company called Misapplied Sciences. The technology provides individualized views of a passengers personal flight and airport information on a big display screen, and it does the same for up to 99 other passengers at the same time  and on the same screen. Customers who opt into the experience will see customized flight and wayfinding information (e.g. to your gate or baggage claim area), Delta said. Each viewer will get a unique and personalized experience, even as they stand next to other viewers enjoying their own uniquely personalized experiences.

The Parallel Reality display will be in Concourse A of the McNamara Terminal; ticketed passengers can just scan their boarding pass to see their information, or if theyre enrolled in the airlines digital identity program through the Fly Delta app, they can activate the display with facial recognition. The technology truly must be seen to be believed, said Ranjan Goswami, Deltas senior vice president of customer experience.
WFO LAS VEGAS Warnings, Watches and Advisories for Saturday, June 11, 2022

_____

EXCESSIVE HEAT WARNING

URGENT - WEATHER MESSAGE

National Weather Service Las Vegas NV

224 AM PDT Sat Jun 11 2022

...EXCESSIVE HEAT WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 8 PM PDT/MST

THIS EVENING...

...WIND ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM 11 AM TO 8 PM PDT/MST SUNDAY...

* WHAT...For the Excessive Heat Warning, dangerously hot

conditions. For the Wind Advisory, southwest winds 20 to 30 mph

with gusts 40 to 50 mph expected.

* WHERE...Portions of northwest Arizona, southeast California

and southern Nevada.

* WHEN...For the Excessive Heat Warning, until 8 PM PDT/MST this

evening. For the Wind Advisory, from 11 AM to 8 PM PDT/MST

Sunday.

* IMPACTS...Extreme heat will significantly increase the potential

for heat-related illnesses, particularly for those working or

participating in outdoor activities and for those consuming

alcohol and/or drugs. Tree limbs could be blown down from gusty

winds and a few power outages may result. Reduced visibilities

on area roadways possible due to blowing dust.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Use extra caution when driving, especially if operating a high-

profile vehicle. Secure outdoor objects.

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 hours. 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.

...EXCESSIVE HEAT WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 8 PM PDT THIS

EVENING...

* WHAT...Dangerously hot conditions.

* WHERE...Southern San Bernardino County.

* WHEN...Until 8 PM PDT/MST Saturday.

participating in outdoor activities and those consuming alcohol

and/or drugs.

SUNDAY...

* WHERE...In Arizona, Lake Havasu, Fort Mohave and Lake Mead

National Recreation Area. In California, San Bernardino County-

Upper Colorado River Valley. In Nevada, Lake Mead National

Recreation Area.

* WHEN...Until 8 PM PDT/MST Sunday.

* WHAT...West-southwest winds 20 to 30 mph with gusts up to 50

mph expected. Above 7000 feet, up to 60 mph expected.

* WHERE...In California, Eastern Sierra Slopes, Owens Valley. In

Nevada, Esmeralda, central Nye, and Lincoln counties and the

Spring Mountains including Red Rock Canyon.

* WHEN...From 11 AM to 8 PM PDT/MST Sunday.

* IMPACTS...Tree limbs could be blown down and a few power outages

may result. Visibilities may be reduced on area roadways due to

blowing dust.

* ADDITIONAL DETAILS...Dangerous crosswinds expected along

Highway 395 in Inyo County on Sunday.

_____

Copyright 2022 AccuWeather
WFO SACRAMENTO Warnings, Watches and Advisories for Saturday, June 11, 2022

_____

EXCESSIVE HEAT WARNING

URGENT - WEATHER MESSAGE

National Weather Service Sacramento CA

220 PM PDT Sat Jun 11 2022

...EXCESSIVE HEAT WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 11 PM PDT THIS

EVENING...

* WHAT...Dangerously hot conditions with temperatures 97 to 101.

* WHERE...The Delta, the Sacramento Valley and the western side

of the Northern San Joaquin Valley and the adjacent foothills.

* WHEN...Until 11 PM PDT this evening.

* IMPACTS...Extreme heat will significantly increase the potential

for heat related illnesses, particularly for those working or

participating in outdoor activities.

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.

...HEAT ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 11 PM PDT THIS EVENING...

* WHAT...Temperatures up to 95 to 101.

* WHERE...The Motherlode and the east side of the northern San

Joaquin Valley.

* IMPACTS...Hot temperatures may cause heat illnesses to occur.

_____

Copyright 2022 AccuWeather
Miss Omaha Alayna Wilson, of Columbus, has been competing for the title of Miss Nebraska.

The 2022 Miss Nebraska Scholarship Competition is being held from June 9-11 in North Platte. Wilson was named the preliminary talent winner on June 9. The second preliminary takes place June 10 with finals being held Saturday, where the next Miss Nebraska will be crowned.

Both the Miss Nebraska and Miss Nebraskas Outstanding Teen competitions are held at North Platte High School.

Wilsons platform is Sammys Superheroes, which is a Columbus-based nonprofit that raises funds for childhood cancer research.

For Wilsons talent June 9, she performed a dance piece. Her friend and dance partner passed away from cancer.

I have a lyrical piece dedicated to one of my best friends and dance partners, Trevor, who passed away around three years ago, said Wilson, as reported by the North Platte Telegraph. The entire piece is resembling how we used to dance together back in the good old days.

According to her sister, Gina Frerichs, Wilson graduated from Scotus Central Catholic in 2017 and then attended the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Wilson obtained a degree in speech pathology and currently attends the Kansas University Medical Centers masters program for speech pathology.

Wilson has been competing in pageants since 2017, Frerichs added. Wilson was crowned Miss Gering in 2017, Miss Moon Harvest in 2020 and was a runner-up for last years Miss Nebraska pageant.

The Columbus Telegram will be featuring a story on Wilson early next week.

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WFO AMARILLO Warnings, Watches and Advisories for Saturday, June 11, 2022

_____

HEAT ADVISORY

URGENT - WEATHER MESSAGE

National Weather Service Amarillo TX

655 AM CDT Sat Jun 11 2022

...HEAT ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 1 PM THIS AFTERNOON TO 9 PM

CDT THIS EVENING...

* WHAT...High temperatures of 105 to 109 degrees are expected. Lower

terrain areas such as Palo Duro Canyon State Park and the Canadian

River Valley could have temperatures approaching 110.

* WHERE...The central and eastern Oklahoma Panhandle and all of the

Texas Panhandle except Dallam County.

* WHEN...From 1 PM this afternoon to 9 PM CDT this evening.

* IMPACTS...Hot temperatures and high humidity may cause heat

illnesses.

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.

Take extra precautions when outside. Wear lightweight and loose

fitting clothing. Try to limit strenuous activities to early morning

or evening. Take action when you see symptoms of heat exhaustion and

heat stroke.

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.

Monitor the latest forecasts and warnings for updates.

_____

Copyright 2022 AccuWeather
WFO EL PASO Warnings, Watches and Advisories for Tuesday, June 14, 2022

_____

HEAT ADVISORY

URGENT - WEATHER MESSAGE

National Weather Service El Paso TX/ Santa Teresa NM

603 AM MDT Sat Jun 11 2022

...HEAT ADVISORY NOW IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 AM MDT TUESDAY...

* WHAT...Heat index values up to 100 expected. Daytime high

temperatures 102 to 107 degrees with nighttime lows above 70

degrees.

* WHERE...Lower Rio Grande Valley and Tularosa Basin including

portions of Dona Ana, Luna, western Otero, and eastern Sierra

Counties in southern New Mexico and El Paso and southern

Hudspeth Counties in far west Texas.

* WHEN...Until 6 AM MDT Tuesday.

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.

...HEAT ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 AM MDT TUESDAY...

* WHERE...Lower elevations of Sierra County, including the

Elephant Butte and Caballo Resevoirs and other areas along the

Rio Grande Valley. Also added to the Heat Advisory were the

uplands of Hudspeth county where temperatures are expected to

exceed advisory criteria.

* WHEN...Now through 6 AM MDT Tuesday.

_____

Copyright 2022 AccuWeather
WFO MIDLAND/ODESSA Warnings, Watches and Advisories for Saturday, June 11, 2022

_____

CHILD ABDUCTION EMERGENCY

The following message is transmitted at the request of the Texas

Department of Public Safety.

THIS IS A CHILD ABDUCTION ALERT ISSUED BY THE TEXAS AMBER ALERT

NETWORK.

THE GROVES POLICE DEPARTMENT IS SEARCHING FOR JAICEON ROBERTSON,

BLACK, MALE, 4 YEARS OLD, 3 FOOT 6 INCHES, 70 POUNDS, BLACK HAIR,

BROWN EYES, AND LAST SEEN WEARING A GRAY TIMBERLAND SHIRT, BLACK

SHORTS, AND HAS SCARS ON ARMS, STOMACH, AND LEGS.

POLICE ARE LOOKING FOR BLAKE ROBERTSON, 34 YEARS OLD, BLACK, MALE, 6

FOOT ZERO INCHES, 222 POUNDS, BLACK HAIR, BROWN EYES AND SEVERAL

TATTOOS ON UPPER BODY, IN CONNECTION WITH HIS ABDUCTION.

THE SUSPECT WAS LAST HEARD FROM IN GROVES, TEXAS AT 4:50 PM ON JUNE

4TH, 2022.

LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICIALS BELIEVE THIS CHILD TO BE IN GRAVE OR

IMMEDIATE DANGER.

IF YOU HAVE ANY INFORMATION REGARDING THIS ABDUCTION, CALL THE GROVES

POLICE DEPARTMENT AT 4 0 9 7 2 2 4 9 6 5.

NEWS MEDIA POINT OF CONTACT IS GROVES POLICE DEPARTMENT AT 4 0 9 7 2

2 4 9 6 5.

THE FOLLOWING MESSAGE IS TRANSMITTED AT THE REQUEST OF THE TEXAS

DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY.

_____

Copyright 2022 AccuWeather
WFO SHREVEPORT Warnings, Watches and Advisories for Saturday, June 11, 2022

_____

HEAT ADVISORY

URGENT - WEATHER MESSAGE

National Weather Service Shreveport LA

311 AM CDT Sat Jun 11 2022

...HEAT ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 9 AM THIS MORNING TO 7 PM

CDT THIS EVENING...

* WHAT...Heat index values up to 108 expected.

* WHERE...Portions of northwest Louisiana and east and northeast

Texas.

* WHEN...From 9 AM to 7 PM CDT Saturday.

* IMPACTS...Hot temperatures and high humidity may cause heat

related 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.

...HEAT ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM 9 AM THIS MORNING TO 7 PM CDT

THIS EVENING...

* WHAT...Heat index values up to 107 expected.

* WHERE...Portions of north central and northwest Louisiana,

southeast Oklahoma, southwest Arkansas and northeast Texas.

_____

Copyright 2022 AccuWeather
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The Westport Museum for History and Culture will commemorate Juneteenth with a virtual program from 7 to 8 p.m. on Wednesday that will feature the Chronicles of Adam living historian Dontavius Williams as Adam, a blacksmith enslaved in the antebellum South.

The event is free, but registration is required at https://app.donorview.com/qo8ml.

Contact marketing@westporthistory.org for more information.

Reborn event to be at Green's Farms Church

The Greens Farms Church in Westport will have a reborn event with a family festival and ribbon cutting on Sunday to celebrate its 311th birthday and restoration.

The event begins with a ribbon cutting at 9:30 a.m. followed by a service in the historic meetinghouse at 10 a.m. and family festival at 11 a.m.

Everyone is welcome to the event that will also have cake, ice cream and lawn games.

Westport historian Peter Jennings will share stories in the centuries-old graveyard.

The church is located at 71 Hillandale Road in Westport.

Contact Greens Farms Church Operations Director Claire England at 347-573-1305, or claire@greensfarmschurch.org for more information about the church, volunteer opportunities, K-8 Sunday School, activities and service opportunities for teens, adult education, or the nursery school at the church.

Westport Womans Club Yankee Doodle Fair to return

The Westport Womans Clubs Yankee Doodle Fair will return this month. It will be from 6 to 10 p.m. on June 16 and June 17, 1 to 10 p.m. on June 18 and 1 to 5 p.m. on June 19 at 44 Imperial Ave. in Westport.

The fair will once again feature a bake sale, a raffle, live music, sand art carnival rides and games. Food and drinks will be for sale.

Money raised will benefit Westport Womans Club community service grants, need-based scholarships for Staples High School seniors and the Westport Womans Club food closet that works in tandem with the Westport Department of Human Services.

Visit www.westportwomansclub.org for more information, and to join the organization, or call the clubs office at 203-227-4240.

Draft of affordable housing plan available

A draft version of the Town of Westport Affordable Housing Plan, 2022-2027, is available to view on the towns website.

The plan is required by the state. Public forums were held earlier in 2022 with more expected.

A community survey is being conducted because community input is critically important to ensuring that the plan works for Westport, and represents the towns values. It is available at https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/westportaffordablehousing until June 23.

Currently 3.75 percent of the total number of housing units in Westport qualify as affordable, according to information from the town. The percentage is far fewer than the 10 percent Connecticut requires.

Email comments about the draft plan to the attention of the Westport Planning and Zoning Commission at pandz@westportct.gov.

Visit https://www.westportct.gov/government/affordable-housing-plan to stay connected, and find out when the next public forum will be.

Weston Library director to lead UConn Hartford Library

Weston Library Director Karen Tatarka has resigned to accept a position as the director of the UConn Hartford Library.

Her last day will be July 8.

The Weston Library Board of Trustees has formed a search committee to hire a new director.

Dog licenses available in Westport

Westport Town Clerk Jeffrey Dunkerton reminds dog owners that June is dog licensing month.

Licenses covering the term July 1, 2022, to June 30, 2023, may be obtained online from the town clerks department. Visit the town website to learn how to use the new online portal and get the application.

All dogs over six months old must be licensed.

Fees for dog licenses are $8 for a neutered male or spayed female and $19 for other dogs. Additional fees will apply for online applications. Owners must have the spay, neuter and rabies certificates.

There is a $1 penalty per month for renewal licenses issued after June 30. A $75 infraction will be issued for any non-licensed dog and for any dog not wearing a current dog tag.

People can also apply by mail or at Westport Town Hall, located at 110 Myrtle Ave.

The Town Clerks Office encourages applicants to apply online. Paper applications accompanied by a check payment will still be accepted. Mail or the drop box at the rear of Town Hall are the preferred methods of delivery. Dog licenses can be processed in the Town Clerks Office for people who need in-person assistance.

All certificates will be returned with license, along with a self-addressed stamped return envelope to: Westport Town Clerk, 110 Myrtle Avenue, Westport, CT 06881.

Call 203-341-1110 or visit the town website for more information.

MoCA hosts school visual arts show

The Westport Public Schools visual arts program will share a new art exhibition, SPARK June 12 through 19 at MoCA Westport.

The art exhibition is inspired by the imagination and self expression of Westport students in kindergarten through 12th grade.

The exhibition is in partnership with the art museum, its teen council and the school district.

There will be an opening reception at the art museum on Sunday from noon to 2 p.m.

Staples High School students will be hosting a pottery fundraiser, selling small bowls created by potters at the school.

All funds raised benefit The Open Door Shelter in Norwalk.

Visit mocawestport.org for more information about the art museum and gallery hours.

Visit westportarts.org and staplesart.org for more information about the visual arts at the district.
Ho Chi Minh City is concentrating on the acceleration of economic recovery after the Covid-19 pandemic, notably on the development of supply chains, technological innovation, building a smart city towards an international financial center to create a drive for socio-economic development and improve the people's life quality.

Secretary Nguyen Van Nen hoped that the newly-appointed Indonesian Consul General will support in connectivity of innovative start-up enterprises and push up cooperation relations in the fields of the digital economy and logistics infrastructure development.Indonesian Consul General Agustaviano Sofjan informed that next month, the Consulate General will host a business forum in Ho Chi Minh City contributing to promoting economic relations between Vietnam and Indonesia.On Friday afternoon, Secretary of the Municipal Party Committee Nguyen Van Nen received Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United Kingdoms to Vietnam Gareth Ward on the occasion of the end of his working term in Vietnam.At the meeting, the city Party chief highly appreciated the development of the cooperation relationship between the two nations in recent years, especially the active contribution of the ambassador. During the fight against the Covid-19 pandemic in Vietnam, the British Embassy in Vietnam and the British Consulate General in Ho Chi Minh City performed many practical support programs for Vietnam generally and Ho Chi Minh City particularly.Ambassador Gareth Ward said that the British businesses and organizations want to cooperate in renewable energy and infrastructure investment in the Southeast Asian country.
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Over a dozen human rights groups voiced deep concerns over President Bidens potential trip to Saudi Arabia to meet with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.

Efforts to repair the U.S. relationship with the government of Saudi Arabia without a genuine commitment to prioritize human rights are not only a betrayal of your campaign promises, but will likely embolden the crown prince to commit further violations of international human rights and humanitarian law, the groups wrote in a letter on Thursday.

The letter was signed by groups including Human Rights Watch, Freedom House, The James W. Foley Legacy Foundation and Project on Middle East Democracy, among others.

Bidens planned meeting this summer comes as the U.S. is looking to offset prices after cutting off oil imports from Russia over the war in Ukraine.

But the groups asked that Biden make several demands as a prerequisite to any meeting that he may take with bin Salman.

They asked that Biden demand the immediate release of all political prisoners in the country; the lifting of arbitrary travel bans on human rights defenders and others; ending unlawful surveillance; ending male guardianship; establishing moratorium on executions and committing to maintaining the ceasefire in Yemen.

Tensions between the U.S. and Saudi Arabia are high over a range of issues including the 2018 killing of Jamal Khashoggi, a Washington Post journalist who was killed in Istanbul at the Saudi consulate.

U.S. intelligence revealed after his death that Prince Mohammed authorized a plan to capture or kill the opposition writer.

Families of the victims of the September 11, 2001 attacks have also spoken out against the potential meeting over Saudi Arabias alleged involvement in the attacks.

On Sunday, Rep. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) also criticized the planned meeting, saying the crown price should be shunned for his role in the 2018 killing of Washington Post journalist Jamal Kashoggi.

I wouldnt shake his hand, Schiff said. This is someone who butchered an American resident, cut them up into pieces in the most terrible, premeditated way. Until Saudi Arabia makes a radical change in terms of human rights, I wouldnt want anything to do with them.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
The NSW government has reached an $8.9 million deal to permanently protect an area of land twice the size of the Royal National Park in north-western NSW, highlighting the role for private landowners in conservation.

The two adjoining properties, Naree Station and Yantabulla Station, span 31,200 hectares and contain nationally significant wetlands that are among the top 20 sites for waterbirds in Australia.

The wetlands, on traditional Budjiti country, are part of the Paroo River catchment, the last free-flowing river of the Murray Darling Basin.

The area in north-western NSW is part of the Paroo River catchment, the last free-flowing river of the Murray Darling Basin. Credit:Harriet Ampt / Biodiversity Conservation Trust

The landowners, Bush Heritage Australia and South Endeavour Trust, are both charities that bought the land with the intention to conserve it. The deal with the NSW government means the protection is now guaranteed in perpetuity and the Biodiversity Conservation Trust will make annual payments to fund conservation.
The Australian dollar is forecast to rise by more than 5 per cent over the next couple of months, so those planning an overseas trip may be better off delaying their purchase of overseas currency until closer to the date they leave.

Michael Judge, head of Australia and New Zealand at OFX, an online foreign exchange company, says there is more upside to our dollar from current levels. He says stronger commodity prices would continue to be supportive for the currency against the US dollar.

Most analysts are tipping the Australian dollar to be worth more against the US dollar, Pound sterling and euro throughout the rest of this year. Credit:Brendon Throne

Judge says our dollar could be worth as much as US75 by September, up from US71 now, and perhaps a little more by the end of the year.

The Reserve Bank of Australias aggressive stance on raising interest rates to fight inflation would also be supportive of our dollar, analysts believe.
John Parsons, senior case worker at BaptistCares Hope Street service in Woolloomooloo. Credit:Louise Kennerley Despite these efforts, service providers say rough sleeping is on track to be worse than it was before the pandemic. The City of Sydney found 225 people sleeping rough within the CBD and surrounds in February, compared with 275 the previous year. Yet John Parsons, senior caseworker at BaptistCares Hope Street service in Woolloomooloo, said he was serving just as many rough sleepers as before the pandemic, about an equal share of old faces and new. Parsons said the pandemic showed that housing homeless people can be done but policies had now snapped back to normal, including tighter restrictions on temporary accommodation, a focus on compliance for social housing, and Centrelink cutting off benefits if people could not prove they were searching for work.

Jo Mills, practice lead for youth and homelessness at Uniting, said she expected the numbers of rough sleepers would soon be as high, if not higher, than before the pandemic because service providers were seeing a new type of client. Loading Mills said Sydneysiders moving to the regions had pushed working families and other people on low incomes out of the private rental market. Mills said the crisis was particularly bad on the Central Coast because it was a commuting distance to Sydney. There are people who literally cannot find housing for the first time in their lives, and have joined that group of rough sleepers - families camping in tents or camping in cars that perhaps have never done this before, Mills said. Parsons estimated one in four Together Home participants from his patch had returned to the streets.

There are little levels of things youve got to provide [to] providers to have the opportunity to move into your own accommodation, Parsons said. A lot of them baulked at that and have chosen to come back out. In some cases it has been involuntary. Kai, 39, was housed in a beautiful studio apartment in Dee Why through Together Home, for several months in 2020. Then he was sent to prison, for a crime he says he did not commit. When he came out, his accommodation was cancelled, and he moved onto the streets. Kai has recently returned from Melbourne and has been sleeping under the rail bridge near the Hope Street Cafe in Woolloomooloo for the past few weeks, coping with the cold snap with lots of blankets. Kai, 39, is sleeping under the rail bridge in Woolloomooloo. Credit:Louise Kennerley

Kai said he was just passing through. I thought it best to come to a place where theres food, theres generous people, theres resilient people, theres very much a community down here, he said. Meanwhile, Dave was committed to a mental hospital after returning to the streets. He was told he has schizophrenia - a diagnosis he disputes - and released to stay in a hostel in Surry Hills. Dave said the room at the hostel was clean and comfortable, but a waste of his money (the cost comes out of his Centrelink benefits) given he would prefer to sleep outside. Mills said most people preferred not to sleep outside, especially in winter, but might not bother to apply for temporary accommodation if it was only to get housing for a few nights.

Its not that they choose to stay rough sleeping, but they choose not to have to fight their way through the system, one or two days at a time, Mills said. Loading Mills said Together Home had helped some people secure housing, but it was only a small part of the picture. The main pot of homelessness funding, the specialist homelessness services for crisis and temporary accommodation, had not increased. * The Sun-Herald has chosen not to use surnames for Dave and Kai. Link2Home 1800 152 152  Available 24 hours, 7 days a week
More single-sex Sydney schools are becoming co-educational, with boys college De La Salle in Ashfield set to merge with an adjacent girls school, Bethlehem College.

The merger will also take in a nearby primary school, St Vincents, to create a co-educational school catering for students from kindergarten to year 12. There will be three sections in the school, for early (kindy to year 4), middle (years 5 to 8) and senior (years 9-12) education.

There are few co-ed options in the inner west of Sydney, as many of the local public high schools are also single-sex. The demographic is indicating a huge demand for co-educational in that area, which we are very keen to meet, said Tony Farley, the head of Sydney Catholic Schools.

Marist Catholic College North Sydney is in its second year of transition to co-education Credit:Kate Geraghty

Sydney has an unusually high number of boys and girls-only schools, particularly in its public system, where there are 34 single-sex catchments. Many of the citys sandstone private schools are also single-sex, particularly in the eastern and inner western suburbs and on the north shore.
Queenslands attorney-general has confirmed she may appeal against the sentence handed to a teenager who struck and killed a couple with a stolen car while drunk and stoned.

But Shannon Fentiman has refused to make a decision yet, saying she didnt want to get anyones hopes up.

The families of Matthew Field, 37, and Kate Leadbetter, 31, said the 10-year jail sentence handed to the 18-year-old killer was grossly inadequate.

Fentiman said she was waiting for legal advice to appeal against the sentence, under which the killer can apply for parole after six years behind bars.
The search for a paraglider who reportedly crashed into the water near Wollongong will continue on Sunday, after hours of searching on Saturday afternoon.

Police received reports a paraglider had crashed about 200 metres offshore near Woonona Beach at about 2pm.

An air and sea-based search for a paraglider who reportedly crashed near Wollongong will continue on Sunday. Credit:Westpac Helicopter Rescue Service

A search operation involving PolAir, the marine area command, the Westpac helicopter and Surf Life Saving began immediately and continued until about 5pm.
Charlottesville Parks and Recreation patrons will be swimming at half-staff this summer.

Mired in the same shortage of trained lifeguards that is afflicting public and private pools across the country this summer, city parks officials say they will try and swimmers in the deep end by alternating which pools are open and moving staff between sites.

Beginning Saturday, pools will operate on an alternating schedule so that only one pool will be open each day. That will allow pools to operate with sufficient safety staff on site.

Onesty Family Aquatic Center will be open Thursday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.. Washington Park Pool will be open Sunday through Wednesday from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m..

Of course the goal is to get to full opening which we will do as soon as we possibly can. But in the current state of things, we just wanted to make sure that we were equitable, said Michael Johnson, city aquatics manager. We wanted to make sure that we offered a weekend day for each of our outdoor locations.

Summer pool passes are valid at both pools as well as Smith Aquatic & Fitness Center, officials said. That will allow patrons to use an outdoor or an indoor pool each day of the week. Spray grounds will continue to be open daily during the summer.

Johnson said Parks and Recreation needs to hire a little more than 20 additional lifeguards in order to return to full hours. The goal is to open the pools full time as soon as enough lifeguards are hired.

When that will be is hard to predict, he said.

If we could somehow be back to entirely normal in the next three days, then I would give the order to go forward with that and open the pools full time, Johnson said.

That seems unlikely. Communities across the country are reporting similar problems. According to the American Lifeguard Association, the shortage of trained and certified lifeguards is nationwide and likely to last most of the summer.

The association trains and certifies lifeguards to serve at public and private pools and beaches. Officials said pandemic-related closing of pools across the country in 2020 prevented training of new lifeguards and the recertifying of some lifeguards whose certificates expire every two years.

They said lifeguards were forced to find other work during the pandemic, many jobs of which paid better wages, convincing the lifeguards to not return.

Association officials also predict the shortage will become worse in August when high school and college students return to school, leaving locations high and dry of safety personnel.

Johnson said because of the shortage, the city parks and recreation department is offering its lifeguard certification classes for free, providing the participant commits to working as a lifeguard after receiving the certification.

The class is typically a couple hundred dollars, Johnson said.

If somebody has a passion for the water and they just dont have a certification, we can provide that. If you want to work with us, then well make your class free for you, he said.

The department is also offering a signing bonus of $250, with potential for an additional $250 bonus if the lifeguard stays with the city the whole summer.

For more information, interested parties can visit www.charlottesville.gov/276/Aquatics.

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A pipeline has been rerouted in the Bass Strait to ramp up output from Victorias offshore gas fields as energy companies and regulators race to boost supplies in south-eastern Australia.

Following warnings of low gas reserves and soaring prices in Victoria, Tasmania and South Australia, the 50-year-old Gippsland Basin joint venture began raising production levels from 970 terajoules to nearly 1020 terajoules of gas a day earlier this month.

A gas rig at the West Barracouta wells in the Bass Strait.

The venture, owned by ExxonMobil local subsidiary Esso in partnership with Woodside Petroleum, said it had been working with the Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO) and gas pipeline company Jemena on lifting its output. The Longford gas plants, near Sale in Gippsland, Victoria, are now on track to record their biggest yearly production for five years, coinciding with strong demand and high prices.

By utilising one of our pipelines that would traditionally carry fuel offshore to bring additional gas onshore, we have been able to increase production rates, Esso production manager Geoff Humphreys said.
The principal of Catholic secondary school Loyola College has been stood down after being charged over alleged sexual offences.

Joseph Favrin, who has been the principal of the co-educational Watsonia school in Melbournes north-east since 2008, was suspended on an interim basis on Friday, Victoria Institute of Teaching records show.

Joseph Favrin, who had been working as principal at Loyola College. Credit:

A Victoria Police spokeswoman confirmed detectives from the Mernda sexual offences and child abuse team had charged a 67-year-old Mill Park man with two counts of sexual activity directed at a person and one charge of sexual exposure. The offences allegedly occurred in April.

It is not clear where the alleged offending took place.
Almost a metre of snow has been dumped on Mt Bullers ski fields, the deepest snow level ever recorded for a Queens Birthday long weekend.

After two years of lockdowns, the ski fields opened a week early this year thanks to a huge dumping of snow not typically seen until mid-July or August.

Mt Bullers snow depth has reached 76 centimetres, the most for a Queens Birthday weekend since records began 44 years ago. It was so deep on Saturday that staff were digging chair lifts out of the snow.

Mt Buller has broken its season-opening snow-depth record. Credit:Mount Buller/Twitter

The main problem [on Saturday] was digging things out; theres almost too much snow, said Terry Lyons, who has spent every ski season on the mountain for the past 44 years.
SL: Yes. I had purple hair, black lipstick, razor blades, the safety pins through the nose and ear, a dog collar with silver studs, the whole thing. It was dressing up, and I loved the theatrics of it. Fitz: The mind boggles. And head-banging, up the front, with the mob? SL: Yes. All of that, in the ANUs Refectory Bar. Fitz: This is not how we pictured you. If you say Liberal woman now, we think twin pearls and high heels. We dont think razor blades, dog collars and safety pins. SL: But this is a great strength of the Liberal Party  we have an ability to celebrate the diversity of different people and different opinions within our party and it has been seen that way since Robert Menzies. Its critical today.

Fitz: I dont actually associate the Liberal Party with diversity, but well get to that. What are your political touchstones? What made you enter politics in the first place? SL: The core was spending 17 years on the family farm through some of the toughest times in rural and regional Australia. I can still remember having three small children, down at the dairy feeding the poddy calves with the baby in the snow-suit and the bills piling up on the kitchen windowsill and not knowing whether my family would lose everything. And I can honestly say that the highs and lows of life on the land are something Ive personally lived through, with many challenging times. Sussan Ley (centre) as environmental minister with Greening Australia staff Kathleen Ward and David Warren sort paper daisy seeds at one of the groups facilities near the Hawkesbury River in western Sydney. Credit:Kate Geraghty The other touchstone is the high respect I have for those who put in a hard days work. When I worked in the shearing sheds as a rouseabout, at the peak of my fitness, and even in 40 degree heat, I could pick up 800 fleeces in a day. And I learnt a lesson that Ive never forgotten: listen to the wisdom of those in the blue singlets. They werent always articulate, and they werent necessarily well read. But they were honest, and they had wisdom. Ive got three finance degrees, and I am proud of them, but never overlook the innate wisdom of every individual who speaks their truth about what they believe. Fitz: Which brings me to the Libs on election day stinking up the joint at the ballot box. We need some frank truth from you. If I may, respectfully, test your own frankness here to simply acknowledge reality? Can we agree that the unpopularity of Scott Morrison was a huge drag on the LNP vote in the last election?

SL: In some places, yes. In my electorate, no. Fitz: But in the nation as a whole! SL: Well, in saying that you are youre not mentioning the regions which is a huge geographic area of the nation. Fitz: Ok, lets go with urban Australia, where you lost nigh on 20 seats. I mean, in this very space I had Ray Martin say that in his lifetime, Scott Morrison was the worst prime minister hed ever seen, or at least ran the worst government. Barrie Cassidy, also generally moderate in his published views, said much the same: Scott Morrison was the problem. And on the LNP results, the people agreed! SL: I like both Ray and Barrie, but there are alternative points of view. And having served in the cabinets of three prime ministers and been in Parliament since 2001 I disagree that Scott Morrison was anywhere near the worst prime minister. In fact, I would say he was the best person to serve at the top of the cabinet table. Does that mean that people got it wrong or that he wasnt unpopular? Of course, it doesnt mean that. We lost the election! So in the frankness that you speak about thats something that we have to confront, we have to understand.

Fitz: I am trying to understand. If Scott Morrison was not the primary factor in the Libs being wiped out in so many seats, what was? Loading SL: Ive thought about it a lot and the one thing I am sure of is this: coming out of COVID, people were fed up. Scott Morrison became the focus for everything that everyone had gone through. They wanted more from us. We didnt meet their expectations. We have to accept responsibility for that. Fitz: Can we at least agree that Barnaby Joyce put the wind up voters in the urban seats? SL: Ive talked to a lot of colleagues who lost their seats in the city and some mentioned Barnaby as being a negative factor. Yes.

Fitz: Now we are getting there! In terms of your own appointment as deputy leader, one obvious asset is to have gender balance in the Liberal leadership. Can we also presume you are there to present a more moderate face to the party? The new Liberal leadership team of Peter Dutton and Sussan Ley address the media. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen SL: Well, I really agree with Peter Duttons statement that were not conservatives. Were not moderates, were Liberals. I mean, people will describe me as moderate even though Ive never belonged to a faction. But Id like to think that my appointment had more to do with the fact that Ive been in opposition before for six years. Ive been in Parliament since 2001, Peter Dutton and I are fellow travellers from the class of 2001. And, Id like to think I have a style of bringing people together. Fitz: Are you and Mr Dutton personal friends or close colleagues? SL: Close colleagues. Peter is a person of decency and integrity, and thats something that I have very much valued over the years. And I expect that the people who get to meet Peter now will come to the same conclusions that I did very early on.

Fitz: What youve gone through must have been very traumatic. I mean, losing 20 seats! And some judges say the LNP is out for at least 10 years . . .? SL: It was incredibly sobering. I really did take time to reflect as I have listened to those who didnt make it and were booted out. They put their heart and soul into it, and some cried . . . Fitz: When did you realise: theres a bus coming for us, filled with angry Australian voters and theyre about to run us over? SL: I always end every election at West Albury Primary School, just by myself, taking a moment. As I stood there this time, I instinctively felt, indeed, something rushing towards me. A little later, when I first heard on the radio the results coming out of the seat of Mackellar, thats when the penny immediately dropped: things are very bad. Although I must say  in part helped by not having a strong Independent against me this time  my personal two party preferred swing was 7 per cent towards me, which was pleasing.

Fitz: So you and Bridget Archer from Tassie  the one who was brave enough to stand up against religious discrimination and the transgender nonsense  got swings to you! Surely, theres a lesson there that the future for the Libs is to start to move to the centre ground, not the right-wing nutter ground? SL: Melissa McIntosh in Western Sydney also had a swing towards her. Fitz: Why do you think the Libs have lost so many female voters? You said last week to Australian women, We hear you. What did you hear? SL: Many spoke about climate, about integrity, and many also spoke about day-to-day matters like childcare. Fitz: One of your recent predecessors as Liberal Deputy, Julie Bishop, famously said she was not a feminist. Are you?

SL: Yes I am. There was a time maybe 10 years ago when I sort of thought my generation has won all the battles. Personally, I learned to fly when people didnt want female pilots and there were various glass ceilings that I went through. But then when I saw the situation faced by my two daughters I can see theres a whole new set of challenges for young women, and I want the Liberal Party to be at the forefront of meeting them. Fitz: And yet a professional woman of my acquaintance, born to a very strong Liberal family said to me after the election, When I looked at the Teals, I saw myself. When I looked at the Libs I saw crumb-maidens living off whatever crumbs the males allowed them. How do you get people like her back? How do you solve the Libs women problem? SL: Thats interesting. We have to be a party where people can see themselves. And they have to see a party that reflects their aspirations, their views and their ethos within its ranks. A picture of diversity: Anthony Albanese flanked by Labors WA MPs and senators in Perth. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen Fitz: But isnt that hard for the Libs? Prime Minister Albanese recently had a photo on his twitter of the WA members and they looked seriously diverse, with men, women, many skin hues, races, and religions. Whereas, there is no way around it: the Liberal Party right now  with some notable exceptions like yourself  looks very stale, male and pale.

SL: I want more women coming into our party. I want more women in the organisation. I want more women in the community to aspire to political representation more broadly and then choose the Liberal Party. But appearances can be deceiving. So for example, people might look at me in a corporate suit and say, Well, thats one of those twinset and pearls women. But Im not that. Similarly, you dont know the background of the men that youre talking about and how influenced they are by the womens issues in their home and their workplace and their previous employment. Fitz: I do hope that somewhere in your back drawer, theres still that dog collar with silver studs? Please tell me its still there somewhere! SL: (Laughing). Ive moved too many times. Fitz: Speaking of moving, it seems to be the only track winding back to the Lodge for Mr. Dutton surely goes, in this town, down Barrenjoey Road from the Northern Beaches, across the Spit Bridge, up Military Road and all way to North Sydney, before crossing the Bridge and heading up New South Head Road. If you and he dont get the Teal seats back, he can forget moving into the Lodge, yes? SL: I dont think we can be the modern Liberal Party if we dont work damn hard to represent all those seats, and get back all those Teal seats we lost in Sydney and Melbourne, and the one in Perth. We must go after them.

Fitz: Okay, thats great. But to have any chance of getting those seats  and I live in one of them, and have a fair idea of the views of the Teal voters  youre going to have to have some progressive policies. Youre going to have to back The Voice. Youre going to have the back the Republic. Loading SL: The Voice has merit and we will work through the detail of it. We need to balance the symbolism of the Voice with the practical action that makes the difference that a lot of Indigenous leaders are calling for. Theres no suggestion from us as a Coalition that were not very much going to be part of that. Fitz: What about the Republic? Do you seriously think the future of Australia depends on having a foreigner as our Head of State, or do you believe that it is time that we are free-standing beneath the Southern Cross? SL: Im a Republican. The times change, and no matter how relevant the monarchy might have been, no matter how elegant, its definitely neither relevant or elegant to my children, who are in their early 30s  and that view is widespread.

Fitz: Have you talked to Mr Dutton about it? SL: No, but we have a lot of republicans in our party. I respect those who are monarchists because its tried and its tested and its served us well. But Im a republican. Fitz: Last question. I dont ask you to exult, Albos off to a great start! But could you agree that in the in the minds of the media and the public theres a feeling abroad right now to that every effect? SL: I think hes off to a cautious start... a safe start. Look, theres always an element of hoopla with a new government. You welcome them getting their feet under the table and getting on with the job, but I think were still very much in the wait and see space, at the moment. Fitz: Thank you, Ms Ley.

Joke of the Week What do you call a fish with no eyes? A fsh. (And heres a big welcome to you, Prime Minister Ardern, and your entourage. We love you people.) Tweet of the Week The Nats are like a series of Russian Nesting Dolls. Sequentially smaller Barnabies.

@AusGroucho Quotes of the Week The Liberal Party is like the rock band that trashes the hotel room and complains its not cleaned up before breakfast. - Energy Minister Chris Bowen I think at the moment people centre on the Queen, and then when she goes, when she passes, then the succession comes in, theres a new discussion in Australia. - Governor-General David Hurley He considers you to be nothing but a winging (sic) old bag turning out to be just like your mother who he wants to drop dead. - This text from Pauline Hanson to the wife of one of her fellow One Nation Senators, is not a part of defamation proceedings.

I think that the no-confidence motion in Boris Johnson has let me off the hook a little bit if you like, because that notion that constitutional monarchies provide more stability, thats questionable in the light of whats happened in the last couple of days. - Assistant Minister for the Republic, Matt Thistlethwaite Me and my family are very happy to start our journey back to my community in Bilo. - Priya Murugappan as the family left Perth to go #HomeToBilo. The Bilo family were loved and wanted by their local community. This guy, Nades, worked at the local meatworks. We import people to work in meatworks because we cant find enough workers, and here we grabbed this family in the middle of the night, took them down to Melbourne, then took them to Christmas Island, then theyve ended up in Perth. These little girls, who were born in Australia, got not just mental health issues but physical health issues as well. Im very proud weve brought this family home. Im very proud, and the community will be as well. - Prime Minister Anthony Albanese as the Murugappan family started the trip back to Biloela. Cannabis will be as legal as garlic, as legal as basil, as legal as chili. - Kitty Chopaka, Thai advocate for cannabis legalisation, as Thailand, on Thursday, became the first country in Asia to effectively legalise marijuana in a landmark move its government hopes will supercharge its wellness and tourism industries and generate as much as 10 billion baht ($400 million) a year. We need to invest in mental healthcare, we need safer schools, we need to restore family values, we need responsible gun ownership, we need background checks, we need red flag laws, we need to raise the minimum age to purchase an AR-15 rifle to 21. - Academy Awardwinning actor Matthew McConaughey, who grew up in Uvalde, Texas, addressing at the White House briefing to call on Congress to reach a higher ground and pass gun control legislation in honour of the children and teachers killed in last months shooting rampage at an elementary school in his hometown.

I see it as essential that the commission should have jurisdiction to investigate what is being referred to as pork barrelling. There is a point at which discretionary grant programs cross the line into corruption where you are giving away public money for private purposes, then that is appropriately regarded as corruption. - New Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus saying that legislating Labors promised national anti-corruption commission by the end of the year was his paramount priority, calling it a nation building reform. It was a very important day because we are able now to draw a line under the issues that our opponents want to talk about and we are able to get on talking about the issues, what the issues that I think the people want ... and what we are doing to help them and to take the country forward. That is what we are going to do. We are going to focus exclusively on that. - Boris Johnson after he scraped through a vote of non confidence in the UK parliament and pretending that everythings just fine and no one cares about party-gate anyway. It was never about money, it was about an apology. - John Barilaro after winning his defamation case. If someones got a Maserati, a Ferrari and a waterfront home and theyre technically unemployed, they need to explain where the source of that wealth came from. - NSW opposition leader Chris Minns, speaking in favour of widening police powers so they can more easily search for drug money. Im speechless. I cant believe it right now. Its super, special and such a great honour right now. Its always been my dream to win this when I was a little girl. - Australian golfer Minjee Lee on her four-stroke victory at the US Womens Open at Pine Needles on Monday morning (AEST).
The NSW public sector will offer 14 weeks paid parental leave under a government plan to scrap the distinction between primary and secondary carers and encourage parents to spend equal time raising their newborns.

In an effort to encourage more men to take parental leave, the NSW government will also offer employees an extra fortnight of paid leave if they evenly split the leave with their partner.

Premier Dominic Perrottet said only 12 per cent of people taking paid primary parental leave in NSW were men. Credit:Getty

While most parents across Australia are entitled to paid primary parental leave, only 12 per cent of those who take it are men, Premier Dominic Perrottet said.

The changes, accounted for the upcoming state budget, will take effect in October.
Beijing: China has attacked the theory that the coronavirus pandemic may have originated as a leak from a Chinese laboratory as a politically motivated lie, after the World Health Organisation recommended in its strongest terms yet that a deeper probe is needed into whether a lab accident may be to blame.

Foreign Ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian also rejected accusations that China had not fully cooperated with investigators, saying it welcomed a science-based probe but rejected any political manipulation.

He also reiterated calls for an investigation into highly suspicious laboratories such as Fort Detrick and the University of North Carolina in the United States where China has suggested, without evidence, that the US was developing the coronavirus as a bioweapon.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian said the World Health Organisation should be investigation American labs instead. Credit:AP

The lab leak theory is totally a lie concocted by anti-China forces for political purposes, which has nothing to do with science, Zhao said at a daily briefing.
London: Prince Charles privately labelled the British governments plan to send asylum seekers to Rwanda as appalling, The Times has reported, in a revelation that threatens to overshadow his appearance at a Commonwealth summit in the central African nation later this month.

The future king, who will represent the Queen at the Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting in Kigali, Rwandas capital, was said to have criticised Boris Johnsons refugee policy several times in private, while also expressing concerns it could be problematic for the summit on June 23.

Prince Charles, seen here with Commonwealth Secretary-General Patricia Scotland on June 9, will represent the Queen at the Commonwealth Heads of Government summit in Rwanda later this month. Credit:Getty

Migrants who arrive in Britain illegally face being deported to Rwanda under a deal struck by the government in April. The policy is loosely modelled on Australias offshore processing system for asylum seekers who arrive by boat, implemented by successive governments almost a decade ago. While arrivals may claim asylum once they arrive in the UK under British laws, the new plan will send them to the central African nation while their claims are processed.

An initial legal challenge to the policy failed on Friday after a High Court judge ruled that the first flight  due to deport migrants on Tuesday  could go ahead.
UK PM to help men sentenced to death by Russians in Ukraine

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How much more proof do Americans need before the majority understand that Donald Trump hoped to overturn the results of a legitimate election by force?

The first prime time hearing of the House January 6 investigative panel provided much more than enough evidence for those who bothered to watch. From the former presidents erstwhile advisors came video of sworn testimony that the 2020 election was not stolen by fraud.

This is the lie Trump used to encourage a violent attack on the Capitol Jan. 6, 2021. It is the lie he continues to tell. It is the lie far too many Americans appear to believe.

Trumps attorney general, Bill Barr, told the president his election-stealing charge was BS. Trumps daughter Ivanka testified under oath that she believed Barr. A parade of Republican lawyers offered stories of their vain attempts to convince Trump that no basis in fact existed for his delusion. The chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff told how Vice President Mike Pence got pushed into the void of leadership as Trump balked at stopping the attack he ordered.

Committee Chair Rep. Bennie Thompson, a Democrat from Mississippi, and Rep. Liz Cheney, a Republican from Wyoming, led the Thursday hearing with civility and precision. No one of sane mind could accuse them of grandstanding or exaggerating. The facts spoke for themselves.

More facts will emerge in the weeks ahead as the committee works its way through a series of public hearings designed to get the truth to the American people.

The countrys attention and reaction will largely determine the fate of American democracy, at least for a generation, if not permanently. What separates the U.S. from dictatorships, autocracies and military takeovers is the U.S.s indefatigable commitment to the peaceful transfer of power.

Donald Trump did everything short of breaking into the Capitol himself to keep the U.S. House and Senate from certifying the legal and legitimate election of Joe Biden. Trump promised to go with his faithful and lead them, but did not show up.

Video never before aired publicly showed White supremacists Proud Boys and Oath Keepers operating in paramilitary formation to lead Trump supporters illegally into the Capitol from the west and east sides.

The video also showed U.S. Capitol Police Officer Caroline Edwards being knocked unconscious by insurrectionists when she tried to hold the line at a portable bicycle rack. It was the first of two serious injuries Edwards suffered at the hands of the crowd.

Menacing calls of Nancy, Nancy by invaders hoping to get their hands on House Speaker Nancy Pelosi resembled something from a horror movie. The chants of Hang Mike Pence, who refused to break the law as Trump repeatedly encouraged him to do, seemed straight out of an authoritarian coup.

Most Republicans in Congress choose to lie about the atmosphere in the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. Though they were nervous and scared, they now pretend that nothing serious really happened. They cannot lie to those of us who were there and saw them.

With this editorial you will find a photograph of one of the portable gas masks issued to people in the House chamber that day.

After police evacuated the House floor, members of Congress trapped in the upper gallery of the chamber, along with the media, saw and heard the glass in the lattice work of window panes in the main door cracking as Trumps supporters tried to break the door down with a battering ram.

Folks in the balcony had no place to escape. We were locked inside as police checked under seats for explosives and Trumps troops ran amok through the hall outside looking for a way in.

When someone knocked at the door and said they were cops, the police officer guarding from the inside cracked the door and shouted, Show me your hands. Show me your hands. He wanted to make sure he was not being fooled by armed insurrectionists.

He wasnt. Law enforcement had arrived, and the traitors lay on the floor in the hall outside the door with automatic weapons trained on them.
Bring back school resource officers

In 2020, the Albemarle County School Board removed School Resource Officers (SROs) from county schools. As the General Assembly examines ways to enhance school safety, its time to reverse that decision.

SROs receive specialized training to ensure they are responsive to the needs of educational facilities and those they serve. SROs build partnerships to actively address potential criminal activity and are uniquely situated to respond to active threats. They are trained to identify high-risk individuals while protecting vulnerable students from criminal activity, including criminal gangs and human traffickers.

Enacted in 2017, HB 2282 required the Virginia Board of Education to adopt guidelines for identifying and preventing human trafficking in Virginia schools. According to 2019 guidelines issued pursuant to this law, children at risk are not just high school students; studies show that the average age a child is trafficked into the commercial sex trade is between 11 and 14 years old. The presence of SROs provides a crucial bulwark against human traffickers and other threats to Virginias children.

SROs are supported by Virginia students and school officials. A majority of 106,000 9th-12th graders responding to a 2020 Virginia survey indicated that SROs made them feel safe. Of 15,707 school employees surveyed, 85 percent somewhat to strongly agreed that SROs make them feel safer at school and 90 percent somewhat to strongly agreed that SROs make a positive contribution to the school. A 2020 Albemarle survey found that 57 percent of students felt SROs kept schools safe.

Albemarle students, parents, and teachers deserve SROs back in County schools.

Robert Tracci

Faber
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP)  Tennessee's highest court ruled Friday that the state's Republican Party did not violate open meeting laws when it ousted a congressional hopeful from the GOP primary ballot.

The Supreme Court's ruling reverses a lower court's decision that had ordered video producer Robby Starbuck back on the ballot. Last week, the lower court had ruled the Tennessee Republican Party's state executive committee failed to follow the state's open meeting laws when it voted to remove Starbuck and others from the ballot in April in a closed-door session. The Supreme Court's overturn came on the final day that the state has said candidates could be added to the ballot.

Officials with Tennessee's Republican Party have said that Starbuck, small business owner Baxter Lee and former State Department spokesperson Morgan Ortagus did not meet the requirements to be a bona fide Republican when the executive committee secretly met to vote on who would qualify as GOP candidates in the August primary election. However, they have repeatedly declined to explain specifically how that decision was made.

In court filings, attorneys for the state Republican Party have argued that removing the candidates was a purely private intraparty decision. State GOP Chairman Scott Golden said Friday's decision completely vindicated the party's actions.

We have always maintained that the actions of myself, the Party, the staff, and Members were conducted honestly and in accordance with the many state laws regarding ballot access for Republican candidates, and the verdict today has affirmed our belief, Golden said in a statement.

In a statement Friday, Starbuck said he's heartbroken for the people of Tennessee that this was allowed to happen.

The system that was upheld today by the TN Supreme Court is sadly reminiscent of Cuba where a central committee removes real candidates and gives the people only party puppets to choose from, tweeted Starbuck, whose family fled Cuba for the U.S.

According to Friday's unanimous opinion, the Supreme Court ruled that while the Republican Party's state primary board must follow the Tennessee Open Meetings Act, the state's executive committee does not.

Under Tennessee Code ... a partys state executive committee makes the determination of whether a candidate is a bona fide member of the party. Thus, the (executive committee) by statute, was acting as a state executive committee, and not a state primary board, when it determined that Mr. Starbuck was not a bona fide Republican, the justices wrote.

In May, a federal judge also declined to void the Republican Party's decision surrounding Starbuck. In that case, U.S. District Judge Waverly Crenshaw wrote that the party did not violate the U.S. Constitution.

Starbuck's attorneys have maintained the party's decision to remove a candidate should be conducted in the open.

Rather than simply hold the meeting in public  which even at this late stage the state executive committee might have done  the Party so desires to avoid any public knowledge of how and why the state executive committee decided to remove Mr. Starbuck from the ballot that it would rather seek an extraordinary appeal from this Court than simply hold the open meeting that Tennessee law requires, his attorneys wrote in their appeal.

Starbuck named only the Tennessee Republican Party in its lawsuit. Earlier this week, the secretary of state's office petitioned to join amid the appeals process, noting that it wasn't involved in the lawsuit but was subject to the court order.

We appreciate the Tennessee Supreme Court ruling in a such a timely manner," Secretary of State Tre Hargett said in a statement Friday. "The original opinion raised concerns for our office, and should for any government official for that matter, when the judge essentially enjoined this office as state officials in a lawsuit to which we were never a party.

State GOP rules say candidates need to have voted in three of the last four statewide primaries to be deemed bona fide Republicans, determined after someone files a challenge. There also is a party process that lets others vouch for someone to be considered bona fide and remain on the ballot, which is determined in a vote by party officials.
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NEW ORLEANS (AP)  A federal appeals court has put on hold a district judges order for Louisiana to redraw new congressional districts by June 20 to include a second majority Black district.

The order late Thursday from the 5th U.S. Court of Appeals is the latest move in a legal battle between the Republican legislature and secretary of state and Democratic Gov. John Bel Edwards.

Edwards had vetoed the new districts drawn up after the latest census, saying that since Louisiana is nearly one-third African American, a single majority-Black district violates the Voting Rights Act. However, the legislature overrode his veto in late March.

A 5th Circuit panel stepped in and paused the remap order Thursday night, hours after U.S. District Judge Shelly Dick refused to delay her deadline while it was appealed.

Lawyers for Secretary of State Kyle Ardoin wrote in a motion filed Friday that Dicks order would itself require a racial gerrymander that would violate the Voting Rights Act.

State Senate President Page Cortez and House Speaker Clay Schexnayder made much the same argument in a motion filed Thursday.

Ardoin said Dick ignored legal precedent and election officials.

On the record, there is no basis for allowing the State to conduct the coming election in likely violation of federal law and the rights of the States Black voters, responded attorneys for the NAACP Legal Defense Fund, which represents one of the two groups of voters who challenged the plan.

Defendants point to nothing in the district courts order that indicates it made a mistake of law or fact, said lawyers for the other group.

Cortez and Schexnayder said Friday that a special session scheduled for next week to revise House district boundaries should be canceled.

Before the judicial redistricting process is complete, any special session would be premature and a waste of taxpayer money, they wrote.

Edwards, who scheduled the June 15-20 redistricting session, said it's too early to cancel it.

The appeals court is likely to act again before June 15, said a news release from his office.

If Dick's order for a new map June 20 remains on hold, he told lawmakers in a letter, the session should be delayed until a definitive court decision is reached.

While I am mindful of the costs to the taxpayers as pointed out in your press release, it is clear that the state would have saved the unknown thousands of dollars being spent on out-of-state lawyers if the legislature had originally enacted maps that comply with the Voting Rights Act and the standard of fundamental fairness," he wrote. It is not too late for the legislature to do the right thing.

Court papers for Ardoin call the deadline unworkable  an argument that Dick described as insincere and not persuasive.

The state requires seven days notice of the start of the session and three days for bill reading, she wrote. That would require ten days total, and this Court gave the Legislature fourteen, she said.

A friend-of-the-court brief from Alabama and 11 other states argued that Dick turned part of the Voting Rights Act from protection against discrimination into a tool for compelling racially discriminatory redistricting.

The section makes it illegal to keep people from voting because of their race, but doesn't require "that wherever a majority-minority district can be drawn, it must be drawn, the states said.

If it did, it would be unconstitutional, the brief contended.

Arkansas, Georgia, Indiana, Kentucky, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Texas, and Utah joined with Alabama.

Under Dick's order, to avoid liability, the State must consider race first and everything else second, they wrote. That cannot be the law.

Kathryn Sadasivan, redistricting counsel for the NAACP Legal Defense Fund, said the new map continues to pack Black voters from New Orleans and Baton Rouge into a single congressional district despite the significant changes in the Black population and the shared interests and needs of Black voters in Baton Rouge and the Delta parishes north of Baton Rouge along and east of the Mississippi River.

She said Dicks 152-page ruling recognized that the single majority African American district dilutes Black political power.

We are confident that the November primary election is sufficiently far away to allow this decision to stand, Sadasivan wrote.
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Scene Singer/songwriter and former Today show co-host Kathie Lee Gifford celebrated the birth of her first grandchild, Frank Michael, who was born ast week to her son, Cody, 32 and his wife, Erika Brown. The young family lives in the Riverside home where Cody grew up with his parents, Kathie Lee and the late Frank Gifford.

Scene Free agent Rob Gronk Gronkowski, formerly of the New England Patriots and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, spent the afternoon of June 5 hanging at Cisco Brewers at The Village in Stamfords South End with former teammates Niko Koutouvides and Shane Vereen. They were in town to participate in the NFL Alumni Association CT Chapters Charity Golf Classic at the Country Club of Darien. Later in the day, the popular rock band Green Eyed Lady performed on the Brewers rooftop and met up with Gronk for a photo.

Out there Stamford Downtowns annual outdoor art exhibit this year is called HedgeFun and features 16 animal topiaries on display on sidewalks and parks through September. The HedgeFun animals, which light up at night with solar lights, will be up for sale at the end of the exhibit. A portion of the proceeds will be used to plant trees in Stamford downtown. For more info and a map of locations, visit stamford-downtown.com/events/hedgefun-art-in-public-places/

Scene Greenwich resident Indra Nooyi, former CEO of PepsiCo who now serves on the board of Amazon, was seen at dining at Ruby & Bella on Greenwich Avenue with friends on the evening of June 4.

Out there Courtney White, former president of the Food Network, is partnering with the Wheelhouse in Stamford to create Butternut, focused on creating original content on food, home and lifestyle for all platforms.Whites Connecticut-based offices will operate from Butternut Farm, her familys fresh-cut flower farm in Southport. She will work with a range of established, emerging, homegrown talent. The Wheelhouse was founded by Greenwich resident Brent Montgomery in partnership with TV personality Jimmy Kimmel.

Scene Award-winning journalist Katie Couric was in New Rochelle, N.Y., last week for the grand opening of Hair House on Huguenot Street. The boutique salon, formerly located in the Bronx, N.Y., is owned by celebrity stylist Dana Fiore, who has worked as a stylist for many TV personalities and has been featured in Vogue, Cosmopolitan, Glamour, Good Housekeeping, Today, America's Next Top Model and more.

Scene Renowned musician Mark Rivera, who is Billy Joel's sax player and Ringo Starr's musical director, stopped by C. Parker Gallery in Greenwich on June 4 to check out an exhibit of Starrs work called Painting is my Madness Too. Starr, who wrapped up three sold-out shows at the Beacon in NYC recently, has created two new works of art exclusively for C. Parker Gallery. Rivera performed with Billy Joel at the Greenwich Town Party on May 28. This is the last weekend to check out and purchase limited edition hand-signed artwork created by Ringo Starr to benefit his charity, The Lotus Foundation. For more info, contact Tiffany Benincasa at tiffany@cparkergallery or call 203-661-0205.

Out there The Greenwich Historical Societys concert series dubbed Music on the Great Lawn takes place on Thursday, June 16, featuring the Connecticut-based Beatles tribute band The Sun. For more info, go to www.greenwichhistory.org.

Out there Comedian Jay Leno, former host of The Tonight Show, will perform at the Ridgefield Playhouse at 4 p.m. Sunday, June 26. For tickets ($135 to $150) go to www.ridgefieldplayhouse.org or call 203-438-5795.

He who fears he will suffer already suffers because he fears.

 Michel de Montaigne

And thats all for now.

Later

Got a tip? Seen a celebrity? Email Susie Costaregni at thedish2@yahoo.com.
TOKYO (AP)  Japan on Friday eased its borders for foreign tourists and began accepting visa applications, but only for those on guided package tours who are willing to follow mask-wearing and other antivirus measures as the country cautiously tries to balance business and infection worries.

Friday is the first day to start procedures needed for the entry and arrivals are not expected until late June at the earliest, even though airport immigration and quarantine offices stood by for any possible arrivals.

The Japan Tourism Agency says tours are being accepted from 98 countries and regions, including the United States, Britain, China, South Korea, Thailand and Singapore, which are deemed as having low infection risks.

Japans partial resumption of international tourism that was halted during the coronavirus pandemic is being carried out under guidelines based on an experiment conducted in late May. It involved about 50 participants, mostly tour agency employees from Australia, Singapore, Thailand and the United States.

In one case, a tour for a four-member group was cancelled when one of the participants tested positive for COVID-19 after arriving in Japan.

We expect the resumption of inbound tourism will help stimulate the local economy, Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism Tetsuo Saito told reporters Friday. We will continue to make effort to recover demand for tourism while balancing anti-infection measures and social and economic activities.

Under the guidelines, participants are requested to wear face masks most of the time and to purchase insurance to cover medical costs in case they contract COVID-19. The rules don't set a cap for the number of people in one group, but tour guides must be present throughout the tour.

After facing criticism that its strict border controls were xenophobic, Japan began easing restrictions earlier this year. On June 1, it doubled its cap on daily entries to 20,000 people a day, including Japanese citizens, foreign students and some business travelers.

The daily limit will include the package tour participants for the time being, and officials say it will take some time before foreign visitors can come to Japan for free, individual tourism.

Business groups based in Japan representing the Group of Seven countries and European Union, in a joint statement Friday, welcomed Japan's gradual resumption of foreign tourism, but call on the government to to further ease border control measures to facilitate an environment where people, goods, money and digital technologies can move freely, thus advancing Japans economic growth.

They called on Japan to follow examples of other G-7 countries and resume individual tourism, eliminate testing at airports, lift the daily entry cap and resume international flights at more than a dozen regional airports.

Japan's inbound tourism business has lain dormant during the pandemic and even though the country welcomes tourists and their spending, infection concerns persist among Japanese, especially in popular tourist destinations.

Unlike most Western countries where mask-wearing has largely been abandoned, most people continue to wear them even in situations, such as outdoors in uncrowded settings, where they are no longer requested.

Japan is still reporting more than 10,000 new COVID-19 cases daily, though the number in Tokyo is below 2,000.

The latest mask wearing rules call for people to wear them on public transport systems, in hospitals and other public facilities. People can doff their masks outdoors when others are not around or talking loudly.

It's unclear how popular the package tours options will be with foreign tourists, most of whom have to apply for tourist visas that can take weeks to obtain. But the yen is trading at 20-year lows against the U.S. dollar and weak against other major currencies, which would make traveling in the high-cost country something of a bargain.

Foreign tourist arrivals fell more than 90% in 2020 from a record 31.9 million the year before, almost wiping out the pre-pandemic inbound tourism market of more than 4 trillion yen ($30 billion).
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RICHMOND, Va. (AP)  When Republican Glenn Youngkin was running to be Virginia's governor, he defended a teacher suspended over an objection to using students' preferred pronouns. He opposed transgender children playing on sports teams aligned with their gender identity, and he indicated a personal objection to same-sex marriage.

Given those positions, it generated some bipartisan surprise in Richmond this week when he hosted a reception celebrating Pride month at the Virginia Capitol.

The event astonished and angered many LGBTQ advocates, who called the festivities hypocritical and chose not to attend. But Youngkin's supporters held up the event as an example of the conservative governor living up to a central campaign promise to serve as a unifier who cares for all his constituents.

I think this demonstration of outreach, of genuine communication is reflective of why he was elected," said Michael Berlucchi, a city councilman from Virginia Beach, Republican and member of the state's LGBTQ+ Advisory Board who attended the reception.

Youngkin, a former private equity executive, became the first Republican in almost a decade to occupy the governor's mansion in this blue-leaning state after defeating former Democratic Gov. Terry McAuliffe in a costly, high-profile race last year.

Openly religious  he once helped found a church in his basement and often opens meetings in prayer  Youngkin essentially avoided the issue of gay marriage on the campaign trail, declining to say in one interview whether he supported it. The Associated Press pressed him again in October, and he indicated that while he did not personally support same-sex marriage, it was legally acceptable and he would support that. He also emphasized that his faith calls him "to love everyone.

Lisa Turner, who serves on the LGBTQ+ Advisory Board with Berlucchi and chairs the group created to advise the governor, said the Youngkin administration has been less than engaged with its efforts so far and took issue with how Pride month was handled.

Turner said she asked the administration for a Pride month proclamation  a ceremonial recognition that's standard for other heritage months. It didn't happen. She also said she was initially told by an administration liaison that there would be no Pride month programming and that perhaps the group should convene somewhere other than Richmond for a meeting that also happened to be on Wednesday. She wasn't informed of the reception  which she opted not to attend  until a week prior, she said.

However, Youngkin spokeswoman Macaulay Porter said the June events were planned well in advance.

The Governor is committed to leading on behalf of all Virginians. We are one Virginia and engagements help strengthen our communities and the spirit of Virginia, she said in a statement.

Berlucchi said about 50 people attended the reception in the Capitol rotunda, smaller than similar events during the past two Democratic administrations. The reception was closed to the press, typical for such events, but the administration also took the step of closing the public building entirely at the time.

Several of the state's leading LGBTQ advocacy groups issued a joint news release condemning what they called the governor's hypocrisy in hosting the event.

I was shocked. I was disappointed. I was slightly amused, Narissa Rahaman, executive director of Equality Virginia Advocates, said of her reaction to learning that the event would take place. Rahaman said she was not extended an invitation.

James Millner, director of Virginia Pride, said in a statement that he was invited but would not attend.

I appreciate the Governors invitation, but I think it is premature for this administration to celebrate LGBTQ+ equality when it has yet to take any meaningful steps to advance it, Millner said.

Meanwhile, Victoria Cobb, president of the conservative Family Foundation of Virginia  which opposes same-sex marriage  stopped short of criticizing Youngkin.

The Governor should meet with citizen groups to discuss their concerns but given that nothing less than total capitulation to the LGBT agenda will appease these groups, this seems like a distraction, she said in a statement.

Veteran political analyst Bob Holsworth said he couldnt recall a similar Pride commemoration by another Republican administration. But he noted that public opinion on the issue has shifted since Virginia last had a GOP chief executive.

Youngkin also hosted a luncheon at the governor's mansion this month with members of the LGBTQ community and attended a roundtable Thursday hosted by the Log Cabin Republicans, a conservative LGBTQ advocacy group whose endorsement he touted during his campaign.

Casey Flores, president of the group's newly organized Richmond chapter and an attendee of the luncheon, said he had no problem with a governor maintaining a faith-based opposition to homosexuality, and he criticized the backlash to this week's events.

The Democrat Party and the people on the left, the left-leaning organizations, they all lambaste Republicans for not embracing the gay community. And then when one does, they lambaste and they lose their minds, he said.

No LGBTQ state lawmakers were extended an invitation to Wednesday's reception, according to Turner.

Democratic Del. Danica Roem, who is transgender, equated the event to sending LGBTQ constituents thoughts and prayers.

Roem was particularly disappointed that the governor's office was publicly silent earlier this year on a legislative push blocked by House Republicans to remove a defunct provision prohibiting gay marriage from the state constitution. It's a matter of urgency, she said, at a time when some advocates increasingly fear the right of same-sex couples to marry could someday be stripped away by the Supreme Court.

Turner wondered if what seemed like a last-minute jostling to schedule a few Pride events was a response to a recent virtual attack against her group, when an online meeting was flooded with racist and homophobic messages and imagery, according to VPM News. She noted that Youngkin made an appearance at the group's Wednesday meeting, where he condemned the harassment, but said she thinks the administration could do far more to advocate for Virginia's LGBTQ community.

Just having a Pride event is not as significant as actually putting in the footwork to make sure that the community has protections, she said.
A troubled Iowa center for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities failed to monitor the fluid intake of a 30-year-old resident who died in February due to dehydration, state inspectors said in a report.

The Iowa Department of Inspections and Appeals has fined the Glenwood Resource Center $10,000 after inspectors found that center staff failed to ensure that the man received at least 101 ounces (3,000 milliliters) of fluids every day, as ordered by his doctor.

The man  who had profound intellectual disabilities and cerebral palsy, among other conditions  was hospitalized for eight days in November for dehydration and a resulting kidney injury, according to the report filed May 24. The doctor's order included a directive for the staff to call a nurse to give him additional fluid through an abdominal tube if he did not drink the minimum daily amount.

The man was taken back to the hospital on Feb. 16 after a nurse at the center noted his mental status had changed, and he was lethargic, had high blood pressure and was experiencing increased jerky movements. A nurse practitioner noted his lips were dry.

Two days later, the man died at the hospital. He had a severely high concentration of sodium in the blood, kidney failure and a urinary tract infection, all of which are results of acute dehydration, according to the report. It also noted the amounts of fluids the man was listed as ingesting on his daily activity record at the center and the lab results from the hospital did not add up."

Review of the fluid totals entered by staff revealed (the client) failed to reach the goal of 3,000 milliliters on 9 out of 15 recorded days in February, the report said. The report blamed a lack of staff training for the failures.

The Glenwood center on Friday referred questions to the Iowa Department of Human Services, which did not immediately answer questions  including about whether any center staff faced discipline, termination or criminal investigation related to the resident's death.

It's the latest in a string of troubles at the center. In April, Gov. Kim Reynolds announced the center will close by June 30, 2024. That came months after the U.S. Department of Justice issued a strong condemnation of the way Iowa treats people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

In a December 2020 report, federal officials said the Glenwood center likely violated the constitutional rights of residents by subjecting them to human experiments, some of them dangerous.
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WASHINGTON (AP)  The House committee investigating the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol has laid out a roadmap for the hearings this month as it examines President Donald Trump's responsibility for the melee and the damage that resulted for law enforcement officers, members of Congress and others in attendance that day.

The next round of hearings won't take place in prime time like the debut on Thursday, but lawmakers will go into greater detail about specific aspects of the insurrection.

Here's a snapshot of what the committee says is ahead:

FALSE AND FRAUDULENT

Rep. Liz Cheney of Wyoming, the Republican vice chair of the committee, said lawmakers will present evidence Monday at the second hearing showing that Trump engaged in a massive effort to spread false and fraudulent information that the election had been stolen  even though advisers and allies told him repeatedly he had lost.

The panel touched on that theme in its first hearing with a clip from former Attorney General Bill Barr, testifying that he repeatedly told the president in no uncertain terms that I did not see evidence of fraud" that would have affected the election.

As well, Trump campaign lawyer Alex Cannon was shown discussing conversations with then White House chief of staff Mark Meadows sometime in November 2020.

I remember sharing with him that we werent finding anything that would be sufficient to change the results in any of the key states," Cannon said.

When asked how Meadows responded, Cannon said: I believe the words he used were, so theres no there there.'"

PRESSURE ON THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT

Cheney says the third hearing Wednesday will focus on how Trump pushed for the Justice Department to "spread his false stolen election claims in the days before January 6." Senior Justice Department officials refused, telling him his claims were not true.

She noted how Trump sought to elevate Jeffrey Clark, an environmental lawyer at the department, to the job of acting attorney general. Clark had drafted a letter to send to Georgia and five other states saying the Justice Department had identified significant concerns that may have impacted the outcome of the election."

Trump nearly gave the top job to Clark but backed down when senior Justice Department leadership and White House lawyers threatened to resign, testimony has shown.

The men involved, including Acting Attorney General Jeff Rosen and Acting Deputy Attorney General Richard Donoghue, were appointed by President Trump," Cheney said. These men honored their oaths of office. They did their duty, and you will hear from them in our hearings.

Clark has invoked his Fifth Amendment privilege against self-incrimination and refused to testify to the committee.

SPOTLIGHT: MIKE PENCE

Cheney said the fourth hearing will focus on Trump's efforts to pressure Vice President Mike Pence to stop Congress from certifying some electoral votes for Biden on Jan. 6  something he had no power to do in his ceremonial role.

There was a gasp in the hearing room when Cheney read an account Thursday from inside the White House. When Trump was told the Capitol mob was chanting for Pence to be hanged for refusing to block the election results. Trump responded that maybe the mob was right, that he deserves it, Cheney said.

The day promises plenty of political intrigue as both Trump and Pence seek to shape the Republican Party for years to come, and perhaps make a run for the presidency in 2024.

FIND THE VOTES

Cheney said the fifth hearing, expected the following week, will focus on the president's efforts to pressure state legislators and state election officials to change the election results, including additional details about Trump's call to Georgia officials urging them to find 11,780 votes.

She also is promising new details about efforts to instruct Republican officials in multiple states to create false electoral slates and transmit those slates to Congress, Pence and the National Archives, falsely certifying that Trump won states he had actually lost.

BACK TO TRUMP

Cheney said the final two hearings will focus on how Trump summoned supporters to march on the Capitol, and when the violence was underway, failed to take immediate action to stop them.

The last hearing will have a moment-by-moment account of Trump's response to the attack from former White House staff, both through live testimony in the hearing room and via videotape.

There is no doubt the President Trump was well aware of the violence as it developed," Cheney said. White House staff urged President Trump to intervene and call off the mob."
I have driven every boat I have ever been on, including a cruise ship that miraculously did not, with me at the helm, end up in Davy Jones locker.

My sole qualification for being a captain who could put the Love Boat skipper to shame: I had a New York state drivers license.

Now I can pilot a vessel to Mexico or Canada, or just be a passenger with both hands on deck after becoming seasick, because I recently got an enhanced license.

The license is for driving a car (I dont need one to drive people crazy), but it has honors and benefits beyond those of the standard drivers license, chief of which is the legal ability to flee the country in case the Feds are after me. And, lets face it, this is inevitable.

Several weeks ago, I went to the DMV  which in my case stands for the Department of Multiple Violations, none of which I have been ticketed for  to get an enhanced license.

I needed several items to show that, with apologies to Popeye, I am what I am, which cant be printed in a family newspaper. I also needed to demonstrate that I am, indeed, myself; that I was, in fact, born and not created by a mad scientist (Its alive! Its alive!); and that I live in my home, sweet home.

This entailed providing my Social Security card, a bill from the electric company with my residential address on it and  heres where it got troublesome  my birth certificate.

Unfortunately, my copy of the last document didnt have a raised seal.

A sympathetic person at the DMV said I needed the genuine article or I couldnt get an enhanced drivers license.

So on a recent trip to my hometown of Stamford, I stopped off at the City and Town Clerks office in the Government Center to get an original version of my birth certificate.

I was helped by a very nice and efficient assistant registrar named Diane, who asked when I was born.

It was so long ago that my birth certificate is probably on a stone tablet, I replied.

This did not deter Diane, who returned approximately seven minutes later with a copy, on paper, of my birth certificate.

Does it have a raised seal? I asked.

Yes, answered Diane, who showed it to me.

I thought I would have to go to an aquarium for a raised seal, I said.

Another personable assistant registrar named Karin asked why I needed my birth certificate.

I want to get an enhanced drivers license, I replied. Ill need it if I have to skip town.

Youre good to go, Karin said. We wont tell anyone we saw you.

A couple of days later, I went back to the DMV, where I was helped, quickly and pleasantly, by Tara, who worked at Window 11.

Do you have all your documents? she asked.

Here they are, I said, handing her my Social Security card and my electric bill.

Thats not bad, Tara said when she saw the bill. I pay more than you do.

I would have brought a bank statement, I said, but theres not much in the account.

I know the feeling, Tara said.

And here, I said, is my birth certificate. It even has a raised seal.

That means youre you, Tara noted.

Nobody else would want to be me, I said, adding that my enhanced drivers license would enable me to fly anywhere.

Not really, Tara informed me. Youll still need a passport. The enhanced license will allow you to fly within the United States. You can also drive to Canada or Mexico. Or you can take a boat.

I have a boat, I said, but its in my bathtub.

I guess you wont get very far, Tara said.

Not unless I take a cruise to Mexico, I said. And with my enhanced drivers license, I could be the captain.

Stamford native Jerry Zezima writes a humor column for Tribune News Service and is the author of six books. His latest is "One for the Ageless: How to Stay Young and Immature Even If You're Really Old." Email: JerryZ111@optonline.net. Blog: jerryzezima.blogspot.com.
Hazleton, PA (18201)

Today

A few showers in the evening with thunderstorms developing overnight. Low 61F. Winds SSE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 70%..

Tonight

A few showers in the evening with thunderstorms developing overnight. Low 61F. Winds SSE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 70%.
The Corvallis High School Spartans Class of 2022 are ready to take on their next chapter, whether it be attending university, going on a mission or heading straight into the workforce.

But first, on Friday, June 10, they had to take on graduating, a culmination of some rocky years that included a global pandemic.

Educationally, emotionally and politically this has been the worlds biggest and most screwed up sociology experiment ever, Principal Matt Boring said in his graduation speech to more than 200 students. So many people have failed the test  but not you guys.

Boring told them he would miss them once they leave but added he knows its time they move on.

Friday evenings ceremony took place in Gill Coliseum, and thousands of family and friends filled the arena with their triumphant cheers for the high school seniors. Earlier that day, many of the students walked through the hallways of their old elementary schools for Grad Walk, high-fiving and waving to teachers they knew way back when.

Aside from almost two entire years online, these students went through a tough time when one of their classmates passed away last year. Graduate Chad Romrell carried with him a photo of his friend, Keegan, and received a standing ovation when his name was called to walk across the stage.

Romwell plans to serve a mission for his church after graduation, although he doesnt know where yet.

Im not going to miss any of the learning, Romwell joked. But I will miss all the social aspects.

Quality journalism doesn't happen without your help Support local news coverage and the people who report it by subscribing to the Corvallis Gazette-Times.

Another student, Charles Justice, said hes both excited and nervous to graduate, calling it a mixed bag.

Now, you cant blame someone when you do something wrong, he said. Its the end of an era.

Justice plans to go attend culinary school first at Linn-Benton Community College and then study abroad either in France or Italy.

Michelle Olivares said she will miss her dual-immersion class most of all.

Weve been a family for 13 years, she said.

Olivares plans to attend cosmetology school after she has her baby.

CHS had a whopping 15 valedictorians: Sofia Alzugaray-Orellana, Aaron Boyd, Jaelin Gregory, Sam Gregory, Adrian Hsieh, Dylan Hyde, Madeline Nason, Jimena Noa Guevara, Rohan Pankaj, Elka Prechal, Sai Raja, Colin Smith, Kellen Sullivan, Hugh Weber and Thomas Wright.

Michelle Jin, Ella Morton and Clinton Nichols were the salutatorians.

The CHS wind ensemble and choirs performed throughout the ceremony, followed by speeches from elected student leaders. Student body President Taylor Young encouraged her peers to become active in their communities, because their generation will be the ones to solve social justice issues.

No matter our age or generation, we are here now, Young said. What we do matters.

Editor's note: This article has been updated to attribute a quote to a student.

Joanna Mann (she/her) covers education for Mid-Valley Media. She can be contacted at 541-812-6076 or Joanna.Mann@lee.net. Follow her on Twitter via @joanna_mann_.

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Known for his work that encaptured the childhood of many generations, Ion Creanga will forever be remembered through the heroes he gave life to in his stories.

In order to meet the great storyteller from Humulesti and to get to know the atmosphere of the time he lived in and one can now visit the Memorial Museum that bears his name, located in Humulesti, Neamt County, says Renata Gabriela Buzau, museographer within the Neamt National Museum Complex.

The house where the "close friend" of poet Mihai Eminescu, who was also one of the most animated members at the meetings of the legendary "Junimea" literary circle in Iasi, grew up - says museographer Renata Gabriela Buzau - was built around 1830 by Petrea Ciubotariul, Ion Creanga's grandfather. Like most houses, regardless of the geographical area, this one too was built considering many factors, like: the location, position and certain technological aspects like choosing the building materials, the balance between size and functionality, insulation against soil moisture, preserving the local architectural specificity.

"Although there is no information on what the house actually looked like in the first half of the 19th century and given that some gaps in the organization of the space persist as a result of a number of changes over time, the variety of documentary sources (ethnographic, literary and archival) has allowed specialists to clarify some lesser-known aspects of the possible previous looks of the building, a historical monument in which one of the most beloved and open representatives of Romanian modern classical literature lived. Thus, according to those who studied the work of Ion Creanga, his family's home was representative of the traditional architecture of the time, without impressing by shape, size or structure, fitting into a certain pattern, as a result of a strong conservatism, specific to the rural environment," museographer Renata Gabriela Buzau told AGERPRES.

Made of wood, clay and stone, in various proportions and according to needs, the building has three rooms. According to the testimonies left by the "passionate member of the Junimea literary circle" Creanga and the descriptions that we have from the first half of the 20th century, the house had a pantry that allowed access into the attic, a porch with a hearth and a chimney, while the living room was the main space of the house. traditional, which is why it was larger than the other two. In addition, "here, the blind stove and the winter oven were heating it from the hearth in the porch."

"The home of the Creanga family kept the memory of the writer from Humulesti untouched even after he passed away, thanks to the initiatives of the local community to honour in that place the memory of the lively narrator, through commemorative cultural activities. Such an event took place in Humulesti in December 1909, under the direct coordination of teacher Neculai Bancea, on the occasion of the 20th anniversary of the death of Ion Creanga. Another event took place on March 1, 1937, marking the centenary of the birth of the writer who left us the well-known book 'Amintiri din copilarie' [Childhood Memories - editor's translation], a large event was held at the house where the honoured personality lived his childhood. This is also confirmed by photographs from the collection of the Museum of History and Ethnography in Targu-Neamt, made on both occasions in front of the house of the one who is considered one of the illustrious figures of the 19th century Romanian literature," says Renata Gabriela Buzau, Agerpres.ro informs.

According to the museographer, the year 1937 also marks other significant moments, such as the establishment of the "Ion Creanga" Cultural Centre in Humulesti and the opening of a small museum that included more than 200 pieces, some of great value, such as Creanga's watch, the pillar of the chimney, the staircase, the writings and signatures of the great storyteller."

"Although the museum's collection dedicated to the writer was not arranged in his family's home, but at the school in his native village, the initiative was a first step in recognizing the merits of the man who enriched modern classical literature with his work. The official inauguration of the museum took place on May 7, 1939. The following month, the museum was visited, on June 20, 1939, by the Grand Duke Mihai de Alba Iulia and his colleagues from the Palace, on the occasion of a study visit to Maramures and Moldova, after completing the high school courses: 'The Grand Duke visited [...] the 'Ion Creanga' museum, where it was once the primary school where I. Creanga and Smarandita met St. Neculai, the miracle worker that was hanged on a wall.' From here, the heir to the throne of Romania and the royal suite headed to the house of the writer in Humulesti, the proof of their presence in Neamt county being the note that the future king left in the book of impressions," said the museographer.

During the Second World War, as a result of the stabilization of the front line near Targu-Neamt, all the cultural assets in the museum were transferred to the Agapia Monastery, and many of them were destroyed due to the disorders caused by the Soviets.

After 1944, the house where one of the most spiritual members of the "Junimea" literary circle lived was donated by Sofia Grigoriu, his niece, to the General Association of Romanian Teachers, and arrangements were made for the building to be restored as a historical monument, as a museum, but not before carrying out significant works to allow its introduction into the museum circuit.

"We can only talk about the functioning of a museum arranged inside the house where Ion Creanga lived since 1951, the purpose of establishing this cultural institution being, on the one hand, to perpetuate the work and the story of the author's life and, on the other hand, to promote the ethnographic value of the home that paints a vivid, authentic image of the lifestyle, occupations and crafts practiced in the world of the traditional village in the 19th century. The Ion Creanga Memorial Museum invites all those "who want to step into a fairytale world to cross its threshold to discover, through the cultural objects displayed, the quiet and modest life, characteristic of the inhabitants of the Neamt county and which contrasts strongly with the agitation and exuberance of the present times," said the museographer, Renata Gabriela Buzau, at the Neamt National Museum Complex.
ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP)  The largest documented wildfire burning through tundra in southwest Alaska was within miles of two Alaska Native villages, prompting officials Friday to urge residents to prepare for possible evacuation.

This came a day after dozens of elders and residents with health concerns voluntarily evacuated because of smoke from the nearby fire.

Officials on Friday put the communities of St. Marys and Pitkas Point into ready status, meaning residents should gather important items they would want to have with them if they have to evacuate, said U.S. Bureau of Land Management Alaska Fire Service spokesperson Beth Ipsen by text. That would be followed by set, or getting a go-bag ready and leaving if the go order is given.

The fire is consuming dry grass, alder and willow bushes on the largely treeless tundra as gusts of up to 30 mph (48.28 kph) are pushing the fire in the general direction of St. Marys and Pitkas Point, Yupik subsistence communities with a combined population of about 700 people and about 10 miles (16 kilometers) apart.

There are about 65 firefighters battling the blaze, with about 40 more expected later Friday, Ipsen earlier said by phone.

The fire had not grown much since Thursday and was still estimated at 78 squares miles (202 square kilometers). It had crept another mile closer to St. Marys in that time and was about 7 miles (11.27 kilometers) away on Friday.

Ipsen said she was not aware of any structures that have been lost.

Crews cleared brush and other fuel from a swath of land in the path of the flames, and air tankers dropped retardant between the line and St. Marys as another buffer. Other aircraft had been dropping water on the fire until another fire broke out north of a nearby community, Mountain Village.

Climate change has played a role in this historic fire, said Rick Thoman, a climate specialist with the University of Alaska Fairbanks International Arctic Research Center.

He said based on records from the Alaska Fire Service dating back to the 1940s, this is the largest documented wildfire in the lower Yukon River valley. There are much bigger fires recorded just 50 or 60 miles (97 kilometers) north of St. Marys, but those burned in boreal forests.

The area where the tundra fire is burning, the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta, lost its snowpack early this year, leaving grass and other vegetation longer to dry out. Coupled with the warmest period on record in the region recently, it provided for the perfect storm for this fire that was started by lightning on May 31.

Climate change didnt cause the thunderstorm that sparked that fire, but it increased the likelihood that the ambient conditions would be receptive, he said.

The southwest Alaska hub community of Bethel, about 100 miles (160.93 kilometers) southeast of St. Marys, is the closest long-term weather station.

For the period covering the last week of May and the first week of June, Bethel had its warmest temperatures on record this year, 9 degrees F (12.78 degrees C) above its normal 48 degrees F (8.89 degrees C), Thoman said.

About 80 village elders and others with health concerns were relocated to the Alaska National Guard Armory in Bethel on Thursday, said Jeremy Zidek, spokesperson for the Alaska Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management.

Two companies that provide commuter air service in roadless western Alaska flew the passengers to Bethel.

One of those was Yute Commuter Services, which provided 12 flights out of St. Marys on its planes that seat six, said Andrew Flagg, the companys station manager in Bethel.

On Friday, he said they were asked to deliver drinking water to the community so it could be given to the firefighters.

St. Marys and Pitkas Point, which is at the confluence of the Andreafsky and Yukon rivers, are located about 450 miles (724 kilometers) west of Anchorage.

Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
SINGAPORE (AP)  U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin stressed American support for Taiwan on Saturday, suggesting at Asia's premier defense forum that recent Chinese military activity around the self-governing island threatens to change the status quo.

Speaking at the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore, Austin noted a steady increase in provocative and destabilizing military activity near Taiwan, including almost daily military flights near the island by the People's Republic of China.

Our policy hasn't changed, but unfortunately that doesn't seem to be true for the PRC, he said.

Austin said Washington remains committed to the one-China policy, which recognizes Beijing but allows informal relations and defense ties with Taipei.

Taiwan and China split during a civil war in 1949, but China claims the island as its own territory and has not ruled out using military force to take it.

China has stepped up its military provocations against democratic Taiwan in recent years, aimed at intimidating it into accepting Beijings demands to unify with the communist mainland.

We remain focused on maintaining peace, stability and the status quo across the Taiwan Strait, Austin said in his address. But the PRC's moves threaten to undermine security, and stability, and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific.

He drew a parallel with the Russian invasion of Ukraine, saying that the indefensible assault on a peaceful neighbor has galvanized the world and ... has reminded us all of the dangers of undercutting an international order rooted in rules and respect.

Austin said that the rules-based international order matters just as much in the Indo-Pacific as it does in Europe.

Russias invasion of Ukraine is what happens when oppressors trample the rules that protect us all, he said. Its what happens when big powers decide that their imperial appetites matter more than the rights of their peaceful neighbors. And its a preview of a possible world of chaos and turmoil that none of us would want to live in.

Austin met Friday with Chinese Defense Minister Gen. Wei Fenghe on the sidelines of the conference for discussions where Taiwan featured prominently, according to a senior American defense official, speaking on condition of anonymity to provide details of the private meeting.

Austin made clear at the meeting that while the U.S. does not support Taiwanese independence, it also has major concerns about China's recent behavior and suggested that Beijing might be attempting to change the status quo.

Wei, meanwhile, complained to Austin about new American arms sales to Taiwan announced this week, saying it seriously undermined China's sovereignty and security interests, according to a Chinese state-run CCTV report after the meeting.

China firmly opposes and strongly condemns it, and the Chinese government and military will resolutely smash any Taiwan independence plot and resolutely safeguard the reunification of the motherland, Wei reportedly told Austin.

Chinese Defense Ministry spokesperson Col. Wu Qian quoted Wei as saying China would respond to any move toward formal Taiwan independence by smashing it even at any price, including war.

In his speech, Austin said the U.S. stands firmly behind the principle that cross-strait differences must be resolved by peaceful means, but also would continue to fulfill its commitments to Taiwan.

That includes assisting Taiwan in maintaining a sufficient self-defense capability, he said.

And it means maintaining our own capacity to resist any use of force or other forms of coercion that would jeopardize the security or the social or economic system of the people of Taiwan.

The 1979 Taiwan Relations Act, which has governed U.S. relations with the island, does not require the U.S. to step in militarily if China invades, but makes it American policy to ensure Taiwan has the resources to defend itself and to prevent any unilateral change of status by Beijing.

Austin stressed the power of partnerships and said the U.S.'s unparalleled network of alliances in the region has only deepened, noting recent efforts undertaken with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, or ASEAN; the growing importance of the Quad group of the U.S., India, Japan and Australia; and the trilateral security partnership with Australia and the United Kingdom, known as AUKUS.

He dismissed Chinese allegations that the U.S. intends to start an Asian NATO with its Indo-Pacific outreach.

Let me be clear, we do not seek confrontation or conflict and we do not seek a new Cold War, an Asian NATO, or a region split into hostile blocs, he said.

Australian Defense Minister Richard Marles told the forum that AUKUS, under which Australia will acquire nuclear-powered submarines from the U.S. with the help of Britain, was a technology-sharing relationship, and not in the set of arrangements as you would describe NATO.

Australian abruptly pulled out of a deal with France for submarines to sign on to the AUKUS deal, and Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced Saturday that he had agreed to pay Paris 555 million euros ($584 million) in compensation.

France's new defense minister, Sebastien Lecornu, suggested his country was willing to put the matter behind it, saying the alliance with Australia was a long one, recalling the sacrifice of the young Australians who came to die on French soil during World War I.

There are ups and downs in all relations between countries, but when there were real dramas, Australia was there, he said.

Rising reported from Bangkok

Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
Social Security provides monthly benefits to millions of retired seniors, many of whom don't have any other income sources at their disposal. But even so, those benefits often fall short in allowing seniors to cover their essential living costs in full.

Now to be fair, Social Security was never supposed to sustain seniors in the absence of other income. But the reality is that many of today's retirees didn't manage to save for their later years on their own, and don't have generous company pensions to fall back on. And many future retirees are likely to end up in a similar boat.

Compounding the problem is that Social Security is looking at an impending financial shortfall that could result in significant benefit cuts. And that's something that has current and future recipients worried.

But a new bill is on the table that could shore up Social Security's finances. Just as importantly, it could also result in higher benefits for those in need.

Lawmakers are paying attention

The fact that Social Security is facing financial difficulties isn't exactly news. For many years, the program's trustees have been warning that Social Security's combined trust funds have an expiration date, and once they run out of money, benefit cuts will be on the table.

The trustees' latest projections show those funds being depleted by 2035. That's not so far off, and if lawmakers want to prevent benefit cuts, they'll need to act quickly. And two notable ones are spearheading that effort.

Senators Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren have put together a proposal known as the Social Security Expansion Act. That bill calls for an increase in benefits to the tune of $200 a month, or $2,400 per year. It also calls for increased Social Security taxes on higher earners to pump more money into the program and prevent benefit cuts.

Currently, only wages of up to $147,000 are taxed for Social Security purposes. That means someone making $147,000 a year pays the same amount into the program as someone earning $2 million. The Social Security Expansion Act is seeking to raise that wage cap and apply it to income above $250,000. It also wants to raise the Social Security tax rate that applies to the wealthy.

Currently, all individuals pay a 6.2% Social Security tax, with employers matching that percentage. Those who are self-employed pay a 12.4% Social Security tax rate, though a portion of those self-employment taxes are deductible. The aforementioned bill would have the wealthy pay more through a 12.4% tax on investment and business income.

Can benefit cuts be prevented?

If Social Security were to slash benefits, it could result in a catastrophic poverty crisis among the elderly. That's something lawmakers are no doubt eager to avoid.

There are multiple solutions being worked through that do have the potential to tighten up Social Security's finances and prevent benefit cuts. But each solution on the table inevitably has its drawbacks, and so lawmakers do indeed have a challenging task ahead of them -- and one they'll need to tackle fairly quickly, seeing as how Social Security's cash reserves could be gone as early as 2035.

The $18,984 Social Security bonus most retirees completely overlook

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Cash flowing to Facebook during the 2022 campaign, a curt Kurt Schrader slam on Democrats in Bend and Portland, as well as a big knot of regulations tied to relatively small contributions from Nicholas Kristof to two congressional campaigns were among the political news this week in Oregon.

Financially 'friending' Facebook

Betsy Johnson's insurgent campaign for governor spent over $170,066 to buy Facebook advertising between April 20 and May 27. The spending is often in one or two daily buys of $900, according to campaign finance records with the secretary of state.

A longtime Democratic state senator from Scappoose, Johnson resigned her seat in mid-December to run for governor without party affiliation. She needs to submit just under 24,000 valid signatures to the secretary of state by Aug. 16 to qualify for a spot on the November ballot.

Former House Speaker Tina Kotek of Portland is the Democratic nominee for governor, while former House Minority Leader Christine Drazan won the GOP primary.

Johnson's spending comes directly from her campaign fund to Facebook. State records show no direct spending with Facebook by either Kotek or Drazan. However, larger campaigns often will list expenditures on media buying companies that then make the individual transactions, which are not recorded in state records.

The growth of spending for political ads on the social media platform is illustrated by the 8,671 separate expenditures on Facebook by candidates and causes ranging from the far left to far right on the political spectrum. The largest individual expenditure is the several $900 buys by Johnson's campaign.

In addition to Johnson, campaigns that have spent money with Facebook in 2022 include the liberal Portland City Council candidate Jo Ann Hardesty, the progressive Working Families Party and Yamhill County Commissioner Casey Kulla, who switched from a bid for the Democratic nomination as governor to the nonpartisan Commissioner of the Bureau of Labor and Industries.

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On the other side of the political dividing line, Facebook ad buyers include the conservative Timber Unity and Move Oregon's Border political campaign committees, as well as Baker City Mayor Kerry McQuisten, who ran as a populist-conservative GOP primary candidate for governor.

Facebook has contributed $3,500 between 2013 and 2018 to Johnson's state senate campaigns.

Records with the Oregon Secretary of State show Facebook has made 151 contributions to Oregon campaign races since its first $1,000 contribution to former Sen. Chris Telfer, R-Bend, in 2011. Telfer lost a 2012 primary to now Sen. Tim Knopp, R-Bend.

Its largest contribution was $12,500 to the successful 2016 campaign to defeat Measure 97, a business tax proposal. It gave $7,500 to the 2014 re-election campaign of Gov. John Kitzhaber, and $5,000 to his campaign four years earlier.

All other contributions were for under $2,500 per candidate per race and range from campaigns of Gov. Kate Brown, a Democrat, and former House Minority Leader Mike McLane, R-Powell Butte, whose district included Prineville, where Facebook has spent over $2 billion to build its largest data center complex in the United States.

According to state records, Facebook has given Kotek five $1,000 contributions for five House races since 2012. Drazan received one $1,000 contribution from Facebook in her 2020 re-election campaign for the House.

In 2020, Facebook timed its contributions for no earlier than Oct. 27, just before the general election, when the transactions could be reported as much as seven days later.

Schrader blames Bend, Portland

U.S. Rep. Kurt Schrader, D-Canby, hit the media mute button after losing the May 17 Democratic primary for the 5th Congressional District, which includes most of Linn County. Challenger Jamie McLeod-Skinner, a Terrebonne attorney, won 55% of the vote to oust the seven-term moderate. She'll face Republican Lori Chavez-DeRemer of Canby, winner of the Republican race, in the Nov. 8 General Election.

Schrader surfaced last week for a virtual interview from his home with Portland TV station KATU.

Redistricting for the 2022 election was the "beginning of the end" of his chances to remain in the U.S. House, Schrader said.

The boundaries of Schrader's district were shifted east under maps primarily drawn by legislative Democrats in 2021. The new outline of his district included a shift north and a portion that reached east over the Cascades to include parts of Deschutes County. The new district contained less than half of his constituents from the old district.

Schrader said his "textbook campaign" was derailed by an infusion of what he said were left-leaning Democrats who weren't tuned to the "working class" message that had won him 14 years on Capitol Hill.

"You move me into Portland, that's not Kurt Schrader's crowd, per se," Schrader said in the KATU interview. "Neither is Bend. Bend's extremely liberal  a lot of folks there from Seattle and California in the last 10 years  and I think that made a huge difference."

In the race for governor, Schrader said: "There's a significant chance" he wouldn't back Kotek, the Democratic nominee. He would consider backing Johnson.

"I think people are exhausted by the extreme far-right Trumpites," Schrader said. "I think they are very concerned about the socialist drift on the Democrat left. That opens up the middle. So we'll see what happens."

Kristof cash questioned

Two $1,000 contributions to Democratic congressional candidates in Oregon by Nick for Oregon, the political action committee created for the derailed Democratic primary campaign of former New York Times columnist Nicholas Kristof, set off a round of social media chatter this week.

When the Oregon Supreme Court ruled on Feb. 17 that Democratic candidate for governor Nicholas Kristof did not meet state residency requirements to run for office, Kristof  who has a farm in Yamhill County  had over $1 million left over in his campaign fund. After paying some campaign bills, the money sat quietly for most of the next two months.

Secretary of State Shemia Fagan, who originally had ordered Kristof removed from the ballot, said that under Oregon law, the campaign funds did not have to be returned.

Since late April, Kristof has been making campaign contributions, including $10,000 to his former primary opponent, Kotek, who won the Democratic nomination. He also gave $10,000 to Doris Towery and $5,000 to Beth Wytoski, who are running for two different seats on the Yamhill County Commission.

Two much smaller contributions raised question marks. Kristof gave $1,000 to McLeod-Skinner. He also gave $1,000 to Andrea Salinas, the Democratic state representative from Lake Oswego who is the Democratic nominee in the 6th Congressional District centered around Salem.

The money was immediately questioned by conservatives on Twitter and other social media platforms. While Kristof could accept unlimited amounts of money under the loose state fundraising laws, congressional campaigns have many restrictions, including accepting money from corporations. Kristof's campaign fund had received corporate money.

The Oregon secretary of state's campaign finance website showed the money going to an "unregistered committee."

Congressional candidates raise money with political action committees registered with the Federal Elections Commission, not with the secretary of state. The FEC website did not reflect the contributions as of Friday  money given to candidates after April 27 has yet to be compiled by the FEC's publicly available records.

Were the contributions unlawful?

A query to the FEC resulted in a non-answer email from Judith Ingram, an FEC press officer.

"We cannot comment on specific candidates or sets of circumstances," she wrote.

She sent a link to a more than 900-word guide written in advance of the 2016 election on "nonfederal committees' involvement in federal campaigns."

Boiling down the material isn't easy.

The gist is that money from state political action committees that accept contributions that don't fall within the FEC rules are prohibited.

OK, so Kristof's contributions are out of bounds?

Well ... the citation goes on to say that if a contributor can show they have enough funds that do not violate FEC rules within their overall campaign fund, then they can contribute to the federal campaigns. Kristof's mix of size and type of contributions can certainly show $2,000 that came in donations that wouldn't break federal limits.

So, maybe the contributions are OK?

The FEC had no additional comment beyond the link to its website.

Both the giver and the recipient have to be able to show the money meets the federal contribution standards and the FEC can require the contributing PAC to register with the federal system for monitoring.

So far, no FEC red flags, so the money stays were it was sent.

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Social Security probably won't pay you enough for a comfortable retirement. To achieve that goal, you'll need to save independently.

If your employer offers a 401(k) plan, that's definitely a good place to start. Though 401(k)s aren't perfect, they offer a few distinct benefits over IRAs.

First, they come with much higher annual contribution limits. Right now, with an IRA, you're limited to $6,000 a year if you're under age 50. Otherwise, your annual limit is $7,000. With a 401(k), you can contribute up to $20,500 this year if you're under age 50. If you're 50 or older, you get a $6,500 catch-up option that raises that limit to $27,000.

Another perk of having a 401(k) is that many of these plans come with an employer matching incentive. Those incentives vary from company to company. You might, for example, be eligible for a free $3,000 from your employer if you put that much money from your own earnings into your 401(k).

But if you're thinking of switching jobs, you might lose out on some or all of that free money without realizing it. And that's something to consider before making a change.

Are you fully vested in your 401(k)?

These days, the labor market is strong, and so a lot of people are seeking out better work opportunities as part of the so-called Great Resignation. If you're thinking of jumping ship, you're no doubt in good company. But you'll need to time your resignation carefully, because leaving your job too soon could mean forgoing employer matching dollars in your 401(k).

Many company 401(k)s come with what's known as a vesting schedule. Just as matching programs vary from employer to employer, so too do vesting rules. But basically, your employer might require you to remain with the company for a certain period of time before the money it puts into your 401(k) is yours to keep, or yours to keep in full. And if you resign from your job before you're fully vested, you could lose out on money you were counting on for your future.

Now to be clear, not all companies impose a vesting schedule, so you'll need to read up on your benefits to see what your employer's policy looks like. It may be the case that once your employer puts money into your 401(k), it's yours to keep, even if you quit in short order.

But some companies impose a lengthy vesting schedule that offers no leeway if you quit before you're fully vested. For example, a company might offer a $3,000 annual match with a three-year vesting schedule, but also impose a rule that if you resign at any point prior to three years, you get none of that money. Ouch.

That's why it's important to investigate your vesting schedule before leaving your job. It may be that you have a large match on the table that you stand to lose by quitting now, whereas waiting two or three months could mean getting all of that cash.

Don't give up free money

Workers with 401(k) plan access are often advised to contribute enough for retirement to snag their employer matches in full. Similarly, it could pay to stay put until you're fully vested, depending on what that means and what that time frame looks like.

That said, you can rest assured that any money you contribute to your 401(k) out of your own earnings is money you get to keep in full, no matter what. If you start a job, get immediate access to its 401(k), contribute $2,000, and then leave a month later, that $2,000 is all yours. Your employer may not be happy with that turn of events -- but it can't take money away that came out of your paycheck.

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I am an old-school, non-woke Democrat, which is sort of like being a beatnik. The world has moved on.

Oh, there are a few of us left. Lewis Reed, for instance. He led the non-woke Democrats in the city. He is currently in trouble. He forgot one of lifes basic rules: Never trust a stranger who calls you My Brother.

That is the way John Doe addressed Reed as Doe put a pile of cash into his bill-counting machine. Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh. There you go, My Brother, thats two grand.

Oh man, thats perfect, said Reed.

There might well be an innocent explanation for that conversation, and for all the other conversations set forth in the indictment. After all, money is the grease in the political machine. Retired politicians talk about the exquisite relief of not having to constantly raise money. Fundraising is nonstop. Its demeaning. Retired pols say its the worst part of the job, worse even than being targeted by negative advertising. I completely understand. To go through life like a big shot, but always with your hand out. Thats a mind-bender.

The situation is particularly difficult for non-woke Democrats. Where are they supposed to get money?

The Wokes have the fervor of revolutionaries. They remind me of the Red Guard during Chinas Cultural Revolution. The Wokes can appeal to fellow-believers.

Republicans not only have the same fervor, they have their very own Mao. He lives in the Forbidden City of Mar-a-Lago. Republican candidates can appeal to his passionate followers.

Non-woke Democrats dont seem to attract that kind of loyalty. Frankly, our beliefs seem rather squishy. For that matter, what do we believe in?

Well, we believe in a lot of really nice things, and yes, we believe in good government, but in a rather abstract way.

For instance, should parking tickets be fixable?

That is the very bedrock of our system. It does not get much simpler than that.

I fondly remember sitting at the small bar at Charlie Gittos, with Charlie sitting at his customary spot in the corner against the wall, and a customer leaving and then returning in a minute or two with a parking ticket in his hand and a sheepish grin on his face. I thought I had plenty of time on the meter, Charlie.

Charlie would wave dismissively. Just give it to me. Dont worry.

I would nod approvingly. The system worked. Charlies place was not fancy, but everybody went there, including cops and lawyers from the city counselors office. What kind of system would we have if Charlie couldnt get a parking ticket fixed? A system without a soul, is what Id say.

Besides, this was the kind of cheerful corruption that was good for the city. Parking tickets can ruin a restaurants business. A downtown needs places like Charlie Gittos.

But Charlie and his place are both gone, and so is the casual acceptance of low-level corruption.

What does remain from those happier days is the need of public officials to raise money. And if you cant rely on passionate followers, whos going to give it to you? People who think you can help them.

I dont know Reed well. He has supported many things I didnt approve of. He was big on the sketchy airport privatization scheme. Still, I liked Reed. I thought he was essentially a good guy. Same with Jeffrey Boyd. I do not know John Collins-Muhammad at all. I dont do interviews with the Post-Dispatch. Its a personal policy, he once told one of my colleagues.

Well, fine. I liked him anyway. He reminded me of myself as a young man. He had a problem with paperwork. Something was always expired. That would lead to a warrant, which he would ignore, and then he would get in more trouble. I remember when I was stopped for expired tags  this was obviously years ago  and then it turned out my drivers license was expired. Also, a quick search showed that I had unpaid parking tickets.

Of course, nobody was electing me to public office. What I am trying to say is, some of this is on the voters.

At first glance, it might seem odd that the feds would put much time or effort into a sting operation to ensnare Collins-Muhammad. But that is how you get to more important, and generally more careful, people.

Reed is a big fish. Boyd is a keeper, though not so large that youd necessarily put him on the wall.

Mayor Tishaura Jones, who is woke, has been surprisingly restrained as the feds have reeled in two of her chief antagonists. She has said that more indictments may soon be coming. That is part of the lure of these stories. Will there be a next person, and if so, who will it be?

With this indictment, there is a mention of a very large fish. He appeared, sniffed the bait and left. He is called Public Official One, and he was brought in to discuss government contracts for Does trucking and hauling business in June of 2020. Doe gave him 10 grand in cash. Public Official One later returned the cash and asked for two $5,000 checks for his PAC. Those checks were never cashed.

A wily fish.

Maybe the real story of this fishing expedition will be the one that got away.

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ST. LOUIS COUNTY  Prosecutors on Friday charged two St. Louis teenagers with robbing two separate postal employees at gunpoint on Thursday afternoon.

Roy Jones, 19, and Xavier Boyd, 18, both face two counts of first-degree robbery and two counts of armed criminal action. They are in custody with bail for each set at $50,000.

Investigators say the robberies happened within minutes of each other in the same area in north St. Louis County.

Police allege Jones got out of a Volkswagen SUV driven by Boyd around 12:39 p.m. and approached a postal worker who was about to open a mailbox at the intersection of Sunswept Park Court and Springtime Lane.

Jones then pulled out a handgun and demanded the mail carrier give him the key to the mailboxes, which the employee did, according to police.

After driving away, police said the two teenagers then approached a separate mail carrier around 12:42 p.m. while he was delivering mail to an apartment complex in the 600 block of Greenway Manor Drive.

Police said Jones got out of the SUV and once again showed the worker a handgun and demanded the key, which the mail carrier handed over.

Shortly thereafter, St. Louis County police spotted the SUV a few miles away and attempted to stop it. A pursuit began until the SUV crashed at New Halls Ferry Road and Lindbergh Boulevard, according to police.

The two ran away on foot but were arrested soon after, according to police.

Investigators said they found a Glock 9 mm pistol on Boyd when he was arrested. They also reported finding two other guns inside the SUV, along with the keys that had been stolen from the mail carriers.

Those workers were brought to the teenagers after they were arrested to identify them, police said, and they told officers that Jones was the person who had robbed them.

Both teenagers declined to make a statement after their arrest, police said.

One of the teens suffered a minor injury while running away, but there were no other injuries, police said.

Police have not publicly connected Jones and Boyd to a similar robbery on June 1, where a man robbed a mail carrier in the 1800 block of Chambers Road in unincorporated St. Louis County. The man, believed to be in his late teens, drove off in a black SUV that was described as possibly a Volkswagen Tiguan.

The U.S. Postal Inspection Service offered a $50,000 reward in that case for information leading to an arrest and conviction.
ST. LOUIS  Aldermanic President Lewis Reeds abrupt departure this week from the key post he held for 15 years has spurred at least four ward aldermen to consider running to succeed him in upcoming elections.

Two have run citywide previously: Cara Spencer of the 20th Ward, who lost the mayors race last year, and the 15th Wards Megan Green, who ran unsuccessfully against Reed in the 2019 Democratic primary. Both are considered part of the boards progressive faction.

Also expressing interest Friday in running were Aldermen Tom Oldenburg, 16th Ward, and Jack Coatar, 7th Ward, who are in a bloc of more moderate members. Others also could be looking at the race.

Reed resigned Tuesday following his indictment June 2 on corruption charges; he has pleaded not guilty.

Joe Vollmer, the board vice president, immediately became acting president and will serve until voters elect a successor at the Nov. 8 general election.

Vollmer has said hell serve only on an interim basis and wont run in the election.

Candidates to run in November likely would be chosen at a special primary in late August, September or early October, city Election Board chairman Jerry Hunter said Friday.

Its too late now under state law to put the aldermanic presidents race on the Aug. 2 statewide primary ballot.

Hunter said it also is probable that the primary and November vote would be run using rules under Proposition D, the nonpartisan approval voting ordinance enacted by voters in 2020.

Under that system, residents vote for as many candidates as they approve of in the primary; the two top finishers square off in a runoff in the general election.

But Hunter emphasized that the four-member board has yet to decide and that legal research is continuing on the matter.

This is new territory and our goal is to get it right, he said. This is the first vacancy in a citywide office occurring since the approval voting measure was passed.

Whoever is picked in November would hold the post until the end of Reeds four-year term next April. Another election will be held that month for the next term, preceded by a primary in March.

Spencer, 43, said certainly Im getting a lot of encouraging calls about running and that shes taking a serious look.

Its important for someone to bring together the different factions (on the board) and heal our community, she said.

Spencer, an alderman for seven years, lost to Tishaura Jones in the April general election last year, 52% to 48%.

The two made it to the runoff in St. Louis first use of approval voting; Reed and a fourth candidate were eliminated in the March primary.

Green, 38, who joined the board in 2014, said in a text message that shes strongly considering another run for the presidents post. In 2019, Green finished third in a tight Democratic primary race, getting 31.2% of the vote.

Reed, the winner, got 35.6% and the second-place finisher, then-state Sen. Jamilah Nasheed, pulled 31.6%. Reed went on to win the general election.

Spencer and Green, because they ran citywide, could have an initial advantage if they decided to run, especially in a relatively short time period in which to raise money and line up political support.

But Oldenburg pointed out that both had lost those citywide contests, indicating that voters might be more receptive to someone new.

That is all part of my analysis of whether hell run, he said. Green also lost a 2020 Democratic primary race for a state Senate seat.

Oldenburg, 41, has been on the board since 2017. He said this is an opportunity to restore some dignity to the board and to run the board professionally.

Coatar, 36, said, Im looking at it. Some of (his decision) will depend on the field.

Coatar, a former assistant circuit attorney, was first elected to the board in 2015.

Meanwhile, Alderman Sharon Tyus, 1st Ward, said she had been approached to run for the office, even before Reed was indicted and when it appeared likely he would seek reelection next year.

But she said Im not actively looking at anything but trying to change the boards seniority rules to give her credit for her most recent nine years as an alderman and her previous 12-year stint that ended in 2003.

If that happened, she would have more seniority than Vollmer and under board tradition become vice president, which would make her acting president. The rules now allow only continuous seniority to count.

Tyus, 66, wouldnt comment on whether shed consider running then for the post in the upcoming elections.

Another potential candidate, Recorder of Deeds Michael Butler, said he had considered jumping into the race but had decided against it.

Also in the current aldermens political calculus is the scheduled reduction of city wards and ward aldermen next year to 14 from 28.

The Election Board already has scheduled special elections on Aug. 2 and Aug. 23 to pick aldermen to succeed John Collins-Muhammad and Jeffrey Boyd in the 21st and 22nd wards. They were charged along with Reed in the federal corruption case.

However, the board has not used the nonpartisan approval voting process for ward-level special elections.

Instead, it followed a city charter provision that says political party committees designate nominees to run in ward aldermanic special elections. The charter holds precedence over an ordinance.

Hunter said there doesnt appear to be such a conflict regarding vacancies for citywide offices.

He also said the board wants to make sure which city agency is the proper one to send notification of the vacancy.

Originally posted at 8:05 p.m. Friday, June 10.

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ST. LOUIS  Liesl Fressola stood Saturday at Kiener Plaza in downtown St. Louis and told a crowd about the day she escaped from Sandy Hook Elementary School nearly a decade ago.

Her colleague and best friend, Vicky Soto, didnt make it. Soto was 27.

Before that mass shooting happened on Dec. 14, 2012, Fressola recalled, the two elementary school teachers had discussed what theyd do if they were ever in an active shooter situation. Fressola, now 38 and a teacher in the Parkway School District, said they had planned to rush children out open windows and instruct them to run, if it came to the worst.

I was able to complete our plan, said Fressola. But she was not.

Arming teachers and conducting lockdown drills are not the right answers, Fressola said, before stepping away from the microphone. She returned to her family and hugged her three small children.

Fressola was one of about 300 people who converged Saturday in downtown St. Louis to support the March For Our Lives event, one of more than 300 across the country, according to the national organizations website.

St. Louisans of all ages turned out to advocate for changes in gun regulations  and because, some said, theyre tired of getting news alerts about mass shootings. Saturdays marches across the country were a response to the massacre on May 24 in Uvalde, Texas  though multiple other mass shootings have occurred since.

In Uvalde, a gunman entered an elementary school and killed 19 children and two teachers. Fressola said she could not even tune into news coverage about it.

Its too triggering, she told the crowd. Its too close to my own shooting. Twenty children and six staff members died at the elementary school in Newtown, Connecticut.

Isabel Bishop, 22, listened to Fressolas speech with her friend Mars Sinclair, 18. The two, who live in the Central West End, went to the demonstration because theyre fed up.

Im constantly getting notifications, Bishop said. Theres been another mass shooting. And another. And another.

Bishop and Sinclair brought homemade signs, as did many others, advocating for gun control. More than half of Americans want to see stricter gun laws, according to a recent Pew survey. In the same survey, Pew found 70% of Republicans and 92% of Democrats support background checks.

Even people with a passion for hunting turned out on Saturday morning, and clearly voiced their opinions. Tim Brunt, 34, attended the rally with his family. One of their signs read:

I am a sport hunter. I love to hunt. But I would gladly surrender all of my guns if it would save even one childs life.

The Uvalde tragedy unfolded a stones throw from the Brunt familys vacation house  often, where they go to hunt. It brought the issue home for them. Tims wife, Stephanie Brunt, 34, teared up as she talked about her fear of shootings, in any crowd, anywhere, and how her 4-year-old daughter soon will begin kindergarten.

It is not a question that the children and the citizens of this country are more important than access to this hobby, she said.

Chris Herrington, 72, held a sign that said, NRA, with the letters of the familiar acronym spelling out Not Really Americans. Before the march began, he explained his motivation to attend on a hot June day.

We support gun laws, Herrington said. And theres no reason for anyone to have   he pointed to the other side of his sign, where hed drawn an assault rifle inside of a red circle with a line through it. Theres not one reason in the world, Herrington said.

As the crowd turned the corner onto Market Street from 11th Street, a couples vehicle was blocked. They were in town for the Cardinals game, and were trying to return home to Rolla, and their 6-year-old daughter.

I understand rights, but theres a time and a place, said Jenna Voight, 36, from Rolla.

But for Fressola, and Saturdays crowd, the time and place was now.

Our students cannot wait any longer, Fressola said at the end of her speech. It was time for change after Columbine. It was time for change after Sandy Hook, and it is most certainly time for change now.

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LONDON (AP)  The British government said Friday it will introduce a bill next week to override parts of the Brexit trade treaty it signed with the European Union before the U.K. quit the bloc in 2020. The move will be a major escalation in a festering U.K-EU dispute over trade rules for Northern Ireland.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson's spokesman, Jamie Davies, said the bill has been agreed by the relevant cabinet committees and will be introduced to Parliament on Monday.

The legislation, if approved by lawmakers, would scrap parts of a trade treaty with the EU that Johnson signed less than two years ago, by removing checks on goods entering Northern Ireland from the rest of the U.K.

The EU has threatened to retaliate, raising the specter of a trade war between the two major economic partners.

Some legal experts say the move is unlawful but the U.K. government says it will publish a summary of the legal advice it has received about the legislation.

Northern Ireland is the only part of the U.K. that shares a border with an EU country, Ireland. When Britain left the European Union and its borderless free-trade zone, the two sides agreed to keep the Irish land border free of customs posts and other checks because an open border is a key pillar of the peace process that ended decades of violence in Northern Ireland.

Instead, to protect the EUs single market, there are checks on some goods, such as meat and eggs, entering Northern Ireland from the rest of the U.K.

British unionists in Northern Ireland say the new checks have put a burden on businesses and frayed the bonds between Northern Ireland and the rest of the U.K. -- seen by some unionists as a threat to their British identity.

Britains Conservative government says the Brexit rules also are undermining peace in Northern Ireland, where they have caused a political crisis. Northern Ireland's main unionist party is blocking the formation of a new power-sharing government in Belfast, saying it wont take part until the Brexit trade rules are scrapped.

Follow all AP stories on Brexit at https://apnews.com/hub/Brexit.

Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
CHICAGO (AP)  A federal judge has dismissed a public corruption case against a construction contractor even before the end of trial testimony.

U.S. District Judge Matthew Kennelly dismissed a charge of wire fraud on Friday against Debra Fazio as part of an alleged $700,000 kickback scheme with the highway commissioner of Bloomingdale Township, near Chicago. Kennelly concluded that prosecutors had not proven that Fazio, who owns Bulldog Earth Movers Inc., knew of the plot or participated in it.

The highway commissioner at the time, Robert Czernek, pleaded guilty in March to one count of honest services wire fraud for accepting $280,000 in kickbacks. He agreed to cooperate with the government in prosecuting Fazio and her boyfriend and co-defendant, Mario Giannini, a longtime Bulldog employee.

The case continues against Giannini.

Czernek testified this week that Giannini proposed the plan a few months after Czernek was appointed highway commissioner in 2012. Bloomingdale Township is about 27 miles west of Chicago.

He said, We can make some money on this, Czernek told jurors.

Czernek said he approved $700,000 in Bulldog invoices during the next eight years for delivering stone, earth-leveling and storm sewer work. Czernek said he would leave notes in secluded places describing how the invoices should look and Giannini would copy them verbatim.

On cross-examination, defense lawyers got Czernek to admit he had initially misled investigators about his financial dealings and they asked him about the sentencing leniency he hoped to get by cooperating.

Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
Another week, another dangerous gust of crazy from Missouris seat of government. On Tuesday, Gov. Mike Parson signed a law that will require medical licensing boards and pharmacists to endanger patients for the sake of Republican culture-war politics. Its just the latest reminder that Missouri today is controlled not so much by a political party as an ideological cult thats willing to sacrifice its own constituents on the altar of populism.

The new law concerns the drugs hydroxychloroquine and ivermectin, which are, respectively, an anti-malaria medication and a treatment for parasites. Both drugs were eyed early in the pandemic as potential weapons against the coronavirus until medical studies concluded neither is effective. But in todays surreal political environment  where what should be the purely scientific issue of coronavirus vaccines has become, on the right, a populist bogeyman  many are still touting the two ineffective and sometimes dangerous drugs, seemingly for no reason but to thumb a nose at the safe and effective alternative of vaccination.

There are exactly two legitimate responses a rational state government could have to this situation: Either assertively prohibit doctors from prescribing these quack remedies that are based on toxic ideology rather than science, or just keep government out of it, and allow the medical profession to police itself, which it does pretty well.

So Missouris leaders, of course, chose the third option, and sided with the quacks.

The law Parson signed protects doctors who prescribe medication that wont protect their patients from the coronavirus but could well give them the false security to reject vaccination and possibly contract the virus. The new law prohibits medical licensing boards from taking action against doctors who engage in this plain violation of the Hippocratic oath (First, do no harm).

It also places a gag order on pharmacists from even discussing concerns about the drugs with either the prescribing doctor or the patient. It prevents pharmacists from doing an important part of their job, in other words.

This law was the result of a familiar political imperative among Missouris majority party today that says ideological pandering to the most extreme elements of the base is more important than responsible governance that serves the broader good.

Will any Missourians contract the virus and die as a direct result of those twisted priorities? There will probably be no way to ever confirm that, but its certainly possible.

And they wouldnt be the first fatalities attributable to our states political extremism.

The most obvious example of the danger Missouris ruling Republicans pose to the health and safety of Missourians is in the realm of guns. They have spent more than a decade gutting the states once-reasonable gun laws, removing background-check requirements and permit requirements to carry, and along the way inadvertently opening a legal loophole that allows convicted domestic abusers to legally obtain firearms.

Even though everyone agrees that loophole needs to be closed, the same Legislature that managed to pass the Quack-Doctor Protection Act last session somehow just couldnt get around to protecting battered spouses from armed abusers.

The result of all this gun-happy lawmaking has been predictable: Missouri has gone from being at the national average in terms of annual firearms death rates, to being one of the deadliest states in America. Those are real, quantifiable deaths  hundreds per year more than under the states previous laws.

To cap it off, the state recently passed a constitutionally ridiculous law seeking to invalidate federal firearms restrictions in Missouri. Of course, it doesnt work that way (as the citizens of the Confederate States of America could tell you, if there still were any), and the courts will ultimately purge this nonsense from the books. In the meantime, though, some Missouri law enforcement agencies already have stopped participating in joint crime-fighting operations with the feds, for fear of inadvertently violating the statute.

Again: Will there be any Missouri deaths as a result? Again, well likely never know for sure. But the possibility is real.

There are other examples of the danger that Missouris radicalized state government poses to Missourians.

Last year, we became the 50th state in the nation to (finally!) create a statewide prescription-drug-monitoring database to control opioid abuse. The endeavor had languished for years because right-wing legislators considered it government overreach.

Missouri lawmakers also refused for years to expand Medicaid as provided by the Affordable Care Act  and even tried to continue refusing it after the states voters overruled them and approved it  because theyd rather let vulnerable Missourians suffer than hand Democrats a policy win.

Speaking of vulnerable Missourians: Women who are raped and impregnated will likely, very soon, be forced to carry those pregnancies to term from the moment of conception. Thats the Missouri law that goes into effect automatically if and when the U.S. Supreme Court overturns Roe v. Wade, which reportedly is coming. We know from pre-Roe experience that some of those women will, in desperation, seek illicit abortions  and that some of them will die.

The first and most basic obligation of government is to protect its citizens from harm. By that standard, Missouri is a failed state. Its extremist politics are, literally, hazardous to its citizens health.

Kevin McDermott is a Post-Dispatch columnist and Editorial Board member. On Twitter: @kevinmcdermott Email: kmcdermott@post-dispatch.com

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The obvious goal of Thursdays prime time hearing of the House committee investigating the Capitol insurrection was to demonstrate then-President Donald Trumps full knowledge and culpability in planning and executing the Jan. 6, 2021, violence. The committees burden after this opening salvo remains huge. The road ahead is fraught with peril, and the stakes are exceedingly high for the future of American democracy.

Major news networks covered the hearing live  complete with videos of shocking savagery. Never-before-shown interviews with key figures  such as former Attorney General Bill Barr and Ivanka Trump and her husband, Jared Kushner  suggested that insiders with intimate knowledge of the presidents thinking and conversations will shed new insights into his role in the insurrections planning.

One network, however, did everything in its power to stop viewers from watching, while its commentators laughed and smirked and treated the attack as one big nothing burger. That was perhaps the saddest statement of all about the state of this union. Fox News wants its viewers to shrug off this democracy-destroying attack and move on. To achieve it, the network must convince viewers not to watch a single minute, lest they view highly compelling videos of Trump followers criminality or hear testimony from top administration officials about how the president engineered it

The committees first order of business is convincing the Justice Department that there is such an overwhelming preponderance of evidence that criminal charges should be filed against Trump and his accomplices, including some members of Congress. Significant gaps remain in the committees case. Theres a lot of smoke, but no smoking gun.

The moderate Republicans, independents and Democrats who watched the attacks on Jan. 6 probably dont need any more convincing that Trump deserves criminal prosecution. Trumpian true believers, however, might never be convinced because Fox News is doing everything it can to distract them.

Its viewers were told on Thursday this is all just a pre-midterm political ploy by Democrats (even though, by far, the most compelling presentation Thursday was by Republican Rep. Liz Cheney of Wyoming). The real issue, commentators asserted, was lax security at the Capitol, not that the president tried to subvert democracy. Commentator Laura Ingraham showed a photo of an insurrectionist occupying the House speakers office and asked: How does a guy putting his feet up on Nancy Pelosis desk put democracy at risk?

She giggled while poking fun at pretty much every moment of the hearing, labeling the opening presentation as a 12-minute snooze fest.

Yet the network was so desperate to stop viewers from watching the hearing that it suspended commercial breaks so they wouldnt channel surf.

The GOPs mission, with Fox News gladly assisting, is to divert and distract so Trumpian true believers never learn the truth: that their hero is little more than an autocrat salivating at the chance to retake the White House and finish the coup he started.
Mark Rudloffs editorial Take it from a Republican, a cancer is growing within the GOP (April 29) is scarcely believable. He begins by telling us he voted for Donald Trump  twice. At that point, he lost his credibility regarding the Republican Partys fealty to Trump. It is almost conceivable that he might have been so opposed to Hillary Clinton, or so desperate for a change of any kind, that he would overlook all the other negative aspects of Trump: the fact that Trump had no government experience, that he was recorded as believing he could assault women because of his status, and he made fun of a disabled reporter. To paraphrase Maya Angelou, Trump showed us who he was, and it was up to us to believe him the first time.
Were ready to fly again, but are the airlines ready to fly us?

Staffing problems  a shortage of pilots, flight attendants, even baggage handlers  and unusual weather patterns have led not just to everyday cancellations, but to flights being scrapped from schedules entirely, sometimes at the last minute but often days or weeks before departure. That 9 a.m. nonstop you bought in March for a trip in May? Its now on connecting flights with a three-hour layover. Or it now leaves at noon, which means youll miss the cruise or the wedding or the funeral or your kids starring role in the school play.

Far-in-advance airline schedule changes like these are nothing new, but they seem to be happening more often now thanks to the lingering effects of the pandemic.

First, check to see if your original flight has really changed at all. Thats what I advised Lew Davis, a high school teacher living in New York, when his morning nonstop to Denver, bought in August for a trip over Christmas week, was changed to an afternoon connecting flight. His original fare was an unbelievable $128 round trip, and Delta still offered his original nonstop flight, but now at $700. I told him to call the airline and protest. And call again, and again if necessary. The airline eventually relented and restored his original itinerary.

Airlines state in their contracts of carriage, which you can read online, that they are obligated to fly you between only the cities listed on your ticket. Schedules are not guaranteed, nor are specific routings or seat assignments.

In most cases, your only recourse if youre unhappy with a schedule change is to request a full refund. But that wont get you to the cruise or class reunion on time, and it may leave you needing to buy a last-minute fare at a much higher price on another airline, assuming one is available.

In most cases, a change of a few hours wont cause havoc with your travel plans, but sometimes it can make the whole trip pointless. If you absolutely, positively need to get there on time, you might consider buying a Plan B flight on another airline. So if your 3 p.m. nonstop from Chicago to Miami on American is now a 6 p.m. connecting flight, request a refund and hop on your 2 p.m. backup flight on United.

Now that there are no change fees on airline tickets (you either get a flight credit or a full refund depending on the fare class), its a doable option for those times when missing an important occasion or a cruise departure would be unthinkable. Just be sure to cancel Plan B before takeoff if your original plans go as scheduled or therell be no credit or refund.
The Russian invasion of Ukraine in February soon became a global problem because of the Russian blockade of Ukrainian ports. The blockade was established and maintained by the Black Sea fleet, which currently has 16 surface ships and four submarines. The blockade was violently imposed with three foreign freighters damaged by Russian missiles as they attempted to leave and are now trapped in Odessa along with 22 million tons of food meant for export. Also trapped is 30 percent of the worlds grain exports, which normally comes from Ukraine and Russia via Black Sea ports. This was not part of the Russian war plan, which expected a quick (15 days) campaign that would end in Russian control of all of Ukraine. That was the first of many miscalculations the Russians made.

Ukrainians fought back, sinking the cruiser Moskva, flagship of the Black Sea Fleet, two landing ships and five Raptor assault boats in the first two months. Currently the Black Sea fleet consists only of frigates, corvettes, patrol boats, and four operational diesel-electric submarines. Since then, Russia puts just enough ships to sea between Sevastopol and Odessa to maintain the blockade of Odessa and Snake Island, which was captured early on by the Russians. Snake Island is near the entrance to the Danube River and the Ukrainian coast. Russia has had about ten amphibious and assault ships destroyed or damaged trying to resupply Snake Island, as well as evacuating wounded and bringing in troop replacements. Hundreds of Russian troops have been killed or wounded on or near Snake Island. Russia could just abandon Snake Island but that is seen as another defeat at a time where there were too many of those on land.

Russia is also trapped in the Black Sea because Turkey has invoked a 1930s treaty that controls access to the Black Sea in wartime. Russia cannot bring more warships into the Black Sea while NATO nations that border the Black Sea can because they are not fighting in Ukraine. The Russian Black Sea fleet is vulnerable to anti-ship missiles, of which Ukraine only has a few. These were locally designed and manufactured Neptune missiles and, after several were used to sink the Moskva, Russia used several of its ballistic missiles to damage the Ukrainian factory that built the missiles. Ukraine asked for Western anti-ship missiles and Russia delayed that for a while by threatening to use nukes. This is a major threat to the Black Sea fleet because part of the NATO military assistance is a constant supply of satellite photos of where Black Sea Fleet ships are as well as real-time surveillance of these waters between Sevastopol and Snake Island. This surveillance capability was used to locate the Moskva precisely so the Ukrainian Neptune missiles could hit it. With over a hundred anti-ship and similar guided missiles arriving the Black Sea Fleet is likely to suffer more losses.

Meanwhile most UN member nations are feeling the impact of food shortages and rising prices. This is a matter of life-or-death for many nations. The UN cant do anything because Russia is one of the five UN members with a permanent veto over any such UN action.

NATO is preparing an alternate plan, that would establish a safe corridor from Odessa via coastal waters of NATO members Romania, Bulgaria, and Turkey to the Turkish straits. For this to work, Ukraine must have the weapons to keep Russian ships out of that corridor until it reaches Romanian waters. That means Snake Island must be retaken. If Russia tries to attack the grain ships off the coasts of Romania, Bulgaria and Turkey, NATO can fight back. The Ukraine/NATO humanitarian corridor is seen as a lifesaver for millions of people worldwide. Russian attacks on it would only add to Russias reputation as a heartless aggressor. This reputation has a lot of otherwise patriotic Russians turning against their own government, often in violent ways.

If Russia actively opposes Ukrainian efforts to regain control of offshore waters between Odessa and Snake Island, they are making another high-stakes gamble. In the next few months there will be a battle for control of that coastal corridor and Russia will have to send its Black Sea Fleet ships to sea to do it, which means those must get close enough to make them more vulnerable to anti-ship missiles.

Russian efforts to capture Odessa have failed and their hold on Ukrainian territory along the Black Coast is under attack. A major Russian offensive in Donbas failed, with heavy losses and the Ukrainians began retaking territory. The situation is worse in the north, as a Russian effort to surround the city of Kharkiv failed and the Ukrainian counterattack was even more successful, pushing some Russian forces back to the border. Russian occupied territory near the Black Sea coast is experiencing a growing Ukrainian guerilla movement, making the roads and lightly guarded countryside dangerous for the Russians to use. Russian efforts to disrupt Ukrainian grain production are only partially successful. But it all depends on the success of the humanitarian corridor and Ukrainian efforts to secure their portion of the corridor. The only alternative is an upgraded railroad network to move the grain to ports on the Baltic Sea coast. Construction on the railroads takes time and money and becomes the main target of Russian missile attacks. Russia means to destroy the Ukrainian economy and grain exports are a major component of that.
SEATTLE--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- GlossWire is pleased to announce the Top 10 Finalists for its virtual GlossPitch Competition. GlossWires 200+ beauty brands were invited to apply to pitch in front of some of the most influential people in the beauty, lifestyle and tech industries, while competing for the chance to claim a grand prize of $10,000 USD to assist in supporting their businesses.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220610005615/en/

(Photo: Business Wire)

The finalists will have the opportunity to share their stories, the inspiration behind their brands, how these unprecedented times have impacted their businesses and how they would use the money. In the interactive competition, viewers will be given the opportunity to vote on the outcome along with the panel of esteemed judges who will be making the final decision. The winner of this competition will receive a grand prize of $10,000 USD and a 1:1 mentoring session with the judges.

It is my great pleasure to announce the finalists of our virtual pitch competition. The GlossPitch Competition focuses on what I feel passionately about, elevating new brands in the beauty space who have a distinct point of view and passion for storytelling, said Kimberly Carney, GlossWire CEO and Founder. It is vital for GlossWire to foster and support the next generation of beauty brands and give them both the financial and mentoring support that they need.

I am beyond thrilled to see the brand finalists for our upcoming GlossWire pitch competition, stated Samantha Yanks, GlossWire Head of Brand Strategy. They represent the leaders across the globe who are truly innovating the beauty and grooming space. From female-founders to Black-owned brands, conscious beauty to those revolutionizing thoughtful packaging, these brands are recasting what the future of beauty will be.

GlossWire received applicants worldwide, including France, Lebanon, Lithuania, Portugal, Spain, United Kingdom, U.S and more. Special congratulations to our 10 finalists that will be pitching their brands on June 15th, 2022, at 4PM EDT.

The Ten Finalists (in alphabetical order) are:

The 10 finalists will have the unique opportunity to pitch in front of recognized executives and influencers in the beauty, retail and tech industries including Amanda Boyle, Beauty Director for Fairchild Media Group; Briggitta Hardin, Co-Founder of NFZD Beauty; Cynthia Hollen, CEO & Co-Founder of MAVI and GlossWire Advisory Board Member; Joe Wong, Owner of Baxter of California and GlossWire Advisory Board Member; Paris Roche, Head of Business Development for Amazon Premium Beauty; and Susanah Zeffiro, Senior Client Partner, Beauty for Spotify and GlossWire Advisory Board Member. Kimberly Carney, GlossWire CEO and Founder, and Ali Bouhouch, Chief Technology Officer of Szentia, will serve as the events moderators.

This pitch competition brings together the skills, connections and platforms of industry experts who have a deep understanding of their businesses, further stated Carney. The opportunity for the grand prize winner to receive feedback from leaders in technology and beauty as well as the mentorship they will receive from the judges is invaluable. The prize money is an extra bonus for the winners, allowing them to invest in the growth of their brands.

Register in advance for this live event on June 15th, at 4PM EDT:

https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_f7Dq_TmlRc6asoqUNNZb6Q

About GlossWire:

GlossWire is a high-growth two-sided discovery and shopping marketplace connecting brands and consumers through data-driven technology and real-time actionable insights. For the B2B side, GlossWire is a datahub to help navigate consumer demand and increase profitability. For the B2C side, GlossWire offers organic discovery of worldwide beauty by leveraging technology to personalize the customer experience. We achieve this through our own social integration tools, such as swiping, liking and sharing to engage the consumer and build community. This interactive experience encourages the consumer to be the influencer  and their feedback becomes part of essential brand decision making. Through its market-leading app and web experience, GlossWire customers can shop a curated edit of 15,000+ products, sourced from 200+ beauty brands from around the world. The company is owned by Wire Holdings, Inc., backed by a range of all-star private angel investors in the beauty, retail, and tech spaces, and well-known for its popular contemporary Fashion app and web-based platform  FashWire. To learn more about GlossWire, visit www.glosswire.com.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220610005615/en/

Laura Baumgartner

Asylum PR

[email protected]

Source: GlossWire
SAN FRANCISCO--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Plaintiffs law firms Lieff Cabraser Heimann & Bernstein LLP and Altshuler Berzon LLP announced today that Plaintiffs have reached an agreement with Defendant Google LLC ( Google), in which Google will pay $118 million to settle a class action gender discrimination lawsuit, Ellis v. Google LLC, No. CGC-17-561299, pending since 2017. The settlement covers approximately 15,500 female employees in 236 job titles (covered positions) in California since September 14, 2013.

In addition to monetary relief, the Settlement provides that an independent third party expert will analyze Googles leveling-at-hire practices and that an independent labor economist will review Googles pay equity studies. The post-settlement work will be supervised by an external Settlement Monitor over the next three years. The lawsuit challenged Googles pay and leveling processes, and Plaintiffs believe these programs will help ensure that women are not paid less than their male counterparts who perform substantially similar work, and that Googles challenged leveling practices are equitable.

Plaintiffs: The Named Plaintiffs are Kelly Ellis, Holly Pease, Kelli Wisuri, and Heidi Lamar. All of the Plaintiffs are women who worked for Google in California in a covered position since September 14, 2013. Their backgrounds:

Plaintiff Kelly Ellis worked as a Software Engineer at Googles Mountain View office for approximately four years, departing the company with the title of Senior Manager.

Plaintiff Holly Pease worked for Google for approximately 10.5 years, in both Mountain View and Sunnyvale, holding numerous technical leadership roles, including: Manager, Corporate Network Engineering; Manager, Business Systems Integration; Manager, Corporate Data Warehouse/Reporting Team; and Senior Manager, Business Systems Integration.

Plaintiff Kelli Wisuri worked for Google for approximately 2.5 years in its Mountain View office, as an Enterprise Operations Coordinator, Enterprise Sales Operations Associate, and Google Brand Evangelist, Executive Communications Program (aka Sales Solutions Senior Associate).

Plaintiff Heidi Lamar worked as a Preschool Teacher and Infant/Toddler Teacher at Googles Children Center in Palo Alto for approximately four years.

Next Steps: The court will set a hearing date for preliminary settlement approval, which if approved will result in the third-party administrator issuing notice to the class members. If the court later grants final settlement approval, the third-party administrator will allocate settlement amounts based on an objective formula to each qualifying class member. More information is available at the website: https://googlegendercase.com/

Statements on the Settlement:

As a woman who's spent her entire career in the tech industry, I'm optimistic that the actions Google has agreed to take as part of this settlement will ensure more equity for women, said Plaintiff Holly Pease. Google, since its founding, has led the tech industry. They also have an opportunity to lead the charge to ensure inclusion and equity for women in tech.

Plaintiffs co-counsel Kelly Dermody stated, Plaintiffs believe this settlement advances gender equity at Google and will be precedent-setting for the industry.

Google has long been a technology leader. We are delighted that in this Settlement Agreement and Order Google is also affirming its commitment to be a leader in ensuring pay equity and equal employment opportunity for all of their employees," said Plaintiffs co-counsel Jim Finberg.

Information about Plaintiffs Counsel:

Lieff Cabraser Heimann & Bernstein, LLP: Lieff Cabraser is one of the countrys largest and most successful firms exclusively representing plaintiffs in civil litigation, having secured verdicts or settlements worth over $127 billion for clients nationwide. With 120 attorneys, the firm has led some of the most significant litigation of the last decade, including the VW clean diesel emissions case, which resulted in over $15 billion for VW owners (In re: Volkswagen 'Clean Diesel' Marketing, Sales Practices, and Products Liability Litigation, MDL No. 2672 (Northern District of California federal court)); and the high-tech cold-calling wage conspiracy case alleging an agreement among prominent technology companies to not poach each others employees, which resulted in settlements totaling $435 million (In re: High-Tech Employee Antitrust Litigation, 11-cv-2509-LJK (Northern District of California federal court)). Partner Kelly Dermody, co-lead counsel here, led High-Tech for her firm. She is currently Chair of the Section of Labor and Employment Law of the American Bar Association, and Managing Partner of the San Francisco Office of Lieff Cabraser.

Altshuler Berzon LLP: Altshuler Berzon LLP is a San Francisco law firm that specializes in labor and employment, constitutional, environmental, civil rights, campaign and election, and impact litigation. Altshuler Berzon, LLP has been co-lead counsel in a number of civil rights class actions, including Ries v McDonalds, 1:20 CV 0002 HYJ RSK ( W.D. Mich. 2022) (sex harassment class action); and Satchell v Federal Express, C03-2878 SI ( ND Cal.) (race discrimination class action). Altshuler Berzon is currently serving as co-lead counsel in the Jewett v Oracle Equal Pay Act class action in San Mateo Superior Court, 17 Civ 02669 (San Mateo Sup.) set for trial on January 23, 2023.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220610005611/en/

For more information:

Kelly M. Dermody

Lieff Cabraser Heimann & Bernstein, LLP

275 Battery Street, 29th Floor

San Francisco, CA 94111-3339

Telephone: (415) 956-1000 ext. 3333

[email protected]

Jim Finberg

Altshuler Berzon LLP

177 Post Street, Suite 300

San Francisco, California 94108

Telephone: (415) 421-7151

[email protected]

Source: Lieff Cabraser Heimann & Bernstein, LLP
MONTREAL, June 10, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- AM Resources Corporation (AM or the Corporation) (TSXV: AMR) (Frankfurt: 76A) is providing an update to its previously disclosed management cease trade order (MCTO), initially announced on April 29, 2022, in respect of the audited annual financial statements and corresponding managements discussion and analysis for the year ended December 31, 2021, including the CEO and CFO certifications, as well as the interim financial statements and corresponding managements discussion and analysis for the period ended March 31, 2022, including the CEO and CFO certifications (collectively, the Financial Documents) that were not filed by their respective filing deadlines of April 30, 2022 and May 30, 2022 (the Filing Deadlines).

As previously disclosed, the Financial Documents were not filed on or before the Filing Deadlines due to the delay in the completion of the audit of the Corporations financial statements before the Filing Deadlines. The Corporation is working closely with the auditor to finalize the audit and expects to file the Financial Documents no later than July 2, 2022. The Corporation will provide updates as further information relating to the Financial Documents becomes available.

The MCTO will be in effect until the Financial Documents are filed.

Until the Financial Documents are filed, the Corporation intends to issue bi-weekly default status reports in accordance with National Policy 12-203  Management Cease Trade Orders. The Corporation intends to satisfy the provisions of the Alternative Information Guidelines during the period it remains in default of the filing requirements. The Corporation confirms that there is no other material information relating to its affairs that has not been generally disclosed.

About AM ResourcesAM Resources Corporation (TSXV: AMR) is a mining exploration company with interests in coal and natural bitumen projects in Colombia. AM is betting on Colombia's excellent mineral potential and favourable climate to pursue its Colombian venture.

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:

David GrondinAM Resources CorporationPresident and Chief Executive Officer1-514-360-0576www.am-resources.com

Source: AM Resources Corp.
NOT FOR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES. FAILURE TO COMPLY WITH THIS RESTRICTION MAY CONSTITUTE A VIOLATION OF UNITED STATES SECURITIES LAW.

CALGARY, Alberta, June 10, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- ApartmentLove Inc. (CSE: APLV) (ApartmentLove or the Company), a leading provider of online home and apartment rental marketing services catering to landlords and renters in 30-countries on 5-continents around the world, is pleased to announce that it has closed the second tranche of its previously announced non-brokered private placement of up to 10,000,000 units of the Company (Units) at a price of $0.15 per Unit, for gross proceeds up to a maximum of $1,500,000 (the Private Placement). The securities issued in connection with the Private Placement are subject to a four-month plus one day hold period, in accordance with applicable securities laws.

The second tranche of the Private Placement that closed consisted of 1,676,664 Units for gross proceeds of $251,500. In aggregate, the Company has issued 6,309,997 Units for gross proceeds of $946,500 under the Private Placement and expects to close the remainder of the Private Placement within the next two weeks.

Several directors, as defined in Multilateral Instrument 61-101 Protection of Minority Security Holders in Special Transactions ("MI 61-101"), participated in the Private Placement, either directly or indirectly, therefore the Private Placement constitutes a "related party transaction" within the meaning of MI 61-101. In its consideration and approval of the Private Placement, the board of directors of the Company determined that the Private Placement is exempt from the formal valuation and minority approval requirements of MI 61-101 on the basis that the fair market value of the Private Placement to related parties does not exceed 25% of the market capitalization of the Company, in accordance with Sections 5.5 and 5.7 of MI 61-101.

The net proceeds from the Private Placement will be used in connection with the Companys growth through acquisition program, as well as for general operating cash.

About ApartmentLove Inc.

ApartmentLove Inc. (CSE: APLV) is a leading provider of rental marketing services to landlords and renters on the Internet. Promoting residential rental properties in every major market in Canada and the United States, ApartmentLove has active rental listings in 30-countries on 5-continents around the world. Having proven its ability to scale as a fast-growing technology company in the hot PropTech industry, ApartmentLove is executing its organic growth and expansion plans by investing in Search Engine Optimization and other marketing and promotional activities. In addition, ApartmentLove is actively pursuing a growth through acquisition program by purchasing competing businesses that have many monthly active users, a history of recurring revenues, positive cashflows, and custom technologies that both accelerate and destress the renting experience in Canada, the United States, and elsewhere around the world.

For more information visit https://apartmentlove.com/investors or contact:

Trevor Davidson President & CEOApartmentLove Inc.[email protected] (647) 272-9702

Reader Advisory

The Canadian Securities Exchange does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release. Certain information set forth in this news release may contain forward-looking statements that involve substantial known and unknown risks and uncertainties, certain of which are beyond the control of the Company. Forward-looking statements are frequently characterized by words such as "plan", "continue", "expect", "project", "intend", "believe", "anticipate", "estimate", "may", "will", "potential", "proposed" and other similar words, or statements that certain events or conditions "may" or "will" occur. These and similar such statements are only predictions. 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, no reliance should be placed on forward-looking statements. Forward looking statements include but are not limited to the Company successfully closing the remainder of the Private Placement, successfully executing its organic and growth through acquisition mandates and realizing the benefits of such mandates.

The forward-looking information contained in this release is made as of the date hereof. The Company is not obligated to update or revise any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by applicable law. Risk factors can be found in the Companys continuous disclosure documents which have been filed on SEDAR and can be accessed at www.sedar.com.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -ApartmentLove | the feeling of home

Source: ApartmentLove Inc.
ISTANBUL, Turkey, June 10, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The pain and suffering brought forth by the war between Russia and Ukraine that broke out a few months ago has allowed the people of the world to deepen their understanding about the importance of peace. The Federation of World Peace and Love (FOWPAL) was invited by Dr. Akkan Suver, president of the Marmara Group Foundation, to participate in the 25th Eurasian Economic Summit in Istanbul, Turkey on June 7-9.

Dr. Akkan Suver, who initiated the Eurasian Economic Summit, warmly welcomed all participants to the event, one of the world's most important summits, which is held annually and brings together decision makers and experts in the fields of economics, politics, religion, energy, sociology, and security. Through dialogue, the Summit fosters active collaboration among leaders in various fields for sustainable development.

This years summit, under the theme of "Build Back Better," focused on the post-pandemic era and the major impact of the conflict between Russia and Ukraine on the world, while addressing issues, such as new energy economy, global partnership, digitalization, a greener planet, dialogue among cities, food and commodity crisis, hunger, poverty, climate change, involuntary migration, and others. It was attended by hundreds of distinguished guests from over 40 countries, including heads of state and government, ambassadors, ministers, mayors, and leaders from all walks of life.

Dr. Hong, Tao-Tze, president of FOWPAL, delivered a speech, emphasizing, We firmly believe that a culture of peace and a culture of conscience are the foundation that sustains all cultures of the world, and they are also the core of sustainable economic development. A good culture nurtures a good education while a quality education leads to a healthy economy. Through the promotion of a culture of conscience and conscience-driven education, and by integrating the strengths of other cultures and education systems, we will be able to foster national economic growth and usher in stability and prosperity. He pointed out, To resolve conflicts with love and conscience is the embodiment of great wisdom.

FOWPAL has been promoting the International Day of Conscience and the importance of conscience in the past few years and has received warm responses during the Summit. FOWPAL was invited to deliver five sessions of cultural performances, including martial arts, dance, music, and singing. The fabulous performances and profound cultural meanings touched peoples hearts and electrified the audience. In the opening session of the summit, FOWPAL amazed the attendees with an elegant "Peacock Dance," which symbolized love, peace, and warmth, brought blessings to the Summit, and conveyed FOWPALs best wishes for the end of the war and pandemic.

Young volunteers for FOWPAL also performed a number of inspiring songs, such as "We Can Change the World," "A Prayer for Peace, and "We Are One World," conveying their voices and their vision of a united world where people treat one another as family, which was in line with the spirit of the Summit. Through these performances, FOWPAL encouraged people to work together and take action to create a peaceful and sustainable world. FOWPAL's performances not only gave people a sense of joy and positive energy, but also spread the culture of conscience, which resonated with the audience.

Another highlight of the summit was the ceremonies of ringing the Bell of World Peace and Love. The Bell of World Peace and Love, which weighs 240 kg and has consolidated the wishes for peace of over 400 leaders, rang in Turkey for the first time. On the closing day of the conference on June 9, the organizer invited FOWPAL to specially host the solemn ceremony of ringing the "Bell of World Peace and Love." Seven influential leaders rang the Bell, including President Emil Constantinescu of Romania (1996-2000), President Filip Vujanovic of Montenegro (2003-2018), President Moncef Marzouki of Tunisia (2011-2014), President Petru Lucinschi of Moldova (1997-2001), President Fatmir Sejdiu of Kosovo (2006-2010), Dr. Akkan Suver, and Djabir Doko, Deputy Minister of Political System and Inter-Community Relations of North Macedonia. President of Croatia Stjepan Mesic (2000-2010), who rang the Bell in 2016 in India, also attended the summit.

Dr. Akkan Suver rang the Bell and stated, For peace! For peace! For peace! He said in the name of peace, stability, love, and world peace, the bell ringing ceremony was conducted. This was the first time that Dr. Suver participated in such a ceremony. He emphasized that it is important for everyone to work together and have dialogue to promote stability and conscience. We need a dialogue, and if we have a dialogue, we can find any solution to any problem. He congratulated the FOWPAL delegation and expressed his gratitude to FOWPAL for organizing the bell ringing ceremony.

Filip Vujanovic, president of Montenegro (2003-2018), rang the Bell of World Peace and Love and wished for peace, unity, and love. Emil Constantinescu, president of Romania (1996-2000) wished for peace and understanding.

Moncef Marzouki, president of Tunisia (2011-2014), when interviewed by FOWPAL during the summit, stated, We need peace. What's happening between Ukraine and Russia is danger not only for this region, but the whole world because it could lead to the Third World War, so we badly need initiatives like yours. And I do support what you're doing because once again, peace is the most important thing for everybody. We cannot talk about human rights unless we have peace. What you are doing is extremely important. I would like to congratulate you. Please go ahead. We need every initiative, everybody supporting peace.

Dr. Hong, Tao-Tze, president of FOWPAL, presented to bell ringers special gifts created by FOWPAL, including the Compass Clock of Conscience, An Anthology of Conscience by Dr. Hong, the Key to the Heart, and a book entitled The History of International Day of Conscience. The clock represents time, direction, and goal, guides people toward the right path of life, and reminds them to seize every moment to apply conscience and do good deeds. The anthology is a collection of the excerpts on conscience from Dr. Hongs speeches presented on various occasions around the globe, which serves as a wellspring of wisdom for the recipients in the promotion of a culture of conscience. The key symbolizes that conscience is the key to unlocking a brighter future for the world. The book entitled The History of International Day of Conscience documents major events leading up to the United Nations designation of April 5 as the International Day of Conscience.

Dr. Werner Fasslabend, who is former defense minister of Austria and rang the Bell in 2018, stated that conscience is a personal regulator, a personal principle that makes you go the right way. And if everybody does it, it will lead into a world of love and peace. Only when there is love in the world, when people try to understand each other, when we try to cooperate, not be against the other side, but to do something in common, then you can reach peace and stability. This is also the basis for freedom.

The top of the Bell of World Peace and Love is engraved with "Love of the World, A Declaration of Peace." FOWPAL hopes that people can return to a peaceful world in which there is no pain, no fear, no war, and no suffering. To date, 417 important leaders from 128 countries have rung the Bell, including 49 heads of state and government, seven Nobel Peace Prize laureates, United Nations ambassadors, and leaders from all walks of life. FOWPAL just finished its trip to Stockholm, where it hosted ceremonies of ringing the Bell of World Peace and Love on June 1-3, 2022, during Stockholm+50, and eleven leaders, including environment ministers, UNEP officers, and environmental activists, rang the Bell to pray for the sustainable development of all humanity.

FOWPAL has been actively involved in environmental protection. It participated in the World Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD) in Johannesburg, South Africa in 2002 and hosted ceremonies of ringing the Bell of World Peace and Love, where six visionary leaders, including the then President of Ethiopia Girma Wolde-Giorgis, rang the Bell.

The 2012 United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development (Rio+20) was held in Rio, Brazil to discuss the challenges and opportunities of sustainable development. During the conference, FOWPAL hosted the ceremony of ringing the Bell of World Peace and Love, and 25 visionary leaders rang the Bell, including the then President of Costa Rica Laura Chinchilla Miranda; President of East Timor and 1996 Nobel Peace Prize laureate Jose Ramos-Horta; the then Prime Minister of Bhutan Jigme Thinley; Pedro Passos Coelho, the then Prime Minister of Portuguese Republic; and Angel Gurria, the then Secretary General of Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), consolidating more positive energy and hope for a sustainable future of love and peace on Earth.

FOWPAL urges everyone to take action to support love, peace, conscience, and human rights. To date, the Declarations for Human Rights of World Citizens and Peace have been endorsed by over 3.7 million people in 179 nations, and the Declaration for the Movement of An Era of Conscience and Declaration of International Day of Conscience have been endorsed by 330,000 people in 196 nations. FOWPAL hopes that everyone will act with conscience so that the world will be peaceful, and that everyone will be joyful so that every family will be happy.

About the Federation of World Peace and Love (FOWPAL): Established in 2000 in the United States by Dr. Hong, Tao-Tze, FOWPAL is an international love and peace organization, with members from around the world. It is guided by the principle that changing the world for the better starts with one good thought. Over the past two decades, FOWPAL has promoted conscience, love, and peace globally and attended Earth Summits to promote SDGs. It had worked with various Permanent Missions to the UN through conferences, bell ringing ceremonies, and declaration signing, making the UNs adoption of the International Day of Conscience in July 2019 possible. They have held over 55 webinars in the past two years, fostering conscience-based sustainability.

Media Contact:Lily ChenRepresentative[email protected]626-202-5268www.fowpal.org

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/f2a1472e-0731-4de7-bd49-6f5663e62163

The photo is also available at Newscom, www.newscom.com, and via AP PhotoExpress

Exchange Among Influential Leaders Dr. Akkan Suver, president of the Marmara Group Foundation, left, Dr. Hong, Tao-Tze, president of FOWPAL, center, and Abdullah Gul, president of Turkey (2007-2014), exchanged their ideas during the 25th Eurasian Economic Summit in Istanbul, Turkey on June 9, 2022. Dr. Hong shared a book entitled The History of International Day of Conscience, documenting major events leading up to the United Nations designation of April 5 as the International Day of Conscience.

Source: Federation of World Peace and Love
VANCOUVER, British Columbia, June 09, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Latin Metals Inc. (Latin Metals or the Company) - (TSXV: LMS) OTCQB: LMSQF) is pleased to announce the results of the Induced Polarization (IP) survey at its 100% own Lacsha project, located in the Coastal Copper Belt, Peru. The objective of the recently completed survey was to determine the distribution of potentially copper bearing sulphides (IP chargeability), distribution of alteration (IP resistivity and ground magnetics) to frame the Lacsha copper target in the context of an upright, intact porphyry copper system and identify drill targets. The responses in general correlate well with generally accepted porphyry exploration models and the result is four high-priority targets areas (Figures 1 and 2).

The recently received IP data is the final layer of data that we will use to define drill targets. Combined with magnetic data and surface geochemistry, we see a relatively simple suite of anomalies that define four significant drill targets, stated Keith Henderson, Latin Metals President & CEO. Surface chip channel sampling completed in Q1 defined consistent mineralization including 52m grading 0.38% copper and 237ppm molybdenum. While these grades are excellent, the IP chargeability data points to peak chargeability below surface at approximately 100m from surface. The project will need to be drilled to establish whether chargeability is related to copper mineralization.

Interpretation of Exploration Results

Surface lithology, structure and geochemistry together with new geophysical data at Lacsha are consistent with porphyry-related sulphide mineralization and strengthen a series of compelling drill targets (Figure 1):

The ground magnetic survey identified several zones with highly magnetic response, which are interpreted to be associated with magnetite mineralization within a central porphyry potassic alteration.

The recently completed IP survey defined extensive areas of high chargeability (>20 mv/v), which is a signature often associated with sulphide mineralization. The cores of these anomalies reach 25 mv/v at depths of approximately 100m from surface and potentially reflect copper sulphide mineralization.

Areas of high resistivity (>2,000 ohm*m) are consistent with silicification (overlying a vertically zoned porphyry system.

Integration of surface geochemistry with geophysics is a critical step in exploration (Figure 2):

Copper (>300ppm, up to 1590ppm) and molybdenum (>10ppm, up to 85ppm) anomalies (talus samples) are centered over the interpreted porphyry system where a copper rich core may be present.

Zinc and lead depleted above the target (proximally), with anomalous values distally which is considered a typical geochemical zonation for upright, intact porphyry copper systems.

The geochemistry dovetails with the surface geophysics where copper and molybdenum geochemical anomalies are coincident with magnetic (high) and IP chargeability (high) features increasing confidence in the drill targets.

Lacsha Presentation on Web SiteA presentation has been uploaded on the Companys website, which summarizes all aspects of the exploration completed at Lacsha to date.

Induced Polarization Survey DetailsThe IP survey was completed in Q1 2022, consisting of 18 lines oriented northwest-southeast. Lines are between 1.4km and 1.7km in length and spaced 200m apart for a total survey length of 27km. The survey was completed using a Pole-Dipole arrangement (multi-electrodes), with dipoles every 100m recording readings from the first to the tenth stations. Penetration depth is expected to be up to 600m from surface.

Next StepsHaving already executed community agreements through to the end of 2024, Latin Metals is applying for drill permits to test the highest priority target areas and permits are expected to be in place by Q4 2022. The Company is considering whether to complete initial drilling or to secure a partner to fund initial drilling, and a final decision is expected to be made on receipt of drill permits.

Coastal Copper BeltThe Coastal Copper Belt in Peru is a Cretaceous belt hosting a variety of deposit types including Porphyry, Epithermal, VMS and IOCG. Latin Metals 100%-owned Lacsha Copper-Molybdenum, Lacsha Copper-Molybdenum, Auquis Copper-molybdenum, Yanba Copper-Molybdenum, Tillo, Para and Loli prospects are all located in the northern Lima-Ica portion of the coastal belt.

Latin Metals at PDAC 2022Latin Metals will be exhibiting at PDAC 2022, and the Company invites conference attendees to visit the LMS booth #3124 at the Investor Exchange in the South Building of the Metro Toronto Convention Center from June 13 to 15, 2022. Company representatives will be on hand to discuss the prospect generator model as well as our work plans for the rest of the year.

QA/QCThe work program at Lacsha was designed and supervised by Eduardo Leon, the Company's Exploration Manager, he coordinates with Zissou Peru SAC principal geophysicist, Mr. Percy Sandoval who was the professional in charge of field collection data, sections, plan views, and reporting. Inversion modeling was completed by Geophysicist MSc Ronald Yupa.

Qualified PersonThe technical content of this release has been approved for disclosure by Keith J. Henderson P.Geo, a Qualified Person as defined by NI 43-101 and the Companys CEO. Mr. Henderson is not independent of the Company, as he is an employee of the Company and holds securities of the Company.

About Latin MetalsLatin Metals is a mineral exploration company acquiring a diversified portfolio of assets in South America. The Company operates with a Prospect Generator model focusing on the acquisition of prospective exploration properties at minimum cost, completing initial evaluation through cost-effective exploration to establish drill targets, and ultimately securing joint venture partners to fund drilling and advanced exploration. Shareholders gain exposure to the upside of a significant discovery without the dilution associated with funding the highest-risk drill-based exploration.

On Behalf of the Board of Directors of

LATIN METALS INC.

Keith Henderson

President & CEO

For further details on the Company readers are referred to the Company's web site (www.latin-metals.com) and its Canadian regulatory filings on SEDAR at www.sedar.com.

For further information, please contact:

Keith Henderson

Suite 890999 West Hastings StreetVancouver, BC, V6C 2W2

Phone: 604-638-3456E-mail: [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 news release.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This news release contains forward-looking statements and forward-looking information (collectively, "forward-looking statements") within the meaning of applicable Canadian and U.S. securities legislation, including the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, included herein including, without limitation, statements regarding the negotiation of the Option Agreements and exercise of the Option for the Properties, the anticipated content, commencement, timing and cost of exploration programs in respect of the Properties and otherwise, anticipated exploration program results from exploration activities, and the Company's expectation that it will be able to enter into agreements to acquire interests in additional mineral properties, the discovery and delineation of mineral deposits/resources/reserves on the Properties, and the anticipated business plans and timing of future activities of the Company, are forward-looking statements. Although the Company believes that such statements are reasonable, it can give no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct. Often, but not always, forward looking information can be identified by words such as "pro forma", "plans", "expects", "may", "should", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "intends", "anticipates", "believes", "potential" or variations of such words including negative variations thereof, and phrases that refer to certain actions, events or results that may, could, would, might or will occur or be taken or achieved. In making the forward-looking statements in this news release, the Company has applied several material assumptions, including without limitation, market fundamentals will result in sustained precious metals demand and prices, the receipt of any necessary permits, licenses and regulatory approvals in connection with the future development of the Companys Argentine projects in a timely manner, the availability of financing on suitable terms for the development, construction and continued operation of the Company projects, and the Companys ability to comply with environmental, health and safety laws.

Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company to differ materially from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking information. Such risks and other factors include, among others, operating and technical difficulties in connection with mineral exploration and development and mine development activities at the Properties, including the geological mapping, prospecting and sampling programs being proposed for the Properties (the "Programs"), actual results of exploration activities, including the Programs, estimation or realization of mineral reserves and mineral resources, the timing and amount of estimated future production, costs of production, capital expenditures, the costs and timing of the development of new deposits, the availability of a sufficient supply of water and other materials, requirements for additional capital, future prices of precious metals and copper, changes in general economic conditions, changes in the financial markets and in the demand and market price for commodities, possible variations in ore grade or recovery rates, possible failures of plants, equipment or processes to operate as anticipated, accidents, labour disputes and other risks of the mining industry, delays or the inability of the Company to obtain any necessary permits, consents or authorizations required, including TSX-V acceptance for filing of the Option Agreements, any current or future property acquisitions, financing or other planned activities, changes in laws, regulations and policies affecting mining operations, hedging practices, currency fluctuations, title disputes or claims limitations on insurance coverage and the timing and possible outcome of pending litigation, environmental issues and liabilities, risks related to joint venture operations, and risks related to the integration of acquisitions, as well as those factors discussed under the heading "Risk Factors" in the Company's latest Management Discussion and Analysis and other filings of the Company with the Canadian Securities Authorities, copies of which can be found under the Company's profile on the SEDAR website at www.sedar.com.

Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward looking statements. Except as otherwise required by law, the Company undertakes no obligation to update any of the forward-looking information in this news release or incorporated by reference herein.

Photos accompanying this announcement are available at: https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/e09c88e8-a464-4fb8-8ab4-126764690d9fhttps://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/fb23a5eb-7c36-40b3-95f2-801336747a5b

Figure 1 Figure 1. Geophysical responses at Lacsha including IP Chargeability, Resistivity, and Magnetic responses defining four priority target areas, which are highlighted as circular dashed lines. Figure 2 Figure 2: Talus copper, molybdenum, zinc, and lead geochemistry at Lacsha, showing patterns typically seen in certain porphyry deposits; anomalous copper and molybdenum high and lead-zinc low. Four targets are highlighted as circular dashed lines.

Source: Latin Metals Inc.
Washington, D.C., June 10, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Today, the United States Department of Education announced the 2022 class of the White House Initiative on Advancing Educational Equity, Excellence and Economic Opportunity through Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) Scholars. This is the ninth cohort of undergraduate, graduate and professional students announced through the White House Initiative, a group of 86 scholars from 56 HBCUs across the U.S. which also includes 27 attending UNCF (United Negro College Fund)-member HBCUs.

A noted accomplishment, the HBCU Scholars were selected from a competitive pool of more than 350 students. Applications required the signature of their HBCU president or designated HBCU faculty, adding a level of prestige to this application process.

"The HBCU Scholars announced today have dedicated themselves to their learning and exemplify the talent that our nation's HBCUs have nurtured for generations," said U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona. "The Biden-Harris administration is committed to supporting these leaders, and I cannot wait to learn from them while they serve as ambassadors for the White House Initiative and their institutions."

UNCF congratulates our scholars for being selected, said Lodriguez V. Murray, senior vice president, public policy and government affairs, UNCF. This just proves what we have always known: A mind is a terrible thing to waste, but once the investment in that mind happens, the sky is the limit. Also, we commend our institutions, which are the leaders at accepting and developing talent from socio-economic underserved backgroundspreparing them to change the world. It is when our talented young people accept the challenges presented by our member HBCUs that this kind of superlative is undeniable.

During the upcoming academic school year, HBCU Scholars will serve as ambassadors of the White House Initiative on HBCUs. They will be offered training and cross-university networking opportunities. Scholars will also have an opportunity to work on issues specifically related to the HBCU community and participate in national and regional events with professionals from a wide range of disciplines.

Additionally, HBCU Scholars will be invited to the 2022 HBCU Week National Annual Conference, Sept. 20-23 in Washington, DC. During the conference, scholars participate in sessions designed to engage a spirit of entrepreneurship, innovation and personal and professional development. Most importantly, they will have opportunities to engage with one another and showcase their individual and collective talent.

Program events are designed to enhance HBCU Scholars professional development and create post-graduation opportunities within non-profit, business and federal agency partners to ensure that the U.S. as a nation remains globally competitive.

2022 UNCF HBCU Scholars (by their home state or country)

Alabama

Montgomery - Aylon Gipson attends Morehouse College, Atlanta, GA

Montgomery - DaJon Stoudemire attends Stillman College, Tuscaloosa, AL

Tuscaloosa - Chase Cameron attends Lane College, Jackson, TN

Arkansas

Little Rock - Jason Muka attends Philander Smith College, Little Rock, AR

Bahamas

Nassau - Jameliah Pinder attends Shaw University, Raleigh, NC

California

San Bernardino - Jordan Holt attends Tuskegee University, Tuskegee, AL

Georgia

Atlanta - Nina Giddens attends Xavier University, New Orleans, LA

Stockbridge - Jayden Williams attends Clark Atlanta University, Atlanta, GA

Illinois

Chicago - Diamond Williams attends Xavier University, New Orleans, LA

Chicago - Steven McCollough attends Stillman College, Tuscaloosa, AL

Homewood - Lauren Proby attends Spelman College, Atlanta, GA

Jamaica

Kingston - Daniel Jathan attends LeMoyne-Owen College, Memphis, TN

Maryland

Baltimore - DAria Couther attends Bennett College, Greensboro, NC

Temple Hills - Nina Rutherford attends Benedict College, Columbia, SC

Michigan

Belleville - Jiyahna Price attends Bethune-Cookman University, Daytona, FL

Mississippi

Columbus - Zachary Wilson attends Rust College, Holly Springs, MS

Horn Lake - Cristina Calhoun attends Rust College, Holly Springs, MS

North Carolina

Charlotte - Paige Davis attends Johnson C. Smith University, Charlotte, NC

Oklahoma

Oklahoma City - Nakya Carter attends Shaw University, Raleigh, NC

Pennsylvania

Philadelphia - Horace Ryans III attends Morehouse College, Atlanta, GA

South Carolina

Charleston - Kierra Wellington attends Allen University, Columbia, SC

Tennessee

Chattanooga - Lauren Tolbert attends Claflin University, Orangeburg, SC

Memphis - Jaylynn Lanier attends LeMoyne-Owen College, Memphis, TN

Texas

Dallas - Kalaya Sibley attends Dillard University, New Orleans, LA

Galveston - Kemryn Lawrence attends Clark Atlanta University, Atlanta, GA

Houston - Nicholas McDermott attends Huston-Tillotson University, Austin, TX

Virginia

Richmond - Michael Kevin Crossley, Sr., attends Virginia Union University, Richmond, VA

###

About UNCF

UNCF (United Negro College Fund) is the nations largest and most effective minority education organization. To serve youth, the community and the nation, UNCF supports students education and development through scholarships and other programs, supports and strengthens its 37 member colleges and universities, and advocates for the importance of minority education and college readiness. While totaling only 3% of all colleges and universities, UNCF institutions and other historically Black colleges and universities are highly effective, awarding 13% of bachelors degrees, 5% of masters degrees, 10% of doctoral degrees and 24% of all STEM degrees earned by Black students in higher education. UNCF administers more than 400 programs, including scholarship, internship and fellowship, mentoring, summer enrichment, and curriculum and faculty development programs. Today, UNCF supports more than 60,000 students at over 1,100 colleges and universities across the country. Its logo features the UNCF torch of leadership in education and its widely recognized trademark, A mind is a terrible thing to waste. Learn more at UNCF.org or for continuous updates and news, follow UNCF on Twitter at @UNCF.

Monique LeNoir United Negro College Fund, Inc. (UNCF) 202-810-0231 [email protected]

Source: United Negro College Fund, Inc. (UNCF)
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - June 10, 2022) - Myriad Metals Corp. (CSE: MMC) ("Myriad" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that it has signed a binding letter of intent ("LOI") with Loxcroft Resources Ltd. ("Loxcroft") which, subject to due diligence, would give Myriad an option (the "Option") to earn a 100% interest in 1,822 km2of uranium exploration licenses in the Tim Mersoi Basin, Niger (the "Loxcroft Properties").

The due diligence period expires July 5, 2022, and the parties are expected to enter a further definitive agreement (the "Agreement") respecting the Option, under substantially the same terms, on or before that date.

The Loxcroft Properties

According to the World Nuclear Association, Niger is currently the world's 6th largest uranium producer, with the vast majority of uranium occurrences being in the Tim Mersoi Basin. The Loxcroft Properties are right in the heart of the Tim Mersoi Basin, and comprise four mineral exploration licenses - individually named Agebout, Afouday, Tagait 2 and Tagait 3 (as indicated on the map below).

The area is well known for uranium exploration and production, with multiple world class uranium projects, including the Orano Group's Imouraren project, one of the world's largest uranium deposits and which is immediately adjacent to Agebout, as well as China National Nuclear Corporation's Azelik project, Global Atomic's Dasa project, and Goviex Uranium's Madaouela project, which are all within 50km of the Loxcroft Properties.





Map of the Loxcroft Properties



To view an enhanced version of this map, please visit:

https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/6301/127279_58a1bb8e94f2cbdd_001full.jpg

*Note: Readers are cautioned that Myriad does not have sufficient reliable technical data to draw any clear conclusions for the prospects for the Loxcroft Properties, and mere proximity to other advanced projects does not ensure similar results for the Loxcroft Properties.

Peter Smith, Myriad's CEO, commented, "We are thrilled with this potential acquisition, right in the heart of one of the world's most prolific uranium-rich region, and we could not ask for a better potential exploration and equity partner in Loxcroft, who have access to exploration teams in the Tim Mersoi Basin, as well as the local knowledge and relationships to advance this type of project efficiently."

The Transaction

Under the LOI and subsequent Agreement, Myriad has the option to acquire an initial 80% interest in the Loxcroft Properties by: (1) issuing 8,500,000 Myriad common shares (each, a "Share") to Loxcroft on the date of execution (the "Effective Date") of the Agreement; and (2) conducting no less than $2,000,000 in exploration expenditures within two years of the Effective Date, including no less than $1,500,000 in drilling expenditures. On successfully earning an 80% interest in the Loxcroft Properties, Myriad will have the option to acquire the remaining 20% interest in the Loxcroft Properties by making a cash payment of $6,000,000 to Loxcroft on or before the sixth anniversary of the Effective Date. Myriad will be responsible for all of the funding for the Loxcroft Properties until the completion of a definitive feasibility study on the Loxcroft Properties. On execution of the Agreement, Loxcroft will be entitled to representation on Myriad's board of directors.

In addition, Myriad will be obliged to pay performance bonuses to Loxcroft on the attainment of certain milestones respecting the Loxcroft Properties: (1) $1,000,000 in cash or Shares on completion of a technical report establishing a minimum resource of more than 10,000,000 pounds of uranium having a minimum average grade of no less than 0.025%; (2) an additional $2,000,000 in cash or Shares on completion of a technical report which establishes a minimum resource of more than 50,000,000 pounds of uranium having a minimum average grade of no less than 0.025%; (3) an additional $1,000,000 in cash or Shares on completion of a Preliminary Economic Assessment; and (4) an additional $1,000,000 in cash or Shares on the issuance of a mining permit for the Loxcroft Properties by applicable governmental authorities. Loxcroft will also be entitled to receive a 1% net smelter returns royalty on any minerals extracted from the Loxcroft Properties.

Under the LOI, Myriad paid Loxcroft a non-refundable deposit of $30,000 in exchange for an exclusive due diligence period respecting the Loxcroft Properties. To date, Myriad has conducted extensive due diligence respecting the Loxcroft Properties and the jurisdiction, including a visit to Niger by Myriad's CEO, Peter Smith. During his time in Niger, Mr. Smith met with the vendors, government officials from the Niger Ministry of Mines, and several prospective exploration contractors. Myriad is satisfied with its due diligence investigations to date, although due diligence remains ongoing.

Any Shares issued under the Agreement will be subject to a four month hold period under applicable securities laws. In addition, the 8,500,000 Shares to be issued on the Effective Date will be subject to a contractual three-year escrow period as follows: 10% of the Shares shall be released on the Effective Date; and 15% of the Shares shall be released on the dates which are 6, 12, 18, 24, 30 and 36 months following the Effective Date.

Myriad has agreed to pay a 5% finder's fee to arm's length finders. The finder's fee may be payable in whole or in part in Shares.

The proposed transaction is subject to several conditions, including completion of due diligence, execution of the Agreement, and receipt of all necessary regulatory approvals, including approval of the CSE (if applicable). The proposed transaction is an arms-length transaction for the Company and does not constitute a fundamental change or result in a change of control of the Company, within the meaning of the policies of the CSE. Readers are cautioned that Myriad may opt, based on their ongoing due diligence, not to execute the Agreement. Under the LOI, Myriad and Loxcroft have agreed to proceed diligently and in good faith to negotiate and settle the terms of the Agreement, which are to be substantially the same as indicated in the LOI.

Myriad will provide an update respecting the proposed transaction in due course.

About Myriad

Myriad is a Vancouver-based mineral exploration company with a 50% interest in the Millen Mountain Property located in Nova Scotia, Canada, with the other 50% held by Probe Metals Inc. For further information, please refer to the Company's disclosure record on SEDAR (www.sedar.com) or contact the Company by telephone at 778.999.7030.

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Peter Smith, CEO

778.999.7030

###

This news release contains "forward-looking information" that is based on the Company's current expectations, estimates, forecasts and projections. This forward-looking information includes, among other things, the Company's business, plans, outlook and business strategy. The words "may", "would", "could", "should", "will", "likely", "expect," "anticipate," "intend", "estimate", "plan", "forecast", "project" and "believe" or other similar words and phrases are intended to identify forward-looking information. Forward-looking information is subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the Company's actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking information. Such factors include, but are not limited to: changes in economic conditions or financial markets; increases in costs; litigation; legislative, environmental and other judicial, regulatory, political and competitive developments; and technological or operational difficulties. This list is not exhaustive of the factors that may affect our forward-looking information. These and other factors should be considered carefully, and readers should not place undue reliance on such forward-looking information. The Company does not intend, and expressly disclaims any intention or obligation to, update or revise any forward-looking information 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 contents of this news release.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/127279
Dr. Rhonda Mattox is named the first psychiatrist to take the helm of Arkansas' largest and oldest medical association of Black doctors.

LITTLE ROCK, Ariz., June 11, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The Arkansas Medical, Dental, and Pharmaceutical Association, Inc (AMDPA) announces Dr. Rhonda Mattox, who was previously President-Elect, as the new President on June 11, 2022.

She is the first psychiatrist to lead the organization's 129-year history. The nonprofit association is devoted to conquering the medical challenges and health disparities at their regular scientific sessions which explore ways to help improve the health of underserved communities. Because of COVID-19, the sessions have been virtual until this year.

Dr. Mattox is leading the charge of a new community speakers bureau for AMDPA. "There are so many physical and mental issues our community is facing, especially since COVID-19. We felt it was necessary to have our doctors speak and present on as many platforms as possible to ease anxieties and be more accessible to those who don't get to talk to doctors regularly."

Rhonda Mattox, MD is a board-certified physician with decades of experience in direct patient care. She serves as an integrative behavioral health psychiatrist and mental health consultant to primary care providers across the state of Arkansas. Prior to that, Dr. Mattox was an Associate Professor with dual appointments in the Department of Family Medicine and Psychiatry and Behavioral Health at the University of Arkansas Medical Sciences. There she conducted research and served as an integrative behavioral health psychiatrist consultant where she taught family medicine physicians and medical students how to integrate behavioral health into primary care.

"Following the past two unprecedented years of virtual meetings, this is our first in-person conference in nearly three years. Our delivery of healthcare has undergone immense change and has entered a new era of medicine," said Dr. Mattox This year's Scientific Session is themed: The Practice and Policy of Implementing Health Equity and Prevention.

"These scientific sessions are politically relevant, selecting topics around health justice and equity that are making headlines everyday. In addition, we have a session about 'Mass Shootings in America: Why?' led by Dr. Rahn Bailey, a forensic psychiatrist and author of At Gunpoint: Firearms Violence from a Psychiatrist's Perspective.

"As we fit a three-day conference into one day, we wanted to ensure that we met and addressed challenges of delivering quality health care with an eye on prevention and health equity," said Dr. Mattox.

For more information or to book any of the AMDPA to speak, visit https://www.amdpa.org.

About AMDPA:Since 1893, The Arkansas Medical, Dental, and Pharmaceutical Association (AMDPA) is the oldest organization of health care professionals in the United States committed to serving historically underrepresented communities in Arkansas. It is the only interprofessional organization of health care providers including physicians, dentists, pharmacists, physical therapists and physician assistants in Arkansas. Founded by a group of Black medical professionals who were barred from joining local white medical societies, this organization continues to produce medical professionals who lead in their local communities and national organizations. While the name of the organization has changed over the years, since its inception, the goals have remained consistent: to ensure underrepresented communities have access to and receive quality healthcare; to address health disparities; to increase workforce diversity and to serve the membership in a robust way with scientific sessions and continuing education.

Here's a video of Dr. Rhonda Mattox from 2017 at the AMDPA Scientific Sessionhttps://youtu.be/6awUc8CDl98

Media Contact:Pam Perry PR248-690-6810

Photos:https://www.prlog.org/12920808

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SOURCE AMDPA
WASHINGTON, June 10, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Following is a statement from Jen Judson, President of the National Press Club and Gil Klein, President of the National Press Club Journalism Institute on the disturbing disappearance of veteran journalist Dom Phillips in Brazil.

"We had hoped by now there would be a joyful resolution to the missing persons case of Dom Phillips, a frequent contributor to The Guardian newspaper and Bruno Araujo Pereira, a well-respected indigenous affairs expert. The pair went missing on Sunday in the Western Amazon. Phillips should have been able to contact his colleagues and family by now. We are very concerned about his safety as well as that of Pereira. There had recently been threats made against Pereira, according to reports. Government support for a search of the area has been slow to form and insufficient in general. We further find it deeply troubling that Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro, who has a track-record of making anti-press statements appeared to blame Phillips saying "he should not have been" in the remote region where he disappeared. We urge the Brazilian government to prioritize with significant resources and all speed the effort to find these men now. Further delay may be a matter of life and death."

Founded in 1908, The National Press Club is the world's leading professional organization for journalists. The Club has 3,000 members including representatives of nearly every major news organization and is a leading voice for press freedom in the U.S. and worldwide.

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 civic engagement.

Contact: Bill McCarren, 202-725-7787 for The National Press Club

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/national-press-club-statement-on-missing-journalist-dom-phillips-301566084.html

SOURCE National Press Club
(Tribune News Service)  Theater-goers seeing Top Gun: Maverick are being treated to a new Air Force recruiting commercial titled Own the Sky, complete with glimpses of F-35s, fifth-generation F-22s, an A-10 and even the rarely seen B-2 bomber.

The reason is simple. That kind of exposure actually works, said Air Force Maj. Gen. Ed Thomas, commander of the Air Force Recruiting Service.

Today, a lot of Americans, they dont personally know people in the military, Thomas said. So their exposure to the military often is going to be what they see in Hollywood or what they see on the television or in their communities.

So realistic films like Top Gun that portray the military in a positive light, are exceptionally helpful for us, Thomas added. These are the impressions that we want people to see.

He spoke of what he called the Captain Marvel effect.

After the release of the 2019 Marvel film  Captain Marvel, with its portrayal of Air Force pilot (and title character) Carol Danvers, the Air Force saw an almost immediate effect.

We had the highest percentage of female applicants to the Air Force Academy in five years following that movie, Thomas said. Does popular culture make a difference? Absolutely.

The Air Force and all military branches are using whatever recruiting tools they can. They find themselves competing with low unemployment, the after-effects of COVID and civilian employers who are increasingly willing to offer relatively higher pay and new benefits tailored to new employees.

The Air Force in April announced its own array of relatively hefty bonuses  some up to $50,000  for recruits in certain specialty occupations.

Thomas said the bonuses are starting to have an impact. The Air Force has used more than 100 of its $8,000 quick-ship bonuses, given to those ready to ship out to basic training by Sept. 30 this year. The service has also given a large number of $3,000 to $6,000 bonuses for harder-to-fill jobs, he said.

I just saw how the Marines carried themselves

Dayton-area Marine Corps recruiter Sgt. Taequan Callahan agreed that recruiting has its challenges today. But thats nothing new, in his view.

Recruiting will always have its challenges, Callahan said. Not everybody is qualified, unfortunately, to be a Marine.

When they say the few and the proud, its really that, he added, citing the Corps time-tested recruiting slogan.

Matthew Moon, a 2021 Northridge High School graduate, graduated from Corps recruit training at Parris Island, S.C. June 3. After further combat training, he will embark on training to serve a Marine military police officer.

Training was and is tough, PFC Moon acknowledged. Indeed it was very difficult and challenging. Youre going into an environment where you dont know anybody, people are screaming at you, he said.

But thats why he signed up.

The Marines attracted me because I just saw how the Marines carried themselves and I saw how much confidence they had in each other and in themselves, he said. The family aspect of it. Every Marine has each others back, no matter what. That was just kind of what I needed at the time.

Im going to be friends with these guys (his fellow recruits) for the rest of my career, he said.

Moon was meritoriously promoted in boot camp to the rank of E-2, leaving recruit training not as an E-1 private, but as a private first class.

An increasing disconnect

Zeroing in on a few key jobs, the Air Force added six skills to its fiscal year 2022 Initial Enlistment Bonus program in April for four or six-year contracts in certain hard-to-fill job specialties.

Air Force bonuses can range from $3,000 to $50,000, depending on the career field and other conditions.

Thomas made the same arguments that all military recruiters make across the services: The military offers 30 days of paid leave, medical care, education benefits, training that can lead to solid civilian careers and more.

But the longer term challenges affecting military recruiting are largely cultural, he believes. He sees an increasing disconnect with civil society tied to decreasing exposure to the American military today, with fewer veterans, fewer military bases across the country and generally less civilian access to those bases, especially after 9/11.

For him, the more familiar young people are with veterans and the military way of life, The more likely they are to join us, he said.

___

(c)2022 the Dayton Daily News (Dayton, Ohio)

Visit the Dayton Daily News at www.daytondailynews.com

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LOS ANGELES (Tribune News Service)  As Haiti grapples with an unprecedented wave of kidnappings and killings by armed gangs, a top State Department diplomat for Latin America and the Caribbean said Friday the U.S. is actively engaged in discussions about Haitis mounting security challenges and what the presence of a United Nations mission in the country should look like.

Were looking at what the structure of that mission would be going forward and making sure that it is properly equipped to deal with the security issues in Haiti, Assistant Secretary of State Brian A. Nichols told the Miami Herald in an exclusive interview on the sidelines of the Ninth Summit of the Americas.

Nichols comments are the first public acknowledgment that the United Nations Integrated Office in Haiti, known by its French acronym, BINUH, has not worked. The small mission was put in place in October 2019 after the closure of the United Nations Peacekeeping Operation after 15 years.

The closure came amid growing political and security challenges that have many observers believing that Haiti is far worse today than it was in 2004 when the international community agreed to send troops to stabilize the country after its then-president, Jean-Bertrand Aristide, fled into exile amid a bloody coup.

That reality has led some to agitate for a military presence to help the countrys beleaguered police force take on heavily armed gangs that now control large swaths of the capital and are helping fuel the largest exodus of Haitian boat refugees since 2004.

But the U.S., which has framed the countrys current security woes as a policing and not military matter, has resisted any request for outside military assistance for Haiti. U.S. sources at the National Security Council and the U.S. mission at the United Nations told the Herald that there are no active discussions over any plans to send a new peacekeeping force to Haiti.

That leaves the current U.N. political mission, which has struggled to help Haiti as it plunges deeper into political instability, human rights abuses and banditry.

In October, the U.N. Security Council agreed to extend the U.N. mission by nine months. The decision came after the U.S., which wanted a one-year extension, struck an eleventh-hour compromise with China. The Chinese, along with Russia, have been vocal critics of the international communitys presence in Haiti, and had sought to limit the extension to six months.

As part of the compromise, the Security Council agreed to an assessment of the U.N. mission. That assessment has been circulated among council members of U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, whose office on Friday also shared its latest report on the situation in Haiti ahead of its meeting in a few weeks to discuss the missions future.

Obviously, whatever we do in the international community, it has to support Haitian efforts to build security and to find a negotiated solution and a way forward to re-establish full democracy in Haiti, Nichols said.

Nichols insisted that the U.S. and other partners in the international partners are providing robust assistance to the Haiti National Police, particularly in the areas of training and equipping an anti-gang task force and special weapons and tactics units.

In meetings with interim Prime Minister Ariel Henry on the sidelines of the summit in Los Angeles, U.S. officials also committed to providing additional police support and to work toward relaxing weapons and arms requirements. Haiti is subjected to a U.S. arms embargo that has not prevented gangs from being heavily armed, but has prevented the police from being properly equipped to confront them.

So far, however, the United States offerings have yet to bear fruit, leaving the population to struggle under a wave of unabated kidnappings. U.N. agencies recently reported that in May alone there were at least 200 kidnappings and in recent days, a number of foreign citizens have been kidnapped, including three U.N. employees. One of the employees has been identified by several sources as driver for the head of the U.N. office, Helen La Lime.

Stephane Dujarric, the spokesperson for Guterres, told the Herald on Friday that the U.N. staffer who was taken hostage May 23 was released in good health Thursday.

The United Nations remains mobilized with the support of the national authorities for the resolution of two further cases, he said, without offering details.

Two Belgium citizens were also grabbed in front of a building in Petionville where foreign diplomats also live. All of this has created anxiety and helplessness among other foreign citizens and Haitian nationals, and fueled a sense of exasperation among an increasingly frustrated foreign diplomatic corps.

With no higher travel warning than No. 4, which is Do Not Travel, both the U.S. and France last year told their citizens living in Haiti to leave. France did so after the still unsolved assassination of the countrys president, Jovenel Moise, and the U.S. did so after gangs blocked the entrance to ports that hold fuel and brought the country to a halt.

We recognize that the situation for average Haitians, it is deeply worrisome with regard to security, and kidnapping and crime remains at alarming levels, Nichols said. And we in the international community have to do more and better to support the Haitian people.

On Thursday, Nichols met with interim Henry. On Friday, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken joined the foreign ministers of Canada and Mexico to discuss the situation in Haiti. There will also soon be another donors meeting  the fourth in less than a year  on Haiti, Nichols said.

Were not going to stop until we give the Haitian people the better future that they deserve, he said.

But how the U.S. should go about that has been a point of contention. Members of civil society in Haiti known as the Montana Group and their supporters in the U.S. Congress have been urging the Biden administration to end its support for Henry and allow a new group of mostly nonpolitical actors to take charge of the country.

Instead, the U.S. has asked both sides to reach an agreement to come up with a Haitian-led solution. With neither Henry nor the Montana Group, named after an accord it signed at the Montana Hotel, seemingly willing to share power, both sides have remained at loggerheads as the international community pushes for dialogue. The political paralysis, coupled with the social tensions and deepening sense of despair, have all led to large migration flows of Haitians throughout the hemisphere.

Nichols on Friday continued to insist on the need for a compromise, saying that the U.S. has encouraged Henry and civil society groups, particularly the Montana group, to come together and select counselors as a way to prepare for elections so that the international community can support with technical assistance, financial resources, and make sure that preparations can take place in a secure environment and candidates can compete without fear and that voters can go to the polls in a peaceful way.



McClatchy senior national security correspondent Michael Wilner contributed to this report.

2022 Miami Herald.

Visit at miamiherald.com.

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
Americas policy toward Taiwan remains unchanged, but Chinas relations toward that island have grown ever more aggressive and coercive, U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said Saturday in Singapore.

Americas One China policy regarding Taiwan remains unchanged and unwavering, Austin said during the opening speech at the Shangri-La Dialogue, a defense summit held each summer in the Asian city-state. But unfortunately, that doesnt seem to be true for [China], he said.

Under the One China policy, the U.S. acknowledges Beijings view that it has sovereignty over Taiwan, which split from the mainland in 1949, but considers Taiwans status as unsettled.

Weve witnessed a steady increase in provocative and destabilizing military activity near Taiwan, Austin said, referring to Chinas military, the Peoples Liberation Army. He said Chinese aircraft in recent months flew in record numbers near Taiwan, and nearly every day.

We remain focused on maintaining peace, stability and the status quo across the Taiwan Strait, he said.

China regards Taiwan, which lies just off its southeast coast, as a renegade province that, at some point, must be unified under Beijings control.

The United States formally switched diplomatic recognition from Taipei to Beijing in 1979. The U.S., however, has continued to supply arms to Taiwan under the provisions of the Taiwan Relations Act.

The U.S. has maintained strategic ambiguity about what military actions it would take in the event China moved to take the self-governing island by force.

President Joe Biden, in Tokyo on May 23 during his first presidential visit to Japan, signaled an apparent end to that policy by saying the U.S. would defend Taiwan against a Chinese invasion.

The U.S. One China policy acknowledges Beijings claim over Taiwan but doesnt give China the right to take Taiwan by force, Biden said.

We agree with the One China policy and all the attendant agreements we made, but the idea that it can be taken by force, just taken by force, would just not be appropriate, Biden said.

On Friday in Singapore, Austin met with Chinese Defense Minister Gen. Wei Fenghe for an hour, most of which they spent discussing Taiwan, the Pentagon said in a news release later that day.

Austin told his Singapore audience that Chinese aircraft and vessels have made an alarming increase in unsafe aerial intercepts and confrontations at sea.

In February, a PLA Navy ship directed a laser at an Australian P-8 maritime patrol aircraft, seriously endangering everyone on board, he said.

In recent weeks, Chinese fighters have dangerously intercepted allied aircraft operating lawfully in the East China and South China seas, Austin said.

This should worry us all, he said.

The stakes, Austin said, are especially high in the Taiwan Strait.

Maintaining stability across the Taiwan Strait isnt just a U.S. interest, he said. Its a matter of international concern.

So let me be clear: We do not seek confrontation or conflict, and we do not seek a new Cold War, an Asian NATO or a region split into hostile blocks, he said.

We will defend our interests without flinching, but well also work toward our vision for this region, one of expanding security, one of increased cooperation and not one of growing division, he said.
SINGAPORE -- Japan intends to drastically reinforce its defense capabilities, Defense Minister Nobuo Kishi said in a speech at the IISS Asia Security Summit in Singapore on Saturday.

There is a potential danger that something like Russias invasion of Ukraine could happen in the Indo-Pacific region, Kishi said at the annual security forum also called the Shangri-La Dialogue.

As the lesson of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, he stressed that the danger of countries possessing or developing nuclear weapons and ignoring the rules is a real one.

Noting the possible strengthening of relations between Moscow and Beijing, he stated that joint military activities by China and Russia -- both possessing powerful military forces -- are a growing concern for all countries.

The defense minister also expressed a strong sense of caution over China, saying, [China] is not abandoning the possibility of the use of force against Taiwan, and is also seen attempting to strengthen its military power extensively and rapidly, without transparency [in the military sector].

Kishi also condemned North Koreas nuclear and missile development as absolutely unacceptable.

He said that Japan is surrounded by entities that ignore the rules and is located on the front lines of defending the international order, and thus the country intends to revise its strategic documents, secure the necessary defense budget and strengthen the Japan-U.S. alliance.

These efforts to strengthen defense capabilities would shatter the will to disregard the rules, he said.
TOKYO - In an exclusive interview with The Yomiuri Shimbun on Friday, U.S. Ambassador to Japan Rahm Emanuel expressed his view that the partnership between Japan and the United States had entered a new stage of considering how to project the alliance into a larger domain that is helpful to the alliance and to other countries in the Indo-Pacific region. The ambassador also emphasized that the Japan-U.S. summit meeting between Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and U.S. President Joe Biden in May had fostered a relationship of trust between the leaders.

This is the second time Emanuel has given an interview to The Yomiuri Shimbun, following one prior to his arrival in Japan.

At a dinner after the summit meeting, the two leaders without affectation called each other by their first names, Joe and Fumio, Emanuel said. And he noted that the relationship of trust between the two will be an invaluable asset when resolving politically difficult issues.

He also revealed that Biden was so impressed with the matcha served by Kishidas wife Yuko before the dinner that he later sent a message to Kishida and his wife with a bouquet of flowers, expressing his gratitude for the gracious hospitality and the opportunity to experience the rich tradition of the tea ceremony.

Emanuel pointed out that Beijing took notice of the recent meeting of the Quad -- a framework for cooperation among the four countries of Japan, the United States, Australia and India -- and of the U.S.-led Indo-Pacific Economic Framework, which comprises 14 member nations, including Japan. Beijing hates the fact that theres alliances, friendships, because its isolated, he added.
SINGAPORE - At the Shangri-La Dialogue, a key Asian security meeting that opened in Singapore on Friday, Prime Minister Fumio Kishida made clear, with China in mind, Japans stance of not accepting any unilateral attempts to change the status quo by force.

In light of Russias aggression against Ukraine, he showed Japans determination to take the lead in contributing to maintaining the rules-based order in the Indo-Pacific region, calling for wide-ranging collaboration among countries, including those of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).

Will we return to a lawless world where rules are ignored and broken, where unilateral changes to the status quo by force are unchallenged and accepted, and where the strong coerce the weak militarily or economically?

Kishida posed the questions to national defense and security officials from Asia and Europe who gathered for the meeting at a Singapore hotel on Friday night.

While referring to the situations in the East and South China Seas, where China has been intensifying its maritime advances, and the nuclear and missile development programs conducted by North Korea, Kishida declared, I myself have a strong sense of urgency that Ukraine today may be East Asia tomorrow.

To maintain peace in the region, Kishida declared, We will elevate a free and open Indo-Pacific to the next stage.

The free and open Indo-Pacific is an initiative that former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe advocated in 2016. It promotes values such as the rule of law, peaceful settlement of disputes and freedom of navigation.

In his speech, Kishida explained: Sharing a common grand vision, like-minded partners are each taking action on their own initiative, not at the behest of others. This is the very concept of a free and open Indo-Pacific. In saying so, he stressed its difference from the approach taken by China, whose coercive tendency is conspicuous.

ASEAN, which plays a significant role in the region, has strong trade and economic ties with China. ASEAN members include countries such as Cambodia and Laos, which show an overt pro-China attitude. To broaden the circle of collaboration on the free and open Indo-Pacific, Japan attaches importance to enabling a broad range of countries to join in without testing them on their allegiance to China, as a senior Foreign Ministry official has put it.

In his address, Kishida promised, as part of the free and open Indo-Pacific initiative, that Japan will promote efforts to train at least 800 maritime security personnel to strengthen the maritime law enforcement capabilities of at least 20 countries over the next three years.

In the area of economic security, Kishida said Japan will support more than 100 supply chain resilience projects over the next five years.

The administration of U.S. President Joe Biden is also attempting to reinforce its ASEAN ties. On Saturday, U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin made a speech at the meeting and held talks with his counterparts from other countries. Following the meeting, he will also visit Thailand. A high-ranking official of the U.S. Department of Defense said that these efforts are aimed at displaying once again the U.S. position of promoting a free and open Indo-Pacific, together with its allies and others.

During a U.S.-ASEAN special summit in May, the Biden administration announced 150 million dollars worth of assistance measures to strengthen U.S.-ASEAN cooperation, including the dispatch of personnel and vessels from the U.S. Coast Guard. The administration also announced that an official had been nominated to serve as U.S. ambassador to ASEAN, a post that has been vacant since 2017.

Former U.S. President Donald Trump was repeatedly absent from ASEAN-related summits, which was seen by some as taking ASEAN lightly. Meanwhile, China was deepening its initiatives in the region, including the Belt and Road scheme for creating an economic zone. The Biden administration hopes to recover from this setback.

As for the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework (IPEF), a new economic initiative led by the United States, Japanese diplomacy has contributed greatly to seven ASEAN members deciding to join the framework, according to a diplomatic source in Washington. The United States counts highly on Japan to act as an intermediary between the United States and ASEAN.
SHENZHEN, China - Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin insisted that U.S. policy on Taiwan has not shifted, even as he invoked parallels between the East Asian security situation and Ukraine while speaking at a defense summit in Singapore.

I really want to highlight that our Taiwan policy has not changed, Austin said, in response to a question from German Marshall Fund Asia Program director Bonnie Glaser on Saturday morning at the Shangri-La Dialogue. He said any unilateral change to the status quo on Taiwan would be unwelcome and ill-advised.

Still, Austin invoked parallels between Russias invasion of Ukraine and Chinas growing territorial claims in the Indo-Pacific during a speech before a packed room. He positioned issues such as Taiwan as part of a broader struggle of worldviews and said Washington would continue to counter Beijings growing influence in the Indo-Pacific, which he called the priority theater of operations for the United States.

The Ukraine crisis poses some urgent questions for us all, he said. Do rules matter? Does sovereignty matter? . . . The rules-based international order matters just as much in the Indo-Pacific as it does in Europe.

Austin also accused China of taking a more coercive and aggressive approach in its regional territorial claims. He said Washington would back smaller countries against pressure from Beijing, but that they should not be forced to choose a side in the U.S.-China rivalry.

Nobody should force binary choices on the region, he said. Our fellow Indo-Pacific nations should be free to choose.

Many Southeast Asian countries - including summit host Singapore - have said they do not wish to pick between the United States, the regions traditional security guarantor, and China, their top trading partner.

Chinese Defense Minister Wei Fenghe is scheduled to make a rebuttal Sunday morning with a speech outlining Chinas vision of regional security. Beijing has long argued that China is trying to make a peaceful rise and says it is the United States that is the aggressor.

Russias invasion of Ukraine has fanned fears that China may make a similar move on Taiwan, the self-governing island which it claims as part of its territory. Such an invasion seems unlikely in the near term, security experts say, but it remains a closely watched potential flash point that could draw the United States into conflict with China.

President Joe Biden raised eyebrows last month by saying the United States would respond militarily to a Chinese invasion of Taiwan, in an apparent shift from Washingtons long-standing stance of strategic ambiguity. Biden has made similar remarks in the past only to have his staff walk them back, and Austin pointedly repeated the White Houses position on Saturday.

Austin said the United States was working to increase communication with China to strengthen the guard rails against conflict and decrease risk of miscalculation on either side.

Great powers should be models of transparency and communication, he said.
SLOVYANSK, Ukraine  The euphoria that accompanied Ukraines unforeseen early victories against bumbling Russian troops is fading as Moscow adapts its tactics, recovers its stride and asserts its overwhelming firepower against heavily outgunned Ukrainian forces.

Newly promised Western weapons systems are arriving, but too slowly and in insufficient quantities to prevent incremental but inexorable Russian gains in the eastern Donbas region of Ukraine, which is now the focus of the fight.

The Ukrainians are still fighting back, but they are running out of ammunition and suffering casualties at a far higher rate than in the initial stages of the war. Around 200 Ukrainian soldiers are now being killed every day, up from 100 late last month, an aide to President Volodymyr Zelensky told the BBC on Friday  meaning that as many as 1,000 Ukrainians are being taken out of the fight every day, including those who are injured.

The Russians are still making mistakes and are also losing men and equipment, albeit at a lesser rate than in the first months of the conflict. In one sign that they are suffering equipment shortages, they have been seen on videos posted on social media hauling hundreds of mothballed, Soviet-era T-62 tanks out of storage to be sent to Ukraine.

But the overall trajectory of the war has unmistakably shifted away from one of unexpectedly dismal Russian failures and tilted in favor of Russia as the demonstrably stronger force.

Ukrainian and U.S. hopes that the new supplies of Western weaponry would enable Ukraine to regain the initiative and eventually retake the estimated 20% of Ukrainian territory captured by Russia since its Feb. 24 invasion are starting to look premature, said Oleksandr Danylyuk, an adviser to the Ukrainian government on defense and intelligence issues.

The strategies and tactics of the Russians are completely different right now. They are being much more successful, he said. They have more resources than us and they are not in a rush.

Theres much less space for optimism right now, he added.

Ukrainian forces remain resolute. In a cafe in the front-line town of Slovyansk, two Ukrainian soldiers on a break from the trenches nearby recounted how they were forced to retreat from the town of Dovhenke, northwest of Slovyansk, under withering Russian artillery fire. Thirty-five of their 100-strong unit were killed in the assault, typical of the tactics Russia is using. They destroy everything and walk in, said one of the soldiers, Vitaliy Martsyv, 41.

There is nothing there, Andriy Tihonenko, 52, said of Dovhenke. Its all burned down.

As troop fatalities mounted, the surviving soldiers felt more motivated to hold our position, Tihonenko said. To retreat after their comrades were killed defending the town, he said, would have felt like treating their deaths as insignificant.

But eventually, the defensive line was no longer effective, the two men said. With more than one-third of their force killed, the remaining soldiers had no choice but to pull back.

Sometimes you feel down, Tihonenko said. But then you realize war is war  and you have to finish it.

But the odds against the Ukrainians are starting to look overwhelming, said Danylyuk, the government adviser.

The Russians are using long-range artillery against us, often without any response, because we dont have the means, he said. They can attack from dozens of kilometers away and we cant fire back. We know all the coordinates for all their important targets, but we dont have the means to attack.

Ukraine has now almost completely run out of ammunition for the Soviet-era weapons systems that were the mainstay of its arsenal, and the Eastern European countries that maintained the same systems have run out of surplus supplies to donate, Danylyuk said. Ukraine urgently needs to shift to longer-range and more sophisticated Western systems, but those have only recently been committed, and in insufficient quantities to match Russias immense firepower, he said.

Russia is firing as many as 50,000 artillery rounds a day into Ukrainian positions, and the Ukrainians can hit back with only around 5,000 to 6,000 rounds a day, he said. The United States has committed to deliver 220,000 rounds of ammunition  enough to match Russian firepower for around four days.

The majority of the American M777 howitzer artillery guns that U.S. officials said would enable Ukraine to match Russian firepower are now in use on the battlefield, according to the Pentagon. Yet the Russians continue to advance.

Four of the more sophisticated and longer-range HIMARS multiple-rocket launcher systems that the Ukrainians had long requested from the United States are on the way, along with three similar systems pledged by Britain. But the Ukrainians will first have to be trained how to use them, and they are still weeks away from reaching the battlefield, U.S. officials say. The Pentagon has hinted that more systems will be made available once the Ukrainians have demonstrated they can be used.

But the Russians started the war with about 900 of their own similar systems, and although the Ukrainians claim they have destroyed hundreds, the Russians still have hundreds left, Danylyuk said.

The Russians have meanwhile adapted their tactics in ways that have let them take full advantage of their firepower by remaining at a distance from Ukrainian positions, pounding them relentlessly, then taking territory once the Ukrainians have been forced to retreat.

The Russians are also doing a better job of combining their arms, using close air support and deploying dismounted infantry, said Rob Lee, a former U.S. Marine now with the Foreign Policy Research Institute.

Russian officials have claimed they are advancing more slowly than during the initial invasion to avoid civilian casualties. Instead, however, the tactic helps reduce Russian casualties while inflicting heavy losses on the civilians who live in the towns and villages being targeted, analysts say.

Im afraid of every single boom or sound, Irina Makagon said as she sat in her kitchen in Kostiantynivka, a town near the front line that has suffered intense bombardments. She was sitting in her kitchen earlier this week when a boom and a whistle heralded an incoming shell that crashed into the house next door, killing a young man.

The Ukrainians are still fighting well and can inflict tactical pain on the Russians when the opportunity presents itself, said Dmitri Alperovitch of the Silverado Consultancy, citing Russias disastrous attempt late last month to cross the Siverskiy Donets river  hundreds of Russians were killed and scores of military vehicles were destroyed. The Ukrainians are also conducting successful drone strikes against Russian positions and supply columns, he said.

Russia has not released casualty figures since March. But when you look at whats happening, Id be shocked if the Russians are sustaining casualties anywhere close to what the Ukrainians are right now, Alperovitch said.

Manpower is less of a problem for the Ukrainians than the shortages of ammunition and equipment, said Danylyuk, who put the number of men who have signed up to potentially fight at 6 million. But Ukraine doesnt have the equipment, including protective gear and guns as well as artillery systems, to field all those willing to volunteer. We would be sending them to their deaths without equipment, he said.

The Russians face manpower shortages, too, after the heavy losses they suffered in the earliest days of the war. Western officials put the number of Russian deaths at 15,000 to 20,000 so far, with as many as a third of the original invasion force rendered unfit for combat because of injuries, capture and equipment losses after the first two months.

But Russia has regenerated its forces to a greater extent than anticipated by many military analysts, bolstering its depleted army by as many as 40,000 to 50,000 men over the past two months, by increasing the age of the reserve force, deploying new forces and refurbishing units that had been decimated, Danylyuk said.

For now, the Donetsk River stands in the way of significant new Russian advances. Western officials say they expect that Russian troops will soon secure full control of the town of Severedonetsk and then are likely to turn their attention to the town of Lysyshansk, on the opposite bank of the river, which would put them in full control of the region of Luhansk. After that, they can be expected to target the larger region of Donetsk that Russia has partially controlled since 2014.

Lysyshansk will be a tougher challenge because the Ukrainians control the high ground and the Russians artillery strength is less of an advantage in close urban combat, said Konrad Muzyka, director of the Warsaw-based Rochan Consulting defense consultancy. Russia may find it difficult to sustain its recent gains for much beyond that, given the losses it has suffered so far, he said.

But if the Russians manage to breach the river, they could start to make rapid advances, he said.

The Ukrainians are resting their defense on the Donetsk river, Muzyka said. If Russia successfully crosses the river, my concern is that the Russians will enter Donetsk with their full might, and then the Ukrainians might be overwhelmed.

---

Sly reported from London. Heidi Levine in Slovyansk contributed to this report.
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WASHINGTON Tribune News Service)  There does not appear to be ample Republican support to amend laws that tightly prohibit U.S. support to the International Criminal Court as lawmakers search for ways Washington can assist Ukrainian officials with war crimes investigations of Russians.

Evidence of atrocities committed by Russian forces against Ukrainians, which grows by the day, has outraged lawmakers on Capitol Hill and spurred legislative proposals for providing U.S. assistance for war crimes investigations and prosecuting the perpetrators.

The overall Republican antipathy toward U.S. involvement with the Hague-based U.N. court for prosecuting the worlds most serious crimes, such as genocide and crimes against humanity, comes as a handful of GOP lawmakers have more recently made the case that it is in U.S. national security interests to use war crimes charges and other accountability measures like individual sanctions and travel bans to ensure accused perpetrators remain international pariahs.

Republicans and Democrats alike want to send a deterrent signal to current and future authoritarian rulers. The worry is some would-be military aggressors may conclude that, based on the recent experiences of Syrias Bashar Assad and Russias Vladimir Putin, brutality against civilians will be grudgingly tolerated by the international community if the costs of removing them from power are deemed too steep.

It is vitally important that the United States hold the line against rehabilitating the [Assad] regime, said Senate Foreign Relations ranking member Jim Risch, R-Idaho., at a Wednesday committee hearing that examined recent moves by some Arab governments to increase their engagement with Assad after more than a decade of civil war and international ostracization failed to oust him.

Current and future autocrats are watching our actions. We cannot send the message that we will forget these atrocities over time and welcome Assad back to the international community.

To that end, the Foreign Relations Committee advanced to the floor on Thursday a House-passed bill that would direct the Biden administration to report on efforts to collect, analyze and preserve evidence of war crimes and other atrocities that occurred as a result of Russias invasion of Ukraine.

The bill, from House Foreign Affairs ranking member Michael McCaul, R-Texas, also would require reporting on what processes the administration has established to share evidence of Ukraine war crimes with domestic, foreign or international courts and tribunals.

Though the McCaul bill mentions domestic courts as a possible setting for trials of Russian individuals, no U.S. law authorizes the domestic prosecution of foreigners accused of committing war crimes abroad against non-U.S. citizens. Recently introduced legislation from the Republican and Democratic leaders of the Senate Judiciary Committee seeks to close that loophole  if such a suspected war criminal is found in the United States.

The gap in U.S. war crimes law has long been a glaring one, said Laura Dickinson, a George Washington University Law School professor who specializes in human rights and the law of armed conflict.

Think about it, we can prosecute our own troops for war crimes but not other perpetrators if the victims are not American, Dickinson said. Other countries, such as Germany, have expansive jurisdiction for war crimes prosecutions, often referred to as universal jurisdiction, but the U.S. doesnt. Closing this loophole is very important and has little downside.

Sens. Charles E Grassley, R-Iowa, and Richard J. Durbin, D-Ill., feel so strongly about what they believe is their common-sense legislation that they are trying to get it passed by unanimous consent in the Senate without having a committee markup.

It ought to be one of these things that are kind of non-controversial, Grassley said this week. I know that its something thats a big hole in our existing criminal law and we ought to be getting it passed really easily but I dont have any calendar for when that could happen.

Added Durbin: Were working on that. I dont know if itll be a markup. I hope we can do it without one.

But the No. 2 Senate Democrat said he sees little Republican appetite to revisit the 1999 and 2002 laws that respectively prohibit American taxpayer financial support and general technical assistance to the ICC in order to create an explicit carve out that would permit U.S. assistance for Ukraine war crimes-related cases.

Rep. Sara Jacobs, D-Calif., has introduced a bill that would repeal the 1999 prohibition against U.S. funding of the ICC, but it has not attracted any Republican co-sponsors.

Jacobs, a former State Department and United Nations staffer, also has a second bill with one Republican co-sponsor, Rep. Victoria Spartz, R-Ind., who immigrated from Ukraine, that would create an exception to the funding ban to allow for U.S. financial support of ICC investigations into Ukraine war crimes.

And Rep. Jason Crow, D-Colo., is also working on a Ukraine war crimes prosecution bill. His office said that when it is introduced, there is a strong likelihood of GOP co-sponsorship.

One reason there has not been greater bipartisan clamor for amending the legal prohibitions on U.S. support of the ICC is reporting from The New York Times that the Justice Departments Office of Legal Counsel has determined the 2002 statute against providing non-financial assistance to the ICC does allow other forms of support for the court such as intelligence sharing in specific cases.

Established in 2002, the ICC has not achieved the universal support and legitimacy its backers initially envisioned after major powers like the United States, China, Russia, and India refused to join the tribunal.

I think it is high time for Congress to loosen the straight jacket that it has placed on the U.S. in cooperating with the ICC, Dickinson said. Accountability for war crimes is in U.S. interests.

Tentative steps toward cooperation

Recently, U.S. Ambassador for Global Justice Beth Van Schaack traveled to The Hague for meetings with ICC Prosecutor Karim Kahn. A State Department statement said the late-May meetings included reviewing support for accountability measures and mechanisms to bring the perpetrators of atrocities to justice, including those committed in the context of Russias aggression against Ukraine.

Also in May, the department announced the launch of a conflict observatory to improve the sharing and analysis via an online platform of evidence of Russian atrocities in Ukraine, including satellite imagery and information shared over social media.

The program encompasses the documentation, verification, and dissemination of open-source evidence regarding the actions of Russias forces during President Putins brutal war of choice, states the department press release. The Conflict Observatory will analyze and preserve publicly and commercially available information  consistent with international legal standards, for use in ongoing and future accountability mechanisms. This includes maintaining rigorous chain-of-custody procedures for future civil and criminal legal processes under appropriate jurisdictions.

The UN special rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions, Morris Tidball-Binz, recently warned there were too many overlapping national efforts to investigate and prosecute Russian war crimes and he pleaded for better multinational coordination, as well as respect and support for the efforts of Ukraines own prosecutor general.

Without coordination of responsibilities and of efforts between various bodies, there is a considerable risk of overlap and duplication to the detriment of the effectiveness and efficiency of investigations, Tidball-Binz said in a statement last month. Proper coordination can also prevent the re-traumatization of victims and witnesses arising from being interviewed multiple times by different investigators and ensure that interviews fit into the overall investigative strategy.

____

Sean Michael Newhouse contributed to this report

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The Marine Corps on Friday identified the five air crewmen who perished Wednesday when their MV-22B Osprey tiltrotor aircraft fell into the Southern California desert east of El Centro.

They were men from Illinois, New Hampshire, New Mexico, Wyoming and California and ranged in rank from lance corporal to captain, according to a news release from Maj. Mason Englehart, spokesman for the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, Calif. They belonged to Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 364 at Marine Corps Air Station Camp Pendleton, Calif.

Englehart identified the Marines as pilots Capt. Nicholas P. Losapio, 31, of Rockingham, N.H, and Capt. John J. Sax, 33, of Placer, Calif.; crew chiefs Cpl. Nathan E. Carlson, 21, of Winnebago, Ill.; Cpl. Seth D. Rasmuson, 21, of Johnson, Wyo.; and Lance Cpl. Evan A. Strickland, 19, of Valencia, N.M.

It is with heavy hearts that we mourn the loss of five Marines from the Purple Fox family, said Lt. Col. John C. Miller, the squadron commander, in the news release. This is an extremely difficult time for VMM-364 and it is hard to express the impact that this loss has had on our squadron and its families.

Sax spent five years and eight months in the Corps. His personal awards include the National Defense Service Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal and a Letter of Appreciation.

Losapio served eight years and nine months. His personal awards include the Air Medal with Strike/Flight numeral 2, Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal, Navy Unit Commendation, National Defense Service Medal, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Inherent Resolve Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal and Sea Service Deployment Ribbon, according to the Marines.

Carlson was a Marine three years. His personal awards include the National Defense Service Medal, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal and the Sea Service Deployment Ribbon.

Rasmuson served three years and two months. His personal awards include the Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal and Sea Service Deployment Ribbon.

Strickland was a Marine for one year and seven months. His personal awards include the National Defense Service Medal and Global War on Terrorism Service Medal.

Our primary mission now is taking care of the family members of our fallen Marines and we respectfully request privacy for their families as they navigate this difficult time, Miller said. We appreciate all the prayers and support from the strong extended Purple Fox family and want them to know that more information will be forthcoming on how to help.

The Osprey and its crew were on a routine training flight when it crashed at about 12:25 p.m. near Glamis, Calif., a remote desert area in Imperial County about 35 miles north of the border with Mexico and 50 miles west of Yuma, Ariz., according to the Marines. The crash is under investigation.

Thursday evening, a Navy helicopter crashed in Imperial County, less than 48 hours after the Osprey crash, The Associated Press reported. All four Navy crew members aboard the MH-60S Seahawk survived the crash near El Centro, according to authorities.

On March 18, four Marines were killed when an Osprey crashed in Norway while participating in a NATO exercise. In 2017, three Marines died when their Osprey crashed off Queensland, Australia. In 2015, one Marine was killed and 21 were injured when their MV-22 Osprey caught fire during a "hard landing" in Hawaii, according to The Associated Press.

A Navy pilot was killed June 3 when his F/A-18 Super Hornet came down near Trona, Calif., about 300 miles northwest of Glamis. Lt. Richard Bullock was on a routine training mission when his Super Hornet crashed around 2:30 p.m. in a remote section of the Mojave Desert, according to the Navy.

Bullock was assigned to Strike Fighter Squadron 113 at Naval Air Station Lemoore, about 40 miles southwest of Fresno, Calif
(Tribune News Service)  The family of Air Force veteran Ashli Babbitt  the woman shot dead while storming the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021  still hasnt filed the wrongful-death suit for which their legal team raised $460,000, a news outlet in her former hometown reports.

Babbitt was felled by a single shot fired by a Capitol Police officer defending members of Congress as rioters attempted to stop the certification of President Joe Bidens 2020 electoral win. Lt. Michael Byrd, who was cleared of any wrongdoing, fired at Babbitt as she stormed through a door leading into the House of Representatives chamber.

According to the CBS 8, an attorney for Babbitts family has made repeated claims he would file a $10 million wrongful-death suit on their behalf, but that has not happened. That attorney reportedly said last year the suit would be coming soon.

Neither Babbitts widow or the family lawyer responded to the San Diego news stations requests for information. The online fundraiser page says it is currently disabled and can not receive new donations.

CBS said that Thursdays opening arguments from the congressional committee investigating the Jan. 6 riot at the U.S. Capitol hit close to home for San Diegans, in light of Babbitts death. The 35-year-old Air Force veteran had reportedly become an adamant Trump loyalist who appeared to have bought into his lies about the election being stolen. Babbitt drove cross country to attend the Stop the Steal event where she found herself mortally wounded on the Capitol floor, wrapped in a Trump flag she was wearing as a cape.

Some right-wingers have come to see Babbitt as a martyr. Others view Byrd and the police officers who fought off the attack as the heroes of Jan. 6. Trump said Babbitt was murdered and spread conspiracy theories about her killing.

Terry Roberts, who represents Babbitts family, conceded in April 2021 that what Babbitt did may have been illegal, but claimed there was no need to shoot her.

There was just no legal justification to take her life, he told WUSA. We dont shoot protesters in this country unless theyre an immediate threat to somebody.

Byrd told NBC News in August that had Babbitt and her cohorts succeeded in entering the chamber, those inside would have no escape.

If they get through that door, theyre into the House chamber and upon the members of Congress, the officer said.

The Department of Justice announced in April 2021 that an investigation into the incident revealed Byrd did not act improperly.

In September, Babbitts brother Roger Stefan Witthoeft was charged with a hate crime resulting from an altercation with a San Diego utility worker. According to The San Diego Union-Tribune, he unsuccessfully requested last month that a judge divert prosecution in that case on account of the extreme stress and trauma caused by his sisters death. Witthoeft was also reportedly charged with battering a man he felt was slow in helping a disabled person get out of their car in January. He pleaded not guilty in both cases.

New footage revealed by the Jan. 6 Committee on mainstream news networks Thursday offered further insight into the violence of that occurred after Trump told followers once more that day the election had been stolen from him. Testimony leading up to the hearings seems to indicate people in the former presidents inner-circle, including his daughter Ivanka, did not believe the lie being pushed by the 45th president.

2022 New York Daily News.

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WASHINGTON  As a candidate for president, Joe Biden was not shy about calling out dictators and authoritarian leaders as he anchored his foreign policy in the idea that the world is in a battle between democracy and autocracy.

But Bidens governing approach as president has been far less black and white as he tries to balance such high-minded principles with the tug toward pragmatism in a world scrambled by the economic fallout from Russias invasion of Ukraine, concerns about Chinas global ambitions, heightened tensions about Irans advancing nuclear program and more.

Those crosscurrents were evident this past week when Biden played host at the Summit of the Americas in Los Angeles, where his decision to exclude leaders he considers dictators generated considerable drama and prompted a number of other world leaders to boycott the event.

We dont always agree on everything, but because were democracies, we work through our disagreements with mutual respect and dialogue, Biden told summit participants as he tried to smooth over the disputes.

Even as Biden was excluding a trio of leaders from the gathering, his national security team was making preparations for a possible visit to Saudi Arabia, an oil-rich kingdom that the president labeled a pariah state in the early days of his successful White House run.

After Biden took office, his administration made clear the president would avoid direct engagement with the countrys de facto leader, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, after U.S. intelligence officials concluded that he likely approved the 2018 killing and dismemberment of U.S.-based journalist Jamal Khashoggi. If the visit to Saudi Arabia goes forward as anticipated, Biden is expected to meet with Mohammed.

The tough talk by Biden during the campaign  and earlier in his presidency  toward the Saudis was part of a broader message he pitched to Americans: The days of blank checks for dictators and strongmen must end if the United States is to have credibility on the world stage.

Of late, though, such sharply principled rhetoric has given way to a greater nod to realpolitik.

At a time of skyrocketing prices at the gas pump, an increasingly fragile situation in the Middle East and perpetual concern that China is expanding its global footprint, Biden and his national security team have determined that freezing out the Saudis is simply not tenable, according to a person familiar with White House thinking on the yet-to-be-finalized Saudi visit who spoke only on condition of anonymity.

The blurred lines over with whom the U.S. will and will not engage have left the White House facing a difficult question: How can the president cite principle for spurning engagement with dictators in his own backyard even as he considers paying a call on Saudi officials who have used mass arrests and macabre violence to squelch dissent?

President Biden committed to putting human rights and democracy at the heart of our foreign policy. It is, Secretary of State Antony Blinken told reporters at a summit closing news conference Friday. That doesnt mean that its the totality.

But Edward Frantz, a presidential historian at the University of Indianapolis, sees signs that Biden has fallen into the same trap as his predecessors when it comes to the Middle East.

President Jimmy Carter, who said human rights were central to his foreign policy, looked past the blood-thirsty reputation of the shah of Iran, Mohammed Reza Pahlavi. President George H.W. Bush held off supporting an uprising against Saddam Hussein as his advisers warned Iraq would plunge into civil war without the strongman. U.S. administrations from Presidents Ronald Reagan to Barack Obama overlooked the Hosni Mubarak governments torture and arbitrary detention in Egypt for the sake of a reliable strategic partner in a difficult corner of the world.

Its notable that Biden is being forced from his position on the Saudis in large part because he held a principled stance on Ukraine, Frantz said. But its hard not to see the same patterns here as have been established over the last 80 years.

Human rights advocacy groups and even some of the presidents Democratic allies are warning Biden that a Saudi visit could be perilous.

Six House Democrats, including the chairman of the House Intelligence Committee, Rep. Adam Schiff of California, wrote to Biden this past week that if he decides to move forward with the visit, he must follow through on a pledge of recalibrating that relationship to serve Americas national interests and press Saudi officials on oil production, human rights and reported ballistic missile sales by China to the kingdom.

President Biden should recognize that any meeting with a foreign official provides them instant credibility on a global stage, whether intended or not, said Lama Fakih, Middle East director at Human Rights Watch. Meeting Mohammed bin Salman without human rights commitments would vindicate Saudi leaders who believe there are no consequences for egregious rights violations.

Even as Biden was warming to the Saudis, he was committing to keeping the Western Hemispheres dictators out of the summit in his own backyard.

The decision was seen as heavy-handed by some allies. Mexicos president, Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, and leaders of Honduras, El Salvador, Guatemala, and Bolivia all opted to skip the summit over Bidens decision to exclude the leaders of Cuba, Venezuela and Nicaragua.

Argentinas president, Alberto Fernandez, and Belizes prime minister, John Briceno, were among those to show up but publicly criticize Bidens move.

Geography, not politics, defines the Americas, Briceno said.

Before taking office, Biden did not hold back about what he saw as some of his fellow leaders shortcomings, particularly those who had less than stellar records as champions of democracy but were in the good graces of President Donald Trump.

During the 2020 campaign, Biden argued that Brazil should face significant economic consequences if President Jair Bolsonaro continued deforesting the Amazon. Biden labeled Turkeys president, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, an autocrat and waited more than three months into his presidency to speak with the fellow NATO leader. Most notably, Biden said Saudi Arabia was a pariah that would pay a price for its human rights abuses, including the brutal killing of Khashoggi.

When Biden met with Bolsonaro o n the sidelines of the Americas summit on Thursday, the engagement was decidedly civil. Biden made no mention of the Brazilian leaders baseless claims about his own countrys voting systems and about unsupported claims of widespread fraud in the 2020 U.S. election.

During the two leaders appearance before reporters, Biden even commended Brazil for making real sacrifices in protecting the Amazon. The White House said that in their private talks, they discussed working together on sustainable development to reduce deforestation.

Bolsonaro, the most prominent Latin American leader to attend the summit, had agreed to take part on the condition that Biden grant him a private meeting and refrain from confronting him over some of the most contentious issues between the two men, according to three of the Brazilian leaders Cabinet ministers who requested anonymity to discuss the issue. White House officials said no preconditions were set for the talks.

In recent weeks, top Biden advisers and NATO officials have been working to persuade Erdogan to back down from his threats to block historically neutral Sweden and Finland from joining NATO.

Last week, Biden and his administration were effusive as they praised Saudi Arabia for its role in nudging OPEC+ to increase oil production for July and August. Biden even called the kingdom courageous for agreeing to extend a cease fire in its seven-year war with Yemen.

Douglas London, a former CIA officer who spent 34 years in the Middle East, South and Central Asia and is a scholar at the Middle East Institute, said Bidens tone shift represents an uncomfortable reality: Prince Mohammed, widely known as MBS, is someone the U.S. will likely have to deal with for years to come.

Yes, were reminded how the president referred to MBS as the dictator of a pariah state who the U.S. was going to teach a lesson, London wrote in an analysis. Timing in politics and foreign policy, as in life, has great bearing, and its important to recall that the average price of oil when then candidate Biden said that was $41 per barrel.

Now, its hovering around $120 per barrel.

___

Associated Press writers Elliot Spagat in Los Angeles and Mauricio Savares in Sao Paolo, Brazil, contributed to this report.
(Tribune News Service)  The city of Kent, Wash., will pay more than $1.5 million to purchase the resignation of a former assistant police chief who was disciplined for posting a Nazi rank insignia on his office door and joking about the Holocaust.

Former Assistant Chief Derek Kammerzell had initially been given two weeks off without pay for his actions, but an outraged response by Kent citizens and members of the Jewish community resulted in Mayor Dana Ralph demanding Kammerzells resignation.

The citys attempt to essentially discipline Kammerzell a second time led to a bitter dispute and standoff between his attorneys and the city that appeared headed for litigation. However, interim city Chief Administrative Officer Arthur Pat Fiztpatrick, who is also the city attorney, said Friday the city has resolved the matter through negotiation.

Ralph, in calling for Kammerzells resignation last January, acknowledged that the decision to revisit the discipline issue would likely come at a high cost. In a release Friday announcing the resolution, the city said it would pay him $1,520,000 to resign.

Fitzpatrick said in a release that officials strongly believe that settling this matter will be a substantial step toward meeting our commitment to the community and continuing with the excellent work the Police Department is doing.

Kammerzell has been on paid leave since January while the city and his attorneys tried to reach an agreement that would result in his departure and that would not put the city in the position of having to rehire him over the double jeopardy and due process issues a termination would have raised.

Had the city simply fired Kammerzell, officials said, he likely would have won his job back  with back pay  through arbitration under federal and state labor laws.

Had the city terminated the assistant chief, it is confident it would have been in no better position than it is now, Fitzpatrick wrote.

Fitzpatrick noted that Kammerzell initially had demanded $3.1 million for his resignation. The final amount was the result of months of difficult negotiations, Fitzpatrick said.

It was clear the assistant chief would have significant difficulty being an effective leader in the Department and in the community, and that his presence would have distracted from the mission of the Department, Fitzpatrick said.

Kammerzell, a 27-year department veteran, first was disciplined in July 2021 after a detective complained that an insignia used by high-ranking generals in Adolf Hitlers Third Reich appeared on Kammerzells office door above his nameplate in September 2020.

An internal investigation concluded that Kammerzell knew full well the meaning of the insignia, which belonged to an Obergruppenfuhrer  a high official in Hitlers dreaded paramilitary Schutzstaffel or SS, which was responsible for the systematic murders of millions of Jews and others in Europe during World War II.

Kammerzell also had been overheard joking about the Holocaust, according to the internal investigation, saying that his grandfather had died in the Holocaust  when he got drunk and fell out of a Nazi guard tower.

The investigation, conducted by an attorney at the Seattle firm of Stokes Lawrence, concluded that Kammerzells claim that he didnt know the significance of the insignia and had only learned about it in the television series The Man in the High Castle  where one of the main characters holds that rank  was not believable.

The series is an adaptation of Philip K. Dicks 1962 novel, which presents a dystopian alternate future in which Germany wins World War II and occupies America, where the Nazis continue their efforts to round up and exterminate Jews.

One of the key antagonists in the series, an American Nazi named John Smith, holds that rank, which is identifiable by a collar emblem of an oak leaf and two diamonds  the insignia Kammerzell posted on his door.

Moreover, Kammerzell acknowledged during the investigation that he once shaved his facial hair into a Hitler mustache, and investigators looked into allegations that a photograph taken of Kammerzell, dressed in Lederhosen and standing behind Ralph at a city Octoberfest celebration in 2019, appeared to show him giving the stiff-armed Heil Hitler salute. Kammerzell suggested the photo caught him in the middle of waving.

Publicity about the citys initial two-week suspension sparked outrage among Kent residents and drew blistering condemnation from the Jewish Federation of Greater Seattle, whose community relations council said it was horrified by the assistant chiefs actions.

Messages left with Kammerzells attorney with the Kent Police Officers Association were not immediately returned Friday.

However, in a 65-page letter written in July 2021, just before the city decided to suspend him, Kammerzells union attorney, Dave Luxenberg, called the assistant chief a sacrificial lamb to city politics after a citizens group called No Secret Police provided members of the City Council with information about the internal affairs investigation. Some council members were calling for his dismissal, but Kent Police Chief Rafael Padilla  in consultation with the mayor and outside attorneys  determined a suspension was the most serious discipline the department could impose without risking reinstatement by an arbitrator.

Both Padilla and Ralph later acknowledged that decision was a bad one.

The release Friday states that the city has had a number of conversations with representatives of the regions Jewish community which had sharply criticized the citys failure to recognize the outrage posed by Kammerzells actions and fire him at the outset.

They have been very supportive of the citys desire to learn and grow from this experience and have offered assistance in this regard, the city statement said. The City has been attentive to its responsibility with regards to the BIPOC community, and this incident exposed a need for growth in other areas, according to the statement, using the term for Black, Indigenous and people of color.

Hitlers Third Reich not only targeted Jews, but also murdered hundreds of thousands of gay and disabled people, among others the Nazis considered inferior.

(c)2022 The Seattle Times

Visit The Seattle Times at www.seattletimes.com
Colorado Republican Ron Hanks, a candidate in the state's 2022 U.S. Senate primary, is pictured in a June 2022 TV ad paid for by a super PAC called Democratic Colorado that describes the state lawmaker as "too conservative." Republicans call the ad an attempt by Democrats to "meddle" in the GOP primary.
A social housing developer has fired Fletcher Building as its supplier of GIB plasterboard due to lengthy product delays.

Simplicity Living, which is owned by the not-for-profit KiwiSaver provider Simplicity, says the ongoing issue has forced it to resort to importing an alternative product from Thailand to complete its build-to-rent developments.

Fletcher Building has a near monopoly on the plasterboard market and the chronic shortages, which have been blamed on unprecedented demand, have been well-publicised.

Some in the building sector have warned that the ongoing shortages could result in builders going broke because they could not finish residential projects.

Simplicity chief executive Sam Stubbs told RNZ there was a cost of building crisis in New Zealand, but Fletcher Building's hubris has made the situation worse.

He says Fletchers has known for at least 12 to 18 months that there was going to be a supply squeeze, based on residential building consents.

"They've really done very little to actually manage what was clearly going to be a slow train-wreck.

"They had the ability, we think, to actually either make more product or bring in more product to satisfy demand.

"Instead, what they have done, is they have actually left a whole lot of smaller developers and builders hanging out to dry with total uncertainty about delivery times."

"In other countries the size of New Zealand you have three or four very large plasterboard suppliers and they openly compete in the market.

"Plasterboard is not in short supply anywhere else in the world that we can see, why is it in short supply here?"

Fletcher Building's chief executive of its products division, Hamish McBeath, says it is a free market.

"We ... fully support any initiatives undertaken by other businesses to supply plasterboard to the industry to assist in meeting the high levels of demand New Zealand is currently experiencing."

He says since other competitors have left the market, it has been left to pick up the shortfall at a time of high demand.

McBeath says its manufacturing plants are running around the clock, despatching enough plasterboard to supply 1000 new, average sized homes a week and it was also working Australian supplier to supplement demand.

The company is also planning to open a new factory near Tauranga in June 2023.

New products expected to be cheaper, quicker to arrive

Sam Stubbs says Simplicity Living is responding to the crisis by importing an alternative to GIB's plasterboard and aqualine products that are 20 per cent and 40 per cent cheaper.

The alternative product would comply with New Zealand's building code and was already used in the United States and the Pacific, he says.

"We get GIB equivalent product in New Zealand in eight weeks from South Asia, but it takes 8 months from South Auckland.

"In an ideal world we would buy 100 percent sourced New Zealand product."

The first container has just landed from Thailand and the company has made forward orders for four containers a month for the next three years.

Simplicity Living intends to make its contacts available to anyone who wants to import the plasterboard directly.

The Commerce Commission is currently investigating the building supplies industry.

-RNZ.
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Generally if your Fuel pump fails, you are going to get hit with a HUGE estimate. Do not worry, Find out who the OEM is for your pump, check their website/google and find out their nearest authorized service center.

You will also need to go here if your injectors need repairs, or if you get a check engine light which points to your fuel system. There are a whole bunch of OEM's - Bosch, Delphi, Siemens are the more popular ones. It's not just your injectors or pump, your entire fuel subsystem needs to be calibrated correctly to get it running right, and these guys will usually have the right equipment to do it.





if you are looking for a Lucas TVS service center,



7.TurboCharger Service centers



If you are especially unlucky, you may need to visit one of these places. the small glimmer of hope is if you use a locally manufactured turbocharger.

(Check this pdf for TEL manufactured turbos) . Please note that this is not an exhaustive list - There are plenty of other companies that Make Turbos in India - just that this was the only OEM with a public catalog I was able to access.

Application Catalogue



If yes, you are very lucky. You can get it rebuilt locally. find their nearest service center.

You can find them in the "ASC" section







8.Car Upholstery shops



You might be thinking - these are the guys who do seat covers, why go there for repairs?

As your car gets older, different bits of fabric start coming out - Door Pad inserts, Roof Liners, Leather bits such as gear bellows etc.

These guys (and not all of them) can fix these things. Some Things you need to consider are - A lot of places which say "auto upholstery" on google search tend to be bike seat specialists. Even the ones that deal with car upholstery are sometimes lazy/not so skilled and will not work on these minor repairs. Calling around often is easier than actually visiting random shops. Sometimes you might even get a reference to the captive upholstery workshop of some car accessories shop. Make sure that you are very clear with the upholstery guy on what fabric he is going to use on your car - I have been burned at least once where the guy decided to do a last minute bait and switch. Also have expectations low. These repairs tend to last 3-4 years depending on your usage. Given the costs, I think that's fair, and your car gets a new set of interiors.



9.ECU Techs

You'll need one of these if you have a check engine light. Usually there is no "there" - The exception is VAG cars where (to me as an outsider) you need to get the software involved even if you need to change a bulb, and their dashboards tend to light up frequently, so Scanning for German cars is a Profitable Niche where some amount of cross functional skills are required to fix issues, so they tend to set up their own facilities. For my Indica, My Workshop has a guy on call who comes, runs his scans, and then provides diagnosis and next steps to my regular workshop (or sometimes they just rent his tools depending on if the senior mechanics are there)





Every car needs its own set of reading tools etc - and these guys have it all. It's better to go to them via your existing workshop, because they deal in just testing/diagnosis/consultation. The actual work will need to be done by the workshop. If you have a german car, their specialists are easy to find because of the nature of their Target demographic. They'll be active on social media, have a website and plenty of fancy signage. They will sometimes provide Softmodding and Tuning services as well.

10.Engine Rebuiders





I have not had to go to one of these places yet, and generally this is something that can be done by a local workshop, but if you want prefer getting it done at a professional place, then these are good options. They generally cater to the commercial market and may not be interested in doing smaller engines - I will let those of you with experience share their thoughts on these places





Now a couple of places I WISH we had



A. Automatic Transmission Rebuilders.

In the US, these are everywhere, and getting a transmission rebuilt is a fairly straightforward process. In India however, getting an AT rebuilt is a mess. Heck, getting regular service is complicated. Most bhpians complain about the wrong class of ATF being used etc. There are some dedicated AT Rebuilders in india, but their feedback has been bad, so I will wait for a decent place. Hopefully as AT cars gain marketshare in india, demand for these will go up, and more will open, with some of them being actually competent.



B.Battery Overhaulers -

Again Proper Hybrid adoption in India has been low, (Maruti's "Smart" hybrids are not even close). In the US, outfits have sprung up that overhaul old prius and leaf batteries. Hopefully in another 10 years we will have more of them, so that EV owners of today dont end up with $$$ Battery Replacements



And now a note on a couple of things you *SHOULDNT* overhaul/Reuse Suspension - You may get rebuilt Suspensions at your local scrap place - I wouldnt touch them. You are just asking for trouble

Tyres - Buses may Retread their tires, but Passenger car radials - don't even think about it. I don't think the safety tradeoff is worth it

Engine oil - Filtering scrap engine oil is now a blooming business. Registered engine oil may look clean, but its nowhere near as effective as even the crappiest new oil Now we are getting into the realm of specialists.Generally if your Fuel pump fails, you are going to get hit with a HUGE estimate. Do not worry, Find out who the OEM is for your pump, check their website/google and find out their nearest authorized service center.You will also need to go here if your injectors need repairs, or if you get a check engine light which points to your fuel system. There are a whole bunch of OEM's - Bosch, Delphi, Siemens are the more popular ones. It's not just your injectors or pump, your entire fuel subsystem needs to be calibrated correctly to get it running right, and these guys will usually have the right equipment to do it.if you are looking for a Lucas TVS service center, this is a good place to startIf you are especially unlucky, you may need to visit one of these places. the small glimmer of hope is if you use a locally manufactured turbocharger.(Check this pdf for TEL manufactured turbos) . Please note that this is not an exhaustive list - There are plenty of other companies that Make Turbos in India - just that this was the only OEM with a public catalog I was able to access.If yes, you are very lucky. You can get it rebuilt locally. find their nearest service center.You can find them in the "ASC" section here . Bear in mind that getting a brand new turbo is rare. Usually for older cars, they stock brand new seals and Core, but whole turbo units in stock are usually remanufactured. If your old turbo housing is intact, you are better off getting your old turbo overhauled. Finding these shops tend to be hard as they are few and far in between, and are usually very small. They will usually not entertain you if you show up there with your car and ask them to take it out and fix it. You'll need to get your current workshop to take it out and give it to them. This is the place i went to. I think its closed now, and even they was very hard to find. they had an old faded board, and was on the first floor of a marriage hall! I couldn't find any pictures on the internet and had to get one from my own archivesYou might be thinking - these are the guys who do seat covers, why go there for repairs?As your car gets older, different bits of fabric start coming out - Door Pad inserts, Roof Liners, Leather bits such as gear bellows etc.These guys (and not all of them) can fix these things. Some Things you need to consider are - A lot of places which say "auto upholstery" on google search tend to be bike seat specialists. Even the ones that deal with car upholstery are sometimes lazy/not so skilled and will not work on these minor repairs. Calling around often is easier than actually visiting random shops. Sometimes you might even get a reference to the captive upholstery workshop of some car accessories shop. Make sure that you are very clear with the upholstery guy on what fabric he is going to use on your car - I have been burned at least once where the guy decided to do a last minute bait and switch. Also have expectations low. These repairs tend to last 3-4 years depending on your usage. Given the costs, I think that's fair, and your car gets a new set of interiors.You'll need one of these if you have a check engine light. Usually there is no "there" - The exception is VAG cars where (to me as an outsider) you need to get the software involved even if you need to change a bulb, and their dashboards tend to light up frequently, so Scanning for German cars is a Profitable Niche where some amount of cross functional skills are required to fix issues, so they tend to set up their own facilities. For my Indica, My Workshop has a guy on call who comes, runs his scans, and then provides diagnosis and next steps to my regular workshop (or sometimes they just rent his tools depending on if the senior mechanics are there)Every car needs its own set of reading tools etc - and these guys have it all. It's better to go to them via your existing workshop, because they deal in just testing/diagnosis/consultation. The actual work will need to be done by the workshop. If you have a german car, their specialists are easy to find because of the nature of their Target demographic. They'll be active on social media, have a website and plenty of fancy signage. They will sometimes provide Softmodding and Tuning services as well.I have not had to go to one of these places yet, and generally this is something that can be done by a local workshop, but if you want prefer getting it done at a professional place, then these are good options. They generally cater to the commercial market and may not be interested in doing smaller engines - I will let those of you with experience share their thoughts on these placesNow a couple of places I WISH we hadIn the US, these are everywhere, and getting a transmission rebuilt is a fairly straightforward process. In India however, getting an AT rebuilt is a mess. Heck, getting regular service is complicated. Most bhpians complain about the wrong class of ATF being used etc. There are some dedicated AT Rebuilders in india, but their feedback has been bad, so I will wait for a decent place. Hopefully as AT cars gain marketshare in india, demand for these will go up, and more will open, with some of them being actually competent.Again Proper Hybrid adoption in India has been low, (Maruti's "Smart" hybrids are not even close). In the US, outfits have sprung up that overhaul old prius and leaf batteries. Hopefully in another 10 years we will have more of them, so that EV owners of today dont end up with $$$ Battery Replacements Attached Files application-catalogue.pdf (559.5 KB, 50 views) Last edited by greenhorn : 10th June 2022 at 21:41 . Reason: Attachment link
Why it matters: A lack of charging stations is one of electric vehicle adoption's biggest obstacles. The Biden administration is fighting the problem in the US by proposing standards for a federally-funded charging station network.

The US Department of Transportation's Federal Highway Administration has proposed a set of minimum requirements for federally-funded EV charging stations. The outline is a new step in the Biden administration's plan to facilitate EV use by making stations more accessible and standardized throughout the country.

The proposed rules complement the government's February announcement that it would give states $5 billion over the next five years to build charging stations. The plan suggests at least one station every 50 miles along designated "alternate fuel corridors," along with other standards to ensure all EVs can use them.

Cross-compatibility between manufacturers is one of the main goals, with standardized payment systems, price information, installation certification, software platforms, traffic control interactions, and more. The rules would also ensure no charging stations require special memberships.

The EV industry will likely welcome this level of assistance from the government, but the private sector is also attempting various charging solutions. Israeli company Electreon plans to build the US's first highway that can charge electric vehicles as they drive. The all-electric Ford F-150 lightning can recharge Teslas with its mobile power cord and adapter. Startup Lightyear just announced a solar-powered EV, though it costs a lot for relatively little performance.
The big picture: AMD's FidelityFX Super Resolution 2.0 upscaling tech improves image quality and game performance compared to native rendering. Hopefully, the list of supported titles keeps growing as the feature benefits all gamers without DLSS-enabled GPUs, not just AMD graphics card owners.

Five additional games have been added to AMD's FSR 2.0 temporal upscaling lineup, bringing the total count to 19. The five games that have joined the upcoming FSR 2.0 titles are Abyss World, Hitman 3, Rescue Party: Live!, Super People, and The Callisto Protocol. As Hitman 3 got released over a year ago, it will receive FSR 2.0 support through an update, while other games will have the tech at launch.

FidelityFX Super Resolution 2.0 is an open-source alternative to Nvidia's DLSS, with the main advantage being that it doesn't require specialized Tensor cores to function. While DLSS exclusively runs on relatively-new RTX GPUs, FSR 2.0 supports far older graphics cards and iGPUs, including ones from Nvidia and Intel.

Deathloop, God of War, and Farming Simulator 22 are currently the only available games that implement FSR 2.0. Slides provided by AMD show the performance difference between the three quality presets in the latter two titles.

When we recently compared FSR 2.0, FSR 1.0, DLSS, and native rendering in Deathloop, we found that FSR 2.0 produces far better results than its predecessor, getting very close to DLSS in both image quality and performance.

You can also check out our coverage on how FSR 2.0 works and what differs from the previous version.
Astra Space is now preparing to accommodate the first of three NASA CubeSats launches as soon as June 12. These satellites will help monitor tropical storms.

(Photo : STEFANI REYNOLDS/AFP via Getty Images)

The silhouette of US engineer and NASA astronaut Megan McArthur is seen past the NASA logo in the Webb Auditorium at NASA headquarters in Washington, DC, on June 7, 2022.

The company was already ready for the launch on June 8 of the Time-Resolved Observations of Precipitation structure and storm Intensity with a Constellation of Smallsats (TROPICS) cubists on their Rocket 3.3. vehicle from Cape Canaveral on June 12.

In fact, the TROPICS satellites and at least the first of three Rocket 3.3. vehicles have been ready for some time. Astra has already acquired the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) launch license for a launch from Cape Canaveral in February via the agency's streamlined Part 450 regulations. Now, they are only waiting for the DAA commercial launch license.

However, the high rate of launch activity at the Eastern Range could be the cause of some delays. However, Astra reassures them that they're all set and ready, and nothing is on its way. All they need is the final details with the FAA, and they will be able to launch.

This marks the first of three NASA launches contract that was awarded to Astra Space. It will also be the first for Astra since the mission on March 15 that placed its first customer payloads into orbit and the second Astra launch to reach orbit on six attempts after a November 2021 launch. The reason the TROPICS mission requires three launches is to improve the revisit times.

The company is only waiting for its launch license, which is expected on June 10. Once the license is obtained, the company will start a series of launches for the TROPICS mission. The company also said that the launch window will open on Sunday.

Also Read: NASA To Create New Framework as Moon Wobble 2030 Alarms Scientists

The TROPICS

According to NASA's Thomas Zurbuchen, an associate administrator for science, the launches would be two weeks apart. He added, "I love TROPICS just because it's kind of a crazy mission. Think of six cubists doing science, looking at tropical storms with a repeat time of 50 minutes instead of 12 hours."

The TROPICS will carry a microwave radiometer in each CubeSat that will gather information on temperature, humidity, and precipitation. Furthermore, the full TROPICS constellation will enable frequent revisits, which will be useful for tracking the growth of tropical storm systems.

Could It Be Successful?

Based on the Space Studies Board meeting, only two of the three launches are required to be successful in meeting their goals. And NASA has accepted this risk level. The agency knows that speed matters in the world of innovation, and they are eager to gain new assets and tools; hence, they embraced the risk associated with the vehicle.

Related Article: Astra Fails to Launch NASA CubeSat: Upper Stage Flew Out of Control After Detaching

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Written by April Fowell

 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
Rotavirus consists of three groups, and one of them may cause gastroenteritis in people. These rotavirus groups are referred to as groups A, B, and C.

(Photo : HECTOR RETAMAL/AFP via Getty Images)

A nurse gives the rotavirus vaccine to a baby during a program to start vaccination against rotavirus.

The groups A and C usually affect children, while group B causes severe diarrhea in adults due to the virus spike protein, VP8*. The good news? Scientists are closer to determining the structure of VP8 to treat the infection, thanks to Artificial Intelligence (AI).

AlphaFold2

A study shows how an AI program can predict the 3D structure of the VP8*. The first step of the team is to determine the 3D structure of the virus through X-ray crystallography, but it was unsuccessful. They then turned to an AI-based computational program, the AlphaFold2.

The AlphaFold2 was successful and the scientists confirmed that its predictions coincided with the actual structure of the protein via the X-ray crystallography.

Also Read: New Rotavirus Vaccine Could Save Half A Million Children Annually

The Rotavirus

It has been shown that Rotavirus A and C uses the VP8* domain to bind specific sugar components on hist-blood group antigens, such as the A, B, AB, and O blood groups. This suggests that the ability of these viruses to infect young children while others affect other populations.

It was only now, however, that the VP8* has been characterized. The scientists screened the VP8* B against a range of sugars, which led to the discovery that it recognizes N-acetyllactosamine that isn't recognize by VP8* of rotavirus A and C.

Currently, scientists are still investigating how this new structure will interact with cells to infect them and how the process will compare to the rotavirus A and C. They will also grow the adult viruses in the human organic systems which will help the scientists probe the mechanism of virus entry and growth. This can lead to new treatments to treat the disease.

The Future of Structural Biology with Artificial Intelligence

In a nutshell, AI can lead scientists to discover new mechanisms and compounds to treat infections and disease. In this study, it helped scientists to determine the structure of VP8*, a protein that affects the infection of the rotavirus. Given the success of AlphaFold2, it might be possible to create other artificial intelligence programs to aid in the research of other proteins.

All in all, the advances in structural biology would not be possible without the aid of AI. The more complex the problem, the harder it will be for scientists to solve the puzzle. Instead of spending months and years trying to solve a difficult problem, scientists can use their time and effort to solve other problems.

In other words, AlphaFold2 is a program that will be used to develop a series of software for the prediction of the structure of proteins that researchers can then use for their latest research.

Related Article: DeepMind AI 'AlphaFold' Gets Closer to Perfect Prediction of Protein Folding with Groundbreaking Accuracy

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Written by April Fowell

 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
(Photo : Unsplash/Petr Machacek) phone relay

In 2002, telecommunication companies like MCI and AT&T offered free calls to the hearing impaired via internet web pages. The deaf customers will type their messages into dialog boxes similar to online chat rooms.

A relay operator will then read the text, place the call, and they will verbalize the text. The entire system, called IP Relay, is created to assist deaf customers and help them communicate and make important phone calls.

Unfortunately, scammers found a way to abuse that system and use it to cheat American business owners.

Scammers Target Phone Service for the Deaf

According to Reuters, the US Department of Justice claimed that AT&T pocketed millions of dollars in reimbursement fees by deliberately ignoring fraudulent use of the IP Relay call system.

The IP Relay call service is intended for those with hearing or speech impairments, but people without impairments can still use it.

Since its release in the early 2000s, relay operators reported that they received hundreds of prank calls via the IP Relay system, and each call had cost the US taxpayers $1.30 per minute.

Also Read: SEC Warns Investors From Dealing With iBSmartify Nigeria Cryptocurrency; Here's Why

The Federal Communications Commission or the FCC reimbursed the money back to the telephone company in charge of setting up the service.

The only time the FCC would not reimburse the money was if people made the calls outside of the United States or if they were from people who do not have hearing or speech impairments.

In 2009, the FCC began requiring telephone companies to verify the person using the IP Relay call system. A qualified customer must be in the United States and suffering from a hearing or speech impairment.

In 2012, the Justice Department claimed that AT&T ignored fraudulent use of the system. The Justice Department also revealed that 95% of AT&T's total IP Relay call volume was from scammers outside the US, and thousands of the calls were from Nigeria.

David J. Hickton, the US Attorney for the Western District of Pennsylvania, said in a statement that taxpayers should not shoulder the cost of abuses of the Telecommunications Relay system, and those who misused the funds intended for the system must be held accountable.

AT&T has disputed the claims of the Justice Department. A spokesperson for the company told Ars Technica said that there is always a possibility of the IP Relay services being abused, just like how the other systems like postal and emails are abused.

The spokesperson added that they are conducting their own investigation to make sure that their customers are hearing impaired.

Why are Scammers Using the IP Relay System?

NBC News reported that the IP Relay system is the perfect tool for scammers. The service is available 24/7, so those outside the US don't have to worry about time zones.

And since it is free, people from far away places like Nigeria can use the service without having to worry about bills.

Plus, it masks their broken English, making it easier for them to scam American merchants as they can pass off as someone from the US.

In 2019, 43 million Americans were scammed by fake international calls.

In 2021, Nigerian scammers were arrested for targeting American women on dating sites.

Related Article:Expert Warns About Business Email Compromise Attacks as Law Enforcements Focus on Ransomware

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Written by Sophie Webster

 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
(Photo : Apple )

Cybersecurity researchers under MIT's Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory have uncovered a seemingly "unpatchable" flaw in Apple's M1 chips. The vulnerability exists within the chipset's hardware-level security mechanism called the pointer authentication codes, otherwise known as simply PAC. It acts as the M1 chip's main "last line of defense" against cyber attacks, specifically targeting buffer overflow exploits and the system's memory from the injection of malicious code.

The team's findings were published in a report on the MIT CSAIL website on Friday, June 10, yet are seemingly offline as of writing. The official PDF can still be found via the Wayback Machine, showcasing how the team of MIT researchers leveraged an aptly termed "Pacman" attack to cripple the M1 chip's security without leaving a trace. The MIT researchers utilized a dual speculative execution (or spectre) vulnerability alongside a memory corruption procedure, which essentially sidestepped the aforementioned PAC hardware security feature without raising any alarms.

Their findings, however, are quite alarming, as it shows how hackers can easily exploit systems using a security's own guise against it. The Pacman procedure literally systematically guesses the appropriate cryptographic signature needed to pass through the pointer authentication code, proving that an application on the system wasn't withholding maliciously harmful content. The main culprit of the exploit is the speculative execution vulnerability, which leaks the PAC information in tandem with a side-channel hardware procedure revealing the correct guess.

Related Article: Apple Store Employees in Glasgow, Scotland to Unionize, Demands Higher Pay and Better Benefits

Amid the researchers' full proof of concept, the team discloses that the vulnerability works against the system's kernel, meaning it can directly impact and negatively affect the device's full operating system at the core functionality level. One of the co-leading researchers on the project, Joseph Ravichandran, claimed this has "massive implications for future security work on all ARM systems with pointer authentication enabled."

This pointer authentication security apparatus exists on all current ARM-based silicon, including both the M1 Pro and M1 Max. Additionally, chipset manufacturers, such as both Samsung and Qualcomm, are in the process of manufacturing new chips with the same functionality baked into their new processors, making the MIT researchers' discovery all the direr. While the team did not sample the Pacman attack on Apple's forthcoming M2 chip, they are planning on it in the future.

The team gave even more details to Tom's Hardware, underscoring that bad actors don't require any actual physical access to the device in question and can uproot data at terrifying velocities. The researchers explain:

"It's hard to say since exfiltration with this attack will be very dependent on the exact gadget used. Our proof of concept exploit takes 2.69 milliseconds per PAC guess (so worst-case 2.94 minutes per pointer). This may take longer in a fully integrated end-to-end attack."

Apple itself gave words on the occasion via spokesperson Scott Radcliffe, who said, "We want to thank the researchers for their collaboration as this proof of concept advances our understanding of these techniques. Based on our analysis as well as the details shared with us by the researchers, we have concluded this issue does not impose an immediate risk to our users and is insufficient to bypass operating system security protectors on its own."

Thus far, the m1 chip cybersecurity benchmark has shown a total of three vulnerabilities affecting Apple's silicon. Cybersecurity researcher Hector Martin showcased a so-called M1RACLES vulnerability, which essentially gave two applications the ability to transfer data stealthily. Although it may not be as debilitating as the Pacman exploit, last month's Augury vulnerability is definitely one to keep an eye on. The Augury vulnerability makes the Data-Memory Dependent Prefetcher (DMP) in Apple chips leak data while the device is at rest.

Known for its highly secure platforms, Apple typically side-steps these types of issues but may be in a rut, given the wide-sweeping potential inherent in the Pacman exploit. This Apple M1 chip vulnerability will certainly be something users will have to keep aware of, given that Apple can't simply amend it over a software update. The MIT researchers add in conclusion:

"If not mitigated, our attack will affect the majority of mobile devices, and likely even desktop devices in the coming years."

Read Also: Apple MacBook New Sizes for 2023? 15 Inches for the Air, and A 12-Inch MacBook [RUMORS]

 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
SpearUAV, an Israel-based defense manufacturer, has launched a quadcopter that can help keep tabs on what's going on above the water line when a submarine is submerged underwater.

(Photo : BORIS HORVAT/AFP via Getty Images)

French diver Guillaume Nery uses the first submarine autonomous drone called "iBubble" on December 21, 2017 in order to run some tests during a diving in the Mediterranean sea off the coast of Nice, southern France. -

The Ninox product line has a range of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV) and they also have wearable and autonomous loitering munition. Now, they have created a drone that could be the solution for missions.

The Ninox 103 UW

The Ninox 103 UW sub-to-air drone will provide a safer way for subs to peek out of the water. It is similar to missiles, but this one is built specifically for submarines.

It works by going to the water's surface while contained in a capsule that can float quietly for up to 24 hours. This will then give the submarine time to distance itself should the capsule be discovered.

The drone, on the other hand, has low acoustic, thermal, and visual signatures, which means it will be hard to detect. It also used an open-architecture artificial intelligence system that will allow for an automatic recognition of its target.

After a pre-set amount of time, the capsule will launch the quadcopter into the air. With its four propeller-driven arms, it will go on its pre-planned flight with a range of up to 10 kilometers and flight times of around 45 minutes.

It can carry payloads of up to two pounds and can withstand wind speeds of 20 knots. Moreover, the drone can be launched from land or sea platforms.

However, the company hasn't provided information on the range of the drone's wireless communications. Still, the encrypted data may be accessed by the submarine from a safe distance. Its cross-domain connective ensures crucial reconnaissance information will be communicated quickly to mission control. Also, the drone can see miles from its elevated vantage point.

Also Read: Submarine Wedding? U-Boat Worx's Upcoming Sub Can Also Host Underwater Parties

A Solution

Nuclear-powered subs can now stay submerged for long period and completely be in stealth mode. The downside to this is that it limits its ability to communicate with the rest of the world, specifically the navy team. It will also have trouble accessing military tools, such as the GPS and satellite imagery.

Wireless communications don't work well through salt water; and even if it does, it comes with a limited range. Should the captain of the submarine needs to communicate above the water line, they will need to surface the ship to deploy tools. However, this will put them at risk because it will reveal their position.

Thankfully, it looks like the Ninox 103 UW will solve that problem. SpearUAV has tested the drone and the company is now working with other defense companies to incorporate this latest development.

Related Article: World's Smallest Submarine Is One Molecule In Size

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Written by April Fowell

 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
Apple introduced the MacBook M1 series several years ago, and the M2 series is now available. However, according to a new MIT study, the M1 chipset has a few security vulnerabilities that could put users at risk.

Hardware Vulnerability

Researchers from MIT's Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory (CSAIL) have developed a new chip assault known as the PACMAN, which has been discovered to violate the security measures of Apple's M1 chipset.

The name PACMAN was inspired by the last layer of protection on the M1 chip, known as PAC (Pointer Authentication Code), which these researchers discovered a means to circumvent.

PAC is a signature that verifies that the program's system hasn't been tampered with fraudulently.

But now, the researchers have discovered a flaw: their PACMAN hardware attack demonstrates that pointer authentication may be bypassed without leaving a trace. Furthermore, because PACMAN is a hardware device, no software patch will ever be able to fix the bug.

"We've shown that pointer authentication as a last line of defense isn't as absolute as we once thought it was," Joseph Ravichandran, an MIT graduate student in electrical engineering and computer science and co-lead author of a study about PACMAN, said.

Read also: iOS 14.5's PAC Security Tool Prevents Malicious Codes; Does It Mean No More Zero-Click Hacking?

Is Pointer Authentication Enough to Protect a Software?

The MIT team demonstrated that a hardware side-channel might be used to guess a PAC value and then announce whether the guess is valid or not. They discovered that because the PAC has only so many possible values, it is plausible to try all of them to find the proper one.

Most crucially, the attack is undetectable because the estimates are all made on the fly.

Pointer authentication can protect the most privileged element of the system, which is the operating system kernel. An attacker who obtains control of the kernel on a device can do whatever they want on the system.

The PACMAN approach can circumvent the PAC and allows the hacker to enter the system without notifying the machine's security layers, which was specifically tested by MIT's research lab team to crack the PAC.

"Future CPU designers should take care to consider this attack when building the secure systems of tomorrow. Developers should take care to not solely rely on pointer authentication to protect their software," Ravichandran said.

The team used M1 as the attack's testbed, and the results have raised some red flags. Similar difficulties were discovered with the ARM chipset. However, the PACMAN has yet to be tested on the new M2 series silicone.

PACMAN's reach is still limited, but the MIT researchers have informed Apple of the vulnerability, and the company could begin working on a patch as soon as possible.

Apple has yet to make an official statement, so a software patch may likely be released to address the vulnerability.

Related Article: Apple and Google's 'Duopoly' over Mobile Markets is Anti-Competition - UK Regulator Claims

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Written by Joaquin Victor Tacla

 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
Ikea, the Swedish-founded multinational conglomerate, has announced the launch of the OBEGRANSAD, the company's first-ever record player.

Ikea Unveils its First Record Player

The OBEGRANSAD vinyl player was developed by Ikea together with the Swedish House Mafia, a house music supergroup.

The vinyl player has a minimalistic and chic design and is part of a new collection meant for customers who want to produce music, according to The Verge.

The entire collection has been named OBEGRANSAD, and it will include more than 20 items created to make a customer's home suited for music production.

Also Read: IKEA Hack: Employees Warned About Ongoing Cyberattacks Using Internal Emails

So far, Ikea has unveiled three items from the OBEGRANSAD collection: the vinyl player, an armchair, and a desk with two built-in speaker stands.

First announced at the 2022 Milan Design Week, the items will be available in Ikea stores in mid-2022. No price list has been revealed yet, but the retailer said the record player would be affordable.

OBEGRANSAD Vinyl Player

The OBEGRANSAD vinyl player will be powered via USB, and it will have a replaceable needle and cartridge and a high-quality built-in pre-amp.

If you are looking for a speaker to pair it with, it is compatible with the ENEBY speaker. But according to About Ikea, the vinyl player needs to be hooked up to a wired speaker because it does not work with Bluetooth speakers.

The needle is made by Audio Technica, a Japanese company known for the quality of its audio equipment.

Ikea designer Friso Wiersma talked about the new record player and said that the solid design gives it "a great presence in the room," and that the vinyl record transmits the physicality of music and "claims space."

Swedish House Mafia also discussed the upcoming OBEGRANSAD collection and said that the design "supports creating, playing, and enjoying music."

H&M and Ikea's Community Store

Aside from designing its new collection, Ikea recently teamed up with Scandinavian fast fashion colossus H&M to launch Atelier100, the first maker-based concept store in London.

However, according to Forbes, both H&M and Ikea are thinking of expanding their store in Paris, Berlin, Barcelona, and Stockholm, but the companies did not provide any specific timeline.

The community-based project is located in Livat, a former shopping center in London that was converted into an urban, community-based retail center in early 2022.

The Atelier100 can help designers and creatives have a sustainable and local approach to retail. The project initially launched in April with a call for makers, manufacturers, and creatives to share their ideas.

The aim of this community-based concept store is to assist the first selected creatives and designers in selling their products from Fall 2022. In the meantime, the store will showcase items designed by the locals.

Aside from the showcase, the Atelier100 also has a funding and mentorship program that includes financial help and assistance with everything from accounting and creating a business plan to manufacturing and bringing the products to the market.

Atelier100 has been designed to host events, talks, workshops, and seminars to guide new creatives and designers.

In 2021, Ikea partnered with Ombori Grid to go paperless and be more sustainable.

In May, Ikea announced it would begin selling solar panels.

Related Article: IKEA, ROG Debuts Futuristic Cyberpunk Gaming Furniture, Soon to be Available on October

This article is owned by Tech Times

Written by Sophie Webster

 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
The launch of NASA's Psyche asteroid mission was delayed due to a software glitch. Now, the two small probes supposed to be hitching a ride are forced to revise their plans.

NASA's Psyche Launch Delay

Psyche is a probe designed by NASA to explore the unusual metal-rich asteroid 16 Psyche. Due to the glitch, it is currently undergoing preparations at Kennedy Space Center in Florida, according to Gizmodo.

Psyche is the primary payload on the Falcon Heavy rocket, and the NASA small satellite mission Janus will launch two spacecraft as secondary payloads, according to CNET.

After their Earth flybys, the Janus spacecraft will fly by different binary asteroids, namely 1996 FG3 and 1991 VH. However, on June 8, the mission's principal investigator announced that the plan was no longer possible.

Dan Scheeres from the University of Colorado talked about the delay at a meeting of NASA's Small Bodies Assessment Group or SBAG.

Also Read: NASA New Mission: Visit '16 Psyche,' Most Expensive Asteroid in the Solar System

According to Scheeres, the mission's launch is moved to Sept. 20 so NASA will have more time to test the spacecraft's software.

Because of the change in launch date, Scheeres said it is no longer possible for the Janus spacecraft to perform the Earth flybys with Falcon Heavy.

The only way for a Janus spacecraft to reach the 1996 FG3 binary asteroid target is if the mission is moved to Oct. 7 or Oct. 10, but that will be too near the end of the new launch window for Psyche, which is scheduled for Oct. 11.

Scheeres added that they do not have a say regarding the launch dates or the targeting of the launch vehicle, as it will all depend on NASA and when the space agency believes that the spacecraft is ready.

Looking for Alternatives

Janus' mission team is now looking for alternative asteroids that the spacecraft could fly by if it can't go to its original asteroids, according to Space.com.

Scheeres admitted that they had already found multiple asteroids that Janus could visit, depending on the day that the spacecraft was launched.

However, he did not name the new asteroid destinations. Scheeres did reveal that some of the asteroids that they are considering violate the mission constraints like flyby speed of communications data rate, so it will take more work to go there.

Also, Janus' plans will depend on the ability of Psyche to launch during the new launch schedule. Carol Polanskey, the co-investigator on the Psyche mission, said at the SBAG meeting that they are continuously upgrading the simulation environment that is needed for software testing.

Polanskey revealed that they are using a new JPL flight software architecture that is blended with Maxar simulation capabilities to build the Psyche spacecraft bus. Although the process is challenging, she said that the team is putting a lot of resources into fixing the problem.

The issue with the software should be resolved soon, but Polanskey did not say any specific period. The team is working on getting it ready before the second launch opportunity.

If Psyche and Janus miss the second window, the mission will be moved to 2023.

Related Article: NASA Psyche Mission to Mine an Asteroid with Solid Gold Core, Pure Nickel, Metallic Iron Worth $10,000 Quadrillion

This article is owned by Tech Times

Written by Sophie Webster

 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
Whitney Sayal, one of two finalists for the job as Downtown Development District executive director, talks with Jude Melville, right, a DDD Commission member and CEO of b1BANK, at a welcome breakfast at the DDD offices, Tuesday, May 10, 2022. Sayal is assistant director of urban trails at BREC, and a former DDD staffer.
Rep. John Stefanski, R-Cfowley, left, looks back at Representatives while talking with Speaker Clay Schexnayder, R-R-Gonzales, right, just before Stefanski presentated and the body passed its veto override bill, Wednesday, March 30, 2022 at the Louisiana State Capitol, where Republican majorities in House and Senate overrode a governorOs veto  for the first time against an executiveOs will since 1991  to ensure Black voters would not have the possibility of electing a second African American to Congress. Cindy Mancuso, House executive counsel, is background, center.
This story is part of the June 12 edition of Sunday Life. See all 13 stories.

Marcia Howard is a musician best known for being a member of Goanna. The 61-year-old talks about growing up in a household of men, divorce, and her surprising connection to Marlon Brando.

Dad always helped Mum around the house. I thought all men were like that when I was growing up. Credit:Josh Robenstone

My great grandfather, Patrick Howard, arrived in Australia from Dublin in 1854 for the gold rush. He was an inspirational figure, a miner who worked in Ballarat and took part in the Eureka Stockade. Patrick and his wife Eliza allegedly designed and sewed the Eureka flag.

Patrick opposed the governments gold tax and, along with other miners, erected the stockade. It was stormed by police on December 3, 1854. He was shot above his head as he came out of his tent and was arrested, but was released because he had been unarmed. That was the birth of our democracy and connected to our family history.

My father, Leo Francis Howard, was an honourable man. He had a great sense of justice that he inherited from his grandfather. He adored my mother, Honora Teresa Madden. I am one of seven children. They were a great couple. Dad died in 2010. My parents were married for almost 64 years.
Dan Andrews No.1 promoter, Jon Faine, is questioning the at least $50 billion Suburban Rail Loop (Sunday Age, 5/6). Hopefully someone listens and ends this extraordinary white elephant.

James Parton, Clarinda Two very different cases Regarding the letter about the high-speed train from Madrid to Barcelona (Sunday Age, 5/6). Taken at face value, a comparison can be made to the proposed Sydney to Melbourne link. The distance and populations of the terminal cities, technical abilities and economies, and mountains are all similar. However, Spain has about 10 cities with populations of more than half a million people in the area. Australia has none, but there are a few with more than 200,000 people. Spain also has surrounding countries with large populations. Spains high-speed rail was heavily subsidised by Spain and the European Union yet it still runs at a loss. A high-speed rail in Australia would be great. I do not think that it will be viable this century.

Cliff Strahan, Greensborough

Give back a little, Will So Prince William sold The Big Issue on a London street, supposedly to raise funds to help the homeless (The Age, 10/6). For the prince, it is a photo opportunity to raise his profile. If he has any serious intent, he could easily donate a few million pounds from his large, inherited fortune and/or give the homeless a property or two from his real estate portfolio.

Meg Paul, Camberwell The forgotten workers It is good that frontline workers in Victorias public hospitals and the ambulance service will receive $3000 bonuses (The Age, 10/6). Unfortunately, aged care workers who have worked incredibly hard to protect and care for our elderly throughout the pandemic will once again miss out.

I urge the state government to extend this bonus to workers in our important aged care facilities.

Robert Van Zetten, Brighton

The forgotten system We are all taxpayers. Why is Daniel Andrews not extending the $3000 bonus to hospital personnel working in the private system? We should not be working in a them and us scenario.

Pam Swirski, Berwick Power of the industry Can one of the first tasks of the federal ICAC (Independent Commission Against Corruption) be to see how the fossil fuel industry has influenced government policy over so many years? Please.

Jeff Moran, Bacchus Marsh No more delays, please

Letters from Joan Schoch (10/6) and others remind us of the needs of so many refugees and asylum seekers. Some have helped keep our economy going, working in essential jobs during the pandemic. Others have barely survived and been totally dependent on charity. Their claims need to be assessed quickly and humanely. They have waited in limbo for far too long.

The governments election promise to convert many temporary visas to permanency needs action, as does the clarification of the status of those awaiting assessment and those in community detention. The endless delays in this overloaded system add to the emotional distress of those who are waiting for their future to be determined. It is time to act.

Sue Wragg, Williamstown Taking responsibility The 1948 Universal Declaration of Human Rights is a magnificent document. It is now time for a Universal Declaration of Human Responsibilities.

William Hennessy, Clifton Hill

Whats not to love? As usual, I enjoyed another one of Tony Wrights commonsense articles  Millions of reasons for PM to live at The Lodge (The Age, 11/6). His statement, most Canberrans are everyday people living suburban lives, worrying about their mortgages and holding backyard barbecues during the warmer months resonated with me. I lived in Canberra for more than 20 years and was asked so often  by people who had never been there  why I lived there as if it were crawling with politicians. I found it to be the prettiest and most convenient city in which to live because it had been planned, and that certainly makes all the difference. In all that time, I saw only one politician and he was doing a solitary shop at one of Canberras weekend markets.

Ailene Strudwick, Mornington The great lettuce issue
One-time state Labor parliamentary hopeful Intaj Khan has joined a Liberal Party branch in Opposition Leader Matthew Guys electorate.

Khan confirmed this week he was seeking preselection for the Liberal Party in the outer-western Melbourne seat of Tarneit, raising the ire of branch members in Guys eastern-suburbs Bulleen electorate.

Khan, a former Wyndham councillor and aspiring Labor politician, was convicted and fined in 2018 for breaching local government disclosure laws.

Former Labor hopeful Intaj Khan has switched his allegiance to the Liberal Party after joining Matthew Guys local branch in Bulleen. Credit:Joe Armao

The businessman, known as the King of Bling due to his lavish property portfolio and love of supercars, tried to stand for Labor in Tarneit four years ago. Labor currently holds the electorate on a notional margin of about 17.7 per cent.
Private hospital operators have lashed out at the Andrews government, arguing it has snubbed their nurses by not including them in a $3000 bonus scheme for burnt-out healthcare workers.

But the Australian Medical Association (AMA) and Victorias nurses union have called on operators to match the offer, while the state government has said private hospitals are responsible for paying their own staff.

A man brought into the ED under cardiac arrest is worked on by the emergency team in the busy emergency department of the Royal Melbourne Hospital. Credit:Chris Hopkins

Ramsay Health Care, Epworth HealthCare and St John of God, which run some of the states largest private hospitals, are among operators that have co-signed a letter to the government asking why their frontline workers were not included in the scheme intended to retain pandemic-fatigued staff over winter.

Premier Daniel Andrews announced on Thursday that all full-time staff working in public hospitals and ambulance services, including nurses, midwives, allied health professionals, paramedics, cleaners and ward clerks, would receive a $3000 bonus.
Washington: Months after family members stopped hearing from Tina Gail Linn Clouse and Harold Dean Clouse jnr in late 1980, a German shepherd discovered a decomposed arm in eastern Harris County, Texas, and brought it home.

A subsequent search of the Houston-area property where the arm was found turned up the bodies of a young couple. It appeared that the man had been beaten to death and that the woman had been strangled.

For decades, the bodies went unidentified, until last year when DNA analysis identified the remains as those of the young Clouse couple. What puzzled their family members after the discovery, however, were the whereabouts of the couples infant, Holly, who had gone missing with Tina and Harold in 1980.

An undated image shows Harold Dean, Tina and baby Holly Marie Clouse before they disappeared in 1980.

On Thursday (Friday AEST), the Texas Attorney Generals Office announced that Holly, now 42 and a married mother of five, has been found living in Oklahoma. She was adopted after being left at a church by two members of a nomadic religious group, officials said. Her adoptive parents are not suspected of any wrongdoing, according to investigators.
(The Center Square)  Wyoming has among the lowest risk-free unfunded pension liabilities in the country, according to a new report by the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC).

The Cowboy State has an $18.7 billion unfunded pension liability as of 2021, the fifth-lowest total in the nation, the report said.

Michael Pearlman, a spokesperson for Gov. Mark Gordon, told The Center Square that "the Governor is proud of Wyoming's position and pension funding status."

"This is a result of an effort that began when Governor Gordon served as state treasurer," he added. "He also would like to credit the fine folks at the Wyoming Retirement System for their work in this area."

Only Vermont ($14.43 billion), South Dakota ($14.44 billion), North Dakota ($15. 13 billion), and Delaware ($18.46 billion) had lower unfunded liabilities than Wyoming, according to ALEC's report.

The report also found that Wyoming has among the highest unfunded liabilities per capita at $32,444, which ranks 41st compared to other states.

The total unfunded pension liabilities for all the states combined sits at $8.2 trillion, according to ALEC.

Unfunded state pension liabilities total $8.28 trillion or just under $25,000 for every man, woman and child in the United States, the reports authors said. This is an unprecedented amount in the history of this report, but most of the change is the result of a decrease in the risk-free discount rate, caused by the decrease in U.S. Treasury note yields.

State governments are obligated to make pension payments regardless of economic conditions. This is either through contracts or state constitutional law.

As these pension payments continue to grow, revenue that could have gone towards tax relief or essential services like public safety and education is spent paying off these liabilities instead, the report added.

The states with the most unfunded pension liabilities are Ohio ($429.53 billion), New York ($508.70 billion), Texas ($529.70 billion), Illinois ($533.72 billion), and California ($1.53 trillion).

Consistently, the bottom 5 states make up at least one third of all unfunded pension liabilities, the report said.
Batavia, NY (14020)

Today

Sun and clouds mixed. A stray afternoon thunderstorm is possible. High 87F. Winds SSW at 5 to 10 mph..

Tonight

Scattered thunderstorms early, then mainly cloudy overnight with thunderstorms likely. Low 72F. Winds S at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 60%.
Former President Donald Trump has endorsed Katie Britt in Alabamas U.S. Senate race, calling Sen. Richard Shelbys former chief of staff a fearless America First Warrior in a statement Friday night.

Katie is an Incredible Fighter for the people of Alabama, Trump said. As President and CEO of Alabamas Business Council, Katie has been working hard to Grow Alabamas Economy, Create Jobs, and Restore the Great American Dream. She has the Total Support and Endorsement of Chairman Jimmy Parnell and the Alabama Farmers Federation.

Im thankful to have President Trumps endorsement and strong support, Britt said in a statement to AL.com.

President Trump knows that Alabamians are sick and tired of failed, do-nothing career politicians. Its time for the next generation of conservatives to step up and shake things up in Washington to save the country we know and love for our children and our childrens children. In the Senate, I will fight to defend Alabamas Christian conservative values, advance the America First agenda, and preserve the American Dream for generations to come.

Trump said Britt strongly supports our under siege Second Amendment, stands up for parental rights, and will fight for our military, our vets, and election integrity.

Above all, Katie Britt will never let you down. So Get Out and Vote for Katie Britt on June 21st in the Alabama Senate Runoffshe has my Complete and Total Endorsement! Trump continued.

Trumps endorsement comes after he withdrew his backing of Rep. Mo Brooks, R-Huntsville in March, after claiming the conservative congressman became woke for telling a Trump rally last summer to move past the 2020 election.

Last year I endorsed Mo Brooks for the U.S. Senate because I thought he was a Fighter, especially when it came to the Rigged and Stolen Presidential Election of 2020. The evidence is irrefutable. Then, out of nowhere, and for seemingly no reason, Mo backtracked and made a big mistake by going Woke at our massive Cullman, Alabama Rally. Trump said. Instead of denouncing the Voter Fraud in the Election, Mo lectured the crowd of 63,000 people saying, Put that behind you, put that behind you, meaning that, in effect, forget the Rigged Election and go on to the future. The problem is, if you do that, it will happen again. Also, why do Republicans allow Democrats to get away with rigging and stealing elections? Mo was strongly booed by tens of thousands of Great Alabama Patriots for abandoning his constituents, and what they know to be true about the Election Fraud. He foolishly started listening to the wrong consultants and not to the people, and his 54-point lead evaporated overnight. Likewise, his words caused me to withdraw my Endorsement, and Mo has been wanting it back ever sincebut I cannot give it to him!

Britt squares off against Brooks in Alabamas Republican primary runoff June 21. The winner faces Democrat Will Boyd in November to decide who will succeed the retiring Shelby.

Brooks could not immediately be reached for comment Friday night.

As early as Wednesday night, Brooks pointed out that Trump had not endorsed his rival after Trump took back his endorsement of the congressman.

The race has been a battle over who most closely aligns with Trumps agenda.

Brooks has portrayed Britt as being linked to Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell and the Republican establishment.

Mitch McConnells team bragged openly  openly  that they had already spent $2 million attacking me and backed Katie Britt, Brooks said on Election Day. Theyre not even trying to hide anymore like they normally do. Katie Britt is Mitch McConnells candidate and they want to make sure Im never in the Senate. More than that, they want to tell Alabama conservatives who to vote for. Is this what we want?

Britt, 40, has campaigned as a fresh face in contrast with Brooks 12 years in Washington.

It is clear tonight that Alabamians want new blood. They want new blood to go to Washington, D.C. and shake it up Britt said on Election Day. It is clear they want a Christian conservative who believes in an America-first agenda and doesnt just talk about it but knows how to actually get something done.

Both Britt and former Army helicopter pilot Mike Durant  who did not make the runoff after coming in third place in the May 24 primary  had met with the former president after he walked back his Brooks endorsement as Trump mulled which candidate he would back, if any.
Mediterranean cauliflower and greens is a flavorful, healthy salad featuring sauteed, spiced cauliflower, cucumbers, tomatoes, feta cheese, and a simple dressing of olive oil and balsamic vinegar.

Many people know cauliflower as a low-carb vegetable with a bland taste. From an Ayurvedic perspective, we say that cauliflower is light, alkalizing, and dry.

Due to its qualities, cauliflower can be difficult for some people to digest. It can lead to gas and bloating. The addition of spices in this recipe provides the digestive support needed to overcome this tendency, and adds plenty of flavor to the salad.

Spices

Coriander

Coriander powder has a warm, spicy, and nutty flavor. It is mostly sweet, but also pungent and bitter. It is a digestive aid, and slightly diuretic.

Coriander has a unique ability to bind to toxins and direct them for elimination through the urine. Thus, you can think of coriander as very supportive for detoxing and cleansing the blood.

Cinnamon

Cinnamon is warming and supports circulation. It is anti-inflammatory, and also a digestive. Cinnamon helps to regulate blood sugar and supports fat metabolism, and thats why its the perfect addition to rich, sugary desserts.

Black pepper

Black pepper is nice and pungent. Its sharp warmth supports circulation, helps to cut through mucus and congestion, and expels gas.

You could say that many of the qualities of black pepper are similar to garlic. In most cases I prefer black pepper because it has a light quality whereas garlic is a little heavier.

How to make

Since the cauliflower is the star of the salad, you want to pay special attention to its preparation.

Use a large knife to chop the cauliflower into equally-sized pieces. Notice how your knife creates a flat edge on each piece. This flat edge is what will make contact with the surface of the skillet and brown up nicely.

Cooking the cauliflower starts with the sizzling of spices in a bit of olive oil. Then you add the cauliflower in a flat layer along with a bit of water, and cover it.

Technically this is a braising technique for the vegetable. This is my favorite way to cook vegetables. You can cook any vegetable this way with a bit of cooking fat, spices, and water.

Once you have your cauliflower cooked, this salad comes together quickly.

You have salad greens, tomato, cucumber, and feta cheese.

The dressing is a simple drizzle of olive oil, balsamic vinegar, salt, and pepper.

Good and healthy

A friend of mine made this recipe recently, and heres what she said:

I made a beautiful Mediterranean salad with roasted cauliflower. OMG, I love the cauliflower soooo much, Ive made it a couple times and the flavors are outstanding! -Heather Schade

Turn this into a meal

Enjoy Mediterranean cauliflower salad as a light meal with warm pita bread.

To turn this into a complete and satisfying vegetarian meal, serve with brown rice or wild rice pilaf, and top with nuts.

This would also be wonderful with lightly grilled chicken or beef.

Youll love this! Let us know in the comments what you think.

Ingredients

For the cauliflower 3 cups cauliflower , sliced into -inch thick pieces

, 1 tablespoon olive oil

1 teaspoon coriander powder , (sub with  teaspoon turmeric)

,  teaspoon cinnamon powder

 teaspoon black pepper

 teaspoon Himalayan pink salt

For the salad 4 cups mixed salad greens , loosely packed

,  cup cucumber , chopped

, 1 large tomato , chopped

,  cup feta cheese , crumbled

, drizzle extra virgin olive oil , to taste

, drizzle balsamic vinegar , to taste

, sprinkle salt and black pepper
I saw a photograph the other day that gave me pause. It was the back side of small truck of the sort used throughout Asian countries to transport goods. The cargo area was filled with green coconuts, and balanced on the rails were two monkeys, one on each side, on high alert, as if they were guarding a cartload of gold bars.

The picture accompanied a story about coconut milk  specifically, a brand of coconut milk discontinued by Walmart after a People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) report that claimed the brand in question used forced monkey labor.

Reportedly, many monkeys are illegally abducted from their families when theyre just babies. Theyre fitted with rigid metal collars and kept chained or tethered for extended periods, PETA claimed. Denied the freedom to move around, socialize with others, or do anything else that is important to them, these intelligent animals slowly lose their minds. Driven to desperation, they pace and circle endlessly on the barren, trash-strewn patches of dirt where theyre chained.

Ive always had a soft spot for animals, and cannot abide any animal being mistreated. But I find the suggestion that a monkey can be forced to do anything downright laughable.

Monkeys have fascinated me from early times. One of my grandmothers gave me a monkey doll shed made from a sock  exactly the sort that I have seen for many years since. I loved that sock monkey, and kept it around for years. I imagine I still have it somewhere.

A few years later, a man who lived up the street built a large cage on a vacant lot next to his house, and shortly thereafter, a monkey appeared inside the habitat. When I discovered it, I pedaled my bicycle home as fast as I could and ran into the house to tell my mother all about it.

You stay away from that monkey, she said sternly, and then launched into a lengthy lecture about monkey danger, insurance liability, and something called attractive nuisance.

But telling an 11-year-old boy to stay away from a monkey is a fools errand. A monkey is essentially an 11-year-old boy gone wrong, so the lure was inevitable. The monkey would hoot and screech and make stupid faces. It could not keep its hands  and they are hands, I dont care what anthropologists say  off its genitals. And occasionally, it would throw feces at you, and you had to be quick to get out of the way. It was a great strategy to improve ones dodgeball skills.

I like to think that monkey and I became friends. I began to carry gumballs in my pockets and would share them with the monkey, who never seemed to grasp the concept of chewing gum, and would simply swallow his gumball and beg for another. One day my mother was driving up the street toward the A&P and saw me at the monkeys cage. She slowed and hollered at me, and when she got home, she read me the riot act.

Several years ago, I traveled to Bangkok with a group of editorial writers to attend the World AIDS Conference, then on into Cambodia and India. I could go on and on about the conference and various experiences, but one thing that sticks with me is the general attitude toward animals in those countries. More than once I saw an elephant sauntering down a busy Bangkok street. And in Cambodia and India, monkeys are as ubiquitous as squirrels. And apparently exponentially more destructive.

Being a newspaper guy, I would always pick up a local paper when I could find one in English. And in several different papers, I came across small local monkey-centric stories  most involving strategies to protect against monkey mayhem and the expense involved. Municipal governments spend a great deal to monkey-proof traffic cams, directional signals, and street lighting.

Even pest control companies have an angle: Invest in high quality anti-monkey spikes and enjoy a peaceful life!

When I checked into my room at a Raffles hotel in Siem Reap, I was welcomed by a fresh lotus blossom and an engraved card suggesting I keep the balcony doors closed to keep mosquitoes and monkeys out of my room.

On the street one day in New Delhi, I noticed a relatively large monkey loping along the top of a wall above the sidewalk. I dont know what type of monkey it was, but it was about the size of a kindergartener. A stranger who spoke English saw me notice the monkey and rushed over and grabbed my arm: Do not make eye contact with the monkey! They are very aggressive, and will attack you!

Just after that, the monkey had zeroed in on someone else and, as we say in south Alabama, bowed up. The monkey feigned a rush toward the person whod dared to look at him, and cackled as they ran away.

All those years later, I found a new appreciation for my mothers adverse reaction to the news of the arrival of Mr. Jeffersons monkey to the neighborhood. In my experience, theyre mean, dirty, obsessed by scatology, and occasionally obscene  not unlike an 11-year-old boy.

Bill Perkins is editorial page editor of the Dothan Eagle and can be reached at bperkins@dothaneagle.com or 334-712-7901. Support the work of Eagle journalists by purchasing a digital subscription today at dothaneagle.com.

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Author Alexandra Villard de Borchgrave says a grieving heart can begin to heal when its surrounded by comfort and warmth. Her touching poetry provides just that.

With all the world in disarray,

one tender blossom survives;

In the deepest crevasse of the human soul

the kindness of heart still thrives.

From Reveries by Alexandra Villard de Borchgrave, 2021

Reveries: In Search of Love, Hope, and Courage is a book of poetry by American writer and photojournalist Alexandra Villard de Borchgrave. Within, a trusting and compassionate hand seems to coax our fears and sorrow out from their dark prisons, and transform them, page after page.

Villard de Borchgrave is the author of six books of poetry and a biography of her great-grandfather, railroad magnate and financier Henry Villard. She grew up all around the world and worked as an international journalist in the 1960s and 1970s. But her spiritual and artistic faculties were only pressed into service in the aftermath of 9/11, when she sought to help victims heal by offering comforting poetry. Since then, readers, from terminally ill patients to grieving family members, have called her poetry profound, uplifting, and healing.

Alexandra Villard de Borchgrave, during an interview on October 11, 2009, in Cairo, Egypt. (Courtesy of Alexandra Villard de Borchgrave)

Boutros Boutros-Ghali, the Egyptian-born former Secretary General of the United Nations, contributed a forward for one of her collections, describing it as an oasis of compassion and inner calm. John C. Whitehead, the former chairman of the Lower Manhattan Development Corporation, sent her first book, Healing Light: Thirty Messages of Love, Hope, and Courage, to 9/11 survivors families. Her encouragement continues to comfort people in hospitals and hospices through books gifted by her organization, the Light of Healing Hope Foundation.

Radiant Life: Please tell us a bit about your background, your creative vision, and your work.

Alexandra Villard de Borchgrave: I was born in Washington, D.C. and spent my formative years in Norway, Libya, Switzerland, and Senegal. Even at a very young age, and in going to Sunday school, I believe I was given a mission to bring comfort through kind words and beautiful images. I think my books are a reflection of many of my life experiences, including the 16 years I spent as a photojournalist covering events, starting in 1968, throughout the Middle East and Africa, where I witnessed war, suffering, and poverty as well as hope.

Covering the October war in Egypt as a photojournalist. (J.R. Bonnotte)

A feeling of empathy with those who were suffering then led to a desire to record the emotions and events I observed. I did not know then how deep that desire would run.

Radiant Life: It seems you have a strong sense that physical healing often comes through spiritual means. What informs your beliefs about that?

Borchgrave: I believe with all my heart that when someone is able to feel comfort, there is a special space of warmth that opens within and encourages the healing process. Forgiveness also allows one to release feelings of hurt or anger, opening a pathway to heightened compassion and healing.

Radiant Life: Did your time in countries like Senegal, Libya, Switzerland, and Norway influence how you see spirituality and healing?

Borchgrave: Living in different cultural environments exposed me to diverse spiritual beliefs about life and the healing process. It was a fascinating, although somewhat confusing, experience to wake up as a child of 2 amid the sparkling snowcapped mountains of Norway amongst a Christian people of courage and kindness, and then to wake up three years later at the age of 5 in the hot desert wind of Libya amongst a Sunni Muslim people of ancient Berber traditions with a strong sense of hospitality. As a small child, I benefited from being treated with kindness by everyone I met, and I believe that kindness is one of the greatest ways of healing those in pain.

Perhaps the most significant moment that influenced the whole of my life came when I developed glandular fever in the space of an hour. We were staying at the Uaddan Hotel in Tripoli, as the residence was not yet ready for my father, who had been newly appointed as the first American ambassador to Libya. I had just turned 6. My mother had gone to call on Queen Fatima one afternoon when I fell into convulsions with a fever of 105. Not knowing what else to do, my lovely young Norwegian governess wrapped me in a sheet and took me down to the lobby of the hotel where she hoped to find a doctor. None was available. I had made friends with the engaging Italian concierge who I could see was making frantic calls to find one. Just as things were reaching a critical point, my mother returned and immediately took me to the American hospital at the Wheelus Air Base. I was acutely aware of my mothers love enfolding me as she held me in her arms, but I also felt I was slipping away from her. We sped toward the base at breakneck speed with our driver, Ramadam, doing his best to weave in and out of the traffic as we were rocked back and forth on the back seat. I must have lost consciousness at one point as I do not remember the doctors taking me from my mothers arms to care for me.

As I grew up, I believed that coming that close to losing my life meant that every extra day was a gift that might be taken away at any time, making me somewhat fearful of participating fully in life for fear of falling ill again, which I often did, but at the same time making me desirous of expressing love and gratitude to those around me.

Radiant Life: The origin of your organization, Light of Healing Hope Foundation, and of your books, appears often in your materials. You prayed for a way to bring comfort to those who suffered in 9/11 and who lost loved ones. Can you please tell us the full story?

Borchgrave: A week before 9/11, I was having dinner with my dear husband Arnaud [journalist Arnaud de Borchgrave], who was preparing to leave for Bulgaria for an interview with King Simeon. I happened to look out the window and saw a plane landing at Reagan National Airport and I felt my whole body go cold with an inexplicable feeling of dread. I turned to my husband and said, You know, darling, I am getting a really bad feeling, and I dont want to be here alone if something bad is going to happen. Arnaud reassured me and said, Dont worry, darling, I will be back in a week and Im sure nothing will happen. I hadnt forgotten that Arnaud had warned in a recent article about terrorists using planes as weapons of mass destruction. I couldnt shake the premonition of dread I felt right up to the day he left.

On the morning of 9/11, I was watching Charlie Gibson interviewing Fergie on ABC at 8:45 a.m., when suddenly he said, There is something happening at the World Trade Center. And then we all witnessed the second plane go into the tower. I knew immediately that this was a terrorist attack.

That night, as anguish hung in the air like a veil of tears, I began to pray for a way to bring some small measure of comfort and healing to the families who had suffered the most devastating loss of their loved ones.

I prayed that same prayer every night for a year, but I could not find the right way to bring comfort to those who had suffered this unspeakable tragedy. Then, on the first anniversary of that terrible day, as I watched the children call out their parents names at Ground Zero with great courage, I was once again overcome with sorrow for them. The next morning, I woke with a strange pressure in my heart, and I knew something was going to happen.

I got in the shower and all at once, poetic words cascaded out of me so quickly I had to jump out of the shower and grab a pen and paper to write them down. As I did so, I heard a voice say to me, All right, if you really want something to do, here it is, and if you do it, it will get to where you want it to go.

As earnest verses about love, hope, and courage flowed out of me, I felt I was being shown a way to bring comfort to those families in need, and the result, three years later, was the publication of Healing Light: Thirty Messages of Love, Hope, and Courage. That book was sent as a gift, through the kindness of John C. Whitehead, then chairman of the Lower Manhattan Development Corporation, to all the survivors families, and my prayer was answered.

Radiant Life: You have given comfort to so many during times of loss and suffering. Have you gone through periods like that in your own life?

Borchgrave: In losing my dear parents and, most of all, my beloved husband, Arnaud, I have come to understand the agony others before me have suffered. There is nothing more heartbreaking than seeing the person you love most in the world diminish in pain before your eyes without being able to help or ease their suffering.

The de Borchgraves at President Ronald Reagans second inaugural ceremony, 1985. (UPI)

Radiant Life: Please tell us more about the transition from comforting those who lost loved ones on 9/11 to offering comfort to people in hospitals and hospices.

Borchgrave: After Healing Light sold out three editions, my friends said, Alexandra, we have read this book 16 times, now you need to do more. So, encouraged by those who had found Healing Light to be soothing in troubled times, I wrote Heavenly Order: Twenty-Five Meditations of Wisdom and Harmony followed by Beloved Spirit: Pathways to Love, Grace, and Mercy.

With Beloved Spirit, I came to believe in an intimate moment of surrender, a time when the soul may connect with a higher being, light, spirit, or God, a part of which I am convinced resides within all of us. Moments of reflection allow us to be open to creativity, take a step forward into the unknown, make untold mistakes along the way, and learn from them. It permits us to be vulnerable to sorrow and accepting of criticism, and fosters a willingness to do better. It provides untapped courage in the face of terror and, ultimately, the peace with which to depart this life.

This philosophy, along with the encouragement of dear friends, led me to found the Light of Healing Hope Foundation in the hope it would help light a new pathway to comfort.

I am so grateful to our generous supporters who have made it possible for me to provide books of hope and comfort for adults as well as for children who are suffering.

I am thrilled that the Light of Healing Hope Foundation has delivered thousands of our gifts to over 100 hospitals and hospices including Johns Hopkins, NIH, Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, INOVA [Health System], St. Jude Childrens Research Hospital, and the Capital Caring Hospice.

Radiant Life: Addressing the suffering of others is an act of giving from a deep part of ones soul, and can feel draining at times, according to those who do it for a long time. Does it sometimes get to you? Do you have ways to help yourself carry on?

Borchgrave: My efforts do not compare to those of the extraordinary, devoted caregivers who have given so much of themselves and have been burned out during this terrible pandemic. In my own limited way, there are times when I do feel drained to find new ways to bring as much comfort as I can to those who are suffering simply by continuing the creative process. Receiving special notes of appreciation from those who have been given our gifts is the most precious source of inspiration for me. My wonderful colleague, Henri, has also been an invaluable source of encouragement for over 15 years, as he reflects with me on the impact of our work.

Radiant Life: What has your experience taught you about the nature of courage and hope?

Borchgrave: Every person has within them a spark of courage that can be ignited, and my work has been to try to light that spark, to try to instill some hope that things might get better.

Radiant Life: Whats next for you?

Borchgrave: Every night I pray for the means to be a better person. I want to continue to bring hope and comfort to those who are suffering. Reaching our goal of 70,000 gifts delivered by the foundation fills my heart with happiness. I am always searching for new ways to bring hope and healing to those in need.
A person walks past a sign during a runoff election for Louisiana governor at a polling station at Quitman High School in Quitman, La., on Nov. 16, 2019. (Matt Sullivan/Getty Images)

Appeals Court Suspends Lower Court Ruling on Louisiana Congressional Map

A federal appeals court on Thursday temporarily suspended a lower courts ruling that Louisiana redraw its six-district congressional map to add a new majority-black district.

The administrative stay was issued to suspend the injunction order of U.S. Middle District Judge Shelly Dick, an appointee of former President Barrack Obama, who ruled in favor of a voting rights group on June 6.

The New Orleans Fifth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals suspended Dicks order requiring Louisiana to redraw its congressional map by June 20 while the case is pending.

The appeals court order by the three-judge panel is not final. Two of the judges were appointed by Republican presidents, the Washington Post reported.

This is the latest move in a legal battle between the majority-GOP legislature and Democratic Gov. John Bel Edwards.

Louisiana Attorney General Jeff Landry announced the ruling on Twitter, saying, The Fifth Circuit has issued a stay of the district court judges injunction on Louisiana Congressional redistricting maps.

BREAKING: The Fifth Circuit has issued a stay of the district court judges injunction on Louisiana Congressional redistricting maps. #lalege #lagov pic.twitter.com/L2LH7EGa0q  AG Jeff Landry (@AGJeffLandry) June 10, 2022

Louisiana has a one-third black population which the governor cited as a reason lawmakers should have included a second majority-black district when drawing the new congressional maps.

In March, the GOP-led legislature overrode Edwards veto of its adopted district maps, prompting a legal challenge by civil rights group, the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund Inc.

Dick, whose ruling came in response to that lawsuit, found the map violated the Voting Rights Act and in her decision said the court would redraw its own congressional boundaries if the legislature failed to do so, according to the Daily Advertiser.

Following the ruling, the governor on June 7 called for an extraordinary session of the Louisiana Legislature set for June 15 to redraw the congressional map (pdf).

The Associated Press reported that State Senate President Page Cortez and House Speaker Clay Schexnayder said Friday that the extraordinary session should be canceled.

Before the judicial redistricting process is complete, any special session would be premature and a waste of taxpayer money, they wrote.

In a June 10 letter to Cortez and Schexnayder, Edwards said that it was premature to cancel the special session.

I remain hopeful that the Fifth Circuit will vacate the administrative stay and allow Judge Dicks well-reasoned decision and injunction to remain in place, Edwards wrote (pdf). I believe the legislature can and should meet next week to enact maps that create a second majority minority district.

I sent a letter to the Senate President & Speaker of the House explaining why its premature to cancel the Extraordinary Session, which I called after the Middle District Court ruled that the congressional maps drawn by Republicans violated Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act. pic.twitter.com/aiLx7O4Lf5  John Bel Edwards (@LouisianaGov) June 10, 2022

However, he noted that if the stay remains in place by 4 p.m. on June 14, the day before state lawmakers are set to convene, he will rescind the extraordinary session.

Should the Court retain a stay over Judge Dicks decision, I agree that further action of the legislature should be delayed until the Fifth Circuit can review the merits of her decision.

The redistricting counsel for the NAACP Legal Defense Fund, Kathryn Sadasivan, decried the current district boundaries, saying it continues to pack black voters from New Orleans and Baton Rouge into a single congressional district.

She said that having only one majority-black district dilutes black political power.
A member of the Iraqi forces walks past a mural bearing the logo of the ISIS group in a tunnel that was reportedly used as a training centre by the jihadists, in the village of Albu Sayf, on the southern outskirts of Mosul, on March 1, 2017. (Ahmad Al-Rubaye/AFP/Getty Images)

Australians Woman Sentenced for Recruiting Terrorist

Hadashah Saadat Khan was an isolated and withdrawn teen when she began seeking out online relationships with people who support the terrorist organisation Islamic State.

The Melbourne woman, who was 18 at the time, was trying to impress another teenager in the U.S. when she helped arrange for him to join Islamic State in Syria, Victorias County Court heard.

Khan advised the man about what he needed to do to enter Syria and communicated with two other intermediaries to help him join IS.

The 24-year-old was sentenced to two years and six months in prison on Friday after pleading guilty to providing support and resources to a terrorist organisation.

Born in Afghanistan, Khan migrated to Australia when she was nine.

She left school in year 10 and was required to stay at home and assist her mother with household chores.

Feeling isolated from her community, between 2014 and 2016, she found solace in online relationships with Muslims of a similar age.

At the same time, Islamic State was rising in prominence and trying to attract and recruit young Muslim men and women from across the world.

Khan said the people she met online were nice to me, they gave me advice, and they said they loved me, the court heard.

She found comfort and a sense of purpose in online relationships, which encouraged her support of extremist jihadi ideology, Judge Richard Maidment told the court.

The tenor of her online communications demonstrates a level of immaturity, eagerness to impress and keenness to endear herself to the male in the United States.

He found Khans offending was on the lower end since the American man was already radicalised when they began speaking online.

He had already purchased a plane ticket to Morocco and had attempted to travel to both Iraq and Turkey, so Judge Maidment said much of her advice was trite.

But, he added: Its always a very serious offence when anybody dabbles in terrorist activity.

Your offending may have been at the low end of the scale, but it is nonetheless to be denounced, he said.

In handing down the sentence, Judge Maidment told Khan, you havent got a lot longer to serve since she has been in prison for more than two years.

You have the opportunity now to lead a better life, although you will need some help, do you understand that? he asked her.

I do, Khan replied, over video-link from custody.

She was remanded in custody to serve her remaining sentence, with a non-parole period of one year and 11 months.
Firefighters work on extinguishing the Coastal Fire in Laguna Niguel, Calif., on May 11, 2022. (John Fredricks/The Epoch Times)

Authorities: Local Coverage of Coastal Fire Untrue

Orange County sheriff and fire authorities have released a joint statement disputing a recently published article by the Orange County Register that called into question the agencies response to the 200-acre Coastal fire, which destroyed 20 homes and damaged 11 others last month.

Signed by Orange County Fire Authority Chief Brian Fennessy and Sheriff Don Barnes, the June 9 statement called out the Register, who they say relied heavily on the opinion of retired OC Sheriffs Department Sgt. Bill Fitzgerald.

Fitzgerald, who ran the departments aviation team but was transferred due to performance issues, according to the authorities, told the Register that local authorities response to the devastating fire on May 11 was negligent.

Firefighters work on extinguishing the Coastal Fire in Laguna Niguel, Calif., on May 11, 2022. (John Fredricks/The Epoch Times)

Fennessy and Barnes said the articles focal point rehashed a years-old and long-resolved issue between the two agencies involving a 2019 policy change that prohibited the sheriffs department from self-dispatching water-dumping helicopters to combat fires, unless invited by the fire department.

For one reason or another, the new rule prompted authorities to remove the choppers water tanks, leaving them unprepared, unmanned or out-for-maintenance, the Register reported.

As a result, only one Orange County Fire Authority helicopter took on the inferno while the sheriffs aircraft remained grounded.

However, Fennessy and Barnes said the Register reporter excluded pertinent information the agencies disseminated to the Register for the article.

Information on our response was provided to the Register reporter, but much of it was not included in the article, the officials said in the statement.

From our perspective, this led readers to draw the conclusion that, if not for this brief past issue, our efforts during the Coastal Fire may have been different, the authorities said. This is not only untrue, it is unfair to the resident who lost their homes and the first responders who put themselves in harms way to protect life and property.

Firefighters work on extinguishing the Costal Fire in Laguna Niguel, Calif., on May 11, 2022. (John Fredricks/The Epoch Times)

Authorities said the sheriffs departments helicopter was on air patrol, relaying aerial information to the fire authoritys battling the fire on the ground just after it erupted.

But the former air support sergeant told the Register that if authorities had access to the sheriffs fixed-wing aircraft that carry fire retardant or water, they could have responded to the Coastal fire rather than sitting idle at John Wayne Airport.

According to records obtained by the Register, it took the Fire Authority helicopter 30 minutes to arrive at the Coastal fire.

We welcome questions about our response and the work we do, the authorities said. We also welcome criticism and always look for opportunities to improve our techniques and tactics.

However, when that criticism is rooted in unrealistic and inaccurate information, it can cause additional trauma for a community still recovering and rebuilding.

A spokesperson from the Orange County Register was not immediately available for comment.

Firefighters work on extinguishing the Costal Fire in Laguna Niguel, Calif., on May 11, 2022. (John Fredricks/The Epoch Times)
An electron microscopic (EM) image shows mature, oval-shaped monkeypox virus particles as well as crescents and spherical particles of immature virions, obtained from a clinical human skin sample associated with the 2003 prairie dog outbreak in this undated image obtained by Reuters on May 18, 2022. (Cynthia S. Goldsmith, Russell Regnery/CDC/Handout via Reuters)

Biden Admin Orders 500,000 More Monkeypox Vaccines

The Biden administration has ordered an additional 500,000 more doses of the Jynneos vaccine for monkeypox, marking a big step up in the governments response amid rising cases in the United States and around the world.

Denmark-based biotech group Bavarian Nordic, the manufacturer of the vaccines, said that the U.S. Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA) has placed the order, to be delivered later this year.

With the previous order from BARDA for 1.4 million doses of liquid-frozen JYNNEOS, awarded in 2020, this order will bring the total U.S. inventory of the vaccine to nearly 2 million doses, the company announced on Friday. Many of the 1.9 million doses are being held by the company until the U.S. government requests them.

The 500,000 vaccine doses will be manufactured using bulk materials that are owned by the United States under previous contracts with BARDA, and are currently stored with the company.

The majority of this bulk, however, will be converted to approximately 13 million freeze-dried doses of JYNNEOS during 2023-2025, Barvarian Nordic said.

Dawn OConnell, Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response, said on Friday that the U.S. government has a stockpile of 72,000 Jynneos doses, and will get 300,000 more doses from Bavarian Nordic over the next several weeks. She also confirmed that 500,000 more Jynneos doses from Bavarian Nordic will be delivered later this year.

We have the vaccines and treatments we need to respond, she said.

As of late Friday, the United States has identified 49 monkeypox cases in 16 states and the District of Columbia. More than 1,470 cases have been found in about 30 other countries outside of Africa, where the virus is endemic, according to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Test tubes labeled Monkeypox virus positive in an illustration taken on May 23, 2022. (Dado Ruvic/Reuters)

The CDC said Friday that every case they had looked at in the United States involved very close contact. Officials have alerted doctors to watch for monkeypox cases and offered vaccinations to people in close contact with those who were infected.

Monkeypox, a viral disease typically limited to Africa, was first reported this year in the United States on May 18, in Massachusetts. The Biden administration on the same day placed a $119 million order for the Jynneos vaccine.

While there are currently no vaccines or antivirals specifically designed to treat monkeypox, the United States has two vaccines approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) that can be used to treat monkeypox.

Jynneos is the only vaccine the FDA has explicitly approved to prevent monkeypox in the United States, in high-risk adults aged 18 and older. It is also approved for use against smallpox.

At the time of the Jynneos vaccines approval in September 2019, Peter Marks, director of the FDAs Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, said that a potential intentional release of smallpox could have a devastating effect.

According to the CDC, the Jynneos vaccine is administered as a live virus that is non-replicating, in two injections four weeks apart. People are not considered vaccinated until two weeks after they receive the second dose of the vaccine.

Meanwhile, an older vaccine called ACAM2000, made by Emergent BioSolutions, was approved by the FDA in 2007 to prevent smallpox, but it can also be used to prevent monkeypox, according to CDC recommendations.

The CDC said that ACAM2000 is recommended for laboratorians working with certain orthopoxviruses and military personnel. It has noted, however, that the ACAM2000 vaccine has the potential for more side effects and adverse events than the Jynneos vaccine.

The CDCs Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) recommends that people whose jobs may expose them to orthopoxviruses such as monkeypox get vaccinated with either ACAM2000 or the Jynneos vaccine.

According to the CDC, ACAM2000 is a live Vaccinia virus preparation.

Following a successful inoculation, a lesion will develop at the site of the vaccination (i.e., a take). The virus growing at the site of this inoculation lesion can be spread to other parts of the body or even to other people, the CDC stated. Individuals who receive vaccination with ACAM2000 must take precautions to prevent the spread of the vaccine virus and are considered vaccinated within 28 days.

There are over 100 million doses of the ACAM2000 vaccines available, officials recently said.

Monkeypox is in the same virus family as smallpox but presents with milder symptoms.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Snow covered transfer lines are seen at the Dominion Cove Point Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) terminal in Lusby, Maryland, on March 18, 2014. (Gary Cameron/ Reuters)

Blast at Freeport LNG Plant Adds to Supply Concerns

A blast at a Freeport LNG facility in Quintana Island, Texas, on June 8 has forced the plant to shut down, raising concerns about natural gas supply issues.

An incident occurred at the Freeport LNG facility on Quintana Island at about 11:40 am. There were no injuries, all employees and contractors have been accounted for and there is no risk to the surrounding community. The incident investigation will continue, Freeport LNG said in a statement, according to Click2Houston. It is unknown what caused the explosion. The facility will remain closed for a minimum of three weeks.

The Freeport facility has the capacity to process up to 2.1 billion cubic feet per day (bcfd) of liquefied natural gas (LNG). At full capacity, the plant can export 15 million tonnes per annum (MTPA) of the liquid gas. The companycurrently expanding capacity to 20 MTPAprocesses gas for BP, Osaka Gas, Kansai Electric, Total Energies, and SK E&S.

Last year, total U.S. LNG exports hit a record high of 9.7 bcfd. The Freeport plant accounts for 20 percent of the countrys LNG processing.

In March, the Freeport LNG facility saw the loading of 21 cargoes, which collectively carried an estimated 64 billion cubic feet of gas to China, South Korea, and Europe, according to the U.S. Department of Energy. That number is up from 19 in January and 15 in February.

This is a significant production outage at a major U.S facility, Alex Munton, director of global gas and LNG at research firm Rapidan Energy, told Reuters. Its going to mean one thing: shortages. The competition for spot LNG is going to drive global LNG prices higher.

According to Alex Froley, LNG analyst at data intelligence firm ICIS, a three-week shutdown of the Freeport plant will result in the loss of 940,000 tonnes of LNG. Based on an average cargo size of around 70,000 tonnes, this will be equivalent to the loss of around 13 cargoes.

The loss of Freeport LNG supplies comes as Europe is scrambling to find alternatives to Russian gas imports. Ever since Russia invaded Ukraine in late February, the European Union has been trying to completely rid itself of Russian gas. EU nations are planning to increase their LNG imports from other places as a result.

However, such a move has a supply-demand consequence. If the EU were to sharply reduce Russian gas imports, global LNG demand would exceed supply by 26 million tons by the end of this year, according to an analysis by consultancy Rystad Energy. The EU is planning to cut down Russian gas dependence by two-thirds this year.

One European gas trader, speaking anonymously, told Reuters that the loss of Freeport LNG exports can be tolerated if the outage remains limited to the short term. However, a longer-term outage could add strain to an already stressed market. It also raises the question of whether Europe will be able to shed its dependence on Russian gas.

Around 68 percent of Freeport LNG exports in the last three months went to Britain and the European Union, according to a tweet by ICIS analysts.
Air Force One with President Joe Biden onboard arrives at the Osan Air Base in Pyeongtaek, South Korea, on May 20, 2022. (Lee Jin-man/Pool via Reuters)

Boeings New Air Force One Risks Delay Over Tight Labor Market: Watchdog

The next-generation presidential aircraft being built by Boeing Co. risks further delay due to a tight labor market for mechanics and lower-than-expected security clearance rates, the investigative arm of Congress said on Wednesday.

The need for Boeing to switch to an alternative supplier for some interior work was also cited in the report issued by the Government Accountability Office (GAO) as a major schedule risk.

Air Force Oneemblazoned with the American flag, the words United States of America and the seal of the officeis famous the world over as an airborne White House.

The current aircraft has 4,000 square feet of space on three levels, including a conference room and medical suite.

The Boeing 747-8s are designed to be able to fly in worst-case security scenarios such as nuclear war, and are modified with military avionics, advanced communications, and a self-defense system.

Boeing received a $3.9 billion contract in 2018 for two 747-8 aircraft to be delivered around 2024. The Pentagon said this year that the planes are not likely to be delivered until 2026.

Boeing is experiencing aircraft mechanic workforce limitations due to a competitive labor market, GAO said in its report. They said that an additional limitation is lower-than-planned security clearance approval rates for skilled workers needed to modify the aircraft.

Boeing said it was focused on delivering two exceptional airplanes.

We continue to make steady progress on the VC-25B program, while navigating through some challenges, it said in a statement.
California Man Says He Flew to Maryland to Kill Supreme Court Justice Kavanaugh: 911 Call

A California man arrested near the Maryland home of a Supreme Court justice on June 8 told a dispatcher that he flew across the country to kill the justice, according to newly released audio from a 911 call.

I am having  thoughts, Nicholas John Roske, the California man, told the dispatcher around 1 a.m. Ive been having them for a long time. Im from California. I came over here to act on them.

Roske was standing near the home of Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh in Chevy Chase.

He said he brought a gun with him but it was unloaded and locked in a case. He had not consumed alcohol or drugs.

Do you need medical attention? the dispatcher asked. I need psychiatric help.

In his first court appearance following his arrest, Roske said hed taken medications prescribed by a doctor and wouldnt say Im thinking clearly. Hes being held because his lawyer decided not to try, for now, for pretrial release.

Back on the phone before he was arrested, Roske said he had other weapons with him, including pepper spray and a knife, and that he had just traveled from the airport to the suburban neighborhood just outside of Washington. According to court documents, Roske had burglary tools and planned to break into Kavanaughs home when he exited a taxi, but walked down the street when he saw two deputy U.S. Marshals.

And you said you came from California. Do you know someone down here? the dispatcher asked. Brett Kavanaugh. The Supreme Court justice, Roske said.

What were you coming to do? Just to hurt yourself and him, or what was going to happen? the dispatcher asked. Correct, Roske said.

He soon hung up because he said officers had arrived.

The calls were obtained from Montgomery County Police Department, which made the arrest, and released by news outlets.

While Roske didnt move towards Kavanaughs home after seeing the officers and called 911 on himself, case law says stopping because you spotted officers that might thwart your plan is just irrelevant, Orin Kerr, a law professor at University of California, Berkeley, School of Law, wrote on Twitter. He cited the federal appeals court that covers Maryland, which ruled in another case that the fact that police presence ultimately caused [a man] to forego completion of the crime in no way establishes an abandonment of the attempt.

Roske, per an affidavit filed in support of an attempted murder charge against the man, waived his right to remain silent and have an attorney present after being arrested. He told officers that he flew to Maryland because he was upset about the recently leaked Supreme Court draft decision that indicated the court is poised to strike down Roe v. Wade, the ruling that said access to abortion is a constitutional right.

Roske also said he thought Kavanaugh would be one of the votes to loosen gun control laws. The court is considering a case that concerns the legality of a New York law that requires people who want a concealed carry license to prove they have proper cause. During oral arguments, justices seemed receptive to arguments against the law.

Roske, who faces up to 20 years in prison, found the address of Kavanaugh on the Internet and bought a gun and other items, including two magazines and ammunition, for the purpose of murdering the justice, according to charging documents. On the call, Roske said he saw an article that contained a picture of Kavanaughs home and cross referenced it with other information.

Roske said he was diagnosed with an issue without appearing to name what the issue was and that he had been hospitalized multiple times. He said he lived with his parents in California and did not have any children. FBI agents raided the home in Simi Valley following Roskes arrest.
Former Canadian ambassador to China Guy St-Jacques speaks at a panel discussion during a forum on the challenges posed by China to the international community, at the University of Ottawa in Ottawa on June 3, 2022. (Limin Zhou/The Epoch Times)

Canada Should Adopt a Much Firmer Attitude With China: Former Ambassador

Canada should be much firmer in its dealings with communist China, says a former ambassador to that country.

Guy St-Jacques, Canadas envoy to China from 2012 to 2016, made the comments in his speech during a panel discussion at The Challenge of China conference at the University of Ottawa on June 3.

It is high time for the government to adopt a much firmer attitude with China. Its the only language that China respects. It calls for concerted action [that] has to take place among like-minded democracies to counter China, said St-Jacques.

China feels emboldened with its wolf warrior type of diplomacy, and feels that it is winning today, he added, noting that Chinas approach to international law is like its a menuwe take some things, we dont take others.

St-Jacques said it remains difficult to do business in communist China. It has not delivered on all the promises it made when it entered the WTO [World Trade Organization] in 2001, and it keeps favouring its [own] companies, especially state-owned enterprises. Add to this, its use of trade as a weapon, he said.

He cited an article by the Australian Strategic Policy Institute, which found that the Chinese regime had used coercive diplomacy tactics 152 times against 27 countries and the European Union between 2010 and 2020.

These actions illustrate, in my view, how insecure a country China is, St. Jacques said.

Naivety

St. Jacques said that prior to the Meng Wanzhou affair, which led to the Chinese regimes arbitrary detention of Canadians Michael Spavor and Michael Kovrig in 2018, some individuals within the government didnt want to recognize the regime as an aggressive bully that threatens our values.

Even now, he said he is uncertain that the naivety toward China came to end in the aftermath.

In December 2018, Canada arrested Meng Wanzhou, the chief financial officer of Chinese telecom giant Huawei, at the Vancouver International Airport on a provisional U.S. extradition request. She was charged the next month with fraud and conspiracy to commit fraud for allegedly lying to a financial institution about Huaweis relationship with its Iranian subsidiary Skycom in order to circumvent American sanctions against Iran.

Days later, the Chinese regime detained businessman Spavor and former diplomat Kovrig in a move widely viewed as retaliation and part of Beijings hostage diplomacy to pressure Canada to release Meng. In May 2019, Chinese authorities formally charged the two Canadians with spying.

In September 2021, the two men were released and flew back to Canada while Meng was released and flew back to China, after Meng reached a deferred prosecution agreement with the U.S. Attorneys Office. In the agreement, Meng admitted to having committed fraud in her dealings with HSBC bank, during which she concealed Huaweis business in Iran through its control of Skycom.

Journalist Steve Chase (L), senior fellow at the University of Ottawas Graduate School of Public and International Affairs Margaret McCuaig-Johnston (C), and former Canadian ambassador to China Guy St-Jacques at  The Challenge of China  conference at the University of Ottawa in Ottawa on June 3, 2022. (Limin Zhou/The Epoch Times)

Arrests of Spavor, Kovrig Woke Up Canadians

Co-panellist Steve Chase, a senior parliamentary reporter for The Globe and Mail, said that he wished to talk about the extent to which the debate over China has been rebalanced, or balanced, for the first time in Canada.

This is due to what happened to the two Michaels in particular, but perhaps even two years earlier when Canada began giving more attention to issues such as national security and the impact of foreign interference, he said.

For decades, China has been viewed primarily through an economic lens, Chase said. He noted that this dates back to former prime minister Jean Chretien and his Team Canada missions, which he boasts openly of being one of the first Western leaders back in China after Tiananmen Square, referring to the student-led pro-democracy protests in Beijing in 1989 that was crushed by the communist authorities, resulting in an estimated thousands of people killed.

The debate over China is guided by organizations like the Canada China Business Council and other organizations, [like the] Canada West Foundation in recent years, said Chase.

For many years, the debate over China has also been framed by certain experts at certain universities. some of whom I would argue have a conflict of interest, because theyre also helping their universities expand to China, build partnerships in China, solicit donations in China, and also have consulting businesses.

The regimes arrest of the two Michaels, which was an awful, and horrible and tragic incident, but also, I think [one that] woke up Canadians, Chase said.

Negative perception of the Chinese communist regime reached a historic high in 2020 during the COVID-19 outbreak, with only one in five Canadians holding positive views about the country, and little has changed since that time.

Urging Zero Tolerance for Interference and Spying

The other co-panellist, Margaret McCuaig-Johnston, a senior fellow at the University of Ottawas Graduate School of Public and International Affairs, was in Shanghai when Spavor and Kovrig were detained. She said her own locked suitcases in her hotel room were unlocked and searched at the time, and she was told by a Chinese executive she was meeting with that China has a list of 100 Canadians that it can pick up and interrogate at any time.

St.-Jacques noted that despite the return of Meng to China and the two Michaels return to Canada, relations between the two countries remain at the low point, with all official dialogues put in place by the Stephen Harper and Justin Trudeau governments suspended following Canadas recent decision to ban Huawei from 5G development in Canada.

Canadian foreign policy has been neglected for the last 15 years, and as a result, Canada is no longer perceived as an influential or useful player, St. Jacques added.

The former ambassador said that going forward, as trust has been broken, Canadas strategies with China should be based on the defence and protection of our values and national interests, as well as reciprocity and transparency.

There should be zero tolerance for interference and spying activities in Canada, he said, noting that Canada should look at the foreign interference laws adopted by Australia to prevent Chinese interference.
An optimistic state of mind is beneficial to health, while a pessimistic one is harmful. Modern medicine has recognized the so-called placebo effect. However, you may not know that human thoughts, emotions, and beliefs not only change the physical body, but also to the extent that they can possibly reverse cancer.

Below are several real-life cancer cases.

A Patients Terminal Cancer Disappeared Rapidly Due to a Misunderstanding

In a 1957 paper titled Psychological Variables in Human Cancer published in the Journal of Projective Techniques, Bruno Klopfer, a well-known psychologist, recorded a bizarre medical case with a twist.

Mr. Wright was a terminal lymphoma patient with tumors as large as oranges in his neck, chest, armpits, abdomen, and groin, and he also suffered from a swollen and enlarged spleen and liver, as well as severe anemia. His doctor, Philip West, thought that he was dying and would not give him any more treatment. However, Wright still wanted to live, and while he was in the hospital, he learned that the hospital was testing a new anti-cancer drug called Krebiozen, which gave him hope.

Wright begged Dr. West to inject him with the new drug, but the latter tried to discourage him, saying that Krebiozen was not suitable for him and that it was against the rules. Nevertheless, Wright kept begging and pleading, and Dr. West finally agreed to let him try it. Three days after the new drug was injected, when Dr. West returned to the hospital after the weekend, he was amazed to see Wright, who had been bedridden and constantly wearing an oxygen mask, now walking around the room and laughing with the nurses!

However, other patients in the hospital, who were also undergoing the Krebiozen trial, showed no improvement, and some even got worse. Doctors examined Wrights lesions and found that his tumors had shrunk by half in just a few days! Dr. West described the tumors melting as snowballs on a hot stove. The people in the hospital couldnt believe it, but they couldnt deny what they saw. That week, Dr. West followed the Krebiozen course of treatment and gave him two more injections.

Ten days later, all of Wrights symptoms were gone, and he was discharged from the hospital.

A few weeks later, he was still very healthy. About two months later, Wright suddenly saw a steady stream of news reports that Krebiozen had been tested and was not effective against cancer. His tumors quickly recurred, returning to their previous severity, and he was hospitalized again in a very depressed and sad state.

Knowing Wrights optimistic nature, Dr. West thought that since there was no way to help him anyway, he might as well use him for a harmless experiment. So he made a daring attempt that no modern doctor would dare to make, by telling Wright to not believe the newspapers, as Krebiozen was the most promising anti-cancer drug.

Wright asked about his cancers recurrence. Dr. West blamed it on the reduction in drug effectiveness due to the lapse of time. And he then said that there was a newly improved version of Krebiozen, which was twice as effective, and the hospital would soon receive it. Wright was overjoyed to hear this piece of news, and his hope returned.

Dr. West deliberately made him wait a few days to raise his expectations. Several days later, Dr. West pretended to give him a double-strength dose (which was actually a placebo solution with no effect). The results of this treatment turned out to be even more dramatic than the first, and Wrights tumors disappeared again! And the fluid in his chest cavity also disappeared. He was discharged from the hospital for a second time and went home in perfect health, which lasted for another two months.

One day, Wright read an article that the American Medical Association (AMA) had officially announced that Krebiozen had been confirmed to be ineffective in fighting cancer after extensive clinical trials. Afterwards, Wrights tumor recurred, and he was hospitalized again a few days later, passing away in less than two days.

Faith Made Her Live Past Her 2 Week Lifespan

Rose had acute myelogenous leukemia and was told by several doctors that she might not live for more than two weeks. She immediately received intensive hospital care and began chemotherapy. Rose later said that when the doctors told her that she had only two weeks to live, she saw a golden white light shining in the room and immediately knew that she wasnt going to die.

During her treatment, Rose wrote the word pure love on the label of every injection vial, including the chemotherapy vials. Her condition gradually improved, and she experienced no side effects from chemotherapy. Rose went on to live.

This case was originally published in American energy healer Barbara Brennans book, Hands of Light: A Guide to Healing Through the Human Energy Field.

The Pessimistic Lung Cancer Patients

In his books Peace Is the Way and Creating Health: How to Wake Up the Bodys Intelligence, Deepak Chopra, an American authority on mind-body medicine, cites two sobering cases, both of which were patients of his.

A young woman had a chest x-ray scan that revealed a shadow that looked like lung cancer but was not confirmed. However, she was so disturbed by the news that her health quickly deteriorated, and she died of lung cancer a few months later. Afterwards, when Chopra reviewed her medical records, he found an x-ray image from more than five years ago that showed a slightly smaller shadow, which was almost identical to the one on the more recent X-ray image. Chopra speculated that her former doctor might not have told her about the shadow, or might have simply told her that it didnt matter.

A 64-year-old long-term smoker went to see Chopra for a routine health check. Since he was in good health and had no symptoms of disease, Chopra only performed a chest x-ray scan for him. However, the X-ray image revealed a large lesion in the lower left lobe of his lung, which was further examined and found to be consistent with lung cancer. Within three days, the patient began coughing up blood, then developed shortness of breath and had a non-stop cough for three weeks. A month later, he died of lung cancer.

Chopra points out that cases like this show that cancer only expands rapidly and leads to death after the patient is alerted to its danger. Its almost as if the patient died of the diagnosis, not the disease.

Chopra calls this the anti-placebo effect. The problem lies with the patients thought: I have cancer, and Im going to die. The patients psycho-physical mechanism transforms that thought into a series of pathological changes. And as a result, their diseases began to deteriorate rapidly.

Intentions are Closely Linked to DNA

Why can the human mind affect the physical body so quickly and dramatically? In fact, scientists have long discovered that human thoughts are reflected not only in the larger biochemical system, but also directly in the microscopic DNA, and that this connection is completely independent of time and space.

The following two experiments may give us some insights.

Emotional changes are instantaneously reflected in DNA

New York Times bestselling author and engineer Gregg Braden, who is dedicated to combining spirituality and science, mentions in his book The Divine Matrix a scientific experiment in the US Army. The experiment was designed by polygraph inventor Cleve Backster and published in the 1993 issue of Advances.

The researchers collected biopsies from the subjects and placed DNA samples of the tissues in a chamber designed to measure the electrical changes in the DNA. At the same time, the subjects stayed in another room in the same building and watched a series of emotionally stimulating videos.

The researchers monitored both a subjects emotional responses and the electrical changes in his/her DNA, and the results showed that when the subject experienced an emotional high or low, there was an immediate and intense electrical response in his or her DNA.

The researchers wanted to find out if this connectivity between the subjects and their DNA was affected by distance. Therefore, they separated the subjects from their DNA by 350 miles and repeated the experiment. And the changes still occurred simultaneously!

The DNA sample was removed from the subjects body and no longer had a solid molecular connection to it. How could the DNA sample know the subjects emotional changes?

Braden believes that living cells communicate with one another through an unknown form of energy, which is not affected by time or distance. This is not a localized form of energy, as it is omnipresent all the time. Another possible explanation is that human consciousness exists in every cell of the human body, in other words, consciousness and the physical body are two sides of the same coin.

This experiment proves that changes of human emotions will be instantly reflected in ones DNA. And the following experiment also found that the human mind can change the DNA of others.

Mind can change the shape of DNA strands

This intriguing experiment, published in 2003 by the HeartMath Institute in California, showed that people can use their minds to change the molecular shape of other peoples DNA, tightening or loosening its long strands.

HeartMath Institute has developed a technique (which involves calming the mind, moving awareness to the heart area, and focusing on positive emotions) that can be used to increase heart coherence and bring the bodys physiology into a highly ordered harmonious state (a state of health).

The research team placed human placental DNA in sealed test tubes, placed the test tubes in beakers, and then distributed 28 beakers to 28 subjects. Among them, 10 had received prior training in the heart coherence technique, while the other 18 were untrained.

During the experiment, the subjects held the beakers in their hands (without touching the test tubes containing DNA samples), focused their consciousness on their heart areas, and generated feelings of love and gratitude from within, then they followed instructions to tighten or loosen the long strands of DNA. At the same time, the researchers measured the shape changes of the DNA strands with an ultraviolet absorption spectrometer and observed the emotional and physiological state of the subjects with an electrocardiograph.

Experiment Results

The heart coherence of those who had received the training increased and changed the shape of the DNA samples by 10 percent to 25 percent. The higher the heart coherence, the greater the DNA shape change. However, if the subjects didnt use the technology or didnt send out thoughts to change the DNA shape, no changes would occur in the DNA samples.

An untrained subject entered the laboratory in a disturbed and depressed state. His heartbeat was irregular, and with a lot of negative emotions, he was unable to concentrate to generate any positive emotion. Nevertheless, he still agreed to be tested, and the results were very unusual. Although he had difficulty concentrating his thoughts, his DNA sample changed shape, and there was an unusual shift in the spectrum curve. The researchers said that this was an extremely rare effect and that the physical and chemical structures of the DNA molecules might have been changed.

In this experiment, did the tightening or loosening of the long DNA strands have any significance?

The researchers said that it was a relevant process in the operation of living organisms, involving DNA replication, repair, and transcription, which are important cellular functions.

Therefore, this experiment suggests that when a person is highly concentrated on maintaining positive emotions, his or her mind can influence cellular-level operations through a type of unknown energetic interactions. The researchers suggest that heart coherence appears to be necessary for this energy field to work, and that it may be a key to understanding some unexplained phenomena, such as the placebo effect, the spontaneous remission of cancer, and the healing power of prayer or faith.

The Path to Self-Healing

Modern science has come to understand the power, or energy, of the human spirit. If the human mind and body are truly connected in such an important way, how can we adjust our inner world to help ourselves through a major illness such as cancer?

According to Bernie Siegel, an American physician and author who specializes in psychotherapy for cancer and chronic diseases, the bodys immune system is powerful enough to overcome cancer when left undisturbed, and the immune system can be strengthened by increasing self-identification and mindfulness in action.

Siegel points out that people who are miraculously cured of their diseases dont just have the idea that they dont want to die, but they also have the determination to do something. They decide to make their lives worth living, or to find the meaning of their lives before they die. When they start moving toward this goal, good things happen.
Two divers under the sea of Mun Island, overlooking dead corals. Photo by VnExpress/Mai Kha

Hundreds of square meters of coral are dying en-masse off the coast of Nha Trang, with illegal fishing one of the possible culprits.

Nguyen Son, a tourist from Hanoi, traveled to the Mun Island in the Nha Trang Bay conservation site late last month. He expected the ecosystem at the island to be improved after a long period of tourism suspension due to Covid-19.

But a dive instead revealed an empty seabed, with few fish and coral left.

Son said the suspension of tourism was a prime opportunity for sea creatures to thrive. Over a year ago, divers like him were ecstatic to see the ocean ecosystem at Mun Island recovering. Without the presence of tourists, the coral and sea creatures would become no less majestic than in Malaysia, Thailand or Indonesia, they thought.

"We sea lovers are very sad to see the coral die en-masse," Son said, adding that the current ecosystem is only about 10 percent of what it used to be before the pandemic hit.

Coral death product of illegal fishing, climate change: Nha Trang insiders San ho o vinh Nha Trang chet hang loat Dead coral on the seabed of Mun Island, Nha Trang. Video by VnExpress/Mai Kha

Mun Island, about 10 kilometers from shore, lies within the Nha Trang Bay conservation site spanning 160 square kilometers. It has a diverse ecosystem and popular diving sites, attracting scores of tourists.

Mai Hoang Kien Kha, a veteran diver with 20 years of experience in Nha Trang, confirmed the coral is dying in the island. There are few sea creatures left on the seabed, while other areas are filled with trash and fishing contraptions. The northeastern region of the island used to boast beautiful coral, but now hundreds of square meters are dead, he said.

A study by the Institute of Oceanography, the Russian Academy of Sciences and Vietnam-Russia Tropical Center in Nha Trang in March 2021 said 90 percent of coral in Nha Trang Bay have disappeared since 1980.

Hoang Xuan Ben, deputy head of the Nha Trang Institute of Oceanography, said the disappearance of coral in the area has many causes, including pollution, coral bleaching and natural disasters.

Huynh Binh Thai, head of the management committee of Nha Trang Bay, said natural disasters is the prime cause of coral death. Typhoon Rai in December 2021 in particular had damaged over 80 percent of coral in Nha Trang, he added.

"Climate change and global warming also negatively affected coral, not just in Nha Trang but areas like Phu Quoc (off the southern coast)," Thai said, adding that starfish also contributed to coral decline.

But for sea veterans like Kha, natural disasters alone cannot explain whats happening in Nha Trang.

Kha said if natural disasters were indeed the cause, areas like Van Phong Bay should feel the brunt first as winds affect it before reaching Nha Trang Bay, yet its coral remains intact.

"Mun Island, an area thats supposed to be more protected from winds, has an empty seabed and dying coral. Its absurd to think natural disasters are to blame," Kha said.

Several guides in the area ascribed dying coral in Mun Island to illegal fishing. Vessels would hover around the island, awaiting illegal opportunities to fish. They typically utilize bottom trawling across a large sea area, damaging coral in the process.

The management committee of Nha Trang Bay said that in 2021 and the first half of 2022, patrols detected around 49 incidents of illegal fishing. But due to a lack of personnel, its difficult to monitor the entire area and counter illegal fishing, prompting the involvement of border guards on several occasions, the committee said.

Nguyen Tan Tuan, chairman of Khanh Hoa Peoples Committee, said the province has requested Nha Trang authorities to ramp up patrols and persuade tourists to help prevent pollution in the area. It has also requested the Nha Trang Bay management committee and oceanography institute to cooperate and regrow coral.
A young man holds a sign bearing photographs of Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor, who have been detained in China for more than a year, outside the B.C. Supreme Court where Huawei chief financial officer Meng Wanzhou was attending a hearing, in Vancouver on Jan. 21, 2020. (The Canadian Press/Darryl Dyck)

How a Longtime Canadian Friend of China Became an Outspoken Critic of Beijing

Margaret McCuaig-Johnston says Chinese officials need to know Canada is watching closely

When Margaret McCuaig-Johnston first began speaking out against the Chinese communist regimes human rights abuses, the former senior government official had been a friend of China for 40 years and had helped them develop their innovation capacity.

Today, she says Canadians should speak truth to power every time they meet with Chinese officials.

Margaret McCuaig-Johnston in a file photo. (video screenshot)

The final straw for me and for many Canadians was the kidnapping of Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor, said McCuaig-Johnston at The Challenge of China conference in Ottawa on June 3.

Organized by the University of Ottawa, where McCuaig-Johnston is a senior fellow with the Graduate School of Public and International Affairs and with the Institute of Science, Society and Policy, the conference was focused on protecting human rights and democracy in the global institutions of the 21st century.

McCuaig-Johnston had a 37-year career in government during which time she held senior management positions and for seven years was a member of the Canada-China Joint Committee on Science and Technology.

She said she first took an interest in China in 1978 when she was a civil servant in the Ontario government. The country was in the midst of its first democracy movement, opening up after isolating from the outside world for decades and having launched various political campaigns that killed millions of its people.

It started in December 1978, when an electrician at the Peking Zoo, Wei Jingsheng, posted an essay on a stone wall running from Xidan Street along West Chang An Avenue towards Tiananmen Square, McCuaig-Johnston said, referring to the Xidan Democracy Wall during that period in Beijings Xicheng District.

His poster called for a Fifth Modernization of democracy in response to [former Chinese Communist Party (CCP) leader] Deng Xiaopings essay on the Four Modernizations of agriculture, defence, industry, and science and technology.

Weis essay on the wall was soon joined by other posts put up by workers groups and students in protest over political and social issues in China.

McCuaig-Johnston, who with her husband went to China to see the wall for ourselves, said the extended visit propelled me to learn more Mandarin and do a masters [degree] in international relations focused on China.

The movement didnt last long. Deng, who initially seemed to endorse the Democracy Wall activists, eventually turned his back on them, McCuaig-Johnston said. Wei was arrested in March 1979, served 18 years in prison, and was exiled to the United States in 1997 after former U.S. president Jimmy Carter intervened on his behalf with then Chinese leader Jiang Zemin.

A Chinese man stands alone blocking a line of tanks heading east on the Avenue of Eternal Peace during the Tiananmen Square massacre, in Beijing on June 5, 1989. (Jeff Widener/AP Photo)

 Bad Nightmare 

McCuaig-Johnston said the shutdown of the Xidan Democracy Wall movement was a prelude to the CCPs response to the student protests on Tiananmen Square from April to June 1989.

As many as a million people gathered in Tiananmen Square, and millions others participated in shadow protests in 400 cities across the country, calling for democracy. And just like the Xidan wall, the leadership permitted and even encouraged ituntil the day they didnt, she said.

Sending in the tanks on the Friday and Saturday was a shock to many people in the West. And it was said that even more people were killed in the streets of Beijing that night than had died in the square.

However, the bad nightmare of what became known as the Tiananmen Square massacre did not deter Prime Minister Jean Chretien from wanting to increase trade with China when he took office in 1993, McCuaig-Johnston said.

He was explicit that human rights and trade discussions should not be mixed, she noted, adding that although Chretien initiated a bilateral dialogue on human rights at the same time, the Chinese side wasnt receptive and the dialogue was terminated nine years later.

McCuaig-Johnston said successive prime ministers, including Paul Martin, Stephen Harper, and Justin Trudeau, also met with no success when they tried discussing human rights issues with Beijing.

A facility believed to be a re-education camp where mostly Muslim ethnic minorities are detained, in Artux, north of Kashgar in Chinas western Xinjiang region, on June 2, 2019. (Greg Baker/AFP/Getty Images)

Surveillance

While noting that what galvanized her to become a vocal critic of the CCP was the arbitrary detention of Kovrig and Spavor, McCuaig-Johnston said that by that time she already had concerns about human rights in China on a number of other fronts.

These included Chinese surveillance technology companies, including ones engaged in partnerships with Canadian researchers; the incarceration of one million Uyghurs; militarization of the islands in the South China Sea; and military threats to Taiwan.

Another factor was the execution sentences on Robert Schellenberg, and the three Chinese Canadians whose sentences tracked [Meng Wanzhous] court appearances, and whose Canadian citizenship, like Huseyin Celils, is not recognized by Beijing, so it can deprive them of access by our embassy, McCuaig-Johnston said.

She said she was in Shanghai when Kovrig and Spavor were arrested and her locked suitcases in her hotel room were unlocked and searched.

I mentioned the Michaels detentions to a Chinese executive with whom I was meeting. He said, Oh yes, China has a list of 100 Canadians that [it] can pick up and interrogate at any time, she said.

When I returned home, two other Canadians mentioned the list, and one said I might be on it for my work on joint ventures.

She decided to speak out, doing her first interview ever with the media.

Since I was speaking out about the detentions there were a lot of other things that I thought deserved the spotlight shone on them, particularly in my wheelhouse of Chinas technology development, she said.

For example, these Chinese surveillance technology companies are a huge human rights concern being used against the Uyghurs, Tibetans, and in general population control.

She added that China has moved into senior ranks in international standards organizations to ensure its technologies can be sold globally, including the technology platform of BGI Genomics, which provides genomic sequencing and related services to customers in over 100 countries.

Chinas BGI is collecting genetic data from Canadians and sending it to China to be stored in Chinas huge database, she said.

Surveillance cameras are seen in front of a Huawei logo in Belgrade, Serbia, on Aug. 11, 2020. (Marko Djurica/Reuters)

McCuaig-Johnston said that while she welcomes the federal governments recent ban of Huawei Technologies from Canadas 5G network, shes worried that the uninstalling of its technology will take too long.

Im concerned that Telus has been installing Huawei 5G hardware and software for the past two years, and now has been given another two years before it has to be taken out of their systems by June 2024, she said.

Thats four years total exposure we now have to the very 5G national security concerns weve wanted to avoid, with Huawei doing fixes and updates via backdoors on a weekly basis, she said.

 Untold Horrors 

McCuaig-Johnston says its important for Chinese officials to realize that we are all watching every one of these developments closely.

She recounted that during her last trip to China in December 2018, she had dinner with a senior CCP official who was a longtime acquaintance and raised concerns about the Uyghurs who had died in the so-called re-education camps. She is a member of the Uyghur Rights Advocacy Project policy adviser team.

His reply was, People die everywhere all the time. To which I replied, Not healthy young people, for which he just gave a blank stare.

Still, McCuaig-Johnston says that those who are in touch with Chinese officials must raise these issues as often as they can.

She said that if she ever returns to China, she would focus on the 1.8 million Uyghur and Tibetan children who have been put in re-education camps where their language and culture are being drummed out of them.

They are learning [CCP leader] Xi Jinping thought and they are not receiving adequate food or clothing. Each one is a little child experiencing untold horrors and wondering every day why their parents are not coming to rescue them. That is what the Xi regime is doing to its own people. she said.

McCuaig-Johnston is also a member of the Canada U.S. Commission on China, an advisory board member with the Canada China Forum, and a board member of the Canadian International Councils National Capital Branch.

Editors note: This article has been updated to reflect Margaret McCuaig-Johnstons most current think tank affiliations.
Mount Nicholson has one of the most expensive luxury residential developments in Hong Kong. (Anthony Wallace/AFP via Getty Images)

Chinese Enterprises and Tycoons are in a Money Transfer Frenzy, Singapore the Top Choice

A Chinese Tycoon from Fujian Province recently bought 20 units at Canninghill Piers, a luxury condominium development in Singapore. More and more Chinese tycoons are worried about leaving a large proportion of their money in mainland China and are transferring their assets abroad. Within this asset transfer fever, Singapore has become the number one safe haven of choice.

Although the Singapore government attempted to cool down its real estate market through the Additional Buyers Stamp Duty (ABSD), a tax that increased the price of a property by 30 percent if purchased by a foreigner, it does not stop the interest foreign tycoons have in the countrys properties.

Lianhe Zaobao recently published an article saying that a buyer from Fujian, China, recently bought 20 units in Canninghill Piers for more than 85 million SGD (about $61.2 million).

According to people familiar with the matter, Lianhe Zaobao revealed that the mysterious buyer paid with money transferred from Indonesia. Out of the 20 units he bought, half of them were three-bedroom units priced between 3.1 million and 3.3 million SGD (about $2.25 million to $2.39 million); the other 10 units were four-bedroom units priced between $5.3 million and $5.6 million SGD (about $3.85 million to $4.07 million).

The person also said that the same buyer is considering buying 10 more units, which would make his total expenditure over 100 million SGD (about $73 million). This means that with that transaction alone, the Singapore government will be able to collect a stamp duty revenue of approximately $30 million SGD (about $21.81 million).

People working in the real estate sector told Lianhe Zaobao that many foreign tycoons choose to immigrate to Singapore due to concerns that include an unstable political and business climate in Chain, hence, foreigners property transactions could be higher than the official data the government published.

Chinese Tycoons the new Singapore Immigrants

For the past few decades, Singapore has been seen as an attractive place for entrepreneurs and the middle-class from countries such as Malaysia and Indonesia. But the wealth landscape has ben reshaped with an intruding new force of Chinas super rich immigrating there in the last decade.

In Forbes 36th annual World Billionaires List, published in April this year, Li Xiting, founder and chairman of Shenzhen Mindray Bio-Medical Electronics, became the richest man in Singapore with a net worth of $16.5 billion.

Li Xiting, 71, a naturalised Singapore citizen, was born into an ordinary family in Anhui Province in China and graduated from the China University of Technology. At the age of 40, Li went into business in Shenzhen in 1991 and co-founded Mindray with several colleagues from Shenzhen Anke High-tech Co., Ltd. Mindray, headquartered in Shenzhen, is Chinas largest medical equipment manufacturer.

Four of the top 10 richest Singaporeans are Chinese immigrants, according to Forbes list. Namely Zhang Yong, founder and CEO of Haidilao, a hotpot restaurant company. Zhang ranked 6th with a net worth of $6 billion (as of June 9, 2022).

Zhang wasranked the richest man in Singapore in 2019 with a net worth of 13.8 billion then. As the new elite in Singapore, he disrupted the previous social elite circle lead by those with old money. Before Zhang, brothers Robert and Philip Ng, of the real estate developer Far East Organization, were ranked the richest in Singapore for 10 years.

Ranking 7th is Forrest Li Xiaodong, of Sea Limited, an online gaming firm and e-commerce firm. Seas co-founder and COO Gang Ye is ranked 10th, with a net worth of $2.8 billion (as of June 9, 2022). Seas 3 main subsidiaries focus on gaming, e-commerce and digital payments, and financial services companies Garena, Shopee, and SeaMoney.

Other Chinese Singaporeans on the list include Tao Zhao, founder of Shandong Buchang Pharma, a pharmaceutical company, who ranked 13th. And Zhong Sheng Jian, founder, chairman, and CEO of Yanlord Land Group, a real estate developer, ranked 20th with a net worth of $1.5 billion (as of 9th June 2022).

An increasing number of affluent Chinese are setting up family offices in Singapore.

Firms in Singapore are helping affluent Chinese transfer assets through family offices.

A family office is a privately held company that handles investment management and wealth management for a wealthy family. In Singapore, it costs at least $10 million SGD (approximately $7.26 million) to set up a family office.

In the past, the first choice of the rich was Hong Kong, but now Singapore seems to be more popular.

According to data from the Economic Development Board, the number of Singapore family offices increased fivefold from 2017 to 2019. This rate rose further during the pandemic, at the end of 2020, Singapore had 400 Single Family Offices, and the number continues to increase.

The family offices funds inflow to Singapore and sources are kept private by the Singapore government.

Caixin Media published an article on June 6, saying the Monetary Authority of Singapore has replied to Caixin that they do not have authoritative data on the number of single family offices and capital inflow.

A wealth management veteran in Singapore told Caixin Media that this time, Singapore wins so easily.

Mainland Firms Also Choose Singapore

Apart from tycoons looking for safe havens, some mainland Chinese businessmen, due to reasons such as development, saturated Chinese markets, or involution (neijuan), choose to expand their operations in Southeast Asia and many choose to headquarter in Singapore.

Top gaming firms Tencent, ByteDance, miHoYo, and Yoozoo Games have either headquartered or set up a branch in Singapore.

Some technology enterprises also choose to expand abroad in response to the growing geopolitical risks and supply chain issues. Someone familiar with the matter told Caixin Media that a Shanghai semiconductor company with an annual sales revenue of $1 billion is planning to set up a new structure in Singapore.

Furthermore, with the Chinese Communist Partys increasing regulations on cryptocurrency, some blockchain professionals choose to move to Singapore.

The founding partners of Boyu Capital Investment Management, a private equity firm, Sean Tong and Zixin Zhang immigrated to Singapore and moved some of the firms operations from the Hong Kong headquarters to Singapore. The firm was founded by Alvin Jiang, a grandson of former Chinese leader Jiang Zemin.

People familiar with the matter told the Wall Street Journal that Boyu started its move to Singapore because it worried that Jiangs political influence would fall. In comparison to Hong Kong, the Singapore branch would be their safe haven to escape the political chaos within the Chinese Communist Party.
A passenger looks on as a China Eastern flight takes off from the runway of Baiyun Airport in southern China's Guangzhou province on March 25, 2022. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan)

Chinese Man Twice Blocked From Exiting China as Border Controls are Tightened

This year, Chinese immigration authorities twice prevented a Chinese businessman from leaving the country, even though he had valid travel documents.

Mr. Zhao (an alias for safety) from Chinas eastern Shandong Province was not allowed to exit China in January nor in May.

Zhao is just one of many people prevented from exiting China.

As the Chinese regime tightens entry and exit in the name of preventing pandemic infection from abroad, many Chinese netizens have posted their experiences of being forbidden from leaving the country on Chinese social media platforms. One netizen with the username Duruitang commented that China is already closing its door, as the BBC Chinese News reported last month.

Zhao was a frequent international traveler before the pandemic, but now he cannot go on overseas trips via either a travel or business visa.

Rejected for Non-Essential Travel

Zhao obtained a Pakistani business visa at the end of last month and purchased a plane ticket to Pakistan. But Chinese immigration personnel stopped him at Chengdu Airport.

The border guards intercepted me and said my purpose for going overseas is not pure, Zhao told the Chinese language edition of The Epoch Times on June 6. He was told that he could not go on his trip to Pakistan because his reason for leaving China was non-essential, according to Zhao.

In a statement dated May 12, Chinas National Immigration Administration announced that the regime will implement restrictions on border entry and exit, including restricting non-essential activities of Chinese citizens and reducing the issuance of passports and travel permits. Business is regarded as one of the essential activities according to a notice on the immigration administrations website.

The Epoch Times reached out to the China Immigration Service Hotline and the immigration officer on the call explained that resuming work, study, business, and scientific research, as well as seeking medical care are considered essential activities. She did not explain why a Chinese citizen with a business visa to Pakistan was refused exit from China.

Zhao said that he saw many other passengers at the airport who were not allowed to leave China, including travelers to Russia and Dubai.

He experienced an earlier refusal of exit in January at the airport in Guangzhou, although he had a valid travel visa issued by the Thai embassy to China and other supporting travel documents.

Its a waste of money to plan overseas trips, and its a very tiring experience both physically and mentally, Zhao said. He said he could not get refunds from the airline and hotel bookings or other expenses for the trips.

He blasted the regimes zero-COVID policy for being unrealistic.

If the pandemic continues into next year and the year after, then it will still be impossible for Chinese people to get out of China, he said.

I feel very unhappy living in China. I want to go to other countries, but [the Chinese government] doesnt allow me to go. We Chinese do not have any chance to speak up, said Zhao.

Immigration agencies have seen an enormous spike in emigration inquiries in recent weeks, with clients looking to apply for overseas passports or green cards; but Chinas central Hunan Province has ordered residents to hand their passports to the police, and the order will be rolled out nationwide, according to Radio Free Asia (RFA).

Border police in Guangzhou have reportedly confiscated or clipped passports of Chinese citizens, according to an RFA report in May.

The Chinese border control police usually clip a corner of a passport to invalidate it.

The Epoch Times is unable to verify the authenticity of the border agencys activities.

Luo Ya contributed to this article.
Citing GOP Opposition to Gun Control, AOC Takes Credit for Blocking Supreme Court Security Bill

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) in a video posted to her Instagram account took credit for blocking a GOP effort to pass a bill to supplement the protections for Supreme Court (SCOTUS) justices and their families.

House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) asked on the House floor for unanimous consent to take the bill from House Speaker Nancy Pelosis (D-Calif.) desk, but the measure was blocked, so members could not vote on the legislation.

The move came a day after an armed man, Nicholas John Roske, allegedly attempted to murder Supreme Court Justice Kavanaugh.

Now, Ocasio-Cortez has publicly revealed that she blocked McCarthys unanimous consent request, saying that it was to force a roll call vote after most Republicans voted against Democrats partisan gun control bills.

Ocasio-Cortez explained in a video posted to her Instagram Story on June 9.

Ocasio-Cortez noted that it was a fly-out daythe term used to describe members leaving DC to return to their districtsand that, as is common on these days, leaders on both parties hoped to use lawmakers anxiousness to get home to force unpopular things to happen through unanimous consent.

I wake up [on June 9] and start to hear murmurs that theres going to be an attempt to pass the Supreme Court supplemental protection bill the day after gun safety legislation for schools and kids and people gets stalled, Ocasio-Cortez said.

Oh, so we can pass protections for us and here easily, but we cant pass protections for everyday people? Ocasio-Cortez said. I think not. So, Im gonna need a roll call vote on that.

Not only are you gonna try to pass it, theyre trying to pass it by unanimous consent, so it can slip on by with no ones name put on it, she continued. Thats not what unanimous consent is for. Unanimous consent is not to pass things quickly to hide and prevent a politically difficult moment.

If were gonna do it, lets do it. Put our name on it. Vamos. Put it on the floor.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) speaks to reporters in Washington on June 9, 2022. (Alex Wong/Getty Images)

Justices are protected and work is being done on proposed alterations to the legislation, Pelosi told reporters at her weekly press conference a short time after the bill was blocked, explaining why the bill wasnt allowed to pass in its current form.

Attorney General Merrick Garland in May ordered around-the-clock protection at the homes of all nine Supreme Court justices, and several U.S. deputy Marshals spotted Rosko when he was dropped off by a taxi outside Kavanaughs home, according to court documents.

The Senate-passed bill would increase security for justices and their family members, but some Democrats want to expand the protection to staffers such as clerks.

Were working together on a bill which the Senate can approve of, Pelosi said.

After a reporter brought up the attempt on Kavanaughs life, Pelosi added: Hes protected. The justices are protected. Its not about the justices, its about the staff and the rest. I dont know what youre talking about because evidently, you havent seen what the language isthere will be a bill, but nobody is in danger.

She said a vote on the legislation is expected next week.

In the Senate, the bill passed uncontested, and members of both parties pushed for quick passage of the bill before the weekend.

Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) urged the House to move quickly during a panel hearing around the same time Pelosi explained her objection.

If House leaders want to expand the bill, for goodness sakes, do it, Durbin said. Do it on a timely basis. Lets get into conversation to get this passed once and for all. We need to do this.

The House has delayed action. I hope theyll act soon, Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), the top Republican on the panel, said, before urging the Department of Justice to reconsider its decision not to charge protesters with violating a law that forbids gathering outside the homes of judges with the intent of influencing their votes.

Sen. Chris Coons (D-Del.) said he spoke with House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-N.Y.) late Wednesday and earlier Thursday, and believes the House could approve the bill soon.

Amending the legislation to include Supreme Court staffers is perfectly reasonable but at the end of the day, what matters is that we act to protect our judiciary, Coons said. Its my hope that if something comes back here from the House, that well take it up and pass it quickly.

Zachary Stieber contributed to this report.
Delusional Man Found Competent for Trial in Teens Stabbing

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla.A homeless man has been found competent to stand trial in the stabbing of a Florida teenager who went missing while riding his bike.

Lawyers for Semmie Williams, 39, had arguedover his objectionsthat he should be found incompetent and sent to a forensic mental health facility for further evaluation, the Palm Beach Post reported.

Ryan Rogers, 14, was killed in November after leaving home to go on an evening bicycle ride, prosecutors said. His body was later found near an Interstate 95 overpass.

Palm Beach County Circuit Court Judge Charles Burton sided with two court-appointed psychologists who deemed Williams able to understand the charges and participate in his defense. They completed separate evaluations of Williams in March.

It is evident to the Court that the Defendant has a strategic disagreement with his attorneys over how to present the case to the jury, the judge wrote. That, in and of itself, does not make him incompetent to proceed.

Burton, who handles cases in the courts mental health division, referred the case back to the trial division for a June 21 hearing.

Prosecutors have indicated theyll seek the death penalty.

The ruling doesnt prevent a future court finding that Williams is incompetent.

His mental health has been in question ever since his arrest in December. His lawyers have said he has a long-standing and persistent mental illness, and had been diagnosed with schizophrenia.

Assistant Public Defender Scott Pribble acknowledged that Williams wants to be declared competent.

Were in this precarious situation where were kind of walking a tightrope between having information that we believe establishes that hes not competent to proceed and protecting confidences that Mr. Williams has disclosed to us and to experts that weve retained, Pribble told the judge.

Psychologist Gretchen Moy testified for the defense that while Williams has a factual understanding of the case, his delusional thoughts keep him from having a rational understanding.

She testified that Williams, against the advice of his attorneys, expects to present a defense rooted in delusional beliefs rather than evidence.

The defense is essentially arguing that the defendant is so incompetent and yet so savvy that he knows who to talk to, what to say, and how to hide his mental issues from two experienced doctors who spent at least an hour with him, Assistant State Attorney Ettie Feistman wrote in her response.

Court records show that Williams spent two years in a Georgia hospital before he was found competent enough to take a plea deal in a separate case. He was homeless at the time of his arrest. In court on Tuesday, Williams told the judge he understood the information being presented by his attorneys.
President Joe Biden delivers a speech on stage during for a meeting, as part of the World Leaders' Summit of the COP26 UN Climate Change Conference in Glasgow, Scotland, on Nov. 2, 2021. (Evan Vucci/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)

Environmentalists Pose Problems for Bidens Green Energy Goals

As the Biden administration announces drastic steps to push forward its green energy scheme, it faces determined opposition, not from Republicans, but from radical environmental groups.

At the end of the first quarter, Biden announced that his green energy agenda was a national emergency and thus activated the Defense Production Act (DPA) of 1950 declaring green energy a matter of national security.

I hereby determine, pursuant to  the act that: sustainable and responsible domestic mining, beneficiation, and value-added processing of strategic and critical materials for the production of large-capacity batteries for the automotive, e-mobility, and stationary storage sectors are essential to the national defense; read a White House statement issued March 31.

Paradoxically, Bidens actions mean that U.S. mines that were once shut down by congressional Democrats, will now be subsidized by the Biden administration to reopen.

One such mine is located in Mountain Pass, California, surrounded by the Mojave Desert. In 1998, at the urging of California Democrats Senator Diane Feinstein and Representative George Miller, the mine was raided by more than two dozen federal, state, and local environmental agencies over a dead tortoise and a freshwater spill. Actions taken by government agencies put the mine out of business while it was producing rare earths, which are exotic materials critical to U.S. high-tech weapons systems, electric cars, and smartphones.

The mine was the source of nearly all rare-earth metals for the United States, but after it was shut down, communist China became the primary source for Americas rare earths which caused some officials at the Department of Defense to issue warnings that went unheeded for over two decades, according to multiple published sources.

Now, using the DPA, Biden has ordered the Department of Defense to subsidize the reopening of the mine at Mountain Pass to produce elements for national defense, and also to meet his transition to clean energy goals. Rare earths and other minerals such as lithium are essential to powering Bidens attempt at a transition to renewable energy and away from fossil fuels.

Democrats, who have traditionally been opposed to the mining industry in general, now see potential advantages that mining lithium, and other critical elements, in satiating its environmentalist base. That includes a massive lithium mine in northern Nevada. A Canadian company called Lithium Americas has been granted permits to open a mine in the sparsely populated area known as Thacker Pass. Biden has very little opposition from Republicans, but the project has angered some on the far left.

A militant environmental organization, Deep Green Resistance (DGR), says on its website that it is training revolutionaries to stop projects such as the Thacker Pass lithium mine and associates of DRG had set up an occupation camp near the mine in protest. Late last year, however, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) forced the occupiers off the land and fined them nearly $50,000, according to Max Wilbert, one of the groups organizers.

Wilbert told The Epoch Times that groups opposed to the mine have filed lawsuits against the BLM and Lithium Americas shut down the operation before it digs its first hole. Even so, Wilbert acknowledges that the chances of stopping it are not great.

Environmental groups such as DGR say they have no use for Bidens green energy transition.

Public fear is increasingly being weaponized to mobilize public subsidies for the so-called green technology industry, says DGRs website.

The group also suggests it may be willing to go to war to stop the administration from mining green energy elements.

Deep Green Resistance evaluates strategic options for resistance, from nonviolence to guerrilla warfare, and the conditions required for those options to be successful. It provides an exploration of organizational structures, recruitment, security, and target selection for both aboveground and underground action, reads a statement on its website.

Wilbert told Epoch Times that the fabric of life is fraying, and he blames Republicans and Democrats. Both parties have been party to ecological destruction, he said.

Marc Morano is the publisher of the Climate Depot website and author of the book Green Fraud. He told Epoch Times that, The climate activists are actively preventing the Biden administration from achieving the so-called climate goals of renewable energy by hampering domestic energy exploration for vital supplies.

Morano is skeptical of the environmental alarmism coming from the Biden administration, saying that concerns about global warming are mostly hyped up for political purposes by Democrats. But he also warned of trouble if Biden continues the transition away from fossil fuels to green energy without domestic production of the elements that are necessary to produce lithium batteries for electric cars.

In short, this means that instead of the U.S. extracting, drilling, or mining for key energy supplies, we are going to outsource it to China and Russia, and other nations. The U.S. has the highest environmental standards in the world and yet by heavily restricting our rare earth mining, we are guaranteeing more imports from China and other nations with much more lax environmental regulations, Morano said.

Morano said that the United States is unprepared for a transition away from fossil fuels, The climate agenda has translated into the U.S. giving up our previous energy dominance in exchange for more dependence on rogue countries for key energy components.

Former assistant secretary of energy, John Shaw, told Epoch Times that domestic mining of lithium and rare earths is essential to energy independence if the Biden administration insists on cutting back on oil production.

It is key to our country being able to compete in the emerging world lithium battery market, allowing the United States to ensure we remain not only independent to relieve citizens of high energy costs, but to continue our success in developing new forms of energy sources through common sense regulation.

Regarding anti-mining environmentalists, Shaw said, some choices need to be made to advance our common goal of energy independence.

In short, the Biden administration sees domestic mining projects, such as the one at Thacker Pass, as essential to help it achieve its clean energy goals but groups such as Deep Green Resistance see it as an impediment to saving the earth.

The Epoch Times has reached out to the White House for comment.
British citizen Shaun Pinner in a courtroom cage at a location given as Donetsk, Ukraine, in a still image from a video released on June 8, 2022. (Supreme Court of Donetsk People's Republic/Handout via ReutersTV)

Family Devastated and Saddened After British Man Given Death Sentence by Pro-Russian Court

The family of a British man sentenced to death for fighting Russian forces said on Saturday that they are devastated and saddened by the outcome of what they called an illegal show trial.

Shaun Pinner, 48, a former British Army soldier who relocated to Ukraine in 2018 and joined the Armed Forces of Ukraine, was treated as a mercenary and sentenced to death on Thursday by the Supreme Court of the separatist Donetsk Peoples Republic.

His two fellow captives, British-Ukrainian Aiden Aslin, 28, and Moroccan-Ukrainian Brahim Saadoun, 21, were also given death sentences.

Pinners family on Saturday issued a statement through the UKs Foreign Office, saying they are devastated and saddened at the outcome of the illegal show trial.

As a Ukrainian resident for over four years and contracted serving marine in the 36th Brigade, of which he is very proud, Shaun should be accorded all the rights of a prisoner of war according to the Geneva Convention and including full independent legal representation, the statement reads.

We sincerely hope that all parties will co-operate urgently to ensure the safe release or exchange of Shaun, the family said. Pinner and Aslin have been paraded on Russian State TV following their capture, asking British Prime Minister BorisJohnson to help exchange for them with Viktor Medvedchuk, a pro-Russian Ukrainian politician who was arrested by the Ukrainian secret services on April 12.

Pinners family said they, including his son and Ukrainian wife, love and miss [Pinner] so much and their hearts go out to all the families involved in this awful situation.

The family added they would respectfully ask for privacy from the media at this difficult time.

Aslin also served with the 36th Brigade that surrendered to Russian forces in April after 48 days of defending Mariupol as they were running out of ammunition.

He moved to Ukraine in 2018 with his Ukrainian fiancee and now holds British and Ukrainian citizenship. He previously fought the ISIS terrorist group with Kurdish militia Peoples Defense Units in Syria and northern Iraq.

In a statement to the Newark Advertiser, a relative of Aslin urged Britain and Ukraine to do everything in their power to have them returned to us safely, and soon.

Downing Street on Friday said Prime Minister Boris Johnson has told ministers to do everything in their power to free the pair.

Fedir Venislavskyi, a Ukrainian lawmaker sitting on the parliamentary security and defence committee, said the country is doing everything it can to prevent the execution of the three prisoners.

Both the Defence Ministry and the Main Directorate of Intelligence, which deals with the exchange of prisoners, are taking all necessary measures to ensure these citizens of foreign states  are saved, Venislavskyi said, without giving further details.

Deputy Prime Minister Iryna Vereshchuk said she believed the separatist authorities would ultimately act rationally, for they are well aware of the irreparable implications for them and for the Russians if they take any wrong steps against these three of our soldiers.

Something tells me that, eventually, one way or another, sooner or later, these three servicemen will be exchanged (or otherwise get home), she said in an online post on Saturday.

Britain has condemned the sentencing of the fighters as an egregious breach of the Geneva Convention, under which prisoners of war are entitled to combatant immunity and should not be prosecuted for participation in hostilities.

Ukraine, which has dismissed the Donetsk courts ruling as having no authority, says the fighters had signed contracts with the Ukrainian armed forces.

As a result, the status of prisoners of war under international law fully applies to them. We will take all measures to save them, lawmaker Venislavskyi said.

A third British man, Andrew Hill, who was captured in the Mykolaiv area, is awaiting trial.

Reuters contributed to this report.
Protesters support abortion outside the U.S. Supreme Court in Washington, on May 3, 2022. (Jackson Elliott/The Epoch Times)

FBI Warns It Wont Tolerate Violence Amid Supreme Courts Abortion Ruling

The FBI warned Friday that it will not tolerate violence, destruction, interference with government functions, or trespassing on government property after an armed man was arrested earlier this week near Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaughs home.

On Wednesday, officials arrested 26-year-old Nicholas John Roske near Kavanaughs Maryland home and said he allegedly wanted to kill the justice after a leaked draft opinion suggested the Supreme Court would soon overturn Roe v. Wade.

In a joint statement issued by U.S. Attorney Matthew Graves and Assistant Director in Charge of the FBI Washington Field Office Steven DAntuono, they said the agencies are committed to protecting the First Amendment rights of all Americans to express their views peacefully during demonstrations that take place on a regular basis in the nations capital, including at the Supreme Court.

Their statement did not make any specific mention of the incident at Kavanaughs home, and it did not make any reference to the Supreme Courts pending decision on Roe v. Wade, a 1973 decision that argued that a woman has a constitutional right to obtain an abortion.

We also have a responsibility to ensure public safety and the orderly conduct of government business. We will not tolerate violence, destruction, interference with government functions, or trespassing on government property, the statement added. We are committed to working closely with our local, state, and federal law enforcement partners to stop any individuals who intend to commit violence or criminal activity under the guise of carrying out a demonstration.

Tall, heavy barricades surround the U.S. Supreme Court in Washington, on May 5, 2022. (Jackson Elliot/The Epoch Times)

Roske told officials that he was angry about the Supreme Court draft decision regarding abortion as well as a school shooting in Texas last month, suggesting he believed the Justice that he intended to kill would side with Second Amendment decisions that would loosen gun control laws, according to court papers filed in his case.

Federal prosecutors said that Roske found Kavanaughs address online, while the pro-abortion group Ruth Sent Us posted the justices address on social media in recent days.

The group also suggested online that protesters should target the children of Supreme Court Justice Amy Coney Barrett in light of the courts ruling on abortion. It posted an infographic that included the name of the justices church and identified a school that her children attend, while calling on demonstrators to voice your anger at those locations.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) told reporters that the chamber will not vote this week to boost security for Supreme Court justices, saying that the measure will likely be taken up in the near future.

Its about staff and the rest. The justices are protected, she said on Thursday. Nobody is in danger over the weekend because of our not having a bill.

Its not clear when the Supreme Court will issue its final ruling on Dobbs v. Jackson Womens Health Organization, the decision that may overturn Roe v. Wade. The court generally releases the majority of its cases by the middle of June.
Medical expertise is vital to effective treatment and recovery can take time

Older adults who have survived COVID-19 are more likely than younger patients to have persistent symptoms such as fatigue, breathlessness, muscle aches, heart palpitations, headaches, joint pain, and difficulty with memory and concentrationproblems linked to long COVID.

But it can be hard to distinguish lingering aftereffects of COVID-19 from conditions common in older adults such as lung disease, heart disease, and mild cognitive impairment. There are no diagnostic tests or recommended treatments for long COVID, and the biological mechanisms that underlie its effects remain poorly understood.

Identifying long COVID in older adults with other medical conditions is tricky, said Dr. Nathan Erdmann, an assistant professor of infectious diseases at the University of Alabama-Birminghams school of medicine. Failing to do so means older COVID-19 survivors might not receive appropriate care.

What should older adults do if they dont feel well weeks after becoming ill with the virus? I asked a dozen experts for advice. Heres what they suggested.

Seek medical attention. If an older person or their caregiver is noticing that its been a month or two since COVID and something isnt righttheyve lost a lot of weight or theyre extremely weak or forgetfulits worth going in for an evaluation, said Dr. Liron Sinvani, director of the geriatric hospitalist service at Northwell Health, a large health system in New York.

But be forewarned: Many primary care physicians are at a loss as to how to identify and manage long COVID. If youre not getting much help from your doctor, consider getting a referral to a specialist who sees long COVID patients or a long COVID clinic. Also, be prepared to be patient: Waits for appointments are lengthy.

At least 66 hospitals or health systems have created interdisciplinary clinics, according to Beckers Hospital Review, an industry publication. For people who dont live near one of those, virtual consultations are often available. For specialist referrals, ask whether the physician has experience with long COVID patients.

Also, more than 80 medical centers in more than 30 states are enrolling patients in a four-year, $1.15 billion study of long COVID that is being funded by the National Institutes of Health and is known as RECOVER (Researching COVID to Enhance Recovery). Older adults who choose to participate will receive ongoing medical attention.

Pursue comprehensive care. At the University of Southern Californias COVID recovery clinic, physicians start by making sure that any underlying medical conditions that older patients havefor instance, heart failure or chronic obstructive pulmonary diseaseare well controlled. Also, they check for new conditions that may have surfaced after a COVID infection.

If preexisting and new conditions are properly managed and further tests come back negative, there is probably an element of long COVID, said Dr. Caitlin McAuley, one of two physicians at the Keck School of Medicine clinic.

At that point, the focus becomes helping older adults regain the ability to manage daily tasks such as showering, dressing, moving around the house, and shopping. Typically, several months of physical therapy, occupational therapy, or cognitive rehabilitation are prescribed.

Dr. Erica Spatz, an associate professor of cardiology at the Yale School of Medicine, looks for evidence of organ damage, such as changes in the heart muscle, in older patients. If thats detected, there are well-established treatments that can be tried.

The older a person is, the more likely we are to find organ injury, Spatz said.

At the Shirley Ryan AbilityLab in Chicago, a rehabilitation hospital, experts have discovered that a significant number of patients with breathing problems have atrophy in the diaphragm, a muscle thats essential to breathing, said Dr. Colin Franz, a physician-scientist. Once inflammation is under control, breathing exercises help patients build back the muscle, he said.

For older adults concerned about their cognition after COVID-19, McAuley recommends a neuropsychological exam.

Plenty of older patients whove had COVID feel like they now have dementia. But when they do the testing, all their higher-level cognitive functioning is intact, and its things like attention or cognitive fluency that are impaired, she said. Its important to understand where deficits are so we can target therapy appropriately.

Become active gradually. Older patients tend to lose strength and fitness after severe illnessa phenomenon known as deconditioningand their blood volume and heart muscles will start shrinking in a few weeks if they lie in bed or get little activity, Spatz said. That can cause dizziness or a racing heart upon standing up.

In line with recent recommendations from the American College of Cardiology, Spatz advises patients who have developed these symptoms after COVID-19 to drink more fluids, consume more salt, and wear compression socks and abdominal binders.

I often hear that going for a walk feels awful, Spatz said. When returning to exercise, start with five to 10 minutes on a recumbent bicycle or a rower, and add a couple of minutes every week, she suggested. After a month, move to a semi-recumbent position on a standard bike. Then, after another month, try walking, a short distance at first and then longer distances over time.

This go slow advice also applies to older adults with cognitive concerns after COVID. Franz said he often recommends restricting time spent on cognitively demanding tasks, along with exercises, for brain health and memory. At least early on, people need less activity and more cognitive rest, he noted.

Reset expectations. Older adults typically have a harder time bouncing back from serious illness, including COVID-19. But even seniors who had mild or moderate reactions to the virus can find themselves struggling weeks or months later.

The most important message older patients need to hear is give yourself time to recover, said Dr. Greg Vanichkachorn, director of the Mayo Clinics COVID Activity Rehabilitation Program in Rochester, Minnesota. Generally, older adults appear to be taking longer to recover from long COVID than younger or middle-aged adults, he noted.

Learning how to set priorities and not do too much too quickly is essential.

In this patient population, weve found that having patients grit their teeth and push themselves will actually make them worsea phenomenon known as post-exertional malaise, Vanichkachorn said.

Instead, people need to learn how to pace themselves.

Any significant health event forces people to reexamine their expectations and their priorities, and long COVID has really accelerated that, said Jamie Wilcox, an associate professor of clinical occupational therapy at the Keck School of Medicine. Everyone I see feels that its accelerated their aging process.

Consider vulnerabilities. Older adults who have had COVID and who are poor, frail, physically or cognitively disabled, and socially isolated are of considerable concern. This group has been more likely to experience severe effects from COVID-19, and those who survived may not readily access health care services.

We all share concern about marginalized seniors with limited health care access and poorer overall health status, said UABs Erdmann. Sprinkle a dangerous new pathology thats not well understood on top of that, and you have a recipe for greater disparities in care.

A lot of older [long COVID] patients we deal with arent accustomed to asking for help, and they think, perhaps, its a little shameful to be needy, said James Jackson, director of long-term outcomes at the Critical Illness, Brain Dysfunction, and Survivorship Center at Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville, Tennessee.

The implications are significant, not only for the patients but also for health care providers, friends, and family.

You really have to check in with people who are older and vulnerable and who have had COVID and not just make assumptions that theyre fine just because they tell you they are, he said. We need to be more proactive in engaging them and finding out, really, how they are.

Were eager to hear from readers about questions youd like answered, problems youve been having with your care and advice you need in dealing with the health care system. Visit khn.org/columnists to submit your requests or tips.

KHN (Kaiser Health News) is a national newsroom that produces in-depth journalism about health issues. Together with Policy Analysis and Polling, KHN is one of the three major operating programs at KFF (Kaiser Family Foundation). KFF is an endowed nonprofit organization providing information on health issues to the nation.
A new community park at the crossing of 17th Street and Orange Avenue in Huntington Beach, Calif., is under construction on June 10, 2022. (Julianne Foster/The Epoch Times)

Huntington Beach Names New Park 17th Street in Honor of Citys History

HUNTINGTON BEACH, Calif.Huntington Beach councilors unanimously approved 17th Street Park as the new name for a park to be reconstructed at the former site of Michel E. Rodgers Senior Center during the June 7 city council meeting.

The naming of the parkat the crossing of 17th Street and Orange Avenuehas been an ongoing discussion since 2017, according to city records. On June 7, councilors voted 70 to name the park 17th Street Parkas a tribute to the sites history.

Long before it became a senior center, the site was originally a park named 17th Street Park with a ball field and playground.

Times change, people die, but the land remains the same, Barbara Haynes, the past Chair of the Historic Resources Board, told the council at the meeting.

Haynes supports the restoration of the name because that is what the park is referred to from city council records as early as 1919 to the current date.

A new community park at the crossing of 17th Street and Orange Avenue in Huntington Beach, Calif., is under construction on June 10, 2022. (Julianne Foster/The Epoch Times)

A newspaper clip from the Los Angeles Times published on Nov. 8, 1934, paid tribute to the first Seventeenth Street Park when increasing oil development in the area caused the park to lose popularity at the time.

In 1948, the city decided to construct a recreation building on the site for community use and to house the citys Parks and Recreation Department.

Later in 1975, the building was modernized and dedicated as a senior center. In less than a decade, it was renovated again to include an assembly hall and renamed the Michael E Rodgers Senior Center to honor Rodgerss contribution to the community.

Michael E. Rodgers was a prominent advocate for senior citizens in Huntington Beach and lobbied for constructing a senior center at the site. He was also a founding member of the Huntington Beach Council on Aging and a member of Huntington Beach Citizens Participation Advisory Board and Orange County Transportation Authoritys Board of Directors.

Most of the building structures that housed the former senior center have been demolished in March to pave way for the new 2.01-acre park, which will provide open green space in a largely populated area of the citywith walking paths and picnic areas.

Only a section of the original building structures was preserved and will be renovated to doubly serve as an American Legion Post and a community center.

A new community park at the crossing of 17th Street and Orange Avenue in Huntington Beach, Calif., is under construction on June 10, 2022. (Julianne Foster/The Epoch Times)

As for naming the community center, there have been several disagreements between councilors, city staff, and the public, considering its long history and the various past uses.

Councilman Erik Peterson said during the meeting the center should be named Veterans Hall, given that the building would be primarily used by the American Legionwhich is based on a promise made by the city in the 1970s when the veterans hall on Main Street was taken away.

I think it should be [named] Veterans Hall, Peterson said, because it honors a promise and everything the Post has done for the community.

Peterson said he doesnt want to take away what Rodgers had done for seniors, so he proposed the council name a room in the building after Rodgers with plaques detailing his contributions.

Residents in favor of naming the building after Rodgers want to honor his legacy at the original site of the senior center where he had the most influence, despite its relocation to Central Park off Goldenwest Street.

The council eventually decided to wait for city staff to provide more information regarding the different arguments before deciding on a name for the building.

The park is expected to be complete in spring 2023.

A new community park at the crossing of 17th Street and Orange Avenue in Huntington Beach, Calif., is under construction on June 10, 2022. (Julianne Foster/The Epoch Times)
The Yen Vien-Ngoc Hoi railway line in Hanoi was approved in 2004 with a bridge to replace Long Bien, but construction has yet to start.

It will run 28.7 km with dual gauge tracks of 1,435 mm and 1,000 mm.

The line will replace Long Bien Bridge on the Red River and the Duong Bridge crossing the eponymous river, a branch of the Red River.

An artist's impression of the bridge on Yen Vien - Ngoc Hoi urban railway line that will replace the Long Bien Bridge across the Red River in Hanoi. Photo by Vietnam Railway Corporation

In 2007 the Ministry of Transport made changes to the plan, dividing it into two phases.

Set to be completed in 2017, phase one was expected to cost VND19.46 trillion (US$840 million), including a VND13.97-trillion loan from Japan.

Phase two had an estimated price tag of VND24.82 trillion, including VND20.34 trillion from Japanese ODA.

The state-owned Vietnam Railway Corporation (VNR) will oversee the work.

In 2009 it signed a technical consultancy contract with a Japanese partner.

The Japanese contractor is a consortium of five companies led by the Japan Transportation Consultants, Inc.

In 2014 a number of officials in the Railway Project Management Unit (RPMU) under the VNR were investigated for accepting bribes from the Japanese consultancy.

It stalled the project as the contract with the consultant had to be terminated.

The project was taken over by the ministry, but so far it has only acquired land for the work and identified a new contractor.

Construction has not started and its completion has been rescheduled to 2024.

In 2019 the estimated cost was increased to VND81.53 trillion.

The ministry has explained the delay by saying the scale of the work is large and new techniques and technologies would be used.

Long Bien Bridge in 2021. Photo by VnExpress/Ngoc Thanh

Last month the government approved the ministrys proposal to transfer the project to the Hanoi city administration.

The ministry is now in the process of handing it over, and it is obvious the 2024 deadline for completion of the work will be missed.

But the VNR said this week that Long Bien Bridge would undergo a complete evaluation in the next two-three months prior to its reparation.

Long Bien Bridge over the Red River was built in 1902. It was damaged during the Vietnam War and repaired at a cost of VND116 billion ($4.99 million) between 1995 and 2010.

In 2015 more repairs were done to make it safe enough until its replacement by the No. 1 urban railway line.

The bridge has suffered several instances of damage, with two holes appearing along its surface last month.

Its maintenance cost VND8.5 billion in 2021 and over VND9.7 billion this year.
Idaho Stepmom Gets Life Sentence for Killing 9-Year-Old Boy

BOISE, IdahoA 29-year-old Idaho woman convicted of torturing and killing her 9-year-old stepson has been sentenced to life in prison without parole.

Monique Osuna received the sentence Thursday in Fourth District Court.

KTVB-TV reports that Osuna previously pleaded guilty to murdering Emrik Osuna in a deal that eliminated the death penalty. Erik Osuna, the boys biological father, has also pleaded guilty to murder and is scheduled to be sentenced June 27.

Emrik was sent to live with his father and stepmother in February 2018 after his biological mother went to prison for abusing his young siblings.

A small child was sent to Idaho to be cared for by the defendants. Instead he was sent to a living hell, Ada County Prosecutor John Dinger told Judge Steven Hippler during the sentencing hearing.

Videos from nanny cameras throughout the home during August 2020 show Erik and Osuna abusing Emrik, who is forced to exercise for hours and becomes malnourished. Footage also shows Monique kicking Emrik and hitting him with various objects as the boy shrieks and cowers.

The couple had installed the cameras to record Emriks behavior because a friend told them Emrik might have reactive attachment disordera condition caused by neglect or abuseand suggested the cameras to record his behavior to show to medical professionals. Erik Osuna had a friend remove the cameras before authorities arrived, but they were recovered by police and contained about two weeks of footage leading up to Emriks death.

Monique was arrested in September 2020 after paramedics found Emrik emaciated and unconscious in her Meridian apartment. Emrik died shortly after at St. Lukes Childrens Hospital in Boise.
Swedish students are seen in a classroom of a school in Halmstad, Sweden in 2016. (David Ramos/Getty Images)

Keeping Schools Open During Pandemic Helped Swedish Children Avoid Learning Loss: Study

Theres no evidence that Swedens youngest schoolchildren, who have never had to miss a single day in school because of the COVID pandemic, suffered any drop in their reading skills, a new study suggests.

When the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus first hit Sweden, the countrys public health authorities made it clear that daycare centers and primary schools, which serve students in grades 1 through 3, must stay open. Swedish government held on to that policy even after its COVID-19 death rates surpassed those of its Nordic neighbors.

Throughout much of the pandemic, Swedens response relied heavily on voluntary cooperation. Instead of imposing face covering and social distancing mandates on schools, it only recommended teachers and students to stay at home if they felt any symptoms of illness.

In a study published in the International Journal of Educational Research, a team of researchers at Stockholms Karolinska University analyzed data from 97,073 primary school students across Sweden. The goal was to investigate whether Swedish children suffered any potential learning loss during the 2020-2021 school year.

There is no official national data on student progress in reading during the pandemic because the Swedish government canceled its national tests in 3rd-grade reading and math in 2020, and didnt require schools to report those test scores in 2021. This prompted the researchers to base their study on data collected from LegiLexi, a popular free-to-use online tool that allows primary school students to test their language skills.

The researchers compared average LegiLexi test scores from the four school years from 20172018 to 20202021 in two aspects: word decoding and reading comprehension. The result shows that test-takers in the 20202021 pandemic year performed just as well as those in previous school years in both areas of language.

We conclude that there is no evidence of a learning loss regarding early reading skills in Swedish primary school students, the researchers wrote.

This of course doesnt mean that the CCP virus pandemic didnt at all negatively affect the reading ability of any individual Swedish child, the researchers noted. But overall, Swedish primary school students reading skills did stay at a stable level throughout the pandemic.

In the light of international studies on reading skills in younger students during the pandemic, we conclude that the decision to keep schools open benefited Swedish primary school students, they added.

The finding comes amid numerous reports on loss of literacy skills among American children in the aftermath of pandemic lockdowns and widespread school closures.

According to a report (pdf) publish this February by curriculum and testing company Amplify, the percentage of students at highest risk for not learning to read jumped by 8 percent during the pandemic, from 29 percent in the 20192020 school year to 37 percent in the 202122 school year.

Another study (pdf), conducted by the University of Virginia, found that about 35 percent of Virginias children in kindergarten through 2nd grade scored below their expected levels of literacy in the fall of 2021.

Especially alarming, overall K-2 Fall 2021 scores indicate the highest percentage of students scoring below benchmark at grade-level entry ever observed at the fall assessment, the study warned.
Largest US Pork Packer Closing California Plant, Citing High Costs and Red Tape

Smithfields Inc., the largest pork packer in the United States, is leaving California due to high operational costs and red tape.

Smithfield Foods, Inc. today announced that it will cease all harvest and processing operations in Vernon, California in early 2023 and, at the same time, align its hog production system by reducing its sow herd in its Western region, the company said on Friday in a statement.

Smithfield also plans to reduce its sow herd in Utah and exit its farms in Arizona and California.

Instead, the company will serve California customers with its Farmer John brand and other brands and products from current facilities in the Midwest.

Smithfield is taking these steps due to the escalating cost of doing business in California, the company explained.

The company, owned by Hong Kong-listed WH Group Ltd., said that workers at the plant will be offered financial and transition assistance, including the option to relocate to other Smithfield facilities.

Workers inside Smithfield Foods Sioux Falls, S.D., pork processing plant wear protective gear and are separated by plastic partitions as they carve up meat on May 20, 2020. (Courtesy Smithfield Foods via AP)

Jim Monroe, vice president for corporate affairs of Smithfield, said two main factors drove the companys decision: high costs and overregulation.

The cost of doing business in California is significantly higher than other states where we operate. Utilities, for example, are 3.5 times per head higher than our other location where we do the same work. Taxes and other costs are significantly higher, he told The Epoch Times.

Meanwhile, its also challenging to operate in the Golden State because of the red tape.

He cited Proposition 12, a state law passed by voters in 2018, as a prime example.

Propositions 12an animal protection bill backed by the Humane Societymandates factory farms to give hens, sows, and veal calves enough room to stand up, lie down, turn around, and stretch their limbs without hitting the sides of a cage.

The law also implements a sales ban against noncompliant animal products including eggs, pork, and veal, from out of state.

The Epoch Times reached out to California Gov. Gavin Newsoms office for comments.
A book cant be judged by its cover, true, but it should be revealed by its title. Jane Austens Persuasion is a perfect example, for the title is an expertly set diamond, reflecting the plot of the novel, its theme, and its meaning. Persuading is THE action of the novel, and it is an action that uncovers the meaning of the virtues of prudence, kindness, and their connection.

The heroine of Persuasion, Anne Elliot, is a master of every kind of persuasion: by word and example, and even, as we see in the beginning, by silence.

Sure, her goodness seems to be wasted on a family with a vain, uncaring, and pompous father and an even vainer and more uncaring sister. She has little in terms of comfort besides the children of her other sister, a hypochondriac, and her rather boorish brother-in-law.

To make things worse, the family finances are spinning out of control due to their spendthrift ways and lavish lifestyle. Anne does what the family will let her do, which is to listen, speak well of the other people who are being bashed behind their backs, and subtly encourage her family to act with more restraint in their desires and more kindness in their attitudes.

Dont underestimate this quiet way of Annes. After she employs her gentle manner of conversation, it is not to her taste to waste more energy and emotion in direct confrontations with people who refuse to be guided by her.

Rather, she talks to the family friends who in turn can influence the family: family friends such as Lady Russell, a neighbor who actually has some sway with her profligate father and older sister. Austen suggests that the financial security of Annes ungrateful family, at the end of the novel, is indirectly a result of Annes quiet wisdom.

But this is all a sideshow. The main plot of the book is Annes winning back the man she loved and lost. Before the events of the book took place, Anne fell in love with a young sailor and was engaged to be married. However, she was then pressured to break off the engagement, due to his lack of fortune and connections, by her one real confidante and friend, Lady Russell. Seven years later, the young sailor is now war-hero Captain Wentworth.

A man dressed as Capt. Wentworth, who is the love interest of Anne Elliot, the protagonist of Persuasion, in Bath, England, on Sept. 9, 2017. (Matt Cardy/Getty Images)

A Story of Romance

When we first meet Wentworth, he thinks that Anne rejected him out of her weakness and cowardice. Anne first endures his prejudice; nothing could be wiser, for Wentworth will not listen to her. Then she appeals by example, as her strength of character and magnanimity shine out in a crisis.

At last it comes to words, as Anne convinces him that what he thought was weakness was in fact virtue. She gently points out that his whole idea of just about everything having to do with the relationship between men and women is quite lacking.

Persuading With Kindness

Now, what is persuasion but the art of rhetoric, and what is this art, in its highest and noblest form, but the appeal to the virtue of prudence. Wisdom sees the good, reason makes conceptual progress toward this good, and prudence is the application of this progress to the real world.

Rhetoric is always about communicating in such a way as to move people to act, and prudence is that virtue which brings wisdom and reason into action.

In the novel, persuasion is the engine of the plot, and prudence is the virtue that fuels this movement. Youll see, in Annes relationship with Lady Russell, that while there is prudence in trusting ones elders, there is later and greater prudence in realizing that ones elders might have been mistaken.

Annes kindness to an old schoolmate, in spite of her fathers and sisters snobbishness, ends up proving the prudence of being kind to all, even if it risks ones looking foolish to the outside world.

Theres the prudence that maintains calm and masters an emergency, as in Annes quick thinking when a friend has a bad fall. You will realize how calm and quick-thinking she must be, if you ask yourself how well you would perform in a crisis. Consider also, that the crisis occurs in the uncomfortable situation of her old flame being present, and the old flame is one whom she still secretly loves with all her heart!

You will also witness the prudence of holding ones tongue in many circumstances, and releasing it passionately in a few. Most importantly for this storyline, theres the prudence of an honest, well-considered first love that is able to endure: In Anne Elliots own words, the love that, slow and steady as it seems to be, is the one that loves longest, [even] when existence or when hope is gone.

Passion and prudence, far from being enemies, are the best duo possible, if the one you love is really worthya person who is truly good as well as attractive.

Examples of the Virtues Opposites

Perhaps even more valuable for readers than all these examples of prudence is the characterization of imprudence: the imprudence of having contempt for ones love just because she does not do what you want, and the imprudence of impatience. These are Captain Wentworths.

Meanwhile, Annes father and sister, as well as another suitor (her cousin William), aptly by their own ineptness illustrate the imprudence in loving money and in squandering it, as well as the imprudence of vanity, the imprudence of being a fake, and above all, the imprudence of being unkind.

The importance of prudence was surprising then, and it is probably more so now in a world when people tend to think, more and more, that power is all that matters. Such thinking would make prudence important only as a way of using reason to gain more power, and the power move often means being unkind.

Depiction of Austen from A Memoir of Jane Austen (1871) written by her nephew James Edward Austen-Leigh, and based on the sketch by Cassandra, Austens sister. (Public Domain)

But Jane Austen adds her harmony to the melody of the Western tradition, encapsulated in this quote from the Bible: Knowledge puffeth up; but charity edifieth. Not only is knowledge powerless, but even power is powerless without charity.

The Practicality of Kindness

True kindness is the most prudent course. (I refer to kindness in its pure statenot as in the fake meaning where you slap on a mask and consider yourself a saint, but as in actually helping other people.) Ultimately, kindness is what we need most, and if we need to be persuaded of anything, it is to be kind; it is the most practical thing to practice.

It is Annes kindness that allows her to be effective in helping the various members of her circle. It is her kindness that makes her practical in emergencies. It is her kindness that wins back the man she lovesand with him, the promise of a full, prosperous, and happy life.

As well as pointing out how kindness helps us on the way to happiness, Austen also shows how kindness can help us recognize and avoid unkindness, which helps one avoid unhappiness. This critical point is underlined repeatedly in the latter part of the book. Annes repugnance for unkindness saves her from getting trapped in a relationship with William, a man who is handsome and rich, but selfish.

While Persuasion has a happy ending, it is important to note that Austen was no starry-eyed dreamer disconnected from reality. The happy ending is not inevitable, because prudence and kindness alone are not enough to make ones life happy in the full sense of the word.

At the beginning of the book, a sort of happiness is available to Anne: her wry observations to herself, the great poetry she reads, and her pleasure in the natural world. Nevertheless, for most of the story, she is neglected and ignored by her family, scorned by her beloved, and as far as society is concerned, on her way to becoming an old maid.

Romantic love is a very high happiness, and it is a happiness that requires not one, but two virtuous people. The suspense and drama of the novel is largely about the question of whether Wentworth will rise to Annes level and make her happiness complete. Annes kindness is necessary, but its not sufficient to make her happy.

While happiness for the kind and prudent is not inevitable, unhappiness without prudence and kindness is. No wealth, rank, or social position seems to satisfy the characters who dont do the prudent thing: be kind.

Jane Austen Circular Walk participants dressed as characters in her novels, on Sept. 9, 2017. (Matt Cardy/Getty Images)

These are especially important considerations in our time, when equality of outcome is a slogan and when that outcome is evaluated only in terms of wealth, rank, and social position. This is not to denigrate the pursuit of any of these things but, without virtue, we are unable to enjoy them, anyway.

Be kind and prudent, and learn something of what kindness and prudence mean by reading Persuasion.
Officers from the Police Service of Northern Ireland looks across at Holy Cross church where emergency services are attending a security alert which has caused the cancellation of a peacebuilding event attended by Irish Foreign Affairs Minister Simon Coveney at The Houben Centre, Belfast, on March 25, 2022. (Liam McBurney/PA Media)

Loyalist Arrested Over Irish Foreign Minister Fake Bomb Alert Denied Bail

A Belfast court on Saturday denied the bail of high-profile loyalist Winston Irvine who is charged with firearm offences.

The 46-year-old man former Progressive Unionist Party (PUP) head of communications was arrested on Wednesday as part of an investigation into a separate hoax bomb incident that led to the evacuation of Irish Foreign Minister Simon Coveney from a peace event on March 25.

Coveney was removed from the stage mid-speech at the event organised by the John and Pat Hume Foundation at the Houben Centre on Crumlin Road, north Belfast, after two masked gunmen allegedly hijacked a van and forced the driver to drive to the adjacent Holy Cross Church, carrying a device that the driver thought was a live bomb.

The police later declared the device was a hoax. The Houben Centre and more than 25 nearby homes were evacuated over the incident. A funeral service at the Holy Cross Church, local schools, and a nursing home were also affected.

Police also said at the time that pro-British loyalist militants, most likely from the Ulster Volunteer Force (UVF), were behind the attack.

Detectives from the Terrorism Investigation Unit of the Police Service of Northern Ireland on Wednesday arrested Irvine and another 51-year-old man under the Terrorism Act and seized their vehicles for examination.

Irvine appeared at Laganside Magistrates Court in Belfast on Saturday, charged with possession of a firearm and ammunition in suspicious circumstances, possession of a prohibited firearm, possession of a handgun without a certificate, and possession of ammunition without a certificate.

A detective inspector told the court that officers found a number of weapons and ammunition in a bag in the boot of Irvines car on Wednesday after a search.

The court heard that Irvine had told the police that he had nothing to do with the content of the bag.

A number of UVF pins and pendants and a balaclava were also found at Irvines address, the court was told.

A defence lawyer told the court that Irvine was a renowned peace builder who had demonstrated public support for the peace process. He also said Irvine was a member of the Police Community Partnership Board in north Belfast.

A district judge denied an application for bail following the detective inspectors objection, stating that a significant haul of weapons and ammunition had been recovered.

Irvine was remanded in custody to appear in court again on July 1.

He was the second person charged in relation to the incident.

Irish Foreign Affairs Minister Simon Coveney spoke to the media outside Grand Central Hotel in Belfast, Northern Ireland, on May 11, 2022. (Rebecca Black/PA Media)

On March 30, 40-year-old Darren Service was charged with the preparation of terrorist acts, hijacking, and placing a hoax bomb.

Police tracked him down through a replacement car he was driving at the time because his car was being serviced.

The vehicle was caught on CCTV moving behind the allegedly hijacked van before passing it near the place where the gunmen allegedly unboarded the van and the device was put in the van.

A detective inspector previously told the court that the two men took the drivers wallet and phone and threatened to shoot him or harm his family.

The court was also told that when officers searched Services home they found two balaclavas, UVF lapel pins, an air rifle, class b drugs, a large amount of cash (100,000), and high-value jewellery.

Service was denied bail on March 31 and remanded in custody.

The UVF were among the loyalist militant groups who last year temporarily withdrew their support for a 1998 peace deal, in protest at the trade border between Northern Ireland and the rest of the United Kingdom created by Britains exit from the European Union.

A small number of militant groups remain active and carry out occasional attacks, but their capacity is tiny relative to during the Troubles, the 30-year conflict between Irish nationalists seeking unification with the Irish Republic and the British Army, and pro-British loyalists determined to keep Northern Ireland under British rule.

PA Media contributed to this report.
Tactical police work near where a man killed three people when he opened fire at a business in Smithsburg, Md., on June 9, 2022. (Steve Ruark/AP Photo)

Maryland Shooting Suspect Charged, Name Released

A West Virginia man was charged with murdering three co-workers at a Maryland machine shop as well as attempted murder and other charges, authorities said late Friday.

The name of the alleged shooter, Joe Louis Esquivel, 23, of Hedgesville, West Virginia, was also released by the Washington County sheriffs office on Friday.

Esquivel, who was hospitalized after a shootout with police, is currently being held by the Washington County Detention Center on no bond.

Joe Louis Esquivel, 23, of Hedgesville, W.Va. (Washington County, Md., Sheriffs Office via AP)

Authorities say Esquivel arrived Thursday morning for his normal shift at Columbia Machine Inc. in the small rural community of Smithsburg in western Maryland. He allegedly worked until he left the building to retrieve a weapon, went back inside and fired on employees in the area of a breakroom. Police responded to a 911 call at about 2:30 p.m.

The sheriffs office has not released a motive.

Smithsburg police who arrived first on the scene found a wounded person outside the business. As deputies arrived, three additional victims, all deceased, were located inside, the Washington County sheriffs office said.

Esquivel left the scene in a car and was quickly met by Maryland State Police. A Maryland state trooper who was injured in a shootout with the suspect was treated and released late Thursday, authorities said.

The 25-year veteran of the Maryland State Police was shot when police said Esquivel fired multiple rounds at troopers. At least one trooper returned fire, striking the suspect, state police said.

Police stand near where a man killed three people when he opened fire at a business in Smithsburg, Md., on June 9, 2022. (Steve Ruark/AP Photo)

A search warrant was executed at the suspects West Virginia residence, and additional firearms were located, the sheriffs office said.

Washington County Sheriff Doug Mullendore identified those killed in the shooting as Mark Alan Frey, 50, of Hagerstown, Maryland; Charles Edward Minnick Jr., 31, of Smithsburg, Maryland; and Joshua Robert Wallace, 30, of Hagerstown.

Reached by telephone Friday, Nelson Michael, the father of Brandon Michael, 42, who was wounded in the machine shop shooting, said his son was still in the hospital, but he didnt know more about his condition.

Hes surviving, he said. Im glad hes alive, but its going to work on his nerves. I know that.

Nelson Michael said he didnt know why the gunman shot the victims.

Im not saying any more. Im just glad my sons alive, and I feel so bad for the families of the other ones, he said.

Authorities said the investigation is ongoing.

Mullendore said the suspect used a semiautomatic handgun, which was recovered after the shootout.

A tactical police officer walks near where a man killed three people when he opened fire at a business in Smithsburg, Md., on June 9, 2022. (Steve Ruark/AP Photo)

Smithsburg, a community of nearly 3,000 people, is just west of the Camp David presidential retreat and about 75 miles northwest of Baltimore. The manufacturing facility was in a sparsely populated area northeast of the towns center with a church, several businesses, and farmland nearby.

Based in Vancouver, Washington, Columbia Machine manufactures equipment for concrete products, and its Smithsburg location builds molds and works on parts and repairs for other plants. The companys CEO, Rick Goode, issued a statement calling the deaths of three employees and the wounding of a fourth tragic.

Our highest priority during this tragic event is the safety and wellbeing of our employees and their families, he said.

Dennis Stouffer lived about a half-mile from Frey, one of the victims, and said he would see Frey at the mailbox when he drove by.

He described Frey as a solid individual and a good guy.

Stouffer said in a phone interview that Frey once made meat hooks for a deer-meat processing shop he used to run in Smithsburg.

He didnt make a bunch of noise or anything. He just went about his work, Stouffer said.

Speaking late Friday morning, Stouffer said the reason for the shooting remained a big mystery to people in the community.

Were all in shock and disbelief, and thats an understatement, Stouffer said.

By Brian Witte and Sarah Brumfield
Modernas COVID-19 Vaccine Effective in Toddlers, Babies: FDA

Modernas COVID-19 vaccine is effective for children as young as 6 months old, Food and Drug Administration (FDA) scientists said in a new analysis published late June 11.

Available data support the effectiveness of the Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine in preventing symptomatic COVID-19 in pediatric age groups from 6 months through 17 years of age, the scientists said in the document (pdf).

The analysis was filed ahead of the agencys meeting with advisers with regards to requests for emergency clearance from Moderna and Pfizer for their COVID-19 vaccines for children as young as 6 months old. Moderna is also seeking clearance for other adolescents, while Pfizers shot is already available to children aged 5 and older.

The analysis was based on results from clinical trials funded by Moderna.

The agencys conclusion came despite Modernas vaccine being just 50.6 percent effective against symptomatic infection in children aged 6 months to 23 months, and just 36.8 percent for children aged 2 to 5.

The primary endpoint of the studies was a certain level of neutralizing antibodies, which are believed to protect against the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus. Also known as SARS-CoV-2, the virus causes COVID-19.

Because the FDA has previously authorized the Moderna and Pfizer shots for adults, it is allowing the companies to infer effectiveness based on a technique called immunobridging. Instead of focusing on clinical efficacy, that enabled the manufacturers to only need to stimulate an immune response similar to the response seen in adults.

Children are at little risk of severe illness and death from COVID-19of approximately 14.2 million cases in youth in the United States, just 1,524 deaths have been reportedand some question whether kids, especially healthy ones, need a vaccine.

Experts told The Epoch Times when Moderna submitted the results to the regulator that they did not warrant emergency authorization.

In a public comment (pdf) regarding the applications, Dr. David Gortler, a senior FDA medical officer and one of the experts, said that no COVID-19 emergency exists for children, meaning emergency clearance should not be granted. Children are much less likely to experience severe illness if they get the CCP virus, and few have died during the course of the pandemic with or from COVID-19.

Gortler noted that the FDA in the summer of 2020 indicated it would only clear vaccines that were 50 percent or more effective, but that the vaccines for children were either below or near that benchmark. FDA officials have more recently said they were not committed to the threshold. Gortler also raised concerns about the side effects, such as heart inflammation, recorded after COVID-19 vaccination.

The FDA shouldnt need the reminder that Americas young children are not drug-safety research volunteers and should not be subject to being forced to take objectively ineffective COVID-19 vaccines, Gortler said.

Moderna officials have said that the trial results show the companys vaccine is safe and effective.

One case of chest pain was recorded in a 14-year-old boy who was in one of the trials, with him described as saying feeling like heart is being squeezed but the case was ultimately determined not to be either of two forms of heart inflammation, myocarditis or pericarditis, FDA scientists said in the new document.

They also discussed two other cases of suspected myocarditis and said U.S. authorities have also received reports of three children who received Modernas vaccine despite the lack of authorization who had myocarditis, including two 15-year-old males.

There have been no reports of myocarditis anywhere in the world in children aged 6 to 12, according to Modernas safety database.

As far as other safety data, about a quarter of participants in the trials had fevers, a higher percentage than that recorded in older age groups. But the rates in children were not substantially different than the rates following routine childhood vaccines, FDA scientists said.

The scientists said it was expected the vaccine would be effective against severe illness, even though there was no clinical evidence seen in the trials. Both arms in the studies, including the unvaccinated arm, had zero severe cases of COVID-19.

They also said that children will likely need a booster, or additional dose, in the future.

Based on experience with adults, it is likely that a booster dose will be needed to increase robustness, breadth, and duration of protection against currently circulating and emerging SARS-CoV-2 variants, they said.

Scientists with the FDA and Moderna will make presentations at the June 15 meeting of the Vaccines and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee, an outside panel that advises the FDA on vaccines. Panel members will ask questions and discuss the data from Moderna and Pfizer pertaining to the companies vaccines and young children. Members will vote on whether they think the FDA should grant the emergency applications. The FDA can ignore the panels advice but often takes up its recommendations.

Just 18 percent of parents of a child under 5 plan to get their child vaccinated right away if one or more of the vaccines is authorized for the age group, according to a recent Kaiser Family Foundation survey. Another 38 percent will definitely not, or will only if required. The rest will wait and see.
Priya (R) and Nades Murugappan and their daughters Kopika and Tharnicaa celebrate as they arrive at the Thangool Aerodrome near Biloela, Australia, on June 10, 2022. (Dan Peled/Getty Images)

No Impediment to Tamil Family Visa: Aussie PM

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has hinted the Nadesalingam family will be able to get permanent visas following their return to the Queensland town of Biloela.

Nothing is stopping the Nadesalingam family seeking permanent residency in Australia, Albanese says, following the Tamil asylum seekers return to Biloela.

A full weekend of celebrations is under way in the central Queensland town after Priya and Nades Nadesalingam and their daughters Kopika and Tharnicaa returned on Friday for the first time since being detained in March 2018.

The former coalition government tried to deport the asylum seekers to Sri Lanka, but an 11th-hour court injunction saw the four held at the Christmas Island detention centre for two years, then moved to community detention in Perth.

Following the May election, the new Labor government gave the family permission to return to Biloela on bridging visas.

Asked on Saturday about the family seeking permanent residency, the prime minister said those processes will take place.

The only way that it could happen is  the visa being issued, and then that application will go through. But I see no impediment to that occurring, he told reporters in Sydney.

He described it as heartening to see the family return to their adopted home town, where they received a warm welcome at the airport on Friday.

The family were due to attend the Flourish Festival at the Biloela Civic Centre on Saturday afternoon before celebrating Tharnis fifth birthday on Sunday.

Albanese said a family with two young girls spending four years in detention was something that Australia cant be proud of.

We are a better country than that, we can do better than that, he said.
Colombian naval officials conducting underwater monitoring of the long-sunken San Jose galleon have discovered two other historical shipwrecks nearby, President Ivan Duque said on Monday, June 6.

The San Jose galleon, a 62-gun, 3-masted ship that sank during a battle with British ships in the War of Spanish Succession, thought by historians to be carrying treasure that would be as much as $17 billion, sank in 1708 near Colombias Caribbean port of Cartagena.

Its potential recovery has been the subject of litigation for decades.

(Colombia Presidency, Colombia Navy Handout via AP)

(Colombia Presidency, Colombia Navy Handout via AP)

(Colombia Presidency, Colombia Navy Handout via AP)

A remotely operated vehicle reached 900 meters depth, Duque and naval officials said in a video statement, allowing new videos of the wreckage.

The vehicle also discovered two other nearby wrecks  a colonial boat and a schooner thought to be from around the same period as Colombias war for independence from Spain, some 200 years ago.

We now have two other discoveries in the same area, that show other options for archaeological exploration, navy commander Admiral Gabriel Perez said. So the work is just beginning.

The images offer the best-yet view of the treasure that was aboard the San Jose  including gold ingots and coins, silver, emeralds, cannons made in Seville in 1655, and an intact Chinese dinner service.

(Colombia Presidency, Colombia Navy Handout via AP)

Archaeologists from the navy and government are working to determine the origin of the plates based on inscriptions, the officials said.

Our government decided that all that treasure is a unified patrimony that cannot be broken up, cannot be separated, and that in its entirety has enormous patrimony richness, Duque said. There were obviously differences of legal matters that weve advanced with the Minister of Culture, as well as with the Defense Judicial Agency to resolve it.

He added, The idea is to recover it and to have sustainable financing mechanisms for future extractions. In this way we protect the treasure, the patrimony of the San Jose galleon.

(Colombia Presidency, Colombia Navy Handout via AP)

(Colombia Presidency, Colombia Navy Handout via AP)

(Colombia Presidency, Colombia Navy Handout via AP)

(Colombia Presidency, Colombia Navy Handout via AP)

AP contributed to this report.

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Police Identify 3 Killed in Tennessee Shooting

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn.Police have identified the three people who were killed in a Tennessee shooting last weekend that also injured 14 others.

Chattanooga Police on Friday said the three people who died are Darian Hixson, Myrakle Moss, and Kevin Brown. Police have said that 14 of the 17 victims in the June 5 shooting were hit by gunfire and another three were hit by vehicles while trying to flee the scene.

Of the three who died, two were killed by gunfire and one was killed by a vehicle. Police did not specify the individual causes of death while naming those who died.

The Chattanooga Police Department stands near the scene following a shooting in Chattanooga, Tenn., on June 5, 2022. (Tierra Hayes/Chattanooga Times Free Press via AP)

Sixteen of the victims were adults and one was a juvenile, police have said. Obituary listings say Hixson was 24, Moss was 25, and Brown was 35.

Authorities have arrested Garrian King on a weapons charge in the shooting. He is charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm, according to court records.

Garrian King. (Hamilton County Sheriffs Office)

An affidavit filed in U.S. District Court in Chattanooga said King was seen on security camera video exiting a stolen Chevrolet Suburban just after 2 a.m. on June 5 across the street from Marys Bar & Grill. King was one of a group of three men, two of whom have not been publicly identified by authorities. One of the men wore a mask and carried an AR pistol, according to the affidavit.

The shooting occurred outside the view of the surveillance camera, but the affidavit said King was later recorded holding the gun and getting into a white Land Rover that left the area. The Land Rover was located at Kings home Wednesday, according to the affidavit. King admitted to officers that he purchased the gun on May 28. He claimed to have resold it, but the affidavit says officers were able to trace the guns location and believe that King lied about selling it.

The Chattanooga Police Department investigate the scene of a shooting in Chattanooga, Tenn., on June 5, 2022. (Tierra Hayes/Chattanooga Times Free Press via AP)

At the time of the shooting, King was on supervised release for a 2017 conviction of being a felon in possession of ammunition. He was being held without bond after his Wednesday arrest.

The shooting came one week after six juveniles were wounded during an exchange of gunfire in a downtown Chattanooga business district.
Japan's Prime Minister Fumio Kishida delivers the keynote address at the opening dinner of the 19th Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore, June 10, 2022. Photo by Reuters/Caroline Chia

Japans Prime Minister Fumio Kishida pledged Friday to boost its regional security presence to counter multiple threats, from Chinas expansion in the South China Sea to North Koreas nuclear missile program.

Earlier, on the first day of the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore, U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and Chinese Defense Minister General Wei Fenghe had their first face-to-face meeting.

Although both sides reiterated that they want to better manage their relationship, Beijing and Washington remained polarised over several volatile security situations, from Taiwans sovereignty to Chinas military activity in the Pacific and Russias attack of Ukraine.

After the meeting, Chinese and U.S. officials highlighted the cordiality of proceedings in a sign it could help open the door to more communication between the two militaries.

However, there was no evidence of any breakthrough on settling long-running security disputes.

Japans Kishida, who took office last year, said at the meetings keynote address that Russias attack of Ukraine had shaken the "foundations of the international order", leaving the world at a crossroads.

He said Japan would enter a new era of "realism diplomacy", another step by Tokyo to distance itself from its post-World War Two pacifism and step out of the shadow of the United States, its main ally, to take a bigger role in regional security where it faces China, North Korea and Russia.

"We will be more proactive than ever in tackling the challenges and crises that face Japan, Asia, and the world," Kishida said.

"Taking that perspective, in order to maintain and strengthen the peaceful order in this region, I will advance the Kishida Vision for Peace and boost Japans diplomatic and security role in the region."

Although the meeting is focused on Asian security issues, Russias attack of Ukraine remains central to discussions.

The conflict, which has killed tens of thousands of people, uprooted millions and reduced cities to rubble, entered its 100th day last week.

At the U.S.-China meeting, Austin "strongly discouraged" China from providing material support to Russia for the war. In response, Chinas defense spokesman said Beijing did not provide Russia with military assistance.

This year, Washington warned that Beijing appeared poised to help Russia in its war against Ukraine.

But since then, U.S. officials have said while they remain wary about Chinas longstanding support for Russia in general, the military and economic support that they worried about has not come to pass, at least for now.

China has not condemned Russias attack and does not call it an invasion, but has urged a negotiated solution.

The bulk of Wei and Austins meeting was dedicated to discussing the future of Taiwan, one of the most acute sources of diplomatic tension between the worlds two biggest economic powers.

The United States is Taiwans most important international supporter and arms supplier, a source of constant friction between Washington and Beijing.

China, which claims self-ruled Taiwan as its own territory, has increased military activity near the island over the past two years, responding to what it calls "collusion" between Taipei and Washington.
Canadian Heritage Minister Pablo Rodriguez rises during Question Period in the House of Commons on Parliament Hill in Ottawa on May 16, 2022. (The Canadian Press/ Patrick Doyle)

Quebec Wants Federal Language Law Reform to Drop Reference About Promoting English

The Quebec government wants the proposed federal language law reform to take a different approach toward the provinces English-speaking minority and francophone minorities in other parts of the country.

The province has sent 14 suggested amendments to members of a parliamentary committee currently studying the bill.

Those amendments would remove language from the bill calling for the promotion of English and add recognition that French is Quebecs common language.

The amendments would also require senior managers of federal institutions and federally regulated companies to speak French and subject them to the provinces language law.

Heritage Minister Pablo Rodriguez, who is also Prime Minister Justin Trudeaus Quebec lieutenant, told reporters today French is the only language in North America that is threatened, but the federal government will support both minority language communities.

The Quebec Community Groups Network, a Quebec anglophone rights group, described the 14 proposed amendments as part of the Coalition Avenir Quebec governments war on the provinces English-speaking community.
Rep. Liz Cheney (R-Wyo.) speaks during a House Jan. 6 panel hearing in Washington on June 9, 2022. (Mandel Ngan/AFP via Getty Images)

Rep. Perry Says Rep. Cheney Lied About Claim He Sought Presidential Pardon

Rep. Liz Cheney (R-Wyo.) lied when she claimed during a June 9 House of Representatives panel hearing that Rep. Scott Perry (R-Pa.) sought a presidential pardon after the Jan. 6, 2021, breach of the U.S. Capitol, Perry says.

The notion that I ever sought a Presidential pardon for myself or other Members of Congress is an absolute, shameless, and soulless lie, Perry said on Twitter on June 10, a day after the hearing held by the House panel investigating Jan. 6.

During the hearing, Cheney alleged that Perry contacted the White House in the weeks after Jan. 6 to seek a presidential pardon.

Multiple other Republican congressmen also sought presidential pardons for their roles in attempting to overturn the 2020 election, she added.

She provided no evidence for the claims, and did not identify any other members of Congress other than Perry, who was one of the members who voted against the certification of electoral results from Arizona and Pennsylvania.

Perry said on a podcast that he did not do anything wrong on Jan. 6.

No, of course not. I was in the Capitol doing my legislative duties, he said.

Perry also said that the Jan. 6 panel was a sham committee, referring to how the panel only has members picked by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) because Pelosi rejected choices put forth by House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.).

Cheneys office did not respond to a request for comment.

The fervent critic of former President Donald Trump is the vice chair of the House panel, which has tried to compel Perry and four other Republicans to appear to testify, but all five have so far refused, calling the attempts unconstitutional.

Rep. Scott Perry (R-Pa.) speaks to reporters in Washington on Feb. 28, 2022. (Drew Angerer/Getty Images)

Rep. Bennie Thompson (D-Miss.), the chairman of the committee, told CNN that we have documentation of Republicans who asked Trump for pardons.

That will come out in our hearings, Thompson said.

The panel, which showed edited social media posts and videos during its hearing, plans to hold additional hearings this month.

Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-Md.), a member of the panel, said of the purported pardon requests that Its hard to find a more explicit statement of consciousness of guilt than looking for a pardon for actions youve just taken, assisting in a plan to overthrow the results of a presidential election.

No Republican members of Congress have been charged with crimes related to Jan. 6.

The votes against certifying electoral results from several states were legal under congressional rules.

Raskin voted in January 2017 to object to electoral results from Florida, which had voted for Trump.

Unlike in 2021, the effort received no support from a senator, so it did not move forward.

The votes in 2021 failed because a majority in each chamber rejected the effort.
Rice Refuses to Bow Down to Pressure of Trumps Electoral Influence

Five-term Rep. Tom Rice (R-S.C.) insists there is one way he would consider voting for Donald Trump if the former president runs in 2024.

If he came out and said, Im sorry I made a huge mistake on Jan. 6, then I might consider it, Rice said in an interview with ABC News This Week on June 5.

The June 14 primary for South Carolinas 7th Congressional District is a few days away, and Rice is doubling down on his criticism of Trump in a district that backed the former president with 58 percent of the vote in 2016 and 58.8 percent in 2020.

Rice was one of 10 House Republicans who voted to impeach Trump for allegedly inciting the Jan. 6 incident at the U.S. Capitol.

In the interview on This Week, Rice called his decision the conservative vote and said, I did it then. And I would do it again tomorrow.

Trump opened himself to impeachment for possibly endangering former vice president Mike Pence and his family, and not being responsive enough to stop the riot, Rice explained.

When he watched the Capitol, the Peoples House, being sacked, when he watched the Capitol Police officers being beaten for three or four hours and lifted not one thing  to stop itI was livid then and Im livid today about it, Rice said. And it was very clear to me I took an oath to protect the Constitution.

South Carolinas 7th Congressional District includes the Grand Strand tourist area that surrounds Myrtle Beach and stretches inland northwest, containing a vast portion of the impoverished Pee Dee region.

State Rep. Russell Fry is endorsed by Donald Trump in South Carolinas 7th Congressional District GOP primary. (Courtesy of Fry for Congress).

Rice was first elected in 2012 and faces a crowded field of six challengers, including Trump-endorsed state Rep. Russell Fry, who has led in multiple polls.

According to two internal polls from Frys campaign in May, and a Trafalgar Group survey conducted between May 26 and May 29, Fry occupies the top spot with Rice in second.

The Trafalgar Group poll, which included 572 responses from likely GOP primary voters, asked, If the Republican primary for Congress were held today, for whom would you most likely vote?

Fry was first with 42.2 percent followed by Rice (24.9 percent), Barbara Arthur (9.8 percent), Ken Richardson (9.6 percent), Garrett Barton (2.9 percent), Spencer Morris (2.1 percent), and Mark McBride (1.5 percent) with 7 percent undecided.

An internal survey conducted by Rices polling team between May 25 and May 26 found that Rice has 38 percent support from likely Republican primary voters followed by Fry (21 percent) and Arthur (19 percent).

Rices internal study featured 400 respondents and had a margin of effort of plus or minus 5.2 percentage points.

In South Carolina, the top two candidates meet in a head-to-head runoff if the leading candidate does not get more than 50 percent of the primary votes. If the polls are accurate, Fry and Rice will appear in a runoff on June 28.

Rice has criticized Fry for voting for the gas tax in South Carolina and has accused the states Chief Majority Whip of frequently missing votes on the House floor.

During a debate and in a television ad, Rice targeted Fry about those claims.

There are no excused absences in Congress, Rice said in a statement about the ad. My opponents want a full-time job that requires you to make sacrifices. Russell Fry missed the vote for the largest tax cut in South Carolina history because he decided a trip to Florida was more important.

The irony is, he managed to be present the day he voted to raise our gas taxes, Rice added. I take my job serving the 7th District seriously and will always put the best interests of my constituents first.

Fry defended himself by calling Rice a liar and presenting a document from South Carolina House Clerk Charles Reid that shows he has been absent six days over the seven years he has held office.

Some of Frys critics have said that, according to legislative records, he has missed 640 votes during his time as a state representative.

State Rep. Heather Ammons Crawford (R) told the Palmetto Post, a conservative blog based in Myrtle Beach, that the attacks about Frys attendance and voting records are baseless.

I sit next to Russell Fry in the S.C. House and he doesnt miss work, Crawford said. I know when he gets to Washington, he will display a strong work ethic and defend our conservative values just as he has done in Columbia.

Audrey Hudson, who covered Congress as a former national desk reporter for the Washington Times, is the founder of the Palmetto Post and closely follows GOP politics in the 7th Congressional District.

Fry didnt miss all these votes, he recused himself from those votes and Rice knew that when he launched his debate attack and began flooding the airwaves across the Grand Strand and Pee Dee region in an expensive TV ad buy that only Rice could afford, Hudson wrote.

South Carolina requires state elected officials to recuse themselves from voting on any spending bills or legislation that does, or could pose, a conflict of interest with the lawmakers job or business, or any member of their familys business, Hudson continued.

He did not miss more than 600 votes. Fry, like every member of the General Assembly, recuses himself from numerous votes a year because he was advised by the Ethics Committee to avoid those votes out of an abundance of caution that it might constitute a conflict of interest.

Former U.S. Speaker of the House Rep. Paul Ryan (R-WI) (L), Irish Taoiseach Leo Varadkar (2L), then-president Donald Trump (C), former U.S. vice president Mike Pence (@R), and U.S. Rep. Peter King (R-NY) walk down the House steps at the Capitol after the Friends of Ireland luncheon on Capitol Hill in Washington, on March 15, 2018. (Alex Wong/Getty Images)

At a recent luncheon attended by Rice supporters, former House Speaker Paul Ryan (R) pointed to Georgia, where Trump-endorsed candidates David Perdue (governor) and U.S. Rep. Jody Hice (secretary of state) lost their respective Republican primaries to incumbent Gov. Brian Kemp and incumbent Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger.

The Georgia voters just told us they want honest conservatives who are focused on their problems, not someones vendetta, Ryan said, indicating that same story could unfold with Rice winning in South Carolina.

The more he keeps endorsing people, and those other people dont win, the faster our party gets back to being a party based on policies and principles and not a person.

Rice told reporters at the luncheon he is pleased that Kemp and Raffensperger prevailed last month.

Gov. Kemp has delivered for the voters of Georgia, and they repaid him. I think Raffensperger delivered for the voters of Georgia, and they repaid him for that, Rice said. Im hopeful that the people in this district feel the same.

Trump has a different opinion, and he is determined to see that Rice is defeated.

Right here, in the 7th District, Tom Rice, a disaster, Trump said at a rally in March. Hes respected by no one, hes laughed at in Washington.

In response to that comment, Rice said, If I am a disaster and a total fool, and I voted with him 169 times out of 184, what does that make him? I was following his lead.

Trumps 76th birthday is on June 14, the same date as South Carolinas primary.

Earlier this week, he asked South Carolina voters to give him a beautiful, beautiful birthday present of defeats for Rice in the 7th Congressional District and Rep. Nancy Mace in South Carolinas 1st Congressional District.

Mace voted to certify Joe Bidens victory in the 2020 presidential election and has frequently blamed Trump for the Jan. 6 U.S. Capitol events.

Horry County is part of the 7th Congressional District. The county seat is Conway, which is located around 14 miles northwest of Myrtle Beach. County Republican Party chairman Roger Slagle told reporters that Trumps endorsement is impactful and that voters in the region respect him.

Donald Trump is very much alive, well, and very much controlling the narrative of the Republican Party in the United States. That is a no-brainer to me, Slagle said.

That wont automatically translate to a victory for Fry on June 14, Slagle added.

They [voters] look at it and say, Well, thats great. Does Donald Trump really know all the nuances of whats going on here in Horry County, South Carolina, or District 7? Slagle said. I think you will see people that will still be as loyal to Donald Trump who end up rejecting his endorsed candidate.

Conway, S.C. native Daryl Scott is unopposed in the Democratic primary. Libertarian candidates Keenan Dunham and Larry Guy Hammond are also on the Nov. 8 general election ballot.

Whether Rice, Fry or another candidate wins the June 14 primary, chances are a Republican will occupy the 7th Congressional District seat in January, 2023.

The Cook Political Report, Inside Elections with Nathan L. Gonzales, and Larry J. Sabatos Crystal Ball rate the district as Solid Republican or Safe Republican.
Former NYC Mayor, Rudy Giuliani arrives at a news conference in the Little Havana neighborhood of Miami, on July 26, 2021. (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee)

Rudy Giuliani Faces Ethics Charges Over 2020 Presidential Election Claims

The Washington D.C. Office of Disciplinary Counsel has filed an ethics charge against Rudy Giuliani for allegedly promoting baseless claims that fraud had taken place in the 2020 presidential elections.

The ethics charge, filed at a federal court in Pennsylvania on Friday, puts Giulianis ability to practice law in the city at risk. According to the D.C. Bars disciplinary arm, Giulianis conduct violated the following Pennsylvania Rules of Professional Conduct  (a) in that he brought a proceeding and asserted issues therein without a non-frivolous basis in law and fact for doing so; and (b) in that he engaged in conduct prejudicial to the administration of justice, the filing said (pdf).

The charge against Giuliani centers on claims that he made in a federal court back in 2020 while supporting a lawsuit from the Trump campaign which sought to overturn the results of the Presidential election in Pennsylvania.

According to the ethics filing, more than 6.7 million votes were cast in Pennsylvania for the 2020 presidential election, out of which approximately 2.6 million were mail-in ballots. Joe Biden was deemed the winner by more than 80,000 votes.

In the Trump campaign filing, the plaintiffs asked the court to invalidate between 680,000 and 1.5 million of the mail-in ballots, arguing that these ballots failed to comply with the states election laws.

Giuliani justified his allegation of election fraud by promising the court that statistical analysis will evidence that over 70,000 mail and other mail ballots which favor Biden were improperly counted.

However, the evidence provided by Giuliani relied on false or faulty statistics and analysis, the ethics complaint stated. Giuliani even promised the district court that he had 300 more declarations, affidavits, etc., that can prove his allegations of fraud against defendant counties.

The affidavits, declarations, and statements that he provided to the district court and other bodies were (a) unsupported, (b) unrelated to Trump voters (c) involve conduct outside the seven Defendant Counties, and (d) by their own terms were isolated incidents that could not have affected the presidential elections results by offsetting the Biden majority of over 80,000 votes, says the filing.

The 2020 Trump campaign lawsuit (pdf) was eventually dismissed by a judge in Pennsylvania, arguing that the court cannot justify the disenfranchisement of a single voter, let alone all the voters of its sixth most populated state.

Giuliani was admitted to the D.C. Bar in 1976. In 2002, his status became inactive. The New York Supreme Courts appellate division suspended his law license in the state last year.

Meanwhile, a woman from Arizona recently pleaded guilty to using her position in the Democratic Party to illegally harvest ballots.

The ethics charge against Giuliani comes as new peer-reviewed research found evidence that 255,000 excess votes were cast for Joe Biden in six swing states where Donald Trump had filed election fraud lawsuits. This number could possibly go up to 368,000 excess votes. Biden won the six swing states by a margin of just 313,253 votes.
STORY AT-A-GLANCE

A large study from Israel revealed that the Pfizer COVID-19 mRNA jab is associated with a threefold increased risk of myocarditis, leading to the condition at a rate of one to five events per 100,000 persons

Other elevated risks were also identified following the COVID jab, including lymphadenopathy (swollen lymph nodes), appendicitis and herpes zoster infection

When myocarditis occurs, it reduces your hearts ability to pump and can cause rapid or abnormal heart rhythms that can be deadly

In severe cases, myocarditis can cause permanent damage to the heart muscle and lead to heart failure, heart attack, stroke and sudden cardiac death

Due to the risk of myocarditis, Britains Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunization (JCVI) recommended against COVID-9 injections for healthy 12- to 15-year-olds

As the mass administration of COVID-19 jabs continues, were now seeing some of the more common side effects emerging. Myocarditis, or inflammation of the heart muscle, is among them. This condition can cause symptoms similar to a heart attack, including chest pain, shortness of breath, abnormal heartbeat and fatigue.[1]

A large study from Israel[2] revealed that the Pfizer COVID-19 mRNA jab is associated with a threefold increased risk of myocarditis,[3] leading to the condition at a rate of one to five excess events per 100,000 persons.[4] Other elevated risks were also identified following the COVID jab, including lymphadenopathy (swollen lymph nodes), appendicitis and herpes zoster infection.[5]

Pfizer COVID Jab Poses Risk to the Heart

The real-world case-control study from Israel included a mean of 884,828 people aged 16 years and older in each of two groups: one vaccinated and one control.[6] The increased risk of myocarditis was clear, with researchers noting:[7]

The risk appears to be highest among young men. We found that the risk of myocarditis increased by a factor of three after vaccination, which translated to approximately 3 excess events per 100,000 persons; the 95% confidence interval indicated that values between 1 and 5 excess events per 100,000 persons were compatible with our data. Among the 21 persons with myocarditis in the vaccinated group, the median age was 25 years (interquartile range, 20 to 34), and 90.9% were male.

When myocarditis occurs, it reduces your hearts ability to pump and can cause rapid or abnormal heart rhythms that can be deadly. In severe cases, myocarditis can cause permanent damage to the heart muscle and lead to heart failure, heart attack, stroke and sudden cardiac death.[8] In August 2021, New Zealand reported the death of a woman following Pfizers COVID-19 jab, which they believe was due to vaccine-induced myocarditis.[9]

The death prompted the Ministry of Health to issue a statement to ensure health care professionals and consumers remain vigilant and are aware of the signs of myocarditis and pericarditis following the jab.[10]

A number of studies have now found a connection between COVID-19 jabs and myocarditis. In a September-October 2021 case report with literature review, it was concluded that the outcomes of this case scenario confirm myocarditis as a probable complication of COVID-19 vaccines.[11] Another study from Israel detailed myocarditis following Pfizers COVID-19 jab in six male patients with a median age of 23 years.[12]

A similar study published in Pediatrics[13] reported seven cases of acute myocarditis or myopericarditis in otherwise healthy adolescent males. Each had experienced chest pain within four days of receiving the second dose of Pfizers COVID-19 jab. Data published in JAMA Cardiology[14] by physicians from the Navy, Army and Air Force also revealed a higher-than-expected rate of myocarditis in U.S. military personnel who received a COVID-19 jab.

Dr. Charles Hoffe, a family physician from Lytton, British Columbia, told health officials that his patients were suffering adverse effects from the mRNA COVID-19 vaccines, including myocarditis.[15] About his young, male patients, Hoffe explained, They have permanently damaged hearts.:[16]

It doesnt matter how mild it is, they will not be able to do what they used to do because heart muscle doesnt regenerate. The long-term outlook is very grim, and with each successive shot, it will add more damage. The damage is cumulative because youre progressively getting more damaged capillaries.

Officials Advise Against Vaccination of 12- to 15-Year-Olds

Due to the risk of myocarditis, Britains Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunization (JCVI) recommended against COVID-9 injections for healthy 12- to 15-year-olds. JCVI member Adam Finn told Reuters:[17]

 the number of serious cases that we see of COVID in children this age are really very small. There are uncertainties about the long-term implications of (myocarditis), and that makes the risk-benefit balance for these children really quite tight and much tighter than we would be comfortable to make the recommendation.

In the U.S., the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is also investigating myocarditis and pericarditis, which is inflammation of the outer lining of the heart, following mRNA COVID-19 jabs, stating that more than 1,000 cases have been reported to the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS) since April 2021.[18] According to the CDC:[19]

As of August 25, 2021, VAERS had received 1,377 reports of myocarditis or pericarditis among people ages 30 and younger who received COVID-19 vaccine  Most cases have been reported after mRNA COVID-19 vaccination (Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna), particularly in male adolescents and young adults. Through follow-up, including medical record reviews, CDC and FDA have confirmed 798 reports of myocarditis or pericarditis. CDC and its partners are investigating these reports to assess whether there is a relationship to COVID-19 vaccination.

Despite the risk, the CDC is still advising children aged 12 and older to get the jab, and August 23, 2021, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration granted full approval to Pfizers COVID-19 mRNA injection, now sold under the brand name Comirnaty, for people aged 16 and older.[20]

FDA Lists Myocarditis on Jabs Prescribing Information

The injections approval represents the fastest approval in history,[21] granted less than four months after Pfizer filed for licensing May 7, 2021.[22] Its also based on only up to six months worth of data from 44,060 people aged 16 and older.[23] [24] Half of them got the shots and half initially received a placebo.

However, in the second week of December 2020, Pfizer unblinded the control group and 93% of controls opted to get the real injection rather than remain in the control group for the remainder of the trial, which is slated to continue for another two years. In their prescribing information, the risk of heart inflammation is acknowledged. As reported by STAT News:[25]

The FDAs prescribing information for the vaccine includes its associated risk of myocarditis and pericarditis, two types of heart inflammation that have appeared rarely among people whove received the mRNA vaccines, mostly within seven days after the second shot, health officials said. Men under 40 appear to be at higher risk than women and older men, with the highest observed risk in boys age 12 to 17.

Further, in its approval letter for Comirnaty, the FDA orders Pfizer to conduct research to investigate the risk of inflammation in and around the heart, as voluntary reporting mechanisms are insufficient.[26]

The FDA accepted Pfizers suggested timetable for the post-approval study to evaluate incidence of heart and heart sack inflammation, which includes the submission of an interim report at the end of October 2023, a study completion date of June 30, 2025, and submission of a final report October 31, 2025.

Spike Protein in the Jab Is Inflammatory

Dr. Robert Malone, the inventor of the mRNA and DNA vaccine core platform technology,[27] has been bravely warning of the dangers of COVID-19 jabs, in part due to the spike protein they contain.

In its native form in SARS-CoV-2, the spike protein is responsible for the pathologies of the viral infection, and in its wild form its known to open the blood-brain barrier, cause cell damage (cytotoxicity) and, Malone said, is active in manipulating the biology of the cells that coat the inside of your blood vessels  vascular endothelial cells, in part through its interaction with ACE2, which controls contraction in the blood vessels, blood pressure and other things.[28]

Malone is well aware of the actions of spike protein, as he worked to identify an effective drug that worked by blocking the action of the COX-2 enzyme, which is a key inflammatory enzyme. In one of his papers, he laid out how the spike protein and another protein in the virus directly turn on COX-2 promoter in infected cells.

This awareness of the spike protein as a biologically active protein made him alert the FDA in fall 2020 about the associated risks. His FDA colleagues transferred his concerns to the FDAs review branch, which dismissed his concerns, saying they did not believe the spike protein was biologically active and there wasnt enough documentation otherwise. As history now reveals, they proceeded with the EUA.

Its since been revealed, however, that the spike protein on its own is enough to cause inflammation and damage to the vascular system, even independent of a virus.[29] Blood clots are another serious concern related to the spike protein. According to Hoffe:[30]

[It] becomes part of the cell wall of your vascular endothelium, which means that these cells, which line your blood vessels, which are supposed to be smooth so that your blood flows smoothly now have these little spiky bits sticking out. So it is absolutely inevitable that blood clots will form, because your blood platelets circulate around in your vessels and the purpose of blood platelets is to detect a damaged vessel and block that damage when it starts bleeding. So when a platelet comes through a capillary and suddenly hits all these covid spikes that are jutting into the inside vessel  blood clots will form to block that vessel. Thats how platelets work.

Hoffe has been conducting the D-dimer test on his patients within four to seven days of them receiving a COVID-19 injection and found that 62% have evidence of clotting.[31]

Because of the risk of the formation of blood clots in your vessels, Dr. Sucharit Bhakdi,[32] a retired professor, microbiologist and infectious disease and immunology specialist who, along with several other doctors and scientists, formed Doctors for COVID Ethics, went so far as to say that giving the COVID-19 injection to children is a crime: Do not give it to children because they have absolutely no possibility to defend themselves, if you give it to your child you are committing a crime.

As mentioned, due to myocarditis risks in youth, Great Britains JCVI is also taking a precautionary approach for COVID-19 injections among 12- to 15-year-olds. Wei Shen Lim, COVID-19 chair for JCVI, stated, The margin of benefit is considered too small to support universal Covid-19 vaccination for this age group at this time.[33]

Originally published Sep 21, 2021 on Mercola.com

References
Tennessee Congressional Candidate Robby Starbuck Removed From Ballot Again

Robby Starbuck, a Republican congressional candidate running in the Republican primary for Tennessees 5th Congressional District, was removed from the ballot again after a state Supreme Court ruling on Friday.

Starbuck, a Cuban-American filmmaker, was restored to the ballot on Monday for the Aug. 4 primary after his request for a temporary injunction was granted by a judge. Davidson County Chancellor Russell Perkins ruled that the Tennessee Republican Partys executive committee violated the states Open Meetings Act when it decided to remove Starbuck from the ballot in April, because the 133 vote to remove him was carried out behind closed doors.

Officials at that meeting also decided to remove two other candidates: former Trump administration official Morgan Ortagus and businessman Baxter Lee.

But the Tennessee Supreme Court ruled Friday (pdf) that the lower court erred in granting the injunction, saying that the state law wasnt violated. The high court said that only the state primary boards, not the state executive committees, are required to comply with the requirement, and that the Tennessee Republican Party, by statute, was acting as an executive committee.

A party may require by rule that candidates for its nominations be bona fide members of the party, the court said in the ruling. It added that the Tennessee Republican Party State Executive Committee did not violate the states Open Meeting Act by making the determination that Starbuck was not a bona fide Republican in a private meeting because it was not required to comply with the act.

The ruling comes on the day Tennessee to finalizes its primary ballots. Early voting starts July 15. The seat is currently held by Rep. Jim Cooper (D-Tenn.).

In a public response, Starbuck criticized the ruling, saying on Twitter that Tennessee voters will be disenfranchised by the decision. The precedent this sets is shocking.

Its official. State parties in Tennessee can meet in secret to remove candidates they dont want on the ballot without any explanation, he said. Supreme Court of Tennessee ruled in favor of [Tenneseee GOPs] position that the State Executive Committee is not subject to the open meetings act despite them being elected officials.

Starbuck said the courts decision is not the end of his campaign. We have other options that we will imminently seek out. The system that was upheld today by the [Tennessee] Supreme Court is sadly reminiscent of Cuba where a central committee removes real candidates and gives the people only party puppets to choose from.
A Border Patrol agent fills out paperwork while detaining a large group of illegal immigrants near Eagle Pass, Texas, on May 20, 2022. (Charlotte Cuthbertson/The Epoch Times)

Texas Judge Blocks Federal Policy Letting Criminal Aliens Roam Free

Texas and Louisiana have successfully sued the Biden administration over an immigration policy that saw criminal aliens released from custody into the community instead of being deported.

U.S. District Judge Drew Tipton on Friday ruled in favor of Texas and Louisiana, finding that the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) issued rules via self-styled memorandum meant to govern civil immigration enforcement.

These unlawful agency memoranda allowed illegal aliens convicted of felonies to roam free in America, Texas and Louisiana argued in their lawsuit (pdf).

Tipton said the legal issues in the case were varied and complicated but at its core, the case was about whether the Biden administration may require its officials to act in a manner that conflicts with a statutory mandate imposed by Congress.

It may not, Tipton wrote.

Texas and Louisiana argued that the DHS policy to allow U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officials to exercise discretion in deportation cases conflicted with detention mandates under federal law.

In defending against this claim, Tipton found that the Biden administrations explanations fall short.

The Executive Branch may prioritize its resources. But it must do so within the bounds set by Congress, Tipton said. Using the words discretion and prioritization, the Executive Branch claims the authority to suspend statutory mandates. The law does not sanction this approach.

DHS Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas said in September 2021 that the policy was just and the agency was stretched, The Hill reported.

The fact that an individual is a removable noncitizen should not alone be the basis of an enforcement action against them. We focus our resources because they are limited, and because of our dedication to doing justice, he said.

The Epoch Times reached out to the DHS for further comment.

The attorney generals of Louisiana and Texas celebrated the win on Twitter.

A federal judge has just ruled with us that the Biden Administration can no longer refuse to detain criminal illegal immigrants. This is a major win for our [National Security] and the [rule of law]! Louisiana Attorney General Jeff Landry wrote.

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton declared he had dealt Biden another massive defeat in federal court.

[Biden] tried to throw out immigration law, saying DHS didnt have to detain criminal illegals. The court now says he must. I will always hold the line with the Dems and the rule of law, Paxton wrote.

BREAKING: A federal judge has just ruled with us that the Biden Administration can no longer refuse to detain criminal illegal immigrants. This is a major win for our #NationalSecurity and the #RuleOfLaw!  AG Jeff Landry (@AGJeffLandry) June 10, 2022

BREAKING: I just dealt Biden another massive defeat in fed court. He tried to throw out immigration law, saying DHS didnt have to detain criminal illegals. The court now says he must. I will always hold the line with the Dems and the rule of law. https://t.co/EfHXWBidAB  Attorney General Ken Paxton (@KenPaxtonTX) June 10, 2022

According to court documents, when the Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ) incarcerates a criminal alien it informs the ICE agency. The agency would normally then issue a detainer request if the alien is due to be deported when their sentence expires. TDCJ would then hold the alien instead of releasing them into the community.

Louisiana has a similar procedure except there are more federal detention facilities available where federal detainees are held until they can be deported.

However, since the inauguration of President Joe Biden in January 2021, federal agencies have rescinded dozens of detainer requests previously issued to TDCJ, and ICE has declined to take custody of dangerous criminal aliens that it had previously sought.

Louisiana and Texas argued that the Biden administrations actions are in violation of the Immigration and Nationality Act, the Administrative Procedure Act, binding agreements that DHS negotiated with Texas and Louisiana, and the U.S. Constitution.

These policy changes, the two states argued, have resulted in a crisis on the border.'
Texas Judge Blocks Transgender Child Abuse Investigations

A Texas court on Friday blocked the states child and youth welfare agency from conducting child abuse investigations of three families who allowed their children to commence sex change treatments and procedures.

Travis County District Court granted a temporary restraining order against the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS) from investigating the parents of three transgender minors.

The families claimed in a lawsuit that they are providing their transgender children medically necessary health care.

But according to a legal opinion by Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, certain sex change procedures, such as non-medically necessary, gender-based procedures or treatments on a minor, could constitute child abuse under Texas law (pdf).

Such procedures include orchiectomies, hysterectomies, vaginoplasty, phalloplasty, and mastectomies.

This prompted Gov. Greg Abbott (R-Texas) to issue a directive in February ordering the DFPS to start investigating parents of children who undergo sex change procedures.

One of the families suing the state said their child attempted suicide the day the directive became public, citing the political environment and being misgendered at school, according to court documents (pdf).

The minor, going by the alias Antonio, was later admitted to an outpatient psychiatric facility where the staff reported the case for possible child abuse.

Antonio was born a girl and presented as a tomboy until puberty. Since 2020, Antonio began to socially transition by using the name, pronoun, and gender expression of a boy, before commencing puberty blockers and hormone therapy in 2021 and 2022.

In his directive (pdf), Abbott noted that doctors, nurses, and teachers who have direct contact with children who may be subject to such abuse are required by law to report it, or they may face penalties.

Child protective services case workers opened investigations into each of the three parents for allowing their children to be prescribed sex change treatments, according to court documents.

The governor in his directive said that it is already against the states law to subject Texas children to a wide variety of elective procedures for gender transitioning, citing Paxtons legal opinion.

This includes procedures that can cause sterilization, mastectomies, removals of otherwise healthy body parts, and administration of puberty-blocking drugs or supraphysiologic doses of testosterone or estrogen.

Licensed facilities where such procedures may occur can also be investigated by the relevant state agencies, he added.

There is no doubt that these procedures are abuse under Texas law, and thus must be halted. [DFPS] has a responsibility to act accordingly, Abbott said. Ill do everything I can to protect against those who take advantage of and harm young Texans.

The American Civil Liberties Union, Lambda Legal, the ACLU of Texas, and law firm Baker Botts LLP later sued the state on behalf of the families to stop the investigations.

The lawsuit was successful and the courts ruling on Friday blocked the DFPS from investigating the three families.

Former Trans Woman Questions Medical Care

One woman, unrelated to the Texas lawsuit, who detransitioned back to female as an adult, has questioned the so-called medical care she was getting and decided not to go through with a double mastectomy.

The woman, going by the pseudonym Cat Cattinson to protect her identity, said a doctor prescribed her testosterone without an in-person visit after they had been speaking for about 30 minutes.

[The doctor] didnt require therapy, no labs  and I went and picked it up the same day, she said. It was unbelievable even to me.

In an interview with The Epoch Times, Cattinson described her many years of confusion and how she felt pushed by medical professionals and trans activists to declare herself as transgender before she was ready or else she might kill herself.

Read More Detransitioner Denounces Gender-Affirming Care

I had heard from trans activists, and the narrative is that if you have gender dysphoria, if you dont come out as trans and transition, then youre extremely likely to kill yourselftheres basically no hope for you. Transition is the only option, she said. And given that I already had so many psychological issues, I was just like, OK, Im going to give this a try.

Cattinson said she hopes that by speaking about her experience with doctors, trans activists, and the toll that transitioning and detransitioning took on her, she can help others going through something similar.
A protester waves a flag during an "Invasion Day" rally on Australia Day in Melbourne, Australia, on Jan. 26, 2018. (Peter Parks/AFP via Getty Images)

The Indigenous Voice to Parliament Has the Potential to Be Divisive

Indigenous Australians are Australians

Commentary

Voice. Treaty. Truth. These are the words used to describe the Australian Labor Partys (ALP) main policy for Indigenous Australians. Now that the ALP has claimed power in Canberra after nine years in opposition, it is time to consider what these words mean genuinely.

The Labor party policy platform notes a constitutionally enshrined Voice to Parliament is a matter of priority. It also promised to establish a Makaratta Commission to work with the Voice to Parliament on a national process for Treaty and Truth-telling.

What Australians have been told about the proposed Voice to Parliament and what a Voice will do are likely two different things.

The suggestion that the Voice would merely be confined to issues affecting Indigenous Australians would mean it wont be confined at all. All policy issues that have a general application are indigenous policy decisions because Indigenous Australians are Australians.

In effect, establishing a Voice entity would create a parallel system of representative government based on race. As a result, the legal and democratic status of Australians will be affected and determined by their ethnic background, making it one of the most radical proposals for constitutional change in Australian political history.

The Makaratta Commission is even more obscure than the Voice, but its potential divisiveness should not be understated. A commission for truth-telling can quickly become a forum for historical revisionism and partisan point-scoring.

Truth commissions also enable the obsession with the past when our governments have so much work to do securing the wellbeing of Australians in the present.

As the new senator representing the Northern Territory, Jacinta Nampijinpa Price, noted recently, The Greens might want to look back with truth hearings, but there are things happening right now that are far more urgent like the safety of women and children in regional communities.

Northern Territory political leader Jacinta Nampijinpa Price. (Supplied)

It is undoubtedly true that many Indigenous Australians, particularly in remote communities, face a range of challenges from violence, unemployment, crime, and alcohol and drug abuse.

A multitude of centralised bureaucracies have been established to manage the problems, all with little success. The idea now to erect another bureaucracy to focus on the past and writing treaties will be no more successful than the rest.

Treaties might be of interest in academia but wont be a cure to any of the real-world problems in Indigenous communities. Just consider how the existence of treaties in Canada and New Zealand have not generated better outcomes among their First Nations or Maori populations.

At its best, the issue of a treaty is just incoherent. Indigenous Australians are Australians, and the Australian government cant sign a treaty with itself.

At its worst, the treaty is a divisive idea because it is predicated on the idea that Indigenous Australians are in some way legally separate from other Australians.

These are consequential proposals that deserve a genuine public debate on their potential benefits and dangers.

The challenge now is that a bipartisan campaign for constitutional change will potentially confront Australians.

The new opposition leader, Peter Dutton, has correctly in the past rejected a Constitutional Voice for being a third chamber of parliament.

But it is possible that Dutton, to shore up support from the Liberals depleted left faction, may now be back in the Voice.

Voice supporters scoff at the suggestion that their proposal would be a third chamber, but it is undeniable that the Voice would, in effect, exercise a veto over public debate. Furthermore, the risk of going against the official voice of indigenous Australians would be met by debilitating claims of racism.

Already the debate is being shaped around the idea that opposing the existence of the Voice is an inherently racist idea.

Labor Senator Malarndirri McCarthy called on Dutton to support the Voice to compensate for his failure to attend Kevin Rudds parliamentary apology to the stolen generation in 2008.

But allegations of racism arent going to cut it at a referendum on constitutional change. Australians are a discerning people when they are asked about changing the core institutions of democratic governance. Thats why Australians have almost always said no when Canberra asks the voters to give them more power.

It also explains why the nation overwhelmingly supported a constitutional change in the indigenous affairs referendum in 1967. The removal of references to race in the Constitution was consistent with a view that Australians formal and legal status should not be delineated along racial lines.

The movement for the Voice is not the continuation of 1967 but a repudiation of the claim for racial equality it represented.

Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times.
Gas prices over $7 per gallon are displayed at a Chevron gas station in Menlo Park, Calif., on May 25, 2022. (Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)

High Gas Prices an Indictment of Recent Energy Policy

Biden and years of anti-energy policy have left the US with few options to mitigate gas prices

Commentary

As the national average price of gasoline tops $5 per gallon, there are few reasons for optimism that gas prices will decline any time soon.

President Joe Biden, despite his recent remarks, has no good solution at his disposal to temper the rise of gasoline prices.

There are many culprits, some economic and others political. Longstanding Democratic policies against the energy industry have crippled U.S. producers, while Western decisions to sanction Russia have created an acute supply crunch. And unless the Biden Administration undos its entire energy policy, there are few levers available to the U.S. government within the current framework to mitigate gas prices.

In March, Washington decided to release 1 million barrels of oil per day from the U.S. Strategic Petroleum Reserve for the next six months. But the tactic hasnt helped, with gasoline prices rising from the low $4 per gallon in March to $5 per gallon in June.

This has led the Biden administration to wave the proverbial white flag. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg as well as Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) have instead blamed energy companies for price gouging consumers at the pump.

The reason for high gasoline prices is supply and demand. But several constraints were self-created. Lets dive in.

According to the American Petroleum Institute, 50-60 percent of the price of gasoline is derived from the price of crude oil. Thats the biggest driver of gas prices.

Oil prices are set by the market. Anyone can look up what the spot oil is trading at on a given day. If we ignore long-term contracts locking in a price in advance, oil producers generally sell their oil at or near the spot rate. Oil producers also have a cost base, so the higher the price of the oil, the more money they make. They can also lose money if the market price of oil dips so low that they cannot cover their costs.

The argument that the oil producers are price gouging is overly simplistic. They can theoretically sell their oil below market price, but thats an ill-advised decision that wouldnt make a dent unless the entire industryall oil producerscan be persuaded to do the same.

And experts are warning that oil prices will likely go up, not down. JPMorgan CEO Jamie Dimon said that oil prices could run up to $175 a barrel later this year. CEO of Commodity trading firm Trafigura, Jeremy Weir, said at a conference that we have got a critical situation with regards to the price of oil.

So what can be done to lower the price of oil? Economics 101 suggests that there are two ways to reduce the price of a product. Either supply has to increase, or demand has to decrease.

To increase supply, the United States has been releasing barrels of oil from the nations strategic reserves. It has an impact, but not enough of an impact to move the market. Nor does it solve the underlying issue; at some point, the strategic reserve will run out.

OPEC+, which includes Russia, recently agreed to boost crude oil output in July and August by 648,000 barrels per day, or 50 percent more than previously discussed.

That should also bring more oil to the market, and the price of oil temporarily decreased when the decision was announced. But it wont be enough to offset the ban on Russian oil. Russia is the worlds No. 3 oil producer behind the United States and Saudi Arabia, accounting for around 10 percent of global production.

The recent invasion of Ukraine has led to much of the Western world sanctioning Russian oil. In 2021, 3 percent of all United States crude oil imports and 20 percent of petroleum products (including fuel oil and unrefined oil) came from Russia, according to EIA statistics. Supply increases OPEC+ plans to implement are still not nearly enough to rectify the market imbalance of removing Russian oil.

What about domestic producers? The Biden Administration, the United Nations, and prevailing anti-fossil fuel bias from banks and lenders over the last several years have limited the oil industrys access to capital and financing.

The XL pipeline was canceled. The U.N.s Net-Zero Banking Alliance effectively forced global banks to restrict lending to the oil and gas industry. Swiss bank UBS decreased lending to the traditional energy industry by 73 percent from 2016 to 2020 according to a CNBC analysis. And last year, Dutch lender ING Group vowed to stop lending to oil and gas companies altogether. These efforts have collectively, over time, made ramping up U.S. oil production difficult.

Lifting these longstanding sanctions on domestic oil industry can ultimately solve the issue. However, the Biden Administration as well as left-wing bias within the banking and business establishment are unlikely to suddenly undo years of policy evolution. Even in the unlikely scenario such policies are suddenly undone, it would still takes month if not years to bring new production online.

The other solution is to decrease demand.

Various factors have caused demand to increase recently. Employers have compelled workers to go back to the office, fueling demand for gas used in commuting. Across many major metropolitan areas, more commuters have eschewed public transit due to COVID and public safety concerns, increasing the number of cars on the roads and gasoline demand. The return of travelespecially jet travelhas increased demand for jet fuel, which takes up capacity at oil refineries that otherwise could be used to refine gasoline for cars.

Besides the price of crude oil, the next biggest price component of gasoline (at 1520 percent) is the cost of refining. Refining costs dont move much, but the cost of some refining inputs has also increased such as wages (labor) and the cost of ethanol (an additive made from corn, the price of which has also gone up).

Next, at 10-20 percent, is the cost of distribution such as pipelines and transportation. Transportation costs also went up due to higher wages and diesel prices (ironically, gas is needed to transport gas to local stations).

And lastly, also at 1020 percent, are federal, state, and local taxes. Taxes vary depending on state and municipality. California has the highest state gas tax while Alaska has the lowest. Some states (such as New York) have implemented gas tax holidays to temporarily alleviate prices at the pump.

What would actually stem the demand for oil? An economic recession. A downturn will cause businesses to cut back on investing and spending, consumers to cut back on travel and purchases, and overall economic activity to slow.

So what would the U.S. government do to combat high gas priceschoosing to undo years of anti-energy industry policy to increase supply, or waiting for a recession to drive down demand?

Its fairly clear the choice was the latter.

Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times.
ELKO  Join the Elko Area Chamber for Business After Hours on Thursday, June 16, at In the Rough Wellness at 1500 Lamoille Highway from 5:30 to 7 p.m.

Our hosts will be setting the atmosphere with a DJ while simultaneously providing an assortment of delicious food items and drinks. Also, enter for a chance to win some incredible raffle prizes.

Business After Hours is a free event thats open to the public, and gives both community and business members the chance to network in order to create/maintain business and community relationships, generate referrals, and learn about upcoming events in our area.

In the Rough Wellness is on a mission to improve your health, well-being, and quality of life by providing an array of health products not only for you and your family, but for your pet as well. Shop a variety of CBD Products, including tinctures, soft gels, gummies and more; also browse an assortment of tea, coffee, bath, home items and more.

For more information, please call 775-934-7277 or visit them on Facebook.

We hope to see you there, and for any questions, please contact the Chamber at 775-738-7135.

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Former President Donald Trump speaks at an event in Houston, Texas, on May 27, 2022. (Brandon Bell/Getty Images)

Trump Endorses Katie Britt Over Mo Brooks for US Senate Seat Representing Alabama

Former President Donald Trump on June 10 endorsed Katie Britt for U.S. Senate after he rescinded his endorsement of Rep. Mo Brooks (R-Ala.).

Britt is a fearless America First warrior, Trump said in a statement. He said that Britt Strongly Supports our under siege Second Amendment, Stands Up for Parental Rights, and Will Fight for our Military, our Vets, and Election Integrity.

Britt, a former aide to Sen. Richard Shelby (R-Ala.), said she was thankful for the endorsement.

President Trump knows that Alabamians are sick and tired of failed, do-nothing career politicians. Its time for the next generation of conservatives to step up and shake things up in Washington to save the country we know and love for our children and our childrens children, she said in a statement. In the Senate, I will fight to defend Alabamas Christian conservative values, advance the America First agenda, and preserve the American Dream for generations to come.

Trump in March withdrew a previous endorsement of Brooks. He was upset that Brooks urged voters to put questions about the 2020 election behind them and focus on future elections.

Brooks and Britt in May emerged from the Republican primary for the Senate seat, with neither drawing a majority of the vote.

Britt ended up with 45 percent and Brooks had 29 percent. Michael Durant, a military veteran, earned 23 percent.

A runoff election pitting Britt against Brooks is slated to take place on June 21.

Alabama Republican Senate candidate and honorary starter, Katie Britt is introduced on stage during pre-race ceremonies prior to the NASCAR Cup Series YellaWood 500 at Talladega Superspeedway in Alabama on Oct. 3, 2021. (Sean Gardner/Getty Images)

Rep. Mo Brooks (R-Ala.) celebrates with his family after entering a runoff election against candidate Katie Britt in Huntsville, Ala., on May 24, 2022. (Jackson Elliott/The Epoch Times)

Brooks had called on Trump to re-endorse him, asserting he will better promote Trumps agenda in the Senate.

After Trumps endorsement of Britt, Brooks noted that Trump in the past has asserted that Britt isnt qualified for the seat.

I see that the RINO Senator from Alabama, close friend of Old Crow Mitch McConnell, Richard Shelby, is pushing hard to have his assistant fight the great Mo Brooks for his Senate seat, Trump said in a statement in 2021.

The former president has increased his negative comments against Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) since leaving office.

Donald Trump is the only man in American politics who could get conned by Mitch McConnell twice in an Alabama Senate race, Brooks said, adding that Trump endorses the wrong people sometimes, citing Sen. Mitt Romney (R-Utah) as an example.

Alabama grassroots remember in 2017 when Donald Trump and Mitch McConnell got involved in a Senate primary in Alabamaand we rejected them, Brooks said. The people of Alabama will decide.
People walk past a residential building heavily damaged during Ukraine-Russia conflict in the southern port city of Mariupol, Ukraine, on May 30, 2022. (Alexander Ermochenko/Reuters)

Ukraine Pleads for More Weapons

KYIVUkraine pleaded to Western countries for faster deliveries of weapons as better-armed Russian forces pounded the east of the country.

In Sievierodonetsk, the small city that has become the focus of Russias advance in eastern Ukraine and one of the bloodiest flashpoints in a war well into its fourth month, further heavy fighting was reported.

The war in the east, where Russia is focussing its attention, is now primarily an artillery battle in which Kyiv is severely outgunned, Ukrainian officials say.

This is an artillery war now, Vadym Skibitsky, Ukraines deputy head of military intelligence, told Britains Guardian newspaper.

Germany, among the largest suppliers of weapons, since Russia invaded, plans to revise its rules on arms exports to make it easier to arm democracies like Ukraine, Der Spiegel reported on Friday.

In a snapshot of the wars wider impact, the U.N. food agency said reduced exports of wheat and other food commodities from Ukraine and Russia could inflict chronic hunger on up to 19 million more people globally over the next year.

Russia is hoping to capture all of the eastern province of Luhansk, which it demands Ukraine cede to separatists along with neighboring Donetsk. The two provinces make up the Donbass region, where Moscow has backed a revolt by separatist proxies since 2014.

To that end, the Kremlin has concentrated its forces on a battle for Sievierodonetsk, which is in Luhansk.

Ukrainian troops have largely pulled out of the citys residential areas but have not yielded their foothold on the east bank of the Siverskiy Donets River. Russian forces are also pushing from the north and south to try to encircle the Ukrainians, but have made limited progress.

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Russia was trying to break every town in the Donbass.

Both sides say they have inflicted mass casualties. Reuters could not immediately verify battlefield reports.

Asked in a social media interview whether that suggested the Ukrainian army had lost up to 10,000 fighters in the first 100 days of the war, Arestovych said, Yes, something like that.

U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin on Saturday reinforced Washingtons commitment to the region in light of Russias actions.

Russias invasion of Ukraine is what happens when oppressors trample the rules that protect us all, Austin told an Asian security forum in Singapore. Its a preview of a possible world of chaos and turmoil that none of us would want to live in.

By Natalia Zinets and Max Hunder
Beijing threatens Washington with war over Taiwan during a meeting between Chinese and U.S. defense chiefsmarking their first-ever face-to-face talks.

Beijing extends its long arm abroad. Reports say the communist regime is exploiting American search engines to influence opinion on sensitive topics.

A Trump-era order banned Americans from investing in Chinese military-linked companies. But the Treasury may be quietly changing the way its enforced.

The Commerce Department is going after three U.S. companies in an attempt to protect sensitive American technology from getting leaked to China.

Protests escalate in Chinas financial hub. Some Shanghai residents are now demanding freedom and democracy.

Other topics in this episode:

Chinese Propaganda Tops Search Engine Results Treasury Allows Investment in Blacklisted Companies U.S. Suspends 3 Firms From Exporting to China Shanghai Locals Protest 2nd Neighborhood Lockdown Expert on Chinas Infiltration of Brazil: A Stepping Stone to Latin America U.S. State Dept. Building New Team to Watch Beijing 1st Road Bridge Connecting Russia, China Opens Shanghai to Lock Down Millions Again Q&A: The Shrinking World, Chinas Population Decline

Have other topics you want us to cover? Drop us a line: chinainfocus@ntdtv.org

And if youd like to buy us a coffee: https://donorbox.org/china-in-focus

Subscribe to our newsletter for more first-hand news from China.

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U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin attends the Shangri-La Dialogue summit in Singapore on June 11, 2022. (Roslan Rahman/AFP via Getty Images)

US Defense Secretary Warns of Chinas Growing Coercion of Taiwan

The United States will maintain its capacity to resist any force that threatens the security of Taiwan, U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd J. Austin said on June 11 as he warned of growing coercion from Beijing.

Speaking at the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore, Austin said the Chinese communist regime has become more coercive and aggressive in its territorial claims, citing Beijings illegal maritime activities in the disputed South China Sea.

Weve seen an alarming increase in the number of unsafe aerial intercepts and confrontations at sea by PLA [Peoples Liberation Army] aircraft and vessels, he said, citing an incident in February when a PLA Navy ship directed a laser at an Australian warplane as well as PLA fighter jets in recent weeks conducting a series of dangerous intercepts of allied aircraft operating lawfully in the East China and the South China Seas.

But the stakes are especially stark in the Taiwan Strait, Austin said.

Weve witnessed a steady increase in provocative and destabilizing military activity near Taiwan. And that includes PLA aircraft flying near Taiwan in record numbers in recent months, and nearly on a daily basis, he said.

Cross-strait tensions have been escalating in recent months, with China making its second-largest incursion into Taiwans Air Defense Identification Zone on May 30 with 30 PLA warplanes.

China claims the self-ruled island as its own and has vowed to conquer it by force if necessary.

Austin said that Washington remains committed to the One China policy, although it would still provide Taiwan with the capabilities necessary to maintain its defense, echoing President Joe Bidens remarks in Tokyo last month.

And it means maintaining our own capacity to resist any use of force or other forms of coercion that would jeopardize the security or the social or economic system of the people of Taiwan, Austin said.

He further noted that Beijings recent military maneuvers near Taiwan threaten to destabilize the Indo-Pacific region, while underscoring that sustaining peace and security across the Taiwan Strait is a global issue, not simply a U.S. interest.

We do not seek confrontation or conflict. And we do not seek a new Cold War, an Asian NATO, or a region split into hostile blocs, he said referring to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization.

We will defend our interests without flinching. But well also work toward our vision for this regionone of expanding security, one of increased cooperation, and not one of growing division.

Austins remarks came a day after his meeting with Chinese Defense Minister Gen. Wei Fenghe on the sidelines of the Shangri-La Dialogue summit, during which he raised Washingtons concerns about the PLAs unsafe, aggressive, unprofessional behavior in the Taiwan Strait.

During the meeting, Austin conveyed to Wei that Washington doesnt support Taiwans independence but would still provide defensive arms to Taiwan under the 1979 Taiwan Relations Act.

Secretary Austin reiterated the point he made when they spoke on the phone that we were watching the situation very carefully and strongly discouraged China from providing material support to Russia for its war in Ukraine, the U.S. Defense Department said in a statement.
The United States Department of the Treasury is seen in Washington, on Aug. 30, 2020. (Andrew Kelly/File Photo/Reuters)

US Places Taiwan, Vietnam on Monitoring List for Possible Currency Manipulation

The U.S. Treasury has placed Taiwan and Vietnam on its monitoring list for possible currency manipulation due to the countries exceeding thresholds over the four quarters through December 2021.

The Treasury Department released its semi-annual currency report on Friday (pdf), which assessed the U.S. major trading partners against thresholds that determine whether a countrys exchange rate had been manipulated to gain an unfair advantage in international trade.

It stated that Taiwan and Vietnam exceeded the thresholds of fewer than three criteria established under the 2015 Act over the four quarters through December 2021.

Though Vietnam and Taiwan no longer meet all three criteria for enhanced analysis, Treasury will continue to conduct an in-depth analysis of these economies macroeconomics and exchange rate policies until they do not meet all three criteria under the 2015 Act for at least two consecutive Reports, it stated.

In March, the Taiwanese central bank said it bought a net $9.12 billion last year to intervene in the foreign exchange market, down from a net $39.1 billion for all of 2020 and equating to 1.2 percent of GDP, not exceeding the U.S. Treasurys threshold of 2 percent to be named a manipulator.

But Taiwans trade surplus with the United States hit $40.2 billion last year, a historic high and up almost 30 percent compared with 2020. Taiwans current account surplus last year was 14.8 percent of GDP. Both exceed the Treasurys criteria for possible currency manipulation.

Switzerland exceeded the thresholds for possible currency manipulation over the four quarters through December 2021, according to the report, but the country was not added to the Treasurys monitoring list.

The Treasury said it will continue its enhanced bilateral engagement with Switzerland, which commenced in early 2021, to discuss the countrys policy options to address the underlying causes of its external imbalances.

The report also raised concerns about Chinas failure to publish foreign exchange intervention data and a broader lack of transparency about its exchange rate mechanism.

The Treasury said that it would closely monitor the foreign activities of Chinas state-owned banks.

Washington had placed 12 countries on its monitoring list, including China, Japan, Korea, Germany, Italy, India, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, Taiwan, Vietnam, and Mexico.

Overall, the Treasury concluded that none of Washingtons 20 major trading partner manipulated its exchange rate with the U.S. dollar to prevent effective balance payments adjustments or gain an unfair competitive advantage in international trade.

The administration continues to strongly advocate for our major trading partners to carefully calibrate policy tools to support a strong and sustainable global recovery. An uneven global recovery is not a resilient recovery, Treasury secretary Janet L. Yellen said in a statement.

Reuters contributed to this report.
Uvalde school district Chief of Police Pete Arredondo hugs a school student at a community prayer evening held the day after a mass shooting at Robb Elementary School that killed 19 children and two teachers, in Uvalde, Texas, on May 25, 2022. (Charlotte Cuthbertson/The Epoch Times)

Uvalde Police Chief Defends Response to Robb Elementary Massacre in First In-depth Interview

Police Chief Pete Arredondo, who has faced criticism over his response to the shooting massacre at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas, has defended his actions in his first public interview.

Speaking to The Texas Tribune, Arredondo said that a missing key to a locked classroom door was ultimately to blame for law enforcement taking 77 minutes to take down gunman Salvador Ramos on May 24.

The only thing that was important to me at this time was to save as many teachers and children as possible, Arredondo said.

During the interview, Arredondo, 50, said he took what he believed to be the best steps to protect lives on the day of the massacre, explaining: My mind was to get there as fast as possible, eliminate any threats, and protect the students and staff.

The police chief pointed out that roughly 500 students attending the school were able to be evacuated safely during the incident.

Arredondos comments come as he is facing growing public criticism and scrutiny over his response to the events at Robb Elementary, in which 18-year-old Ramos killed 19 children and two teachers.

The school district police chief has been keeping a low profile since the shooting and failed to appear at a city council meeting in Uvalde on Tuesday, despite being sworn in on May 31.

Meanwhile, the head of the state police has said Arredondo made the wrong decision, period when he decided not to immediately breach the classroom that the shooter had entered, and instead ordered officers to hold and wait for backup.

Arredondo insisted that was not the case.

Not a single responding officer ever hesitated, even for a moment, to put themselves at risk to save the children, Arredondo said. We responded to the information that we had and had to adjust to whatever we faced. Our objective was to save as many lives as we could, and the extraction of the students from the classrooms by all that were involved saved over 500 of our Uvalde students and teachers before we gained access to the shooter and eliminated the threat.

Arredondo said the door to the classroom door was reinforced with a hefty steel jamb, and designed to keep an attacker on the outside from forcing their way in. Given that the gunman was inside the classroom, this prevented officers from kicking in the door and confronting the shooter, he explained.

The police chief said he believed the situation had changed from that of an active shooter, to a gunman who had barricaded himself in a classroom with potential other victims, according to the Texas Tribune.

Police cordon off the streets around Robb Elementary School after a mass shooting, in Uvalde, Texas, on May 24, 2022. (Charlotte Cuthbertson/The Epoch Times)

Uvalde residents comfort each other at a community prayer evening held the day after a mass shooting at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas, on May 25, 2022. (Charlotte Cuthbertson/The Epoch Times)

He spent more than an hour in the hallway, and in the first 40 minutes, called for tactical gear, a sniper, and keys to get inside, choosing to hold back from the doors for fear of provoking Ramos to shoot more. Arredondo also attempted to talk to the gunman but received no response, he said.

Eventually, dozens of keys finally arrived, but none of them would work in opening the door.

Each time I tried a key I was just praying, he said.

While other officers outside the school evacuated children, Arredondo said he and the officers in the hallway stayed in position and waited for tools to arrive so that they could get into the classroom and confront the gunman.

Its not that someone said stand down, Arredondos lawyer, George E. Hyde, told the Tribune. It was Right now, we cant get in until we get the tools. So were going to do what we can do to save lives. And what was that? It was to evacuate the students and the parents and the teachers out of the rooms.

One hour and 17 minutes after Ramos launched his massacre, police were finally able to enter the classroom and fatally shoot him.

During the interview, Arredondo also explained his decision not to take his police radio into the school with him, which experts believe may have contributed to the chaoticness of the situation on May 24, and which meant he was unaware that students were calling 911 from inside the two classrooms and begging police to stop him.

The police chief said he wasted no time running into the school without the radios because he believed carrying them would slow him down, describing how one had a whiplike antenna that would hit him as he ran and another had a clip that he knew would cause it to fall off his tactical belt during a long run.

He also was not wearing body armor, according to the paper.

His lawyer also said Arredondo did not issue any orders to other law enforcement agencies and did not consider himself the incident commander on that day.

Once he became engaged, intimately involved on the front line of this case, he is one of those that is in the best position to continue to resolve the incident at that time, Hyde said. So while its easy to identify him as the incident commander because of that NIMS process, in practicality, you see here he was not in the capacity to be able to run this entire organization.

Texas Department of Public Safety Director Steve McCraw has referred to Arredondo as the shootings incident commander.

Meanwhile, The New York Times reported that a group of U.S. Border Patrol agents responding to the incident ignored an order spoken into their earpieces not to enter the classroom.

Arredondo said he had not spoken out before because he didnt want to compound the communitys grief or cast blame at others.

The Epoch Times has contacted the Texas Department of Public Safety for comment.
States like New York, Illinois, California, Washington State, that imposed some of the most draconian policy responsesthose are also some of the states that had the worst health outcomes, and I dont think that should be a surprise, says Alex Newman, contributor for The Epoch Times.

Americas Founding Fathers said over and over again, variations on this: Giving up freedom and hoping for safety is futile; youll end up with neither freedom nor safety, he adds.

Major amendments to the International Health Regulations (IHR) proposed by the Biden administration were debated in Geneva in late May. For one, these aimed to expand the powers of the World Health Organization (WHO) to be able to declare global health emergencies without the targeted countrys consent.

These changes were not approved, owing in part to heavy resistance from certain African nations. However, the WHO and member governments will put forth even further-reaching amendments to the global rules in September.

Award-winning international journalist Alex Newman explains why we should be concerned.



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Why the FBI Dismissed Claims of Secret TrumpRussia Link

News Analysis

FBI agents, just weeks before the 2016 election, opened an investigation into allegations of a secret communication channel between Donald Trump and Russia. The bureau closed the probe after several months but did not make public that it had dismissed the claims, which came from Hillary Clintons campaign and a group of researchers.

Details of the FBIs analyses, and CIA treatment of the claims, emerged during the trial of ex-Clinton lawyer Michael Sussmann.

Jumped to Conclusions

The white paper and data handed over to the FBI by Sussmann on Sept. 19, 2016, asserted there was a secret email server used by the Trump Organization that was communicating with Alfa Bank in Moscow through another unusually-configured server at Spectrum Health in Michigan.

These servers are configured for direct communications between the Trump organization and Alfa Bank to the exclusion of all other systems, researchers wrote. The only plausible reason, they claimed, is to hide the considerably recent email traffic occurring between the Trump organization and Alfa Bank.

Scott Hellman, an agent who specializes in investigating cyber crimes, took the first crack at the allegations with Nathan Batty, a colleague. The pair spent inside of a day examining the data, and quickly concluded that whoever penned the white paper had jumped to some conclusions that were not supported by the technical data, Hellman testified.

The allegations were based on purported look-ups, or Domain Name System requests, between mail1.trump-email.com, the server allegedly controlled by Trumps business, and servers belonging to the Russian bank. DNS lookups are a way for a computer to find another computers Internet Protocol address (IP address), a unique number needed for communication between computers.

The researchers said they tried to connect with the Trump server and that the server would not accept mail from their IP address, or returned what was essentially an error message, Hellman said. The researchers used that, among other data, to suggest the Trump server would only communicate with certain devices, such as those linked to Alfa Bank.

That didnt make sense to me. It was sort of like if I knocked on your door, and you told me to go awayI dont want to talk to youIm then going to assume that youre only willing to talk to other people. I cant make that assumption. I dont know if youre willing to talk to anybody. But thats what they had done, he said. When they received an error message, they assumed that that computer wasnt willing to talk to them, but it was willing to talk to others, and there was no evidence to suggest that. So assumptions like that is what I was referring to.

Hellman and Batty wrote in their assessment that they found it suspicious that the activity the researchers highlighted began just three weeks before the researchers began their investigation. They called it abnormal that Trump would name the supposed secret server a name that included his name, use a domain registered to his own business, and communicate directly to Alfa Banks IP address as opposed to masking the communications.

They also said that Russias state-sponsored technical abilities exceed the [operations] of that suggested in the report.

Hellman, who is still with the FBI, said in a chat message at the time that the paper feels a little 5150ish. He said he meant that perhaps the person who had drafted this document was suffering from some mental disability.

Batty wrote that the data was intended to overwhelm and confuse the reader. We think its a setup, he later told Dan Wierzbicki, an FBI supervisor.

No Evidence

Under pressure from then-FBI Director James Comey and other senior officials, a hybrid cyber-counterintelligence team based in Chicago took control of the data and opened a full investigation, the most serious step the FBI could have taken.

Thumb drives containing the white paper and the underlying data outlined the conclusions reached by the researchers and some of the data they used, but that was just a snapshot, forcing FBI investigators to create the whole picture from scratch, Allison Sands, the agent who led the investigation, said on the stand.

Sands, now with Roku, compared it to trying to assemble a puzzle without the benefit of having a box at which to look.

The Trump domain was on a server in Pennsylvania owned by a company named Listrak, an internet server provider. The domain was registered to a company named Central Dynamics, which is based in Florida. The domain was being leased from GoDaddy.

Agents reached out to the companies for data and answers. Listrak confirmed that the server was only configured to send emails, not receive any. It also provided some 135,000 records. Central Dynamics provided closer to 500,000 records and GoDaddy handed over a similar amount.

The Chicago team determined that the Trump Organization and Alfa Bank servers almost certainly did not communicate intentionally or covertly, according to a heavily redacted assessment dated Oct. 3, 2016.

The determination was based on an examination of the allegations conducted on behalf of Alfa Bank. The examination concluded the Alfa Bank servers may have conducted the DNS lookups in response to spam emails sent by Listrak or Central Dynamics.

Alfa Banks conclusions corroborate current FBI investigative activity, which has not identified any evidence to support the whitepapers hypothesis that Alfa-Bank and Trump Organization servers intentionally, covertly communicated via DNS channels, the document stated.

It was learned that Central Dynamics established the domain in partnership with the Trump Organization in 2009 but the company never used the domain, which had only received about 14 emails, all of which were blocked as spam or malware.

It was largely dormant for the lifespan of its life, was currently inactive, and that it was entirely a from email address, so it only sent outbound messages, Sands explained.

Additionally, the FBI saw that in logs from Listrak, the server had sent emails to over 30,000 domains in 107 countries, none of which were affiliated with Alfa Bank, according to the document on the closing of the investigation.

From all of the U.S. companies we had spoken to, of the logs that we had looked at, as well as the Mandiant report from the Alfa Bank servers, there was no evidence that this covert communication channel existed, Sands said.

Our investigation was unable to substantiate any of the allegations in the white paper, said Curtis Heide, another FBI agent involved in the probe.

Listrak and Central Dynamics did not respond to requests for comment. Rodney Joffe, another client of Sussmann; his business associate April Lorenzen; and Georgia Institute of Technology professors David Dagon and Manos Antonakikis, who created the white paper and compiled the data, did not respond to inquiries. Several of the researchers were poised to testify, but were not called after they said they would plead the Fifth Amendment.

Did Not Pass Analytical Muster

The other piece of the allegations involved Spectrum. Researchers said the nonprofit healthcare company was essentially being utilized as an intermediary between Trumps business and Alfa Bank, through a The Onion Router (TOR) node, a technology designed by the U.S. government that enables anonymity.

FBI investigators went to a website, TORproject.org, to see if any of Spectrums servers were or had ever been used as a TOR node, and found that they had not.

The agents also received logs and records from Spectrum, and did not see any unusual activity, Sands said.

That part of the allegations did not pass analytical muster, Ryan Gaynor, an agent monitoring the investigation for senior leaders from the Washington area, testified. It didnt have merit.

In 2016, media coverage alleged internet traffic between a computer server affiliated with the Trump organization and the computer servers of Alfa Bank (a Russian bank) and Spectrum Health. Spectrum Health does not and never has had any relationship with Alfa Bank or any of the Trump organizations, a Spectrum spokesperson told The Epoch Times in an email.

As we have previously stated, we concluded a rigorous review with both our internal IT security specialists and expert cyber security firms. That reviews detailed analysis of the alleged internet traffic did not find any evidence of any actual communications (no emails, chat, text, etc.) between Spectrum Health and Alfa Bank or any of the Trump organizations. While we did find a small number of incoming spam marketing emails, they originated from a third party, the spokesperson added.

CIA Conclusions

According to special counsel John Durhams team, which prosecuted Sussmannthe lawyer who was acquittedthe CIA also analyzed the allegations, and concluded they were not only not true, but were not plausible.

Sussmann went to the CIA in early 2017, apparently frustrated by the FBIs investigation. He met with a retired agent first, then with two agents on Feb. 9, 2017.

Sussmann handed over white papers and underlying data purportedly supporting documents, which included allegations involving Trumps business and Alfa Bank and allegations concerning Russian-made phones, according to a memorandum of the meeting and testimony by one of the agents.

In court papers, prosecutors referred to the CIA as Agency-2. They said that CIA analysts believed the data from the researchers was fabricated.

While the FBI did not reach an ultimate conclusion regarding the datas accuracy or whether it might have been in whole or in part genuine, spoofed, altered, or fabricated, Agency-2 concluded in early 2017 that the Russian Bank-1 data and Russian Phone Provider-1 data was not technically plausible, did not withstand technical scrutiny, contained gaps, conflicted with [itself], and was user created and not machine/tool generated.' prosecutors said in a filing before the trial.

Little was said on the subject during the trial because U.S. District Judge Christopher Cooper, an Obama appointee, ruled that prosecutors could not broach the possibility of the data being spoofed unless the defense did. Defense lawyers did not bring it up.

There were several moments, however, when statements slipped through.

When presented with an email Joffe sent to his group just five days before Sussmann gave the data to the FBI, Heide said that it appears, from this email, that this report may have been fabricated.

The statement was later struck from the record, as was the email.

Cooper also ordered redacted a portion of the report authored by Hellman and Batty that said the data might have been intentionally generated and might have been fabricated, according to Andrew DeFilippis, one of the prosecutors.

I will not allow [Hellman] to talk about whether its fabricated or spoofed, Cooper said, adding that doing so would encroach on his order.

Ankura, a Washington-based consultancy hired by Alfa Bank, said in a previous report (pdf) obtained by Just the News that its analysis of records and the timing of the allegations suggested that somebody mimicked the Central Dynamic servers to send fabricated emails, or inauthentic DNS queries,  to Alfa Bank to create a connection between Alfa-Bank and the Trump Organization.

The CIA didnt respond to an inquiry. The Epoch Times has filed a Freedom of Information Act request for the CIA documents.

Years of Speculation

Speculation about the nefarious activity alleged in the white paper continued for years as the FBI and CIA remained silent about their findings.

The first stories about a possible secret link between the Trump Organization and Alfa Bank ran in Slate and the New York Times on Oct. 31, 2016just one week before the presidential election.

The logs the researchers studied suggested that Trump and Alfa had configured something like a digital hotline connecting the two entities, shutting out the rest of the world, and designed to obscure its own existence, Slate reporter Franklin Foer wrote in his article. We dont yet know what this server was for, but it deserves further explanation, he added later.

Foer was one of multiple reporters in communication with Fusion GPS, the firm hired by the Clinton campaign that conducted opposition research on Trump, before his article was published.

The New York Times said the FBI was investigating the purported link but ultimately concluded that there could be an innocuous explanation, like a marketing email or spam, for the computer contacts.

In March 2017, CNN reported, citing anonymous sources, that the FBI investigation into the matter was still ongoing. That was false, according to the trial documents and testimony.

The New Yorker, in late 2018, published a lengthy article suggesting there was a secret channel between Trumps business and the Russian bank.

Only Slates article has been corrected, and not since a day after publication. Some of the stories still contain false information; all have outdated details. Spokespersons for the publications did not respond to requests for comment.

The allegations divided technology experts when first promoted, but reporters found a number willing to make comments supporting the researchers theories.

The parties were communicating in a secretive fashion. The operative word is secretive. This is more akin to what criminal syndicates do if they are putting together a project, Paul Vixie, the CEO of Farsight Security, told Slate. Richard Clayton, of the University of Cambridge, told the New Yorker he believed the server connections signaled times when Trump Organization and Alfa Bank officials wanted to talk.

Of the eight researchers mentioned or quoted in the pieces as suggesting the allegations made sense, none were willing to talk on the record about what they think now based on the newly emerged information.

Thanks for reaching out, but Im not interested, Vixie, now with Amazon Web Services, told The Epoch Times in a LinkedIn message. I know nothing of how they came to their conclusions, Clayton added via email, referring to the FBI and the CIA. Of the Sussmann trial, he said, I havent been following that.

Steven Bellovin, a professor at Columbia University, referred a request for comment to his lawyer. We are not going to comment on the matter, the lawyer said.

Some outlets did publish articles portraying the allegations as unreliable, including The Intercept and the Washington Post. And some experts cast doubt on the claims, including Robert Graham, a cybersecurity specialist, who wrote that the allegations were nonsense.

While I of course think the DNS logs were nonsense, Im still not sure how [t]he FBI came to that conclusion, Graham told The Epoch Times in a Twitter message. I think the basic issue is that it looks like an unsubstantiated conspiracy theory, and that this is why they didnt do more.
Standing on a floating dock in New London by a replica of the slave ship Amistad, a white-haired community activist named Sara Chaney only needed 29 words Friday to contemporize the history of slavery.

My grandmother was born to freed slaves. She was born seven years after the Emancipation Proclamation, said Chaney, her posture slightly stooped, her words deliberate. She died here in New London in 1968. She was a wonderful woman.

Chaney came with a longer speech. The occasion was a ceremonial signing of a bill that made Juneteenth a state holiday in Connecticut, a state whose tardiness in abolishing slavery played a role in the Amistad mutiny.

I had a whole speech, Chaney said. But it isnt necessary, because we all know why were here. And we all know that we have to continue on.

Gov. Ned Lamont signed copies of the bill while surrounded by members of the legislatures Black and Puerto Rican Caucus and others who advocated for the recognition of Juneteenth, the end of slavery in America. The Emancipation Proclamation was issued in 1863, but it wasnt until June 19, 1865, that residents of Texas learned that slavery had been abolished.

Lamont invoked philosopher George Santayanas admonition that those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.

It reminds me of those that want to airbrush our history, Lamont said. Its dangerous if youre not willing to learn from our past. And I think thats what Juneteenth is all about.

Rep. Anthony Nolan, D-New London, one of the bills sponsors, seized on a visit by Amistad to make New London the host of the Juneteenth bill signing.

This is an amazing thing, to have it here in New London, Nolan said. Im lost for words.

Amistad is visiting New London in recognition of the small part New London played in resolving a mutiny by kidnapped Africans who were being delivered as slaves in Cuba.

In 1839, after the importation of slaves had been abolished in the U.S. and much of North and South America, a human cargo of 53 citizens of Sierra Leone killed the captain and cook of the Amistad and insisted they be brought home.

Instead, the surviving crew sailed north, where the ship was intercepted by a U.S. government brig, Washington, off the eastern end of Long Island and towed to New London. The port may have been chosen because slavery still was technically legal in Connecticut, but not New York.

A Hartford judge dismissed murder charges against the Africans, and another proceeding ruled against the claims of Spain that the ship and passengers were its property. Fearing an international crisis, the U.S. government appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court.

The case became a rallying point for abolitionists, who hired a former Connecticut governor Roger Sherman Baldwin and a former president John Quincy Adams to successfully argue on behalf of the Amistad passengers.

A 129-foot replica built at Mystic Seaport is based in New Haven but travels on educational missions. Below decks, the ship is outfitted with modern comforts, not the slave bunks used to transport Africans around Cuba.

Juneteenth is a celebration as well as a remembrance. Once the speeches and signing ceremony was over, Lamont and the lawmakers boarded the vessel, questioning the crew about its features. The mood turned festive.

Lamont startled observers by climbing the lower rungs of ladder rigging.

By then, Sara Chaney was long gone. She had watched the governor sign a copy of the bill then excused herself without accepting a commemorative copy, making her way through the crowd.

Someone called out. A blue folder with the bill was placed in her hands before she reached the end of the gently rocking floating dock.
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The states attorney for the Danbury Judicial District was given a lifetime achievement award Thursday evening for his work investigating and prosecuting child abuse cases, as well as investigating the shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School, according to the state Division of Criminal Justice.

Stephen J. Sedensky III was one of many honored at the Connecticut Criminal Justice Educational and Charitable Associations 18th annual John M. Bailey Memorial Scholarship & Awards Dinner in Southington.

Sedensky has distinguished himself in numerous areas and on many cases, notably conducting the investigation into the shootings of 26 children and teachers at the Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, including a determination of whether the shooter acted alone, the department said of the 2022 Kevin T. Kane Lifetime Achievement Award winner. He is a national leader in the area of child abuse investigations and prosecutions, pioneering the Finding Words program in Connecticut and serving for many years as co-chair of the Governors Task Force on Justice for Abused Children.

Sedensky began his career with the state attorneys office in Bridgeport, moving on to become supervisory assistant states attorney for the Statewide Prosecution Bureau before assuming his current role.

Three prosecutors were also honored for their exemplary work in the matters of State v. Sergio Correa and State v. Ruth Correa, the successful prosecutions of a brother and sister convicted of the murders of Kenneth and Janet Lindquist and their son, Matthew.

The three 2022 Oliver Ellsworth Prosecutor of the Year Awards were presented to Supervisory Assistant States Attorney Stephen Carney, Senior Assistant States Attorney Thomas DeLillo and Assistant States Attorney Marissa Goldberg of the Judicial District of New London.

The three prosecutors nominations said they exhibited tireless dedication in the preparation and trial of an extremely complex case and their professionalism exemplified the best of what prosecutors should strive to be, according to the department.

The 2022 Employee of the Year Award was presented to Inspector Herbert Johnson of the Judicial District of Ansonia/Milford for his actions in an incident that is yet another reminder that Division of Criminal Justice Inspectors are sworn law enforcement officers on duty 24 hours a day, seven days a week, officials said.

According to a statement, On October 12, 2021, Inspector Johnson was traveling home from work when he came upon a serious incident involving a Connecticut State Police Trooper attempting to apprehend a highly intoxicated man who had stolen a tractor trailer. Some 10 vehicles were damaged by the driver.

Officials said Johnson assisted in the apprehension of the suspect, who had attempted to wrest away his duty weapon posing imminent threat to Inspector Johnson, the trooper and others. Through his quick response and effective actions, the incident was brought to a close with no loss of life or serious injury.

Chief States Attorney Patrick J. Griffin presented a commendation to Connecticut Police State Trooper Horatio Hinds on Thursday for his outstanding service above and beyond the call of duty for aiding Johnson during the October 12, 2021 incident.

Officials said 2022 Special Recognition Awards were awarded to Tracy Cretella, clerical supervisor in Geographical Area No. 23 in New Haven and Anthony Duarte, investigator in Geographical Area No. 12 in Manchester.

Tracy Cretella, who is retiring this year, is the clerical supervisor in one of, if not the busiest courthouses in the state. Prior to coming to G.A. 23, she had already distinguished herself as the lead clerical in G.A. No. 7 in Meriden where she began her career at the Division, officials said. Throughout her career, she has been routinely described by her supervisors and coworkers as an exemplary employee always ready to assist others and take on large tasks.

Duarte is also retiring this year after 36 years. According to the department, he is known not only for his many contributions as investigator in Manchester and previously at G.A. No. 15 in New Britain, but also for his never-ending dedication and commitment to improving working conditions for all Division of Criminal Justice employees through his long association with the American Federation of State County and Municipal Employees Council 4.

Officials said he also brought honor and good will to the Division of Criminal Justice through service in his community.

Five scholarships were also awarded in the name of former Chief States Attorney John M. Bailey, one in the name of retired Juvenile Prosecutor Francis J. Carino, and another in the name of Inspector Racheal Cain and her husband Christopher.

william.lambert@hearstmediact.com
We're talking weather as usual, but taking a bit of a biblical approach on this one. And by biblical, we mean the actual Bible.

Anthony McCullough and Dan Palmeri from JMJ Missions in New Jersey talk about some of the stories in the Bible where weather played a key role. They each list their Mount Rushmore of top four weather events in the bible.

McCullough, who has a meteorology degree from Rutgers University, discusses with the Lee weather team if there's a basis of truth for each one.

And don't forget to check back Monday for the latest episode when we discuss whether tornado alley is shifting course. Harold Brooks, a senior scientist in forecast and research development with the National Severe Storms Laboratory in Norman, Oklahoma, will join the team to discuss the subject.

About the Across the Sky podcast

The weekly weather podcast is hosted on a rotation by the Lee Weather team:

Matt Holiner of Lee Enterprises' Midwest group in Chicago, Kirsten Lang of the Tulsa World in Oklahoma, Joe Martucci of the Press of Atlantic City, N.J., and Sean Sublette of the Richmond Times-Dispatch in Virginia.

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CONCORD, N.H. (AP)  Two years after accusing her former therapist of sexual abuse, she plugged his address into an online directory and came across an unfamiliar alias. A search of that name turned up newspaper articles about the death of a 10-year-old girl.

Whats that got to do with Peter? she wondered.

A pair of obituaries she found next pointed closer to a connection. Sitting at a public library computer in January 2020, she scrolled past several small, blurry photos on a newspaper archive site until a larger one popped up.

Bingo, she thought. Thats him.

Her next thought?

You bastard.

New Hampshire is one of 10 states that allow people to change their names while incarcerated, but the public has no way of knowing someones earlier identity unless they go to the courthouse where the change was approved, or do some serious sleuthing. It was the latter that led to the discovery that Peter Stone was once Peter Dushame, a drunken driver convicted of manslaughter more than 30 years ago.

What happened in between raises complicated questions about the right to forge a new life after incarceration and what patients can or should know about a mental health providers past.

To what extent do we want to tar somebody for the rest of their life? said Albert Buzz Scherr, a professor at the University of New Hampshire Franklin Pierce School of Law. Should every therapist be forced to reveal to any incoming patient that theyve been convicted of a crime?

Stone, then named Peter Dushame, was 33 years old and drunk when he plowed into a parked motorcycle in Nashua, New Hampshire, on Oct. 1, 1989. Lacey Packer, a fourth grader on her way home to Massachusetts with her father, died two days later.

He held a valid drivers license despite five previous drunken driving convictions, and it was his third fatal crash  though the others didnt involve alcohol. Both Massachusetts and New Hampshire responded with new laws, and The Boston Globe called him the most notorious drunk driver in New England history.

But over time, he dedicated himself to helping people recovering from addiction, earning a masters degree in counseling psychology and leading treatment programs from behind bars.

Two years later, he legally changed his name to Peter Stone. He was released from prison in 2002 and eventually set up shop as a licensed drug and alcohol counselor in North Conway.

I stand as evidence that people can change, Stone wrote to state regulators in 2013.

Last July, he was charged with five counts of aggravated felonious sexual assault under a law that criminalizes any sexual contact between patients and their therapists or health care providers. Such behavior also is prohibited by the American Psychological Associations ethical code of conduct.

In a recent interview with The Associated Press, the 61-year-old woman said she developed romantic feelings for Stone about six months after he began treating her for anxiety, depression and alcohol abuse in June 2013. Though he told her a relationship would be unethical, he eventually initiated sexual contact in February 2016, she said.

That crossed the line, the woman remembers him saying after he pulled up his pants. When am I seeing you again?

While about half the states have no restrictions on name changes after felony convictions, 15 have bans or temporary waiting periods for those convicted of certain crimes, according to the ACLU in Illinois, which has one of the most restrictive laws.

Stone appropriately disclosed his criminal record on licensing applications and other documents, according to a review of records obtained by the AP. Disclosure to clients isnt mandatory, said Gary Goodnough, who teaches counseling ethics at Plymouth State University. But he believes clients have a right to know about some convictions, including vehicular homicide.

One of the principles that underlies the counseling profession is the notion of veracity, he said. We should tell the truth.

According to court documents, Stone told investigators that the woman fondled him once, but that he didnt know how his DNA ended up on her shirt. The state suspended his counseling license in December 2017, and he voluntarily surrendered it four months later.

Stone declined to be interviewed by the AP, and his attorney did not respond to requests for comment. The prosecutor declined to comment on any aspect of the case. A hearing to determine Stones competency to stand trial is scheduled for September.

Donna and Gordon Packer, who became advocates for tougher drunken driving laws after their daughters death, were notified by the state of Stones name change but learned of his recent arrest only when contacted by the AP.

Donna Packer said after her husband offered forgiveness in a letter years ago, Stone responded by asking for help getting out of prison early. That struck the couple as manipulative, she said, even so, she had hoped he had changed.

I hate that hes still victimizing people, she said. It didnt need to be this way.
SANTO DOMINGO, Dominican Republic (AP)  The Dominican Republics minister of the environment and natural resources  the son of a former president  was shot to death in his office by a close friend Monday, the office of the president said in a statement.

Authorities said Orlando Jorge Mera was shot by Fausto Miguel de Jesus Cruz de la Mota, who was later arrested at a church dozens of blocks away after telling a priest he committed a crime and handed over a gun to him.

Officials gave no motive for the shooting, and it wasn't immediately clear if Cruz, 56, had an attorney.

We express our deepest condolences, the office of President Luis Abinader said.

As shots rang out late Monday morning, people on the street yelled and took cover as those fleeing the buidling climbed over a tall fence after first throwing over purses, backpacks and even a pair of shoes because the buildings main gates were locked.

Authorities said that in a phone conversation with Cruz while he was at the church, he promised to turn himself in if they guaranteed he wouldnt be killed.

Heavily armed police officers took him into custody at the church, which is about a 15-minute drive from the office where Jorge was shot.

When he was brought out, Cruz was wearing a helmet and bulletproof vest and kept his head mostly down as the glasses he wore slid slightly down his nose. One bystander yelled: You killed a good man! Murderer!

The victim came from a powerful political family. Jorge was the son of former Dominican President Salvador Jorge Blanco and his sister is a vice minister in Abinader's administration. Jorge's son is a lawmaker for the Modern Revolutionary Party, of which Jorge was a founding member.

The family issued a statement saying that Cruz had been Jorge's friend since childhood and that Jorge was shot multiple times.

Our family forgives the person who did this. One of Orlando's greatest legacies was to not hold grudges," it said.

Police and emergency officials swarmed the office of Environment and Natural Resources Ministry in the capital of Santo Domingo and barred entry as mourners gathered nearby. Jorge's office was on the fourth floor of a building that also houses the Ministry of Tourism.

We are troubled by the situation, Jorges ministry said in a brief statement.

Bartolome Pujals, executive director of the governments Cabinet of Innovation, wrote that he lamented the killing.

His death is a tragedy, Pujals said. We Dominicans have to come together to achieve a pact for peace and peaceful coexistence. No more violence.

Jorge, a lawyer, was appointed minister of the environment and natural resources in August 2020.

___

Associated Press writer Danica Coto in San Juan, Puerto Rico, contributed to this report.
JUNEAU, Alaska (AP)  A state court judge on Friday ruled that Alaska elections officials cannot certify the results of the by-mail special primary for U.S. House until visually impaired voters are provided a full and fair opportunity to participate in the election.

Superior Court Judge Una Gandbhir, in her written order, did not say what exactly that would entail. The special primary is on Saturday and the state had set June 25 as the target for certification.

She said it is not the place of the court or the plaintiffs to impose a solution and said she strongly urges the parties to work together to find a "timely, appropriate remedy.

Attorneys with the state Department of Law filed an emergency petition for review with the Alaska Supreme Court, according to a court filing.

The superior courts ruling creates enormous confusion and prejudice to the voters. Voters need to know as soon as possible whether the election will proceed on schedule, or whether it will be delayed, attorneys with the department wrote. They asked the court to rule by 8 p.m. on Saturday.

If the state wins the case, the state Division of Elections would need to begin counting votes to keep its elections timeline on track, state attorneys said. The latest in-person voting sites are slated to close at 8 p.m.

Gandbhir's decision followed arguments earlier in the day in a case filed this week by Robert Corbisier, executive director of the Alaska State Commission for Human Rights. Corbisier sued state elections officials on behalf of a person identified as B.L., a registered voter in Anchorage with a visual impairment.

Attorneys for Corbisier had asked Gandbhir to prevent election officials from certifying the results of the special primary until the state Division of Elections enacts measures that ensure that voters with visual impairments are given a full and fair opportunity to cast their votes independently, secretly and privately. They argued that the by-mail special primary discriminates against voters with visual impairments.

Attorneys for state elections officials countered that adequate methods for secret voting are available for voters with visual impairments.

There would be cascading effects if certification were delayed, including the potential for an August special election for U.S. House to be postponed, attorneys for the state argued.

The special primary is part of a set of elections that will determine who serves the remainder of the late U.S. Rep. Don Youngs term, which expires in January. Young died in March.

The special primary features 48 candidates. Each voter picks one candidate. The four candidates with the most votes will advance to the special election, in which ranked choice voting will be used. The winner of that contest will serve out Youngs term.

The state planned to have the special election coincide with the regular primary on Aug. 16.

No court should consider lightly an injunction that potentially upends an ongoing election, but neither can the Court allow flawed state procedures to disenfranchise a group of Alaskans who already face tremendous barriers in exercising a fundamental right, Gandbhir wrote.

Attorneys for the plaintiffs in court filings said the election lacks options that would allow people with visual impairments to cast ballots without invasive and unlawful assistance from a sighted person.

But attorneys with the Department of Law, defending elections officials, in court documents said the lawsuit seeks to upend the election. They said the division is conducting the election using the long-established and familiar absentee voting process available to voters in all elections.

Election officials began sending ballots to registered voters in late April, and there have been opportunities for early and absentee in-person voting in communities around the state. Voters also can have ballots sent to them by fax or online delivery.

Attorneys for Corbisier said the division typically has touch-screen units at in-person polling sites but said the division indicated they would have them at only a few sites for this election. One of the attorneys, Mara Michaletz, told the judge the division could have acted months ago.

She did not immediately respond to an email from The Associated Press sent after business hours seeking comment on the judge's order.

Attorneys for the Department of Law in court documents said the division first became aware of the commissions concerns about ballot accessibility on May 14 and has been working with the plaintiffs. They said it was not feasible to send voting tablets to all absentee in-person voting locations, noting that before each election the division must prepare and test all necessary equipment in a process that can take weeks.

They said elections officials worked with Corbisier and B.L. on improvements to the online delivery option, which they said the plaintiffs initially expressed satisfaction with.

Kate Demarest, an attorney for the state, told Gandbhir there is no more relief that can reasonably be awarded for this election tomorrow.

Gandbhir, in her ruling, said the division seemed to be doing its sincere best to provide options under the circumstances. Elections officials have said they opted for a primarily by-mail election because of the tight timeline for holding an election following Youngs death.

But she said this is not a we tried our best scenario; this is a state agency responsible for overseeing the voting rights of all Alaskans.

Gail Fenumiai, director of the Division of Elections, in an affidavit said the June 25 certification date is not arbitrary.

Any delay in the special primary election or its certification will require costly, detrimental changes to the other elections scheduled to follow this year. State law dictates that with the special primary on June 11, the special general must occur on Aug. 16, the same day as the regular primary election, she said.

If certification of the special primary is delayed, the division would have to postpone the special election, she said. This would force the division to conduct the special election at a later date than required by law.

If the special election is not held the same day as the regular primary, Fenumiai said it likely would have to be conducted by mail because of the same concerns that prompted the by-mail special primary.

Gandbhir said the division argues - accurately - that this election, and the one to follow, will be thrown into chaos if the Court enters an injunction and thus delays certification. But this is an unavoidable consequence of the situation with which the Court is presented.
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WASHINGTON (AP)  Thousands of people rallied on the National Mall and across the United States on Saturday in a renewed push for gun control measures after recent deadly mass shootings from Uvalde, Texas, to Buffalo, New York, that activists say should compel Congress to act.

Enough is enough, District of Columbia Mayor Muriel Bowser told the second March for Our Lives rally in her city. I speak as a mayor, a mom, and I speak for millions of Americans and America's mayors who are demanding that Congress do its job. And its job is to protect us, to protect our children from gun violence.

Speaker after speaker in Washington called on senators, who are seen as a major impediment to legislation, to act or face being voted out of office, especially given the shock to the nation's conscience after 19 children and two teachers were killed May 24 at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde.

If our government can't do anything to stop 19 kids from being killed and slaughtered in their own school, and decapitated, it's time to change who is in government, said David Hogg, a survivor of the 2018 shooting that killed 17 students and staff at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida.

A co-founder of the March For Our Lives organization that was created after that shooting and held its first rally in Washington not long afterward, Hogg led the crowd in chants of Vote them out.

Another Parkland survivor and group co-founder, X Gonzalez, delivered an impassioned, profanity-laced plea to Congress for change. We are being murdered," they screamed and implored Congress to act your age, not your shoe size.

Added Yolanda King, granddaughter of Martin Luther King Jr.: This time is different because this isnt about politics. Its about morality. Not right and left, but right and wrong, and that doesnt just mean thoughts and prayers. That means courage and action.

Manuel Oliver, whose son, Joaquin, was killed in the Parkland shooting, called on students "to avoid going back to school until our elected leaders stop avoiding the crisis of gun violence in America and start acting to save our lives.

Hundreds gathered at an amphitheater in Parkland, where Debra Hixon, whose husband, high school athletic director Chris Hixon, died in the shooting, said it is all too easy for young men to walk into stores and buy weapons.

Going home to an empty bed and an empty seat at the table is a constant reminder that he is gone, said Hixon, who now serves as a school board member. We werent done making memories, sharing dreams and living life together. Gun violence ripped that away from my family.

In San Antonio, about 85 miles east of Uvalde, marchers chanted Hey, hey, ho, ho, the NRA has got to go. A man who said he helped to organize the rally, Frank Ruiz, called for gun reform laws similar to those enacted in Florida after the Parkland shooting that focused on raising the age for purchasing certain firearms and flagging those with mental health issues.

The U.S. House has passed bills to raise the age limit to buy semi-automatic weapons and establish federal red flag laws. A bipartisan group of senators had hoped to reach agreement this week on a framework for addressing the issue and held talks Friday, but no deal was announced.

President Joe Biden, who was in California when the Washington rally began, said his message to demonstrators was keep marching and added that he is mildly optimistic about legislative negotiations to address gun violence. Biden recently delivered an impassioned address to the nation in which he called for several steps, including raising the age limit for buying assault-style weapons.

In New York City, Mayor Eric Adams, who campaigned on reining in violence in the nations largest city, joined state Attorney General Letitia James, who is suing the National Rifle Association, in leading activists across the Brooklyn Bridge.

Nothing happens in this country until young people stand up  not politicians, James said.

Joining the call for change were hundreds of people who rallied in a park outside the courthouse in Portland, Maine, before they marched through the Old Port and gathered outside of City Hall. At one point, they chanted, Hey, hey, hey, NRA. How many kids did you kill today.

John Wuesthoff, a retired lawyer in Portland, said he was waving an American flag during the rally as a reminder that gun control is not un-American.

Its very American to have reasonable regulations to save the lives of our children, he said.

Hundreds of protesters in Milwaukee marched from the county courthouse to the citys Deer District, where last month 21 people were injured in shootings on the night of an NBA playoff game. Organizer Tatiana Washington, whose aunt was killed by gun violence in 2017, said this years march is particularly significant to Milwaukee residents.

A lot of us are still very heavily thinking about the mass shooting that occurred after the Bucks game, Washington said. We shouldnt be scared to go watch our team in the playoffs and live in fear that were going to be shot at.

The passion that the issue stirs was clear in Washington when a young man jumped the barricade and tried to rush the stage before being intercepted by security. The incident caused a brief panic as people began to scatter.

Organizers hoped the second March for Our Lives rally would draw as many as 50,000 people to the Washington Monument, though the crowd seemed closer to 30,000. The 2018 event attracted more than 200,000 people, but the focus this time was on smaller marches at an estimated 300 locations.

The youth-led movement created after the Parkland shooting successfully pressured the Republican-dominated Florida state government to enact sweeping gun control changes. The group did not match that at the national level, but has persisted in advocating for gun restrictions since then, as well as participating in voter registration drives.

Survivors of mass shootings and other incidents of gun violence have lobbied legislators and testified on Capitol Hill this week. Among them was Miah Cerrillo, an 11-year-old girl who survived the shooting at Robb Elementary. She described for lawmakers how she covered herself with a dead classmates blood to avoid being shot.

___

Associated Press writers Jennifer Peltz in New York, David Sharp in Portland, Maine, and Chris Megerian in Los Angeles contributed to this report.
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At a seed production base in Dazhu County, southwest China's Sichuan Province, rice farmer Fan Tiancheng is taking intensive care of his 140 mu (about 9.3 hectares) field of "golden rice seeds," as the seeds are expected to increase rice yield and farmers' income.

Seed farmers like Fan are entitled to special insurance premiums and agricultural subsidies, which have boosted farmers' enthusiasm to engage in cultivating hybrid seeds.

Rural cooperatives contract these farmers for the purchase of their yield. In every planting season, the cooperatives pay for the seeds, pesticides, fertilizers, and other agricultural materials in advance and provide free technical services for the farmers.

Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, on Wednesday visited the village of Yongfeng in the city of Meishan in Sichuan to inspect a high standard paddy field base.

Xi, also Chinese president and chairman of the Central Military Commission, said that it was time consuming for cultivating improved varieties of rice as it required repeated experiments and selection, and all the country's scientific and technical workers in the agricultural sector have made arduous efforts.

Xi expressed recognition to the workers for their invaluable contributions to safeguarding national food security and ensuring that the people enjoy ample supply of food and clothing.

Xi said advancing agricultural modernization requires efforts not only of experts but also those of all farmers, that the promotion and application of modern agricultural science and technologies and training of farmers must be strengthened, all big grain growers must be organized to actively develop green, ecological, and efficient agriculture.

Sichuan is China's major seed industry base. The province received 240 million yuan (about 35.95 million U.S. dollars) of national funding in 2021 for boosting seed production. It invested 620 million yuan last year to develop high-standard farmland and support the building of 50,000 mu seed production bases.

Xi stressed that the Chengdu Plain has been lauded as a land of abundance since ancient times, that the area of farmland must be ensured and such a precious land for food production must be well protected. He also called for even greater efforts to bolster up grain production and build a higher-level "granary of heaven" in the new era.

As one of the demonstration models of high-standard farmland in Sichuan, Yongfeng boasts 4,700 mu of such farmland. It has taken the lead in realizing a complete mechanized production of rice, and established the largest experimental base featuring new rice varieties and new technologies in the province.

The village, with a population of 5,176, has seen farmers' per-capita annual net income reach 28,000 yuan.

China's "No. 1 central document" for 2022 released in February outlined key tasks to comprehensively push forward rural revitalization this year, aiming to develop 6.67 million hectares of high-standard farmland.

"We have the confidence and determination to ensure the food supply for the Chinese people through our own efforts," Xi said during the inspection.
If there is any boredom which most Nigerians, particularly those that are of voting age, share together, it is unarguably that of being sick and tired of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for collectively been responsible for prolifically churning out bad and corrupt leaders at each passing political dispensation through undemocratic primary elections. Just recently, theyve in their respective primaries elected, through their selected delegates, undemocratically imposed leaders on Nigerians. The foregoing scenario has been the pattern of the vicious cycle which Nigerians are faced with.

Without doubt, there is discontent with what both parties are offering: discontent with policy offerings that have overtime culminated into bad governance, with the lack of responsiveness, and with the lack of accountability.

In fact, just as not few Nigerians are of the view that APC and PDP are same of the same, apology to Jimi Agbaje, so also had political bigwigs said at media parleys, and thus buttressed the views; wittingly or unwittingly.

For instance, a chieftain of the APC, and founder of the Conscience Forum group, a former PDP Chairman and House of Reps member, Moshood Adegoke Salvador, recently at a media parley said both parties are the same. When asked at the parley, Do you regret ever leaving the PDP for the APC? He answered You keep coming back to this question. What is the difference between APC and PDP, that you can regret going from one to another? I only moved my people to warehouse them in APC, so that the Conscience Forum members will not be scattered. You will need a political party to warehouse them and as you are doing so, it will cost me a fortune to manage over 300,000 people. So, when you do that, youll now ask them to go to the local governments.

In the same vein, a former Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Godswill Akpabio, has said that the difference between the APC, and the PDP, is just the name. Akpabio said though he wont return to the PDP, he is not one of those politicians who will say they will die or commit suicide if they go back to their former political parties.

Ostensibly to doubt suspicion that he was mooting the idea of cross carpeting, the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs made the foregoing convoluted comment when he few weeks ago appeared on Channels Television, and added that he would remain in the APC and try his best to work with whoever the party chooses as consensus candidate.

To any political observer that is imbued with discerning mind, it is not an exaggeration to conclude that both parties are seemingly membered by elites that are majorly, and ostensibly corrupt, unresponsive and unaccountable. Worse still, both parties share the peculiarity of being membered by politicians that are wont to scramble for what would only be of benefits to themselves. And they have the predilection to deceptively claim that they will engender good governance to the people when voted for at elections, and they are often wont to boast that the people deserve better representation at the corridors of power.

Not only are Nigerians sick and tired of APC and PDP, they are majorly membered by recycled politicians that have the penchant for crisscross both parties as if the nations political landscape is bereft of other registered political parties.

Unarguably throwing insight to the strength of LP, Peter Obi, former Anambra state governor and Labor Party (LP) presidential candidate, recently boasted that the party will win the 2023 presidential election by rallying workers and students to vote.

Obi spoke to journalists in Abeokuta, Ogun State, about his campaign alongside his Director General, Dr. Doyin Okupe, with LP leaders.

He noted that the PDP and the ruling APC have expired and lost their political relevance in the country and will be easy to beat in the 2023 election, and added that the PDP leaders ran out of luck and victory after refusing to zone the 2023 presidential ticket to the southern part of the country.

The presidential candidate knocked the PDP as unjust and unjust for ditching the partys zoning.

According to him, those who opposed zoning in the PDP undermined the existence of the PDP and violated the gentlemens agreement of the partys founding fathers, and added that he was banking on Nigerias workforce, youth, markets and women to beat both the APC and PDP in the 2023 general election.

He said: The PDP was a true party put together by our elders and leaders. Those who came yesterday and said that rotation does not matter, undermine the essence of the PDPs existence, the moment they took this step, the PDP stepped out of the line of happiness, the future, victory, because they suddenly has become unjust and unjust.

There is no unrighteous and unrighteous pillar that will stand. The PDP was a good platform, but its expired. The APC was never a good platform, it is irrelevant. The two parties are out, these two parties have expired, they have no relevance to the new things Nigerians and youth are looking for.

Labor Party is still a very small party in the scheme of things, but we were not unfamiliar with that before we moved here. But the Labor Party is a sleeping giant.

The Labour Partys potential electoral pool is more than three times the membership of the APC and PDP combined. NLC, TUC, NURTW, market women, professional bodies, and students are all part of the Labor Party.

Also throwing insight to the strength of party, its national chairman, Julius Abure while speaking in an interview with Osaretin Osadebamwen of Tribune newspaper said the role Nigerian workers will play in the election of a new president and how his party plan to rescue the country from its current ruling class in 2023.

When asked, The party is known to be rather quiet, do you think we have the quality of aspirant that can change this narrative. Who do you have in mind?

He answered, Power resides with the people and they own power and I want to say clearly that the people are disenchanted; the people are tired of poverty; the people are tired of unemployment; then you are tired of hunger and we are relying on people to make a change, and we believe that Nigerians in 2023, will make that change.

Take it from me, the arrowhead of the 2023 election will be the people queuing behind the Labour Party. Essentially, it is the people that will drive the process and be able to sack the present crop of leaders that have not been able to better their lives. And our party, the LP will bring out its programmes and its ideologies. We are going to provide a solid alternative to the people and I am very sure that they will embrace the option we will give them for the desired change.

Be that as it may, without Ojoro not few Nigerians are of the view that LP is the party to reckon with come 2023, and if the leaderships of APC and PDP continue to underrate the party without taking cognizance of its revolutionary velocity, they may live to regret it.
A support group, The Osinbajo Think Tank, has congratulated the All Progressives Congress Presidential Candidate, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu on his recent victory at the Party's Primary at Abuja.

The group equally urged the APC National Leader to strengthen good governance in the country, when he becomes President.

Mr. Olugbenga Olaoye, the Group's spokesperson said that the group was pleased with the peaceful conduct of the primary election.

Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Tuesday in Abuja defeated our dogged Principal and Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo and 12 other candidates in a presidential primary election held at the Eagle Square, Abuja.

He said that his group in accordance with its vision of promoting good governance is in support of every process of democracy, as demonstrated by the All Progressives Congress.

He described Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu's victory as a well-deserved one, considering his contributions to the development of democracy in the country, since its advent in Nigeria.

The Osinbajo Think Tank, congratulates APC National leader on his recent victory at the party's primaries. We urge him to uphold good governance in Nigeria, as he has always done, he said.

Olaoye assured Nigerians of the groups commitment to a united Nigeria, urging all political aspirants to toe the path of Prof. Yemi Osinbajo.

He eulogized Prof. Yemi Osinbajo's unalloyed affinity for the Nation, which led him to being a frontline Presidential aspirant.

Olaoye also congratulated Osinbajo for his show of maturity and unwavering conviction, despite the pressure to step down.
Who told you Buhari would vote for Tinubu, his Party Presidential candidate; for whia?

They actually used Tinubu to capture the Presidency the same way the South have been inviting Fulani leaders for Alliance since the sixties. The British preferred them as the leaders in the SouthEast, SouthSouth and lately SouthWest did. SouthSouth preferred them to avoid domination by their Southern neighbors. SouthEast formed an alliance with them from the 60s to spite the SouthWest and SouthWest did it in 2015 hoping Buhari would pass them the baton.

Nothing changed. Even if Osinbajo had been endorsed publicly by Buhari, he could never defeat Atiku in the North. What some folks rightly pointed out is that Buhari and the Fulani have accomplished their goal to keep power in the North as long as Nigeria exists as a country. Their game conclusion is to pave the way for Tinubu with his voracious greed that scares every part of Nigeria except those addicted money-mongers in the West he captured. Ask Lagosians.

The South cannot repeat the same feat every time in favor of Fulani leaders and expect a different result from power hungry Oligarchy who think they are born to rule. Take them seriously when they say the "North" would rule forever. There are few Fulani or Hausa that will dump Atiku for Tinubu or Peter Obi. Until the South and the North Central decide to rally around and vote for one of the other parties or a new party, Atiku wins.

Buhari is the head of the Fulani oligarchy that dominates the political power of Africa's most populous country, regardless of APC or PDP candidate. There are many ways to skin a cat, party loyalty is only one of them. But anyone that thinks Buhari would be loyal to a party at the expense of Fulani self-interest, in a country where there is no ideological conviction, is naive or a neophyte.

Tinubu won the flagship of APC and Atiku won the flagship of PDP to contest for the President of Nigeria because their money is power. While it is true that politicians without money can still win, it takes a sincere dedicated revolution of the mind. Tinubu and Atiku have come out winners despite the fact that they are the most corrupt Presidential candidates out of all the contestants. Until lately, only Fulani and Hausa could keep their eyes on the price without financial corruption. Buhari burst that myth into pieces.

There is no one among the delegates in particular and Nigeria in general that does not know how Atiku and Tinubu made their money, yet more Nigerians have resigned to corruption as a fact of life and the way to survive is to join them if you cannot beat them. Even those we thought have integrity have resigned to their parties' picks where foreign money that could have elevated the suffering of the masses were openly displayed and the candidate with ice cream with popcorn, Osinbajo, derided. Na ice cream and popcorn we go chop?

However, Fulani have always kept their eyes on Power rather than Money. When you secure Power, natural resources, foreign income and foreign loans flow in naturally when you are in control. They no longer trust or support any Southerner surrogate as President, Federal character or other merit based positions since they can manipulate their way in. Southern Nigerians always put the cart before the horse. They worship money first, by any means.

When Tafawa Balewa became Prime Minister, he negotiated by relinquishing the Finance portfolio to the South. Gowon from the Middle Belt reminded the country that he is a Northerner when he became Military Head of State. He released Awolowo from Federal Prison which his predecessor, Ironsi failed to do after many requests and pleas. More importantly, he appointed Awolowo Commissioner for Finance the South desired as usual.

It shows the political sophistication and chicanery of the Fulani compared to the Southern money worshippers that would sell their birthright for pottage. Do not forget that after Awolowo left as Finance Commissioner, it was Southerners that preached Liberal Market. The North was against it until they realized that their families can enjoy Western education beyond Arab religious teaching. Indeed some Nigerians like Dr. Sodipo and Fela Anikulapo paid dearly in jail for alleged violations of the 100 pounds limit on travelers going abroad.

It was not until Obasanjo as civilian President that he rehabilitated the marginalized Igbo into substantive positions as Finance control. It must be pointed out that Clement Nyong Isong, was also in charge of the Central Bank under Gowon. By the time Fulani got interested in Finance, Lamido Sanusi, an Islamic scholar, was planted as a manager in a private bank to later become the Governor of the Central Bank. More Northerners took over the parallel financial market.

The point here is that Northerners were not interested in money until the new generation got involved and experienced what foreign currencies and income laundering can obtain in Western countries. Yet, they have not abandoned their ideological pursuit of conquering the South. They openly demand that the Presidency must remain in the North After Buhari. Regardless of who the Presidential candidates are in either APC or PDP and who won, Power remains in the North.

The Fulani and their Hausa accomplices that lost their Seven States to Usman Dan Fodio have attracted minorities from the North Central with One-North or Hausa/Fulani slogans. The South will never become President of Nigeria again until they can produce an Obasanjo or a Danjuma from the Middle Belt that would champion their agenda, not that of Fulani. Indeed, the chances of One Nigeria has slipped away.

Unfortunately, the South and NorthCentral have not learnt from the regrets of both Danjuma and Obasanjo when Buhari fooled them as a Nigerian patriot. Since he came out to show his true color, it is too late to turn back time. Buhari also realizes that this is his best opportunity to renew Fulani reign because the new generation of Southerners have woken up to the Fulani game plan. New generation of NorthCentral will be a tougher nut to crack with the One-North slogan.

Farouk Martins Aresa @oomoaresa


Kanokwan granted bail on Khao Yai encroachment

BANGKOK: The Criminal Court for Corruption and Misconduct Cases approved a bail request for Deputy Minister of Education Kanokwan Vilawan after public prosecutors submitted her case to the court on Friday (June 10).

landnatural-resourcesenvironmentcrime

By Bangkok Post

Saturday 11 June 2022, 09:18AM

Deputy Education Minister Kanokwan Vilawan announces the opening of the Olympics academic camp for students from southernmost provinces at the Education Ministry on May 6, 2022. Photo: Pattarapong Chatpattarasill / Bangkok Post

The Office of the Attorney General (OAG) took Ms Kanokwan to the courts Region 2 office in Muang district of Rayong province after she reported to the office on Friday to hear charges of alleged illegal occupation of land in Khao Yai National Park, reports the Bangkok Post.

The court agreed to grant her bail with no conditions after she had deposited B300,000 in cash and land title deeds as surety, Thai News Agency reported.

The OAG decided to indict her and nine other people, including her father Soonthorn, on Tuesday after the National Anti-Corruption Commission had found sufficient evidence to take legal action against them on issuing and using three false land title deeds to control three plots of land in the park in Prachin Buri, her home province.

Two of the three plots encompass 54 rai of land inside Khao Yai.

The court will summon her for questioning on Aug 5.

The status of the nine other accused was unclear.

Ms Kanokwan is a deputy secretary-general of the coalition Bhumjaithai Party. Her father is the head of the Prachin Buri Provincial Administration Organisation. Both were former MPs in the central province.

The deputy minister, her husband and their close aide Nui Toomphan illegally seized the plots of land since 2002, with assistance from seven others.

The case was known after soldiers of the Internal Security Operations Command seized three backhoes working in the areas in 2020 and later found out that the plots of land were located in the park.

10,000 RAI

Police on Friday said the family is believed to be responsible for encroaching on some 10,000 rai at the world heritage-inscribed Khao Yai National Park, Bangkok Post reported.

However further investigation is required to learn more details, said Col Pongphet Ketsupa, commander of an operation team of Internal Security Operations Command (Isoc).

He said his team is working closely with the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation (DNP) to scrutinise areas that are thought to be illegally occupied, especially in Prachin Buri after other examples of encroachment were recently found there.

An initial probe determined that around 10,000 rai of land in Khao Yai had been encroached upon but the land owners have not yet been confirmed, he said.

We believe the politicians family in Prachin Buri illegally occupied more land inside the forest. Our team is working hard to clear this up, he said, adding the support of the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) has helped facilitate the investigation.

The NACC concluded on Tuesday (June 7) there were sufficient grounds to launch legal action against Deputy Education Minister Kanokwan Vilawan, her father Soonthorn and eight other individuals for illegally occupying 150 rai in the national park.

According to Col Pongphet, his team found the politicians family began illegally encroaching on the national park in 2017, when the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation filed a complaint against them. But no progress was made in the case.

In 2020, the team found another 24 rai appeared to have been illegally issued to the same family. The case was sent to the Office of the Attorney-General for consideration.

Ms Kanokwan and her father claimed they purchased the land from its previous owners, but the NACC found the plots in question had never previously been used. The NACC concluded the family had colluded with government officials to illegally obtain the title deeds.

The Office of the Auditor-General (OAG) decided on Tuesday to indict 10 suspects in the matter and said it would forward the cases to the Region 2 office of the Criminal Court for Corruption and Misconduct Cases.

Four of the other suspects are Jeerasak Pholsuk, who once served as director of the Land Deed Surveying Centre in Saraburi, Nakhon Nayok, Prachinburi and Sa Kaeo provinces; Surang Kantarom, who once served as the survey director, Somsak Heeb-ngern who once performed the duties of surveying supervisor; and Phanphen Phakhayat, who acted as a land title investigator.

The remaining suspects are Prathan Banchuen, who formerly served as a land survey director; Tawee Muensri, a former village headman in tambon Noen Hom; Noi Tumphan, who was a survey leader; and Kanit Petchpradab, who used to be a surveyor under the Royal Forest Department.

As of Thursday, neither Ms Surang, Mr Somsak, Ms Kanokwan, Mr Soonthorn, Ms Noi nor Mr Kanit had presented themselves to prosecutors, prompting the issuing of arrest warrants.

Ms Kanokwan appeared before the prosecutor on Friday but her father has not reported himself to the OAG.

Officers from the Anti-Corruption Division and the Crime Suppression Division have joined forces to find Mr Soonthorn and the other remaining suspects before the charge expires on Monday.

DNP Director-General Ratchada Suriyakul na Ayutthaya said he has instructed officials to scrutinise the Land Department.
Legal Matters: Moving from GDPR to PDPA compliance  the lowdown

Effective from June 1, Thailands Personal Data Protection Act (PDPA) B.E. 2562 [2019] regulates the collection, use and protection of personal data and establishes corrective measures against data misuse. The good news is that if youre already compliant with the equivalent EU legislation (GDPR), like many companies in Thailand, you probably dont need to worry.

Saturday 11 June 2022, 10:00AM

Thailands PDPA is heavily based on the EUs GDPR and was proposed by the government in May 2018, though not identical in all respects. While following the GDPR does not guarantee compliance with the PDPA, it does get very close.

PDPA applies to all entities located in Thailand, whether they collect and use the data in Thailand or not. It also applies to entities outside Thailand offering goods and services to users in Thailand. PDPA employs a risk-based approach. Businesses are required to prevent misuse of the data they collect and PDPA compliance always starts with a data privacy policy and procedures that comply with the PDPA.

Because the PDPA is based on the GDPR, there are significant similarities. Both contain comparable rules concerning data processing since both are concerned with consent, contract performance, legal responsibilities, and legitimate or vital interests. Both laws guarantee data subjects rights such as the right to be informed, the right to data portability, the right to access, and the right to be forgotten.

However, the PDPA and the GDPR do have some differences. Specifically, the PDPA is less precise than the GDPR regarding its definitions and the protection guaranteed is less strong under the PDPA, though the enforcement is more punishing, and the material scope is slightly different.

Unlike the GDPR, the PDPA does not apply to certain public agencies, and the GDPRs definition of personal data is more precise, including IP addresses and cookie identifiers, which the PDPA does not cover. Unlike the GDPR, the PDPA does not define anonymised or pseudonymised data, even though it provides that a data subject has the right to anonymise their personal data.

UPDATE YOUR POLICY  ITS EASY!

The PDPA requires that a website owner verify that their existing data policy complies with the PDPA or it needs to be updated. Businesses should review and upgrade all internal personal data policies, agreements, and procedures if non-compliant. If you already comply with GDPR, then you probably meet these standards already.

Ensure the validity of the consent

Businesses must obtain users consent to collect their data, perhaps via pop-ups or a click affirmation to give clear and explicit consent. You should also clearly inform the user about the purpose of data collection and the possibility of withdrawing it. When switching from GDPR to PDPA-compliant websites and vice versa, the website owner needs to contact users to obtain their consent to collect or retain their data or give them the choice to clear the data already collected.

Cross-border data privacy transfer

The GDPR recognises data privacy transfer between countries. This is not the case under the PDPA as it does not automatically allow an international data transfer outside Thailand, and then only when the receiving jurisdiction has established data protection measures that are equivalent to the PDPA or under restricted conditions. We would expect countries that meet GDPR standards to comply, but this hasnt been tested.

Enforce the rights guaranteed

Businesses must enact appropriate mechanisms to ensure they respect individuals rights to their personal data. A small difference is data portability; when refusing a request for data portability, PDPA requires that data controllers save the justification of objection for each request to verify the data subject and the competent authority involved. This is not the case under GDPR.

In Summary

If you are already GDPR compliant, there is not much to do to comply with PDPA since the GDPR is broader, more precise, and has a stronger legal framework and history.

As always, if in doubt consult with an experienced law firm as there are significant penalties if you get it wrong. Silk Legal has been advising clients on PDPA and GDPR compliance since the Thai law was announced and can be contacted for a compliance audit or simply consult on questions around the PDPA.

By Dr Paul Crosio

Those interested in the legal aspects of PDPA compliance are welcome to contact Silk Legal for more information. Please reach out to them at info@silklegal.com or by using the contact form on their website.
EDWARDSVILLE  Madison County is projecting a record $5.2 million in investment income this year, according to Madison County Treasurer Chris Slusser.

Slusser told the Finance and Government Operations Committee that, from 2012 to 2016 the county earned an average of $826,000 annually. From 2017 to 2022 it averaged $3.96 million.

Slusser said the treasurer's office has focused on increasing income by diversifying its portfolio and actively managing the funds. He noted that, in 2016, there were 85 investments in the countys portfolio and 71 were CDs.

Now we have 573 holdings, including a mix of municipal bonds, corporate bonds, mortgage backed securities, federal agency bonds, CDs and treasury bonds, Slusser said. The Illinois Public Funds Investment Act doesn't allow us to purchase stocks or mutual funds.

He added the county currently has shifted most of its funds away from banks. Most local banks are cash heavy with PPP and ARPA funds; they are not seeking big deposits he said.

For the past four years Madison County held the top performing investment portfolio in the state, Slusser said.
Vietnam's GDP per capita ranks sixth in ASEAN (Photo: IMF)



The United States took the lead with USD22,940 billion, followed by China with USD16,863 billion.

For GDP per capita, Vietnam secured USD3,743 per person ranking sixth in ASEAN and 124th in the world.

Globally, the top 10 countries with the largest GDP per capita are Luxembourg (USD131,302), Ireland (USD102,394), Switzerland (USD93,515), and Norway (USD8.244).

Illustrative photo

They were followed by the US (USD69,375), Iceland (USD102,394), Denmark (USD67,920), Singapore (USD66,263), Australia (USD62,619), and Qatar (USD61,791).

In Southeast Asia, Singapore ranked first with USD66,263 per person, followed by Brunei (USD33,979), Malaysia (USD11,125), Thailand (USD7,809), and Indonesia (USD4,225).

This year Vietnam has set targets of recording 6 - 6.5% GDP growth and raising its GDP per capita to USD3,900. It plans to raise the GDP per capita to between USD4,700 and USD5,000 by 2025 and USD7,500 by 2030.

Vietnam-Laos trade turnover on the rise

Trade revenue between Vietnam and Laos in the first five months of this year stood at USD690.6 million, up 21% year-on-year, reported the Voice of Vietnam.

According to the Vietnamese Trade Office in Laos, Vietnams export value reached USD255.02 million, down 9%, but its import hit nearly USD435.58 million, up 50%.

Vietnams major export items included iron and steel (USD36.5 million); oil and gas, fertilizer, fruits and vegetables (nearly USD20 million); and ceramics, electrical wires and cables, paper, textiles and garments (nearly USD7 million), among others.

Meanwhile, it imported ore and other minerals, fertiliser, wood and timber products, rubber, fruits and vegetables from the neighbouring country.

In May alone, bilateral trade was valued at nearly USD132.5 million, a year-on-year rise of 16.5%, of which Vietnams exports were worth close to USD62.8 million, up 0.8%, and imports USD69.7 million, up 35.5%.

The decrease in Vietnam's export revenue in the first five months was due to drops in the first three months, with just a slight rise of 6.5% in April.

Vietnam jumps nine places in Open Budget Survey 2021

Vietnam was placed 68th out of the120 countries in the Open Budget Survey (OBS) 2021 recently released by the International Budget Partnership (IBP), up nine spots against 2019 and 23 against 2017, reported Vietnam News Agency according to statistics from the Ministry of Finance.

Illustrative photo. (Source: VNA)

The country gained six points in all the three components  Transparency, Public Participation and Budget Oversight  compared to 2019.

It scored 44 out of the maximum of 100 in Transparency and 80 in Budget Oversight last year. Its score in Public Participation reached 17, higher than the global average of 14.

According to the ministry, the OBS2021 results show Vietnams efforts in improving budget transparency over years. The country has been striving to adopt good international practices as it has released 3-year national financial and budget plans and make citizens budget reports more comprehensible to the public.

The country has also provided its citizens with easier access to financial and budget information to better grab their attention and encourage public participation in building and monitoring budget plans.

The OBS is the worlds independent, comparative and fact-based research instrument that uses internationally accepted criteria to assess public access to central government budget information; formal opportunities for the public to participate in the national budget process; and the role of budget oversight institutions, such as legislatures and national audit offices, in the budget process.

The survey helps local civil society assess and confer with their government on the reporting and use of public funds. This 8th edition of the OBS covers 120 countries.

Vietnam has participated in the biannual survey for four consecutive times, in 2015, 2017, 2019 and 2021.

Vietnamese artist named on shortlist of Artes Mundi 10

Vietnamese artist Nguyen Trinh Thi has been named on the shortlist of the UKs leading biennial exhibition and largest contemporary art prize, Artes Mundi 10 (AM 10).

Artist Nguyen Trinh Thi (Photo: artreview.com)

The Artes Mundi 10 (AM 10), with presenting partner Bagri Foundation, announced the shortlist of seven international contemporary visual artists and five nationwide venue partners for its tenth anniversary edition on June 9.

As an important arbiter of cultural exchange between the UK and international communities, Artes Mundi again brings together a major biennial exhibition of international contemporary art by some of the most relevant artistic voices engaging with urgent topics of our time.

The seven artists named by AM 10 are: Rushdi Anwar (Born Kurdistan. Lives and works between Thailand and Australia); Carolina Caycedo (Born UK to Colombian parents. Lives and works in USA); Alia Farid (Born Kuwait. Lives and works between Kuwait City and Puerto Rico); Naomi Rincon Gallardo (Born USA. Lives and works in Mexico); Taloi Havani (Born Bougainville, Nakas/ Hako tribe. Lives and works in Australia); Nguyen Trinh Thi (Born and continues to live and work in Vietnam) and Mounira Al Solh (Born Lebanon. Lives and works in The Netherlands).

Work by each artist will feature in the biennial exhibition, the Artes Mundi 10th taking place from October 2023 to March 2024 with the winner of the prestigious 40,000 GBP Artes Mundi Prize  the UKs largest contemporary art prize  announced during the exhibition run.

For the first time, AM 10 will be presented nationally at multiple venues across Wales. The venue partners are: MOSTYN, Llandudno; Oriel Davies Gallery, Newtown; Glynn Vivian Art Gallery, Swansea; National Museum Cardiff; and Chapter, Cardiff.

Nguyen Trinh Thi is a Hanoi-based filmmaker and artist. Traversing boundaries between film and video art, installation and performance, her practice currently explores the power of sound and listening, and the multiple relations between image, sound, and space, with ongoing interests in history, memory, representation, ecology, and the unknown. Nguyens works have been shown at international festivals and exhibitions including the Asia Pacific Triennale of Contemporary Art (APT9) in Brisbane; Sydney Biennale (2018); Jeu de Paume, Paris; the Lyon Biennale (2015); Fukuoka Asian Art Triennial (2014); and Singapore Biennale (2013). In 2022, her mixed-media installation, And They Die a Natural Death, is exhibited at documenta fifteen in Kassel, Germany.

Past editions have seen Artes Mundi work with artists at crucial stages of their careers, often being their first introduction to UK audiences, with many now established figures on the world stage, including Dineo Seshee Bopape, Prabhakar Pachpute, Ragnar Kjartansson, Theaster Gates, John Akomfrah, Teresa Margolles, Xu Bing and Tania Bruguera.

For AM 10, the selectors, Zoe Butt, Katya Garcia-Anton, Wanda Nanibush and Gabi Ngcobo commented: We are grateful to the AM 10 nominator network world-wide for proposing an impressive list of artists, thanks to which we enjoyed deeply inspirational dialogues within the jury. The list of artists provided a topical overview of the range of concerns and questions that are at the forefront of current themes, preoccupations and thinking in artistic practice today. In deliberating on our finalist selection, we were inspired by the opening up of ideas about connections to land, contested territories and histories, the questioning of nationhood and its environmental impact, and of how these ideas challenge preconceived notions of identity and belonging. We are excited to see how the exhibition will take shape over the coming months.

Juan De Lara, Head of Arts, Bagri Foundation commented: We are incredibly excited to work with these seven artists to present their work at various museums and galleries across Wales. We pride ourselves on our socially responsible programme and giving voices of diverse backgrounds a platform to expand and develop their practice. This selection of artists and the timing of this Artes Mundi 10 Exhibition and Prize presents us with the opportunity to do something truly exceptional together.

Nigel Prince, Director of Artes Mundi commented: AM 10 will prove a watershed moment for Artes Mundi. As we simultaneously celebrate the legacies of the past twenty years working with some of the most exceptional artistic voices of recent times, we look ahead with our nationwide partners to presenting work from this editions shortlist that will speak to the urgent issues of our times in the most immediate of ways.
EDWARDSVILLE  Nearly 20 years after it opened, the National Corn-to-Ethanol Research Center (NCERC) at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville continues to make an impact on a national and worldwide level.

The NCERC at SIUE is a nationally recognized research center dedicated to the development and commercialization of biofuels, specialty chemicals and other bio-based products. It is the only fully integrated research facility of its kind in the world.

The NCERC opened in 2003, but its origins date back to 1992 when the Illinois Corn Growers Association created the concept for an ethanol research pilot plant.

In 1996, they went to Congress and presented this idea to freshman U.S. Senator Dick Durbin, who had just moved over from the House, and freshman U.S. Congressman John Shimkus, of an ethanol research pilot plant being located here in Illinois, said NCERC Executive Director John Caupert. The idea became reality under the research title of the 1996 Farm Bill and the ethanol research standard was born.

The following year, there was a $14 million federal appropriation and the state of Illinois put in $7 million of matching funds administered by the Department of Commerce. By the end of calendar year 1997, there was this pool of $21 million, and it was known that a national center was going to be established to work on products and technology for the ethanol industry. It was also known that it was going to go in the state of Illinois because of those $7 million in matching funds.

After four years of political wrangling to determine the location of the facility, Durbin and Shimkus finally performed the groundbreaking ceremony for the NCERC on a four-acre space on the SIUE campus in the fall of 2001.

The NCERC opened its doors two years later.

NCERCs mission was to work with industry, government, trade associations and academia in commercializing products and technologies to be used in the fuel ethanol space. In its early days from 2003 to about 2009, nearly 80% of its total funding was from public funding, including federal appropriations, state operations dollars and state capital dollars.

That changed in 2009 when the budgets at the state and federal levels got very tight, Caupert said. Since 2009, we have been completely self-supported. Today, 80% to 85% of our total funding and revenue comes in the form of contractual research that we do with companies in the private sector. That revenue is complemented by grants and those grants are complemented by what we call sponsored projects.

In the last four years, we have successfully lobbied the Illinois General Assembly for $1 million in special appropriations each year. Every dollar comes here and thats critically important for our self-initiated research and funding the folks that work on that research.

Caupert noted that as policies, technology and industry have evolved, NCERC has evolved right along with them.

In the early days of this center, 100% of the work that we did here was on ethanol from corn, Caupert said. Today, ethanol serves as the foundation of all the work we do, but in recent years weve really built upon that foundation.

The ability to adapt has been especially important for NCERC as it continues to grow while serving a wide base of clients.

Shortly after opening our doors in 2003, the first Renewable Fuels Standard was signed into law, as part of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (EPACT05), NCERC Director of Business Development and Client Relations Jackie Hayes said. The corn ethanol industry was experiencing tremendous growth and we were an important partner to the industry at that time.

That was a great time for us because we were able to partner with companies from across the ethanol industry. All of those people would come here to test their products. The corn ethanol industry for the past decade or so has started to mature and a lot of those companies have gained their own research assets. We still do a lot of work for the corn ethanol industry, but its just a piece of what we do now.

Hayes credits the designers of the facility for their foresight in being able to adapt to changing client needs.

The same fermenters we used to make corn ethanol several years ago are being used now to convert sugar into a biopolymer, Hayes said. Were able to do research for companies outside of the corn ethanol industry and across the bioeconomy.

Since 2003, in support of the corn ethanol industry, more than 70 technologies have passed through the doors of NCERC and are now available in the commercial marketplace, leading to the creation of more than 5,000 jobs and generating in excess of $5.6 billion in annual revenue.

Since 2003, in support of the corn ethanol industry, more than 80 technologies have passed through the doors of NCERC and are now available in the commercial marketplace, leading to the creation of more than 5,000 jobs and generating in excess of $5.6 billion in annual revenue.

Facilities at NCERC include a Fermentation Laboratory, Fermentation Suite, Pilot Plant and an Analytical Laboratory.

One of our taglines is its all here under one roof, and if your product is almost anywhere in its process, you can do all of your R and D work here. Thats kind of unique when you look at the other R and D fermentation labs across the country. Were about the only one who can provide you with access to all of these different fermenters.

Hayes noted that NCERC has visitors and clients from all over the world.

In the past six weeks, weve had visitors from Germany, Japan and Brazil. Its not an exaggeration to say that we are a global center, and we have a global footprint, Hayes said. Some of the companies we work with have facilities in the United States, but they have headquarters in other countries.

Here we are at SIUE in the backyard of Edwardsville, Illinois, and by attracting people here to do research or take tours, that also generates hundreds of thousands of dollars in hospitality revenue. These people are staying in hotels, using rental cars and eating at local restaurants.

Caupert added that the NCERCs clientele ranges from Bay Area startup companies with two employees all the way up to multinational, global Fortune 50 companies.

They may come here for similar reasons or for very different reasons, Caupert said. As a specific example, if youre a Bay Area startup and youve developed a product or technology in a university laboratory, you dont own the assets to do the validation, prove a concept and scale it. Those startups find their way here because we have assets that they dont have.

At the opposite end of the spectrum, if youre a multinational, global Fortune 50 company that can afford anything, they come here because we serve as that third-party independent facility generating the data that they use to go to market. One of our international clients calls our pilot plant a PDP, which is a process development plant or a process demonstration plant.

NCERC has 15 full-time employees plus a variety of student workers.

The student worker support can come in the form of an internship for someone pursuing a two-year degree in process technology or a four-year degree from SIUE or another neighboring university, Hayes said.

We have employment opportunities for recent graduates in the form of being a visiting research fellow, which is a nine-month appointment sponsored by the Illinois Corn Growers Association with a mission to help bring up the next generation of leaders. We also have a postdoctoral research fellowship for people who are pursuing a PhD program.

Thanks to recent legislation, Hayes expects the future of biotechnology in the state to be even brighter.

Now that the Illinois Industrial Biotechnology Partnership Act has been signed into law, were a member of that partnership, Hayes said. Were part of a statewide effort to help attract these companies to not only do research here but to build their facilities here. We want them to invest in the community and bring tax revenue and jobs.

Were starting to experience a second wave of the industrial revolution similar to what the petroleum industry experienced a hundred years ago. Were starting to feel the early waves of that in the biotech space. There is going to be tens of billions or even trillions of dollars invested in this particular sector alone over the next couple of decades and whatever the state of Illinois can do to attract those dollars, the opportunity will be there.

For more information on NCERC, visit https://www.siue.edu/ncerc/.
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MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP)  Donald Trump endorsed Katie Britt on Friday in an Alabama U.S. Senate race, doubling down on the former president's decision to spurn his previous choice in the Republican primary.

Trump called Britt "an incredible fighter for the people of Alabama." The former president had originally backed U.S. Rep. Mo Brooks in the race, but rescinded that endorsement in March after their relationship soured.

Britt was chief of staff to retiring U.S. Sen. Richard Shelby before stepping down to lead a state business group, and is now running to fill Shelby's vacant seat. Britt and Brooks face off in the June 21 runoff that will decide the Republican nominee.

"Above all, Katie Britt will never let you down," Trump wrote, adding, "she has my complete and total endorsement!

The decision was another blow to Brooks, who had sought to regain Trump's support. Mo has been wanting it back ever since, Trump said Friday of his endorsement, but I cannot give it to him! Katie Britt, on the other hand, is a fearless America First Warrior."

Trump endorsed Brooks last year, rewarding the conservative firebrand who had been an ardent supporter of Trumps false 2020 election fraud claims. Brooks had whipped up a crowd of Trump supporters at the Jan. 6, 2021, rally that preceded the U.S. Capitol insurrection.

But Trump pulled that endorsement, citing Brooks languishing performance in the race. He also accused Brooks of going woke for saying at a Cullman rally that it was time to move on from litigating the 2020 presidential election and focus that energy on upcoming elections instead.

Britt led the primary field in the May primary, and has been seeking Trump's support since he backed away from Brooks.

Trump's glowing endorsement of Britt is a stark contrast to statements he made a year ago about her when he called her not in any way qualified" and describing her as an assistant to a RINO Senator, referring to Shelby as a Republican in name only.

Britt said Friday that she was thankful to have Trumps support. President Trump knows that Alabamians are sick and tired of failed, do-nothing career politicians, she said in a statement. Its time for the next generation of conservatives to step up and shake things up in Washington to save the country we know and love for our children and our childrens children.

Despite losing Trumps endorsement in March, Brooks had continued to campaign under the label of MAGA Mo, a reference to the Make America Great Again slogan, and had challenged Britt to a debate on the singular topic of whether the 2020 election was stolen.

Brooks tweeted Friday that the voters of Alabama will decide the race.

Lets just admit it: Trump endorses the wrong people sometimes, Brooks wrote, noting that a Trump-endorsed candidate lost the 2017 Senate race in Alabama.

Trump has a mixed record in this years midterm elections.

He burnished his kingmaker status last month by lifting a trailing Senate candidate in Ohio, JD Vance, to the Republican nomination. And in Pennsylvania, Republican voters narrowly chose Trump's Senate pick, celebrity heart surgeon Dr. Mehmet Oz, as well as his preferred gubernatorial candidate, Doug Mastriano, who said he wouldnt have certified President Joe Bidens 2020 win of the state.

However, voters in Georgia rejected Trump's efforts to unseat the states Republican governor and secretary of state, both of whom rebuffed his extraordinary pressure to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election. That has raised questions about whether Republican voters are beginning to move on from Trump, ahead of another possible White House run.
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KYIV, Ukraine (AP)  Civilians fled intense fighting in eastern Ukraine on Friday as Russian and Ukrainian forces engaged in a grinding battle of attrition for key cities in the country's industrial heartland.

Mostly women, children and elderly residents left on a special evacuation train that departed from the city of Pokrovsk and headed west.

We live on the front line now, said Svitlana Kaplun, whose family fled as shelling reached their neighborhood in the city of Krasnohorivka. The kids are worried all the time, they are afraid to sleep at night, so we decided to take them out.

After a bungled attempt to overrun Kyiv, Ukraine's capital, in the early days of the war, Russia shifted its focus to an eastern region of coal mines and factories known as the Donbas. The area borders Russia and has been partly controlled by Moscow-backed separatists since 2014.

The fighting there has led to mounting casualties and renewed pleas from Ukraine to the West for more weapons.

Mykhailo Podolyak, an adviser to Ukraines president, told the BBC in an interview aired Thursday that the daily loss of 100 to 200 Ukrainian soldiers is the result of a complete lack of parity between Ukraine and Russia.

He said only more advanced Western weaponry will turn back the Russian offensive and force Moscow to the negotiating table.

___

BIDEN: ZELENSKYY DIDNT WANT TO HEAR' ABOUT INVASION THREAT

U.S. President Joe Biden said Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy didnt want to hear it when American intelligence gathered information in February that indicated Russia was preparing to invade his country.

Speaking to donors Friday at a Democratic fundraiser in Los Angeles, Biden talked about his work to rally support for Ukraine as the war continues into a fourth month.

Nothing like this has happened since World War II. I know a lot of people thought I was maybe exaggerating. But I knew we had data to sustain that Russian President Vladimir Putin was going to go in."

There was no doubt, Biden said. And Zelenskyy didnt want to hear it.

Although Zelenskyy has inspired much of the world with his wartime leadership, his preparation for the invasion  or lack thereof  has been controversial.

In the weeks before the war began on Feb. 24, Zelenskyy publicly bristled as Biden administration officials repeatedly warned that a Russian invasion was likely.

At the time, Zelenskyy was concerned that the drumbeat of war was unsettling to Ukraines fragile economy.

___

MORE STREET FIGHTING IN DONBAS

Fighting in the Donbas has ground on for more than two months, and the slog continued Friday. A provincial governor said Russian and Ukrainian forces battled "for every house and every street in Sievierodonetsk, a city that recently has been under steady attack.

Sievierodonetsk is in the last pocket of Luhansk province that has not yet been claimed by Russia or Moscow-backed separatists. The Luhansk and Donetsk regions together make up the Donbas.

Luhansk Gov. Serhiy Haidai told The Associated Press that Ukrainian forces retain control of the industrial zone on the edge of the city and some other sections amid the painstaking block-by-block fighting.

An envoy for the Luhansk Peoples Republic, a self-proclaimed separatist territory, reported Friday that some Ukrainian troops were trapped inside a chemical plant on the city's outskirts.

All escape routes have been cut off, Rodion Miroshnik, Moscow ambassador for the unrecognized republic, wrote on social media.

They are being told that no conditions will be accepted. Only the laying down of arms and surrender, he said.

Miroshnik echoed earlier claims by a Russian defense official that civilians remained on the plant's grounds. But he stopped short of reiterating allegations that Ukrainian forces were barring them from leaving.

As of Friday afternoon, there was no response from the Ukrainian side.

Meanwhile, Moscow kept up its artillery strikes on the neighboring city of Lysychansk and surrounding towns and villages, the Ukrainian military said. It also said that Russian troops were preparing to resume an offensive on the city of Slavyansk in the Donetsk region, south of Luhansk.

___

ARTILLERY HITS RUSSIAN BASES

An adviser to Ukraines president says artillery attacks devastated two Russian bases in the southern Kherson region, which has been under Russian occupation since early in the war.

Oleksiy Arestovych, in his regular online interview, said Friday that the attack on Stara Zburivka, a village along the Dnieper River, killed dozens, including a Russian army general and a general in the FSB intelligence service.

He said the FSB general was tasked with organizing a referendum on whether the Kherson region should join Russia. There was no immediate confirmation of the claim.

Ukraine has claimed to have killed about a dozen generals in the war, but only a few of the deaths have been confirmed.

Arestovych said a separate attack this week on a Russian base in Chkalove killed at least 200 troops, including Arabs, presumably from Syria. He said it was the first confirmed case of Arabs fighting with Russians in Ukraine.

He said in both cases the Ukrainian forces used 155mm howitzers supplied by the West.

___

UKRAINE SEEKS MORE WEAPONS

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said his armys ability to hold off Russian forces in the Donbas depends on the supply of Western weapons.

Ukrainian troops "are doing everything to stop the offensive, as much as they possibly can, as long as there are enough heavy weapons, modern artillery  all that we have asked for and continue to ask for from our partners, he said Friday in his nightly video address.

He said Russia wants to destroy every city in the Donbas.

Every city, thats not an exaggeration. Like Volnovakha, like Mariupol. All of these ruins of once-happy cities, the black traces of fires, the craters from explosions  this is all that Russia can give to its neighbors, to Europe, to the world.

___

Karmanau reported from Lviv, Ukraine. Associated Press writers Jill Lawless in London and Jamey Keaten in Geneva contributed.

___

Follow APs coverage of the Ukraine war at https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine
Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son presents the Friendship Order of the Vietnamese State to Australian Ambassador Robyn Mudie. (Photo: baoquocte.vn)



Minister Bui Thanh Son stressed that cooperation between Vietnam and Australia has reaped important achievements, especially in politics-diplomacy, national defence-security, economy-trade-investment, science-technology and agriculture.



The two sides have also maintained high-level visits and meetings, and positive cooperation at regional and international forums, particularly in 2020 when Vietnam was the Chair of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the 2020-2021 tenure when the country served as a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council.



The minister also highlighted the results of collaboration between the two foreign ministries, and suggested they tighten coordination to mark the 50th anniversary of bilateral diplomatic ties in 2023.



Vietnam always attaches importance to its strategic partnership with Australia, Minister Bui Thanh Son emphasised, expressing his belief that the Australian government with pay more attention to promoting friendship and cooperation with Vietnam.



For her part, Mudie said she was honoured to receive the noble insignia and spoke highly of the support and cooperation of the Vietnamese Ministry of Foreign Affairs and other Vietnamese ministries, agencies and localities during her tenure in the country.



The ambassador pledged to make more contributions to the Vietnam-Australia friendship and cooperation./.
Insurance bosses have been asked to sign documents confirming their firms are no longer exploiting loyal customers, The Mail on Sunday understands.

It is believed the Financial Conduct Authority has asked all chief executives of insurance companies and brokers to sign an 'attestation' that their company is not charging loyal customers higher premiums than new ones.

The City regulator is now poised to check data on the prices that insurers are charging new and existing customers for the same cover.

New rules: The City regulator is now poised to check data on the prices that insurers are charging new and existing customers for the same cover

If there is evidence of 'price walking'  existing customers being discriminated against  it will hold the individual executives liable. Offending companies will also have to suspend policy sales until they can prove the practice has been eliminated.

The regulator's new rules on the pricing of home and car cover came in at the start of the year. But The Mail on Sunday uncovered evidence that some insurers had yet to adjust to the new regime and were still disadvantaging loyal customers.

James Daley, founder of campaigning company Fairer Finance, is a sceptic of the new regime.

He believes it discourages customers from shopping around because they mistakenly think their existing insurer will now give them a fair deal. He describes the 4.2billion figure that the regulator says insurance customers will save over the next ten years as 'baloney'.

On Friday, the FCA told the MoS: 'Recent data has shown encouraging signs about the effectiveness of our reforms in tackling the loyalty premium in motor insurance, with the average cost of renewal down 55.

'We are keeping a close eye on how insurers are responding to the new rules to ensure they continue to provide value to their customers. This is especially important with the increased cost of living now affecting many consumers.'
Toyota this week launched its first electric car  a new mid-sized SUV model called 'Password'. Except that's not actually its name. It's really called 'bZ4X'. Honestly.

But as its official name looks like a randomly generated computer log-in code and, as I struggle to remember any of mine, the Toyota Password seems more fitting.

The bZ is supposed to stand for 'beyond zero'  highlighting its green credentials. How do we pronounce this 'bZ'? Buzz? It marks the start of Toyota's sub-brand for zero emission vehicles.

Code red: Buyers might struggle with the name bZ4X, Toyota's electric model

It's handy timing for a new electric car, as petrol hits the 2 a litre mark and filling up an average car crashes through the 100 barrier.

Even rocketing electricity charges won't match that. Charging to 80 per cent takes 30 minutes and it has a range of between 257 and 317 miles depending on the model.

With a 71.4kWh battery, the all-wheel drive version with two electric motors developing 215bhp accelerates from rest to 62mph in 6.9 seconds. The 201 bhp front-wheel drive does it in 7.5 seconds. Top speed is limited to 100mph.

The bZ is supposed to stand for 'beyond zero'  highlighting its green credentials

The new electric five-door SUV is priced from 41,950 for the front-wheel drive and base-level Pure trim

Charging to 80 per cent takes 30 minutes and it has a range of between 257 and 317 miles depending on the model

With a 71.4kWh battery, the all-wheel drive version with two electric motors developing 215bhp accelerates from rest to 62mph in 6.9 seconds

The new electric five-door SUV is priced from 41,950 for the front-wheel drive, base-level Pure trim, up to 51,550 for all-wheel drive Premiere Edition.

Other trim levels between are Motion and Vision. Trimdependent options include a panoramic roof (540), 20 in alloy wheels (490) and metallic paint (from 600).

Toyota has also added more power to its facelifted, British-built all-hybrid and sensibly named Corolla  as it is given a mid-life refresh following the launch of the original 12th-generation version in 2018. The 1.8-litre hybrid is boosted to 138bhp (from 120bhp) and accelerates from rest to 62mph in 9.2 seconds. The 2-litre hybrid is increased to 193bhp (from 181bhp) and hits the same mark in 7.5 seconds. But there is no increase in CO2 emissions (102g/km and 107g/km respectively).

Will it fit in my garage? Toyota bZ4X Style: SUV Doors: 5 Selling point: Toyota's first electric car On sale: now Price: from 41,950 to 51,550 Propulsion: pure electric Emissions: zero Length: 4,690mmWidth: 1,860mm Height: 1,600mm Wheelbase: 2,640mm Trim levels: Pure, Motion, Vision, and Premiere Edition Battery: 71.4kWh Charging to 80%: 30 minutes Range: 257 to 317 miles (depending on mode) All-wheel drive: two 80kw electric motors (totalling 160kW) developing 215bhp 0 to 62mph: 6.9 seconds. Front-wheel drive: one 150kW electric motor developing 201bhp 0 to 62mph: 7.5 seconds Top speed: 100mph. Launch prices: From 41,950 for the front-wheel drive base-level Pure trim to 51,550 for all-wheel drive Premiere. Trim-dependent options Panoramic roof (540) 20 inch alloy wheels (490) Metallic paint (from 600)

Polestar unveils first picture of new SUV

Sweden's Polestar has unveiled the first picture of its new 3 electric performance SUV  the firm's first crossover  ahead of its world premiere in October.

At launch, it will feature a dual-motor drivetrain and a large battery, with a target range of 372 miles.

Production is expected to begin in early 2023 in the U.S. and China. It marks the start of an ambitious drive to launch a new car every year and increase production tenfold to 290,000 cars by the end of 2025.

Shining light: Sweden's Polestar has unveiled the first picture of its new 3 electric performance SUV

A smaller electric performance SUV coupe  the 4  will follow next year. And the 5, a sleek electric performance 4-door GT  engineered in Nuneaton  follows in 2024 as the production version of the earlier Precept concept car.

But I hear it'll make its dynamic UK debut up the hill at this month's Goodwood Festival of Speed.

Polestar has so far produced two electric performance cars: the Polestar 1 built between 2019 and 2021 as a low-volume electric performance hybrid GT; and the higher volume Polestar 2 electric performance fastback. In March 2022 it revealed its second concept car, the Polestar O electric performance roadster.

Polestar chief executive Thomas Ingenlath said: 'With this car, we bring the 'sport' back to the SUV, staying true to our performance roots.'

Spun off from Volvo in 2017 as a standalone Gothenburg-based Swedish electric vehicle manufacturer, Polestar is a subsidiary of Chinese car-maker Geely.

Sir Paul Smith in new MINI collaboration

British clothes designer Sir Paul Smith has collaborated on a one-off conversion of a classic British petrol-powered MINI from 1998, making it fully electric.

The MINI Recharged made its world premiere this week at the Salone del Mobile 2022 in Milan.

Sir Paul's links with MINI go back more than two decades.

Making a point: Sir Paul Smith's links with MINI go back more than two decades

In 1998 he created a Paul Smith Edition, limited to 1,800 vehicles  painted a bright blue based on one of his favourite shirts.

The new model, with a 72kW electric motor, is also in this shade of blue with a lime-green battery box.

Stylish and witty tweaks include: an otherwise-bare floor covered with recycled rubber mats; a magnet next to the steering wheel for a smartphone which replaces almost all the old dashboard buttons; plus a removable steering wheel to facilitate getting in and out of the car.

The new model, with a 72kW electric motor, is also in this shade of blue with a lime-green battery box

The MINI Recharged made its world premiere at the Salone del Mobile 2022 in Milan

Sir Paul said: 'Three things describe this car perfectly: quality, sustainability and functionality. This car also respects the past.

'When you move into your old aunt's flat, out of respect you don't change everything, but you do some modernising. 'We have made a 1990s car totally relevant for today.'

The MINI Recharge electric car is the second collaboration between Sir Paul and MINI design chief Oliver Heilmer who last year presented the minimalist MINI STRIP concept car at the IAA motor show in Munich. Expect more.
GSK notched up a victory in its efforts to develop a vaccine for a common respiratory illness.

The FTSE100 pharma giant said its jab to protect those aged over 60 against respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) showed 'statistically significant and clinically meaningful' effectiveness in a major trial.

RSV is one of the most common disease-causing viruses and the majority of cases are mild.

Defying critics: GSK chief executive Emma Walmsley

However, it is a leading cause of pneumonia in toddlers and the elderly and causes 360,000 hospitalisations and over 24,000 deaths worldwide each year.

The positive data gives GSK a boost in the race to develop an RSV vaccine, with US rivals Pfizer, Moderna and Johnson & Johnson also working on developing their own jabs.

It is boost for GSK chief executive Emma Walmsley who is under pressure from activist investors  including US hedge fund Elliott Management  to bolster the company's pipeline of drugs.

GSK said it planned to begin talks with medical regulators 'immediately' and expected to submit its vaccine for approval in the second half of this year.

Analysts at Barclays said the results were one of the 'most important' for GSK this year. 'It was really important for GSK to hit this catalyst and it certainly did,' they added. Broker Berenberg said GSK was 'knocking out the competition' and the company was positioned well against the efforts of its rivals.

Walmsley has been under increasing pressure from activist investors to bolster GSK's share price. Elliott has also questioned her ability to improve the business given her lack of a scientific background.

However, it is thought the announcement will help to ward off the activists as an RSV jab will have the potential to generate billions of pounds in sales, with the adult market for the drug thought to be worth around 5billion a year.

It could also prove as profitable as the company's successful shingles vaccine Shingrix.
Scrutiny: Billionaire Patrick Drahi

Business Minister Kwasi Kwarteng is expected to block billionaire Patrick Drahi from a takeover of telecoms giant BT and could cap any further stake-building by the tycoon under new national security laws, according to City sources.

The Government could also stop the French-Israeli mogul from taking a seat on the board, the sources added. He is currently barred by takeover rules from launching a bid but the shackles come off this week.

The Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) said last month that Drahi's 18 per cent stake would be reviewed under new legal powers that came into force earlier this year.

The Government has until early next month to decide whether to take action over his holding in BT under the terms of the new National Security and Investment Act, which gives Ministers more powers to protect critical infrastructure. The review period could be extended by BEIS if more time is needed.

Drahi's European telecoms business Altice increased its stake in BT from 12.1 per cent to 18 per cent in mid-December, making him the single biggest shareholder.

At that stage, he said he did not plan to buy the business outright. But his interest has sparked speculation he may launch a takeover.

BT provides internet and telecom services through fibre infrastructure company Openreach and mobile network EE, as well as security software. It also provides service contracts across government departments and it is understood to be used by Britain's security forces.

Senior telecoms experts working for investment banks and advisory firms said the Government would probably block Drahi, who is estimated to be worth 9billion, from increasing his stake and from exercising any influence on BT's board and strategy.

The Government might impose conditions on him keeping keeping his existing stake. Alternatively, it may decide there are no national security issues but continue to monitor the situation and conduct further reviews if he attempts to build his stake. European governments have become increasingly nervous about the ownership of telecoms assets.

Two years ago, Chinese giant Huawei was told it would be banned from the UK's 5G networks by the end of 2027. And the sale of TMobile Netherlands to private equity groups Warburg Pincus and Apax faced scrutiny from the Dutch government, delaying the deal by several months, according to a person close to the plan.

Sources said Drahi's debt-fuelled empire would struggle to afford a significant increase in his BT shareholding at present.

It has also been reported that he borrowed against a mortgage taken on the London headquarters of his Sotheby's auction business to help fund his stake-building.

Altice shelved plans to sell its Portuguese arm in January after private equity bids failed to meet price expectations. Drahi is also reportedly sitting on losses from a collapse in the valuation of Altice USA since December 2020. He has also failed to offload his advertising technology firm Teads, after withdrawing plans for an initial public offering last August.

BT declined to comment. Altice said it was 'fully supportive' of BT's strategy.
A number of private equity firms are running the rule over EY's global advisory business.

The Mail on Sunday has learned the group has been approached by several firms, including Stockholm-based EQT, one of the world's largest private equity companies. Others said to be interested include Blackstone, KKR and Permira.

Interest: EY's advisory businesses, which offer tax, consulting and deals advice, had revenues of 21billion last year

A source close to EY said: 'A number of businesses have approached EY. It is still early days but EY partners will be considering all their options. A sale to a private equity firm or a consortium of them is an option.'

Two weeks ago, it was revealed EY is exploring a public listing or partial sale of its global advisory division.

A sale would raise the prospect of a windfall for EY's existing partners who own and run the firm.

EY's advisory businesses, which offer tax, consulting and deals advice, had revenues of 21billion last year.
Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Sweden Robert Rydberg spoke at the meeting

The meeting focused on Swedish policy, the Swedish and European security situation, and the Sweden-Vietnam relationship going forward.

Speaking at the event, Dr. Pham Lan Dung, Acting Director of the Diplomatic Academy of Vietnam, expressed his pleasure and excitement to welcome Mr. Robert Rydberg to the meeting with DAV staff and students. The Acting Director thanked the Deputy Minister for taking the time to discuss and talk with DAV students, proposing to organize a visit for the students to the Embassy and exchange with Swedish diplomats.

Dr. Pham Lan Dung also hailed the cooperation results between Vietnam and Sweden, including bilateral diplomatic activities, while suggesting that the Swedish side will continue to coordinate in implementing academic exchanges and organizing seminars on the foreign policies of the two countries and the Swedish model of innovation.

Regarding bilateral relations between Vietnam and Sweden, the participants also highly agreed that the two countries need to closely coordinate to boost economic initiatives and new-generation free trade agreements, aimed at effectively implementing and delivering positive economic growth, as well as strengthening equal partnership and innovative co-creation for the benefit of both countries and peoples.

An overview of the meeting

Earlier, on June 9, on the 40th anniversary of the inauguration of Bai Bang Paper Mill 1982 - 2022 (now the Vietnam Paper Corporation - VINAPACO), Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs of Sweden Robert Rydberg visited leadership and workers representatives in Bai Bang, Phu Tho, looking at one of the biggest and outstanding symbols of Sweden-Vietnam development cooperation over time.

According to the Swedish Embassy in Vietnam, during the Deputy Ministers visit to Vietnam, he will consult bilaterally with his Vietnamese counterpart, Mr. Ha Kim Ngoc, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Vietnam, to discuss issues of mutual interest.

Importantly, he will pay a courtesy call to Mr Bui Thanh Son, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Vietnam.

He will also meet leading Vietnamese think tanks, economists and change-makers, and conclude the visit by a talk with all Swedish Embassy staff members in Hanoi.

Speaking after landing in Hanoi, Deputy Minister Rydberg said: With our historic ties, Vietnam is a good friend and an important partner for Sweden within the ASEAN region. I am pleased to have this opportunity to discuss with my counterparts in Hanoi and exchange views on current affairs, while addressing common challenges such as post-pandemic green recovery, energy crisis and climate.

In the context of Russias invasion of Ukraine, he stressed that Sweden wants to work with Vietnam and other countries to uphold international law. He said We demand respect for international law that upholds a rules-based international order where the sovereign rights and territorial integrity of smaller nations are fully respected everywhere.

He also expressed appreciation to Vietnam for its contribution of 500,000 USD to the humanitarian efforts in Ukraine through the pledge made at the Swedish-Polish donor conference in Warsaw early May.

Over the past 53 years, Sweden and Vietnam have been friends and partners, even in the most difficult of times. On January 11, 1969, at the height of the American War, Sweden became the first Western country to establish diplomatic relations with Vietnam. The Government of Sweden and the Swedish people expressed its support for and solidarity with the Vietnamese people.

On the business side, there are already over 60 Swedish companies established in Vietnam. These companies work closely with local suppliers and partners to provide cutting-edge innovations, sustainable solutions and products in line with Vietnams green growth strategy and aspiration to become a more innovative nation. They include, among others, ABB, AstraZeneca, Atlas Copco, Electrolux, Ericsson, H&M, Hestra Gloves, IKEA, Oriflame, SKF, Tetra Pak, Volvo Buses and Volvo Cars.

Sweden-Vietnam bilateral trade has maintained a stable growth rate in recent years. In 2021, the total two-way trade turnover reached 1.5 billion USD./.




Ukraine pleaded to Western countries for faster deliveries of weapons as better-armed Russian forces pounded the east of the country, and for humanitarian support to combat growing outbreaks of deadly diseases.

In Sievierodonetsk, the small city that has become the focus of Russias advance in eastern Ukraine and one of the bloodiest flashpoints in a war well into its fourth month, further heavy fighting was reported.

The war in the east, where Russia is focussing its attention, is now primarily an artillery battle in which Kyiv is severely outgunned, Ukrainian officials say. That means the tide of events could be turned only if Washington and others fulfil promises to send more and better weaponry, including rocket systems.

This is an artillery war now, Vadym Skibitsky, Ukraines deputy head of military intelligence, told Britains Guardian newspaper.

Everything now depends on what (the West) gives us. Ukraine has one artillery piece to 10 to 15 Russian artillery pieces.

Germany, among the largest suppliers of weapons since Russia invaded but criticised for being slow to supply the heavy weaponry Kyiv says it needs, plans to revise its rules on arms exports to make it easier to arm democracies like Ukraine, Der Spiegel reported on Friday.

To the south, the mayor of Mariupol  reduced to ruins by a Russian siege  said sanitation systems were broken and corpses were rotting in the streets.

There is an outbreak of dysentery and cholera, Vadym Boichenko told national television. The war which took over 20,000 residents  unfortunately, with these infection outbreaks, will claim thousands more Mariupolites, he said, adding some wells had been contaminated by corpses.

Boichenko called on the United Nations and the International Committee of the Red Cross to establish a humanitarian corridor to allow remaining residents to leave the city, which is now under Russian control.

In a snapshot of the wars wider impact, the U.N. food agency said reduced exports of wheat and other food commodities from Ukraine and Russia could inflict chronic hunger on up to 19 million more people globally over the next year.

BATTLE FOR SIEVIERODONETSK

Russia hopes to capture all of the eastern province of Luhansk, which it demands Ukraine cede to separatists along with neighbouring Donetsk. The two provinces make up the Donbas region, where Moscow has backed a revolt by separatist proxies since 2014.

To that end, the Kremlin has concentrated its forces into a battle for Sievierodonetsk, which is in Luhansk.

Ukrainian troops have largely pulled out of the citys residential areas but have not yielded their foothold on the east bank of the Siverskiy Donets River. Russian forces are also pushing from the north and south to try to encircle the Ukrainians, but have made limited progress.

Ukraines army command said on Saturday that Russia troops had secured positions in two communities near Sievierodonetsk, while Serhiy Gaidai, the Luhansk governor, said Russians were in control of most of the city.

Gaidai said the main road from Bakhmut to Lysychansk/Sievierodonetsk was being constantly shelled but there had been no changes in positions.

Britains Ministry of Defence said the Russians had not made advances into the south of Sievierodonetsk.

Intense street to street fighting is ongoing and both sides are likely suffering high numbers of casualties, the ministry said in an intelligence update posted on Twitter.

Ukraine said Russia had regrouped troops and replenished ammunition and fuel supplies in preparation for offensives in Sloviansk and Siversk, cities in the Donetsk region.

HAPPY TOWNS IN RUINS

President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said Russia was trying to break every town in the Donbas.

Sievierodonetsk, Lysychansk, Bakhmut, Sloviansk, many, many others, he said in his nightly address. All these ruins were once happy towns.

Both sides say they have inflicted mass casualties. Reuters could not immediately verify battlefield reports.

Zelenskiy adviser Oleksiy Arestovych estimated the Russian army is losing on average five to six times as many fighters as the Ukrainian side.

Asked in a social media interview whether that suggested the Ukrainian army had lost up to 10,000 fighters in the first 100 days of the war, Arestovych said, Yes, something like that.

Russian President Vladimir Putin launched what he terms his special military operation in Ukraine on Feb. 24, saying his aim was to disarm and denazify Russias neighbour. Kyiv and its allies call it an unprovoked war of aggression to capture territory.

Weapons experts from France are helping their Ukrainian counterparts collect evidence of possible Russian war crimes in the northern region of Chernihiv, Ukraines prosecutor general said. Russia denies targeting civilians.

U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin on Saturday reinforced Washingtons commitment to the region in light of Russias actions.

Russias invasion of Ukraine is what happens when oppressors trample the rules that protect us all, Austin told an Asian security forum in Singapore. Its a preview of a possible world of chaos and turmoil that none of us would want to live in.

SOURCE: REUTERS
ALBANY  The Albany Coliseum on South Pearl Street has a new owner: the Community Loan Fund of the Capital Region.

The nonprofit said it has plans to convert the building into a "low-dollar, loss-protected investment opportunity" for residents in the South End neighborhood via a community investment trust.

The model, which originates from Oregon, allows residents to invest anywhere from $10 to $100 into the building per month in exchange for partial ownership and an annual dividend worth at least 2 percent. It also affords them the opportunity to provide input regarding what businesses take root there.

The fund will provide interested individuals free training to show them what's needed to become an owner.

Community Loan Fund Executive Director Linda MacFarlane has described the fund's vision for it as a small business incubator with commercial stores and community-gathering space. Launching the project is expected to take anywhere from three to five years.

The fund has partnered with the Community Economic Development Clinic at Albany Law School and is getting help from the University at Albany Geographic Information Systems program and Siena College Project Incubator to move the trust forward.

"This state-of-the-art project will serve as a catalyst for those within the South End neighborhood seeking affordable investment opportunities within their own community," MacFarlane said in a news release.

The Community Loan Fund has always been committed to enhancing positive socioeconomic growth for those minority and women-owned businesses as well as the communities they serve and this project will certainly accomplish that, she added.
The US mission led by Deputy Assistant Secretary for Asia Pamela Phan of the International Trade Administration at the US Department of Commerce (centre, front row) meet with Vice Chairman of the Ho Chi Minh City Peoples Committee Vo Van Hoan on June 10 (fifth from the left, front row). (Photo: VNA)



The US mission was led by Deputy Assistant Secretary for Asia Pamela Phan of the International Trade Administration at the US Department of Commerce.



Welcoming the delegation, Hoan reiterated the southern largest economic hubs desire to further step up cooperation and investment in areas of mutual interest between Vietnamese and US enterprises.



HCM City has taken drastic measures to promote green production, lifestyle and living standards so as to realise the Governments commitments in greenhouse emission reduction, he said, noting that among the measures were using green energy in transport, encouraging factories at hi-tech and industrial parks to make transition to clean energy and motivating more people to shift to solar power.



The official pledged that the city stands ready to support foreign investors to do business in Vietnam in a long run and to assist US partners in accelerating cooperation and investment in clean energy.



Phan, for her part, highly appreciated HCM Citys active and effective cooperation with the US Consulate General in translating the bilateral cooperation into reality, particularly in smart technology and smart city.



She noted that many of US business representatives are from major corporations operating in the fields of creative energy and electricity who are seeking an opportunity in developing clean energy in Vietnam and providing the country with security services to protect local energy systems.



The US official expected that the two sides can come up with specific actions to connect enterprises in the field./.
ALBANY  About a month ago, after the massacre at a grocery in Buffalo, U.S. Rep. Elise Stefanik faced criticism for campaign rhetoric that was echoed in ways by the killer's manifesto.

Well, what's fair for the congresswoman is fair for a senator, and now it's Chuck Schumer who is facing criticism for the use of irresponsible language. The reason for the scrutiny is the alleged plot to kill Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh.

If you haven't heard  and you may not have, given the limited media coverage  a 26-year-old was arrested early Wednesday outside Kavanaugh's Maryland home. He was dressed in black and, according to the criminal complaint charging him with attempted murder, was allegedly carrying a semi-automatic pistol with two magazines, ammunition, pepper spray, a tactical knife, hammer, screwdriver, nail punch, crowbar, zip ties and duct tape.

The alleged would-be assassin, who had traveled to the suburban street from California, is said to have told police he was upset about the leaked Roe v. Wade decision, along with the Uvalde school shooting, and believed murdering Kavanaugh would give his life purpose.

Good God. If you needed more evidence that this country is in a dark place  well, you didn't. The evidence is abundant.

But back to Schumer, who in a March 2020 speech outside the Supreme Court voiced what sounded like a threat against Kavanaugh and Neil Gorsuch, a second conservative on the court.

Speaking about potential abortion rulings, here's what Schumer said: "I want to tell you, Gorsuch, I want to tell you, Kavanaugh, you have released the whirlwind and you will pay the price. You wont know what hit you if you go forward with these awful decisions."

You will pay the price. You won't know what hit you.

To say such words were inappropriate from a man who would become Senate Majority Leader is to state the obvious. To say they were just one more example of our degraded, Trumpian discourse is to do the same.

Schumer even received well-justified rebukes from the president of the American Bar Association and from Chief Justice John Roberts.

"Justices know that criticism comes with the territory," Roberts said, "but threatening statements of this sort from the highest levels of government are not only inappropriate, they are dangerous."

Roberts was right, as Schumer perhaps realized. While the Democrat didn't exactly apologize, he did concede he "should not have used the words" he'd spoken.

"I didn't intend to suggest anything other than political and public opinion consequences for the Supreme Court, and it is a gross distortion to imply otherwise," Schumer said. "I am from Brooklyn. I speak in strong language."

The excuse doesn't really pass muster, though, given that the court is largely immune from political consequences. What "whirlwind," exactly, would cause justices with lifetime tenure "to pay the price"?

In light of the arrest near Kavanaugh's home and the new criticism of the senator's words, I asked Schumer's office if he wanted to say anything more and said I was considering writing a column that would be a follow-up, of sorts, to a prior one about Stefanik, the North Country Republican.

"Of course Sen. Schumer believes that violence has no place in our political process and steadfastly supports the right to peacefully protest. Full stop," responded spokesperson Allison Biasotti in a written statement, adding that "a weak attempt to compare him to MAGA Republicans inciting violence and trying to overthrow the government just wont work."

How you view all this may depend on whether you like Schumer's politics. It certainly isn't a coincidence that nearly all the criticism of his language is coming from the political right  just as most of the criticism of Stefanik's rhetoric, which sounded too much like the replacement theory espoused by racists, came from the left.

But as I said in the column after the Buffalo killings, it is usually a mistake to draw a straight line from the rhetoric of one person to the terrible actions of another. The people who plan and commit evil have agency. They are making a choice.

Words do matter, though, especially when spoken by elected officials at the top of the food chain. Incendiary language sets a tone that others may take as a cue. It contributes to a political climate that has grown intolerably ugly and toxic, as the Jan. 6 riot at the Capitol and a would-be assassin outside the home of a Supreme Court justice make abundantly clear.

It's noteworthy and regrettable, perhaps, that leading Democrats haven't in recent days expressed sympathy for Kavanaugh and his family or even acknowledged that the life of a fellow human being may have been at stake. Oh sure, maybe that's naive. Maybe a little kindness is an unrealistic expectation in this divided and dangerous moment, which seemingly demands that political opponents be treated as enemies of war.

Or maybe more kindness and humanity is exactly what this moment demands.
ALBANY  Just before a guilty verdict was to be read Friday, an attempted murder defendant fled the courthouse, and a warrant has been issued to get him back, Albany County prosecutors said.

District Attorney David Soares' office said Michael Green, also known as Michael Edwards, 36, was convicted after about a week-long jury trial of attempted murder and criminal possession of a weapon before Judge Roger McDonough.

The conviction follows an indictment that alleged that on or about April 13, 2020, Green fired rounds from a handgun in the direction of an Old Loudon Road, Colonie address, while inside of a moving vehicle, prosecutors said. The building was occupied by several people at the time, including children between the ages of 2 and 6 years old.

Green faces up to 25 years in state prison when sentenced.

But before the verdict was read, Green fled the courthouse, which prevented the scheduling of a sentencing date, officials said. A bench warrant has since been issued.

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District Attorney's office spokesman Darrell Camp said Friday night that law enforcement officials in the Albany area were on the lookout for Green, who had been out on bail during his trial and had been appearing in court, including on Friday.

"We do have reason to be believe that Green may be dangerous and are asking anyone with information on his whereabouts to contact law enforcement. In the meantime, law enforcement is taking the proper precautions to protect not only the victims and their families but the witnesses as well," Camp said in a statement.
IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (AP)  Officials in the eastern Idaho city of Idaho Falls have agreed to pay $11.7 million to a man who spent about two decades in prison after being wrongfully convicted.

The Idaho Falls City Council voted Thursday to accept the settlement agreement with Christopher Tapp.

Tapp was convicted of rape and murder following the 1996 death of 18-year-old Angie Dodge. He was released in 2017, and DNA evidence cleared him in 2019.

Brian Leigh Dripps was arrested on DNA evidence in 2019 and pleaded guilty to rape and first-degree murder in Dodges death. He was sentenced to life in prison last year.

No dollar amount could ever make up for the over 20 years of my life I spent in prison for crimes I did not commit," Tapp said in a statement. "However, the settlement will help me move forward with my life.

Tapp sued the city of Idaho Falls and the Idaho Falls Police Department in October 2020, the East Idaho News reported. The city asked that the lawsuit be dismissed, but opted to settle the lawsuit Thursday.

Please accept this sincere apology to you and to your mother, Mrs. Tapp, for the citys role in your wrongful conviction and subsequent incarceration, as well the harm and damages that you and your family have endured over these many years, Idaho Falls Mayor Rebecca Casper wrote in a letter to Tapp. We at the city of Idaho Falls hope that the resolution of your civil case and this sincere expression of an apology help bring healing and closure to both Mrs. Tapp and to you."

Best of the Capital Region 2022 Its the 25th anniversary of our Best of the Capital Region readers survey. Make sure your voice is heard by nominating your favorite people, places and businesses between Jan. 21 and Feb. 4.

Casper also wrote that the city will review its policies and procedures to prevent another wrongful conviction.

Lawmakers last year passed the Idaho Wrongful Conviction Act, which cleared the House and Senate unanimously and was signed into law by Republican Gov. Brad Little.

In June of last year, Little and three other statewide-elected members of the Idaho Board of Examiners approved a payment to Tapp of $1.2 million.

According to that law, if Tapp received a monetary award from the Idaho Falls lawsuit, he would have to reimburse the state the $1.2 million.
TROY  A Rensselaer County jury convicted a Troy man of first-degree rape and other charges late Thursday, District Attorney Mary Pat Donnelly's office said.

Tyrell ONeill, 25, also was found guilty of criminal sexual act, unlawful imprisonment, strangulation, criminal possession of a weapon and assault, prosecutors said.

The incident occurred in Troy where ONeill forced himself on his victim without her consent, according to the district attorney. The victim testified ONeill applied pressure to her throat and neck, causing her to lose consciousness.

I applaud this victim for coming forward to share this painful story. I am grateful to the jury for their dedication to this case, Donnelly said. Assistant District Attorney Cheryl Botts prosecuted the case.
GAINESVILLE, Ga. (AP)  A northeast Georgia woman is accused of killing her 82-year-old fiance and then living with the body for two months, authorities said.

Tabitha Zeldia Wood, 45, of Gainesville, was arrested Thursday and charged with felony murder, aggravated assault and concealing the death of Leroy Franklin Kramer Jr.
In anticipation of the televising of the congressional hearings on the Jan. 6, 2021 riot, former President Trump said it was not simply a protest, it represented the greatest movement in the history of our Country to Make America Great Again.

On Feb. 11, 1861, Abraham Lincoln won a bitterly fought election for president in which slavery had become a central issue. After his election, Lincoln observed that elections are like big boils that are painful, but once Election Day is over the nation becomes healthy again. Lincolns optimism was misplaced: The big boils of the 1860 election became the infection of the Civil War.

It was Trumps failure to accept the results of a lawful election that resolved itself into the violent takeover of our capital. It was not the start of the greatest movement in the history of our country but rather evidence of our inability to function as a democracy.

Soon we will be celebrating Juneteenth National Independence Day, the holiday that commemorates the emancipation of enslaved African-Americans in this country. I believe that holiday marks one of the greatest movements in the history of our country. We can take pride in the fact that through the struggle of a disastrous Civil War and a reuniting of our nation, we progressed from the sinful role of enslavers to become emancipators able to realize the aspiration of our founding fathers in a movement toward achieving liberty and equality.

Opponents of the Juneteenth holiday, including some Republican members of Congress who would not sign on to the law creating it, used various excuses: That the name of the law was somewhat confusing. That some Americans may be inclined to celebrate Juneteenth as the nations independence day instead of July 4th. Or, as the white supremacist icon Tucker Carlson warned: Our country is getting a new Independence Day to supplant the old one. Carlson also was beyond annoyed that John Cornyn  a supposedly conservative senator from Texas  was a co-sponsor of the resolution.

The fact is, the celebration of Juneteenth does not conflict with our 4th of July Independence day. It complements it. In the proceedings leading up to our aspirational Declaration of Independence, which declared that all men are created equal, many of our founders, even those who were slave owners, acknowledged that slavery violated the core principles of liberty and our American Revolution. However, when it came time to write the Constitution, several Southern slave states openly declared that they would not join the Union if slavery was banned. George Washington, Ben Franklin, Alexander Hamilton and others feared that without a constitutional union of the states, a divided America would be like another Europe  a disjointed cluster of nations sharing the same continent.

Nevertheless, it was the constant hope of our enlightened founders to live up to the promise of the Declaration by ending the spread of slavery. This led to the Northwest Ordinance of 1787, which banned slavery in the states which were to become the Northwest territory. The text of that ordinance was used in writing the 13th Amendment, which banned slavery altogether. They also passed Slave Trade Acts between 1794 and 1808, which followed the constitutional mandate to end the importation of slaves. As Thomas Jefferson wrote in Notes on the State of Virginia in 1784, The Spirit of the master is abating, that of the slave rising from the dust, his condition mollifying, the way I hope preparing, under the auspices of heaven, for total emancipation.

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During one of his speeches while seeking public office, Lincoln spoke of the aspirations expressed in the Declaration of Independence and the seeming contradiction of slaveholders writing about the self-evidence of all men being created equal: Wise statesmen as they were, they knew the tendency of prosperity to breed tyrants, and so they established these great self-evident truths, that, their posterity might look up again to the Declaration of Independence and take courage to renew the battle which their fathers beganso that truth, and justice, and mercy, and all the humane and Christian virtues might not be extinguished from the land.

We can be sure Lincoln would have rejoiced in the celebration of Juneteenth. We also know what he would have thought of the violence of Jan. 6. During the beginning of the bloodiest war in our history, on July 4, 1861, Abraham Lincoln called a special session of Congress where he said, Those who can fairly carry an election, can also suppress a rebellion  that ballots are the rightful. And peaceful, successors of bullets; and that when ballots have fairly, and constitutionally, decided, there can be no successful appeal except to ballots themselves.

Lincolns appeal fell on deaf ears. The Southern states became insurrectionists. Let us hope that on this Juneteenth celebration  and when we gather together on the 4th of July  we remind ourselves of the greatness of America and our need to come together, not as part of a movement, but as Americans united it their dedication to fulfilling the mandates of our Constitution and the aspirations of our founders.

Sol Wachtler, a former chief judge of the New York state Court of Appeals, is a distinguished adjunct professor at Touro Law School.
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
Right now there's a bevy of local reports to consider as the metro confronts more violence as Summer approaches and the economy worsens.

In this compilation we share recent reports on gunfire, police action, political theater, alleged misdeeds and, as always, we attempt to finish with a bit of hope.



Check TKC news gathering . . .

Kansas City police say 1 critically hurt, 1 dead in shooting Friday afternoon Hide Transcript Show Transcript WE ARE FOLLOWING TWO BREAKING NEWS STORIES, KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI POLICE OR INVESTIGATING AN ATTEMPTED MURDER SUICIDE. IT HAPPENED JUST BEFORE FIVE OFF LEE'' SUMTMI ROAD NEAR LAKEWOOD BOULEVARD. WE HAVE LIVE PICTURES FROM NEAR THE SCEEN AND ALTDU SHOT AND CRITICALLY WOUNDED ANOTHER ADULT BEFORE TAKING THEIR OWN LIFE.

DNA on beer bottle leads to charges in Kansas City deadly shooting KANSAS CITY, Mo. - A 28-year-old Kansas City, Missouri man is facing charges in connection to a shooting earlier this month that left one person dead and another injured at the Colonial Terrace Apartments. Jackson County prosecutors on Friday charged Andrew Keyvon Young with second-degree murder, first-degree assault, attempted robbery, three counts of armed criminal action and unlawful possession of a firearm.

KC Proud Boy shown wielding ax handle in video during televised hearing on Capitol riot The ax handle-wielding Kansas City-area Proud Boy charged with conspiracy in connection with the Capitol riot appeared in a video Thursday during a televised hearing of the special House panel investigating the Jan. 6 attack.

KC teen charged in February fatal shooting of 17-year-old in Independence A Kansas City teen has been charged in a February fatal shooting in Independence of another teen during an alleged gun exchange.Jackson County Prosecutor Jean Peters Baker said Marquis A. Henderson, 18, was charged with second-degree murder, robbery and two counts of armed criminal action.On Feb.

Kansas City man charged after allegedly shooting, killing victim he was selling car to KANSAS CITY, Mo. - A Kansas City, Missouri, man is accused of shooting and killing another man he was selling a vehicle to. The victim was Charles Bradham . Andrew Keyvoun Young, 28, is charged with second-degree murder, three counts of armed criminal action, attempted robbery, unlawful possession of a weapon and first-degree assault.

Security guard shot while patrolling apartments in Kansas City KANSAS CITY, Mo. - A security guard is in the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries after being shot while patrolling apartments in Kansas City. Police were called to the apartments at 400 East Armour Blvd. at about 3 a.m. Friday morning.

St. Mary's Medical Center resumes normal operations after brief lockdown Friday KANSAS CITY, Mo. - St. Mary's Medical Center in Blue Springs has resumed normal operations after temporarily locking down Friday morning, according to Blue Springs police spokesperson Jennifer Brady. Blue Springs police reported the department received a call from a man in Kansas City, Missouri, who was making suicidal comments.

Clay County Sheriff's Office to host drug education summit June 15 KANSAS CITY, Mo. - The Clay County Sheriff's Office is set to host its sixth Community Drug Education Summit on June 15. The summit will begin at 6 p.m. at Harmony Vineyard Church, 600 E. 46th St. Kansas City, Missouri. It's located near North Oak Trafficway and Interstate 29.

A ticket to ride: Carnival raises funds for abused and neglected children in the court system A carnival scheduled on Sunday, June 12, at Faulkner's Ranch will provide more than fun and games for local kids. It also will raise funds for a program that pairs adult volunteers with abused and neglected children as they go through the court system.

Dems confront criticism on crime after San Francisco defeat Democrats on Wednesday braced for renewed Republican attacks on their management of crime across the U.S. after residents in San Francisco voted overwhelmingly to recall the city's progressive district attorney, suggesting that even the party's most loyal supporters are frustrated with the way in which violence and social problems are being addressed.

Developing . . .
This might be confusing for some local news readers we hope to help provide some clarity.

This latest report confirms KCMO homicide #67 given that the last murder reported to local media was assigned to Raytown last week.

Also . . . KCMO does, in fact, have a Lees Summit Rd . . . Not to be confused with the smaller suburban city to the East.

UPDATE ON THIS STORY . . . NOW CLASSIFIED AS DOUBLE SUICIDE.



Here is the first report from local police . . .



7100 block of Lees Summit Rd.

This evening just before 5pm officers were dispatched to the 7100 block of Lees Summit Rd on a shooting call.



On arrival they were directed to vehicle in the parking lot there. Officers located two adults inside the vehicle, one male and one female who both appeared to have been shot.



The female was declared deceased at the scene by EMS. The male was transported by EMS to the hospital where he was declared deceased a short time later.



Based on witness accounts and preliminary investigation this appears to be an incidence of murder suicide and the exact sequence of events is under investigation.



Detectives are not looking for any additional suspects or involved people in regard.

##############



Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com links . . .

Man, woman dead after apparent murder-suicide in KCMO KANSAS CITY, Mo. - A man and woman died Friday evening in what Kansas City, Missouri, police say appears to be a murder-suicide. Officers were sent at about 5 p.m. to a reported shooting in the 7100 block of Lee's Summit Road.

Kansas City police say man, woman died Friday in apparent murder-suicide Kansas City police are investigating a fatal shooting late Friday afternoon in the 7100 block of Lee's Summit Road.Police officers were called to the area just before 5 p.m. on a reported shooting. When they arrived, they found a man and woman inside a vehicle who had been shot, police said.Authorities said the woman died at the scene.

Develoing . . .
Delegates at the event (Photo: baoquocte.vn)

This model has been organized by the Embassy for a long time and received the attention of many Dutch businesses. After two years of suspension due to the pandemic, the number of Dutch businesses attending the meeting this year was larger, including businesses investing and doing business, and businesses looking for investment opportunities, in Vietnam.

Most of the delegates were members of the Dutch Business Association in Vietnam (DBAV) and the Netherlands - Vietnam Chamber of Commerce (NVCC) after these two organizations agreed to closely cooperate through a special mechanism since March 2022.

At the meeting, Ambassador Pham Viet Anh informed businesses about the encouraging figures in economic relations between the Netherlands and Vietnam. The Netherlands is Vietnam's second largest trading partner in the European Union (EU), with a two-way trade turnover of nearly 8.4 billion USD in 2021, and is Vietnam's largest investor from the EU with a total of accumulated registered capital of 10.480 billion USD with 381 projects.

Vietnam has seven investment projects in the Netherlands with a total registered capital of 34.976 million USD in Vietnam, of which the investment project of Vinfast is the largest, with a total registered capital of 32.130 million USD.

At the meeting, the Ambassador answered questions on many issues that businesses are interested in, such as policies to attract and encourage investment, development strategy for the Mekong Delta, agricultural development orientation, electricity transport infrastructure, the DPPA renewable energy pilot scheme and the impact of the circular economy on socio- economic life of Vietnam.

He welcomed Heineken Vietnam to participate in a direct power purchase agreement (DPPA) to move towards fully using clean electricity for production in Vietnam.

This is also the first time "Meet Ambassador 2022" has welcomed the participation of Vietnamese businesses investing in the Netherlands and Dutch businesses of Vietnamese origin. Many Dutch businesses are interested in the development of Vinfast and its business plans in the Netherlands.

The Ambassador highly appreciated Vinfast's initiative and pioneering when boldly reaching out to the world with the green development trend, especially when Vinfast is one of the few businesses that proactively take the lead in implementing Vietnam's commitments at the UN Climate Change Conference in Glasgow (COP26) by encouraging the use of clean means of transport and gradually developing charging infrastructure in Vietnam.

He affirmed that the Embassy and the Trade Office Department always support activities of DBAV and NVCC for the common goal of the business community, and practically raise the level of trade and investment relations between the two countries. He also encouraged DBAV & NVCC to develop a cooperative relationship with VCCI Vietnam./.
Today our cowtown suffers another new low in local journalism.

The Kansas City Star publishes unverified allegations from grade school students claiming racially derogatory insults were hurled at them.

In this story we wouldn't dare question students because they're CHILDREN and more than anything, first they deserve compassion, understanding and care.

Our concern is for adults spreading the unverified words of youngsters in a newspaper that claims to represent one of the biggest metropolitan areas in the United States.



Here is a passage from the tale that has not been confirmed by any administrator . . .



"The parents of the two 15-year-old boys, whom we are not identifying, said their sons were dancing on gym bleachers before classes started Tuesday. A school counselor, who is white, approached and allegedly told the boys to sit down because they were acting like big Black animals. The boys told their parents that the counselor repeated the comment when they asked what hed said.



"The counselor denies the allegations made, a school spokeswoman said in an email. It is important to note that we take this subject very seriously and we will continue to conduct a thorough investigation.



"So of course this should be investigated thoroughly, and if true its hard to imagine how the counselor could keep his job. At the very least, talking to any student in this way is completely inappropriate. But calling young Black male students animals is far worse  its downright disgusting.



"Historically in this country, young Black men have been wrongly viewed and depicted as aggressive and violent. Its an ugly stereotype that has too often led to bias, mistreatment and wrongful violence against them, including by police.



"This is the kind of information that gets discussed during racial and cultural sensitivity training, which Frontier has done in the past and which plans to do more this summer. Even though the school says no other complaints have been made against the counselor, if it turns out that hes calling young men animals, then how does he view other students of color at a school that is more than 90% Black and Hispanic?"



Accordingly . . .

MAKE NO MISTAKE, THIS JOURNALISTIC GARBAGE AND IT'S ONE OF THE MOST IRRESPONSIBLE EDITORIALS WE'VE SEEN FROM THE KANSAS CITY STAR IN YEARS!!!

We get it . . .

Pundits typically hide behind the "just asking questions" line but given this kind of incendiary verbiage pushed on the public . . . It's not too much to ask for some discretion from the so-called Fourth Estate.

Moreover . . .

If the story is verified we'd have no problem standing right next to the Star and demanding a resignation for the offending counselor.

However . . .



Let's not forget that the newspaper used this same tactic when then IMAGINED that a pregnant, unarmed Black woman was shot by police for no reason . . . According to the "questions" spread by the almost daily dead-tree media organization. The questions and implications were INCORRECT and the newspaper never apologized.



Accordingly . . .

We remember a time, not so long ago, when locals pondered the fate of our community without a vibrant daily newspaper.

Now we know.

More to the point . . .

For the most part, the Kansas City Star editorial division performs an active disservice to our community and their op/ed offerings don't deserve the support of any organization that seeks the betterment of the metro area and its people.



Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com link . . .
We share this post for close & KICK-ASS TKC NIGHT OWL & EARLY BIRD READERS. There's nothing critical deserve debate here but just local items that are worth know about . . . Along with just a quick glimpse at pop culture, community news and top headlines.



Check TKC news gathering . . .

Ballers Bounce Back

Jonathan Heasley brilliant in 8-1 rout over Baltimore Jonathan Heasley was fantastic in Friday against Baltimore in an 8-1 rout, giving the Royals their second three-game winning streak of the year. The rookie right-hander allowed just one hit over seven shutout innings with no walks and seven strikeouts.

Weekend Traffic Warning

Scheduled repairs to downtown loop add ramp closures KANSAS CITY, Mo. - Scheduled repairs to the downtown loop this weekend, now include ramp closures from U.S. 71 to Interstate 670. Beginning Friday night at 9 p.m., the left lane of northbound U.S. 71 over 12th street will be closed until about 5 a.m. on Monday, June 13.

Party Starts Now

Thousands expected to attend KC PrideFest Kansas City PrideFest kicks off this weekend and is expecting to double in size this year with thousands of festivalgoers over the three-day festival.The LGBTQ festival will have a main stage with local acts, a laser show, a parade and more activities.One of the Kansas City Pride Community Alliance board members said he hopes this will help guide Kansas City to become more inclusive.

Memories Returned

New bride desperate to get stolen wedding photos returned KANSAS CITY, Mo. (KCTV) - A local bride is heartsick after someone stole her wedding photographer's laptop with nearly all photos of the special day on it. Now, she's hoping someone spots the gear - or has it - and calls police to get it the images back to her.

Activist Considers Advances

Kansas City woman who organized 1st Pride Parade reflects on progress KANSAS CITY, Mo. - In order to see where we've gotten to today in our equality rights, it's inevitable to look back to our history. KSHB 41 News met with Kansas City's first Pride Parade organizer "I'm 78 years-old, I would have never imagined this in my wildest dreams," Lea Hopkins said.

Celeb Life Lesson

Ashley Graham shares a selfie of herself breastfeeding twins Ashley Graham shared a photo of herself simultaneously nursing her five-month-old twins boys Roman and Malachi, whom she welcomed in January. As she breastfed her two little boys, the 34-year-old supermodel could be seen sitting down on a grey chair while snapping a makeup-free selfie. 'Tired.

Prez Confronts Financial Checks & Balances After Softball Interview

Fact check: Biden falsely claims US has 'fastest-growing economy in the world' In a Wednesday appearance on the ABC late-night show "Jimmy Kimmel Live!," President Joe Biden made a dramatic claim about the US economy -- and repeated himself for emphasis.

Blame Game Persists

The January 6 hearings showed why it's reasonable to call Trump a fascist Amid the many extraordinary revelations at the January 6 committee's first primetime hearing Thursday, one stood out for its sheer depravity: that during the assault, when rioters chanted "hang Mike Pence" in the halls of the Capitol, President Donald Trump suggested that the mob really ought to execute his vice president.

Plague Rules Dropped For Now

US will end Covid-19 testing requirement for air travelers entering the country | CNN Politics The Biden administration is expected to announce Friday that the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention will lift its requirement for travelers to test negative for Covid-19 before entering the US, according to a senior administration official and a US Centers For Disease Control and Prevention official.

Ally Demands Guns & Money

Ukraine says Russia has 10 to 15 times more artillery than its military, warning that its survival hinges on the West sending more weapons A top Ukrainian official said Russia has significantly more artillery than its military does. The official warned Western countries that Ukraine's survival depends on more weapons deliveries. President Zelenskyy on Friday said a "key priority" of his is to "quickly obtain heavy weapons."

Far East Unafraid Of Fight

China will 'not hesitate to start war' if Taiwan declares independence, Beijing says Beijing will "not hesitate to start a war" if Taiwan declares independence, China's defence minister warned his US counterpart Friday, the latest salvo between the superpowers over the island. The warning from Wei Fenghe came as he held his first face-to-face meeting with US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin on the sidelines of the Shangri-La Dialogue security summit in Singapore.

La Migra Comeback?!?

Judge voids Biden administration restrictions on immigration arrests and deportations A federal judge in Texas on Friday granted a request by Republican-led states to throw out Biden administration rules that placed limits on whom federal immigration agents should seek to arrest and deport from the U.S., declaring the directive unlawful. U.S.

European Decision Aftermath

What the EU's new USB-C rules mean for the iPhone This week, European Union lawmakers agreed on new proposals to force manufacturers of everything from smartphones and headphones to digital cameras and tablets to use the same universal charging port: USB Type-C. The plan is for the new rules to come into effect by fall 2024, after which these devices that charge using a wired cable will need to do so via a built-in USB-C port.

Biz In Front . . .

Phoebe Bridgers bares her booty in 'kinky' backless suit and lingerie Business in the front, party in the back. Phoebe Bridgers modeled the fashion equivalent of a mullet (and recreated a classic internet meme) to promote her June 16 show at Forest Hills Stadium in Queens, New York.

Hipsters Share Boozy Preview

Seven breweries you need to hit this summer Border Brewing Company. // Courtesy Border Brewing Kansas City's craft beer scene has a pint for everyone this summer. Whether you're into sipping suds on a patio, crushing cans to stay cool, or throwing back oat sodas, KC is chock-full of tasty taps. Narrowing the list to seven is a tall task .

Suburban Rescue Respect

Father grateful son is alive after trench collapse in Leawood LEAWOOD, Kan. - A father is grateful on Friday after dozens of first responders rescued his son when a trench collapsed . It was the longest afternoon for 86-year-old Joe Odom, as he waited on firefighters to rescue his son. "I was praying the whole time," Odom said.

Steamy Weekend Ahead . . .

Sunny, warm on Saturday; evening storms possible Hide Transcript Show Transcript EMBEDDED SHOWER OR THUNDERSTORM TH'A'S GOING AWAY. SO A LOW TEMPERATURES BY TOMORROW MORNING WITH A MOSTLY CLEAR SKY DOWN INTO THE 60S4 6 DEGREES FOR LEAVENWORTH LIBERTY 62 SHEILAOF CFEE MARSHALL 63 DEGREES BEGINNING. 64 DOWN TOWARD CLINTON ALSO FARTHER TO THE SOUTHWEST.

And this is the OPEN THREAD for right now.
Kansas Rep. Sharice Helps Fight Rising Gas Prices



We know many of our readers aren't going to give her credit for fuel cost advocacy . . . But, at this point, any help against the pain at the pump is welcomed.



Here's the latest . . .



U.S. Congresswoman Sharice Davids (D-KS) says after her and Rep. Ruben Gallegos (D-AZ) call to action, Internal Revenue Service Commissioner Charles Rettig announced the department would increase the mileage rate deduction for 2022.



Davids said the move will help business owners who operate a vehicle - like truckers, real estate agents, and landscaping businesses - cut their tax bills as gasoline prices surge.



The Congresswoman said she applauded the move to help small business owners manage the rising prices.



Rising gas prices mean the cost of doing business is going up, and Im glad the IRS is heeding my call to get small business owners immediate relief, Davids said. These are the common-sense steps to lower costs for working people that we need to be focusing on. I will continue to push for real relief as we work towards long-term energy security and inflation solutions.

Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com link . . .
The story following a suburban gunfire tragedy is horrific and reminds us that metro violence continues to cross demographic lines.



Here's is a passage from a report along with deets from police . . .



Authorities said they were called just before 3 p.m. to a home near Northeast Oakwood and Northeast Trailwood drives on a reported shooting.

When officers arrived, police said they went into the house and found three people down. Two were dead at the scene. The third person was taken to a hospital.

Police identified the victims and a suspect on Friday morning.

Jennifer Trenchard, 38, and David Trenchard, 33, have been identified as the two victims pronounced dead at the scene.

Investigators said their father, 69-year-old William Trenchard, shot both victims before turning the gun on himself.

William Trenchard remains in critical condition and on life support in an area hospital.

Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com links . . .

Man in hospital after police say he killed son, daughter in Lee's Summit LEE'S SUMMIT, Mo. - A 69-year-old man is in the hospital after killing his son and daughter in Lee's Summit on Thursday, police said. According to police, William Trenchard shot and killed Jennifer Trenchard, 38, and David Trenchard, 33, then attempted to take his own life.

Lee's Summit Police say 69-year-old father murdered two adult children before turning gun on himself Police in Lee's Summit, Missouri say early investigations show a father shot and killed his two adult children before turning the gun on himself Thursday afternoon. Authorities said they were called just before 3 p.m. to a home near Northeast Oakwood and Northeast Trailwood drives on a reported shooting.When officers arrived, police said they went into the house and found three people down.

Developing . . .
Stories from the Show-Me State continue to seem more barbaric in the aftermath of the pandemic.



Here's a glimpse at a scary tale hitting the national media . . .



Brianna Lynn Lingo, 29, is facing felony charges of stealing an animal and animal abuse by torture and mutilation while the animal was alive, online Missouri court records show.



The crime took place at Lingo's mother's home in Moberly, just north of Columbia.



A Moberly Police Department spokesperson told USA TODAY that officers arrested Lingo Thursday, after her mother dialed 911 asking for help.



During the call, Lingo's mother told officials her daughter killed her dog  a terrier mix  as part of "a ritual sacrifice" according to a probable cause affidavit. The affidavit did not elaborate on the sacrifice the owner referred to.

Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com link . . .
Following the European Union's decision, Switzerland has approved the sixth package of sanctions against Russia over the Ukraine situation, including a Russian oil embargo, the Swiss government said in a press release published on its website.

"On June 10, the Federal Council took the decision to adopt new EU sanctions against Russia and Belarus," the press release said.

"In addition, the Federal Department of Economic Affairs, Education and Research (EAER) has imposed financial and travel sanctions on around 100 further persons," it said.

The restrictions are imposed on Russian and Belarusian servicemen, politicians, businessmen and persons suspected by Switzerland of spreading disinformation.

The sanctions imposed by both the European Union and Switzerland exclude four Russian and Belarusian banks from the SWIFT financial messaging service.

The EU approved the sixth package of sanctions against Russia at the end of May and put it into effect at the beginning of June. The sanctions ban imports of crude oil and certain types of petroleum products from Russia. The EU said it would stop importing crude oil from Russia within six months, while the imports of petroleum products would cease within up to eight months.

In addition, the EU excluded another three Russian banks, namely Sberbank, the Credit Bank of Moscow, and Rosselkhozbank, and the Belarusian Bank for Reconstruction and Development from the SWIFT system.
RTHK: North Korea promotes negotiator to foreign minister

North Korea promoted its key nuclear negotiator to foreign minister, state media said on Saturday, as leader Kim Jong-un vowed to his ruling party that he would use "power for power" to fight threats to the country's sovereignty.

Choe Son-hui, long a key member of Pyongyang's team negotiating over its nuclear programme with the United States, was named foreign minister, state news agency KCNA said.

The appointment comes as the United States warned this month that North Korea is preparing to conduct a seventh nuclear test, and says it will again push for United Nations sanctions if that happens.

Kim did not mention a nuclear test and offered no details about how he would bolster military power as international concerns grow that he would order the first such test in five years.

"The right to self-defence is an issue of defending sovereignty, clarifying once again the Party's invariable fighting principle of power for power and head-on contest," Kim was quoted as saying.

He announced goals to boost the country's military power and defence research to protect North Korea's sovereign rights, KCNA said in a report of a Plenary Meeting of the Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea.

South Korean Defence Minister Lee Jong-sup and US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin on Saturday condemned the North's ongoing military activities and preparations for a nuclear test as unacceptable provocations.

Meeting on the sidelines of a security conference in Singapore, Lee and Austin, "agreed to expand the scope and scale of South Korea-US combined exercises as agreed at the two countries' summit in order to maintain steadfast deterrence and constant readiness," South Korea's Defence Ministry said in a statement.

"Secretary Austin underscored that the US commitment to the defence of (South Korea) is ironclad and underpinned by the full range of US capabilities, including nuclear," the US Defence Department said in a statement.

US National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan said on Wednesday that Washington is watching "very closely" the continued possibility of a nuclear test by North Korea. (Reuters)

This story has been published on: 2022-06-11. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
As of the morning of June 11, 2022, more than 779 children suffered in Ukraine as a result of the Russian full-scale armed aggression: according to official information from juvenile prosecutors, more than 287 children killed and over 492 were wounded, the Prosecutor General's Office (PGO) has said.

These figures are not final, since work is underway to establish them in places of active hostilities, in temporarily occupied and liberated territories, the PGO said in the Telegram channel.

Children suffered the most in Donetsk region, namely 217 children, while 132 in Kharkiv; some 116 in Kyiv; some 68 in Chernihiv; some 53 in Luhansk; some 52 in Kherson; some 48 in Mykolaiv; some 30 in Zaporizhia; some 17 in Sumy; some 15 in Zhytomyr regions and some 16 in Kyiv city.

During the recording of criminal offenses, it became known about the death of 24 more children in the city of Mariupol, Donetsk region, as a result of indiscriminate shelling by the Russian military.

It also became known about the injuries of a 17-year-old girl on April 9 as a result of shelling by the occupiers of the village of Raihorodok, Donetsk region.

Some 1,971 educational institutions were damaged due to bombing and shelling by the Russian armed forces, of these, 194 were completely destroyed.
In this Morning Edition, we are joined by OWTU-Trustee Janelle Thomas to discuss the importa
Vitalii Lapchuk, a Ukrainian paratrooper, police colonel, Candidate of Psychological Sciences, who had joined the ranks of the Ukrainian Territorial Defense Forces since the early days of the Russian invasion, was abducted by Russians and later found dead in the city of Kherson.

The relevant statement was made by the Media Initiative for Human Rights (MIPL), referring to Vitaliis wife Aliona, an Ukrinform correspondent reports.

His body was found in a river not far from the river port on May 22, but relatives have been informed just now, the report states.

In Kherson, Russians were chasing after the Territorial Defense fighters, namely Vitalii Lapchuk and his friend, Denys Myronov. Both of them were detained. Denys was taken to Crimea and died there from severe beating.

After searches at Lapchuks house, his wife Aliona and their son were also taken by Russians and interrogated. Aliona witnessed tortures used against her husband. She and her son managed to escape, and Vitalii was accused of crimes against the Russian military.

For more than two months, Aliona had been looking for a place, where Russians could have kept Vitalii, She hoped for him to stay alive. But, on June 9, 2022, she was told that her husband was found dead in a river with signs of torture: a broken skull and a weight on his leg.

mk
In the South Buh direction, the invaders are improving the fortification equipment of the second and third lines of defense. Fortified checkpoints made of reinforced concrete structures were spotted near the bridges across the North Crimea Canal.

This was reported on Facebook by the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, according to Ukrinform.

"In the Volyn and Polissia directions, up to seven battalions of the Belarus Armed Forces continue to strengthen the Ukrainian-Belarusian border in Brest and Gomel regions. Deadlines have been extended: an inspection of combat readiness  until June 18; and the closure of airspace over the southern part of Belarus  until July 8," said the statement.

It is also noted that the threat of missile and air strikes from the territory of Belarus remains in place.

In the Siversky direction, the enemy continues to hold up to three battalion tactical groups from the Western Military District on the Russian-Ukrainian border in the Bryansk and Kursk regions to prevent the transfer of Ukrainian troops to other high risk areas. The aggressor fired artillery at the positions of Ukrainian defenders in the border areas of Sumy region.

In the Kharkiv direction, the enemy's main efforts are focused on defense to prevent further advance of the Armed Forces to the state border.

In the Sloviansk direction, the enemy focuses on preparing troops for the attack on Sloviansk, conducting assault operations in the direction of Pasika - Bohorodychne. The enemy is seeing success, trying to gain a foothold on the northwestern outskirts of Bohorodychne.

In the Lyman direction, the enemy regrouped troops and replenished ammunition and fuel supplies in preparation for the offensive on Sloviansk and Siversk.

In the Siverodonetsk direction, the enemy is advancing in the direction of Novotoshkivske  Orikhove, having partial success, fixating on the northern outskirts of the village of Orikhovo and running assault operations in the city of Siverodonetsk.

In the Bakhmut direction, the occupiers are regrouping in order to attack Mykolayivka and Komyshuvakha. To strengthen the grouping of troops, they deployed up to a battalion tactical group.

In the Avdiyivka, Kurakhiv, Novopavliv, and Zaporizhia directions, the enemy is actively using aircraft and artillery to bind Ukrainian troops and prevent the transfer of reserves to other directions.

In the South Buh direction, the aggressor focuses on positional defense. The enemy is taking measures to improve the fortification equipment of the second and third lines of defense. Fortified checkpoints made of reinforced concrete structures located near the bridges across the North Crimea Canal were spotted.

The General Staff points out that the enemy continues to block civilian navigation in the northwestern part of the Black Sea. Six carriers of Kalibr naval-based cruise missiles are ready to use missile weapons in the Black Sea.

Over the past 24 hours, Ukraine defenders in Donetsk and Luhansk regions repulsed 14 enemy attacks, destroyed four tanks, two artillery systems, eleven armored combat vehicles, three trucks, and an ammunition depot. Air defense units shot down four Orlan-10 unmanned aerial vehicles, the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine added.

In the southern direction, the Ukrainian military killed 39 Russian aggressors and destroyed at least 11 units of equipment over the past 24 hours.
The death sentences handed down to British citizens by the "court" of the self-proclaimed "DPR" should motivate Europe to unite and act more decisively.

This was stated by President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine, who spoke with students and faculties of British universities, Ukrinform reports.

"What is happening with international law, with the violation of any law, any legislation of any state by Russia is a great tragedy. And what has been done to the citizens of Great Britain is already a tragic tradition for these people (Russians - ed.). They do so with absolutely everyone, and there can be no excuses for such steps and such actions," Zelensky said.

According to the president, in the wake of this, European nations should unite, act more powerfully, and condemn Russia by action, not words.

Read also: Russians set up fortified checkpoints near bridges across North Crimea canal

"Europe, the whole world, and skeptical countries, as well as conditional pacifists in relations with Russia, who are constantly looking for a way to find such a mood in the conversation, so as not to stir any business relationship  for them this is very a powerful and dangerous signal that Russia acts in this way against any citizen of any state," the President added.

The self-styled court of the self-proclaimed DPR has earlier sentenced to death British nationals Sean Pinner and Aiden Aslin, as well as Moroccan Brahim Saadun, who had been fighting as part of Ukraines Armed Forces. The terrorists accused them of "mercenary operations and actions aimed at seizing power."

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine had decried the "trial" as null and void.

The United Nations called the death sentence for foreigners a war crime.

Photo: Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine
The Ukrainian Armed Forces killed about 32,050 Russian soldiers between February 24 and June 11, including 150 in the past 24 hours.

The General Staff of the Ukrainian Armed Forces reported this on Facebook, according to an Ukrinform correspondent.

Ukrainian defenders also destroyed 1,419 (+10) tanks, 3,466 (+16) armored fighting vehicles, 712 (+0) artillery pieces, 222 (+0) multiple launch rocket systems, 97 (+0) anti-aircraft warfare systems, 212 (+0) warplanes, 178 (+0) helicopters, 579 (+7) operational and tactical level UAVs, 125 (+0) cruise missiles, 13 (+0) warships/cutters, 2,448 (+10) other vehicles and tanker trucks, and 54 (+0) pieces of special equipment.

The enemy suffered the greatest losses in the past day in the Sievierodonetsk and Bakhmut areas, the General Staff said.
Since April, Russia has launched dozens of old Kh-22 anti-ship missiles across Ukraine probably due to the fact that it is running short of more precise modern missiles.

The UK Ministry of Defense said this in its latest intelligence update published on Twitter, Ukrinform reports.

According to the statement, since April, Russian medium bombers have likely launched dozens of 1960s era Kh-22 air-launched, heavy anti-ship missiles, primarily designed to destroy aircraft carriers, against land targets due to the lack of "more precise modern missiles."

When employed in a ground attack role with a conventional warhead, such missiles are "highly inaccurate" and can therefore cause significant collateral damage and civilian casualties, the ministry said.

At the same time, British intelligence noted that Ukrainian air defenses still deter Russian tactical aircraft from conducting strikes across much of the country.

Intelligence also said that as of 10 June, Russian forces around Sievierodonetsk have not made advances into the south of the city but "intense street to street fighting is ongoing and both sides are likely suffering high numbers of casualties."

Russian troops tried to establish full control over the Luhansk region by June 10, but, according to Serhii Haidai, head of the regional military administration, the Russian command has already called a new deadline - Russia Day, which falls on June 12.
Russian soldiers no longer hope to get out of Ukraine alive.

The Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine said this on Telegram, Ukrinform reports.

In an intercepted phone call with his mother, a member of Russia's armed forces complains: "They are sending us to fight. There are 20 of us. There is no difference - whether you are first or second. We will go there to die. There is a battalion there, and there are just 20 of us. We have all come to terms with the fact that if we go there, we won't come back."

According to the Russian, no one is going to take them out. "A thousand people or 30. It just doesn't make sense for them to get us out of there, including our lieutenant colonel. Because everything will surface what they did here, where they shot. Everyone has been sold long ago. And the road has been sold," he explains.

In the end, the invader says that he is thinking of escaping.

"I'll just go through the woods. They won't find you in the taiga," said the Russian soldier.

Ukrainian intelligence earlier intercepted a phone call between Russian invaders in which they are inventing new ways to evade participation in the war in Ukraine.
Ukrainian troops continue to stop invaders as far as they have enough weapons  Zelensky

President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky said that Ukrainian troops continue to stop the Russian occupiers, as far as they have enough weapons.

"Russia wants to destroy every town in Donbas. Everyone. And this is not an exaggeration. Like Volnovakha, like Mariupol. All these ruins in once happy towns. Black marks from fires. Funnels from explosions. This is all that Russia can give to its neighbors, Europe, the world," Zelensky said in a video statement on Saturday night, June 10.

"Perhaps this is the fastest example of the complete degradation of any state  the path that Russia went through in 107 days of the war," he said.

The head of state said the Ukrainian military is doing everything to stop the offensive of the occupiers as much as possible.

"As far as there are enough heavy weapons, modern artillery. All that we have asked and continue to ask our partners," the president said.
Ukraine expects seven Panzerhaubitze 2000 howitzers to arrive from Germany approximately on June 22.

Ambassador of Ukraine to Germany Andriy Melnyk said this in an interview with Radio NV, Ukrinform reports.

He noted that the Bundestag had made a political decision on April 28, 2022, on sending heavy weapons and integrated systems to Ukraine.

"As of today, on the 105th day of the Russian war against Ukraine, not a single, I repeat, not a single unit of heavy equipment  at least artillery, howitzers, infantry fighting vehicles, tanks  has been delivered to Ukraine," Melnyk said.

The Ambassador added that Germany had sent a batch of weapons to Ukraine after our political pressure had been put. But those were light weapons: anti-tank systems and those designed to protect the airspace (Stinger MANPADS), mines, grenades, small arms (machine guns) and a number of other things that are not really weapons: trucks, armored vehicles.

According to Melnyk, the German government has not yet spent any sum out of 1 billion euros, announced by Germany to increase Ukraine's defense capabilities, on purchases from German manufacturers that are ready to help us.

"Therefore, the situation is as follows: we have announcements that are either not fulfilled at all, or We are talking about two promises: seven self-propelled howitzers that will be sent to us  we will receive these systems approximately on June 22; and self-propelled anti-aircraft systems, the so-called Gepards. This is also an old weapon  30 units: 15 Gepards  by the end of July, 15 more  by the end of August. That is, currently only two decisions of all announced by the German government are at the stage of implementation," said the Ambassador.

As reported, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz told Bild am Sonntag in early May that Germany would not supply tanks to Ukraine until other European Union members and the United States began making similar supplies.

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The head of the President's Office, Andriy Yermak, said that Russia's "food terrorism" must be stopped.

Yermak addressed the issue in a Telegram post, seen by Ukrinform.

"The Russians are shelling Ukrainian fields with incendiary munitions. Those who are creating a global food crisis in an attempt to reconstruct the Holodomor are also willing to destroy Ukrainian crops," Yermak said.

Read also: MFA Ukraine urges African Union leader to persuade Russia to stop war

According to the chief of the Presidents Office, the Ukrainian military is putting out field fires, but "food terrorism" must be stopped. "Yermak added that the Ukrainian side is discussing with its allies ways to resolve the food crisis.

As Ukrinform reported, UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres said that the implications of the war in Ukraine have led to a serious crisis in the cost of living, which no country or community can avoid.

Photo: Ukrainian Presidents Office
Ukraine's Defense Minister Oleksii Reznikov and Commander-in-Chief of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, General Valeriy Zaluzhny have informed UK Secretary of State for Defense Ben Wallace about the successful use of British security assistance by the Ukrainian military.

The Ukrainian Defense Ministry said this in a statement posted on its website, Ukrinform reports.

It was stated at the meeting that Western weapons, including British weapons, are one of the factors that help Ukraine destroy the enemy.

"NLAW, Ukrainian anti-tank missiles of 'British origin' with Swedish roots is the reason for hundreds of pieces of destroyed enemy equipment and hundreds of liquidated occupiers. At the same time, thousands of pieces of Russian equipment, heavy artillery, and aircraft continue to bring death, destruction, and woe to the Ukrainian land and our people," Reznikov said.

He stressed that the Russians continue to kill people, destroy infrastructure, destroy the economy. "We need more heavy weapons to continue the struggle. This will bring victory over the terrorist state and peace on the European continent," Reznikov said.

According to him, an exhibition of Russian military equipment destroyed in the Kyiv, Kharkiv, Mykolaiv regions and the Ukrainian Donbas is evidence of the ability of Ukrainian soldiers to use Western weapons and military equipment.

Reznikov and Zaluzhny thanked Wallace for his help in effectively repelling Russia's armed aggression and for his strong solidarity and support from the United Kingdom in this difficult time for Ukraine.

Zaluzhny also briefed Wallace on the situation at the front.

Wallace noted the heroism of the Ukrainian military and said that the United Kingdom will continue to support Ukraine in its struggle for independence and the restoration of territorial integrity.

"We managed to unite the world in support of Ukraine. Cooperation between the United Kingdom and Ukraine will be as effective as possible," he said.

During the talks, the delegations discussed, in particular, the issue of further consolidation of efforts to repel the armed aggression of the Russian Federation and the consistent implementation of bilateral projects to strengthen the capabilities of the Defence Forces of Ukraine.

Photo credit: www.mil.gov.ua
The UN-led Independent International Commission of Inquiry on Ukraine has arrived in Ukraine.

According to Ukrinform, Deputy Chairwoman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine Olena Kondratiuk said this on Facebook.

According to the statement, the chairman of the commission is Erik Mose. It also includes Jasminka Dzumhur and Pablo de Greiff.

"I have assured the UN Independent International Commission that the Verkhovna Rada will contribute to the successful work of the mission! We discussed the work of the commission in Ukraine, which was established to record violations of human rights, international humanitarian law and other crimes related to Russian aggression. The major task is identify suspects, gather evidence and prepare materials so that no one escapes punishment," Kondratiuk said.

According to her, the Ukrainian parliament attaches great importance to the work of the Independent International Commission of Inquiry on Ukraine. The parliament is ready to fully promote its activities.

Kondratiuk added that in addition to the crime of aggression, Russia is committing numerous war crimes and crimes against humanity in Ukraine, which testify to the genocide of the Ukrainian people.
U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine Bridget Brink has visited the restored bridge in the village of Stoyanka, Kyiv region.

According to Ukrinform, the Ministry of Infrastructure of Ukraine said this on Facebook.

Blink also met with Minister of Infrastructure Oleksandr Kubrakov.

The minister thanked the United States for supporting Ukraine in the military, financial and humanitarian spheres, as well as for increasing sanctions on Russia.

"Our focus is on the reorientation of logistics chains and the development of infrastructure projects that will help restore transport links, speed up the delivery of essential goods and assistance from partner countries. This is one of the important steps for the recovery of the Ukrainian economy," Kubrakov said.

Brink, together with representatives of the U.S. Embassy in Ukraine, got acquainted with the reconstruction of the bridge in Stoyanka. The bridge was destroyed at the beginning of the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine.

Brink said on June 10 that the United States, through direct budget support, would help ensure Ukraine's stability and recovery.

Photo credit: Ministry of Infrastructure of Ukraine
The Embassy of Ukraine in Japan will soon send 33 portable water purification devices in case of emergencies to Odesa.

Ukraine's Ambassador to Japan Sergiy Korsunsky said this on Facebook, Ukrinform reports.

"In the near future, 33 portable water purification devices in case of emergencies will be sent to Odesa. We ask Odesa to share [them] with Mykolaiv. I want to believe that they will not be needed, but we should have them just in case," he wrote.

The diplomat thanked the Yokohama City Hall and businesses, as well as Yokohama MPs and Japanese officials who responded to the embassy's request.
Ukraines Ministry of Foreign Affairs has called on the President of the African Union to appeal to Russia as the primary source of the food crisis to resolve the problem and to respect Ukraine's legitimate concerns about its own security.

Ukrainian FMs spokesperson Oleg Nikolenko wrote this on Facebook in response to a call by the President of the African Union for Ukraine to demine the ports of Odesa to facilitate grain exports, Ukrinform reports.

"We call on President Macky Sall and the African Union to use their leverage on Russia to convince it to stop its senseless hostilities. Ending the war will allow 22 million tonnes of grain stuck in the sea ports to be unblocked and avert a food crisis in Africa and beyond," Nikolenko said.

He stressed that Ukraine has always been a reliable supplier of agricultural products to African markets and is determined to resume grain export to help Africa ensure its food security.

At the same time, the Foreign Ministry spokesperson noted that one important point should be absolutely clear: Africa is facing a surge in food prices and a potential famine because Russia invaded Ukraine. The Russian army is destroying critical agricultural infrastructure, blocking Ukraines sea ports and grain terminals, and launching missile attacks on Ukraines southern agricultural regions. Russia also steals grain from the Ukrainian territories it has seized by force.

Read also: France ready to take part in unblocking Odesa port

"In that context, it is frustrating to hear that Ukraine must do something while Russia is not condemned and called to end its devastating war. We have learned the lesson that President Putins words cannot be trusted," Nikolenko said.

He recalled that the Kremlin leader and his officials stated publicly on countless occasions before February 24 that Russia will not invade Ukraine. They did invade. The Russian military leadership promised that their army would not attack civilian infrastructure and civilian populations. Right now they are destroying cities and villages, turning them into nothing but rubble and scorched earth. The civilian death toll has already reached thousands. Some 20% of Ukrainian territory is currently illegally occupied by Russia.

"For this reason, the legitimate security concerns of Ukraine must be respected. Ukraine has proposed a three-point plan that will enable the unblocking of its seaports in order to resume grain exports: Russia must withdraw its naval forces in the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov, military equipment must be provided to protect Ukraines southern coastline in case Russia decides to take advantage of the demining, and an international navy mission must be launched to patrol the export routes," Nikolenko said.

As reported, Russia has blocked all ports and trade routes through which Ukrainian grain is exported worldwide. About 20 million tonnes of grain remain blocked in Ukraine.

Senegalese President Macky Sall, who is also the chairperson of the African Union, visited Moscow on June 2.
The Elysee Palace states that France is ready to take part in the operation to unblock the port of Odesa to ensure the export of Ukrainian grain to countries that need it.

"We are ready to help the parties conduct an operation that would allow for completely safe access to the port of Odesa for ships, despite the fact that the sea is mined," BFMTV reports citing an adviser to the President of France, Ukrinform reports.

At the same time, commenting on Macrons plea "not to humiliate Russia", his adviser stressed that France wants Ukraine to win the war unleashed by Russia.

"As the president said, we want Ukraine to win. We want Ukraine's territorial integrity to be restored. We want this conflict, this war of Russia against Ukraine, to end as soon as possible," the TV channel quotes a representative of the Elysee Palace as saying.

As reported, the Russian aggression blocked more than 20 million tonnes of grain intended for export in the ports of Ukraine. This has posed a threat of global hunger, as almost half of all supplies under the UN World Food Programme account for Ukrainian grain.

On June 3, President of France Emmanuel Macron said in an interview with French media that Putin had committed a historic and fundamental error by invading Ukraine. At the same time, according to Macron, it is vital that Russia is not humiliated so that when the fighting stops in Ukraine a diplomatic solution can be found.

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Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg attended the Bucharest Nine (B9) Summit by video teleconference on Friday, thanking the group for its significant contribution to Euroatlantic security, and support for Ukraines sovereignty.

Thats according to NATOs press service, Ukrinform reports.

The NATO Secretary General thanked the B9 group for their strong support of transatlantic unity, their significant contributions to Euro-Atlantic security, as well as their consistent support for Ukraines sovereignty. He stressed that todays meeting is particularly timely in view of President Putins second invasion of Ukraine, leading to the worst security situation in Europe since World War Two, reads the report.

NATO has responded quickly, Stoltenberg said, including by doubling the number of multinational battlegroups from the Baltic to the Black Sea, with new battlegroups in Bulgaria, Hungary, Romania and Slovakia.

At the NATO Summit in Madrid, all 30 Alliance leaders will take the next steps to continue to adapt the Alliance to a more dangerous and competitive world. The Secretary General outlined the importance of further strengthening deterrence and defense, including on the eastern flank, with more combat-ready forces, together with more enablers and pre-positioning, to leave no doubt that NATO will protect every inch of Allied territory.

Stoltenberg also stressed the importance of continued investment in defense and resourcing the Alliance at this critical time, commending the B9 members for the fact that many of them meet or exceed the 2% target of GDP on defense spending.

The NATO B9 format was founded at the initiative of Polish and Romanian presidents after Russia first invaded Ukraine in 2014. The group includes Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Romania, and Slovakia.

Photo: The Ukrainian Presidents Office
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen arrived in Kyiv on Saturday to meet with President Volodymyr Zelensky and discuss Ukraine's progress towards EU membership.

With President Zelensky, I will take stock of the joint work needed for reconstruction and of the progress made by Ukraine on its European path, von der Leyen posted on Twitter.

 Good to be back in Kyiv.



With President @ZelenskyyUa I will take stock of the joint work needed for reconstruction and of the progress made by Ukraine on its European path.



  ! pic.twitter.com/JqtXvgamkV  Ursula von der Leyen (@vonderleyen) June 11, 2022

The President of the European Commission added that it was "good to be back in Kyiv" and reassured that the European Union supported Ukraine.

"Europe stands with you," von der Leyen wrote in Ukrainian.

As reported, at its meeting in Brussels on June 23-24, the European Council is expected to consider Ukraine's application for EU membership and make a decision on granting Ukraine the EU candidate status.

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U.S. President Joe Biden said Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky ignored warnings that Russia would invade his country ahead of the February 24 aggression.

"I know a lot of people thought I was maybe exaggerating, but I knew, and we had data to sustain, he was going in off the border. There was no doubt. And Zelensky did not want to hear it, nor did a lot of people," Biden said on Friday during a political fundraiser in Los Angeles.

The U.S. president acknowledged that the possibility of Russian President Vladimir Putin launching a full-scale invasion may have seemed far-fetched, saying, "I understand why they didn't want to hear it." Biden accused Putin of "trying to obliterate the culture, not just the nation, but the culture" of Ukraine and said the Russian leader sees the capital of Kyiv as "the seat of mother Russia."

Adviser to the head of the President's Office Mykhailo Podoliak, in a comment circulated on Saturday, said Kyiv was aware of Russia's development of various expansion scenarios. "Volodymyr Zelensky always had relevant analytics on his desk, which was based on high-quality intelligence. The president also carefully reacted to all the words and warnings of our partners. The question has always been just how big will the invasion be? Without a doubt, the scale of the invasion that we saw on February 24 shocked many countries, including our partners," he said.

"Ukraine understood the intentions of the Russians, expected this or that aggressive scenario, prepared for it. This is evidenced, among other things, by the dispersal of ammunition depots and weapons in general, the lightning-fast reaction to multi-level invasions and the restructuring of defensive capabilities, the effective introduction of remote strikes in the first week, which sharply broke the initial Russian plans," he said.

"But what is important, since the speed with which the state administration was rebuilt on a war footing and the almost lightning-fast recovery of our country from shock. And finally, the key thing, it seems to me that it is absurd to blame a country that has been effectively fighting in a full-fledged war against a much more resourceful opponent for more than 100 days, if the key countries have not been able to preemptively stop the militaristic appetites of Russia, knowing them perfectly," he said.
Ukraine expects a decision on granting EU candidate status to be adopted in June.

Deputy Head of the Presidents Office Ihor Zhovkva said this at a meeting with a delegation of the United for Ukraine informal international network consisting of representatives of the parliaments of Lithuania, Germany, Italy, Portugal, Sweden, Spain, the press service of the Presidents Office informs.

In particular, the meeting participants discussed the issue of granting Ukraine the status of a candidate for EU membership at the European Council meeting on June 23-24.

"Im happy that all the MPs present here, even from Germany, support granting Ukraine the status of a candidate for EU membership in June. The adoption of such a formal decision at the next meeting of the European Council is the key to our country's victory in the war against Russia," Zhovkva said.

He praised the efforts of the network, which now unites more than 280 former and incumbent members of parliaments and high-ranking officials from more than 30 countries, to promote the Ukrainian agenda both within the authorities and societies of their countries and at international platforms.

The Deputy Head of the Presidents Office briefed European politicians on the security situation in Ukraine, expressing hope that foreign parliamentarians will continue to make every effort to urge their countries to promptly send weapons needed by Ukraine, as well as to impose sanctions against Russia.

In addition, Zhovkva commended the efforts of the United for Ukraine network to rebuild Ukraine, as well as its proactive role in bringing the Russian military to justice for crimes committed in Ukraine. In this context, he called on the parliaments of the participating states to recognize the crimes of Russia in Ukraine as genocide against the Ukrainian people, and Russia as a state sponsor of terrorism.

"This is not only a matter of historical justice, but also an important legal basis for the activities of the post-war international tribunal," he stressed.

As reported, President Volodymyr Zelensky signed an application for Ukraine's membership in the European Union on February 28, 2022.

A summit of EU leaders was held in Versailles, France, on March 10, focusing on strengthening European defense and reducing dependence on Russian gas, oil and coal. EU leaders united in supporting Ukraine in the war against Russia and acknowledged Kyiv's European aspirations.

During a visit to Kyiv on April 20, European Council President Charles Michel said that the European Commission would announce the first conclusions on Ukraine's candidate status by the end of June, after which the issue would be on the European Council's agenda.

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President Volodymyr Zelensky insists on the need to reform the United Nations in order to be able to respond to any aggression at the global level.

"We can reform the UN. So that all the states abide by international law, so that no one violates the world order. The UN system and, in particular, the UN Security Council today do not provide a fair representation for most peoples of the world. The voice of entire regions of the planet often cannot be heard when it is vital," Zelensky said at the Shangri-la Dialogue, Asia Security Summit, Ukrinform reports.

According to him, if this reform had already taken place, the world today could react to any aggression  and not only from Russia  at the global level.

At the same time, the President stressed that the Russian leadership wanted to reject all the achievements of human history, including the system of international law, and return to life in the 19th century or even earlier.

"Russian propaganda is trying hard to disseminate in your countries, as in many others, the disinformation thesis that Russia's war against Ukraine is something about NATO, about the role of America, about the West's efforts to advance somewhere in Europe. But Russia's war against Ukraine is far from being just about Europe. This is about globally important things," Zelensky said, addressing the Shangri-la Dialogue participants.

On February 24, Russian president Vladimir Putin announced the beginning of a full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Russian troops shell and destroy key infrastructure facilities, massively fire on residential areas of Ukrainian cities, towns, and villages using artillery, MLRS, and ballistic missiles.

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President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine believes that the decision on Ukraine's membership in the EU will be important both for his country and for the European Union.

He stressed this during a joint press conference with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen in Kyiv on Saturday, an Ukrinform correspondent reports.

"Now is, of course, a crucial time not only for Ukraine but also for the European Union, for the entire European continent. It is now being determined what the future of a united Europe will be and whether there will be a future at all. Russia wants to destroy European unity, it wants to leave Europe divided, and it wants to leave it weak. The whole of Europe is a target for Russia. We are convinced that Ukraine is only the first stage in this aggression and in these plans. That is why the positive response of the European Union to Ukraine's application for membership could be a positive response to the future of the European project in general," Zelenskyy said.

The Ukrainian leader stressed that the Ukrainian people had already made an extremely high contribution to the protection of common freedom and common values shared with the EU. Thousands of lives have been sacrificed for the possibility to live as a free person in Ukraine and throughout Europe. "During such a brutal war, state and public institutions of Ukraine remain stable, our people are fully integrated into the European space," he said.

The head of state added that in a very short time, Ukraine had provided comprehensive answers to a questionnaire from the EU, so now it expects answers from the European Union.

He noted that he was very glad to see President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen in Ukraine again. "The fact that this is the second visit to Ukraine in two months speaks for itself," Zelensky said.

As reported, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen arrived in Kyiv Saturday, June 11, to meet Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and discuss Ukraine's progress toward EU membership.

A meeting of the European Council is to take place in Brussels on June 23-24. One of the issues will be Ukraine's application for EU membership and a decision on granting our country the status of a candidate country.
Taiwan is ready to participate in a program of financial assistance in rebuilding temples destroyed by Russian aggression in Ukraine, which will be implemented jointly with the Metropolitan Fund of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine.

Metropolitan of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine Epiphanius discussed these issues during a virtual meeting with Taiwan's Minister of Foreign Affairs Joseph Wu, according to a statement posted on the website of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine.

"During the meeting, both parties discussed ways and opportunities to provide assistance to the Ukrainian people suffering from the war by Russia. Metropolitan Epiphanius also spoke about the social initiatives of the Metropolitan Fund of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine," the statement said.

Minister Wu, in turn, noted that the government and people of Taiwan have a deep understanding of how the Ukrainian people are currently suffering.

"We see the suffering, destruction from the war, it touches the depths of our hearts, and we want to support the Ukrainian people in this time of unjust aggression. We see the assistance that churches provide to people, we see the destruction that temples have suffered, and we want to support you with our best contribution," he said.

Metropolitan Epiphanius thanked Taiwan for financial assistance to Ukrainian cities - Kyiv, Kharkiv, Chernihiv, Odesa, Sumy, Zaporizhzhia, Bucha and other cities - hospitals, including those in Lviv, and for assistance to Ukrainian refugees in neighboring European countries.

Photo credit: www.pomisna.info
British Ambassador to Ukraine Melinda Simmons has said that Ukrainian innovation, craftwork and art are alive despite the Russian invasion that affects not only land but also Ukrainian culture and history.

The diplomat said this on Twitter, Ukrinform reports.

"Ukrainian-made sunglasses derived from coffee. A brooch made in Sumy. Maria Prymachenko. Ukrainian innovation, craftwork and art are alive and thriving. Important to showcase because this is an invasion not just of land but also of Ukraine's history and culture," Simmons said.

Earlier, the British ambassador, who began studying Ukrainian immediately after she took over the post in 2019, said that William Shakespeare's works read as well in Ukrainian as they do in English.
The Ministry of Home Affairs of Singapore and the Ministry of Defence of Singapore formed an assistance package for Ukraine, which includes ambulances, fire engines, mine detectors, rescue equipment, and medical supplies.

9 ambulances, 2 fire engines, an assortment of firefighting protective gear, rescue equipment, mine detectors & medical supplies. This assistance package was put together by the Ministry of Home Affairs of Singapore and the Ministry of Defence of Singapore to support Ukraine. Thank you, Singapore! Ambassador of Ukraine to Singapore Kateryna Zelenko posted on Twitter.

As reported, Singapore Red Cross donated two ultrasound machines and an intraoperative neuromonitoring system worth more than $300,000 to the National Children's Specialized Hospital "Okhmatdyt".

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The first Ukrainian center in the European Union for citizens who were forced to leave Ukraine opened in the Lithuanian capital.

The cultural center was created on the initiative of Ukraines First Lady Olena Zelenska and First Lady of Lithuania Diana Nausediene, the press service of the Head of State informs.

"When we planned the opening of this center with a colleague, let me say, with my friend and great friend of Ukraine Diana Nausediene, we wanted Ukrainians who were forced to come to Lithuania because of the war to have a truly native place. So that the center will be the place where it is possible to address on any matter  help or communication. To be able to study here, to spend leisure time, join a cultural event or educational course," said Zelenska at a video link from Kyiv.

The Ukrainian Center is expected to become a place of education, career guidance, psychological assistance, recreation for children, youth and adults. Here one can leave children for extracurricular activities, attend lectures, educational courses, or enjoy hobbies. The center will also be a platform for cultural diplomacy between countries, will present Ukraine, its culture and identity in Lithuania, will participate in academic activities, host creative meetings, concerts or other events.

"Together with our partners, we promised to actively cooperate and do everything possible to make Ukrainians feel safe in Lithuania, receive medical and social assistance, educational services and, most importantly, so that Ukrainians can nurture their culture and preserve the nation's vitality," said Diana Nausediene.

The premises for the center were provided by the Vytautas Magnus University. Algirdas Kumza, former Ambassador of Lithuania to Ukraine, signatory of the Lithuanian Act of Independence, became the head of the Ukrainian Center in Vilnius.

First Lady of Lithuania, Ambassador of Ukraine to the Republic of Lithuania Petro Beshta, and Rector of the Vytautas Magnus University Juozas Augutis cut a symbolic ribbon at the opening ceremony.

On February 24, the Russian Federation launched a new phase of the war against Ukraine  a full-scale invasion.

Since then, the Republic of Lithuania has welcomed more than 50,000 Ukrainians.

Photo credit: president.gov.ua

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Governor Charlie Baker recently honored Diego Alejandro Marroquin '22 of Lawrence, Massachusetts as one of "29 Who Shine". Each year, the Massachusetts Department of Higher Education award honors 29 outstanding students, one from each public institution. Marroquin, an immigrant from Guatemala and first-generation college student who recently graduated with a degree in Biology at UMassD, was chosen for his volunteer work in SouthCoast communities.

"Diego and his success at UMass Dartmouth showcases the power of public higher education as an engine of opportunity, said Chancellor Mark A. Fuller. As the first member of his family to attend college, Diego is not only leveraging that power to secure his future, he is using his talents to serve the common good and help others follow in his footsteps. He is an exceptional role model for members of his community and his peers on campus.

"I have always had a passion for creating a change in my community," said Marroquin. "My mother always taught my brothers and I to help others whenever we have the opportunity, and for this reason, I do not see volunteering as something I have to do; I see it as something I want to do."

Marroquin is focused on his community. Eager to promote social change, Marroquin has volunteered at Gifts to Give in Acushnet, where he has mentored children and contributed to building a more caring community. Through this volunteer opportunity, he learned that small differences matter, and he has become a guiding light to his community. Another passion of his is to help curb food insecurity by feeding members of his community through the Cor Unum Meal Center. Since 2018, he has served restaurant-quality food to those in need. His commitment to the meal center has enhanced his perspective on life, particularly his appreciation for his place in life and his privilege to help others. Marroquin has also contributed countless service hours through the UMass Dartmouth Leduc Center for Civic Engagement.

Marroquin has consistently made time for his success when not volunteering, holding a 3.92-grade point average, and making the Chancellor's list (3.8 GPA or higher) each of his last five semesters.

"Making the Chancellor's list, to me, is proof that hard work pays off. I am the first person in my family to go to college, and I see my academic success as a way to thank all the people who made sacrifices to give me the opportunity for a college education," said Marroquin. "To succeed at UMassD, I have come to discover that it doesn't matter where you come from, the language you speak, the color of your skin, or how much wealth your family has. It matters how much you are willing to work for your dreams and keep moving forward."

After UMassD, he plans to work as a medical scribe and a medical interpreter before enrolling in medical school. Marroquin hopes that he will lay the foundation and continue the efforts to improve healthcare for all, especially for those in underserved communities.
The people of Burundi are facing a humanitarian crisis marked by economic decline, extreme food insecurity and a disease outbreak. While the worst of the violence has eased, the situation remains fragile, with an unresolved political situation and continued displacement within and outside the country.

What is UNHCR doing to help?

UNHCR and its partners are working together every day to aid and protect Burundis refugees in Tanzania, Rwanda, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Uganda and other nearby countries. Together, we are helping families reunite with lost loved ones and training camp community workers to spot signs of sexual exploitation and abuse. We are helping mothers give birth in proper health facilities and enlisting water engineers to drill new boreholes to supply water for refugees.

The Burundian refugee situation is the lowest funded of any situation globally. In 2018, UNHCR and its partners received just 33 percent of the required US$391 million requested to support Burundian refugees. The Burundi Regional Refugee Response Plan for 2019-2020 was published in late December 2018, and appeals for US$ 296 million in 2019.

Burundian refugees in Tanzania, Rwanda and the DRC arrive to find camps full and only temporary shelters available. Health centres are struggling to cope with huge numbers of patients. Education is very basic, and children lack sufficient learning materials; hundreds of children in Tanzania attend classes under trees.

Burundis refugees are being forgotten. The world needs to urgently help these refugees and the countries hosting them. Catherine Wiesner, Regional Refugee Coordinator and Comprehensive Refugee Response Framework Champion for the Burundi situation

Refugees who fled in fear for their lives find themselves struggling to provide the basics for their children in overcrowded, under-resourced camps, says Catherine Wiesner, the Regional Refugee Coordinator and Comprehensive Refugee Response Framework Champion for the Burundi situation.

Even as some refugees are opting to return home, the majority will still require international protection for some time to come. Wiesner added. The international community needs to live up to its global commitments to urgently help these refugees and the countries hosting them.

In line with the Comprehensive Refugee Response Framework, UNHCR is working with governments and partners to support host communities and to give Burundi refugees more opportunities to become self-reliant. Meanwhile, some refugees have been choosing to return to Burundi. While UNHCR is not promoting returns, since September 2017 we have been assisting those who are voluntarily choosing to go home to do so safely and start to rebuild their lives.

For the hundreds of thousands of Burundian refugees who still require international protection, more global support and funding is needed to provide urgent life-saving assistance for today, and long-term solutions for the future.
The European Commission will complete work on recommendations on granting Ukraine the status of an EU candidate by the end of next week, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has said.

At a press conference following talks with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in Kyiv on Saturday, von der Leyen said the European Commission is preparing its recommendations, the so-called conclusion for EU member states. The commission has been working day and night on this assessment. Its president promised that in April they will work tirelessly on this, and their discussions will allow them to complete this work before the end of the next weeks.
Prominent human rights lawyer Khaled Ali announced on Tuesday the release of 10 pre-trial detainees who had been imprisoned on charges of joining a terrorist group, publishing and spreading false news and statements.
(@ChaudhryMAli88)

Los Angeles, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 11th Jun, 2022 ) :President Joe Biden warned Friday that the "forces" behind the deadly insurrection at the US Capitol last year remain a threat to democracy.

"It's important the American people understand what truly happened, and to understand that the same forces that led to January 6 remain at work today," he said during an address in Los Angeles, where he was hosting the Summit of the Americas.

The president's remarks came in the wake of an explosive congressional hearing Thursday that blamed former president Donald Trump for an "attempted coup" that sparked the violence at the Capitol.

"The insurrection on January 6 is one of the darkest chapters in our nation's history. A brutal assault on our democracy, a brutal attack on law enforcement, some losing their lives," he said.

Biden urged Americans to "protect our democracy," arguing that the battle for the country's soul was "far from won." The House select committee looking into the insurrection is holding a month of hearings to lay out its initial findings from a year-long probe in the riot, which was linked to five deaths.

Lawmakers provided videotaped testimony from Trump aides and family members that they said revealed a deep-rooted and ongoing plot orchestrated by the former president to overturn the result of the 2020 election won by Biden.

"We can unite and defend this nation, Democrat and Republican, allow no one to place... a dagger at the throat of our democracy," Biden said.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, who was also in Los Angeles for the summit, said that she was heartened by the "tremendous" response to the hearing.

"The purpose of the committee is to seek the truth and to do so in a way that makes sure that never again would anybody think that it's ok to have a coup," she said.

She tied the effort to support for Ukraine as it battles a Russian invasion.

"We're talking about winning for democracy," she said.
Los Angeles, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 11th Jun, 2022 ) :US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Friday that he believes Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro's government and the opposition will resume talks suspended since last year.

Blinken, closing an Americas summit in Los Angeles where neither Venezuelan side was invited, also renewed the US willingness to ease sanctions if Maduro compromises with Juan Guaido's opposition.

The government and opposition "in recent days have signaled an intent to resume those conversations and negotiations in Mexico City. That is the latest information that we have," Blinken told reporters.

Venezuelan-led negotiations "are the best path that we can see to trying to restore to Venezuelans the democracy that they clearly deserve and clearly want and alleviate the extraordinary suffering that's taken place in recent years." Mexico, one of the few major Latin American nations that still recognizes Maduro, has invited the two sides to restart a dialogue that was initially brokered by Norway.

Maduro walked away in October, angered after a businessman closely tied to him was extradited to the United States on corruption charges from the West African nation of Cape Verde.

The United States in January 2019 recognized Guaido as interim president after Maduro won an election in which there were wide reports of irregularities.

The then administration of Donald Trump imposed sweeping sanctions on Venezuela, but Maduro has held on to power with support from the military as well as Russia, China and Cuba.

"Sanctions are not an end in themselves. They are an effort to incentivize those who are on the receiving end to engage in different conduct," Blinken said.

"As we've long said, sanctions aren't permanent. If we see change, sanctions can be lifted."
Environmentalists of Khyber Pakthunkhwa here welcomed allocation of Rs10 billion in the budget 2022-23 for combating climate change and global warming

PESHAWAR, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 10th Jun, 2022 ) :Environmentalists of Khyber Pakthunkhwa here welcomed allocation of Rs10 billion in the budget 2022-23 for combating climate change and global warming.

Dr Mumtaz Malik, former Chief Conservator of Wildlife, told APP on Friday that climate change has started posing serious challenges to developing countries including Pakistan and allocation of Rs10 billion would help counter its negative effects on environment, wildlife, human and biodiversity resources.

Niaz Ali Khan, former Chief Conservator Forest said that glaciers have started melting at Chitral, Swat and Gilgit Baltistan due to climate change and allocation of Rs10 billion would help in preparation of projects to combat challenges faced by the climate change.

Meanwhile, the doctors community hailed the allocation of Rs24 billion for the health sector. Dr Sirzaman Khan of Government hospital Pabbi said the huge allocation would help purchase of life saving vaccines and treatment of diseases besides capacity building of staff and relevant institutions.

He said exemption of ingredients used in preparation of medicines from custom duty would help prices of medicines drop.
Hundreds gathered at Utah Valley University (UVU) on Thursday, June 9, at the China Challenge Summit during an unprecedented conference designed to address U.S.-China relations.

The summit was created by UVU and World Trade Center Utah and featured experts on mutual political, economic, and security interests between China and the United States. Experts included former Deputy National Security Advisor Matt Pottinger, U.S.-China Business Council President Craig Allen, UVU President Astrid S. Tuminez, and former U.S. Ambassador to China Jon Huntsman.

Were not here to fall back on conventional wisdom and soundbites, Huntsman said. We're on the front end of what will be the defining decade of the U.S.-China relationship.

Professionals from various industries spoke during the mornings plenary session in a sit-down panel discussion in the Scott and Karen Smith Theatre at UVU. Topics ranged from Chinas global influence, U.S. diplomacy and foreign policy, U.S.-Chinese trade policies, and best practices for businesses in China.

I am very grateful and proud that this conference is taking place at UVU, President Tuminez said. I believe that this university is part of a brain trust, not only in the state of Utah but of the country as a whole. And we should do some of our hardest thinking and our hardest conversations in a university.

In his opening remarks, President and CEO of World Trade Center Utah Miles Hansen expressed that the responsibilities of U.S.-Chinese relations dont fall squarely on the shoulders of diplomats.

There are tectonic shifts happening in the U.S.-China relationship, Hansen said. We wanted to pull everybody together with the best and the brightest from across the country to talk about these challenges, then take it a few steps deeper and ask the most important question: What do we do? he said. What we do is also something that we need to figure out as a country.

In a recorded conversation between former U.S. Ambassador to China Jon Huntsman and current U.S. Ambassador to China Nicholas Burns, the two diplomats discussed how the relationship between the U.S. and China has changed in the past decade.

To Ambassador Burns, the U.S. and China relationship is strained due to issues such as trade wars, disputes in Taiwan and Hong Kong, polarized political ideologies, and human rights violations. Burns said that the nation should be cautious of Chinas growing ambition.

The Chinese government is much more assertive than it was 10, 15, or 20 years ago against the interests of the United States, Burns said. We've got to invest in our own country to compete effectively with China.

In another panel discussion, business experts with ties to China addressed what the countrys surging economy means for those wishing to navigate commerce in the increasingly complex Chinese marketplace.

U.S.-China Business Council President Craig Allen said that American businesses working in China are doing well considering the political headwinds. He further stated that Utah businesses should consider starting work in China. Utah is an export powerhouse, Allen said. The waters warm; please jump in.

President Tuminez said the summit was created, in part, to educate Utahs business leaders about Chinese trade relations.

Utah is the strongest economy in the United States, she said. Our businesses need to understand whats going on in China. Whether we like it or not, China is our third-largest trading partner after Canada and Mexico. They own over a trillion dollars of American debt. They have a billion people. They are very powerful in the world.

The event was sold out, with seven hundred people from UVU and the community at large in attendance.
The Egyptian embassy in Pretoria is currently working with the South African authorities and ATIS Aviation Academy to free two Egyptian students - Momen Haitham Kamel and Fady Said - who were kidnapped earlier this week in the African country, Minister of Emigration and Expatriate Affairs Nabila Makram said.

On Tuesday, Haitham Kamel Gaber  Momens father  published a video on Facebook asking President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi to save his son and his friend Fady.

Momens father praised the Egyptian presidency, the General Intelligence Service, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs role in intervening before to help Egyptians escape from disaster zones and aided them in multiple kidnapping situations, stressing that the family is counting on their help to return their sons since it does not have the sum of money the kidnappers demanded.

According to Gaber, he last talked to his son Momen on Friday evening, right before his sons cell phone was turned off. He then contacted the academy, which informed him that his son Momen and his friend Fady were missing.

On Sunday, Gaber was informed by the academy that the car that Momen and Fady were using was found on the side of the road with no trace of both students.

On the same day, Gaber said the family received a phone call from a man with a "Levantine accent" who claimed to be a mediator between them and the kidnappers and demanded seven million South African Rand (EGP eight million) for the release of the men within 48 hours.

Momen studied at the ATIS Aviation Academys branch in Cairo until March before moving to South Africa to continue his studies there, according to his family.

In a post on Facebook, Makram said that while respecting the feelings of the family she asks the public not to publicise the issue over social media for the sake of the safety of the kidnapped students in accordance with the authorities instructions.

"In our new republic, we have seen the way the state cares about the expatriates, such as the students stranded abroad during the coronavirus pandemic or the Ukraine crisis," Makram stressed.

She also asked Egyptian students in South Africa to follow the instructions of the security forces there.

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The first highway bridge connecting China and Russia opened Friday, the first day of the 3-day Shangri-La Summit in Singapore. Construction of the bridge was completed two years back, but it remained unused because of the coronavirus pandemic.



The timing of its opening is significant. Russia and China have come under severe criticism at the summit, and analysts say the bridge is a signal China can help Russia navigate economic sanctions.



The opening comes just one month after a railway bridge linking the two countries was inaugurated. The road bridge in northern China, called the Blagoveshchensk-Heihe Bridge, will carry vehicles across the Amur River. The toll bridge can accommodate 630 freight trucks, 164 buses and 68 other vehicles daily, the Moscow Times reported.



Chinese Vice Premier Hu Chunhua and Russian Deputy Prime Minister Yury Trutnev, who attended the inauguration ceremony by video link, made it apparent the bridge has political and diplomatic significance apart from trade.



Hu said China is ready to meet Russia halfway, and the bridges opening will help to achieve the goal of mutual connectedness.



Even after the invasion of Ukraine, Chinese leader Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin announced plans to raise their mutual trade from $147 billion in 2021 to $250 billion in 2024.



The two countries also plan to establish a cross-border economic cooperation zone near the bridgehead to facilitate comprehensive cooperation and promote the development of the China-Russia comprehensive strategic partnership, according to CCTV, the official broadcaster in China.



But both the road and railway bridges will be used to a limited extent because China has not fully lifted restrictions it imposed on transportation, among the other business segments.



Russian Transport Minister Vitaly Savelyev said that the opening of the road bridge would increase bilateral trade between Russia and China. Today marks the start of stable daily transport links between our countries, Yekaterina Kireeva, the Amur regions senior economic development official, told Interfax, the Russian news agency.



The road and railway bridges were built as part of Chinas ambitious Belt and Road initiative. Russia had been reticent about allowing large-scale Chinese investments under the program. But after the Ukraine invasion, Moscow changed its stance and invited Chinese companies to invest in infrastructure.
The Australian government will pay the French shipbuilder Naval Group US$558 million in compensation after a controversial decision to scrap a lucrative submarine contract. It was terminated after Australia last year signed a security alliance with the United States and Britain, which gave Canberra a huge defense upgrade.

The compensation payout brings the total cost of scrapping the French submarine contract to Australian taxpayers to US$2.6bn.

Terminating the agreement also caused a deep diplomatic rift between Canberra and Paris. The French President Emmanuel Macron accused the former Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison of lying in public about the agreement to build 12 diesel submarines that was worth US$63bn. Macron also recalled Frances ambassador to Australia in protest.

In abandoning the deal, Australia said it wasnt convinced the Attack Class, diesel-powered submarines it ordered from France were up to the job. Morrison said it would have been negligent to go ahead with the deal against advice from Australias intelligence agencies. France has accused Australia of lies and treason.

Morrisons successor, Anthony Albanese, wants to reset relations with France at a time when China is expanding its trade and security ambitions in the Pacific.

Albanese told reporters Saturday that the previous Australian government had badly mismanaged the submarine contract.

The way that decision was handled has caused enormous tension in the relationship between Australia and France," Albanese said. "France, an important ally, an ally that we have a history of fighting alongside in two world wars and an ally that has a significant presence in the Pacific at a time when tension in the Indo-Pacific means that we need to work with our partners.

The submarine deal with France was scrapped when Australia joined the AUKUS, a trilateral security alliance, last September with the United States and United Kingdom. It gives Australia access to nuclear submarine technology and long-range missiles.

Analysts believe the accord between Washington, London and Canberra is an attempt to counter the rise of China in the Indo-Pacific region and beyond.

Nuclear-powered submarines could pose much more of a deterrent to China, although it could take years for the vessels to come into service.

Chinas recent attempts to broker a pan-regional security and trade accord with ten Pacific Island nations have failed, but Beijing has signed various agreements with individual states, including Kiribati, Samoa and Solomon Islands.

Australia and its partners are worried that China has ambitions to establish a military foothold in the region.

Beijing has insisted, however, that it has no intention of competing with other countries for influence in the Pacific.
The U.N. refugee agency says fatalities are rising along the Mediterranean Sea crossing to Europe, even as fewer migrants and refugees are making the dangerous journey.

Migration reached a peak in 2015, when more than a million refugees and migrants crossed the Mediterranean to Europe. That number declined to 123,300 in 2021. However, the U.N. refugee agency says more than 3,200 died or went missing at sea last year, an increase of nearly 1,000 over recorded fatalities in 2018.

In addition to the rising death toll at sea, UNHCR spokeswoman Shabia Mantoo says even greater numbers may have died or gone missing along land routes through the Sahara Desert and remote border areas.

She says deaths and abuses most commonly occur in and through the countries of origin and transit, including Eritrea, Somalia, Djibouti, Ethiopia, Sudan, and Libya.

UNHCR has continuously been warning of the horrific experiences and dangers faced by refugees and migrants who resort to these journeys," said Mantoo. "Many among them are individuals who are fleeing conflict, violence, and persecution. The data visualization focuses specifically on the route from the East and Horn of Africa to the Central Mediterranean Sea.

Mantoo says refugees and migrants have few options but to rely on smugglers. She says they are exposed to a high risk of abuse from smugglers, whether they take the land route across the Sahara Desert or cross the sea from Libya and Tunisia toward Italy or Malta.

In many cases, those who survive the journey through the Sahara and attempt the sea crossings are often abandoned by their smugglers, while some of those leaving Libya are intercepted and returned to the country, where they are subsequently detained," said Mantoo. "Each year, thousands perish or go missing at sea without a trace.

The UNHCR is urging greater action to prevent deaths, provide alternatives to the dangerous journeys and prevent people from becoming victims of traffickers. It is calling for increased humanitarian assistance and solutions for people in need of international protection.
At least four people were killed Saturday in a bomb attack against a minibus in Kabul, the capital of Afghanistan, police have learned.

The bomb placed in a minibus exploded in the early evening in an eastern district of Kabul, city police spokesman Khalid Zadran told AFP.

No group has yet claimed responsibility for this attack.

The number of attacks has declined in the country since the Taliban took power in August 2021, but a series of deadly bomb attacks, in which dozens of people were killed, hit the country in late April, during the holy month of Ramadan, and also at the end of May.

Most were claimed by the jihadi organization Islamic State.

On May 25, at least 16 people were killed in four bomb attacks: three against minibuses in Mazar-i-Sharif (north) and a fourth against a mosque in Kabul.

Also in Mazar-i-Sharif, bombings against two minibuses carrying Shiite passengers killed nine people April 28, and April 21, a bomb explosion in a Shiite mosque killed 12 people.

On April 22, at least 36 people, including children, were killed in Kunduz (north-east) in another bomb attack against a Sunni mosque, frequented by Sufis, during Friday prayers.

Finally in Kabul, 10 people were killed April 29 in an explosion in a Sunni mosque, after Friday prayers.

The Taliban are trying to downplay the threat from Islamic State-Khorasan (ISIS-K), the regional branch of ISIS, and are waging a ruthless fight against the group, which they have been fighting for years.

They conducted multiple raids, particularly in the eastern province of Nangarhar, and arrested hundreds of men accused of being part of it.

For months now, theyve claimed to have defeated EI-K, but analysts believe that the extremist group still constitutes the main security challenge for the new Afghan power.
The Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore is Asia's most prominent security summit, in addition to being a hotspot of diplomatic competition.



U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and several other American officials have been engaged in sideline talks with leaders of Asian countries aimed at weaning them away from both Russia and China.



Chinese officials, led by China's Defense Minister General Wei Fenghe, also have been actively meeting with other Asian leaders to put across their points of view. Wei had separate meetings with the leaders of Singapore and South Korea. China's main plank is Asia Pacific unity, without permitting an outside force like the U.S. to "interfere" in their internal affairs.



Secretary Austin met separately with Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong and the Indonesian Defense Minister Prabowo Subianto on Friday. After the meeting, Singapore's defense ministry issued a significant statement indicating the island nation would continue its close alliance with the U.S.



"They exchanged views on geopolitical developments and regional security issues and agreed on the importance of the U.S.s continued engagement of the region. PM Lee expressed appreciation for the U.S.s long-standing support for the Singapore Armed Forces' training in the U.S.," the statement read.

In his meeting with the Indonesian minister, Austin thanked Indonesia for condemning Russia's invasion of Ukraine at the U.N. General Assembly. The two leaders discussed new initiatives, such as cybersecurity training and Indonesia's interest in participating in the Indo-Pacific Partnership for Maritime Domain Awareness, which was announced at the Quad Summit in Tokyo last month.



The meetings have started producing results. Southeast Asian nations that had earlier refused to pick sides against Russia are now rethinking their options, U.S. State Department Counselor Derek Chollet said in an interview.



"For a lot of countries, that's not an easy decision to make because they may have relationships with Russia, and for many, many years," Chollet said, without naming the countries. "But I found that many of those countries are questioning that future."

China's defense minister told the Singapore leader the two countries should "strengthen mutual support on issues concerning each other's core interests and major concerns, so as to inject positive energy into regional peace and stability."



China regards Taiwan as a matter of its "core interest" and sovereignty, and it wants Asian countries to respect its "territorial integrity." General Wei told U.S. Secretary Austin on Friday that China was prepared to fight with anyone trying to separate China from Taiwan.



During his meeting with South Korean Defense Minister Lee Jong-sup, Wei reiterated China's position of maintaining peace on the Korean Peninsula, according to Chinas state-run Global Times newspaper. He referred to North Korea, saying that China and South Korea should cooperate on realizing the denuclearization of the peninsula.



Speaking to South Korean television, Xing Haiming, Chinas ambassador to South Korea, said China respects South Korea's traditional alliance with the U.S., but only if such relations do not target China. "The Asia-Pacific should be a high ground for peaceful development, not a geopolitical arena."
U.S. President Joe Biden, along with other Western Hemisphere leaders, unveiled a host of measures to confront migration despite divisions over Biden's invitation list at their summit in Los Angeles.

The agreement on "The Los Angeles Declaration" came Friday on the final day of the Summit of the Americas, which has been roiled by Biden's decision to exclude Cuba, Nicaragua and Venezuela for not being democratic enough. The leaders of Mexico, Guatemala and Honduras skipped the summit over the move while other South American leaders admonished Biden for his decision.

Biden said Friday that 20 nations have signed up to take part in the Los Angeles Declaration, which he said is "transforming our approach to managing migration in the Americas."

The declaration includes a series of measures related to migration, including increasing guest worker programs, providing aid to communities most affected by migration and implementing humane border management.

"Migration should be a voluntary, informed choice and not a necessity," the declaration states, adding, "We acknowledge that addressing irregular international migration requires a regional approach."

It includes commitments by nations across the Americas, including a plan for Mexico to increase worker visas for Guatemalans and for Costa Rica to extend protections for Cubans, Nicaraguans and Venezuelans.

Biden said part of the action the United States is taking is a campaign to disrupt human smuggling across the region.

"If you prey on desperate and vulnerable migrants for profit, we are coming for you," he said.

The Department of Homeland Security began the anti-smuggling campaign two months ago, allocating $50 million for the program along with more than 1,300 personnel throughout the region, according to the White House.

The president said the United States is also providing over $300 million to countries hosting refugees and migrants.

He said the money will "make sure migrants can see a doctor [and] find opportunities to work so they don't have to undertake the dangerous journey north."

Biden said the United States will expand opportunities for people to come to the United States, allowing 20,000 refugees from the region to resettle in the country over the next two years.

Despite the raft of proposals that are part of the Los Angeles Declaration, some analysts say it does not do enough to address the root causes of migration.

"The structural root cause of migration in countries in Central America that are having enormous difficulties  including Mexico  [is the] fight against its criminal cartels, its organized crime. That is not sufficiently being discussed. And it's not an easy question," said Enrique Dussel Peters, a professor at the Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico.

The summit has been overshadowed by the disagreements surrounding Biden's decision to exclude Cuba, Nicaragua and Venezuela.

Diego Abente Brun, director of the Latin American and Hemispheric Studies Program at George Washington University, told VOA the absence of the leaders of Mexico, Honduras and Guatemala  who skipped the summit because of Biden's pared-down guest list  was not good for the United States.

"Here in the United States, our problem is the migrants from the Northern Triangle. So how would you deal with that without the presence of these three countries that are the most directly involved: Mexico, Honduras, Guatemala?" he asked.

Since Biden became president, he has faced a record surge of migrants at the U.S. southern border. He has been criticized for his handling of the crisis both by Republicans who say he is not doing enough to stop the flow of migrants as well as some in his own Democratic Party who say he has been too slow to repeal Trump-era immigration policies, which they argue were too harsh against migrants.

The president said Friday that the global economic crisis, triggered by the COVID-19 pandemic and made worse by Russia's war in Ukraine, along with political turmoil from autocratic regimes, is to blame for record levels of migration.

The president said the migration was not just to the United States, noting that Colombia is hosting millions of refugees from Venezuela, and that 10% of Costa Rica's population is made up of migrants.
In June 2018, family separations at the U.S.-Mexico border made international headlines after audio emerged from a federal detention facility showing scores of sobbing children packed together, screaming for their parents.

Though news of the separations came to light in 2018, a pilot program had started in 2017 in the El Paso, Texas, area.

Five years later, of the more than 5,000 children who, court documents say, were separated from their parents under former President Donald Trump's zero-tolerance policy for unauthorized border crossers and those who presented themselves legally at ports of entry, about 180 children have yet to be reunited with their parents. Many of those parents were expelled from the United States, an immigration attorney told VOA.

Some of the children are in foster care; others are with relatives they had never seen before.

Lawyers with the American Civil Liberties Union believe the number of children yet to be returned to their parents is much higher.

"We believe that more than 1,000 families are still not reunited," Lee Gelernt told VOA. He's the lead ACLU attorney who sued to stop the Trump administration policy and represents separated families suing the U.S. government for damages and other types of relief.

"I've been doing this work for 30 years, and this is by far the worst thing that I have ever seen," he said. "We're talking about really a historic wrong by this country because it wasn't an accident. It wasn't a few mistakes. It was a deliberate policy at the highest levels of the United States government sitting down and saying, 'Let's take children away from their parents so that the parents say, 'Let's just give up our asylum claims.' And no one ever tries to come in."

Task force

Within weeks of taking office in January 2021, President Joe Biden created an interagency task force "to reunite children separated from their families at the United States-Mexico border."

The Department of Homeland Security announced in March 2021 that some of the families could be reunited in the United States and be allowed to stay. And DHS created websites in English, Spanish and other languages where separated family members could register for help.

Thousands of separated children have been reunited with their parents since 2017. But while the Biden administration points to progress, immigration advocates point to an effort they say continues to be hampered by logistical, legal and political hurdles.

In a December written statement, DHS told VOA the interagency task force "has made significant and important progress," and as of March, a year since its creation, the task force, along with nonprofits, has reunited 147 children with their parents.

About 1,075 families have registered using the two DHS websites. Some are outside the U.S. waiting to be reunited, and some have been reunited and live in the United States.

Under the Trump administration, the process of reuniting the families began after a federal judge ordered the government to stop separations and reunite families within 30 days. The government missed the court's deadline and most of the work was done by the ACLU and immigration nonprofits.

"We are just continuing to look for them," Gelernt said. "It's been now five years, and there are some children who haven't seen their parents, in four years, four to five years. And so we're in this horrendous situation where the children  some of them are so young  they don't even really remember their parents."

Migrants' litigation

More than 20 lawsuits have been filed by migrants who were separated at the border.

Some want the U.S. to grant legal residence and continue mental health services to the families. Others seek payment for the harm, suffering and pain the zero-tolerance policy caused them and their minor children.

A nationwide class-action lawsuit represents parents separated from their children under the zero-tolerance policy. The parents are asking the U.S. government to grant them legal residence, a continuation of health care services, and money to compensate for the suffering they went through.

The class-action lawsuit, the ACLU's Gelernt said, centers on an anonymous plaintiff referred to as Ms. L., who fled the Democratic Republic of the Congo with her daughter, who was 7 at the time, and arrived at the border between Mexico and California in November 2017.

"She had not crossed illegally. She had come to a port and said, 'I'd like to apply for asylum.' They still took her child away," Gelernt said.

On Wednesday, The Washington Post reported on emails from 2018 in which former U.S. government officials discussed trying to slow the reunification of families. The emails were turned over as part of a court filing seeking records to support two lawsuits in the U.S. District Court in Arizona.

Under Trump's zero-tolerance policy, Jeff Sessions, who was attorney general, and Kirstjen Nielsen, who was the DHS secretary, repeatedly said the government wanted to criminally prosecute migrant parents for illegally entering the country and that separating them from their children was an unfortunate consequence of that.

But lawyers in the Arizona cases, writing in their court filing, said new material supports their claim that the policy intended to deter migrants and inflict harm and that parents were separated from their children whether they "were prosecuted or even referred for prosecution."

Settlement talks

Immigrant advocates say reuniting separated families isn't enough and that reparation is needed for harm done.

Amid ongoing litigation, The Wall Street Journal reported in 2021 that the Justice Department was considering paying about $450,000 to each person affected by the zero-tolerance policy.

When reporters asked Biden in November 2021 about the possible $450,000 payments, he said: "That's not going to happen."

And last December, the government walked away from settlement talks, leaving both sides to litigate in open court.

"The biggest point where we're still negotiating," Gelernt said, is "is there going to be a pathway for them to remain permanently in the U.S. That's where the negotiations are.  We hope the Biden administration will come back to the negotiating table for the money, but right now, there's no sign of that. On everything but the money, the administration is negotiating with us."

Congress could also pass legislation to facilitate families' permanent status in the United States, he said.

"We're talking about a relatively small number of families, 5,500 families or maybe more than that, but not so many relative to other numbers we hear thrown around in immigration. And we are talking about something that was a historic moral stain on us," he said.

So far, Congress has not voted on any bills to help families that were separated under the zero-tolerance policy.

"Right now, the pathway is through these negotiations," Gelernt said.
The European Union should kick off accession talks with North Macedonia and Albania to finally fulfill its pledge to integrate the Western Balkans, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said on Saturday on the second day of a tour to the region.

Speaking in Skopje, Scholz said that Russias invasion of Ukraine made it important for Europe to stand together and he praised North Macedonias support of sanctions on the Kremlin.

Its very important to bring a new dynamic into this process, Scholz said in a news conference with North Macedonian Prime Minister Dimitar Kovacevski.

I will advocate that the next steps happen.

Supporters of the EU accession of Albania and the countries that emerged from the break-up of Yugoslavia and the ethnic wars of the 1990s say it will ease regional tensions, counter growing Russian and Chinese influence and raise living standards.

Four  Serbia, Montenegro, North Macedonia and Albania  already have candidate status although the latter two have not started accession talks. The overall process has stalled in recent years amid doubts about the wisdom of further EU enlargement.

Kovacevski underscored the many difficult reforms North Macedonia had undertaken in order to join the 27-member bloc, including changing its name to comply with Greek objections.

The current main obstacle is a dispute with Bulgaria over history and language.

Scholz, who has fashioned himself as a mediator during his Western Balkans trip, is set to travel onwards to Sofia on Saturday where he will hold talks with Bulgarian Prime Minister Kiril Petkov.

The chancellor has made the Western Balkans EU accession, in order to ease growing regional tensions and counter Russian and Chinese influence, a foreign policy priority.

On Friday, he visited Serbia and Kosovo, which declared independence from Belgrade in 2008, where he urged the leaders to reach an agreement normalizing relations.
In the first of a series of public hearings held by the congressional committee investigating the attack on the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021, Wyoming Representative Liz Cheney, one of two Republicans on the nine-member panel, laid out what its members intend to demonstrate over six additional hearings this month.



Cheney's message was blunt. The committee, she said, will seek to demonstrate that former President Donald Trump "oversaw and coordinated a sophisticated seven-part plan to overturn the presidential election and prevent the transfer of presidential power."



She then outlined the topics of six pending hearings that, she said, would establish that Trump knew he had lost the election but mounted a massive disinformation campaign claiming the election had been stolen; that he attempted to force the Department of Justice to participate in his plan; that he and his associates acted in concert to overturn the result, including by "corruptly" pressuring other public officials; and finally, that he "summoned a violent mob and directed them, illegally, to march on the U.S. Capitol" and refused to take action to stop the assault.



Former prosecutors see road map



Multiple former federal prosecutors told VOA that they felt Cheney and the members of the committee, which is chaired by Mississippi Democrat Bennie Thompson, are trying to lay out a blueprint for a criminal prosecution of the former president and, perhaps, some of his associates.



"Cheney's remarks actually read very much like a prosecutorial opening argument," former federal prosecutor Danya Perry told VOA. "It was very methodical, it was very to the point, it was very direct. And it really did lay out a road map."



Perry, a founding partner of the Perry Guha law firm, said that there appeared to be two audiences for the presentation: U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland and the American people.



She said that success in reaching both audiences would be critical to any federal criminal prosecution, because Garland is widely seen as resistant to anything that might be characterized as a political prosecution.



"Unless there's a groundswell in the American electorate, he may be disinclined to pursue criminal charges," Perry said.

'Powerful case to indict'



Donald B. Ayer, a former U.S. attorney during the Reagan administration and deputy attorney general during the George H. W. Bush administration, told VOA that the committee's presentation Thursday night was well-conceived and effective.



"If you assume that the evidence is what they say it is, and they can show all these things, then what's there is an extremely powerful case to indict Donald Trump and a bunch of other people," he said.



"Now, the members of the committee are not the ones to decide that, and they're not doing this primarily for that purpose," Ayer added. "They're doing it to address the systemic problem that this reveals, and then figure out what legislatively ought to be done to deal with it."



Establishing knowledge



At the next hearing, to take place Monday morning, Cheney said, the committee will present evidence that "Donald Trump and his advisers knew that he had, in fact, lost the election" but that he still "engaged in a massive effort to spread false and fraudulent information  to convince huge portions of the U.S. population that fraud had stolen the election from him."



Establishing Trump's knowledge of his loss, experts said, would be vital to any prosecution.



"If there were to be a criminal prosecution," Ayer said, "it would be critically important to demonstrate that Trump understood that he had lost the election, but proceeded with his plans anyway. The statutes may well not require that, but absent evidence that Trump knew he had lost, the moral authority of the prosecution would collide with the public's sense of equity and propriety."



For his part, the former president appeared ready to contest any claim that he "knew" that he had lost the election.



On Truth Social, a social media platform owned by his company, he wrote Friday, "Many people spoke to me about the Election results, both pro and con, but I never wavered one bit - follow the facts and proof. The 2020 Presidential Election was Rigged and Stolen."

Acted 'corruptly'



In future hearings, Cheney said, the committee will demonstrate that Trump was acting corruptly both when he tried to install a new attorney general who would support his claims about the elections and when he pressed state elections officials and others to change the election results.



The use of the word "corruptly" is no accident, said Noah Bookbinder, president and CEO of Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington.



Bookbinder, a former chief counsel for criminal justice for the Senate Judiciary Committee and a former trial attorney for the Department of Justice's Public Integrity Section, told VOA that the word is taken directly from some of the statutes under which Trump might be charged.



"A number of the federal laws that any prosecution would likely focus on with Donald Trump specifically use the word 'corruptly' as the level of intent that prosecutors need to prove," he said.



For example, it is not inherently wrong for a president to replace a sitting attorney general.



"But if that is done as part of a scheme to misuse the Justice Department to attack an election by pushing unsubstantiated charges of fraud, something that is otherwise a kind of an innocuous act can become part of a criminal conspiracy," Bookbinder said.



By alleging that Trump acted corruptly, he said, the committee "is both showing that these acts that could otherwise be lawful, were not in this context, and also signaling that they believe they have the goods to meet the requirements of these criminal laws, where this question of intent is going to be a lot of the ballgame."



Trump reacts



Trump was aggressively critical of the committee hearing, and at one point seemed to praise those who assaulted the Capitol on January 6.



Fifteen minutes before the hearing was to start Thursday, he used his Truth Social account to post this message:



"The Unselect Committee didn't spend one minute studying the reason that people went to Washington, D.C., in massive numbers, far greater than the Fake News Media is willing to report, or that the Unselects are willing to even mention, because January 6th was not simply a protest, it represented the greatest movement in the history of our Country to Make America Great Again. It was about an Election that was Rigged and Stolen, and a Country that was about to go to HELL..& look at our Country now!"
In Yemen, Saudi-backed government forces and Iran-backed Huthi rebels agreed on Thursday to renew a two-month truce that has offered some respite after seven years of war.

The conflict has killed some 380,000 people, directly or indirectly, according to UN data, in what was already one of the world's poorest nations.

2014: Rebels take capital

The Huthi rebels advance from their stronghold in Yemen's northern mountains to seize the capital Sanaa in September 2014.

They ally themselves with forces loyal to ex-president Ali Abdullah Saleh, who was toppled in a 2011 uprising, before overrunning the lifeline Red Sea port of Hodeida.

2015, Hadi flees, Saudi enters

In February 2015, President Abedrabbo Mansour Hadi flees to second city Aden, on Yemen's south coast.

A coalition led by Iran's bitter enemy Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates enters the conflict in March 2015 with air strikes targeting the rebels.

Washington says it is contributing logistics and intelligence.

As the rebels advance on Aden, Hadi flees to Saudi Arabia.

The coalition's intervention helps pro-government forces secure the city.

In October, coalition forces take control of the Bab al-Mandab strait at the southern gates of the Red Sea, one of the world's busiest and most strategic waterways.

2018: Battle for key port

In June 2018, government fighters backed by coalition ground forces launch an offensive to retake Hodeida, a key entry point for humanitarian aid.

In December, following negotiations in Sweden, the UN announces a ceasefire in Hodeida.

Separatists flex muscle

The anti-Huthi camp is divided between southern separatists and northern unionists loyal to Hadi's government.

The separatists occupy the presidential palace in Aden in January 2018, before Saudi and Emirati forces intervene.

In August 2019, the separatists again clash with the unionist troops.

Riyadh negotiates a power-sharing agreement and the formation of a new government.

2019: Saudi oil hit

The Huthis escalate their attacks on Saudi Arabia, using drones and missiles.

A major hit on September 14, 2019 on the giant Abqaiq oil processing plant and Khurais oil field halves the kingdom's crude output.

Riyadh and Washington accuse Iran of being behind the attack, which it denies.

2021: Marib offensive

In February 2021, the US ends its support for the coalition's military operations and removes the Huthis from a "terrorist" blacklist.

Shortly afterwards, the rebels resume an offensive to seize Yemen's oil-rich Marib province, the government's last northern stronghold.

2022: Rebels target UAE

In January 2022, the rebels take aim at the UAE, first seizing an Emirati-flagged vessel in the Red Sea and then carrying out a drone and missile attack on an oil facility in Abu Dhabi that kills three workers.

In February, Washington announces it is sending the destroyer USS Cole and fighter jets to Abu Dhabi to bolster its defences.

More attacks on Saudi

In March, the rebels carry out a new series of drone and missile attacks on Saudi oil facilities, one of which triggers a huge fire near Jeddah's Formula One circuit while drivers are on the track.

Truce and new leadership

On March 26, the rebels call a unilateral three-day truce, with the Saudi-led coalition responding with their own truce three days later.

A UN-brokered ceasefire starts on the first day of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan on April 2.

The Saudi-led coalition agrees to allow fuel shipments into Hodeida and commercial flights to resume from the rebel-held capital Sanaa.

On April 7, President Hadi announces he is handing his powers to a new leadership council led by former interior minister Rashad al-Alimi, which will negotiate with the Huthis "to reach a ceasefire all over Yemen" and "a final political solution".

On June 2, the government and rebels agree at the 11th hour to renew their truce for a further two months.

* This story was edited by Ahram Online

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For full coverage of the crisis in Ukraine, visit Flashpoint Ukraine.

The latest developments in the conflict between Russia and Ukraine. All times EDT.

11:55 p.m.: A senior U.S. defense official told The Washington Post that Russia is likely to seize control of the entire Luhansk region of Ukraine within a few weeks. The unnamed official said the cities of Sievierodonetsk and Lysychansk could fall to Russian forces within a week.

If Russia captures all of Luhansk, The Post said, it would leave Russia short of its initial goal for the invasion: controlling all of Ukraine's eastern Donbas region. But it would create a new front line in the ongoing war that could last for some time.

10:27 p.m.: Ukraine remains in control of the Azot chemical plant in Sievierodonetsk where hundreds of civilians are sheltering, the region's governor said Saturday, after a Russia-backed separatist claimed 300 to 400 Ukrainian fighters were also trapped there.

"The information about the blockade of the Azot plant is a lie," Serhiy Haidai, governor of the Luhansk region partially controlled by pro-Russian separatists, said on the Telegram messaging app.

"Our forces are holding an industrial zone of Sievierodonetsk and are destroying the Russian army in the town," he wrote.

Ukraine has said some 800 people were hiding in several bomb shelters underneath the Azot plant, including about 200 employees and 600 residents of Sievierodonetsk.

9:43 p.m.: An adviser to Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy pushed back on remarks made by U.S. President Joe Biden that the Ukranian leader "didn't want to hear" about U.S. intelligence reports that said Russia would attack Ukraine in the days ahead of the February invasion.

Mykhailo Podoliak, an adviser to the head of the President's Office, wrote Saturday that Kyiv was aware of Russia's development of various invasion scenarios, according to Interfax Ukraine.

"Volodymyr Zelenskyy constantly had analysis on the table based on high-quality intelligence ... The question was always: What will be the scope of the invasion?"

"Ukraine understood the intentions of the Russians, expected one or another aggressive scenario, and prepared for it, which sharply broke the original Russian plans," Podoliak wrote.

9:19 p.m.: A Ukrainian governor accused Russia of using incendiary weapons in a village in Ukraine's eastern Luhansk province, southwest of the fiercely contested cities of Sievierodonetsk and Lysychansk, The Associated Press reported.

While the use of flamethrowers on the battlefield is legal, Serhiy Haidai, governor of Luhansk province, alleged the overnight attacks in Vrubivka caused widespread damage to civilian facilities and an unknown number of victims.

"At night, the enemy used a flamethrower rocket system - many houses burnt down," Haidai wrote on Telegram on Saturday. The accuracy of his claim could not be immediately verified.

8:56 p.m.: Ukraine's first lady, Olena Zelenska, praised the impact Ukrainian women are having in the fight against Russia's invasion at an international conference in Brussels this week, according to The New York Times.

In a virtual address to the event, titled "Women in Conflicts," Zelenska hailed the actions of a history teacher who was the first Ukrainian woman to lead an artillery unit, a nurse who worked for the war effort until she lost both of her legs to a land mine, and a 15-year-old who drove wounded people to safety despite having gunshot wounds herself.

She also acknowledged the importance of those whose work is done away from the front lines of the conflict.

"They cannot be called passive victims, each of them has her own story of resistance, Zelenska said. Most of our doctors are women. Fifty percent of our entrepreneurs are women, and they work to support the economy."

7:49 p.m.: Russian-installed officials in Ukraine's southern Zaporizhzhia region have set up a company to buy up local grain and resell it on Moscow's behalf, a local representative told the Interfax news agency on Saturday.

Ukraine and the West have accused Russia of stealing Ukraine's grain and causing a global food crisis that could cause millions of deaths from hunger.

Yevgeny Balitsky, the head of Zaporizhzhia's pro-Russian provisional administration, said the new state-owned grain company has taken control of several facilities.

He said, "the grain will be Russian" and "we don't care who the buyer will be."

It was not clear if the farmers whose grain was being sold by Russia were getting paid. Balitsky said his administration would not forcibly appropriate grain or pressure producers to sell it.

7:23 p.m.: In Mariupol, an additional 24 deaths of children were reported by Ukraine's Prosecutor General's Office on Saturday, CNN reported, following Russian shelling during a months-long siege in the southern port city.

The blockade ended last month after Russian forces took control of the Azovstal steel plant where Ukrainian forces had holed up.

This brings the total death toll of minors during Russia's invasion of Ukraine to 287, the Prosecutor General's Office said in a Telegram post. More than 492 children have been injured during the war, according to the statement.

6:56 p.m.: The government of Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega has authorized Russian troops, planes and ships to deploy to Nicaragua for purposes of training, law enforcement or emergency response, The Associated Press reported.

In a decree published this week, and confirmed by Russia on Thursday, Ortega will allow Russian troops to carry out law enforcement duties, "humanitarian aid, rescue and search missions in emergencies or natural disasters."

The Nicaraguan government also authorized the presence of small contingents of Russian troops for "exchange of experiences and training."

6:17 p.m.: Ukrainian and Russian forces duel with artillery in Lysychansk.

5:45 p.m.: Ukraine's state nuclear firm, Energoatom, said on Saturday it had helped restore an internet connection between the International Atomic Energy Agency and the servers of Ukraine's Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, which is occupied by Russian forces.

In a statement, Energoatom said the connection to the plant's servers was lost on May 30 but had been restored as of June 10, allowing the IAEA to resume monitoring data on the control of nuclear material at the plant, Reuters reported.

5 p.m.: More than 2.5 million Ukrainians have returned to their home country since the war started, reports Frontex, the European Border and Coast Guard Agency. Research found the number of Ukrainians returning to Ukraine continues to exceed the number of people leaving the country. The agency said 5.5 million Ukrainian citizens have fled to the EU since the beginning of the war in February.

The study indicates Polish and Romanian border crossing points continue to observe the majority of the traffic. The pressure at the Polish and Romanian borders is exacerbated by the Russian blockage of seaport grain exports out of Ukraine as alternative land routes are being explored, reports Frontex.

4:40 p.m.: German Chancellor Olaf Scholz is planning a visit to Kyiv alongside French President Emmanuel Macron and Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi. They want to meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Ukraine in June before the G-7 summit, reports the German newspaper Bild am Sonntag.

4:25 p.m.: Russian forces in control of territory in Ukraines south are moving forward with plans to hold a referendum on integrating the occupied areas into Russia, according to the mayor of the southern city of Kherson, reports Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty.

Ihor Kolykhayev, who continues running day-to-day operations in Kherson despite efforts by occupying forces to appoint their own mayor, said in an interview that a meeting recently took place in the city where Russian officials and local administrators appointed by them discussed when to hold a vote on whether the region would join Russia.

3:55 p.m.: President Volodymyr Zelenskyy insisted that Ukraine would prevail in its almost four-month-long war with Russia, reports Reuters.

As the fight for the Eastern region of the country worsens Russian forces have been trying to seize the city of Sievierodonetsk in an advance in the east, turning it into one of the bloodiest battles so far. Neither side has secured a knock-out blow in fighting that has pounded swathes of the city into rubble.

We are definitely going to prevail in this war that Russia has started, Zelenskyy told a conference in Singapore by videolink.

Since Russia invaded Ukraine on February 24 global food prices have shot up. The United Nations said that as many as 19 million more people around the world could face chronic hunger in the next year because of the reduced exports of wheat and other food commodities.

3:30 p.m.: Ukraine said it had struck Russian military positions in the southern Kherson region where Kyiv's army is fighting to reclaim territory captured by Moscow early in the invasion, reports Agence France-Presse.

Our aircraft carried out a series of strikes on enemy bases, equipment and personnel and field depots around five different settlements in the Kherson region," the defense ministry said.

2:25 p.m.: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy urged international pressure to end a Russian naval blockade of Black Sea ports that has choked off his country's grain exports, threatening a global food crisis, reports Agence France-Presse.

Before the Russian invasion, Ukraine was the world's top producer of sunflower oil and a major wheat exporter, but millions of tons of grain exports remain trapped because of the blockade. The United Nations and some countries are pushing for a maritime corridor to be opened up to allow exports to resume.

1:35 p.m.: Ukraine is attempting to push back Russian troops in the east and south of the country as France offered help to ensure access to grain in the port city of Odesa, to help ease a global grain crisis, reports Agence France-Presse.

Fierce fighting continued in the eastern Donbas region. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that Ukrainian forces were holding on despite increasing Russian firepower.

1:15 p.m.: Russian shelling of the Azot chemical plant in the embattled Ukraine city of Sievierodonetsk caused a powerful fire to break out after a leak of radiator oil, Luhansk governor Serhiy Haidai said, Reuters reports.

Speaking on national television, Haidai did not say if the fire at the plant, where hundreds of civilians are sheltering, had been extinguished.

Unfortunately, the enemy's artillery is simply taking apart, floor by floor, buildings that are being used as shelters," Haidai said.

12:50 p.m.: Ukrainian officials plead for more heavy weapons and ammunition. A top advisor to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said about 200 Ukrainian soldiers are being killed in Dombas every day, reports Reuters.

12:20 p.m.: Residents in the Ukrainian city of Sievierodonetsk, in the countrys Luhansk region, describe a deteriorating situation with heavy street fighting between the Russian and the Ukrainian forces, reports Reuters.

Sievierodonetsk and its twin city, Lysychansk, are the last Ukrainian-controlled parts of Luhansk province, which Russia wants to seize. Sievierodonetsk Mayor Oleksandr Stryuk said about 10,000 civilians were still trapped in the city, roughly a tenth of its prewar population.

11:55 a.m.: Ukraine is in talks with other countries on providing more weapons. Ukraines Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said he had spoken with his Polish counterpart, Zbigniew Rau, to discuss future deliveries of heavy weapons in a tweet Saturday. Kuleba said the two also talked about another round of EU sanctions on Russia.

On the battlefield, fierce fighting continued in the Donbas region, while Ukraines military launched several counterattacks in the Russian-occupied Kherson region in the south, reports Reuters.

10:50 a.m.: The U.S. defense secretary called on more international support for Ukraine Saturday, saying Russias aggression had wider implications for national sovereignty and the global order, reports the Associated Press

At a security summit in Singapore, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said Russias invasion is what happens when oppressors trample the rules that protect us all."

Its what happens when big powers decide that their imperial appetites matter more than the rights of their peaceful neighbors, he added. It a preview of a possible world of chaos and turmoil that none of us would want to live in.

10:10 a.m.: A Ukrainian official said his country's army is running out of ammunition in its battles with Russian forces.

In the Mykolaiv region near the frontline in the south, the regional governor calls for urgent international military assistance, reports Agence France-Presse.

"Russia's army is more powerful, they have a lot of artillery and ammo. For now, this is a war of artillery ... and we are out of ammo," Vitaliy Kim said "The help of Europe and America is very, very important."

9:42 a.m.: Authorities in the Moscow-occupied city of Kherson in southern Ukraine handed out Russian passports to local residents for the first time on Saturday, reports Agence France-Presse.

Twenty-three Kherson residents received a Russian passport at a ceremony through a "simplified procedure" facilitated by a decree signed by Russian President Vladimir Putin in May, Russia's TASS news agency reports.

"All our Kherson residents want to obtain a passport and (Russian) citizenship as soon as possible," the regional administration's pro-Moscow chief Vladimir Saldo was quoted by TASS.

9:17 a.m.: European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen said her executive will by the end of next week finalize its opinion on whether Ukraine should be a candidate country to join the EU.

The discussions Saturday will enable us to finalize our assessment by the end of next week, she told Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Kyiv during a surprise visit, reports Agence France-Presse

6:35 a.m.: Ukrainian Defense Minister Oleksii Reznikov said he had a productive meeting with British Defense Secretary Ben Wallace in Kyiv on Saturday and thanked the U.K for an ironclad support to his country.

6:20 a.m.: A lawmaker in Ukraines parliamentary security and defense committee said Saturday that his country is doing all it can to help save the three foreign nationals sentenced to death by authorities in Donbas for participating in the fight against Russian invasion of Ukraine.

Speaking on national television, lawmaker Fedir Venislavskyi said government bodies in the defense ministry and intelligence, bodies dealing with the exchange of prisoners, are taking all necessary measures to ensure these citizens of foreign states ... are saved," he said without giving further details, Reuters reported.

The foreign nationals, two British and a Moroccan, were accused of mercenary activities after they were captured Thursday, the Reuters report said.

4:50 a.m.:European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen is in Kyiv Saturday for a meeting with Ukraines President Volodymyr Zelenskiyy and said she plans to discuss the countrys reconstruction and progress towards European Union membership in a Twitter post.

4:16 a.m.: Sanctions on Russia following its invasion of Ukraine are not having the impact experts expected, according to The New York Times. While inflation is high  about 17 percent  there are indications that manufacturing n Russia expanded in May. The Times says high energy prices are the main reason the Russian economy is (for now) weathering the sanctions.

3:30 a.m.: The British military intelligence report said Saturday that Russian bombers have likely been launching 1960s-era heavy, anti-ship missiles meant to destroy aircraft carriers with nuclear warheads against land targets in Ukraine.

The 5.5-ton Kh-22 missiles, when used in ground attacks with conventional warheads, are highly inaccurate and can cause severe collateral damage and casualties, the daily battleground intelligence report added.

3:00 a.m.: The office of Ukraines prosecutor general said on Saturday that it has learned about the deaths of 24 more children in Mariupol, the southeastern port that was besieged for weeks before Russian forces captured it in mid-May, Reuters reported.

In total, the office said that at least 287 children have died since the start of the Russian invasion of Ukraine on February 24th. More than 492 have been wounded.

During the recording of criminal offenses, it has become known that 24 more children died in Mariupol, Donetsk region, as a result of the indiscriminate shelling by the Russian military, the office said on the Telegram messaging app. These figures are not final, as work is underway to establish them in places of active hostilities, in the temporarily occupied and liberated territories.

Reuters reported that it was not able to independently verify the information.

2:58 a.m.:

1:41 a.m.: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said his country needs more heavy weapons from allies, because Russia aims to destroy every city in Ukraine's Donbas region, according to Al Jazeera.

"Every city  thats not an exaggeration," Zelenskyy said in his nightly address. "Like Volnovakha, like Mariupol. All of these ruins of once-happy cities, the black traces of fires, the craters from explosions  this is all that Russia can give to its neighbors, to Europe, to the world."

"The Ukrainian troops are doing everything to stop the offensive of the occupiers, as much as is possible. As much as the heavy weapons, modern artillery  all that we have asked for and continue to ask for from our partners  allow them," he said.

12:33 a.m.: U.S. President Joe Biden told donors at a Democratic fundraiser Friday that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy "didnt want to hear it" when U.S. intelligence gathered information that Russia was preparing to invade, according to The Associated Press.

"Nothing like this has happened since World War II," Biden said. "I know a lot of people thought I was maybe exaggerating."

"There was no doubt, Biden said. "And Zelenskyy didn't want to hear it."

Although Zelenskyy has inspired people with his leadership during the war, his preparation for the invasion  or lack thereof  has remained a controversial issue.

In the weeks before the war began on Feb. 24, Zelenskyy publicly bristled as Biden administration officials repeatedly warned that a Russian invasion was highly likely.

Some information in this report came from The Associated Press, Reuters and Agence France-Presse.
North Korea's new foreign minister is a tough-talking veteran female diplomat who speaks fluent English and has decades of experience negotiating with the United States and other major powers.

State media on Saturday announced the promotion of Choe Son Hui, who becomes North Korea's first female foreign minister and one of the highest-ranking women officials in its history.

It's not clear whether Choe's promotion  which came during a major, multiday political meeting in Pyongyang  indicates a wider shift in North Korea's approach toward the United States.

North Korea walked away from nuclear talks in 2019. It has ignored repeated invitations to dialogue by the administration of U.S. President Joe Biden.

Instead, North Korea has launched 31 ballistic missiles this year, smashing a previous record of 25 set in 2019. There are also signs North Korea is preparing to conduct another nuclear test, the International Atomic Energy Agency said this week.

During past periods of U.S.-North Korea tension, Choe has taken a softer approach. At various points in her career, analysts have said her elevation represents North Korea's willingness to talk with Washington.

But Choe, the daughter of former North Korean premier Choe Yong Rim, also has a reputation for speaking bluntly.

She once called former U.S. Vice President Mike Pence a "political dummy." Those comments were reportedly a major factor in former U.S. President Donald Trump's decision to temporarily cancel his first summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.

Trump and Kim eventually met in June 2018 in Singapore, where they agreed to "work toward complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula." They held two more meetings in 2019  first in Hanoi, Vietnam, and then on the inter-Korean border.

Choe played a major role in those negotiations, as well as in working-level talks between U.S. and North Korean officials. However, the diplomacy eventually broke down after North Korea grew frustrated at U.S. unwillingness to meet its demands.

Choe was a frequent participant in backchannel discussions, also known as "Track II" talks, with former diplomats and scholars. Those interactions make her very familiar to officials and others in Washington, according to Asia foreign affairs specialist Rorry Daniels, who has helped organize such informal discussions.

"I bet she has been at every major Track II in the last decade or more," Daniels said. "She is tough, but not a hardliner. As familiar with the U.S. and knowledgeable about its system as any of the major North Korean players."

Earlier in her career, Choe served as an interpreter at six-party talks between North Korea and five major world powers. Since then, she has steadily risen through the ranks of the country's foreign ministry. In 2019, she was appointed to first vice foreign minister.

Choe is a "colorful character," according to a Washington-based Korea specialist who has participated in backchannel talks with the North Korean diplomat, noting that she can be very contrarian and cheeky.

"She has a lot of experience with Americans, but that doesn't mean she'll make things easy on the U.S.," said the Asia expert, who spoke to VOA on condition of anonymity because of the private nature of Track II discussions.

Michael Madden, a North Korea leadership expert at the Washington-based Stimson Center, agrees that Choe's appointment does not necessarily signal a greater North Korean willingness to engage with the United States.

"We need to be mindful of the fact that Choe Son Hui has also been quite active in North Korea's relations with China and Russia, particularly Russia," Madden said. "So her appointment is linked more closely with the post-Ukraine invasion geopolitical space rather than a potential thaw with the Americans."
Turkish police have detained 20 Kurdish journalists in an ongoing operation in the Kurdish-majority southeastern province of Diyarbakir.

At dawn Wednesday, Turkish police raided the homes and offices of several journalists working for the pro-Kurdish Mezopotamya News Agency, the all-female Jin News website, a production company called Pel, and the Dicle Firat Journalists Association.

During the raids, Turkish police confiscated computers, phones, hard drives and other personal belongings.

Detained journalists were taken to Diyarbakir Police Station for further questioning. Their lawyers were not provided with information about the investigation as the operation was ongoing.

Terror accusations

Speaking on background, a Diyarbakir Police official told VOA that the operation was organized against the Kurdistan Workers Partys (PKK's) press committee structure.

The official said that some Diyarbakir-based production companies create content for Belgium-based Sterk TV, which is affiliated with the PKK, and the U.K.-based Medya Haber TV.

Sterk did not immediately respond to VOAs email requests for commentary.

Diyarbakir Police examined the 82-hour long content of 102 programs from Sterk TV and Medya Haber TV channels, said the police official, who accused Sterk and Medya Haber broadcasters of making separatist terrorist organization propaganda, programs in favor of the convicted ringleader of the terrorist organization, and efforts to legitimize the terrorist organization.

Sterk and Medya Haber are banned in Turkey because the Turkish authorities deem their editorial stance as pro-PKK.

Responding to the detentions, Medya Haber denied the allegations, stating that the channels work meets universal journalistic standards of objectivity and fairness.

Turkey, the United States and European Union consider the PKK a terrorist organization.

Lack of transparency

Some press freedom advocates are calling for transparency in the investigation and criticize Turkish authorities for broadly using the term terrorist propaganda to crack down on journalists.

"As the RSF, we are astonished at the extensity of an investigation based on 'terrorist propaganda' targeting of so many media workers. Evidence must be disclosed as soon as possible by the law, said Erol Onderoglu, the Turkey representative for Paris-based Reporters Without Borders.

We are worried that people will be victimized for days and months without concrete evidence before the elections, Onderoglu told VOA.

The next parliamentary and presidential elections are scheduled for June 2023, but the opposition parties are calling for snap elections, which Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has rejected.

The pro-Kurdish Peoples Democratic Party (HDP) is facing a court case that threatens to close the party over alleged links with the PKK. The HDP, as the third biggest party, has 56 members in the 600-seat Turkish parliament.

Possible military operations

Sedat Yilmaz, an editor for Mezopotamya News Agency, says the detentions should be viewed in light of the Turkish armys ongoing cross-border operations in northern Iraq and a possible operation in northern Syria.

In the Kurdistan region, [the ruling Justice and Development Party] AKP has pinned all its hopes on this war, but it cannot achieve the desired success here. It does not have a psychological advantage, Yilmaz told VOA.

The AKP cannot get a psychological advantage in the Turkish public opinion, and it cannot create fear, defeat, and hopelessness among the Kurds," he added. "So, someone must pay the price for this, and it is now the Kurdish journalists.

Officials at the Turkish embassy in Washington, DC, did not respond to VOAs requests for commentary in time for publication.

Turkey has carried out military operations in northern Iraq, named Operation Claw Lock, since April.

President Erdogan has recently talked about a possible military operation against the People's Protection Units, or YPG, in northern Syria, targeting Tal Rifaat and Manbij.

Turkey considers the YPG a terrorist organization linked to the PKK. However, the YPG is part of the U.S.-backed Syrian Democratic Forces in the fight against the Islamic State.

Tayip Temel, the HDPs deputy in Van, thinks that the detentions are meant to silence Kurdish media before the military operations.

"The Kurdish media outlets are largely considered alternative media for the [majority-Kurdish] audience [in southern Turkey] to inform themselves about the cross-border operations and those living beyond the borders," Temel told VOA. "So, silencing them is part of this [police] operation.

Beritan Canozer, a journalist for Jin News, believes the Turkish government is tacitly supporting the police operation as part of efforts to distract from a growing economic crisis in the country ahead of upcoming elections and the expected military operation in Syria.

We think that this operation was carried out to prevent these issues and crises from being on the agenda and to prevent journalists from reporting them, Canozer told VOA.

Among the detainees rounded up in Wednesdays raids are Jin News manager Safiye Alagas and editor Gulsen Kocuk; Mezopotamya News Agency editors Aziz Oruc and Mehmet Ali Ertas; former Mezopotamya editor Omer Celik; freelance journalists Lezgin Akdeniz, Kadir Bayram, and Serdar Altan; and Mehmet Sahin, a columnist with the Kurdish-language weekly Xwebun.

Turkey has a poor record for media rights, ranking 149 out of 180 countries on RSF's World Press Freedom Index, where No. 1 is the freest. In the report, RSF describes Turkey as a country in which all possible means are used to undermine critics."

Ozlem Yasak of VOAs Kurdish Service contributed reporting. This story originated in VOA's Turkish Service.
As the son of the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos Sr. infamous for massive corruption and human rights abuses takes back control of the Philippines, historians, academics, book publishers and authors have vowed to protect the truth.

When 31 million Filipinos elected Ferdinand Bongbong Marcos Jr. as president in Mays election, they also voted for the powerful and influential Marcos familys narrative surrounding the brutal and corrupt regime of the senior Marcos.

Marcos and his wife, Imelda, whose name has become synonymous with extravagance, plunged the country into debt and deep poverty while their family and cronies amassed billions of dollars of wealth.

The Marcos regime also saw the killing, arrest, torture and disappearance of thousands of victims, according to records of human rights organizations. But these facts do not matter to the supporters of the Marcos family.

Critics say the electoral victory of Marcos Jr., who is set to formally assume office June 30, is partly attributed to his familys decadeslong distortion efforts. Now that the family is back in power, they fear that they will use their overwhelming mandate to erase historical truths about the period of martial law under the elder Marcos.

Books on martial law have been selling fast in the weeks after Marcos Jr. was elected president over fear that these will be banned or purged. Some titles, including the popular The Conjugal Dictatorship of Ferdinand and Imelda Marcos by Primitivo Mijares, have been sold out.

Journalist Raissa Robles, author of the 2016 book that examined the events during martial law from the perspective of victims and military officials, is alarmed that the government is already red-tagging or blacklisting, books critical of the Marcoses.

Its possible that there will be a purging. Will my book be banned? It's possible, Robles told VOA in an interview.

Actually, Marcos supporters have already been trying to ban my book. They claim online that my book is banned, that there was a court order that was issued in 2016 banning my book. I wouldn't be surprised, she added.

Robles published her book titled Marcos Martial Law: Never Again in 2016 and has since sold thousands of copies. Interest in her book climbed after Marcos Jr. was elected and her publisher is planning a sixth edition of the book.

Robles said she delivered copies of her book to the vice-presidential candidates offices in 2016, including Marcos Jr. In a chance encounter with him on the campaign trail later that year, she asked if he had received and read her book.

Oh, yes, thank you very much. But you know, I haven't been able to read it because I've been so busy, Marcos told her.

Red-tagged

During the heated presidential campaign in March, independent bookstores that carry a rare selection of Filipino historical books were spray-painted in red. The finger of blame was pointing at the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC), a heavily funded government agency formed by President Rodrigo Duterte in 2018 to respond to a communist rebellion.

The door of Popular Bookstore, known as the bookstore for intellectuals, was spray-painted with NPA Terrorista a common phrase tagging an individual or organization as communist and terrorist.

With the previous incidents [in mind], after red-tagging violence follows, Geraldine Po, general manager of Popular Bookstore, told VOA when asked what her reaction was when she saw the vandalism.

It is important to know and to preserve the truth because from history, we should learn our lessons, Po said. They say we should move on because Bongbong is now the president. If we just do that, we will just be going backward instead of moving forward.

In May, the head of the National Intelligence Coordinating Agency red-tagged Adarna House, publisher of childrens books, over books about the martial law period that supposedly subtly radicalize children against the government.

Preserve the truth

Michael Pante, a professor of history at the Ateneo de Manila University, believes books will not be physically burned or banned, but he warned of a climate of fear that will prohibit Filipinos from seeking the truth.

I'm thinking not of a literal book burning, not of forcibly pulling books out of library shelves, but more of creating that atmosphere of fear  fearing for your life that merely holding a copy of certain books would merit you condemnation, Pante told VOA.

It's a more insidious form of quote unquote book burning, he added.

Last month, about 1,700 historians and academics released a manifesto calling for the defense of historical truth and academic freedom for fear of intensified historical distortion and disinformation now that the Marcoses are back in power.

Marcos Jr.s choice of education secretary, incoming Vice President Sara Duterte, also raised concerns that the whitewashed version of history will be legitimized through the schools.

In 2020, Marcos Jr. called for the revision of history textbooks, claiming that these are teaching children lies. But historians like Pante believe history education has been inadequate since the country adopted the K-12 curriculum.

We will not revise anything, all we will do is to also make known, make public what we know, our side of the story, which we have perhaps been remiss in not telling simply because we were scared of the traditional media, of all the abuse, diatribe, the insult," Senator Imee Marcos, sister of the incoming president, said in a TV interview.

A group of young people is working double-time to digitize documents and materials including thousands of pages of newspapers that chronicled the abuses of the Marcoses.

In advance of another Marcos presidency, Pante stressed the need for historians and academics like him to think of creative ways to seek out the truth and preserve it.

We need to break away from this academic stereotype and engage with popular media, to speak using the language of the ordinary Filipino so that we can bridge that gap, that very huge gap that we see nowadays, he said.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen is in Kyiv Saturday for a meeting with Ukraines President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to discuss the countrys reconstruction and progress towards European Union membership she said.

I will take stock of the joint work needed for reconstruction and of the progress made by Ukraine on its European path, she said in a Twitter post.

Zelenskyy said Saturday his country would definitely prevail in this war that Russia has started, speaking from an undisclosed location in Kiyv.

In an address meant for delegates at the Shangri-La Dialogue Asia security summit currently held in Singapore, Zelenskyy said Ukraine is struggling to continue supplying food due to the conflict and that some parts of the world are facing an acute and severe food crisis and famine because of Russian blockade.

Zelenskyy 'didn't want to hear' warnings

On Friday, President Joe Biden insisted that U.S. intelligence tried to warn Ukraine about the imminent danger of a Russian invasion but Zelenskyy didnt want to hear it.

Biden made the remarks during a fundraiser in Los Angeles where he was talking about his work to rally and solidify support for Ukraine as the war continues into its fourth month.

"Nothing like this has happened since World War II. I know a lot of people thought I was maybe exaggerating. But I knew we had data to sustain he  meaning Russian President Vladimir Putin  was going to go in, off the border."

Although Zelenskyy has inspired people with his leadership during the war, his preparation for the invasion  or lack thereof  has remained a controversial issue.

In the weeks before the war began on Feb. 24, Zelenskyy publicly bristled as Biden administration officials repeatedly warned that a Russian invasion was highly likely.

At the time, Zelenskyy was also concerned on the time that the drumbeat of war was unsettling Ukraines fragile economy.

Today, Ukrainian officials are increasingly worried support from the West will trail off as its allies suffer "war fatigue."

They fear Russia could take advantage of that to pressure Ukraine into compromise, something Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has resisted, saying Ukraine would pursue its own terms for peace.

"The fatigue is growing, people want some kind of outcome [that is beneficial] for themselves, and we want [another] outcome for ourselves," he said.

"It is obvious that Russia is determined to wear down the West and is now building its strategy on the assumption that Western countries will get tired and gradually begin to change their militant rhetoric to a more accommodating one," said Volodymyr Fesenko, political analyst with the Penta Center think tank in an interview with The Associated Press.

Ukraine: More heavy weapons

Meanwhile, the grinding Ukrainian-Russian fight for control of Sievierodonetsk in eastern Ukraine continued Friday.

Ukrainian officials have upped their calls for more weaponry, including rocket systems and artillery, from the West.

"This is an artillery war now," Vadym Skibitsky, deputy head of Ukraines military intelligence, said in an interview with Britain's Guardian newspaper.

"Everything now depends on what [the West] gives us," Skibitsky said. "Ukraine has one artillery piece to 10 to 15 Russian artillery pieces. Our Western partners have given us about 10% of what they have."

Biden said last week the U.S. would provide Ukraine with advanced rocket systems and munitions that will enable it to more precisely strike key Russian targets.

Information for this report came from The Associated Press, Agence France-Presse and Reuters.
Afghanistans ruling Taliban said Saturday their security forces had killed at least eight key militants of the self-proclaimed Islamic State Khorasan (ISIS-K) and captured three others.



Taliban forces carried out an afternoon raid against an ISIS-K base in Taloqan, the capital of the northeastern province, Takhar, and eliminated what local officials told Afghan state-run media was a "funding, equipping and training center" of the terrorist group.



Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid late Saturday confirmed the military action, saying special forces of the General Directorate of Intelligence, the new name of the Afghan spy agency, assaulted the militant base.



Mujahid added that the ensuing heavy clashes killed eight men, including an important commander of the group, identified as Younis Uzbekistani. He did not share further details.



City residents said the security operation had temporarily blocked the main highway linking Taloqan to the neighboring province, Badakhshan. Both Afghan provinces are on the countrys border with Tajikistan.



Growing ISIS-K activities in Afghan border areas have worried Tajikistan and other Central Asian neighbors.



Last month, ISIS-K reportedly claimed responsibility for firing rockets into Tajikistan from the Khwaja Ghar district in Takhar, but no casualties were reported.



For their part, Tajik authorities said that bullets, not rockets, landed in Tajikistan that were fired accidentally during what they claimed was a firefight between Taliban forces and ISIS-K militants on the Afghan side of the border.



ISIS-K has increased attacks in Afghanistan since the Taliban seized power from the Western-backed government last August, days before the final U.S.-led foreign troops withdrew from the country.



The militant violence has killed and injured hundreds of people, mostly members of the Afghan minority Shiite Muslim community.



The United Nations has warned that ISIS-Ks objective remains to challenge the Taliban by waging a war that fits into the border Daesh concept of global jihad.



The world body, using the Arabic acronym for the terrorist outfit, said in its assessment released last month that ISIS-Ks short-term focus "expected to remain on attacks on soft targets such as Shia Hazara mosques and minority groups."

The report estimated ISIS-K has between 1,500 and 4,000 fighters "concentrated in remote areas" of Afghanistans Kunar, Nangarhar and possibly Nuristan provinces. It added that ISIS-Ks smaller, covert cells are also located in northern and northeastern provinces, including Badakhshan, Takhar, Jowzjan, Kunduz and Faryab.



The Taliban rejected the U.N. report as unfounded, saying the world and the region have been prevented from facing any harm from Afghanistan since the Islamist group took control of the country last year.



The Taliban foreign ministry in a statement said the government again reaffirms its commitments and reassures all that none shall be allowed to use the territory of Afghanistan against others.



Recent American military assessments also have warned that both al-Qaida and ISIS-K are growing in strength since the Taliban takeover of Afghanistan and could pose a significant threat beyond the countrys borders.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy warned Saturday that the Russian invasion of his country would harm the international order and cause severe economic losses for several countries. Speaking through a video link to ministers and officials from 42 countries attending the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore, a prominent security summit, he underscored the importance of strong action.



"I am grateful for your support... but this support is not only for Ukraine but for you as well," he said. "It is on the battlefields of Ukraine that the future rules of this world are being decided along with the boundaries of the possible."



Zelenskyy went on to explain that several countries in Asia and Africa would face famine and food shortages because Russian soldiers had laid a blockade to check the flow of food grains from Ukraine, one of the world's top food producers.



"If... due to Russian blockades we are unable to export our foodstuffs, the world will face an acute and severe food crisis and famine in many countries in Asia and Africa," the Ukrainian leader said.



There is a direct link between the soaring commodity prices and Russian military action. Russia started by blocking the flow of energy to jack up the prices, and it now is doing the same with food.



Russia is blocking ports in the Black Sea and Azov Sea, keeping Ukrainian food exports from the world market. That hurts not just Ukrainians but the entire world, Zelenskyy said.



Russia has described the blockade as a "special operation" meant to destroy Ukraine's military capabilities and capture what it regards as dangerous nationalists.



"Please remember the war is being waged on our soil. People in Ukraine are dying. ... We don't want to go to Russian soil," Zelenskyy told the delegates at the summit.



Ukraine's ambassador to Singapore, Kateryna Zelenko, emphasized the country urgently requires additional assistance. "We understand it will take time, but time is what we don't have," she said.



The country is battling to push the Russian soldiers out of areas it has controlled since early in the war. Zelenskyy said Ukrainians are defending the country against ferocious Russian attacks in the country's east, particularly around the city of Sievierodonetsk.
A Ukrainian official said their army is running out of ammunition in its battles with Russian forces. In the Mykolaiv region near the frontline in the south of the country, the regional governor called for urgent international military assistance.

Russia's army is more powerful, they have a lot of artillery and ammo. For now, this is a war of artillery... and we are out of ammo, Vitaliy Kim said. The help of Europe and America is very, very important.

Ukraine is in talks with other countries about providing more weapons. Ukraines foreign minister, Dmytro Kuleba, said in a tweet Saturday he had spoken with his Polish counterpart, Zbigniew Rau, to discuss future deliveries of heavy weapons. Kuleba said the two also discussed placing another round of EU sanctions on Russia.

On the battlefield, fierce fighting continued in the Donbas region as Ukraines military launched several counterattacks in the Russian-occupied Kherson region in the south.

In the capital, Kyiv, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen made a unannounced visit meeting with Ukraines president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, to discuss the countrys restoration, and efforts toward European Union membership.

I will take stock of the joint work needed for reconstruction and of the progress made by Ukraine on its European path, she said in a Twitter post. The European Commission chief said her executive will soon finalize its opinion on whether Ukraine should be a candidate to join the EU.

The discussions Saturday will enable us to finalize our assessment by the end of next week, she told President Zelenskyy. Zelenskyy said Saturday his country would definitely prevail in this war that Russia has started, speaking from an undisclosed location in Kyiv.

In an address meant for delegates at the Shangri-La Dialogue Asia security summit being held in Singapore, Zelenskyy said Ukraine is struggling to continue supplying food due to the conflict and that some parts of the world are facing an acute and severe food crisis and famine because of the Russian blockade.

At the conference, the U.S. defense secretary called Saturday for more international support for Ukraine, saying Russias aggression had wider implications for national sovereignty and the global order. Lloyd Austin expressed concern the world might begin to turn its attention away from Russias war on Ukraine.

Its what happens when big powers decide that their imperial appetites matter more than the rights of their peaceful neighbors, Austin said. Its a preview of a possible world of chaos and turmoil that none of us would want to live in, Secretary Austin told the defense ministers at the Shangri-La Dialogue.

Ukrainian officials are increasingly worried support from the West will trail off as its allies suffer war fatigue.

They fear Russia could take advantage of that to pressure Ukraine into compromise, something Zelenskyy has resisted, saying Ukraine would pursue its own terms for peace.

The fatigue is growing, people want some kind of outcome [that is beneficial] for themselves, and we want [another] outcome for ourselves, he said.

It is obvious that Russia is determined to wear down the West and is now building its strategy on the assumption that Western countries will get tired and gradually begin to change their militant rhetoric to a more accommodating one, said Volodymyr Fesenko, political analyst with the Penta Center research group in an interview with The Associated Press.

Meanwhile, authorities in the Moscow-occupied city of Kherson in southern Ukraine handed out Russian passports to local residents Saturday for the first time, Russia's TASS reported. The state-run news agency said 23 Kherson residents received a Russian passport at a ceremony through a "simplified procedure" facilitated by a decree signed by Russian President Vladimir Putin in May.

"All our Kherson residents want to obtain a passport and [Russian] citizenship as soon as possible," the regional administration's pro-Moscow chief, Vladimir Saldo, was quoted as saying by TASS.

Some information for this report came from The Associated Press, Agence France-Presse and Reuters.
U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin on Saturday outlined U.S. plans to assist Asian nations, including Taiwan, against an increasingly aggressive China, while managing tension and preventing conflict in the region.

Today, the Indo-Pacific is our priority theater of operations, he told ministers and officials from 42 countries at the Shangri-La Dialogue, Asias premier security summit being held in Singapore until Sunday. Today, the Indo-Pacific is at the heart of American grand strategy.

Austin detailed an American plan to unite Asian nations concerned about Chinas aggression through an intricate mechanism of alliances and military exchanges.

This would be similar to the rare unity shown by developed nations working in tandem to implement economic sanctions against Russia, Austin said.

We do not seek confrontation or conflict. And we do not seek a new Cold War, an Asian NATO, or a region split into hostile blocs, he clarified, but went on to explain that small countries in Southeast Asia are worried about Chinese military aggression.

The U.S. Coast Guard will also deploy a cutter to Southeast Asia and Oceania next year, he said. This will be the first major U.S. Coast Guard cutter permanently stationed in the region.

The move is significant because of rising threats to Taiwan, including regular visits to the airspace around island by Chinese military aircraft. China believes that Taiwan is part of its territory and has often discussed plans to take it over, if necessary, by force. Taiwan is a democracy with an independent government, flag, currency, and military.

Southeast Asian countries have also been ringing the alarm bells about intensified patrolling by the Chinese navy in the South China Sea. Most of these countries including Indonesia, Vietnam and Brunei are engaged in disputes with China over the ownership of the South China Sea.

Austin also sought to assure Taiwan that its concerns about a Chinese invasion would be addressed. The Taiwan issue was the main focus of discussion when he met Chinese Defense Minister Wei Fenghe on Friday.

Saying that the U.S. would continue to stand by its allies, including Taiwan, he explained, thats especially important as the PRC (Peoples Republic of China) adopts a more coercive and aggressive approach to its territorial claims.

In a statement issued on Friday, Taiwans foreign ministry thanked the United States for its support. Taiwan has never been under the jurisdiction of the Chinese government, and the people of Taiwan will not succumb to threats of force from the Chinese government, said ministry spokeswoman Joanne Ou.

There had been an alarming increase in the number of unsafe and unprofessional encounters between Chinese planes and vessels with those of the neighboring countries, he said.

A Chinese fighter dangerously intercepted an Australian military surveillance plane in the South China Sea region in May, and Canadas military has accused Chinese warplanes of harassing its patrol aircraft as they monitor North Korea sanction evasions, Austin pointed out. Canadas Defense Minister Anita Anand called the encounter very concerning and unprofessional during an interview with Reuters on Saturday, but she declined comment when asked whether she had raised the issue with her Chinese counterpart, the news agency reported.

Referring to the Ukraine crisis, Austin said, Russias invasion of Ukraine is what happens when oppressors trample the rules that protect us all, he said, adding, its a preview of a possible world of chaos and turmoil that none of us would want to live in.
Here's a summary of Uyghur-related news around the world from this week.

Relatives of detained Uyghurs monitored, forced to attend 'political study sessions'

RFA reported that Uyghur relatives of detainees were forced to attend "political study" sessions while the U.N. rights chief visited the region and were warned by police not to talk about their relatives in detention.

UN rights chief asked to resign after China visit

Rights activists and some U.S. politicians asked for the resignation of U.N. human rights chief Michelle Bachelet after her visit to Xinjiang, where she was accused of adopting China's narrative on the Uyghurs when she asked China to review its "counterterrorism" policies against the Muslim minorities in the region. Bachelet said her trip was not an investigation but rather a step toward further talks with Beijing.

Scholars on 3 continents seek release of UN report on human rights in China

The Guardian reported that scholars, in a letter published online, said they were "deeply disturbed" by the outcome of the U.N. human rights chief's visit to China, where she did not condemn Beijing of abuses in Xinjiang.

UN labor organization seeks review of China's labor polices in Xinjiang

Reuters reported that the U.N.'s International Labor Organization recommended a "technical advisory mission" evaluate China's labor policies in Xinjiang, where Beijing is accused of Uyghur forced labor. Previously, China has denied wrongdoing.

Uyghur university student arrested by Chinese authorities in Xinjiang

According to RFA, a 25-year-old Uyghur university student was arrested for "attempting to divide the country." His aunt in the Netherlands denied the accusation, said the Chinese government arrested her nephew because of China's "own insecurities," and said his only crime was being Uyghur.

European Parliament calls Beijing's treatment of Uyghurs 'crimes against humanity'

European Parliament lawmakers condemned the treatment of Uyghurs and other minority groups in Xinjiang. A resolution stated that in light of evidence from reports and the Xinjiang Police Files, the treatment in Xinjiang amounted to "crimes against humanity." It also said there were "serious indications of a possible genocide."

News in brief

A new report said Beijing's five-year plan in Xinjiang, which started in 2021, aims to maintain and consolidate China's "successes" from its forced labor campaign in the region from 2016 to 2020, increasing both the scale and scope of Uyghur forced labor.

Quote of note

"Will our talented young children be destroyed under this injustice? Why can't we live like other free people in democratic countries? Why has the world been silent, even after declaring genocide?"

 Raziye Jalalidin, aunt of Zulyar Yasin, who was arrested by Chinese authorities last year for "attempting to divide the country."
Yemen's warring parties resumed talks Sunday on reopening roads in Taiz and other provinces, the United Nations said, after they agreed to renew a nationwide cease-fire.

The U.N. mission to Yemen said delegations from the internationally recognized government and the country's Iran-backed Houthi rebels began their second round of direct discussion in the Jordanian capital of Amman.

The mission did not provide further details.

The two sides did not reach an agreement on lifting the rebels blockade of Taiz, Yemen's third largest city, in their first round of talks late last month.

Reopening the roads around Taiz and elsewhere in Yemen is part of a truce the U.N. brokered early in April. It was the first nationwide cease-fire in in six years in Yemen's brutal conflict, now in its eighth year.

The Houthis have imposed a siege on government-held city of Taiz, the capital of the province by the same name, since March 2016.

The two sides agreed on Thursday to extend the truce for more two months after concerted pressure from the U.N. and international aid groups.

Yemen's civil war erupted in 2014, when the Houthis seized the capital of Sanaa and much of northern Yemen and forced the government into exile. The Saudi-led coalition entered the war in early 2015 to try restore the government to power.

The conflict has created one of the world's worst humanitarian crises and killed over over 150,000 people, including over 14,500 civilians.

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Thirty-four people, including pastors and their followers, who were arrested in Harare on Friday while they were planning to hold a meeting to discuss the current social, economic and political situation in Zimbabwe, will spend Friday night in police custody.

According to the Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR), 36 people were initially arrested but two of the conveners of the meeting including Bishop Ancelimo Magaya of the Zimbabwe Divine Destiny, were later released.

In a tweet, the ZLHR said, A total of 34 people who include pastors & congregants will spend the night in custody. They are being charged with Unlawful gathering after they were picked up earlier today whilst attending a prayer meeting.

The ZLHR noted that attorneys of the arrested Zimbabweans were denied access to their clients by the police.

Bishop Ancelimo Magaya of Divine Destiny has since been released. The estimated 36 participants who include pastors remain detained without access to lawyers.

The bishops wanted to hold the meeting titled The Zimbabwe We Want in an effort to highlight problems faced by most people in the southern African nation.

Police spokesperson, Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi, was unavailable for comment as he was not responding to calls on his mobile phone.

About 72 percent of Zimbabweans say the country is going in the wrong direction, according to a survey conducted recently by Afrobarometer.
A member of the Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC), Moreblessing Ali, who was abducted two weeks ago by suspected Zanu PF activists, has allegedly been found dead.

In a message posted on his Facebook wall, journalist Hopewell Chin'ono said, "They killed Moreblessing Ali. Her body was found in a well in Nyatsime. And they wonder why Zimbabweans say they are worse than Ian Smith!"

Police spokesperson, Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi was unreachable for comment as he was not responding to calls on his mobile phone. Nyathi recently issued a statement in which he said Ali was believed to be in the hands of her former boyfriend, who was not happy that she had dumped him.The boyfriend was also unreachable for comment.

Reacting to news that Alis body has been allegedly found in a well, CCC spokesperson Fadzai Mahere, said, We are carrying out a verification process before delivering any news. Please bear with us as we complete the process so that any information that comes out is factually accurate.

A CCC member in Nyatsime, who requested not to be named in fear of being victimized, said he witnessed the recovery of the deceased's body from a well.

"It's a deep well at the suspect's homestead. Police and some people wearing white coats came here and retrieved the body. There were two body bags and a plastic bag containing body parts. We are still shocked about what we saw," he said.

He is among CCC members that have, since the formation of the opposition party, been allegedly intimidated and harassed by the suspect.

"We all know that he is a Zanu PF member and does what he likes here," he said.

In a message posted on Facebook a few hours before news broke out that Ali's body had been allegedly found in a well, CCC leader Nelson Chamisa posed a question asking the nation about her whereabouts. The following messages were posted on his Facebook page thread.

Taurai Nyikadzino Musoko

President Nelson Chamisa unfortunately Zanupf is killing us and killing them too is the way forward.

Prince Mith

Where are we going as citizens.. Why are we allowing this to happen under our watch. If we do not protect each other as citizens against this blood thirst regime we will die 1 by 1.. Why don't we create our own safety organizations group to deal with this issues.. Sympathy after sympathy is not helping us. Yes it's not working.. Police is waste of time. Leaders please your words of sympathy are not enough to protect us. Do something guys

Baba Reane Takaidza

When the greedy are in power and still wanna cling to power, they do not even fear God or even respect human lives. Let's all unite and make our Zimbabwe habitable. Moyo wangu unorwadza ndikafunga makore andakapedzerwa neZanu pasina chakabuda leat only witness police and army brutality to innocent citizens.

Benjamin Mhute

She's dead.. citizens..lets take action before it's too late..these Zunus try their best to silence us..

Munyaradzi Taderera

Those people who are doing this evil are living among us. We share everything with them. There must be a strategy to avoid this unnecessary loss of life among the Citizens. Rise Zimbabweans Rise
A senior member of the opposition Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) claims that 46-year-old Moreblessing Alis body, which was recovered from a well in Beatrice on Saturday following her abduction by suspected Zanu PF activists, was cut into two and her bowels stuffed in a plastic bag.

In a tweet, CCC lawmaker Job Sikhala said, We are now leaving Chitungwiza Central Hospital mortuary where Moreblessing Alis tattered body has been left by the police  The body is into two parts. The bottom from the waist on its own and the top the same. Intestines packed in a plastic.

In a statement, police spokesperson, Assistant Commissioner Nyathi, could neither confirm nor deny Sikhalas claims that the body was cut into two. Nyathi did not respond to calls on his mobile phone.

In the statement, Nyathi said, The Zimbabwe Republic Police confirms the discovery of a mutilated body at plot number 321 Denota Farm, Beatrice, in a well on 11th June, 2022.

The body was observed by Linnah Mukandi (57), who is the mother to the suspect Pius Jamba. The police has been in contact with Moreblessing Alis family and has stepped up the identification process through forensic science analysts. The results will be made public as soon as they are out.

In an indirect reference to Sikhalas remarks, Nyathi said police are disturbed by politicians , including lawyers, who are issuing threats to government officials and the police in connection with this sad case. Some are openly inciting violence. The public is urged to be patient and allow the current criminal investigations to proceed smoothly.

The police reiterates that this is a callous and heinous crime of which all efforts will be made to ensure that suspects are brought to book without fail. However, any form of intimidation or threats under the guise of politics or social media antics are being monitored by the police.

Nyathi further said politicians should not interfere with criminal investigations and allow the due processes of the law to be followed. The police will leave no stone unturned in order to locate the suspect, Pius Jamba and any other suspects linked to this case.

Ali disappeared on May 24 amid allegations that she was abducted by suspected Zanu PF activists.
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FRIDAY, June 10, 2022 (HealthDay News) -- Monkeypox cases continue to climb in the United States, although gradually, federal health officials said Friday.

Public health officials have identified 45 cases of monkeypox across 15 states and the District of Columbia, up from 21 the week before, U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention director Dr. Rochelle Walensky said during a media briefing, while more than 1,300 cases have been detected globally in 31 countries.

However, no deaths have been reported and no community transmission of monkeypox has yet been detected in any U.S. cities, CDC officials said.

The majority of cases, 75% or more, appear to have been contracted during international travel, officials said. Others have developed infection here through close contact with a known monkeypox case.

In the briefing, Walensky knocked down concerns that monkeypox could be transmitted through airborne particles, as COVID is.

"Monkeypox is not thought to linger in the air and is not typically transmitted during short periods of shared airspace," Walensky said. "The virus is not thought to spread through interactions such as having a casual conversation, passing in the grocery store or touching the same items, such as a doorknob."

But people can contract monkeypox through respiratory secretions during "close, sustained face-to-face contact," Walensky added.

However, the virus most often "spreads through direct contact with bodily fluids or sores on the body of someone who has monkeypox, or with direct contact with materials that have touched these bodily fluids and stores such as clothing or linen," Walensky said.

"Those diagnosed with monkeypox in this current outbreak described close, sustained physical contact with other people who were infected with the virus," Walensky said. "This is consistent with what we've seen in prior outbreaks and what we know from decades of studying this virus and closely related viruses."

The monkeypox virus involved in this global outbreak appears to be milder than other strains, which can cause a rash on multiple places across the body as well as flu-like symptoms, Walensky said.

"During the current outbreak, some patients have developed a localized rash, often around the genitals or anus, before they experience any flu-like symptoms at all," Walensky said.

"Some have not even developed such flu-like symptoms. Further, in many the rash doesn't always extend beyond its initial site, or it extends to only a few sites versus around most areas of the body," she said.

The rash can look like sexually transmitted diseases such as herpes or syphilis, Walensky warned. Doctors should test for the monkeypox virus in suspected STD cases.

The United States has enough smallpox vaccine to "vaccinate millions of Americans if needed" against monkeypox, said Dawn O'Connell, assistant secretary for preparedness and response with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

"This includes more than 100 million doses of ACAM2000 [smallpox vaccine] available for vaccination against monkeypox," O'Connell said during the briefing. "The USA now holds about 72,000 doses of Jynneos [smallpox/monkeypox vaccine] in its immediate inventory, and we will soon receive an additional 300,000 doses from the manufacturer Bavarian Nordic over the course of the next several weeks.

"The company is also holding over 1 million additional fully filled and finished doses owned by the U.S. government," O'Connell added.

"Further, in order to ensure we have enough vaccine for a variety of scenarios, today we announced an order of 500,000 liquid frozen Jynneos doses to be filled and finished from existing built vaccines," she said. "The additional doses will be delivered to us later this year."

The vaccines typically are provided to high-risk exposures, to prevent the person from contracting monkeypox.

More information

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has more about monkeypox.

SOURCES: June 10, 2022 media briefing with: Rochelle Walensky, MD, director, U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and Dawn O'Connell, JD, assistant secretary, preparedness and response, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said his country's forces were "doing everything" to stop the Russian offensive, with fierce battles in the east and the south.

Kyiv said Friday it had launched new air strikes in the captured southern region of Kherson, one of the first areas to be taken by Russia after the February 24 invasion.

But Zelensky said Friday "very difficult battles" were ongoing, including in the eastern Donbas region where Moscow has concentrated its firepower, especially around the eastern industrial city of Severodonetsk.

"Ukrainian troops are doing everything to stop the offensive of the occupiers," Zelensky said in an address.

In the Mykolaiv region near the front line in the south, the regional governor stressed the urgent need for international military assistance.

"Russia's army is more powerful, they have a lot of artillery and ammo. For now, this is a war of artillery... and we are out of ammo," Vitaliy Kim said.

"The help of Europe and America is very, very important."

Zelensky said in his address that Ukraine must "not allow the world to divert its attention away from what is happening on the battlefield".

In the town of Lysychansk, located just across a river from Severodonetsk, people told AFP about their stark choice: stay and brave the shelling, or flee and abandon their homes.

Yevhen Zhyryada, 39, said the only way to access water was by heading to a water distribution site in the town.

"We have to go there under shelling, and under fire," he said.

"This is how we survive."

France offers Odessa help -

Shockwaves from the conflict have reverberated around the world, with fears mounting of a global food crisis -- Ukraine is an agricultural powerhouse and a major grain exporter.

An adviser to French President Emmanuel Macron said France was ready to assist in an operation to allow safe access to Ukraine's Black Sea port of Odessa.

It has been subject to a de facto blockade by Russia, with grain waiting to be shipped.

France wants "victory for Ukraine", the advisor added, after Macron sparked controversy recently by suggesting Russia should not be humiliated.

Moscow poured its troops across the border into Ukraine on February 24 after weeks of warnings from the United States and its allies that Russia was planning an invasion.

US President Joe Biden said Friday that Zelensky had brushed off those warnings.

"There was no doubt and Zelensky didn't want to hear it nor did a lot of people," Biden said at a fundraiser. "I understand why they didn't want to hear it."

Shocking' death sentences

Western countries reacted this week with fresh outrage after the pro-Kremlin separatist authorities in the Donetsk region of the Donbas sentenced to death Britons Aiden Aslin and Shaun Pinner, and Saadun Brahim of Morocco.

Germany's foreign ministry said the "shocking" sentences show "once more Russia's complete disregard for international humanitarian law".

The United Nations warned that unfair trials of prisoners of war amounted to war crimes.

Zelensky separately praised British leadership and its support for Kyiv's fight against Russia during an unannounced visit from UK Defence Secretary Ben Wallace.

"Weapons, finance, sanctions -- on these three issues, Britain shows leadership," Zelensky said in a video statement.

Kyiv has been critical of countries -- including Germany and France -- for the slow delivery of aid and for giving too much credence to negotiations with Russia's President Vladimir Putin.

Not 'artificially created

Russia has repeatedly cautioned the West against getting involved in the conflict, with some officials warning of the risk of nuclear war.

The world's chemical weapons watchdog said Friday it was keeping a close eye on Ukraine to monitor "threats of use of toxic chemicals as weapons".

Putin has said that what Russia calls its special military operation is meant to "de-Nazify" Ukraine, suggesting he is merely taking territory back.

But US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin issued scathing criticism of the invasion and its aims on Saturday.

"Russia's invasion... (is) what happens when big powers decide that their imperial appetites matter more than the rights of their peaceful neighbours," he said at the Shangri-La Dialogue security summit in Singapore.

"And it's a preview of a possible world of chaos and turmoil that none of us would want to live in."

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Fears for Italy's food sector after swine fever detected in pigs on farm near Rome.

About 1,000 pigs are to be slaughtered in the Lazio region after two pigs tested positive for African swine fever (ASF) on a small family farm in the Rome area.

The two infected pigs were killed immediately, along with seven others on the farm, as veterinary authorities prepare to slaughter all pigs within a 10-km radius of the site, an estimated 1,000 animals.

Angelo Ferrari, the government's special commissioner in charge of tackling swine fever, has also ordered the culling of "at least" 400 wild boar in the Lazio region around Rome, reports state broadcaster RAI.

In early May swine fever was detected in wild boar in the city's northern Insugherata nature reserve, prompting authorities to ban picnics and seal off bins in a "red zone", covering a large area of north and north-west Rome.

The cull, scheduled to take place within 30 days, will see 200 wild boar killed in the "protected regional areas" and 200 killed "outside these areas", reports news agency ANSA.

The city's Grande Raccordo Anulare ringroad is also set to be fenced off in the coming days, according to RAI.

Swine fever, a highly contagious viral disease, is fatal to pigs and wild hogs but is not transmitted to humans.

Italian farmers have long called for the culling of wild boar whose population in the Rome area has risen to more than 20,000.

Italy's farming groups describe the passing of swine fever from wild boar to pigs as a "disaster that was waiting to happen", amid growing concerns for Italy's 8 billion pork sector which employs around 50,000 people.

The detection of swine fever in Rome follows an isolated outbreak of the disease earlier this year in the northwest Italian regions of Liguria and Piemonte where containment measures are also underway.

However, unlike Lazio, the cases of swine fever in Liguria and Piemonte have so far only affected wild boar - 144 cases according to the last update - and not pigs.
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Elon Musk sent out an email to Tesla employees last week informing them that remote work is no longer acceptable. Hes not alone: A growing number of companies have put workers on notice that the work-at-home habits born of the pandemic will no longer cut it. Wp Get the full experience. Choose your plan ArrowRight But many employees are pushing back, arguing that they get more done at home. Some have won reprieves, or limited the number of days theyre required to come into the office. Others have simply quit, raising the question of whether remote work  which has long been called telecommuting  has finally arrived.

If so, a long-forgotten group of visionaries, futurists and urban planners who hatched the idea will finally be vindicated. Our contemporary embrace of remote work, it turns out, is less the product of the pandemic than it is the culmination of ideas born of a strange confluence of personalities and events a half century ago.

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In 1963, an urban planner named Frederick Memmott published an article that imagined how certain activities that presently require transportation might be adequately served by communications. The workday commute was an obvious place to start. What if employees communicated with the office instead of commuting to it?

For the most part, no surprise, this remained a far-fetched idea. The technology simply wasnt there. Though it was possible to hold conference calls by phone, the practice remained rare, particularly if it entailed expensive long-distance calls.

The closest thing to a tech-driven solution to Memmotts proposition emerged from the Apollo moon-landing program, which relied on a government-funded teleconferencing network connecting far-flung groups of scientists, engineers, managers and contractors.

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This system consisted of 11 different Apollo Action Centers located around the country. These large conference rooms, each linked to the others via speaker phones, could also transmit information at 50 kilobytes per second (current transmission speeds are nearly a thousand times faster).

Though these centers lacked videoconferencing technology, they could share overhead transparencies, or viewgraphs, using a technology akin to a fax machine. Top transmission speed was 40 seconds an image, though most took four minutes to transmit.

The system did not allow employees to work from home. But it offered clear evidence that substituting electronic communication for the movement of people paid dividends. One study found that every dollar spent on building and operating the teleconferencing system saved NASA $9.47 in travel and other expenses.

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The implications of this experiment wouldnt become relevant to a wider audience until the 1970s. The individual who arguably did the most to turn remote work into something realistic was the engineer Jack Nilles, who is generally credited with coining the word telecommuting.

A self-described rocket scientist, Nilles had worked for NASA and other government agencies in the 1960s before landing at the University of Southern California in 1970. He joined an interdisciplinary research team that eventually put the lessons of the space program into practice.

In their most famous experiment, Nilles and his team launched a pilot program with an insurance company that repurposed the Apollo Action Centers. Rather than have all the employees report to an office in the central business district, the program created a network of regional offices, with employees expected to report to the center nearest their homes.

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Several years later, an assessment of the program came to many of the same conclusions that NASA did: Telecommuting saved money. It also reduced traffic congestion and energy use.

This last point might have attracted little notice the previous decade. But after OPEC launched the oil embargo in 1973, the US was desperate to reduce gas consumption, and Nilles had a solution. By decades end, telecommuting had become a popular buzzword in public-policy circles.

Moreover, several technical developments made the idea increasingly feasible. These included the advent of computer networks, with the forerunner of the Internet operational by 1971; the related rise of email; the growing use of the modulator/demodulator, or modem; and the advent of networked word-processing programs.

By the late 1970s, a small but growing cohort of white-collar employees worked from home on portable terminals linked to central offices. A manufacturer of these terminals  Digital Equipment Corporation, most prominently  launched work-at-home programs for employees. One company spokesperson confidently declared:

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As prices of computer hardware come down, it becomes ever more practical to install work equipment at home when desired.

The futurist Alvin Tofflers best-selling book, The Third Wave, published in 1980, pushed the idea into the mainstream. In characteristically breathless prose, Toffler hailed the rise of the electronic cottage, as workers harried by the long commutes dialed into the office from home.

All these developments seemed to suggest that everyone would soon be telecommuting, putting an end to pesky commutes. The arrival of the personal computer, which obviated the need for bringing home big bulky terminals from work, made it seem, as Toffler confidently predicted, that much of the nations workforce would never leave their electronic cottages.

Things turned out a bit differently. For starters, the end of the energy crisis undercut one of the primary reasons telecommuting had been so appealing in the first place. Critics of the practice also threw cold water on many companies plans. These included unions like the AFL-CIO, which argued that it was next to impossible to enforce wage laws and safety codes at home.

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Far more significant opposition came from managers. Though telecommuting became more commonplace through the 1980s and 1990s, bosses were skeptical that workers would use their time effectively. Stories of their paying surprise visits to employees at home  only to find that they were running a daycare business on the side  made the rounds during this era.

Still, it was inevitable that telecommuting would become increasingly common with the advent of the Internet, and after 2000 it did. Before the pandemic, 51 million full-time workers  approximately a third of the nations workforce  reported telecommuting for at least part of their jobs. That said, the number working more than half the time from home was much smaller: 3% to 4%.

Perhaps the pandemic will finally turn remote work into a permanent reality. But the decades-long campaign to turn our homes into electronic cottages (or sweatshops, depending on your perspective) suggests that change will come slowly, if steadily. Recent research highlighting losses in productivity during the pandemic may also blunt enthusiasm. And the pendulum that has favored workers in the current tight job market is bound to swing back to the bosses side sooner or later, giving managers more power to set the rules.

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In other words, managers eager to see a return to the office may well prevail, even as remote work becomes an integral, if modest, part of many jobs. This messy mix of in-person and remote work will disappoint the futurists among us. But it may well offer the best of both worlds.

More on Remote Work From Bloomberg Opinion:

 Are Workers More Productive at Home?: Justin Fox

 Return to the Office? Managers Shouldnt Overstate the Benefits: Sarah Green Carmichael

 Five Days a Week in the Office? Its Better for Everyone: Allison Schrager

This column does not necessarily reflect the opinion of the editorial board or Bloomberg LP and its owners.

Stephen Mihm, a professor of history at the University of Georgia, is coauthor of Crisis Economics: A Crash Course in the Future of Finance.

More stories like this are available on bloomberg.com/opinion

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Were now in a very weird pandemic phase. On Twitter, doctors such as Eric Topol sound five-alarm warnings about the latest subvariants of omicron. Offline, even in blue states, people are back to parties, bars and restaurants  and will soon be flying around the world with no testing requirements to return to the US. Things feel as if theyve lost any coherence. Theres no discernible strategy or guidance on what Covid precautions we should still be taking.

Danish social scientist Michael Bang Petersen, of Aarhus University, told me that familiarity with Covid is changing peoples attitudes. Many stopped fearing the virus once they contracted it and recovered. In Denmark, he said, studies show 80% of the population has been infected. Here in the US, a similar study showed about 60% had had Covid as of last February  before the latest wave started.

And people are taking cues from those around them. Social signals are really important, he said, so its very difficult to keep your guard up when others are going back to normal. Behavior can change in a cascading way. People wonder why they should bother if nobody else is. Thats straight out of basic psychology of collective action, said Bang Petersen.

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Of course, some people are still being cautious and still have not caught Covid, such as epidemiologist Michael Osterholm of the Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy.

He wears an N95 mask in public, limits his social contacts, sometimes asks guests to test first, and avoids restaurants. Theres probably more transmission of SARS-CoV-2 in the last 30 days than there had been in any 30-day period in the entire pandemic, he said.

He admits this is based on his own anecdotal observations. The important point is that nobody has a good idea how many cases are occurring out there because were seeing only a fraction of the tests that have been done. Many people are testing at home, and others may not be testing at all.

And that means its hard to adapt our behavior to the situation  the way public health officials urged us to do during previous waves. Osterholm added that compared with previous surges, there are relatively few deaths this time, so the death rate is getting closer to something people are used to seeing with flu. We dont really know for certain how to act, Osterholm said. Weve never been expected to change our everyday lives because of influenza. But that might all change again if the next variant is more dangerous.

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Reporters at a Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Health press briefing this week wanted to know whether the pandemic was over. The answer, given by Tom Inglesby, MD, director of the Center for Health Security, was no. The other critical question was whether it still made sense to try to curb cases. Inglesby said it did  but stopped short of recommending universal masking or social distancing. He did stress ventilation, which could suppress superspreading events, as well as making sure high-quality masks are available for those who want them.

Bang Petersen said that, going forward, public health authorities need to acknowledge that those and other pandemic restrictions were costly, and not just in economic or educational terms. We know from research that social isolation is something that has a number of costs in terms of well-being. Its bad for our mental and physical health. And constant mask-wearing is isolating. Its hard to hear, to connect, to communicate with others.

Thats a point that often gets lost on scientists and public health experts. The fact that people are socializing again, without masks, doesnt mean theyve stopped caring about their health or the health of older, more vulnerable people. Socializing for many people isnt something frivolous. Its vital for their mental health.

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So theres hope for a more coherent future, Bang Petersen said, as long as public health officials take the social and emotional costs into account, and impose only rules or recommendations that have a substantial, science-backed benefit. That means pushing for better ventilation in buildings, creating more compelling booster campaigns, and issuing clearer guidelines to help older and more vulnerable people avoid unnecessary risks. And be prepared for future variants  by continuing to do the genetic sequencing needed to find them and planning for action if something more deadly crops up.

The pandemics end is not playing out in the jubilant way it was supposed to last year when the White House had planned to declare independence from Covid on July 4.

I think people are just psychologically done with Covid, Osterhom said. If you look back at the 1918 experience  In 1918 and 1919, there were multiple waves, it wasnt just 1918. And people were quite compliant with public health recommendations, limiting public gatherings, etc. By the spring of 1920 when it got just past a second year, people said, Ah, forget it, you know, were going to move on.

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More from Bloomberg Opinion:

 Covid Boosters, Like Flu Shots, Need a Yearly Schedule: Lisa Jarvis

 Covid Testing Fliers From Outside US Is Unnecessary: Tyler Cowen

 Gen Z, Gen X and Millennials All Basically Agree on WFH: Chris Hughes

This column does not necessarily reflect the opinion of the editorial board or Bloomberg LP and its owners.

Faye Flam is a Bloomberg Opinion columnist covering science. She is host of the Follow the Science podcast.

More stories like this are available on bloomberg.com/opinion

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The arrest of an armed man outside the home of Justice Brett Kavanaugh earlier this week marks a significant milestone in the history of the US Supreme Court. Now that the justices and their families need permanent, professional and close security, as they unquestionably do, there will be no going back. The court building at One First St. NE will continue its transformation into a garrisoned fortress, not the marble palace of the peoples justice it was built to be.

The individual and collective isolation of the justices will be deepened, distancing them further from the currents of ordinary life. Increasingly, they will lose their identities as normal people, disappearing into their symbolic roles. Their lives are changed irrevocably.

This now inevitable development isnt just bad for the justices. Its bad for democracy. And its terrible for the rule of law, which benefits when the justices can do their jobs with a minimum of spillover into their personal lives.

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For more than 200 years, the justices have mostly lived charmed lives, at least from the standpoint of high government officials. From John Marshall through Thurgood Marshall and up to the present day, there has been only one recorded attempt to kill a justice, in 1889 (Justice Stephen Johnson Fields bodyguard, a U.S. marshal, killed the assailant). Someone shot a bullet through Justice Harry Blackmuns apartment window in 1985, but police determined that the incident was probably random.

Except for some exceptionally tumultuous periods, the justices names were hardly known: As recently as 2018, more than half of Americans couldnt name a single one of the nine members. Their faces were close to anonymous. In Washington DC in the late 1990s, I witnessed the greeter at the Capital Grille  a restaurant five minutes from the court  ask Justice David Souter if he was with the Souter party that had made a reservation (I suppose I am, he replied modestly and wryly).

Why has that changed now?

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One reason cant be ignored. The man outside Kavanaughs home who was charged with attempted murder was, among other things, reportedly incensed about the Supreme Courts impending reversal of Roe v. Wade and with it the federal right to abortion. Just as resistance to Roe engendered murderous attacks on abortion doctors and clinics over the decades, its reversal might inflame passions to an extent we cant yet anticipate and make some people crazy. We do know that the court hasnt rolled back basic individual liberties like this ever in its history. The crumbling of the institutional norms  exemplified by the leak of Justice Samuel Alitos draft majority opinion  flows directly from the radicalism of whats apparently coming.

Of course, the justices should be able to make decisions  even ones that are terribly wrong  without their lives being threatened. Liberals who believe in the rule of law will not play down those threats. The liberal justices are going to need protection just as much as the conservatives. Soon-to-be Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson will be as much in jeopardy as Justice Amy Coney Barrett.

Conservatives and liberals alike should be able to agree that the changes in the justices way of doing business is the proximate cause of the heightened rage at the court  even as they argue about who is to blame. Opponents of Roe bemoan the disrespect for the institution coming from liberals and, in the case of Justice Kavanaugh, point to the emotionally charged demonstrations that targeted him during his confirmation hearings.

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For their part, supporters of Roe accuse the conservative justices of breaking the courts norms as one of the triggers. They cite the storming of the US Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, as a precedent for political violence that conservative politicians have soft-pedaled and condoned, and also note that radical anti-abortionists have been the ones to use weapons. Both sides have a point.

National craziness has consequences in a highly polarized country in which the Capitol can be stormed and would-be shooters cant be tracked, let alone disarmed, because of the limits of existing gun regulations.

In 2021, more than 4,500 threats and other inappropriate communications were directed at federal judges, according to the head of the U.S. Marshals Service. In 2020, a gunman with a grudge attacked the home of federal judge Esther Salas in New Jersey, killing her son and seriously injuring her husband. Just last week in Wisconsin, a gunman with several politicians on his target list killed a retired judge who had sentenced him years earlier.

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Gone are the days when Supreme Court justices avoided the negativity that most public officials must sometimes confront  when they could walk the streets alone or with their families without attracting attention, positive or negative.

That luxury  innocence, if you will  served the country. It lowered the temperature for even the courts high-profile rulings. Todays feverish atmosphere is unusual. But the consequences for how the justices live will be permanent.

More on the Supreme Court From Bloomberg Opinion:

 US Justices Are Looking More Like Politicians: Noah Feldman

 Supreme Court Has a Nasty Surprise in Store for Business: Noah Feldman

 Supreme Courts Leak Investigation Is Self-Destructive: Stephen L. Carter

(In the fifth paragraph, corrected to say that a bullet went through Justice Harry Blackmuns apartment window, not through the window of his Supreme Court chambers. The police determined that the attack was probably random.)

This column does not necessarily reflect the opinion of the editorial board or Bloomberg LP and its owners.

Noah Feldman is a Bloomberg Opinion columnist. A professor of law at Harvard University, he is author, most recently, of The Broken Constitution: Lincoln, Slavery and the Refounding of America.

More stories like this are available on bloomberg.com/opinion

2022 Bloomberg L.P.

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Hundreds of people and several lawmakers protested Saturday in southern Lebanon against Israel moving a gas production vessel into an offshore field partly claimed by Beirut.

The demonstration comes just days before the US envoy mediating maritime border talks between the two neighbours is expected in Lebanon, and after the ship operated by London-listed Energean Plc arrived in the Karish gas field last week.

Several hundred people waved Lebanese and Palestinian flags at Lebanon's border town of Naqoura to protest Israel's claim on the area where the Karish field is located, an AFP correspondent said.

"We absolutely refuse to neglect Lebanon's maritime resources, which belong to all Lebanese," said lawmaker Firas Hamdan, reading a joint statement from 13 independent parliamentarians, most of whom were newly elected last month.

Lebanon and Israel have no diplomatic relations and are separated by a UN-patrolled border.

Lebanon's president and prime minister have condemned Israel for moving the vessel into the Karish field, and have invited US envoy Amos Hochstein to Beirut for mediation.

Hochstein is scheduled to arrive in Lebanon on Monday for a two-day visit, according to the US State Department.

Lebanon's powerful Iran-backed Hezbollah group this week warned Energean against proceeding with its activities.

Lebanon and Israel resumed negotiations over their maritime frontier in 2020, but the process was stalled by Beirut's claim that the map used by the United Nations in the talks needed modifying.

Lebanon initially demanded 860 square kilometres (330 square miles) of territory in the disputed maritime area but then asked for an additional 1,430 square kilometres (552 square miles), including part of Karish.

The independent lawmakers said in Saturday's statement that they supported Lebanon's claim to part of Karish.

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A blistering state report on Baltimores ailing Back River Wastewater Treatment Plant made public Thursday detailed systemic problems plaguing the facility, including failures at nearly every level. Wp Get the full experience. Choose your plan ArrowRight The report was produced by the Maryland Environmental Service, which took over the plant in late March. It laid out a variety of infrastructure problems that have caused solid waste to build up in various parts of the sewage treatment process at the plant, leading to excessive releases of harmful bacteria and nutrients.

But it also dove into problems with management, safety and staffing, blasting Baltimore Department of Public Works officials for a lack of leadership and providing a first look at a failing culture inside the facility, where problems first became public last summer.

In addition to a litany of mechanical fixes, the report recommended the hiring of several new employees, including an on-site safety manager, a training and certification manager, and a biosolids manager with two supporting staff members, focused on processing solid waste.

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A spokeswoman for the citys Department of Public Works emphasized that the issues at the plant predate public works director Jason Mitchell, who started in 2021, adding that the department has a renewed commitment to continuing to address these challenges, including governance, operations, and employee safety under his leadership.

We fully recognize the long-standing challenges impacting the treatment plant and implementation of solutions to remedy these issues are already underway, spokeswoman Yolanda Winkler wrote in an email. Several of them have already been addressed.

In a statement, Maryland Secretary of the Environment Horacio Tablada wrote that the report reflects conditions at the facility and provides useful information as we all work toward improving its performance. MDE is committed to working with MES and Baltimore City leadership to ensure that the plant comes into compliance with its permit.

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Meanwhile, recent reports from the citys second wastewater plant  the Patapsco Wastewater Treatment Plant  indicate mechanical issues there are continuing to worsen, resulting in pollution overflows and calls from environmental groups for that plant to come under state control as well.

In its report about the Back River plant, the Environmental Service found that all of the various shops in the facility were understaffed by 25 percent to 50 percent, with 50 vacancies in operations staff (about half of the team) and 44 vacancies across its other departments.

Its report described a lack of succession planning and training for new managers, adding that most managers at the facility have only been in their current positions a few years due to turnover.

The plant has endured years of neglect, in part because of a failure to track the life cycle of equipment in a centralized way, according to the report. The facility largely scorned preventive maintenance, perhaps due to understaffing, instead repairing machinery only after it broke.

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The plants automation also does not work, meaning that most equipment runs on manual mode and controls rigged to keep them from tripping out.

The Environmental Service report catalogued dangerous conditions at the plant, such as pervasive sludge spills, broken doors leading to birds and other wildlife taking up residency in buildings, electrical panels left open and exposed, insufficient lighting and rusting catwalks  even after an employee fell to her death through a deteriorating catwalk in Baltimores other wastewater treatment plant in 2019.

Most of the facilitys valves, pumps, blowers, mixers, and controls are not functional. Pumps are plugged with trash, drains are clogged, and floors are covered with water or sludge, read the report. The lack of maintenance activities or funding for repairs has caused the staff to find many unnecessary workarounds to keep the plant operating.

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But the plant has received millions of dollars in investments in recent years, including nearly a half-billion dollars for the Headworks Project, which made improvements at the beginning of the plants wastewater treatment process, including addressing a sewage bottleneck at the plant entrance. But even as the project was being unveiled, mechanical problems later in the process were becoming more dire. Eventually solid waste began to overwhelm various parts of the system, leading to the state takeover.

The report described a frustrated workforce with little supervision from plant management  and inadequate training.

Staffers from the Maryland Environmental Service observed plant employees sleeping in their cars during the work day and washing each others personal vehicles in exchange for payment or free lunch. They also observed apprentices at the plant training other apprentices, which the report dubbed a recipe for failure.

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The Back River WWTP management team seems to have trouble disciplining employees when necessary; the thought of firing someone appears nonexistent, the report reads.

The report also described infighting between different groups of employees, including the maintenance and operations staffs, adding that verbal and physical altercations between employees have been observed on both the supervisory and subordinate level.

When a team of about a dozen workers from MES arrived at the plant, following an emergency order from then-Maryland Secretary of the Environment Ben Grumbles, they encountered a persistent lack of urgency among staff, according to Thursdays report.

Based on what MES has seen in the roughly two months at this facility, the gravity of this issue does not seem to resonate with DPW staff as their response to the MDE order seems to have been met with a business as usual approach, the report read.

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For example, at an initial weekly meeting on April 1, MES and city staffers discussed bringing potable water into the plant that would help with removing solid materials as needed. According to the report, the DPW director defended the citys slow movement on the water line, stating that it has only been seven days since Grumbles order was issued.

The MDE representative at the meeting reminded DPW that it had actually been 7 months of noncompliance, the report stated.

When the issue came up again at a May 16 meeting, a DPW official said it would get something started soon. Discussions about how to streamline the citys procurement process for Back River also appeared slow-moving, the report noted.

Meanwhile, the Department of Public Works director frequently did not attend meetings about the plant, and the head of its Bureau of Water and Wastewater employed a defensive attitude, which the report stated does not bode well in expecting workers to be responsible and accountable.

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There are many dedicated employees who want to see changes and bring the Back River facility back to being a world class facility, the report said, but they see no reason to jeopardize their livelihood and retirements in fighting the management team.

Problems at the plant first came to light in August, when water-quality monitoring from local nonprofit Blue Water Baltimore flagged high bacteria levels outside Baltimore Citys second plant along the Patapsco River. After the groups findings, state environmental regulators conducted increasingly frequent inspections at both plants and sued the city over the plants environmental woes in January.

The city also faces a suit from Blue Water Baltimore.

In March, after a fish kill in Back River, inspectors returned to the plant again and issued a report that Grumbles deemed evidence of the potential for catastrophic failure at the facility. If the city couldnt bring Back River into compliance in 48 hours, the state would be taking charge of the effort, Grumbles said.

The city balked at Grumbles order, filing a court challenge that has yet to be adjudicated. The city is on the hook to pay for the MES efforts, according to state law.

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TEHRAN, Iran  Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro and Irans hard-line president signed a 20-year cooperation agreement Saturday, a day after Maduro praised the Islamic Republic for sending badly needed fuel to his nation despite U.S. sanctions. Are you on Telegram? Subscribe to our channel for the latest updates on Russia's war in Ukraine. ArrowRight In an interview with President Maduro after his arrival in Tehran for a two-day visit, Iranian state media reported late Friday that Maduro hailed Irans move to send fuel tankers to his energy-hungry nation.

Tehrans delivery of oil to Caracas was a great help to the Venezuelan people, he said.

Maduros first visit to Iran comes amid tensions across the Middle East over the collapse of Irans nuclear deal with world powers. U.S. sanctions and rising global food prices are choking Irans ailing economy, putting further pressure on its government and its people.

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A high-ranking political and economic delegation from Venezuela  which like Iran is under heavy U.S. sanctions  is accompanying Maduro on his visit, following an invitation from hard-line President Ebrahim Raisi.

In a joint press conference Saturday, Raisi and Maduro signed a 20-year agreement to expand ties in the oil and petrochemical industries, the military and the economy.

Iranian English-language PressTV quoted Maduro before the news conference as saying the two men would meet to discuss the need to well inform the Iranian and Venezuelan nations about the war of sanctions and find ways to counter them with steadfastness.

Maduro said Venezuela and Iran are united by a common vision on international issues and are both victims of coercive measures by the United States and its allies.

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Caracas and Tehran have shaped the strategy of (a) resistance economy and are working to expand it, he said.

On his website, Khamenei said that the successful experience of the two countries showed that the only way to face the United States pressures and wars is to resist. He thanked Maduro and the people of Venezuela for their resistance, saying that today, the United States views Venezuela differently.

Maduro is on a Eurasia tour after President Joe Biden decided not to invite him to the Summit of the Americas, which began Thursday. His stops earlier this week included Algeria and Turkey.

Turkey is one of a handful of places around the world  Russia and Iran are among them  where Maduro is welcome amid U.S. sanctions on his country.

Venezuela, Cuba and Nicaragua were not invited to the summit by the Biden administration due to their authoritarianism and human rights violations. That decision led to Mexicos president announcing he would not attend.

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Raisi praised Maduro as a leader who has shown a policy of fighting against imperialism and has achieved a good position by overcoming sanctions and threats.

Maduro announced that a direct flight between Tehran and Caracas would begin next month.

The semi-official Tasnim news agency later reported that Iran had delivered the oil tanker Aframax-2 to Venezuelan officials, the second of four vessels Iran was contracted to build for the South American country.

Amid rising tensions with the West, Iran has started removing 27 surveillance cameras from nuclear sites across the country, the head of the U.N. atomic watchdog said Thursday. He warned this could deal a fatal blow to the tattered nuclear deal as Tehran enriches uranium closer than ever to weapons-grade levels.

That development came a day after the International Atomic Energy Agencys board of governors censured Tehran for failing to provide credible information over manufactured nuclear material found at three undeclared sites in the country.

Irans currency dropped to its lowest value ever after the censure  to 327,500 rials to the dollar.

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It was news around the world when outspoken Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny was taken off a flight to Moscow - moaning in pain - after an emergency landing almost two years ago.

While Russian President Vladimir Putins highest-profile political opponent was still in a coma in a Berlin hospital, toxicology tests revealed that he had been poisoned by the Soviet-style nerve agent Novichok.

Alexei Navalny gets a Russian agent to reveal in a phone call details of the plot to poison him in the documentary. Credit:Sydney Film Festival

Now a gripping new documentary chronicles the remarkable scenes as Navalny - not long out of hospital - confronts the Russian agents who tried to murder him.

Navalny remains in a Russian prison, initially sentenced to two-and-a-half-years for a parole violation then, in March this year, given a nine-year sentence on fraud and contempt of court charges that he rejects as politically motivated.
Save Log in , register or subscribe to save articles for later. Normal text size Larger text size Very large text size Just a few days into her job as a clinical care consultant at Ashley Youth Detention Centre, Alysha heard a senior staff member tell a young inmate he would turn him into an owl. When Alysha asked what this meant, the jail worker said it involved bashing the young man so severely his head would resemble an owls concave face. Im going to cave his face in, she recalls the senior public servant saying. Alysha started work at the detention centre in northern Tasmania in October 2019. Her job was to help staff rehabilitate troubled child and teen inmates. The owl comment came out of the blue, but she had no time to stay shocked: within weeks, she says she was confronted by a series of escalating incidents. In her first extensive interview since becoming a key whistleblower in one of Australias worst abuse scandals, she has revealed her belief that sexual and other abuse of vulnerable children and teen detainees was systemically covered up or mishandled, including by senior Tasmanian public servants. In paperwork kept in locked cabinets and archived CCTV footage, Alysha discovered allegations that continue to haunt her. For almost 100 years, youth offenders in Tasmania have been sent to the Ashley facility at Deloraine, west of Launceston. Credit:Luke Bowden, ABC News But when she first raised her concerns inside the youth jail, colleagues pulled her aside to offer informal advice. Snitches get stitches, was one piece of guidance. Fit in, or f--- off was another, from a senior public servant. A third warned her that a senior manager at the centre had been denigrating her to other staff by describing her as a Japanese f---doll.

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Eventually, she would raise her concerns with two Tasmanian premiers, as well as a commission of inquiry which, within weeks, is likely to call her as a key witness. To date, 32 Tasmanian public servants have been stood down pending the commissions findings. Rachel* was 14 years old when she was remanded at Ashley Youth Detention Centre for stealing a bag of chips in 2012. Homeless and without an address she could be bailed to, she stayed there for two months. Her punishment would be far worse than the loss of liberty. A decade on, Rachel remains nervous as she recalls her first night locked in Ashley, one of the few youth jails in Australia where females and males are detained together. I was the first girl that had been in there for about a year, so I remember the boys were very excited to see me. I had people banging on my window, and yelling out to me, she says. Rachel speaks about her traumatic experiences at the Ashley Youth Detention Centre. Credit:Nine But she says the first person to sexually assault her wasnt an inmate, rather a medically untrained youth worker who was supposed to be treating her for an upset stomach.

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I felt violated and it was really uncomfortable. It wasnt what I asked for. I needed medical assistance, she recalls. A current Ashley staff member, who spoke to this masthead on the condition of anonymity, confirmed the assault and that Rachel was encouraged to report it to the ombudsman. Paperwork confirms she did. The ombudsman wrote back, suggesting the incident  which should have been reported to police  be handled internally. Rachel says the perpetrator disappeared on paid leave, but returned a fortnight later. I had to continue working with him in programs. It was horrible, she says. The same worker who confirmed that account supported another of Rachels allegations: that another male staff member entered her cell and stared at the naked 14-year-old while she showered. Rachel says it was reported but again minimised. She says her complaints made things worse. She was labelled a dog by staff and inmates. A few weeks later, staff left her unsupervised with several male inmates, who she says sexually assaulted her. It was the [Ashley] workers who left me. They had a duty of care to look after me. It could have been 100 per cent prevented, she says.

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Senior lawyer Angela Sdrinis, who is representing Rachel as she prepares to sue the state government, says the young womans story is far from isolated. Sdrinis is representing more than 150 former Ashley inmates who allege they were abused there over several decades when they were aged between 10 and 18. What strikes Sdrinis most is that their allegations are often so similar, even though many happened years apart. They include the use of isolation and strip-searching as punishment, in breach of internal prison policies and, possibly, criminal law. Very often, they involve the same alleged perpetrators: officials who worked, or still work, at Ashley who either covered up abuse committed by inmates, failed to prevent it or allegedly participated in it themselves. Lawyer Angela Sdrinis is representing Rachel and at least 150 other clients who claim they were abused while incarcerated at the Ashley Youth Detention Centre. Credit:ABC A few of the allegations involving Sdrinis clients have been confirmed in previous criminal cases. One, Andrew*, was 14 when in 2007 he was placed in an Ashley cell with an older inmate, a known sexual predator. Then the two guards meant to be monitoring the teens both took their smoko. I was punched to the side of the jaw and then I was raped, Andrew recalls. To this day I remember exactly how it happened. And I still see it in my brain because there was no help. Andrews case was reported to police. His abuser was convicted and jailed for an attack that Andrew believes was preventable. But the involvement of police makes Andrews case a rarity among Sdrinis clients. Of the five official inquiries that have raised damning concerns about the treatment of inmates at Ashley during its almost 100-year history (including a 2016 report calling for the centre to be closed), a clear theme emerges: the expectation that prison staff would keep complaints quiet and deflect external scrutiny.

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It was no different for Alysha, even though she arrived at the prison as a staff member in October 2019. Within her first few days, Alysha says she encountered routine verbal degradation of inmates, whose numbers fluctuate from a few dozen to less than 10. She recalls staff regularly calling inmates little c---s, little shits, f---ing useless pieces of shit. As days became weeks, she also began to harbour concerns that certain staff had weaponised the prisons safety and discipline procedures. Isolating inmates (a form of solitary confinement) was supposed to be a carefully managed last resort, but she noticed it happening informally to punish children or because staffing was inadequate. Alysha says two staff members confided to her that they were told by superiors to backdate documents authorising the use of isolation. Alysha took her concerns about the treatment of youngsters at the Ashley Youth detention Centre to the Tasmanian premier. Credit:Ross Swanborough Strip searches also appeared to be employed at the whim of certain staff members rather than according to policies. Alysha says a requirement for modesty gowns to be used during searches was ignored. When she queried whether strip searches were being used overzealously, a veteran staff member told her that this was a way of breaking them [inmates] in. Six weeks into her job, Alysha was asked to review concerns that two older, stronger inmates were preying on younger, vulnerable boys. She accessed 12 months of files prepared by prison staff and uncovered a series of reports documenting alleged sexual assaults, including possible admissions of inmate-on-inmate rapes. Each report had been classified as a minor detention incident, meaning it avoided thorough scrutiny, within or outside the centre. The files also suggested that some Ashley staff had previously raised concerns about young inmates being exposed to harm. On August 21, 2019, a youth detention centre manager, Madeleine Gardiner, wrote to the jails senior management. Her email, leaked to The Age and The Sydney Morning Herald by an Ashley insider, warned that despite a number of incidents of serious sexually inappropriate behaviour being inflicted on a young, vulnerable inmate by the two older inmates, the victim was still being locked in a unit with his alleged perpetrators.

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A romanticised image of veterinary work as all puppies and kittens masks the disturbing reality that vets are four times more likely to die by suicide than the Australian general population, and twice as likely to do so as other health workers.

A key cause of the distress is not dealing with sick or even dying animals, but the way vets are treated by loving pet owners.

Vet Abby Main loves making a difference in the lives of animals and the people they live with, but says there are many ways in which the wellbeing of vets should be better supported. Credit:Justin McManus

Two studies, including one by the Australian Veterinary Association, have revealed the dire effects on the mental health of vets and veterinary nurses  especially those who are young women  of owners who are kind to their pets but not always to their vets.

The associations study of 2540 people working in the veterinary industry (72.2 per cent of whom identified as female) showed that 66.7 per cent reported having experienced a mental health condition linked with their work, including 41.6 per cent in the previous 12 months.
Its called the big U-turn. To get to his job in the city, Vinod Gakhar first has to spend 30 minutes going back before he can go forward.

He lives in Thornhill Park, a new estate in Melbournes booming west nestled next to the Western Freeway, between the more established suburbs of Melton and Rockbank.

There arent any arterial roads in and out of Thornhill Park, only potholed single-lane dirt tracks from when the area was paddocked farmland.

Traffic banks up at the Melton exit. Credit:Justin McManus

That leaves the Western Freeway, which carries thousands of cars each day, mostly people driving between Ballarat, Bacchus Marsh, Melton and the city.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese will fly to Paris seeking rapprochement with Emmanuel Macron after the French agreed to a lower-than-expected settlement over the cancellation of a $90-billion deal to purchase 12 submarines from the European nation.

Australia will pay French shipbuilder Naval Group $830 million in a development Albanese hopes draws a line under a scrapped contract that severely damaged ties between the two countries.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese wants an honest relationship with France. Credit:Bianca De Marchi

Albanese said he intended to have an honest relationship with France and one that is based upon integrity and mutual respect, and finalising the deal would allow the two countries to reset the absolutely vital relationship.

France is a key partner for Australia. We share those historical ties going back to the First World War and we share common interests in a stable Indo-Pacific region because France is, of course, an Indo-Pacific nation.
Sri Lanka/Singapore: At a fish market in Negombo, an hours drive north of Colombo, Mallika Fernando had a message for me via my interpreter.

Tell him to take us to Australia by boat, said the 57-year-old fish seller, as she struggled to offload what she had at her waterfront stall last week.

Vendors struggle to sell fish at a market in Negombo, Sri Lanka, last week. Credit:Pradeep Dambarage

She was only half joking. Sri Lankas crippling economic collapse has seen the prices of everything - from fish to rice, to petrol - soar, triggering a food security crisis in a nation already bankrupt.

Now, as people struggle to make ends meet, some are looking for a way out and the boats towards Australia have resumed.
Kyiv: From the battlefronts of Ukraine comes rap music  filled with the anger and indignation of a young generation that, once the fighting is done, will certainly never forget and may never forgive.

Ukrainian rapper-turned-volunteer soldier Otoy is putting the war into words and thumping basslines, tapping out lyrics under Russian shelling on his phone, with the light turned low to avoid becoming a target. It helps numb the nerve-shredding stress of combat.

Viacheslav Drofa, known as Otoy, smiles during a concert to raise funds for soldiers fighting for Ukraine in Kyiv, Ukraine, on June 5. Credit:AP

Russian soldiers drink vodka, we are making music, says the rapper, whose real name is Viacheslav Drofa, a sad-eyed 23-year-old who hadnt known he could kill until he had a Russian soldier in his sights and pulled the trigger in the wars opening weeks.

One of the ironies of the February 24 invasion launched by Russian President Vladimir Putin is that in ordering the destruction of Ukrainian towns and cities, he is fuelling one of the very things he wanted to extinguish: a rising tide of fierce Ukrainian nationalism, forged in the blood of tens of thousands of Ukrainian dead and the misery of millions who have lost loved ones, homes, livelihoods and peace.
Malian authorities, dominated by the military which seized power in a coup, announced the creation of a body to draw up a new constitution, after extending military rule till 2024.

The announcement was made late Friday in a presidential decree which stipulated that the commission would have two months to complete its job.

The body will comprise a president, two rapporteurs and experts and will consult political parties, civil society groups, armed groups which have signed a peace accord with the government, religious and traditional leaders and trade unions, the decree said.

On Monday, junta leader Colonel Assimi Goita signed a decree that said the military would run the country until March 2024, when elections would be held.

The move snubbed efforts by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) regional bloc to scale back the transition.

Mali has been run by a military junta since August 2020, when colonels angered at failures to roll back the jihadists toppled the country's elected leader, Ibrahim Boubacar Keita.

They then staged a second de-facto coup in May 2021, but reiterated a vow to hand back control by February 2022. But that was pushed back by two years this week.

ECOWAS has planned a summit on July 3 to review whether to lift tough trade and economic sanctions imposed on Mali in January.

Mali has since 2012 been rocked by a jihadist insurgency by groups linked to Al-Qaeda and the so-called Islamic State group, plunging the country into crisis.

The violence began in the north and later spread to the centre and to neighbouring Burkina Faso and Niger. Inter-communal and criminal violence is also common.

Mali's ruling junta has turned towards Russia and away from its traditional ally France in its efforts to stem the violence.

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An Alexandria Criminal Court sentenced on Saturday a 60-year-old man to death for murdering Coptic Orthodox priest Arsanios Wadid last month in the Egyptian coastal city.

The court verdict was issued after the grand mufti  the countrys top Muslim legal authority  approved the punishment, as the muftis non-binding consultative opinion is legally required in death penalty cases as per the Egyptian penal code.

The 56-year-old victim  a priest at the Church of the Virgin Mary and Mar Boulos  was stabbed to death on the evening of 7 April as he was walking along the Mediterranean corniche in Alexandrias Sidi Bishr District.

The assailant was apprehended hours later and confessed to the crime.

The defendant later adjusted his confession, however, claiming that the knife found in his possession was just for self-defence and that he was not aware of what he was doing on the day of the incident, according to the prosecution.

The prosecution added that a mental health evaluation determined that the man showed no signs of a psychological disorder and was fully cognisant and possessed agency while committing the crime.

The prosecution also checked surveillance cameras at the crime scene and obtained the testimonies of 17 eyewitnesses.

Furthermore, the prosecution later learned that he had joined extremist groups and he had also previously served a 20-year prison sentence for joining an outlawed group.

Oddly enough, the suspect refused to be defended by a lawyer, choosing instead to simply deny the charges levelled against him.

On 18 May, the court referred a preliminary death sentence for the defendant to the countrys mufti.

Todays ruling is not final and can be appealed before the countrys Court of Cassation.

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Allentown, PA (18103)

Today

Mostly sunny and warm but still quite comfortable for mid-June. .

Tonight

Becoming mostly cloudy and more humid with a shower or thunderstorm possible late, especially from the Lehigh Valley points west.
Reading, PA (19601)

Today

Mostly sunny and warm but still quite comfortable for mid-June. .

Tonight

Becoming mostly cloudy and more humid with a shower or thunderstorm possible late, especially from the Lehigh Valley points west.
Toby Marlow and Lucy Moss, co-writers of Six, have been announced as the writers of this year's Tony Awards opening number.

The pair, who originated the multi-award-winning musical about the six wives of Henry VIII as a student show almost exactly have a decade ago, have penned the start to this year's prestigious ceremony at Radio City Hall in New York.

Oscar winner Ariana DeBose (West Side Story) is hosting the ceremony and has been rehearsing the number this week, sharing tidbits of choreography.

The Tonys will be taking place tomorrow night, with WhatsOnStage coming to you live from the red carpet and winners room with all the latest coverage and reactions.

This year's nominations are led by A Strange Loop in the musicals category with The Lehman Trilogy, first seen at the National Theatre, leading the plays. You can find out more here.

Other shows set to perform tomorrow night include The Music Man, MJ, Company, Girl from the North Country, Six and the original cast of Spring Awakening'', 15 years after their Tonys opening.
President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi has expressed support for Yemens Presidential Leadership Councils efforts to reach a just and sustainable political solution that brings peace and an end to suffering in the country.

Earlier on Saturday, El-Sisi received Head of Yemen's Presidential Leadership Council Rashad Al-Alimi in Cairo, where they discussed the latest developments in the conflict-torn country as well as means of boosting bilateral cooperation.

In a joint press briefing with Al-Alimi following the meeting, El-Sisi said he affirmed Egypt's full support for the unity, independence, and territorial integrity of the Yemeni state.

"The security and stability of Yemen is of great importance to Egypt and the entire Arab world," the Egyptian president stressed.

The conflict in Yemen started in 2014 when the Houthi rebels overran the capital of Sanaa and ousted the internationally recognised government from power.

Egypt has since pushed for a political solution in Yemen that would meet the aspirations of the Yemeni people in achieving stability and development and end the extended humanitarian crisis.

During Saturday's briefing, the Egyptian president also voiced support for all efforts aimed at achieving peace in Yemen in line with Yemens National Dialogue, the Gulf initiative and its executive mechanisms, the outcomes of the recent Yemeni consultations in Riyadh under the auspices of the Gulf Cooperation Council, and the relevant UN Security Council resolutions.

El-Sisi reiterated that Egypt welcomes the two-month renewal of the truce agreement in Yemen announced by the United Nations earlier this month, voicing appreciation for the legitimate Yemeni government for respecting its obligations under the terms of the agreement.

He also called on all parties to fully implement the terms of the agreement, saying "this represents a positive development that can be built upon to launch a comprehensive political process in Yemen."

Egypt has responded to the request of the legitimate Yemeni government and the United Nations to operate direct flights between the airports of Cairo and Sanaa to alleviate the suffering of the Yemeni people and to support all efforts that are in their favour, he stressed.

A Yemeni aircraft left the rebel-held capital Sanaa for Cairo on 1 June, marking the first commercial flight between the two cities since 2016.

Red Sea, Bab Al-Mandeb Strait, Arabian Gulf

The meeting also stressed the need for concerted efforts to protect the security and freedom of navigation in the Red Sea, Bab Al-Mandeb Strait and the Arabian Gulf, El-Sisi noted, adding that this vital issue is linked to regional and international security and stability.

The discussion also touched on the looming crisis posed by the Safer oil tanker and the need for concerted international efforts to resolve this crisis as soon as possible by providing the necessary support and funding for the relevant UN plan, El-Sisi underscored.

The tanker has been moored in the Red Sea, north of the Yemeni city of Hodeidah, which is under the control of the Houthis, with almost no maintenance since 2015 due to the war.

There are fears of an environmental disaster that would affect all countries bordering the Red Sea if the ship explodes or leaks its cargo, which amounts to more than 1.1 million barrels of light crude oil.

The UN is seeking $144 million to fund the salvage operation of the decaying tanker.

The meeting also tackled the threats to the security of the international navigation amid the growing hostile acts backed by Iran, Al-Alimi added.

Bilateral cooperation

The talks also touched upon means of strengthening cooperation between the two countries in various fields, especially in infrastructure development and energy projects, El-Sisi noted.

El-Sisi said Egypt will spare no effort in helping Yemen, expressing its keenness to provide various aspects of support, especially by training to human cadres and providing medical and food assistance.

The head of the Yemeni Presidential Leadership Council said his country seeks to boost cooperation with Egypt and benefit from the Egyptian experiment in the fields of services, health and infrastructure construction.

A number of memoranda-of-understanding will be signed by the Egyptian and Yemeni governments in this respect soon, he noted.

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The RBC Convention Centre revenue hit an all-time high of $20.7 million in 2019, the third year in a row of increasing revenue after the completion of the centres $181 million expansion.

The RBC Convention Centre revenue hit an all-time high of $20.7 million in 2019, the third year in a row of increasing revenue after the completion of the centres $181 million expansion.

After the pandemic hit, revenue fell to $4.6 million in 2020.

Cost-cutting to the tune of $11.3 million in reduced expenses, federal COVID support of $1.4 million and the creation of the provinces vaccine super-site kept the centre in business.

In July 2020, the Convention Centre Corp. obtained a $7.5 million line of credit that expires this July.

Next week, the Executive Policy Committee of City Hall will consider a request for the city to guarantee a new $5 million line of credit for the convention centre.

Drew Fisher, the centres general manager, said the request for the new line of credit is being made out of an exercise in good governance.

It is a safeguard, he said. It is us being proactive as opposed to reactive. Our goal is not to draw down on it. We will do everything we possibly can not to draw from this.

If the centres track record counts, council should have some confidence of the convention centres prudence in this regard because while it did have to use some of the current $7.5 million line, it was quickly re-paid.

A spokesman for the city acknowledged that the current line was unutilized.

But COVID-19 impacts are still being felt, he said. Out of an abundance of caution, the city is requesting that the convention centre is allowed to keep its open line of credit through to the end of 2023.

Fisher said the total amount sought is reduced because any potential cash flow crunch also seen to be lessened.

We are seeing a positive recovery for 2022 but it is not a flick of the switch. Fisher said. It will hopefully be a continual and gradual improvement. We hope we are past the pandemic but after what we have been through we would be kidding ourselves not to be thinking there is a possibility that the virus will re-invent itself.

But after all that the convention centres business model has been working despite the pandemic disruption.

Fisher figures revenues will be back to about 60 per cent of pre-pandemic levels this year after business truly opened up after the end of the first quarter.

But he said it will still take a few years to get back to the same trajectory it was on before the disruption.

Our galas and consumer shows are showing strong attendance similar to pre-pandemic, but when we get into national conventions, they are coming back more slowly, he said. Attendance for those are not quite at the pre-pandemic numbers. That will take time to recover as business travel returns.

About 80 per cent of events that had been scheduled over the past two years of shutdown have been re-scheduled but key to the centres ultimate ability to get back on pace with the original projections tied to the expansion is the completion of the Sutton Place hotel.

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The hotel was originally to have been finished last year but reports now indicate it might not be until 2025 or 2026.

As soon as the adjacent hotel is built and operational we will be in position to cater to larger conventions coming into the city, Fisher said. We obviously grew with the expansion. Well get to the next level of revenues when the hotel is built.

In the meantime the city has been funding the conventions portion of long term debt tied to the expansion, at about $1 million per year since 2017.

Fisher said the Convention Centre Corp. is committed to repaying the citys contribution and believes it will have the wherewithal to do that when that hotel is completed.

In the meantime, Fisher said he was thrilled to be able to stand in the centres reception area greeting people hed not seen for some time attending the mayors state of the city address this week, typically one of the centres largest lunch events of the year, even during the boom years.

martin.cash@freepress.mb.ca
VERNON, Calif. (AP)  Meat-packing giant Smithfield Foods said Friday it will close its only California plant next year, citing the escalating cost of doing business in the state.

VERNON, Calif. (AP)  Meat-packing giant Smithfield Foods said Friday it will close its only California plant next year, citing the escalating cost of doing business in the state.

The Farmer John meat-packing plant in Vernon, an industrial suburb south of Los Angeles, will shut down in February, with its 1,800 employees receiving severance and job placement support along with bonuses for those who choose to stay on the job until the closure, said Jim Monroe, vice president of corporate affairs.

Some workers, who on average earn about $21 per hour, also will have opportunities to relocate to other facilities owned by the Virginia-based Smithfield Foods Inc.

The Vernon plant slaughters pigs and packages products such as ham and bacon. Some operations will be moved to other facilities in the Midwest, but the overall reduction in processing capacity is prompting Smithfield to reduce its sow herd in Utah. The company also said it is exploring ways to exit its farms in California and Arizona.

Monroe said operating costs in California are much higher than in other areas of the country, including taxes and the price of water, electricity and natural gas.

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Our utility costs in California are 3 1/2 times higher per head than our other locations where they do the same type of work, he said.

The shutdown is not expected to reduce supply or increase costs on products, and Farmer John Products will still be sold in California, Monroe said.

There wont be any impact on our customers, he said.

The Vernon plant has been the target of repeated protests by animal rights activists over its treatment of hogs. It also was hard-hit during the COVID-19 pandemic, with some 300 employees exposed to infections in 2020. Several were hospitalized.

Californias Division of Occupational Safety and Health fined Smithfield Foods about $60,000 for safety violations that exposed workers to infection.

Smithfield Foods was founded in Smithfield, Virginia, in 1936 and according to its website provides more than 40,000 jobs in the United States. It was acquired in 2013 by Hong Kong-based WH Group.
Speaker of Egypt's parliament  the House of Representatives  Hanafy El-Gebaly and Head of Yemen's Presidential Leadership Council Rashad Al-Alimi met on Saturday to discuss bilateral relations between the two countries.

An official statement said the meeting came in the course of Al-Alimi's current visit to Cairo, which also included a meeting with President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi.

"At the beginning of the meeting, El-Gebaly welcomed the naming of Al-Alimi as head of the Yemeni Presidential Leadership Council and expressed Egypt's appreciation of this step which should help recover stability and security in Yemen," said the statement.

El-Gebaly said Egypt fully supports Yemens right to a future marked by development, freedom, dignity and justice. "Egypt believes the security and stability in Yemen is highly important to the Egyptian and Arab national security," said El-Gebaly.

El-Gebaly emphasised that Egypt will also give all support possible to alleviate the humanitarian crisis which hit Yemen five years ago.

For his part, Al-Alimi expressed his deep thanks to Egypt's historical role in supporting Yemen on all fronts, adding "we also appreciate Egypt supporting and taking care of Yemeni citizens who live in Cairo."

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Ottawa Police said they identified two persons of interest but no public safety concerns as they continued to investigate an incident that briefly led to the evacuation of Parliament Hill.

Police respond to an incident on Parliament Hill in Ottawa on Saturday, June 11, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/ Patrick Doyle

Ottawa Police said they identified two persons of interest but no public safety concerns as they continued to investigate an incident that briefly led to the evacuation of Parliament Hill.

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Police said in a news release that they received information Saturday about a potential threat near the parliamentary precinct, prompting them to close some surrounding streets to vehicle and pedestrian traffic.

They have not disclosed the nature of the threat.

The Parliamentary Protective Service also ordered an evacuation of Parliament Hill, issuing an alert to all Parliamentarians and staff and noting all buildings in the precinct were to be under shelter-in-place orders until further notice.

Later in the afternoon, police tweeted the area was open again to the public.

The force said in the release it had not identified a public safety threat stemming from the incident, but said it identified two people and two vehicles of interest, and that they were still investigating.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 11, 2022.
A key player in the construction of Winnipegs downtown police headquarters repeatedly raised concerns with senior city administration about design changes pushed by the police service causing significant cost overruns and schedule delays.

A key player in the construction of Winnipegs downtown police headquarters repeatedly raised concerns with senior city administration about design changes pushed by the police service causing significant cost overruns and schedule delays.

Internal project correspondence newly obtained by the Free Press reveals the degree of frustration that was mounting for Peter Chang and the design firm Adjeleian Allen Rubeli Ltd., on the construction project.

On at least two occasions, Chang threatened to walk away from the job, complaining his firm had been mistreated by the city and police service. On another occasion, he accused the city of instructing him to censor a progress report critical of the Winnipeg Police Service.

The correspondence sheds new light on steps taken by city hall to limit the exposure of the police service in the controversial capital project.

The headquarters construction sparked two external audits, allegations of kickbacks and corruption, an RCMP criminal investigation and ongoing civil litigation launched by the city against more than a dozen defendants.

MIKAELA MACKENZIE / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS The Winnipeg Police Services headquarters building in Winnipeg. The defendants are alleged to have fabricated and inflated invoices and pushed change orders to drive up construction costs.

Chang is one of the defendants accused by the city of participating in a conspiracy with the main contractor, Caspian Construction, to defraud the municipal government.

The defendants are alleged to have fabricated and inflated invoices and pushed change orders to drive up construction costs. The allegations have not been tested in court, and the criminal investigation into the project closed without charges.

AAR conducted a routine site inspection in late-February 2014, and soon after filed a progress report to the city, which included a comment from Caspian regarding change orders initiated by the police service.

"Ongoing design changes issued via site instruction (caused by site conditions & WPS requests) continued to negatively affect construction schedule," reads the report.

This comment drew the ire of Abdul Aziz, a police service civilian employee, who twice served as WPS HQ project manager  first from February 2010 to May 2011, and again beginning in January 2014.

Ongoing design changes issued via site instruction (caused by site conditions & WPS requests) continued to negatively affect construction schedule.  AAR report

Aziz complained to Iain Day, who held several major roles on the job from 2010 to 2014, including a stint as project director towards the tail end of construction.

"AAR is working for the city. It is their duty to represent their client, the city It is my request that all future reports should go to the project director for approval before they are shared with others and/or the contractor," Aziz wrote.

On March 20, Day took the matter up with Chang.

"There was a comment regarding WPS personnel and ongoing design changes affecting the construction schedule," Day wrote.

"While I understand that there is a desire to be as accurate as possible with the observations in the report, I would appreciate that a comment such as this is substantiated before it is included or at the very least raised with me for review."

Chang fired back that "all decisions, change orders and site instructions" had been fully vetted by WPS staff and accused the city of instructing him to censor reports.

"(We) WILL NOT censor Caspians report, this is not legal from the terms of our contract and we have never been asked to provide any sort of censorship (We) have never and will never censor any reports or correspondence," Chang wrote.

"It is censorship/withholding of information that will get people into trouble, especially in light of any audits that will be forthcoming."

(We) WILL NOT censor Caspians report, this is not legal from the terms of our contract and we have never been asked to provide any sort of censorship."  Peter Chang

Chang further claimed his firm had been mistreated by the city and repeatedly subjected to "free shots" and unfair criticism.

"The next time we hear of anything that questions our professionalism or commitment, we will escalate things further and the City of Winnipeg can go find themselves another group of suckers to complete the project," Chang wrote.

In April 2014, the firm Turner & Townsend  which had been hired by the city to conduct a value-for-money audit of the project  was in Winnipeg for site inspections and to speak with key players on the job.

Shortly afterwards, Chang sent an email to city chief financial officer Mike Ruta and acting chief administrative officer Deepak Joshi, raising concerns the WPS was attempting to influence the audit.

"We do not understand why WPS (Abdul Aziz) is involved with the quantity survey. WPS accompanied us during our walkthrough the HQ and Wyper Road facilities, as well, Abdul was present throughout our meeting with TT," Chang wrote.

"It was clear to us that from Abduls comments and conversations with representatives from TT, that WPS goal is to influence the audit in a way that shed costs and responsibility from WPS."

The "Wyper Road facilities" reference referred to the construction of the Winnipeg Police Service gun range.

In July 2014, another audit into the project, this one from KPMG, was released to the public.

MIKAELA MACKENZIE / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS FFILES The Winnipeg Police Services headquarters building in Winnipeg. The headquarters construction sparked two external audits, allegations of kickbacks and corruption, an RCMP criminal investigation and ongoing civil litigation launched by the city against more than a dozen defendants.

Shortly before the audit was released, Chang sent an email to senior city staff  including Ruta, Joshi, capital projects manager Jason Ruby and then-head of legal services (and current CAO) Michael Jack  to flag KPMG concerns regarding the police services role in the project.

"KPMG asked me, why were the WPS user representatives so involved with decision making. KPMG interviewers kept referring to the number of police officers involved in the owners meetings, of which they have all the minutes of the meetings," Chang wrote.

"Its one thing to have WPS user being informed and reviewing design, but being in the owners meeting has raised a lot of flags with KPMG and the action items initiated by WPS."

The KPMG audit concluded that Aziz lacked experience executing a construction project of significant size and complexity, and noted he was replaced by the city following difficulties as work progressed.

The Free Press obtained a draft of the KPMG audit report and subjected it to a side-by-side analysis with the final version that was released to the public.

As reported last week, key findings critical of the WPS  including the police services role in the 81 change orders on the job that totalled $18.89 million, as well as the questionable hiring of a retired officer as a consultant  were scrubbed from the final version.

Earlier in 2014, Chang complained to Ruta, Day and Joshi that WPS staff had repeatedly signed off on designs throughout construction, only to change their minds at a later date and request alterations that drove up costs and pushed back the schedule.

"There is no accountability of WPS We were asked to involve WPS and we welcomed them as part of our team, yet despite our best efforts and professionalism, we never got any accountability for their decisions," Chang wrote in February 2014.

"WPS participated in all owner meetings and were fully aware of the process and timelines. The excuse of not understanding construction is very weak because we would assume that any normal person would understand what 100% implies and what signing-off on design means."

WPS participated in all owner meetings and were fully aware of the process and timelines."  Peter Chang

Chang ended the email by again threatening to walk away from the project, making clear he was at the end of his rope.

"Perhaps it is best for the City of Winnipeg to terminate their agreement with AAR/GRC, as we do not have a signed agreement for our extension," Chang wrote.

"Just pay us for the month of January and you can use the balance of our agreed upon fee to hire any other consultant who can sign off on occupancy for you."

The draft report of the KPMG audit concluded the WPS was "able to dictate their requirements largely unchecked throughout all stages of design and construction"  although that finding was cut from the final version released to the public.

In response to Free Press reporting last week, WPS Chief Danny Smyth said it was unfair to compare the draft report of the KPMG audit to the final version, adding that no one should be surprised the police were involved in the project.

"We were involved with the designers. The building was customized for the police service The design plans at headquarters were not complete when they started the project," Smyth said.

"We did have some input into some of the changes that came out of that, because they werent included in the design process We werent the decision-makers."

In a written statement Friday, the citys director of corporate communications, Felicia Wiltshire, declined comment.

Chang also declined comment, citing the ongoing civil litigation.

ryan.thorpe@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @rk_thorpe

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A newborn girl referred to as Baby Moar after being found dead in a garbage bin in Winnipegs North End last month has been given a name.

A newborn girl referred to as Baby Moar after being found dead in a garbage bin in Winnipegs North End last month has been given a name.

Great-grandfather Melvin Moar said the infant was named Klencie Liberty Heaven Moar, believing it to be the correct spelling.

FACEBOOK Jeanene Rosa Moar has been charged with murder in the babys death.

I like it. Its a good name, he told the Free Press on Friday. To me, it means something good.

Its a beautiful name, said Moars great-aunt and godmother, who declined to give her name.

The girls body was found in a garbage bin in a back lane between Boyd and Redwood avenues, west of Powers Street, on May 3.

Her mother, Jeanene Rosa Moar, 31, was charged Tuesday with manslaughter after an initial charge of concealing the body of a child. Police believe the baby was alive when she was put in the bin.

Melvin said he reacted with disbelief when he learned about the allegations against his granddaughter Wednesday, after Winnipeg police announced details at a news conference.

Police referred to the infant as Baby Moar to acknowledge she was a person.

(Jeanene) wasnt in the right mind. She needs some help. People are judging her before they know the facts, her maternal grandfather said. Jeanene is distant from the family. We were always trying to help her, but she distanced herself from us.

Melvin said he hasnt seen his granddaughter in a long time, but hopes to visit her at the Womens Correctional Centre in Headingley.

Other family members told the Free Press they havent seen or heard from Moar in months or years.

Moars mother, Charlene, previously said her daughter refused to believe she was pregnant, and doesnt understand what has happened because she is mentally unwell.

As he tries to come to grips with the situation, Melvin is asking why police waited more than a month to announce the babys death.

Moar was arrested on May 3 at a home close to where the newborn was found. She was admitted to hospital for medical precautions.

She was re-arrested Tuesday at the Womens Correctional Centre after a manslaughter charge was authorized.

If this happened back in May, why did we only hear about it on Wednesday? her grandfather asked.

Spokesman Const. Jay Murray said city police rely on myriad reasons when deciding when to release information about an incident. That can include any investigative concerns, the risk to public safety, progression of the case and the status of charges.

I can tell you that those four factors, along with others, were carefully considered, Murray wrote in an email. It is important to note that the accused in this manner was not charged with manslaughter until recently  and we typically cannot acknowledge individuals are being investigated until which time charges are formally laid (for privacy reasons).

There was a gap between the May 3 arrest and the manslaughter charge because of forensic and medical analysis, and consultation with the Crown, police said earlier this week.

No one else has been charged.

Melvin said was aware Moar was pregnant, but he didnt know the babys due date or the identity of the childs father.

I was happy and sad at the same time (about the pregnancy) because she had a couple of other children who werent with her, he said, referring to Moars two sons, who were apprehended after they were born years ago.

In 2018, Moar was sentenced to a month in jail for stealing a car. A court heard she was diagnosed with fetal alcohol spectrum disorder, struggled with addictions to methamphetamine and alcohol, and was homeless.

She was raised by her maternal grandmother in Teulon, about 50 kilometres north of Winnipeg.

She has received support from Lifes Journey, a non-profit social services agency in Winnipeg that helps people with neuro-developmental disorders, including FASD, her family said.

The Moar family learned of the manslaughter charge while mourning Jeanenes younger sister, Danielle, who died earlier this week.

Melvin said the family is waiting for more information about how she died.

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Its terrible. Theres not much that can be done but to pray for them, he said, referring to the sisters.

Melvins 16-year-old granddaughter, Eishia Hudson, who was Jeanenes cousin, was fatally shot by Winnipeg police in April 2020 while officers investigated a robbery at a Liquor Mart.

Its heartbreaking, he said, noting two of his sisters have died recently.

Child and Family Services and Lifes Journey declined to comment.

chris.kitching@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @chriskitching
Two Manitoba aviators are about to land in Canadas Aviation Hall of Fame.

Two Manitoba aviators are about to land in Canadas Aviation Hall of Fame.

Shirley Render, pilot and executive director emeritus for what is now the Royal Aviation Museum of Western Canada, and Griswold-born Clifford MacKay McEwen, a pilot in the First World War, will be inducted at a ceremony at the Calgary Airport on June 23.

Render, who was born in Winnipeg, earned her wings in 1973 and flew for decades.

She began volunteering at the then-Western Canada Aviation Museum in the late 1970s and later sat on the board. She also wrote and edited the museums quarterly magazine and she curated exhibits.

Render wrote two aviation history books, No Place for a Lady, on Canadas female pilots, and Double Cross, about James A. Richardson and his importance to Canadian aviation.

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She was elected an MLA in 1990 and served as consumer and corporate affairs minister in the Filmon government. After getting out of politics, she became the museums executive director in 2002.

McEwen, who was born in 1898, signed up with the Canadian Expeditionary Force in 1916 before transferring to the Royal Flying Corps.

For most of the war, he flew as a scout pilot in Italy, while in the Second World War he served as Air Commodore, helping to establish Canadian authority over aerial operations in the northwest Atlantic Ocean, and later served as Air Vice-Marshall of the 6 (RCAF) Group in Bomber Command.

After the war, McEwen supported veterans causes by working with both the Royal Canadian Legion and the Last Post Fund. He died in 1967.

Former astronaut Bjarni Tryggvason; Second World War ace Don Laubman, who was later commander of Canadian Forces Europe in 1970-71; and Rhys Eyton, former president and CEO of Canadian Airlines International will also be inducted.

kevin.rollason@freepress.mb.ca
Listening to Premier Heather Stefanson attempting to explain her decision to skip the Pride parade last weekend in Winnipeg, I could not help but think of actor John Belushi.

Listening to Premier Heather Stefanson attempting to explain her decision to skip the Pride parade last weekend in Winnipeg, I could not help but think of actor John Belushi.

Bear with me.

Stefanson is under fire from Pride Winnipeg for not walking in the annual march in support of the citys LGBTTQ+ community June 5. Although she did speak at a pre-parade rally, organizers said the Tory premier was told repeatedly: every politician who is allowed to address the rally is required to march in the parade.

Its both or nothing.

CP John Belushi (left, with Dan Akroyd) offered a frantic string of excuses to an aggrieved former fiancee for failing to show up for their scheduled nuptials in the 1980 movie, The Blues Brothers. (Universal Studios)

Told she had been subsequently banned from all future Pride Winnipeg events, Stefanson claimed her absence was due to a "miscommunication" between her staff and organizers  despite the repeated warning from the latter.

Reading her comment, I could suddenly recall the entirety of the infamous "excuses speech" from the 1980 movie, The Blues Brothers, in which Belushi (as Jake Blues) offers a frantic string of excuses to an aggrieved former fiancee (played by Carrie Fisher) for failing to show up for their scheduled nuptials.

As Fisher points a gun at Belushi, he throws every excuse he can think of at his jilted lover: "I ran out of gas! I got a flat tire! I didnt have change for cab fare! I lost my tux at the cleaners! I locked my keys in the car! An old friend came in from out of town! Someone stole my car! There was an earthquake! A terrible flood! Locusts! It wasnt my fault, I swear to God!"

For the record, Stefanson only mustered a single excuse, but the effect was still the same: a desperate attempt to avoid criticism and shed responsibility.

Just like in the movie, Stefansons excuse was hilariously disingenuous. So much so it seems clear she has inexplicably adopted some of the worst traits of her predecessor, former premier Brian Pallister.

Premier Heather Stefanson spoke at the rally but didn't walk in the Pride Parade. (John Woods / Winnipeg Free Press files)

Given his propensity for bombast and his love of conflict, Pallister frequently found himself in the kind of trouble Stefanson is now experiencing.

Whether it was lying about being on vacation in Costa Rica during the 2014 summer floods or snubbing veterans by travelling to France for the 75th anniversary of D-Day but skipping the commemorative ceremonies, Pallister was not only a frequent author of controversy, he was incorrigible when it came to dodging responsibility for his misdeeds.

You want some irony? Pride Winnipeg established the both-or-nothing policy for its rally and parade in 2019, after Pallister repeatedly took advantage of the opportunity of addressing participants only to ghost the parade.

Given the ignominious history of that Pride event policy, and after five-plus years watching Pallister wander in and out of controversy, Stefanson should have known all about the perils of blowing off a such a group and then fibbing about the reasons why. But here we are.

The larger concern hanging over this incident is the political fallout, both within the LGBTTQ+ community and beyond.

Thousands of spectators lined the route of Sunday's Pride Parade. (John Woods / Winnipeg Free Press files)

Pride events across the country have become must-attend for politicians at all levels. Its not just about demonstrating support for the LGBTTQ+ community; these events have become prime opportunities for opinion leaders of all stripes to demonstrate a broader commitment to LGBTTQ+ rights in particular and human rights in general.

Which is to say, even if Stefanson had not been told about the specific policy established by Pride Winnipeg, she should have known its parade is not the kind of event that can be missed.

Stefanson and her staff should know the first Pride parades were held to commemorate the June 1969 Stonewall riots in New York City, spontaneous and sometimes violent protests for the right to live openly without fear of persecution or prosecution. Within a year of Stonewall, parades were held in Chicago, Los Angeles, New York and San Francisco.

They should also be aware Pride events are now held all over the world in June to commemorate the evolution of LGBTTQ+ rights.

That is not to say there is consensus about the political value of Pride events.

The premier claimed she didn't walk in the parade because of a miscommunication. (John Woods / Winnipeg Free Press files)

Some members of the LGBTTQ+ community think inviting politicians, corporate executives or police officers to march undermines the meaning and the message behind Pride, which is inherently anti-establishment. As well, there are some who no doubt feel politicians marching in parades are not sincere, theyre just pandering to the community for political gain.

However, polls in Canada and the United States show strong support for inclusive Pride parades as a way of spreading positive information about LGBTTQ+ rights.

Its hard to believe Stefanson considered all that history and meaning when she tried disingenuously to blame her staff for ducking out on the Pride parade.

Stefanson issued an apology and has asked to meet with Pride Winnipeg to discuss her lifetime ban.

Even as the premier seeks redemption, she will need to keep one important principle in mind: seeking forgiveness is not the same as deserving it.

dan.lett@freepress.mb.ca
Can you imagine a premier or a finance minister tabling a budget in the Manitoba Legislature  perhaps involving a major tax increase  and then refusing to speak publicly about the overall strategy and implications?

Can you imagine a premier or a finance minister tabling a budget in the Manitoba Legislature  perhaps involving a major tax increase  and then refusing to speak publicly about the overall strategy and implications?

Citizens in a democracy rightly expect responsiveness from senior elected officials and the bureaucrats who keep government running. Being available to explain why decisions are made  either to the public, or to the journalists who document government operations  is a non-negotiable tenet of democracy.

Why, then, do we allow senior officials in provincial justice departments to maintain a veil of silence about virtually everything they do?

Recently, we have seen Manitoba Justice flatly refuse to explain its role in two high-profile criminal cases.

Crown prosecutors decided not to lay charges against former City of Winnipeg CAO Phil Sheegl related to allegations he accepted kickbacks involved in the building of the Winnipeg police headquarters. (Mike Deal / Winnipeg Free Press files)

The first was the decision by Crown prosecutors not to lay charges against former City of Winnipeg CAO Phil Sheegl related to allegations he accepted kickbacks from the contractor involved in the building of the Winnipeg Police Service headquarters.

That controversial decision received renewed scrutiny when the evidence gathered by the RCMP in the criminal investigation was used in a civil proceeding that resulted in a million-dollar settlement against Mr. Sheegl.

When Manitoba Justice was asked about its decision not to prosecute, officials would only provide a vague, generalized comment that they did not think there was enough evidence to ensure a reasonable likelihood of conviction. The evidence presented at the civil proceeding suggested otherwise.

More recently, Manitoba Justice failed to secure a conviction against Winnipeg police officer Sgt. Sean Cassidy, who, while off-duty, dragged a man from his vehicle and punched him several times. The judge, in that case, acquitted the police officer and rebuked the prosecutor in the case, suggesting the Crowns strategy at trial had completely backfired.

Once again, when asked to account for its strategy, Manitoba Justice issued a prefabricated response that did not answer key questions. That same refusal to offer an explanation was in play when, a few weeks later, Manitoba Justice announced it would not appeal the acquittal.

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Citizens in this democracy deserve a more fulsome explanation about these two cases, and other cases in which the public interest is at stake. Unfortunately, Crown prosecution services in this and other provinces have leaned heavily on a tradition of not publicly discussing their decision-making. It is time for the provincial ministers of justice and attorneys general to rethink this tradition.

Its hard to know exactly when this tradition started, but legal scholars seem to agree it evolved over time as a corollary to a general concern the attorney general and Crown prosecutors must not do or say anything publicly outside a courtroom that could affect the outcome of a proceeding. Those are real concerns; Crown officials could, were they overly talkative, disrupt a legal proceeding.

Manitoba Justice failed to secure a conviction against Winnipeg police officer Sgt. Sean Cassidy, who, while off-duty, dragged a man from his vehicle and punched him several times. (Ruth Bonneville / Winnipeg Free Press files)

However, following a decision not to charge someone or, as in the Cassidy case, when an appeal is not being sought, then senior officials from the justice department could and should explain what happened  even if such an explanation leaves the Crown vulnerable to civil suits.

Having to answer questions about not charging someone, or the failure to secure a conviction, might be awkward and stressful for Crown officials. That is not, however, a justification for failing to serve the public interest by explaining what happened.

The provincial justice departments in this country are led by ministers of the Crown, who are also elected officials fully accountable to the citizenry. These ministers should take the necessary steps to make prosecutorial decision-making more transparent and accountable. Democracy demands nothing less.
Like her peers, on prom night Rayna McArdle was moving to the music, bouncing around and having a blast. No one would have guessed just 24 hours earlier, she was post-op in a hospital bed.

Rayna, 16, who will be a junior at Holmen High School this fall, began experiencing pain in her abdominal area the Wednesday before prom, but figured it was simply cramping. However, over the next two days the pain intensified and after Googling her symptoms, Rayna began to suspect she had appendicitis.

I asked my first hour teacher if she had ever had appendicitis, and she stated that her son had and described all of his symptoms. At that point, I became stressed knowing that I had the same symptoms, Rayna said.

Worried about missing her scheduled nail appointment that afternoon  and more importantly, prom the next day  Rayna wasnt sure she wanted to go to the hospital. But her teacher Heather Breske and friend Abby Vick convinced her to see a doctor.

At Mayo Clinic Health System in Onalaska, Dr. Paul Molling ordered labs and scans and found Rayna had acute appendicitis.

He was very calm, which kept me calm, and he was very proactive for my treatment to be as early as possible, Rayna said. I told every doctor and nurse that I saw on Friday that I had a nail appointment at 3:30 that I couldnt miss and that prom was the next day, so I had to be good to dance as soon as possible.

Dr. Amy Lloyd advised surgery, which was performed that afternoon.

It doesnt always happen that fast, Lloyd said of the quick turnaround from workup to diagnosis to surgery.

Rayna, who noted how understanding the staff were of her desire to be at prom, said Lloyd was extremely efficient, and she was relieved that, the morning post surgery, she was able to walk comfortably.

Lloyd said there was no concern about Rayna being up and about the next day  We actually encourage moving around  and said, Our goal as physicians and surgeons is to get people back on their feet as quickly as possible.

Raynas family and friends were concerned about her going to a dance so soon after her operation. But, she said: This was my first prom, and I wouldnt let myself miss it because I was so excited. ... I knew that I was ready to go and dance the night away.

Raynas parents, Stacy and Mike, expressed gratitude for Molling, Lloyd and the Mayo staff, sharing, The calm and professional demeanor they all displayed turned an unnerving morning into a fantastic weekend for our family.

Lloyd is glad the Mayo team was able to get Rayna in and out in time for her big night, noting, With those unexpected circumstances its really nice to know we didnt cause any major hiccups in her day.

Rayna is grateful her surgery went smoothly and quickly, and for the effort (the staff) put in to make sure I was able to dance the next day. It was a stressful, whirlwind of an experience, but it made for a great story to tell her friends.

Most of them had no idea, Rayna said. When I told them, they were all shocked because I was standing, dancing and jumping all night.

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Pomp, circumstance and community.

The Winona Area Learning Center celebrated the graduating Class of 2022 at an intimate, personal ceremony at the school Wednesday night. About a dozen students and their families attended the ceremony, which was attended by WALC staff, Winona Area Public Schools board members and other special guests.

WALC Principal Jolene Danca welcomed those in attendance, and WAPS Superintendent Dr. Annette K. Freiheit and board member Jim Schul also spoke.

The student speaker was Jolissa Nelton, who recalled the nerves she felt on her first day at the WALC. Those nerves were soon replaced by a sense of belonging.

Thank you to my teachers for bringing back my spark of enjoying my education again, Nelton said. Thank you to my former classmates for making memories inside and out of these four walls. To my family, who watched me struggle the most for the longest time, thank you for sticking with me and pushing me to become the person I am today. Mom, dad  I made it.

Representatives from Minnesota State College Southeast were also on hand to award the Papenfuss Scholarships for this graduating class. The Papenfuss Scholarship, created by Jerry & Pat Papenfuss, covers all tuition and fees for MSC Southeast after other state and federal grants, and/or additional scholarships, have been applied.

The recipients included Dante Jones, Mijuanna Mapp, Zach Caldwell and Tia Pope.

After receiving their diploma from Danca, students participated in the WALC tradition of ringing the gong to celebrate their graduation, then proceeded to share hugs and smiles with school teachers and staff.

There are a total of 39 students who have graduated from the Winona Area Learning Center over the past calendar year.

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No one will be excluded from the presidential call for national dialogue except those who have blood on their hands or practiced terrorism or violence, General Coordinator of the National Dialogue Diaa Rashwan said on Friday.

President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisis call for a political dialogue on national priorities during the annual Egyptian Family Iftar Banquet in April was welcomed by various segments of Egyptian society, including political parties, professional syndicates, labour unions, trade unions, public figures, and citizens.

El-Sisi assigned the countrys National Youth Conference  which is organised by the National Training Academy (NTA)  to conduct a political dialogue on the current national issues and deliver the outcomes to him.

According to Rashwan, this is the first national dialogue to be issued by a president since the July 1952 Revolution, noting that the call was launched publicly by the president in the presence of opposition figures during the banquet.

Furthermore, the president promised to attend the final stages of the dialogue, which is set to include all political parties without any exceptions or discrimination.

The NTA said its role is limited to organisational and logistical tasks for the dialogue, and that the academy will not interfere in its content, according to a statement issued on Wednesday.

The first sessions of the national political dialogue are scheduled to be held in the first week of July.

As general coordinator, Rashwan is expected to coordinate with political and union forces to form a board of trustees for the dialogue.

The board will comprise 15 members and include representatives of participating groups, public figures, and experts.

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BEIJING, June 10 (Xinhua)  In his latest inspection visit to southwest China's Sichuan Province this week, President Xi Jinping visited Yibin, where the Jinsha and Minjiang rivers converge into the Yangtze River.

He noted that sound ecological conservation along the Yangtze River basin is the precondition for advancing high-quality development in the Yangtze River Economic Belt.

Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, attaches great importance to the ecological protection of the 6,300-km-long Yangtze, China's longest river. Over the past few years, he has undertaken multiple inspection tours along the Yangtze.

He has also convened several symposiums to advance the development of the Yangtze River Economic Belt, which covers nine provinces and two municipalities and accounts for more than 40 percent of the country's population and economic aggregate.

The following are some highlights of his quotes:

 The Yellow River and the Yangtze River are the mother rivers of the Chinese nation. The protection of the mother rivers is a crucial project concerning the great rejuvenation and sustainable development of the Chinese nation.

 The cost of the fishing ban in the Yangtze River is not small, but it is worthwhile to protect the ecology of the whole basin.

 The Yangtze River boasts a unique ecological system. Restoring its ecological environment will be an overwhelming task and no large-scale development will be allowed along the river at present and for a rather long period to come.

 Promoting the development of the Yangtze River Economic Belt is a major strategy concerning overall national development.

 Efforts should be made to blaze a new trail of green development that gives priority to ecology, so as to provide powerful support for the high-quality and sustainable development of the Yangtze River Economic Belt.

(Source: Xinhua)
Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, visits the village of Yongfeng to learn about local efforts in advancing high-standard farmland development, boosting grain production, promoting rural revitalization, maintaining effective COVID-19 prevention and control, in Meishan, southwest China's Sichuan Province, June 8, 2022. Xi on Wednesday inspected the city of Meishan. [Xinhua/Xie Huanchi]

CHENGDU, June 10 (Xinhua)  At a seed production base in Dazhu County, southwest China's Sichuan Province, rice farmer Fan Tiancheng is taking intensive care of his 140 mu (about 9.3 hectares) field of "golden rice seeds," as the seeds are expected to increase rice yield and farmers' income.

Seed farmers like Fan are entitled to special insurance premiums and agricultural subsidies, which have boosted farmers' enthusiasm to engage in cultivating hybrid seeds.

Rural cooperatives contract these farmers for the purchase of their yield. In every planting season, the cooperatives pay for the seeds, pesticides, fertilizers, and other agricultural materials in advance and provide free technical services for the farmers.

Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, on Wednesday visited the village of Yongfeng in the city of Meishan in Sichuan to inspect a high standard paddy field base.

Xi, also Chinese president and chairman of the Central Military Commission, said that it was time consuming for cultivating improved varieties of rice as it required repeated experiments and selection, and all the country's scientific and technical workers in the agricultural sector have made arduous efforts.

Xi expressed recognition to the workers for their invaluable contributions to safeguarding national food security and ensuring that the people enjoy ample supply of food and clothing.

Xi said advancing agricultural modernization requires efforts not only of experts but also those of all farmers, that the promotion and application of modern agricultural science and technologies and training of farmers must be strengthened, all big grain growers must be organized to actively develop green, ecological, and efficient agriculture.

Sichuan is China's major seed industry base. The province received 240 million yuan (about 35.95 million U.S. dollars) of national funding in 2021 for boosting seed production. It invested 620 million yuan last year to develop high-standard farmland and support the building of 50,000 mu seed production bases.

Xi stressed that the Chengdu Plain has been lauded as a land of abundance since ancient times, that the area of farmland must be ensured and such a precious land for food production must be well protected. He also called for even greater efforts to bolster up grain production and build a higher-level "granary of heaven" in the new era.

As one of the demonstration models of high-standard farmland in Sichuan, Yongfeng boasts 4,700 mu of such farmland. It has taken the lead in realizing a complete mechanized production of rice, and established the largest experimental base featuring new rice varieties and new technologies in the province.

The village, with a population of 5,176, has seen farmers' per-capita annual net income reach 28,000 yuan.

China's "No. 1 central document" for 2022 released in February outlined key tasks to comprehensively push forward rural revitalization this year, aiming to develop 6.67 million hectares of high-standard farmland.

"We have the confidence and determination to ensure the food supply for the Chinese people through our own efforts," Xi said during the inspection.

(Source: Xinhua)
Abdel-Moneim Said, a former board chairperson of Al-Ahram Press Organisation; and Emad Gad, a consultant with Al-Ahram Centre for Political and Strategic Studies agreed in a symposium on Friday that for the national dialogue to be successful, the number of participants should not exceed 100.

More than 100 participants means that the dialogue could devolve into a talking shop that goes nowhere, Said explained, adding that the dialogue should not exceed three months.

The dialogue should also focus on revising Egypts 2014 and 2030 Vision, he said, noting that that the dialogue should be straightforward, concise, right to the point, and not a waste of time.

Said and Gads statement came during a symposium held by the leftist Tagammu Party on Friday under the title About Egypts National Dialogue, Political Multilateralism, and What Reform We Want.

Said added that the agenda of the dialogue should focus on opening debate in three specific areas related to Egypts political, security, and economic conditions.

Limiting the debate to these three areas will help participants reach a specific host of clear-cut recommendations to be presented to the president of the republic, he said.

Said also recommended that the dialogue should not devolve to a mud-slinging match between opposition and loyalist forces or between Nasser supporters on the one hand and supporters of other presidents on the other.

Participants should realise from the very beginning that this is a dialogue among civilian and secular forces that participated in the anti-Muslim Brotherhoods 30 June Revolution, and that they all reject political Islam movements that seek to turn Egypt into an Iranian-style religious state.

In political terms, Said explained that the importance of focusing the debate on revising Egypts 2014 constitution and its amendments in 2019 as well as Egypts 2030 Vision is largely due to the fact that eight years have so far passed since the constitution was passed in 2014, meanwhile, there is another eight years remaining until the 2030 Vision is expected to be realised.

We want to know in what political direction the 2014 constitution has led Egypt over the past eight years  political and party-based multilateralism? Or stagnant political life? he said, recommending that the debate in this area be focused on how to change Egypts political system and exercise of political rights in light of developments over the last eight years.

For example, article 248 of the 2019s amended constitution stipulates that it is the Senate which should be mandated with achieving all that is possible in the area of democratising Egypt and modernising its political system; we should discuss how to implement this on the ground, Said noted.

Said  an appointed Senator and the current board chairperson of the independent Al-Masry Al-Youm Press Organisation  also argued that for the dialogue to be fruitful, participants should focus on debating the future of Egypts political system and democratisation process, adding that all participants should avoid recalling past experiences, as this could lead to internal divisions and wasting time.

For his part, Gad said he also agrees that participants in the proposed national dialogue shouldnt exceed 100 in number.

In this context, I recommend that all of Egypts political parties form a joint committee that will represent them in the dialogue in political, security, and economic areas, said Gad, adding that in this committee, political parties will name five figures as political activists, five as security experts, and five as economic academics.

Each figure should have both successful field experience and scientific academic knowledge to join the proposed committee, Gad said.

He also proposed that President El-Sisi hold a three-hour closed meeting with each of the above three groups, and that this meeting should be recorded and aired at a later date.

The recommendations passed by these meetings shall turn into a national action plan to be implemented on the ground within a certain period of time, said Gad, also agreeing that invitation to the dialogue should be exclusively directed to civilian forces that joined hands to against political Islam movements.

During an Egyptian Family Iftar Banquet that was held on 26 April, President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi called for a national dialogue that can set the political, security, and economic priorities in the coming period.

The National Academy for Training  which was tasked with organising the dialogue  announced on 9 June that the proposed dialogue would kick off in the first week of July.

It also announced that Chairperson of the Press Syndicate and the State Information Service Diaa Rashwan shall act as the dialogues coordinator, and that Mahmoud Fawzi  the secretary-general of the Higher Council for Media Regulation  would be the dialogues secretary-general.

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Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, visits XGIMI optoelectronic company to learn about its independent innovation in Yibin, southwest China's Sichuan Province, June 8, 2022. [Xinhua/Xie Huanchi]

CHENGDU, June 10 (Xinhua)  Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, made an inspection tour of southwest China's Sichuan Province. Xi stressed resolute implementation of the decisions and plans of the CPC Central Committee, carrying forward the great founding spirit of the Party, and being firm in the general principle of pursuing progress while ensuring stability. He required full, accurate, and comprehensive application of the new development philosophy and actively serving and integrating into the new development paradigm.

Efforts should be made to coordinate COVID-19 response with economic and social development, to stabilize economic development, and to maintain overall social stability, so that the governance and development of Sichuan will be brought to a new level and a new chapter will be opened in Sichuan's development as a part of the new journey to building a modern socialist country in all respects, Xi noted. He called for concrete actions to set the stage for the success of the 20th National Congress of the CPC.

On June 8, Xi, accompanied by Wang Xiaohui, Party secretary of Sichuan Province and Huang Qiang, governor of the province, made a fact-finding trip to Meishan, Yibin, and other places. Xi went to a village, a cultural relic protection site, a university, and a company.

On June 1, a 6.1-magnitude earthquake struck Ya'an City, Sichuan Province. Xi immediately gave important instructions, requiring Sichuan provincial committee of the CPC and Sichuan provincial people's government to spare no effort in disaster rescue and relief, consoling the families of the earthquake victims. Medical care to the injured should be provided in a timely manner and arrangements made to help those affected by the earthquake, secondary disasters should be prevented, reconstruction be well planned and normal order of life and production be restored as soon as possible, Xi required.

The central departments concerned immediately activated the national level-3 earthquake emergency response and local authorities lost no time in coordinating disaster rescue and relief work. Efforts have been made to ensure all channels are open to save people's lives, the injured are well attended to, and those affected by the earthquake are relocated and resettled in a timely manner. Currently, most residents from earthquake-hit areas have returned to their homes. The province has de-activated the emergency response and shifted the focus to post-disaster recovery and reconstruction.

During his visit in Sichuan, Xi has been concerned with the treatment of those injured in the earthquake and how people lead their lives as well as how the production is in the earthquake-hit areas. He inquired about detailed information on the disaster relief work and urged local authorities time and again to ensure the injured are well attended to, to pay attention to people's psychological counseling, and make well-considered arrangements for the victims of the disaster and the consoling of the victims' family. The supply of daily necessities in the earthquake-hit areas should be guaranteed. Sound planning and solid work should be carried out to reconstruct the earthquake-hit areas so that people can resume normal life and production as soon as possible, Xi stressed.

On the morning of June 8, Xi paid a visit to Yongfeng Village of Taihe Town in Dongpo District, Meishan City, for an inspection tour. Relying on its paddy and rice industry and technological advantages, the village established the largest experimental base featuring new rice varieties and new technologies in the province. At a high standard paddy field base, Xi learned about the general development of the village and affirmed the village's continuous efforts in helping safeguard national food security by planting grains. Xi stressed that the Chengdu Plain has been lauded as a land of abundance since ancient times, that the area of farmland must be ensured and such a precious land for food production must be well protected. He also called for even greater efforts to bolster up grain production and build a higher-level "granary of heaven" in the new era.

Xi walked into the experimental field to take a closer look at the growth of the rice. Agricultural and technical staff members briefed the general secretary on the experimental paddy seed breeding and the promotion of planting. Xi pointed out that it was time consuming for cultivating improved varieties of rice as it required repeated experiments and selection, and all the country's scientific and technical workers in the agricultural sector have made arduous efforts. They have made invaluable contributions to safeguarding national food security and ensuring that the people enjoy ample supply of food and clothing. Xi added that advancing agricultural modernization requires efforts not only of experts but also those of all farmers, that the promotion and application of modern agricultural science and technologies and training of farmers must be strengthened, all big grain growers must be organized to actively develop green, ecological, and efficient agriculture. We have the confidence and determination to ensure the food supply for the Chinese people through our own efforts, Xi said.

Xi is very concerned about rural revitalization. He walked along the roads to take a look at the sewage treatment tanks in Yongfeng Village as well as its overall appearance. He also inspected a medical service center in the village to further learn about the improvement of villagers' living environment and the COVID-19 prevention and control work. Xi stressed that the villagers are concerned about health care the most after they have enough to eat and wear. The building of a rural health care system must be advanced to ensure that all the people in rural areas have access to basic medical services. He also called for efforts to build primary-level Party organizations well so that villagers can be united to further promote rural revitalization after bidding farewell to poverty.

Before waving goodbye to the villagers, Xi told them that as the country's ruling party, the CPC will further advance the building of socialism with Chinese characteristics step by step and spare no efforts to complete all the tasks related to people's well-being, so as to lead the people to a better life.

Located in downtown Meishan City, San Su Ci is the memorial temple and former residence of three literary masters, Su Xun and his two sons, Su Shi, who is also known as Su Dongpo, and Su Zhe. During his visit to the temple, Xi learned about the life experience, main literary achievements, and family precepts and traditions of the three masters, as well as the historical evolution of the temple and the research and inheritance of Dongpo culture.

Chinese civilization has a history of more than 5,000 years, and fine traditional Chinese culture should be honored and cultural confidence strengthened, Xi said. He highlighted that it is important to draw on ways of state governance from fine traditional Chinese culture and learn extensively from outstanding achievements of other civilizations.

China should neither keep to itself, nor regard all from foreign countries as criterion. It must adhere to the path of socialism with Chinese characteristics, Xi said.

Family traditions and education are the most precious wealth of a family and the best legacy for future generations. Xi called for more emphasis on family traditions and education and on cultivating a strong sentiment to love families and the motherland among future generations so that young people will strive to grow into talent who can contribute to the development of the country and the society. He urged that members of the CPC and officials, especially leading officials, must act in a clean manner, run their homes frugally, keep integrity, discipline themselves in performing their duties and their families, and develop fine family traditions of CPC members in the new era.

On the afternoon of June 8, Xi made an inspection tour of Yibin City. The Yangtze River, Jinsha River, and Minjiang River meet in the downtown area of Yibin, which presents a magnificent scene. Built on the riverside, Yibin is known as the first city on the Yangtze River. Years of efforts on environmental improvement have turned the banks of the three rivers into a beautiful waterfront park frequented by local people.

Looking far into the convergence of the three rivers at Sanjiangkou, Xi was briefed about the ecological restoration and protection of the Yangtze River basin and implementation of the fishing ban in the river.

Xi pointed out that protecting the ecological environment of the Yangtze River basin is key to driving high-quality development of the Yangtze River Economic Belt and preserving the region as the cradle of Chinese civilization. Since Sichuan is located in the upper reaches of the Yangtze River, he called for the local government to increase their awareness of the overall picture, develop a strong sense about the protection of the upstream reaches, implement the policy of well-coordinated environmental protection instead of excessive development, and keep the river water clean through sound ecological conservation.

Xi paid close attention to the employment of college graduates as their total number is estimated to reach a record high of 10.76 million this year, up 1.67 million year on year. He chose Yibin University as a stop, watching the exhibition of creative works of excellent graduate students and learning about how the university helped graduates find jobs and start their businesses. At a job fair held on campus, Xi talked with the faculty, students, and employers to learn more about what kind of employees were wanted and how the graduates fared in landing a job. Xi stressed that the Party Central Committee has attached great importance to the employment of university graduates and adopted a set of policies and measures. Noting that now is a key time for college graduates to get employed, Xi emphasized efforts to tap employment resources and provide pragmatic and careful guidance and services. He urged colleges, employers, and related authorities to make sure more graduates sign employment contracts, particularly those from families that have just shaken off poverty, families receiving minimum living allowances, and families without a bread-earner, as well as those who have disabilities or did not get employed long after graduation. Telling the students that a happy life is the result of one's own hard work, Xi urged them to look at their own abilities and the needs of society in a down-to-earth and objective manner, choose a profession and a job based on actual conditions, be diligent and pragmatic, and improve themselves step by step through actual work. He encouraged the students to consciously practice core socialist values and strive to achieve all-round development in terms of moral grounding, intellectual ability, physical vigor, aesthetic sensibility, and work skills.

The next stop Xi visited was XGIMI Optoelectronic Co., Ltd. Touring the company's exhibition hall and factory, he was briefed about the company's efforts in independent innovation, product R&D and marketing, and job creation. He also learned about how the local government has made efforts to support private businesses and issue policies to help industries, micro, small and medium enterprises, and self-employed individuals hit hard by COVID-19 to overcome difficulties. Xi stressed that we should advance scientific and technological innovation and foster more top-notch enterprises in all sectors so that we will have more "hidden champions" and form clusters of scientific and technological innovators.

In the square outside the factory, Xi chatted with the company's employees. He stressed that as a major manufacturer, China should strive to improve its innovation capabilities and accelerate its transformation to a country strong in manufacturing. Noting that to become a country with improved composite strength means China should be strong in all fields and aspects, Xi said that to build a modern socialist country in all respects and realize national rejuvenation, the future is bright but the path leading to it can be tortuous. Facing dangerous rapids and shoals, we should be brave to meet risks and challenges. There is no such thing as a windfall, and progress will have to be achieved through our joint efforts. Most of you were born in the 1980s and 1990s, now is the right time for you to strive with aspiration, a sense of responsibility, and diligence, Xi said. By the middle of this century when a great modern socialist country in all respects is realized, we all will be proud of doing our bit in building a strong country and fulfilling the Chinese Dream.

On his inspection tour, Xi pointed out that all local governments and relevant departments must resolutely implement the decisions and arrangements of the CPC Central Committee. Xi required that, abiding by the principle of making progress while maintaining stability, they should do a good job in all areas of reform, development and stability, with a view to maintaining a stable and healthy economic environment, a peaceful social environment, and a clean and righteous political environment, and thus create a good atmosphere for the convening of the 20th National Congress of the CPC.

Xi called on all local governments and departments to do a good job in coordinating epidemic prevention and control with economic and social development, and resolutely overcome challenges currently in the way of economic development. He emphasized that efforts must be made to create jobs, guarantee social security, and provide aid for people living in difficulties. Work in all areas must be done well to make people feel reassured and therefore social stability is secured, Xi said.

Perseverance makes the difference, and the country's dynamic zero-COVID approach must be unswervingly continued, Xi said. He required that people must have confidence, clear up all obstructions, and never slacken vigilance to ensure key links are consolidated in the control and prevention work, and thus what the country has achieved in its response to the epidemic can be consolidated.

Speaking of recent floods and geological disasters that occurred in some parts of China, Xi called for early contingency preparations by all localities and relevant departments to preempt major floods and other natural disasters and get well prepared for disaster relief. All localities and departments are urged to strengthen disaster prevention capabilities in order to safeguard people's lives and property.

Overall planning and coordination must be strengthened to make sure that hidden dangers of natural disasters can be detected in advance through careful patrol and inspection, Xi stressed. Xi also called for the protection of important infrastructure works, improved early forecast and warning of rainfall, typhoons, mountain torrents, and debris flows, as well as redoubled efforts to guarantee smooth traffic flow, and meticulous and down-to-earth measures for flood control and disaster relief.

He required that swift rescue efforts must be made immediately after disasters to strictly prevent secondary disasters and reduce casualties and loss of property to the minimum. He called for efforts to resume production and people's normal life as soon as possible while doing a good job in rescue and disaster relief. He also called for a good job in providing support and aid to people affected by disasters, maintaining sanitation, and preventing epidemic from happening after natural disasters, so as to avert relapses into poverty as a result of disasters.

Ding Xuexiang, Liu He, Chen Xi, He Lifeng, and some other officials of the central authorities are also on the inspection tour.

On the morning of June 9, Xi met with the military officers above senior colonel level and major commanders of regiments in Chengdu. On behalf of the CPC Central Committee and the Central Military Commission, he extended sincere greetings to all the officers and troops stationed in Chengdu and had a group photo with them. Xu Qiliang was present at the meeting.

(Source: Xinhua)
The Biden administration is expected to announce June 10 that the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention will lift its requirement for travelers to test negative for Covid-19 before entering the US, according to a senior administration official.
Weather Alert

...EXCESSIVE HEAT WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 8 PM CDT THURSDAY... * WHAT...Heat index values 102 to 107 degrees Thursday afternoon. * WHERE...Portions of southwest Indiana, southeast Missouri, western Kentucky and southern Illinois. * WHEN...Until 8 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...Thursday will make 4 to 5 straight days of prolonged heat and humidity which can have cumulative effects to those susceptible to heat related illness. The heat looks like it will last through Friday most areas, so the Warning or an Advisory will likely be added in upcoming forecasts. Some relief is on the way for the weekend. However, next week the heat returns. 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. Know the signs and symptoms of heat exhaustion and heat stroke. Wear lightweight and loose fitting clothing when possible. Anyone overcome by heat should be moved to a cool and shaded location. Heat stroke is an emergency! Call 9 1 1. &&
Egypts Democratic Civilian Movement, which includes seven political parties, announced in a statement on Thursday night that it rejects the administrations choice of appointing Mahmoud Fawzi as secretary-general of the proposed national dialogue.

Fawzi was secretary-general of Egypts Parliament  the House of Representatives  between 2017 and 2020, after which he was named secretary-general of the Higher Council of Media Regulation.

The Democratic Civilian Movements statement said that it rejects the administrations choice upon the grounds that it reflects a kind of unilateral approach and goes against what was agreed upon during consultations with the National Academy for Training (NAT) over the past month.

The consultations and negotiations have not yet reached an agreement on certain points, on top of which is the naming of the national dialogues secretary-general, said the statement without mentioning the naming of Diaa Rashwan as coordinator of the event.

The statement also said that the rejection of Fawzi came following a meeting held by the Democratic Civilian Movement at the headquarters of the Conservatives Party on 9 June.

On 8 June, the NAT announced that the administration of the dialogue named Diaa Rashwan  president of the Press Syndicate and chairperson of the State Information Service  as coordinator of the national dialogue conference and Mahmoud Fawzi  the secretary-general of the Higher Council for Media Regulation  as secretary-general.

The movement added that it is committed to the statement it issued on 8 May in which it declared its decision to join the national dialogue, but only under certain pre-conditions.

On the top of these pre-conditions is that the dialogue should be held under the auspices of the Egyptian presidency, as it is the only institution that is capable of implementing the proposed dialogues recommendations and turning them into reality on the ground, said the statement.

The statement added that the movement stipulates that the national dialogues secretariat-general should be neutral, professional, and technical, bearing the responsibility of preparing and managing the dialogue, wording out its recommendations, and publishing a public opinion periodical report on its results.

There should also be a periodical report on what was achieved and what was not, the reasons for this, and who is responsible.

Furthermore, the movement indicated that the national dialogues secretariat-general should include ten national experts characterised by efficiency, integrity, and neutrality.

These experts should be named by participants affiliated with both the opposition and majority, and these experts will select the secretariat-general, which will be entrusted with carrying out the business of organising the dialogue, said the statement.

Egypts Democratic Civilian Movement was formed in 2014 to lobby for political reform and democratisation in Egypt in the wake of ousting the 2012-2013s Muslim Brotherhood regime and the election of Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi as president in June 2014.

The movement includes a group of political parties with leftist and liberal agendas, including The Constitution Party (El-Dostour), the Popular Socialist Alliance, the Conservatives Party, the Dignity Party (El-Karama), the Egyptian Socialist Democratic Party, the Justice Party (El-Adl), and the Reform and Development Party.

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Chester Zoo crowned Large Visitor Attraction of The Year at top tourism awards

Chester Zoo has been crowned the Large Visitor Attraction of The Year at top tourism awards.

The prestigious VisitEngland Excellence Awards, which have been running for more than 30 years, took place on Wednesday 8 June at the Library of Birmingham and were hosted by broadcaster and author, Clare Balding.

Championing innovation, quality and best practice across the business industry, the awards recognise organisations and individuals who raise the bar of Englands tourism offering.

Gold, Silver and Bronze winners were selected from hundreds of applicants across England including hotels, self-catering accommodation, B&Bs, glamping operators, attractions, restaurants, pubs and museums.

On the night, Chester Zoo took home two awards and was praised for its efforts in overcoming the covid-19 pandemic while also offering visitors a world class day out at the charity zoo.

Jamie Christon, CEO at Chester Zoo, said: As one of the worlds leading charity zoos, we put everything into our conservation work both here in the UK and globally.

Our huge team live and breathe wildlife conservation  from our animal and plant care, to our scientific breakthroughs, our policy work in government, through to our education programmes that are helping people from all walks of life to learn about nature.

Were fighting to tackle the root causes of wildlife decline, doing whatever it takes to create a brighter future for endangered species around the world.

None of this could be possible without people coming to the zoo to enjoy a fantastic, inspiring day out. In doing so each and every person is contributing to our incredible species-saving work and so a huge thank you goes out to everyone that has visited and supported us.

It means the world to us. This national award firmly confirms Chester Zoo as one of the must-see places to visit in the country.

Tourism is one of Englands largest and most valuable industries, supporting hundreds of thousands of businesses, employing about 2.6 million people and, in 2019, generating 76 billion in domestic visitor spending.

Chester Zoo was representing the county of Cheshire at the national VisitEngland awards after automatically being selected, following two successful award wins at the Marketing Cheshire Annual Awards earlier in the year.

Joe Manning, CEO at Marketing Cheshire, praised the zoo for its contributions to the area: Huge congratulations to the Chester Zoo team for a very well deserved win at the awards. The zoo consistently delivers a wonderful experience to the millions of people that flock through its gates, while continuing to build, innovate and improve on their excellence.

They also inspire us: leading Chester to become the worlds first city to adopt sustainable palm oil, while also incorporating a wildlife corridor in the city  to name just a couple of their countless initiatives.

They are a true ambassador for our region and we couldnt be prouder of all they achieve  both globally and here in Cheshire!
Wrexhams MP welcomes veterans to Parliament to launch of first UK womens veterans charity

Wrexhams MP has welcomed women veterans to the launch of the first  and only  UK womens veterans charity.

Salute Her is the only tri-service charity in the UK that focuses solely on women, provides a needs-led gender-specific support service.

It is part of the larger charity, Forward Assist, which itself helps veterans across the UK through research, education, and advocacy and support projects.

Last month Wrexham MP Sarah Atherton welcomed women veterans to Parliament and gave a speech at the launch of Salute Her UK, the first female-only veteran charity in the UK.

As a member of the Defence Select Committee in Parliament, and the only sitting female MP with a regular military background, Sarah Atherton led an inquiry into the experiences of servicewomen and veterans entitled Protecting those who Protect Us: Women in the Armed Forces from Recruitment to Civilian Life.

The inquiry heard from 4200 women, some veterans, some still serving. This amounted to 10% of all women who serve in the UK Armed Forces today.

Many of the women present at the Salute Her UK launch gave anonymous evidence to Sarahs inquiry.

The scope of the inquiry focussed on a wide range of problem from kit not made for the female form, such as helmets falling down when women were in firing positions on operations and body armour made for men, to serious cases of sexual assault and rape.

Sarah Atherton MP said: Over the last two years, I have worked closely with Paula Edwards, who leads Salute Her UK and gave valuable evidence to the Defence Select Committee during my inquiry, so it was an absolute pleasure to host women veterans in Parliament at the launch of Salute Her UK.

Salute Her UK provides a vital needs-led support and service and a platform for women who are struggling with the lasting impact that Military Sexual Trauma has on a female veteran. As the only female veterans charity in the UK, Salute Her and Paulas work were vital contributors to my report.

I saw first hand the work that Salute Her UK is doing when I visited last summer and if anyone is in any doubt of the need for a specific service for female veterans, they should visit Salute Her, speak to Paula or read my report.

Paula Edwards, Lead Trustee of newly formed Salute UK, commented: It was great to see our vision for the launch of Salute Her UK come to life in Parliament, thanks to Sarah Athertons support.

The event was about the women, those who have served, and those who still serve and it was a special moment for all some of the women to come together, with Sarah, after over 18 months of hard work contributing to her report.
On Thursday, the House Select January 6 Committee held a public hearing documenting how former president Donald Trump used his big lie about the 2020 election to justify an attempted fascist coup, aiming to abolish the peaceful transfer of power and turn the United States into a dictatorship.

But that same day, the Washington Post published an editorial promoting Trumps other big lie: the claim that COVID-19 is a man-made virus created at the Wuhan Institute of Virology in China.

White House trade adviser Peter Navarro (right) called COVID-19 a "weaponized virus" that created by the Chinese Communist Party. Trump repeatedly called COVID-19 Kung-Flu and the China virus. [AP Photo/Alex Brandon]

The Post promotes the hypothesis that the infection might have resulted from a laboratory accident or an inadvertent spill connected to the Wuhan Institute of Virology. It adds, At the time, the WIV was carrying out experiments using genetically modified viruses similar to the pandemic strain.

The Post frames its promotion of Trumps racist effort to blame China for the COVID-19 pandemic as a declaration that two broad hypotheses have arisen about how the virus first infected humans in Wuhan in late 2019.

This is like saying that there are two broad hypotheses about the validity of the 2020 presidential election results. No, there are not. There is the truth, and there is a right-wing conspiracy theory.

Trumps claim that the 2020 election was stolen had no evidence to support it and was a transparent falsification. It does not require forensic examinations of voting machines, polling booths, or electoral records. Any politician or journalist who gives the slightest credence to this claim is a fascist sympathizer.

Trumps election lie was concocted by Trump advisers Stephen K. Bannon, Peter Navarro, Jason Miller, and their co-conspirators, organized around Bannons Podcast, War Room: Pandemic. On January 5, the day before Trumps coup attempt, Bannon declared, all hell is going to break loose tomorrow.

Bannons podcast was, however, created to promote a different lie. On January 25, 2020, Bannon rebranded his War Room: Impeachment podcast to focus on the claim that China had created COVID-19 as a biological weapon to attack the United States. He called it War Room: Pandemic, which is its name to this day.

In the photo above, published by CNN, Wang DingGang, who appears to have originated the claim that COVID-19 was a man-made virus, is pictured with Trump attorney Rudy Giuliani, as Bannon is shown in the background. Li-Meng Yan, a lab leak advocate who Bannon claimed was a 'Whistleblower,' Is reflected in a mirror. Credit: CNN

In the first episode of the podcast, taped on January 25, Bannon invited Washington Times columnist Bill Gertz to speak about an upcoming article (of which Bannon had advanced knowledge) asserting that Coronavirus may have originated in lab linked to Chinas biowarfare program.

Days earlier, Bannons business partner and collaborator, the Chinese expatriate Miles Guo, published an article asserting that the real source of the coronavirus is from a lab in Wuhan linked to its covert biological weapons programs.

Trump, Navarro and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo would all promote the claim that COVID-19 was a biological weapon created by the Chinese Communist Party. Trumps Deputy National Security Advisor Matthew Pottinger would promote a variant of the lie claiming that COVID-19 was released by accident.

This conspiracy theory would be embraced by the editorial boards of the Wall Street Journal and the Washington Post, as well as by leading columnists for the New York Times.

In the midst of this right-wing firestorm, led by the fascist gutter press (Breitbart, the National Pulse, Newsmax, OAN) and supported by the mainstream media, the World Health Organization published its interim report on the origins of COVID-19 in March, 2021.

The report dismissed out of hand the claim that COVID-19 was developed as a biological weapon, concluding that this has been ruled out by other scientists following analyses of the genome.

It declared the possibility that COVID-19 spilled over to humans from a lab leak as extremely unlikely, declaring, There is no record of viruses closely related to SARS-CoV-2 in any laboratory before December 2019, or genomes that in combination could provide a SARS-CoV-2 genome.

Most critically of all, the report did not recommend further inquiries into the potential laboratory origins of COVID-19, cutting across the efforts of warmongers, xenophobes and demagogues of both parties to turn the scientific investigation into the origins of COVID-19 into a witch-finding expedition that could be used to accuse China of a cover-up.

Americas yellow press howled with indignation, with leading US newspapers condemning the findings and making personal attacks against committee member Peter Daszak, the most vocal opponent of the conspiracy theory within the scientific community.

Under relentless pressure from the US State Department, which officially endorses the conspiracy theory, the World Health Organization disbanded its committee into the origins of the disease and formed a new one: The Scientific Advisory Group for the Origins of Novel Pathogens (SAGO).

That group published its preliminary report Thursday. In the period between the reports, the evidence of zoonotic origins of COVID-19 has only grown, with the identification of coronaviruses that are extremely similar to COVID-19 in the wild, and more information tying the initial outbreak to the Huanan wet market, which carried out a significant trade in wild animals.

There has, at the same time, been no new evidence to indicate a laboratory origin of COVID-19, adding to the nonexistent prior evidence, bringing the total evidence supporting the conspiracy theory to zero.

Reflecting this reality, the SAGO report concludes, At the present time, currently available epidemiological and sequencing data suggest ancestral strains to SARS-CoV-2 have a zoonotic origin with the closest genetically related viruses being beta coronaviruses, identified in Rhinolophus bats in China in 2013 (96.1%) and Laos in 2020 (96.8%).

It adds, there has not been any new data made available to evaluate the laboratory as a pathway of SARS-CoV-2 into the human population.

But while recognizing that new scientific findings have worked to refute the conspiracy theory, the SAGO, under relentless political pressure by the United States, declared, it remains important to consider the possibility of the introduction of SARS-CoV-2 into the human population through a laboratory incident.

This assertion came despite the protests of three members of the Committee, who declared, there is no new scientific evidence to question the conclusion of the WHO-convened global study of origins of SARS-CoV-2: China Part mission report published in March 2021.

In other words, after the World Health Organization disbanded its team investigating the origins of COVID-19 under right-wing political pressure, removed all outspoken opponents of the conspiracy theory, and brought in figures sympathetic to the right-wing campaign, all the report could come up with was fundamentally the same conclusion as the earlier study: At the present time, currently available epidemiological and sequencing data suggest ancestral strains to SARS-CoV-2 have a zoonotic origin.

Commenting on the SAGO study, a source close to an earlier WHO-China joint study on the origins of COVID-19 observed, even though they removed the alleged conflicted members they still end up with the same conclusion!

The irony is, we had a window where China was supplying new data. The right wing pushed politically against the WHO teams work, they disbanded the team, brought in a lab leak contingent, removed people who argued that there was no evidence and who were politically expedient and now have a report that is demanding lab info from China under a politically charged atmosphere, without any evidence to support that line of inquiry.

The source added, The Post piece simply adds to the politicization of this, and ironically will continue to keep the window closed for any real understanding of COVID origins.

The Posts promotion of the Wuhan Lab Lie is transparently political. Last month, US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken said in a major speech on US-China relations, we will remain focused on the most serious long-term challenge to the international orderand thats posed by the Peoples Republic of China.

He continued, China is the only country with both the intent to reshape the international order and, increasingly, the economic, diplomatic, military, and technological power to do it.... We will defend our interests against any threat.

The efforts of the Post to promote the Wuhan Lab Lie are aimed at stoking xenophobic hatred of China to promote the military aims of the United States. They must be rejected with the contempt they deserve.
Every day brings new reports of the worsening crisis in New Zealands public hospitals, as a result of the Labour Party-led government adopting the criminal COVID-19 policy of mass infection.

Hutt Valley Hospital Emergency Department (Source: Hutt Valley District Health Board Facebook)

The government has dropped any pretence of even trying to mitigate the pandemic, after abandoning its zero COVID policy last October. It has ditched vaccine mandates, loosened isolation requirements and made masks optional in schools. During her recent visit to the US, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern referred to the pandemic as a thing of the past, as she encouraged tourists to return to New Zealand.

More than 1.2 million people have been infected with the virus, more than one fifth of the population, according to official figures. The actual number is undoubtedly far higher. As of June 10, the ministry of health had recorded 1,303 COVID-related deaths, 95 percent of which occurred this year, after the reopening of nonessential businesses and schools as Omicron hit the country.

On June 8, the Otago Daily Times reported that the Southern District Health Board (DHB) cancelled all surgeries at Dunedin Hospital due to severe staff shortages. Chief operating officer Hamish Brown blamed high numbers of emergency department presentations, Covid-19, staff fatigue and illness.

This situation is repeated across the country. At some DHBs, more than 20 percent of staff are sick with COVID or influenza or are isolating as a COVID contact. Meanwhile, St John Ambulance told the media this week that the number of call-outs now exceeds that during the Omicron surge in MarchApril. The service issued an emergency call for volunteers.

Emergency doctor John Bonning told the New Zealand Herald that Middlemore Hospital in South Auckland experienced its biggest day ever on June 7. The emergency department saw 420 patients in one night, well above the normal level of 300. The following day, according to a leaked email sent by management to staff, there were still 71 patients awaiting a bed.

A Middlemore worker quoted by Stuff said: It is frightening, actually, working there at the moment. It feels like there are lives at risk because of the high volumes [of patients] Staff are feeling enormous pressuretheyre stressed and tired.

This week, 256 staff in eight wards at Wellington Hospital lodged a provisional improvement notice with management and the government regulator WorkSafe, citing unsafe staffing levels. In response, non-critical surgeries have been postponed.

On June 7, the Herald reported that a woman who presented to Wellingtons emergency department waited a total of 25 hours for a bed on a ward to be available for her. The woman, who has a chronic pain condition, said she wasnt treated like a human being.

Hospitals are now seeing people who have been infected more than once. Whangarei emergency doctor Gary Payinda tweeted on June 8: The last thing anyone needs is flu and a repeat case of Covid Im seeing cases within 612 weeks of their first infection, sometimes worse than their first one, in the emergency department.

Health Minister Andrew Little has repeatedly downplayed these reports. On June 8, he misleadingly told NewstalkZB that whereas so many other hospital systems in the last couple of years were overrun and overwhelmed because of COVID, we managed to avoid that. He neglected to add that this has changed dramatically in recent months. Now that NZ has adopted the same murderous let it rip policy as other countries, its hospitals are facing the same crisis.

The Ardern governments efforts to downplay the pandemic have led to growing complacency and the belief, among some people, that getting COVID-19 is inevitable. Retail NZ CEO Greg Harford told Newshub yesterday that up to 40 percent of shoppers are no longer wearing masks, despite being technically required to do so.

Public health experts are increasingly concerned at the Labour governments refusal to take action. University of Canterbury senior lecturer Matthew Hobbs, and fellow researchers Alex Kazemi and Lukas Marek, wrote in the Conversation on June 1 that, in addition to COVID, flu cases have begun to spike, and [c]onditions are also primed for potential outbreaks of other illnesses including measles, whooping cough and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV).

They called for a recommitment to public health measures that slow the spread of respiratory infections, as well as a renewed drive for widespread vaccination. The experts pointed out that although 95 percent of the eligible population had received two shots of the Pfizer vaccine, far fewer are triple-vaccinated. According to the Ministry of Health, 2,665,867 peopleabout half the populationhave received the third shot, which is essential to provide protection against Omicron, although it still does not prevent all illnesses and deaths.

In a June 10 Conversation article, epidemiologist Amanda Kvalsvig wrote that the governments policy of keeping schools open through the Omicron outbreak has left communities exposed to widespread infection and disrupted learning. She called for the reintroduction of mask mandates and for proper ventilation and air quality monitoring systems in schools.

While reporting on the crisis in hospitals, as well as chronic teacher and student absences due to COVID, corporate media outlets continue to publish articles encouraging people to treat the pandemic as over.

Stuffs travel writer Brook Sabin declared following a recent visit to Australia: Covid is going nowhere and the restriction-free life isnt as scary as it seems. More people need to head overseas and realise there is life after Covid. He did not mention that Australia is recording hundreds of COVID deaths every week due its bipartisan let it rip policy.

One reader commented below the article: As a doctor working in a hospital that has just cancelled elective surgery for two weeks as the hospital is overloaded from staff sickness and a long COVID tail and now influenza, I find your article plain irresponsible and selfish [...] the health system in Aotearoa is imploding. The comment received more than 90 positive reactions.

Another reader stated: We should be still in full lock down. Not long ago 20-30 deaths a day would have been horrifying. If the world locked down properly the virus would have been gone in 4 weeks.

Wellington resident Erica observed on Twitter: Were averaging 11 deaths per day. If the road toll for Easter was nearly 50 thered be an outcry. I am a support worker and in our service, after being covid-free, this week 8/12 [8 out of 12] residents have it. Three staff are also infected. This is our peak.

There is significant opposition to the homicidal policy of mass infection, which finds no expression in parliament or the trade unions, which enforced the governments reopening agenda. This raises the need for working people to take their own action by building independent, rank-and-file safety committees in schools, hospitals and other workplaces. These must fight for the immediate closure of schools and nonessential businesses, and for a fully-resourced elimination strategy, which has proven successful in New Zealand, China and other parts of the world, to stamp out the virus and end the pandemic.
Egypt's highest state awards in art, literature, and social sciences for 2022 were announced on 7 June, with writer Ibrahim Abdel-Meguied, director Dawood Abdel-Sayed, and late Iraq thinker Qais Azzawi winning the top honour, the Nile Award.

In a meeting chaired by Egypts Minister of Culture Ines Abdel-Dayem, members of Egypts Supreme Council for Culture (SCC) voted on the top awards.

The members voted on 53 prizes worth a total of EGP 7.5 million (around $374,632) divided into four sections:

Here is the full list of winners:

The Nile Award

The Nile Award is granted to three people in the fields of literature, arts, and social sciences. Each winner receives EGP 500,000 and a gold medal. A new award for the most creative Arab personality was added for the first time in 2018.

The Nile Award in Literature was given to writer Ibrahim Abdel-Meguied.

The Nile Award in Arts was handed to director Dawood Abdel-Sayed.

The Nile Award in Social Sciences went to the late lawyer and head of the lawyers syndicate Ragi Attia.

The Nile Award for the Most Creative Arab personality was awarded to late Iraqi thinker Qais Al-Azzawi, who died in 2022.

The Nile Award for a creative Arab personality was launched in 2018 in a bid to strengthen ties between Egypt and Arab creative minds.

Appreciation Awards

The award carries a prize of EGP 200,000 and a gold medal.

The Appreciation Award in Arts went to actor Rashwan Tawfik, architect Suhair Hawass and Ahmed Nabil Suleiman.

The Appreciation Award in Literature was awarded to writers Mohamed Abulfadl Badran, Youssef Hassan Nofal and Kamal Ruhayem.

The Appreciation Awards in Social Sciences were awarded to Said Ismail, Abdel-Salam Abu-Qahf and Moataz Sayed Abdallah.

Excellency Awards

The Excellency Award in Literature was granted to writer Reem Bassiouny and Amr Fouad Dawara.

The Excellency Award in Arts was handed to Gamal Yaqoot and Ahmed Abdel-Kareem.

The Excellency Award in Social Sciences was handed to late judge Tahany El-Gebaly, Iman Amer, and Ahmed Hassanien.

In addition to the previous awards, the SCC granted 32 encouragement awards, each one of them worth EGP 50,000.

Factbox

There are 52 prizes worth a total of EGP 7.5 million (around $374,632) divided into four sections:

Thirty-two Encouragement Awards worth EGP 50,000.

Seven Excellency Awards worth EGP 100,000 and a silver medal.

Ten Appreciation Awards worth EGP 200,000 and a gold medal.

Four Nile Awards worth EGP 500,000 and a gold medal.

The 32 Encouragement Awards are divided as follows: eight for the arts, eight for literature, eight in social sciences, and eight for law and economic research.

Of the seven Excellency Awards, two are for the arts, two for literature, and three for social sciences. Political analyst Ammar Ali Hassan and economic expert Ahmed El-Naggar were among the winners of the prize last year.

The vote also includes 10 Appreciation Awards: three for the arts, three for literature, and four for social sciences. This award was granted for the first time in 1999. Novelists Khairy Shalaby and Gamal El-Ghitani, poet Mohammed Afifi Mattar, and critic Gaber Asfour are among the past winners.

Finally, the four Nile Awards are divided as follows: one for the arts, one for literature, one for social sciences, and one for the Most Creative Arab personality. The Nile Award was originally named the Mubarak Award, but was changed in the aftermath of the 25 January 2011 Revolution that ousted president Hosni Mubarak from power.

Poet Abdel-Rahman El-Abnoudi, writers Bahaa Taher, Ibrahim Aslan, and Waheed Hamed, and cinema director Youssef Chahine are the most prominent figures to date who have won the Nile Award.

The State Awards were launched in 1958 and have only been cancelled once, in 1967, during the Six-Day War between Egypt and Israel.

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As the NATO powers escalate their proxy war against Russia in Ukraine, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov visited Ankara, Turkeys capital, on Wednesday for talks with his Turkish counterpart Mevlut Cavusoglu.

Both Lavrov and Cavusoglu supported calls to create a safe grain corridor from Ukrainian ports on the Black Sea through the Turkish straits. However, the NATO-backed Ukrainian government rejected the proposal, declaring it not credible, according to AP reports.

The Turkish and Russian foreign ministers also discussed resuming peace negotiations between Kiev and Moscow, which were interrupted under pressure from the major NATO powers.

Both plans are incompatible with the plan of the US-led NATO powers to inflame the war in order to bring about regime change in Russia and ultimately realize the imperialist division and plunder of this vast countrys resources.

For this, NATO has opened a Northern front in war against Russia. Since Sweden and Finland announced their intention to join NATO in mid-May, with the support of the US and European imperialist powers, Sweden has been turned into a naval garrison against Russia. Meanwhile, Moscows reactionary invasion of Ukraine, which plays into the hands of Washington, is reportedly making military advances in the east of Ukraine.

The Kremlin faces punishing Western sanctions, including import and export bans as well as the exclusion of major Russian banks from the international SWIFT financial system, making it virtually impossible for Russian companies to trade with the West. In response, it is trying to maneuver with Turkey, a NATO member state, and the pro-US Gulf monarchies.

Before visiting Turkey, Lavrov toured Bahrain, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. According to the Arab News, Lavrov clarified that the members of the GCC will not participate in sanctions against Russia. Moreover, prior to the meeting, Lavrov spoke with Prince Faisal, when the Russian diplomat praised the level of cooperation in OPEC+, as it is known that Saudi Arabia and other member states rejected American pressure to increase crude output after the start of the Russian operation in Ukraine.

After the Cavusoglu-Lavrov meeting, which was also attended by military delegations, the two held a joint press conference. We see a [common] will between Russia and Ukraine to return to negotiations, said Cavusoglu, adding that his government sees UN plans to establish a food corridor out of Ukraine under Turkish naval forces watch as reasonable and feasible. He proposed to host a meeting with the UN and Ukraine in Istanbul.

He added, If the whole world is in need of the products to be exported by Ukraine and the Russian Federation, we need to establish the adequate method and mechanisms. While Ankara denounces the Russian invasion of Ukraine, and openly supports the Kiev regime, it did not join the US-led sanctions against Russia due to its strong ties with Moscow. Cavusoglu said the West should ease sanctions in return for Moscows agreeing to a food corridor.

AP wrote, While food exports are technically exempt from the sanctions, Russia claims that restrictions on its ships and banks make it impossible to deliver its grain to global markets. According to AP, 22 million tons of grain are sitting in silos in the Black Sea ports of Ukraine, one of the worlds largest exporters of wheat, corn and sunflower oil.

During the press conference, Lavrov denied that a global food crisis was caused by the Russian-Ukrainian war. He claimed that the share of Ukrainian grain exports in the global market made up about 1 percent of the total and therefore is too small an amount to be significant, before adding: Nevertheless, Russia values Turkeys efforts to unblock the situation on grain exports from Ukrainian seaports.

On Tuesday before his visit to Turkey, he also said Western countries had created a flurry of artificial problems by closing their ports to Russian vessels.

On June 3, Russian President Vladimir Putin said: If someone wants to solve the problem of exporting Ukrainian grainplease, the easiest way is through Belarus. No one is stopping it, adding: But for this you have to lift sanctions from Belarus. He also said that British and US sanctions on Russian fertilizers would escalate problems on global food markets.

NATO claims that Russia is responsible for rising food prices and shortages are political lies. Food prices were rising even before the war, as central banks in the centers of world finance debased major currencies with massive printing of money to be handed over to the financial aristocracy. The current cut-off of grain supplies is largely due to US-led sanctions as NATO and Washington call for a long and painful war against Russia.

Russia is demanding Ukraine clear sea mines around its ports in exchange for allowing food ships to leave Ukraine. According to the Turkish state-owned Anadolu Agency, Lavrov said the main problem with the export of Ukraines grains is the countrys President Volodymyr Zelenskys refusal to discuss the clearing of sea mines.

Denying Ukrainian officials claims on potential Russian naval attacks from a corridor, Lavrov said: We guarantee that we will not use the demining of Ukrainian ports to attack the country.  We are ready to ensure the safety of ships that leave Ukrainian ports. We are ready to do this in cooperation with our Turkish colleagues.

On Wednesday, Ukrainian Grain Union chief Serhiy Ivashchenko rejected this, however, saying: Turkey doesnt have enough power in the Black Sea to guarantee the security of cargo and Ukrainian ports. He added that it would take three to four months to remove sea mines.

The European powers reaction on a possible food corridor was not positive. European Council President Charles Michel accused the Kremlin of weaponizing food supplies, while European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen hypocritically claimed: Our sanctions do not touch basic food commodities. They do not affect the trading of grain or other food between Russia and third countries.

She added, And the port embargo specifically has full exemption on agricultural goods. So lets stick to the truth. Its Putins war of aggression that fuels the food crisis and nothing else.

The Ukrainian Foreign Ministry said Tuesday that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan discussed the creation of a safe sea corridor last week. According to the AP, the Ukrainian government called for security guarantees, such as a supply of weapons to defend against maritime threats and the participation of NATO ships in the Black Sea.

Asked about Ankaras efforts, a US State Department spokesperson said, [we] appreciate Turkeys efforts to mediate diplomatic discussions.  We strongly support the resumption of grain exports from Ukraine to alleviate global food insecurity that Russias war has exacerbated. He called for Ukraine to be fully involved in any decisions while any plan should not enable Russia to further its own military aims.

In fact, the Russian-Turkish initiative for a food corridor was originally a counter-move to NATO plans to exploit the food crisis to escalate the war against Russia, sending warships to the Black Sea and creating conditions for all-out war between NATO and Russia.

Such a NATO deployment would, however, require the approval of the Turkish government, which controls the straits leading to the Black Sea. Ankara closed the straits to both Russian and NATO warships after Russias invasion of Ukraine.

Whatever the immediate results of talks between Ankara and Moscow, the US-led NATO powers are determined to escalate the war with Russia. Preventing global famine and stopping a war that has already claimed tens of thousands of lives and displaced millions from turning into a nuclear Third World War requires the independent revolutionary mobilization of the international working class against imperialist war on a socialist programme.
A day after the January 6 House Select Committee held the first of a series of nationally televised hearings, the Washington Post reported on the discovery of dozens more emails between Virginia Thomas and 29 Republican state lawmakers from Arizona in which she advanced Trumps scheme to replace duly elected electors with fraudulent pro-Trump substitutes.



Last month it was revealed that Thomas, the wife of arch-reactionary Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas, had sent emails to the Arizona Speaker of the House Rusty Bowers and state Representative Shawnna Bolick, demanding that they reject the popular vote and take action to ensure [a] clean slate of electors are chosen.



Spreading Trumps fascistic claims that the 2020 election was fraudulent and Biden was illegitimate as president, Thomas called on the Arizona Republicans to overturn Bidens victory in the state, which he carried by more than 10,000 votes. She urged them to install a slate of pro-Trump electors instead of the Biden electors, who had actually been chosen by the voters.



On Friday the Post confirmed that Thomas sent the same email to more than half of the Republicans in the Arizona state legislature, 29 different state representatives in total. The first messages were all sent on November 9, 2020, two days after Biden was declared the winner of the 2020 election. In the messages, she called on the politicians to stand strong in the face of political and media pressure and fight back against (non-existent) voter fraud.



Trump himself made a similar to appeal to over a dozen Michigan state lawmakers, who convened at the White House on November 20, 2020. Another Trump co-conspirator, Pennsylvania Rep. Scott Perry, likewise advanced efforts to have Pennsylvanias Democratic electors rejected by the state legislature in pursuit of Trumps coup.



One of the Republicans who responded affirmatively to Thomass call to overthrow the government and install Trump as president-dictator was then-state Rep. Anthony Kern. The Post noted Kern was a Stop the Steal supporter who was photographed outside the Capitol during the January 6 attack. The former state legislator, who has yet to be charged for participating in the attack, has already earned Trumps endorsement in his 2022 primary contest, no doubt for prior services rendered.



The Post reported that Thomas, a life-long Republican operative and Trumps henchwoman, continued to badger lawmakers via email for over a month, demanding they install pro-Trump electors. On December 13 Thomas sent another batch of emails to 22 Arizona House members and one senator. In a bald-faced lie, she told the lawmakers they had the Constitutional power and authority to protect the integrity of our elections which had never before in our nations history ... been so threatened by fraud and unconstitutional procedures.



The emails confirm that Trumps conspiracy to overthrow the election did not begin with his December 19 call to action on Twitter, where he instigated his followers and Republican accomplices to descend on Washington D.C. and be wild outside the Capitol on January 6. Trumps coup did not rest on the combat prowess of the far-right militias like the Proud Boys or Oath Keepers.



In reality, the effort to enlist state legislatures to overturn the election was planned well in advance by Republicans like Thomas and the fascist Stephen Bannon through Republican-funded think tanks like the Claremont Institute, the Bradley Foundation, Groundswell and others, in coordination with Republican politicians at the state and federal levels.



On January 6, a majority of the Republicans in Congress supported Trumps effort to overturn the election, with 147 Republicans voting to challenge the Electoral College results even after the attack on Congress, while all but 10 Republicans in the House voted against impeaching Trump over his role in the attack.



The Republican Party as a whole continues to back Trumps fascist lies that the election was stolen and that the attempted coup was legitimate political discourse. Following Thursdays hearings, Trump again attacked the January 6 committee as an unselect committee of political HACKS and called the fascist attack on Congress as the greatest movement in the history of the United States.



It was a deliberate decision that during Thursdays nationally televised hearing, neither committee chair Bennie Thompson (Democrat-Mississippi) nor vice chair Liz Cheney (Republican-Wyoming) mentioned Virginia Thomas role in the plot.



They sought to limit the exposure of the political crimes of January 6 to Trumps personal role, while covering up the fact that fascism has found support both in the Republican Party and in significant sections of the Supreme Court and police-military-intelligence apparatus as well.



The scope of the ultra-right takeover of the Republican Party was underscored by the arrest Thursday morning of Michigan Republican gubernatorial candidate Ryan Kelley for his actions in connection with the failed coup.



FBI agents arrested the 40-year-old real estate agent at his home in Allendale, Michigan. Kelley was charged with four misdemeanors, including knowingly entering the US Capitol or Capitol grounds, disorderly and disruptive conduct in that space, knowingly engaging in physical violence against a person or property on the Capitol grounds and willfully injuring or attacking property of the United States. Each count carries a maximum one-year prison sentence.

Evidence cited in court documents includes video of Kelley pushing up the Capitol steps and goading others to attack, with one video showing him yelling to Trumps foot soldiers, Come on, lets go! This is war, baby!



Kelley, who has previously described January 6 as an energizing event, has centered his gubernatorial campaign on appealing to Trump and his fascist supporters. He has previously touted his endorsement by Michigans Three Percenters militia group and participated in the April 2020 storming of the Lansing state Capitol, a prelude to the January 6 attack.



Kelley was a leading Republican candidate for governor prior to his arrest, after five other Republican candidates were denied ballot status last month when the Michigan elections bureau found substantial numbers of fraudulent and duplicate signatures on their nominating petitions.



The five remaining Michigan Republican candidates for governor on the ballot for the August 2 primary are Kelley, the ultra-right media commentator Tudor Dixon, pastor Ralph Rebandt, businessman Kevin Rinke and Garrett Soldano.



Kelleys next hearing will be held virtually next week after he was released on bond Thursday afternoon to the cheers of a small crowd of supporters who had gathered outside the federal courthouse in Grand Rapids, Michigan.


Hailed as an Australian business success story, the medical logistics company Aspen Medical provides a textbook example of a private company expanding at the expense of public health thanks to capitalist governments privatisation of healthcare.

Aspen Medical co-founder Glenn Keys (right) accepting the company's induction into Australia Export Awards Hall of Fame in November 2021 (Image: Matthew Wilson@_matthewwilson)

On May 2, Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) program Four Corners ran an expose of the firms financial turnaround during 202021 on the back of government pandemic contracts totalling over $1 billion, awarded without public tender.

This followed years of promotion of Aspen by Liberal-National Coalition and Labor Party governments alike.

Aspen was founded in 2003 by former military flight test engineer Glenn Keys in partnership with his friend and medical doctor Andrew Walker. It rapidly developed into the emerging global market for healthcare logistics, while proclaiming humanitarian goals.

After leaving the military, Keys had joined defence start-up Aerospace Technology Services and later sold his stake in the company to major US military contractor Raytheon.

Visiting Britain in 2003, Keys realised an opportunity existed for Aspen in Labour Prime Minister Tony Blairs plans to start privatising the National Health Service (NHS). Aspen tendered for a consultancy contract to review orthopaedic services. This soon led to a contract to reduce the NHS orthopaedic elective surgery waiting list in the north of England.

The Blair government had embarked on cost-cutting and implementing Tory-initiated reforms such as developing NHS internal markets. Private consultancies like Aspen were used to trail-blaze the carve-up.

At the same time, Aspen won a contract to provide health services in the Solomon Islands as part of the Australian governments 2003 military intervention, branded as the Regional Assistance Mission to Solomon Islands (RAMSI.)

More than 2,000 Australian soldiers and police were deployed to the Pacific island state in a neo-colonial operation that involved taking over all key government functions, even health programs.

Keys said: The Defence department was responsible for providing all the health services, but they saw it would be a long term project, and didnt want to be there for that long, so tendered out the process. We beat off companies from across Europe and Asia. This was the first time the Australian government had outsourced services in an operational environment.

Despite Aspen having little-to-no health provider qualifications, these initial assignments established it as a business with unique military connections.

It also ingratiated itself with various governments to obtain lucrative commissions, such as a Public Private Partnership deal to run two hospitals in Fiji, and a $US1 billion arrangement to build and operate 650 healthcare clinics and 23 hospitals in Indonesia.

Australian governments privatisation agenda often coincided with neo-colonial and military contracts. In 2010, under the Rudd-Gillard Labor government, the Australian Agency for International Development (AusAID) hired Aspen to deal with a severe cholera outbreak in Papua New Guinea.

In 2012, the company won a $500 million contract from the Labor government to provide 1,000 special medical staff for military bases nationally for four years.

According to the Saturday Paper: It has worked as a defence contractor, and as an operator in Australias offshore immigration detention network, providing medical services at Nauru hospital.

Aspen also provided personnel to the British Ministry of Defence under the Cameron Tory government for deployment to Afghanistan. In the Middle East, the company set up six hospitals for the World Health Organisation and the Iraqi puppet government, and opened an ambulance service for the government in the United Arab Emirates.

In Africa it ran a large hospital in Lagos, Nigeria for 10 years, and established a hospital in Liberia.

In 2014, the Australian Coalition government awarded an almost $20 million contract to Aspen to run a 100-bed facility in Sierra Leone during a raging Ebola epidemic. Four Corners noted that the company made a 26 percent profit on the Ebola interventionmore than $3.7 million.

In 2016, Aspen gained a contract to provide health services at the newly-privatised Melaleuca womens prison in Perth, Western Australia. An indigenous death in custody there in 2017 raised disturbing questions about Aspens failure to properly provide healthcare staffing. An internal document, commissioned before the inmates death, admitted that Aspens deficiencies posed a highly significant clinical risk and warned that there could be a death in custody due to lack of doctor cover.

The COVID-19 pandemic provided another golden opportunity, resulting in a huge leap in profitability. The Australian Financial Review noted that Aspen gained a 650 percent revenue increase in the financial year to June 2020, earning $562 million.

In the 18 months to August 2021, Aspen gained numerous government contracts. The largest was for medical supplies for the National Medical Stockpile, which totalled $1.1 billion across four contracts. According to Aspens website, it sourced 50 percent of the Australian governments requirements for personal protective equipment.

The financial newspaper reported that Aspens staff numbers grew from 670 before the pandemic to more than 3,400. Many of these workers were casualised, short-term labour, paid low rates.

The company managed infection control for repatriation flights from Wuhan in January 2020, ran respiratory clinics across Australia, and provided quarantine services for Princess Cruises, including the Diamond Princess crew in Japan.

In March 2020, the Ruby Princess COVID-19 debacle occurred in Sydney. New South Wales Health allowed 2,700 untested passengers to disembark. It transpired that 663 passengers and crew were infected. The passengers unwittingly spread the virus across the country and 28 died from COVID. Aspen was contracted to perform screening and testing for the stranded crew, who were kept on the vessel.

With the virus raging through aged care facilities resulting in rising deaths, Aspen became one of eight companies tasked with providing a replacement workforce during the Newmarch House aged care coronavirus outbreak in Sydney in April 2020 where 19 residents died.

The federal Health Department signed a $16 million contract for Aspen to provide staff to federally funded aged care homes that were experiencing serious COVID-19 outbreaks. The value of that contract was later boosted to $44.96 million.

The disastrous implications of the privatised business model were underlined at St Basils Home for the Aged in Melbourne later that year. Aspen was tasked with restaffing St Basils when the entire original staff was quarantined on July 21 in an exploding outbreak of COVID-19. At that point one resident had died at the facility.

The company began its takeover on July 22 with woefully inadequate staffing after informing the federal government representative, Neil Callagher, it could not find more.

Callagher told the coroners inquest into the deaths of 50 residents in Australias worst aged care COVID outbreak that the majority of replacement nurses organised by Aspen were literally graduates. Peter Rozen, QC, counsel assisting the inquest, said it was an ever changing and diminishing group of inexperienced nurses and care workers.

Visiting consultant Kirsten Congerton had emailed the Health Department on July 24, warning that the agency staff was very young, inexperienced, terrified and overwhelmed. Aspen was told by that date that residents were not being fed. By July 31, all residents were transferred to hospitals, where the death toll rose to 50.

Nevertheless, the Morrison government paid Aspen another $46 million to provide booster shots to aged care residents. Unwilling to pay holiday penalty rates to their staff, the company took a break over the 2021 Christmas holidays until January 3, 2022. Omicron did not take a break. Death rates in aged care homes skyrocketed, with 906 fatalities in 2022 to March 18, almost half the total since the beginning of the pandemic.

Aspens business model encapsulates the increasing privatisation of public health services at the behest of the corporate and financial elite. Far from governments injecting money into the under-resourced and understaffed public health system, billions of dollars are being funnelled into private companies whose overriding concern is profit.
Tesla and SpaceX Chief Executive Officer Elon Musk speaks at the SATELLITE Conference and Exhibition in Washington. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh, File)

Elon Musk, CEO of electric vehicle maker Tesla, called for the layoff of 10 percent of the companys white collar workforce in an internal company email on June 3.

Tesla will be reducing salaried head count by 10 percent, as we have become overstaffed in many areas, Musk stated. He said that the number of hourly employees, on the other hand, would increase.

In another email cited by Reuters, Musk had stated he was ordering a pause on all hiring worldwide, saying that he had a super-bad feeling about a coming recession.

Musk later reversed himself twice on Twitter, first stating that total headcount will increase, but salaried should be fairly flat, before seeming to confirm that the plan for salaried job cuts was accurate.

More recently, on June 10, it was revealed that Tesla had canceled a series of virtual job fairs, which had been scheduled to take place in China this month. The events were to recruit positions in sales, deliveries, research and development and procurement, according to the Wall Street Journal.

His threats to the cut salaried jobs come shortly after the billionaire commanded white collar workers at Tesla and SpaceX to return to the office full-time or be fired, i.e., end remote work arrangements despite the continuing danger of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The more senior you are, the more visible must be your presence, declared Musk in a memo with the subject line To be super clear the week before. With his typical self-aggrandizement, he continued, That is why I lived in the factory so muchso that those on the line could see me working alongside them. If I had not done that, Tesla would long ago have gone bankrupt.

Tesla has become the worlds largest manufacturer of electric vehicles (more than 936,000 vehicles sold in 2021), although it still lags far behind the established automakers in the overall number of vehicles sold. Its rise has been dependent upon the intense and brutal exploitation of workers, as well as the cheap-money policies of the Federal Reserve and the attendant frenzied speculation on Wall Street over the last decade-plus.

The run-up of Teslas stock price has made Musk the worlds richest man, with a fortune estimated at more than a quarter of a trillion dollars, despite the recent slump in the companys share value.

The company now employs 100,000 workers across the world in 19 manufacturing plants that, in addition to electric vehicles and parts, manufacture home batteries (the Tesla Wall) and other components. Its biggest assembly plants are in Shanghai, China (15,000 workers) and Fremont, California (10,000 workers) in the United States, and more assembly plants have been recently opened in Texas and Germany.

Elon Musks corporate empire also includes aerospace company SpaceX and other firms. He is currently negotiating the purchase of social media platform Twitter for an estimated $44 billion. He has increasingly courted the Republican Party and sections of the far right, stating that he would reinstate Donald Trumps Twitter account following his acquisition of the company.

Facing gathering pressure on Teslas staggeringly inflated share price, Musk is more and more lashing out at the companys workforce, seeking to drive up productivity and workers exploitation even more. There is just a lot of super talented hardworking people in China who strongly believe in manufacturing, Musk said in an interview with the Financial Times last month. They wont just be burning the midnight oil, they will be burning the 3 a.m. oil, they wont even leave the factory type of thing, whereas in America people are trying to avoid going to work at all.

A May 10 Fortune article described conditions for Tesla workers at its massive Shanghai plant. In April and May, its workers were forced to work 12-hour shifts, six days a week, sleeping in the plant as part of a closed loop system to keep Teslas production going during Shanghais COVID-19 lockdowns.

Early on during the COVID-19 pandemic, Musk attacked the public health measures that had been implemented by the state of California, calling them fascist and cynically claiming to stand for the freedom of workers at the plant. Musk has repeatedly downplayed the severity of the pandemic, which has killed over 1 million people in the US, promoting dangerous conspiracy theories to his social media followers.

Defying a county public health mandate during the initial surge of COVID-19, Musk reopened the Fremont plant in May 2020, daring county officials to arrest him. State and county officials promptly caved in to his demands. As a result, over 400 plant workers caught the coronavirus by the end of 2020. Tesla and Alameda County collaborated in hiding the number of pandemic victims at the plant.

I feel abandoned, we all feel abandoned, Branton Phillips, a worker at the Fremont plant, told CBS in 2020. One day somebody is sick and we know that, next day the three to four guys that worked around him are also gone, and were not told anything.

He threatened to leave the county for Texas, and then we saw a complete change from the county and the state. They just turned a blind eye, said Carlos Gabriel, another worker.
On Wednesday night, Sri Lankan President Gotabhaya Rajapakse issued an extraordinary gazette declaring electricity and health essential public services and outlawing strikes in these sectors.

Ceylon Electricity Board workers protesting outside head office on 3 November 2021 (WSWS Media)

The immediate aim of the decree, which was issued under the countrys draconian Essential Public Services Act (EPSA), was to stop a planned strike by Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) workers starting at midnight. The key sector has a more than 26,000-strong workforce. The strike was called by the Ceylon Electricity Board Engineers Union (CEBEU) and the Ceylon Electricity Board United Trade Union Alliance (CEBUTA).

According to the EPSA decree, any employee of the designated institutions who does not attend work faces conviction, after summary trial before a magistrate and will be liable to rigorous imprisonment of two to five years and/or a fine of between 2,000 and 5,000 rupees ($US5$US13).

The movable and immoveable property of those convicted can be seized by the state, and his or her name removed from any register maintained for profession or vocation. It is also an offence for any person to incite, induce or encourage any other person to not attend work through a physical act or by any speech or writing.

The unions called the strike in protest against an amendment to the CEB Act 2009 proposed by Power and Energy Minister Kanchana Wijesekara, allowing investments in the renewable energy sector without competitive bids. The amendment removes a paragraph in the act stating that the license for the investment should be given to the bidder who provides electricity at the lowest price. Desperate to attract investment at any cost, the government will be able to arbitrarily decide on investment opportunities.

The CEB unions denounced the amendment, declaring that the government was planning to hand over the countrys wind and solar resources to the Adani Group, a major Indian multinational, without the competitive bidding process. They also demanded a halt in the moves towards privatisation of the CEB and for a suitable professional with an unblemished character to be appointed as CEB chairman.

The unions, however, immediately capitulated to Rajapakses essential services gazette and cancelled the strike.

CEBEU president Anil Ranjith told the media that Rajapakse had called him and promised to look into the unions demands during the committee stage debate in parliament. Ranjith also claimed that if the current amendment was passed, We will not hesitate to resume our trade union action with immediate effect.

Rajapakses promise, like Ranjiths threats, were worthless, with the amendment passed by a majority in the Sri Lankan parliament on Thursday.

At the same time, the Colombo District Courts, on the request of CEB management, issued an enjoining order preventing the CEBEU from disrupting supply of electricity to the general public as a result of engaging in strike. The order constitutes a judicial ban on the strike and is valid till June 22, when the union leaders will have to appear in court. Ignoring the order would be considered contempt of court and punishable.

None of the opposition parties, including the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB), the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) and the Tamil National Alliance (TNA), opposed the essential public services order.

Leading SJB MP, Harsha De Silva failed to win support for an opposing amendment allowing small investors to bid for tenders, further demonstrating that the SJB has no fundamental differences with the governments agenda. JVP parliamentarians recorded a token opposition vote against the government amendment.

Power and Energy Minister Wijesekara told parliament that the government would not bow down to trade union terrorism, a reference to CEB workers not the union bureaucrats who had already stopped the strike. He also called on the security forces to protect the hydropower reservoirs, claiming sabotage acts were occurring.

Sri Lankas original Electricity Act of 2009 paved the way for private firms, cooperatives and local government bodies to compete with the state-owned CEB in all aspects of power generation, transmission and distribution. The current amendment, which permits private investments, including international investors in the renewable sector, is another element in the restructuring and ultimate privatisation of the CEB, a long-standing International Monetary Fund (IMF) demand.

Facing mass nationwide protests and two general strikes in April and May demanding his resignation as president and the removal of his government, Gotabaya Rajapakse appointed pro-US politician Ranil Wickremesinghe as prime minister last month. Wickremesinghe, the only United National Party representative in parliament, is charged with implementing the IMFs austerity demands. He has repeatedly declared that loss-making state-owned enterprises cannot be sustained and must be privatised.

Yesterday, the media reported that the CEB lost 65 billion rupees in the first quarter of this year. Electricity prices will soon be increased with CEB management proposing a 300 percent hike, which will drastically impact on workers and the poor.

CEBUTA leader Ranjan Jayalal (WSWS Media)

The unions criticism of the amendment bill is hypocritical. Announcing the cancellation of the strike, CEBUTA leader and JVP central committee member Ranjan Jayalal said: This bill allows the Indian Adani Company to have monopoly in this sector. If there is a competitive tender bidding process then domestic and international investors should also be allowed intervene.

In other words, the union is not opposed to competitive bidding in the electricity sector but wants it broadened. It was compelled to call a strike in order to dissipate workers anger over the government privatization drive.

Last year, the Rajapakse government decided to sell 40 percent of the state-owned Kerawalapitiya LNG power plant to the US-based New Fortress Energy Company. The unions called limited protests and took court action, claiming that this would help to compel the government to reverse its decision. Predictably, the courts backed the government deal and the unions accepted the ruling and shut down their protests.

Over the last two and half months, the CEB unions, in collaboration with other unions, have worked to divert the mass anti-government protests and strikes behind SJB and JVP calls for an interim regime and parliamentary elections.

As previously noted, Rajapakses draconian essential services decree applies to the health sector where workers are deeply hostile to government cuts to overtime payments. While health employees have held strikes and demonstrations at several hospitals, the health unions have shutdown these protests, accepting assurances from the health ministry that it will pay back the reduced allowances at some point in the future.

The new EPSA decree banning strikes by electricity and health workers is a warning to the working class as a whole.

Deeply mired in the global crisis triggered by the pandemic and intensified by the US-NATO war against Russia in Ukraine, the Sri Lankan capitalist class is determined to impose the economic burden on workers and the poor, including through the use of dictatorial measures.

As the last three months have again revealed, the survival of the capitalist elite and its government depends on the treachery of the trade unions.

CEB workers, health sector employees and all other sections of the working cannot defend their democratic and social rights without a political fight against the Rajapakse-Wickremesinghe regime and a struggle for a workers and peasants government based on socialist and internationalist policies.

As the Socialist Equality Party (SEP) has explained, workers need to take matters into their hands by building action committees in all workplaces and working-class suburbs, independent of the unions and the capitalist parties, and in unity with their class brothers and sisters internationally.
The second man in a month was executed in Arizona this week. Frank Atwood, 66, who was convicted for the killing of 8-year old Vicki Lynne Hoskinson in 1984, was put to death by lethal injection at 10:16 a.m. on Wednesday, June 8 at the Arizona State Prison Complex in Florence.

Frank Atwood

Atwoods lawyers had attempted to overturn his death sentence, arguing that they had discovered an FBI memo indicating that an anonymous caller had described seeing Hoskinson in a car not associated with Atwood. Atwoods defense was heard by the Supreme Court Wednesday morning, which rejected his final defense and cleared the way for his execution to progress.

The state killing of Atwood followed by less than four weeks the execution of Clarence Dixon, also 66, on May 11, both of which come eight years after a federal judge issued a state wide stay following the botched 2014 execution of Jason Wood.

Jason Wood was given a cocktail of experimental drugs in 15 separate injections which took two hours to take effect. Reports from witnesses of the execution indicated that he repeatedly snorted and gasped 600 times before he died, prompting outrage over the cruelty of his execution.

Local reporting indicates that prison staff were unable to locate a vein to inject the lethal dose, and ultimately injected Atwood in his right hand at his own request. Atwoods execution reportedly went smoothly according to KOLD-TVs Bud Foster, who said that the execution was probably the most peaceful of any of the executions that I witnessed in the past.

KOLD-TV was one of three Tucson area news organizations allowed to witness the execution. The Associated Press, which has a long history of witnessing executions, requested permission to send a journalist but was denied.

The execution before Atwoods was also fraught and nearly botched. Dixon was executed despite being blind, diagnosed with schizophrenia, and a member of the Navajo Nation, which strongly opposes the death penalty for cultural and religious reasons.

Due to Dixons mental illness, his defense argued that he could not properly understand the rational for his execution and therefore could not be legally put to death. A psychiatrist who interviewed Dixon multiple times testified that he believed he was being executed as part of a government conspiracy, not for the murder and rape charges that he had been convicted of. The court, however, ruled against Dixon, arguing that he was not mentally impaired enough to merit staying his execution.

Dixons defense continued to argue against his execution, and on April 8 filed a motion again arguing that he was not mentally competent enough to be executed. Arizona Attorney General Mark Brnovich urged the court to not even hold a hearing, arguing that it would delay Dixons execution, essentially claiming that it is more important for the state to kill a man than to determine if it is legal to do so.

Witnesses reported that Dixon struggled in pain for 25 minutes as the prison staff failed to insert the IV into his left arm. Eventually, the executioners injected his right arm and made an incision in his groin where they inserted an additional lethal injection. Paul Davenport, a media witness for the Associated Press, noted that I did see what appeared to be some cutting into the groin, they did have to wipe up a fair amount of blood.

These recent executions have sparked concern among opponents of the death penalty, with Amnesty International in particular noting that Arizona currently has 111 inmates on death row, 22 of whom have exhausted all of their appeals. Dan Peitzmeyer, the death penalty abolition coordinator for Amnesty International, described the executions as having opened the flood gates for an escalation in Arizonas executions.

The deaths of Dixon and Atwood bring Arizonas total executions up to 39 since 1992, when the state moved to lethal injections from the previous method of death by gas chamber. Since Atwood had been convicted before 1992, he was given the choice of which method of execution he preferred.

Arizonas system for applying lethal injections has been fraught with failures and questionable legality. Not only was Wood executed with an experimental cocktail of drugs, but the state of Arizona has been caught multiple times using illegal drugs. In 2011, the Department of Justice found that Arizonas supply of sodium thiopental was imported illegally. And in 2015, the state of Arizona was caught attempting to illegally import lethal injection drugs from India, which were confiscated by FDA officials in Phoenix.

In 1999, Arizona executed German citizen Walter LaGrand by gas chamber. Two years later, the International Court of Justice ruled that Arizona has violated the Vienna Convention by failing to inform LaGrand of his right to seek assistance from the German Consulate. A year later, the US Supreme Court ruled that Arizonas entire system for death penalty sentencing unconstitutional in the case Ring v. Arizona, which ruled Arizona was violating defendants Sixth Amendment rights by entrusting a judge with the authority to find facts sufficient to impose the death penalty without the input of a jury.

It was reported by the Guardian last year that the state is reopening its gas chamber and preparing to use Zykon-B, the same chemical used by the Nazis in the Holocaust at the Auschwitz and Majdanek concentration camps. The state had purchased a block of potassium cyanide in December 2020 along with two other ingredients, sodium hydroxide pellets and sulfuric acid for a few thousand dollars.
Novelist Ibrahim Abdel-Meguid talks of 1952, his hometown of Alexandria, and other cities around the Mediterranean

When King Farouk headed to the port of Alexandria to dock his yacht Al-Mahroussa in July 1952, novelist Ibrahim Abdel-Meguid was only six years old. He was getting ready to join his primary school in September of the same year.

His political awareness had not yet developed, but his recollection of the charged emotions all around him would not be something that would escape his mind in the years that followed, as he grew up to be a vehement supporter of the rising star of the 1952 Revolution, Gamal Abdel-Nasser.

For 15 years, including the years of political turbulence that came with the split within the Free Officers Movement and the confrontation between the Free Officers and their former allies the Muslim Brotherhood, Abdel-Meguid was totally fascinated with the Nasser experience.

Nasser was doing lots of good things to achieve socio-economic independence and justice; I was truly impressed and I was truly enthusiastic, Abdel-Meguid recalled on the 67th anniversary of the day the Free Officers forced the last ruler of the Mohamed Ali Family to step down, and thus brought about the end of the monarchy and the beginning of republican rule.

In his book 'Where do the birds over the ocean go?', which came out late last year in a new edition by Battana Publications, Abdel-Meguid does not come across as anything but a dedicated Nasserite.

Reflecting on what, in his eyes, was the beauty and cleanliness of Casablanca during a first visit to the city in the early 1990s, Abdel-Meguid sounds quite defensive in the face of a companions remark that compared Casablancas architectural treasures to the sad loss of Cairos architectural heritage  blaming this loss on the rule of the Free Officers.

I have always thought that the July Revolution has been subjected to extreme unfairness. When we assess the outcome of this revolution we tend to overlook the colonial attempts to undermine Egypts independence. We also tend to forget that the revolution had enemies, and it was them rather than the men of the revolution who brought about the damage that came in subsequent years, Abdel-Meguid wrote in his book.

Today, this widely translated novelist does not necessarily have the same position he held less than two decades ago.

Today, I must admit that I think differently, Abdel-Meguid said.

I still think that there were sincere attempts by Nasser to bring about social justice and establish a strong economy; these attempts succeeded only in part," he argued.

However, he says, a political movement cannot only be judged by its intentions, but rather by what it actually did.

Close to seven decades down the road, Abdel-Meguid said that the 1952 Revolution cannot be separated from the totalitarianism it brought about.

The 1967 defeat should have been a wakeup call for everyone; it partially was  or at least it was for a while, but not for long, Abdel-Meguid said.

He added that once a dictatorship is put in place, it most likely remains in place  and the fate of the nation becomes subject to whoever comes to take the seat of the ruler.

When [Anwar] El-Sadat came after Nasser, he kept the totalitarian style of rule and almost fully erased the socialist agenda that Nasser had adopted that favoured the wide majority of the population, Abdel-Meguid said.

Abdel-Meguid, as he describes in the early chapters of his book, was not at all unaware of the human rights violations associated with Nassers era.

During a visit to Moscow, practically on the eve of the fall of the Soviet Union in 1990, Abdel-Meguid recalls with subtle dismay the fact that leading Russian officials made regular visits to Nasser and that they took part in the celebration of the operation of the High Dam  without thinking twice about the Egyptian communists that were in Nassers prisons over political charges of promoting communism.

When I was there, this idea came to my mind. This is the thing about visiting places with which one has developed an intellectual association; it makes one think of things, or rather it brings to the surface, certain ideas that have been hiding in ones mind for a while, he said.

This is why I thought it would be interesting to collect the articles that I had already published on my travels in a book. It was not just about sharing my impressions about the places I have been to, for I am not a travelogue. It was about sharing the ideas that I had, he argued.

'Where do the birds over the ocean go?' is precisely that: a series of reflections that the author had during visits to cities he related to in one way or another.

In Moscow and other cities of the former USSR, including Ukraines current capital Kiev, Abdel-Meguid explored with fascination communism and Russian politics.

My generation, or at least many of its writers and intellectuals, thought that the USSR was the aspired Utopia, he said.

Abdel-Meguid was strongly influenced by Paul Hollanders Political Pilgrims, which came out in 1981 and reflects on the travels of Western intellectuals to the lands of communism in the USSR, China and Cuba  from the late 1920s until the late 1970s  in search of fairness and welfare.

However, when I was there shortly before the end of this fallacy, I realised that this assumption was very far from the truth.

So we watch films  I have been watching films with an incredible passion all throughout my life  and we read books and novels and we build images about ideas and places; but it is only when we travel that we get to see things for real. Some of the images we had might be proven right and others might be proven wrong  or simply incomplete, he said.

One thing that Abdel-Meguid often thought about during his travels was the lack of translation from Arabic into other languages, especially French and English, the two languages whose authors have been made familiar to the Arabic reading audience through translations that have been coming in abundance.

During the era of the USSR, there was a considerable volume of translated works from Arabic into Russian; this stopped after fall of the USSR, he said.

Obviously, some of our leading writers are famous in many parts of the world; but still there is a very big vacuum that we need to work on filling, he argued.

The overlooked memories of the many foreign communities that came to Egypt is another thought that often pops up in Abdel-Meguid's book.

He laments the little that has been recorded about the Russian community that sought refuge in Egypt, especially in his hometown of Alexandria, during the rule of the Tsars.

He also laments the lack of accurate documentation about the Arab tribes that have travelled through Alexandria from eastern Egypt to the Maghrab and the other way round.

The lack of detailed documentation about the expat communities in Alexandria is also lamented by Abdel-Meguid, who wrote his famous trilogy that profiles the history of the city from the 1930s through to the 1970s.

My only direct experience with the foreign presence in Alexandria was really in 1956 during the Tripartite Aggression, he writes in his book.

Speaking on his experience writing this trilogy and other literary work that involved Alexandria, Abdel-Meguid said that it was always a hard process of research.

Alexandria is the one thing that is clearly very present in the observations and reflections of Abdel-Meguid. In his book, he calls it "a place in the heart."

The surviving beauty of other Mediterranean cities that Abdel-Meguid visits is often compared to the declining glory of the city that was built by Alexander the Great and that once was, at least partially, truly a city of the world.

When we travel and we see things we like, we sometimes cannot help but feel saddened about what we had and what we lost, Abdel-Meguid said.

He added that the debate would perhaps continue for very long on what really caused the decline of aesthetic values and whether or not the 1952 Revolution should be blamed for this.

The impact of politics on society is something that can always be seen from different perspectives, Abdel-Meguid argues. His most recent novel, 'The Cyclops,' is precisely about this. Published in Tunis, the novel is effectively an eulogy of the Arab Spring.

The fate of the January Revolution was no better than that of the July Revolution; it too went astray, Abdel-Meguid said.

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Indian police shot dead two protesters and arrested more than 130 others during street rallies sparked by a ruling party official's remarks about the Prophet Mohammed, authorities told AFP Saturday.

There have been widespread protests in the Muslim world since last week, when a spokeswoman for Prime Minister Narendra Modi's party commented on the relationship between the prophet and his youngest wife on a TV debate show.

In India and neighbouring countries, Muslims took to the streets in huge numbers after Friday prayers to condemn the remarks, with police firing on a crowd in the eastern Indian city of Ranchi.

"Police were forced to open fire to disperse protesters... resulting in the death of two," a police officer in Ranchi told AFP.

Officers said that the crowd had defied their orders not to march from a mosque to a market and had thrown broken bottles and stones when police attempted to disperse the rally with a baton charge.

Authorities cut internet connections in the city and imposed a curfew, with local resident Shabnam Ara telling AFP the atmosphere remained tense on Saturday.

"We are praying for peace and harmony," she said.

Police in Uttar Pradesh fired tear gas to disperse at least one rally after several demonstrations were staged across the northern Indian state.

Most protests ended peacefully but demonstrators in some cities threw stones at police and injured at least one officer, said Avanish Awasthi, a senior government secretary in the state.

"We will take strict action against those indulging in stone pelting and violence," Awasthi told reporters.

"Those working behind the scenes, instigating violence, will not be spared at all."

Prashant Kumar, a senior police officer in the state, told AFP that up to "136 protesting miscreants" had been arrested from six districts around Uttar Pradesh.

Cities around India saw sizable demonstrations on Friday, with some crowds burning effigies of Nupur Sharma -- the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) spokeswoman whose comments set off the furore.

Authorities also cut internet services for the weekend in several districts near the eastern megacity of Kolkata, after protesters blocked a railway line and mobbed a police station.

Diplomatic storm

Sharma's remarks have embroiled India in a diplomatic storm, with the governments of nearly 20 countries calling in Indian envoys for an explanation.

Since coming to power nationally in 2014, Modi's government and the BJP have been accused of championing discriminatory policies towards followers of the Islamic faith.

His government proposed a controversial law that granted citizenship to refugees in India, but not if they are Muslim, while state BJP governments have passed laws making it harder for Muslims to marry outside their religion.

The foreign ministry last week rebuked US officials for what India termed "ill-informed" and "biased" comments made during the release of a religious freedom report that accused Indian officials of supporting attacks on minority worshippers.

Sharma's comments sent the BJP into damage control, with the party suspending her from its ranks and issuing a statement saying it respected all religions.

Friday saw the biggest South Asian street rallies yet in response to the remarks, with police estimating more than 100,000 people mobilised across Bangladesh after midday prayers.

Another 5,000 people took to the streets in the Pakistani city of Lahore at the call of a radical religious party, demanding that their government take stronger action against India over the comments.

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A bomb blast on a minibus killed at least four people and injured several others in the Afghan capital on Saturday, police said.

The explosion in an eastern district of Kabul was the latest in a series of deadly attacks that have rocked Afghanistan in recent months, a little under a year since the Taliban takeover.

A team of Taliban security personnel had been deployed to the area to investigate the bombing, police spokesman Khalid Zadran told AFP.

No group has so far claimed responsibility for the bombing that occurred in a district mainly inhabited by members of the Sunni Pashtun community.

While the number of bombings has fallen across the country since the Taliban seized power in August, attacks have ticked up recently.

Dozens of civilians were killed in Kabul and other cities in primarily sectarian attacks during the holy month of Ramadan, which ended on April 30 in Afghanistan, with some claimed by the Islamic State group.

Many of those attacks targeted the Shiite Hazaras and Sufi communities.

Some of the bombings struck minibuses ferrying passengers from offices or markets to their homes.

But the deadliest attack during Ramadan came in the northern city of Kunduz, where a bomb targeting Sufi worshippers tore through a mosque on April 22.

At least 33 people were killed in that blast and scores more were wounded.

The regional branch of IS in Sunni-majority Afghanistan has repeatedly targeted Shiites and minorities such as Sufis, who follow a mystical branch of Islam.

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From sculpture to libraries and universities, Greek civilisation  and the Western tradition that followed from it  is inseperable from its Egyptian roots, which itself sprung forth from Sohag.

In the summer of 2018, the Getty Centre in the United States held a cultural exhibition entitled Beyond the Nile: Egypt and the Classical World.

In the exhibition booklet, the curators Jeffrey Spier, Timothy Potts and Sara Cole wrote: Egypt, for the Greeks and Romans, was the cultural and political giant of the Mediterranean. The Egyptians established the oldest and largest kingdom in their world. And their country, with its exciting progress, was the land of wonders and incomparable mystery.

In June 2018, Sebastian Smee, who had visited the exhibition, published a report in The Washington Post entitled From the Pharaohs to Cleopatra and Julius Caesar: How Egypt influenced Greece and Rome.

The contact between Egypt and Greece began more than five thousand years ago. In 3000 BC, Egypt contacted the Minoans on the island of Crete. There are still Egyptian scarabs made from the ivory tusks of hippopotamuses found in the rubble of the mass graves of the Minoans.

More than a 1,500 years later, an Egyptian papyrus recorded the use of the Mycenaeans from Greece as mercenaries in the Egyptian army. They fought with the army against the opponents of the Egyptian state in the west. Seven centuries later, the Greeks returned and fought with the Egyptian army in the south, and they left writings to Pharaoh Ramses II in this regard.

According to The Washington Post report, the Greek sculptors who visited Egypt returned to their country and tried to emulate the same calibre of work they had seen in Egypt. The report continued, explaining that Greek sculpture would have been impossible had their sculptors not learned it from Egypt.

The civilisation achievements in sculpture in ancient Greece, which is the crown of the Western tradition, was launched in one word, namely Egypt," the American newspaper continued.

The report also explains why the Pharaonic monuments in the West have Greek and not Egyptian nomenclature. The reason is that when the Greeks visited Egypt and were dazzled by the Egyptian civilization, they gave them Greek names, which have spread throughout the West. For example, when the Greeks saw the Giza Pyramids, they were reminded of the small wheat cakes of their own country called Pyramis, a name that has remained associated with them ever since.

In his book, History of Greece and Rome, Jurji Zaydan mentions that one of Egypts novitiates, Cycrops, was the first to introduce sculpture to Greece. Then, Cycrops founded the city of Athens in 1,556 BC. Moreover, he taught the Greeks the use of the alphabet, the use of minerals, and the cultivation of grapes. According to Herodotus, all Greek cities are ancient Egyptian cities. The giants of Greek thought such as Thales, Plato, Solon and Pythagoras served their apprenticeship in Egypt.

Dr. Taha Hussein says that the Greeks at the acme of their civilisation recognize that they were the students of the Egyptians. The Greeks, in turn, had an influence on Egyptian culture and civilisation. Alexander the Greats decision to establish the city of Alexandria, down to the historical meeting between Queen Cleopatra and Julius Caesar, can be seen to be a continuous common space for creativity and production.

Alexandria was the centre of Hellenic culture, which is Greek culture outside of Greece. It flourished in the three centuries following the death of Alexander the Great, who passed away in 323 BC. The ancient library and university of Alexandria was the first centre of knowledge in the world for seven centuries.

From about 300 BC until the year 400 AD, Alexandria was the cultural capital of the world. In her distinguished book, The Revival of the Sciences of Alexandria, Dr. Radwa Zaki argues that the civilisational landmarks from the Alexandrian era maintained a cultural hegemony for successive centuries.

The city of Alexandria was par excellence the first secular city in history. While the population numbered 100,000, there were 300,000 volumes in the library itself.

According to the famous astronomer Carl Sagan: The Library of Alexandria was the brain of the planet. It was also the first centre for scientific research in history. Plato studied in Alexandria, and when he returned to Greece, he established the first academy, which was built on a plot of land owned by the eponymous Academus.

The end of the golden era coincided with the Egyptian mathematician Theon and was marked by the death of his daughter and mathematician Hypatia. When fanatic Christians killed her in 415 AD, the curtain was brought down on the Library of Alexandria, which had led the worlds accumulation of knowledge for seven hundred years.

The Library of Alexandria was not the first library in Egypt. Although it was the greatest, the Pharaonic libraries preceded it. Some historians assert that Demetrius, the ruler of Athens, fled to Alexandria after the overthrow of his rule to become an advisor to Ptolemy and that he brought Aristotles private library, which became the inception of the Library of Alexandria. The truth remains, however, that the nucleus of Aristotles library was the libraries of Egypt.

The Pharaonic libraries and Aristotle's library together symbolised the intellectual cooperation between the two banks of the Mediterranean. Both libraries embodied the universality of the library and the globalisation of Alexandria.

The Pharaonic library in Edfu Temple preceded the Library of Alexandria. When the French archaeologist Auguste Mariette discovered it, he found a plaque above the entrance to the library with inscriptions of the lists of the books found in the library.

The library in Edfu was well organised and documented. There were many Pharaonic libraries attached to temples, where papyrus scrolls were placed in a way that intended more than preservation; they were organised in terms of topics and subjects.

Meanwhile, the University of On or Ain Shams was the oldest university in Egypt succeeded by The Library of Alexandria as the second oldest Egyptian university.

The Pharaonic university and libraries were the byproduct of a greater work, the Egyptian invention of writing. Egypt  before the Sumerians  presented writing to mankind during the fourth millennium BC. The hieroglyphic texts preceded the Sumerian cuneiform texts by 200 years.

The Narmer Palette preceded by a hundred years, then there were the discoveries of the German mission under the supervision of Dr. Gunter on models of hieroglyphic writing in one of the tombs in the Abydos area in Sohag Governorate. Those models are at least a hundred years older than the Narmer Palette.

There are hieroglyphic writings written in black ink on pottery. The name of the Egyptian language was Muduntar, meaning the sacred speech. It is interesting that the hieroglyphs did not include the letters Al-Thaa, Al-Zaal or Al-Zaa, like the Egyptian Colloquial Arabic nowadays.

The Egyptian language developed and became valid for writing decrees, letters and literature. The documents of Egyptian diplomacy during the reign of King Amenhotep III, which are represented in his letters to his son Akhenaten in the 14th century BC, are a model for the development of the Egyptian language to a high diplomatic level. This is also shown in the Amarna Letters, which now reside in the museums of Cairo, Berlin and London.

Abydos  which was the first capital of Egypt and continued as the capital throughout the reign of the first four families  gifted the world so much. Akhmim and other historical cities of Sohag also provided much that surpasses the imagination.

Boats and mud bricks were invented for the first time in Abydos, alongside other contributions in the arts of sculpture and architecture. These advances then transcended into more meaningful artefacts, such as the inventing of writing and the establishment of the Pharaonic libraries, and the documentation of history through wonderful paintings. Today, the ancient city is still an open book.

From Sohag, the unified Egyptian state began, producing its first king. On its walls one can see a painting that includes a list of seventy-six kings. In Sohag, the world learned to transcend the idea of mere material well-being to the aspirations of culture and civilisation.

From the capital Abydos, and from other Pharaonic capitals, the greatest civilisation in human history emerged. Greece was one of its manifestations, as was the Roman civilization. As The Washington Post put it: After Caesar, Rome madly surrendered to everything that is Egyptian.

The centres of Egyptian civilisation are numerous in the south and north, but the first word in the book of Egyptian civilisation and humanity was Sohag.

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Here are the latest developments in the war in Ukraine:

Ukraine to get word on EU hopes

Ukraine's bid to become a candidate to join the EU will get a clear signal next week, the bloc's chief Ursula von der Leyen announces in a surprise visit to Kyiv.

Von der Leyen says talks she held with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky "will enable us to finalise our assessment by the end of next week".

It is the first time the EU has publicly given timing on when the commission will deliver its opinion. The bloc's 27 member countries need to decide whether to allow Ukraine to start accession negotiations.

Zelensky warns of food crisis

Volodymyr Zelensky has urged international pressure to end a Russian naval blockade of Black Sea ports that has choked off his country's grain exports, threatening a global food crisis.

"The world will face an acute and severe food crisis and famine, in many countries of Asia and Africa," Zelensky says in a video addressed to the Shangri-La Dialogue security summit in Singapore.

Ukrainians get Russian passports

Authorities in the Moscow-occupied city of Kherson in southern Ukraine have handed out Russian passports to local residents for the first time, news agencies reported.

Russia's TASS agency says 23 Kherson residents received a Russian passport at a ceremony through a "simplified procedure" facilitated by a decree signed by Russian President Vladimir Putin in May.

'Very difficult battles'

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky says his country's forces are involved in "very difficult battles", including in the eastern Donbas region where Russia has focused its firepower.

"Ukrainian troops are doing everything to stop the offensive of the occupiers," Zelensky says.

He adds in his address that Ukraine must "not allow the world to divert its attention away from what is happening on the battlefield".

'Out of ammo'

In the Mykolaiv region near the frontline in the south, the regional governor calls for urgent international military assistance.

"Russia's army is more powerful, they have a lot of artillery and ammo. For now, this is a war of artillery... and we are out of ammo," Vitaliy Kim says.

"The help of Europe and America is very, very important."

'Imperial appetites'

US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin issues scathing criticism of Moscow and its goals in Ukraine.

"Let's be clear: Russia's invasion of Ukraine is what happens when oppressors trample the rules that protect us all," he tells the Shangri-La Dialogue security summit in Singapore.

"It's what happens when big powers decide that their imperial appetites matter more than the rights of their peaceful neighbours."

"And it's a preview of a possible world of chaos and turmoil that none of us would want to live in."

France offers Odessa port help

France is ready to assist in an operation to allow safe access to Ukraine's Black Sea port of Odessa, an advisor to French President Emmanuel Macron says.

"We are at the disposal of the parties to put in place an operation which would allow access in complete safety to the port of Odessa, in other words for boats to pass through despite the fact that the sea is mined," says the advisor, who asked not to be named.

The port has been subject to a de facto blockade by Russia, and grain is waiting to be exported with fears mounting of a global food crisis that would especially hurt developing countries.

Ukraine strikes Kherson

Ukraine says it has struck Russian military positions in the southern Kherson region where Kyiv's army is fighting to reclaim territory captured by Moscow early in the invasion.

"Our aircraft carried out a series of strikes on enemy bases... equipment and personnel and field depots around five different settlements in the Kherson region," the defence ministry says.

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The key to a successful real estate transaction, we are told, is location, location, location!"

Just as the key to an enjoyable summer hike is elevation, elevation, elevation!

Heat and humidity are near constants in North Carolina in the summertime  heat and humidity that rule out hiking in the state parks nearest to Gastonia including Crowders Mountain, South Mountains and Lake Norman.

No, summer calls for heading north and west, to the Blue Ridge or the Black Mountains where, at 4,000 feet or more, temperatures are likely to be 10 to 15 degrees cooler than they are in the southern Piedmont.

When Gazette Managing Editor Kevin Ellis asked me to write about my five favorite summer hikes, I initially had trouble paring the list down to that number.

But then I decided to write about five hikes that have special meaning for me, hikes that feel like old friends, always ready to welcome me back. Im sure they will welcome you as well.

Ill list them in order of decreasing difficulty, first the hard stuff and then the more gentle treks.

Always better to hike with a companion. Here Bill Poteat can be seen with his oldest daughter, Caroline, while hike in the mountains.

Mount Mitchell Trail

It is possible to drive to within a couple of hundred yards of the summit of Mount Mitchell, the highest summit in eastern America at 6,684 feet above sea level.

But, what is the fun in that?

Instead, one of the more challenging hikes in the state, is the Mount Mitchell Trail, a six-mile climb from the Black Mountain Campground on the banks of the Toe River to the summit.

The campground has an elevation of 2,995 feet. The summit, again, is 6,684 feet, an elevation gain of nearly 4,000 feet.

I first completed this hike in early June of 1976, the Bicentennial summer. Home from Chapel Hill, I was helping out a friend of mine who was a Scoutmaster for a Boy Scout troop.

The day of the trek was sunny, spectacularly clear, and almost chilly. The climb is steady, steady, steady with lots of rocks, roots, and tripping hazards.

But the view from the top, absolutely spectacular. And then time for six miles back down. We were some weary fellers when the trek was completed.

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Ill be honest. I have not done this hike in more than five years. Not sure I could do it today. But if youre in good shape and up to an extremely challenging 12-mile trek, I highly recommend it.

Boone Fork Trail

This trail, which I first hiked in the autumn of 1980, literally has it all  waterfalls, deep woods, open meadows, soaring vistas.

A 5.2-mile loop, the trailhead is located at the Julian Price Park picnic area on the Blue Ridge Parkway just a few miles south of Blowing Rock.

I learned a lesson the first time I walked this trail. Hiking 5.2 miles on challenging terrain, including steep rocks, creek crossings, and roots and mud will take longer than expected.

Trail guides say 2.5 hours. Id up that to 3.5, particularly if you want to enjoy the scenery, stick your feet, or more, into the roaring waters of Boone Fork, and take lots of photos.

But, I cant say enough about how beautiful this trail is. It truly captures all of the charms and all of the beauty of the North Carolina mountains in a single trek.

And, when you finish, youre at a great place to enjoy a picnic with fried chicken, potato salad, and apple pie.

Elk Knob Trail

Elk Knob State Park, located in the high country north of Boone, has been in existence for less than two decades.

The park is still in its early stages of development, but an absolutely beautiful trail has been built to the 5,520 feet high summit.

I first hiked this trail 10 or 12 years ago, not on a sunny summer day but on a frigid January afternoon when the trail was blanketed with 3 to 4 inches of snow and the temperature hovered in the upper teens.

This is truly a Cadillac trail, expertly designed and constructed, with numerous switchbacks easing the climb to the summit.

And what a summit it is. Truly a top of the world experience with views stretching off for miles in every direction.

And some good news. The trail is only 1.9 miles each way, and its gradual ascent makes it doable even if youre not in tiptop shape.

Crabtree Falls Trail

This hike is special due to sentimental reasons.

When I was a lad, in high school and college, this hike, located at Blue Ridge Parkway milepost 339, was the perfect date destination.

The 2.5 mile loop, which descends to a stunning 60-foot waterfall, is short, scenic, and relatively easy, making it the perfect trek for a fella wanting to enjoy some time in the outdoors with a pretty girl.

And, back in the 1970s, the National Park Service operated a restaurant here, making it the perfect spot for a post-hike burger, sandwich, or piece of apple pie.

The restaurant is long gone, of course, as are my courting days, but this remains one of the best hiking destinations in all of North Carolina.

And Little Switzerland, which has several great place to eat, is just a few miles to the north.

Flat Rock Hike

This trail is actually more of a stroll than a hike, perfect for old people like me, kids, and those of all fitness levels.

The trailhead is at mile 308.3 on the Blue Ridge Parkway, four miles south of the Linn Cove viaduct, eight miles north of Linville Falls.

The loop is less than a mile, but it traverses an open rock area where the views, particularly of Grandfather Mountain and of Roan Mountain, are stunning.

Heres my suggestion, one that I have followed often in the past: Have a leisurely dinner at Famous Louises Rock House Restaurant in Linville Falls. The food is great.

Then, as sunset nears, grab a blanket and a couple of flashlights, and head for Flat Rock.

Find a spot, spread your blanket, and watch the sun go down in colors of red and flame to the northwest. But dont leave just yet. Linger and wait for the stars to come out. From this dark sky location, they are spectacular.

Some reminders:

Summer is not the time to go exploring off the trail. Stinging nettle populates much of the forest floor, and snakes and yellow jackets are always a risk. Save the bushwhacking for December.

Even though the temperatures will be cooler in the mountains, youll still need water and lots of it. Pack accordingly.

Finally, showers and thunderstorms are a near constant summer threat. Good rain gear, even if the sun is shining when you start your hike, is a necessity.

With that said, enjoy the long hours of summer daylight and the beauty of the summer forests.

Go out and make some memories.

Bill Poteat may be reached at wlpoteat@yahoo.com.

This article originally appeared on The Gaston Gazette: North Carolina summer hikes to help you beat the heat
Hundreds marched in cities across Tennessee and the country Saturday, advocating for stricter gun laws and an end to gun violence after recent mass shootings at a supermarket in Buffalo, New York, and an elementary school in Uvalde, Texas.

Hundreds gathered in Public Square Park in Nashville before marching to the state Capitol Saturday morning, as part of a national day of action led by March for Our Lives, a movement formed after the 2018 shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, that left 17 people dead.

With distant sounds of country music and the cheers of partygoers attending this weekends CMA Fest just blocks away, many of the speakers on the steps of the Metro Courthouse spoke directly to Republican lawmakers like Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee, and Sens. Marsha Blackburn and Bill Hagerty.

'Protect kids, not guns!': March for Our Lives rallies draw thousands in DC, Florida, Tennessee, across US

Were not coming for anyones guns, were not violating your Second Amendment rights. But we will be coming for you, Gov. Lee, since you refuse to even meet with your constituents to discuss gun reform, said Carson Ferrara, a third-year student at Vanderbilt University and one of the organizers of Saturday's March for Our Lives rally.

Earlier this week, in response to the massacre at Robb Elementary School that left 19 children and two teachers dead in Uvalde, Lee signed an executive order aimed at enhancing school security"  but it didnt mention guns.

Get over yourself and do something feasible that will actually prevent gun deaths and gun violence. We will not stop until you do something realistic and helpful, Ferrara added. And if you dont, well vote you out.

Related: Gov. Bill Lee signs executive order on school safety, but quiet on gun control

After Ferrara and others spoke, including Greta McClain, a former Metro Nashville police officer and founder of Silent No Longer Tennessee who said schools are doing all they can to keep students safe while weapons of war are on the streets, the crowd took to the streets, chanting erupted Vote them out and Do your job.

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Felicia Medina, 19, participates in the March for Our lives protest in Nashville , Tenn., Saturday, June 11, 2022. The march was part of a nation wide protest advocating for stricter gun control laws.

School should be a safe place

Many of the marchers were from families with young children and teachers who fear the impact gun violence could have, and in many cases is already having on the children in their lives.

Most educators agreed that schools should be safe places, but [theyre] not, unfortunately, said Heather Goodridge, a veteran educator in Nashville schools and a mother.

School shootings: Nashville superintendent on Texas tragedy: 'This is not a school issue. This is a society issue'

This fall, her son will start kindergarten and she thinks about him having to participate in active shooter drills.

Lack of gun control is killing our kids, and its completely inappropriate for us to be choosing guns over kids. I feel a little overwhelmed by the whole thing so this is just a way of putting my feelings into action.

Though opponents of tighter gun laws often argue that more gun laws wont prevent criminals from breaking the law, Beverly Whalen-Schmeller, a school psychologist for Metro Nashville Public Schools, pointed out that many guns used in mass shootings were purchased legally.

The guns that were used in the Texas massacre were bought legally. An absolute outrage. A teenager was able to buy a killing machine legally.

Wesley Heckert, 2, walks with Lacey Kohlmoos and Finn Heckert, 5, during the March for Our lives protest in Nashville, Tenn., Saturday, June 11, 2022. The march was part of a nation wide protest advocating for stricter gun control laws.

Megan Gildewell, a fourth-grade teacher, said educators shouldnt have to worry about being school security guards on top of all the other roles they take on.

She previously taught overseas and said she didnt have to worry about a gunman coming into their school.

Doors were open all the time, and no one had a fear of someone walking in, Gildewell said. Now, I have kids asking me what do I do if someone breaks in. Do we throw things? Do we hide? Were on the second floor, how do we escape? Its heartbreaking.

School safety: How Metro Nashville Public Schools are responding after school shooting in Texas

For Kelly Ann Graff, who will teach eighth grade next year at Thurgood Marshall Middle School, its not just school shootings, but the effects gun violence have on her children and families in and outside of school.

Its about addressing the root causes of gun violence in our communities and making sure [families] are supported, Graff said. That families have a way to get out of abusive homes. To get away from the violence and eventually stopping the violence in the first place.

Demonstrators argue with gun owners who showed up armed and in tactical vests at the March for Our Lives protest in Nashville, Tenn. on Saturday, June 11, 2022. The march was part of a nationwide day of action advocating for stricter gun control laws.

The impact of gun violence

Abede Dasilva knows firsthand the impact of gun violence.

He and his brother, Akilah Dasilva, were at a Waffle House in Antioch in 2018 when a gunman walked in and started shooting.

Abede Dasilva held his brother and watched as he died.

There is a psychological pain and trauma that comes from experiencing such a traumatic experience that stays with survivors, Abede Dasilva told the crowd Saturday.

Im living with the trauma and still asking where my brother is Every crowd, every event, every shooting, you relieve that moment that is now a reality.

Previously: Brother of shooting victim Akilah Dasilva describes carnage, chaos inside restaurant

Gun violence in Chattanooga: Weary Chattanoogans hope tragic back-to-back shootings lead to real change

After Akilah Dasilva was killed, their family launched a foundation in his name aimed at raising awareness about youth gun violence.

Abede Dasilva said it's frustrating to still be calling on lawmakers to make a change.

Its the same thing again. They speak about it for a while and then they go back to normal. It doesnt need to be normalized. We need to shed light on it. It doesn't need to keep happening, Abede Dasilva said, his young daughter in his arms.

These lives are more important than politics.

Golden Kindred, 8, and Charlotte Gittins, 11, walk in the March for Our Lives protest in Nashville, Tenn. on Saturday, June 11, 2022. The march was part of a nationwide day of action advocating for stricter gun control laws in light of a recent mass shooting at an elementary school in Uvalde, Texas that left 19 children and two teachers dead.

McClain, the former Metro Nashville police officer, said politicians need to have the courage to accept common-sense gun laws.

She said with gun violence on the rise across the country, communities need to come together and have conversations about how to reduce violence.

Her organization, which was launched to raise awareness about issues like sexual harassment within the police department, is hosting a community event next month to talk about issues like violent crime, sexual assault, and other quality of life issues.

Hopefully we can get some good ideas from community members and from nonprofit and city leaders to help address it, she said.

For now, Tennessee lawmakers are unlikely to take up gun control laws. Lees administration has remained uninterested in bringing lawmakers together for a special session to address gun control.

Stay up-to-date on Tennessee's top education news by signing up for our new weekly newsletter, School Zone. Sign up here.

Want to read more stories like this? A subscription to one of our Tennessee publications gets you unlimited access to all the latest news throughout the entire USA TODAY Network.

Meghan Mangrum covers education for the USA TODAY Network  Tennessee. Contact her at mmangrum@tennessean.com. Follow her on Twitter @memangrum.

Nicole Hester is a photojournalist for the USA TODAY Network  Tennessee. Reporter Kenya Anderson can be reached at kanderson@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: March for Our Lives rally in Nashville: Crowd calls for gun control
Russia has been launching heavy 1960s era anti-ship missiles that can cause mass casualties into Ukraine, officials warn

Neighbours wait for humanitarian aid in Bakhmut city in the Donetsk Oblast, Ukraine on June 10, 2022. Diego Herrera Carcedo/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images

Russia may be using missiles that cause mass casualties in Ukraine, British officials said.

Russia is gaining ground in the eastern Donbas region.

UK officials say Russia is using these missiles because they are running short of modern ones.

Russia has most likely been launching heavy 1960s-era anti-ship missiles into Ukraine, which could cause mass casualties, Ukrainian and British officials have warned.

The UK Defense Ministry said the 5.5 ton Kh-22 missile was designed to destroy aircraft carriers using a nuclear warhead. The agency warned that using the missile in ground attacks "can cause severe collateral damage and casualties," because it's inaccurate. However, the agency did not specify where these missiles are being used.

The ministry added that it thinks Russia is relying on these missiles because it's running short of more precise modern missiles.

The development comes as Russian forces take over more land in the eastern Donbas region. CNN reported that Russia now controls most of Severodonetsk, in the Donbas region. Ukrainian and Russian troops are still engaged in heavy street fighting,

Russia has recently been seeing success in the eastern region of Ukraine. Russian forces invaded Ukraine in February but were met with fierce pushback. The current advancement is a reversal from the start of the war, but experts previously told Insider's Bill Bostock that the success is most likely due to Russia placing a large number of forces in a small area.

The advantage was temporary, experts had said. Since the start of the war, Ukraine has relied on financial support and military supplies from western countries. Officials are now asking foreign leaders for long-range rocket systems to counter Russia's attacks from a distance.

Read the original article on Business Insider
Released aid worker tells UK's Johnson his error worsened her Iran detention British PM Johnson meets with Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe at Downing Street in London

LONDON (Reuters) -British-Iranian aid worker Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe on Friday told Prime Minister Boris Johnson that an incorrect comment he made as foreign secretary had a big impact on her six-year detention in Iran, saying she lived in the shadow of his error.

Zaghari-Ratcliffe returned to London in March when she was released along with another dual national after Britain repaid a historic debt.

It was the first time she had met Johnson, who was foreign secretary in 2017 when he erroneously said she had been teaching people journalism before her arrest in April 2016. His comment contradicted statements made by Zaghari-Ratcliffe and her employer, who said she had been on holiday visiting family.

She was subsequently convicted of plotting to overthrow the clerical establishment.

Johnson later apologised and retracted any suggestion that Zaghari-Ratcliffe was there in a professional capacity.

Her local member of parliament, who attended the meeting, said Zaghari-Ratcliffe had told Johnson to his face about the problems his mistake had caused.

"She told him very clearly and categorically that his words had a big impact on her and that she lived in the shadow of his words for the best part of four-and-a-half years," Tulip Siddiq told reporters after meeting Johnson with Zaghari-Ratcliffe's family.

"I had to say the prime minister looked quite shocked."

The aid worker's husband, Richard Ratcliffe, said Johnson's comments were even brought up by interrogators during Zaghari-Ratcliffe's last days in Iran as she waited to come home.

He said Johnson did not explicitly apologise for his error but the encounter had not been "abrasive".

Zaghari-Ratcliffe did not speak to reporters herself, instead playing with the couple's daughter Gabriella outside Johnson's Downing Street office while her husband and Siddiq addressed the media.

"It was an honour to welcome Nazanin, Richard and Gabriella to Downing Street today," Johnson wrote on Twitter, but he did not address his mistaken comment in 2017.

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"We discussed the UKs work to secure the release of unfairly detained nationals in Iran and I commended Nazanin for her incredible bravery during her ordeal."

Zaghari-Ratcliffe was arrested by Revolutionary Guards at Tehran airport on April 3, 2016, while trying to return to Britain with her then 22-month-old daughter from an Iranian New Year's trip to see her parents.

Her family and her employer, the Thomson Reuters Foundation, denied the charges against her. The Thomson Reuters Foundation is a charity that operates independently of Thomson Reuters and its news subsidiary Reuters.

(Reporting by Alistair Smout; Editing by Nick Macfie and Jon Boyle)
A program in Denver removing police from certain 911 calls led to a 34% reduction in low-level crimes, according to a study released Wednesday amid a growing wave of cities changing their responses to mental health crises.

The Support Team Assistance Response, or STAR, program prevented nearly 1,400 crimes during its six-month pilot launched in June 2020, the results showed.

"We think we have something that's really seminal in terms of suggesting the promise of this fairly radical reform of how we do emergency response," said study author Thomas Dee, a professor at Stanford's Graduate School of Education who studies public policy.

The growth of nonpolice response programs has accelerated since calls for changes to policing after the deaths in 2020 of George Floyd in Minneapolis and Daniel Prude in Rochester, New York, who was suffering a mental health crisis when he died in police custody.

Mental health advocates and law enforcement experts often agree 911 calls related to mental health crises, substance use disorders, homelessness and other social welfare issues do not need a police response.

More than 1 in 5 people fatally shot by police since 2015 had a mental illness, according to a Washington Post database of fatal shootings by on-duty officers.

MORE ON THE STAR PROGRAM: Denver successfully sent mental health professionals, not police, to hundreds of calls

Similar programs have cropped up in New York, Washington and San Francisco, and organizers cite the program in Eugene, Oregon, known as Crisis Assistance Helping Out On The Streets, or CAHOOTS, as a model of success.

Though the specific structures of the programs often vary in each city, the goal is to team up mental health clinicians and emergency medical technicians to respond to certain 911 calls instead of police officers. The programs are different from Crisis Intervention Training for police and co-responder models, which pair police officers with nonpolice responders.

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"It's worth underscoring: Whether your politics are 'back the blue' or 'defund the police,' there's a lot to like about this type of program," Dee said.

Denver's Support Team Assisted Response (STAR) program paired medics and clinicians in a van to respond to disorderly conduct, trespassing and drug use.

How the Denver pilot succeeded

In Denver, the pilot consisted of two-person teams of a medic and a clinician in a van from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on weekdays in eight police precincts. The Stanford study focused on crime data related to offenses the program was largely intended to target, such as disorderly conduct, trespassing and drug use, but it also examined trends in crimes such as burglary or weapons charges. It looked at data from before and during the pilot as well as in the eight police precincts where the pilot operated and those where it didn't.

Taking police out of 911 calls for the targeted type of offenses did not lead to a significant increase in other crimes, Dee said, challenging a belief that policing "low-level" offenses prevents more serious crime.

The analysis controlled for a variety of factors that could have attributed to crime reduction in the study area, such as the time of year and the overall trends in crime in the precincts where the the pilot occurred, Dee said.

IT'S WORKING IN EUGENE AND OLYMPIA, TOO: More cities send civilian responders, not police, on mental health calls

The STAR teams aimed to connect people in crisis to care, rather than arrest them or issue a citation.

Dee pointed to "genuine, authentic" reductions in crime. It's not just that police weren't responding; therefore, fewer crimes were recorded, he said. The study found there were fewer incidents that otherwise would have gotten a police response over the six-month period.

According to the researchers' analysis, STAR's response to 748 calls would have meant an expected 1,047 fewer recorded crimes. The actual reduction was 1,376 fewer offenses across the eight precincts over the six months. The data showed recorded offenses were lower during the hours when STAR wasn't operating in the precincts where the pilot was held, Dee said.

"When someone's in mental health distress, that continues. There's a kind of recidivism to these lower-level crimes when there are some behavioral health problems going on. But by providing health care, instead of an arrest, (STAR) may have prevented that recidivism, prevented the future events that might occur in the coming days and weeks for a person who's not getting treatment," Dee said.

The six-month pilot was $208,141, meaning the 1,376 fewer offenses cost about $151 each to reduce, according to the study. Had each offense been handled in the criminal justice system, the cost would be an average of $646, based on estimates of the cost of prosecution and imprisonment, the study found.

911 CALLS AND MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS: 911 operators need more training to handle mental health crisis calls. Here's why it matters.

Ve Gulbrandsen, center, an EMT with CAHOOTS, helps screen guests for health concerns at the Egan Warming Center in Springfield, Ore., in March 2021.

Denver program grows

The study was published in the peer-reviewed Science Advances journal as the STAR program grows.

Vinnie Cervantes, who works with the Denver Alliance for Street Health Response and serves on the STAR Community Advisory Committee, said the idea for the program dates back several years before its launch during the COVID-19 pandemic.

"That sense that we can do something better with regards to our unhoused community, our community experiencing mental health crisis and substance use (disorders), knowing also that those issues are increasing, especially with the pandemic, that really drove us to want to create a program like that," Cervantes said.

What started as a six-month trial in the center of Denver has expanded in the city, and STAR teams have responded to more calls this year than throughout the pilot program, said Tristan Sanders, director of community and behavioral health for Denver's Department of Public Health and Environment.

The program has a budget of $1.3 million to $1.6 million for the year. Half of the funding comes through a city tax initiative that created the Caring for Denver Foundation and the other half through general city tax dollars, Sanders said.

IS THE COUNTRY READY FOR 988? The suicide lifeline will soon be 3 digits

The results from the Stanford study show how worthwhile the investment in the expansion is, Sanders said. "It's really a testament to the process that followed, and that there's really fidelity in how those calls are triaged. In other words, how they come in, the questions that are asked, and that really, when the STAR response is the response that's put in place, it's the right response," he said.

Cervantes said the early results show the STAR program is "clearly a better approach than having police show up to all these different situations that they don't need to be present for." As the program expands, he wants it to better serve communities disproportionally impacted by police violence and mental health issues.

One of the ideas underpinning a community responder program is that after a crisis is de-escalated, a person can be connected to longer-term health care options and services.

"We just don't quite have that. We're kind of building that out right now," Cervantes said.

Sanders said there were plans to include more community-based services in the response. Housing and food were identified as the primary additional needs after a STAR call. The goal is for a "warm handoff" to community organizations that can provide similar services, not "just a brochure," he said.

Sanders said he expects the call and response volume to increase as the program expands and meets more demand. He hopes it can reach a baseline where crisis response is not as needed because people's needs are met before they reach crisis.

"Right now, this may be the only line of support that some people are accessing," Sanders said. "I would hope that five, seven years from now or something, there's this really meaningful community network of supports that exists there currently but people are accessing it in a much different way, and that it's truly accessible to everybody. That it's meeting a large number of folks in a really meaningful way."

If you or someone you know may be struggling with suicidal thoughts, you can call the U.S. National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 800-273-TALK (8255) any time day or night, or chat online.

Crisis Text Line also provides free, 24/7, confidential support via text message to people in crisis when they dial 741741.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Denver non-police teams for some 911 calls reduced crime, study says
Lights on a police car. Oliver Helbig/Getty Images

Alabama police shot and killed a man who was trying to enter an elementary school in Gadsden.

Robert White, 32, was identified as the "potential intruder" who was killed, authorities said.

White's brother said Robert struggled with depression and may have been attempting suicide by cop.

A man who was attempting to enter an Alabama elementary school was shot and killed by police on Thursday, authorities said.

The man was trying to enter Walnut Park Elementary School in Gadsden, prompting the school to go into a lockdown and call the school resource officer, Gadsden City Schools Superintendent Tony Reddick told ABC 33/40.

"As best I know, there was a potential intruder. A gentleman who was coming around to several doors trying to get into the building," Reddick told the outlet. "Our principal was alerted immediately and went around to make sure the doors were secure, which they already were."

The man was identified as 32-year-old Robert Tyler White by the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency, ABC 33/40 reported. As he was trying to break into the school, 34 children were inside participating in a summer literacy program, The Associated Press reported.

The resource officer confronted White, at which point White tried to break into a police car near the school, the ALEA said in a statement, per the AP. Other officers from the Gadsden Police Department also responded to the scene, per the AP.

White was shot to death after "resisting and trying to take the resource officer's gun," the AP reported, citing the ALEA statement. It remains unclear whether White was armed himself.

Robert White's younger brother, Justin, told CBS 42 that his brother seemed "off" when the two saw each other a week before Robert's death. Justin said Robert, originally from North Carolina, grew up in Gadsden and attended Walnut Park Elementary.

"He's got some serious mental issues," Justin said, noting that Robert had depression and suicidal thoughts. "He was just a messed up individual. He had problems. But he wouldn't hurt no kids."

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Justin said his brother "wasn't some psycho trying to hurt kids," but he does think Robert was attempting "suicide by cop."

"I think he was trying to get himself killed," Justin told CBS 42. "But he wouldn't ever hurt nobody else."

Justin added: "He was just a sick person, and he was at the wrong place."

Read the original article on Insider
Dua Lipa Bustier Minidress Instagram

@dualipa/Instagram

Always game for a fashion throwback moment, this time  Dua Lipa's outfit is returning to the days of disco.

On Friday, the pop star shared a slideshow of behind-the-scenes snapshots on Instagram ahead of her performance at the annual Primavera Sound Festival in Barcelona, and in the new photo dump, Dua swapped her usual stage attire (crystal-embellished catsuits, head-to-toe neon) for a bedazzled corset and mesh, ruffled minidress hybrid. Driving home the Studio 54 theme even further, the purple set was teamed with a pair of matching metallic booties, nude fishnets, and a rhinestone-studded strip of fabric worn as a choker around her neck. Her violet eyeshadow with a small amount of glitter in the corner of each eye matched her dress, and she complemented the swath of purple with an elongated feline flick.

Dua wore her long dark hair down, straight, and parted in the middle, and at one point, she tucked her tresses behind her ears, showing off a pair of square geometric earrings.

RELATED: Dua Lipa's Completely Sheer Micro Minidress Showed Off a Pair of High-Cut Underwear

Throughout the entirety of her Future Nostalgia tour, Dua has been documenting her travels (and her outfits) in each city. Earlier this week, she was in Lisbon, Portugal, which called for see-through white and orange micro minidress that exposed her high-cut black underwear, and before that, it was a loosely-laced corset and white trousers in Italy.
A woman hugs Arthur Anthony, the father of 8-year-old Arbrie Anthony, after a march in Arbrie's memory on Jan. 15.

On Jan. 8, Arthur Anthonys 8-year-old daughter, Arbrie, was killed outside of their home on Third Avenue. The case shocked the community and sparked conversations about gun violence in the Augusta area, but the number of people falling victim to gun violence locally remains steady year over year.

Since Arbries death, 14 people have been killed in shootings in Richmond County, according to coroner Mark Bowen. That number is just shy of the 15 homicides recorded as of June 12 in 2021 and matches the 14 homicides as of June 12, 2020, according to Augusta Chronicle records.

Local activists such as Traci George, leader of March for Our Lives CSRA, are taking a stand against gun violence, arranging rallies to bring awareness to the issue.

George estimates a march planned for 6 p.m. this Saturday at the Unitarian Universalist Church located at 3501 Walton Way Ext., will draw more than 200 participants.

While the March for Our Lives movement began after the Parkland shooting in Florida, George said it became important in Augusta after Arbrie's death.

Eight-year-old Arbrie Anthony was shot and killed while playing outside her home on Third Avenue the night of Jan. 8, 2022.

It only takes one person and our one person was Arbrie Anthony, she said. We all have that commonality that we're speaking up for gun violence.

Arthur Anthony, who will attend the march, said he hopes the event brings awareness for kids in the community who have an important decision to make.

Even after my daughter, there were more kills, Anthony said. I hope this helps them decide to just put the guns down. You're killing innocent people, you're throwing your life away. You cant get away with these things. I hope they realize you just can't shoot somebody without thinking about the consequences.

On Wednesday, multiple children were questioned by police after a young boy was shot in the leg at the East Augusta Commons apartment complex. The children told police they were handling an adult's gun and did not realize the safety was off, according to an incident report. The gun is now missing.

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Friends, family and community members mourn Arbrie Anthony at her funeral at Hillcrest Memorial Park on Wednesday, Jan. 19, 2022. The 8-year-old died in a drive-by shooting on Jan. 8.

George will be presenting the Anthony family with a donation to the Arbrie Leigh Anthony scholarship fund during a candlelight vigil for the victims of the Uvalde school shooting at the end of the march.

Read More: 'Community stuck together' as hundreds gathered for funeral of Arbrie Anthony

Related: Uvalde victim's mother recalls last moments with daughter, urges Congress to 'act now' on gun laws

Channeling pain into action

After his daughters death, Anthony said he wanted to create a scholarship to honor her life and inspire youth to continue the fight against gun violence.

Funds generated by a GoFundMe after Arbries passing were used to finance this years scholarship, which was awarded to Academy of Richmond County senior Jordyn Neely in May. Neely will be attending Clark Atlanta University in the fall.

Jordyn Neely receives the Arbrie Leigh Anthony Scholarship on May 25.

Neely will probably hang the certificate on her wall and think about what happened  I hope it motivates her, Anthony said. Knowing that someone is moving further in life and representing our daughter helps us cope, seeing her name on things and seeing people trying to do great things in honor of her.

Anthony said he wants to continue the scholarship for years to come and is also planning a back-to-school drive in his daughters honor later this year.

Theyre not letting her go in vain

Five months have passed since Arbrie was killed, but Anthony said prosecutors are still fighting for justice.

In January, a 25-count indictment was presented against five members of the Loyalty Over Everything gang in the shooting death of Arbrie and the shooting of two other juveniles in the same neighborhood two days prior.

More: 5 gang members indicted in January fatal shooting of 8-year-old Arbrie Anthony

'They took a piece of us': Arbrie Anthony's family gets 'sense of justice' with indictments

Action promised: Richmond County sheriff says gang activity connected to spate of homicides; promises action

Kendariss Brown, Antoine Redfield, Henri Beach, Destiny Rich and Antionous Thomas are facing murder and gang charges. On Wednesday, a judge denied bond for both Brown and Beach.

Anthony, who was at the bond hearing, said he is glad the judge decided to keep the suspects in jail.

That lets me know that justice is definitely trying to be served, that we're not playing about these guys taking a life  especially a little 8-year-old girl, he said. It was bittersweet, I shed tears because I know that they are actually working for my baby and they're not letting her go in vain.

This article originally appeared on Augusta Chronicle: March for Our Lives Augusta: Activists join rally against gun violence
A serious matter. Camille Vasquez, Johnny Depps lawyer, addressed the dating rumors that circulated during their trial against Amber Heard.

The attorney talked to People on June 10, 2022, about the romance claims and denied that she had an unprofessional relationship with her client.. I guess it comes with the territory of being a woman just doing her job. Its disappointing that certain outlets kind of ran with it or said that my interactions with Johnny  who is a friend and Ive known and represented for four-and-a-half years now  that my interactions in any way were inappropriate or unprofessional. Thats disappointing to hear.

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Vasquez also attributed her love of work to how she interacts with her clients. I care very deeply about my clients, and we have obviously become close. But when I say we, I mean the entire team, and of course that includes Johnny. And, Im Cuban and Colombian. Im tactile. What do you want me to say? I hug everyone. And Im not ashamed about that. She explained that my work is my love and when I love, I love really deeply.

Click here to read the full article.

Its also an unethical charge being made. Its sexist, she said about the rumors. Its unfortunate and its disappointing, but at the same time it kind of comes with the territory. I cant say I was all that surprised. Meanwhile, she told People that she is very happy in my relationship and emphasizes that it is unethical for us to date our clients.

Depp and Vasquez sparked dating rumors when fans spotted the body language between the two during the trial. Fans made TikToks of the pair giving each other handshakes in lieu of a hug. Camille addressed her celebrity-like following when she mentioned that Tiktok is the new medium for communication and thats how young people and people in general really communicate and absorb news and become inspired. So if thats the forum, so be it.

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The rumor mill continued when Vasquez was asked whether she and her client were dating by a TMZ paparazzo on May 17, 2022. Vasquez simply smiled and did not answer the question. However, Vasquez was later spotted leaving her Fairfax, VA hotel by TMZ on June 3, 2022, after the trial ended, with her boyfriend, British executive Edward Owen.

Johnny Depp sued his ex-wife Amber Heard for $50 million for defamation in 2019 after she wrote an op-ed in The Washington Post about her experiences with domestic abuse. Though there were no names mentioned, Depp claimed that the op-ed made him lose his acting jobs. Depp won the trial and was awarded $15 million in damages, while Heard won on one count of her countersuit and was awarded $2 million.

If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic violence, help is available. Call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 800-799-SAFE (7233) for confidential support.

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A late equaliser from Kylian Mbappe salvaged a 1-1 draw for France in their UEFA Nations League clash with Austria in Vienna.

The world champions went into the match with only one point from their first two games and were behind before half-time as Andreas Weimann gave Ralf Rangnicks side the lead.

France dominated possession and chances, though, and got their reward seven minutes from time through substitute Mbappe.

Kylian Mbappe, left, rescued a point for France (Michael Gruber/AP)



Denmark suffered their first defeat of the campaign, Mario Pasalic scoring the only goal in the 69th minute to give Croatia a 1-0 victory.

The Danes remain top of Group A1 on six points, two clear of Croatia and Austria with France a further two off the pace in fourth.

In the second tier, two goals from Shakhtar Donetsks Manor Solomon saw Israel come from behind to claim a 2-1 victory over Albania.

In the third tier, Slovakia claimed their second win from three games by beating Azerbaijan 1-0 thanks to Vladimir Weiss late goal while group leaders Kazakhstan were held to a 1-1 draw by Belarus.

Latvia made it three wins from three in their tier four group, beating Moldova 4-2.

Andorra claimed a rare competitive win, Jordi Alaez and Jesus Rubio scoring in their 2-1 success against Liechtenstein.
Fawzi was secretary-general of Egypts Parliament  the House of Representatives  between 2017 and 2020, after which he was named secretary-general of the Higher Council of Media Regulation.

The Democratic Civilian Movements statement said that it rejects the administrations choice upon the grounds that it reflects a kind of unilateral approach and goes against what was agreed upon during consultations with the National Academy for Training (NAT) over the past month.

The consultations and negotiations have not yet reached an agreement on certain points, on top of which is the naming of the national dialogues secretary-general, said the statement without mentioning the naming of Diaa Rashwan as coordinator of the event.

The statement also said that the rejection of Fawzi came following a meeting held by the Democratic Civilian Movement at the headquarters of the Conservatives Party on 9 June.

On 8 June, the NAT announced that the administration of the dialogue named Diaa Rashwan  president of the Press Syndicate and chairperson of the State Information Service  as coordinator of the national dialogue conference and Mahmoud Fawzi  the secretary-general of the Higher Council for Media Regulation  as secretary-general.

The movement added that it is committed to the statement it issued on 8 May in which it declared its decision to join the national dialogue, but only under certain pre-conditions.

On the top of these pre-conditions is that the dialogue should be held under the auspices of the Egyptian presidency, as it is the only institution that is capable of implementing the proposed dialogues recommendations and turning them into reality on the ground, said the statement.

The statement added that the movement stipulates that the national dialogues secretariat-general should be neutral, professional, and technical, bearing the responsibility of preparing and managing the dialogue, wording out its recommendations, and publishing a public opinion periodical report on its results.

There should also be a periodical report on what was achieved and what was not, the reasons for this, and who is responsible.

Furthermore, the movement indicated that the national dialogues secretariat-general should include ten national experts characterised by efficiency, integrity, and neutrality.

These experts should be named by participants affiliated with both the opposition and majority, and these experts will select the secretariat-general, which will be entrusted with carrying out the business of organising the dialogue, said the statement.

Egypts Democratic Civilian Movement was formed in 2014 to lobby for political reform and democratisation in Egypt in the wake of ousting the 2012-2013s Muslim Brotherhood regime and the election of Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi as president in June 2014.

The movement includes a group of political parties with leftist and liberal agendas, including The Constitution Party (El-Dostour), the Popular Socialist Alliance, the Conservatives Party, the Dignity Party (El-Karama), the Egyptian Socialist Democratic Party, the Justice Party (El-Adl), and the Reform and Development Party.
Photo credit: Virojt Changyencham - Getty Images

Oh happy day, as the song goes. At 12:01 a.m. on Sunday, June 12, the Biden administration will stop requiring air travelers en route to the United States to take a Covid-19 test within one day of boarding their flight. The elimination of the testing mandate will end one of the last measures put in place during the pandemic to thwart the spread of the virus by restricting travel.

The importance of this cannot be overstated. Yes, many of usvaccinated, boosted, and double-boostedare already traveling internationally. But while the fear of serious illness has abated, the dread of suddenly testing positive, being stuck, and unable to return home has remained.



On paper, there are charms for sure to be being forced to spend additional days in, say, a village in Provence, waiting until you test negative again. But in reality there are big downsides: missed personal occasions and obligations, work deadlines, and costsboth of the unexpectedly extended hotel stays and of repeat testing.

"There is no doubt that this testing requirement has hung over the heads of American travelers like a guillotine," says Henry Harteveldt, a travel industry analyst at Atmosphere Research Group. One, you couldn't fully enjoy the destination to which you had traveled, worrying if whatever you had planneda restaurant dinner, a night in a barmight expose you to infection and result in a positive test. Two, the last day at any foreign destination inevitably revolved around the need to be tested. "And if this happened to you as a family," Harteveldt continues, "the testing and retesting could add up to thousands of dollars."

All that has now gone pouff. The U.S. is joining the many European and other countries that have ditched Covid-related entry restrictions over the last few months.

"I'm not sure why it took this long in the U.S.," says Paul Tumpowsky, founder and CEO of Skylark Travel, the luxury digital travel agency. He voices the frustration of other members of the travel industry, who maintain that if you can't control Covid in the general population, it's futile to just keep testing inbound airplane passengers. "From our perspective, so what if people getting off an international flight are all negative? It's a self-selecting group. There are positive cases everywhere else."

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"I don't know for sure why the restrictions are being eliminated today, not a month ago or more," says Harteveldt. "But the CDC is rightly very cautious. The one-day-prior-to-departure testing was instituted late last year in the face of a rising tide of Omicron cases and deaths. The cases, hospitalizations, and deaths are now trending downward. And there is no question that lobbying by the airline industry and hotels had some impact."

The White House, travel industry insiders agree, was under pressure about this all spring from travel executives. "The restrictions were supposed to be lifted on April 19th," says Tumpowsky. "It's eight weeks later now. But it's still an excellent thing. We are heading into an extremely busy time of yearsummer vacations, then the ramp up to the holidays. If we had to face a lot of last-minute reservation changes [because of positive tests]...what a mess, on top of everything else."

It happened to me. A positive test after a business trip to South Africa a day before my planned departure home, a canceled flight home, followed by self-isolation at a game reserve (so much for sundowners in the bush) and then in two Johannesburg hotels. It is, as many have noted, a worst-case scenario most of us just don't really think about in any concrete waylargely because it is fiendishly difficult to plan for.

I got off easy. My self-isolation lasted only three nights. No, I didn't take the "back-door" option reported on recently by The New York Timesa flight to either Canada or Mexico, which have no testing requirement, and then over the border into the U.S. by car (the U.S. testing requirement did not apply to overland travel), followed by a domestic flight home.

I got home via the "recovered from Covid" option: a positive test accompanied by a letter from a doctor saying, essentially, that based on a combination of factors (including the probable date of infection, onset of symptoms, if any, and date of first positive test), I was medically cleared to fly. All of which is sanctioned by the U.S. government but took me the better part of a very nervous-making day to arrange.

In addition to eliminating the angst and foreboding about a positive test, how will lifting the testing mandate affect travel?

"It is good news for the travel industry," says Harteveldt. "Hotels and airlines are already full, and the end of testing will further increase demandand so prices. Business travel abroad will pick up [as companies won't worry about the additional costs of housing employees stuck abroad]. But it might make getting a hotel room abroad harder in the short term." It is unclear, he points out, "if airlines can add more flights. There are not enough pilots. Pilot shortage is what is really holding the airlines back."

Note: Non-U.S. citizens will still have to show proof of vaccination to fly into the U.S. And the CDC has announced that it will re-evaluate the lifting of the testing requirement in 90 days. Which is mid-September.

Should we be nervous?

"It is prudent of the CDC to do so," says Harteveldt. "We will be going into the fall, people will be spending more time indoors, and new variants might arise. But I suspect things will go well. Enjoy the summer!"

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This photograph taken on June 10, 2022, shows the regional government building destroyed by a Russian missile strike in March 2022, in the southern Ukrainian city of Mykolaiv, amid the Russian invasion of Ukraine. GENYA SAVILOV/AFP via Getty Images

Ukraine is now facing "massive losses" with Russia overpowering Ukraine's ammunition and artillery store.

There has been a rise in desertion as morale declines, says an intelligence report seen by The Independent.

Ukraine is now dependent on Western donations of supplies, Ukrainian officials say.

One hundred seven days into Putin's invasion of Ukraine, reports are emerging that the Ukrainian military is experiencing "massive losses," and cases of desertion are growing, an intelligence report says.

A military report by The Independent has shown that, for every artillery piece Ukraine has, Russia has 20, in the worsening situation in the Donbas, in eastern Ukraine.

The report also shows that Russia has 40 times the supply of artillery ammunition. They also have a longer range.

Deputy head of military intelligence in Ukraine, Vadym Skibitsky, has said that the force is almost "out of ammunition," the Guardian reports.

"Our western partners have given us about 10% of what they have," he said, explaining that Ukraine is now dependent on Western donations of supplies.

While the courage and resistance of the Ukrainian military have been a theme since the start of the war, there is concern that it's starting to waver.

A soldier of AFU is seen in Zelene Pole village destroyed by the Russian shelling, Donetsk Region, eastern Ukraine Dmytro Smoliyenko/ Ukrinform/Future Publishing via Getty Images

Up to 200 Ukrainian soldiers are killed every day, an aide to President Zelenskyy told the BBC on Friday, and there are now signs that Ukrainian fighters' morale is starting to buckle.

The report, says Kim Sengupta of The Independent, describes the spike in deaths as having "a seriously demoralizing effect on Ukrainian forces as well as a very real material effect; cases of desertion are growing every week."

This news comes as Russian troops make progress in the battle for the eastern town of Severodonetsk, which Ukrainian troops said they were making progress in recapturing just one week ago.

Reiterating the need for international support, Serhiy Haidai, the governor of the Luhansk region, said Western countries could have the power to change the outcome of the battle there if they donate more arms.

"If we get Western long-range weapons quickly, an artillery duel will begin, the Soviets will lose to the West, and our defenders can clean up Severodonetsk in two or three days," he said on Telegram on Thursday.

Read the original article on Business Insider
Finland announced Friday it would be sending more military equipment to Ukraine as NATO considers the countrys application to join the alliance.

Finland will not forget Ukraine and the Ukrainians. We will continue to help: We will send a new package of defense material, Finnish Defense Minister Antti Kaikkonen said.

Finlands defense ministry said the government voted to approve sending additional defense equipment to Ukraine. However, what equipment Finland will provide, how it will be delivered and when it will be shipped to Ukraine will not be announced, according to the ministry.

The ministry said the decision on what equipment to send was based on the needs of Ukraine and its military.

The support for Ukraine comes while both Finland and Sweden applied to join NATO, a move that has been slammed by Russia.

During an appearance with President Biden last month, Finnish President Sauli Niinisto said, We are ready to contribute to the security of the whole alliance, making the commitment to mutual security guarantees that being a NATO ally entails.

Now that we have taken this first decisive step, it is time for NATO allies to weigh in. We hope for strong support from all allies and for swift ratification of our membership, he added.

Their applications came after Russia threatened the countries against applying for membership and violated Finnish and Swedish airspace with fighter jets.

The U.S. has put its full support behind Finlands and Swedens bids for membership, with a Senate panel unanimously approving a resolution to urge NATO to accept the countries this week.

Biden said NATO should quickly approve the two countries membership.

While their applications for NATO membership are being considered, the United States will work with Finland and Sweden to remain vigilant against any threats to our shared security, and to deter and confront aggression or the threat of aggression, the president said.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
I recently had my Greek parents try 15 different Greek products from Trader Joe's.

There were six products my parents loved so much, it reminded them of home.

My parents were huge fans of the frozen 5 Cheese Greek Spiral, Greek Spanakopita, and feta cheese.

I recently had my Greek parents conduct the ultimate Trader Joe's taste test.

My Greek parents were pleasantly surprised by Trader Joe's Greek products. Anneta Konstantinides/Insider

Growing up in California, I learned so much about my Greek culture through the delicious food my parents cooked. Our dinners frequently featured comforting bowls of avgolemono soup or heaping plates of pastitsio, and the holidays always included big pans of cheese pies, classic Greek roasted potatoes, and my dad's famous baklava for dessert.

More "Greek" and Greek-inspired products have appeared at our local supermarket through the years, but my parents rarely trusted them. They'd been let down plenty of times by inauthentic spanakopitas or terrible feta cheese.

But my parents had never been to Trader Joe's, and I was intrigued to see what they'd think of all the Greek products that the chain currently sells.

My parents tried 15 different Greek products from Trader Joe's, and there were six they thought tasted truly authentic.

We tried every Greek product we could find at Trader Joe's. Anneta Konstantinides/Insider

My dad and I went to Trader Joe's and grabbed every product we could find that said "Greek" or "Greece" on the label. We also decided to try a few items that are very common in Greek cuisine.

Overall, my parents were very impressed with many of Trader Joe's Greek products. But these were the six that stood out to them the most  and actually reminded them of home.

(Want to find out which products my parents definitely wouldn't recommend? You can find their full ranking of Trader Joe's Greek products here.)

First, we tested Trader Joe's tzatziki, Greek feta cheese, and Greek yogurt.

Of these four products, we loved everything except Trader Joe's Greek salad. Anneta Konstantinides/Insider

I called this the "classics round" of our taste test because it featured items that my family  and probably most Greeks in America  eat almost daily. I may be a first-generation American, but I always have feta cheese and Greek yogurt in the fridge, and I eat Greek salad nearly every day of the week.

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Trader Joe's Classic Greek Salad was a big disappointment and didn't get far in my parents' ranking. But the other three products were a huge hit.

My parents both make a great homemade tzatziki, but they said Trader Joe's version "definitely tastes authentic."

Trader Joe's tzatziki was deliciously creamy. Anneta Konstantinides/Insider

Tzatziki is a popular Greek dip that includes yogurt, cucumbers, and garlic. You'll see it served alongside breads, grilled meats, and veggies, and it's always at my family's barbecues and holidays.

My parents were such big fans of Trader Joe's tzatziki that they finished it in a day.

"It's very nice, and very creamy," my dad said.

Trader Joe's Authentic Greek Feta also lived up to its name.

Trader Joe's Authentic Feta Cheese. Anneta Konstantinides/Insider

Trader Joe's Authentic Greek Feta  imported directly from Greece  is submerged in brine, which helps preserve the cheese's flavor and texture.

My dad was also impressed that Trader Joe's feta is made with sheep's milk, which he said is hard to find in the US.

We used Trader Joe's feta in a classic Greek salad, and both of my parents loved its flavor.

The classic Greek salad we made with Trader Joe's feta cheese. Anneta Konstantinides/Insider

"It's hard to find good feta in the US, but I really like this," my mom told me.

Many of the American feta brands are either too dry or too sour. But Trader Joe's Authentic Greek Feta tasted deliciously salty and rich, and the soft but crumbly texture was spot on.

It paired perfectly with the cucumbers, tomatoes, red onion, and kalamata olives in our homemade Greek salad (which you can learn how to make here).

My parents were pleasantly surprised by Trader Joe's Greek yogurt.

Trader Joe's Greek yogurt. Anneta Konstantinides/Insider

For as long as I can remember, my parents have always bought Fage  a Greek yogurt brand that was founded in Athens in 1923. So I definitely didn't expect them to be impressed with Trader Joe's version.

But I was totally wrong! My parents loved the texture and flavor of Trader Joe's Greek yogurt, and my dad even plans to use it the next time he makes tzatziki at home.

"It's not too watery, but not very thick," my dad said. "It's just the right consistency."

We tried three of Trader Joe's tinned Greek products, and the dolmas were my parents' clear favorite.

Trader Joe's dolmas was one of three tinned Greek products we found. Anneta Konstantinides/Insider

Dolmas  called dolmades in Greece  are stuffed grape leaves. They're also commonly found in Turkish and Middle Eastern cuisines.

Unlike most of the products we tried for this taste test, Trader Joe's dolmas aren't explicitly Greek or "Grecian-style." According to the label, these dolmas are made in Bulgaria. But a Trader Joe's crew member recently informed me that their production first began in Greece.

My mom said Trader Joe's dolmas tasted like those her own mother used to make.

My mom said Trader Joe's dolmas tasted like home. Anneta Konstantinides/Insider

"They remind me of my mom's," she told me. "They have a great texture and a touch of lemon flavor, which she always used to add."

Dolmades aren't easy or quick to make by hand, so both my parents were excited to find a great premade version. And they said Trader Joe's dolmas were the most authentic tinned version they've been able to find in the US.

But it was Trader Joe's frozen Greek products that impressed my parents the most.

My Greek parents said there are six Greek Trader Joe's products that actually remind them of home. Anneta Konstantinides/Insider

My mom and dad were huge fans of Trader Joe's 5 Cheese Greek Spiral and Greek Spanakopita.

Since my mom makes a fantastic cheese pie and spanakopita of her own, I never thought she'd be impressed with a frozen version  but she loved them both.

The 5 Cheese Greek Spiral was packed with great flavors.

Trader Joe's 5 Cheese Greek Spiral. Anneta Konstantinides/Insider

Trader Joe's 5 Cheese Greek Spiral includes Gouda, kasseri, kefalotyri, semi-hard cheese, and blue cheese all stuffed between thin sheets of phyllo. Its label says the pie is made in Greece and is the same as "what'd you find if you were traveling in the Greek Isles."

My parents were such big fans of the 5 Cheese Greek Spiral, they said it was actually the best frozen cheese pie they've had in the US. And believe me, they've tried many.

"Cheese pies can be very salty, but this has the proper amount of saltiness," said my dad, who loved the cheese combination.

"It's also the perfect size," my mom told me. "Usually frozen cheese pies in the US come in a huge spiral, and then the extra just ends up getting dry in the fridge."

And Trader Joe's delicious spanakopita tasted crispy and fresh.

Trader Joe's Greek Spanakopita. Anneta Konstantinides/Insider

Trader Joe's Greek Spanakopita includes spinach and three different cheeses (feta, mizithra, and a grating cheese), plus onions, leeks, dill, and parsley. According to the product description, Trader Joe's "engaged some Athenian bakers" to make its version authentic.

The label wasn't just smart advertising. Both my parents praised the spanakopita's authentic flavors.

"It's crispy, and it's got a good balance of spinach and cheese," my dad said. "There isn't an overwhelming amount of spinach, which I like."

My mom also loved that the spinach still looked and tasted fresh.

"I would definitely buy both the cheese spiral and spanakopita if I didn't have time to prepare my own," she told me.

Read the original article on Insider
A sign for the Nueces County Medical Examiner's Office, at 2610 Hospital Blvd. in Corpus Christi, is pictured on March 18, 2022.

Authorities have seized more than 900 case files from the Nueces County Medical Examiner's Office, a significant broadening of scope in a months-long probe by local and state investigators, county emails obtained by the Caller-Times show.

The investigation, which legal experts said could negatively impact criminal cases for which the office conducted autopsies, has resulted in three arrests: Dr. Adel Shaker, the former chief medical examiner; Dr. Sandra Lyden, Shaker's former deputy chief medical examiner; and an office administrator.

Many details surrounding the investigation and the cases seized are unclear.

District Attorney Mark Gonzalez declined to answer questions about the expanded investigation, including why and when the 900-plus cases were seized, how far back the cases date, what types of cases are being investigated or which medical examiner performed the autopsies for said cases.

"Unfortunately, I can confirm their cases are pending and therefore we cannot comment on a pending case," Gonzalez said Friday in an email to the Caller-Times.

Investigators first seized documents from the embattled office in February, shortly after a Corpus Christi Police Department investigator accused the former deputy chief medical examiner, Lyden, of practicing without the proper license from the Texas Medical Board.

At the time, a judge signed a warrant permitting investigators to seize more than 30 case files for autopsies and services performed by Lyden.

A May 2 email from Chief Prosecutor Angelica Hernandez to the Nueces County Commissioners Court manager and the medical examiner's office administrator, Alex Medina, shows investigators have since seized "900 plus" case files from the office.

In the email chain, the court manager asked Medina to work with Hernandez to obtain any copies of case files needed to issue death certificates or "other related documents." Hernandez responded, saying the medical examiner's office had received copies of the 30 cases.

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Hernandez continued, writing, "If you are talking about the 900 plus case files which were taken, the request for specific copies should go through the same channel as the request for the 30 case files."

Hernandez wrote the district attorney's office would no longer communicate with Medina in the May 2 email, saying, "This conversation with Miss Medina is becoming redundant (and) unproductive.

"From this point forward, our office will only take communication or requests or concerns directly from the Chief Medical Examiner or Acting/Temporary Chief Medical Examiner," Hernandez wrote. "We do not feel Ms. Medina is working in the best interest of the ME's office or our investigation."

When investigators seized the more than 900 cases is unclear. Gonzalez declined to disclose that information.

Two days after the email from Hernandez, Texas Rangers arrested Medina on a warrant charging her with making a false statement to authorities, a Class B misdemeanor. An arrest warrant affidavit sworn by the Ranger accused Medina of lying about whether Lyden had a Texas medical license.

Medina's attorney, Eric Perkins, told the Caller-Times his client intends to plead not guilty to the charge, which he says has not yet been filed by the DA's office. He also scrutinized the timing of the arrest, characterizing the investigation into Medina as "questionable."

"When (Medina) is given an opportunity to actually confront the charges that have been innuendo-ed against her so far ... she absolutely intends to plead not guilty," Perkins said. "She is a vigorous defender of what she did there at that office."

Dr. Ray Fernandez, the interim chief medical examiner, declined to answer questions about Medina's current employment status, saying personnel issues are confidential.

Perkins said Medina was placed on administrative leave with pay last week.

Arrested in April, Shaker is accused of criminally delegating authority to a physician, Lyden, knowing the act was in violation of the Texas Occupations Code because she did not possess a state license to practice, according to an arrest affidavit for Shaker.

Shaker faces 17 counts of practicing medicine in violation of a section of the Texas Occupations Code. A week after his arrest, the Commissioners Court accepted his resignation and appointed an interim chief medical examiner.

Lyden was charged with 14 counts of practicing medicine without a license causing financial harm, six counts of tampering with a government record with intent to defraud or harm, and one count of misrepresentation regarding entitlement to practice medicine. Shaker terminated her employment in January.

A majority of the charges faced by Shaker, Lyden and Medina relate to whether Lyden was licensed by the Texas Medical Board to practice and their alleged attempts to hide that information from investigators.

The fallout of the investigation is not confined to the medical examiner's office. The arrests have led the Commissioners Court to reevaluate employee policies for all county employees.

Civil litigation is also on the horizon for the county. Last month, a South Texas law firm notified Nueces County of a coming lawsuit from a mother accusing the medical examiner's office of mishandling the autopsy of her son.

Gonzalez, the district attorney, declined to answer whether the son's case was among the 900-plus cases seized by investigators, citing the ongoing investigation.

Chase Rogers covers local government and industry in South Texas. Contact him at chase.rogers@caller.com or on Twitter @chasedrogers.

This article originally appeared on Corpus Christi Caller Times: Probe into ME's office greatly expanded since February, emails show
People wash horses in the River Eden on the first day of the annual Appleby Horse Fair, in the town of Appleby-in-Westmorland, north west England on June 9, 2022. OLI SCARFF/AFP via Getty Images

The small market town of Appleby-in-Westmoreland is welcoming thousands of travelers to the Appleby Fair.

The fair is a horse-trading event dating back to 1775.

The festival, a four-day celebration of Romani culture, is described as a "big family get-together," by organizers.

Appleby-in-Westmoreland, northwest England, is famous for hosting the Appleby Horse Fair, an annual event that attracts thousands of people from the gypsy, Roma, and Traveler communities to come and buy and sell horses.

The event's website describes it as an "annual gathering of Gypsies and Travellers" and has been running since 1775, according to Visit Cumbria.

The Fair is billed as the biggest traditional Gypsy fair in Europe, with more than 10,000 people arriving in in an estimated 1,000 mobile homes and caravans.

The Traveller and Romani people, traditionally called the Gypsy community (although largely considered a negative term), is a cultural term for the Roma diaspora.

Horses are bought and sold at the historic fair

People ride horses in the River Eden, on Day 2 of the Appleby Horse Fair, the annual gathering of gypsies and Travellers. Owen Humphreys/PA Images via Getty Images

The Appleby Fair website explains that the four-day-long event does not have a "set program" but is a "traditional Gypsy Fair, more like a big family get-together."

As seen in many photos, the horses are washed (and sometimes their owners take the plunge with them!) and then paraded around the rural town.

The small town is transformed by hundreds of horse-drawn vehicles

Travelers on Day 2 of the Appleby Horse Fair, the annual gathering of gypsies and travelers. Owen Humphreys/PA Images via Getty Images

According to the fair organizers, the event attracts up to 40,000 visitors from across Europe. It includes 10,000 Traveler and Romani people in an estimated 1,000 mobile homes and caravans, hundreds of horse-drawn vehicles, and 30,000 visitors from outside the community.

It completely transforms the quiet town of Appleby, which has a population of just 2,500.

The people and their horses returned after the fair was canceled twice due to the COVID-19 pandemic

Young women wait on their horses on the first day of the annual Appleby Horse Fair, in the town of Appleby-in-Westmorland, north-west England on June 9, 2022. OLI SCARFF/AFP via Getty Image

The Appleby Horse Fair was canceled in 2020 and postponed in 2021 due to the pandemic.

While the fair traditionally happens over the first weekend in June, it had to be moved this year to accommodate the Queens Platinum Jubilee Bank Holiday weekend celebrations.

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As a result, this is the third year when tradition has had to be reconfigured.

The website states that an agreement has been made for 2023 when the fair will be hosted on the traditional dates.

The horse fair has generated bad press over the years

Travelers on Day 2 of the Appleby Horse Fair, the annual gathering of gypsies and travelers. Owen Humphreys/PA Images via Getty Images

Local news source Lancashire Live has reported that multiple arrests have been made in the packed-out fair.

Police said they had been for drink and drug driving to minor crimes but nothing of note.

It reports that Chief Superintendent Matt Kennerley, Gold Commander for Appleby Horse Fair, said: "It has been really busy over the last few days in terms of numbers in Cumbria with horses and vehicles but there are not many licensed sites where they can go which poses problems.

"We do all we can to keep those encampments safe. but even then we have seen a couple of road traffic collisions that involved the death of a couple of horses."

Gathering to watch the washing of horses

A Traveler rides a horse in the River Eden at the Appleby Horse Fair, the annual gathering of gypsies and Travelers in Appleby, Cumbria. Owen Humphreys/PA Images via Getty Images

The washing of horses has proven to be a popular sight at the fair, with crowds gathering to see the animals take a splash in the River Eden.

The safety of horses

A man washes a horse in the river on the first day of the annual Appleby Horse Fair, in the town of Appleby-in-Westmorland, northwest England on June 9, 2022. OLI SCARFF/AFP via Getty Images

The RSPCA, a national animal welfare charity, has said that it will be attending the fair to be available to offer "welfare advice and support for the hundreds of horses brought to the fair."

The charity says it will be joined by several equine organizations, as well as vets.

RSPCA Chief Inspector Rob Melloy said, "The fair can be very physically demanding on the horses, and they can tire very quickly after even just the first day, so it's essential they are given enough rest and water."

Traditional bow-top wagons

Bow-top wagons on the first day of the annual Appleby Horse Fair in the town of Appleby-in-Westmorland, northwest England, on June 9, 2022. OLI SCARFF/AFP via Getty Images

The Appleby Fair is also an opportunity to see historic bow-top wagons, also known as Vardos, a traditional Romani home that is horse-drawn and typically intricately decorated.

Read the original article on Business Insider
Northern Ireland face Cyprus at Windsor Park on Sunday desperate to end the conversation around their long winless record in the Nations League.

Ian Baraclough faced angry fans calling on him to go after Thursdays 3-2 defeat in Kosovo made it 13 games without a victory, and in that context this is now a must-win fixture.

Here the PA news agency looks at the key talking points ahead of the match.

Pressure

Some @NorthernIreland fans singing 'Cheerio' after Ian Baraclough had gone over to acknowledge the travelling support in Pristina.#GAWA  Ian Parker (@iparkysport) June 9, 2022

Ian Baraclough has been speaking about rebuilding phases, injuries, and young players now for the past two weeks, but even though the issues facing the Northern Ireland match in this tough run of fixtures are real, a number of fans have run out of patience. The performances in the defeat to Greece here last week and the draw away to Cyprus days later were poor, and though there were improvements in Kosovo, by the time they were seen the game was already beyond Northern Ireland. Anything short of a win on Sunday will leave Baraclough facing a barrage of criticism, and there is also a feeling it will need to be a convincing win to turn the tide.

Windsor Parks home comforts?

Windsor Park has rarely brought much joy for Ian Baraclough as Northern Ireland manager (Brian Lawless/PA)

There is a sense that part of Baracloughs problem has been that he has struggled to build a connection with the fans. As a man who was not a former Northern Ireland player, he did not arrive with a built-in history beyond those who paid attention to his work with the Under-21s, and could not develop one at the start of his reign as the pandemic saw games played behind closed doors. Baraclough still has only one win to his name at Windsor Park, and changing that statistic will be key to getting fans back on board.

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Mixing it up

Shayne Lavery scored in Pristina but otherwise struggled to make an impact from wide on the right (Valdrin Xhemaj/PA)

Baraclough has often preferred a 3-5-2 formation, but during this window he has frequently changed shapes. Much of that has been enforced  Northern Ireland do not have a recognised left-back in the squad due to injuries, with winger Paddy Lane struggling when asked to play wing-back before Ciaron Brown, a central defender, filled in against Kosovo. But there have been some more surprising decisions  in Pristina, Shayne Lavery spent much of the night on the right wing while Ali McCann was pushed forward just behind Kyle Lafferty. Baraclough has had to balance his resources, yes, but a constant shuffling of positions and formations has surely contributed to inconsistent displays.

One in, one out

Injury update: midfielder George Saville has withdrawn from the Northern Ireland squad for tomorrows UEFA Nations League game against Cyprus at the National Football Stadium due to injury #GAWA pic.twitter.com/mCUezNwlVt  Northern Ireland (@NorthernIreland) June 11, 2022

Paddy McNair was a late loss from the squad to face Kosovo after he suffered an injury on the day of the game, though the Middlesbrough man is expected to be back on Sunday after training on Saturday. But as he returns, George Saville has been ruled out with an issue of his own. Trying to predict Baracloughs team-sheet at this point is all but impossible with too many question marks, although it seems certain that veterans Steven Davis and Jonny Evans will be asked to start a fourth game in 11 days.

Tribute to Billy

Former Northern Ireland manager Billy Bingham has died at the age of 90 (PA)

Northern Ireland landed back in Belfast on Friday to the sad news that former player and manager Billy Bingham, who led them to back-to-back World Cups in the 1980s after playing in the 1958 edition, had died at the age of 90. Jimmy Nicholl was among the first to pay tribute to a man he worked with as a player and coach, while Davis and Baraclough followed on Saturday. Windsor Park will get its turn on Sunday with plans for a minutes applause and tributes on the video screens. Players will also wear black armbands.
US-LATAM-POLITICS-DIPLOMACY-SUMMIT

U.S. President Joe Biden addresses a plenary session of the 9th Summit of the Americas in Los Angeles, California, June 9, 2022. Credit - Photo by Jim Watson/AFP via Getty Images

Leaders across the Western Hemisphere signed on Friday the Los Angeles Declaration on Migration, a robust new international agreement designed to buttress economies in Central and South America in order to prevent waves of new immigrants at the U.S.-Mexico border.

The Biden Administration, which has made addressing the root causes of migration central to its agenda, celebrated the new declaration. Today the leaders on this stage to join together to make what is almost an overused phraseto make a historic commitment, Biden said. Twenty countries signed the declaration.

But migration experts were more sanguine. The declaration is non-binding and will likely only be effective if it is the first of further initiatives, Andrew Selee, president of the Migration Policy Institute (MPI), a nonpartisan research institution, said in a statement to TIME. It is, of course, hard to know how the Los Angeles agreement will be implemented in practice, he adds. Like many other international declarations, it creates a set of shared proposals that governments agree they would like to pursue but leaves the actual details to later negotiationsThe Los Angeles Declaration will be successful if it is the first, not the final, word on migration cooperation in the Americas.

Read more: The Summit of the Americas Was Meant To Counter Chinas Influence. Instead, It Showed How Weak the U.S. Is

Top leaders from Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, Nicaragua, Mexico, Cuba, and Venezuelanations that collectively account for most emigration to the U.S.-Mexico borderdid not even attend the 9th Summit of the Americas in Los Angeles this week, and most were not expected to sign the declaration at all. Without those leaders buy-in, the Los Angeles Declaration on Migration mostly only impacts countries that have already received migrants. According to the White House, the U.S., Mexico, and Canada have so far assumed most of the responsibility to increase legal pathways for migration.

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Vice President Kamala Harris, who is spearheading the Biden Administrations effort to address root causes of migration, said in a June 8 speech at the Summit on Thursday that private sector investment is necessary to achieve longterm goals in Central America. When I think about all the challenges we face in the Western Hemisphere, I know they will require new and innovative coalitions between the public and private sectors, she said. We continue to see corruption, migration flows, and democratic backsliding, and violence. These issues effect all of us, and the solutions then must involve all of us.

Ariel Ruiz Soto, a policy analyst at MPI, who spoke to TIME from the Summit in Los Angeles, said the Administrations project, which has been underway for more than a year, can claim some success. Forty companies and organizations have generated more than $3.2 billion in investments to the Northern Triangle region of Guatemala, Honduras, and El Salvador. The businesses and organizations who are committing investments plan to launch endeavors that could create employment opportunities in Central America, increase internet capabilities throughout the region, and increase financial infrastructure so that more people have access to bank accounts, among other initiatives.

But even billions in private investment wont have much of an effect, Ruiz Soto warns, if the governments of the countries with high rates of emigration lack the political will or ability to work with other nations to address the root causes of migration. Investment is great, he says. But its not enough alone.

Friction points before the summit even began

On June 6, the Biden Administration confirmed that the U.S., which hosted the Summit this year, did not invite the leaders of Cuba, Venezuela, and Nicaragua because of their anti-democratic leanings. In protest, the presidents of Mexico, El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras announced that they would not attend. Other lower-ranking officials from the governments attended in their place. To many of us, the absence of the highest levels of government from these countries represents a lack of political continuity and will, Ruiz Soto says.

The decision by Honduran President Xiomara Castro to boycott the summit was particularly sharp, as she has been in frequent contact Vice President Harris to achieve the goals of the the root causes initiative. Castro and Harris spoke as recently as May 27, but Castro stressed the next day on Twitter that she would only attend the Summit if all the countries of the Americas are invited without exception. On June 6, she shared that the Honduran foreign minister would attend the Summit in her place, and added My government maintains good relations with the U.S.

Read more: Why Kamala Harris Trip to Honduras Is Really About the U.S.-Mexico Border

The leaders of Guatemala and El Salvador present bigger challenges to the U.S. and other Latin American nations. Guatemalan president Alejandro Giammattei is tied up in controversy for reappointing Maria Consuelo Porras as the attorney general, who essentially banished the countrys anti-corruption investigators. Her appointment has raised red flags for international organizations like Human Rights Watch. And in El Salvador, president Nayib Bukele has increased international concerns that the country is slipping into authoritarianism. In the past few months, Bukele has cracked down on free press. Bukele has also launched a crackdown on gangs that has lead to more than 30,000 arrests, raising concerns at the United Nations thatwhile acknowledging the prevalence of gang violence in El Salvador and that it has contributed to the flight of Salvadorans leaving the countryEl Salvadoran police may be violating international law and making arbitrary arrests, including 5,747 who were arrested without a warrant.

These issues were clearly friction points for the U.S. prior to the start of the Summit of the Americas, Ruiz Soto says.

Historic and unprecedented rates of irregular migration

Encounters at the U.S.-Mexico border have reached nearly 1.3 million so far this fiscal year. In Fiscal Year 2021, encounters surpassed 1.7 million, historically high rates. So far this year, most people encountered at the U.S.-Mexico border have been from Mexico, Cuba, and Guatemala. Countries like Colombia, Panama, and Costa Rica have also seen high numbers of migration to its borders by people fleeing Central America and Venezuela.

The Western Hemisphere, as a region, is undergoing historic and unprecedented rates of irregular migration. Nearly every country has been impacted, a senior Biden Administration official said on Thursday evening. Theres certain countries that, I think, feel the pain and recognize the value in coming together, working on responsibility sharing, andexploring new tools that we can employ to better bring the situation under control.

Read more: Joe Bidens Immigration Bill Aims to Address the Root Causes of Migration. Will it Work?

The Los Angeles Declaration on Migration and Protection includes efforts to achieve economic stability in migrant communities that have already arrived in countries like Ecuador, Costa Rica, and Belize; expand legal migration pathways in Canada, Mexico, and the U.S., including resettlement and family reunification programs for Haitians and Cubans; implementing humane border management policies; and coordinated emergency response.

The bottom line is this: the Western Hemisphere is home for all of us, President Joe Biden said during Thursday remarks at the Summit of the Americas. Over the past decade our region has changed, the challenges we face have changed, and so our policies and solutions have to change as well.

The Biden Administrations focus on addressing root causes of migration follows in the footsteps of the Obama Administration, which invested more than $1.6 billion in Central America in an effort to stem migration. The project was met with little success. The Biden Administrations efforts, which also include anti-corruption efforts, are more expansive than Obamas, Ruiz Soto says, but need to take place while governments of those regions also take steps to mitigate migration.

While the nations convened in Los Angeles this week, a caravan of several thousands of migrants, including from Venezuela and Central America, formed in southern Mexico and began the journey north, hoping to make it to the U.S.
(Independent)

A Nevada woman has lost her bid in a U.S. court to force international soccer star Cristiano Ronaldo to pay millions of dollars more than the $375,000 in hush money she received after claiming he raped her in Las Vegas in 2009.

U.S. District Judge Jennifer Dorsey in Las Vegas kicked the case out of court on Friday to punish the woman's attorney, Leslie Mark Stovall, for "bad-faith conduct" and the use of "purloined" confidential documents that the judge said tainted the case beyond redemption.

Dorsey said in her 42-page order that dismissing a case outright with no option to file it again is a severe sanction, but said Ronaldo had been harmed by Stovall's conduct.

"I find that the procurement and continued use of these documents was bad faith, and simply disqualifying Stovall will not cure the prejudice to Ronaldo because the misappropriated documents and their confidential contents have been woven into the very fabric of (plaintiff Kathryn) Mayorga's claims," the ruling said. "Harsh sanctions are merited."

Stovall did not immediately respond Saturday to telephone and email messages. Text messages to associate Larissa Drohobyczer were not answered. They could appeal the decision to the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco.

Ronaldo's attorney in Las Vegas, Peter Christiansen, was traveling and was not immediately reachable for comment.

The Associated Press generally does not name people who say they are victims of sexual assault, but Mayorga gave consent through Stovall and Drohobyczer to make her name public.

More to follow...

AP
Two Egyptian students kidnapped in South Africa were released on Friday evening after nearly a month in captivity, the Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement today.

Momen Haitham Kamel and Fady Said Mahmoud, two student pilots at ATIS Aviation Academy in Gauteng province in northeastern South Africa, were kidnapped on 14 May.

Since then, the Egyptian embassy in Pretoria has been working with the South African authorities and the flying academy, which is located in both Egypt and South Africa, to free the students.

Egypts Ambassador to South Africa Ahmed El-Fadely received the two students after they were freed and reassured their families that they are in a good health.

El-Fadely said the embassy has preferred to deal with the issue without media attention to ensure the safety of the kidnapped nationals and secure their safe and smooth release, noting that any information leak could have endangered the lives of the students.

The ambassador hailed the South African authorities cooperation with the Egyptian side regarding the issue, saying such solidarity reflects the firm relations binding Egypt and South Africa.

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Hundreds of Iowans rallied Friday evening to protest gun violence in the wake of multiple recent high profile mass shootings across the nation.

The march, which went from the Des Moines Central Library to Peoples Plaza in front of the state Capitol, brought out protesters of all ages to demand action.

Marchers chanted No more silence. End gun violence, and Hey, hey NRA, how many kids did you kill today? as they made their way to the Capitol.

In light of recent shootings (that) sent shocks waves from Uvalde all the way to Des Moines, I, along with March for Our Lives Iowa, (am) no longer recommending policy  we are demanding it, said Lexi Duffy, 18, from Johnston High School and an organizer for March for Our Lives Iowa. Our demands are simple: The Iowa Legislature must stop working against common sense gun policies  mandatory waiting period laws, reporting of lost and stolen firearm laws, police demilitarization and universal background checks.

At the Capitol, speakers voiced concerns over gun violence and gun laws in Iowa and the nation.

(During) my first dragon drills as we called it in kindergarten, or school shooter drills, we heard an announcement on the intercom that we were all supposed to hide in our cubbies and wait for the principal to walk around and see if he could see us in our classrooms, said Gabi Michalski, a recent Johnston High School graduate, 17. We were all 5 years old hiding under our cubbies practicing for if a school shooter came to our elementary school.

More: 'We're angry': Thousands to rally against gun violence Saturday in March for Our Lives protests

Democratic gubernatorial candidate Deidre DeJear urged rallygoers to vote.

It has been far too long, folks, that we have watched our family members or colleagues have to endure this tragedy, so I am here today to thank you all for your endurance, but I am also here today to move you to continue because we have an opportunity, folks, to say no to the status quo, DeJear said.

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The Des Moines March for Our Lives rally was one of many held or planned in Iowa and across the nation in June. The movement is largely organized by young people.

More: Rally seeking gun regulation, speaking against gun violence planned for downtown Ames on Saturday

On Saturday, thousands of supporters were expected to attend a march in Washington, D.C. Locally, another march was scheduled for Ames on Saturday from 7-9 p.m. at Tom Evans Park.

This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Hundreds turn out for March for Our Lives rally in downtown Des Moines
Texas Tech's head women's basketball coach Krista Gerlich speaks to her team before practice, Wednesday, March 9, 2022, at the Municipal Auditorium in Kansas City. Tech's game is 5:30 p.m. on Thursday against Oklahoma State.

The Texas Tech women's basketball team will embark on a 10-day, two-city Greek tour this August that will feature games against European select/all-star teams.

Scheduled to leave from Lubbock on Aug. 6, the Lady Raiders will arrive in Athens on Aug. 7. In addition to spending time in Athens, the Lady Raiders will also visit the island of Crete.

Allowed to embark one trip every four years by the NCAA, the Lady Raiders last went on a foreign tour in 2016, traveling to Spain and Portugal. Other previous foreign tours include trips to Canada (2010), Australia (2005) and France/Switzerland (2001).

In addition to exhibition games, Texas Tech will also be allowed to conduct an additional 10 practices before leaving for Greece. Those practices begin on July 26 and run through Aug. 6.

More: Big 12 schools get $42.6 million each in annual payout

Men's golf

Texas Tech junior Ludvig Aberg has earned All-Big 12 men's golf honors for the second straight season to add to his long list of accolades based on achievement.

A Sweden native, Aberg was named the Ben Hogan Award winner along with securing PING All-America honors the past couple of weeks. He is the first Tech player to win the Ben Hogan Award and becomes the fifth Red Raider to earn All-Big 12 honors multiple times. He finished his third season at No. 3 in the Golfstat collegiate ranking and No. 4 by Golfweek ratings.

The All-Big 12 Team was selected by using the top-10 players according to the Golfweek rankings following the Big 12 Championship. Aberg won the 2022 Big 12 Championship at 8-under-par to continue a streak of six straight top-10 showings.

Aberg is also currently at No. 3 in the World Amateur Golf Ranking after a collegiate season where he won the 2022 Big 12 Championship and The Prestige. He secured eight top-10 finishes and earned All-America honors by finishing 11th during NCAA Championship stroke play last week in Scottsdale, Arizona.

He joins Andrew Dresser, Oscar Floren, Chris Ward and Nils Floren as the only Red Raiders to have been named to the All-Big 12 Team twice. Nils Floren is currently the only three-time selection with Aberg set to return for his senior season with the opportunity to match him.

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More: Skogen earns PING All-America honorable mention

Volleyball

Coming off the program's first NCAA Tournament appearance since 2001, the Red Raiders announced their fall schedule which features 13 non-conference matches and 16 contests against Big 12 opponents. Tech will play 15 matches against NCAA Tournament teams from the 2021 season.

The Big 12 schedule will return to its normal format, last used in the 2019 season, where teams will play once at home and once away from September to November. The past two seasons the conference slate featured back-to-back games against the same opponent either home or away.

Tech will start with a pair of scrimmages at home, first hosting North Texas at 4 p.m. Aug. 18 at United Supermarkets Arena and again at 6 p.m. Aug. 20 for the annual Red and Black intrasquad scrimmage.

More: Wes Kittley, Wes Welker make ballot for Texas Sports Hall of Fame

The Red Raiders open the 2022 regular season slate on the road at a tournament in South Bend, Indiana (Aug. 26-27) as they face Notre Dame and Milwaukee.

Tech will host Tarleton State in a midweek match for the home opener Aug. 30 at United Supermarkets Arena.

The Red Raiders will hit the road for back-to-back weeks, first stopping in Athens, Georgia (Sept. 2-3) for a tournament against College of Charleston, Charlotte and UGA. The Red Raiders will stay in the Lone Star State for a tournament at Rice in Houston (Sept. 9-11). The tournament will feature three NCAA Tournament teams from 2021: Texas A&M- Corpus Christi, Brown and Rice.

Tech returns to Lubbock for the Red Raider Classic Sept. 15-17 where Tech will host SMU, UTRGV, Arizona State and Oral Roberts. The tournament will serve as the non-conference finale as the Red Raiders will open Big 12 play the following week.

The Red Raiders will jumpstart Big 12 play on the road at West Virginia (Sept. 24) before returning to Lubbock to host Kansas State (Sept. 28) and Texas (Oct. 1).

Tech makes a quick trip to Fort Worth for a match against TCU (Oct. 8) then back home to host Oklahoma (Oct. 12) before heading to Kansas (Oct. 15) and Baylor (Oct. 19).

The Red Raiders will welcome Iowa State to the United Supermarkets Arena on Oct. 21, Baylor on Nov. 2 and TCU on Nov. 9 with a stop in Austin in between to face the Longhorns (Oct. 26).

Tech travels north to Norman to take on Oklahoma (Nov. 9) then moves on to Ames to face Iowa State (Nov. 12). Tech hits the road one last time Nov. 23 in Manhattan when they meet Kansas State.

The Red Raiders' final home matches will take place Nov. 19 against West Virginia and Nov. 25 against Kansas in the regular season finale.

This article originally appeared on Lubbock Avalanche-Journal: Texas Tech women's basketball announces foreign trip to Greece
The Harbor Springs Area Historical Society will host a History on Tap event from 5 to 7:30 p.m. on Friday, June 17.

HARBOR SPRINGS  Join the Harbor Springs Area Historical Society from 5 to 7:30 p.m. on Friday, June 17 for their first History on Tap event at the Harbor Springs History Museum, located at 349 E. Main St.

This event combines a history talk with beer tasting as guests receive drink tickets for four tasting pours of Petoskey Brewing Company beer. During the beer tasting from 5 to 6 p.m., guests are invited to tour the newly opened exhibit, Dry Harbor: Prohibition, Gambling and Gangsters in Harbor Springs.

At 6 p.m. guests will move upstairs for a presentation by author Patti Smith, who wrote Michigan Beer: A Heady History. During her presentation, Smith will explain how early immigrants brought distinctive beer styles from their home countries, how early local brewers made their mark, and how the brewing industry consolidated after World War II. Along the way, participants will discover different styles of beer from ales to lagers and learn about the current state of local craft breweries.

Smiths book will be for sale at the event and the author will be available to sign purchased copies.

Reservations are required for this event and guests must be 21 or older. Visit HarborSpringsHistory.org/events to register or call (231) 526-9771.

This article originally appeared on The Petoskey News-Review: Learn about (and taste!) Michigan brewery history
Charles Leclerc wants to "finish the job" after living up to his status as the master of poles this season when pulling a flying lap out of the bag to keep the Red Bulls at bay in qualifying Saturday for the Azerbaijan Grand Prix.

The Ferrari driver, registering his fourth consecutive pole and sixth of the season, has for company on the front row of Sunday's race the in-form Sergio Perez.

"It feels good," said a thrilled Leclerc, who has failed to convert any of his three most recent poles into victory.

"The feeling is there and it's good, so I'm optimistic for tomorrow. I just want to finish the job."

Perez, who won on the streets of the Azerbaijani capital 12 months ago (with Leclerc on pole) and in Monaco last time out, once again outperformed his world champion teammate Max Verstappen.

Verstappen starts on the second row with Carlos Sainz in the other Ferrari.

Leclerc had a healthy championship lead after the fifth race in Australia but goes into this eighth round of the season nine points behind Verstappen, with Perez only six points back in third.

"All poles feel good, but this one I didn't expect," he added.

"I thought the Red Bulls were stronger in the first and second qualifying sessions but on the last lap everything came together."

The man from Monaco nailed his flying lap in the top 10 shoot out, expertly eking the maximum out of his car around this complex circuit with its sinuous old city section and airport runway-long straight.

Perez, in the prime of his racing life with his confidence flowing, had popped up with a sub 1min 42 lap to lead the charge into the final throw of the qualifying dice.

Sainz briefly flirted with his first ever pole but with the qualifying timer almost at zero Leclerc crossed the line in 1min 41.359sec to top the timesheets.

- 'Who knows?' -

Perez threw everything at his last lap but ended up 0.282s slower.

"Yeah, Q3 is when you go balls out and I hit the wall a couple of times. At the end we had a problem with the engine, we couldn't turn it on and I was out on my own with no 'tow'.... would it have been enough for pole, who knows?"

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As for Verstappen, only 0.065s off his teammate, he reported: "The start of the lap was good but then it went away from me, tiny mistakes. Still as a team, second and third, we have a good opportunity tomorrow."

Perez has given Red Bull team chief Christian Horner an interesting dilemma in terms of which of his drivers to back should there be a repeat of Barcelona when the Mexican was given team orders to let Verstappen through for the win.

Mercedes struggled in practice with their under-performing 2022 car bouncing on the bumpy track so George Russell starting on the third row after placing fifth in qualifying was a decent result.

The AlphaTauri of Pierre Gasly joins him ahead of Lewis Hamilton in the other Mercedes sharing the fourth row with Yuki Tsunoda while Sebastian Vettel and Fernando Alonso completed the top 10.

The opening session was red-flagged towards the end when Lance Stroll's front wing flew off his Aston Martin after pranging the barrier at turn two, his second crash in as many laps.

This left Valtteri Bottas, in 17th, in danger of falling at the first qualifying hurdle for the first time in 143 grand prix and Monaco in 2015.

Hamilton led a convoy of cars heading back out when the session restarted at 1840 local time, the temperatures dipping and the shadows lengthening.

They all crossed the line at the cut off time for a final lap with Bottas miraculously sneaking through with the 15th and final Q2 ticket, his proud record intact.

nr/dj
One of Australias most important newspapers admitted giving Rebel Wilson two days to comment on her first known same-sex relationship and then criticized her after the actress decided to come out of the closet on her own terms.

In a head-scratching opinion piece published Saturday morning in the Sydney Morning Herald, columnist Andrew Hornery expressed frustration and contempt at the 42-year-old Australian superstar, after going into details about what led her to go public with her same-sex love.

I thought I was searching for a Disney Prince but maybe what I really needed all this time was a Disney Princess, the Pitch Perfect star wrote on social media Thursday, referring to her new girlfriend, Los Angeles clothing designer Ramona Agruma.

Wilson also shared a beautiful photo of the now-public couple, adding two heart emoji, a Pride rainbow, and the hashtag #loveislove.

Her revelation, however, apparently wasnt timed to the beginning of LGBTQ Pride month  instead, it was the result of a threat made by the newspaper, which gave her a two-day deadline for her coming out.

It was an abundance of caution and respect that this media outlet emailed Rebel Wilsons representatives on Thursday morning, giving her two days to comment on her new relationship with another woman, LA leisure wear designer Ramona Agruma, before publishing a single word, Hornery wrote.

Offering her such so much respect, however, turned out to be a big mistake, as she robbed the outlet of a scoop.

Instead of complying with the newspapers demands and issuing a statement about her personal life in the time determined by the newspaper, Wilson decided to post about her new Disney Princess on Instagram early Friday morning, the same platform she had previously used to brag about her handsome ex-boyfriend, wealthy American beer baron Jacob Busch, he wrote.

Hornery then continued his harsh criticism slamming the actress for ignoring the outlets genuine inquiry.

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Considering how bitterly Wilson had complained about poor journalism standards when she successfully sued Womans Day for defamation, her choice to ignore our discreet, genuine and honest queries was, in our view, underwhelming, he wrote.

The article was widely criticized on social media timelines, with reactions ranging from anger to disbelief to curse-filled outrage.

Theres a special place in hell with Andrew Hornerys name on it. Forcing someone to disclose their sexuality is scum-of-the-earth journalism. Shame on him and his employer, wrote Twitter user Mark Kearny.

Fg shameful by the Sydney Morning Herald. Acting like they were being generous by giving Rebel Wilson a 2-day deadline to come out before outing her themselves, then getting arsey because she called their bluff against her will, added Chirs Scullion.

The Sydney Morning Herald trying to make themselves out to be victims because they reached out to Rebel Wilson for comment on an article that would out her and she instead publicly came out, meaning they dont have an exclusive anymore, is straight-up sociopathic, summed up user John Delmonico.

With an online and print audience of 8.6 million readers, the Sydney Morning Herald is Australias most-read newspaper, according to data released in November.
Crowds of people filled Falls Park Saturday during the 25th annual Festival of Cultures hosted by the Multi-Cultural Center.

Throughout the day, there were performances by Bhutanese dancers representing Nepal, Lakota hoop dancing by father-daughter duo Dall Chief Eagle and Starr Chief Eagle, the Sioux Falls Lion Dance Team, Ballet Folklorico Estrellas De Jalisco and Tuff Roots.

There were also multiple vendors selling drinks from Mexico, tacos, Grecian gyros, Polynesian barbeque and more.

All of the cultures on display during Saturday's festivities were representative of the many different people living in Sioux Falls, Mayor Paul TenHaken said. He encouraged people to ask questions about each other's cultures and what makes them special.

Follow Annie Todd on Twitter @AnnieTodd96. Reach out to her with tips, questions and other community news at atodd@argusleader.com or give her a call at 605-215-3757.

This article originally appeared on Sioux Falls Argus Leader: Sioux Falls celebrates 25th Annual Festival of Cultures
The past, present and future of women in Chinas oppressively patriarchal society is a big topic to address in under 90 minutes, but Violet Du Fengs unassuming but very moving documentary Hidden Letters covers a lot of ground.

Visually, it has the immediate, low-key digital-video look thats increasingly typical of festival docs, and which may restrict its audience to the specialist circuit. But theres a lot going on under the surface in a film that looks at the subject of Nushu, an ancient secret language used by Chinese women to talk to each other without their husbands, fathers, and even their sons knowing.

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Nushu is mostly about misery, notes Hu Xin, a tour guide at the Nushu Museum in Jiangyong County. Hu Xin is our port of entry into this secret world, depicting a time still in living memory when women were subordinate to men, foot-binding was common (as were arranged marriages), and divorces were out of the question. From the despair came Nushu, written on fans and handkerchiefs in delicate calligraphy or sung a capella and handed down through generations. Surprisingly (or maybe not), these missives were never about men: the subject, and audience, was always the sisterhood.

. - Credit: Tribeca

Tribeca

After Hu Xin we meet Wu Simu, the formers protegee, who has been studying Nushu for a while. Wu Simu is engaged, and at first her fiance appears to be a catch, an enlightened young man from a tight-knit working-class family. In a short space of time, however, he reveals himself as something of a monster, instructing Simu to abandon her hobby and take on not one but two jobs in order that they can buy a house, settle down and have children.

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Simu is lucky and jumps ship, but we find out in a surprise turn of events that Hu Xin is a divorcee who suffered at the hands of a similarly controlling but abusive husband. Her comments are truly shocking; despite all her honors and achievements, Hu Xin feels that she has failed as a woman, with no husband and no children.

After this, two other stories come into the mix, one being the story of He Yanxin, the last traditionally trained practitioner of nushu. A frank, funny and unsentimental woman, she forges a bond with Hu Xin, swapping stories that make the age gap between a millennial and an octogenarian simply vanish.

But at the same time as it explores Nushus past, Du Fengs film has an amused eye on its future. Though the humble, talented Hu Xin seems to be the perfect brand ambassador for Nushu, her bossesall maleundercut her at every turn, undermining her confidence and talking in the inane lingo of sales patter, mooting cross-platform promotions and even KFC deals. The irony is not lost on the director, who presents these toe-curling moments without comment.

Unlike the majority of docs, Hidden Letters doesnt really set itself a goalits more of a mosaic piece that, in its best moments, has the verite feel of a late-60s Maysles brothers movie, notably an intimate scene in which Simu sits down with her future sisters-in-law, who speak candidly about marriage and sacrifice. As a result, it all ends rather abruptly, but it certainly achieves what it sets out to do, which is present history within the context of lived experience, using Nushu as a metaphor for the need for communication and connectivity between women who want their lives to have meaning.

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The UFC heads to Singapore on Saturday for its sixth pay-per-view of the year, which means the Embedded fight-week video series is back to document whats happening behind the scenes.

UFC 275 takes place at Singapore Indoor Stadium in Singapore. The main card airs on pay-per-view following prelims on ESPN and early prelims on ESPN+.

UFC 275 features a title-fight doubleheader. In the main event, Glover Teixeira (33-7 MMA, 16-5 UFC) meets Jiri Prochazka (28-3-1 MMA, 2-0 UFC). The co-main event will see womens flyeight champ Valentina Shevchenko (22-3 MMA, 11-2 UFC) meet contender Taila Santos (19-1 MMA, 4-1 UFC).

Additionally, a pair of former strawweight title holders run it back as Joanna Jedrzejczyk (16-4 MMA, 10-4 UFC) takes on Zhang Weili (21-3 MMA, 5-2 UFC) in a rematch of their 2020 FOTY.

The sixth and final episode of Embedded follows the featured fighters while they get ready for fight week. Here is the UFCs description of the episode from YouTube:

Jiri Prochazka cuts weight then takes in Road to UFC in the arena. At an old-school weigh-in with fans, foes face off: Champ Glover Teixeira vs Prochazka, champ Valentina Shevchenko vs Taila Santos, and former champs Weili Zhang vs Joanna Jedrzejczyk.

Watch the episode in the video above and check out the previous episodes below.
President Volodymyr Zelensky

Read also: UK defense secretary arrives in Kyiv, meets with Zelensky

Speaking to students and professors at the Universities of Oxford, Cambridge and London and other leading British educational institutions, Zelensky was asked whether the United Kingdom would be more active in supporting Ukraine in a full-scale war against Russia after the relevant "decision."

Read also: Zelensky meets US Senators in Kyiv, asks them to recognize Russia a terrorist state

"What has been done to British citizens is a tragic habit for these people (the Russians)," the president said.

"They do (things like) this with absolutely everyone. There can be no justification for such steps and actions."

Read also: Feeding the crocodile: If we allow Russia any more territorial wins, it will soon go for more

Zelensky said the United Kingdom and its prime minister, Boris Johnson, had strongly supported Ukraine from the beginning of the war.

"On the contrary, it seems to me that this is a case that emphasizes that Europe, the whole world and those skeptical countries  'conditional pacifists' in relations with Russia, who are constantly looking for ways to find such a mood in conversation with them so as not to shake business relations  is a very powerful and dangerous signal for such countries that Russia will act in this way against any citizen of any state," he said.

The Ukrainian president added that it was time for European countries to "act powerfully and condemn with actions, not words."

Two UK nationals, Aiden Aslin and Shaun Pinner, along with Moroccan citizen Saadun Brahim, were sentenced to death on June 9 by a sham court in the Russian-controlled part of Ukraine's Donetsk Oblast.

Read also: Who are the foreigners sentenced to death by Russian proxies?

Both UK and Ukraine's foreign ministries have condemned the court's decision, saying that two Britons are PoWs and no sentences of the illegitimate court have any legal force.

Ukraine's General Staff said that any foreign nationals who defend Ukraine have signed contracts with the Ukrainian armed forces voluntarily and in accordance with Ukrainian law.

According to the Geneva conventions, all Ukrainian military service members, who are legally combatants, should be treated as PoWs by the enemy if they are captured.

Ukrainian Prosecutor General Iryna Venediktova said that Ukraine was investigating the sham "verdict" and was taking steps to bring all those involved in this illegal decision to justice.
JA of Washington officials have sold their Terrace Heights center and switch to a mobile unit early next year, allowing their educational program to reach more students in remote communities throughout Central Washington.
KYODO NEWS - Jun 11, 2022 - 21:22 | World, All

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy urged the world on Saturday to take steps to prevent wars from happening, saying conflicts like the one Russia is waging on his country could take place anywhere.

"Today's example of Ukraine is an example for the whole world," Zelenskyy said in a virtual address at a high-profile Asia security forum in Singapore, while calling on the global community to "support any action that is related to preemptive measures to forestall violence."

His remarks were in response to a delegate's question referencing Japanese Prime Minister Kishida's speech delivered Friday at the annual Asia Security Summit known as the Shangri-La Dialogue. Kishida had expressed a strong sense of alarm that "Ukraine today may be East Asia tomorrow."

Russia's war on Ukraine has triggered concerns over unilateral attempts to change the status quo, which could reverberate in Asia amid Beijing's growing military and economic clout and tensions over Taiwan, a self-ruled democratic island that China regards as its territory.

Zelenskyy said "no one benefits" from war except for "certain political leaders" with growing ambitions.

The war in Ukraine, which started in late February, has claimed the lives of more than 8,000 civilians as of late May and forced more than 7 million people to flee the country, according to data from the United Nations.

For countries under threat, there is a need to find diplomatic solutions so as not to leave them "at the mercy of another country which is more powerful" in size as well as financially and militarily, the Ukrainian president said in a speech.

With still no signs of the war abating, Zelenskyy warned of the global repercussions of the Russian blockade on Ukraine's food exports, warning there could be an "acute and severe food crisis and famine" in many countries in Asia and Africa.
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After a two-year suspension due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Agartala-Kolkata bus route via Dhaka has restarted. At the integrated check station in Akhaura, State Transport Minister Pranajit Singha Roy officially launched the international bus service. The 40-seater bus carried a total of 28 passengers to Kolkata through Dhaka, and the service will run six days a week. The bus will take roughly 19 hours to travel 500 kilometres from Agartala to Kolkata via Dhaka. According to an official, the railway travel between the two destinations via Guwahati takes roughly 35 hours.

"The cross-border bus service will boost cooperation between India and Bangladesh," the minister said during the programme.

Earlier today took part in the Flag off ceremony of Agartala- Kolkata via Dhaka Bus service at Integrated Check Post, Akhaura, Agartala along with other dignitaries.



This bus service shall definitely strengthen ties between.



It will also boost trade and tourism. pic.twitter.com/scA6sIg6Oe  Pranajit Singha Roy (@Pranajitsinghar) June 10, 2022

The bus facility on this route was suspended in March 2020 after the pandemic struck. The fare from Agartala to Kolkata via Dhaka will be Rs 2,300 per passenger, including travelling tax, while it will be Rs 1,000 from Tripura capital to Dhaka.

Also read: Modified Toyota Hilux showcases next-level evolution of the pickup truck

"The direct bus service will be of help to people in view of cancellations of long-distance trains due to flood and landslide in neighbouring Assam and high demand for flights resulting in a sharp increase in airfare," the minister said.

Roy said the number of passengers will increase in the days to come as they will be aware of the resumption of the bus service. He also appealed to the authorities concerned to ensure the smooth running of buses on the cross-border route in strict adherence to foreign laws. He asserted that the state's connectivity with the rest of the country has improved during the BJP-led NDA regime at the Centre.

Roy also said the state government has taken the initiative to increase the number of daily flights from the airport here. Currently, the count is 18. Agartala Mayor Deepak Majumder and Assistant High Commissioner of Bangladesh in Agartala Arif Mohammad, state's Principal Secretary LH Darlong were present at the programme.

With inputs from PTI
The Navi Mumbai Traffic Police is cracking down on two-wheelers with aftermarket exhausts that emit the sound of more than the pre-defined limits. The police department recently caught a total of 82 high-volume aftermarket exhausts and crushed them with a road roller. The destruction of these modified silencers was exercised in the presence of Purushottam Karad, Deputy Police Commissioner, Navi Mumbai Traffic Police. As per the Navi Mumbai Traffic Police department, exhausts with high sound output are not permissible. Although many bikers use custom exhaust on their motorcycles, they cause problems to fellow road users and the neighbourhood.

The department conducted a special drive with officials from the Seawoods traffic branch, and they seized a slew of aftermarket silencers. Moreover, they were crushed in front of the Civic Headquarters, Belapur. Also, the violators were booked under Section 190 (2), 198 of the Motor Vehicles Act. The traffic police department has launched a drive from June 19 to nab those with custom silencers. The department is also appealing to Mumbaikers to connect to the Navi Mumbai Police Traffic Department via the helpline number 7738393839 to report motorcycles with noisy exhausts.

DCP Karad said, Young children ride bikes with high volume silencers. To curb and control noise pollution caused by such bikes, a campaign has been launched to remove the loud silencers installed on the bikes. This action will continue. Those who have installed modified silencers on their vehicles should remove it themselves. Strict action will also be taken against garage owners who install such silencers.

Also read - Top 5 most-expensive scooters on sale in India - BMW C400 GT to Aprilia SXR 160

In addition to this drive, Mumbai Traffic Police has also announced to observe a 'no-honking' day every Wednesday. With the new rule enforced, the police department will fine road users honking for no reason. Mumbai Police tweeted announced this exercise via an official tweet, reading "Actions speak louder than words! Every Wednesday will be observed as #NoHonkDay from now on. Make sure you do your part to make Mumbai a better environment for everyone by reducing noise pollution. #HornFreeMumbai. Don't make some noise Mumbai."
The Hyundai Venue once ruled the roost. However, the ageing design of the SUV only helped the new player take the top spot. Now, the South Korean compact SUV is ready to hit the Indian market with a mid-life design update. It is slated to officially go on sale by June 16. While the company has already revealed the upcoming Hyundai Venue facelift digitally, the updated model has started reaching the dealerships. Recently, an example was snapped at a dealers yard in a new Titan Grey paint scheme.

The 2022 Hyundai Venue will go on sale in a total of 5 variants and 7 colour schemes. The variant line-up will comprise E, S, S+/S(O), SX, and SX(O) trims. Talking of colour options, there will be a dual-tone paint scheme  Fiery Red with a black roof. Alongside, single-tone colour options will include  Typhoon Silver, Phantom Black, Polar White, Denim Blue, Fiery Red, and Titan Grey.

The new Hyundai Venue will feature an updated design with a host of changes. However, the bodyshell for the compact SUV remains the same. It will now feature a larger and more squarish radiator grille, which will merge into turn indicators. The vertically-split headlamp setup will also be carried over, but the front bumper will be an all-new unit. Over to the sides, the addition of redesigned alloy wheels remains the only change on the facelifted iteration of the compact SUV.

Also read - Top 5 compact SUVs to buy in India - Maruti Suzuki Brezza, Hyundai Venue & more

Step towards the rear facet, and the Hyundai Venue facelift portrays distinctiveness over the model it replaces. The taillamps are all-LED units and connected via a light bar. Moreover, the bumper is a reprofiled unit, which gets black treatment to break the visual bulk. Also, the facelifted model features sharper lines to have a stronger presence than the outgoing version. This time around, the Venue will also come with an all-digital instrument console, 2-step adjustability for recline angle, and three driving modes  Eco, Normal, and Sport.
KYODO NEWS - Jun 11, 2022 - 09:36 | World, All

North Korea named Choe Son Hui as the nation's first female foreign minister, state-run media reported Saturday, amid speculation the country may soon carry out its seventh nuclear test.

Choe, a senior diplomat and close aide to leader Kim Jong Un, has long handled nuclear weapons issues and North Korea's negotiations with the United States. Direct talks on denuclearization and sanctions relief between the two nations have been at a standstill for more than two years.

The appointment was made at an enlarged plenary meeting of the Central Committee of the ruling Workers' Party of Korea, chaired by Kim. The gathering was held for two days through Friday, according to the official Korean Central News Agency.

In 2020, Ri Son Gwon, a former military officer and head of the government's Committee for Peaceful Reunification of the Fatherland, became foreign minister, replacing Ri Yong Ho.

Ri Son Gwon, who had served as a representative to inter-Korean military talks since the mid-2000s, is known as a hard-liner on United States policy matters.

On Tuesday, U.S. special envoy for North Korea, Sung Kim, said Pyongyang could conduct a nuclear test at "any time" and Washington's response to such a provocation would be made in "very close" coordination with its major regional allies Japan and South Korea.

But the administration of U.S. President Joe Biden will remain open to dialogue with North Korea toward the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula even if Pyongyang moves ahead with its first nuclear test since 2017, he said.

North Korea's appointment of Choe as foreign minister came days ahead of the fourth anniversary of the first-ever summit between Kim Jong Un and then U.S. President Donald Trump, Biden's predecessor, in Singapore on June 12, 2018.

In recent years, however, North Korea has expressed reluctance to hold bilateral negotiations unless Washington winds back what Pyongyang considers is its hostile policy position.

North Korea said in January it might resume all "activities" it had temporarily suspended when building trust with Trump, including nuclear and intercontinental ballistic missile tests. It has fired weapons several times this year.

On March 24, Pyongyang made the first launch of an ICBM since November 2017, marking an end to its self-imposed moratorium on such firings that dated back to April 2018.

Kim Jong Un was quoted by KCNA on Saturday as saying at the key party meeting that North Korea should achieve its defense goals earlier than scheduled, but the news agency did not report on any remarks he might have made about the country's nuclear arsenal.

The United States and North Korea remain technically in a state of war as the 1950-1953 Korean War, in which U.S.-led U.N. forces fought alongside the South against the North supported by China and the Soviet Union, ended in an armistice, not a peace treaty.

Related coverage:

COVID-19 movement restrictions in Pyongyang lifted: source

U.S. imposes fresh sanctions on North Korea over missile development

North Korea fires ICBM, 2 other missiles after Biden's Asia trip
Indigo has announced that the airline will be restoring the flying allowance of its pilots to the pre-pandemic levels. The action comes amidst the recovery of the flight operations. The airline said in a statement that pilots' layover and deadhead allowances will be reinstated on July 31. It is to be noted that earlier, the airline had done a partial reinstatement of pilots' pay and have yet to be restored to their pre-covid levels. In addition, other allowances like overtime and night allowances are also yet to be restored.

It is to be noted that during long flights, pilots and cabin crew members frequently have to stop in other cities. Many allowances are granted to the staff who are staying in the layover city, as well as a hotel stay for the duration of their stay.

IndiGo had stopped all of these allowances while flight services were significantly disrupted, including a two-month stoppage owing to the Covid pandemic's impact.

Also read: Afghanistans national carrier 'Ariana Afghan Airlines' to resume flights to India

Based on Business Standard's report, the airline said it was working on a Forex Card for crews as well as a Zonal Employee Discount (ZED), which allows employees to travel on partner airlines at a subsidised rate.

At the time of the COVID-19 outbreak in 2020, IndiGo airline had declared that senior staff' salaries will be halved starting in May. In addition, the corporation will implement a leave without pay policy for the months of May, June, and July.

Back in 2020, in an email to staff, Indigo CEO Ronojoy Dutta stated that, in addition to wage cuts, the company must take the "difficult step" of instituting a "limited, graded leave without pay programme" for the months of May, June, and July, ranging from 1.5 to 5 days depending on employee group.
Norway announced plans to scrap its NH90 military helicopter fleet and seek a refund from a consortium led by Europe's Airbus, which responded by calling the move "legally groundless." According to the defence minister and the head of the military, Norway will return the NH90 military helicopters it ordered from the NH Industries consortium because they are either unreliable or were delivered late. Oslo also stated that it would seek repayment of 5 billion crowns ($523 million), plus interest and other costs, from NHIndustries, which is owned by Airbus Helicopters, Italy's Leonardo, and the Netherlands' Fokker Aerostructures.

"No matter how many hours our technicians work and how many parts we order, it will never make the NH90 capable of meeting the requirements of the Norwegian Armed Forces," Defence Minister Bjoern Arild Gram told a news conference. The helicopter consortium said it was "extremely disappointed" by the decision.

"NHIndustries considers this termination to be legally groundless," it said in a statement. It said it had not been offered the possibility to discuss the latest proposal made to improve the availability of the NH90 in Norway or address specific Norwegian requirements. Airbus shares fell just over 1%.

Also read: Indigo airlines to restore allowances for pilots, crew to pre-pandemic level from July 31

The original contract for 14 helicopters was signed in 2001, but Norway has received only eight, the ministry said. "We have a helicopter that doesn`t work the way it`s supposed to," said General Eirik Kristoffersen, the head of Norway`s armed forces.

However, NH Industries said it had delivered 13 of 14, and the fourteenth was ready for acceptance, meaning "we were close to finalising the main scope of the initial contract."

With inputs from Reuters
New Delhi: People put a lot of thought and effort into their proposals, and they want them to be perfect. One such proposal, which was meticulously planned, came close to being flawless but fell short at the last minute. Instead, it became a social media sensation. Due to a mix-up, a McDonald's-themed proposal would have made someone's day, but it did not. It was wrapped in a romantic takeout with beverages, burgers, and a message that said, "Will you marry me, Kim?" by the person who organised it. However, instead of reaching "Kim," it ended up at the incorrect location.

The user recounted the situation in the title and uploaded an image of the order-cum-proposal to the post on social media platform Reddit. "I ordered McDonald's through DoorDash and discovered this in the bag." Not only did the driver get my order wrong, but I believe he also messed up the plans of some poor dude." Read More: Centre tightens norms for celebrity endorsers; makes material connection disclosure must

The post has generated nearly 2,000 responses from netizens who have something to say about the proposal since it was shared. Read More: LIC Jeevan Umang Policy: Heres how to get Rs 36,000 pension by saving Rs 45 daily

It was better, according to one user, that they messed up the sequence. The comment said, "This is too cringy even for some type of inside joke." "I was about to say," someone else added. The fact that this error occurred was possibly a blessing in disguise." "Wait, did someone truly do that?" one user wondered aloud.

Proposals and McDonald's, it turns out, do not mix well. A woman brutally ignored a man proposing to her in a packed McDonald's outlet in another proposal gone wrong incident involving McDonald's. The woman is seen shaking her head in fury and disbelief as the male bows down on his knees.
New Delhi: The US Treasury, the finance department of the federal government of the United States, on Friday (June 10), told the US Congress how the Indian economy rebounded strongly despite three significant COVID-19 waves. The US Treasury, in a report, said that India's acute second wave weighed heavily on growth through the middle of 2021, delaying its economic recovery. "However, economic activity rebounded strongly in the second half of the year as India's vaccination rollout accelerated," it said while praising India's vaccination efforts. The report noted that about 44 per cent of India's population be fully vaccinated by 2021 end, in what could be the worlds largest inoculation programme.

Strong Economic Rebound

While applauding Indias economic recovery, the US Treasury report noted that even after contracting seven per cent in 2020, the output returned to pre-pandemic levels by the second quarter of 2021, with full-year 2021 growth of eight percent. (ALSO READ: Amazon India dedicates month to LGBTQIA community)

Taming of Omicron Variant

The US Treasury said in the report that India faced a third major outbreak driven by the Omicron variant since the start of 2022. However, the countrys decisions helped it to control the number of deaths and broader economic fallout has been limited, it said. (ALSO READ: Gold price today: Yellow metal selling for less than Rs 48,000, good opportunity to invest?)

Financial Support to Economy

The report also pointed out how the Indian governments fiscal stimulus helped the economy against the backdrop of the pandemic in 2021. The US Treasury said that the authorities estimate that the overall fiscal deficit will reach 6.9 per cent of GDP for the 2022 fiscal year, which is higher than deficits prior to the pandemic.

Controlled Approach Towards Inflation

According to the Treasury, the Reserve Bank of India kept its key policy rates unchanged at four per cent since May 2020, but in January 2021 it began to gradually unwind the extraordinary liquidity measures designed to support growth during the early part of the coronavirus pandemic.

 With PTI inputs.
Ola S1 Pro owners have been despising the built quality of the electric scooter, shown by the incidents of burning the scooter or Twitter posts by the owners. Among all of it, the owners have been criticising the built quality of stands, which are specifically made of plastic. The owners have been claiming that the stands were not sturdy enough to handle the weight of the scooter. Following the same claims, a video has surfaced showing a broken stand of an Ola S1 pro electric scooter.

The video shows an Ola S1 Pro electric scooter lying on a piece of cardboard. Moreover, the owner holds the broken stands in his hands to show the viewers. Furthermore, the owner claims that he called roadside assistance, which took 3 hours to reach his place. The owner also claims that it will take them three days to fix his scooter's stand.

Other than that, there have been cases in which the owners reported the broken front end of the scooter, including the suspension. In addition, there have been some cases where the scooters faced a software glitch putting the scooter abruptly in reverse mode. Some users have also complained about the battery of the electric scooter suddenly dying without any warning.

Also read: Rajiv Bajaj takes a dig at electric scooter startups as Chetak EV gets dedicated plant in Pune

Most of the customers took on social media to get their problems addressed. However, one of the consumers was not very calm about the problems. The owner from Tamil Nadu set his Ola S1 Pro electric scooter on fire on the side of a road because he was not satisfied with the scooter's performance and the company's services.

In addition, the company has been surrounded by problems on the government's side as well. After the fire incidents government ordered a probe along with ordering an agency to investigate the fire incidents. According to the preliminary findings, Ola Electric's battery cells and battery management system were found to be defective. According to another report, the manufacturer was sourcing low-grade materials to reduce costs. The government has even summoned EV manufacturers to testify about their use of such low-grade materials. Ola's findings, on the other hand, indicate that there was no problem with the battery management system and that the fire was caused by an isolated thermal incident.
New Delhi: Amid a sharp surge in Covid-19 cases in the state, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin on Saturday (June 11) said steps should be taken to stem the transmission of the coronavirus, and facilities for the patients should be kept ready. In the wake of the emergence of Covid-19 clusters in Chennai and neighbouring districts, Stalin directed the Health Department officials to test the contacts of those who have tested positive for the coronavirus. Further, the Tamil Nadu CM said in a press release to organise awareness campaigns underlining the need to follow Covid-19 protocols like wearing masks and maintaining social distancing.

Stalin also mentioned that vaccination is the only weapon to combat the coronavirus, adding that his government was stringent in administering jabs to every individual in the state. As many as 93.82 per cent of people have been administered the first dose while 82.94 per cent have received the second dose, the Tamil Nadu CM said.

Spike in Covid-19 cases in Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu is witnessing a surge in fresh coronavirus infections. On Friday, the southern state logged 219 cases, taking the caseload to 34,56,916 while the death toll remained unchanged at 38,025.

On June 5, Tamil Nadu had reported 12 cases of the Omicron variants BA.4 and BA.5. Tamil Nadu Medical and Family Welfare minister Ma Subramanian said out of the 150 samples collected from the state, 12 had tested positive for the Omicron variants BA.4 (4 cases) and BA.5 (8 cases) of the coronavirus. While the one case of the BA.4 variant earlier detected in May in Chennais Navalur had fully recovered.

Meanwhile, Health Department Principal Secretary J Radhakrishnan on Friday said the rise in new cases is due to BA.4 and BA.5 sub-variants of Omicron. "We had BA1, BA2, BA 3 variants, but now we have BA4 and BA5 variants. These have the ability to spread. The positive news about the variants is people who are vaccinated recover in two or three days. Symptoms will be mild throat pain and fever for two days... Earlier this variant had spread among educational institutions and later in family functions", he was cited by PTI.

(With agency inputs)
Chandigarh: In a jolt to the Congress, the BJP's Krishan Lal Panwar and the saffron party-backed Independent candidate Kartikeya Sharma were declared elected for the two Rajya Sabha seats from Haryana, after a high drama over allegations of violations of polling rules that delayed the counting by more than seven hours. The counting of votes began past midnight and the results were announced after 2 am on Saturday. According to Election Commission officials, Congress candidate Ajay Maken did not get enough votes. The party said one of its MLAs cross-voted while the vote of an MLA was declared invalid.

Returning Officer RK Nandal said Panwar got 36 votes, while Sharma got 23 first preference votes and 6.6 transferred from the BJP, taking his tally to 29.6. It was a photo-finish as Maken got 29 votes, but lost on account of no second preference votes. While the value of votes polled by the BJP was 3,600, securing the first seat for Panwar, Sharma won the second seat with a vote value of 2,960, including 660 that got transferred from the BJP candidate as second preference votes. The Congress' value of votes was 2,900.

Congress MLA and the party's authorised polling agent BB Batra said while the vote of a party MLA was declared invalid, MLA Kuldeep Bishnoi cross-voted for Sharma, a media baron who had entered the poll far as an Independent candidate supported by the BJP and its ally JJP. Both the winning candidates were presented with their victory certificates around 3.30 am as Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar congratulated them.

Speaking to reporters in the Vidhan Sabha complex shortly after 4 am, Khattar said, "I thank all those MLAs who voted for the BJP candidate and the Independent candidate. This in a way is a victory for the people of Haryana and a victory of democracy."

Replying to a question on Congress' Kuldeep Bishnoi voting for Sharma, Khattar said, "He voted listening to his inner conscience. I can say that he must have voted after being influenced by the policies and achievements of the Modi government. He did not bother what action the Congress will take...I congratulate him." "The party will welcome him if he joins it," the BJP leader said when asked if the BJP's doors are open to him. "Hooda Sahab ka bhi swagat hai (even formers Congress chief minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda is welcome)."

When asked about the reports of recounting of votes having taken place, Khattar said the Congress had demanded a recount, and the BJP and JJP did not object. "They (the Congress) thought they had got 30 votes," said Khattar of Congress, adding while Bishnoi did not vote for the Congress candidate, one vote of their candidate was declared invalid. The Congress has 31 MLAs.

Kartikeya's father Benod Sharma, who was formerly a Congress leader, said, "I was sure of Kartikeya's victory. I am happy that he won."

The results are also a setback for former Congress chief minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda as the party had recently replaced Kumari Selja as its state unit chief with his loyalist Udai Bhan.

The counting was put on hold after the BJP and Sharma wrote to the EC alleging violation of rules and demanded the votes of two Congress MLAs -- Kiran Choudhary and B B Batra -- be declared invalid as they had allegedly showed their ballot papers to unauthorised persons after marking them. Election Commission sources in Delhi said the demand was rejected.

The Congress had also approached the Election Commission accusing the BJP of trying to defeat the process of free and fair election, and it demanded immediate declaration of results. Eighty-nine of a total of 90 MLAs in Haryana had cast their votes while Independent MLA Balraj Kundu had abstained. The BJP with 40 MLAs had nine more than the 31 first preference votes required for a straight win. The Congress has 31 MLAs.

Also read: Maharashtra Rajya Sabha election: BIG setback for Shiv Sena-led ruling alliance, BJP bags 3 seats

Congress' Bishnoi was among the first to cast their votes immediately after polling began at 9 am, while the majority of his party's legislators arrived here from Raipur via Delhi later in the day. The Congress had shifted its MLAs to Raipur a week ago, fearing poaching of its legislators. Independent MLA Kundu, who has been vocal against the BJP-led government on several issues, remained firm in his decision to abstain. "I received many offers, including monetary. But I decided to act as per my conscience," the Meham MLA told reporters.

Home Minister Anil Vij and state BJP chief O P Dhankar visited his home to persuade him, but to no avail. Kundu also hit out at the Congress for fielding Maken, "an outsider". "Therefore, due to these reasons, I have decided not to cast my vote and abstain from voting," he said. Bishnoi arrived in Chandigarh on Thursday (June 9) evening from Delhi. He was not among the Congress MLAs who were lodged in the resort in Raipur.
New Delhi: One terrorist of the proscribed terror outfit Hizb-ul-Mujahideen (HM) was killed during the encounter with security forces in Khandipora area of south Kashmir`s Kulgam district, police said on Saturday (June 11, 2022). "EncounterUpdate: 1 terrorist of proscribed terror outfit HM killed. Operation in progress. Further details shall follow," tweeted the Kashmir zone police. The encounter broke out in the Khandipora area in the wee hours of Friday-Saturday.

There have been a series of anti-terror operations in Kashmir over the last few months in which many terrorists and their commanders have been eliminated. Most of the operations have been jointly conducted by the police and the Army on the basis of specific intelligence inputs.

Earlier, on Friday, Indian Army in a joint operation with Jammu and Kashmir Police arrested two active terrorists linked with the proscribed terror outfit Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) in Baramulla, informed the police officials. Incriminating materials, arms and ammunition were recovered. Two LeT terrorists including one hybrid terrorist and a terrorist associate arrested in Kashmir, said Jammu and Kashmir Police.

"Acting promptly on specific information, Police along with Army arrested 2 active terrorists of proscribed terror outfit LeT identified as Irshad Ahmad Mir son of Abdul Rehman Mir (a categorized terrorist) and Zahid Bashir son of Bashir Ahmad, both residents of Nehalpora Pattan area of Baramulla," a police officer said.
Kerala SSLC Result 2022: The Department of Higher Secondary Education (DHSE) Kerala will release the Secondary School Leaving Certificate (SSLC) 2022 results on June 15, 2022. Students who appearedfor the class 10 board exams will be able to view their results on the official website  results.kerala.nic.in or kerala.gov.in. The result is expected to be announced at nearly 9 AM (based on past trends) on June 15. At a press conference in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala Education Minister V Sivankutty stated that the class 10 results would be released by June 15. According to the Kerala Board's official data, a total of 4.26 lakh candidates took the Kerala SSLC Examination. Kerala held SSLC Exams 2022 for Class 10 board examinations in offline mode from March 31 to April 29, 2022, adhering to all Covid-19 precautions.

Kerala SSLC Result 2022: Websites to download your marksheet

Once released, students can download their results on the following websites-

keralaresults.nic.in

keralapareekshabhavan.in

Kerala SSLC Result 2022: Here's how to check your result

Students can follow the following steps to check their Kerala SSLC result once it is released-

Step 1: Visit official website- keralaresults.nic.in or keralapareekshabhavan.in.

Step 2: On the homepage, click on the link that reads, Kerala SSLC Result 2022

Step 3: Entre login details such as roll number and submit

Step 4: The Kerala SSLC Result 2022 will be displayed on the screen

Step 5: Download the Kerala SSLC Result 2022 marksheet and take a printout of it for future reference.

This year, the DHSE Kerala successfully conducted the SSLC examination between March 31 to April 29, 2022 in the morning shift from 9:45 am to 12:30 pm. Last year, the Department of Higher Secondary Education, Kerala declared the Kerala SSLC result on July 14. Further, the pass percentage for the SSLC Kerala exam stood at 99.47 percent.
In an unexpected turn of events, senior Congress leader Kuldeep Bishnoi, who represents Haryana's Adampur constituency, voted agaist the party's official nominee and senior leader Ajay Maken. The vote by Bishnoi led to a major embarrassment for Congress as BJP-backed independent candidate Kartikeya Sharma won by a narrow margin.



Who is Kuldeep Bishnoi and why he voted against the party?

Bishnoi is a four-time MLA and currently represents the Adampur Assembly seat in Hisar. He has also been a two-time parliamentarian. Bishnoi is the son of former Haryana chief minister Bhajan Lal, who ruled the state for a long time. He has also been in the BJP, after he initially floated his own outfit -- the Haryana Janhit Congress (BL). He is also the patron of the Akhil Bharatiya Bishnoi Mahasabha.



Bishnoi had not attended the meetings of the party MLAs organised in support of Maken. Neither had he gone to Raipur, where the Congress legislators were holed up in a resort ahead of the Rajya Sabha polls.



Kuldeep Bishnoi was upset with the party after he was denied state President post and had said he will only take a decision after meeting Rahul Gandhi which did not take place. Bishnoi, meanwhile, had tweeted a cryptic message which read: "I have the capability to crush snakes` hood, do not leave the jungle in the fear of snakes."

It is pretty apparent that Bishnoi was unhappy with party leadership and that's why he took the unexpected decision.

The loss in Haryana has put Bhupinder Singh Hooda in a tight spot and party leadership is likely to take a view on it as he had promised to win the seat for the party.



How did Kuldeep Bishnoi's vote result in Ajay Maken's defeat?



Kuldeep Bishnoi cross-voted in the Rajya Sabha polls, which led to party candidate Ajay Maken`s defeat in Haryana. Two Congress MLAs cross-voted in Haryana as the party candidate got only 29 votes out of 31 and an Independent candidate backed by BJP, Kartikeya Sharma defeated him with a slight margin.



BJP nominee Krishan Lal Panwar and Independent candidate Kartikeya Sharma emerged victorious. Earlier, the two had written to the Election Commission alleging that Congress MLAs -- Kiran Choudhary and BB Batra -- showed their ballot papers to unauthorised persons after marking them, but the EC rejected their objections and counting was restarted.



Of the 90 members in the Haryana Assembly, 89 cast their votes, officials said. Independent legislator Balraj Kundu abstained from voting.



Party expels Kuldeep Bishnoi



The Congress expelled Adampur MLA Kuldeep Bhishnoi from all party positions. In a letter, Congress general secretary (organisation) KC Venugopal, wrote, "Honble Congress President has expelled Shri Kuldeep Bishnoi from all his present party positions including the post of special invitee in Congress working committee with immediate effect."
KYODO NEWS - Jun 11, 2022 - 16:17 | Japan, World, All

Japan and Singapore will start negotiations to reach a deal on the transfer of defense equipment and technology, Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said Saturday, setting the stage for more security cooperation in a region facing challenges by an assertive China.

During a summit meeting, Kishida and Singapore counterpart Lee Hsien Loong agreed on the launch and jointly defend the rules-based order after Russia's invasion of Ukraine sent ripples to the Indo-Pacific region.

Japan has been deepening ties with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations as it promotes a "free and open" Indo-Pacific, with Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, the Philippines and Vietnam among the 12 nations that Japan has signed similar defense equipment transfer agreements with.

"Japan is resolved to reinforce cooperation with like-minded nations including Singapore in bringing new developments toward a free and open Indo-Pacific," Kishida told a joint press briefing with Lee. "We agreed to move toward more concrete security cooperation."

Japan is alarmed by the prospect that the crisis in Ukraine could be replicated in Asia, given tensions between China and Taiwan remain escalated and some ASEAN members are embroiled in territorial disputes with Beijing.

Incursions by Chinese ships into waters around the Senkaku Islands, uninhabited islets administered by Japan but claimed by China, have kept Japanese authorities on alert.

Kishida said he expressed "strong opposition" to any attempts to change the status quo by force in the East and South China seas and economic coercion --- a phrase apparently aimed at China.

Since Russia launched its attack on Ukraine in late February, Kishida has stressed the need for the international community to be united in their responses, and he imposed sanctions on Moscow in coordination with other Group of Seven nations including the United States.

Singapore is the only ASEAN member that has imposed sanctions, as some in the 10-nation group are apparently cautious about taking such a measure due to their close ties with Russia.

"First and foremost, we strongly condemn Russia's aggression in Ukraine and shared the view that any infringement of sovereignty and territorial integrity or the use of force to change the status quo should and will never be tolerated," Kishida said, adding that the two leaders will cooperate in enforcing sanctions against Russia effectively.

In the joint press briefing, Lee said Singapore is a "staunch supporter" of international law and the U.N. Charter.

"On the situations in the East China Sea and the South China Sea, Singapore hopes that all parties will exercise restraint and maintain dialogue in order to preserve regional peace and stability," Lee said.

"The issues are complex and unlikely to be resolved soon but they should continue to be managed peacefully in accordance with international law," he added.

At the Shangri-La Dialogue, the region's major security forum, Kishida said Friday that Japan will be more "proactive" in boosting its engagement and will draw up an action plan for a "free and open" Indo-Pacific by next spring.

To deepen economic ties, the Japanese and Singaporean leaders agreed to hold bilateral consultations at an early date to build more robust supply chains and enhance cooperation in digital technology.

Japan and Singapore are both members of the 11-member Trans-Pacific Partnership free trade agreement and the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework, a new initiative led by U.S. President Joe Biden as a pushback against an assertive China.

Lee underscored the importance of Japan as a key business and leisure destination for Singaporeans and vice versa.

"We welcome Japan's easing of its border measures and hope it will pave the way for further reopening to international travel and the full restoration of flight connectivity," Lee said, referring to Japan's policy shift to gradually start accepting foreign tourists after the COVID-19 pandemic led to an entry ban.

During his two-day trip to Singapore, Kishida also met with Singapore President Halimah Yacob and discussed cooperation in digitalization, restoring cross-border travel, along with efforts to address climate change, according to both governments.

Related coverage:

Japan, Singapore vow to keep TPP free trade pact's high standards

Singapore lifts import restrictions on food from Japan's Fukushima

Japan, Singapore to resume short-term business travel from Sept. 18
Nupur Sharma comment UP protests news: More than 200 people have been arrested, bulldozers are out in streets and the Chief Minister is talking tough - this is how the Uttar Pradesh administration is dealing with the tense situation that prevailed after Friday prayers in various districts on Uttar Pradesh. The protests, demanding the arrest of BJP leader Nupur Sharma, turned violent at many place. The protestors were seen induged in arsoning and sloganeering. Following the protests, The Uttar Pradesh police arrested 237 people so far.

Here are 10 big updates from Yogi Adityanath administration's action in Uttar Pradesh

1) National Security Act slapped on protesters: In Saharanpur and Prayagraj, police officials said action will be taken against those arrested under the stringent National Security Act (NSA).

2) More than 200 arrests across UP: Among those arrested, 68 were held in Prayagraj and 50 in Hathras, Additional Director General of Police (Law and Order) Prashant Kumar said in a statement on Saturday. He said 55 people were arrested in Saharanpur, 28 in Ambedkarnagar, 25 in Moradabad, eight in Firozabad, three is Aligarh.

3) Big warning from Adityanath: UP Chief Minister Adityanath, who has often spoken of how under his rule the state has been rid of frequent riots, issued a stern warning. "Strictest action will be taken against the anti-social elements involved in the chaotic efforts to spoil the atmosphere in various cities in the past few days," he said while issuing directives to officials. "There is no place for such anti-social people in a civilised society. No innocent should be harassed, but not a single guilty should be spared," he said.

4) Bulldozers out on streets: Mrityunjay Kumar, the media advisor to the chief minister, in a tweet in Hindi said, "Unruly elements remember, every Friday is followed by a Saturday" and posted a photo of a bulldozer demolishing a building. Under Chief Minister Adityanath, the state administration has been cracking down on criminals and riot accused, seizing or razing their properties. His critics have often accused him of adopting strong-arm tactics.

5) City police chiefs in action mode: Saharanpur - Saharanpur's Senior Superintendent of Police Akash Tomar said, "Arrests have been made in connection with Friday's violence. Action will be taken against the arrested people under the National Security Act."

Prayagraj - Senior Superintendent of Police Ajay Kumar said that police have arrested 68 persons including the mastermind of stone-pelting Javed Ahmad alias Pump, and he is being interrogated. Police officials in the district also said that NSA will be imposed on all the persons, who have been arrested.

The SSP also informed that cases have been registered against 70 named persons and 5,000 others at Khuldabad and Kareli police stations. He said that police are using CCTV footage to identify the accused. Action will be taken against them under the NSA and Gangster Act, he said.

6) What happened in UP on Friday: On Friday, people pelted stones at police personnel in Prayagraj and Saharanpur during their protests after Friday prayers in mosques. At least four other cities witnessed similar scenes during the marches that were carried out to protest against the controversial remarks on Prophet Mohammad made by now-suspended BJP spokesperson Nupur Sharma.

7) In Prayagraj, the mob set on fire a few motorcycles and carts and also attempted to set ablaze a police vehicle. Police used tear gas and lathis to disperse the protesters and restored peace, police said. One police personnel was injured, they said.

8)Nupur Sharma was suspended by her party as several Islamic nations denounced her comments on the Prophet during a TV debate.

9) In Saharanpur, protesters shouted slogans against Sharma and demanded the death sentence for her.

10) There were protests in Bijnor, Moradabad, Rampur and Lucknow.
Lucknow: A total of 227 people were arrested from various districts of Uttar Pradesh in connection with Friday violence, a senior police official has said. In a statement issued here on Saturday, Additional Director General of Police (Law and Order) Prashant Kumar said, "227 persons have been arrested in the state for Friday violence. This includes 68 in Prayagraj, 50 in Hathras, 48 in Saharanpur, 28 in Ambedkarnagar, 25 in Moradabad, and eight in Firozabad."

People pelted stones at police personnel in Prayagraj and Saharanpur as people took to rowdiness during their protests after Friday prayers.

Protests across India over Nupur Sharma remark row

At least four other cities witnessed similar scenes during the marches that were carried out to decry the offensive remarks on Prophet Mohammad made by now-suspended BJP spokesperson Nupur Sharma.

In Prayagraj, the mob set on fire a few motorcycles and carts and also attempted to set ablaze a police vehicle. Police used tear gas and lathis to disperse the mobs and restored peace, police said. One police personnel got injured by mob, they said.

Nupur Sharma was suspended by her party after several Islamic nations denounced her comment against the Prophet during a TV debate.

ALSO READ: 'Nupur Sharma should be hanged', Angry MP from Aurangabad attacks suspended BJP leader

In Saharanpur, protesters shouted slogans against Sharma and demanded death sentence for her.

There were protests in Bijnor, Moradabad, Rampur, and Lucknow. Sloganeering took place in Lucknow.

According to the local people, stone pelting continued for over 15 minutes in Prayagraj. They said a few protesters threw stones at the police team deployed on the main road.

Live TV
New Delhi: Several incidents of violence including sloganeering and stone-pelting were also reported from several parts of the country on Friday (June 10, 2022) following the inflammatory statements of former Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders Nupur Sharma and Naveen Jindal. This comes as the row over the comments on the Prophet by suspended BJP spokesperson Nupur Sharma has blown up, leading to global outrage. Several parts of the country witnessed massive protests against the controversial remarks on Prophet Muhammad. Former BJP spokesperson Nupur Sharma has been in the eye of the storm ever since she purportedly made controversial comments during a TV debate.

In several parts of the nation, including the national capital, West Bengal, Bihar, Maharashtra and Jharkhand, people were seen protesting against the controversial statements against Prophet Muhammad.

Nupur Sharma Comment Row: 2 killed, many critically injured in Ranchi

Two people were killed and many including security personnel were critically injured as violent protests rocked Ranchi over the comments made by two suspended BJP spokespersons on Prophet Mohammad, officials said on Saturday. Internet has also been suspended in the district, they added.

Prohibitory orders under section 144 of the CrPC have been clamped in 10 police station areas, including Sukhdev Nagar, Lower Bazar, Daily Market and Hindpidi, to control any further flareups, they said. Over two dozen people were injured in the clashes that rocked the state capital on Friday, officials said.

Nupur Sharma Comment Row: Stone pelting, protests in UP cities

UP Police have arrested more than 130 people from six districts of the state after people pelted stones at police personnel in Prayagraj and Saharanpur and protests broke out after Friday prayers over a non-suspended BJP leader's recent remarks on Prophet Mohammad.

"As many as 136 protesting miscreants were arrested from six districts of the state till 9.45 pm on Friday," Additional Director General of Police (Law and Order) Prashant Kumar said. He said 45 protesters were arrested from Saharanpur, 37 from Prayagraj, 23 people from Ambedkar Nagar, 20 from Hathras, seven from Moradabad, and four from Firozabad district.

Nupur Sharma Comment Row: Violence in West Bengal's Howrah

The internet services have been suspended till 6 am on June 13 in Howrah district in wake of protests on Friday and the current situation in West Bengal. Earlier on Friday, a huge crowd gathered at Howrah in West Bengal to protest. Earlier in the day, a massive crowd also gathered to protest at Park Circus in Kolkata adding to the resentment against the sacked leaders.

Nupur Sharma Comment Row: Protests in Bihar over insult to Prophet

Protests broke out in at least three districts of Bihar on Friday over derogatory remarks. Processions were taken out, after the Friday namaaz, in Bhojpur, Muzaffarpur and Nawada districts where the protestors blocked roads for several hours, police said.

As per the town police station in-charge Ram Vilas Chaudhary, the protesters, who marched from Badi Masjid to Gopali Chowk, did not indulge in violence but raised "inflammatory slogans with religious overtones", which triggered tension in the area, prompting many shopkeepers to down their shutters. No FIR was lodged nor was any arrest made, he added.

Nupur Sharma Comment Row: Protests erupt in parts of Maharashtra

A large number of people were seen participating in a protest march in Maharashtra`s Solapur against suspended BJP leader Nupur Sharma. A number of women carried out a march, protesting over the controversial religious statements against the Prophet in Navi Mumbai. Maharashtra Home Minister Dilip Walse-Patil confirmed that the situation across the state is under control.

"I would like to tell people of the state that situation across Maharashtra is under control & peaceful. Everyone, from all religious backgrounds, must try & continue that peace. Police were prepared. Only peaceful protests were seen in the state," said Maharashtra HM Dilip Walse-Patil.

Nupur Sharma Comment Row: Massive protest at Delhi`s Jama Masjid

A massive protest broke out at Delhi`s Jama Masjid which have been later brought under control after the police removed protestors from the protest site. "No call for protest given by Masjid. We don`t know who are the ones protesting, I think they belong to AIMIM or are Owaisi`s people. We made it clear that if they want to protest, they can, but we will not support them," Shahi Imam of Delhi`s Jama Masjid told media persons.

Meanwhile, over the last few days, several countries such as Malaysia, Kuwait and Pakistan condemned recent remarks made by a few BJP leaders. While Nupur Sharma made comments during a TV debate, another leader Naveen Jindal posted a controversial remark on Twitter. The BJP suspended spokesperson Nupur Sharma and expelled media in-charge, Naveen Jindal, over the remarks. The party issued a statement emphasising its intolerance for disrespect of any religious personality.

(With agency inputs)
New Delhi: With an aim to maintain peace in violence-hit areas of Jammu and Kashmir, the curfew has been extended for the second consecutive day in Ramban, Bhaderwah and Kishtwar areas of the union territory. Internet services also remain suspended after tension erupted due to a social media post.

Jammu and Police administration deployed heavy security forces in the town as precautionary measures after tensions flared up on Thursday over a social media post.

The tensions prevailed on Thursday after a purported video went viral in which instigating announcement was being made from a mosque in Baderwah, Jammu. Following this, a case was registered at Bhaderwah Police Station.

Police Media Centre Jammu said, "Action has been taken under the law. A case has been registered at Police Station Bhaderwah. Anyone who takes the law into their hands will not be spared."

Two separate FIRs have been registered. According to officials, the situation is under control.Union Minister Jitendra Singh made an appeal to maintain peace and said he is in constant touch with officials.

Singh, who represents the Udhampur constituency in Lok Sabha, said that District Collector Doda and Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Doda are presently camping in Bhaderwah and monitoring the situation.
Ranchi: Asserting that the people of Jharkhand are very sensitive and tolerant, Chief Minister Hemant Soren on Friday appealed to the people to maintain harmony and refrain from participating in any activity that leads to crimes in the state.

I suddenly received information about this worrisome (protest) incident public of Jharkhand has always been very sensitive and tolerant no need to panic. I appeal to everyone to maintain harmony and refrain from participating in any activities that will lead to more such crimes, he said while addressing the media persons after the curfew was imposed in Ranchi as an aftermath of a protest against suspended Bharatiya Janata Party leader Nupur Sharma and expelled leader Naveen Jindal for allegedly making controversial remarks over Prophet Muhammad.

Earlier in the day, the Ranchi administration had imposed a curfew in the city appealing to the people to stay at home.

The protest had turned violent after the incidents of stone-pelting and torching of several vehicles and vandalisation were reported. Many people have sustained injuries in the violent protests.

Meanwhile, Deputy Inspector General of Ranchi Police (DIG) Anish Gupta had said that the situation was under control despite being a little tense.

After various gulf nations expressed outrage against the controversial remarks against the Prophet, the country has been witnessing protests in various states including Punjab, Delhi, and Uttar Pradesh.

Notably, the controversy erupted after Nupur Sharmas remarks against the minorities. Some Gulf countries also lodged their protest.

However, India on Thursday reiterated that the controversial remarks concerning Prophet Mohammad do not reflect the views of the Government and added that action has been taken by concerned quarters against those who made the comments.

Ministry of External Affairs Spokesperson Arindam Bagchi, while addressing a media briefing on Thursday, said, We have made it pretty clear that the tweets and comments do not reflect views of the government. This has been conveyed to our interlocutors as also the fact that action has been taken by concerned quarters against those who made the comments and tweets.

Meanwhile, Delhi Police registered two FIRs one against former BJP spokesperson Nupur Sharma and the other against 31 people, including AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi and controversial priest Yati Narsinghanand  for allegedly spreading hate and hurting religious sentiments, officials said on Thursday.

Former Delhi BJP media unit head Naveen Kumar Jindal, who was expelled from the party over alleged remarks against Prophet Mohammad, and journalist Saba Naqvi, are among the people named in the second FIR.
Bangladeshi Author Taslima Nasreen today slammed the protesters who have been blatantly damaging public property demanding the arrest of BJP leader Nupur Sharma. Nasreen, blasting the rioters, said that Prophet Muhammad "would have been shocked" in the current scenario. The comments came a day after she said that there shall always be space for questioning, and 'no prophet is abover cricticism'. The Bangladeshi author, who has always been at the target of Islamic hardliners, said: "Even if prophet Muhammad was alive today, he would have been shocked to see the madness of the Muslim fanatics around the world."

Two days ago, Taslima Nasreen had said: "No one is above criticism, no human, no saint, no messiah, no prophet, no god. Critical scrutiny is necessary to make the world a better place."

Even if prophet Muhammad was alive today, he would have been shocked to see the madness of the Muslim fanatics around the world.  taslima nasreen (@taslimanasreen) June 10, 2022

No one is above criticism, no human, no saint, no messiah, no prophet, no god. Critical scrutiny is necessary to make the world a better place. June 8, 2022

Muslim community members on Friday and Saturday carried out coutrywide protests demanding the arrest of BJP leader Nupur Sharma over her controversial remarks on Prophet Muhammad. Protests for Nupur Sharma's arrest were carried out at Delhi's Jama Masjid, Hyderabad's Mecca Masjid, Ludhiana's Jama Masjid, Kolkata's Park Circus, Prayagraj's Atal Area.

As per laterst reports, two people died during protests in Jharkhand's Ranchi, while many were injured in West Bengal's Howrah.

In West Bengal, a large number of people gathered at Kolkata's Park Circus and demanded the arrest of suspended BJP leader Nupur Sharma and expelled leader Naveen Jindal. In UP's Prayagraj, stones were hurled during clashes in Atala area after the Friday prayers.
New Delhi: After protests against former BJP leader Nupur Sharma's comments on Prophet Muhammad turned violent in West Bengal, BJP MP and West Bengal BJP vice president Saumitra Khan requested Union Home Minister Amit Shah to deploy central forces in the state. In a letter dated June 11, the BJP MP urged the Home Minister to send out central forces in light of suspension of internet services, curfew imposition in several areas of Howrah district.

Protests erupted in several parts of the country on Friday (June 10) against the objectionable remarks of now-former BJP leaders against Prophet Mohammad.

ALSO READ: Nupur Sharma controversy: Agitation turns violent in West Bengals Howrah, protestors torch vehicles, clash with police

The protests in West Bengals Howrah turned violent after agitators allegedly torched police vehicles and booths, ANI reported. Hundreds of protestors blocked roads in different parts of the Howrah district and also clashed with the police, as per PTI.

A skirmish broke out between the protestors and the police personnel at Dhulagarh, Panchla and Uluberia when the cops tried to remove the blockade on National Highway-6. As per the West Bengal police, they resorted to baton-charge to disperse the crowd at Dhulagarh and Panchla, while the demonstrators allegedly pelted stones in response.

ALSO READ: Nupur Sharma's communal comment fallout: 2 dead as protests in Ranchi turn violent

Demanding the arrest of now-suspended BJP leaders Nupur Sharma and Naveen Kumar Jindal, one of the protestors said, The two saffron party leaders should be immediately arrested for their remarks that have hurt religious sentiments.

According to reports, more than 70 persons have been arrested according to West Bengal Police. Raids to arrest more persons are still ongoing and will continue throughout the night. Section 144 CrPC imposed in parts of Howrah district till June 15 and internet services have also been suspended across the Howrah district.

WB | Sec 144 CrPC imposed in & around the stretches of National Highways & Railway Stations under the jurisdiction of Uluberia-Sub Division, Howrah extended till 15th June



Violent protests broke out here yesterday over the controversial remark of suspended BJP spox Nupur Sharma pic.twitter.com/JkwoidjyL2  ANI (@ANI) June 11, 2022

Protests had also broken out in other parts of the country such as Jharkhand, Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, and Maharashtra.

Live TV
\New Delhi: Amid the protests and uproar over certain BJP leaders' Nupur Sharma and Naveen Jindal's comments against Prophet Mohammad across the country, All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) MP Imtiaz Jaleel called for a death sentence for suspended BJP leader Nupur Sharma. During an interaction with the media on Friday (June 10), Aurangabad MP Imtiaz Jaleel stated that former BJP leader Nupur Sharma should be hanged as if she is allowed to go easily, then 'such things' won't stop.

In a video shared by ANI, he further said, "Law should be brought to take action against those who make such remarks against any religion, sect."

Watch the video here:

#WATCH Islam is a religion of peace, people are angry...Nupur Sharma should be hanged. If she's allowed to let-go easily, then such things won't stop. Law should be brought to take action against those who make such remarks against any religion, sect...: AIMIM MP Imtiaz Jaleel pic.twitter.com/jUKkmvDb4V  ANI (@ANI) June 10, 2022

Nupur Sharma Comment Row: Violent protests erupt across country

After various gulf nations expressed outrage against the controversial remarks against the Prophet, the country has been witnessing protests in various states including Punjab, Delhi, and Uttar Pradesh. Notably, the controversy erupted after Nupur Sharma`s remarks against the minorities. Some Gulf countries also lodged their protest. However, India on Thursday reiterated that the controversial remarks concerning Prophet Mohammad do not reflect the views of the Government and added that action has been taken by concerned quarters against those who made the comments.

ALSO READ: Nupur Sharma remark row: After West Bengal violence, BJP MP urges Home Minister Amit Shah to take THIS step

Ministry of External Affairs Spokesperson Arindam Bagchi, while addressing a media briefing on Thursday, said, "We have made it pretty clear that the tweets and comments do not reflect views of the government. This has been conveyed to our interlocutors as also the fact that action has been taken by concerned quarters against those who made the comments and tweets."

Protests broke out, on June 10, in many parts of the country such as Jharkhand, Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, and Maharashtra over Nupur Sharma's controversial remarks.

Nupur Sharma comment row: Delhi's Jama Masjid witnesses protest

Delhis Jama Masjid witnessed protests after Friday prayers with hundreds of people demanding the arrest of suspended BJP spokesperson Nupur Sharma. However, distancing himself from the agitation, Shahi Imam of Jama Masjid, Syed Ahmed Bukhari, said that "nobody knows who the protesters were" and demanded action against them.

ALSO READ: Yogi admin warns Yati Narsinghanand against spreading communal hatred amid row over Prophet Muhammad remarks

Several Jamia Millia Islamia students also staged a demonstration on the university campus against Sharmas controversial remarks.

Nupur Sharma comment row: Stone pelting in Uttar Pradesh

Protests in several parts of Uttar Pradesh took a violent turn after people pelted stones at policemen in Prayagraj and Saharanpur. In Prayagraj, some motorcycles and carts were set ablaze and police vehicles were also tried to be torched. The UP Police used tear gas and lathis to disperse the crowd, while one policeman was hurt in Prayagraj, as per the officials.

Meanwhile, in Saharanpur, protesters demanded death sentence for Nupur Sharma over her remarks on the Prophet in a TV debate, which also triggered condemnation from Islamic countries.

Nupur Sharma comment row: Protests in Maharashtra

Several people from the Muslim community staged protests in various cities of Maharashtra demanding action against Nupur Sharma and Naveen Jindal.

(With agency inputs)

Live TV
Kolkata: As violent protests erupted in parts of Bengal amid Nupur Sharma's controversial comments against Prophet Mohammad, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee slammed BJP, blaming the ruling party at Centre for inciting tension. The Chief Minister's official Twitter account posted today in Bengali which roughly translates to, "As I have said before, for the past two days, incidents of violence have brought life to a standstill in Howrah. There are some political parties behind this and they want to cause riots - but these things will not be tolerated and strict action will be taken against all of them. Why should people suffer because of BJP's sin?"

 ,                      -                ,   ?  Mamata Banerjee (@MamataOfficial) June 11, 2022

Meanwhile, prohibitory orders under Section 144 of CrPc remained imposed and internet services suspended in Howrah, which on Friday (June 10) witnessed violent protests against controversial remarks of suspended BJP leader Nupur Sharma and expelled leader Naveen Jindal. Assembly of five or more people in procession or carrying any dangerous weapon or any act that is likely to cause disturbance to public tranquillity and breach of the peace is prohibited in Uluberia, Panchla and Jagatballavpur areas and along with the railway stations and the national highway in these areas from June 10-15, they said. Internet services also remained suspended across the district and it will continue till June 13.

Protests erupted in several parts of Howrah district on Friday over controversial remarks by suspended BJP spokesperson Nupur Sharma and expelled leader Naveen Jindal on Prophet Mohammad. Agitators resorted to stone-pelting, setting police vehicles on fire and damaging public property during violent protests and clashes with the police in Howrah district.

Not just Bengal, violent protests have been seen across India. In Jharkhand's Ranchi, two people succumbed to the injuries that they sustained during the protests. The Ranchi administration had imposed a curfew in the city appealing to the people to stay at home. The protest had turned violent after the incidents of stone-pelting and torching of several vehicles and vandalisation were reported.

Earlier Mamata Banerjee had said that Nupur Sharma should be arrested. "I condemn the recent heinous and atrocious hate speech remarks by a few disastrous BJP leaders, resulting in not only spread of violence but also the division of the fabric of the country, leading to disturbance of peace and amity," the Bengal CM had said. Mamata added, "I strongly seek that the accused leaders of BJP be arrested immediately so that the unity of the country is not disturbed and people at large do not face mental agony."
Congress President Sonia Gandhi has reached out and deliberated with NCP leader Sharad Pawar, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and other leaders of anti-BJP parties over the issue of the July 18 poll to elect a successor to President Ram Nath Kovind. Because of her Covid infection, Gandhi has deputed Leader of Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge to co-ordinate with other leaders. "The Congress Party is of the opinion that the nation needs a person as President who can protect the Constitution, our institutions and citizenry from the ongoing onslaught by the ruling party. This is the need of the hour," Surjewala said.

The term of incumbent President Ram Nath Kovind ends on July 24.

Kharge has already initiated discussions with many opposition leaders. He has met Pawar and Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray besides holding telephonic discussions with Banerjee and some other leaders to reach a consensus on a candidate for the post from the opposition camp.

Banerjee, on the other hand, has written to all opposition leaders and convened a meeting on this matter on June 15 in the national capital.

The Congress said opposition parties should rise above their differences and elect a President who can protect the Constitution, institutions and the citizenry from the "ongoing onslaught" by the ruling BJP.

Congress chief spokesperson Randeep Surjewala said while his party has not suggested any particular name, "we owe it to our people to elect a President who can apply a healing touch to the fractured social fabric and defend our Constitution".

"The time is ripe to rise above our differences for the sake of our nation and its people. Discussions have to be open-minded and in keeping with this spirit. We believe that the Congress along with other political parties should be taking this discussion forward," he said in a statement.
KYODO NEWS - Jun 11, 2022 - 22:57 | All, Japan

Wind energy infrastructure being installed across Japan was found interfering with Self-Defense Forces radars for detecting missiles, prompting the Defense Ministry to call for changes in some projects, multiple sources related to the matter said Saturday.

In some instances, the ministry also called for such infrastructure not to be installed in areas that had been singled out by the government as favorable locations for offshore wind power generation, the sources said.

The government is now considering reviewing rules governing wind power installations.

While the ministry has not disclosed specific cases, more than 10 locations, including some offshore ones, have become subject to project changes or investigations, with some energy operators asked to revise their projects, according to the sources.

However, no legislation exists that allows defensive needs to be used as grounds for restricting the infrastructure from being built on land. That has left one government official commenting that the situation could be a "defect" undermining national security.

According to the ministry, SDF radars emit radio waves that reflect off objects, with the returning signal allowing those objects to be located. But large wind turbines sometimes block the radio waves or create larger reflected signals, making those reflected off objects like missiles and planes more difficult to detect.

Onshore wind power facilities are mostly located along coastlines or in mountainous areas, with some of them within detection range of SDF radars, according to the sources. The Air Self-Defense Force has warning radars at 28 locations nationwide.

Some wind turbines are over 100 meters tall and could have a particularly large impact on radars, with some known to have hindered weather observations by the Japan Meteorological Agency in the past.

"We are troubled now because we were suddenly told to change plans we had made according to the rules," one wind energy operator official said.

"The trade and industry ministry and the Defense Ministry should have coordinated on this."

Offshore wind power generation has been touted by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry as a "trump card" for expanding renewable energy, which Japan more readily embraced following the 2011 Fukushima nuclear disaster, and designated five locations nationwide as favorable for harnessing winds offshore.

But the Defense Ministry called for some waters off the coast of Aomori Prefecture in the northeast to be left alone as wind turbines installed there could interfere with radars used with surface-to-air missiles.

Concerns over missile threats from North Korea are growing as the country has ramped up ballistic missile tests this year, including one that landed in waters off Aomori in March.

In addition to the missile tests, Chinese and Russian bombers flew over waters near Japan in May, which prompted the ASDF to scramble fighters in response.

"We want to consider reviewing the system design in order to achieve the introduction of wind power while balancing defense capabilities," said one Defense Ministry official.

According to the Japan Wind Power Association, a total of 2,574 wind power turbines had been installed in Japan at the end of 2021.
New Delhi: The Delhi Police on Friday (June 10) said it will begin issuing notices to social media entities in connection with the cases it had registered against 31 people, including AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi and controversial priest Yati Narsinghanand, for allegedly spreading hate and hurting religious sentiments. Former Delhi BJP media unit head Naveen Kumar Jindal, who was expelled from the party over alleged remarks against Prophet Mohammad, and journalist Saba Naqvi, are among the 31 people named in the FIR. Another case was registered against former BJP spokesperson Nupur Sharma on similar charges. The two FIRs were registered on Wednesday after an analysis of their content on social media, the police had said.

"We will start issuing notices to social media entities soon in connection with the probe of the cases. Further investigation will be carried out accordingly," a senior police officer said.

"The cases have been registered against those who were posting and sharing messages against the maintenance of public tranquility and were inciting people on the basis of divisive lines," the officer said.

The 31 people have been booked Sections 153 (wantonly giving provocation with intent to cause riot), 295 (injuring or defiling place of worship with intent to insult the religion of any class), and 505 (statements conducing to public mischief) of the Indian Penal Code.

Protests erupted in several states after the Friday prayers with scores of people condemning the controversial remarks against the Prophet.

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Jaipur: The ruling Congress on Friday (June 10, 2022) won three of the four Rajya Sabha seats in Rajasthan. The BJP bagged one seat.

Congress candidates Randeep Surjewala, Mukul Wasnik and Pramod Tiwari and the BJP's Ghanshyam Tiwari were declared elected by the Election Commission late Friday night.

With this, the Congress' tally of Rajya Sabha MPs from Rajasthan will increase to six, out of a total of 10. The BJP will have four members.

Of the 200 votes, 199 were valid and one vote was rejected.

Randeep Surjewala, Mukul Wasnik and Pramod Tiwari got 43, 42 and 41 votes respectively while Ghanshyam Tiwari got 43 votes.

BJP MLA Shobharani Kushwah cross-voted in favour of Congress candidate Pramod Tiwari. The BJP suspended her from the party's primary membership soon after.

ALSO READ | Maharashtra Rajya Sabha election: BIG setback for Shiv Sena-led ruling alliance, BJP bags 3 seats

Congratulating the party candidates, Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot said their victory has given a strong message to the country.

He said that the party would retain power in the assembly elections next year.

The chief minister also thanked BJP MLA Kushwah for cross-voting in favour of Congress candidate Tiwari. He said that she perhaps did not like the horse-trading attempts made by the BJP and therefore voted for the Congress.

"When everybody knows that 126 MLAs are with us, why did they field an independent candidate. They wanted to attempt horse-trading but that did not happen," Gehlot told reporters at the assembly building.

He came out of the assembly with the newly elected Congress MPs, flashing a victory sign.

ALSO READ | Haryana Rajya Sabha Election: A jolt for Congress as Ajay Maken loses after high-voltage drama

"I believe all the three leaders will raise issues of Rajasthan, particularly the Eastern Rajasthan Canal Project (ERCP) which will solve water problem in 13 districts," the chief minister said.

Ahead of the elections, some of the legislators, including BSP-turned-Congress MLAs, had expressed resentment against the government.

However, the chief minister managed to handle the situation and secure the necessary votes for the Congress candidates.

Newly elected Rajya Sabha MP Randeep Surjewala said it was a victory of truth.

"The Congress got a total of 127 votes. One vote was rejected because of a minor thing," he added.

Pramod Tiwari said the magic of Chief Minister Gehlot worked for the Congress.

Earlier, in a tweet, Gehlot congratulated all three Congress candidates for winning the Rajya Sabha elections.

"Congress' victory on three Rajya Sabha seats in Rajasthan is a victory of democracy, he said, while hoping that all the three MPs will be able to strongly advocate the rights of Rajasthan in Delhi.

He briefed the media along with the newly elected Congress MPs outside the assembly building.

Before them, BJP candidate Ghanshyam Tiwari and other leaders of the party announced the party's victory in one seat.

"I am thankful to the state and the central leadership for making me the candidate. I got 43 votes," Tiwari said.

BJP state president Satish Poonia, former CM Vasundhara Raje, leader of opposition Gulab Chand Kataria, deputy leader of opposition Rajendra Rathore and other leaders of the party congratulated Tiwari.

Ahead of the Rajya Sabha elections, the Congress had shifted its MLAs to a hotel in Udaipur to protect them from horse-trading attempts. Later, the BJP also shifted the MLAs to a hotel on the outskirts of Jaipur in the name of a training camp.

Elections on four seats took place as the BJP's Omprakash Mathur, K J Alphons, Ramkumar Verma and Harshardhan Singh Dungarpur are going to complete their term on July 4.
June 11, 2022: If we move towards soil extinction...most of us will not come out it. Once food shortages happen, civilizations will collapse. Our very humanity will evaporate within - few days, warned Sadhguru speaking at a Save Soil event in Nashik jointly organized by Deshdoot and Maratha Vidya Prasarak Samaj. Sadhguru who is currently in the Indian leg of Save Soil journey, today arrived at the city to clock over 25,000 km of his solo 100-day 30,000 km Save Soil motorcycle journey. From Nashik, Sadhguru will be heading to Mumbai where he will address a star-studded mega event at Jio World Convention Centre tomorrow.

Sadhguru, who has come to Nasik for the first time, was welcomed by Smt Nilimatai Vasantrao Pawar, Secretary General, K.T.H.M. College, and Shri Janak Sarda, Managing Director, Deshdoot who presented him with a traditional Pagdi depicting the courage and valor of Maratha regime. Smt Nilimatai Vasantrao Pawar felicitated him with a Paithani Shela, a traditional Maharashtrian silk shawl and the Pancha Tatva of Nashik- the five elements also containing the water of River Godavari.

Often considered as an inert substance, Sadhguru reminded that the top soil which is the first 15-18 inches of soil is the cream of the planet having zillions of life forms within it. It takes 600-800 years to create one inch of soil without human footprint and at the present level of human activity, if you have to create one inch of top soil, it would take 13,000 years, explained Sadhguru to describe the importance of saving the soil.

Sadhguru stressed that today we stand at a cusp of time, because as a generation we have this opportunity that in the next 10-15 years time, we can make a significant turnaround, alerting that the loss of bio-diversity will make revival of soil untenable after 25-40 years time. In democratic nations governments follow the mandate of the people and he urged the people to raise their voice and keep it raised till the needed policies to revive soil are created in the state and the country.

Shri Janak Sarda, Managing Director, Deshdoot thanked Sadhguru for launching the movement and said, We all understand the quality of soil is depleting. Our farmers are experiencing it every day. It is not only the farmers, but we consumers are also experiencing it in form of quality and quantity of food...As you have been saying it is time to act now, we at Deshdoot see this program as beginning for the action to be taken.

The event was studded with strings of rich cultural performances that included renowned vocalist Pandit Aviraj Tayade, and his team performing an entertaining classic number.

Radhe Jaggi, a Bharatnatyam dancer along with Isha Samskriti weaved a combination of classical music, dance and Kalaripayattu to draw home the connection between humans and soil. An event in Nashik is incomplete with the famous Nashik dhol, and performance of Akhtar Bhai Shaikh's Nashik Dhol stood true to the citys reputation. On full display was also the rich cultural extravaganza of Maharashtra with people sporting colorful ethnic attires to welcome Sadhguru.

Sadhguru who on March 21, 2022 embarked on a lone motorcycle journey across Europe, Central Asia and Middle East nations few days ago reached the Western port city of Jamnagar, Gujarat. Continuing his Indian leg of journey across 9 Indian states, he has passed through Gujarat, Rajasthan, Haryana and New Delhi and Uttar Pradesh. At a Save Soil event in New Delhi, the Prime Minister Narendra Modi joined Sadhguru to express his wholehearted support and encouragement for the movement.

Sadhguru also presented the Soil Policy Handbook to Prime Minister, which offers practical, scientific solutions that governments can put into action to revitalize the soil in their country.

Since he arrived in India, the Government of Gujarat, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh have signed an MoU to Save Soil in the state. The movement, till date, has touched billions while 74 countries have agreed to act to save their nations soils. To a topic undeniably absent in mass awareness, since the start of Sadhguru journey across 27 nations, over 2.7 billion people have spoken about soil. Over 15 lakh children in India have written to the Prime Minister as well, requesting him to act to save the nations soil and their collective future. More than 65,000 students of from more than 300 schools in over 25 districts of UP have written letters to the Prime Minister.

The primary objective of the Save Soil Movement is to urge all nations of the world to mandate a minimum of 3-6% organic content in agricultural soils through urgent policy reforms. Without this minimum organic content, soil scientists have warned of the imminent death of soil, a phenomenon they are terming as soil extinction.

In India, nearly 30% of fertile soils in the country have already become barren and are incapable of yield. The United Nations has warned that at current rates of soil degradation, 90% of the earth could turn into desert by 2050- less than three decades from now. To avert this catastrophe, Sadhguru initiated the Save Soil movement in March this year, and travelled across 27 countries meeting leaders, politicians, scientists and citizens to galvanise support to Save Soil.

The Save Soil Movement is supported by the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD), the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), the UN World Food Programme, and the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).

To watch the video of the event please visit here.

For event pictures, please click here.

If you would like to know more about this, please call +91 94874 75346 or write to: mediarelations@ishafoundation.org

Conscious Planet: Save Soil, is a global movement to inspire a conscious approach to saving our soil and planet. This is, first and foremost, a peoples movement. The aim is to demonstrate the support of over 3.5 billion people (more than 60% of the worlds voting population) around the world and empower governments to initiate policy-driven action to revitalize soil and halt further degradation. World leaders, influencers, artists, experts, farmers, spiritual leaders, NGOs and citizens are vocally supporting the movement to re-establish Humanitys relationship with Soil.

For Pictures, Videos and Soil Facts please visit the Soil Dossier.

Website: savesoil.org

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New Delhi: The India Meteorological Department (IMD) on Saturday announced that the South-West monsoon has arrived in the Maharashtra capital Mumbai and other nearby areas. Southwest Monsoon has further advanced into remaining parts of central Arabian Sea, most parts of Konkan (including Mumbai), some parts of Madhya Maharashtra, some more parts of Karnataka today, the 11th June, 2022, said IMD.

Southwest Monsoon has advanced into Mumbai today 11th June 2022 pic.twitter.com/46inW7wYft  India Meteorological Department (@Indiametdept) June 11, 2022

The weather department also said that the conditions are favorable for further advance of monsoon into other parts of the country. Conditions are favorable for further advance of monsoon into some parts of north Arabian sea, remaining parts of Konkan, some parts of Gujarat state, most parts of Madhya Maharashtra, entire Karnataka and Tamil Nadu, some parts of Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Westcentral & northwest Bay of Bengal during next 48 hours, the Met Office said.

ALSO READ | Weather update: Heatwave eases slightly in northwest, central India; pre-monsoon showers likely in these states from tomorrow - Check IMDs full forecast here

Meanwhile, the Regional Meteorological Center, Mumbai predicted that parts of the financial capital is going to witness heavy rainfall in next 3-4 hours. "Thunderstorms accompanied with lightning and moderate to intense spells of rain with gusty winds reaching 30-40 kmph very likely to occur at isolated places in the districts of Thane, Raigad, Palghar, Ratnagiri, Sindhudurg and Mumbai during next 3-4 hours," IMD Mumbai said.
Srinagar: Indian Army in a joint operation with Jammu and Kashmir Police arrested two active terrorists linked with the proscribed terror outfit Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) in Baramulla, informed the police officials on Friday (June 10, 2022). Incriminating materials, arms and ammunition were recovered. Two LeT terrorists including one hybrid terrorist and a terrorist associate arrested in Kashmir, said Jammu and Kashmir Police.

"Acting promptly on specific information, Police along with Army arrested 2 active terrorists of proscribed terror outfit LeT identified as Irshad Ahmad Mir son of Abdul Rehman Mir (a categorized terrorist) and Zahid Bashir son of Bashir Ahmad, both residents of Nehalpora Pattan area of Baramulla," a police officer said.

J&K | Police along with Army arrested two active terrorists linked with proscribed terror outfit LeT in Baramulla y'day, June 10. Incriminating materials, arms & ammunition incl 2 chinese pistols, 18 live rounds and 2 magazines have been recovered from their possession: Police pic.twitter.com/4k5A3rEtVN  ANI (@ANI) June 10, 2022

The official informed that incriminating materials, arms of ammunition including 02 Chinese Pistols, 18 live rounds and 02 magazines have been recovered from their possession. The Police registered a case under relevant sections of law. Further investigations in the matter are underway.

Earlier, in the Budgam district of central Kashmir, a police officer said, "Police along with security forces have arrested a hybrid terrorist and a terrorist associate linked with proscribed terror outfit LeT in Budgam."

"Acting on specific information, Police along with 62RR and 43Bn CRPF arrested 01 hybrid terrorist and a terrorist associate linked with proscribed terror outfit LeT, he added.

The officer identified the arrested hybrid terrorist as Mudabir Ajaz resident of Gulshanabad Hyderpora and the terrorist associate has been identified as Syed Muntaha Mehraj resident of New Colony Ompora.

Preliminary investigation revealed that the arrested duo was involved in providing transportation and logistic support to the LeT terrorists besides, transportation of arms and ammunition across the district Budgam, officer said

The official informed that incriminating materials, arms of ammunition including 01 Chinese grenade and 35 AK rounds have been recovered from their possession.

Police has registered a case under relevant sections of law and further investigation has been initiated. It's pretained to mention here that with arrests of these 3 terrorists and one associate the number of arrested terrorists of this year reached 47 and associates number is now 185.
Uttar Pradesh police arrested 227 people from various districts in the state in connection with Friday's violence during protests against the controversial remarks of suspended BJP functionary Nupur Sharma, with Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath warning of strictest action against those attempting to vitiate the atmosphere. Among those arrested, 68 were held in Prayagraj and 50 in Hathras, Additional Director General of Police (Law and Order) Prashant Kumar said in a statement on Saturday. He said 48 people were arrested in Saharanpur, 28 in Ambedkarnagar, 25 in Moradabad and eight in Firozabad.

UP Chief Minister Adityanath, who has often spoken of how under his rule the state has been rid of frequent riots, issued a stern warning.

"Strictest action will be taken against the anti-social elements involved in the chaotic efforts to spoil the atmosphere in various cities in the past few days," he said while issuing directives to officials.

"There is no place for such anti-social people in a civilised society. No innocent should be harassed, but not a single guilty should be spared," he said.

Mrityunjay Kumar, the media advisor to the chief minister, in a tweet in Hindi said, "Remember, every Friday is followed by a Saturday" and posted a photo of a bulldozer demolishing a building.

Under Chief Minister Adityanath, the state administration has been cracking down on criminals and riot accused, seizing or razing their properties. His critics have often accused him of adopting strong-arm tactics.

Live TV
Electric vehicle maker Tesla Inc on Friday proposed a three-to-one stock split, making its shares more affordable following recent sell-offs of the most valuable automaker. The company also said Oracle Corp co-founder Larry Ellison, a friend of Tesla Chief Executive Officer Elon Musk, will not stand for re-election to Tesla`s board when his term ends at this year`s shareholder meeting. Ellison is among the top investors who have promised funding toward Musk`s $44 billion acquisition of social media firm Twitter Inc.

Shares of Austin, Texas-based Tesla rose more than 1% in extended trading on Friday. They have fallen nearly 40% since Musk unveiled his stake in Twitter in early April, hurt in part by a strict lockdown in Shanghai that has affected Tesla`s production. (ALSO READ: Credit card fraud on rise! Check 5 ways to secure details to stay safe from scams, money losses)

Shareholders will vote on Tesla`s proposed stock split on Aug. 4. If approved, it would be the company`s first such action after a five-for-one split in August 2020. (ALSO READ: Garena Free Fire redeem codes for today, June 11: Heres how to get free diamonds, vouchers)

Tesla said the split would enable its employees to "have more flexibility in managing their equity" and make its stock "more accessible to our retail shareholders."

Alphabet Inc, Apple Inc and Amazon.com Inc have also recently split their shares.

While a split has no bearing on a company`s fundamentals, it could buoy the share price by making it easier for a wider range of investors to own the stock.

Tesla will also ask shareholders to vote to reduce its board of directors` terms to two years from three. If approved, the terms would be staggered over two years.

UNION

Meanwhile, proposals by Tesla shareholders include corporate governance-related items such as the right of employees to form a union and Tesla`s efforts to prevent sexual harassment and racial discrimination.

"In 2021, the National Labor Relations Board upheld a 2019 ruling that Tesla illegally fired a worker involved in union organizing, and that the CEO had illegally threatened workers regarding unionization," according to a stockholder proposal cited in Tesla`s filing.

In March, Musk invited labor union United Auto Workers (UAW) to hold a vote at Tesla`s California factory. But "Tesla does not have any formal policy commitments to respect the right to freedom of association, nor has it demonstrated how it would effectively operationalize such a commitment," the proposal said.

Tesla`s board advised a vote against the proposal, saying Tesla recently increased the base pay for its manufacturing jobs and it is "actively engaged" in protecting employees` rights.

Shareholders also proposed an annual report on Tesla`s efforts to prevent sexual harassment and racial discrimination after it was hit by a string of lawsuits.

A California civil rights agency filed a lawsuit accusing Tesla of failing for years to address widespread racist conduct at its Fremont assembly plant.

Tesla said it does not "tolerate discrimination, harassment, retaliation or any mistreatment of employees in the workplace." Another resolution asked Tesla to evaluate the "impact of Tesla`s current use of arbitration on the prevalence of harassment and discrimination in its workplace." Shareholders also called on the company to report its polices to address perceived lack of gender and racial diversity at its board.
NEW DELHI: At a time when the 1997 killing of music mogul Gulshan Kumar was still fresh in public memory, actor and filmmaker Rakesh Roshan was confronted by two sharpshooters in full public view and shot at twice on January 21, 2000.

He had just made 'Kaho Naa ... Pyaar Hai', which turned out to be superhit and launched the career of his son, Hrithik Roshan. Recounting the incident soon after it took place, Hrithik, who was in London shooting for 'Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham', said in an interview with the American-British comedian and TV personality Ruby Wax: "My father was in debt because we had borrowed a lot of money to make the film. The film struck big time -- it was the biggest hit in the past five-six years."

The moment the underworld got a whiff of this Bollywood success story, they could smell money -- and Rakesh Roshan became their prime target.

On the evening of January 21, 2000, the filmmaker was shot at by two unidentified assailants near his office on Tilak Road at Santacruz West in Mumbai.

Of the two bullets aimed at him, one hit him on the left arm and the other grazed his chest. As Rakesh Roshan fell on the ground next to him, the two assailants fled the scene.

The filmmaker was quick to recover. He got into his car and his driver Aatish sped him to the Santacruz police station. The police then accompanied him to Nanavati Hospital, where Dr Sharad Pandey, father of Bollywood actor Chunky Pandey, successfully operated on him for an hour to remove the bullet.

The assailants were later identified as Sunil Vithal Gaikwad and Sachin Kamble, both on the payrolls of Ali Budesh, the Bahrain-based ganglord who rose to prominence in Mumbai's underworld reportedly after he took on the might of Dawood Ibrahim and aligned with the UP don, Shubhash Singh Thakur. Rakesh Roshan is believed to have been resisting demands from the Ali Budesh gang for a share of the overseas earnings of 'Kaho Naa...'.

According to the journalist Praveen Swami, the attack on Rakesh Roshan was not made with the intent of killing him, but to send out the signal that the Shiv Sena, which had just been voted out in Maharashtra, could no longer protect Bollywood.

It was important to send this message out because, as Swami noted, Bal Thackeray's daughter-in-law, Smita Thackeray (she was married to Jaidev Thackeray till the couple got divorced in 2004), had emerged as a credible and above-board alternative to the mafia as a film financier.

Sunil Vithal Gaikwad, one of the two men who pulled the trigger on Rakesh Roshan, was caught only on October 9, 2020, by when he was wanted in 11 cases of murder and seven of attempt to murder.
New Delhi: Bollywood's one of the most promising star kids Sara Ali Khan has a massive fan base and is riding high on her career graph moving upwards. The actress has been running on a busy schedule recently as she was recently spotted coming from London and from there she directly went to trails and rehearsals for IIFA. Later she also headed on a work trip to turkey and then to Dubai for IIFA.

Sara Ali Khan has back-to-back endorsements, magazine covers and movies in her kitty which make her one of the most sought-after young actors. Recently, the actress uploaded a picture of herself on social media, looking nothing less than a vision in white.

These pictures were for a leading magazine Travel + Leisure. Sara Ali Khan looked like a true star she is donning a shimmery sequined white bikini top with pants. Taking to the caption, Sara wrote: Travel is the only thing you buy that makes you richer Interviewed & produced by Aindrila Mitra @aindrilamitra Photographed by: Rohan Shrestha @rohanshrestha Assisted by Homyar Patel (@homyarpatel) Styled by Tanya Ghavri @tanghavri Hair & Make-up by Florian Hurel @florianhurel Outfit :Rahul Mishra (@rahulmishra_7) Location :Ciragan Palace Kempinski Istanbul ( @cpkempinski ) Tourism Partner :Go Turkiye @goturkiye Airline Partner :Turkish Airlines @turkishairlines Celebrity PR : Spice @spicesocial

While on the film front, the actress was spotted shooting for Gaslight with Vikrant Massey and has recently finished shooting for an untitled project next to Vicky Kaushal.
New Delhi: After examining Google and Apples "duopoly" for a year, the UK's Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has decided that they "hold all the cards" in the mobile phone market. According to Engadget, it is now consulting on the launch of a market investigation into the tech giants` market power in mobile browsers, as well as into Apple`s cloud gaming restrictions. In addition, the CMA has launched a separate investigation into Google`s Play Store rules, the one that requires certain app developers to use the tech giant`s payment system for in-app purchases, in particular.

The CMA has concluded after its year-long study that the tech giants do indeed exhibit an "effective duopoly" on mobile ecosystems, the report said. (ALSO READ: Gold price today: Yellow metal selling for less than Rs 48,000, good opportunity to invest?)

A total of 97 per cent of all mobile web browsing in the UK is powered by Apple`s and Google`s browser engines. iPhones and Android devices typically come with Safari and Chrome pre-installed, which means their browsers have the advantage from the start. (ALSO READ: US applauds Indias economic recovery, handling of Covid-19)

Further, Apple requires developers to make sure their iOS and iPadOS apps are using its WebKit engine to browse the web. That limits the incentives Apple may have to invest in Safari, the CMA said.

The agency also pointed out that Apple enforces policies that prevent cloud gaming apps from being available to download from its App Store.

Under its rules, cloud gaming services would have to individually submit each playable game for review and approval if they want to be listed. The company eventually carved out an exception, but only to make services like Xbox Cloud Gaming available on iOS devices through a browser.

In its announcement, the CMA explained that the lack of intervention would allow the tech giants to maintain and even strengthen their hold not just over mobile browsers, but also over mobile operating systems and app stores.
KYODO NEWS - Jun 11, 2022 - 13:19 | All, World

The United States will focus on maintaining the status quo around Taiwan in the face of China's growing assertiveness, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin told a key Asia security gathering on Saturday, noting a "free and open Indo-Pacific" is central to his nation's security strategies.

With Russia's invasion of Ukraine reminding the world of the dangers of undermining the international order, Austin said in a speech at the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore that the rules-based international order "matters just as much in the Indo-Pacific as it does in Europe."

"Today, the Indo-Pacific is at the heart of American grand strategy," Austin said, adding that the Defense Department will maintain its "active presence" across the region.

He said China is adopting "a more coercive and aggressive approach" to its territorial claims in the East and South China seas and expressed concerns over a steady increase in "provocative and destabilizing military activity" near Taiwan, a self-ruled democratic island that Beijing views as its own.

"We remain focused on maintaining peace, stability and the status quo across the Taiwan Strait," the Pentagon chief said, adding, it "isn't just a U.S. interest. It's a matter of international concern."

Taiwan and mainland China have been separately governed since they split as a result of a civil war in 1949. Beijing, which regards Taiwan as a renegade province, has since endeavored to bring the island back into its fold.

While Washington switched its diplomatic recognition from Taipei to Beijing in 1979, it maintains substantive though unofficial relations with Taiwan and supplies the island with arms and spare parts to maintain sufficient self-defense capabilities.

Austin said the United States will continue to assist Taiwan so it can maintain its defenses. He also said the United States will retain its own capacity "to resist any use of force or other forms of coercion that would jeopardize the security or the social or economic system of the people of Taiwan."

At the same time, he emphasized the United States does not seek a conflict or "a new Cold War, an Asian NATO, or a region split into hostile blocs."

From the beginning of his administration, U.S. President Joe Biden has been rallying democracies around the world to counter autocracies such as China and Russia. It has also been emphasizing a network of alliances and groupings to build "collective strength," including the Quad partnership that involves the United States, Japan, Australia and India.

Noting that great powers should be "models of transparency and communication," Austin also said the United States is working closely with its competitors and partners to strengthen "the guardrails against conflict."

"That includes fully open lines of communication with China's defense leaders to ensure that we can avoid any miscalculations," he said.

Touching on North Korea's nuclear and missile threats, Austin said the United States is deepening security cooperation with its two major Asian allies -- Japan and South Korea.

"Together, we'll continue to strengthen our extended deterrence against nuclear arms and ballistic-missile systems," he said, referring to U.S. protection assured to allies against potential adversaries, including through its nuclear arsenal.

Related coverage:

U.S., China defense chiefs trade barbs over Taiwan situation

Japan PM says action plan for free Indo-Pacific to be ready by spring

U.S., Taiwan launch initiative outside new regional economic framework
Kyiv: Ukraine sought more help from the West on Friday (June 10, 2022), pleading for faster deliveries of weapons to hold off better-armed Russian forces and for humanitarian support to combat deadly diseases.

In Sievierodonetsk, the small city that has become the focus of Russia`s advance in eastern Ukraine and one of the bloodiest flashpoints in a war well into its fourth month, further heavy fighting was reported.

To the south, the mayor of Mariupol - reduced to ruins by a Russian siege  said sanitation systems were broken and corpses were rotting in the streets.

"There is an outbreak of dysentery and cholera ... The war which took over 20,000 residents ... unfortunately, with these infection outbreaks, will claim thousands more Mariupolites," he told national television.

He called on the United Nations and the International Committee of the Red Cross to work on establishing a humanitarian corridor to allow remaining residents to leave the city, which is now under Russian control.

ALSO READ | Russians are dying like flies, says Ukraine as troops hold on to Sievierodonetsk, advance in south

In a snapshot of the war`s wider impact, the U.N.`s food agency said reduced exports of wheat and other food commodities from Ukraine and Russia could inflict chronic hunger on up to 19 million more people globally over the next year.

President Volodymyr Zelenskiy called for Ukraine to be incorporated as a part of the West, with binding guarantees for its protection.

Asking the EU to accept Ukraine as a membership candidate, he told a conference in Copenhagen by videolink: "The European Union can take a historic step that will prove that words about the people of Ukraine belonging to the European family are not just words."

The war in the east, where Russia is focusing its attentions, is now primarily an artillery battle in which Kyiv is severely outgunned, Ukrainian officials say.

That means the tide of events could be turned only if the West fulfils promises to send more and better weaponry including rocket systems that Washington and others have promised.

`ARTILLERY WAR`

"This is an artillery war now," Vadym Skibitsky, Ukraine`s deputy head of military intelligence, told Britain`s Guardian newspaper.

"Everything now depends on what (the West) gives us. Ukraine has one artillery piece to 10 to 15 Russian artillery pieces."

Germany, among the largest suppliers of weapons since Russia invaded but criticised for its slowness in supplying the heavy weaponry Kyiv says it needs, plans to revise its rules on arms exports to make it easier to arm democracies like Ukraine, Der Spiegel reported on Friday.

Russia is hoping to capture the full territory of eastern Luhansk province, which it demands Ukraine cede to separatists along with neighbouring Donetsk - an area known as the Donbas where it has backed a revolt by separatist proxies since 2014.

To that end, the Kremlin has concentrated its forces into a battle for Sievierodonetsk.

Ukrainian troops have largely pulled out of the city`s residential areas but have not yielded their foothold on the east bank of the Siverskiy Donets River. Russian forces are also pushing from the north and south to try to encircle the Ukrainians, but so far have made limited progress.

Both sides say they have inflicted mass casualties. Battlefield reports could not immediately be verified by Reuters.

In his nightly address, Zelenskiy said Russia was trying to "break every town in the Donbas."

"Sievierodonetsk, Lysychansk, Bakhmut, Sloviansk, many, many others ... All these ruins were once happy towns," he said.

Britain on Friday condemned Russian proxy authorities in Donbas for what it called an "egregious breach" of the Geneva convention in sentencing to death two British nationals captured in the separatist region while fighting for Ukraine.

A U.N. official said trials conducted under such circumstances were tantamount to war crimes, while Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba denounced it as a "sham trial against prisoners of war".

Russian President Vladimir Putin launched what he terms his "special military operation" in Ukraine in February saying his aim was to disarm and "denazify" Russia`s neighbour. Kyiv and its allies call it an unprovoked war of aggression to capture territory.

Ukraine said a speech delivered on Thursday by Putin - who drew a parallel between what he portrayed as a new quest to win back Russian lands and the historic achievements of Tsar Peter the Great - proved that Moscow`s aim was conquest.

"Putin`s confession of land seizures and comparing himself with Peter the Great prove: there was no `conflict`, only the country`s bloody seizure under contrived pretexts of people`s genocide," tweeted Zelenskiy aide Mykhailo Podolyak.

NATO member Estonia summoned Russia`s ambassador there to condemn Putin`s "completely unacceptable" praise for the 18th century Russian ruler who captured a city, Narva, that is now Estonian.
A firework show is staged at the Olympic Park in Beijing, capital of China, Nov. 10, 2014. (Xinhua/Luo Xiaoguang)

BEIJING, June 10 (Xinhua) -- The International Institute for Strategic Studies 19th Shangri-La Dialogue is scheduled to take place in Singapore from Friday to Sunday, bringing together senior officials, business leaders and experts worldwide to share fresh perspectives on security and development in Asia-Pacific.

Always playing a constructive role in the region, China has been practicing true multilateralism and safeguarding regional peace and stability with joint efforts of all parties.

On various occasions, Chinese President Xi Jinping has called on regional countries to deepen the Asia-Pacific partnership featuring mutual trust, inclusiveness and mutually beneficial cooperation.

The following are some highlights of Xi's remarks in this regard.





Nov. 20, 2020

When addressing the 27th APEC (the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation) Economic Leaders' Meeting in Beijing via video link, Xi said the Asia-Pacific region should take the lead and help make economic globalization more open, inclusive, balanced and beneficial to all.

It is important that the Asia-Pacific should remain the bellwether in safeguarding peace and stability, upholding multilateralism, and fostering an open world economy, Xi said.









Feb. 11, 2021

In a phone call from U.S. President Joseph R. Biden, Xi said that China and the United States should act to conform to the trend of the world, jointly safeguard peace and stability in the Asia-Pacific region, and make historic contributions to promoting world peace and development.





July 16, 2021

When addressing the Informal Economic Leaders' Retreat of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation via video link, Xi called on APEC members to strengthen solidarity and cooperation to overcome the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and boost global economic recovery.

He made a four-pronged proposal for Asia-Pacific cooperation, including strengthening international cooperation on COVID-19 response, deepening regional economic integration, pursuing inclusive and sustainable development, and seizing opportunities from scientific and technological innovation.





Nov. 12, 2021

While addressing the 28th APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting in Beijing via video link, Xi called for efforts to build an Asia-Pacific community with a shared future featuring openness and inclusiveness, innovation-driven growth, greater connectivity, and mutually beneficial cooperation.

The Asia-Pacific region has become the most dynamic and promising economic powerhouse globally, staying at the forefront of world economic development, and making its positive contribution to global growth and to the well-being of people in the region, he said.

Maori people dressed in traditional costumes perform Powhiri in Maori, a Maori welcoming ceremony, to mark the beginning of the host year of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) for New Zealand in Wellington, New Zealand, Dec. 1, 2020. (APEC NEW ZEALAND/Handout via Xinhua)





April 21, 2022

In a keynote speech delivered via video at the opening ceremony of the Boao Forum for Asia Annual Conference 2022, Xi emphasized that over the past decades, Asia has enjoyed overall stability and sustained rapid growth, making possible the Asian Miracle.

When Asia fares well, the whole world benefits, he noted, highlighting the need to continue developing and strengthening Asia, demonstrate Asia's resilience, wisdom and strength, and make Asia an anchor for world peace, a powerhouse for global growth and a new pacesetter for international cooperation.





May 30, 2022

When delivering a written speech at the second China-Pacific Island Countries Foreign Ministers' Meeting, Xi stressed that preserving peace and stability in Asia-Pacific and promoting common development of various countries are a shared aspiration of the people in the region as well as a common responsibility of regional countries.

China is ready to work with Pacific island countries to strengthen the confidence in tackling challenges together, build up consensus on jointly seeking development, galvanize support for shaping the future together, and join hands to build an even closer China-Pacific island countries community with a shared future, he said. 
CARACAS, June 10 (Xinhua) -- This week's ninth Summit of the Americas has thrown into relief the U.S. waning influence in Latin America and the Caribbean, according to Venezuelan political observers.

Key regional leaders did not attend the summit held from June 6 to 10 in the U.S. city of Los Angeles, mainly to protest the exclusion of Cuba, Nicaragua and Venezuela, noted researcher and political analyst Diego Sequera.

And the event culminated in a series of lackluster proposals not expected to have much of an impact on the continent, Sequera told Xinhua in an interview Friday.

The United States, he believes, no longer enjoys the level of credibility and sincerity that it may have in the past, a factor that prevented it from reaching the goals it set out at the start of the summit.

"Not having achieved the objectives it set is a failure. The fact that consensus was not established, by hook or by crook, also makes this summit a failure, and that failure is another symptom of the general crisis the United States is undergoing," the analyst said.

U.S. proposals to tackle one of the region's biggest issues, mass immigration, "were just more of the same" strategies that have proven ineffective at stemming the flow of migrants, he said.

The notable absence of regional presidents and protests outside the summit venue also highlighted Washington's lack of convening power and public anger at the U.S. policy toward Latin America, he said.

At one point, a young activist lambasted Luis Almagro, the secretary general of the Organization of American States (OAS), which periodically convenes the summit, for his alleged participation in the coup that ousted Bolivia's government in 2019.

"It is not easy to say what is in store, but the decline of Washington is now an unquestionable factor in our region," said the analyst.

A researcher in international relations, Luis Ricardo Delgado told Xinhua that discord, rather than consensus, marked the 2022 summit.

"More than consensus, there were significant disagreements between the participating countries," said Delgado.

The initiatives proposed at the summit are invariably mere formalities without real substance, said the professor of social sciences at the University of Carabobo.

Washington proposed an economic recovery plan called the Americas Partnership for Economic Prosperity to be developed only with its most trusted partners, which "distorts the continental character it purports," said Delgado.

The limited scope of the plan is a direct result of the fact that the White House "insists on injecting ideology into its international ties," he said.

As a consequence, the Summit of the Americas "does not substantially modify the current 'status quo' of international relations in the hemisphere," so its impact will be practically "nil," he added.

"Excluding countries such as Cuba, Nicaragua and Venezuela led to, among other things, the absence of the president of Mexico, the region's main Spanish-speaking country," noted Delgado.

In addition, "various Caribbean, Central American and South American leaders did not attend the summit, which substantially undermined its convening power and its decision-making capacity," he said.

The summit made it increasingly clear that "Latin America and the Caribbean does not accept excluding governments and countries from multilateral forums, regardless of their ideological affiliation," said Delgado. 
Chen Yushu (1st) has a talk about the classical furniture craftsmanship with provincial-level woodcarving inheritors in Putian, southeast China's Fujian Province, June 10, 2022.

Chen Yushu is the fourth-generation inheritor of the classical furniture craftsmanship in Fujian Province. The craftsmanship is the ingenious fusion of traditional Chinese painting art, carving art and furniture production skills.

Classical craft furniture is of high value in terms of its artistic and cultural connotations. "It is a carrier of traditional Chinese culture and I will try my best to show the culture to the world," said Chen. (Xinhua/Wei Peiquan)

Chen Yushu planes the wood smooth in Putian, southeast China's Fujian Province, June 10, 2022.

Chen Yushu is the fourth-generation inheritor of the classical furniture craftsmanship in Fujian Province. The craftsmanship is the ingenious fusion of traditional Chinese painting art, carving art and furniture production skills.

Classical craft furniture is of high value in terms of its artistic and cultural connotations. "It is a carrier of traditional Chinese culture and I will try my best to show the culture to the world," said Chen. (Xinhua/Wei Peiquan)

Chen Yushu assembles furniture in Putian, southeast China's Fujian Province, June 10, 2022.

Chen Yushu is the fourth-generation inheritor of the classical furniture craftsmanship in Fujian Province. The craftsmanship is the ingenious fusion of traditional Chinese painting art, carving art and furniture production skills.

Classical craft furniture is of high value in terms of its artistic and cultural connotations. "It is a carrier of traditional Chinese culture and I will try my best to show the culture to the world," said Chen. (Xinhua/Wei Peiquan)

Chen Yushu carves on the furniture in his studio in Putian, southeast China's Fujian Province, June 10, 2022.

Chen Yushu is the fourth-generation inheritor of the classical furniture craftsmanship in Fujian Province. The craftsmanship is the ingenious fusion of traditional Chinese painting art, carving art and furniture production skills.

Classical craft furniture is of high value in terms of its artistic and cultural connotations. "It is a carrier of traditional Chinese culture and I will try my best to show the culture to the world," said Chen. (Xinhua/Wei Peiquan)

Chen Yushu (1st L) explains the classical furniture craftsmanship to his team members in a furniture manufacturing workshop in Putian, southeast China's Fujian Province, June 10, 2022.

Chen Yushu is the fourth-generation inheritor of the classical furniture craftsmanship in Fujian Province. The craftsmanship is the ingenious fusion of traditional Chinese painting art, carving art and furniture production skills.

Classical craft furniture is of high value in terms of its artistic and cultural connotations. "It is a carrier of traditional Chinese culture and I will try my best to show the culture to the world," said Chen. (Xinhua/Wei Peiquan)

Chen Yushu (front) demonstrates furniture assembling skills in a furniture manufacturing workshop in Putian, southeast China's Fujian Province, June 10, 2022.

Chen Yushu is the fourth-generation inheritor of the classical furniture craftsmanship in Fujian Province. The craftsmanship is the ingenious fusion of traditional Chinese painting art, carving art and furniture production skills.

Classical craft furniture is of high value in terms of its artistic and cultural connotations. "It is a carrier of traditional Chinese culture and I will try my best to show the culture to the world," said Chen. (Xinhua/Wei Peiquan)

Chen Yushu picks furniture components in Putian, southeast China's Fujian Province, June 10, 2022.

Chen Yushu is the fourth-generation inheritor of the classical furniture craftsmanship in Fujian Province. The craftsmanship is the ingenious fusion of traditional Chinese painting art, carving art and furniture production skills.

Classical craft furniture is of high value in terms of its artistic and cultural connotations. "It is a carrier of traditional Chinese culture and I will try my best to show the culture to the world," said Chen. (Xinhua/Wei Peiquan)
Photo taken on June 9, 2022 shows a modern drying yard of Sichuan Pixiandouban Co., Ltd. in Chengdu, southwest China's Sichuan Province.

Sichuan cuisine is one of the eight Chinese culinary specialties. Bean sauce, or Doubanjiang, is commonly referred to as "the soul of Sichuan cuisine."

Doubanjiang is a spicy, salty paste made from fermented broad beans, soybeans, salt, rice, and various spices. The technique of producing doubanjiang was listed as a national intangible cultural heritage in 2008.

Sichuan cuisine, including doubanjiang, is a reflection of the distinctive and profound local culture. Cooking skills related to Sichuan cuisine integrate the wisdom of local people, as an important part of Bashu culture along with the Sichuan dialect and opera.

The cooking skills to produce Sichuan cuisine made it onto the list of China's national intangible cultural heritage in 2021. (Xinhua/Tang Wenhao)

A staff member processes bean sauce in Sichuan Pixiandouban Co., Ltd. in Chengdu, southwest China's Sichuan Province, June 9, 2022.

Sichuan cuisine is one of the eight Chinese culinary specialties. Bean sauce, or Doubanjiang, is commonly referred to as "the soul of Sichuan cuisine."

Doubanjiang is a spicy, salty paste made from fermented broad beans, soybeans, salt, rice, and various spices. The technique of producing doubanjiang was listed as a national intangible cultural heritage in 2008.

Sichuan cuisine, including doubanjiang, is a reflection of the distinctive and profound local culture. Cooking skills related to Sichuan cuisine integrate the wisdom of local people, as an important part of Bashu culture along with the Sichuan dialect and opera.

The cooking skills to produce Sichuan cuisine made it onto the list of China's national intangible cultural heritage in 2021. (Xinhua/Liu Qiong)

Children try grinding soybeans into small bits with a hand-powered stone mill in Chengdu Sichuan Cuisine Museum in Chengdu, southwest China's Sichuan Province, June 5, 2022.

Sichuan cuisine is one of the eight Chinese culinary specialties. Bean sauce, or Doubanjiang, is commonly referred to as "the soul of Sichuan cuisine."

Doubanjiang is a spicy, salty paste made from fermented broad beans, soybeans, salt, rice, and various spices. The technique of producing doubanjiang was listed as a national intangible cultural heritage in 2008.

Sichuan cuisine, including doubanjiang, is a reflection of the distinctive and profound local culture. Cooking skills related to Sichuan cuisine integrate the wisdom of local people, as an important part of Bashu culture along with the Sichuan dialect and opera.

The cooking skills to produce Sichuan cuisine made it onto the list of China's national intangible cultural heritage in 2021. (Xinhua)

A cook demonstrates the cooking skills to produce Sichuan cuisine in Chengdu Sichuan Cuisine Museum in Chengdu, southwest China's Sichuan Province, June 5, 2022.

Sichuan cuisine is one of the eight Chinese culinary specialties. Bean sauce, or Doubanjiang, is commonly referred to as "the soul of Sichuan cuisine."

Doubanjiang is a spicy, salty paste made from fermented broad beans, soybeans, salt, rice, and various spices. The technique of producing doubanjiang was listed as a national intangible cultural heritage in 2008.

Sichuan cuisine, including doubanjiang, is a reflection of the distinctive and profound local culture. Cooking skills related to Sichuan cuisine integrate the wisdom of local people, as an important part of Bashu culture along with the Sichuan dialect and opera.

The cooking skills to produce Sichuan cuisine made it onto the list of China's national intangible cultural heritage in 2021. (Xinhua)

Photo taken on June 9, 2022 shows a drying yard of Sichuan Pixiandouban Co., Ltd. in Chengdu, southwest China's Sichuan Province.

Sichuan cuisine is one of the eight Chinese culinary specialties. Bean sauce, or Doubanjiang, is commonly referred to as "the soul of Sichuan cuisine."

Doubanjiang is a spicy, salty paste made from fermented broad beans, soybeans, salt, rice, and various spices. The technique of producing doubanjiang was listed as a national intangible cultural heritage in 2008.

Sichuan cuisine, including doubanjiang, is a reflection of the distinctive and profound local culture. Cooking skills related to Sichuan cuisine integrate the wisdom of local people, as an important part of Bashu culture along with the Sichuan dialect and opera.

The cooking skills to produce Sichuan cuisine made it onto the list of China's national intangible cultural heritage in 2021. (Xinhua/Liu Qiong)

Zhang Huiqiang, deputy curator of the Chengdu Sichuan Cuisine Museum, cooks Kung Pao chicken, a typical Sichuan dish, in the museum in Chengdu, southwest China's Sichuan Province, June 9, 2022.

Sichuan cuisine is one of the eight Chinese culinary specialties. Bean sauce, or Doubanjiang, is commonly referred to as "the soul of Sichuan cuisine."

Doubanjiang is a spicy, salty paste made from fermented broad beans, soybeans, salt, rice, and various spices. The technique of producing doubanjiang was listed as a national intangible cultural heritage in 2008.

Sichuan cuisine, including doubanjiang, is a reflection of the distinctive and profound local culture. Cooking skills related to Sichuan cuisine integrate the wisdom of local people, as an important part of Bashu culture along with the Sichuan dialect and opera.

The cooking skills to produce Sichuan cuisine made it onto the list of China's national intangible cultural heritage in 2021. (Xinhua/Tang Wenhao)

Zhang Huiqiang (R), deputy curator of the Chengdu Sichuan Cuisine Museum, helps as he teaches a tourist to cook Kung Pao chicken, a typical Sichuan dish, in the museum in Chengdu, southwest China's Sichuan Province, June 9, 2022.

Sichuan cuisine is one of the eight Chinese culinary specialties. Bean sauce, or Doubanjiang, is commonly referred to as "the soul of Sichuan cuisine."

Doubanjiang is a spicy, salty paste made from fermented broad beans, soybeans, salt, rice, and various spices. The technique of producing doubanjiang was listed as a national intangible cultural heritage in 2008.

Sichuan cuisine, including doubanjiang, is a reflection of the distinctive and profound local culture. Cooking skills related to Sichuan cuisine integrate the wisdom of local people, as an important part of Bashu culture along with the Sichuan dialect and opera.

The cooking skills to produce Sichuan cuisine made it onto the list of China's national intangible cultural heritage in 2021. (Xinhua/Tang Wenhao)

Photo taken on June 9, 2022 shows the production line in Sichuan Pixiandouban Co., Ltd. in Chengdu, southwest China's Sichuan Province.

Sichuan cuisine is one of the eight Chinese culinary specialties. Bean sauce, or Doubanjiang, is commonly referred to as "the soul of Sichuan cuisine."

Doubanjiang is a spicy, salty paste made from fermented broad beans, soybeans, salt, rice, and various spices. The technique of producing doubanjiang was listed as a national intangible cultural heritage in 2008.

Sichuan cuisine, including doubanjiang, is a reflection of the distinctive and profound local culture. Cooking skills related to Sichuan cuisine integrate the wisdom of local people, as an important part of Bashu culture along with the Sichuan dialect and opera.

The cooking skills to produce Sichuan cuisine made it onto the list of China's national intangible cultural heritage in 2021. (Xinhua/Liu Qiong)
LOS ANGELES, June 10 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President Joe Biden on Thursday appeared to swipe at the press, saying they can go "swimming in the pond," as many international and local news outlets questioned the representation of the 9th Summit of the Americas in Los Angeles.

Biden made the remarks during his toast at the Summit of the Americas leaders dinner on Thursday, after shrugging off controversy around the gathering, saying he and some on the guest list had "disagreement on something" but "on the central issues that we talked about ... there is overwhelming agreement."

The Biden administration has faced sharp discontent from countries in the Americas over its decision to cut out Cuba, Venezuela and Nicaragua from the guest list. Leaders of Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador boycotted the meeting, Uruguay's president said he had contracted COVID-19, and Bolivia also declined to attend.

Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, a key Latin American leader on the summit's guest list, announced Monday morning that he would stay at home.

"There cannot be a Summit of the Americas if all countries of the Americas cannot attend," Lopez Obrador said at his daily press conference in Mexico City. "This is to continue the old interventionist policies, of lack of respect for nations and their people."

These notable absences triggered outcries from the media, which described it as a disaster and embarrassment for U.S. diplomacy.

CNN said in a story published Wednesday that the absences of the leaders were notable "since the United States has worked to cultivate those leaders as partners on immigration, an issue that looms as a political liability for Biden."

"Eight nations did not send a leader-level official to the most important event we have held on the region in decades. Speaks volumes about how badly we've managed relations with our neighbors ..." Brett Bruen, who served in the Obama White House as director of global engagement, tweeted Wednesday.

In a story published by USA Today on Tuesday, Bruen said it was "embarrassing last minute and lackluster work" going into this week's Summit of the Americas that the country was hosting for the first time in nearly 30 years.

The heads of four countries refused to attend the meeting was "a blow to Mr. Biden at a moment when he sought to project unity and common purpose across the Western Hemisphere," The New York Times said Friday.

On Thursday's meeting, shortly after Biden's speech, Belize's Prime Minister Johnny Briceno criticized the exclusion of Cuba and Venezuela on the stage.

"The power of the Summit of the Americas is the space it provides for all the countries of the Americas to dialogue and agree on joint actions. The summit belongs to all of the Americas," Briceno said in his speech, when Biden sat only a few meters away. "It is therefore inexcusable that all countries of the Americas are not here, and the power of the summit diminished by their absence."

Briceno said the exclusionary summit was incomprehensible, especially when "Cuba has provided consistent, unmatched cooperation in health to almost two-thirds of the countries in this hemisphere" and "Venezuela has done so much toward energy security for the Caribbean region."

"The time has come, Mr. President, to lift the blockade and to build bonds of friendship with the people of Cuba. Similarly ... Venezuela's absence is unforgivable," Briceno noted.

"The principle of inclusivity must be the touchstone of all future summits. Geography, not politics, defines the Americas," he concluded.

Briceno was followed by Argentine President Alberto Fernandez, who declared "the silence of those who are absent is calling to us" and insisted that the host country did not have the power to impose "right of admission" to the conference.

"We definitely would've wished for a different Summit of the Americas," Fernandez said.

After criticizing the U.S. sanctions against Cuba and Venezuela, the Argentine leader asked the Biden government to "open up in a fraternal way" following Donald Trump's "immensely harmful policy" for the region.

In a story published on Friday, The Washington Post said that since the White House, by excluding the three countries from the summit, "drew its line in the sand, other nations have been rebuking Biden and the United States for what they see as an unfair or even a hypocritical stance."

"The absences have cast doubt on the relevance of a summit that was meant to demonstrate cooperation among neighbors but has instead loudly broadcast rifts in a region that is increasingly willing to defy American leadership," The New York Times said Friday.

The report cited Martha Barcena, the former Mexican ambassador to the United States, as saying that the summit, held in the second largest city of the United States, showed a challenge to U.S. influence, "because U.S. influence has been diminishing in the continent." 
SHANGHAI, June 11 (Xinhua) -- Shanghai reported three locally transmitted confirmed COVID-19 cases and one local asymptomatic carrier from midnight to 5 p.m. Saturday, the municipal health commission told a press conference on Saturday.

All the four cases have been sent to designated hospitals for medical treatment and observation, the health commission said, adding that epidemiological investigations were carried out immediately.

As of 4 p.m. Saturday, a total of 79 close contacts and 52 sub-close contacts of the cases have been traced for quarantine.

Four areas related to the infections have been classified as medium-risk for COVID-19, according to the municipal anti-epidemic headquarters. 
BEIJING, June 11 (Xinhua) -- China on Friday allocated 360 million yuan (53.74 million U.S. dollars) in advance from its central natural disaster relief funds to help local governments with flood control and disaster relief, the Ministry of Emergency Management said Saturday.

Some 340 million yuan was earmarked for 12 southern provincial-level regions, including Hunan, Guangxi and Guizhou, to help them with the search, rescue and relocation of affected people, emergency treatment, secondary disaster detection and the repair of damaged houses, the ministry said.

The remaining 20 million yuan was allocated to northeast China's Liaoning Province to solve the water shortage there. 
TRIPOLI, June 11 (Xinhua) -- The United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) on Saturday expressed concern about clashes that erupted in Libyan capital Tripoli on Friday night between armed groups.

"UNSMIL has received reports of clashes in Tripoli last night between armed groups, which endangered the lives of civilians, and separately of mobilization of armed groups along with heavy weapons from areas surrounding Tripoli," UNSMIL said in a statement.

A local security source told Xinhua that at least 4 people were injured in the clashes. The armed groups were yet to be identified.

UNSMIL is deeply concerned about these developments, during an extremely sensitive period of political polarization which the United Nations, international partners, and concerned Libyans are making efforts to resolve, including through imminent rounds of dialogues in Egypt, the statement said.

The UN mission called on all parties in Libya to exercise maximum restraint and address disputes through dialogue to preserve the country's fragile stability.

Libyan Prime Minister Abdul-Hamid Dbeibah condemned the clashes and issued orders to stop the clashes and secure the area.

Libya has been suffering insecurity and chaos since the fall of the late leader Muammar Gaddafi's regime in 2011. 
BEIJING, June 11 (Xinhua) -- Despite headwinds from the COVID-19 epidemic and mounting global economic uncertainties, the healthy development of the private sector in China has continuously enhanced the resilience and vitality of its economy, becoming an important endogenous force for China's economic growth.

Private enterprises have reported faster growth, with imports and exports rising 11.8 percent to 7.86 trillion yuan (about 1.18 trillion U.S. dollars) in the first five months of 2022, accounting for 49 percent of the country's total and marking an increase of 1.5 percentage points from the same period last year.

"With excellent product quality and aesthetic designs, China's domestic brands are paying more attention to brand building now," said Zhong Bo, chairman of Chengdu XGIMI Technology Co., Ltd.

Founded in 2013, XGIMI has become one of China's largest intelligent projector manufacturers. It ranked first in China's projector market in terms of market share in 2018, overtaking international giants Epson and SONY for the first time and bringing an end to 15 years of dominance by foreign brands in the Chinese market.

So far, XGIMI has accumulated 872 intellectual property rights, such as patents and software copyrights. The total operating income of the company reached 4.038 billion yuan last year, up 42.78 percent year on year.

"In the future, XGIMI will further increase investment in research and development, work hard and strive to top the world at an early date," Zhong said.

"Since the reform and opening-up, China's private enterprises have flourished, complementing the state-owned economy, and have contributed to China's economic miracle," said Professor Yang Jirui at Southwestern University of Finance and Economics.

According to the expert, China's private sector contributes over half of the nation's tax revenue, over 60 percent of its GDP, over 70 percent of its technological innovation, over 80 percent of its urban employment and over 90 percent of the number of enterprises in the country.

"Therefore, private enterprises play an important role in stabilizing economic growth, promoting innovation, creating jobs and improving people's livelihoods," Yang said.

In the face of global economic uncertainties brought by the COVID-19 epidemic, China has implemented a slate of polices such as the combination of tax and fee cuts and financial support, to boost the confidence of the private sector, especially micro, small and medium-sized companies.

In east China's Zhejiang Province, financial support for the real economy increased, with medium and long-term loans for the private sector up by 18.2 percent.

Last year, the number of market entities in Zhejiang witnessed a net increase of 652,000, including 318,000 enterprises. There were 110 new listed companies in the province in 2021.

Cai Farong, Party secretary of Kangnai Group, a leading shoe manufacturer based in Zhejiang, feels private enterprises should face the future with confidence.

"When they are faced with challenging situations, private enterprises should remain focused, give full play to their comparative advantages, demonstrate their vitality and resilience, and deal with uncertainties with definite confidence," said Cai. 
Aerial photo taken on May 26, 2020 shows a China-Europe freight train carrying mechanical accessories, fabrics and solar photovoltaic products bound for Hanoi of Vietnam leaving a logistic hub in Hai'an, east China's Jiangsu Province. (Xinhua/Ji Chunpeng)

"I'm very positive about the greening of the BRI, and I'm very positive about building a good understanding of BRI in the UK, so we can figure out how to work with China on key issues like climate change," David Percival, chair of Manchester-China Forum, told Xinhua.

LANCASTER, Britain, June 11 (Xinhua) -- China's Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) offers massive opportunities for China-Britain cooperation in areas like business, climate change, personnel exchanges, education and tourism, experts said here during a three-day conference concluded on Friday.

The Interdisciplinary Conference on the BRI, bringing together academic experts, practitioners and business leaders, opened in British Lancaster University on Wednesday, during which attendees discussed and studied the impacts of the BRI from different perspectives.

"I think one of the wonderful things about the BRI is the focus on people-to-people exchanges, supporting education and tourism ... These things are very important if we're going to be able to get on as a global community," Ollie Shiell, chief executive of UK National Committee on China, told Xinhua.

"It's very clear to me that the UK and China agree about more things than they disagree," Shiell said, adding "What we should be doing is focusing on those areas of cooperation, on climate change for example."

David Percival, chair of Manchester-China Forum, said he believes that the BRI's green commitment can help countries to deal with global issues.

Photo taken on Oct. 30, 2020 shows the Kaposvar 100MW Photovoltaic Power Plant under construction in Kaposvar, Hungary. (Photo by Attila Volgyi/Xinhua)

"I'm very positive about the greening of the BRI, and I'm very positive about building a good understanding of BRI in the UK, so we can figure out how to work with China on key issues like climate change," Percival told Xinhua on the sidelines of the conference.

"There are complementary opportunities between the UK and China," he said, adding that Chinese enterprises can play an important role in British local economy, through developing crucial infrastructure projects and creating many job opportunities.

"Don't think the BRI is something a long way from the UK. It's not. The engagement and understanding of China and China initiatives works very well for us," said Percival in a speech on Wednesday.

He predicted, "the greening of the BRI ... is going to be a massive business opportunity."

At the opening ceremony of the interdisciplinary conference, Zheng Xiyuan, China's consul general in Manchester, abbreviated the BRI new features to an acronym "GIVE", which stands for "green," "innovation," "visibility" and "education."

Professor Zeng Jinghan, head of the Lancaster University Belt and Road Initiative Research Consortium (LUBRIC), told Xinhua that "there is a broad consensus among British academics, industry leaders that the UK needs to understand more about the BRI, which will have a huge impact on the future of the world."

"The BRI has significant political, social, legal and environmental implications," noted Zeng. "People in the British financial sector are very interested in the BRI, because they think it brings a lot of business opportunities." 
By Trend

The Memorandum of Understanding has been signed between Azerbaijan and the UN, Chairman of State Customs Committee of the Republic of Azerbaijan Safar Mehdiyev tweeted, Trend reports.

"Today the Memorandum of Understanding has been signed between the Government of the Republic of Azerbaijan represented by the State Customs Committee and the UN represented by the United Nations Office of Counter-Terrorism," the chairman wrote.
BOGOTA, June 10 (Xinhua) -- At least four people were killed by an explosion in the Colombian town of Cartagena del Chaira in the department of Caqueta, the Colombian government reported on Friday.

"At approximately 10:30 this morning, there was an explosion, a terrorist attack against a police patrol that was circulating in the sector. The victims were civilians traveling in a motorcar and on motorcycles," Mayor of Cartagena del Chaira Edilberto Molina Hernandez said.

"The cowardly attack (...) which claimed the lives of four people, including a minor, is an attack against all Colombians," Defense Minister Diego Molano posted on Twitter.

A driver, a mother and a three-year-old child died, while a 57-year-old woman later died from her injuries.

Two people who sustained injuries were taken to nearby medical centers, according to authorities.

Molano accused the Jorge Briceno Suarez structure of the dissidents of the former guerrilla group the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) of carrying out the attack.

He also said that he had instructed the Army and the National Police to activate the necessary operations to capture and prosecute those responsible for the attack.

Cartagena del Chaira is one of the municipalities that, according to the Ombudsman's Office, are at risk of attacks in the electoral process that the country is going through, ahead of the second presidential round on June 19. 
UNITED NATIONS, June 10 (Xinhua) -- UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Friday appointed Amandeep Singh Gill of India as his envoy on technology, and Navid Hanif of Pakistan as assistant secretary-general for economic development, a UN spokesman said.

Gill is the chief executive officer of the Geneva-based International Digital Health and Artificial Intelligence Research Collaborative. He had previously served as India's ambassador and permanent representative to the Conference on Disarmament in Geneva, said Stephane Dujarric, chief spokesman for Guterres.

"A thought leader on digital technology, he brings to the position a deep knowledge of digital technologies coupled with a solid understanding of how to leverage the digital transformation responsibly and inclusively for progress on the Sustainable Development Goals," said Dujarric.

Guterres appointed Hanif of Pakistan as assistant secretary-general for economic development in the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA). Hanif succeeds Elliot Harris of Trinidad and Tobago.

Hanif is currently directing DESA's Financing for Sustainable Development Office in New York, He brings to the position more than 30 years of experience in national and international civil service, said the spokesman.

Hanif served in the executive office of the secretary-general as a team member for the 2005 World Summit. He also held several positions in UN bodies, including the vice-chair of the High-Level Committee on Programmes. Before joining the United Nations, Hanif served in Pakistan's diplomatic service, including a stint as a delegate at its mission to the United Nations. 
A session of the Council of Foreign Ministers of the Collective Security Treaty Organization is held in Yerevan, Armenia, on June 10, 2022. The session of the Council of Foreign Ministers of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) kicked off in Yerevan on Friday. (Foreign Ministry of Armenia/Handout via Xinhua)

YEREVAN, June 10 (Xinhua) -- A session of the Council of Foreign Ministers of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) kicked off in Yerevan on Friday.

The ministers discussed issues relating to international and regional security, and the strengthening of CSTO crisis response mechanisms, according to a statement on the website of the Armenian Foreign Ministry.

The session, attended by foreign ministers from the six CSTO member states - Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia and Tajikistan, was held both in a narrow format and in an extended format, the ministry said.

The foreign ministers signed the 2022-2024 consultation plan of the representatives of the CSTO member states on foreign policy, defense and security affairs, and issued a joint statement on international security.

"The statement on the international security reflects the position of the member states in the strong observation of the principle of equal and inseparable security and the impermissibility of strengthening a country's security at the expense of others," said Stanislav Zas, the CSTO secretary general, at a joint press conference after the session.

The foreign ministers also expressed their support to the strengthening of the leading role of the UN Security Council in the maintenance of peace and stability in the world, Zas added. 

Stanislav Zas (1st L), the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) secretary general, and foreign ministers of the CSTO pose for a group photo in Yerevan, Armenia, on June 10, 2022. A session of the Council of Foreign Ministers of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) kicked off in Yerevan on Friday. (Foreign Ministry of Armenia/Handout via Xinhua)
SINGAPORE, June 11 (Xinhua) -- Chinese State Councilor and Defense Minister Wei Fenghe has reiterated China's resolute position on the Taiwan question.

Taiwan is an inalienable part of China's territory, and the one-China principle is the political foundation of China-U.S. relations. The scheme to use Taiwan-related issues to contain China is doomed to fail, said Wei, during his meeting with U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin Friday on the sidelines of the 19th Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore.

During the meeting, Wei said a new round of arms sales to Taiwan announced by the U.S. side recently severely violated the one-China principle and the stipulations of the three China-U.S. joint communiques, undermined China's national sovereignty and security interests and caused severe damage to China-U.S. relations and peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait, according to Wu Qian, spokesperson for the Ministry of National Defense.

Noting that China firmly opposes and strongly condemns the arms sales, Wei stressed that if anyone dares to split Taiwan from China, the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) will have no choice but fight at any cost and crush any attempt of "Taiwan independence" and safeguard national sovereignty and territorial integrity, said Wu during a press briefing after the meeting.

In another briefing following Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida's keynote speech on Friday evening, He Lei, former deputy head of the Academy of Military Sciences, said that Taiwan is an inalienable part of China's sacred territory, and that the Taiwan question concerns China's core interests and is China's internal and own affairs.

The government of the People's Republic of China is the sole legal government of China. China will and must be unified. The PLA has the determination, confidence, capability and means to realize China's complete reunification of the motherland. "Taiwan independence" is doomed to fail, said He during the briefing.

"Taiwan independence" will lead nowhere and is thus doomed to fail. Supporting "Taiwan independence" will never come to a good end, said He.

"The development of China strengthens the force of peace in the world and the development of China's military capability reinforces the strength of safeguarding national interests and world peace," he said. 
HONG KONG, June 11 (Xinhua) -- The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) government said Saturday that it will distribute around 40,000 sets of COVID-19 rapid antigen test (RAT) kits as part of a follow-up on the recent detection of the COVID-19 virus in sewage samples.

The test kits will be distributed to residents, cleaning workers and property management staff working in estate in Kwun Tong with positive sewage testing results showing relatively high viral loads, in order to help identify infected persons.

The HKSAR government also urged RAT kit users to report any positive results for COVID-19 via the government's online platform.

In an effort to combat COVID-19, the HKSAR government's Environmental Protection Department and the Drainage Services Department have strengthened the sampling of sewage in all districts of Hong Kong for COVID-19 virus testing.

On Saturday, Hong Kong registered 491 new COVID-19 cases by nucleic acid tests, and 360 additional cases through self-reported RAT, official data showed. 
Aerial photo taken on March 11, 2022 shows the Dateng Gorge water conservancy project in Guiping, south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region. (Xinhua/Cao Yiming)

BEIJING, June 11 (Xinhua) -- China's investment in new water conservancy projects totaled 414.4 billion yuan (about 61.86 billion U.S. dollars) in the first five months of the year, Wei Shanzhong, vice minister of water resources, told a press conference on Friday.

China is expected to complete investments worth more than 800 billion yuan in water conservancy construction this year, Wei said.

From January to May, the country initiated 10,644 new water conservancy projects, including 609 projects with an investment of more than 100 million yuan each, Wei said.

These projects will be built for the purposes such as diverting water from major rivers to regions prone to water shortage, ecological restoration of rivers, flood control, irrigation, and safe water supply for rural residents.

In the first five months, a total of 3,500 reservoirs with potential risks underwent reinforcement, and environmental treatment was carried out in more than 2,300 kilometers of small and medium-sized rivers, Wei added.

China last month unveiled a package of detailed policy measures to further stabilize the economy and better coordinate epidemic control and economic development, including accelerating some approved water conservancy projects and speeding up investment in transportation infrastructure. 
DAR ES SALAAM, June 10 (Xinhua) -- Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan on Friday mourned 19 people who were killed in a road accident at dawn in the country's southern highlands region of Iringa.

A statement by the Directorate of Presidential Communications said President Hassan sent a condolence message to the Iringa regional commissioner, Queen Sendiga, on behalf of the bereaved families.

The president also wished quick recovery 11 people who sustained serious injuries in the accident that involved a mini-bus and a track in Mufindi district in the region, according to the statement.

The Iringa regional police commander, Allan Bukumbi, said 14 of the victims were men, four women and a child.

Bukumbi said the accident occurred at dawn on Friday when the mini-bus heading to Mbeya region from the commercial capital Dar es Salaam knocked a stationary track that was parked close to the road.

He said as rescuers pulled out passengers from the wrecked mini-bus, another oncoming track lost control and knocked the mini-bus on its rear. 
* The 9th Summit of the Americas has become a diplomatic nightmare for the United States, which opted to scratch Cuba, Venezuela and Nicaragua off the guest list of the continental conference.

* The summit fails to help resolve the region's pressing problems due to the lack of political will on the part of the United States, said analysts.

* Washington seems to take advantage of the summit to restore its waning influence and tighten its grip over Latin American nations.

MEXICO CITY, June 10 (Xinhua) -- This week's Summit of the Americas, being held in the U.S. city of Los Angeles, has become a diplomatic nightmare for the United States, which opted to scratch three nations off the guest list, essentially gutting the regional gathering even before it began.

U.S. President Joe Biden's administration excluded Cuba, Venezuela and Nicaragua from the continental conference held from Wednesday to Friday despite the objections of other leaders, notably Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, who openly urged the White House to rethink its unpopular position and ultimately declined to attend the meeting in protest.

Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador reacts during his morning press conference at the National Palace in Mexico City, capital of Mexico, June 6, 2022. (Photo by Francisco Canedo/Xinhua)

Washington's decision to cherry-pick who gets invited to the summit, and strong-arm other governments into acquiescing, sent a familiar chill through Latin America, a region the United States has notoriously referred to as its "backyard."

Far from signalling a willingness to partner with regional countries to tackle common issues, Washington seems to take advantage of the summit to restore its waning influence and tighten its grip over Latin American nations, which are increasingly wary of U.S. self-interest.





EXCLUSION, ALIENATION

If the United States had any hope of casting itself as a regional leader by playing host, the hope evaporated quickly as "exclusion" became the summit's byword. Closing the door to the above mentioned three countries not only angered them, but also alienated the rest.

"There is not a single reason that justifies the undemocratic and arbitrary exclusion of any country in the hemisphere from that continental event," the Cuban government said in a statement. "What our region demands is cooperation, not exclusion; solidarity, not pettiness; respect, not arrogance; sovereignty and self-determination, not subordination."

The move backfired for Washington as countries rallied around the Caribbean nation and condemned U.S. foreign policy towards the island, Havana said.

"The United States underestimated the support for Cuba in the region, while trying to impose its unilateral and universally rejected policy of hostility towards Cuba, as if it were a consensual position in the hemisphere."

Mexico denounced the exclusion as it exposed Washington's double standards on democracy. On Thursday, Lopez Obrador told reporters that the U.S. hegemonic policy "is an anachronistic, old and unfair policy that must be set aside, and a new stage must be inaugurated in the relationship of all the fraternal peoples and countries of the American continent."

In a column published in the Mexican daily Excelsior, Mexican Foreign Affairs Minister Marcelo Ebrard, who led Mexico's delegation to the summit, wrote that Washington accuses countries of being undemocratic -- the reason the White House gave for not inviting the three countries -- only when it benefits U.S. interests.

"It is not applied equally in all cases, but only in some, when it is convenient," said Ebrard, adding that at the forum, Mexico will press for an end to the "inhumane" decades-old U.S. trade embargo against Cuba.

"No country has the right to tell another how to govern itself. The foundation for a new stage in the Americas is mutual respect. It is what we are championing and will champion," Ebrard added.





FAILED POLICIES

The summit fails to help resolve the region's pressing problems, such as mass immigration, arms trafficking, and weak public healthcare, due to the lack of political will on the part of the United States, said analysts.

Washington aims to strengthen its schemes to contain would-be migrants in their countries of origin or countries of transit, without investing what is needed to reduce poverty, the driving factor behind mass migration, Mexican political scientist Eduardo Roldan said.

The phenomenon of migrant caravans "is not going to be resolved because its causes are not being addressed," said Roldan, a former diplomat.

Mexican academic Rodolfo Casillas agreed with the view, noting that a regional pact on immigration the United States aims to reach at the summit only focuses on containment, not poverty reduction.

Aerial photo taken on May 2, 2022 shows a migrant walking through tents at a migrant camp in Reynosa, Tamaulipas, Mexico. (Xinhua/Xin Yuewei)

Effective immigration control requires "major investment," the researcher and professor at the Latin American Faculty of Social Science told Xinhua recently.

But so far, the amounts offered by U.S. cooperation programs through its Agency for International Development are "laughable," Casillas said, adding that this cooperation comes at a high cost of job creation and consumption, because the recipient countries have to spend the funds "to buy American products" and hire "American directors and evaluators."

Roldan said that stemming the flow of weapons across the border will also prove elusive because the U.S. National Rifle Association, "the most powerful lobby group in American politics," sways policy by bankrolling U.S. lawmakers' election and reelection campaigns.

"Neither the Republicans nor the Democrats want to confront it as that lobby often contributes to the campaigns of candidates for representatives, senators and president, so the only thing left to do is confront arms trafficking in other countries, as Mexico is seriously doing," Roldan said.

In August 2021, Mexico's government filed a lawsuit at a U.S. federal court against eight U.S. arms manufacturers and distributors, accusing them of engaging in negligent and illicit practices that abet arms smuggling.

Mexican authorities estimate that at least half a million weapons flow illegally each year from the United States into the hands of criminals south of the border, fueling armed violence.

Roldan believes pandemic preparedness may also be glossed over during the summit, given that the United States handled the epidemic "terribly" at home, and sat on the sidelines when Latin American countries were battling with their own outbreaks.





WANING INFLUENCE

The summit was doomed to failure from the very beginning, Cuban senior political expert Rafael Hernandez told Xinhua.

Protestors attend a rally near the Los Angeles Convention Center where the ninth Summit of the Americas is held in Los Angeles, the United States, June 8, 2022. (Photo by Zeng Hui/Xinhua)

Instead of appealing to dialogue and engagement, he said, the U.S. government continues to impose its views on the region through unilateral sanctions, punitive measures and intervention.

"The exclusion of Cuba, Nicaragua, and Venezuela from the list of invited countries to the summit has been counterproductive for U.S. foreign policy, which uses coercion as a tool of political pressure," said Hernandez.

Diego Sequera, a Venezuelan journalist and political analyst, believes Washington's main objective is to use the summit to ensure economic, commercial and geopolitical control in the region.

However, that goal "has been increasingly undermined" by a "fractured and devalued" summit that fails to represent the Americas, Sequera said.

While Latin America has changed and is no longer the U.S. backyard, Washington's policy towards Latin America has not yet changed, said observers.

"They act as the arbiters of what democracy, human rights and freedom are. That is not a basis for engagement in a dialogue in the western hemisphere, which is politically speaking more diverse than ever," Hernandez said.

The U.S. government does not promote multilateralism and international cooperation, but narrowly defines democracy, whereas others understand it to be about participation, pluralism and diversity, Hernandez added.

Little wonder Washington's influence in the Latin American and Caribbean political arena has waned over the past decade.

That means the United States has lost its leadership role in the region, which in turn limits the real scope or importance of the Summit of the Americas, Roldan said.

"We live in a different world ... There are new institutions, new rules and that is what we are experiencing today," said Roldan. "The United States is going to have to understand that it neglected Latin America and we are not its backyard. Latin America is giving itself respect." (Video reporters: Hu Yousong, Sun Ding, Yan Liang, Yu Lizhen,Kang Wenjun, Wu Hao, Zhu Yubo, Lin Chaohui, Xu Ye, Wang Ying, Liao Siwei; video editors: Ma Ruxuan, Zhu Cong, Mu Xuyao, Yin Le)
GENEVA, June 10 (Xinhua) -- Despite the relatively lower numbers of refugees and migrants crossing the Mediterranean to Europe in recent years, the death toll had seen a steep rise, the United Nations refugee agency UNHCR said on Friday.

While reported numbers of refugees and migrants crossing the Mediterranean to Europe were fewer than in 2015, the journeys were becoming more fatal, said Shabia Mantoo, spokesperson for UNHCR.

"Since a peak in 2015, in which more than a million refugees and migrants crossed the Mediterranean to Europe, the numbers of those making these journeys had seen a downward trend," she told a press briefing.

"In 2021, 123,300 individual crossings were reported, and prior to that 95,800 in 2020, 123,700 in 2019 and 141,500 in 2018," she added.

Last year, she said, some 3,231 were recorded as dead or missing at sea in the Mediterranean and the northwest Atlantic, with 1,881 in 2020, 1,510 in 2019, and more than 2,277 in 2018.

In recent years UNHCR has continuously warned of the horrific experiences and dangers faced by refugees and migrants who resorted to these journeys, many of whom were fleeing violence and conflict. 
MACAO, June 11 (Xinhua) -- At around 8:00 a.m. on workdays, Macao resident Cheong spends less than one minute crossing the border to Zhuhai in neighboring Guangdong Province via the Qingmao Checkpoint, the fifth land port linking the Macao Special Administrative Region (SAR) with the Chinese mainland.

With simplified customs clearance procedures, the port, which was opened in September 2021 and operates round the clock, boasts 50 automated channels inbound for passenger clearance services and 50 automated channels outbound, with two staffed counters operating in each direction.

At almost the same time, Macao resident Ho Kok Tou drives to work at an information technology firm located in Hengqin island of Zhuhai, which is adjacent to Macao.

Currently, over 2,000 vehicles with Macao licenses cross the Hengqin Checkpoint each day thanks to the policy allowing Macao-licensed vehicles crossing the border since the end of 2016.

Since 2017 when the framework agreement on the development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area was signed, connectivity has been continuously improved to help Macao better integrate into the country's overall development.

In September last year, the Chinese central authorities issued a plan to build the Guangdong-Macao in-depth cooperation zone in Hengqin, making the island an important new growth point for Macao's economy.

Sheng Li, associate dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences at the University of Macao, told Xinhua that infrastructure connectivity, mainly represented by modern comprehensive transport systems, is vital to regional integration and development within the resource-rich Greater Bay Area.

In March 2021, construction was launched to extend Macao's light rail transit line into Hengqin. It is planned to operate as a shuttle between the two sides upon completion scheduled in 2025. Research is also underway to link Macao with Hengqin via water route.

In Hengqin, several bridges and undersea tunnels are under construction to better link the island with other parts of Zhuhai, particularly its airport.

In the meantime, Macao has also made effort to improve its "soft connectivity" with Guangdong in terms of investment, trade, personnel flow and customs clearance.

A new project has been launched in Hengqin to offer residential and business units as well as supporting facilities to Macao residents, with their education, medical and community services all connected with those of Macao.

An online platform has also been launched to settle cross-border arbitration cases under the new model of mutual discussion, joint construction, joint administration and shared benefits between arbitration institutions in Macao and Guangdong.

"Connectivity of rules and mechanisms guarantees market integration and efficient flow of other key elements in the Greater Bay Area," Sheng said. "Macao's effort to explore the 'greatest common divisor' of 'soft connectivity' under different systems can provide a useful reference for the linkage of different market mechanisms."

Ho Iat Seng, chief executive of the Macao SAR, said in the policy address for the fiscal year 2022 that the Macao SAR government will speed up drafting major supporting policies for building the cooperation zone in Hengqin, including special measures to relax market access in the zone, as well as a list of the first batch of authorized items and encouraged industries.

The SAR government will also actively participate in the building of legal system in the cooperation zone, deepening exchanges and cooperation in law and justice with Guangdong, and improving the dispute settlement mechanism, Ho said.

Ip Kuai Peng, pro-rector of the City University of Macao, said building the cooperation zone is the top priority for Macao to participate in the building of the Greater Bay Area and promote connectivity within the area.

Ip said connectivity means improving Macao's accessibility and promoting institutional innovations so as to facilitate policy coordination and linkage of plans in the fields of law, science and technology, finance, business and people's livelihood within the Greater Bay Area. 
By Trend

Turkiye and Azerbaijan are cooperating, in the sphere of space, in the construction of satellites and connection of large telescopes into one, President of the Turkish Space Agency (TUA) Serdar Huseyin Yildirim told Trend.

According to him, this cooperation is based on the Turkish National Space Program adopted in 2021.

"We have other areas of cooperation within the framework of this document. Our cooperation with Azerbaijan in the sphere of space is very successful. We aim to continue it on new projects," Yildirim said.

He also noted that cooperation is also carried out within the framework of the Organization of Turkic States.

"The International Astronautical Congress will be held in Baku in 2023, and it may be held in Turkiye in 2025," he added.
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa answers questions about the BRICS partnership during a media briefing in Cape Town, South Africa, on June 10, 2022. Ramaphosa on Friday said his country wants to see a "greater and deeper partnership" with other members of BRICS, an "attractive" bloc that many other countries have confidence in. (Photo by Xabiso Mkhabela/Xinhua)

CAPE TOWN, June 10 (Xinhua) -- South African President Cyril Ramaphosa on Friday said his country wants to see a "greater and deeper partnership" with other members of BRICS, an "attractive" bloc that many other countries have confidence in.

Ramaphosa made the remarks when responding to questions about the BRICS partnership during a media briefing in Cape Town. He especially spoke highly of the partnership between China and South Africa, saying China is "a country which we have a strategic relationship at the highest level," and that the relationship has strengthened over times and spans the cooperation in a number of areas.

The president also said China "came in very handy" for South Africa during "the most dangerous period of COVID" when South Africa didn't have a large number of personal protective equipment (PPE). China opened up "really wonderful" processes in supplying PPE and giving financial support after the engagement between the leaders of the two countries.

China not only supported South Africa but also assisted the African continent through the Africa Medical Supplies Platform, which was launched by the African Union to address the supply shortages in Africa's fight against the COVID-19 pandemic, said Ramaphosa.

The platform, with China's support, "helps to reduce the prices a great deal for PPE, in terms of masks, sanitizers, ventilators and a number of other medical supplies," he said.

The partnership between the two countries has been "deep," "meaningful," "effective" and has been "largely beneficial to us as a South Africa, and also broadly to our continent," he added.

The media briefing took place in the parliament precinct after the president replied to a debate by lawmakers at the National Assembly, the lower house, about the Presidency Budget Vote.

The president expected to see great improvement in the partnership with China in the areas of trade relations, infrastructure development, and "basically in helping each other, particularly China as it is the second-largest economy in the world, supporting our whole process of development," he said.

Regarding the expansion of BRICS, Ramaphosa said, "a number of other countries want to join in BRICS speaks volumes about the confidence that many of other countries are having in BRICS."

"They see BRICS as a wonderful forward-looking alternative to the current blocs that exist in the country, and people see BRICS as a very attractive bloc, political bloc, economy bloc or formation in the world and that in itself is something positive," he said.

Speaking of this year's BRICS Leaders' Meeting, Ramaphosa expected the summit to do a proper survey of the geopolitical situation in the world and be able to see how best BRICS nations can continue with their programs of fostering development and multilateral system in the world that is going to support the advancement of the prosperity of the people in the world.

South Africa will also be looking forward to the support and progress in the BRICS vaccination center in the country, as well as deepening and broadening the trade between the BRICS countries, he said.

BRICS groups Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa. 
John Chipman, Director-General and Chief Executive of the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS), attends the 19th Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore on June 11, 2022.

The 19th Shangri-La Dialogue, hosted by the IISS, opened here Friday evening after a two-year COVID-19 pandemic hiatus.

Important topics on the agenda of the dialogue include China's vision on regional order, geopolitical competition control, and climate and maritime security. (Photo by Then Chih Wey/Xinhua)

SINGAPORE, June 11 (Xinhua) -- The 19th Shangri-La Dialogue, hosted by International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS), opened here Friday evening after a two-year COVID-19 pandemic hiatus.

Leading the Chinese delegation to the dialogue, Chinese State Councilor and Minister of National Defense Wei Fenghe will address a plenary session on Sunday.

He is expected to introduce China's policy, principles and actions on safeguarding true multilateralism, regional peace and stability, and building a shared future for humanity.

Wei, on the sidelines of the dialogue, are to meet heads of other delegations on international and regional situation, as well as bilateral cooperation on defense and security.

Important topics on the agenda of the dialogue include China's vision on regional order, geopolitical competition control, and climate and maritime security.

Since its launch in 2002 by the British think tank IISS with the support of the Singaporean government, the Shangri-La Dialogue, officially known as the Asia Security Summit, has been held annually except for 2020 and 2021. 
SINGAPORE, June 10 (Xinhua) -- Chinese State Councilor and Defense Minister Wei Fenghe and U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin agreed on Friday to enhance strategic mutual trust and properly manage differences between the militaries of the two countries.

The two defense chiefs, who met here on the sidelines of the 19th Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore, agreed that the two militaries should implement the important consensus reached by their heads of state, maintain high-level strategic communication, and should not turn differences into conflict and confrontation.

Wei said currently peace and development, the underlying trends of our times, are facing severe challenges. The Global Development Initiative and the Global Security Initiative proposed by Chinese President Xi Jinping have charted the right course for humanity to overcome crises, and peace and stability in the Asia-Pacific demands the joint efforts of regional countries.

He said China hopes to build a major-country relationship with the United States featuring sound and stable development, which should be the direction of joint efforts by both countries.

The United States should view China's development and growth in a rational way, and refrain from attacking, smearing, containing and suppressing China. It must neither interfere in China's internal affairs nor harm China's interests, Wei said, noting that only in this way can the relations between China and the United States proceed toward positive outcomes.

Stable relations between the two militaries are crucial for the development of relations between the two countries, he said, adding that the two militaries should avoid conflict and confrontation.

Wei stressed that Taiwan is an inalienable part of China, and the one-China principle is the political foundation of China-U.S. relationship.

The scheme to use Taiwan to contain China is doomed to fail, he said.

China firmly opposes and strongly condemns a recent announcement by the United States on arms sales to Taiwan, which seriously undermines China's sovereignty and security interests, Wei said, warning that the Chinese government and military will resolutely foil any attempt for "Taiwan independence" and safeguard national unification.

The two sides also exchanged views on issues related to the international and regional situation, the South China Sea and the Ukraine crisis. 
POMPEII, Italy, June 10 (Xinhua) -- Prowling the streets of the ancient Roman city of Pompeii, and supporting its staff carrying out their duties, a four-legged robot is the latest resource deployed here on the frontline of conservation and restoration project.

Dubbed SPOT, the dog-like robot in yellow and black is among the several new technological and digital tools being tested by the Pompeii Archaeological Park to gather data, inspect structures' stability, and upgrade the protection system of one of the jewels of Italy's cultural heritages.

"We are testing SPOT on specific cases related to the monitoring of the archaeological structures," Alberto Bruni, chief of the project Smart@Pompeii, told Xinhua in a recent interview.

He explained that since SPOT could move autonomously on different kinds of terrain, it could take up routine patrolling activities, inspect locations difficult to access, and collect data in a safe manner.

"It is (part of) a very advanced system we have been developing, which integrates different monitoring systems comprising human inspection by archaeologists and experts and the use of sensors and of various other instruments," Bruni said.

The ancient Pompeii was destroyed by a catastrophic eruption of Mount Vesuvius (near modern Naples) in 79 A.D.

Today its ruins -- added to UNESCO's World Heritage list in 1997 -- sprawl across some 66 hectares (50 hectares of which are excavated).

Bruni said the archaeological park was "too vast to be monitored through human activities only."

Thus, since late 2021, technological solutions were being brought in and tested in order to help improve the quality of monitoring of existing areas.

"The dog robot allows us to explore the underground structures that are too unsafe or extremely difficult for humans to enter," archaeologist Gabriel Zuchtriegel, director general of Pompeii archaeological site since 2021, told Xinhua.

"For example, we can use it in the tunnels created by illegal excavations, which unfortunately still take place and against which we have a counter-activity agreement with the Torre Annunziata Prosecution Office," Zuchtriegel explained.

The dog robot was being used at the Pompeii Archaeological Park alongside other new technologies such as the LEICA BLK2FLY, a Flying Laser Scanner capable of autonomously carrying out three-dimensional (3D) scanning.

Those technologies are aimed at making Pompeii a "smart" archaeological site, both in terms of conservation and safety and in terms of easy accessibility.

"Latest advances in the world of robotics, in the form of artificial intelligence and so-called autonomous systems, have produced solutions and innovations that are typically associated with the industrial and manufacturing world," Zuchtriegel noted in a statement earlier this year.

It is hoped that those technologies would mark "a very interesting phase in the history of Pompeii," the director said. 
MOSCOW, June 10 (Xinhua) -- Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin signed an order on Friday authorizing the country's withdrawal from the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO).

The proposal was made by the Russian Foreign Ministry, which had reached an agreement with relevant government bodies, according to the published order.

UNWTO members voted to suspend Russia from the organization on April 27, when the Russian delegation announced its withdrawal.

Later that day, the Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement that the UNWTO was monopolized by the European Union countries, "which use it in their own interests." Moscow criticized the "politicization" of the UNWTO's activities and the "discrimination" against Russia. 
LANCASTER, Britain, June 11 (Xinhua) -- China's Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) offers massive opportunities for China-Britain cooperation in areas like business, climate change, personnel exchanges, education and tourism, experts said here during a three-day conference concluded on Friday.

The Interdisciplinary Conference on the BRI, bringing together academic experts, practitioners and business leaders, opened in British Lancaster University on Wednesday, during which attendees discussed and studied the impacts of the BRI from different perspectives.

"I think one of the wonderful things about the BRI is the focus on people-to-people exchanges, supporting education and tourism ... These things are very important if we're going to be able to get on as a global community," Ollie Shiell, chief executive of UK National Committee on China, told Xinhua.

"It's very clear to me that the UK and China agree about more things than they disagree," Shiell said, adding "What we should be doing is focusing on those areas of cooperation, on climate change for example."

David Percival, chair of Manchester-China Forum, said he believes that the BRI's green commitment can help countries to deal with global issues.

"I'm very positive about the greening of the BRI, and I'm very positive about building a good understanding of BRI in the UK, so we can figure out how to work with China on key issues like climate change," Percival told Xinhua on the sidelines of the conference.

"There are complementary opportunities between the UK and China," he said, adding that Chinese enterprises can play an important role in British local economy, through developing crucial infrastructure projects and creating many job opportunities.

"Don't think the BRI is something a long way from the UK. It's not. The engagement and understanding of China and China initiatives works very well for us," said Percival in a speech on Wednesday.

He predicted, "the greening of the BRI ... is going to be a massive business opportunity."

At the opening ceremony of the interdisciplinary conference, Zheng Xiyuan, China's consul general in Manchester, abbreviated the BRI new features to an acronym "GIVE", which stands for "green," "innovation," "visibility" and "education."

Professor Zeng Jinghan, head of the Lancaster University Belt and Road Initiative Research Consortium (LUBRIC), told Xinhua that "there is a broad consensus among British academics, industry leaders that the UK needs to understand more about the BRI, which will have a huge impact on the future of the world."

"The BRI has significant political, social, legal and environmental implications," noted Zeng. "People in the British financial sector are very interested in the BRI, because they think it brings a lot of business opportunities." 
NEW YORK, June 11 (Xinhua) -- Americans' search interest in firearms surged in nearly every congressional district after mass shooting at an elementary school in Uvalde, Texas, news portal Axios reported this week.

The report said such increased search interest shown by Google Trends data reflects Americans' intense concerns around gun violence and school safety after the mass shooting at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, which left 19 children and two teachers dead in May.

According to the recent report, "firearms" was the second or third most searched topic in 409 of 435 districts during the week when the mass shooting happened.

The latest data from the Gun Violence Archive indicate that there have already been more than 250 mass shootings in the United States this year. 
HAVANA, June 10 (Xinhua) -- Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel on Friday said the 9th Summit of the Americas held in the U.S. city of Los Angeles from June 6-10 was not exactly what its organizers expected.

"I would ask you to share our most sincere appreciation with the governments of the region that firmly opposed the exclusions of Cuba, Venezuela and Nicaragua from the Summit of the Americas," he said in a message to participants in the Peoples' Summit for Democracy.

Starting from 2005, "unionists, activists, grassroots organizations and progressive people of the Americas" traditionally call for a People's Summit "to counter" the Summit of the Americas, according to its official website.

Highlighting the support given by a group of Latin American and Caribbean governments, the president said that the exclusion of Cuba and the U.S.-led sanctions against its people were rejected during this year's Summit of the Americas.

"North America is not the enemy. The North America of workers, indigenous populations and immigrants, who have also been excluded, not only once but day after day, by the merciless empire of the market; that North America that you are showing to us, a rebellious, insubordinate, pro-active and fraternal North America, is our natural sister (and it) is not, and will never be, our enemy," Diaz-Canel said.

"Thank you for giving voice to the excluded. Thank you for painting the horizon with hope. Thank you for ratifying to us, once again, that a better world is possible," he added in the message. 
LOS ANGELES, June 10 (Xinhua) -- The life expectancy of Native Americans in the United States dropped by a shocking 4.7 years during the COVID-19 pandemic, about three times that of whites and by far the most of any ethnic group, according to a new research of the University of Colorado Boulder.

The study also found that the United States experienced even higher death rates in 2021, while its peer countries around the world appeared to rebound from a historic 2020 dip in life expectancy.

"With the wide availability of vaccines in the United States, there was a lot of optimism that 2021 would look better than 2020," said co-author Ryan Masters, an associate professor of sociology, in a university release on Thursday.

"That did not happen. The U.S. didn't take COVID seriously to the extent that other countries did, and we paid a horrific price for it, with black and brown people suffering the most," he said. 
BELGRADE: Following their conversation on the Ukraine war, Chancellor Olaf Scholz disagreed on the importance of imposing sanctions on Russia.

Vucic told a press conference after their discussion that Merkel asked Serbia to join Western sanctions against Russia "in a definite, unambiguous, and severe manner," and even offered assistance in the creation of energy capacity.

"I spoke about our position, and the specific situation that Serbia has around Kosovo and Metohija province," the President was quoted as saying by the Xinhua report, referring to Serbia's southern province, which declared independence unilaterally in 2008 after being heavily bombarded by NATO in 1999.

"We love the integrity of Serbia as much as you love the integrity of Ukraine," he said, recalling Russia's UN Security Council backing for Serbia's territorial integrity, Serbia-Russian longstanding friendship, and energy cooperation. Serbia takes a different stance on the need to put sanctions on Russia.

"We Serbians remember what sanctions are like, but we've had a different kind of relationship with Russia for generations." Scholz reiterated Germany's support for Serbia's membership in the European Union (EU), saying that "all (EU) membership aspirants should join those penalties."

Germans calls for saving energy amid rocketing energy prices

Hungary's stunning victory in the Nations League gave a crushing defeat to England

Ukrainian, German Foreign Ministers discuss heavy weapon supplies
By Trend

Azerbaijan's Small and Medium Business Development Agency (SMBDA) is holding meetings with local and foreign businessmen to expand ties and implement new business initiatives, the agency told Trend.

As the agency noted, Chairman of SMBDA Management Board Orkhan Mammadov met with Head of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) in Azerbaijan Kamola Makhmudova.

The meeting noted the successful cooperation between the agency and the EBRD within the technical assistance project, and expressed interest in expanding this cooperation.

Moreover the sides exchanged views on supporting initiatives in digital and green economy, public-private partnerships, enhancing opportunities for financing SMEs, as well as participating in various programs and projects of the EBRD.
After marrying Alia Bhatt, Ranbir Kapoor has arrived in Spain these days. Ranbir Kapoor is not alone in Spain, but he is accompanied by Shraddha Kapoor. Shraddha and Ranbir have arrived in Spain in connection with the shooting of their upcoming film. Ranbir's video from the sets of the film has also surfaced, which is going viral on social media.

Ranbir who has gone shirtless: Whether Ranbir Kapoor is in India or in Spain, there are people who keep a close eye on him. That's why a great video from the sets of his upcoming movie has started going viral. In the video, Ranbir Kapoor is seen shirtless in the river, where he is accompanied by Shraddha Kapoor. Being shirtless, Ranbir is seen romancing Shraddha.

Along with Ranbir-Shraddha, the crew members of the movie can also be seen. It is being said that this viral video is from the romantic song of Luv Ranjan's film. Their fans are looking very happy to see Ranbir and Shraddha together. So, as soon as you see, this video has been shared in many places on the internet. Earlier, another video of Ranbir-Shraddha had surfaced, in which the two are seen dancing on the streets of Spain.

Ranbir-Shraddha to be seen together for the first time: According to media reports, this is the first time that Ranbir Kapoor and Shraddha Kapoor are going to be seen together on screen. People are going to be very excited about the movie being made under the direction of Luv Ranjan. Reports say that Boney Kapoor will be seen playing the role of Ranbir's father in the movie. Apart from Boney Kapoor, Dimple Kapadia will also be seen playing an important role in the film.

Nagarjuna's first look from Brahmastra revealed, showing a different avatar

Mahima Chaudhary returned to the set wearing a wig, a new video went viral

Katrina sent arjun a mango so the actor did this work
Russian invaders regrouping troops for offensive on Slovyansk and Siversk, says Ukraine's General Staff 11 June, 12:55 PM Ukrainian military near the front line in Donetsk oblast (illustrative photo) (Photo:REUTERS/Serhii Nuzhnenko/File Photo)

Invading Russian forces are regrouping troops and replenishing ammunition and fuel supplies in preparation for an offensive on the towns of Slovyansk and Siversk in the Donbas, Ukraine's General Staff said in a Facebook post on June 11.

"(The enemy) is conducting assault operations in the direction of Pasika  Bohorodychne. It is successful, (and is) trying to gain a foothold on the northwestern outskirts of Bohorodychne," the Ukrainian military said.

It is noted that in the Volyn and Polissya directions up to seven battalions of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Belarus continue to carry out tasks to strengthen the Ukrainian-Belarusian border in the Brest and Gomel regions.

 

The General Staff said that Belarus had extended the terms of these tasks, namely: to carry out an inspection of the combat readiness of the Belarusian armed forces until June 18, as well as closing airspace over the southern part of Belarus until July 8.

In the Siversky area, the enemy continues to hold up to three battalion tactical groups from the Western Military District on the Russian-Ukrainian border in the Bryansk and Kursk regions.

In the Kharkiv area, the enemy's main efforts are focused on defending and preventing a further advance of Ukrainian troops to the state border.

The General Staff says that in the Severodonetsk area, the enemy is advancing in the direction of Novotoshkivske  Orikhove.

"(The enemy) has had partial success, is gaining a foothold on the northern outskirts of the village of Orikhove, (and) is continuing to carry out assault operations in the town of Severodonetsk," the report says.

In the Bakhmut area, the invaders are regrouping in order to attack Mykolaivka and Komyshuvakha.

In the Avdiyivka, Kurakhove, Novopavlivske and Zaporizhzhya areas, the enemy is actively using aircraft and artillery to prevent Ukrainian troops from transferring reserves to other directions.

In the South Buh area, the aggressor focuses on conducting positional defense.

"The enemy is taking measures to improve the fortification equipment in the second and third lines of defense, fortified checkpoints made of reinforced concrete structures are located near the bridges across the North Crimean Canal," the military said.

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There is no question that digital platforms may be used for good when it comes to helping women who survive abuse.

For example, internet usage has increased and this has led to a rise in the non-consensual posting of photographs aimed to humiliate, threaten and control girls and women. Online abuse must be addressed immediately, and technology must be turned around and used for good, including in the preparedness and response to gender-based violence.

Particularly, in this Covid era, women and girls must take the initiative and work together to design safe technologies and digital platforms to combat gender-based violence. There has to be a focus on the rights, needs and interests of those who have been abused. In no way, shape, or form, should the methods we use to put women and girls in danger.

With regards to Nepal, technology has played a major role in strengthening womens empowerment; particularly, by providing access to information and communications, and allowing them to be active participants in society. Thus, it is possible to harness the power of digital platforms and technology in a positive way in many different ways.

Lets discuss instances of digital platforms and apps that are being utilised to combat gender-based assault and advance gender equality in Nepal.

Building capacity

Nepals technology landscape has changed the lives of women in Nepal over the past decade by making information and communications more widely available and allowing them to be more active participants in society.

Photo: Pexels/ Ketut Subiyanto

A users risk of violence can be reduced by using digital platforms to raise awareness and education. Web-based platforms and co-creating spaces have been designed to enable Nepali women to share their stories to record the immediate and long-term impact of sexual violence. By giving women a platform to tell their stories, co-creating spaces aim to eradicate gender-based and other forms of discrimination by empowering the survivors of sexual violence and giving them a safe space to heal. Podcasts like The Slice of Life and Boju Bajai are a few examples.

The Slice of Life episodes also explore the most challenging problem women face in Nepal: domestic violence. Boju Bajai, a social podcast in Nepal also helps in supporting women affected by abuse. Generally, the role of technology has been used for capacity building of women in terms of gaining access to information and using it in their own ways and fighting for what they need.

Safe spaces

There are several ways in which virtual safe spaces can be used, even when there is a lack of access to resources in the real world. Girls in disaster-affected areas have been given access to virtual safe spaces (VSS), which contain educational materials on topics such as gender-based abuse, reproductive and sexual health, self-care, and women empowerment.

The VSS can be reworked and expanded to better serve women throughout the world, based on the lessons learned. UNICEF also aims to see bold achievements in meeting these requirements. Digital platforms are now available to help women and girls who are being subjected to or witnessing online abuse get the help they need.

Guide and safety net

The GBV e-pocket guide software offers humanitarian workers knowledge on how to effectively serve survivors even if there is no GBV specialist or resource accessible. UNICEF worked with grassroots womens groups in Malaysia with specific experience and trust to make the handbook relevant and interpret it into Bahasa Indonesia and Mandarin.

UNICEF is also including discreet knowledge and referrals for persons who are seeking support or reporting danger or violence. When users utilise chatbots and type in terms like rape, attack, or afraid, the chatbots will be designed to automatically send out GBV and psychological assistance information, including specifics on where to get it. The GBV communitys ethical norms and regulations must be included in digital platforms while ensuring digital safety and privacy in Nepal.

Changing attitudes

Improved GBV service delivery, reach and response quality are made possible by technological advancements on digital platforms. The GBV case management software, Primero/GBVIMS+, is free and open-sourced. Survivors of disasters like Covid benefit from this system that incorporates a smartphone website and allows caseworkers and managers to collaborate remotely while also collecting data in a safe and private manner.

Representational image. Photo: Pixabay/ Vishnu_Kv

The technology has been used, for instance, in Timor-Leste and Indonesia. One such app, ROSA, provides crucial education and knowledge sharing for those who work with survivors of gender-based violence and their families. For sexual assault survivors, Medicapt is a smartphone app that records and safely transmits evidence in the case that may be used in court. Other digital platforms and apps allow survivors to record incidents of abuse in a form that is both safe and secure, as well as legally acceptable.

As such, these new forms of cyber justice are actually manifestations of collective justice. When survivors of sexual abuse speak out and create safe online forums to seek help, they may also urge others to come out and do the same. The only way to keep the light on is to keep speaking the truth.

Conclusion

The possibilities for using digital platforms and technology to enhance online safety, reduce risks, and respond to GBV are virtually limitless. We must guarantee that technology is available and secure to women and girls in order to close the technological gender divide.

The technology industry must be involved, made accountable, and urged to increase accessibility and include sexual assault prevention and response tactics into their programmes in order to achieve the scale of change required.

The lives and reality of girls and women must be taken into account while building digital platform-based solutions so that we can better grasp the dangers they face. As technology advances, we need to retain a focus on women and girls, invest in safe technology, and keep looking for new approaches to eradicate gender-based violence.

As the need for continuous empowerment of women and girls grows, the Nepal government and civil society must improve their efforts to assist their empowerment.
Description

The Roosevelt School and the Society of Presidential Descendants today announced they will host an inaugural gala, honoring Doris Kearns Goodwin, a leading presidential historian, Pulitzer Prize winner and New York Times #1 best-selling author, for her career achievements.

The inaugural event will be held on June 11 at the LIU Post campus in Brookville. The schedule of events includes:

Panel discussions led by the Society of Presidential Descendants entitled Living in the White House, featuring personal stories of the Descendants ancestors and reflections on their leadership.

Symposium titled What You Dont Know About Theodore Roosevelt on the personal life and legacy of President Theodore Roosevelt hosted by his great-grandson Tweed Roosevelt, president and co-founder of The Society of Presidential Descendants, and chairman and professor at The Roosevelt School.

Long Island University is a national leader in presidential studies, service learning, and civic education, said University President Kimberly R. Cline. Our ambitious academic and research agenda provides opportunities for students to grow as thought leaders and innovators who will serve and inspire their communities.

The Gala will take place inside the White House Experience at The Roosevelt School, featuring replicas of the executive mansions most famous rooms.

The gala will be a unique opportunity for participants to hear personal stories direct from family members about their presidential ancestors, said Tweed Roosevelt. We are proud to honor Doris Kearns Goodwin and bring together such renowned leaders to educate and encourage students to shape the future of our country.

For more information about the event, visit https://community.liu.edu/sopd_gala_2022.

The Society of Presidential Descendants includes direct descendants of one or more United States presidents who support the study of the presidency and advocate for civic engagement. The partnership between The Roosevelt School and Society of Presidential Descendants has garnered national recognition for:

Founding National Civics Day, celebrated each year on October 27

Awarding the prestigious Biennial Presidential Leadership Book Award in October 2021 to Ted Widmer, author of Lincoln on the Verge: Thirteen Days to Washington

Hosting members of the Society as distinguished lecturers during the Roosevelt Conference on Leadership and Service

The Roosevelt School includes the Theodore Roosevelt Institute, a nexus for public seminars, research, and educational programs to develop leaders and advance policy while promoting the legacy of President Roosevelt; the Steven S. Hornstein Center for Policy, Polling, and Analysis, which conducts independent polling, empirical research, and analysis on a wide range of public issues; and the Global Service Institute, which brings together world leaders, dynamic thinkers and top analysts to empower service innovation and education for a sustainable world.
mphillips007 / Getty Images/iStockphoto

Social Security is an essential safety net for many Americans. Even if you haven't saved enough for retirement, you can still count on Social Security benefits in retirement.

Read More: 15 Worst States To Live on Just a Social Security Check

Learn: 6 Signs You Can't Afford To Retire

However, with an average monthly benefit of just over $1,600, America's most expensive cities are far out of reach without another source of income. If you do have to rely on your Social Security benefits alone -- and still want to make the most of your golden years -- you'll need to live somewhere affordable that won't compromise your quality of life.

That's why GOBankingRates compiled a list of the 20 best cities to live off of just Social Security. The study factored in the cost of living, livability and median rent and -- after comparing the 177 largest cities in the U.S. -- combined the scores to determine where you really can get by on just your Social Security benefit. Read on to find out which cities made the list.

DenisTangneyJr / Getty Images/iStockphoto

20. Evansville, Indiana

Cost of Living Score: 78.5

Livability Score: 58

Average Rent: $786.75

Evansville is one of three Indiana cities identified in the study as a good place to live just on Social Security. Its relatively low livability score and rent of more than $780 per month prevented it from moving up on the list.

Poll: How Much Do You Expect To Spend on Travel This Summer?

DenisTangneyJr / iStock.com

19. Hattiesburg, Mississippi

Cost of Living Score: 82.7

Livability Score: 62

Average Rent: $798.25

Hattiesburg's cost of living indicates that you can expect to spend almost 18% less on your basic expenses than you would in the rest of the country, on average.

Sean Pavone / Getty Images/iStockphoto

18. Wichita, Kansas

Cost of Living Score: 82.1

Livability Score: 60

Average Rent: $719

If you're younger and looking to avoid living off your Social Security check alone when you reach retirement, one of the best ways is to start saving early. However, even if it's too late to build the sort of nest egg you would like, a city like Wichita -- which combines modest rent with a low cost of living -- should help you make the most of your Social Security benefits.

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ReDunnLev / Getty Images/iStockphoto

17. South Bend, Indiana

Cost of Living Score: 68.4

Livability Score: 57

Average Rent: $754.50

In South Bend, you'll pay nearly 30% less in your cost of living expenses than the rest of the United States, which means your Social Security check can go a lot further here.

Jacob Boomsma / Shutterstock.com

16. Beaumont, Texas

Cost of Living Score: 78.3

Livability Score: 63

Average Rent: $786.25

Beaumont's livability score is higher than many other cities on this list, which might account for its slightly higher rent, too. However, you're still paying more than 20% less in cost of living than other cities in the U.S.

CRobertson / Getty Images

15. Greenville, North Carolina

Cost of Living Score: 84.1

Livability Score: 75

Average Rent: $792

The average rent cost in Roanoke is the fourth-highest on the list, but its lower cost of living and high livability rates make it desirable for retirees. If you wanted supplement your Social Security earnings, Roanoke is a good place to do it. Another GOBankingRates study showed it's one of the top 20 cities for remote workers.

peeterv / Getty Images

14. Topeka, Kansas

Cost of Living Score: 79

Livability Score: 61

Average Rent: $708

With an affordable rent, a decent livability score, and a cost of living score that means you'll pay less than the national average, this midwestern city is positioned to be a great place to live on only a Social Security check.

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13. Williston, North Dakota

Cost of Living Score: 97.8

Livability Score: 72

Average Rent: $749.50

Williston is one of three cities on this list in North Dakota. At $749.50, rent in Williston is on the higher side of cities on this list, but it's still less expensive to live here than elsewhere.

SeanPavonePhoto / Getty Images

12. Shreveport, Louisiana

Cost of Living Score: 77.5

Livability Score: 65

Average Rent: $772

The Southern city of Shreveport, Louisiana is one of two cities based on the state. While this one is a little high on the rent, keeping it lower on the list, you're paying about 22% less in cost of living here, making your check stretch.

shuttersv / Shutterstock.com

11. Fayetteville, Arkansas

Cost of Living Score: 92.9

Livability Score: 72

Average Rent: $770

Fayetteville is another solid Southern city to call home if you're living on a fixed income. With a high livability score, and moderate rent, anyone on Social Security should be able to make a good life here.

Ron_Thomas / iStock.com

10. Toledo, Ohio

Cost of Living Score: 72.7

Livability Score: 62

Average Rent: $710.50

Toledo's cost of living indicates that you can expect to spend more than 25% less on your basic expenses than you would in the rest of the country, on average. What's more, Toledo is one of the cities where your money stretches the furthest, according to a separate GOBankingRates study.

DenisTangneyJr / Getty Images

9. Lubbock, Texas

Cost of Living Score: 79.9

Livability Score: 68

Average Rent: $746.50

Lubbock is one of four Texas cities identified in the study as a good place to live just on Social Security. With a decent livability score and cost of living score, even rent of more than $740 per month can't keep this from being a great place to live on a fixed income.

Shutterstock.com

8. Davenport, Iowa

Cost of Living Score: 81.7

Livability Score: 69

Average Rent: $731.25

It costs about 19% less to live in Davenport than the average American city. Its relatively high (for this list) average rent of $731.25 per month and its livability score of just 69, pull it down from the top spot on the list.

Sean Pavone / Getty Images/iStockphoto

7. Akron, Ohio

Cost of Living Score: 69.5

Livability Score: 62

Average Rent: $679.50

The city of Akron has a lot to offer, not only in a low cost of living, that is more than 30% less than the rest of the country, a decent rent under $700 per month, but lots of natural and cultural attractions.

DenisTangneyJr / Getty Images/iStockphoto

6. Odessa, Texas

Cost of Living Score: 88

Livability Score: 63

Average Rent: $510.50

The primary appeal of Odessa to retirees is the low cost of rent. At $510.50 per month, it's the cheapest in the study - and by a wide margin. A low cost of living makes up for it's relatively low livability score, as well.

DenisTangneyJr / Getty Images

5. Fargo, North Dakota

Cost of Living Score: 91.9

Livability Score: 76

Average Rent: $782

Despite one of the higher average monthly rents on this list, Fargo is one of the best cities to live in on a fixed income, according to another GOBankingRates study. That should appeal to those relying on Social Security.

DenisTangneyJr / Getty Images

4. Grand Forks, North Dakota

Cost of Living Score: 88.2

Livability Score: 74

Average Rent: $682

Grand Forks is the northernmost city on the list, and one of three in North Dakota. At $682, rent in Grand Forks is at the midpoint, but it's still 11% less expensive to live here than elsewhere.

ChrisBoswell / Getty Images/iStockphoto

3. Fort Wayne, Indiana

Cost of Living Score: 78.9

Livability Score: 75

Average Rent: $792.75

Fort Wayne is a little pricier than many of the other cities on this list, but it still is among one of the best cities in the nation to retire on a Social Security check, found a separate GOBankingRates study.

travelview / Shutterstock.com

2. Lake Charles, Louisiana

Cost of Living Score: 83.4

Livability Score: 70

Average Rent: $608

For retirees interested in living near the water, with all of the recreational opportunities that brings - think fishing! - there's good news: Lake Charles has the third-lowest rent cost of the cities considered in this study.

DenisTangneyJr / Getty Images/iStockphoto

1. McAllen, Texas

Cost of Living Score: 78.6

Livability Score: 81

Average Rent: $592.75

McAllen Texas holds the number one spot on this list for retiring on a Social Security check because it has a high livability score, the second lowest rent on this list and a cost of living score that's still nearly 12% lower than the rest of the U.S.

More From GOBankingRates

Jordan Rosenfeld and Joel Anderson contributed to the reporting for this article.

Methodology: GOBankingRates determined the best places to live on only a Social Security check based on the (1) average monthly benefit for retired workers, $1,619.67, sourced from Social Security Administration; (2) the overall cost of living in each city, sourced from Sperling's Best Places; (3) average 2022 rent for a one bedroom apartment as sourced from ApartmentList; and (4) livability scores sourced from Areavibes. Factors (2) through (4) were scored and combined with the lowest score being best. Factor (4) was weighted double in final calculations. All data was collected and is up to date as of May 23, 2022.

This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: 20 Best Places To Live on Only a Social Security Check
NEW YORK, June 11, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- As per the Zion Market Research study, The global silicone adhesives and sealants market attained a revenue growth of USD 4.52 billion in 2021 and is projected to expand with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of approximately 5.1 percent over the forecast period to reach around USD 5.89 billion by 2028. The research examines in-depth parent market trends, macroeconomic factors & indicators, and controlling variables, as well as market attractiveness by segment. The qualitative influence of key market variables on market segments and regions is also mapped in the report.

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Key Industry Insights & Findings of the Tissue Sealants and Tissue Adhesive Market Reports:

As per the analysis shared by our research analyst, the Tissue Sealants and Tissue Adhesive Market is expected to grow annually at a CAGR of around 5.1 % (2022-2028).

Through the primary research, it was established that the Cognitive and Memory Enhancer Drugs Market was valued at approximately USD 4.52 Billion in 2021 and is projected to reach roughly USD 5.89 Billion by 2028.

The Asia Pacific region holds over 45 percent share and is expected to keep its dominance during the forecast period. Due to expanding domestic demand, escalating income levels, and easy access to resources, Asia Pacific has emerged as one of the top manufacturers and consumers of adhesives and sealants.

Asia Pacific region's economic growth, especially in emerging markets like India, Malaysia, Taiwan, Thailand, Indonesia, and Vietnam, is contributing to a rise in the number of infrastructure investments, which is anticipated to boost the demand for silicone adhesives and sealants in the building and construction industry.

North America has also emerged as a major revenue contributor in the global market with a market share of 35 percent.

Zion Market Research published the latest report titled "Silicone Adhesives And Sealants Market By Type (One-Component And Two-Component), By End-User Industry (Transportation, Building & Construction, Electrical & Electronics, Healthcare, Packaging, And Other End-User Industries), And By Region  Global And Regional Industry Overview, Market Intelligence, Comprehensive Analysis, Historical Data, And Forecasts 2022  2028" into their research database.

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Tissue Sealants and Tissue Adhesive Market: Overview

Silicone adhesives and sealants are adhesives with silicon and oxygen atoms that are used to seal or attach substrates in an assembly. Its chemical makeup differs from that of other organic polymer-based adhesives. Other chemicals, moisture, and weathering are all resistant to silicone sealants. Silicone sealants are frequently used to join surfaces including plastic, metal, and glass. Silicone adhesives, which are based on electrometric technology, provide unrivaled flexibility and exceptional heat resistance, making them superlative for several applications in the electronic, electrical, aerospace, automotive, and construction sectors.

Get a Free Sample Report with All Related Graphs & Charts (with COVID 19 Impact Analysis): https://www.zionmarketresearch.com/sample/silicone-adhesives-and-sealants-market

Our Free Sample Report Includes:

2022 Updated Report Introduction, Overview, and In-depth industry analysis

COVID-19 Pandemic Outbreak Impact Analysis Included

188 + Pages Research Report (Inclusion of Updated Research)

Provide Chapter-wise guidance on Request

2022 Updated Regional Analysis with Graphical Representation of Size, Share & Trends

Includes an Updated List of tables & figures

Updated Report Includes Top Market Players with their Business Strategy, Sales Volume, and Revenue Analysis

Zion Market Research methodology

Industry Dynamics:

Tissue Sealants and Tissue Adhesive Market: Growth Drivers

Increased demand from the building and construction sector may boost market growth.

The residential building sector is being driven by population growth and urbanization in emerging nations such as India, China, Indonesia, Brazil, Vietnam, and Mexico. In these nations, there is a mounting want for lasting housing, which is fueling the requirement for silicone adhesives and sealants. Silicone sealants and adhesives are used in a variety of building applications, including carpet, wallpapers, tiling, and external insulation systems. Insulated glass modules and curtain wall panels are also held in place with adhesives and sealants.

Tissue Sealants and Tissue Adhesive Market: Restraints

Stringent regulations on the use of adhesives and sealants may hamper the market growth.

The manufacture of chemical and crude oil-based goods is heavily regulated in North America and Europe by environmental legislation. The manufacture of solvent-based goods in these regions is regulated by organizations such as the Epoxy Resin Committee and the European Commission. Due to such regulations manufacturers in Europe and North America are suffering. Further, these environmental laws are forcing manufacturers to work on developing environmentally friendly adhesives which may also affect the market growth.

Directly Purchase a Copy of the Report @ https://www.zionmarketresearch.com/buynow/su/silicone-adhesives-and-sealants-market

Global Tissue Sealants and Tissue Adhesive Market: Opportunities

Increasing demand for sustainable and eco-friendly adhesives is likely to offer better growth opportunities for market growth.

The United States Environmental Protection Agency, Registration, Evaluation, Authorization, and Restriction of Chemicals in Europe, Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design in the United States, and other regional regulatory bodies have forced manufacturers of adhesives and sealants to create sustainable and environmentally friendly products with no or low VOC levels. However, manufacturers have benefited greatly from the trend toward more environmentally friendly products. Henkel, a leading adhesives and sealants firm, provides solvent-free solutions including H4710, H4500, H4720, and H3151 that comply with environmental requirements. Sustainable and green adhesive solutions created from recycled, renewable, biodegradable, or remanufactured materials are becoming more popular as the demand for ecologically friendly or green buildings grows. All of these factors are projected to drive opportunities for the global silicone adhesives and sealants market in the coming period.

Global Tissue Sealants and Tissue Adhesive Market: Challenges

A shift in standards and rules poses a major challenge to the market expansion.

In terms of norms and rules, the silicone adhesives and sealants sector is always changing. The Construction Products Regulation (CPR) imposed new regulations for the advertising of construction products in the EU, such as regulation (EU) No 305/2011. Manufacturers must carry an additional burden in terms of labeling and documentation, as well as additional external testing expenses, to verify conformity under the new standards. Additional material warnings concentrating on biocides and waste packaging are issued on a regular basis, causing regulatory requirements to shift. To market, their products, adhesives, and sealants producers must follow the norms and changing requirements. Manufacturers are facing hurdles as a result of this.

Global Tissue Sealants and Tissue Adhesive Market: Segmentation

The global silicone adhesives and sealants market is bifurcated into type, end-use, and region.

Based on type, the market is categorized into one component and two-component. The end-user segment of the market is segregated into building & construction, transportation, healthcare, electrical & electronics, packaging, and others.

Get More Insight before Buying@: https://www.zionmarketresearch.com/inquiry/silicone-adhesives-and-sealants-market

List of Key Players in Tissue Sealants and Tissue Adhesive Market:

3M

ALSTONE

Henkel Corporation

Mc Coy Soudal

Momentive

Dow Corning Corporation

Aerol Formulations Private Limited

MASTERBOND

Sika AG

AVERY DENNISON

ACC Silicones Ltd.

Wacker Chemie AG

Novagard Solutions

American Sealants Inc.

Nitto Denko Corporation.

Key questions answered in this report:

What are the growth rate forecast and market size for Tissue Sealants and Tissue Adhesive Market?

What are the key driving factors propelling the Tissue Sealants and Tissue Adhesive Market forward?

What are the most important companies in the Tissue Sealants and Tissue Adhesive Market Industry?

What segments does the Tissue Sealants and Tissue Adhesive Market cover?

How can I receive a free copy of the Tissue Sealants and Tissue Adhesive Market sample report and company profiles?

Report Scope:

Report Attribute Details Market size value in 2021 USD 4.52 Billion Revenue forecast in 2028 USD 5.89 Billion Growth Rate CAGR of almost 5.1 % 2022-2028 Base Year 2020 Historic Years 2016 - 2021 Forecast Years 2022 - 2028 Segments Covered By Product Type, By Application, and By End Use Forecast Units Value (USD Billion), and Volume (Units) Quantitative Units Revenue in USD million/billion and CAGR from 2022 to 2028 Regions Covered North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America, and Middle East & Africa, and Rest of World Countries Covered U.S., Canada, Mexico, U.K., Germany, France, Italy, Spain, China, India, Japan, South Korea, Brazil, Argentina, GCC Countries, and South Africa, among others Companies Covered 3M, ALSTONE, Henkel Corporation, Mc Coy Soudal, Momentive, Dow Corning Corporation, Aerol Formulations Private Limited, MASTERBOND, Sika AG, AVERY DENNISON, ACC Silicones Ltd., Wacker Chemie AG, Novagard Solutions, American Sealants, Inc., and Nitto Denko Corporation. Report Coverage Market growth drivers, restraints, opportunities, Porter's five forces analysis, PEST analysis, value chain analysis, regulatory landscape, market attractiveness analysis by segments and region, company market share analysis, and COVID-19 impact analysis. Customization Scope Avail of customized purchase options to meet your exact research needs. https://www.zionmarketresearch.com/custom/3453

Free Brochure: https://www.zionmarketresearch.com/requestbrochure/tissue-sealants-and-tissue-adhesive-market

Recent Developments:

August 2021, Arkema has agreed to buy Ashland's Specialty Adhesives business, which is a first-class leader in high-performance adhesives for commercial applications in the US with a distinctive and creative product range. This idea fits in well with the company's goal of becoming a pure specialized adhesive materials company by 2024.

February 2020, Henkel opened its new work site in Kurkumbh, Pune, India. The business unit, which has a total investment of almost USD 57 million, intends to meet the expanding need for high-performance sealants and adhesives surface treatment products in Indian industries. The new facility, which was designed as a smart factory, is capable of a wide variety of Industry 4.0 processes and fulfills the highest sustainability criteria.

November 2020, Full-Care 5885 was created by H.B. Fuller to fulfill the expanding need for natural-based hygiene products in the industry. This adhesive provides excellent performance by providing high-performance 100 percent cotton bonding with reduced application costs.

Regional Dominance:

The Asia Pacific to dominate the global market over the forecast period.

Geographically, Asia Pacific led the global silicone adhesives and sealants market. The region holds over 45 percent share and is expected to keep its dominance during the forecast period. Due to expanding domestic demand, escalating income levels, and easy access to resources, Asia Pacific has emerged as one of the top manufacturers and consumers of adhesives and sealants. One of the largest users of adhesives and sealants in this region is the automobile and transportation industries. Asia Pacific region's economic growth, especially in emerging markets like India, Malaysia, Taiwan, Thailand, Indonesia, and Vietnam, is contributing to a rise in the number of infrastructure investments, which is anticipated to boost the demand for silicone adhesives and sealants in the building and construction industry. North America has also emerged as a major revenue contributor in the global market with a market share of 35 percent.

Global Tissue Sealants and Tissue Adhesive Market is segmented as follows:

Tissue Sealants and Tissue Adhesive Market: By Type Outlook (2022-2028)

One-component

Two-component

Tissue Sealants and Tissue Adhesive Market: By Application Outlook (2022-2028)

Transportation

Building and Construction

Electrical and Electronics

Healthcare

Packaging

Other

Tissue Sealants and Tissue Adhesive Market: By Region Outlook (2022-2028)

North America

The U.S.

Canada

Europe

France

The UK

Spain

Germany

Italy

Rest of Europe

Asia Pacific

China

Japan

India

South Korea

Southeast Asia

Rest of Asia Pacific

Latin America

Brazil

Mexico

Rest of Latin America

Middle East & Africa

GCC

South Africa

Rest of Middle East & Africa

Browse Other Related Research Reports from Zion Market Research

Blow Molded Plastics Market - Global Industry Analysis : The global Blow Molded Plastics Market accrued earnings worth approximately 76.1 (USD Billion) in 2020 and is predicted to gain revenue of about 99.2(USD Billion) by 2028, is set to record a CAGR of nearly 3.5% over the period from 2021 to 2028.

Fatty Esters Market - Global Industry Analysis : The global Fatty Esters Market accrued earnings worth approximately 21.1 (USD Billion) in 2020 and is predicted to gain revenue of about 32.1 (USD Billion) by 2028, is set to record a CAGR of nearly 5.7% over the period from 2021 to 2028.

Composite Adhesives Market - Global Industry Analysis: The global Composite Adhesives Market accrued earnings worth approximately 3.4 (USD Billion) in 2020 and is predicted to gain revenue of about 5.7(USD Billion) by 2028, is set to record a CAGR of nearly 4.2% over the period from 2021 to 2028.

Browse through Zion Market Research's coverage of the Global Chemical & Materials Industry

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Rep. Mo Brooks (R-Ala.) criticized former President Trump for endorsing his Alabama Republican Senate challenger Katie Britt, saying late Friday on Twitter that Donald Trump is the only man in American politics who could get conned by Mitch McConnell twice in an Alabama Senate race.

This is weird: last time Donald Trump talked about Katie Britt, he said she was unqualified for the Senate, Brooks said in a tweet thread.

Lets just admit it: Trump endorses the wrong people sometimes. He endorsed Mitt Romney, he endorsed John McCain and now hes endorsed Katie Britt, who his own son, Don Jr. called Alabamas Liz Cheney, he continued.

Brookss tweets come after Trump earlier Friday evening announced he would endorse Britt, who served as Sen. Richard Shelbys (R-Ala.) chief of staff, in the Alabama Republican primary runoff.

Neither candidate was able to initially clinch at least half the vote, forcing Brooks and Britt into a June 21 primary runoff.

Brooks lost Trumps endorsement earlier this year after he upset the former president for suggesting that people should move on from the 2020 presidential election, which Trump has repeatedly claimed was rigged.

The Senate Leadership Fund, a Republican super PAC with ties to Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), has spent millions of dollars against Brooks.

Since Brooks lost Trumps endorsement, he has campaigned to be reendorsed, but the former presidents Friday announcement effectively nixed any hope that Brooks could secure Trumps backing again.

Alabama grassroots remember in 2017 when Donald Trump and Mitch McConnell got involved in a Senate primary in Alabamaand we rejected them. The people of Alabama will decide, Brooks said Friday.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Instagram

The media director of a major bank has been given the boot after he, ironically, went viral on social media for losing his cool with New York City waitstaff.

Credit Suisse fired Roman Campbell after surveillance footage caught the media and info services director allegedly assaulting a restaurant owner and server, the New York Post reported.

According to the Post, Campbell entered the Shanghai Mong restaurant on June 4 at nearly 2 a.m. to use the restroom. However, the owner, Jane Yi, told Campbell that the restroom was only for customers, which allegedly set him offhe became combative and refused to leave.

In the security footage of the incident, which was posted on Instagram by Yis daughter, Nabs, a man presumed to be Campbell is slumped over as if he is drunk while speaking to Yi, who is wearing a face mask. A man standing behind Campbell seemingly attempts to pull him out of the restaurant but is unsuccessful.

In the next clip, the man is gone, other patrons enter the restaurant, and the video shows that Campbell begins to record the owner after she tells him that the restroom is only for customers. Yi also pulls out her phone to record Campbell, but he tries to snatch it.

Campbell makes his way to the back of Shanghai Mong, where there were other employees, and pushes Yi away from him. A waiter was also hit when he tried to get Campbell out of the area. The video seemingly shows the intruder beating up the waiter. Multiple employees then try to force Campbell out of the room, but Campbell manages to grab and slam Yis phone on the floor. Restaurant customers step in and assist the employees to get Campbell to leave. The video shows that the police were called, but Campbell was not arrested.

The waiter who was hit, Jose Morales, allegedly suffered a bleeding forehead, the Post reported.

A source familiar with matter said that Campbell has been terminated.

Credit Suisse issued a statement to The Daily Beast saying it was aware of the allegations circulating over social media, which occurred off property and are unrelated to Credit Suisse. Credit Suisse maintains and adheres to a policy condemning discrimination, bullying or violence of any kind.

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Yis daughter, Nabs, said she was disappointed with the response by police.

My parents work 7 days a week and they havent taken a vacation in 6 years, Instagram poster @y.nabii wrote in a statement with the video. When the cops came they just talked to the guy and walked away. Our waiters forehead was bleeding after the guy hit his head. He grabbed my moms phone to break it and he didnt get charged for anything.

Yis husband, Tora, told the Post that the event totally traumatized Morales.

Hes afraid to serve anyone whos been drinking now, he said.

Though no arrests have been made, Nabs wrote in an updated Instagram post Friday that police are reviewing the case again after social media users sleuthed to identify the alleged assailant.

[M]y family and I want to thank everyone again for all the support. We truly appreciate everyone reaching out, she said. We couldnt have found [Campbell] if it wasnt for you all.

Read more at The Daily Beast.

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Construction progress is visible at the main entrance of the Byxbe Campus at 1610 state Route 521, a 63.6-acre site that formerly housed the Delaware Area Career Center North Campus.

Work on Delaware County's new Byxbe Campus still is expected to wrap up by August 2023 despite some challenges, county facilities director Jon Melvin told commissioners June 2.

The project is designed to centralize a number of Delaware County government services at one location. County officials have said the Byxbe Campus would provide a "one-stop shop" for the engineering and development services for homeowners, developers and business owners.

The Byxbe Campus is at 1610 state Route 521, a 63.6-acre site that formerly housed the Delaware Area Career Center North Campus. The county purchased the site from the DACC in 2017 for $1.7 million.

Part of the current work involves renovating a 140,000-square-foot building used by the DACC.

Also, a new 34,000-square-foot facility just northwest of the building will house the Delaware County Sheriff's Office administrative and patrol-division offices.

Melvin described for commissioners renovations underway on the building and preparing the land for other improvements.

He later told ThisWeek renovations thus far have consisted of preparing some areas for newly configured rooms, which includes adding or updating underground plumbing, electric lines and heat and air-conditioning ducts and fixtures.

Melvin told commissioners removal of some interior walls was expected to be finished soon.

One unexpected issue is that the soil under a section of what will be the new sheriff's office building is too wet, he said.

The moisture exists in the subsoil, he said, and the county engineer's office has joined the effort to find a solution, which is expected to involve a landscaping elevation change.

Construction materials are shown at the northwest corner of the Byxby Campus where classrooms once were, but most of the walls have been removed.

The Byxbe site has a pond that's needed to hold storm water, Melvin told ThisWeek.

In connection with the overall Byxbe project, the first phase of Byxbe Parkway, which will link Bowtown Road south of the campus to state Route 521 north of it, is underway, he said.

As a result, Melvin told commissioners, the pond needs to be relocated to clear the path for the parkway.

Story continues

That relocation process, he told ThisWeek, involves digging a new pond just west of the existing pond and draining and backfilling the existing pond.

A recurring issue, Melvin told commissioners, is what he called the "lead time" in ordering supplies  how far in advance supplies have to be ordered before they can be delivered.

One example, he said, was paint for handrails in the main building. The required lead time was 16 weeks, and a decision to use a custom color was scrapped when it was learned that color would increase the lead time by 14 weeks, he said.

Melvin said one response to such issues is to order supplies as soon as possible.

"We've encouraged the subcontractors, if they can get the materials, get it on site, and we'll warehouse it, he said. We're fortunate to have a lot of space out there to store stuff. ... We're trying to keep things moving as quickly as we can."

Melvin also said the price of diesel fuel  used by heavy equipment at the work site  is the highest since at least 1996, the earliest date for which he has records of county purchases.

When complete, Byxbe is to house the Delaware County Engineer's Office, the Delaware County Regional Sewer District, the county's building-safety and facilities-management departments, the Delaware County Regional Planning Commission, the Delaware Soil and Water Conservation District and Ohio State University Extension.

The new sheriff's building is expected to free up space at the county jail facility at 844 U.S. 42 N.

As a result, the sheriff's office awarded a contract to Columbus-based DLZ Architecture Inc. to study future use of the jail complex, Chief Deputy Jeff Balzer told ThisWeek.

It's hoped the study's recommendations will be received by fall, he said.

DLZ Architecture has completed similar studies and/or designs for other sheriffs offices, including those in Clark, Franklin, Gallia, Harrison, Morrow and Wyandot counties, Balzer said.

"Upon completion, we will share the report and recommendations with the board of commissioners," he said.

Architectural work for the Byxbe Campus was done by M+A Architects of Columbus. The Columbus-based Gilbane Building Co. is the construction lead. Earlier this year, county officials said the Gilbane contract cost is $40.7 million.

The contractor for the parkway is Ohio-based Shelly and Sands.

Completion of the entire parkway  from Glenn Road to a proposed single-lane roundabout at state Route 521  was planned for June 2023 with an estimated $3.1 million cost, county records showed in March.

The DACC earlier consolidated all students into what had been called its South Campus, 4565 Columbus Pike (U.S. Route 23).

In August 2019, the DACC completed renovations at the site that increased its original 84,000 square feet to more than 250,000 square feet, at a cost of roughly $45 million.

editorial@thisweeknews.com

@ThisWeekNews

This article originally appeared on ThisWeek: Delaware County: Byxbe Campus project continues through challenges
NEW YORK, June 11, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- As per the Zion Market Research study, The global medical fluid bags market was worth around USD 3.25 billion in 2021, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of approximately 6.4 percent over the forecast period. The report evaluates key drivers and opportunities for the medical fluid bag market. Also, major restraints and challenges are studied in the report that can impact the overall market expansion during the projection period. In addition.

Zion_Market_Research_Logo

Key Industry Insights & Findings of the Medical Fluid Bags Market Reports:

As per the analysis shared by our research analyst, the Medical Fluid Bags Market is expected to grow annually at a CAGR of around 6.4 % (2022-2028).

Through the primary research, it was established that the Cognitive and Memory Enhancer Drugs Market was valued at approximately USD 3.25 Billion in 2021.

This is primarily due to the high patient population, increasing prevalence of chronic diseases, large number geriatric population, and emerging healthcare infrastructure.

China and India are expected to remain the major revenue contributor in the regional market owing to the huge patient population and presence of key vendors.

North America and Europe are projected to contribute significant revenue to the global market during the forecast period

Zion Market Research published the latest report titled "Medical Fluid Bags Market By Product Type (Blood Bags, Intravenous Bags, Dialysis Bags, And Others), By Material (PVC Compounds, Polyolefins, And Others), And By End-User (Hospitals, Diagnostic Laboratories, Blood Banks, Ambulatory Surgical Centers, And Others), And By Region  Global And Regional Industry Overview, Market Intelligence, Comprehensive Analysis, Historical Data, And Forecasts 2022  2028" into their research database.

Medical Fluid Bags Market: Overview

Medical fluid bags come in a variety of sizes and are made up of an interior pouch and an outside plastic coating. The separation of these bags into an inner pouch and an exterior covering serves to protect the contents until the pouches' specified expiry date. These bags are commonly utilized in healthcare settings with a multifunctional approach to maintain proper sterilized conditions for blood samples, which helps to ensure infection-free premises, reduce disease spread, and avoid any loss of blood samples or medications. Additionally, these bags are utilized in fluid replacement treatment, which is used to ensure blood transfusions, body fluid collection, electrolyte imbalances, and the patient's healthy nutritional intake via an oral or enteral route of administration.

Story continues

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Zion Market Research methodology

Industry Dynamics:

Medical Fluid Bags Market: Growth Drivers

Growing geriatric population may boost the market growth over the forecast period.

The global increase in the number of geriatric and older persons is likely to boost the market. According to the World Health Organization, the share of the world population over 60 years old is predicted to rise by 22% by 2050, reaching 2 billion people. In the year 2020, the number of persons over 60 years old outweighed children under the age of five. By 2050, 80 percent of the world's elderly will be living in low- and middle-income countries. This is a significant problem for countries throughout the world since they must guarantee that their social and health systems are capable of dealing with this demographic transformation. Chronic obstructive lung disease, diabetes, obesity, and heart disease are all frequent illnesses in older people. Geriatric syndromes refer to the rise of complicated health conditions such as urine incontinence, frailty, and cancer as people get older. As medical fluid bags are used to store blood, drain, glucose, and other liquids, it will have a significant impact on the growth of the global medical fluid bags market. Furthermore, the increase and development of numerous chronic diseases, such as obesity, cardiovascular diseases, and other associated conditions, are also driving the market.

Medical Fluid Bags Market: Restraints

Health hazards associated with components used in the manufacturing of medical fluid bags may impede the market growth.

Concerns about incorrect disposal having a negative influence on the environment, as well as difficulties linked with the usage of PVC-made medical fluid bags on patients' overall health, might stymie market growth. Prolonged exposure to endocrine-disrupting di-(2-Ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) and bisphenol-A (BPA) has been linked to major health problems, according to the National Centers for Biotechnology Information.

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Global Medical Fluid Bags Market: Opportunities

Increasing the use of eco-friendly materials for the manufacturing of medical fluid bags will provide better growth opportunities for market expansion.

This growing emphasis on the usage of environmentally friendly materials in the creation of medical specialty bags will have a favorable influence on the market's growth in the coming years. Because of the negative effects of DEHP-PVC medical bags on human health and the environment, PVC-free medical bags have been developed. Several governmental and private groups are encouraging the adoption of environmentally friendly materials in medical disposables to safeguard caregivers and patients from the pollution generated by PVC manufacture and disposal. To limit the quantity of waste created during ostomy treatments, vendors are also producing washable and biodegradable pouch liners, which is one of the important trends in the global medical fluid bags market.

Global Medical Fluid Bags Market: Challenges

Stringent regulatory approvals for the manufacturing of medical fluid bags pose a major challenge to the market growth.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in the United States oversees the development, approval, and post-approval monitoring of medical devices, counting medical fluid bags. The majority of medical fluid bags are classed as Class I medical devices, requiring manufacturers to register their businesses. In order to receive FDA clearance, medical fluid bags must also have correct labeling and fulfill the packaging standard standards of 21 CFR 175.105. Such mandatory regulatory requirements may cause a delay in product launch, limiting the arrival of new medical fluid bags in the market.

Global Medical Fluid Bags Market: Segmentation

The global medical fluid bags market is categorized into product type, material, end-user, and region.

Based on product type, the market is categorized into intravenous bags, blood bags, dialysis bags, and others. The material segment of the market is bifurcated into polyolefins, PVC compounds, and others. The end-user segment is further divided into ambulatory surgical centers, hospitals, blood banks, diagnostic laboratories, and others.

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List of Key Players in Medical Fluid Bags Market:

Baxter International

B. Braun Medical

C.R. Bard (Becton Dickinson and Company)

Terumo Corporation

Coloplast

Fresenius Kabi

Pall Corporation

ConvaTec

Renolit

Maco Pharma

Smiths Medical

Technoflex

Thermo Fisher Scientific

Key questions answered in this report:

What are the growth rate forecast and market size for Medical Fluid Bags Market?

What are the key driving factors propelling the Medical Fluid Bags Market forward?

What are the most important companies in the Medical Fluid Bags Market Industry?

What segments does the Medical Fluid Bags Market cover?

How can I receive a free copy of the Medical Fluid Bags Market sample report and company profiles?

Report Scope:

Report Attribute Details Market size value in 2021 USD 3.25 Billion Growth Rate CAGR of almost 6.4 % 2022-2028 Base Year 2020 Historic Years 2016 - 2021 Forecast Years 2022 - 2028 Segments Covered By Product Type, By Application, and By End Use Forecast Units Value (USD Billion), and Volume (Units) Quantitative Units Revenue in USD million/billion and CAGR from 2022 to 2028 Regions Covered North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America, and Middle East & Africa, and Rest of World Countries Covered U.S., Canada, Mexico, U.K., Germany, France, Italy, Spain, China, India, Japan, South Korea, Brazil, Argentina, GCC Countries, and South Africa, among others Companies Covered Baxter International, B. Braun Medical, C.R. Bard (Becton, Dickinson, and Company), Terumo Corporation, Coloplast, Fresenius Kabi, Pall Corporation, ConvaTec, Renolit, Maco Pharma, Smiths Medical, Technoflex, and Thermo Fisher Scientific Report Coverage Market growth drivers, restraints, opportunities, Porter's five forces analysis, PEST analysis, value chain analysis, regulatory landscape, market attractiveness analysis by segments and region, company market share analysis, and COVID-19 impact analysis. Customization Scope Avail of customized purchase options to meet your exact research needs. https://www.zionmarketresearch.com/custom/3428

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Recent Developments:

In November 2020, Fagron Sterile Services (FSS) introduced Intravenous (IV) Bags, which complement the company's current HYDROmorphone, fentaNYL, and midazolam brands. This introduction aided the corporation in expanding its product variety and increasing revenues.

Regional Dominance:

North America to lead the global market over the forecast period.

Asia Pacific holds the major share in the global medical fluid bags market. This is primarily due to the high patient population, increasing prevalence of chronic diseases, large number geriatric population, and emerging healthcare infrastructure. China and India are expected to remain the major revenue contributor in the regional market owing to the huge patient population and presence of key vendors. North America and Europe are projected to contribute significant revenue to the global market during the forecast period.

Global Medical Fluid Bags Market is segmented as follows:

Medical Fluid Bags Market: By Product Type Outlook (2022-2028)

PVC Compounds

Polyolefins

Others

Medical Fluid Bags Market: By End User Outlook (2022-2028)

Hospitals

Diagnostic Laboratories

Blood Banks

Ambulatory Surgical Centers

Others

Medical Fluid Bags Market: By Region Outlook (2022-2028)

North America

The U.S.

Canada

Europe

France

The UK

Spain

Germany

Italy

Rest of Europe

Asia Pacific

China

Japan

India

South Korea

Southeast Asia

Rest of Asia Pacific

Latin America

Brazil

Mexico

Rest of Latin America

Middle East & Africa

GCC

South Africa

Rest of Middle East & Africa

Browse Other Related Research Reports from Zion Market Research

Capillary Blood Collection Devices Market - Global Industry Analysis : The global Capillary Blood Collection Devices Market accrued earnings worth approximately 2.8 (USD Billion) in 2020 and is predicted to gain revenue of about 10.9 (USD Billion) by 2028, is set to record a CAGR of nearly 5.8% over the period from 2021 to 2028.

Orthopedic Navigation Systems Market - Global Industry Analysis : The global Orthopedic Navigation Systems market accrued earnings worth approximately 2.1(USD Billion) in 2020 and is predicted to gain revenue of about 7.3 (USD Billion) by 2028, is set to record a CAGR of nearly 14.7% over the period from 2021 to 2028.

Intravenous Infusion Pumps Market - Global Industry Analysis: The global Intravenous Infusion Pumps market accrued earnings worth approximately 4.7 (USD Billion) in 2020 and is predicted to gain revenue of about 8.9 (USD Billion) by 2028, is set to record a CAGR of nearly 8.1% over the period from 2021 to 2028.

Browse through Zion Market Research's coverage of the Global Medical Device Industry

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By Trend

The Russian Ural Airlines has prolonged suspension of flights to Azerbaijan until October 29, 2022, Trend reports citing the carrier.

According to Ural Airlines, flights in the direction of Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan have been also canceled.

Ural Airlines cancelled flights to the above destinations due to the closure of the airspace of European countries.

The carrier has suspended flights to Azerbaijan since March 8 this year.
Rappahannock Area Health District officials have floated the idea of no longer monitoring the water at Fairview Beach for fecal matter, and King George County leaders arent happy about it.

Health district representatives recently suggested to Chris Miller, King Georges county administrator, that the regular summertime testing be stopped. On Tuesday, he recounted to the King George Board of Supervisors what hed been told, that because recent readings have come back negative for [human] fecal, which is the biggest concern, they are saying they dont really need to continue to do itand they dont have the staff to do it.

If King George wants the monitoring done, they would probably look to us to underwrite that, Miller told the supervisors.

Board members didnt like the sound of it. For years, water samples have been taken regularly from the Potomac River at Fairview Beachand then swimming advisories have been posted when bacteria levels exceeded allowable amounts. From 2017 to 2021, advisories were posted 20 times and lasted for a total of 86 days, according to the Virginia Department of Health website.

Also for years, it wasnt clear where the fecal matter was coming from and various studies suggested everything from leaky septic tanks to excess amounts of bird poop. Miller told the board that health officials said the issue is the fault of animals.

Its not kids or human beings in there, Miller said he was told. Its not sewage or anything like that.

Supervisor Chairman Jeff Stonehill, a former Virginia marine police officer, wanted the health officials to explain whats happening. Miller said he would request a presentation before the board.

Regardless of whose fecal that is, animal or people, to me, since that has been a hotspot over the years, I think they should at least come and speak to us in a meeting, Stonehill said. I think they should at least be, every now and then, checking it as opposed to we have to wait until somebody gets sick.

If the suggestion to stop monitoring had come in October, Stonehill said he might feel differently but we are at the start of our summer season.

While Miller said hed been told recent tests were negative, there arent any test results posted on the state health departments monitoring website for Fairview Beach for this year. The most recent result is from Aug. 30, 2021.

However, there are results from May and June 2022 for the other 44 beaches being monitored regularly by the state.

Brent McCord, the RAHDs environmental health manager, explained in an email why theres a problem doing the water sampling at Fairview Beach. Theres only one environmental health specialist in King George, and that person is occupied with state-mandated programs, McCord said.

Last year, the health district used someone from the Stafford County Health Department to do the King George monitoring because its environmental health department was fully staffed. But there are now two vacancies in that office, and no one who can help with Fairview Beach sampling, McCord said. The health district is looking to fill the vacancies.

Details of the health districts staffing werent discussed on Tuesday. McCord responded to questions from The Free LanceStar.

But Supervisor T.C. Collins, whose district includes Fairview Beach, had lots to say about the responsibility of the health district during the Tuesday discussion. He pointed out that during the pandemic, the schools did their own contact tracing at their own cost, meaning they notified people whod been exposed to someone who tested positive for COVID-19.

Because the county stepped in to do work the health department is required to do by law, Collins said, he was adamant that the health district should in turn continue the water monitoring.

Fellow Supervisor Annie Cupka noted that the schools and county both got federal funds to help cover the cost of contact tracing and other pandemic-related expenses. Across the state, schools helped health departments whose staffs were overwhelmed with virus cases and trying to determine who else had been exposed.

Cupka didnt think it was fair to compare a water-monitoring activity to a pandemic response but Collins could not be swayed.

We stepped up and did their job, Collins said. They should step up and continue the water monitoring.

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A Henrico County drug kingpin whose network led investigators to four major U.S. cities and into Mexico, and resulted in the seizure of more than 100 pounds of heroin and cocaine worth millions of dollars, pleaded guilty this week to operating a criminal enterprise and laundering his drug proceeds through shell businesses.

Nikike N. Tyler, 43, of Henrico, was a major wholesale trafficker of heroin, cocaine and marijuana who coordinated with out-of-state drug suppliers for pounds of narcotics at a time, Henrico Assistant Commonwealths Attorney Susan Parrish said in a summary of evidence presented Tuesday.

Tyler used the U.S. Postal Service in 2017 to arrange shipments of drugs to the Richmond area, and would coordinate with others to have the packages delivered to their addresses or to retrieve those packages on his behalf. As his operation progressed, Tyler enlisted accomplices to pick up and transport drugs by vehicle from various locations in the U.S., and they were delivered to various houses and storage units in the Richmond area, Parrish said in her summary.

Tyler also enlisted accomplices to transport and deliver large sums of money, both locally and out of state, for payment of drug shipments. These individuals operated at Tylers direction and not on their own initiative, Parrish said.

Tylers network was abnormal for the Richmond area due to the large volume of narcotics coming directly into the city, Henrico police narcotics Detective Clint Hoover said. The investigation led us directly to New York, Atlanta, Chicago, Los Angeles, Texas and Mexico.

During the course of the three-year investigation, law enforcement agencies seized 62 pounds of heroin, 44 pounds of cocaine, 264 grams of fentanyl and 2,233 pounds of marijuana linked to Tylers operation. In addition, about $1.8 million was either seized during the investigation or identified in illegal drug proceeds attributed to Tylers network, Hoover said.

When reduced to common amounts sold on the streets to the user, that equates to about 56,000 units of heroin and about 100,000 units of cocaine, [with] an approximate value of $2.8 million in heroin and $2 million in cocaine, Hoover said.

The investigation resulted in another benefit: More than 20 Richmond-area drug dealers who were directly associated with Tylers operation were arrested and charged, Hoover said.

Hector Ruiz, one of Tylers major suppliers, pleaded guilty Tuesday in U.S. District Court in Richmond to distributing kilos of heroin in the Richmond area. Ruiz directed shipments of 20-30 kilos of heroin a week during a seven-month period beginning in December 2018. The heroin was supplied to Ruiz by a Mexican drug trafficking cartel, according to evidence.

After Ruiz left Richmond, Tyler maintained a relationship with traffickers in Mexico and continued to receive shipments of heroin.

Ahead of his scheduled week-long jury trial that was set for June 27, Tyler pleaded guilty Tuesday in Henrico Circuit Court to operating a criminal enterprise, conspiring to distribute heroin and cocaine, conspiring to distribute more than five pounds of marijuana and conspiracy to commit money laundering. Under terms of a plea agreement, Circuit Judge John Marshall sentenced Tyler to 65 years in prison with 42 years suspended, leaving him 23 to serve.

Tyler was one of 13 people arrested in September on indictments returned by a Henrico grand jury in connection with Tylers drug operation. Aside from Tyler, only two other defendants have so far been tried and convicted.

The drug and money laundering conspiracy involving Tyler and his accomplices dates to at least Sept. 30, 2015. It was on that date that Robert Redfearn, 49, of Washington, D.C.  a longtime associate of Tyler who also has been charged  was stopped by the Texas Highway Patrol in a vehicle leased by another man at Richmond International Airport, according to evidence.

Texas troopers discovered 6 kilos of cocaine inside a door panel and also recovered $30,000 in cash and receipts for the rental car. Detectives later confirmed the cocaine was destined for the Richmond area at Tylers direction.

Investigators learned a great deal about Tylers drug trafficking activities after his cell phone was seized in August 2017 by Hanover sheriffs deputies during a stolen vehicle investigation. Henrico detectives then obtained the phone from Hanover and executed a search warrant to examine its contents. Detectives earlier had obtained Tylers cell number through a separate drug investigation involving another man.

A review of Tylers cellphone showed he gave daily directions to accomplices in coordinating drug sales and money transactions, Parrish said in her summary.

In March 2020, Tyler leased a large warehouse in South Richmond and registered a company in his name as Beloved Produce LLC to operate at that location. A search warrant was executed there in September 2020 and investigators found two kilo presses and 6.7 pounds of marijuana. But no fruit was found, the prosecutor said.

Detectives found that Tyler opened numerous bank accounts in his name over the course of the investigation to include business accounts for Beloved Produce, which largely was a shell business. Investigators were unable to locate any legitimate income for Tyler between 2017 through September 2021.

His accounts were funded and paid primarily by large cash deposits often made by others [including himself and accomplices], Parish said in her summary. All deposits made were under the 10K reporting requirements and many were found to be broken up or spread between various institutions and accounts.

Investigators also determined that Tyler had no record of paying taxes during their investigation.

This case was not the typical drug distribution case we see, and it is a testament to the Henrico Police Department ... that the detectives were able to conduct this long term investigation over the course of three years that ultimately resulted in a kingpin being prosecuted and convicted, Parrish said in a statement. Tyler was a major drug trafficker in the Richmond region, and the impact of his organization cannot fully be calculated because drug use and addiction takes a toll on the entire community.
Jensen Tire & Auto, a family-run automotive services provider, will celebrate its 50-year anniversary serving the Omaha area in 2023.

Fremonts Jensen Tire & Auto location is located at 245 E. Military Ave.

The company has seen a great deal of change in the industry throughout its history, with the past decade ushering in some of the biggest advancements  technology that has enabled electric vehicles, enhanced safety features, automated driver assistance technologies, and improved diagnostics and performance. As cars today more closely resemble rolling computers, and as baby boomers simultaneously retire from service shops across the country, Jensen Tire & Auto is funding Metropolitan Community College outreach intended to inject the local sector with a talent pool of young workers.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, about 69,000 openings for automotive service technicians and mechanics are projected each year through 2030 with most openings expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer occupations or exit the labor force.

Scott Henry, MCC automotive outreach specialist  the position funded by Jensen Tire & Auto  spends his workdays recruiting high school students to bridge the gap throughout a four-county region (Douglas, Sarpy, Dodge and Washington) to enroll in MCC technical training programs. He visits schools to give in-class presentations, brings large groups to tour MCC facilities, attends career fairs, hosts open houses and goes to industry events.

Nick Jensen, vice president of retail operations for Jensen Tire & Auto, said the colleges investment in its Automotive Training Center, a more than 100,000-square-foot, state-of-the-art facility, provides specialized auto collision and automotive technology education that is ideally suited to train the automotive workforce of today and tomorrow.

When I got into the industry 20 years ago, the standard of training used to be, Hey, go ahead and follow this guy around, and in a year or so, youll be ready to go, Jensen said in a news release. We dont have the time or people to do that anymore, so we rely on the community colleges to train the workforce on the latest technology because its always changing.

MCC has really come to the table in recent years and improved its facilities. Students are well prepared for careers because MCC programs take students off-site for training with instructors rather than doing traditional job shadowing.

In just under a year in the role, Henry has presented to more than 500 students who mostly attend schools that no longer offer automotive programs. The goal of Henrys role is to raise awareness about the lucrative careers the automotive industry offers and the diverse pathways MCC and its industry partners are creating for students to receive education at little or no cost  often with paid off-site learning integrated.

Jensen said another advantage of the MCC educational model is it allows students to concentrate on learning instead of shadowing someone who might be more concerned with getting the job done in a timely manner for a customer rather than focusing on the teaching component with the student.

Scott Broady, MCC associate dean of Industrial Technology, said having the commitment of Jensen Tire & Auto will benefit the entire industry.

Jensen sees the overall need in the industry. As schools across the country transitioned away from the trades, it created an awareness gap about career opportunities, wage growth and what the experience is today working in a modern shop, Broady said. Having a position solely dedicated to reconnecting young people to careers in the field raises all boats in the industry. MCC, the area automotive industry and the greater community is fortunate to have Jensens support.

Henry began working in the role during the surge of the COVID-19 Delta variant in July 2021, and unique economic conditions affecting the automotive industry have followed. In addition to technological innovation driving wage growth, supply chain issues affecting the availability of new vehicles, higher fuel prices and increased travel expenses are also fueling demand for workers in the industry.

I would estimate that in just the last five years, wages are up almost 50% and the used car market has increased by about the same margin more recently. People are holding onto their vehicles longer, and we need great technicians to fix them, Jensen said. There are a lot more jobs available, so the more we can get people interested in the trades, the greater impact it will have on the local workforce. As an industry, we just need to continue to come together and show the value we bring to the community.

The MCC Automotive Technology program is accredited by the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence Education Foundation (Master level), Mopar Career Automotive Program and offers more than 19 National Coalition of Certification Centers (NC3) certifications to both students and the public through MCC Continuing Education programs. MCC was the first college in Nebraska to offer NC3 certifications.

For more information about MCC Automotive Technology and Automotive Collision Repair programs, visit mccneb.edu/automotive-technology or email Scott Henry at shenry1@mccneb.edu. For more information about Jensen Tire & Auto and its 21 locations visit jensentireandauto.com.

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When Scribner was celebrating its SQ150 (sesquicentennial) in 2019, a community garage sale proved an excellent way to raise funds for the event.

The sale was intended to be a two-day event, but ended up lasting two weeks.

During that time, Maryln Camp was so impressed by the community involvement that she began thinking about something permanent.

I thought about how great it would be to have a place where people could volunteer and we could raise funds to support our community, she said. We didnt have a thrift store in any of our nearby towns.

Thus, Scribner residents would develop a store called, Pebble Creek Vintage Thrift, now overseen by an 11-member board of directors.

Camp, a retired teacher and former owner of the Scribner Pharmacy, has been delighted by the support and encouragement she and her fellow board members have received.

After presenting the idea at a city council meeting, the women began the search for a building. The one they found provided a large room for clothing, and two smaller rooms for childrens items and housewares.

Board member Dyann Bradbury, who worked for the Scribner Bank for 18 years, was glad to bring her business expertise to the project.

I started our 5013 paperwork, she said, and we got a lot done in a very short time.

In addition to helping with Pebble Creek Vintage Thrift, Bradbury works out of her home as vice-president of IT Risk & Compliance for the Advisor Group, based in Phoenix, a position she accepted in 2021.

When I think of the store, Bradbury said, I think of community service. Those that donate items to sell, those that volunteer to work, or those that hold a position on the board of directors are all providing a service to the community.

One thing Bradbury is hoping to see Pebble Creek Vintage Thrift do is provide help for senior residents.

Everyone needs a purpose in life, Bradbury said. My whole take on serving the community is this: Its something we should all do. It is human nature to want to serve, and this store provides an opportunity to do so.

Since its grand opening on May 20, Pebble Creek Vintage Thrift is already filled to capacity.

So many people from local businesses and the city office donated their time and talents in countless ways, Bradbury said. There were others that helped build, move or setup shelving and clothes racks. Many volunteers just showed up to help clean, paint, sort and price items. The support of the community has been overwhelming.

Board member Kathy Lodl has been the publisher/editor of the Rustler Sentinel in Hooper since 1994, the year the Scribner Rustler was combined with the Hooper Sentinel.

Lodl considers the idea of a community thrift store a win-win for everyone.

Community members are now able to donate items locally as well as purchase items, and the community will benefit from the sales as profits will be distributed to community projects, Lodl said.

In addition to serving on the board of directors for Pebble Creek, Anne Poppe also runs Poppe Promotions, a business she has owned for the past 15 years.

Anything you want your logo on, she said, I will print it. If youre starting a business, Ill also help with marketing.

Poppe and her husband, Russel, own 100 head of cattle.

Russel is a third-generation farmer, Poppe said.

My vision for Pebble Creek Vintage Thrift, she said, was to create an environment where customers would enjoy their time shopping in an attractive, inviting environment, where they can find affordable treasures they never knew they needed.

Pebble Creek has everything from designer bags, name brand clothing, even houseware items with the tags still on them.

Our community spared no expense with their generosity to our cause, Poppe said.

Making Pebble Creek a thrift boutique was one of Poppes objectives.

Down to every last detail, she said, from organization of the store, to fresh displays, staging areas to make it an experience and a destination.

Once word spread that a vintage thrift shop was opening in Scribner, several women in the community signed up to volunteer.

This week, Pebble Creek brought on seven additional board members: Laura Schnoor, Kim French, Lynn Schnoor, Carol Dunklau, Mary Boschult, Sharon Meyer, and Susie Dostal  for a total of 11.

The common goal of helping each other is the foundation on which Pebble Creek Vintage Thrift was built.

Im hoping we can hold a farmers market during the summer, said Bradbury, who grew up on a farm near Scribner.

Camp and her fellow board members look forward to seeing more people visit the Scribner community and browse the products they have available.

Its filling up really fast, Camp said. We have clothing, toys, housewares, outdoor equipment, something for everyone. And the coffee pots always on.

Pebble Creek Vintage Thrift is at 151 Railroad St., Scribner.

The shop is open 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., Tuesdays and Wednesdays; noon to 7 p.m., Thursdays; 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., Fridays; and 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., Saturdays. It is closed Sundays and Mondays.

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Abortion rights advocates say they need more men's voices

In the decadeslong struggle for abortion rights, some men have played an active supporting role, through organizations and as legislators and abortion providers
Czech President Milos Zeman says he is ready to veto, if its approved by parliament, proposed legislation that would give same-sex couples in the country the right to hold civil weddings
Political reporters have been criticized for covering election campaigns as if they were sporting events rather than serious contests for elective offices. Instead of writing about such things as candidate character, the major issues that need to be addressed, or long-range goals for the community, political reporters tend to cover election campaigns as if they were horse races.

They primarily focus on who's winning  who was ahead last week, who is ahead right now, and who is predicted to win on election day.

Well, if you can't beat them, join them. Here is the Cronin-Loevy take on the current race between Democrats and Republicans to win control of the state Senate and House. We're going to report on them as if they were a horse race. Imagine the two of us speaking from a press box high above the racetrack at Churchill Downs, Pimlico or Belmont.

Cronin: Splendid day for a race, Bob. The Democratic ponies are all in blue and the Republican steeds in red. They've been running since at least March. The process began with political party precinct caucuses, followed by Senate nominating assemblies and House nominating assemblies. Right now, the horses are rounding the corner of the racetrack at the halfway pole.

Loevy: Yes, Tom, the halfway point in the legislative race is when voting begins in the party primaries. The ballots were mailed last week, and most Colorado voters have received them by now. This is a good point to take a look at how the legislative races are going.

Cronin: And there they go, around the turn. The Democrats are leading 24 to 11 in the race for the 65-member House. Over on the Senate side, the Democrats are leading there, too, at 15 Democrats certain-to-be-elected to only eight Republicans.

Loevy: The folks at home, Tom, probably want to know how we can handicap the race in this fashion. The answer lies in the recent redistricting of the Legislature following the 2020 U.S. Census. Seats in the Legislature were divided into three categories: safe Democratic, safe Republican and competitive seats.

If a candidate running in a safe Democratic seat does not have a primary opponent, he or she is 90% certain to be elected in the general election in November. The same is true for Republicans running in safe Republican seats. If there is no Republican primary, it is highly likely they're going to win the voting in the general election in the fall.

Cronin: Yes, Bob, a safe Democratic or safe Republican seat means just that. The district lines have been drawn in such a way that the seat is safely won every time by the particular political party.

Loevy: What's your theory as to why the Democrats are leading the Republicans at this halfway point in the race?

Cronin: One reason is the redistricting process gerrymandered the legislative district lines in favor of Democrats. In the House, 30 safe Democratic seats were created to only 19 safe Republican. In the Senate, it was 15 safe seats for the Democrats and just nine for the Republicans.

Loevy: Another reason, Tom, is that the Republicans are holding more primaries than the Democrats are. We can't count those safe Republican seats until the primary votes have been tabulated on June 28. By our count, the Republicans are holding 15 primaries for the Legislature while the Democrats are having only seven. As soon as the results of the Democratic and Republican primaries are known, we expect the Republican score to improve a bit.

Cronin: As this herd of political horses runs by us, Bob, do you see any back-in-the-pack horses who could come from behind and make a strong showing when they hit the finish line on Election Day in November?

Loevy: Yes, I do. Those horses are running for competitive seats. Based on past election results, these are seats in the Senate and House that are equally balanced between the parties and could vote Democratic or Republican on Election Day. That means we have to wait until the general election in November to see how well these competitive horses can run down the stretch and go under the wire.

There are 16 of these competitive seats in the House. If the Republicans can win 14 of them, they will have a 33-seat majority in the House. And, by the same token, there are 11 competitive seats in the Senate. If the Republicans can win nine of those, they will have an 18-seat majority in the Senate.

Cronin: Sounds good, Bob, but I believe it is unlikely that Republicans can win 14 competitive seats in the House and nine competitive seats in the Senate this November. Former GOP President Donald Trump is trying to influence this election, and Colorado is not a Trump state, except in rural Colorado, which is a shrinking portion of the state. The Republicans probably will not win enough of those competitive seats to win control of both houses of the Legislature.

Loevy: I think they might, and you think they wont. Thats what makes horse races. Its important to keep in mind that the ultimate purpose of this horse race is to win the double crown. The Republicans and the Democrats are running hard to win majority control of both the Senate and House.

Cronin: So that's the situation right now. Democrats are ahead of Republicans in the House race by 24 to 11. Dems are also leading in the Senate race by 15 to 8. Both of us want to encourage unaffiliated voters, who are a plurality in Colorado, to vote in the primary election of their choice. You will not lose your unaffiliated status by voting in a party primary, and you can choose whichever party primary you prefer.

Loevy: Some observers are concerned that there are so few primary elections to vote in at this time. Democrats in particular have very few primaries on the mail-in ballot. The worry is that, with only one or two offices to vote for in the primary, voters will understandably be inclined to not bother to mail back their ballots.

Cronin: Not mailing back your mail-in ballot is a bad habit to get into. It is the modern form of non-voting. We urge all voters to mark and mail back their primary ballots.

Loevy: Before we go, we want to thank the 209 men and women who made the effort and took the trouble to run for just 65 House seats and 17 Senate seats (82 total). Elections produce more losers than winners, but the system doesn't work if good people are not willing to take the risk of running for office. Our final thought, to winners and losers alike, is: Thank you for running.

Cronin: Yes. Hooray for everyone  winners and losers alike  who have had the courage and stamina to stand for election. They give us choices and help us to think about important policy challenges.
A Pueblo County judge should not have allowed jurors to hear about the racist comments a defendant made toward his friend hours before allegedly assaulting his godson, the state's Court of Appeals decided on Thursday.

Anthony Joseph Ianne's case had already proceeded through a three-judge panel of the appellate court, which upheld his conviction last November. But earlier this year, the Colorado Supreme Court handed down a key change in the law that caused the appellate panel to take another look at Ianne's trial. This time, it reversed Ianne's single assault with a deadly weapon conviction.

The morning that Ianne was packing his house and preparing to move, he received help from his godson and a friend of his, identified as J.M. in court documents. Ianne reportedly grew upset with how J.M. was handling his belongings and Ianne waved an axe handle  a stick with no blade  at him.

Ianne also called J.M. a "f---ing Mexican" and other related slurs. Eventually, Ianne left the house to calm down.

When he returned, there was a confrontation between Ianne and his godson. While Ianne testified the alleged victim grabbed him and Ianne reacted in self-defense, the godson said Ianne hit him with the axe handle. Jurors believed the prosecution's version of events and convicted Ianne in 2017.

One of Ianne's grounds for appeal centered on District Court Judge Thomas Flesher's decision to allow the jury to hear about Ianne's argument with J.M., including his racist language. The defense had argued it was improper "res gestae" evidence, meaning information about uncharged misconduct that would improperly lead jurors to focus on Ianne's poor character, rather than the charged offense.

Prosecutors argued the confrontation with J.M. was relevant to Ianne's later assault. It showed Ianne had previously been the aggressor, demonstrated his escalating anger, and would speak to Ianne's motive or intent.

For Ianne's first appeal, decided on Nov. 4, 2021, the panel of judges agreed with that rationale, noting how admissible res gestae evidence can provide a complete understanding of a crime's context if it is part of a "continuous transaction."

"Iannes break between arguments doesnt render the evidence less integral to understanding his continued escalation of anger and violence that day," wrote Judge Craig R. Welling. "Therefore, we conclude that the aggression towards J.M. was a part of the criminal episode."

Ianne appealed to the state Supreme Court. However, soon afterward the justices abolished the use of res gestae evidence, determining it was being used simply as a shortcut to introduce jurors to information about a defendant's bad character. The court returned the case to the appellate panel for another review.

In light of the Supreme Court action, Ianne argued to the panel that the prosecution had urged the jury to convict him based on "his character for racism and propensity for violence." The Colorado Attorney General's Office acknowledged the racial slurs were not intrinsic to the assault charge, but said they nonetheless allowed the jury to understand Ianne's state of mind.

The appellate panel now agreed with Ianne that jurors could have used the evidence involving J.M. improperly when deciding on Ianne's guilt.

"Indeed, there is a reasonable probability that admitting the evidence of Iannes argument with J.M., his use of racial slurs and obscenities, and his threatening behavior with the axe handle toward J.M. earlier in the day ... affected the fairness of the trial by allowing the jury to convict Ianne based on implied propensity  he was violent and racist earlier; therefore he was likely violent during the alleged assault," Welling wrote in the June 9 opinion.

The panel reversed the conviction and ordered a new trial.

The case is People v. Ianne.
"Assistant Secretary for the Bureau of European and Eurasian Affairs Dr. Karen Donfried will travel to Azerbaijan, Georgia, and Armenia June 14 to 19 to emphasize the U.S. commitment to peace, democracy, and prosperity in the South Caucasus region, Azernews reports, citing the U.S. Department of State.

"Marking the 30th anniversaries of diplomatic relations with all three countries, Assistant Secretary Donfried will emphasize U.S. support for their sovereignty and independence, underscoring the right of Azerbaijan, Georgia, and Armenia to chart their own paths. She also will highlight the readiness of the United States to help build a lasting peace in the South Caucasus, including by supporting the development of political, economic, and people-to-people connections across the entire region.

"Dr. Donfried will visit Baku, Azerbaijan, on June 15 and 16, where she will meet with President Ilham Aliyev, other government officials, and civil society members. The Assistant Secretary will underscore U.S. support for the diplomatic efforts between Azerbaijan and Armenia toward a lasting peace, thank Azerbaijan for humanitarian support to Ukraine, and highlight the partnership in promoting European energy security, combatting transnational threats, supporting fundamental freedoms, and advancing bilateral trade and investment.

"On June 17, Assistant Secretary Donfried will visit Tbilisi, Georgia, where she will give remarks at the Tbilisi Womens International Conference organized by President Salome Zourabichvili. Dr. Donfried will also meet with Prime Minister Garibashvili and other government officials, opposition representatives, and civil society representatives in Tbilisi to discuss the Kremlins unprovoked war against Ukraine, and steadfast U.S. support for Georgias sovereignty and territorial integrity within its internationally recognized borders. The Assistant Secretary will also discuss how the United States can further support Georgia in advancing democratic development and rule of law, diversifying Georgias economy, and building a prosperous future.

"Assistant Secretary Donfried will then travel to Yerevan, Armenia, on June 18, where she will meet Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and other government officials. The Assistant Secretary will express U.S. support for the diplomatic efforts between Armenia and Azerbaijan towards a lasting peace. She will underscore our strong partnership, based on shared values, and our mutual commitment to Armenias democratic development," the report added.
FILE PHOTO: Bolivia's former interim President Jeanine Anez holds a protective face mask as she is detained at a FELCC (Special Force to fight against Crime) prison in La Paz, Bolivia, March 13, 2021. REUTERS/David Mercado/File Photo
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FILE PHOTO: U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin testifies before the Senate Appropriations Committee Subcommittee on Defense in Washington, U.S., May 3, 2022. Win McNamee/Pool via REUTERS/File Photo
By Trend

Georgian Foreign Minister Ilia Darchiashvili held a meeting with Dutch Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Wopke Hoekstra as part of his visit to the Netherlands, Trend reports citing 1TV.

The parties discussed Georgias progress in the implementation of the reforms defined by the Association Agreement and the countrys integration process into the EU.

Ilia Darchiashvili also informed his counterpart about the strong support of Georgia towards Ukraine.

Wopke Hoekstra praised Georgias significant support for Ukraine and thanked his counterpart for standing by the international community in this process.
Gov. Jared Polis on Monday signed legislation affirming the right to an abortion in Colorado regardless of whatever action the U.S. Supreme Co
Hong Kong: CE launches anniversary project

Chief Executive Carrie Lam today officiated at a ceremony to launch the Celebrations for All project, one of the major events to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the establishment of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.

Mrs Lam said at the launch ceremony that the Government has all along been injecting community care into celebratory events with the aim of bringing about a positive public atmosphere.

She then visited less-privileged families in Wong Tai Sin to distribute gift packs to them. Her visit will be followed by those of other Principal Officials to grass-roots families in the 18 districts in the coming two weeks.

The Celebrations for All project is co-ordinated by the Home Affairs Department. The departments district offices, together with non-governmental and local organisations, will organise visits to 300,000 grass-roots families and arrange for around 80,000 grass-roots citizens to participate in celebratory events.

The project will also arrange for around 120,000 people from the less-privileged groups to take part in district celebratory events to share the festive mood.

This story has been published on: 2022-06-11. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
By Trend

Turkiye will not relinquish its rights in the Aegean Sea and will not hesitate to use its powers stemming from international agreements, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Thursday as he attended the Efes-2022 military exercise held on Aegean coasts, Trend reports citing Daily Sabah.

Greece should stop arming the islands with nonmilitary status and abide by the international agreements, he said.

"I warn Greece to avoid dreams, acts and statements that will result in regret. Come to your senses," he said in a televised speech as he observed the Turkish military exercises on the coast of western Izmir province.

"Turkiye will not renounce its rights in the Aegean and will not back down from using rights that are established by international agreements when it comes to arming islands."

Greece is acting as if it is making touristic landings on Aegean islands, he said and added addressing Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis: "You can't get anywhere with this."

"Some Greek politicians are trying to remain relevant with words and actions that are far from reality, contrary to logic and law," Erdogan said.

"Turkiye does not violate anyone's rights and laws but it does not allow the violation of its own rights and laws either," he stressed and added: "Im not joking, Im speaking seriously. This nation is determined.

Erdogan also noted that his country would continue hydrocarbon resources exploration in the Black Sea and the Eastern Mediterranean, citing international law.
An Iowa dog breeder who admitted killing some of his unwanted dogs with stomach injections and then leaving them alone in their cages to die is among the Iowans listed in the Humane Society of the United States annual list of the nations 100 worst dog breeders.

As in years past, Iowa has the second-highest number of breeders on the list, with 17. Missouri, as is often the case, has the highest number of breeders on the list, this year with 26.

The list is compiled by the Human Society using U.S. Department of Agriculture and state inspection reports.

This years list does not include Daniel Gingerich, formerly of Seymour, who is no longer a licensed breeder. Last year, Gingerich relinquished ownership of hundreds of dogs after being taken to court on civil charges tied to dozens of violations of the Animal Welfare Act.

Gingerichs license was the first dog-dealer license the USDA has revoked in close to four years. He was later sentenced to 30 days in jail on misdemeanor charges of animal neglect, and was fined $60,000 in administrative penalties.

Earlier this year, Iowa was leading the nation in puppy mills sanctioned by the federal government. The national animal welfare group, Bailing Out Benji, reviewed the detailed inspection reports filed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture for the first quarter of 2022, which indicated that 19 of Iowas breeders and brokers of dogs and cats had been cited for violations  more than any other state in the nation.

The Iowa breeders on the Humane Societys 2022 list are:

Larry Albrecht of Coldwater Kennel in Greene: The kennel received an official warning from the USDA in November 2021 for an inadequate program of veterinary care and was cited for additional issues in March 2022. Coldwater Kennel, which keeps about 240 dogs on hand, sells to Petland and other retailers, according to federal reports. In September 2021, an inspector noted that a Maltese named Micky Boy had serious dental issues with several teeth being loose and moved easily when touched. The gums under these teeth are receding and inflamed and bled during the examination, the inspector wrote.

More issues were found when the USDA performed another inspection in March of this year. Inspectors found nursing mothers and their puppies on dangerous wire flooring, with the puppies feet passing through the flooring  a potentially fatal hazard for small dogs. Other dogs were found in enclosures that had caked and moldy food in them, and one dog had no available water.

Carolyn Anderson of Andersons Yorkies in Mason City: This AKC breeder was cited for 34 USDA violations in less than one year, and 2022 was at least the fourth year in a row this business was cited for multiple, significant violations. There were recurring issues with giardia and coccidia  parasites that live in a dogs intestines  as well as sick dogs and unsanitary conditions.

Inspectors observed that it appeared puppies were being sold with untreated diseases. The most recent citations are tied to repeat violations for poor housing, poor record-keeping and dogs that did not have enough space in their enclosures. In a January 2022 report, the USDA inspector wrote, The licensee states they have had numerous cases of giardia and coccidiosis in several dogs  The licensee was not able to provide any medical records or documentation for any of the animals that have been currently or previously been diagnosed with giardia or coccidia. In addition, there was no written records to indicate that any animals were currently receiving treatment for any health issues.

The inspection report also described an accumulation of dust, dirt, hair, urine, excreta residue, food waste and other organic debris and noted that many of the dogs had no clean place to eat. The inspector reported watching a tan and white dog named Finn eating food from the floor. The floor in this area is covered with a heavy layer of brown-to-black matter. The walls and surrounding surfaces of this area is also covered with the heavy layer of yellow to brown matter.

During an October 2021 visit, inspectors found that some dogs had been given a diarrhea medication that expired five years earlier, and some of the vaccinations kept for use on puppies were expired or were stored at the wrong temperature. Many of the dogs had no records to indicate where they came from, and other dogs were housed inside wire crates in a cluttered area. During a May 2021, inspectors noted five dogs had no access to water and some dogs and puppies were being stored in cramped cages without enough space.

Brian Felton of Centerville: During a January inspection this year, USDA officials found that some of the dogs at Feltons facility had no access to water, or had only frozen water. At least two dogs were exposed to freezing cold temperatures that dipped to 6 degrees below zero, with no way of keeping warm. Two adult Mastiffs are housed in an outdoor enclosure which contains a wooden shelter structure, an inspector wrote. The shelter has no wind and rain break at the entrance.

The inspector stated that the shelter lacked any bedding material inside and had a water bowl, but the water in it had frozen into a solid block of ice. On the same day, inspectors found that two enclosures, containing a total of 10 adult dogs and two puppies, had food that was heavily contaminated with wood shavings. The shavings were mixed into the food or formed a layer across the top of the food, the inspector wrote.

Menno Gingerich of Skyline Puppies in Albia: Skyline Puppies received an official warning from the USDA earlier this year after it was determined that the owner had performed a makeshift, do-it-yourself medical procedure on an injured puppy without veterinary consultation or anesthesia. The USDA inspectors had found an injured puppy and inquired about its condition. They then learned that Gingerich had stitched up the injured puppys wound by himself without any veterinary oversight and reportedly without anesthesia.

The inspector described the situation after speaking to one of the kennels workers: One English bulldog puppy was observed walking with staggered steps and would also circle in a continuous motion. In addition, the puppy was observed carrying its head sideways. I asked the representative what happened to this puppy. They stated that shortly after this puppy was born its (mother) bit it on the back of its neck. The neck area sustained an open gash I asked the representative what did they do for this puppy after it was initially observed. The response was that they stitched up the open wound. I then asked them if the puppy was taken to or if the attending veterinarian was contacted. They answered, no, the attending veterinarian was not called. Gingerich later confirmed those details for inspectors, stating he had used sewing string to close the wound.

Helene Hamrick of Wolf Point Kennel in Ackworth: In June of last year, this establishment was issued an official warning from the USDA for failure to provide proper veterinary care. Hamrick was also cited for keeping dogs in dangerous conditions. The warning stemmed from a May 2021 inspection that found three dogs with signs of significant dental disease, with some of their teeth exposed at the roots or so inflamed they were bleeding.

During the same inspection, USDA also noted many issues with poor housing, including enclosures with sharp points that could injure the dogs, as well as an enclosure with a gap that could injure or entrap dogs. At least two empty enclosures were so decrepit that the flooring had collapsed, and many enclosures were rusty and falling apart. In 2017, inspectors who visited Wolf Point Kennel reported finding dog food contaminated with live maggots and beetle larvae.

Bruce Hooyer of JKLM Farm / Shaggy Hill Farm in Sioux Center: Since 2018, inspectors have advised Hooyer on more than one occasion to downsize the breeding operation and retain a more manageable number of animals, but the kennel still had 135 dogs when inspectors visited in November 2021 and designated the kennel as noncompliant.

In August 2019, the kennel was cited for unsafe and cluttered condition, with an inspector writing, There are too many dogs for this facility. While the dogs have enough space to lay, stand, and turn around, there is not enough room for exercise. Some primary enclosures are make-shift and quite small. The number of dogs must be reduced for this facility. During [the] last visit, it was agreed that the number of dogs for this facility should not exceed 80  There is too much crowding in every structure.

The inspector also found dirty conditions, stating that the overall sanitation of the facility is poor  Waste is [sitting] in buckets and thrown outside the building. The inspector specifically instructed Hooyer to walk, by hand, 115 adult dogs in two of the buildings twice per day, effective immediately, because their cages were too small and didnt give them room for exercise. However, the inspector also noted that only two people worked at the facility, which wouldnt be enough staff to walk so many dogs. At that time, the kennel also lacked proof of vaccinations and the inspector made note of a dog with severely matted eyes, and a puppy with an open sore on his side.

Jake Kruse or K&E Kennels in Salem: This breeder, who sells to Petland and other retailers, was inspected in January 2022. At that time, the issues included four housing facilities violations for problems such as sharp corner edges and broken metal that could injure the dogs, and open trash containers. In addition, cleaning and sanitation issues were noted, such as metal bucket food bowls that contain a buildup of caked food and organic material. One feeder had a buildup of caked food and wild bird feces on the interior of the feeder. There were close to 300 dogs on site at the time of the inspection.

Steve Kruse of Stonehenge Kennel in West Point: This kennel, a reported affiliate of Daniel Gingerichs former Wayne County breeding operation, has been cited for repeat violations related to ailing dogs. Since 2015, more than 55 injured or sick dogs have been noted by inspectors. Stonehenge Kennel is one of Iowas largest breeding operations, with 645 dogs on hand at the time of a September 2021 inspection. During an inspection the previous May, USDA official found four dogs in need of veterinary care. Two of them had signs of significant dental disease, and a third had an inflamed lower leg. Inspectors said a fourth dog had an abnormal appearance to her face and complete hair loss on the bridge of the nose and additional hair loss around both eyes.

The Humane Society states that a new area of concern for the organization is Kruses affiliation with Daniel Gingerich, whose license was revoked last year. Court records from the Gingerich case show that the two dealers exchanged large numbers of dogs, with Gingerich purchasing 612 dogs from Kruse last spring and Kruse leasing one of his properties to Gingerich.

In 2021, a USDA inspector cited Kruse for six dogs that were in poor condition, including an emaciated female Boston terrier and a terrier whose coat was so badly matted that the hair on her chest was thickened and tight while her legs were covered in layers of matted hair. Between 2015 and 2017, the USDA cited Kruse for at least 41 dogs in need of veterinary care between, including some with deep lacerations or oozing wounds. In December 2015, Kruse received a 21-day USDA license suspension after throwing a bag containing two dead puppies at a USDA inspector.

Lavern Nolt of Twin Birch in Charles City: Between September 2021 and February 2022, USDA inspectors cited the establishment for several dogs that were in need of veterinary care, including a Maltese named Fifi that had an abnormal skin condition, an English bulldog named Maybelle that had an abnormal condition of the right eye, and a Maltese named Billy, that had only three remaining teeth, two of which were covered with a thick buildup of brown colored tartar. An inspector also reported observing three Bichon puppies feet falling through the holes in the flooring of their enclosure. In 2019, the USDA cited Nolt for having sagging wire flooring in enclosures that could injure the dogs, with gaps that were big enough to let the dogs feet fall through, as well as unsanitary conditions.

Henry Sommers of Happy Puppys in Cincinnati, Iowa: Sommers has been cited for numerous violations in recent years. Last fall, an inspector wrote, The licensee is conducting the euthanasia of the dogs himself. The licensee stated that he is given a syringe containing a drug, which is thought to be Beuthanasia-D, from the attending veterinarian. He then injects the drug through the animals abdominal wall and into the stomach. He then places the dog back into its enclosure and returns later to ensure it has died. The instructions for Beuthanasia-D are to administer it as an intravenous injection which will result in rapid and painless euthanasia. The USDA inspector then tried to determine whether the attending veterinarian had in fact approved of what the Humane Society calls a cruel method of euthanasia.

The inspector wrote: A [USDA] veterinary medical officer spoke to the attending veterinarian who stated that he did not give the drug to the licensee and did not authorize euthanasia with an intra-abdominal injection. Sommers failed at least four state inspections between January 2022 and March 2022. During the February 2022 state inspection, his operation was marked noncompliant for several issues, including a strong odor of animal waste, a drainage system under the kennels that contains animal waste and stagnant water and other issues.

When inspectors arrived again in March 2022, most of the same issues remained, including the strong odor of animal waste, filthy conditions and excessive feces. Sommers reportedly admitted to the inspectors that some of the feces could have been there for weeks. Similar issues were also documented by state inspectors in January 2022. That same month, the USDA cited Sommers for a direct, repeat violation for failure to provide adequate veterinary care to his dogs. Sommers, his veterinarian and oversight agencies are involved in allowing unnecessary suffering of dogs to continue at Happy Puppys, the Humane Society states in its report.

Ken and Rhonda Van Der Zwaag of Van Der Zwaag German Shepherds in Hull: During two visits in January and February 2022, state inspectors rated Van Der Zwaag German Shepherds as noncompliant due to a list of problems, one of which was related to several puppies that had apparently died with no documentation to show they had received adequate veterinary care.

During a follow-up inspection in February 2022, the facility was again rated noncompliant, and the inspector noted that a puppy who had been treated for parvo had died recently from dehydration due to complications from parvo. This breeder performed dealer activity by importing a litter of puppies for the purpose of resale, an inspector reported. Dogs imported into the state of Iowa must have a certificate of veterinary inspection. These puppies did not arrive with one.

Dennis and Donna Van Wyk of Prairie Lane Kennel in New Sharon: On two occasions in December 2021, and again in January 2022, officials were unable to inspect the facility. On two other occasions in that same period, inspectors were able to enter the premises and reported the housing was in disrepair. They rated the operation as noncompliant. At the December 2021 state inspection, inspectors noted wood flooring that was rotting or had holes in it, insulation that was hanging down into [a] dog kennel and damaged enclosures. There were more than 50 dogs and puppies on the property at that time.

Charles Vogl of SCW Frenchies in Atlantic: In November 2021, state inspectors responding to a complaint found dogs without adequate shelter in the winter cold, including a pregnant dog that was housed outdoors with no bedding and no door to the enclosure. Currently her water is frozen solid, the inspector wrote. All indoor and outdoor runs are 50% to 80% covered in animal waste  Water is frozen solid in every animal enclosure except for puppies housed inside south shed  (Dogs) observed licking ice in water buckets during inspection.

The owner was unable to explain why four puppies who were noted in the records were missing from the property, but he allegedly stated that he thought perhaps one had died.

At a reinspection later that month, inspectors found that some of the housing was still inadequate. During an October 2020 visit, an inspector made note of excessive trash and clutter, evidence of mice in the kennel buildings, significant structural damage, and dogs that were found noticeably shivering in a building that was only 43 degrees.

Anita Wikstrom of Unforgettable Schnauzers in Ames: In February 2022, Unforgettable Schnauzers was rated noncompliant by inspectors due to issues with clutter, trash, dirt and weeds. A month earlier, in January 2022, it was also rated noncompliant, with inspectors writing that the facility was very cluttered with trash, feces, and debris inside and outside, and excessive build-up of feces, dust, hair, and mud in housing facilities. Inspectors wrote that they could hear dogs in a garage on the premises, but they could not inspect the garage for compliance with rules.

During an October 2020 inspection, state inspectors reported the facility was very dirty with a noticeable odor of feces/urine. Dirty bedding, dirt/dust, and feces throughout, floor very grimy. More frequent cleaning/sanitation is needed due to large volume of dogs. Discussed definitions of cleaning and sanitation, different cleaning/sanitation products and methods with owner. The inspector added that he provided the owner with the names of several nearby licensed shelters and rescue groups to contact to possibly surrender the dogs to help downsize the herd.

Woody Wiley of Cantril: During a February 2022 USDA inspection, inspectors found several dogs with visible veterinary issues. One of the dogs was a female golden retriever with hair loss over half her body, another was a bichon frise with hair loss, another was a dog with an open wound on one shoulder, and a fourth was a dog that appeared to be very underweight with her ribs, backbone and hip bones visible. The owner reportedly admitted to the inspector that no medical records had been maintained on the dogs in question and there were no medical records for another dog on site that was blind. There were 248 dogs on site at that time. In March 2022, Wiley received an official warning from USDA for the veterinary care issues found in February.

Lloyd Yoder of Valleyview Premium Puppies in Riverside: USDA inspectors who visited Valleyview in February 2022 and March 2022 found more than a dozen violations, including unclean and unsafe conditions, two dogs that appeared emaciated, and one injured dog. Female Old English sheepdog is severely emaciated, an inspector wrote. The dogs spine, ribs, shoulder blades and hip bones were protruding and easily felt beneath the hair coat with little to no fat or muscle covering the dogs frame. Loose stool is also coating the hair beneath the dogs tail. The dog has not been evaluated by a veterinarian and is not under treatment for the poor body condition or loose stool.

The inspector also wrote, The licensee is not removing the dog feces from the enclosures on a daily basis  In several enclosures, the inspectors could not walk without stepping in feces  In many enclosures, rodents have dug holes beneath the shelters and up through the plywood floors indicating that the plywood floor has most likely rotted away  Another enclosure, containing two adult dogs, has numerous shotgun shells scattered across the ground. The dogs have direct access to the shotgun shells. Shotgun shells could have a negative impact on the health of the dogs should they chew on or consume them.

At the same inspection, some of the dogs food was found be spoiled, contaminated or moldy and some of the food had bird droppings and rodent feces within it. Some dogs were inside enclosures that had poison pellets (mouse and rat killer) strewn in them, and one dog was seen carrying around a dead mouse in its mouth.

Loren Yoder of Riverside: During a February 2022 USDA inspection, Yoder was cited for six violations related to housing, veterinary care and cleanliness. The inspector noted that one enclosure with five dogs in it had a plywood floor that was buried beneath a thick layer of dirt and gravel, and in the enclosure, rodents have dug holes beneath the shelter and up through the plywood floor indicating that the plywood floor has most likely rotted away.

In addition, the inspector noted: The facility is not removing the dog feces from the enclosures on a daily basis. The inspector also noted there were missing veterinary records and inadequate veterinary guidance on some issues, as well as a lack of preventative care and treatment plans to maintain healthy and unmatted hair coats, properly trimmed toenails, and clean and healthy skin.

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Deidre DeJear said there were no empty seats in Cornerstone Church last Sunday.

The Democratic gubernatorial candidate attended a service in the Ames church days after an armed man shot and killed two women, then himself, in the church parking lot. The community was still reeling from the senseless violence, she said, but came together to heal.

No one saw that coming. And at the time at which I came, some people were still in shock that this really happened, she said. But everybody was at church that day.

The Ames shooting, as well as ones in places like Uvalde, Texas, where a gunman killed 19 children and two teachers at an elementary school, are why DeJear says gun reform is a central campaign issue in the 2022 race for governor. This November, she faces incumbent Republican Gov. Kim Reynolds, who seeks re-election to a second full term.

DeJear discussed her plans to reduce gun violence in Iowa during a recording of Iowa Press, which airs at 7:30 p.m. Friday on Iowa PBS. If elected, DeJear said, she would work to require permits for purchasing firearms, and licenses for carrying. She said she also wants to implement a minimum age requirement of 21 to purchase assault rifles.

DeJear emphasized this doesnt mean getting rid of guns in Iowa.

The time has come for states to figure it out so that we can keep people safe, DeJear told the Iowa Capital Dispatch. Keep your guns and keep people safe. Those things are possible.

Reynolds condemned the shooting last Friday, speaking to reporters before a Grinnell campaign event.

At the beginning, we werent sure what was happening, but it was a targeted attack, Reynolds said. It appears that possibly, again, mental health has played a role in that, and were still learning more as they dig into some of the information.

She said there was not one single answer. But Reynolds talked about specific steps she wants to take in keeping Iowans safe, like working with worship centers and schools to create safety plans, as well as bettering Iowas mental health programs.

Johnathan Lee Whitlatch, 33, of Boone, had recently broken up with victim Eden Mariah Montang, 22. She and 21-year-old Vivian Renee Flores, both Iowa State University students, were at the church for a Thursday night worship service with Cornerstones university ministry.

In Sundays sermon, the Rev. Mark Vance said the Cornerstone congregation is mourning, but resilient.

Death does not own this place, he told churchgoers. It never has, and it never will.

Iowa Capital Dispatch is part of States Newsroom, a network of news bureaus supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Iowa Capital Dispatch maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Kathie Obradovich for questions: info@iowacapitaldispatch.com. Follow Iowa Capital Dispatch on Facebook and Twitter.

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In the backyard of his older brothers house, Henry Jerome White did what he grew up doing  working on cars.

It had been 26 years since he had been able to do what he loved. For more than a year, he was held in the Forsyth County Jail and then for more than 20 years, White was in state prison for first-degree murder in the 1996 death of Carl Earl Marshburn. Forsyth County prosecutors alleged that he shot Marshburn, the manager of Earl Scheib Paint and Body Shop in Winston-Salem, twice and then robbed him. White claimed innocence. He was supposed to spend the rest of his life in prison.

But on May 19, White was outside in the hot sun, his white T-shirt colored with splotches of red paint as he sanded a bright-red 1977 Corvette by an outbuilding on his brothers property in Kernersville. Small with a muscled frame, White is soft-spoken. His eyes are wide to the world that, until now, he hasnt seen much of beyond prison walls.

He is at peace.

A little more than a week before, White was released from prison. In an unusual arrangement, he saw his first-degree murder conviction thrown out in exchange for a plea to second-degree murder. Judge David Hall of Forsyth County Superior Court sentenced White to between about 13 years and 16 years in prison. He had already served more than that, and later that day, May 9, he was released from the Forsyth County Jail.

His case was unique. Under todays legal standard, his first-degree murder conviction would have already been overturned because a state appellate court found that a Forsyth County prosecutor illegally used race to get rid of two potential Black female jurors, admitting it when challenged. But his case was upheld because back in the late 1990s, it wasnt enough.

According to a motion filed by prosecutors and his attorney, another issue won his freedom  his trial attorney, Robert Leonard, was so ineffective at his job that Whites constitutional rights were violated. Because of the mistakes Leonard made at trial, White was denied a fair shot at fighting the first-degree murder charge he was facing.

Now, Whites main concerns are figuring out the world  he has streets to learn and smartphones to decipher. At 54, he has children, grandchildren and two great-grandchildren (who are on the way) to connect with.

I always asked God not to let me die in prison and here I am, he said.

A long journey

White grew up in Baltimore, Maryland, and South Carolina. At one point, his mother moved to Baltimore, where his uncle, Robert, his mothers oldest brother, had an auto shop.

White said he would spend days in his uncles shop, learning about cars and cleaning up the floors.

He was enamored with exterior work (he didnt like to do engine work) and he worked on cars from the time he was 12 until he was locked up at age 28.

White said he worked for Earl Scheib Paint and Body Shop and helped oversee operations in several states, including Virginia, South Carolina and North Carolina.

On Feb. 16, 1996, Henry White and his cousin, Harry Beaufort, went to the paint shop in Winston-Salem so that Beaufort could pick up his last paycheck. Beaufort told police and later testified at Whites trial that White went into the shop and he heard two gunshots. Beaufort testified that White later said he had shot Marshburn and stolen money from him.

White told police that he gave Beaufort a 9mm gun for safekeeping and that he dropped Beaufort off at a gas station before going to the paint shop to pick up the check. He said when he left the shop, Marshburn was still alive. Later, at a nearby parking lot, Beaufort got into the car and told White that he had shot Marshburn and robbed him.

To this day, White said he had nothing to do with Marshburns murder and that Beaufort was the one who committed the crime. Beaufort was never charged.

Marshburns body was found about 9 a.m. on Feb. 17, 1996. Money was missing from the pocket of his shirt, where witnesses told police that Marshburn was known to keep money.

Forsyth County prosecutors pursued the death penalty against White but a Forsyth County jury recommended life in prison without the possibility of parole.

White appealed his case to the N.C. Court of Appeals on a number of issues, including racial discrimination in jury selection.

A U.S. Supreme Court decision called Batson v. Kentucky had already made it illegal to use race in jury selection. Prosecutors and criminal defense attorneys can use what are called a peremptory challenge to get rid of potential jurors without giving a reason. But under the U.S. Supreme Court decision, a judge can hold a hearing if either side alleges that race was used in jury selection. Prosecutors who are challenged based on the Batson decision can give a non-racial reason for why they dismissed a potential Black juror.

In Whites case, Assistant District Attorney David Spence was challenged by Whites attorneys. He gave this reason about why he dismissed Sonya Jeter and Caryl Reynolds, both Black women, according to a 1998 opinion by the N.C. Court of Appeals:

Both black females, both 27 years old, old enough. Almost the same age as the defendant. Sonya was personally opposed to the death penalty. Carolyn (sic) Reynolds is living with her mother, doesnt have a stake in the community. Shes single, has an illegitimate child, health care provider. State thinks that people who want to save lives dont want to take lives. And she doesnt think having her purse stolen was a serious crime...And judge, on Miss Jeter, her cousin was convicted by Detective Rowe. Again, shes another health care provider.

This is not the first time Spence or the Forsyth County District Attorneys Office has been accused of racial discrimination in jury selection. Spence, who is a prosecutor in Carteret, Craven and Pamlico counties, has repeatedly declined to comment.

Elizabeth Hambourger, one of Whites attorneys, represents two other Forsyth County men  Thomas Larry and Russell William Tucker  who are both on death row for murder. Hambourger has filed an appeal for Tucker with the N.C. Supreme Court. Larry has an appeal pending in Forsyth Superior Court.

All three cases not only involve Spence but also involve the alleged use of a training document called Batson Justifications: Articulating Juror Negatives.

Hambourger has alleged in court papers that Forsyth County prosecutors used the training document in Tuckers case and other cases to provide pre-packaged race-neutral reasons for why they got rid of potential Black jurors. She and other attorneys have additionally argued that those non-racial reasons are steeped in racial stereotypes about Black people.

Also cited in Tuckers case is a study done by two Michigan State University law professors who say there is a pattern of racial discrimination in four Forsyth County cases. Spence was involved in all of those cases. In the four cases combined, Spence struck 63% of Black jurors but only 20% of non-Black jurors, according to court papers.

In Whites case, the N.C. Court of Appeals, noting the first three words out of Spences mouth, found in 1998 that race played a significant role in jury selection in Whites case. Until recently, Whites case was the only one in North Carolina history where a state appellate court made a finding that race played a role in jury selection.

But because Spence also gave several non-racial reasons, the courts finding about race wasnt enough to overturn Whites conviction. That was because at the time, race had to be the sole factor to get a conviction overturned and get a new trial. The legal standard has since changed.

If the court had ruled the same way in 2022, Whites conviction would have been overturned.

A shift

Hambourger said she and attorney David Weiss looked at Whites case and asked White if they could represent him. White agreed.

They filed a motion for appropriate relief, a kind of appeal, in Forsyth County Superior Court, asking a judge to overturn Whites murder conviction based on racial discrimination in jury selection. Judge Todd Burke denied the request, saying that White was procedurally barred from raising the jury issue because he had previously raised it in another appeal.

Hambourger had thought that the Forsyth County District Attorneys Office would agree that Whites case represented an injustice in need of correction. But prosecutors opposed the appeal.

However, when the case reached the N.C. Court of Appeals, a shift happened.

To my surprise, the Attorney Generals office agreed that this was an injustice, Hambourger said.

Specifically, Zachary Dunn, an assistant attorney general, wrote that Whites claims should be heard and asked that the case be sent back to Forsyth County Superior Court for an evidentiary hearing.

Although the trial court correctly found that the procedural bars ... applied, the State concludes that under the unique factual and procedural circumstances presented, application of the bar in this specific case would result in a fundamental miscarriage of justice, Dunn wrote in court papers.

Dunn told the court of appeals that this was not an easy decision.

The State has considered its position carefully, and does not lightly request remand for a new hearing of an otherwise procedurally barred MAR claim, Dunn said. However, significant uncertainty exists around whether the trial court applied the correct standard in ruling on Petitioners Batson claim.

The N.C. Court of Appeals, however, chose to take up the appeal and both Hambourger and the state Attorney Generals Office were in the process of preparing for oral arguments when the Forsyth County District Attorneys Office found other issues that paved the way for overturning Whites conviction.

According to a joint motion for appropriate relief, Leonard did two things to violate Whites constitutional rights. One, he failed to pursue a motion to suppress statements White made to police. Leonard would have been successful in that motion, the motion argues, because at the time White made the statements, Leonard represented White but was not there during the interrogation. That made the statements unconstitutional and inadmissible for trial. But Leonard withdrew the motion to suppress before there could be an evidentiary hearing.

Second, Leonard said in closing statements that White was guilty of armed robbery, an underlying felony for the first-degree murder charge. Those statements indicated to the jury that if White was guilty of the robbery, then he was guilty of the murder. Leonard, the motion argues, made those statements without consulting with White.

In recent correspondence with the Winston-Salem Journal, Leonard, who has been disbarred and was later convicted of embezzlement, has denied the allegations that he was ineffective in his legal representation of White.

As part of a plea deal, White agreed to plead guilty to second-degree murder. His first-degree murder conviction was thrown out and he was given a time-served sentence. That means he was released from custody on May 9.

During the hearing, his mother, Louise McCray, kept thanking God.

I feel release from my heart, she said. I feel good. I have my kids all together ... I feel so good.

Family matters

When White went into prison, his daughter was only 7-months-old.

Shes now 26 and is a mother. She is pregnant with her second child.

White has three children and six grandchildren, including the one his daughter is carrying. He is about to become a great-grandfather. His oldest granddaughter is pregnant with twins, he said.

He is one of four brothers and has five sisters. One of his sisters, however, died as a young child.

When asked why he pleaded guilty to something he said he didnt do, he said he did it for his mother.

His mother has had two heart attacks, one as recent as a couple of months ago.

I didnt want to be locked up in prison with my Mom dying on me, he said.

He told Hambourger that whatever he had to do to get out of prison, he was willing to do it. But, he said, it hurt to plead guilty to second-degree murder.

At the May 9 hearing, Kathryn Baldwin, a daughter of Carl Earl Marshburn, called White by his first name and told him that she wished him nothing but the best. The two families hugged each other after the hearing.

His older brother, Derak White, said he always had faith that White would get out of prison.

Its not our time, its God time, he said.

Derak White said hes just happy to have White home.

He said his brother was always interested in jobs. Thats why when White came to his house on a Thursday, he put him to work.

He come out and he wanted to work and I said, Go to work, Derak White said, laughing. I got plenty of work for him.

Hambourger said she was struck by Whites integrity.

He seems like someone who has tried really hard to make the most out of a hard situation, she said.

Now that hes out, White has plans. He wants to open up an auto shop in Greensboro. He and his brothers have scouted out a spot for the shop.

I always kept faith, he said.

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By Trend

The United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) and Turkmenistan are cooperating on a number of projects, one of which is the Framework Program for Cooperation in the Field of Sustainable Development for 2021-2025, Advocacy and Media Relations Expert (UNIDO) Ravindra Wickremasinghe told Trend.

He noted that UNIDO is interested in continuing its partnership with the Government of Turkmenistan in the modernization of the industrial sector, science parks, development of high-quality infrastructure, and promotion of investments and technologies in the country.

"UNIDO will offer its experience to Turkmenistan in the development of efficient use of resources, in the use of cleaner production, biosafety, the use of renewable energy sources, and the modernization of industrial energy efficiency," the expert of the organization said.

He added that UNIDO believes that cooperation in these areas will contribute to achieving the goals set in the National Program of Socio-Economic Development of Turkmenistan for 2011-2030.
HIGH POINT  As televised hearings began this week about the events of Jan. 6, 2021, at the nations Capitol, the newly appointed dean of High Point Universitys future law school is gaining media attention for his reported role advising former President Donald Trump.

While its not immediately known if Mark Martin will be named during the committee hearings in the coming days, the scrutiny surrounding his working relationship with Trump isnt new.

Previously published articles report that Martin spoke to Trump the evening of Jan. 6 between 7:30-7:39, according to White House records provided to the House select committee. In a March 29 story this year about those records, The Washington Post wrote:

That night, Trump also spoke with lawyers supporting his election fight, such as former North Carolina Supreme Court chief justice Mark Martin and Cleta Mitchell, a veteran conservative Washington attorney who worked closely with Trump on contesting Bidens victory in Georgia, according to the records.

The New York Times reported in early 2021 that Martin allegedly advised Trump that Vice President Mike Pence could reject Electoral College votes when it was time to certify the election.

At one point, Mr. Trump told the vice president that he had spoken with Mark Martin, the former chief justice of the North Carolina Supreme Court, who he said had told him that Mr. Pence had that power, the Times reported, citing unnamed sources.

Martin also was, according to media reports, among the lawyers involved in authoring a controversial lawsuit by Texas to challenge election results in four other states. The U.S. Supreme Court chose not to consider the case.

Several legal experts told the Charlotte Observer in February last year that Martins work on Trumps behalf undermined faith in the countrys elections, weakened its constitutional democracy and set the stage for the Jan. 6 mob assault on the Capitol.

Some of Martins supporters told the Observer that he is a man of deep faith and high professional standards who has been unfairly singled out by the allegations of a largely unattributed newspaper story by The New York Times  allegations he cant speak to because they fall under attorney-client privilege.

When the Observer story was published, Martin was dean of Regent Universitys law school in Virginia Beach, Va. When the Observer reached out to him for comment about his behind-the-scenes advisory role with the former president, a university spokesman said Martin would have no comment.

On Tuesday, High Point University President Nido Qubein announced that Martin would lead the private universitys new law school. Allison Lightner, HPUs media relations manager, said Martin begins working at the university next week on Wednesday. He also will be a tenured professor.

When Lightner was asked if Qubein is concerned about the publics perception of his appointment of Martin, the university provided this statement: Dean Martin served admirably and honorably as Chief Justice of our States Supreme Court. We are excited about working with him to establish a new law school, one with a national reputation for excellence.

In response to the News & Record offering Martin an opportunity to comment through the university, Lightner said in an email: The university does not comment on speculation or matters of attorney/client privilege.

HPUs School of Law, pending approval by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges, was announced earlier this spring as part of a $400 million academic expansion plan.

Martins career includes previously serving as the chief justice of the N.C. Supreme Court, as an associate judge on the N.C. Court of Appeals, and most recently as dean and law professor at Regent University School of Law in Virginia Beach, Va., according to a news release.

Words cannot adequately express my appreciation to Dr. Qubein for giving me this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, Martin said Tuesday in a statement. I look forward to working with a broad array of extraordinary legal scholars and leaders to build a law school of distinction, one with a national reputation for excellence.

Martin holds the distinction of being the youngest person to serve on the N.C. Supreme Court and the N.C. Court of Appeals. During his service on the states highest court, he taught on the adjunct faculties at Duke, North Carolina Central and UNC law schools.

During Martins tenure at Regent, its law school was included for the first time among the Best Grad Schools  Law in the U.S. News rankings. The law school also achieved a 100% first-time pass rate on the Uniform Bar Exam in 2020.

Annette Ayres can be reached at 336-373-7019.
In a nonpartisan race where Republicans are betting their statewide popularity will outdo an incumbent Supreme Court justice, political experts say financial support will still be a key component in the election.

Incumbent Justice Ingrid Gustafson and Republican Public Service Commission chair James Brown advanced from Tuesday's primary election. Gustafson came away with 48% of the ballots cast, with 125,531 votes, to Brown's 36%, or 94,905 votes. Lewis and Clark County District Court Judge Mike McMahon took third in the race; only the top two vote-getters move on to the general.

The race's proximity to partisanship  particularly Republicans' bullhorn support for Brown  has drawn comparisons to the 2014 race between Justice Mike Wheat and Montana Solicitor General Lawrence VanDyke. In that race, the Republican State Leadership Committee (RSLC) spent $477,500 in support of VanDyke throughout the election, according to the Brennan Center for Justice. This year, the Montana Republican State Central Committee already spent more than $85,000 in support of Brown in the last two months before the primary, and Federal Communications Commission records show the RSLC buying TV ads supporting Brown in the week leading into the primary.

Gustafson is backed by Montanans for Liberty and Justice, a political action committee for the Montana Trial Lawyers Association, which also played a role in supporting Wheat in 2014. That year the group put up $640,000 in support of Wheat. So far this year the group has reported $132,000 in independent spending in support of Gustafson, according to campaign finance records.

Brown finished 12 points behind Gustafson in a primary where Republican turnout in Montana appeared to be strong. More than 27,800 Republican ballots were cast in the western congressional district than Democratic ones, while the eastern congressional district saw 59,150 more GOP ballots compared to Democratic ones.

About 16,000 votes were left on the table in the Supreme Court primary; 277,278 votes were cast for congressional candidates in Montana in Tuesday's primary, while 261,044 people selected a Supreme Court candidate.

According to Carroll College political scientist Jeremey Johnson, even in such a partisan environment the biggest question in the race still isn't how much voters will care that Brown holds office as a Republican and is running with GOP endorsements while Gustafson has never held a partisan office.

"I think the bigger question is how much money are the Republicans willing to spend for the election in November," Johnson said.

Democrats have thrown financial support to Supreme Court candidates before, but have so far limited their involvement this cycle to criticizing the GOP for its organized efforts behind Brown's candidacy. Even without the partisan horsepower, Johnson said Gustafson's incumbency remains valuable.

"(Republicans) are pushing hard for him, but it goes against a respected incumbent justice," Johnson said. "We'll just see how much money they're willing to spend on this."

Jake Eaton, who runs the The Political Company firm and has spoken in support of Brown's candidacy, said groups that hire him will continue spending money to "highlight the deficiencies in her record and highlighting the positives of Jim's," but declined to comment further on electioneering strategy.

This week, however, Eaton seized on Gustafson's campaign bringing in less than 50% of the votes cast.

"I think coming in under 50% for an incumbent is an extreme sign of vulnerability," Eaton said.

The primary election for Gustafson's seat was a three-way race. McMahon garnered 16% of the vote with about 40,600 votes, without the statewide name recognition or the partisan backing, and it's unclear to which candidates those votes may fall in November.

Gustafson's campaign, asked to respond to Eaton's analysis of her tally in the primary, referred the Montana State News Bureau to her comments from the Tuesday night victory in the primary.

"I am honored and thankful Montana voters have given me the opportunity to continue my work and run for re-election in the fall," Gustafson said Tuesday. "I love the work that I do and I'm eager to continue to do it."

Johnson was doubtful that Gustafson's primary figures are a reliable forecast.

"First, it's a low-turnout election," he said. "I just don't think it's that meaningful compared to what we'll see in the general election. There was a three-way primary, so there's more splitting of the votes."

While Gustafson and Brown regroup after the primary, Supreme Court Justice Jim Rice and challenger Bill D'Alton, a personal injury attorney from Billings, are likely gearing up for the first time. Rice got 76% of the vote on Tuesday. He had raised more than $43,000 and only spent $11,373 through May 17, according to campaign finance records. D'Alton, who gathered 24% of the vote on Tuesday, has not raised a dime. Both were guaranteed to advance from the primary.

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DECATUR  A former food service manager at the Decatur Correctional Center was sentenced Friday to 50 days in jail and 30 months of probation for engaging in sexual conduct with inmates.

Michael S. Williams, 52, also has to register as a sex offender for 10 years and undergo sex offender treatment. He pleaded guilty to charges of custodial sexual misconduct and official misconduct in January.

Judge Jeffrey Geisler considered the victims, Williams potential to offend again, and his lack of a criminal history when handing down the sentence.

He is still going to have to serve some jail time in this situation, the judge said.

Brad Rogers, a Department of Corrections internal investigator, testified Friday that the sexual encounters with various female inmates dated back to 2016.

The sentencing hearing included written victim impact statements by two former inmates as well as one appearing in court. All three women highlighted the details of the incidents and the control Williams used to manipulate their relationships, as well as the impact his conduct had on their lives.

Mr. Williams used his power in the Department of Corrections and years of being there to threaten and keep me submissive, stated one of the victims in a letter to the court.

According to the victims statements, they and many of the other victims felt they were unable to voice the encounters.

They tell you to tell, but then youre a victim all over again, a victim said during the sentencing.

The judge also heard from Williams and his wife. Their dire financial situation and their young son was part of their plea for a lesser sentence.

However, Williams recognized his role in the incidents.

I understand the seriousness of these actions, he said. I take full responsibility for my actions.

Special Prosecutor Kate Kurtz recommended two to five years in prison, saying Williams abused his position with the Department of Corrections.

These are women who cant go to the bathroom without asking, cant leave their cell without asking to get a magazine, cant go to eat when they want to eat without asking first, Kurtz said. And this is the kind of people they have to ask.

Williams defense attorney Baku Patel argued the defendant had lost his income and hurt his family because of his actions. As a registered sex offender, Williams will be prohibited from schools or similar facilities for 10 years. The sex offender information will be available to the public throughout his life.

A lot of obstacles are going to be in front of him for the rest of his natural life, Patel said.

Since his initial arrest in 2019, Williams has followed the terms of his release on bond, according to Patel. He has guilt, shame, remorse and regret, Patel said.

Contact Donnette Beckett at (217) 421-6983. Follow her on Twitter: @donnettebHR

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A Chicago man was arrested for throwing a Molotov cocktail at the Embassy of the Peoples Republic of China in Washington, according to a criminal complaint filed Friday.

Benjamin Grabinski was arrested after he was identified as the individual who on Thursday, walked up to the embassy, 3505 International Drive Northwest, holding a glass bottle with black cloth extending from its neck and attempted to light the cloth on fire before throwing the bottle over the gate and into the building.

He was detained by Secret Service agents within minutes of the attack while walking a few blocks from the embassy. He told a law enforcement officer while he was being arrested, I tried to light it, but it didnt work, according to the affidavit.

The affidavit said there is probable cause to find Grabinski willfully injured, damaged, or destroyed, or attempted to injure, damage, or destroy, any property  real or personal  located within the United States and belonging to or utilized or occupied by any foreign government or international organization.

The same man in late May continuously harassed a special police officer posted in front of the embassy as security and is believed to have thrown a rock at the embassy and say, Next time, its going to be a firebomb!

Another Secret Service agent initiated a stop soon after and identified Grabinski by his Illinois state ID. Grabinski told the officer he traveled from Chicago to Washington to show his discontent for the Chinese government, according to the affidavit.

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The Illinois Republican Party has successfully avoided being dragged into the hard-right camp at the state level for decades. Those days may be over.

With relatively liberal Republicans Jim Thompson, Jim Edgar and then George Ryan as governor, the state never embraced the sweeping policy changes which emerged from the Reagan Revolution and defined the national party for decades. The Illinois AFL-CIO endorsed Thompsons last reelection bid. The National Abortion Rights Action League endorsed Edgars first gubernatorial run. Ryan campaigned to the left of his 1998 Democratic opponent on guns, abortion and gay rights. They were all from the governing wing of the party, eschewing the rabble on the far right and occasionally batting them off like flies.

While Bruce Rauner defined himself by his rabidly anti-union stances, he was pro-choice enough to sign a bill that provided Medicaid funding for abortions. He never supported Donald Trump, even though the two shared several personality traits.

That distance from the far right helped statewide Republicans win general elections in moderate-to-liberal Illinois, particularly after the state leaned harder Democratic when Bill Clinton was elected president in 1992.

But if a recent Sun-Times/WBEZ poll is even close to accurate, those days may finally be behind the party. And, consequently, their statewide fate will likely be sealed without a sea change in Illinois political behavior and demographics.

The new poll has Sen. Darren Bailey trouncing the establishments choice Richard Irvin by 15 points, 32-17. Bailey not only leads among downstate Republicans by 24 points, hes also ahead in the suburbs. Another 27 percent were undecided, with Jesse Sullivan the only other candidate polling in the double digits (11).

This is the second poll in a row showing a Bailey lead. Hard-right activist and radio host Dan Proft released a poll at the beginning of last week showing Bailey with a seven-point margin.

What has happened to Irvin and his $53 million war chest, most of it supplied by the states wealthiest resident, Ken Griffin?

One huge factor is that Gov. Pritzker, the Democratic Governors Association and Darren Bailey, along with his big-money backer Dick Uihlein, have so far managed to turn this race into the same sort of traditional GOP primary like other, more conservative states have seen for years and years, but that Illinois has generally avoided. They have reshaped the playing field and it has become untenable for the more moderate Richard Irvin.

After months of Irvin pounding Darren Bailey for being some sort of closet Democrat, the Democrats, Bailey and Dan Proft spent millions to prove without a shadow of a doubt that Bailey was a solid Trumpster. And by deriding Bailey for being too conservative for Illinois, the Democrats have also apparently managed to so far convince many rank and file Republicans that they arent actually trying to advance Baileys candidacy (even though the Democrats are clearly doing that very thing).

The Irvin campaign claims that the Democrats are on pace to spend $32 million against their guy, although their numbers show that the Dems have only spent $15-plus million so far. Uihlein has contributed $17 million to Bailey and Profts People Who Play by the Rules PAC, more than hes ever done here. Uihleins big spending and the willingness of the Democrats to literally spend whatever it took seems to have caught Irvins team by surprise.

Another factor could be that voters finally caught on to a big Irvin lie. Darren Bailey is one of the most far-right legislators in the state. Once voters saw through Irvins game, everything else he said could be disregarded. And Pritzker has come on strong in recent days with two very hard-hitting ads trumpeting some opposition research on Irvin that clearly left deep marks.

Irvin spent $3.6 million on advertising during the last week of May. By the first week of June, that spending had dropped to less than $800,000. The Irvin campaign allowed all of its downstate broadcast TV ads to expire last week. Theyre now focusing solely on the Chicago media market.

The story from inside is that regular downstate Republicans are already done with Irvin, so they want to focus on city, suburban and exurban Republicans with more Illinois-style Republican messaging. But the party has clearly changed. They have only one narrow path out, and its pretty rocky and steep.

Irvin has taken to repeating a mantra that Pritzker is backing Bailey because he knows Bailey cant win. But by doing so hes essentially making the Democrats own case that Bailey is too conservative for Illinois. And that risks firing up the hardcore base even more.

Rich Miller publishes Capitol Fax, a daily political newsletter, and CapitolFax.com.

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As Memorial Day passed by I pondered what it meant and who really understood the sacrifices paid by those we honor. The goal of those sacrifices was democracy, freedom, justice and equality.

Since my tour in Vietnam I have never wavered in achieving those goals nor honoring those who never came home from too many wars. I never needed a parade, phony speeches or political dog and pony shows. I always knew my service was an opportunity to pay the debt to those who served before me and those who never made it home. More than 67,000 were killed in Vietnam that I may be blessed with democracy and freedom.

I am deeply saddened to see our democracy slipping away, being corrupted and turned upside down. If you dont swallow the big lie, subvert elections, use veterans as political props, defile the courts with political hacks, you are not patriotic. If you dont attempt to violently overthrow the duly elected government, you are un-American, evil, a socialist or communist. If you refuse to constantly engage in a barrage of lies, spread them to others, you are not patriotic. If you are not supporting the Republican cult, you are not a real American.

I would never have imagined an entire political party becoming Americas most dangerous enemy. Whether you participate in the efforts to overthrow democracy, endorse it or just remain silent, you are aiding and abetting the destruction of our democracy.

If you are among the wealthy donors financing this anti-American coup, you are the enemy. If you claim to be a Christian and support the effort to undermine democracy, overthrow this government, you are a hypocrite and you are engaging in evil. If you support racism and discrimination, you are un-American.

Mike Griffin, Decatur

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New Braunfels, TX (78130)

Today

A mix of clouds and sun. High 99F. Winds SSE at 10 to 20 mph..

Tonight

Partly to mostly cloudy. Low 74F. Winds SSE at 15 to 25 mph.
Hope. Courage. Resilience. Forgiveness. These words mean more, not less, against a backdrop of war, suffering and violence. The June 6 annual meeting of The First Church of Christ, Scientist, in Boston, Massachusetts highlighted this message. Church members gathered in-person and online, including congregations from [insert local information], to affirm the promise to be found in these enduring qualities of grace.

When lived, these qualities show how Christ is transforming human experience, explained this years chair of the churchs five-member Board of Directors, Keith Wommack. The meetings theme, a quote from the churchs founder, Mary Baker Eddy, points to One infinite God, good as the source of human progress  impelling neighbors and nations to unite in love and bringing within reach aspirations for equality, neutralizing hate, and even stopping wars.

The meeting highlighted small steps of progress toward those goals, including the role of The Christian Science Monitor, its 113-year-old news organization. The Monitor encourages readers engagement with world events in the spirit of bringing light  not heat  to complex domestic and international problems. The Monitor aims to reflect the churchs values, such as integrity and compassion, while striving to present unbiased news and recognize often-unseen points of progress.

The Christian Science Church has faced the same surging secular currents as other Christian and religious institutions in recent years. Yet in spite of challenges, members reported how difficult circumstances during the pandemic sparked a deeper love for others, and fresh opportunities to experience Gods healing power. Christian healing is central to the churchs founding purpose.

One woman reflected on the standard of Christian caring set out in the Church Manual, a 105-page volume that impartially governs the lay church and its members. She acknowledged the spiritual growth in love it impels, a theme throughout the Bible and Christ Jesus ministry. The by-laws also encourage moral and spiritual accountability, such as responding with truth in facing shortcomings, and practicing the Golden Rule.

Another member described how he turned to God for spiritual renewal. Christian Scientists believe that spiritual healing is not a miraculous occurrence, but the effect of coming into closer communion with a God of unchanging Love. He was soon healed of medically diagnosed acute and chronic kidney failure. He shared, I was back to feeling like my true self again. The Christ, Truth, really does come to [us].

The clerk welcomed new members from 30 countries, including Belgium, Haiti, Spain and Togo. The new Readers of The Mother Church, who will conduct in-person and online church services in Boston for the next three years, are Mimi Oka of New York City, and Don Wallingford of Atlanta, Georgia. The churchs new president, Doris Ulich from Bamberg, Germany, was announced at the meeting.

Participants also had the opportunity to visit the new public exhibit at the Boston headquarters, How Do You See the World? The exhibit examines stories of genuine global progress, and shows how individuals have overcome challenges and found hope. The space also encourages visitors to reflect on this question and consider how each can broaden their service to humanity. You can lose sight of global progress if you just look at the nightly news, Board member Rich Evans remarked. You come here, and get perspective. You can say, look at how far we have come.

Kevin Ness is the Manager of Christian Science Committees on Publication worldwide for The First Church of Christ, Scientist.
BRISTOL, Tenn.  Leah Ross, executive director of advancement for the Birthplace of Country Music, on Thursday received the Pinnacle Award for Lifetime Achievement from the Northeast Tennessee Tourism Association.

The award was presented June 9 at the tourism agencys 25th annual conference. The award is the highest honor presented to an individual or organization that has made a highly significant contribution to the travel and tourism industry in Northeast Tennessee, according to a written statement.

A tenacious ambassador for Bristol and the arts, Ross has earned the reputation for rolling up her sleeves and getting the job done, whatever the task, said Mark Ezell, commissioner of the Tennessee Department of Tourist Development. She can often be found working in the trenches with volunteers, and she is well-known for her diplomatic skills and for bringing groups together. Her tireless energy and passion for our region and its music culture has parlayed itself into dogged advocacy for our community and the banner success of BCM.

NETTA Executive Director Alicia Phelps also praised Ross.

You cant possibly think about the impact of tourism in Northeast Tennessee and Southwest Virginia without thinking about Leah Ross, Phelps said. It takes most people a lifetime to accomplish the milestones she has for our region and the Birthplace of Country Music. The best part is, shes not done yet. I can think of no one more deserving of this award.

Ross was among the founding volunteers of Bristol Rhythm & Roots Reunion since its inception in 2001 and became executive director for the event in 2005. According to an independent economic impact study, the festival brings in an estimated $16.1 million in economic impact to the region.

In 2012 the festival merged with the former Birthplace of Country Music Alliance to form BCM with the goal of building a museum honoring the heritage of the 1927 Bristol Sessions. A mere two years later, in August of 2014, the Birthplace of Country Music Museum, an affiliate of the Smithsonian Institution, opened its doors to the public. WBCM Radio Bristol, which broadcasts from the museum, went on the air in 2015.

I am very humbled to receive this recognition from NETTA, said Ross. I stand on the shoulders of a very talented team at BCM, many community leaders, partners, and volunteers, and the individuals and visionaries before me who laid the foundation for what our organization has become. I am so grateful for their hard work and passion for our mission  without them, none of it would have been possible.

Under Ross leadership, BCM has earned dozens of tourism and museum industry awards including the Tennessee Arts Commissions Tennessee Governors Arts Leadership Award, plus honors from the International Festivals & Events Association, Southeast Festival & Events Association, Tennessee Association of Museums, NETTA, Southeast Tourism Society and the American Bus Association.

Her personal accomplishments include the Industry Leadership Award from NETTA, the Arts Alliance Mountain Empires Arts Achievement Award, YWCA Bristols Tribute to Women, a service award from the Bristol Convention and Visitors Bureau and Bristol Motor Speedways Extra Mile Award for Volunteerism.

In addition, BCM took home the Pinnacle Award for Event of the Year for the 20th annual Bristol Rhythm & Roots Reunion music festival and a Pinnacle for Advertising and Promotions, Long Video, for Bristol Rhythm & Roots Reunion: Celebrating 20 Years in 2021 Episode 4 docuseries episode, produced by Loch & Key Productions of Knoxville, Tennessee. Additionally, Victory Lap Media, a public relations firm based in Asheville, North Carolina, and nominated by BCM, took home NETTAs Pinnacle for Agency of the Year. BCM contracted Victory Lap to help with media and public relations for the organization in 2021.
U.S. representatives representing Bristol residents on both sides of State Street voted no to two gun control bills passed by the House this week.

Tennessee Rep. Diana Harshbarger, R-1st and Virginia Rep. Morgan Griffith, R-9th were among the more than 200 Republicans who voted against the Protecting Our Kids Act (H.R. 7910) and the Federal Extreme Risk Protection Order Act (H.R. 2377). Just five House Republicans supported the bills.

H.R. 7910 would raise the age to purchase a semiautomatic rifle from 18 to 21 and would establish new federal offenses related to large capacity magazines and gun trafficking.

H.R. 2377 would create nationwide access to extreme risk protection orders, where a federal court could order the confiscation of firearms from a person deemed a risk.

The proposals that my Democrat colleagues have put forward are reactionary and rightfully concerning to East Tennesseans, Harshbarger said in a statement. I will not support bills like these that infringe on law-abiding citizens rights with arbitrary bans, widespread confiscation, and the elimination of due process.

Griffith voiced a similar tone of backing gun owners.

I read the bills and look at what each one says, but if it violates the Second Amendment protections of law-abiding citizens to own and bear arms, then I am opposed, Griffith said in a statement.

Both bills now head to the Senate, where Tennessees senators are also likely to vote no.

Sen. Bill Hagerty, R-Tenn., said in a statement that he feels like using the Uvalde, Texas, shooting as a reason to infringe upon the Second Amendment rights wont make the country safer.

Criminals and mass murderers will ignore any new gun-control law just as they ignore the strict gun control laws in our nations most violent cities, Hagerty said.

Following the Uvalde shooting, Sen. Marsha Blackburn, R-Tenn., released a statement without reference to gun control. Blackburn said schools need better security and that access to mental health resources and treatments should be improved.

Schools should have secured, limited entry points, and increased funding for school resource officers, Blackburn stated. School officials with prior military or law enforcement experience should be allowed to carry firearms.

Virginias senators opt for a more supportive stance on gun control.

Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Va., and Sen. Mark Warner, D-Va. both support the Virginia Plan to Reduce Gun Violence Act, legislation the two introduced last year. The bill would federally enact reforms that were passed by the Virginia General Assembly in 2020. Preventative measures include universal background checks and limitations on handgun purchases per month.

I will continue to work with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to follow Virginias example and find common ground on this issue, Kaine said in a statement. We need to protect Americans freedom to go to places like school, work and the grocery store free from fear of a mass shooting.

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By Trend

Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir Abdollahian said that Iran and India have agreed to increase investment in Chabahar Port, Trend reports citing IRNA.

Addressing a meeting of Promising Steps Ahead in Developing Trade Opportunities between Iran and India in Hyderabad, India, Amirabdollahian said that US unilateral and oppressive sanctions will end.

Thanks to its resistance and vigilance, Iran made these sanctions ineffective in the first place, he said.

Most of the sanctions were imposed on defense sector, he said adding that other sanctions were aimed at preventing developments in science and technology.

The new Iranian government is determined to complete and accelerate the program of sustainable economic development, he noted.

Elsewhere in his remarks, he lauded Hyderabad special position in Iran-India historical ties, saying that the political relations between the two countries are at the best level, meaning that the political leaders paved the way for developing relations.

India uses the capacity of Chabahar port, but its capacity can provide North-South and East-West transit routes, Amirabdollahian said.

Businesses need easy banking and financial infrastructure and mechanisms, he said adding that the two countries have negotiated on using financial mechanisms.

He also hailed opportunities and capacities in the field of energy and petrochemicals, agriculture and nuts, as well as steel, chemical fertilizers and medical equipment, knowledge-based products and other industrial sectors.
NEWTON  Carolina Caring is proud to recognize Bob Hall as this years recipient of the Association for Home and Hospice Care (AHHC) Volunteer of the Year Award for his outstanding contributions to supporting hospice patients in the community.

Hall began his career as a Carolina Caring volunteer more than 12 years ago providing companionship to patients and their families. Prior to the pandemic, Hall visited patients several times a month in person. When public health needs forced social isolation, he shifted to calling patients and sending them cards frequently, to let them know how much he cared.

Bob accepts his patients exactly where they are, no matter their circumstances or needs, says Kelly Tate, Carolina Carings vice president of community relations. Hes quick to take on any assignment and is invariably humble and gracious. Hes gifted with a servants heart.

Those who have worked with him at Carolina Caring say Hall has always been interested in his patients lives and wants to be a part of their journey. He is kind and thoughtful and creates lasting bonds with people by connecting with them emotionally and spiritually, offering his support from a place of deep appreciation and respect. When he is thanked for volunteering, he is reluctant to give himself credit, simply stating, Its my honor and pleasure to serve.

The AHHC HOME (Honoring Outstanding Merit and Excellence) Awards recognizes home care and hospice heroes for the work they do. The Volunteer of the Year Award goes to an individual who demonstrates a considerable commitment to home care or hospice, a notable impact by strengthening the lives of patients and families, and serves as an inspiration to others.

To learn more about volunteering at Carolina Caring or to sign up for its next volunteer training session, call 828-466-0466 or contact the volunteer services department at volunteer@CarolinaCaring.org.

Carolina Caring, founded in 1979, is an independent, community-based, nonprofit health care provider. It specializes in programs that offer relief from chronic conditions, serious illnesses, and the challenges they bring, including palliative medicine and hospice care for all ages, primary care and grief counseling. Currently, Carolina Caring serves 12 counties across western North Carolina and the Charlotte region. For more information about Carolina Caring, call 828-466-0466 or visit www.CarolinaCaring.org.
HICKORY  On Tuesday, June 14, at 6 p.m., people are invited to Patrick Beaver Memorial Library to meet Cynthia Villagomez, chair of the African American Heritage Committee for Winston-Salem and associate professor and Program Coordinator of History for the Department of History, Politics and Social Justice from Winston-Salem State University.

Villagomez will give a presentation about the history of Juneteenth and then facilitate a discussion about finding, documenting, and communicating African American heritage, specifically in the Hickory area. This event is part of a larger celebration of Juneteenth happening across Catawba County. No registration is required.

For more information, call 828-304-0500. Patrick Beaver Memorial Library is at 375 Third St. NE on the SALT Block. All library programs are free and open to the public.
Someday, in the not so distant future, I expect my as-yet-to-be-conceived grandchild to climb upon me knee and say, Grandpappy, tell me about the time you lost a significant amount of hearing in your left ear.

And Ill say, Boy, get your finger out of your nose, fetch your ol Grandpappy another one of those IPAs from yonder cooler, and I will enlighten you as to this happenstance.

I bet it was during the Great Robot War of 2035 when you worked as a correspondent for the merged CNN/FOX News media conglomerate reporting on how the humans eventually rose and triumphed over artificial intelligence run amuck during President Musks reign of terror, the youngster will say.

No, it wasnt that, boy.

Then I bet it was during the free-for-all of the 1970s when you were a kid hitching rides to all the big rock-and-roll shows and you once stood too close to the speaker when Foghat hit the opening notes to Slow Ride and after that, for decades, you said what? to nearly every question someone asked you. Am I right, Grandpappy?

What?

FOGHAT! SLOW RIDE!

No, that wasnt it, you little snot-for-brains. It happened in betwixt those. It was a hog-calling contest what did it. And here is the true story with perhaps some exaggerated details 

***

It was the late spring of 2022. I was a small-town newspaperman who wrote humor columns and raised groundhogs on the side. Those were the good old days before the Great Robot War, when gas was only $5 a gallon, monkeypox was in its early stages and President Joe Biden had not been transformed into a cyborg.

Our little town had successfully staged what many said was the finest Bigfoot festival on the East Coast, cashing in on the thought-to-be mythical creature who would later emerge from the wilderness, hire an attorney and sue the city for copyright infringement, but thats another future tale from the past.

Bigfoot fun was followed by the Livermush Festival or Liver Mush Festival because no one could seem to figure out if this hellish-yet-delicious combination of pig liver, hog snouts, cornmeal and spices was one or two words.

Whether it be liver mush or livermush, people back before the Great Robot War loved it as much as they loved Foghats Slow Ride in the 1970s.

So, there I was among 4,000-5,000 pig-liver lovers, taking notes, snapping pictures and shooting videos because I no longer had enough staff to make somebody else do it.

Up came the hog-calling contest. Four or five folks signed up to take the stage between the bluegrass bands sets to give their best hog call or pig squeal for a free T-shirt and $25. I figured this would make good video, maybe even turn me into a YouTube sensation, so I positioned myself at the front of the stage, ready to record the festivities and turn it into golden-fried content.

Unfortunately, I was right next to a speaker the bluegrass band may have purchased at Foghats garage sale. When a woman who claimed to grow up on a farm in Illinois leaned into the bands multidirectional mic and let loose with a scream heard across two state lines, my left ear felt as if it had been hit with a ball-peen hammer.

Later that evening, it was as if I was listening to the world through cotton balls. The next morning, my ear actually hurt. So, you little whippersnapper, thats how your Grandpappy lost a significant amount of hearing in his left ear. At a goldurned hog-calling contest.

***

Wow, Grandpappy that was a great story. You want me to fetch you another one of those IPAs from yonder cooler?

I heard that.

Scott Hollifield is editor and general manager of The McDowell News in Marion and a humor columnist. Email him at rhollifield@mcdowellnews.com .
" " Rivera's legacy is especially apparent in New York City, the activist's old stomping ground. public domain

A lot of civil rights heroes appear to come in perfect packages, above reproach. Rosa Parks was a hardworking, soft-spoken woman; Mahatma Gandhi prized modesty and peace. Yet, even some of the most praised leaders faced controversy and criticism  Gandhi has been accused of racism, and Martin Luther King Jr. has been chided for his extramarital affairs. But Sylvia Rivera, a gay and transgender rights activist, definitely did not fit a pacifist mold.

In an episode of Stuff You Missed in History Class, hosts Holly Frey and Tracy V. Wilson share the story of Rivera, who was neither quiet nor careful. Rivera became part of civil rights lore as the person who allegedly started the Stonewall riots by throwing the first Molotov cocktail at a police officer. (Rivera disputed this account, insisting she only threw the second one.)

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Her legacy as an activist was hard-fought. Born in 1951, Rivera had run away from home and was living on the street in New York City by age 11. She used sex work to scrape out an existence, and was welcomed into the drag culture of the city. Rivera was only 17 when the Stonewall riots  demonstrations after a police raid on a gay bar credited with catalyzing the modern LGBTQ rights movement  took place in 1969, but they galvanized her and other protesters to act.

As a trans activist, Rivera wasn't just fighting for the rights of gay people. Rivera was extremely keen and vocal about including transgender and gender nonconforming people in the movement for civil rights. (It should be acknowledged that terms describing gender identity have gone in and out of preference; Rivera used the terms "transvestite" or "transgender" at various stages, for instance, and later shrugged off any label for herself.)

Getting the "mainstream" gay rights movement to include trans or gender nonconforming people wasn't an easy sell, however. Rivera was extremely involved in the Gay Activists Alliance lobby of the New York City Gay Rights Bill, and was even arrested for gathering signatures for its petition. But she was devastated when her fellow activists pulled trans and drag rights from the bill to cater to a straight audience. "As badly as I knew this community needed that bill, I didn't feel it was justified for them to have it on my sweat and tears, or from my back," Rivera said in a 2001 talk.

Though Rivera died in 2002, her presence is still notable, especially in New York. The Sylvia Rivera Law Project provides legal services to gender nonconforming, intersex and trans folks, and Sylvia's Place provides services for LGBTQ youth. The corner of Christopher and Hudson streets in New York City was officially renamed Sylvia Rivera Way.

But that's just a peek at what Sylvia fought for. Join Tracy and Holly as they give you more of a glimpse into Sylvia's life and legacy, and the history of the LGBTQ civil rights movement's early days on the below episode of Stuff You Missed in History Class.

Now That's Cool An early pioneer of trans youth outreach and community building, Rivera and fellow activist Marsha P. Johnson co-founded a group called Street Transvestite Action Revolutionaries in 1970 to provide food, shelter and guidance for homeless LGBTQ youth.
People were scribbling with permanent markers all over the interior of their new building Monday afternoon  and Josh and Amanda Keaton could not have been happier.

The building is the new Salvation Army Center of Hope, which is under construction in downtown Concord after a three-year fundraising campaign, and the scribblers were supporters inscribing Bible verses on the exposed framing so that messages of hope and renewal would always be present within Cabarrus and Stanly counties new homeless shelter.

It has been a long time coming, said Capt. Josh Keaton, who with his wife Capt. Amanda Keaton, is the leader of the Salvation Army of Cabarrus and Stanly counties. A new shelter has been needed for years. We did a Mission Study in 2018 which identified the need for a new shelter, and starting raising funds in 2019. Then COVID hit, he said. The additional costs of operating our existing facilities through the pandemic, along with the recent price increases for building materials, made it not really an ideal time to embark on a major fundraising campaign.

But after three years of hard work by the Keatons and their small staff, fundraising efforts and financial support from the local Salvation Army Advisory Board, committee members and Womens Auxiliary, and other dedicated volunteers and donors, along with assistance from state and local government, the building fund was close enough to reaching its $8 million goal this spring that construction was begun, leading to much rejoicing last week when those supporters gathered to write their messages on the two-by-fours and plywood which are finally bringing the new shelter to life.

What a joy it is to finally see the building going up! said Tana Hartsell, Sharpie in hand, who along with her husband, former state Sen. Fletcher Hartsell, is chairing the fundraising campaign. The existing shelter was built in 1987 and has barely been updated since. The growth of our area has caused our shelter to be constantly at or over capacity. We were having to turn people away  especially homeless families. That cant happen. As the only emergency shelter in Cabarrus or Stanly county, this building is desperately needed.

In Cabarrus and Stanly counties, as in many other communities throughout the nation, the Salvation Army operates the only emergency homeless shelter which is available day or night. No one is turned away as long as they are not under the influence of drugs or alcohol  assuming there is room. The new building features 63 beds for families, men and women over 16,000 square feet, along with more space for counseling, job assistance, and a medical clinic  compared to only 33 beds and one small family room in the current building.

Families with kids are unfortunately the fastest growing homeless population, said Amanda Keaton. The current shelter has only one small family room. Turning away families due to lack of space is the hardest part of our job. This new building has six family suites as well as homework rooms and counseling services to help homeless families get into permanent housing and back on their feet  we cant wait to finally open it up.

Steve Morris, chairman of the Cabarrus County Board of Commissioners, has supported the new Center of Hope effort from the start. Not only do we need a new Center of Hope because helping our homeless families is the right thing to do, but the new shelter is a smart investment. People in need cost the county millions of dollars each year in social services and lost productivity  the safety, shelter and programs the Center of Hope provides save tax dollars and help get our homeless citizens back on their feet again.

Concord City Council member J.C. McKenzie is a member of the fundraising committee and was instrumental in securing corporate, city and county support for the new building. I also want to extend our appreciation to Sens. Paul Newton and Brent Jackson and Reps. Kristen Baker, Larry Pittman and Wayne Sasser, who were instrumental in obtaining a sizeable state grant, said McKenzie.

Captain Josh cautioned that while the building itself is finally underway, it will cost substantially more to operate than the existing building. We still must raise the funds to be able to operate the larger building and provide counseling to twice as many residents. It is important that folks realize we still need their financial support to our operational endowment. Supporters are now working to fund an endowment of $1.5 million to cover additional staff salaries and other operational expenses of the larger facility.

We are especially reaching out to local churches, said Advisory Board member Zac Moretz at Mondays event. I think everyone has heard of the Salvation Army but may not know what it is specifically doing here in Cabarrus County. The Salvation Army truly does the most good for the least of us and turns no one away. Every dollar raised stays right here at the Salvation Army on Patterson Avenue in downtown Concord. Especially with the focus of the new Center of Hope on helping homeless families in particular, we hope local churches will help with operational funding by sponsoring a bed and letting their members know about the Lords work that is going on here.

The Salvation Army annually helps nearly 23 million Americans overcome poverty, addiction and economic hardships through a range of social services. By providing food for the hungry, emergency relief for disaster survivors, rehabilitation for those suffering from drug and alcohol abuse, and clothing and shelter for people in need, the Salvation Army is doing the most good at 7,600 centers of operation around the country. Find out more about the new Center of Hope or make a donation at www.picturehopecampaign.org.
Tammie Shults

Tammie Jo Shults (Nov.2, 1961) is a retired naval aviator.

Shults was one of the first female fighter pilots to serve in the United States Navy.

Growing up near Tularosa, New Mexico, she would watch jet aircraft from nearby Holloman Air Force Base practice maneuvers in the skies above her home.

Shults earned a degree in biology and agribusiness from MidAmerica Nazarene College in 1983. During her senior year she met a woman who had qualified as a pilot for the United State Air Force, so Shults decided to apply to the Air Force to become a pilot. After being turned down by the United States Air Force, she decided to apply to the Navy.

Shults was surprised that she was accepted by the Navy as usually they have stricter standards than the Air Force due to the pilots expectation of taking off and landing from a carrier.

Shults would train to become a pilot at the Naval Air Station in Pensacola, Florida. Upon completion of the 12-week course she received her commission as an ensign on June 21, 1985. Earning her wings by flying the T-34, she was ready to advance to a more advanced aircraft.

The Navy observed her real talent in flying. Therefore, they trained her to fly the A-7 Corsair II. The Navy used Shults to become an instructor under the command of CAPT Rosemary Mariner. CAPT Mariner was a pioneer in having women as pilots in the Armed Services. Shults became one of the first female naval aviators to quality in the F/A-18 Hornet when the squadron transitioned from the EA-6B Prowler.

During Operation Desert Storm, the Armed Services still prevented females from flying combat missions, so Shults trained other pilots in flying the more sophisticated aircraft used in combat.

Transitioning to the Navy Reserve in December 1995, she was promoted to lieutenant commander and continued to fly the Navys most sophisticated combat aircraft. The Navy awarded Shults two Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medals.

After leaving the Navy, Shults accepted a position as a pilot for Southwest Airlines. She chose to work part-time and would only fly eight to ten days per month so that she could also raise a family following her marriage to fellow naval aviator Dean Shults, whom she married in 1994.

On April 17, 2018, while flying a commercial flight for Southwest Airlines she had to use all her past experiences in overcoming a near air disaster.

As captain in command of Flight 1380 from New York to Dallas, an engine fan blade on the Boeing 737 failed and flying debris damaged the left side of the fuselage and one side window.

With the side window now exposed this caused the plane to decompress. One passenger was partially sucked through the damaged window and later pronounced dead at the hospital.

Shults made an emergency descent and landed in Philadelphia.

Shults wrote a book about Southwest Airlines flight 1380, "Nerves of Steel," which was published on Oct. 8, 2019.

Today, both Shults and her husband continue to fly on a part-time basis for Southwest Airlines.

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May 29 was the 108th anniversary of a horrendous tragedy of human failure and design, a catastrophic confluence of several improbable possibilities of circumstance, judgment and intention. Together it killed more than 1,000 men, women and children in 15 minutes, and none of it had to happen. Yet it did. That historic incident offers us lessons today for reducing mass shootings.

The tragedy happened aboard an ocean liner only two years after the sinking of the unsinkable Titanic, on April 15, 1912. That earlier disaster, 110 years ago, raised concerns for improving safety at sea and prompted the first International Convention for Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS). The recommendations dealt mostly with saving lives after a sinking was underway rather than helping avoid such disasters, thus the 1914 treaty did not really address the causal problems. Ocean-going passengers were just as likely to face possible death at sea.

The Empress of Ireland ocean liner departed Quebec City on May 28, 1914, headed for Liverpool. After the river pilot disembarked, the newly promoted captain spotted the Norwegian collier SS Storstad off starboard bow at 6 or 7 nautical miles away heading toward it. A heavy fog then rolled in over the mouth of the St. Lawrence River. In a dance of protocols and practice and fog-confused assumptions of intentions to pass each other port-to-port or maybe starboard-to-starboard, the two ships arrived on a collision course. Fog horns notwithstanding, the SS Storstad rammed the Empress amidship, puncturing its hull below the waterline. Outfitted with longitudinal baffle walls in its hull, the Empress listed quickly to starboard as that side of the partitioned hull filled with water. The decks filled also because the portholes just above the waterline  opened for ventilation of the passenger cabins  admitted even more water as the ship capsized. Many passengers, asleep in their cabins on the lower decks, were trapped and drowned, never able to attempt escape. Lifeboats were useless. Those on the starboard side were submerged and those on the high, port side could not be lowered. Eight hundred forty passengers and 172 crew members perished in the frigid water in the time it would take you to read this story aloud three times.

Both captains blamed the other. Both owners sued for compensation. The lost souls were mourned and eulogized for their deaths at the hands of the unexpected, the incalculably improbable, the whims of chance and the failure of those in charge to prevent it  and yet, it was also inevitable. In systems design, if something can happen, it will happen  eventually. To corrupt a common metaphor, if stars can align, so can black holes. Not everyone wrung their hands amid thoughts and prayers afterward. Agreeing with Albert Einsteins caution that we cant solve a problem from the same level that created it, ship designers made changes. They realized that flared prows would lessen the likelihood of puncturing another ships hull below the waterline in any improbable collision. Likewise, reliance on longitudinal baffles that exacerbated capsizing was abandoned, and watertight doors that had to be closed manually rather than automatically were deemed undependable.

In the face of unexpected and even improbable circumstances and without depending on fallible humans to do all the right things all the time, at least thoughtful and redundant design could help ward off catastrophe.

That was the lesson learned in 1914. And that is the lesson we should apply now in designing a system for protecting against mass shootings by managing access to assault-style weapons in America.

I appreciate the efforts made by the North Carolina legislature to help protect our children while gathered in public schools. Nice start. But how about efforts to protect all North Carolinians at grocery stores, shopping malls, night clubs, music venues, hospitals  anywhere citizens gather in life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness? SOLAS could today mean Safety of life at school but Safety of life amidst society is better.

If we are going to have a Second Amendment worth saving, Congress and state legislatures must act in concert now. Banning assault-style weapons from private ownership would be ideal. Age limits, background checks, red flag laws and other reasonable limitations are a start. And mentally ill persons are not the only ones who should not have access to weapons. We can also include those harboring intentions to overthrow our government.

Representatives, senators, act now to protect all of us. Anything less is just rearranging the deckchairs on the Titanic.

Randell Jones is an award-winning history writer of several history books including From Time to Time in North Carolina and Before They Were Heroes at Kings Mountain. He hosts BecomingAmerica250.com and the 6-minute Stories podcast. He lives in Winston-Salem.
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U.S. President Joe Biden and fellow leaders from the Western Hemisphere on Friday rolled out a new set of measures to confront the regional migration crisis, seeking to salvage an Americas summit roiled by division, Trend reports citing Reuters.

Biden's aides had touted the migration declaration as a centerpiece of the U.S.-hosted Summit of the Americas, and 20 countries joined him for a ceremonial unveiling of the plan - though several others stayed away.

Capping the summit's final day, the White House promoted a series of migrant programs agreed by countries across the hemisphere and Spain, attending as an observer, which pledged a more cooperative approach. But some policy analysts are skeptical that the pledges are meaningful enough to make a significant difference.

Those measures include the United States and Canada committing to take in more guest laborers, providing pathways for people from poorer countries to work in richer ones, and other countries agreeing to greater protections for migrants. Mexico also agreed to accept more Central American workers, according to a White House statement.

"We're transforming our approach to manage migration in the Americas," Biden said. "Each of us is signing up to commitments that recognizes the challenges we all share."
Zipline Brewing announced Friday that it will begin distributing its beer in Arkansas.

The Lincoln company is partnering with C&M Distributors to sell its specialty ales to customers in northwest Arkansas and Little Rock.

Tom Wilmoth, one of Zipline's founders, said Arkansas was the perfect place for expansion.

We pride ourselves on brewing well-crafted beer that is accessible to a wide variety of customers, Wilmoth said. We think Arkansas, much like our home state of Nebraska, is an ideal place for our brews.

Distribution will begin immediately. Wilmoth and some of his employees will attend events and tastings to boost interest in the area.

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When a client is too afraid to drive to an appointment, Erick Lopez helps them get there.

Providing transportation wasn't in the job description as a legal assistant at Pesek Law in Omaha, but he understands the fear some clients have.

As an undocumented immigrant, Lopez never thought he'd have a driver's license or a job in the U.S. But when the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program was introduced in 2012, it gave him an opportunity to work with and fight for other undocumented immigrants.

Lopez was born in Mexico, and his father came to work in the U.S. when Lopez was 2.

In 2003, at just 5 years old, Lopez and his mother made the treacherous journey to the U.S. through the Arizona desert.

With the help of a "coyote"  a smuggler who helps migrants cross the border  Lopez and his mother were able to make their way to Omaha, where Lopez's father was living.

The first few years in the U.S. were difficult for Lopez and his family as they adapted to a new country.

At school, Lopez struggled communicating with his teachers and classmates. He spent a chunk of his time learning English through English as a second language classes.

"It was difficult to understand what was happening and what directions they were giving; it was all gibberish in the beginning," Lopez said.

As his English skills improved and he was able to communicate more, his parents advised him to never draw too much attention to himself. When he was asked where he was from, he told people he was from Omaha, not Mexico.

In middle school, Lopez began speaking with his parents about his desire to get his driver's license when he turned 16. That's when he began to understand his restrictions.

They informed him that he wouldn't be able to get a license or a job when he turned 16, because he wasn't a U.S. citizen.

"Everything started making sense," Lopez said.

That realization could've crushed Lopez's spirit, but he didn't let it.

I think it motivated me more," he said. "I knew I had to work harder to get what I wanted. I had to show people that being American is more than just a piece of paper that says youre a citizen."

Two years later, undocumented youth across the U.S. received life-changing news: The Department of Homeland Security would no longer deport certain undocumented youth who came to the U.S. as children.

Lopez was 13 when the Obama administration program was enacted, but the earliest he could apply for DACA was two years later.

As he waited to apply, Lopez became skeptical of the program.

"What if I give out my information and ICE finds me and deports my family and I?" he thought.

But when the time came, he paid the $495 application fee, sent in his required documents and waited for approval.

Once he was approved, Lopez quickly got his driver's license and found a job at Henry Doorly Zoo in Omaha. After just a month of working there, Lopez was promoted and put in charge of concessions.

But while DACA protects hundreds of thousands of undocumented youth in the U.S. from deportation, it does not grant them official legal status or a pathway to citizenship.

Nor does it last long, as they're required to pay a fee of $495 to renew their DACA status every two years.

Although DACA was temporary protection, Lopez remained optimistic and heavily involved in his community.

According to Maureen Gregor, his Omaha South High School counselor, she's never had a student take on as many challenges as Lopez.

He was a part of College Possible, the community service chair for his school's JROTC program, a board member of National Honor Society, a mentor in Packer Partners, on the senior cabinet and voted prom king his senior year.

In my 10 years at South High, I dont think Ive ever seen a student volunteer as much as Erick did," Gregor said.

As senior year approached, Lopez knew he wouldn't have the same opportunities to fund his college education as his peers did.

But again, he wasn't discouraged. He took a chance and applied for the two big scholarships he could  The Dreamers Pathway and the Susan Buffett Scholarship.

Because of his status, taking out loans wasn't an option. He either got one of those full-ride scholarships, or a college education was out of the picture.

It was a really hard time not knowing how I was going to pay for college. I didnt want to put it all on my parents because they had already given me so much," he said.

Two months later, he got the news: He had gotten the Susan Buffett Scholarship and was going to the University of Nebraska at Omaha.

During his time at UNO he met his current boss, Ross Pesek, through The Underserved Law Opportunities Program.

The program aims to provide the opportunity for a legal education to students in underserved communities, and encourages students to provide legal services to those communities.

According to Pesek, a majority of the firm's clients are immigrants who are not always understood by those in the legal system. That's why Pesek believes Lopez is an essential person in the office.

Lopez's daily tasks include attending mediations, court hearings and attorney meetings with Spanish-speaking immigrants to make sure they can communicate when there are no Spanish-speaking legal service providers.

As Lopez wraps up his three years at Pesek Law, he looks forward to continuing his education at UNL's College of Law in the fall.

Once he graduates, he said he'd like to practice law in worker's compensation, injury and medical malpractice cases.

In the meantime, he'll continue helping others in the immigrant community and working with undocumented youth to renew their DACA paperwork, so they too can live the American Dream.

Reach the writer at 402-473-7228 or emejia@journalstar.com

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The National Weather Service urged residents in Gage County and elsewhere in Southeast Nebraska to take cover as threats of a tornado, hail and heavy rain entered the area late Saturday afternoon.

At 5:25 p.m., law enforcement confirmed a tornado was located near Wymore  12 miles southeast of Beatrice  moving southeast at 20 mph.

The weather service issued a tornado warning for northwestern Gage County, including Beatrice, and parts of Lancaster, Saline and Jefferson counties.

A separate tornado warning in Gage County included Wymore, Blue Springs and Barneston, the weather service said on Twitter.

The service also warned of severe thunderstorms in the Omaha metro area, north of Omaha in Washington County and west of the city near Gretna. A funnel cloud was reported 3 miles southwest of Papillion at 6 p.m. and winds gusted up to 61 mph.

A tornado watch remains in effect for Southeast Nebraska, until 10 p.m. Saturday, the Lancaster County Emergency Management Agency said.

"Any storms that develop will likely turn severe very quickly," the agency said on Twitter. "Make sure you have a plan in place when severe weather strikes."

Beatrice, Blue Springs and Pickrell were under a flash flood warning.

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LOS ANGELES (AP)  President Joe Biden and other Western Hemisphere leaders on Friday announced what is being billed as a roadmap for countries to host large numbers of migrants and refugees.

The Los Angeles Declaration is perhaps the biggest achievement of the Summit of the Americas, which was undercut by differences over Bidens invitation list. Leaders of Mexico and several Central American countries sent top diplomats instead after the U.S. excluded Cuba, Nicaragua and Venezuela.

A set of principles announced on the summit's final day includes legal pathways to enter countries, aid to communities most affected by migration, humane border management and coordinated emergency responses.

Each of us is signing up to commitments that recognize the challenges that we all share, Biden said on a podium with flags for the 20 countries that joined the accord extending from Chile in the south to Canada in the north.

This is just a start, Biden said, expressing hope that more countries join. "Much more work remains, to state the obvious.

The White House highlighted measures that were recently announced and some new commitments. Costa Rica will extend protections for Cubans, Nicaraguans and Venezuelans who arrived before March 2020. Mexico will add temporary worker visas for up to 20,000 Guatemalans a year.

The United States is committing $314 million to assist countries hosting refugees and migrants, and is resuming or expanding efforts to reunite Haitian and Cuban families. Belize will regularize Central American and Caribbean migrants in the country.

It is a blueprint already being followed to a large extent by Colombia and Ecuador, whose right-leaning leaders were saluted at the summit for giving temporary legal status to many of the 6 million people who have left Venezuela in recent years.

President Guillermo Lasso of Ecuador last week announced temporary status for Venezuelans in his country, estimated to be around 500,000. He said at a panel discussion Tuesday that his country was paying back the generosity of Spain and the United States for welcoming large numbers of Ecuadoreans who fled more than two decades ago.

Lasso was the only other leader to speak at a brief ceremony Friday. President Jair Bolsonaro of Brazil arrived late.

I would like to highlight that migration is a significant phenomenon and it demands joint actions under the principle of shared responsibility and differentiated between countries of the region, Lasso said.

President Ivan Duque of Colombia, who stood next to Biden at the ceremony, got standing ovations at an appearance Thursday for describing how his government has granted temporary status to 1 million Venezuelans in the last 14 months and is processing another 800,000 applications.

We did it out of conviction, Duque told The Associated Press, saying he couldn't be indifferent to Venezuelans who lost their homes and livelihoods and was prepared to suffer in approval ratings.

They were invisible (in Colombia), he said. "They couldn't open bank accounts, they couldn't work, they couldn't get health care. They were practically a community with no future."

While the measures are not universally popular  Duque's vice president, Marta Lucia Ramirez, has said Colombia has reached its limit and Ecuadoreans notice when a Venezuelan commits a high-profile crime  Venezuelans have generally assimilated without major backlash.

The two most dangerous phenomena are xenophobia and indifference, and I believe we have managed to conquer both (in Colombia), Duque said.

The United States has been the most popular destination for asylum-seekers since 2017, posing a challenge that has stumped Biden and his immediate predecessors, Donald Trump and Barack Obama.

But the U.S. is far from alone. Colombia and neighboring South American countries host millions of people who have fled Venezuela. Mexico fielded more than 130,000 asylum applications last year, many of them Haitians, which was triple from 2020. Many Nicaraguans escape to Costa Rica, while displaced Venezuelans account for about one-sixth the population of tiny Aruba.

Key countries that send or receive migrants, or serve as transit corridors joined the agreement: Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Mexico, Panama, Peru and the United States. Also participating are Argentina, Barbados, Belize, Jamaica, Paraguay and Uruguay.

The absence of the presidents of Mexico, northern Central America and other counties deprived Biden of symbolic heft.

What are those countries expected to do to contribute to shared responsibility? said Adam Isacson of the human rights advocacy group Washington Office on Latin America.

U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas said Thursday that the summit declaration acknowledged migration's regional dimensions. He and other U.S. officials applauded efforts of Colombia, Ecuador, Costa Rica and Panama, among others, for accepting migrants and refugees, and noted that the U.S. has granted refuge from natural disasters and civil strife to hundreds of thousands of Salvadorans, Haitians, Venezuelans and others under what is known as Temporary Protected Status.

Its a hemispheric challenge, Mayorkas said.

The responses of Colombia and Ecuador cannot be replicated, said Jose Samaniego, the U.N. refugee agency's regional director for the Americas. Each country is different, and migration from Central America is more complicated than Venezuela.

You don't want to copy and paste," he said, but there are good practices.

Ronal Rodriguez, a researcher at University of Rosario in Colombia, said some Venezuelans have faced problems with bank or commercial transactions despite having legal status and that much will depend on who voters select in June 19 elections to succeed Duque, who is limited to a single term.

Associated Press writers Astrid Suarez in Bogota, Colombia, and Gonzalo Solano in Quito, Ecuador, contributed.

Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.

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A Chicago man who jumped on train tracks to save someone who had fallen earned more than praise for his heroic act: Hes also been gifted a car.
An Omaha man charged with secretly recording people who were using the restroom at a west Omaha retirement center and in his home has pleaded guilty.

Jason Hunter, 43, pleaded to a total of 12 counts of unlawful intrusion by recording an image or video of a person without their consent.

Eleven of the counts represented each person who was unknowingly recorded using the toilet in an employee bathroom at Lakeside retirement community, 17475 Frances St. According to affidavits, Hunter worked as a cook at the retirement center, which is owned by Immanuel.

The 12th count against Hunter, which was classified as a separate case, stemmed from a minor who was recorded last fall in various states of undress in the bathroom at Hunters residence. Hunter originally was charged with two counts in that case. The second count was dismissed as a result of a plea agreement in which Hunter pleaded guilty to one count for each victim.

A sentencing hearing tentatively has been scheduled for Aug. 11, but the date could change pending the completion of a sex offender evaluation.

Hunters pleas, which were entered Friday, stem from a series of incidents that occurred from September 2021 to the time a cellphone was discovered by a Lakeside employee on Dec. 13.

According to court documents from January, the employee discovered the cellphone propped up between a wall and a bench in the single-occupant restroom. The man stopped the recording and saw that the phone contained a video of him using the toilet. The video also briefly showed a person setting up the phone at the start of the recording, though the video did not show the persons face.

After the employee discovered the cellphone, Lakeside staff contacted executives at Immanuel, who then contacted the Omaha Police Department.

Police placed Hunter at the scene after having viewed security camera footage, which was shot from the hallway outside the bathroom. The footage appeared to show that Hunter was in the restroom Dec. 13 when the phone started recording. Police said in court documents that Hunter was wearing the same clothes as the person in the cellphone video.

Lindsey Grove, a deputy Douglas County attorney, noted Friday in Douglas County District Court that all the victims at the retirement center were Hunters co-workers.

During the investigation, police found videos depicting the minor child using the bathroom at Hunters residence. Police said Hunter admitted in an interview to placing a camera there.

Each count to which Hunter pleaded guilty carries a maximum penalty of two years in prison, 12 months of post-release supervision and/or a $10,000 fine.

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As signatures continue to be gathered on a pair of initiative petitions to legalize medical marijuana in Nebraska, a survey conducted by the University of Nebraska-Lincoln estimates 83% of Nebraskans supported the idea in both 2020 and 2021.

The results of the Nebraska Annual Social Indicators Survey, published May 17 in the Journal of Drug Issues, align with internal polling conducted by Nebraskans for Medical Marijuana that shows 80% support for legalizing cannabis for medical use in the state.

Survey results also show support for legalizing recreational marijuana increasing from an estimated 40% in 2020 to 46% in 2021, according to the research team.

Patrick Habecker, an assistant research professor of sociology and co-author of the paper with psychology professor Rick Bevins, said the survey was created during the coronavirus pandemic, when researchers working together at the Rural Drug Addiction Research Center had to shift gears.

During COVID, we had to suspend interviewing people who use drugs in Nebraska, so we saw this as a chance to continue the centers mission, Habecker said. Its a big issue in the state, even though Nebraska is one of the few states without medical or recreational marijuana.

Nebraska first banned cannabis in 1927 when Rep. Thomas Axtell of North Platte introduced HR74, prohibiting the use or possession of what news outlets referred to as hasheesh or mariguana.

Congress enacted its own prohibition in 1937, but in the past several years, states have gradually begun to lift their bans on medical or recreational marijuana use, either legislatively or through citizen-led petitions.

A petition to legalize medical marijuana in Nebraska obtained the number of signatures needed to be put in front of voters in the 2020 general election, but was later struck from the ballot by the Nebraska Supreme Court, which ruled it violated the single-subject rule.

Two petitions, which would require the Legislature to enact laws protecting doctors and patients, as well as protecting private entities that supply and distribute cannabis, are now in circulation.

Habecker said the UNL research team sought to measure Nebraskans opinions about legalizing both recreational and medical marijuana, medical marijuana only, or keeping both illegal as part of the annual survey mailed to a randomly selected group of Nebraskans age 19 and older in each of the past two years.

In all, the survey was sent to 8,000 addresses in Nebraska spread evenly across the states six behavioral health regions, as well as Lincoln and Omaha.

More than a quarter of the surveys (27.7%) were returned. The average age of respondents was 51 years old, with a near split between men and women. The majority (90%) of respondents were white  higher than the 2019 estimate that 78.2% of Nebraskans are white.

The results show widespread and uniform support for legalizing medical marijuana only across all regions of the state, both major political parties, ages and genders, according to the results.

In only two of the eight geographic areas  the south-central (22%) and southwestern (25.9%) regions  did the support for keeping marijuana illegal in all forms reach 20%, Habecker said.

Recreational marijuana is where you start to see more differences pop up by region, as well as political party, he said.

While 22.4% of Republicans said they favored keeping marijuana illegal, 45.2% said they would support legalizing medical marijuana, and 32.4% said they favored legalization of both recreational and medical marijuana.

That result comes despite the state's top Republicans, including Gov. Pete Ricketts, leading the campaign against legalization.

For the Democrats, just 9.9.% favored keeping marijuana prohibition in place, while 40.9% supported medical marijuana only and 49.2% said they supported full legalization, according to the results.

Respondents that identified as politically independent were more evenly split, with 45.9% indicating they supported legalizing medical marijuana only and 42.4% saying they favored legalizing recreational and medical marijuana.

Attitudes toward legalization change with age, with younger Nebraskans more likely to support full legalization than older residents. Less than a third of respondents age 69 and older said they supported recreational use.

Nebraskans who said they lived on a farm or in open country were also less likely to support recreational marijuana than those who live in a town or a city. Men were also more likely to support full legalization than women.

Habecker said the survey also attempted to capture how the stigma of marijuana affected the opinions of respondents, a question he said is vastly understudied in political opinions.

How people view those who use a drug is an important element to consider, particularly when people do not have direct experience with a substance, Habecker and Bevins wrote in the paper.

As participants report higher levels of stigma toward marijuana users, they are less likely to support either option, the study found, while the reverse was true for those with higher levels of stigma toward people that use cocaine, meth, opioids or heroin.

Few studies of political support for legalization account for stigma in general, but we demonstrate that these measures are important to include, and operate differently depending upon the substance, the paper concludes.

Habecker said one of the weaknesses of UNLs survey was a lack of questions about whether or not respondents were likely to vote, or were regular voters, in order to gauge support for legalization at the ballot box.

Legislative efforts to lift the prohibition on medical marijuana failed in both 2019 and 2021, and a potential measure of the survey against the election results of the 2020 initiative failed when it was struck from the ballot, the researchers wrote.

This leaves the stage set for a ballot initiative in 2022, Habecker and Bevins wrote. Despite our estimate of overwhelming public support for medical marijuana, the 2022 election will test how well public opinion translates to voting behavior in Nebraska.

Reach the writer at 402-473-7120 or cdunker@journalstar.com. On Twitter @ChrisDunkerLJS

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Two Lincoln students have been awarded Seals of Biliteracy by the Nebraska Department of Education and the Nebraska International Language Association.

Karissa Rieck of Lincoln Southwest High School received her Seal of Biliteracy in French, and Janna Marley of Lincoln High School received her Seal of Biliteracy in Spanish. The Nebraska Seal of Biliteracy honors high school students who have achieved a high level of proficiency in English and at least one other language.

Students apply for the Nebraska Seal of Biliteracy after demonstrating proficiency based on the Nebraska World Language Standards that focus on communication, cultures, connections, communities and cognition within a language other than English.

More information about the Nebraska Seal of Biliteracy can be found online at: www.education.ne.gov/worldlanguage/nebraska-seal-of-biliteracy.

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The Nebraska Jazz Orchestra has announced winners of the 2022 Young Jazz Artist Award. The first place winner is Travis Wohlenhaus, saxophone, of Omaha, and the runner-up is Camden Smith, saxophone, of Lincoln.

Both musicians will be recognized and receive cash prizes: $750 for first place and $250 for the runner-up. Wohlenhaus will perform as a soloist at the Nebraska Jazz Orchestra's concert, "I Remember Clifford," which will feature John Tavlin on trumpet at 4 p.m. Sunday, June 12, at the Cornhusker Marriott, 333 S. 13th St.

Wohlenhaus, 17, is from Elkhorn South High School in Omaha. Since he began playing in fourth grade, jazz has been one of his favorite genres of music.

As the lead saxophonist in the Metropolitan Area Youth Jazz Orchestra and the Nebraska All-State Jazz Band, he has performed in numerous venues. He won the 2022 NSBA Jazz Festival Overall Outstanding Soloist award and has played with renowned artists such as Eric Marienthal, Gordon Goodwin, Bijon Watson and Ron Carter.

Before Wohlenhaus heads off to college, he aspires to make various national level jazz ensembles and to be recognized by DownBeat magazine.

Smith, of Lincoln, has balanced a classical background with jazz through the influences of Charlie Parker, Paul Haar, Sonny Stitt and Eric Marienthal. He has earned the Louis Armstrong Jazz Award from Southwest High School. He has also played in the UNO Jazz Festival and will open for the Glenn Miller band at the Pla Mor Ball Room with Lincoln Southwests Jazz 1 and his own student-led Jazz Combo.

Smith will continue to study saxophone at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

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RACINE  After weathering the most challenging two years theyve ever faced, Downtown Racine businesses are beginning to bounce back and continue to keep their vision intact for a sunny forecast for the future of downtown.

I am amazed each and every day at the passion so many people have in making our downtown successful, said Kelly Kruse, Downtown Racine Corp. executive director. I see shop owners working hand in hand to create a synergetic environment where all the businesses thrive, and organizations partnering with us to make lasting and positive changes for our downtown.

Downtown Racine Corp.s mission is to foster economic, social and cultural vitality by stimulating business development, programming events and marketing downtown to the community, developers and tourists. DRC worked extremely hard to fulfill that mission post-pandemic.

During 2021, the DRC hosted 65 events including live music, wine and beer walks, Party on the Pavement and the Holiday Parade just to name a few. In total they brought more than 16,000 people to these events. In 2022, they are slated to host 70 events.

New in 2022

New in 2022, DRC is partnering with the Kenosha Harbor Market to bring four night markets to Monument Square on June 30, July 28, Aug. 25 and Sept. 29. Other new partnerships include the expansion of the Lighthouse Run and an RUSD scavenger hunt.

DRC also worked diligently to be a resource for incoming investors, entrepreneurs and current businesses. They continued identifying new business prospects and developed economic tools for further private investment. Last year saw a record-breaking 35 new businesses open. Past years had the following new businesses: Ten in 2020 and 24 in 2019. In addition, the WEDC Bounceback grant awarded 28 downtown businesses with $10,000 grants. To date, over 10 businesses have opened in 2022 including BePlush, Kouzena 220, Junoesque By Bree and Goddess Nail to name a few.

Despite the intense challenges we faced, we were able to pivot and provide major resources to the Downtown merchants, said Kruse. Our emphasis was always on keeping our Downtown economically stable.

The DRC is extremely proud of what was accomplished during 2021 and the level of economic activity that occurred despite obstacles, stated MT Boyle, chairman of the DRC Board of Directors. Looking forward, we are excited about the opportunities that exist and the investments, such as Hotel Verdant that are being made and are yet to come.

A thriving downtown doesnt happen by accident. It takes vision, partnership and persistence. It takes the commitment of people who care. The DRC truly believes that Downtown Racine is the heart of our community, and a community is only as strong as its core.

For more information, visit RacineDowntown.com.

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By Trend

India and Iran on Tuesday reaffirmed their commitment to continue their cooperation on the development of the Chabahar Port as a transit hub for the region including Central Asia and said delegates from the two counties will meet soon to address operational aspects of the key port, Trend reports citing The Statesman.

For India, the Chabahar Port is a much-needed project for sea access to landlocked Afghanistan. The port has also emerged as a commercial transit hub for the region.

It is a more economical and stable route for landlocked countries of the region to reach India and the global market. This commitment to continuing cooperation on the Chabahar Port was made during Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir Abdollahians ongoing visit to India. This is the first visit of Abdollahian who arrived in New Delhi on Wednesday, since he assumed office in August 2021.

During his visit, the Iranian Foreign Minister called on Prime Minister, Narendra Modi and also held a meeting with the National Security Advisor, Ajit Kumar Doval.

The Iranian Foreign Minister briefed External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on the current situation pertaining to the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA). The two Ministers also exchanged views on the Ukraine conflict and its repercussions.

According to the Minister of Foreign Affairs (MEA), India and Iran share close historical and civilizational ties. Our bilateral relations are marked by strong linkages across institutions, culture, and people-to-people ties, the MEA said in a statement.

During delegation-level talks, Jaishankar and his Iranian counterpart discussed the entire gamut of bilateral relations including political, cultural, and people to people ties. Jaishankar appreciated the role of Iran in facilitating Indias medical assistance to Afghanistan, including the supply of COVID-19 vaccines to Afghan nationals residing in Iran.

Both sides acknowledged the significance of bilateral cooperation in the field of regional connectivity and reviewed the progress made at the Shahid Beheshti terminal, Chabahar port. The sides agreed that the Chabahar Port has provided much-needed sea access to landlocked Afghanistan and has also emerged as a commercial transit hub for the region, including for Central Asia, the MEA said.

The two ministers reaffirmed their commitment to continue to cooperate on the development of Chabahar Port. Teams from both countries will be meeting soon to address operational aspects.

The Ministers also discussed international and regional issues, including Afghanistan and the sides reaffirmed the importance of providing immediate humanitarian assistance to the people of Afghanistan and reiterated the need for a representative and inclusive political system in support of a peaceful, secure, and stable Afghanistan.
RACINE PUBLIC LIBRARY

RACINE  The Racine Public Library, 75 Seventh St., offers these services:

The 2022 Summer Reading program is under way. This years theme is Oceans of Possibilities. Log your reading throughout the summer to earn badges and prizes. Get started at RacineLibrary.BeanStack.org.

Lunch Break at the Library, 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Wednesday, June 15, with Pina Mexican Eats. Every Wednesday, the library will host food trucks in the circle of Library Drive.

A Brie-to-DisaBrie, 6 p.m. Thursday, June 16. Each month, participants will try a new cheese and chat about their books, podcasts or Netflix shows, etc.

Sea Creature Science, 2 p.m. Monday, June 13. Attendees will learn about creatures that live in our oceans. There will be crafts, fun facts and other activities.

Music, Movement and More! with Lisa Fredrich, 10:45 a.m. Wednesday, June 15.

Preschool Dance Party, 10 a.m. Thursday, June 9.

Storywagon, 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. Thursday, June 16. Learn what reptile species call Wisconsin home.

Senior Classic Movie Day, for ages 55 and older, 10 a.m. Thursday, June 16. This weeks movie is a 1969 classic featuring Peter Fonda, Dennis Hopper and Terry Southern. Call the library or visit the website for the movie title.

Registration is required; call 262-636-9217 or go to racinelibrary.info. Visit the website for storytimes and other ongoing library events.

The library will open at noon on Friday, June 17.

Submit library news to Loreen Mohr, Journal Times community coordinator, at Lmohr@journaltimes.com. The deadline for submission is noon Tuesday to be considered for publication the following Saturday.

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BURLINGTON  The second year of the Burlington Jamboree has produced nearly ChocolateFest-sized attendance numbers averaging more than 4,000 people a day.

Organizers say the four-day summer kickoff event drew a total of 16,392 people during a Memorial Day weekend that delivered near-perfect outdoor festival weather conditions.

It was the second year since the Burlington Jamboree replaced ChocolateFest, as Burlington city leaders move away from the communitys longstanding Chocolate City U.S.A. slogan.

In its heyday, ChocolateFest was the biggest event in town, drawing crowds ranging from about 20,000 to more than 30,000 a year.

Bil Scherrer, head of the Jamboree organizing committee, said putting up attendance figures that nearly approach a ChocolateFest-sized crowd is encouraging for an event still in its infancy.

It makes you feel good for all the time and energy you put in, he said.

The success also is good news for nonprofits and businesses that help to present the Jamboree in exchange for a share of the proceeds.

Admission to the festival was free, but fest-goers paid for parking, food, beverages, carnival rides and other options.

For the dancers and parents of Foursis Dance & Gymnastics in Waterford, helping to manage one of the Jamboree parking lots has paid off with a $4,000 allocation from the festival.

Deanna Schicker, co-owner of the dance academy, said the Jamboree attracted a steady stream of patrons arriving by the carload, each paying $5 per vehicle for parking.

Not only did the Foursis Dance kids have fun working the parking lot, Schicker said, but their efforts will also help later to pay for a group of dancers to travel to a competition in Florida.

Schicker said she is impressed at how Scherrer and the other Jamboree organizers have created a growing new festival.

Theyve done a great job, she said. Theyre building each year.

ChocolateFest, which was based on the longstanding presence of a Nestle chocolate plant in Burlington, began in the 1980s and grew into a blockbuster event with chocolate-themed attractions and games.

But when Burlington city leaders decided to undertake a rebranding effort, festival organizers changed directions, too, and resurrected the Jamboree name from long ago.

After starting out small in 2021, organizers this year filled the 15-acre festival grounds at 681 Maryland Ave. with more live music, new childrens rides, and more food vendors. The event opened May 27 and continued daily until May 30.

A few clouds gathered on opening day, but then fest-goers enjoyed a weekend of clear skies and pleasant temperatures.

Larry Laux, proprietor of the Pleasure Valley pig and duck races, said fans filled the stands for his unique farm critter exhibitions. Laux already is looking forward to coming back in 2023.

It was a nice event, he said. We enjoyed it a lot.

Unlike ChocolateFest admission rates of $3 to $8 a person, the Burlington Jamboree admission is free. Organizers kept track of attendance, however, by equipping volunteers with counters at the entrance gates this year.

No attendance numbers were compiled in 2021.

Mike Austin, president of the Burlington Lions Club, said the brisk turnout of adults and children this year bore a strong resemblance to the type of crowds that once came out for ChocolateFest.

I dont think it has lost a step, Austin said of the new festival.

The Lions Club helped to run the beer tent, while Austin also assisted with parking cars.

Other groups helping to present the festival included the Burlington Kiwanis Club, Life Choices Inc., Riverwood Community Church, and St. Charles Catholic Church. The festival also has about 40 businesses, groups and individuals as sponsors, plus others that provide in-kind donations.

The volunteer organizing group does not release revenue numbers or partner allocations.

Scherrer said filling up the festival with a wide variety of family-friendly activities and attractions seems to be a winning formula for the Jamboree. Organizers are starting to consider options for 2023.

Its just a simple community event; thats probably the way were going to go in the future, Scherrer said. And were already looking at how we can build on it.

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BURLINGTON  A 17-year-old boy at Burlington High School will not face charges, after a female student accused him of sexually assaulting her.

Racine County District Attorney Patricia Hanson said she declined to press charges in the incident, which occurred Dec. 16 under a stairwell at the school, 400 McCanna Parkway.

The girl, whose age was not disclosed, reported the attack Feb. 11 after police and school officials questioned her about it.

Hanson issued her no-charge decision on April 8, but she did not disclose it until Tuesday, after The Journal Times had requested information repeatedly about the matter.

Burlington police also had refused to release records or disclose information about the incident without the district attorney's approval.

The Journal Times reported on the incident in March based on limited information disclosed in a public police department blotter-style summary of calls for service.

According to police records released Wednesday with the DA's approval, the girl student told police that the suspect grabbed her by the wrist about 11 a.m. Dec. 16 and pulled her under a stairwell where there were no security cameras inside the school. The suspect then grabbed her neck, forcibly kissed her and shoved her hand down inside his pants, she said.

The suspect denied the accusations and told investigators that the two went under a stairwell together only to have a conversation while other students were in class.

Police reports indicate that school surveillance video showed the girl walking out from under the stairwell, followed by the 17-year-old boy, and that the boy "appeared to briefly touch his pants as he walked away."

Police recommended a charge of second-degree sexual assault of a child.

In deciding against charging the suspect, Assistant District Attorney Diane Donohoo told police their investigative reports did not provide enough information to justify a charge.

"Reading the reports, it is not clear what actually happened," she wrote.

In an email disclosing the no-charge decision Tuesday to The Journal Times, Hanson copied Burlington police and told police that "reports can now be released" on the incident.

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The University of Wisconsin System Board of Regents elected Karen Walsh to serve as its president on Friday, filling the role after its former holder declined to run for the seat again earlier this year.

Walsh comes to the position after serving as vice president for the past year after being appointed to the board in 2019. The former assistant dean for external relations in the College of Engineering at UW-Madison, Walsh is director of the BerbeeWalsh Foundation, a family foundation dedicated to human and animal health and welfare.

Im humbled to lead such a talented, cohesive group of colleagues, Walsh said in a statement. Their passion for public higher education and the Wisconsin Idea is matched only by the dedication and creativity of our faculty, staff and students.

Ed Manydeeds declined to run again for board president, though most who hold the position typically serve for two years. Manydeeds, who backed Walsh for the role, praised her work for the university system, which has included the search to name the next chancellor of UW-Madison. The board selected Jennifer Mnookin, the former law school dean at UCLA, to take over as chancellor in May.

Regent President Walsh has already had a lasting and influential impact on our great university system, Manydeeds said.

Also on Friday, the board elected Amy Blumenfeld Bogost to the role of vice president. Bogost works as a federal Title IX lawyer and joined the board in May 2020.

Earlier this week, Regent Tracey Klein resigned from her post a year before her term expired.

Klein, who was appointed to the board in 2016 by Republican Gov. Scott Walker, didnt elaborate in her resignation letter why she was stepping down a year early. But Klein named the appointment of Mnookin and UW System President Jay Rothman as her most important contribution in her time in the post.

We are only as good as the leaders we recruit and the team we assemble, and please be assured that we have recruited an excellent team, Klein said.

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1. Yes. Tying up the courts and filling jails over small amounts of pot is unacceptable.

2. Yes. As long as there are exceptions for connection to felony charges, its a good idea.

3. No. Taking away law enforcements options is wrong. Police should have some discretion.

4. No. An ordinance that conflicts with state law is wrong and shouldnt be adopted.

5. Unsure. It seems to make sense in some ways, but it could prove problematic.

Vote

View Results
By Trend

North Korea appointed a key nuclear negotiator, Choe Son Hui, as its new foreign minister, state media said on Saturday, as the country concluded a ruling party meeting chaired by leader Kim Jong Un, Trend reports citing Reuters.

Kim presented goals to boost the country's military power and defence research to protect North Korea's sovereign rights, state news agency KCNA said, but it did not give details.

"The right to self-defence is an issue of defending sovereignty, clarifying once again the Party's invariable fighting principle of power for power and head-on contest," Kim was quoted as saying by the KCNA.

The Plenary Meeting of the Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea (WPK) was convened on Wednesday through Friday, KCNA said.
KEARNEY  A sendoff is planned at 10 a.m. Sunday in Kearney for 65 Nebraska Army National Guard soldiers of the 1057th Military Police Company who soon will deploy overseas.

According to Major Scott Ingalsbe, public affairs officer for the Nebraska National Guard, the unit subsequently will mobilize to an Army post in Texas for several weeks of final training and preparation, and then

Sundays sendoff will include remarks from elected officials and Nebraska National Guard leaders. Soldiers and families may be available for interviews upon request, Ingalsbe said.
LINCOLN  A Ravenna farmer has been federally convicted of bank fraud.

Brooks L. Duester, 44, pleaded guilty in U.S. Federal District Court in Lincoln to bank fraud on Aug. 18, 2018. In exchange for his plea five additional counts will be dismissed.

According to federal court records, Duester would obtain lines of credit, promissory notes and loans from Ashton State Bank for purchasing livestock, but wouldnt allow bank inspectors or the Farm Services Agency access his pastures to verify the number of sheep, lambs and ewes on the property.

Duester falsely reported to the bank and the Farm Services Agency the number of livestock in order to maintain lines of credit at the bank, reporting a false number of livestock, and those that had died, and failing to report income from the livestock and their wool to the bank, the news release said.

He will be sentenced in July and faces a maximum of 30 years in prison, a $1 million fine, a five-year term of supervised release and a $100 special assessment.
As a child, Jonathan Gelatt would ride his bike down to the Rivoli Theatre, the ornate but weathered cinema his favorite place in La Crosse.

I always said if it went up for sale or anything was going to happen to it, I would try and get, or try to save it, because I didnt want it to go away, says Jonathan.

True to his word, Jonathan will soon hold the keys to the landmark downtown business, being purchased by him and siblings Philip and Clara, when the sale is finalized Monday. The Gelatt family has long been immersed in theater, from movies to plays, and the La Crosse Community Theater was among the beneficiaries of the generosity of the late Charles Gelatt, a noted philanthropist.

The Gelatt siblings grew up in La Crosse, and Jonathan, who moved back to the city in 2016, will oversee general Rivoli operations for the interim. Current staff will remain on board, and, Jonathan says, will kind of hand-hold me through this, since this is my first time running a theater. But eventually Ill get more involved with programming and such once things are in a groove.

Throughout the summer, the Rivoli, which marks its 102nd anniversary this fall, will remain largely unchanged. Down the line, Jonathan says, the siblings are looking to do some historic renovations, especially in the main theater. For nostalgia, he hopes to locate old photos, movie posters and advertisements of the Rivoli to display.

The historic theater, which opened in September 1920 and underwent renovations six years later, closed for a period in 1987 before reopening to the public in 1994. The entire interior is in need of a touch up, with remodeling planned for the party room and screening room, which does not have the historic features of the main theater. Jonathan has interest in eventually having a third screen if space allows. Hed like to bring back the fan movie poll and movie fests the Rivoli held some two decades ago, and invite area entities like assisted living homes to attend a show of their choosing as a group.

We have some exciting plans to refresh the theater, Jonathan says. Every generation Ive talked to about the theater loves it, from little kids to elderly people. I think there is a lot of potential to expand the programming, keep it open more, play more movies, and try and get people more interested in alternative programming to what bigger theaters are playing.

Jonathan would like to screen more classic films beloved by senior audiences, and hopes for all ages it will reinvigorate their love of these old movies, if they see them how they were originally presented on big screens.

Food and services will stay the same for the time being, and Jonathan assures the beloved pizza will remain on the menu and Packers game screenings will continue. The Rivoli website will undergo an update soon, and community members can sign up for email notifications for updates and offerings.

The upper level of the Rivoli is currently old offices, and the Gelatt siblings are going to evaluate if the area can be historically restored before making any plans for the space, which he says will be utilized.

For the Gelatt siblings, buying the Rivoli means more than owning a building. The theater is a source of pride and fond memories, and will hopefully be remembered as a cherished childhood destination for generations to come.

I think it makes the La Crosse downtown really special, and Ive seen too many downtowns in the Midwest die off and a lot of them had old theaters, Jonathan says. I think having a 100-year-old movie theater is pretty special, so I want to keep that going.

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Ukraine: Russia said to be using more deadly weapons in war

KYIV, Ukraine (AP)  Ukrainian and British officials have warned that Russian forces are relying on weapons with potential to cause mass casualties as they try to make headway in capturing eastern Ukraine. The U.K. Defense Ministry said Saturday that Russian bombers have likely been launching heavy 1960s-era anti-ship missiles that can cause severe collateral damage and casualties when used on land targets. A regional governor accused Russia of using incendiary weapons in Ukraines eastern Luhansk province. Both sides have been expending large amounts of weaponry in what has become a grinding war of attrition. During a visit by the European Unions top official, Ukrainian President Volodymr Zelenskyy called for even stronger EU sanctions against Russia.

The AP Interview: Sri Lanka PM says he's open to Russian oil

COLOMBO, Sri Lanka (AP)  Sri Lankas prime minister says he may be compelled to buy more oil from Russia as he hunts desperately for fuel to keep the country running. In a wide-ranging interview with The Associated Press on Saturday, Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe also indicated he would be willing to accept more financial help from China, despite his countrys mounting debt. And while he acknowledged that Sri Lankas current predicament is of its own making, he said the war in Ukraine is making it even worse  and that dire food shortages could continue until 2024. Wickremesinghe was sworn in after days of violent protests over the countrys economic crisis forced his predecessor to step down.

'Enough is enough': Thousands demand new gun safety laws

WASHINGTON (AP)  Thousands of people are rallying on the National Mall and across the rest of America in a renewed push for gun control measures after recent deadly mass shootings. Activists say what happened in Uvalde, Texas, and Buffalo, New York, should compel Congress to act. Mayor Muriel Bowser of the District of Columbia says enough is enough and she's urging lawmakers to protect children from gun violence. Speaker after speaker in Washington called on senators, who are seen as a major impediment to legislation, to act or face being voted out of office. President Joe Biden, who was in California when the Washington rally began, said his message to the demonstrators was keep marching.

Therapist sex abuse case reveals dark past, ethical concerns

CONCORD, N.H. (AP)  A man convicted of killing a 10-year-old girl in a notorious drunken driving crash decades ago is facing new charges in New Hampshire, under a new name. Peter Dushame changed his name to Peter Stone while in prison and became a licensed drug and alcohol counselor after his release. He's now accused of sexually assaulting a client who later stumbled upon his past. Stone declined an interview request from The Associated Press. Experts say his case raises complicated questions about the right to forge a new life after incarceration and what patients should know about a mental health providers past.

Biden juggles principles, pragmatism in stance on autocrats

WASHINGTON (AP)  When Joe Biden was running for president, he wasn't shy about calling out dictators and authoritarian leaders. And he anchored his foreign policy in the idea that the world is in a battle between democracy and autocracy. But as president, he's tried to balance such high-minded principles and the tug toward pragmatism in a world scrambled by the economic fallout from Russias invasion of Ukraine and other crises. Biden didn't invite the leaders of Cuba, Venezuela and Nicaragua to the Summit of the Americas this past week because his administration considers them dictators. At the same time, his national security team is working to arrange a likely Biden visit to Saudi Arabia, a country that candidate Biden called a pariah."

Biden ramps up federal help for New Mexico wildfire fight

SANTA FE, N.M. (AP)  President Joe Biden says he is escalating federal assistance for New Mexico as it faces its largest wildfire in recorded state history. The fire began with prescribed burns that were set by the U.S. Forest Service to clear out combustible underbrush. But the burns spread out of control, destroying hundreds of homes across 500 square miles since early April. Biden visited an emergency operations center in Santa Fe on Saturday and met with local, state and federal officials. He was returning to Washington from Los Angeles, where he had attended the Summit of the Americas.

Several factors are converging to push gas prices higher

DALLAS (AP)  Gas prices are hitting $5 a gallon, and they're showing no signs of letting up. Auto club AAA said Saturday that the nationwide average broke the $5 barrier for the first time. Gas prices are a key reason for the highest inflation in 40 years. There are several factors contributing to the rise. Global oil supplies are being squeezed by sanctions against Russia. The capacity of U.S. refineries to turn oil into gasoline hasn't returned to pre-pandemic levels. And that's all happening as demand grows from people eager to drive and travel after two years of pandemic restrictions.

Alaska high court reverses ruling that roiled House election

JUNEAU, Alaska (AP)  The special primary for Alaskas only U.S. House seat is moving forward as planned following a tense legal fight over ballot access issues that had cast a shadow over the election. The legal drama was the latest twist in what has already been an extraordinary election, packed with 48 candidates running for the seat left vacant by the death in March of U.S. Rep. Don Young. The Alaska Supreme Court on Saturday reversed and vacated a lower court order that barred state elections officials from certifying the results of Saturday's special primary until visually impaired voters were given a full and fair opportunity to participate.

Ukraine: UK man's family 'devastated' by death sentence

LONDON (AP)  The family of a British man condemned to death for fighting for Ukraine says it's devastated by the outcome of what it termed a show trial and called for him to be released. A court in the separatist-proclaimed Donetsk Peoples Republic of Ukraine convicted two British fighters and one Moroccan on Thursday of seeking the violent overthrow of power, an offense punishable by death in the eastern territory. The men were also convicted of mercenary activities and terrorism. In a statement issued on Saturday, the family of British citizen Shaun Pinner said the 48-year-old has lived in Ukraine for four years, has a Ukrainian wife and served as a marine with Ukraine's 36th Brigade.

Stamkos scores twice, Lightning beat Rangers 2-1 in Game 6

TAMPA, Fla> (AP)  Steven Stamkos scored two goals and the two-time defending champion Tampa Bay Lightning are headed to the Stanley Cup Final for the third straight year after beating the New York Rangers 2-1 in Game 6 of the Eastern Conference final. Stamkos put the Lightning ahead for good in the third period just 21 seconds after New Yorks Frank Vatrano scored on the power play with the Lightning captain in the penalty box for holding. Andrei Vasilevskiy finished with 20 saves for the Lightning, who won the series 4-2 to advance to the Stanley Cup Final against the Colorado Avalanche. Game 1 is Wednesday night in Denver.

Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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The Wisconsin Elections Commission selected Republican attorney Don Millis as its new chair Friday as it prepares for the midterm elections while navigating lawsuits and GOP calls to disband the agency.

Five commissioners voted in favor of Millis becoming chair and one commissioner voted against him. Millis will replace Ann Jacobs, a Democrat. The position switches parties every two years under the commissions rules.

I think I have the skills and the temperament to do whats necessary to make sure changes in election law and administration are rational and will put the people of the state of Wisconsin first, Millis said Friday.

Millis is set to hold the position heading into the November election, with Democratic Gov. Tony Evers and Republican U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson on the ballot, as well as in the lead-up to the 2024 presidential election. The chair by state law approves the vote canvass following elections and certifies results. The chair also sets the agenda for the commission and can influence how questions are framed.

The commissioners Friday also rejected Republican Commissioner Robert Spindells bid for chair. Spindell faces a lawsuit for being one of 10 Republicans who attempted to cast Electoral College ballots for Donald Trump after the former president lost Wisconsin in 2020.

The commissioners chose Spindell to be their vice-chair. Spindell was the sole vote against Millis bid to become chair. Spindell nominated himself to be chair but the motion did not receive a second.

The bipartisan six-member commission includes three Republican appointees and three Democratic appointees.

The commission has been under fire from a growing number of Republicans for how the 2020 election was administered and unfounded claims of widespread fraud.

GOP gubernatorial candidates Tim Michels, Rebecca Kleefisch, Kevin Nicholson and state Rep. Timothy Ramthun, of Campbellsport, have all called for the agencys dismantling.

So has former state Supreme Court Justice Michael Gableman, though Gableman praised Millis appointment by Assembly Speaker Robin Vos, R-Rochester. Vos, who hired Gableman to lead a 2020 election review, has been adamantly opposed to eliminating the commission.

Before the vote, Millis said the Elections Commission has been in the spotlight more than it should be and conceded he doesnt know what the commissions future looks like.

I have talked to folks on my side of the aisle and  theres a difference of opinion, he said, adding that he supports changing some election laws.

Gablemans praise for Millis came as the former justice and Vos face a lawsuit for trying to interview Wisconsin Elections Commission officials in private settings. Gableman, in turn, filed a lawsuit threatening to jail Jacobs and staff member Sarah Linske if they dont comply with a list of demands. He has also issued a subpoena to WEC administrator Meagan Wolfe.

Millis selection as chair came two days after he was appointed to replace Republican commissioner Dean Knudson, who unexpectedly resigned in late May following mounting pressure he faced from fellow conservatives angry with him because he said Trump lost to President Joe Biden in 2020.

A Sun Prairie tax attorney with Reinhart Law Firm, Millis previously served as one of the Wisconsin Elections Commissions first commissioners after being appointed by former Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald in 2016. He resigned from the agency the following year to focus on his law practice.

In 2016, Millis made the motion to approve guidance allowing election officials to correct errors on absentee ballot certificates. The guidance has since come under fire from Republicans, including Trump, who have alleged that the commission violated state law by allowing clerks to fill in missing information.

Court decisions, recounts and multiple reviews have found no evidence of widespread fraud in Wisconsins 2020 election.

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At the request of Democratic Gov. Tony Evers, the Wisconsin Parole Commissions leader resigned Friday after mounting Republican criticism over the commissions plans to parole a man who served less than 25 years of an 80-year sentence for stabbing his wife to death  parole that was later rescinded.

Commission chair John Tate submitted his resignation effective end-of-business Friday, according to a resignation letter provided to the Wisconsin State Journal. Evers spokesperson Britt Cudaback confirmed the governor had asked for and received Tates resignation.

In my time as Chair-designee, I have given my best effort to be fair, just, and understanding, Tate said in his resignation letter. Fair, in working to ensure that everyone who has a voice in the parole process is equally heard. Just, in adhering to the statutory and administrative guidelines of parole, and using evidence-based practices; not being driven by politics or public perception. And understanding that everyone has a unique perspective and a personal experience that matters.

Several Republican gubernatorial candidates  including Rebecca Kleefisch, Kevin Nicholson and Tim Michels  have criticized the commissions initial plans to parole 54-year-old Douglas Balsewicz, who was set to be released from prison last month after serving less than 25 years of his 80-year sentence for the 1997 stabbing death of his wife, Johanna Balsewicz.

After meeting with Johanna Balsewiczs family in the state Capitol last month, Evers sent a letter to Tate asking him to reconsider the convicted murderers parole. Evers lacks the power to rescind a convicts parole on his own.

Tate had initially said it was extremely unlikely Balsewiczs parole would be revoked unless he did something to warrant it. Tate, who is president of the Racine City Council, said doing so would likely lead to a lawsuit that the state would lose.

However, Tate later said he understood the governors concerns about the lack of victim input and rescinded Balsewiczs parole.

Despite his change of course, some Republicans called on Evers to remove Tate from office. State Sen. Roger Roth, R-Appleton, circulated a petition seeking to bring the Legislature back into session to force a vote on whether Tate should keep his position as chair.

However, Senate Majority Leader Devin LeMahieu, R-Oostburg, opposed the idea, noting in an interview with Wisconsin Right Now that the Senate will not bail Tony Evers out from his soft-on-crime record.

Balsewicz was first eligible for parole in 2017 and was denied. The Wisconsin Parole Commission said in a statement that he came before the panel for a fifth review on April 14.

Tate did not reference the specific incident in his resignation letter, but said, When I was first appointed to this position, I was told by many this was the most difficult job in the State.

The difficulty could not be understated, as no parole decision is easy and no decision can ever truly satisfy all interested parties, he added.

Former Lt. Gov. Kleefisch said in a statement Friday Tate deserved to be fired long ago.

It shouldnt take the pressure of an election year for Evers to finally make the right decision, Kleefisch said.

Tates gone as of this afternoon, Nicholson said in a tweet. One down, and now were coming for you (Evers).

Evers office had not commented on Tates resignation.

Republican candidates will meet in the Aug. 9 primary, with the winner going on to face Evers in the Nov. 8 election.

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Dear graduates, Class of 2022:

I ask you to take a vow to do better than my generation did. All is not lost, but we are leaving you a big mess. I write today to wish you well, but also to apologize and ask you to commit to fixing things.

I know: Youre going to have your hands full just getting through college or getting a job. Being asked to shoulder the responsibility for fixing a country  that must sound pretty intimidating.

But if you dont take it on, theres no telling whats ahead, and if you dont like uncertainty in your future, then youll have to be the generation that fixes things.

When I was in your shoes, no one spoke of climate change.

There was violence around us, but not like weve seen in recent years, with horrible mass shootings, some of them in schools. Im sorry the nation has not acted to make all of us, starting with children, safer from guns. But the severe political partisanship, the just-say-no to every effort at progress, is part of the big mess were leaving you.

There was always a political divide, but not with the searing bitterness and hostile tribalism like we have now.

Back in the day, Republicans and Democrats actually found ways to agree on some things  clean water, clean air, civil rights  and passed laws that made life better for millions.

People always complained about taxes, but the denigration of government was not as constant as it has been over the last 40 years.

We had protests, but no one ever invaded the Capitol or tried to reverse the results of a presidential election.

So, yeah, a big mess.

Your parents probably didnt tell you this, and I dont blame them. They want you to dream and believe that anything is possible in America.

But no matter what your dream  to own your own auto body shop, to be a doctor, to be a millionaire by the time youre 25  it wont mean much if the world continues to heat up and America loses its democracy.

On climate change, weve not done nearly enough. Scientists tell us we need to be off coal as a fuel within 30 years to avoid the catastrophic effects of the changing climate. We need to drastically reduce the amount of gasoline and oil we burn by the middle of the century.

Remember: Its mostly your future now, not ours. For that reason, Ive never understood why those of the baby boom generation and the generation just before it  people now grandparents and even great grandparents  voted for politicians who called the climate crisis a hoax.

Thats another thing: The denigration and dismissal of science. Im not calling for the elimination of skepticism; skepticism is healthy. But lets be reasonable: Those scientists in lab coats, who went to college and earned multiple degrees and who researched threats to human life, know more than the rest of us. Those who went into public health did so because they believe in its mission. They deserve our respect, not ridicule.

The pandemic revealed a nonsensical distrust of public health that did not exist when I was a kid and the adults lined us up for inoculations.

Your generation needs to make priorities of reason and the pursuit of truth.

You need to have some baseline agreement on facts  climate change is happening, and were the cause, for instance  and then act.

Be the generation that breaks from the crazy conspiracy theories that have seeped into the mainstream. Theres no time for it. There is serious work to be done.

A big part of that work is repairing and protecting our democracy. If you want to keep a representative system, with the right to vote, then you need to scream about partisan threats to voting rights and reverse those that have already occurred.

To stop mass shootings  or, to get anything positive done, for that matter  we need to have legislators and members of Congress who are responsive to the people and not just lobbyists and billionaires.

Theres something else we need from your generation. We need you to be a restorative power. We need you to stand up for the ideals and principles that my generation and the ones before us considered the foundation of a civilized and progressive country.

I recently told graduates of McDaniel College that, in a cloudy, confusing and cynical world, there are still ideals we can list and describe: Character still counts, integrity counts, honesty counts, courage counts; selflessness is not the stuff of suckers and snowflakes, its the stuff of real community heroes; respect for truth and justice, decision-making based on facts and objective reality, care for the democracy and the common good, civility, decency, generosity, empathy  these are the traits of the good woman, the good man, the solid citizen, the moral leader, the salt of the earth.

Im asking you to restore and champion those ideals by how you live your lives.

Thats a lot, I know. Im sorry to put all this on you. Im sorry about the state were in. But too much of the countrys leadership is engaged in nonsense while the planet heats up, while Americans large and small die in mass shootings, while our democracy faces threats.

Weve had our chance. Now its yours. Save the country, save the planet, and youll go down as the next Greatest Generation.

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By Trend

The State Migration Service of Azerbaijan has rejected the appeal of the Baku branch of the Federal State Unitary Enterprise "Russia Today" on the extension of work and temporary residence permits for citizens of the Republic of Belarus Pavel Antonov and Veronika Antonova-Trizno. Copies of the administrative decisions taken were provided to these persons, Trend reports citing The Service.

No decision was made to deport the above persons from the Republic of Azerbaijan. These persons, having re-entered the Republic of Azerbaijan, may register and remain in the country, as well as apply for a temporary residence permit if there are relevant grounds provided for by law.
Clear blue water and clean, yellow sand are giving beachgoers in the Gaza Strip their first experience in years of clean and safe beaches.

A beach is an area covered with sand that is next to an ocean, lake or river.

Untreated waste has flowed directly into the waters off Gaza for years. The pollution has prevented Gazans from swimming in the Mediterranean Sea and enjoying low-cost fun.

But this season has been different. Government officials said water treatment centers, paid for by international groups, are operating across the territory. That has reduced pollution to its lowest levels in many years.

Sahar Abu Bashir, 52, said, "We couldn't come before because the sea was polluted and if we did, our children used to come back home with viruses and skin diseases.

The mother of four told Reuters, "Today the area is clean and the sea is clean. We felt as if we were in another country.

Many millions of cubic meters of untreated waste used to pour into the sea every day. But this week, the long sandy beach looked almost empty of red flags that warn people against swimming because of pollution.

People sat around plastic tables at the waters edge and children played with rubber swimming equipment. In some areas, horse owners gave their animals a cooling sea bath.

The militant group Hamas runs the Environment Quality and Water Authority. It said waste that poured into the sea was now partly treated. That makes 65 percent of the beaches safe and clean. The territorys rulers have plans to expand that. Hamas took control of the Gaza Strip in 2007.

Mohammad Mesleh is the director of environmental resources. He said, The summer season in Gaza Strip will be relatively safe compared to previous years because of the noticeable improvement of the quality of seawater.

Gaza is small with an area of 375 square kilometers. It is home to 2.3 million Palestinians. Local and international records suggest most Gazans are poor and the unemployment rate in the territory is about 50 percent.

Both Israel and Egypt enforce border restrictions on Gaza because of security concerns.

Deir Al-Balah is a city in the southern Gaza Strip. There, people crowded a beachfront resort called The Old Nights, built on a hilltop looking down on the beach.

Families ate inside colorful wooden structures. The owner, Rami Al-Naaouq, said the structures were built to look like natural colored hilltops.

His business is doing very well this season.

He said, "When there is no pollution I will have many customers in my place. That helps me make up for the losses of innovating and getting the place ready for the new year.

Im Jill Robbins.

Nidal al-Mughrabi reported this story for Reuters. Gregory Stachel adapted it for VOA Learning English.

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Words in This Story

previous adj. existing or happening before the present time

resort  n. a place where people go for vacations

customer n. a person who pays for good and services

innovate  v. to do something in a new way: to have new ideas about how something can be done

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Editor's note: This story includes some of the informal dialect that Mark Twain liked to include in his writing. We have provided explanations of some of the expressions after the story.

Our story is called "The Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras County." It was written by Mark Twain. Here is Shep O'Neal with the story.

A friend of mine in the East asked me to visit old Simon Wheeler, to ask about my friends friend, Leonidas W. Smiley. I did as my friend asked me to do and this story is the result.

I found Simon Wheeler sleeping by the stove in the ruined mining camp of Angels.

I saw that he was fat and had no hair, and had a gentle and simple look upon his peaceful face. He woke up, and gave me "good-day."

I told him a friend had asked me to find out about a friend named Leonidas W. Smiley, who he heard was at one time living in Angels Camp. I added that if Mr. Wheeler could tell me anything about this Leonidas W. Smiley, I would feel a great responsibility to him.

Simon Wheeler forced me into a corner with his chair and began telling me this long story. He never smiled, he never frowned. But all through the endless story there was a feeling of great seriousness and honesty. This showed me plainly that he thought the heroes of the story were men of great intelligence.

I let him go on in his own way, and never stopped him once. This is the story Simon Wheeler told.

Leonidas W. . hm Le well, there was a man here once by the name of Jim Smiley, in the winter of 1849 -- or may be it was the spring of 1850. Anyway, he was the strangest man. He was always making money on anything that turned up if he could get anybody to try to make money on the other side. And if he could not do that, he would change sides.

And he was lucky, uncommon lucky. He most always was a winner. If there was a dog-fight, he would try to win money on it. If there was a cat-fight, he would take the risk. If there was a chicken-fight, he would try to win money on it. Why, if there was two birds setting on a fence, he would want you to decide which one would fly first so he could win money.

Lots of the boys here have seen that Smiley and can tell you about him. Why, it did not matter to him. He would try to make money on anything. He was the most unusual man. Parson Walker's wife was very sick once, for a long time, and it seemed as if they were not going to save her.

But one morning he come in, and Smiley asked him how was his wife, and he said she was better, thank God. And Smiley, before he thought, says, "Well, I'll risk my money she will not get well."

And Smiley had a little small dog. To look at the dog, you would think he was not worth anything but to sit around and look mean and look for a chance to steal something. But as soon as there was money, he was a different dog. Another dog might attack and throw him around two or three times. Then all of a sudden Smiley's dog would grab that other dog by his back leg and hang on till the men said it was over.

Smiley always come out the winner on that dog, at least until he found a dog once that did not have any back legs. The dog's legs had been cut off in a machine. Well, the fighting continued long enough, and the money was gone. Then when Smiley's dog come to make a grab (at) the other dog's back legs, he saw in a minute how there was a problem.

The other dog was going to win and Smiley's dog looked surprised and did not try to win the fight anymore. He gave Smiley a look that said he was sorry for fighting a dog that did not have any back legs for him to hold, which he needed to win a fight. Then Smiley's dog walked away, laid down and died. He was a good dog, and would have made a name for himself if he had lived, for he had intelligence. It always makes me feel sorry when I think of that last fight of his and the way it turned out.

Well, this Smiley had rats, and chickens, and cats and all of them kind of things. You could not get anything for him to risk money on but he would match you. He caught a frog one day, and took him home, and said he was going to educate the frog. And so he never done nothing for three months but sit in his back yard and teach that frog to jump. And you bet you he did teach him, too.

He would give him a little hit from behind. And the next minute you would see that frog dancing in the air and then come down all on his feet and all right, like a cat. Smiley got him so the frog was catching flies, and he would catch one of those insects every time.

Smiley said all a frog wanted was education, and he could do almost anything. And I believe him. Why, I have seen him set Danl Webster down here on this floorDanl Webster was the name of the frog -- and sing out, "Flies, Danl, flies!" And quicker than you could shut your eyes that frog would jump straight up and catch a fly off the table. Then he would fall down on the floor again like a ball of dirt and start rubbing the side of his head with his back foot as if he had no idea he had been doing any more than any frog might do.

You never seen a frog so honest and simple as he was, for all he was so skilled. And when it come to jumping, he could get over more ground in one jump than any animal of his kind that you ever saw.

Smiley was very proud of his frog, and people who had traveled and been everywhere all said he was better than any frog they had ever seen.

Well, one day a stranger came in and says to Smiley, "What might be that you have got in the box?"

And Smiley says, "It's only just a frog." And the man took it, and looked at it careful, and turned it round this way and that, and says, "Hm, so it is. Well, what is he good for?"

"Well," Smiley says, easy and careless, "he can out jump any frog in Calaveras county."

The man took the box again, and took another long look, and gave it back to Smiley, and says, "Well, I dont see anything about that frog that is any better than any other frog."

"Maybe you dont," Smiley says. "Maybe you understand frogs and maybe you dont. Anyways, I will risk forty dollars and bet you that he can jump farther than any frog in Calaveras County."

And the man studied a minute. "Well, Im only a stranger here, and I do not have a frog. But if I had a frog, I would risk my money on it.

And then Smiley says, "Thats all right. If you will hold my box a minute, I will go and get you a frog." And so the man took the box, and put up his forty dollars and sat down to wait.

He sat there a long time thinking and thinking. Then he got the frog out of the box. He filled its mouth full of bullets used to kill small birds. Then he put the frog on the floor.

Now Smiley had caught another frog and gave it to the man and said, "Now sit him next to Dan'l and I will give the word."

Then Smiley says, "One-two-three-go!" and Smiley and the other man touched the frogs.

The new frog jumped. Dan'l just lifted up his body but could not move at all. He was planted like a building. Smiley was very surprised and angry too. But he did not know what the problem was.

The other man took the money and started away. And when he was going out the door, he looked back and said "Well, I don't see anything about that frog that is any better than any other frog."

Smiley stood looking down at Danl a long time, and at last says, "I wonder what in the nation happened to that frog. I wonder if there is something wrong with him."

And he picked up Dan'l and turned him upside down and out came a whole lot of bullets. And Smiley was the angriest man. He set the frog down and took out after that man but he never caught him.

Now Simon Wheeler heard his name called and got up to see what was wanted. He told me to wait but I did not think that more stories about Jim Smiley would give me any more information about Leonidas W. Smiley, and so I started to walk away.

At the door I met Mr. Wheeler returning, and he started talking again. "Well, this here Smiley had a yellow cow with one eye and no tail"

However, lacking both time and interest, I did not wait to hear about the cow. I just left.

This story was written by Mark Twain and adapted for Learning English by Karen Leggett.

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How well do you understand this story?

Quiz - The Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras County Start the Quiz to find out Start Quiz



For Teachers

This lesson plan, based on the CALLA Approach, teaches the strategy of classification to help students understand the story.

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Words in This Story

most always - adv. US, informal; almost always

Danl - n. abbreviation of a given name, Daniel

anyways - adv. US, informal; anyway

studied a minute - v. US, informal; thought a minute

get you a frog - v. US, informal; get a frog for you

plant - v. to put or place (something or yourself) firmly or forcefully on a surface or in a particular position
The panel of lawmakers looking into the attack on the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021, said former President Donald Trump is to blame for, what they called, an attempted coup.

The panel is made up of mostly Democratic lawmakers from the House of Representatives along with two Republicans.

The lawmakers said that Trump supporters were following the presidents suggestion to take over the U.S. Capitol. At the time, Congress was meeting to confirm President Joe Bidens victory in the November 2020 presidential election.

The committee held a special hearing on Thursday night. The goal was to show Americans new video of extremist groups leading the attack, hitting police officers with bats and poles. The video also showed Trumps close advisers saying they did not believe the election was stolen.

The hearing was shown by most American television news networks.

Caroline Edwards is a Capitol police officer who was there trying to stop the attackers on January 6. She said she saw her coworkers hit in the face and covered in blood. She said the floors were slippery from blood and compared it to a war movie.

It was carnage. It was chaos, she said.

Over 100 police officers were hurt. One person, a woman, was shot and killed by police. In all, four people who were in the crowd at the Capitol that day died. At least five law enforcement officers later died, most reportedly by suicide.

Representative Bennie Thompson is a Democrat from Mississippi and leader of the panel.

He said: Democracy remains in danger, and said Trump and some U.S. lawmakers are choosing to remember the attack, as patriotism. He compared this to justifying slavery and other violence against Black Americans.

Other supporters of Trump, including his daughter Ivanka Trump, her husband Jared Kushner, and former top government lawyer Bill Barr were shown in videos. They said that the idea of a stolen election was false.

Kushner called it whining, Barr denied it and Ivanka Trump said she accepted Barrs opinion about the election.

Another part of the video showed leaders of extremist groups called the Oath Keepers and Proud Boys saying they attacked the Capitol because Trump asked them to.

Liz Cheney is the daughter of former U.S. Vice President Dick Cheney and a Republican representative from Wyoming. She is one of the panels leaders.

President Trump summoned a violent mob, she said, adding that Trump did not work to preserve our unionor worse, cause(d) a constitutional crisis

Trump is still considering running for President in 2024. He recently said the actions of his supporters on January 6 represented the greatest movement in the history of our country.

Other Republican lawmakers used Twitter to say: All. Old. News.

The Republican Party leader in the House of Representatives is Kevin McCarthy of California. He refused to give a statement to the panel. He has called the group a scam.

In coming weeks, the panel is expected to show more about Trumps false campaign to Stop the Steal, the term he used to say the election results were untrue. The members aim to show the work Trump and his lawyers did to push the U.S. Department of Justice to dispute the election.

The Justice Department so far has arrested and charged more than 800 people for attacking the U.S. Capitol on January 6.

Many lawmakers who were there that day were also in the room on Thursday night watching the panel.

We want to remind people, we were there, we saw what happened, said Dean Phillips, a Democrat from Minnesota. We know how close we came to the first non-peaceful transition of power in this country, he said.

Im Dan Friedell.

Dan Friedell adapted this story for VOA Learning English based on reporting by The Associated Press.

Write to us in the Comments Section and visit our Facebook page.

Words in This Story

coup n. a sudden attempt by a small group of people to take over the government usually through violence

panel  n. a group of people who answer questions, give advice or opinions about something, or take part in a discussion for an audience

carnage  adj. the killing of many people

chaos adj. complete confusion and disorder

whine v. to complain in a way that bothers

summon v. to order or call for people to appear at a place

scam n. a dishonest way to make money by deceiving people

transition n. to act of changing from one state or condition to another
By Trend

According to the plan approved by Minister of Defense, Colonel General Zakir Hasanov, training-methodological sessions were held at the Training and Educational Center of the Azerbaijan Army with the participation of psychologists of the Army Corps, formations, and special educational institutions, Trend reports citing the Azerbaijani Defense Ministry.

First, the memory of the national leader of our people Heydar Aliyev and martyrs, who sacrificed their lives for the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan, was honored with observing a minute of silence. The National Anthem of the Republic of Azerbaijan was performed.

Acting Chief of the Department for Ideological Work and Moral-Psychological Support of the Main Department for Personnel Major General Bakir Orujov provided detailed information about the work done during the current period of 2022 in the field of psychological training, strengthening military discipline, and in other areas, as well as about the upcoming tasks assigned in this field.

Speaking of the second Karabakh war, which ended with the glorious victory of the Azerbaijan Army under the leadership of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Supreme Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces Ilham Aliyev, Major General Orujov stated that military-patriotic education, moral-psychological training and military discipline of the military personnel played an important role in achieving the victory.

The speakers at the training sessions highlighted the reforms carried out in the field of improving and strengthening military discipline in the Azerbaijan Army, as well as the tasks assigned to psychologists in this sphere. The importance of instilling national spiritual values and propaganda on the combat path of historical figures and commanders was brought to attention to increase the combat determination, sense of patriotism, and victorious spirit of the military personnel.

Then officers of various departments and military units of the ministry expressed their opinions and ideas on the work done to improve moral-psychological support, as well as topics affecting the Azerbaijan Armys combat capability.
After more than 300 years, a woman who was found guilty of using witchcraft in Salem, Massachusetts has been pardoned.

Witchcraft is traditionally described by some people as using supernatural powers often involving evil spirits. Some people might define modern-day witchcraft differently.

On May 26, Massachusetts state lawmakers officially cleared Elizabeth Johnson Jr. In 1693, Johnson was found guilty of witchcraft and sentenced to death. Her trial was part of the famous Salem Witch Trials which started in 1692 when Massachusetts was a colony of Britain.

Johnson was never executed. But unlike other people who were accused of witchcraft, she was never officially pardoned.

Last year, lawmakers agreed to reconsider her case after an eighth-grade class at a Massachusetts middle school took up her cause. Students at North Andover Middle School researched the legislative steps needed to clear Johnsons name.

In a statement, their teacher, Carrie LaPierre, praised her students for taking on the long-overlooked issue of justice for this wrongly convicted woman.

The teacher added that passing this legislation will show the students the importance of helping someone who cannot help themselves. The experience, she said, also can teach the students that they have a strong voice. (Here, the word voice means having the right to express a wish, choice, or opinion.)

State Senator Diana DiZoglio introduced the legislation which was then added to a budget bill and approved. DiZoglio said, We will never be able to change what happened to victims like Elizabeth but at the very least [we]can set the record straight.

A group called Witches of Massachusetts Bay told the Associated Press that Johnson is the last accused witch to be cleared. The groups goal is to study and record the history and stories of the witch hunts that took place in that state.

Massachusetts State Senator Joan Lovely said, For 300 years, Elizabeth Johnson Jr. was without a voice, her story lost to the passages of time.

Twenty people from Salem and neighboring towns were executed and many others were accused of witchcraft during the incident which began in 1692. Historians say that people who accused others of being witches did so for many reasons. These included superstition, fear of disease and strangers and jealousy.

Nineteen people were hanged, and one man was crushed to death with rocks.

Johnson was 22 when she was caught up in the witchcraft accusations. She was put on trial and sentenced to hang. But the colonys Governor William Phips threw out her punishment as the injustice of the trials became clear.

Over more than 300 years, many suspects were officially cleared, including Johnsons mother.

But for some reason, Elizabeth Johnsons name was not included in the legislative attempts to correct the record. Unlike others who were wrongly accused, Johnson never had children who could have cleared her name.

DiZoglio said, Elizabeths story and struggle continue to greatly resonate today. She added, While weve come a long way since the horrors of the witch trials, women today still all too often find their rights challenged and concerns dismissed.

Im Anna Matteo.

William J. Kole reported this story from Boston, Massachusetts for the Associated Press. Anna Matteo adapted it for VOA Learning English.

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Words in This Story

convict v. to find someone guilty of a crime

superstition n. a belief that is based on a fear of the unknown or that certain things bring good or bad luck

jealousy n. a strong feeling of wanting to have something that belongs to someone else

resonate v. to have a special meaning or importance for some people

horror n. an experience or thing that causes great fear or dread

challenge v. to question whether a person should have or do something
NEBRASKA  The Fourth of July will be here before you know it and lighting off fireworks on Independence Day is an American tradition.

However, if done improperly, it can lead to injury, property damage and even death. The National Safety Council Nebraska lists some firework safety tips to follow this holiday season.

Consumer fireworks may only be possessed, used or discharged by a person 16 years of age or older; provided, that a person 12 years of age or older and less than 16 years of age may possess, use or discharge consumer fireworks, but only when in the immediate presence of and under the direct supervision of an adult 19 years of age or older, according to NFPA.

A variety of fireworks may be sold across Nebraska; however, there are some restrictions. Fireworks sold at Nebraska stands must be legal in Nebraska. It is against the law to transport illegal fireworks into the state. For a full list of illegal fireworks, visit Nebraska State Fire Marshal site.

The Nebraska State Fire Marshal states permissible fireworks, which include sparklers, foundations, torches, cones, aerial shells, cannot exceed 50 milligrams of explosive composition.

Display fireworks are for public exhibitions and these firecrackers cannot exceed 130 milligrams of explosives and aerial shells cannot exceed more than 40 milligrams.

Injury can result from improper use of fireworks, the NFPA has statistics listed on their website.

 Fireworks started an estimated 19,500 fires in 2018, including 1,900 structure fires, 500 vehicle fires, and 17,100 outside and other fires. These fires caused five deaths, 46 civilian injuries, and $105 million in direct property damage.

 In 2018, U.S. hospital emergency rooms treated an estimated 9,100 people for firework related injuries; half of those injuries were to the extremities and 34 percent were to the eye or other parts of the head. Children younger than 15 years of age accounted for more than one-third, 36 percent, of the estimated 2018 injuries.

According to the Nebraska State Fire Marshal, the most common body part injured from fireworks is the eyes and hands, lesser so are the legs and face. The most common injuries were second degree burns, followed by first degree burns and abrasions.

The most common reasons for injury are a person holding the device during discharge or they were too close to a discharging firework.

The age groups which were injured the most in Nebraska in 2018 were 11 to 19 year olds, followed by 20-29 year olds. Males were injured at a greater rate than females.

The Consumer Product Safety Commission released an annual report about injuries and deaths related to fireworks in 2019.

CPSC staff received reports of 18 non-occupational fireworks-related deaths during 2020. Twelve of the deaths were associated with firework misuse, one death was associated with an electric match malfunction, and five incidents were associated with unknown circumstances.

The CPSC went into detail about the circumstances of some of the deaths.

In June, a 34-year-old male victim died after he attempted to deploy a mortar firework from the passenger seat of a moving vehicle. The driver of the vehicle reports that the victim held the base of a mortar firework and pointed the top of the firework out of the vehicle window. The victim lit the firework and the base of the device compressed against his chest, causing his fatal injuries.

In July, a 21-year-old male victim was fatally injured while detonating a fireworks device in a school parking lot. The victim and his friend had been shooting fireworks at people in the parking lot when the victim attempted to light an artillery shell fireworks device. The device exploded near the victims leg causing a large open wound.

In July, a 23-year-old male victim had been lighting various types of firework devices to celebrate Independence Day in his driveway. The victim lit a firework device that had a mortar on top of a foot-long pole and held it above his head as he walked around the driveway. The device exploded and the victim fell to the ground; the victims brother called 911. The victim sustained major trauma to his hands and fingers, and a large wound to his head.

According to the CPSC report, fireworks were involved in an estimated 10,000 injuries treated in U.S. hospital emergency departments during calendar year 2019. The estimated rate of emergency department-treated injuries is 2.8 per 100,000 individuals in the United States.

There were an estimated 500 emergency department-treated injuries associated with sparklers and 200 with bottle rockets.

There were an estimated 1,000 emergency department-treated injuries associated with firecrackers. Of these, an estimated 33 percent were associated with small firecrackers, an estimated 13 percent with illegal firecrackers, and an estimated 54 percent with firecrackers for which there was no specific information.

Approximately 81 percent of the victims were treated at the hospital emergency department and then released. An estimated 17 percent of patients were treated and transferred to another hospital, or admitted to the hospital.

The CPSC report concluded, typical causes of injuries were as follows: misuse of fireworks; errant flight paths; tip-overs; early ignitions; and blowout.

The NFPA lists the following firework safety tips,

 Only use fireworks where they are legal. Only use fireworks that are legal where you are shooting them, and be sure you are shooting on dates that are legal in your city. Dont import fireworks from another state or city to use locally  they may not be legal where you are. Buy locally to be sure fireworks are both legal and safe.

 Use fireworks outdoors only. This includes sparklers and snakes. All fireworks burn, and can quickly start a house fire. When outdoors, be sure there is enough room to point fireworks away from spectators, houses, buildings and flammable materials.

 Use launching fireworks in open areas only to ensure they dont land on top of buildings and houses. Especially those with natural (cedar) type shingles.

 Always pre-plan to have water handy, whether that is a bucket or a hose.

 Have a first aid kit ready and waiting.

 Keep young children away from fireworks  even sparklers! Children using fireworks should be at least 12 years old, and always closely supervised. 20 percent of fireworks injuries to children are caused by sparklers.

 Use fireworks the way they were intended. Follow the lighting instructions on the package. Dont combine them.

 Dont try to relight duds. Wait at least 20 minutes before handling a dud, then soak it in water before disposing of the dud.

 Use a designated shooter who is alcohol free and wearing safety glasses. Light one device at a time, and keep a safe distance once a firework is lit. Dont light fireworks in containers.

 Dont allow running or horseplay by anyone near fireworks.

 Dont use fireworks while consuming alcoholic beverages.

 Always clean up after you are done celebrating.
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Grand jury indicts Lufkin man accused in shooting death at Sonic

MUHAMMAD

An Angelina County grand jury recently indicted a 21-year-old Lufkin man in the shooting death of Zetavius Robins on March 10.

Ishmael Muhammad is charged with murder, and a $500,000 bond has been set. He also was arrested and indicted for aggravated assault with a deadly weapon for which he faces an additional $500,000 bond.

Around 10 p.m. March 9, Kiera Allen and Robins were in the parking lot of the Sonic on Frank Avenue, an affidavit released by Justice of the Peace Billy Balls office states.

The affidavit references video footage pulled from the Sonic security system. That footage shows a white car following Muhammad in the drive-thru then shows Muhammad driving past Robins and the white car and looking into each vehicle.

Muhammad and Robins started arguing near the Sonic drive-thru area, the affidavit states. Video footage shows Allen trying to get Robins into a silver Ford Fusion to avoid any further confrontation. Muhammad reportedly got out of his car with an AR-15 style rifle, so Robins and Allen immediately got into the Ford and tried to drive away, according to the affidavit.

Muhammad continued to advance on the couple while Allen got into the drivers seat and put the vehicle into gear, which is when Muhammad reportedly raised his rifle and began firing into the vehicle, according to the affidavit. He continued to fire into the vehicle as it drove toward Frank Avenue.

Robins was shot multiple times, including the fatal shot to the back of his head, the affidavit states. Allen was shot in the back of her neck and shoulder. The vehicle crashed into the side of a building across the street from Sonic.

Footage shows Muhammad driving away from the scene while the man from the white car shot at his vehicle, the affidavit states.

A Texas Department of Public Safety trooper arrested Muhammad after making a traffic stop.

After being read his Miranda Warning, Muhammad admitted shooting at the Ford Fusion but said it was in self-defense, the affidavit states.

Footage never showed Robins or Allen posing a threat to Muhammad, and Allen appeared to be trying to diffuse the situation, according to the affidavit.

Muhammad also is facing accusations of unlawfully carrying weapons and deadly conduct.

The warrant for deadly conduct was issued after his March arrest for an incident in December 2021 in which police say he shot at a mobile home that had people in it. Police connected the incidents after conducting a ballistics test on a .40-caliber gun found in his possession upon arrest and determining it was the weapon used on the mobile home.

He was issued more than $1 million in bonds for all of the offenses combined and has been in the Angelina County Jail since March 10.

The grand jury also indicted dozens of other individuals.

In other violent crimes, the grand jury indicted:

 Dalton Lilley, evading arrest or detention with a vehicle causing death.

 Marvin Malnar Jr., assault of a family or household member with a previous conviction.

 Endiah Pines, engaging in organized criminal activity.

 Darrell Robertson Sr., aggravated assault causing serious bodily injury.

 Dion Smith, three counts of aggravated assault of a date, family or household member with a weapon.

 Ashton Solly, aggravated assault with a deadly weapon.

 Aaron Weatherly, deadly conduct  discharge of a firearm.

 Tony Hadnot, assault of a family or household member with a previous conviction.

 Amber Whitworth, assault causing bodily injury/family violence with a prior conviction.

 Jorge Expinal, assault of a public servant.

 Denver Hathorn, aggravated assault with a deadly weapon.

 Jordan Malone, aggravated assault with a deadly weapon/family violence. and,

 Edward Seekers, injury to a child, elderly or disabled person with the intent to cause bodily injury.

In sex-based crimes, the grand jury indicted Carl Howard for the sexual assault of a child.

In crimes involving theft, the grand jury indicted:

 Brandy Massey, theft from a person.

 Justin Morrison, theft of between $2,500 and $30,000 worth of property.

 Johanna Penton, unauthorized use of a vehicle.

 Marco Renteria, credit or debit card abuse.

 Jeffery Stribling II, burglary of a habitation.

 Matthew Whitford, theft of property worth less than $2,500 with two prior convictions.

 Titan Williams, theft of a firearm.

 Rodolfo Moncada III, theft of property with two prior convictions.

 Race Armstrong, burglary of a building.

 Johnathan Bell, fraudulent use or possession of five items of identifying information and theft of a firearm.

 Curtis Brown, theft of property worth less than $1,500 with two or more previous convictions.

 Kurtina Davis, forgery of a financial instrument against an elderly person.

 Alice Horton, forgery of a financial instrument against an elderly person.

 Andrea Jackson, credit or debit card abuse.

 Rufus Matts, credit or debit card abuse.

 Avante Nicholson, theft of a firearm.

 Christian Perez, theft of property worth between $750 and $2,500.

 Amber Whitworth, forgery of a financial instrument against an elderly person.

In crimes related to drugs, the grand jury indicted:

 Joey Palacio, possession of between 1 and 4 grams of a penalty group 1 controlled substance.

 Miguel Vargas, possession of between 1 and 4 grams of a penalty group 1 controlled substance.

 Delametrius Roberson, possession of a penalty group 1 controlled substance.

 Oather Spencer III, possession of a penalty group 1 controlled substance.

 Izrael Lopez, possession of a penalty group 1 controlled substance.

 Angel Caiola, possession of between 1 and 4 grams of a penalty group 1 controlled substance.

 Brian Brock, possession of a penalty group 1 controlled substance.

 Christal Bryan, possession of a penalty group 1 controlled substance.

 Debra Owen, possession of a penalty group 1 controlled substance.

 Lisa Oats, possession of between 1 and 4 grams of a penalty group 1 controlled substance.

 Trenton Morrison, possession of a penalty group 2 controlled substance.

 Grisdeli Mendez, possession of a penalty group 1 controlled substance.

 Joseph Lamphier Jr., possession of a penalty group 1 controlled substance.

 Turner Gipson, possession of between 4 and 200 grams of a penalty group 1 controlled substance.

 Kedadrian Alexander, possession of a penalty group 2 controlled substance.

 Austin Allen, possession of between 4 and 200 grams of a penalty group 1 controlled substance.

 Patrick Butler, possession of a penalty group 1 controlled substance.

 Jerry Carter Jr., possession of a penalty group 1 controlled substance.

 Caitlin Graves, possession of between 4 and 200 grams of a penalty group 2 controlled substance.

 Hal Hawthorne, possession of between 4 and 200 grams of a penalty group 1 controlled substance.

 Joshua Pinner, possession of between 4 and 200 grams of a penalty group 1 controlled substance.

The grand jury also indicted individuals for other crimes including:

 Latoya Lee, tampering or fabricating physical evidence.

 John Poland, three counts of unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon.

 Aaron Simmons, unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon.

 Jarod Pee, evading arrest/detention with a previous conviction.

 Corey Allen, assault of a family or household member with a previous conviction.

 Wesley Dorsett, evading arrest/detention; evading arrest/detention with a vehicle and evading arrest/detention with a previous conviction.

 Victor Lee, unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon.

 Anthony Menefee, driving while intoxicated (third or more).

 Giovanni Murillo, driving while intoxicated (third or more).

 Cody Plummer, unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon.

 Flint Thompson, driving while intoxicated (third or more).
In South Dakota, Republican Gov. Kristi Noem has tried to shape the Legislature to her liking. And in last week's primary, she publicly backed at least a dozen candidates, including several challengers to incumbents who are part of a contrarian group of Republicans. But two-thirds of the governor's favorites lost, and some of the lawmakers who survived her efforts to defeat them wonder why a governor they generally agree with went to such lengths to try to oust them. While endorsements often draw attention and financial resources, they don't always translate into voter support. Its a lesson that Noem ally Donald Trump is learning as he falls short, notably in Georgia, in trying to punish Republicans who've crossed him.
SKOPJE, North Macedonia (AP)  German Chancellor Olaf Scholz visited North Macedonia and Bulgaria on Saturday in a bid to resolve the dispute between both countries that has seen European Union membership talks with both North Macedonia and Albania blocked.

Bulgaria refuses to approve the EUs membership negotiation framework for North Macedonia, effectively blocking the official start of accession talks with its smaller Balkan neighbor.

Scholz said that the Western Balkans are of strategic importance for Germany and that his country is serious in supporting European integration of the region.

North Macedonia and Albania deserve to start the membership talks, Scholz said at joint news conference with North Macedonia Prime Minister Dimitar Kovachevski in the capital, Skopje.

Bulgaria insists North Macedonia must formally recognize that its language has Bulgarian roots, to mention a Bulgarian minority in its constitution and to stamp out allegedly anti-Bulgarian rhetoric. North Macedonia says its identity and language aren't open for discussion and that the solution must be based on European values.

Kovachevski said that North Macedonia has fulfilled all criteria to start membership talks with the EU, based on a merit system, and again called on EU leaders to give the green light for opening talks at the forthcoming EU summit on June 23.

North Macedonia and Albania cannot be hostages in this process because of the only one EU member state blocking, Kovachevski said.

Scholz left Skopje and traveled to Bulgaria's capital where he reiterated that he strongly supports the start of EU accession talks with North Macedonia and Albania.

Scholz  speaking to reporters in Sofia, the final stop of his two-day tour to the region  voiced optimism that progress will be made before the close of France's EU presidency on June 30.

The German chancellor discussed the war in Ukraine and the reduction of energy dependence on Russia with Bulgarian officials.

I am convinced that we together, as Europeans, are responsible for the EU and for the stability of the Balkans. It is important that we use the enlargement process now, for the benefit of Europe, he said.

Scholz said that North Macedonia needs a solid European perspective and added that it wasn't easy to overcome the differences between the two Balkan neighbors.

Our historical experience shows, however, that it is enriching for all countries when mistrust is overcome and friendly relations are built with neighbors, he said.

Its very important to bring a new dynamic into this process, Scholz said after talks with Bulgarian Prime Minister Kiril Petkov and added that North Macedonia must meet certain conditions to kick-start the process.

I will advocate that the next steps happen, Scholz said.

Bulgaria has three main priorities, about which the EU must be part of the guarantees, so that we can move forward  through the European process, to ensure the inclusion of Bulgarians in the constitution of North Macedonia, Petkov said.

At the same time, we have a framework position and a good-neighborliness agreement. So, each decision must include these three priorities, he said and added that the EU can provide potential opportunities to have European guarantees that this will happen.

North Macedonia applied for EU membership in 2004 and received a positive assessment from the European Commission a year later.

EU leaders agreed to formal accession talks with Albania and North Macedonia after Skopje settled in 2018 a nearly three decade-long dispute with neighboring Greece over the countrys name, which saw it renamed North Macedonia.

Western Balkan countries are at different stages of EU membership talks. Serbia and Montenegro have already started negotiating some chapters of their membership agreements. Kosovo and Bosnia have signed a Stabilization and Association Agreement, the first step toward membership.

Veselin Toshkov reported from Sofia, Bulgaria.

Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
A Dane County judge held the office of former state Supreme Court Justice Michael Gableman in contempt Friday for not fully complying with a previous court order to provide public records related to Gablemans GOP-ordered review of the 2020 election.

Circuit Court Judge Frank Remington issued the contempt order after the conservative former justice refused to provide testimony in the case, brought by liberal watchdog group American Oversight. Gableman took the stand Friday ostensibly to answer questions seeking information on whether the Office of Special Counsel he heads had violated a court order to stop deleting requested documents, but instead lashed out at Remington, accusing the judge of being a partisan advocate.

Remington reminded Gableman that he was under oath to answer questions from American Oversight attorney Christa Westerberg, and not to make a speech, but Gableman refused.

You have a right to conduct and control your courtroom, judge, but you dont have a right to act as an advocate for one party over the other, Gableman said. I want a personal counsel if you are putting jail on the table. I want an attorney to represent me personally. I will not answer any more questions. I see you have a jail officer here. You want to put me in jail, Judge Remington  Im not going to be railroaded.

Gablemans heated comments came two days after Remington ordered the former justice to answer questions under oath about how his office handled requested documents related to the ongoing probe. Near the close of that Wednesday hearing, Remington cautioned Gableman and his staffer Zakory Niemierowicz to consider seeking independent legal counsel, noting that remedial sanctions for contempt could include jail time.

Niemierowicz did not attend Fridays hearing for fear of incarceration, Gablemans attorney Michael Dean said. Gablemans attorneys have described Niemierowicz as the sole legal custodian for the requested records. Niemierowicz was hired last September as an office administrator, but his title changed to chief of staff later last year, according to a transcript of Niemierowiczs Monday deposition with American Oversight filed with the court.

At no time did I suggest that that was a sanction that I intended to impose, Remington said Friday. Indeed, it was a question that was left for todays proceeding to be determined based on the evidence and the request from American Oversight.

The question of sanctions was left unanswered Friday. After finding Gablemans office in contempt for not fully and completely complying with the courts previous order to not delete requested records, Remington said he would issue a written order and sanctions at a later date.

Contempt of court is punishable by up to $2,000 in daily fines for each day the person refuses to abide by the courts order. Imprisonment is also a possible sanction and may extend as long as the person is committing the contempt or up to six months, whichever period is shorter.

The case is one of three filed by American Oversight against Gableman, Assembly Speaker Robin Vos, R-Rochester, and the Assembly seeking public records related to Gablemans review of the 2020 election, which was launched last year by Republicans at a cost of $676,000 to taxpayers. Invoices have shown that ongoing court battles surrounding the review have pushed the cost to nearly $900,000.

Remington on Friday denied similar motions by American Oversight to hold Vos and the state Assembly in contempt.

American Oversight senior adviser Melanie Sloan said in a statement following the hearing that Gablemans outrageous and disrespectful conduct in court today removed any last shred of credibility from this partisan charade.

Both Gableman and American Oversight have posted hundreds of pages of records online, but American Oversight attorneys have contended that more records likely exist and have not been provided. Primarily, the organization has sought any documents  including those that may have been deleted  between Gableman and his staff, which American Oversight attorneys say constitute contractor records that are subject to the states open records law.

Both Remington and Dane County Circuit Judge Valerie Bailey-Rihn have previously ordered Gableman to stop deleting records that may be responsive to American Oversights requests.

Attorneys for Gableman have said the former justice is exempt from retaining records, and his office regularly destroys documents deemed irrelevant or useless. An analysis by the nonpartisan Legislative Council in October determined that deleting such records, even by a state contractor like Gableman, violates state law.

Records deleted

Speaking with reporters after Fridays hearing, Gableman said all requested documents have been provided to American Oversight but reaffirmed that his office has regularly deleted both physical and digital records.

Of course we followed the law, but the law does not mean that I have to keep every scrap of paper with some writing on it if there is no relevant open records request that was submitted at the time, Gableman said.

Westerberg told reporters on Friday some records still have not been produced, including contracts for Gablemans staffers Andrew Kloster, a former Trump administration official who has falsely claimed the election was stolen from the former president, and Carol Matheis, a California attorney who has worked with the Federalist Society.

Niemierowicz said in his deposition that he and several of those working in the Office of Special Counsel, including Gableman, also communicate using Signal, an app that allows for the immediate deletion of messages.

An October memo prepared by Legislative Council deputy director Dan Schmidt indicated that the states public records law generally applies to records created or maintained by Gablemans office.

State lawmakers are exempt from Wisconsins record retention law, allowing them to regularly delete records, though requested documents must be retained if they exist at the time of a formal request. Schmidt wrote in the memo that such an exemption does not apply to Gableman.

Vos, who had previously indicated plans to begin wrapping up Gablemans review by the time his previous contract expired at the end of April, has again extended the former justices contract after former President Donald Trump, who continues to push the lie that there was widespread election fraud, pressured Republicans to continue with the effort. Vos has since paused Gablemans probe to allow time for five pending lawsuits related to the review to play out in court.

A recount, court decisions and multiple reviews have affirmed that President Joe Biden defeated Trump in Wisconsin by almost 21,000 votes. Only 24 people out of nearly 3.3 million who cast ballots have been charged with election fraud in Wisconsin.

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The Wisconsin Elections Commission unanimously rejected a state Democratic Party-backed attempt to kick Republican gubernatorial candidate Tim Michels off the Aug. 9 primary ballot over address inconsistencies on his nominating forms.

The commissions decision marks a striking win for Michels, who could have been denied ballot access if three commissioners voted against putting him on the ballot. Michels, along with all of the other leading gubernatorial candidates, has called for eliminating the commission.

The people of Wisconsin won today, Michels said in a statement after the vote. But this wont be the last obstacle Madison insiders throw in my way.

Michels, whom former President Donald Trump endorsed last week, is now slated to appear on the Republican primary ballot along with former Lt. Gov. Rebecca Kleefisch, former Marine Kevin Nicholson, state Rep. Timothy Ramthun, of Campbellsport, and businessman Adam Fischer.

The commissions decision was in response to a complaint by a Madison voter supported by the state Democratic Party who said Michels failed to include his correct mailing address on his nomination forms, making thousands of signatures invalid. The majority of those papers list the village of Chenequa, but not Michels mailing address in Hartford, which is less than 15 miles to the north. They did not list Michels ZIP code or state.

Michels campaign had dismissed the complaint as frivolous. Before the Friday meeting, commission staff recommended rejecting the complaint, noting candidates are following state law as long as they can prove they can get mail regardless of which municipality they list in their address.

It defies, to me, common sense that anybody looking at these (nomination) papers would think that Mr. Michels wasnt living in this state and running for governor, Democratic Commissioner Mark Thomsen said ahead of the vote.

In an affidavit, Michels said a nomination form with the disputed address was inadvertently uploaded to his campaigns webpage and used for his nomination papers. But he argued his nomination papers were legally sufficient as filed.

Arguing on behalf of the complainant, attorney Jeff Mandell disagreed with the staff recommendation at the Friday meeting, suggesting Michels address without a listed ZIP code and state may have only worked in the days of the Pony Express.

Michels attorney Matthew Fernholz argued that the U.S. Postal Service confirmed mail sent to either address would get delivered. He also said an address missing a ZIP code and state is still valid.

There is no one who has been defrauded or misled by the form of Mr. Michels nomination papers, Fernholz said, adding theres no aggrieved party signing an affidavit stating they wouldnt have signed Michels nomination papers had they known his alleged error.

Michels noted his campaign submitted 4,000 signatures, 3,861 of which have already been validated by commission staff. A total of 2,000 valid signatures are needed. Democrats challenged all but 345 of Michels signatures.

Today, Tim Michels was shown leniency for what was a technical error, but under a plain reading of Wisconsin election law, he should have been disqualified. Ultimately, he broke the law, Wisconsin Democratic Party executive director Devin Remiker said in a statement.

Democratic Assembly candidate Patty Schachtner, who lost her reelection bid for the state Senate in 2020, said she faced a complaint similar to the one against Michels. The commission also unanimously rejected that complaint Friday.

Similar cases

The WEC has dealt with similar discrepancies, like in January 2018 when it discussed nominating papers for two circuit court judges, though formal complaints were not filed against the candidates signature papers.

William Kussel, a candidate for Menominee and Shawano County Circuit Court judge, listed the town of Wescott as his voting residence, while his mailing address listed the city of Shawano. In another, Price County Circuit Court judge candidate Mark Fuhr listed his voting address in the town of Worcester, while his mailing address listed the municipality of Phillips.

In both cases, the United States Post Office website ZIP code finder indicates mail will be delivered if either municipality is listed on an envelope, according to commission materials for the 2018 meeting.

The commission unanimously approved ballot access for Kussel and Fuhr.

For Michels, the Postal Service website automatically replaces the village of Chenequa with Hartland.

2020 court ruling

In August 2020, the commission deadlocked on whether to allow Green Party presidential candidate Howie Hawkins and vice presidential candidate Angela Walker on the November ballot, leaving the matter up to the courts. The issue stemmed from a complaint alleging Walker listed an incorrect address on thousands of her nominating papers, bringing her number of valid signatures below the required threshold to secure a spot on the ballot.

Commission staff had recommended keeping the pair off the ballot, but Republican members voted to keep them on. After the vote, Republican Commissioner Bob Spindell recommended attorneys to the Hawkins campaign to help appeal the decision. The issue had major election implications because a Green Party candidate could have siphoned off votes that otherwise went to Democratic nominee Joe Biden, who won the state by only about 21,000 votes.

In a split decision that September, the Wisconsin Supreme Court said it was too late into the election season to grant relief to Hawkins and Walker and left them off the ballot.

But unlike Walker, commission staff noted, Michels responded to the challenge against him with evidence clearly establishing that all his nomination papers refer to the same residence.

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To Maria Clara Ruiz Zapata, owner of Madisons Estacion Coffee, sharing an espresso with loved ones is an act of savoring the moment versus consuming caffeine to rush and get the day started.

The ritual also represents supporting ones community, Ruiz Zapata said, which is the backbone of her online subscription-based coffee business that launched two years ago to financially support 45 families in Colombia with their small-scale coffee farms and the selling of their product directly to consumers.

Ruiz Zapata hails from Colombia and frequently travels back to her home, which happens to be one of the worlds top exporters of the aromatic brew. The country also has a rich and extensive history surrounding coffee but its a history thats not without economic challenges for growers of the popular bean  and thats why the business came to fruition in the first place.

The UW-Madison graduate is a veterinarian by trade, who when travelling the Colombian countryside years ago discovered just how much the coffee farmers that lived there struggled  sporadic coffee bean sales that turned up minimal profit to support high labor, production and equipment costs. In 2022, farmers also face a changing Colombian climate amid global warming.

As many as 500,000 farmers were not getting the bang for their buck back then as they farmed coffee beans, Ruiz Zapata said she found out as she established the precursor of Estacion Coffee back in 2012  a tourism organization called ZoOming.co that dissolved amid the COVID-19 pandemic as the companys industry experienced major financial blows.

Now, Estacion Coffee is able to add 30% on top of what coffee farmers make on a regular day, but that figure is dependent on several factors  weather, environmental conditions, hands to help and more. Whereas a typical farmer could make just under a dollar per hour on a typical workday  hours can vary  Estacions support bumps that up to roughly $5 per hour, Ruiz Zapata said.

According to 2018 data from The Borgen Project, a nonprofit in Washington, Colombia is a poverty-stricken coffee sector, with farmers living on less than $2 a day.

It doesnt help that growing coffee is a complicated and time-consuming feat requiring a few harvests per year, Ruiz Zapata said.

As the business moves to commercialize, the hope is to one day be the sole purchaser of beans from the 45 families Estacion works with, Ruiz Zapata said. Currently, the company makes up only a portion of that. The direct buying of coffee beans from farmers has been a trend, even among large corporations like Starbucks, to better support impoverished growers.

Working out of Synergy Coworking on the West Side, Estacion has 2,500 subscribers from across the country buying its beans. Shoppers can choose three places in Colombia from which to purchase their brew, and for prices starting at $13.90 up to $58.99. All coffee growers that work with the business have their fair trade certification, Ruiz Zapata said.

In order to market herself, Ruiz Zapata hosts what she calls experiences in which attendees can taste, touch and smell Estacions product. Ruiz Zapata demonstrates how the coffee is brewed, and even has participants undergo mindfulness exercise as they sip their beverage.

Tell us more about what you observed during your travels in the Colombian countryside.

Once I met the coffee growers 10 years ago, I was completely touched by what they do. They always have a smile. Its easy to portray them as having hard jobs. But they love their land, birds, water, forest and view. They know they are fortunate to have that. (Some farmers would carry their coffee product) down on mules every six months to sell it in nearby towns. Others would walk five hours to access their crop.

Whats so unique about how Colombian farmers cultivate their product?

Colombia is the only country where the coffee is grown by the people that own the land. The country has a lot of fresh water resources.

When you picture Estacion Coffee a year from now, or even five years from now, how do you see the business operating?

I see people going to Colombia with us at least twice a year, and getting involved in the project. I see the coffee growers coming to the U.S. to see where their product is and to get a sense of what that means. There are many things that can connect us in that way, and that is our main goal.

What does coffee represent for you as a Colombia native?

It represents my family, for sure. We started drinking coffee when we were really young  a little bit of coffee with a lot of milk and panela (unrefined whole cane sugar). We dont drink coffee alone, and take it in small cups with something sweet. Its sharing and thinking about how you are drinking the coffee in such a beautiful place with landscapes you see every morning. Its about slowing down.

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Halcon, a regional developer and producer of autonomous and unmanned systems in defence and aerospace and beyond, is marking its debut at the Middle East Coatings Show Dubai with key products that showcase its advanced manufacturing capabilities.

The regions largest live gathering for the coatings industry, Middle East Coatings Show will run from June 14 to 16 at the Dubai World Trade Centre, connecting global buyers and suppliers in the coatings industry, as it has been doing for the last 29 years, said the organisers.

An EDGE Group entity, Halcon is set to highlighting its special manufacturing division at the company's stand.

It will have on display Halcon's extensive coating and surface treatment options, including cathodic electrodeposition coating, chromate conversion type II, anodizing type II and type III, alkaline zinc plating, manganese phosphating, passivation, QPQ, and advanced paint booth, said the statement from the company.

Equipped with the latest technology, the division provides state-of-the-art CNC machining, surface treatment, coating, and printed circuit board assembly solutions, it stated.

Halcon CEO Saeed Al Mansoori said: "In keeping with the objectives of the UAEs Industry 4.0 agenda, we aim to bring high precision manufacturing capabilities to various sectors of the economy."

"We seek to attract all types of businesses however our unique surface treatment, PCB and machining capabilities, coupled with high levels of production, are particularly appealing to the defence, aerospace, and automotive industries," he added.

Al Mansoori pointed out that it will demonstrate how Halcon utilises advanced digital integration for its end-to-end manufacturing and coating of micro to large and complex components.

With an unmatched level of security at its premises in Tawazun Industrial Park, high atomation levels, dynamic and flexible processes are used to tailor solutions to the requirements of the customer, it stated.

According to him, Halcon will also highlight their modern PCB facilitys capabilities.

The smart factory handles board assembly, system integration, quality assurance testing and utilises IPC Class 3 to manufacture PCBs used in the defence and aerospace industry, stated Al Mansoori.

"Our experienced engineers and shop floor control system provide a data rich environment that stands out in the UAE. We believe Halcon will be distinct at the Middle East Coatings Show for its remarkable manufacturing quality and potential," he added.-TradeArabia News Service
An upstate New York Republican is being forced out of her city council post after pleading guilty to three federal counts of voter fraud. The case involving Troy City Councilmember Kimberly McPherson is one of just a few instances of documented voter fraud. It comes amid unfounded assertions across the country made mostly by Republicans of widespread election tampering. As part of a plea deal, McPherson admitted to fraudulently casting an absentee ballot in last years primary election and two such ballots in the general election. McPhersons name appeared on both ballots. She admitted to illegally filing absentee ballots in the names of two other voters.
This State Journal editorial ran on June 7, 1992:

Its been a century since W. D. Hoard persuaded Wisconsin farmers to give up wheat and start raising dairy cows. Those cows, he said, will consume the states crops and produce products of greater value for farmers  and the states economy. Hoards vision is todays reality, and it is difficult to imagine an industry more central to Wisconsins image and its economy than dairy.

Consider this during June Dairy Month: Wisconsin employs 32,000 farm families milking 1.7 million cows that generate nearly a fifth of the milk consumed in this country. Thats only the beginning. Wisconsin has more than 300 dairy plants employing 10,400 workers who make a third of the nations cheese and a quarter of its butter  most of it exported to other states. Those workers dont include the feed sales staff, dairy equipment manufacturers, genetics companies, university specialists and all the other workers involved in helping convert Wisconsin corn and pastureland into milk.

These are difficult times in the states $10 billion dairy industry. The government has, for all practical purposes, removed federal price supports from milk. That not only allows dairy farmers incomes to fluctuate wildly, it also means the cost of milk to cheesemakers and buttermakers has gone crazy. Some farmers and dairy plants will not weather the new climate.

But Wisconsin still has thousands of acres of land specially suited for dairy cows  and a relatively healthy industry to convert those cows produce into a valuable state export.

During this June Dairy Month, remember to give a special thanks to those who help make Wisconsin Americas Dairyland.
When Afghanistans government fell to the Taliban on Aug. 15, 2021, Laila Naseri knew her life was going to be upended. Most Afghans lives were in different ways, but the threats to her were immediate.

As a single woman in her early 20s, shed be compelled to submit to the strictures of the brutally misogynistic Taliban regime, which is bent on enforcing a radical form of Islamic fundamentalism on women. Suddenly, the now 23-year-old was relegated to home and hijab, the head covering mandated for women by the ruling party. In recent months that has morphed into mandatory head-to-foot coverings in public, including over the face.

Anywhere she goes, a woman must now be accompanied by a male relative. There are no exceptions  even if shes fleeing domestic violence. Only old women and young girls are exempted from wearing the burqa in public. Violations can result in prison for the father or closest male relative, who can also be fired from government jobs.

This clothing decree was depicted by Afghanistans supreme leader and Taliban chief, Hibatullah Akhundzada, as traditional and respectful. Its purpose, he said, was to avoid provocation when meeting men who are not mahram [adult close male relatives]. In other words, if men cant control themselves in a womans presence, the onus is on women for dressing provocatively.

So imagine how the Taliban feels about female fashion models, strutting down runways, sometimes in Western clothing, sometimes striking sultry poses for television commercials, or even flirting.

That had been Naseris profession for three years when the Taliban took over.

If the Taliban knows about the modeling girls, they will kill them, the 23-year-old told me through an interpreter in Des Moines. I couldnt leave the house.

Within days she heard women in media jobs were getting evacuated from Afghanistan, so she and a friend went to the Kabul airport to try to tell officials about their situations. She was clutching her modeling documents to show she was legitimately at risk. The security guards they spoke with outside the airport told them to wait while they went inside to confer with superiors.

From there it was a whirlwind. When they returned, the men let the women into the airport where, the next day, they were flown to Dubai for four days for processing. Naseri, not expecting such fast action, had no luggage, nothing but the clothes she wore. Her passport had gone to Germany with someone else. They entered the U.S. through Washington, D.C., on Aug. 29 and ultimately arrived in Des Moines via Wisconsin.

QUOTE Since leaving Afghanistan, she received word that two of the women she had modeled with had been shot to death while leaving Kabul by car.

Since leaving Afghanistan, she received word that two of the women she had modeled with had been shot to death while leaving Kabul by car. The founder of Modelstan, the first of Afghanistans modeling agencies, fled to Germany after being warned he would be killed. Hamed Valy had studied in India, and said he returned to Afghanistan hoping to make fashion and glamor more accepted in his home country.

Now they bring death threats.

Life for Naseri in Iowa is assuming some semblance of normalcy, and she feels safe and free. But it was a rocky start, and the future isnt guaranteed. Resettlement of many Afghans was fraught with problems. Many lacked adequate food and services, were living in temporary substandard housing and couldnt get caseworkers from the resettlement agencies to respond to their calls for help.

Naseri said it was particularly rough being one of few single women in the group. Im very sad. Im broken. Im suffocating in this room, she said in April. Things have improved since she moved into better housing and has a job. But far from the glamorous, highly competitive one she had posing for the camera, shes doing an overnight shift packaging car parts. During the day she sleeps, and three days a week at 5:30 p.m. she takes English lessons through Lutheran Services.

With neither a drivers license nor a car, Naseri depends on others to go anywhere she cant walk to. Naseri has many friends. She just wishes her parents and siblings were with her.

The Taliban first took over Afghanistan in 1996 after both the U.S. and the former Soviet Union pulled forces out. It remained in control until 2001, when the U.S. invaded in search of Osama bin Laden, following the attacks of Sept. 11.

After that, some womens rights were restored so Naseri hadnt personally experienced such repression before. A new constitution was passed, strengthening womens rights, and an Elimination of Violence Against Women law was passed in 2009. But the former Ministry of Womens Affairs has now been replaced by the Ministry for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice, which gives you a sense of the priorities.

Some of the newest refugees in the Midwest believe last years outcome could have been avoided had the U.S. done more, earlier, to help create a more stable Afghan government and better equip it to resist the Taliban. When NATO troops withdrew last August, the Taliban vowed not to reimpose the same strict rules on women as during its previous tenure. But it has proceeded to do exactly that, prompting the U.S. and other countries to cut development aid there and impose sanctions on the banking system.

The newest Afghan emigres are here on two-year humanitarian parole status. Thats granted by the secretary of Homeland Security to people deemed ineligible for refugee status. But its given only for emergency, humanitarian and public interest reasons. Everyone must apply within the first year for political asylum to stay on. That requires proof that theyd be targets if they returned. But many lack access to lawyers.

Naseri has been lucky enough to get one, and given her past as a model, she should have a strong case.

When shes seriously homesick, Naseri says she prays. In Afghanistan under Taliban rule, women arent even allowed to go to mosques. Demanding extreme piety of women without even letting them into places of worship is just another cruel hoax of a government that should never have made a comeback. Yet for all the bloodshed, upheavals, years of foreign intervention and vows to do right by women, and for all the courageous resistance, this brutal, extremist regime is free to victimize women again.

Russia, when it was the Soviet Union, helped establish education and jobs for women when it controlled Afghanistan. Now its busy invading Ukraine. And in America, which went into Afghanistan 21 years ago talking about womens rights, women are bracing for the loss of the most fundamental right over our own bodies.

It may be too late to reverse some of the damage done in our wake, but our government can and should grant long-term status to Afghans here who fled. They shouldnt be required to prove they were specifically threatened when we know that Afghan women as a whole are threatened. And so are the men who helped the U.S. military there. There is still time to do the right thing by those forced to flee, and our government should.

Basu writes for the Des Moines Register: rbasu@dmreg.com.
Another view on historic preservation

Moved by the efforts of a group of neighbors in the east quadrant of Twin Falls, Times-News Hidden History columnist and Managing Editor Mychel Matthews will present Another View on Historic Preservation.

The group is working with the Twin Falls City Historic Preservation Commission to create a fourth historic district within the original Twin Falls townsite.

Just like other cultural endeavors, historic appreciation cant be legislated, Matthews said. Our most sustainable options are grassroots initiatives  some of which we see today in Twin Falls  that instill these values into younger generations. Otherwise, money will always win out.

Our service Sunday will be both in person at our location 160 Ninth Ave. E. in as well as on Zoom. To access Zoom, please email mvuuf83301@yahoo.com for sign in information. In the subject line write Zoom Service June 5th.

Newcomers of all religious paths or none at all are always welcome. Unitarian Universalists believe in the dignity of every person regardless of race, creed or none at all, immigrant status or sexual orientation.

Everyone is welcome, no exceptions. We believe in justice, equality and compassion in human relations; and acceptance of one another. We are handicapped accessible in rear.

Please park in the rear of the building or on the street in front or the side of the building. Child care is available.

Join us at 10:30 a.m., Sunday.

For further information, please call 208-410-8904, email us at mvuuf83301@yahoo.com or visit magicvalleyUU.org. When calling, please state your name in order to be connected.

Moses at Ascension

The Episcopal Church of the Ascension is a sponsoring venue for the 12th Annual Art and Soul, hosting artist Steve Duffy from Pocatello, Idaho. The art piece is a 7-foot-tall statue of Moses located outside in the courtyard. Art and Soul of Magic Valley will run from June 10th to July 2nd.

Sunday worship of Holy Communion will take place at 9 a.m. Sunday, June 12, celebrated by the Rev. Cn. Lauren Schoeck. Childcare may be available; children are welcome in the sanctuary for worship.

The service will be online as well as in person. To view, click on the link at episcopaltwinfalls.org or go to Ascensions YouTube channel The Episcopal Church of the AscensionTwin Falls.

Ascension Episcopal Church is handicapped accessible and is located at 371 Eastland Drive N. More information about Ascension can be found at ascension.episcopalidaho.org or 208-733-1248.

To submit an item, email it in plain text to frontdoor@magicvalley.com.

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The Martinsville School Board and Superintendent Zeb Talley have agreed to a new contract, extending Talleys leadership role through June 30, 2026.

Talley has been the superintendent of Martinsville City Public Schools since October 2016. His current employment agreement began on July 1, 2021, and was due to expire on June 30, 2023.

The Board called a special closed session on May 26 where they agreed to a new four-year term that will begin on July 1 and end on June 30, 2026.

The new contract increases Talleys annual salary to $147,000 from $140,000, a 5% increase. In addition to the salary, Talley will continue to receive a doctoral stipend of $5,000 per year.

The contract also includes a deferred compensation contribution equal to 10 percent of Talleys annual salary, increasing the previous contribution of $14,000 per year to $14,700.

The contract also obligates Martinsville City Public Schools to contribute to the Virginia Retirement System (VRS) the maximum amount permitted by law, but did not make clear what that amount might be.

Included in the contract is a promise to automatically increase Talleys salary by at least the average percentage salary increase authorized by the School Board for other School Division employees.

The School Board agreed to continue providing health insurance benefits to Talley and the total premium for life insurance through VRS. The contract did not list specific costs associated with health or life insurance.

Membership costs associated with civic and service organizations; expenses incurred for attending local, state and national meetings; and expenses incurred for entertaining professional visitors and guests of the Division will also be paid by the Board.

Talley will also be provided a vehicle, cellphone and laptop that may be used for incidental personal purposes. All maintenance, insurance, gasoline and other costs associated with the vehicle will also be paid by the Board.

The contract, executed on May 26, was signed by Board Chair Donna Dillard, Vice Chair Yvonne Givens and school board members Emily Parker and Anthony Jones and Talley.

Martinsville School Board

Martinsville City Council will meet on Tuesday for a regular meeting in which they plan to set a public hearing for June 14 to receive names of citizens interested in two appointments for a three-year term on the Martinsville School Board ending June 30, 2025 and an unexpired three-year term ending June 30, 2024.

Jay Dickens resigned after serving less than a year, and Emily Parker will complete her first term at the end of June. Dickens did not offer an explanation as to why he resigned when asked by the Bulletin, and Parker has not said whether she intends to seek reappointment.

The School Board consists of five members serving three-year terms with a maximum of three consecutive terms and, unlike Henry County which elects its school board members, City Council appoints members in a process that begins with an interested persons name being mentioned at a public hearing.

That person can name themselves, be named by someone present at the meeting or be suggested by one of the members on council.

Only those names brought up during the public hearing will be considered for appointment. Council typically conducts interviews with candidates after the meeting and announces the appointments at or after Councils second meeting in June.

Promotions

Motions out of a closed session at the School Boards regular meeting on June 6 named Jill Holder as an assistant principal of Albert Harris Elementary School and Dr. Cynthia Tarpley as the executive director of special education and student support services.

Appointments and resignations

Also from motions out of the closed session on June 6, the School Board appointed Davis Byrd, English teacher; Lauren Appel, school counselor; Tyler Hunt, ITRT teachersecondary; Caitlyn Wray, fifth grade teacher; Heather Hoffman, fifth grade teacher; Eyad Mohamed, computer tech summer temporary; Samuel Harrell, computer tech summer temporary; Dorthea Kirby, adult education secretary; and Stafford Spencer, custodian.

Resignations were accepted from: Christopher Manns, Angela Buchanan, Kimberly Turner, Austin Robertson, Nisamar Sechris Barrera, Debra Walton, Bonnie Mitchell, Martha Newman, Damian Wainwright and Parker Gunn.

Gunn, the son of school board member Emily Parker and son-in-law of school board member Yvonne Givens, was hired as the communications and community outreach coordinator in March 2020. He became a marketing and communications specialist for Carilion Clinic in Roanoke earlier this month, according to his LinkedIn profile.

Henry County Public Schools appointments

The Henry County School Board met in closed session after a regular meeting on Thursday and motions out of that closed session approved Superintendent Sandy Strayers recommendation to fill three administrative positions.

Krystle Churchill will be assistant principal at Magna Vista High School next school year. Churchill has served students in Chesterfield County as an English as a second language (ESL) teacher and dean of students. I am honored to be joining the administrative team at Magna Vista High School. I am thrilled to be back home and serving our Warrior community in this new role. I am looking forward to meeting the faculty, our students, parents, and families, Churchill said in a release.

Charles White will be the new director of pupil transportation. White has served students in Franklin County as a teacher and bus driver. I look forward to the opportunity to work with this group of great individuals to add to the growth of Henry County Public Schools, White said in a release.

Duane Whittaker has been named the new principal at Magna Vista High School. Whittaker, who currently serves as the supervisor of the Regional Alternative Program, has served students as an administrator in Henry County and in North Carolina since 1998. I am honored to return to Magna Vista to serve the Warrior community as principal. Together, we will continue to propel each of our learners to greatness. I welcome the opportunity to talk with all stakeholders about their specific child and any concerns they may have, Whittaker said in the release.

Said Superintendent Sandy Strayer in the release: I am pleased to have these leaders join our team as we continue to offer our students the encouragement and support they need to be their very best.

Bill Wyatt is a reporter for the Martinsville Bulletin. He can be reached at 276-638-8801, Ext. 2360. Follow him @billdwyatt.

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UNITED NATIONS (AP)  U.N. member nations elected five countries to join the powerful U.N. Security Council on Thursday with no suspense or drama because all were unopposed  Ecuador, Japan, Malta, Mozambique and Switzerland.

Winning a seat on the 15-member Security Council is considered a pinnacle of achievement for many countries because it gives them a strong voice on issues of international peace and security.

Today, the war in Ukraine is at the top of the list. Although Russias veto power has prevented the council from taking action, it has held numerous meetings since Moscows Feb. 24 invasion that have seen contentious exchanges between top diplomats from both countries and their supporters.

But many other conflicts are also on its agenda from Syria and Yemen to Mali and Myanmar as well as international security issues from the nuclear threat posed by North Korea and Iran, and attacks by extremist groups such as the Islamic State and al-Qaida.

The results of the secret ballot vote in the 193-member General Assembly were Ecuador 190, Japan 184, Malta 185, Mozambique 192, and Switzerland 187.

Even if a country is running unopposed, it must obtain the votes of two-thirds of the member states that voted in order to win a seat on the council.

General Assembly President Abdulla Shahid announced the results of the secret-ballot vote and congratulated the winner.

It will be Mozambique and Switzerlands first time serving on the council, Japans 12th time, Ecuadors third and Maltas second.

Switzerlands President Ignazio Cassi called the election a very important day for the country, coming 20 years after it joined the United Nations.

We want to be part of the solutions for this world, he told reporters after the vote. We want to contribute to peace, stability and wealth in the world.

Japans vice foreign minister, Odawara Kiyoshi, said his country will do its best to make this United Nations working as a whole.

He said Japans priorities for the Security Council are to work effectively, focus on implementation and human security including energy and food, and also make efforts to address the situation in North Korea.

The five new council members will start their terms on Jan. 1, replacing five countries whose two-year terms end on Dec. 31  India, Ireland, Kenya, Mexico and Norway.

They will join the five veto-wielding permanent members of the council  the United States, Russia, China, United Kingdom and France  and the five countries elected last year: Albania, Brazil, Gabon, Ghana and United Arab Emirates.

The 10 non-permanent seats on the council are allotted to regional groups, who usually select candidates, but sometimes cannot agree on an uncontested slate.

Follow AP's coverage of the United Nations at https://apnews.com/hub/united-nations

Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
McDowell Technical Community College announced new administrative appointments that became effective on Wednesday, June 1.

These appointments were part of a strategic realignment to place greater emphasis on promoting workforce development, which is central to the colleges mission, values and goals and its vision to Learn and Grow. Two of those appointments were promotions of long-time college employees, while the other resulted in a new administrator who is a native of McDowell County, according to a news release.

The new appointments are:

Stacy Buff, associate vice-president of workforce development;

Valerie Dobson, dean of curriculum programs;

Brandon Hensley, associate dean of career and technical education.

We are excited to welcome Stacy, Valerie and Brandon to these new roles and are excited about the leadership, vision and expertise they will bring to our administration, said MTCC president Brian S. Merritt. Collectively, they bring over 45 years of commitment and results-oriented service to the North Carolina Community College System and the individuals, businesses and community we serve. Their appointments represent a renewed laser-focus on workforce development.

Stacy Buff

In his new role as associate vice-president of workforce development, Buff will have primary responsibility for all targeted aspects of workforce education, including:

Industry engagement and external relations

The McDowell Apprenticeship Program (MAP), inclusive of all work-based learning opportunities

Workforce and continuing education programs

Fast-track career training academies (e.g. Plumbing Level I, Intro to Residential Electricity, etc.)

Emergency medical science training

Fire and rescue training

Basic law enforcement training

Small Business Center

College and career readiness and human resources development

Adult Basic Education and Adult Secondary Education

From 1993 until 2011, Buff held progressively responsible positions in law enforcement in western North Carolina and throughout the state, working with Morganton Department of Public Safety, Burke County Sheriffs Office, N.C. State Attorney Generals Office and the N.C. Division of Motor Vehicles: License and Theft Bureau. During that time, Buff also held teaching appointments at both McDowell Technical Community College and Western Piedmont Community College in criminal justice and law enforcement training programs.

In 2011, Buff was named the program director/administrator of law enforcement training and emergency management training at McDowell Tech, a position he held until 2018 when he was named dean of career and technical education, a position he held until his current appointment.

Professionally, Buff has served on a number of boards and professional associations over the years.

Buff holds an Associate Degree in applied science from Western Piedmont Community College (1993), a Bachelor of Science in criminal justice from Lees McCrae College (1999), a Masters Degree in higher education, University and College Leadership from Appalachian State University (2018), and an Educational Specialist degree, University and College Leadership from Appalachian State University (2020). He anticipates completing his Doctor of Education degree in educational leadership from Appalachian State University in 2023, according to the news release.

Valerie Dobson

In her new role as dean of curriculum programs, Dobson will supervise two associate deans, one with primary responsibility for curriculums in business and college transfer, and one with responsibility for curriculum programs in career and technical education. Collectively, Dobson and the two associate deans will be responsible for all curriculum programs offered at the college, ranging from health sciences, cosmetology and welding, to business administration and computer integrated machining, among others.

Dobson began teaching at McDowell Tech in 2001 as a faculty member in health information technology and was named program director/coordinator of health information technology in 2005, a role she held until her current appointment. In addition, since 2005, she has been department chair for all health science programs.

In addition to her academic and administrative positions, Dobson has served on a number of college-wide committees

Professionally, Dobson has served on the Commission on Accreditation of Health Informatics and Information Management (CAHIIM), Health Information Management Accreditation Council (HIMAC), and has been a member of several professional boards.

Dobson has also spoken at various professional association meetings over the years, including:

Dobson holds an Associate of Arts degree/college transfer from McDowell Technical Community College (1998), a Bachelor of Science degree in health information management/administration from Western Carolina University (2000), a Masters in health science, health science, adult education and program evaluation from Western Carolina University (2007), an Educational Specialist degree, Higher Education and Community College Leadership from Appalachian State University (2021), and anticipates completing her Ed.D. from N.C. State University in Community College Leadership in 2025, according to the news release.

Brandon Hensley

In his new role as associate dean of career and technical education, Hensley will be responsible for a variety of curriculum programs in vocational areas such as heating, air conditioning and refrigeration technology; welding; automotive systems technology; electrical systems technology; mechatronics; engineering technology and applied science, among others. He will also work with human services programs, like early childhood education, and will be a key player in the enhanced McDowell Apprenticeship Program and work-based learning efforts.

An engineer by training and experience, Hensley began his full-time professional career as a software test engineer with Integrated Industrial Information of Raleigh in 2002. In 2004, he moved to Morganton where he became lead design engineer and engineering manager with Toner Machining Technologies, a role he held until 2010 when he became program coordinator of computer integrated machining at Western Piedmont Community College.

In 2016, Hensley was named department head of engineering technologies at Western Piedmont. In 2019, he moved to Catawba Valley Community College where he became senior project manager for technical programs. In his latest role before accepting his current position at McDowell Tech, Hensley was associate dean of engineering and construction technologies.

Hensley is a member of a number of professional organizations.

Hensley holds a Bachelor of Science degree in technology education, industrial technology concentration with a minor in graphic communications from N.C. State University (2003), a Bachelor of Science degree in mechanical engineering from N.C. State University (2003), a Master of Science in technology systems from East Carolina University (2008), and anticipates receiving his doctor of education in community college leadership from N.C. State University in 2025.

Hensley is returning home to work in McDowell County where he was raised and graduated from McDowell High School, according to the news release.

These appointments reaffirm our commitment to promoting workforce development throughout our region, said Merritt. Innovative leadership in these new, restructured roles will help us focus on student learning, completion of quality credentials, college transfer and/or direct employment into high-demand, well-paying careers.
Albinism, caused by a lack of melanin, the pigment that colours skin, hair and eyes, is a genetic anomaly that concerns hundreds of thousands of people across the globe, particularly in Africa.

Ahead of International Albinism Awareness Day on Monday, AFP looks at the specificities of a very visible condition which is shrouded in prejudice, leading to discrimination and even violence against those affected.

What is albinism?

Albinism is a hereditary genetic anomaly resulting from mutations in genes which affect how much melanin the body produces and therefore the pigmentation, or colour, of a person's skin and hair which is very pale or almost white in the case of sufferers.

For those whose eyes are affected, known as ocular albinism, the blood vessels can show through the iris, making the eyes appear red.

The absence of melanin leaves the skin extremely sensitive to sunlight, making people with albinism at greater risk of developing skin cancer. It also affects the development of the optic nerve, which means that many sufferers' vision is impaired.

Is it an illness?

Albinism is an inherited disorder that is often wrongly assumed to be an illness, a factor that contributes to the discrimination those affected can face in society.

Under The Same Sun (UTSS), an association working to combat discrimination describes albinism as a "rare genetic condition".

People with albinism require maximum protection from sunlight with strong sunscreen, hat, sunglasses and protective clothing. They generally need glasses, contact lenses or hand-held magnifiers to see properly but the condition does not prevent them from developing normally.

Health organisations refer to "persons living with albinism" rather than "albinos" but some associations prefer to limit use of the term "albinism," which comes from the Latin world "albus" for white. They instead use "amelanism" or "amelanistic"lacking melanin.

How many people are affected?

Albinism occurs in all ethnic groups worldwide.

According to the US National Institute of Health (NIH), around one in 20,000 persons is born with albinism, which would equate to some 400,000 people out of a global population of 7.9 billion.

Africa has a slightly higher incidence, estimated at somewhere between one in 5,000 and one in 15,000 inhabitants.

One of the largest populations of people with albinism is believed to be in Tanzania, with as many as one in 1,400 people born with the disorder.

Why the discrimination?

People with albinism are often stigmatised due to their appearance but it is in Africa where they suffer the worst discrimination and violence due to their supposed magical powers.

In a 2013 study, UTSS found the myths about albinism were being driven by traditional healers, with one of the most dangerous being the belief that using the body parts of people with albinism in a potion can bring the user good luck or fortune.

"Witchcraft taps into the supernatural to explain human phenomena ... this white child born to visibly black parents," UTSS noted.

Who is targeted?

In July 2021, the United Nations' expert on albinism, Nigerian lawyer Ikponwosa Ero, expressed alarm over "the notable increase" in cases of people with albinism being killed or attacked for body parts.

"More tragically still the majority of victims are children," she added.

A UNHCR report found evidence of "more than 200 cases of ritual aggressions against sufferers of albinism between 2000 and 2013".

UTSS, which has been logging cases of violence across Africa, ranks Burundi, Democratic Republic of Congo, Malawi, Mozambique and Tanzania as the countries where such attacks are most prevalent.

In a shocking recent case, the dismembered body of a four-year-old child was found in February in northeastern Burundi in a case believed to be linked to the illegal trade in body parts with neighbouring Tanzania.

Explore further How the media can help protect people with albinism

 2022 AFP
Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain

Most children in Beijing will not return to school next week as originally planned, Chinese officials said on Saturday, after an emerging COVID-19 outbreak prompted authorities to partly reverse a decision to resume in-person teaching.

China is the last major economy still committed to a zero-COVID strategy, stamping out new cases with a combination of targeted lockdowns, mass testing and lengthy quarantines.

But virus clusters in recent months have put that approach under strain. The megacity of Shanghai was forced into a gruelling months-long lockdown and in the capital Beijing, schools were shuttered and residents were ordered to work from home.

Authorities in Beijing eased many curbs earlier this week, but dozens of infections linked to a bar have led authorities to tighten some restrictions again.

Most primary and middle school students will "continue to study online at home" from Monday, city government spokesperson Xu Hejian said at a press briefing on Saturday.

The announcement partly walked back a previous decision to send younger pupils back to school in phases, starting next week.

Some 115 cases have been linked to the bar cluster so far, municipal health official Liu Xiaofeng said at the briefing.

The new outbreak was "at a rapidly developing stage ... and at a relatively high risk of spreading", Liu said.

More than 20 million people in Shanghai began a mass testing drive on Saturday that local governments said would take place under temporary lockdown conditions.

The move comes less than two weeks after the eastern economic hub lurched out of a harsh lockdown that was punctuated by food shortages and isolated protests from irate residents.

Officials have maintained a shifting patchwork of restrictions in Shanghai, wary of a virus resurgence after finally containing the country's worst outbreak in two years.

China recorded 138 domestic infections on Saturday, including 61 in Beijing and 16 in Shanghai, according to the National Health Commission.

 2022 AFP
Credit: CC0 Public Domain

Encouraging moderation, balance and real-life engagement coupled with education may combat the overuse of wireless mobile devices and subsequent adverse health outcomes, according to research being presented Sunday at ENDO 2022, the Endocrine Society's annual meeting in Atlanta, Ga.

Nidhi Gupta, M.D., founder of KAP Pediatric Endocrinology in Franklin, Tenn., aimed to review existing data on the neuroscience underlying wireless mobile device addiction, and understand how increased screen time or a sedentary lifestyle can increase the prevalence of obesity, dyslipidemia, prediabetes and type 2 diabetes.

In a previous article, published in the American Journal of Medicine in February 2022, Gupta concluded that wireless mobile devices such as cell phones and tablets are often a source of distraction, errors, procrastination and inefficiency in health care settings, which can lead to an increased risk of burnout. For this study, Gupta investigated how this might impact the greater population.

"As a pediatric endocrinologist, the trend in smartphone-associated health disorders (obesity, sleep and behavior issues) worries me. I often get asked by my patients, 'What can we do about the screen time?' A simple but loaded question. It opens multiple avenues to educate and inspire my patients and their families," Gupta said.

Gupta completed a comprehensive literature search using the terms, "smartphone," "screentime," and "phone addiction," in PubMed and Google Scholar until May 2021. She included original research papers and review articles based on sample size, trial design and citations from journals. Books, case studies, news articles, webpages and perspectives were also collected. Of 655 citations initially pooled, 234 were included.

For each hour/day increase in screen time, Gupta found a 0.05-0.07 increase in BMI (p<0.001), which was likely due to food marketing, distracted eating, reduced satiety and procrastination of physical activity. Insufficient and low-quality sleep, daytime tiredness, daytime sleepiness, depression and daily cognitive issues, were associated with wireless mobile device overuse.

Using interactive devices at bedtime resulted in greater difficulty falling asleep and unrefreshing sleep (p<0.05). The odds of using illegal substances were higher among those who were especially young at the time of their initial exposure to wireless mobile devices.

To reduce screen time, Gupta recommends turning off excessive notifications, red badges, deleting social media apps, and instead, accessing social media via web browsers. Other tips include: Using a traditional alarm clock, promoting "green time" vs. screen time, and supervising children's wireless mobile device use. Clinicians might consider wearing a wristwatch instead of using a wireless mobile device as a timekeeper, setting boundaries for checking emails, decreasing reliance on text messages, and placing wireless mobile devices in a drawer for 30-minute intervals to work without distractions.

Explore further Gene editing can turn storage fat cells into energy-burning fat cells
Persecution Against Christians Never Ends in Turkey

How do Christian families, most of whom are descendants of the survivors of the 1913-23 Christian genocide, continue to survive in Turkey? How much respect and tolerance are shown towards them by the Muslim society and government of Turkey?

A recent incident targeting the Assyrian Christian natives in a village in southeast Turkey gives us a very clear answer.

On June 6, a service was held in the Mor Gevargis Church in a village of Mardin province for the first time in a hundred years after the Assyrian genocide. The renovation of the church was started in 2015 by the Mardin Assyrian Ancient Foundation.

On the day of the opening ceremony of the renovated church, a group of 50 Muslims attacked the home of the only remaining Assyrian Christian family in the village, with whom the group had a property dispute. The familys house was reportedly assaulted with stones, sticks, and weapons. Fortunately, no one was injured in the incident. The aggressors then set the familys wheat lands on fire. The fire was extinguished before it got out of control, and the gendarmerie took precautions around the fields.

During the attack, the family was hosting guests, including Metropolitan of Mardin, Mor Filuksinos Saliba Ozmen, Auxiliary Priest Gabriel Akyuz, and Midyat Mor Jacob Monastery Priest Daniel Savc.

Assyrians or Syriacs are an indigenous people of Mardin and the wider Tur Abdin region in southeast Turkey. Today there are only around 15,000 Assyrians left in Turkey, and their population collapse is a result of genocide and decades-long persecution.

After Turks conquered Asia Minor and Tur Abdin in the eleventh century, Assyrians -- alongside other Christians and Jews  became dhimmis, oppressed subjects of an Islamic state who had to buy their lives with high jizya taxes.

As Eli Kavon, a rabbi, writer, and teacher, notes:

Under dhimmi status, Jews and Christians could not carry weapons, could not make converts, were not allowed to live in houses higher than those of Muslims, could not make a public display of their rituals, could only ride donkeys and not horses, could not build new churches or synagogues and had to pay a yearly poll tax. In addition, they had to wear distinctive clothing to differentiate them from Muslims.

Despite the systematic oppression, Assyrians and other Christians in the Ottoman Empire for centuries maintained a strong demographic presence in the region  particularly with their churches.

The persecution against Christians culminated during the 1913-23 genocide, during which all Christians of Ottoman Turkey -- Assyrians, Armenians, and Greeks  were targeted. Assyrians call the genocide seyfo, which means sword in their native language, as most victims were massacred with swords.

Professor Joseph Yacoub documents the genocide in his 2016 groundbreaking book Year of the Sword: The Assyrian Christian Genocide, A History:

The Armenian genocide of 1915 has been well documented. Much less known is the Turkish genocide of the Assyrian, Chaldean and Syriac peoples, which occurred simultaneously in their ancient homelands in and around ancient Mesopotamia  now Turkey, Iran and Iraq. The advent of the First World War gave the Young Turks and the Ottoman government the opportunity to exterminate the Assyrians in a series of massacres and atrocities inflicted on a people whose culture dates back millennia and whose language, Aramaic, was spoken by Jesus. Systematic killings, looting, rape, kidnapping and deportations destroyed countless communities and created a vast refugee diaspora. As many as 300,000 Assyro-Chaldean- Syriac people were murdered and a larger number forced into exile. The Year of the Sword (Seyfo) in 1915 was preceded over millennia by other attacks on the Assyrians and has been mirrored by recent events, not least the abuses committed by Islamic State. Joseph Yacoub, whose family was murdered and dispersed, has gathered together a compelling range of eye-witness accounts and reports which cast light on this hidden genocide. Passionate and yet authoritative in its research, his book reveals a little-known human and cultural tragedy. A century after the Assyrian genocide, the fate of this Christian minority hangs in the balance.

Sizable Assyrian communities still lived in Mardin and parts of the wider region of eastern Turkey until the 1990s, when the war between the Turkish military and the PKK (Kurdistan Workers Party) escalated. Assyrians got stuck between the two forces and had to leave their historic lands when their villages were burnt or evacuated by the Turkish military. Assyrians have also been targeted and persecuted by their own Muslim neighbors, many of whom are Kurdish.

In 2017, human rights activists Ayse Gunaysu and Meral Cldr documented stories of seizures of Assyrian lands, and persecution of Assyrians in Tur Abdin, the historic Assyrian homeland in southeast Turkey.

In an article titled At the Church, on Her Own, Gunaysu wrote in 2017 that an Assyrian nun at Mor Dimet church was resisting attacks, threats, and harassment on her own in the village of Zaz in Mardin. Despite all the extreme difficulties she faced, the nun refused to leave her church and village, Gunaysu noted.

Men in two or three cars often go to the church and park them outside, the nun said. They sometimes wait there or get out of their cars and walk around the church, punch the door, shouting Allahu akbar [Allah is the greatest], scream curses at the nun and tell her to leave. The nun said: One night they shouted at me "Allahu akbar, Allahu akbar, you, the daughter of the kafir [infidel], you, whose Allah we f****d, we came here to chop off your head. Get out now!" The nun was about to call the gendarmerie but changed her mind at the last minute because she thought the soldiers could get injured if a clash broke out between them. She called them in the morning, and the soldiers responded by asking her why she had not called at night. One day, they came again and waited outside the church for a long time. They walked around and punched the door, screaming and cursing: "What are you doing here? You seized this place, but these lands are ours. Leave!" The nun responded: "You are Muslim. I am a Christian. I am a nun. This is my village. My church. I am not leaving." These harassments, curses, threats, and punches at the door have been going on for years, the nun said. For example, when the priest of the village, Abuna Yakup, was stopped outside and beaten up, the locals of the village did not even ask her "What is going on here? Do you need anything?"

She then went to the police station several times. And prosecutors took her testimony. She was told that she needed security guards but was not provided with any. And nothing came of the attackers because the nun was not able to describe their appearance.

The nun then tearfully remembers: "The prominent members of a [Kurdish] tribe walked up to the priest, Abuna Yakup, to beat him up, and even while he was lying ill in bed, they pulled his white beard." The nun had three dogs to protect her. Two were shot to death by "unknown assailants." She found them covered in blood. The third one is still missing.

The government-funded Kurdish village guards terrorized the Assyrian villagers in the 1990s. They openly declared: "We are the Allah of this place. We are the state, the judge, and the prosecutor."

Assyrians became unable to plow their lands or hire agricultural workers. Physical attacks, injuries, seizures of lands, harassment, kidnappings of Assyrians and illegal confiscations of their properties made their lives unbearable.

Isa Acan, the head of the Zaz Village Development Association, who lives in Hamburg, said:

Persecution and lawlessness have been going on since Seyfo [genocide]. They condone these things. If they did not, tons of our agricultural produce would not have been illegally picked by people who have no right to them. And they would not have cut off and destroyed our oak trees and almond trees in our forests and privately-registered lands. They have burnt down our vineyards of hundreds of square meters  of course, after they picked our grapes!

Acan still hired workers to pick the produce in his fields until 2015. But he could not do so any longer since his workers were threatened. Those who threaten him are now using his fields, picking the produce, and seizing their income. They settle in Assyrian homes and even sue the real owners of these homes, saying "these places belong to us.

Acan prepared a list of families who illegally use Assyrian fields and submitted it to the Turkish consulate in Hamburg, the governor office in Mardin and the district governor of Midyat and filed countless lawsuits against them. However, pressures, threats and physical attacks are ongoing, and nothing has come of the lawsuits.

His lawyer said: "We cannot get any result from the lawsuits because we cannot find witnesses to testify concerning these crimes. People fear testifying at court as witnesses." The lawyer added that they were not able to find a witness to testify at court after Acan and the old and elderly priest, Abuna Yakup, were caught and beaten in the street.

Attempts at seizing Assyrian lands include:

Seizing lands using fake title deeds

Suing Assyrians, the real owners of those lands, to be able to take their lands

If they fail, suing them again under different names (as different applicants)

If all efforts fail, applying to the Undersecretariat of the Treasury and the Ministry of Forestry in Ankara and making these institutions sue Assyrians. If the Treasury and Ministry of Forestry take these lands or properties, the complainants will attempt to take them from these institutions later.

Gunaysu noted that Deyr Hadad or Mor Aho monastery is partly in ruins, but the church remains in good shape. However, the ruins and the church are pitted with holes dug by treasure-hunters. And other buildings were constructed illegally in the area next to the church.

One of the ways to seize Assyrian lands is by building mosques, homes, or health centers next to Assyrian churches. That is how locals later claim a right on Assyrian villages or sacred places and, in time, these places end up being owned by Muslims.

The building in the area where the Deyr Hadad monastery is located and the wall surrounding it demonstrates yet another attempt at seizing Assyrian property. After the authorities determined the construction was illegal, Assyrians sought help from the then Kurdish-governed Mardin municipality and Midyat municipality. Both claimed that they were not responsible for illegal construction, so the illegal building and the wall continue to stand, violating the rights of Assyrian owners. The Assyrians that Gunaysu and Cldr spoke with said that in similar situations, their expectations were not met by Kurdish political and civil society organizations.

Gunaysu also told of a story of another Assyrian village that was exposed to extremely heavy pressure and persecution and forcibly evacuated in the 1990s: A Kurdish tribe supporting the anti-government HDP (Peoples Democratic Party) and another tribe supporting the ruling AKP (Justice and Development Party) were in a long-standing blood feud. But when the General Directorate of the Land Registry and Cadastre went to the village to register the owners of the lands, these two tribes suspended their hostilities, made a deal, and registered themselves as the owners of the Assyrian lands.

In another village, the mayor from the ruling AKP party and the head of the anti-government HDP party joined together and filed a lawsuit against the Assyrian villagers so that the Assyrian lands could be transferred to the Undersecretary of the Treasury -- so they could take the lands for themselves later.

Gunaysu wrote:

History has taught them [Assyrians] a lesson. It is commonplace [for Muslim of different political inclinations] to unite against Christians if there is Christian property to share.

The nun said: "I am from the village of Hah. My mother's name was Nebite. My father was Isa. He died in 1981. They took us out of the village and scattered [displaced] us across the world. Then I moved to Sweden with my five siblings and mother. I stayed there for five years. But I didn't like the life in Europe. I said 'I will return to my lands.' I decided to return and be a nun. I dedicated my life to churches. I returned here with Father Yakup [Jacob] in 2001. There were no Assyrians left here. When we came back, they [the locals] were using the bottom of our olive and fig trees as toilets. Sewage water was pouring into the cemeteries of our saints. And they had poured toilet water into the interior of our chapel. The enkleistra [place of reclusion] was filled with wastewater. Ever since we have come here, their insults and swearwords have never stopped."

From July 7 to 12, 2017, Cldr and Gunaysu went to Assyrian villages in Tur Abdin  Zaz, Dayro Daslibo (Catalcam), Der Kube (Karagol), Hah (Antl), Bsorino (Haberli), Sare (Sarkoy), and Kafro (Elbegendi) and spoke with Assyrian priests, teachers, and other locals there.

Gunaysu wrote: "We saw the traces of the Seyfo [Assyrian genocide] everywhere. In the abandoned, half-ruined churches, monasteries, homes that treasure hunters have filled with holes. An Assyrian told me: The stones must speak to tell all this because there are no [Assyrians] left, people have been killed.'

The Assyrian genocide is ongoing in Turkey -- through pressure on and the persecution against Assyrians. Their villages were forcibly evacuated in the 1990s. Since 2002, when a few of them returned from Europe to their villages or towns, they have been constantly targeted. In January 2020, for instance, an Assyrian couple, Hurmuz Diril, 71, and Simoni Diril, 65, was abducted by unidentified assailants in their village of Meer in Sirnak province, southeast Turkey. The decaying remains of Simoni were found by one of her sons in a river near their home two months after the abduction. Hurmuz remains missing.

"Seyfo [the Assyrian genocide] has never ended," Assyrians told Gunaysu. "Not in the 1920s, 1930s, 1940s, 1950s, not up until today."

They said:

More Assyrians were murdered after Seyfo [the genocide] than during the genocide. They were murdered everywhere. While walking in the streets, working in their fields, while grazing their animals, or picking their crops. They murdered us, saying let's kill them off so that we can own their property.

It was not "just" murders. Kidnappings of girls, stopping people in the streets and severely beating them, injuring them, seizing their fields, homes, forests, and other properties, threatening, harassing, intimidating them.

Assyrians said:

They [Muslims] have their own forests. Yet they still come to our forests and cut down our trees. We tell them, If you are poor, just tell us; we can help you. But do not steal. But no, they still cut down our trees. For the property of the kafir [infidels] are halal [permissible] to them. When people from the Directorate of the Land Registry come to our areas to inspect, they are accompanied by armed men of the other side. Assyrians say these lands are ours. They respond by saying don't say that. All of this belongs to Allah.

Assyrians, whose ancient ancestors established one of the worlds greatest civilizations, are still harassed and oppressed in a NATO member country, Turkey.

As retired US diplomat Alberto Miguel Fernandez wrote about the recent attack against the Assyrian family in Mardin:

One Assyrian Christian family too many. Somehow diversity, tolerance and welcoming minorities are only slogans and policy to be applied in the West. Not in Turkey.

Uzay Bulut is a Turkish journalist and political analyst formerly based in Ankara.
ATS Travel has extended its partnership with Amadeus, an IT provider for the global travel and tourism industry as the UAE-headquartered travel management company embarks on an expansion plan across the GCC.



The deal cements a long-term digital transformation partnership between the two companies, adding new value to ATS Travels offering and helping position it as a leading travel management company in the Middle East.



With the new solutions, ATS Travel will gain new efficiencies by fully automating its ticketing system through Amadeus Auto Ticketing Solution. Meanwhile, Amadeus Remote Ticketing Solution will deliver a fully automated solution for managing pricing, price comparison, and ticketing at remote points of sale.



ATS Travel will also benefit from Amadeus Hotels, a one-stop-shop search platform that pulls together content from top hotel aggregators and the worlds leading hotel chains and representation companies into an intelligent single screen solution.



Ernesto Sanchez Beaumont, Managing Director, Amadeus Gulf, commented: The pandemic has led to accelerated demand for digital solutions across the customer journey, particularly for touchless experiences. Amadeus technology will allow ATS Travel to automate many of its functions, delivering superior customer service and cutting costs.



Saleem Sharif, Deputy Managing Director at ATS Travel, said: The travel industry is one of the biggest contributors to regional economies. Therefore, improving efficiencies streamlines our business and helps us deliver better value to the markets we operate in. Amadeus and ATS Travel have a relationship that goes back many years, and based on the strength of its solutions, our long-term plan is to standardize our technology stack on Amadeus technology.



ATS Travel is the UAE representative of ATG  one of the largest, independently owned business travel management companies globally  with offices in Saudi Arabia and India. The company aims to deploy a robust technology platform to enable a complete online travel suite covering all its channels such as B2B, B2C, B2B2B, and hotel inventory systems.



We are set to launch our all-new, state of the art B2B technology platform called travelclub.ae in the UAE and KSA this month. This solution was crafted with the support of Amadeus and has already been well received by the users, added Sharif.  TradeArabia News Service
Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain

There are any number of support networks online aimed at those with problems they wish to solve. One such problem is the need to quite smoking. Research published in the International Journal of Telemedicine and Clinical Practices, has looked at how useful online health communities are in this effort. The study found that if there is a high level of perceived usefulness, then users will be more inclined to support each other in their efforts to give up their habit.

Chenglong Li of the University of Turku in Turku, Finland, looked at perceived usefulness and how this affects satisfaction with the online community and thence the knowledge sharing and recommendation behavior of users. Given just how ubiquitous the internet now is, such online communities could have great potential in health and other interventions. Earlier research had suggested that the success of such communities hinged on whether or not individuals stayed with the program, as it were, after they had quit smoking but left the community.

Li uses social capital theory to examine this notion further. He finds that success in the community influences a user's knowledge sharing and their recommendation of the community to others after they themselves have quit, which affects the overall success of the community in helping everyone with their goal.

He adds that the service provider making the online community available has a positive role to play. Providers should encourage users to participate in online activities often. This should facilitate the development of shared language and commitment, he suggests. Moreover, providers might define missions and goals more clearly to strengthen the common vision among users. Such actions would boost the perceived usefulness of the community, help users in their struggle with addiction and encourage the spread of the community to other smokers.

Ultimately, widespread smoking cessation is the aim and such communities would at that point become redundant. However, as we know smoking addiction is a powerful force and smokers hoping to quit are likely to be around for many years to come and so such communities will have a role to play for the foreseeable future.

Explore further Resolved to quit smoking this year? Experts offer tips

More information: Chenglong Li, Comprehending the roles of perceived usefulness and satisfaction in smoking cessation online health communities: a social capital perspective, International Journal of Telemedicine and Clinical Practices (2022). Chenglong Li, Comprehending the roles of perceived usefulness and satisfaction in smoking cessation online health communities: a social capital perspective,(2022). DOI: 10.1504/IJTMCP.2022.123146
Top officials from the U.S. departments of Agriculture and the Interior visited Montana this week to tout billions of dollars in infrastructure spending for public lands authorized by Congress in recent years.

Homer Wilkes, the USDA undersecretary for natural resources and the environment, visited Lolo National Forest's Pattee Canyon Recreation Area on Friday afternoon to discuss the Great American Outdoors Act, a bipartisan bill signed in 2020 by then President Donald Trump that has brought $295,000 in funding to the recreation area through 2021 and 2022. Overall, the law allocates $1.9 billion annually for five years to fund deferred maintenance on federal public lands. After Trump signed the bill, his administration reduced the scope of the law's project list. President Joe Biden's administration restored the list to its original length.

In Pattee Canyon, the funding allocated for the 3,200-acre site southeast of Missoula will go toward replacing signs, upgrading and maintaining roads and parking lots, and constructing a new pavilion at the Pattee Canyon Picnic Area. Work began last fall. Many improvements were necessitated because of the increased popularity of the area.

"Let's face it, there's been an infusion of people coming into these forest areas and walking through the trails and things of that nature," Wilkes said. "Some of those trails have not been maintained as properly, so we need to have a safe environment for the end users to come to. It's also an opportunity for the local community to add some jobs. This work has to get done."

He said he wasn't sure how many jobs the projects would add in the Forest Service, in the private sector or through public-private partnerships. Those determinations usually occur at the local level.

"I could sit in Washington, D.C. and say, we need to do this right here, but I don't know the best," he said. "I leave that to the local folks actually to determine how's the best way to get this work done because everybody brings something to the table."

Carolyn Upton, supervisor of the Lolo National Forest, said that the focus of the spending in the forest is on access points. She noted that "our maintenance has gotten behind."

Across the Lolo, the GAOA already funded 12 projects in 2021 and 10 new projects in 2022, plus a second year of funding for four of 2021's projects. Projects include repairing and maintaining forest service roads, roads within campgrounds and day-use sites, rental facility upkeep, bench replacements, bridge replacements, and toilet and water system improvements, according to lists provided by the Forest Service.

In Pattee specifically, Forest Service Press Officer Dan Hottle said that "it's hard to look at a place like this and realize that it's overlooked. I mean, we're right next to Missoula, this is probably one of the favorite areas for people to come."

In reality, he said, the facility's infrastructure has been outpaced by usage.

Nationwide, Wilkes said, funding allocations get determined by need, meaning some forests and regions receive more than others, although "each forest or each region wants their fair share."

"We are actually addressing and responding to what the constituents are saying out in the countryside," he said, noting an influx of people onto public lands since the start of the coronavirus pandemic in early 2020. "Over the years, there's been some deferred maintenance, so as we began to look at the various forests throughout the United States we look at where that need is."

Actually addressing that need is stretching thin federal agencies that are already beleaguered by a nationwide labor shortage. Wilkes acknowledged Friday that the forest service hasn't been spared from acute staff shortages, and that a lack of workers is a hurdle to actually completing projects that are finally being funded. Partnerships with other entities could blunt the impacts of staff shortages, but "it's just that struggle that everybody's having," he said.

"We're trying to find creative ways to get the work actually done, and really, really leaning on those partners to help us in that decision-making process," he said.

Wilkes was particularly excited about the Youth Conservation Corps providing workers: "The youth are our future, and if we can actually infuse them in some of this work, that would be outstanding. Because what happens is, it teaches them a conservation ethic, so when they get to be my age we won't have to be teaching those things."

When the Great American Outdoors Act expires after 2025, he said, he hopes that public land users will see the benefits of projects the act funded and will push Congress to renew the act.

Elsewhere in Montana, Deputy Secretary of the Interior Tommy Beaudreau visited Helena, Bozeman and the Yellowstone region of Montana and Wyoming this week to pitch funding brought to the area through the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, a 2021 bill that provided $10 million for the Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration Program in the state. The bill also funded $68 million in local ecosystem restoration nationwide, according to the department, including abandoned mine reclamation and mitigation of invasive plants and animals in Montana.

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ROCK CREEK  Jackson Birrell waded through thigh-deep water on a bucolic late-spring day last week, but unlike other anglers venturing into the swollen churn of spring melt, Birrell wasn't seeking trout: He was instead looking for one of their seasonal delicacies, the giant salmonfly.

Each year in late May and early June, trout feast and anglers flock to waterways for the giant salmonfly hatch, when the ecologically vital bugs emerge from streams as nymphs and hatch out of the water into winged adults before reproducing and dying, leaving behind only the "shucks" they emerged from clinging to brush on the shoreline.

Growing up to 3 inches long, adult giant salmonflies are the largest of the stonefly family. They are so substantial that osprey, which generally consume fish, have been observed snatching up airborne salmonflies. As giant salmonfly populations decline in some streams across the West, Birrell and James Frakes, both researchers at University of Montana, are trying to understand what factors affect a bug that is essential to trout and the economies of fishing towns.

In February, the pair launched The Salmonfly Project, a nonprofit that aims to better understand the causes of the insect's decline and push for increased environmental monitoring and remediation where the species is most threatened.

"They're, I would say, the most economically important aquatic insect," said Frakes, 27. "Because the influx of people from all around the world who come to Montana to fish, they come for the salmonfly hatch because it's like the most world-renowned fly-fishing opportunity that you could imagine.

"It's inevitably good for these small-town economies because it brings all that money into the fishing community."

John Staats, manager of the Rock Creek Mercantile, said on Saturday that "it's highly anticipated and people will book years in advance to try to get a float trip during salmonfly season because the fishing is just that good. It bumps the number of fisherman and, in turn, the amount of cash flow coming in because of it."

Studies have shown the insects are equally foundational for trout themselves. A recent study found that salmonflies accounted for up to 70% of trout stomach contents during a hatch in Colorado. Giant salmonflies are "massively important," Birrell said, noting Rock Creek's still healthy salmonfly population. "The bugs sustain the whole ecosystem."

Not everywhere

But in other places, like Utah's Provo River, salmonflies have disappeared altogether. Birrell, 29, completed his undergraduate degree in conservation biology at Brigham Young University in Provo and conducted one of the first surveys of salmonflies in the river since the mid-20th century. Building off of baseline data from the 1950s and '60s, he "went back and found, 'Woah, they're not here anymore.'"

"If you look at the collective research over the past decades or so, you can see that the trajectory is downward for salmonflies across the West," Frakes said. "More research needs to be done on specific watersheds, like for instance Rock Creek. There's no real evidence that the population here is declining. But there's definitely clear evidence of that in other drainages. For instance, stretches of the Madison River, there are documented declines of salmonflies there."

Although populations of the bug remain healthy in many places  they were crawling all over Frakes and Birrell along Rock Creek  Birrell said a greater decline could be looming: "We have published declines, or at least reported declines, in at least 10 really important trout (streams) and fisheries in the Western United States, all across Montana, Utah and Colorado, and there are some suspect streams elsewhere that haven't been completely confirmed."

Paired up in Missoula, Birrell, who is working on a doctorate in ecology and evolution, and Frakes, who graduated from UM with a bachelor's in aquatic wildlife biology and a master's in ecology and evolution, set out to determine which factors most affect giant salmonflies' ability to survive. Through research together and separately, which they're now in the process of writing for peer review and publishing, they discovered that a combination of factors including streamflow, water temperature and heavy-metals pollution may determine whether the insects could survive in a given waterway.

Frakes specifically studied the effects of lead and copper pollution on giant salmonfly nymphs' ability to survive warming water. Lead pollution, he found, didn't affect the insects much, but exposure to copper pollution reduced the nymphs' tolerance for warm water by 4 or 5 degrees Celsius, meaning that giant salmonflies in copper-laden water could die off from less severe warming than those in cleaner water.

"As climate change worsens, they're going to have to deal with warmer temperatures and also high levels of heavy metals." he said. "The main result that came out of that experiment is that if they're exposed to copper, they have a harder time dealing with high temperatures. The Upper Clark (Fork River) is much more affected by temperature (than Rock Creek) and that's because it's a much more open riparian area ... and it runs and meanders through fields, so the sun beats down on it. Also, a huge thing is that there's tons of water withdraws for agriculture up in the Clark, so in the summertime it'll be 4 or 5 degrees warmer in the Clark than it will ever be (in Rock Creek)."

Ideal insect

Birrell's research focused on other factors he believed could affect the insect's ability to tolerate warming water: oxygen levels and flow rates. Salmonflies live up to four years as nymphs before hatching into adults, and Birrell and Frakes said that the insects are ideal for research because they can survive just as long in captivity, allowing researchers to observe the species over weeks or months, rather than the hours- or dayslong studies common with other insects. Birrell said his research involving temperature, oxygen and flow over 100 days was "one of the first long-term tolerance study on any insect."

Birrell slowly increased the median water temperature for salmonfly nymphs in low and high flows, and with low and high oxygen levels, all while simulating daily temperature swings for night and day. Like Frakes, he discovered that the species' temperature tolerance isn't absolute, but rather it's dependent on other environmental factors. Oxygen level, however, wasn't one of them: In low oxygen, the nymphs simply developed bigger gills.

"The gills are about twice as big on the ones that were warmed up and had low oxygen than individuals we take directly from the river," he said. "Their physiology, their morphology, changed to the point where they could handle more stressful conditions."

That didn't hold true for streamflow; Birrell observed about a 10-degree Celsius drop in the nymphs' maximum survivable temperature in water with almost no flow versus fast-flowing water. Overall, though, he found that "they're actually really resilient to prolonged temperatures. We expected that we would get 100% mortality around, you know, when the median temperature of the water was 25, 27 degrees Celsius  that's in the 80s (Fahrenheit), so warm water. But we didn't get full mortality until the water was in the 90s. And the warmest water that's ever been recorded on this river is 21, 22 degrees Celsius. On the Blackfoot, there's a lot of salmonflies over there, maybe 23, 24 (degrees Celsius). They can handle, at least for one summer, temperatures much, much greater than that."

Exactly what salmonflies can and cannot handle is the focus of The Salmonfly Project, Frakes and Birrell's new nonprofit, which they hope will be a vehicle for funding and performing further research and, eventually, monitoring and remediation. The aim, Birrell said, "is to really figure out what the deal is and then do restoration once we know what to do. But the first step is research and it's monitoring, so we can know why they're disappearing from different rivers, and then we can hopefully do some kind of eventual restoration. Or we can tell managers of these streams, where declines haven't occurred, what the thresholds are that we need to protect them against."

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Not many people would associate the Bitterroot Salish Tribe with Jewish people during Missoulas early days.

Thats why a group of historians and tribal elders have teamed up to reveal the connections between the two groups, and are using the effort as a safe response to extremism coming into the state.

Missoula developed with contributions from all sorts of folks, but the Jewish story was there and needed to be told, local historian Bert Chessin said. We came to discover that after the railroad was built through Missoula in the mid-19th century, Missoula had a thriving business community with many Jewish people.

The tour at the Maureen and Mike Mansfield Library at the University of Montana takes visitors through the first Jewish settlers in Missoula, who often traded with and lived near the tribes. Jacob Leiser, one of the first Jewish settlers in Montana, walked from California to Missoula in the 1870s.

Chessins research found that Leiser had no possessions after swimming across the Columbia River. Indigenous tribes fed him at times. When he got to Missoula, which then had a population of 50, he set up a clothing store, where he often traded with the Bitterroot Salish. The building Leiser constructed is still used on Main Street by the Missoula Club.

The Selis-Qlispe, who lived in the Bitterroot Valley until white settlers pushed them out in 1891, have their own exhibit profiles about tribal members at the turn of the century. One tribal member, known as Sam, was part of a delegation of Salish who returned to their homeland 20 years after the government forced the tribe out.

Chessin and Paul Kingsford, who helped research and design the exhibit, made the connection after visiting the granddaughter of Herman Cohn, a successful Jewish Missoulian. Looking through the photos at the familys old barn, they uncovered images of Salish leaders.

Chessin and Kingsford then approached the Salish Cultural Committee, which was first formed by the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes in 1974 to preserve Salish language and traditions.

What was so remarkable is they could tell us who they were immediately, Kingsford said.

The culture committee wrote historical background about the Salish leaders. The exhibit was also approved by the committee before publishing. Chessin said the group was supportive of the project.

I said look, I cant tell your story, but I can tell the relationship between the two groups, Chessin said.

Chessin first started digging into the history of Missoula Jews in 2018. Born and raised Jewish in Missoula, he has a strong connection to the stories he tracks down. He and his father, Meyer Chessin, would do research together at the University of Montana. When Meyer passed, Burt Chessin took it upon himself to continue their work.

He looked through countless documents hidden in back drawers and chests across Missoula. With letters and legal forms in hand, Chessin put together a website before building out physical exhibits at Missoula Public Library.

Sense of urgency

Part of the reason the new exhibit is opening now, and sponsored by the Montana Human Rights Network, is to help combat antisemitism that the nonprofit said has picked up in researching white supremacist groups.

Cherilyn DeVries, community organizer for the network, said the tour came together in response to reports that a band of neo-Nazis are coming to Missoula for an event next week.

DeVries explained that the network is countering any white-supremacist rallies with regional-based education beforehand, rather than planning counter-protests or directly engaging extremists.

This is an important opportunity to counter hate and antisemitism with stories of understanding and connection, said Travis McAdam, director of the Combating White Nationalism and Defending Democracy program at the network. Missoulians can take a stand against racism and antisemitism by learning from Leisers footsteps. Educating ourselves about history from many cultural perspectives helps diminish the reach of hate in our communities."

This exhibit is open at the Maureen and Mike Mansfield Library at the University of Montana through the end of June between 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekdays. Kingsford and Chessin will provide guided tours at 1:30 p.m., 3 p.m. and 4:30 p.m. on Sunday, June 12. To register, visit signupgenius.com/go/20f0a4eaba92caaf94-guided.

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KYIV, Ukraine (AP)  Civilians fled intense fighting in eastern Ukraine on Friday as Russian and Ukrainian forces engaged in a grinding battle of attrition for key cities in the country's industrial heartland.

Mostly women, children and elderly residents left on a special evacuation train that departed from the city of Pokrovsk and headed west.

We live on the front line now, said Svitlana Kaplun, whose family fled as shelling reached their neighborhood in the city of Krasnohorivka. The kids are worried all the time, they are afraid to sleep at night, so we decided to take them out.

After a bungled attempt to overrun Kyiv, Ukraine's capital, in the early days of the war, Russia shifted its focus to an eastern region of coal mines and factories known as the Donbas. The area borders Russia and has been partly controlled by Moscow-backed separatists since 2014.

The fighting there has led to mounting casualties and renewed pleas from Ukraine to the West for more weapons.

Mykhailo Podolyak, an adviser to Ukraines president, told the BBC in an interview aired Thursday that the daily loss of 100 to 200 Ukrainian soldiers is the result of a complete lack of parity between Ukraine and Russia.

He said only more advanced Western weaponry will turn back the Russian offensive and force Moscow to the negotiating table.

BIDEN: ZELENSKYY DIDNT WANT TO HEAR' ABOUT INVASION THREAT

U.S. President Joe Biden said Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy didnt want to hear it when American intelligence gathered information in February that indicated Russia was preparing to invade his country.

Speaking to donors Friday at a Democratic fundraiser in Los Angeles, Biden talked about his work to rally support for Ukraine as the war continues into a fourth month.

Nothing like this has happened since World War II. I know a lot of people thought I was maybe exaggerating. But I knew we had data to sustain that Russian President Vladimir Putin was going to go in."

There was no doubt, Biden said. And Zelenskyy didnt want to hear it.

Although Zelenskyy has inspired much of the world with his wartime leadership, his preparation for the invasion  or lack thereof  has been controversial.

In the weeks before the war began on Feb. 24, Zelenskyy publicly bristled as Biden administration officials repeatedly warned that a Russian invasion was likely.

At the time, Zelenskyy was concerned that the drumbeat of war was unsettling to Ukraines fragile economy.

MORE STREET FIGHTING IN DONBAS

Fighting in the Donbas has ground on for more than two months, and the slog continued Friday. A provincial governor said Russian and Ukrainian forces battled "for every house and every street in Sievierodonetsk, a city that recently has been under steady attack.

Sievierodonetsk is in the last pocket of Luhansk province that has not yet been claimed by Russia or Moscow-backed separatists. The Luhansk and Donetsk regions together make up the Donbas.

Luhansk Gov. Serhiy Haidai told The Associated Press that Ukrainian forces retain control of the industrial zone on the edge of the city and some other sections amid the painstaking block-by-block fighting.

An envoy for the Luhansk Peoples Republic, a self-proclaimed separatist territory, reported Friday that some Ukrainian troops were trapped inside a chemical plant on the city's outskirts.

All escape routes have been cut off, Rodion Miroshnik, Moscow ambassador for the unrecognized republic, wrote on social media.

They are being told that no conditions will be accepted. Only the laying down of arms and surrender, he said.

Miroshnik echoed earlier claims by a Russian defense official that civilians remained on the plant's grounds. But he stopped short of reiterating allegations that Ukrainian forces were barring them from leaving.

As of Friday afternoon, there was no response from the Ukrainian side.

Meanwhile, Moscow kept up its artillery strikes on the neighboring city of Lysychansk and surrounding towns and villages, the Ukrainian military said. It also said that Russian troops were preparing to resume an offensive on the city of Slavyansk in the Donetsk region, south of Luhansk.

ARTILLERY HITS RUSSIAN BASES

An adviser to Ukraines president says artillery attacks devastated two Russian bases in the southern Kherson region, which has been under Russian occupation since early in the war.

Oleksiy Arestovych, in his regular online interview, said Friday that the attack on Stara Zburivka, a village along the Dnieper River, killed dozens, including a Russian army general and a general in the FSB intelligence service.

He said the FSB general was tasked with organizing a referendum on whether the Kherson region should join Russia. There was no immediate confirmation of the claim.

Ukraine has claimed to have killed about a dozen generals in the war, but only a few of the deaths have been confirmed.

Arestovych said a separate attack this week on a Russian base in Chkalove killed at least 200 troops, including Arabs, presumably from Syria. He said it was the first confirmed case of Arabs fighting with Russians in Ukraine.

He said in both cases the Ukrainian forces used 155mm howitzers supplied by the West.

UKRAINE SEEKS MORE WEAPONS

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said his armys ability to hold off Russian forces in the Donbas depends on the supply of Western weapons.

Ukrainian troops "are doing everything to stop the offensive, as much as they possibly can, as long as there are enough heavy weapons, modern artillery  all that we have asked for and continue to ask for from our partners, he said Friday in his nightly video address.

He said Russia wants to destroy every city in the Donbas.

Every city, thats not an exaggeration. Like Volnovakha, like Mariupol. All of these ruins of once-happy cities, the black traces of fires, the craters from explosions  this is all that Russia can give to its neighbors, to Europe, to the world.

Karmanau reported from Lviv, Ukraine. Associated Press writers Jill Lawless in London and Jamey Keaten in Geneva contributed.

Follow APs coverage of the Ukraine war at https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine

Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.

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The state Public Service Commission cannot charge fees to conduct legal reviews on documents produced as part of public records requests, a Helena judge ordered this week.

The decision came after a lawsuit stemming from a request for public information made last year by a reporter for The Billings Gazette, which is part of Lee Enterprises.

The reporter asked for records from the PSC, which oversees utilities in the state. Three months after the request, the agency told the reporter it had found nearly 25,000 responsive documents and it would need a pre-payment of $31,000 to conduct a legal review before it could disclose anything.

Lee Enterprises owns the Gazette, Missoulian, Helena Independent Record, Montana Standard in Butte and Ravalli Republic.

The newspaper company sued the PSC objecting to the charging of legal fees. In subsequent record requests, the Gazette reporter was also charged a $240 fee to hold records so they wouldnt be deleted while the request was processed and quoted another $870 to review more documents.

In court filings and arguments, the newspaper company said a legal review done by a government agency was not a proper cost that could be charged under state law. Montana does allow for charging fees to cover the actual cost of producing records, but the newspapers argued that state agencies already employed lawyers and if agencies choose to conduct legal reviews, that was their own burden.

David McCumber, local news director for Lee Enterprises news organizations in the western United States, said Friday: The court agreed with Lee Montana Newspapers that state agencies charging onerous fees for legal review of public documents is not supported by our Constitution, and that the right to access public records should not be conditional on an ability to pay such fees.

This is a huge victory for transparency in government and for the publics right to know.

The PSC argued in court it was necessary to review documents before releasing them publicly. The agency did not return an emailed request for comment late Friday.

The state Constitution says Montanans have the right to examine documents and observe deliberations of state government, except when privacy demands outweigh the publics right to know. In 2015, legislators passed a law saying agencies could charge a fee to fill a public information request and limited that fee to the actual costs directly incident to fulfilling the request including the time required to gather public information.

In court, Mike Meloy, the lawyer representing the newspapers, argued that by charging such a high legal fee, the PSC was putting in place barriers to accessing documents that should be available to the public.

According to Lee Enterprises  the fees have a chilling effect on the publics right to know because their right to access public documents should not be conditioned on their ability to pay. The court agrees, Helena Judge Mike Menahan wrote in his Monday order.

The PSC had argued the legal review was an actual cost directly incident to fulfilling the request and that the agency had to spend real resources by paying someone to do the review. But Menahan said that cost was already part of existing staffs scope of duties.

Menahan continued that the PSC had a duty to fill records requests and the legal staffs salary is not dependent on which project they undertake for the agency.

Regardless how inconvenient the PSC may find public records requests, they are no less a part of the agencys duties than a ratemaking proceeding, Menahan wrote.

Menahan also rejected a PSC argument that the cost of the legal review fell under the provision an agency can charge for the time required to gather public information.

Gathering public information pursuant to a request is for the benefit of the requester. Legal review to prevent disclosing public information is for the benefit of the person whose information is protected where the agency wishes to avoid violating privacy rights, Menahan wrote.   The agency may not shift its burden in identifying and protecting private information to a party requesting public information.

During a court hearing, a lawyer for the PSC also argued legal fees allow the agency to negotiate with requesters to narrow their searches.

While Menahan said agencies have a legitimate interest in reducing the burden of broad searches, there is a question here whether the PSC is using the threat of prohibitive legal fees as leverage for negotiating a narrower public information request."

As an example, Menahan said while the Gazette reporter asked for all travel invoices, expense reports and reimbursement for private charge for the PSC and Department of Public Regulation staff, the PSC did a search of emails using the term expense reports, which generated many documents unrelated to what the reporter asked for. Thats because the PSC frequently processes regulated service provider expense reports.

This is not an issue where the requester must narrow its request, but rather the agency must refine its search methods, Menahan wrote.

Menahan said the PSCs interpretation of the laws meant the right to public information may only be available to those who can afford to pay for it and may be further restricted to (the) amount a party may be willing to pay.

Menahan continued that an agency can negotiate if it believes a request is more extensive than intended to narrow whats being asked for, but it may not negotiate how much information a party may receive based on the amount the party is willing to pay.

The newspapers had also asked for the judge to block the charging of hold notice fees, but Menahan found that to be part of the actual cost of filling a request and said could still be charged.

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Stand Out: An LGBTQ+ Celebration hit Netflix on Thursday. In it, comedian Billy Eichnerwho served as the host for the eventmentioned the streaming platforms support of Dave Chappelle, whose own Netflix special The Closer was widely criticized as containing transphobic content.

First, Eichner made a passing reference to the Hollywood Bowl incident involving the comedian, who was attacked at the venue last month.

Lets be honest, no one knows whats going to happen tonight, he said in the new special. Comedy is a very violent place these days, alright? There are comedians getting attacked at the Oscars, there are comedians getting attacked at the Hollywood Bowl. But we are the LGBTQ community. We are sophisticated, we are chic, and we are above all that nonsense, right? So lets please hold ourselves to a higher standard. Please, nobody jump onstage and try to body slam Lily Tomlin.

Moments later, Eichner took a serious tone when addressing the litany of politically driven attacks being waged against the LGBTQ community in the U.S.

Tonight is about laughter and queer joy but we do need to acknowledge the reality of the moment, he said. We all know how backwards and dangerous the Dont Say Gay laws are. Queer people and especially trans people are under legislative attack in this country. Trans people are being demeaned, theyre trying to dehumanize trans people, theyre trying to erase trans people. And Im not even talking about Florida, Im talking about Dave Chappelles latest Netflix special!

Amid the audiences reaction, Eichner joked that he didnt have Jamie Foxx to defend me but instead had Rosie ODonnell and the entire Gay Mens Chorus.

Mae Martin also appeared in the special, per Variety, and mentioned Chappelle (alongside Ricky Gervais and Louis C.K.) during their joke about using Beauty and the Beast as an explainer of sorts for those who willfully fail to grasp the gender identity spectrum.

Story continues

Stand Out: An LGBTQ+ Celebrationwhich was filmed at the Greek Theatre in Los Angeles last month and also features Eddie Izzard, Margaret Cho, Tig Notaro, Wanda Sykes, and moreis available now.

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A bill to expand concealed carry gun rights that transformed into a measure to arm classroom teachers in the wake of the Uvalde school shooting massacre never got a final hearing in the Louisiana Legislature, shelving the effort for another year.

Republican Oil City Rep. Danny McCormick said he believes the Senate purposely ran out the clock on House Bill 37 before putting it to a vote. The session ended Monday.

"In my opinion they turned it into a teacher carry bill rather than a constitutional carry bill so they could slow walk it and eventually kill the bill," McCormick said Thursday in an interview with USA Today Network.

McCormick's original bill would have removed the current permitting and training requirements to carry a concealed gun. Supporters refer to it as "constitutional carry" because they believe the Second Amendment already grants that right.

Louisiana is already what's known as an "open carry" state, which means people can carry visible firearms without a permit or training.

A participant in the Concealed Carry Fashion show reveals a gun hidden beneath her blazer.

McCormick's measure easily cleared the House, but a Senate committee amended the bill to eliminate the concealed carry portion of the bill and replaced it with language to allow teachers to carry concealed guns in their schools and classrooms.

Republican Gonzales Sen. Eddie Lambert proposed the amendment during the final days of the session.

"This better addresses an issue on everybody's minds  how to eliminate a threat in schools as soon as possible," Lambert said during the Senate Revenue and Fiscal Committee debate.

The bill cleared the Senate committee, but was never scheduled for debate in the full Senate.

More: Louisiana bans transgender athletes from competing on girls and women's sports teams

Read this: Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards calls Special Session to redraw congressional map

Lawmakers passed a concealed carry bill in 2021 that was nearly identical to McCormick's original legislation, but Democratic Gov. John Bel Edwards vetoed the measure.

Story continues

Edwards has generally been a reliable vote for gun rights expansion bills, but he said he believes the current law requiring in-person training and a permit "strikes the right balance."

Opponents, like those representing the Louisiana Association of Chiefs of Police, warned allowing concealed carry without permits elevates the potential of illegal gun violence or accidental shootings.

But McCormick said expanding concealed carry "isn't going to create chaos or turn us into the wild, wild West.

Twenty-five states have enacted similar concealed carry expansion laws.

"I'm going to bring the bill back every year until it passes," he said. "My bill sends a clear message to people that we aren't willing to compromise when it comes to their Second Amendment rights."

Greg Hilburn covers state politics for the USA TODAY Network of Louisiana. Follow him on Twitter @GregHilburn1.

This article originally appeared on Lafayette Daily Advertiser: Louisiana gun bill to arm teachers, expand concealed carry: What's next
The Daily Beast

Kevin DietschNatura non facit saltusNature never leaps. That was the motto the great Victorian economist Alfred Marshall chose for the frontispiece of his Principles of Economics.Until recently, the Fed never leaps might have been our central banks motto. With rare exceptions, when it raised interest rates, it did so in baby steps of 25 basis points, or a quarter of one percentage point. But in May the Federal Reserve hiked rates 50 basis points for the first time since 2000, and it just
The trial for a man facing the death sentence in a 2016 double murder case is tentatively set for March.

Scott Devon Hemphill, 38, still is being held under no bond about six years after the bodies of 29-year-old Spencer Jermain Murray and 35-year-old Albert Alexander Austin were found in the trunk of a burned car in September 2016, according to information previously reported by The News Herald.

Hemphill is facing two charges of murder and first-degree kidnapping in connection with the deaths, and hell be facing the death penalty when the case goes to trial.

Hes the last defendant to face a judge in the case, with his three co-defendants pleading guilty over the course of the last several years.

Those co-defendants include:

Brian Jerome Robinson, who will spend between 28 and 35 years in prison after pleading guilty last year to two counts of second-degree murder and two counts of robbery with a dangerous weapon.

Icey Chenell Gooden, who was sentenced in 2019 to spend between 25 and 32 years in prison after pleading guilty to two counts of second-degree murder, two counts of robbery with a dangerous weapon and two counts of first-degree kidnapping.

Brandy Nicole Davis, who pleaded guilty to two counts of accessory after the fact of murder and was sentenced to spend eight to 11 years in prison in 2020.

Information released by the district attorneys office after Robinson pleaded guilty said a burned vehicle registered to Murray was found Sept. 18, 2016, with his and Austins remains inside it. Their identities were confirmed by dental records, and autopsies showed they died from smoke inhalation and elevated carbon monoxide saturation that led to poisoning from inhaling the products of combustion.

Information provided at Robinsons guilty plea also indicated he and Hemphill robbed Austin and Murray before putting them in the trunk of the vehicle, driving to a deserted area and setting it on fire. Investigators also uncovered items the suspects had tried to burn that were used in the robbery and murder, information provided to the newspaper last year indicated.

Hemphill, who has been in custody since his arrest following the murders, this week appeared in Burke County Court where an order was put in place to hold him in Catawba County for the week so he could get in some time with his attorneys, said District Attorney Scott Reilly.

Since Hemphill was arrested on these charges, he has racked up an indictment for felony malicious conduct by a prisoner and multiple misdemeanor charges of communicating threats for actions court documents said hes taken against jail staff.

Prosecutors originally intended for this case to go to trial in 2020, but the COVID-19 pandemic shut that down, Reilly said.

Hemphill, who is now working with his third set of attorneys, also saw his second set of attorneys withdraw from his case that year, Reilly said. That meant his new attorneys had to start digesting the 10,000 pages of discovery documents from scratch to figure out how to best defend their client.

Even though its a 2016 case, these attorneys are relatively new to it and the case has just been pending for way longer than we would like, Reilly said. Those things were out of our control.

He said his office is aiming to see the case go to trial in March, which would see the beginning of the end of a lengthy court process.

The jury selection itself takes longer than most other trials would take, Reilly said.

Beyond jury selection, the case could see two separate phases of the trial.

In a capital case, if the defendant is found guilty of first-degree murder, thats just the first phase, Reilly said. Then you go to the secondary phase, which is the sentencing phase, where you have a whole second trial just on the issue of whether or not the death penalty should be imposed.

Hemphill has previous convictions of malicious conduct by a prisoner from a 2009 offense, and two counts of robbery with a dangerous weapon from 2001 offenses, according to records listed on the North Carolina Department of Public Safety website.

Chrissy Murphy is a staff writer and can be reached at cmurphy@morganton.com or at 828-432-8941. Follow @cmurphyMNH on Twitter.

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Saturday, June 11

WINGS & WHEELS

Butte's Bert Mooney Airport hosts Wings & Wheels beginning with a pancake breakfast at 7:30 a.m. at the Bert Mooney Airport, 101 Airport Road. Events throughout the day include a car/truck show and shine, aircraft fly-in, and airport businesses spotlight event with food, flight simulators, gate prizes, and "Peoples' Choice" voting for your favorite car/truck and aircraft. For details call 406-494-3771.

FARMERS MARKETS

The Butte Farmers Market will be in full bloom in Uptown Butte every Saturday from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. thru Oct. 8, offering fresh produce, other foods, all kinds of plants and a variety of arts and crafts.

Whitehall Farmers Market runs 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Legion Street. Vendors will offer vintage items, arts & crafts, fresh produce, baked goods and more.

WORLD MUSEUM OF MINING

World Museum of Mining, 155 Museum Way, will celebrate Miners Union Day starting at 10 a.m. Bill Rossiter will present "My Sweetheart's a Mule in the Mine in the Mine" at 11 a.m. Free general admission and all day reduced rate underground tours. Food vendors will be on site. The museum will be open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

MINERAL AND GEM SHOW

Butte Mineral and Gem Show will be held 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, June 11 and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, June 12, in the Butte Civic Center annex, 1340 Harrison Ave. Retail dealers offer fine jewelry, minerals, fossils, and gems. The kids corner is back and there will be a garnet table, including some sapphires, a table for making pendants out of Montana agate and much more. Admission is $3 for adults and children under 12 are free.

EAMON AT CHATEAU

Local musician Sean Eamon will be featured in the New Songs for Butte Mining Camp Project at 7 p.m. at the Clark Chateau, 321 W. Broadway in Uptown Butte. Tickets are $10 or buy a pass to all four shows for $30. For details, contact the Clark Chateau at 406-565-5600.

'PICKLES' IN VC

Judy Powers' band Pickles and Company will be at the Bale of Hay Saloon for the Virginia City Irish Festival from 3 to 6 p.m.

THE WILDER BLUE

The Wilder Blue will play at 7 p.m. at The Covellite Theatre and Uptown Lounge, 215 W. Broadway St. The Wilder Blue plays country, bluegrass, folk and acoustic rock. For details please visit Montanabooking.com.

CLUBS AND MEETINGS

The Butte Public Library will offer our bargain basement books free for the entire month of June. The room is overflowing with great, if slightly worn and not really new books. Visit any day the library is open. For details, call 406-723-3361.

Butte Public Library hosts its Cleaning Crew from 2 to 4 p.m. with a focus on areas of Butte that need attention. It's a great opportunity to make our community a little better. Follow the event on Facebook for more information on the location. Bring gloves and walking shoes. For details, call the library at 406-723-3361.

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KYIV, Ukraine (AP)  Ukrainian and British officials warned Saturday that Russian forces are relying on weapons able to cause mass casualties as they try to make headway in capturing eastern Ukraine and fierce, prolonged fighting depletes resources on both sides.

Russian bombers have likely been launching heavy 1960s-era anti-ship missiles in Ukraine, the U.K. Defense Ministry said. The Kh-22 missiles were primarily designed to destroy aircraft carriers using a nuclear warhead. When used in ground attacks with conventional warheads, they are highly inaccurate and therefore can cause severe collateral damage and casualties, the ministry said.

Both sides have expended large amounts of weaponry in what has become a grinding war of attrition for the eastern region of coal mines and factories known as the Donbas, placing huge strains on their resources and stockpiles.

Russia is likely using the 5.5-tonne (6.1-ton) anti-ship missiles because it is running short of more precise modern missiles, the British ministry said. It gave no details of where exactly such missiles are thought to have been deployed.

As Russia also sought to consolidate its hold over territory seized so far in the 108-day war, the U.S. Defense Secretary said Moscow's invasion of Ukraine is what happens when oppressors trample the rules that protect us all.

Its what happens when big powers decide that their imperial appetites matter more than the rights of their peaceful neighbors, Lloyd Austin said during a visit to Asia. And its a preview of a possible world of chaos and turmoil that none of us would want to live in.

GOVERNOR: FLAMETHROWERS USED IN LUHANSK

A Ukrainian governor accused Russia of using incendiary weapons in a village in the eastern province of Luhansk, southwest of the fiercely contested cities of Sievierodonetsk and Lysychansk.

While the use of flamethrowers on the battlefield is legal, provincial Gov. Serhii Haidai alleged the overnight attacks in Vrubivka caused widespread damage to civilian facilities and an unknown number of victims.

"At night, the enemy used a flamethrower rocket system  many houses burnt down, Haidai wrote on Telegram on Saturday. His claim could not be immediately verified.

Sievierodonetsk and neighboring Lysychansk are the last major areas of Luhansk remaining under Ukrainian control. Haidai said Russian forces destroyed railway depots, a brick factory and a glass factory.

The Ukrainian army said Saturday that Russian forces also were to launch an offensive on the city of Sloviansk in Donetsk province, which together with Luhansk makes up the Donbas,

Moscow-backed rebels have controlled self-proclaimed republics in both provinces since 2014.

ZELENSKYY SEEKS MORE EU SANCTIONS ON RUSSIA

During a visit to Kyiv by the European Union's top official, Ukrainian President Volodymr Zelenskyy called for a new round of even stronger EU sanctions against Russia.

Zelenskyy called for them to target more Russian officials, including judges, and to hamper the activities of all Russian banks, including that of gas giant Gazprom', as well as all Russian companies helping Moscow in any way.

He spoke during a brief media appearance with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen at the heavily guarded presidential office compound in Ukraine's capital.

The pair discussed Ukraines aspirations for EU membership. Zelenskyy, speaking through a translator, said Ukraine will do everything to integrate with the bloc.

Russia wants to divide Europe, wants to weaken Europe, he said.

Von der Leyen said the EU's executive arm was working day and night on an assessment of Ukraines eligibility as a candidate. The goal is to share it with existing members next week.

Zelenskyy and some EU supporters want Ukraine admitted to quickly.

Von der Leyen described the membership process as a merit-based path and appealed for Ukraine to strengthen its rule of law, fight corruption and modernize its institutions. She said the EU would assist with the country's reconstruction.

UKRAINE PRESIDENT ADDRESSES NATION

Zelenskyy said later, in his nightly video address, that fierce street battles were continuing in Sievierodonetsk and he was proud of the Ukrainian defenders who for weeks have held back the Russian advance.

Remember how in Russia, in the beginning of May, they hoped to seize all of the Donbas? the president said. Its already the 108th day of the war, already June. Donbas is holding.

Zelenskyy said Russian forces are being pushed out of parts of the Kherson region they occupied early in the war. He also reported some success in the Zaporizhzhia region.

He added that no one knows how long the war will last, but Ukraine should do everything it can so that the Russians regret everything that they have done and that they answer for every killing and every strike on our beautiful state.

BATTLE AT A CHEMICAL PLANT

Hundreds of Ukrainian troops remained blockaded inside a chemical plant on the outskirts of Sievierodonetsk, but some of the civilians with them have started to come out, an envoy for Russian-backed separatists said Saturday.

Several hundred civilians could still be inside the Azot plant, where they sought safety from the shelling in underground shelters, Rodion Miroshnik said via Telegram.

As the circle around the Ukrainian troops tightens, he said, the civilians will be able to leave and Russian forces are preparing transportation for their evacuation. The troops will be allowed to leave only if they lay down their arms and surrender, he added.

Luhansk Gov. Haidai said the Russians shelled the plant for hours and a big fire broke out. He made no mention of the troops or civilians referenced by Miroshnik.

RUSSIA SETS UP COMPANY TO SELL UKRAINE'S GRAIN

Russian-installed officials in Ukraines southern Zaporizhzhia region have set up a company to buy up local grain and resell it on Moscows behalf, a local representative told the Interfax news agency on Saturday.

Yevgeny Balitsky, the head of Zaporizhzhia's pro-Russian provisional administration, said the new state-owned grain company has taken control of several facilities.

He said the grain will be Russian and we don't care who the buyer will be.

It was not clear if the farmers whose grain was being sold by Russia were getting paid. Balitsky said his administration would not forcibly appropriate grain or pressure producers to sell it.

Ukraine and the West have accused Russia of stealing Ukraines grain and causing a global food crisis that could cause millions of deaths from hunger.

The head of Ukraines presidential office accused Russia's military of shelling and burning grain fields ahead of the harvest. Andriy Yermak alleged Moscow is trying to repeat a Soviet-era famine which claimed the lives of over 3 million Ukrainians in 1932-33.

Our soldiers are putting out the fires, but (Russias) 'food terrorism' must be stopped, Yermak wrote Saturday on Telegram.

His and Balitsky's claims could not be independently verified.

RUSSIAN PASSPORTS FOR UKRAINE RESIDENTS

Russian forces occupying parts of southern Ukraine began handing out Russian passports to local residents Saturday.

In the Kherson region, 23 residents accepted the documents, including the new Moscow-installed governor, Russian state news agency RIA Novosti reported.

For me this is a truly historic moment. I have always thought that we are one country and one people, the news agency quoted Gov. Volodymyr Saldo as saying.

Soldiers also started giving out passports in the occupied city of Melitopol, according to Russian state news agency TASS. A Telegram post by TASS cited a Russian-installed local official as the original source of the information.

It did not specify how many residents had requested or received Russian citizenship.

Melitopol is located outside of the Donbas in the Zaporizhzhia region.

CHILD DEATH TOLL

Nearly 800 children have been killed or wounded in Ukraine since the beginning of Russias invasion, Ukrainian authorities said Saturday.

According to a statement by the Office of the Prosecutor General of Ukraine, at least 287 died as a result of military activity, while at least 492 more have been hurt. The statement stressed the figures were not final and said they were based on investigations by juvenile prosecutors.

The office said children in Donetsk province have suffered the most, with 217 reported killed or wounded, compared with 132 and 116, respectively, in the Kharkiv and Kyiv regions.

CIVILIAN KILLED IN BEACH BLAST

Officials in the city of Odesa said Saturday that a man was killed by an explosion while visiting a beach on the Black Sea, where mines are a growing concern.

The city council said via Telegram that the man was there with his wife and son despite warnings to stay away from beaches in the area. He was testing the waters temperature and depth when the explosion erupted.

Russia and Ukraine each have accused the other of laying mines in the Black Sea.

Follow APs coverage of the Ukraine war at https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine

Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.

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DES MOINES  Iowa water quality projects and programs will receive $5 million in federal funding over five years as part of new resources announced Friday by state and federal officials.

The funding, from the federal infrastructure bill that was passed by Congress in November 2021, is being dedicated to 12 states involved with a federal task force that is designed to reduce pollutants that flow from the Mississippi River to the Gulf of Mexico, killing sea and plant life in a dead zone there.

The funding was announced at a joint news conference with Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig and representatives from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. State and federal officials called the new federal funding for water quality unprecedented.

Naig said the funding will help scale up existing programs designed to reduce pollutants in Iowas waterways and will help fund the creation of more wetlands, which meet the same goal.

One of the key topics for discussion in the task force is around funding. You can have a strategy, you can have a plan in your states. But do you have the resources that you need to implement? Naig said during the news conference. So the funding being announced (Friday) is critically important to helping states accelerate the adoption of conservation practices in their priority watersheds.

Scientists at Iowa State University in 2008 created the Iowa Nutrient Reduction Strategy, an action plan designed to provide guidance for how the state can reduce the amount of nitrogen and phosphorous pollutants in its waterways.

Iowa is one of the 12 states involved with the federal Mississippi River/Gulf of Mexico Hypoxia Task Force, and Naig is a co-chair and the task forces top state-level representative.

The federal task forces other co-chair, EPA assistant administrator for office of water Radhika Fox, also spoke at Fridays news conference. Fox said she believes the new funding will super-charge efforts to accomplish the task forces goal of reducing nutrients in the Mississippi River by 20 percent by 2025.

In an investigative report called Treading Water, The Gazette wrote in 2018 that the task force originally set a goal of cutting nitrate and phosphorus pollution by 45 percent by 2015  but then pushed the goal back by 20 years.

Despite millions being spent by the states on water quality efforts, The Gazette investigation found the average size of the dead zone still was about three times larger than what the task force had set as its original goal. The report found efforts by the states to reduce pollution were unfocused and underfunded.

I think whats incredible about these resources is that were going to be able to invest in conservation practices that help our farmers thrive, their businesses thrive, while protecting water quality, Fox said Friday. Its an incredible moment and I just cant wait to see the work that is going to unfold over the next five years because of these resources.

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MultiChoice has announced that its TV streaming box, the DStv Streama, will launch by 30 September 2022.

Due to the ongoing global silicon chip shortage, the DStv Streama launch has been delayed and is now expected to launch in the first half of the next financial year, MultiChoice said in its annual results on Thursday.

The company had announced the results for its financial year ended 31 March 2022.

While MultiChoices results for South Africa were flat, it reported that growth in its Connected Video users outpaced the market.

Paying Showmax subscribers were up 68% YoY, whilst overall monthly online users of the groups connected video services increased 28% year-on-year, MultiChoice reported.

A major driver has been the focus to localise by expanding local payment channels and enabling local billing in various markets, it said.

In addition, local content was stronger than ever with titles like Devilsdorp, the Real Housewives franchise, and The Wife.

It added that Showmax Pro offered subscribers the Tokyo Olympics, Euro 2020, and every English Premier League game.

MultiChoice first announced the DStv Streama media box in August 2020.

It promised a cohesive interface that helps South African viewers navigate all the different streaming services offered in the country, including Netflix and YouTube.

In September 2021, MultiChoice confirmed the Streama was delayed, but not cancelled.

MultiChoice South Africa CEO Nyiko Shiburi told MyBroadband in November that Streamas development was on-track, although they had delayed it for several reasons.

Shiburi said that the global chip shortage did play a role, as they had to rethink which chipset to use.

However, MultiChoice also delayed the Streama to ensure it could hold its own against the best in the world from day one.

The DStv Streama will be competing against Apple TV, various Android-based media boxes, and free software-based alternatives like Plex and Google TV.

This box has to be really top class, Shiburi said.

Youre entering a market where theres already so many media devices out there. You want to make sure that when this product goes out, its top-notch.

Shiburi did not directly answer questions about pricing at the time.

However, he implied that the Streama would need to launch at a lower price point than the Apple TV, which currently costs anything between R2,999 and R3,999.

Now read: Good news about DStv streaming limit
More than 50 years ago, Linda (Thomas) Scott read a tragic story in the newspaper about the Easter Sunday beating death of a 3-year-old child.

I gave it a lot of thought and it seemed as though there was a gap in services for parents under stress, said Scott. These parents were unlikely to call the police or an agency that might take their children away. I felt there should be a community organization that acted proactively to prevent child abuse.

First, I had to educate myself before I could recruit volunteers to educate the community. I organized a forum and included the district attorney, the sheriffs office, the police department, Child Protective Services, all the agencies that could be involved. Betty Hagedorn, who was the founder of the Napa (Valley) Colleges Child Development Center, made attending it a requirement for her students. The public came and I wrote an article about the forum that the Napa Register printed.

From a grassroots idea and with help from participating agencies, community volunteers formed the Child Abuse Prevention Services (CAPS), operating a 24-hour crisis hotline out of Scotts home. Volunteers received eight weeks of crisis intervention training before they could work.

We got a whole lot of calls, said Scott. Our goal was trying to be effective in preventing abuse and neglect, to intervene before something serious happened. I knew the concept had timeless value, but I had no vision that 50 years later it would have grown to what it is today.

The organization changed its name in 1976 to Child or Parent Emergency (COPE) and hired a director. Several years later its services had expanded to include relief babysitting, emergency diapers, home visiting service and court-ordered supervised visitation. By the 1980s the phone service included children who were home alone after school.

Cope added group support and parenting classes to its growing roster of services. It extended its services to Spanish-speaking families and became the administrative lead of the Child Abuse Council of Napa County (CAPC).

Cope and CAPC started the first annual Blue Ribbon Campaign in 1992 to raise awareness and funds for child abuse prevention. In 2000, the organization changed its name to the Cope Family Center.

Michele Grupe became executive director in 2017. She started her tenure at Cope in 2003 as the development director, then became associate director.

I was fortunate in that I had a stable upbringing with loving parents and the privilege and benefits that brings to a child, she said. Every kid deserves the same opportunity for a safe and loving family. Cope is a place that is welcoming to all people raising kids.

"Every parent needs help and support because its a hard job. I think people would be surprised that we help 1,000 to 1,200 parents a year, which includes 3,000 kids. There are a number of things we do and services we offer. Well connect them with other services if needed, sharing the work with all the community agencies.

What is in the future for Cope?

Pre-fire, it used to be about building capacity and reaching more families, said Grupe of the situation before the wildfires of 2017. Now its the advocacy piece, bringing in opportunities for parents to share and be their own advocates, using their voice in civic matters, voting and making public comments at meetings. Often, these are people who dont typically represent themselves. This way they become more a part of the community.

To raise funds for Copes work, Kathryn Hall is hosting a fundraising gala at HALL Wines at 6 p.m. on June 25. Information about the gala is on Cope's website copefamilycenter.org.

Kathryn Hall has been lovely and generous to chair the event, said Grupe. We have an auspicious goal for the fundraiser to bring in $500,000 to support our services. We have generous auction lots. We hope people will take this opportunity to invest in us to build a strong foundation for the next 50 years.

Grupe wants families to know two important points: One, that prevention works. People may have issues, even if their challenge is homelessness or mental health. They have an opportunity to build a strong family and community. The second thing is to call Cope or another Family Resource Center if they dont know where to go for help. We can assist or put them in touch with whatever services they need.

Of Copes many successes over the years, Grupe says shes proud of how the staff managed during the worst of the pandemic.

"Staff was dealing with the pandemic themselves, but they were still able to maintain and strengthen relationships with our clients. Families knew they could call in and have someone to talk to; a friendly ear, if they needed something."

Founder Linda Scott echoed a similar thought.

Cope had the same message when it started as it does now. Dont feel ashamed to ask for help. Everyone needs help now and again. Phone and theres someone there. Just ask. Theres no shame in asking.

Cope can be reached at 707-252-1123 or emailed at hello@copefamilycenter.org.
Biden administration officials admits that sanctions on Russia are hurting US economy

Germany to supply MARS II multiple rocket launchers to Ukraine

Armenia President to pay working visit to Russia

US to provide $1bn in additional military assistance to Ukraine

Medvedev doubts that Ukraine will exist in 2 years

Israel FM pins hopes on Bidens visit to Middle East next month

EU envoy to Armenia meets with civil society organizations representatives working in Meghri

Biden slams oil industry for failing to curb rising fuel prices

Armenia PM attends church wake of the late renowned actor Rafael Kotanjyan

8th convocation Armenia parliament 3rd session concludes

Armenia National Assembly takes note of 2021 state budget execution report

Armenia legislature deputy chair receives delegation led by OSCE PA President

Chinas Xi tells Putin that Russia's actions are legitimate

Turkey rejects NATO invitations to trilateral talks with Finland, Sweden

Armenias Pashinyan: Karabakh status is not goal but means to ensure security of its people

Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf: North-South corridor construction is necessary to ensure security of Iran, Armenia

Dollar, euro rise in Armenia

Armenia premier: Karabakh budget recorded unprecedented growth in 2021-2022

Starmus festival organizer: Im ready with pleasure to collaborate postgraduate students from Armenia

Russia MFA: Moscow is ready to facilitate the commission meeting in the nearest future

Armenia PM: After Common State idea, issue of exchanging territories appeared on negotiating table

Macron: We will do everything to stop military forces of Russia

In Kazakhstan, 26 people receive real sentences after January riots

Fallen soldiers relatives continue their sit-in at downtown Yerevan

Armenia parliament speaker is in Iran on official visit

Armenia opposition movement participants reach Prosecutor General's Office building

Armenia official: Russia considering possibility of setting up additional checkpoint near Upper Lars

Infantino presents Armenia PM nominal T-shirt, nominal ball of 2022 FIFA World Cup (PHOTOS)

Aliyev and Karen Donfried discuss normalization of relations between Azerbaijan and Armenia

CSTO Committee of Secretaries to meet in Yerevan

16.8% of Armenia state budget expenditures in 2021 goes to defense sector

Russia FM to pay working visit to Azerbaijan

Armenia FM briefs Bulgarian MPs on Nagorno-Karabakh conflict

Russia considers Israeli strikes on Syrian territory unacceptable

Expert: Armenia must increase country's attractiveness not only for IT specialists

Krisp: Preconditions for technological boom have been created in Armenia

Report: Key Indicators for Execution of State Budget of Armenia for 2021

North Korea spends $1,221 a minute on nuclear program, analysts estimate

Armenia bloc MP: Let's gather in Vardanyan Park on Italy Street

Synopsys Armenia: Countrys IT sector has shortage of 4,000 staff

Three earthquakes hit Iran's Kish Island this morning

Swiss airspace closes due to technical failure

Conference held in occupied Armenian Shushi to mark anniversary of so-called 'Shushi Declaration'

Armenia FM and Bulgarian NA Speaker discuss possibilities for deepening relations between two countries

Newspaper: How was created the right picture from Pashinyan's visit to Ararat region?

Prosecutor General of Armenia Artur Davtyan leaves for Russia

Russia President to meet with Armenia President at SPIEF

SPIEF kicks off in St. Petersburg

Armen Avetisyan appointed as new General Director of Viva-MTS

Armenian parliament discusses execution of 2021 state budget

Global oil prices rise slightly

Russia calls on Turkey to peacefully resolve situation in Syria

Canada and Denmark settle territorial dispute

WhatsApp makes it easier to switch from Android to iPhone

Astronomers make most detailed map of Moon

Company to pay $2,000 to volunteers to release 100 cockroaches into their home

Hungary objects to introduction of global minimum tax in EU

Resistance Movement members remove their tents from France Square

Some European plants shut down due to skyrocketing global energy prices

Erdogan: Turkey must defend its interests in space

European leaders visit Israel hoping to reduce dependence on Russian gas

Resistance movement to hold information march on Thursday and a rally on Saturday

Resistance movement holds procession in Yerevan

Slovak PM calls on Scholz to support Ukraine, Georgia, and Moldova as EU candidates

Armenia ex-President Kocharyan participates in Resistance movement rally

German howitzers soon to be delivered to Ukraine

Resistance Movement rally starts in Yerevan

Turkey President meets with Russian Deputy Prime Minister

Media revealed some details of opening of Armenian-Azerbaijani roads

HYECoin, Inc. invites conversation among venture capitalist firms open to funding startup tech and crypto projects

Three times vaccinated Lithuanian PM tests positive for Covid-19

Foreign Ministers of Armenia and Bulgaria discuss cooperation

Austria to allocate 28 billion to compensate population for increased costs

Dollar rises after long decline, euro continues to depreciate in Armenia

Georgia prosecuting cartographers because of whom David Gareja monastery was to pass to Azerbaijan

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Moldova decides to analyze pros and cons of participation in CIS

Court allows Armenia ex-deputy premier and now lawmaker Armen Gevorgyan to head for Strasbourg

2 people convicted in connection with 9 November 2020 night riots in Yerevan

South Korea, US and Japan to conduct missile defense exercises in August in Hawaii

Euronews: Forget France, as Armenia is hub of winemaking history

Armenian village Norabak deprived of water supply after Azerbaijani invasion

Armenia to join CIS agreement on use of military satellite communication systems

Biden extends US sanctions regime against North Korea for another year

Armenia FM, Bulgaria President discuss prospects for development of bilateral relations

Armenian Shushi city of Artsakh to become venue for Azerbaijan conference on cooperation with Turkey

Premier meets with Father Emir of Qatar, presents him Order of Friendship of Armenia

State council for protection of cultural heritage of Karabakhs occupied territories holds first meeting

Premier, Qatar Business Council members discuss implementation of investment programs in Armenia

Armenia ex-President Kocharyan, former-deputy PM and now MP Gevorgyan trial to reconvene

Armenia PM meets with Qatar FM

David Babayan: Artsakh, Armenia are in difficult situation

Driver of car that went onto tents at France Square in downtown Yerevan is apprehended

Armenia FM meets with Bulgaria President

Azerbaijan Security Council chief: Armenia opposition protesting against peace talks will not achieve its goal

Armenia-France cooperation in defense sector is discussed

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Australia to compensate France over scrapped sub deal

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said the French firm had agreed to a "fair and an equitable settlement". File photo: AFP

Australia Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said on Saturday that his government had reached a 555 million euro($583.58 million)settlement with France's Naval Group over the decision last year to scrap the French submarine deal.



"This is a fair and equitable settlement," said Albanese in a news conference.



He said the settlement followed discussions with French President Emmanuel Macron and he thanked him for the cordial way in which the relationship between Australia and France was being re-established.



Australia last year scrapped a multi-billion-dollar order for submarines with French military shipyard Naval Group and opted instead for an alternative deal with the United States and Britain. The move enraged Paris and had triggered an unprecedented diplomatic crisis. (Reuters)
EU chief promises a signal on Ukraine bid next week

EU chief promises a signal on Ukraine bid next week

The European Commission will provide a clear signal this week on Ukraine's EU candidate status bid, its chief Ursula von der Leyen said on Saturday, as fighting raged in the east and south of the country.



Making a surprise visit to Kyiv, von der Leyen said talks she held with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky "will enable us to finalise our assessment by the end of next week"  the first time the bloc has publicly given a sense of timing.



Zelensky has been pressing for rapid admission into the European Union as a way of reducing Ukraine's geopolitical vulnerability, which was brutally exposed by Russia's February 24 incursion.



But officials and leaders in the bloc caution that, even with candidacy status, actual EU membership could take years or even decades.



Von der Leyen, appearing alongside Zelensky during her second visit to Kyiv since the war began, made no promises.



Despite reservations among some member states, EU leaders are expected to approve Ukraine's candidate status at a summit on June 23-24, though with strict conditions attached.



Also on Saturday, Luhansk regional governor Sergiy Gaidai cited reports of Russians loading trucks with Ukrainian wheat and taking it to Russian-controlled areas.



Before the war, Russia and Ukraine together produced 30 percent of the global wheat supply, but grain is stuck in Ukraine's ports, while Western sanctions have disrupted exports from Russia.



Speaking to delegates including Pentagon chief Lloyd Austin and China's defence minister, Zelensky urged international pressure to end the blockade.



Meanwhile, Russian forces continued to focus their firepower in areas around Kharkiv and in the Donbas regions of Luhansk and Donetsk overnight, Zelensky's office said, with the regional governor reporting two civilian deaths and 11 injuries Saturday in locations across Donetsk.



Moscow has particularly focused on the key eastern industrial city of Severodonetsk, which Gaidai said on Saturday had been "ruined" by Russian forces.



"This is their tactics  people are not needed, the infrastructure is not needed, houses are not needed, everything should be simply ruined," he said in an interview posted on Telegram. (Reuters)
Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], June 11 (ANI/NewsVoir): The Indus Entrepreneurs (TiE) Mumbai, is in its third year of initiating a "Hall of Fame" series that is aimed at recognizing outstanding Entrepreneurs, Investors, Investment Bankers, Corporates, our Pandemic heroes, Public Sector and Government change agents who have contributed tremendously to the development of the Economy and the Ecosystem in India and Globally. These recognitions are given to high achievers, impactful value creators, marquee individuals and institutions who have brought about positive change through innovation, disrupted the norms and are wealth creators. The "Hall of Fame" awardees were recognized at the 15th edition of TiECon Mumbai, held on June 10, 2022 at the prestigious brand new Jio World Convention Centre. BKC - India's largest and first state of the art conference and Exhibition centre. The Chief Guest for this year's prestigious "TiE Mumbai's Hall of Fame" was Harsh Mariwala, Founder and Chairman of Marico, who is a veteran industry leader and a strong proponent of the Entrepreneurial landscape in India and Subhash Desai, Minister for Industries and Mining, Govt of Maharashtra was the guest of honour. Amit Mookim, President, TiE Mumbai said, "The awardees of the Hall of fame have shown exemplary courage, passion and foresight in being disrupters who have created wealth and opportunities for thousands. This year we also have an additional mention recognizing the efforts of Sony TV India for bringing Shark Tank to our country and educating the masses about entrepreneurship thus accelerating Entrepreneurship development in India." Harish Mehta, Executive Chairman, Onward Technologies Ltd and Author, The Maverick Effect, who brought TiE to India in 1999 said, "My heartiest congratulations and best wishes go out to all the awardees of TiE Mumbai's Hall of Fame. All the entrepreneurs, investors, and achievers inducted today deserve praise for being stellar performers, for dreaming big, and for putting in the hard work towards making those dreams come true. Here's hoping each of them continues to create value for India and play their part in mentoring our blossoming start-up industry." About the Awardees This year's Hall of Fame 2022 inductees includes the following illustrious Entrepreneurs, Investors and Achievers of the Entrepreneurial Ecosystem: 1. Outstanding Startup in Ed-Tech: upGrad 2. Outstanding Startup in Healthcare and Health Tech: CitiusTech 3 Outstanding Startup in AgriTech: ReshaMandi 4. Outstanding Startup in Data and Analytics: Fractal Analytics 5. Outstanding Startup Ecosystem Builder: - 9Unicorns 6. Outstanding Startup in FinTech - OfBusiness 7. Pandemic Heroes- A.T.E. Chandra Foundation 8. An Iconic Program for Accelerating Entrepreneurship Development in India- Sony TV India - Shark Tank India 9. Outstanding Fund - Norwest Venture Partners 10. Iconic Investor on Shark Tank India and For Inspiring a Nation with Entrepreneurship-Anupam Mittal, People Group (Shaadi.com) 11. Iconic Investor on Shark Tank India and For Inspiring a Nation with Entrepreneurship - Vineeta Singh, Sugar Cosmetics 12. Iconic Investor on Shark Tank India and For Inspiring a Nation with Entrepreneurship - Namita Thapar, Emcure Pharma 13. Iconic Investor on Shark Tank India and For Inspiring a Nation with Entrepreneurship - Peyush Bansal, Lenskart 14. Iconic Investor on Shark Tank India and For Inspiring a Nation with Entrepreneurship - Ghazal Alagh, Mama Earth 15. Iconic Investor on Shark Tank India and For Inspiring a Nation with Entrepreneurship - Ashneer Grover, BharatPe 16. Iconic Investor on Shark Tank India and For Inspiring a Nation with Entrepreneurship - Aman Gupta, Boat TiEcon Mumbai is the largest Entrepreneurial conference in the West of India, and it attracts all the key Industry Leaders from Mumbai and India, Startup Founders and Investors. TiEcon sees close to 3000+ people attending the conference. The conference had around 25+ India's leading Unicorns, who spoke on various aspects of their journey, growth & scaling, struggles & conquests, product & engineering stories, technology adoption and pivots that have helped them accelerate their journeys. The Indus Entrepreneurs (TiE), was founded in 1992 in Silicon Valley by a group of successful entrepreneurs, corporate executives, and senior professionals with roots in the Indus region. Since 1992. TiE has been supporting entrepreneurs by offering education, mentorship, networking and funding opportunities. The mission of TiE is to foster entrepreneurship globally through the 5 pillars of TiE: mentoring, networking and education, funding and incubation. Dedicated to the virtuous cycle of wealth creation and giving back to the community. TiE's focus area is to generate enable the next generation of entrepreneurs. There are currently 11,000 members, including over 2,500 charter members in 60 chapters across 17 countries. TiE's mission is to foster entrepreneurship globally through mentoring, networking, and education. Dedicated to the virtuous cycle of wealth creation and giving back to the community, TiE's focus is on generating and nurturing our next generation of entrepreneurs. This story is provided by NewsVoir. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of this article. (ANI/NewsVoir)
India will pitch for a permanent solution to its food security concerns at the 12th ministerial meeting of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) that begins in Geneva, Switzerland on Sunday, after a gap of five years. The Indian delegation at the meeting will be led by Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal. "India has a vital stake in protecting the interests of all stakeholders in the country as well as the interests of the developing and poor nations that look up to the leadership of India at multilateral forums including WTO," the Ministry of Commerce & Industry said in a statement. The key areas of discussions and negotiations at this year's conference include WTO's response to the pandemic, fisheries subsidies negotiations, agriculture issues including Public Stockholding for food security, WTO reforms and moratorium on customs duties on electronic transmission. WTO Director-General in May 2022 brought three draft texts on agriculture, trade and food security and exemption of the World Food Programme from export restrictions for negotiations. "India has reservations about some of the provisions in the draft decisions and has been engaging in the process of discussions and negotiations in order to be able to preserve the rights under the agreement on agriculture without undermining the existing ministerial mandates," the Ministry of Commerce & Industry said. An important issue under negotiation at the WTO relates to the protection of India's food grain procurement programme at Minimum Support Prices (MSP). Such programmes involve purchase from farmers at administered prices and are key to support to farmers and consumers in the country. WTO rules limit the subsidy that can be provided to such products being procured. This issue is being negotiated at the WTO by the G-33, coalition of developing countries of which India is a key member and the African Group which have come together along with the ACP group in submitting a proposal on permanent solution to the issue of public stockholding for food security purposes on 31 May 2022. India co-sponsored a G-33 proposal for a permanent solution on PSH for food security purposes at the WTO, on 15 September 2021, which had co-sponsorship of 38 Members. In the negotiations, improvements are being sought by developing countries over the ministerial decision adopted at the ninth ministerial conference of the WTO in Bali in December 2013 where members agreed to negotiate a permanent solution on the issue of public stockholding for food security purposes by the 11th Ministerial Conference of the WTO. It was agreed that in the interim, until a permanent solution is reached, Members would exercise due restraint (commonly termed as 'peace clause') in raising disputes in respect of public stockholding programmes for food security purposes instituted before 7th December 2013, even if countries exceeded their permissible limits. Consequent to the firm stand taken by India at the WTO, this peace clause was extended by a decision of the WTO General Council (GC) in November 2014 until a permanent solution was agreed and adopted. Thus, it was ensured that the 'peace clause' would be available in perpetuity. At the Nairobi Ministerial Conference held in December 2015, WTO members agreed to engage constructively to negotiate a permanent solution. India neither wants to link PSH issue with other agriculture issues nor a work programme as negotiating a permanent solution has a standalone mandate at the WTO, the ministry said. Another issue under discussion relates to additional disciplines on export restrictions on agricultural products. The proponents on export restrictions are seeking outcome on two issues: (i) exemption of foodstuffs purchased for non-commercial humanitarian purposes by the World Food Programme (WFP) from the application of export restrictions, and (ii) advance notification of export restrictive measures, including improving compliance with existing notification requirements. Other areas of discussion in agriculture are issues relating to market access, special safeguard mechanism for developing countries to protect domestic agricultural producers against import surges and sudden price falls, through additional import duties, on the lines of a similar safeguard presently available to many developed and few developing countries. (ANI)
Ahmedabad (Gujarat) [India], June 11 (ANI/PNN): India's First Popular dentech startup Smile In Hour https://www.smileinhour.in founder and innovator were awarded the Prestigious Excellence Award in the Pharmaceutical and Healthcare Award Night at a huge conference held in Ahmedabad. He was bestowed with the Prestigious Award by the Chief Guest for the evening, Union Minister for Women and Child Development Smriti Irani for innovation to prevent Oral Cancer and Oral Submucous Fibrosis with the use of OSMF Mouth Opening DIY Kit. The dignitaries present on Stage (Left to Right) were Sanjeev Mehta, Founder, Yuva Disha Kendra, Dr H G Koshia, Commissioner, Food and Drugs Control Administration, GoG Smriti Irani, Union Minister for Women and Child Development, GoI, Dr Viranchi Shah, National President, Indian Drug Manufacturers' Association (IDMA). Glimpses of award ceremony images, Video and Dr Bharat Agravat Speech regarding How to prevent mouth cancer at home and Startup India Ecosystem benefits for Pharma and Healthcare sector: https://youtu.be/oYNyEwyxeiY The awards will felicitate the Pharma and Healthcare fraternity for their commitment to their communities and the drive to make a difference in the world. The awards will provide deserving Indian entrepreneurs, startups, and leaders a platform to be heard from and a genuine celebration of their achievements. The awards will be recognized towards their hard work and dedicated efforts in becoming Atmanirbhar in this sector. Such recognition also boosts morale and propels the aspiration of the awardees and others present. The award focus is set across Pharma to Healthcare, Life Sciences to Medical Tourism fields. Recognition through awards would motivate more pharma entrepreneurs to join the sector and excel in their current business. The awards will also showcase new innovative technologies much needed in today's market and to make India a hub of global medical innovation. Dr Bharat Agravat http://www.drbharat.agravat.com is one of the foremost dentists not just in India but also in the world. He is leading the Indian quest for lower treatment costs and accessible healthcare for people in every strata in the society. He believes in wholehearted service to the poor as they mostly don't have access to proper treatment. He has multiple degrees in dentistry from global eminent universities, especially New York University and Buffalo University. His devised OSMF Mouth Opening Kit completely cures Oral Submucous Fibrosis symptoms like mouth ulcer, followed by the OSMF itself. The OSMF Mouth Opening Device helps in fully opening of the mouth as before. The medical fraternity in Ahmedabad, and India, is proud to be represented by Dr Bharat Agravat", said a Senior Manager at Smile in Hour Spalon Cosmetic Dental Clinic http://www.smileinhour.com . Shop now online at https://www.osmfmouthopeningkit.com OSMF Mouth Opening Kit treatment @ home is a pioneering and path-breaking Do-it-yourself combo of mouth-opening medicine tablets and mouth opening exercise device that has been invented by Dr Bharat Agravat. He is Cosmetic and Implants Dental Surgeon who has set new benchmarks of excellence with 18 distinguished awards and 20 years of experience. OSMF Mouth Opening Treatment at Home Online Brand Store Manage by Dr Agravat Healthcare Ltd https://www.healthcare.agravat.com. Address - Smile in Hour Spalon Dental Clinic Thaltej & Bodakdev, Mohini Complex, UF-2, Beside Atithi Dining Hall Near The Pride Hotel. Off S.G. Road, Judges Bunglow Rd, Bodakdev, Ahmedabad, Gujarat 380054 Website- www.osmfmouthopeningkit.com For more details and inquiry visit at - India's best Famous Cosmetic Implants Dentist: http://www.drbharat.agravat.com - Fixed Teeth in 3 Days: http://www.dentalimplant.agravat.com - India's Best Cosmetic and Implants Smile in Hour Spalon Dental Clinic: http://www.smileinhour.com - Dr Agravat Ayurveda Center: https://www.ayurveda.agravat.com - Dr Agravat Healthcare Ltd: https://www.healthcare.agravat.com - India's first dentech startup: https://www.smileinhour.in - OSMF Mouth Opening DIY Kit: https://www.osmfmouthopeningkit.com This story is provided by PNN. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of this article. (ANI/PNN)
New Delhi [India], June 11 (ANI/PNN): Right from vision to embryogenesis and from collagen-boosting to acne treatment, Retinol has been a hot favourite of dermatologists globally. Its popularity is no less than Vitamin C, Hyaluronic Acid, or Niacinamide when it comes to tackling wrinkles, hyperpigmentation, or even photodamage. According to a study, it was the 2nd most googled skin care ingredient only after Vitamin C and 80 per cent of the Gen-Z in the US discussed Retinol in their web conversations. It's known, popular, and effective yet enigmatic. However, its place in beauty and skincare remains undoubtedly cardinal. Who should use Retinol and Why use it? These obvious questions may be addressed simply by stating "everyone in their 30s who love to show off", those "Gen-Zs" who wish for a filter-free clean look, and everyone who would love to preserve, extend and enhance the skin's ability to regenerate and rejuvenate. "Retinol is definitely worth including in your night routine even though you may not have the "lines of wisdom" on your foreheads or the "lines of curiosity" around your eyes. Retinol is not only an anti-ageing or anti-wrinkle ingredient but delivers 360-degree benefits to skin cells. It's a powerful antioxidant that fights free-radical damage, reduces acne, balances oil production, promotes cell renewal, improves glow and radiance, and diminishes fine lines and wrinkles while boosting your skin's collagen production explains, Dr Pravin Banodkar, Director and Senior Consultant Dermatologist at Skin Crest Clinic. How to Choose the Right Retinol! - Retinol or Retinol Ester? Retinol belongs to the Vitamin A family and is available in different forms like retinoic acid, retinaldehyde, retinyl palmitate, and so on. Esterified Retinol like Retinyl Palmitate is the most common form used in cosmetics as it is most stable. But it needs to be converted to an active form to be effective. Products containing retinyl palmitate and other esters are slow to show results precisely due to this reason. - Product Stability: Retinol or Retinoic Acid is quicker to act but is less stable. Hence, it would be important and imperative to check the form of Retinol used in a product by reading the product label and also checking the stability of the product. Yellow to dark yellow to brown serum or cream signifies the likelihood of Retinol degradation, rendering the product less effective. - What concentration to start with? Retinol efficacy is proportionate to the concentration used. Higher concentrations are effective but are prone to give more irritation and peeling. Lower concentrations are slower to act but offer safe use. Start low and start slow (using it twice a week and then slowly on a daily basis) is the mantra for using Retinol for the 1st time. Ajit Marathe, Co-Founder-Director, Adroit Biomed Limited said, "Though there are many products containing retinol available in the market, choosing the product with active and stable retinol is critical to reaping the benefits." Glutone has introduced two forms of beginner-friendly Retinol products. Those who have a combination of oily skin can go for 0.2 per cent Retinol night cream which contains active Retinol along with hyaluronic acid. Those with very dry, sensitive skin may opt for 0.3 per cent Retinol Face Oil which contains Active Retinol in a squalene base rendering the product less drying. Whichever product you may choose, remember, the activity of Retinol comes with a skin's unwanted response, like irritation, flaking, dry-patchy skin, etc. There is nothing to panic about and you just need to adjust the frequency to cope. Over the next few days, your skin will adapt to the Retinol treatment and you won't see any side effects. Also, Retinol is quick enough to stimulate the skin turnover and thins out the upper skin layer. Skin becomes more susceptible to the sun. Hence, it is recommended to use Retinol only as a night routine with sunscreen in the daytime without fail. If pregnant or planning for it then avoid topical Retinol totally. If you are lactating then it would be wiser to seek a dermatologist's opinion even for lower concentrations of Retinol. To conclude, if you desire a glowing and radiant look or clear, blemish-free skin or actively looking for keeping skin toned, then Retinol is the ingredient to bank upon. For more info visit: https://www.glutone.in/ This story is provided by PNN. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of this article. (ANI/PNN)
The 'Roohi' actor took to her Instagram handle and posted a series of snaps where she can be seen wearing a floral top and a denim jacket. Her open hair, hoop earrings and subtle makeup complete her overall gorgeous look.

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She captioned the post, "we're after the same rainbows end ."

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As soon as she shared the snaps, her friends and fans dropped comments on her post.

Reacting to the post, fashion designer Manish Malhotra dropped red heart emojis in the comment section.

'Bawaal' is helmed by Nitesh Tiwari and produced by Sajid Nadiadwala. The drama film is scheduled to hit the big screens on April 7, 2023. It will be the first collaboration between Janhvi and Varun.

Meanwhile, on the work front, Janhvi will be seen in 'Good Luck Jerry' and 'Mr and Mrs Mahi'. (ANI)
The Congress won three of the four Rajya Sabha seats in Rajasthan that went to the polls on Friday, while the BJP bagged the remaining one seat. The first Congress candidate, Randeep Singh Surjewala, got 43 votes; the party's second candidate, Mukul Wasnik, managed 42 votes; while its third candidate, Pramod Tiwari, garnered 41 votes. BJP candidate Ghanshyam Tiwari won with 43 votes. However, the Independent nominee backed by the BJP, Subhash Chandra, could manage just 30 votes. Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot said after the results were announced: "Congress winning three Rajya Sabha seats in Rajasthan is a victory for democracy. I congratulate all the three newly-elected MPs. I am sure all three of them will firmly defend the rights of Rajasthan in Delhi. "It was clear from the start that the Congress had the required majority for all the three seats. But the BJP tried horse-trading after backing an Independent nominee. The solidarity of our MLAs has given a befitting reply to this effort. The BJP will face a similar defeat in the 2023 Assembly elections." Meanwhile, Rajasthan BJP has suspended Dholpur MLA Shobharani Kushwah on charges of cross-voting during the RS polls. Kushwah reportedly cast her vote for Congress candidate Pramod Tiwari. Leader of Opposition in the Rajasthan Assembly, Gulabchand Kataria, said, "Shobharani Kushwaha has been suspended with immediate effect from primary membership. She has been given seven days to explain why she flouted the whip issued by the party which asked her to vote for BJP candidate Ghanshyam Tiwari." --IANS arc/arm ( 269 Words) 2022-06-10-21:06:04 (IANS)
The deceased has been identified as Arjun a.k.a Anoop.

According to the police, the reason behind the suicide is yet to be known as no suicide note was recovered from the deceased prompting him to take this extreme step on Thursday.

The police suspect that Arjun suffered losses in his business and that could be the reason behind this extreme step.

The victim was rushed to a hospital, where doctors declared him brought dead on Thursday evening.

Arjun Dev, the station house officer (SHO) of Sector-37 police station said, "The revolver used by Arjun was recovered from the spot and the licence of the revolver has been verified."

"The man is survived by his wife and three sons. His body will be handed over to his family after a post-mortem examination. Meanwhile, police are trying to ascertain the motive behind the incident," Subhash Boken, spokesperson of the Gurugram police said.

--IANS str/pgh

( 187 Words)

2022-06-10-21:22:02 (IANS)
Police said accused Mahammad Ramij M Ghanchi, alias Roy Fernandes, from Gujarat and other 15 accused, including 8 women are arrested in this connection.

Police, after interrogating Fernandes, the mastermind behind setting up the fake call centre in a rented bungalow at old Goa, said that the accused persons, operating from the hacked accounts of Amazon, defrauded several US citizens to share confidential gift card details of values ranging from $500 to $1,000 USD in exchange of restoring wallet balances.

A total of 14 computers, accessories and eight mobile phones were seized from the illegal call centre.

A case has been registered under various sections of the Indian Penal Code and the IT Act.

--IANS sanjay/vd

( 151 Words)

2022-06-10-21:28:04 (IANS)
Telangana Governor Tamilisai Soundararajan on Friday defended her action in receiving representations from people by holding 'Praja Darbar', saying she wants to act as a bridge between the state government and the public. Soon after holding the maiden 'Praja Darbar' as 'Mahila Darbar' at Raj Bhavan to hear the grievances of women, she dismissed the criticism that she is crossing her limits. She argued that when she as the highest Constitutional authority in the state is willing to serve people, why should she be denied the opportunity. The Governor, who received over 500 petitions from women, did not agree that it amounts to running a parallel government. "This is a Constitutional office. I am practising only what should be practised by a Constitutional authority," she said. "Those saying it is unconstitutional should first respect the Constitution," the Governor said when asked about the statements by leaders of ruling Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) describing her action as unconstitutional. "I repeatedly said that I want to be a catalyst, a bridge between the government and the people. There is no politics in this. I can't agree that Raj Bhavan should be shut or it should not be approachable. Each and every office, whether Constitutional or elected, is for the people," she said. "Some of the critics say how Raj Bhavan can conduct this (Praja Darbar). Every office is for the people, whether it is of panchayat president or member or the Constitutional office of Governor. When I have the capacity of meeting the people and when I can communicate and get the message from people and convey it to the government, why should there be any objection," she asked. "I am not a controversial person and I want to do something good for the people of Telangana. I am a doctor and I can understand the problems of people," she added. She reiterated her allegation that the state government is not respecting the Constitutional office of the Governor, alleging that the government is not following the protocol. "They are not receiving me wherever I go. There is an SOP to be followed but it is not being followed. However, this is not going to stop my activities. I am not asking anything for myself. When people are affected, the government should respond," she said. Replying to a query, Tamilisai said she had sought a report in two days from the state authorities on the recent incident of gang-rape of a minor in Hyderabad, but the same has not been submitted yet. She termed the delay as unfortunate and added that she is concerned over the media reports about the incident. "I always respect a democratically-elected government. It should also respond and respect the Constitutional authority. You know the powers of a Constitutional authority. I am not asking anything for myself," she said. The Governor said she chose to start 'Praja Darbar' as 'Mahila Darbar' because she first wanted to hear the unheard voices. She said the recent incidents of sexual assault on minor girls and women in Hyderabad are one of the reasons for starting the programme with women. "When the woman holding the highest Constitutional office in the state is not getting respect or response, I can imagine the fate of the downtrodden," she said. Tamilisai urged the government to respond and respect whatever messages are sent through Raj Bhavan based on the representations received from the people. The Governor said Friday's 'Mahila Darbar' had participants from the Red Cross, doctors, lawyers and NGOs to respond to the applications. "No application will be ignored. For smaller monetary help, referral to hospitals or institutions, they will be handled by the office of the Governor, but I request the government departments concerned to respond to the other requests received by the Raj Bhavan during the Praja Darbar," she said. --IANS ms/arm ( 653 Words) 2022-06-10-21:30:03 (IANS)
In a bizarre incident, three years after birth, a child was finally reunited with his parents after a court verdict in Assams Barpeta district. Nazma Khanam got back her biological son three years after his birth following the order of a local court in Barpeta district, settling a legal battle with another family. Lawyers of Khanam said on Friday that the dispute was settled after a DNA test that ascertained the genuine parents of the baby. In a case of sheer negligence, the child was handed over to the other family by the staff of the government-run Fakruddin Ali Ahmed Medical College and Hospital at Barpeta in 2019. Khanam gave birth to the boy on May 3, 2019 but the baby soon started having serious breathing problems. The newborn was shifted to the ICU as his health condition deteriorated. Later, the hospital staff told Khanam and her husband that their child had died and handed over them the body. The couple initially refused to take the body claiming that it was not their child, but subsequently took it. Few days later, the couple again went to the medical college and found in the hospital records that another lady with the same name and nearly similar surname (Khatun) had given birth to a male child. Khanam then filed a case of child swapping with the Barpeta police. The police found that Nazma Khatun had given birth to a child and the baby was under medical treatment at the medical college. During investigation, it was found that Khatun's baby had died during treatment. The police with the help of DNA samples found that the three-year-old child raised by Nazma Khatun was the biological child of Nazma Khanam. "We agreed to the DNA test since we were sure it was our baby. Now the court has ordered that this is their (Khanam) child. We are shocked," said Nazma Khatun's husband. --IANS sc/arm ( 337 Words) 2022-06-10-23:10:02 (IANS)
"Acting promptly on specific information, Police along with Army arrested 2 active terrorists of proscribed terror outfit LeT identified as Irshad Ahmad Mir son of Abdul Rehman Mir (a categorized terrorist) and Zahid Bashir son of Bashir Ahmad, both residents of Nehalpora Pattan area of Baramulla," stated an official release.

Incriminating materials, arms of ammunition including 2 Chinese Pistols, 18 live rounds of cartrideges and 2 magazines were recovered from their possession.

The Police registered a case under relevant sections of law.

Further investigations in the matter are underway. (ANI)
One terrorist of the proscribed terror outfit Hizb-ul-Mujahideen (HM) was killed during the encounter with security forces, police said on Saturday. "EncounterUpdate: 1 terrorist of proscribed terror outfit HM killed. Operation in progress. Further details shall follow," tweeted the Kashmir zone police. The encounter broke out in the Khandipora area in the wee hours of Friday-Saturday. (ANI)
"I want to thank former Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis, state party chief Chandrakant Patil and the entire team for the victory," said Goyal while addressing the media persons.

Earlier senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Devendra Fadnavis on Saturday lauded the party's win in the Rajya Sabha polls in the state and called it 'a happy moment'.

"It's a happy moment for us as all three BJP candidates have won," said Fadnavis.He also highlighted the party's share in the votes.

"Piyush Goyal and Anil Bonde have received 48 votes each. Our third candidate has received more votes than Shiv Sena's Sanjay Raut," he added.

Out of 6 seats in Maharashtra, BJP won 3 seats. Shiv Sena, Congress, and NCP won one seat each while Shiv Sena's Sanjay Pawar lost the election. (ANI)
According to North zone DCP on Friday wee hours, Gopalpauram police on credible information apprehended six persons Ishaq, Mohd Gulshed, Mohd Juned Aalam, Abdul Ansar Ali, Riyasad and Bablu Ahmad at In-gate of Secunderabad Railway Station, who were moving under suspicious manner and on enquiry they voluntarily confessed their guilty in the seven cases.

The gang, on the pretext of garments business used to travel from one place to another place by RTC/Pvt buses as passengers, observe the luggage bags of passengers, target the bags, while the passengers were distracted and would steal valuables.

"Gold ornaments 43.25 grams, Silver ornaments 27 'Tulas' and net cash Rs 4,13,000. A total worth about Rs 26,50,000 cash seized," informed the officials.

The above arrests were made under the supervision of G. Venkateshwarlu, ADCP, North Zone, N. Sudhir -Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP), Gopalapuram by B. Sai Eashwar Goud- Inspector of Police, B Kotaiah, Detective Inspector and R Pandu Raju -sub-inspector (SI) and Crime Staff of PS Gopalapuram. (ANI)
Congress candidate Ajay Maken lost the Rajya Sabha elections to media baron Kartikeya Sharma, the BJP-backed independent candidate, by a "narrow margin", a huge shock for the grand old party which was confident of the winning the seat. "By a very very, very narrow margin, Ajay Maken has lost," Haryana Congress MLA Bharat Bhushan Batra told reporters after results of the polls held on Friday came in. Polling was held on June 10 to elect two members to the Upper House of Parliament from Haryana. BJP's Krishan Lal Panwar scored a comfortable victory with 31 votes, leaving the battle for the second seat between Maken and Sharma. Amid allegations of cross-voting and rule violations, the counting of votes was delayed and there was a recounting of votes that went on past midnight. Out of 90 MLAs in the Haryana Legislative Assembly, independent candidate Balraj Kundu abstained and a vote, apparently of Congress MLA Kuldeep Bishnoi, was rejected leaving 88 votes valid. Sharma, who was backed by the BJP and its ally Jannayak Janata Party (JJP), got 29.6 votes while Maken received 29 votes. Addressing a press conference after the victory at around 3.50 am, Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar said, "It is a matter of happiness for us. I thank all the MLAs for making Krishan Lal Panwar and Kartikeya Sharma win. It is a victory of democracy. I am hopeful that both of them will raise the matters related to Haryana's people in the House." Explaining the math behind the counting, he said, "BJP had 40 MLAs, Congress 31 MLAs, 10 JJP MLAs, independents and candidates of some other parties. One candidate abstained and one Congress MLA's vote was rejected." "So, there were a total of 88 votes polled. Those who got one-third votes i.e. 29.34 votes won. Both our candidates combining first preference and second preference won but the Congress candidate got only 29 votes. MLAs were trained well. Our first preference votes were 36. He (Panwar) needed only 29.34 votes and 6.66 votes were transferred to Kartikeya Sharma," he added. Khattar said that Congress demanded recounting of votes fearing its defeat. "There was a recounting of votes. Our polling agent said Congress thought they had won the elections but when they got to know that they are losing they demanded recounting. Our polling agent did not have a problem with recounting," Khattar added. Commenting on Congress MLA Kuldeep Bishnoi whose vote was rejected, the Chief Minister said that he voted openly after listening to his "inner conscience". "He (Congress MLA Kuldeep Bishnoi) has voted openly after listening to his inner conscience. I can say that he has faith in PM Modi's policies and ideology. He didn't even think what Congress party is going to do with him after this," he added. After the Congress lost the seat, Bishnoi, MLA from Adampur, tweeted a cryptic message today. "I have the ability to crush the fun, Do not leave the forest because of the fear of snakes. good morning," he tweeted. [{d2114d66-1916-4c98-88bd-18d1bbf06339:intradmin/bisnoinkkusgs1514.JPG}] Earlier on Saturday, Indian National Lok Dal (INLD) MLA Abhay Singh Chautala said he will vote for Independent candidate Kartikeya Sharma. Maken had earlier alleged that BJP has resorted to cheap politics "stalling counting of votes" in Haryana. "Fearing the loss of face in Rajya Sabha election results-the BJP has resorted to cheap politics stalling counting of votes in Haryana. Please have a look at the Returning Officer's decision rejecting the BJP's objections Is democracy still alive in India?" he tweeted. Before the polling day, both the BJP-JJP alliance and Congress legislators were shifted to resorts to slash possibilities of poaching. While the BJP-JJP alliance had lodged their MLAs in a resort in Chandigarh, the Congress leaders were moved to a resort in Delhi. The polling to elect the members of the Upper House of the Parliament on 16 Rajya Sabha seats spread across four states took place on June 10 amid speculations of horse-trading and fears of cross-voting. Last week, 41 candidates from 11 states- Uttar Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Odisha, Madhya Pradesh, Punjab, Chhattisgarh, Uttarakhand, Jharkhand and Telangana were elected unopposed Polling for the 16 seats spread across states like Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Haryana and Karnataka was held on Friday due to the number of candidates exceeding the seats. (ANI)
At least eight people were killed when the vehicle in which they were travelling in fell into a ditch in Kanjia village of Bihar's Purnia district late on Friday night, police said. However, two people have been rescued safely. The occupants of the car were travelling from Tarabadi to Kishanganj at the time of the accident. "Eight bodies have been recovered. They were coming from Tarabadi and going to Kishanganj when it happened. Two people were safely rescued. Bodies have been sent for postmortem," police said. (ANI)
The All India United Democratic Front (AIUDF) has demanded the removal of Hitesh Dev Sarma as the National Register of Citizens (NRC) State Coordinator. The AIUDF has filed a petition before the Supreme Court seeking to sack the NRC State Coordinator. AIUDF MLA Rafiqul Islam alleged that the current NRC State Coordinator has violated the Supreme Court guidelines of the NRC updating process. "Many parties have challenged the appointment of Hitesh Dev Sarma as the NRC State Coordinator in the Supreme Court. Our party has also filed a petition before the Supreme Court. Hitesh Dev Sarma had earlier worked in the NRC office in Assam. When NRC updating works were started in Assam in 2014-15, he had worked in the NRC office. At that time, he had made some communal statements. This man is not fair, not secular-minded. He is a communal-minded man. He has made such statements by targeting a particular community," said Rafiqul Islam. The AIUDF MLA has urged the Registrar General of India (RGI) to remove Hitesh Dev Sarma from the post of the NRC State Coordinator. "The NRC updating process in Assam is going on under the supervision of the Supreme Court. According to the Supreme Court instructions, the NRC State Coordinator can't share any information with the state government. But he has violated the Supreme Court instructions, and directives. He should be sacked immediately. The NRC updating process is going on smoothly, and scientifically under the supervision of the Supreme Court. Union Home Minister Amit Shah also said this in the parliament," said Rafiqul Islam. Earlier, the AIUDF said that they will move to the Supreme Court to challenge the Assam government if the state government will file a petition seeking re-verification of the National Register of Citizens (NRC). Last month, the NRC State Coordinator lodged a complaint with the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) of Assam police against former NRC State Coordinator Prateek Hajela and some other officers alleging indulgence in criminal, anti-national activities, endangering national security. "It is suspected that the then State Coordinator Prateek Hajela willfully avoided the re-verification of remaining 33,794 persons out of 64,247 marked as 'Originally Inhabitant of Assam' of Chamaria Circle in particular and re-verification of 'OI' markings of other Circles as a whole to facilitate entry of ineligible persons' names into NRC which can be treated as not only a dereliction of duty but an act of treason for doing such an activity which is likely to threaten the national security. Pertinently Prateek Hajela, the then State Coordinator, NRC, from the very beginning had the intention to do the above acts which constitute serious criminal offence besides endangering national security," Hitesh Dev Sarma stated in the complaint copy. He requested CID to register a case under Sections 120 B, 166 A, 167, 181, 218, 420, 466 read with Sec 34 and other relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) against Prateek Hajela, the then State Coordinator along with the Officers and data entry operators and do necessary detailed investigations to book the perpetrators who are involved in the anti-national activities. (ANI)
Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Saturday inaugurated the National Museum of Customs and GST "Dharohar" in Goa as part of the Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav Iconic week of the Ministry of Finance, being celebrated from June 6 to 12. According to the Ministry of Finance, the dedication ceremony was performed in a unique manner, with the Finance Minister removing the golden sand from single piece of rock art installed at the centuries-old heritage building in which the museum is housed. The two-storey 'Blue building', which was earlier known as Alfandega, during the period of Portuguese rule in Goa, has been standing on the banks of the Mandovi River in Panaji for more than 400 years. Pankaj Chaudhary, MoS Finance and Mauvin Godinho, Minister for Transport, Tourism and Panchayat, Government of Goa were present at the inaugration ceremony. Dharohar is one of its kind museum in the country that showcases not only the artefacts seized by Indian Customs but also depicts various aspects of work performed by the Customs Department while safeguarding the economic frontiers of the country, its heritage, flora & fauna and the society. "Dharohar has 8 galleries viz: Introductory gallery, History of Taxation Gallery, Guardians of our economic frontiers gallery, Guardians of our Art & Heritage, Guardians of Flora & Fauna, Custodians of our social well being, Journey of Indirect taxes -Salt Tax to GST and the GST gallery," the ministry said. It further informed that the tour de force of Dharohar museum is a unique 'Battle of Wits' gallery which showcases the cerebral battle between the smugglers and the Customs officers. It contains chronicled seizures of antique coins, statues, endangered wildlife, weapons and narcotics. The Museum provides the rare opportunity of having a peep into the working of the Department over the years ushering in change in its methodologies to meet the emanating challenges while at the same time providing yeomen service to the Nation. Notable among its displays are the manuscript of Ain-i-Akbari intercepted by the Indian Customs at the Indo-Nepal border at Raxaul, a replica of Amin pillars from Kaurkshetra, medieval period astronomical instruments, seized metal and stone artefacts, ivory items and wildlife items. GST Gallery is a brand new addition to the Dharohar Museum. A first-of-its-kind initiative in the country, this GST Gallery takes us through the long and arduous journey to GST spanning two decades. Beginning with the Atal Behari Vajpayee Government initiating discussions on GST in 2000, the Gallery chronicles various stages and processes that paved the way for the introduction of reformed unified indirect taxation in the form of GST on 1 July 2017. An e-catalogue of the Museum contains high-resolution pictures of the various items displayed in the museum along with relevant information. This e-catalogue is downloadable using the QR Code which would serve as a ready reckoner for not just the visitors but also for the scholars of archaeology and ancient history. 'Dharohar' is an important addition to the Tourism Map of India and a must-see attraction in Goa. (ANI)
Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) on Saturday strongly condemned the violence that took place in many parts of the country on Friday over the controversial remarks on Prophet Muhammad and said that some 'Jihadi' elements are trying to mislead the people of the Muslim community, adding that India is run by its Constitution and not by the 'Sharia criminal law'. In a self-made video, VHP chief Alok Kumar said that he is satisfied that the government is taking action. "After the Friday prayers, the crowd attacked many innocent people and damaged many places across the country and the Vishwa Hindu Parishad strongly condemns this incident," said Kumar. He further said, "It is a matter of concern for all of us that some Jihadi elements amongst the Muslims are trying to take the general Muslim community on the path of violence and lawlessness." "It is a matter of concern that some Jihadi elements amongst the Muslims are trying to take the general Muslim community on the path of violence and lawlessness. It is neither good for them nor good for this country. We want to warn all those elements and everybody must understand that India is run by its own constitution and not by the Sharia criminal law," he said. "An FIR has been registered and the police is investigating the cases. We are satisfied that the government is taking action against the rioters. But there should be no negligence in these actions," added VHP chief. He further said that the entire loss which is caused to the property should be recovered from the same people who commit such acts and the process of recovery needs to be accelerated. "No mob has the right to decide who is a criminal, nor has the right to punish any criminal itself. We do not have heresy, Papacy and blasphemy laws in our country," he added. Expressing concern that if this incident of violence continues then it may also affect people of other communities, Kumar said, "India is governed by the Constitution, whoever works against it will have to be prepared for its consequences. There is also a concern that if all this goes on continuously, then its reaction may affect other societies as well and if this happens, then it will not be good for anyone, so everyone should be careful." A controversy erupted after controversial remarks made by suspended BJP leader Nupur Sharma and expelled leader Naveen Jindal on Prophet Muhammad. Nationwide protests erupted on Friday and later turned violent in many states following the incidents of stone-pelting and torching of several vehicles and vandalisation. (ANI)
Days after rectal cancer vanished without the need for the conventional therapies in patients who received immunotherapy during a clinical trial, Paras Hospitals, Gurugram, Oncology Chairman Dr. (Col.) R. Ranga Rao on Saturday said that it is not right to prematurely jump to the conclusion that a cure has been found for all cancers. "We must not prematurely jump to the conclusion that we have found a cure for all cancers, all stages, and no chemotherapy, or surgery is ever required," said Dr Rao. Dr Shuchin Bajaj, Founder, and Director of Ujala Cygnus Group of Hospitals said that adapting the therapy to Indian conditions should be considered so that even the most underprivileged communities can benefit from this treatment. Dr Rao and Dr Bajaj's remarks came after the MSKCC's clinical trial found the total disappearance of tumours in rectal cancer patients without any additional treatment in all 100 per cent of them. While speaking to ANI, Dr Rao said, "This new trial at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSKCC) in a small number of patients, with locally advanced rectal cancer patients who had MMR deficiency, has shown total disappearance of the tumour without any additional treatment in all 100 per cent of them." "This is very encouraging but we must note that long-term studies are required to understand the real impact," he added. "The drug is still investigational and the trial is limited to patients of a specific type, which constitute about four to five per cent of rectal cancers. While this is highly encouraging, we must not prematurely jump to conclusions that we have found a cure for all cancers, all stages, and no chemotherapy, or surgery is ever required," he stated. "It is well recognized that Immunotherapy with PDL 1 blockers in MMRd patients is effective. Already immunotherapy has made a big difference in the field of cancer of all types. Several earlier trials have shown encouraging responses," he further stated. While Founder and Director of Ujala Cygnus Group of Hospitals Dr Shuchin Bajaj said, "After immunotherapy, rectal cancer went away without the need for the conventional therapies. We should consider adapting the therapy to Indian conditions so that even the most underprivileged communities can benefit from this treatment." "This is, I believe, the first time in cancer history that something like this has happened. Every single patient's cancer went, undetectable by physical examination, endoscopy, PET scans, or M.R.I. scans," said Dr Bajaj. "These patients had endured arduous treatments such as chemotherapy, radiation, and, most likely, life-altering surgery that could cause bowel, urinary, and sexual problems. Some people would require colostomy bags. However, after immunotherapy, rectal cancer went away without the need for conventional therapies," he added. In what appears to be a miracle and the 'first time in history', a small clinical trial has found that every single rectal cancer patient who received an experimental treatment found that their cancer had vanished. According to New York Times, in the small clinical trial conducted by Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, 18 patients took a drug called Dostarlimab for around six months, and in the end, every one of them saw their tumours disappear. Dr Luis A. Diaz J. of New York's Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center said this was "the first time this has happened in the history of cancer". According to experts, Dostarlimab is a drug with laboratory-produced molecules and it acts as substitute antibodies in the human body. The cancer is undetectable by physical exam; endoscopy; positron emission tomography or PET scans or MRI scans, added Experts. This proves that Dostarlimab can be a 'potential' cure for one of the most deadly common cancers. According to New York Times, patients involved in the clinical trial earlier underwent treatments such as chemotherapy, radiation, and invasive surgery that could result in bowel, urinary, and even sexual dysfunction. The 18 patients went into the trial expecting to have to go through these procedures as the next step. However, to their surprise, no further treatment was needed.The findings of this trial have shocked experts and they have pointed out that complete remission in every single patient is "unheard-of". Dr Alan P. Venook, who is a colorectal cancer specialist at the University of California, said that the complete remission in every single patient is "unheard-of". He hailed the research as a "world-first". Experts stated that the research was impressive as not all of the patients suffered significant complications from the drug trial. "There were a lot of happy tears," said Oncologist Dr Andrea Cercek, describing the moment patients found out they were cancer-free as quoted by New York Times. According to doctors, the patients, during the trial, took Dostarlimab every three weeks for six months. "It is noteworthy that they were all in similar stages of their cancer. The cancer was locally advanced in the rectum but had not spread to other organs," added doctors. "At the time of this report, no patients had received chemoradiotherapy or undergone surgery, and no cases of progression or recurrence had been reported during follow-up,' researchers wrote in the study published in the media outlet. Cancer researchers who reviewed the drug told the media outlet that the treatment looks promising, but a larger-scale trial is needed. (ANI)
Syrian Christians: Life Between War and Migration

The church of the Virgin Martyr Febronia of Nisibis (Nusaybin) of Syrian Orthodox church is located in the village of Himo few kilometres to the west of Qamishli. The church was built in 2004 over a shrine that dates according to tradition from the 4th century. This is the land of early Christianity, and in the villages nearby there was once a thriving Assyrian community. But now there are few left to attend the Sunday mass.

The major cities in northeast Syria were founded during the French mandate. If you look carefully at the urban planning of Qamishli - if you can make an abstraction of the chaotic traffic and the multiple electricity lines hanging across the streets - you might notice a modern urban grid: the city was planned by the French in the 1920's to provide shelter to Assyrians surviving the Ottoman deportations and massacres. Similarly, towns such as Kobane (Ayn al-Arab) or Tall Abyad were founded by Armenian deportees. Both Assyrians and Armenians were survivors of massacres during the First World War, originating from what is today the eastern and southern provinces of Turkey.

Syriacs, Assyrians, Chaldeans and Armenians constituted the majority of the urban population from the 1920's until the 1970's. Yet, migration dating from the 1950's has decreased their numbers dramatically. Gabriyel Moushe is one of the political active figures in Qamishli. His ancestors were from the area of Tur Abdin, today in southeast Turkey, and were deported during the Sayfo to what later became Syria. Sayfo in Assyro-Chaldean means "sword" and refers to the deportations and massacres that the Syriac people suffered during the First World War.

He explains how Assyrians and other Christian community members started out-migration from northern Syria: "Bedouins used to attack Assyrian villages and the state did not protect them." Next came the nationalization of land that accompanied "Arabization process". Assyrians were regarded by Baath and other pan-Arab ideologues to be "Arab Christians" rather than a distinct ethnic group with its specific language, culture, and national identity. As a result, Assyrian schools, social clubs, and other institutions were shut down. His own organization, the Assyrian (Ashuri) Democratic Organization was founded in 1957 as a reaction to this Arabization policies, only to be declared illegal in 1958.

"In Khabour area, there were 43 Assyrian villages. Land reforms under the Baath made their agriculture businesses go bankrupt." But the worse came with the conflict: "After ISIS attacked those villages, hardly 700 Assyrians are left in the region," Moshe said. Before the conflict, the Syrian Jazira region had 150 thousand Syriacs, while now only 40-45 thousand remain.

The Armenian Apostolic Church of Sourp Hagop is a huge although unfinished construction. The old church was to be replaced by a much larger edifice, only the war in Syria stopped its continuation. Dr. Serop Pakradian tells me that his grandparents were from Sasun, like many other Armenian community members who originate in the Armenian Highlands. Father Levon Yeghyaian receives me in his office and explains the difficulties of his community in Qamishli; the city had 1800 families before the conflict erupted, now only 700 families remain. In neighbouring Hassakah there are only 89 families, while in Derik (al-Mailikiyah) 69 Armenian families live.

To illustrate the difficulties of daily life, the church in Qamishli is under the jurisdiction of the Armenian diocese of Aleppo. "Before, travelling to Aleppo took 4-5 hours" says father Yeghyaian. "Now one must take the southern route and it might take 15 sometime 18 hours." Then he added: "We live here among five different armies, and we need to find a way with all of them." We discuss specific problems of the Armenian community in northeast Syria, living in conditions of war and instability, pushing youth to migrate: "Armenian youth here must learn Arabic and Kurdish, yet we also must motivate them to preserve our Armenian identity. How to do it? By maintaining our schools, clubs, and community network."

Talking about migration of the youth, father Yeghyaian says: "we must be realistic". Young people in Qamishli also have smartphones and do watch through their social networks what others are doing elsewhere. "How could they not want to leave?" He asks rhetorically. Yet, he adds: "But we also want to keep our children in our community. That is why we try support them to start their own business or try to find jobs."

What future to Assyrians, Armenians?

Gabriel Moushe says that his party -- the Assyrian (Ashuri) Democratic Organization - does not participate in the Autonomous Administration and is critical towards the ruling Kurdish force. "Although we are part of the Ittilaf (National Coalition of Syria) we are open to dialogue with the Autonomous Administration and the Democratic Union Party (PYD). We discussed with them to form an administration independent from external forces. We also demanded real partnership among Syrian forces. But they are copying the experience of Baath in one-party system plus "national patriotic fronts" as decoration." He concludes: "I do not want the ideology of Ocalan. We also want positive relations with Turkey -- not that we love Turkey -- we did not forget the Sayfo -- but it is the only way to stabilize our region."

Gabriel Moushe shares the sentiment of many others that "the Autonomous Administration is temporary." He nevertheless sees numerous positive elements in the Autonomous Administration: "Our region is much better than those under the regime or that of Jabhat al-Nusra; the secularism, and promoting women to power positions; also, they do not have extreme nationalist trends" and promote minority rights. He says that in the Middle East "the Kurdish question is very important; it is the key to achieving rights of other minorities."

What future to Assyrians, Armenians, I ask Saleh Muslim, a former leader of PYD. "It depends on them," he answers. "They should not abandon their land. They should resist. We believe our presence here depends on our co-existence; we complete each other." Then he concludes: "If Assyrians, Armenians want to return, then they have a place in our hearts."

Despite the positive attitude of the Kurdish forces towards Christian communities -- this is not the case of Islamist militias associated with the opposition -- yet long term instability is pushing young people to migrate. Many do so to escape military service, or to continue their education abroad. Not only Christian communities are migrating, but the same is the case for Kurds and Arabs. Yet, what is specific with Christians is that their percentage of the total Syrian population dropped from an estimated 13% before the conflict, to a mere 3% today.

Once the dust settles, will there be any Christian communities -- Assyrians, Chaldeans, Syriacs, Greeks or Armenians -- still living in the towns and the villages of the Middle East?
Union Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment Ramdas Athawale on Saturday said that the gates of development opened for Jammu and Kashmir after the abrogation of Article 370 in 2019. The Minister said this while interacting with the media during a press briefing held at Convention Centre in Jammu. He said that the Government of India wants a peaceful and developed Jammu and Kashmir and is committed to developing Jammu and Kashmir on all fronts. "After the abrogation of Article 370 in 2019, the gates of development have been opened for Jammu and Kashmir which is evident from the fact that all the centrally sponsored schemes and programmes are now implemented in Jammu and Kashmir be that the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana, Jan Dhan Yojana, MUDRA, PM Ujjwala Yojana, Scholarship Schemes for Students, Welfare Schemes for Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and Other Backward Classes," he said. Athawale further said that a hundred per cent implementation of many central schemes in Jammu and Kashmir is witness to the fact that government is steadfast to provide social stability at all fronts be that housing, livelihood to the people of Union Territory. The Minister further informed that under Prime Minister Narendra Modi implementation of the social welfare schemes has picked up the pace. He also informed that between 2019-22 (June), 1720 De-addiction centres have been either funded or established under Financial Assistance for the establishment of De-addiction centres. Athawale said that under PMAY (Urban) in Jammu Division, 18590 are the approved beneficiaries out of which 4568 houses have been constructed, under PMAY (Rural), 131945 have been approved, out of which 80008 have been constructed in Jammu Division. "Under PM Jan Dhan Yojana, 2641995 accounts have been created in Jammu and Kashmir in which 1192312 have alone been created in Jammu division and under PM Ujjwala Yojana, 1316924 gas connections have been provided," the Minister informed the media. Athawale also took a review meeting related to the implementation of social welfare schemes in Jammu and Kashmir with the senior officials of the Social Welfare Department that was attended by the Director-General, the Social Welfare Department of Jammu and Kashmir, Vivek Sharma besides other senior officials of the department. Athawale will also take part in the Nelson Mandela Noble Peace Awards Ceremony at Hari Niwas Palace in Jammu. (ANI)
Out of 30 topics discussed, 27 have been resolved in the 25th Western Regional Council meeting chaired by Union Home and Cooperation Minister Amit Shah in Diu on Saturday. As per the Home Ministry statement, only three topics are left for further discussion. "It shows the resolve and commitment of the government led by Narendra Modi towards the all-round development of the nation in the spirit of cooperative federalism," the ministry said. While attending the meeting, the Home Minister stressed the need for early investigation of rape and sexual offences against women and children and stringent punishment in a time-bound manner in these cases, the statement further said Shah further directed that "additional Director General of Police level officers, if possible women officers, should be entrusted with the responsibility of monitoring the investigation of all such cases in the Police Headquarters of each state". Presiding over the Western Zonal Council, Shah said "work should be done towards providing mobile connectivity to all the villages in the Western region within a year". "Cash deposit facility through Common Service Centers should be extended in a time-bound manner and all banks should be linked to the platform and this should be reviewed quarterly." The issue of rates of water supplied to Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu by the Gujarat Water Supply and Sewerage Board was also resolved in the council meeting, said the statement. As per the vision given by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to expand the banking network in rural areas, the statement said, it was decided that the Department of Posts will introduce additional 20,715 India Post Payment Bank Live Touch Points which will provide banking facilities in addition to regular postal services. "Co-operative banks and other banks including India Post Payments Bank should ensure that every unbanked village in the Western region is provided with banking facilities within 5 kms within the next year. "States should include schemes of all states other than centrally sponsored schemes on the Direct Benefit Transfer platform," added the statement. Noting that the regional councils provide a forum for discussion in a structured manner on issues affecting one or more states or issues between the Center and the states, it was also decided that the meetings of the Zonal Council should be used by the states and UTs to share their best practices. In the last eight years, under the guidance of Prime Minister Modi, the number of meetings of the Zonal Councils and its Standing Committees have increased by three times. There have been 18 meetings of various Zonal Councils and 24 of their Standing Committees in the last eight years, whereas in the corresponding period of last eight years only six and eight meetings were held respectively. Regional councils help in developing a coordinated approach through discussion and exchange of views between states on important issues of social and economic development. (ANI)
The Central Sector includes Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand.

He also interacted with troops and complimented them for their resoluteness and high morale.

"Army chief Gen General Manoj Pande visited forward areas of Central Sector and was briefed by commanders on the ground on the prevailing security situation. COAS also interacted with troops and complimented them for their resoluteness and high morale," the Indian Army said in a tweet.

Last month, Army Chief visited forward areas along the Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir, after taking over as the Chief of the Indian Army.

The COAS was briefed on the security situation and operational preparedness. The Formation Commanders also briefed the COAS on the existing Ceasefire Agreement on the LC, development works on field fortifications, counter-infiltration grid, operational preparedness, and Army-citizen connect in border areas. (ANI)
A case under section 120(B), 302, 307, 326, 201, 34 of IPC has been made against 30 soldiers of 21 Para Special Forces including a Major, Nagaland police chief T John Longkumer told the media at a press conference here.

The charge sheet was submitted in the District and Sessions Court, Mon district, on May 30 through Assistant Public Prosecutor.

Following the incident, a case was registered at Tizit police station and a separate case was registered by State Crime Police Station against unknown army personnel under various sections of IPC. The investigation was handed over to SIT.

Longkumer said that the CID report seeking sanction for prosecution was forwarded to the Department of Military Affairs in the first week of April, 2022 and a remainder was sent last month.

On December 4, 2021, soldiers from the 21 Para Special Forces army unit opened fire in Mon district in a case of mistaken identity.

The DGP said that the soldiers of 21 Para Special Forces "didn't follow standard operation procedures".

Fourteen civilians and one soldier of 21 Para Special Forces died in the violent incidents in Mon district on December 4 and 5 last year, the Nagaland police chief said.

The SIT examined and recorded statements of the officer and jawans of 21 Para Special Forces who were allegedly involved in the incident.

"The SIT said the jawans did not follow standard operating procedures and rules of engagement. Their disproportional firing led to the immediate killing of villagers," the DGP said. (ANI)
Bhoomi Pujan ceremony was held in the presence of Bhubaneswar MP Aparajita Sarangi, local Congress MLA Suresh Rautroy and senior officials of IIT Bhubaneswar.

The new KV campus is set to complete in two years at the worth of Rs 25 crore, which will provide qualitative education to IIT teaching and non-teaching faculties' children and local students in the Jatni assembly constituency. The new KV campus will educate students from Classes 1 to 12.

Apart from it, Education Minister Pradhan also inaugurated a temporary KV building today. The temporary campus will facilitate classes 1 to 5 for students during academic sessions 2022-23.

Speaking on this occasion, Dharmendra Pradhan said, "Atleast 15000 PM Shri School will be set up in the country, while over 500-600 PM Shri School will be set up in Odisha.

In line with the NEP2020, Bal Vatika will be started in this KV and will provide quality education. (ANI)
All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) president Asaduddin Owaisi on Saturday said that his party will fight the assembly polls in Gujarat. He stated that AIMIM has been preparing for the assembly polls since municipal polls in Ahmedabad and Surat. Addressing a press conference in Gujarat's Bhuj, Owaisi said, "We will fight Gujarat Assembly elections with full strength. However, we have not decided on how many seats. I believe that Sabir Kabliwala (AIMIM Gujarat chief) will make the right decision in this regard." The Hyderabad MP said that he has come to Gujarat with the intention to strengthen the party. "Our candidate will also stand from Bhuj," he said. Notably, Gujarat will go for assembly polls this year. The Aam Aadmi Party is keeping its hopes alive following the result in the February 2021 Surat Municipal Corporation (SMC) elections, in which the BJP won 93 seats and the Aam Aadmi Party won 27, while the Congress earned nil seats. Owaisi also lashed out at the Centre over the communal clashes that took place in Ranchi. He said, "It's imperative for democracy to ensure that there is no violence and it's the government's duty to stop it. There was firing on people in Ranchi. This shouldn't have happened. An FIR has been filed against Nupur Sharma for such comments and the law will take its own course. We don't need her apology." Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren on Friday urged everyone in his state to stay away from agitations amid clashes in the capital city of Ranchi over recent controversial remarks by suspended Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) spokesperson Nupur Sharma and expelled party leader Naveen Kumar Jindal. Owing to the violence in some parts of Ranchi, the district administration imposed a curfew under Section 144 of the CrPC. Notably, a controversy erupted in the first week of June over suspended BJP spokesperson Nupur Sharma's remarks against the minorities. Some Gulf countries have also lodged their protest. However, the Central government reiterated that the controversial remarks concerning Prophet Muhammad do not reflect the views of the Government and added that action has been taken by concerned quarters against those who made the comment. (ANI)
Exploiting a wave of perceived angst of smaller parties and Independents propping up the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government, the opposition BJP in Maharashtra dealt an embarrassing blow to the ruling alliance in the Rajya Sabha elections despite lacking in numbers. Several members of the MVA grudgingly complimented Leader of Opposition Devendra Fadnavis, with Nationalist Congress Party supremo Sharad Pawar even crediting him with pulling off a miracle, after the BJP won the crucial sixth seat by trouncing its former ally Shiv Sena's candidate. Three BJP nominees won Rajya Sabha seats, Union Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal, BJP Kisan Morcha General Secretary Anil Bonde and state party spokesperson and ex-MP Dhananjay Mahadik from Kolhapur, with the latter routing Sena's Sanjay Pawar, also from Kolhapur. The MVA netted three RS seats Sena chief spokesperson Sanjay Raut, NCP's ex-Union minister Praful Patel and Congress' Imran Pratapgarhi but the Sena's hopes to ensure Pawar's victory were ignominiously dashed. A daylong of post-mortem comments by the dejected Sena leaders largely threw up the usual causes, with Raut blaming allurements, big bucks and threats that dissuaded several Independents and smaller parties from backing Sanjay Pawar despite assurances. BJP's Mahadik romped home with 41 votes while Sena's Pawar got 39 votes with the minimum winning quota being 41 for all the contestants in the electoral college comprising 288 MLAs. The actual voting strength reduced as one Sena MLA died recently, while two from NCP were denied temporary bail to cast vote. Similarly, Goyal and Bonde each got 48 votes, Pratapgarhi secured 44 votes, Patel netted 43 votes and Raut scraped through with 41 as one Sena vote was rendered invalid early on Saturday by the Election Commission of India (ECI). Raut claimed that the MVA was deprived of three votes of the Bahujan Vikas Aghadi led by Hitendra Thakur, and some Independents like Sanjay Patil and Devendra Bhuyar, though the latter denied his contentions. "We know who they are, we have the list... There were some horses' who were ready to be traded. It's not the people's mandate but that of horse-trading'," Raut said, vowing to improve MVA's performance in the upcoming elections. He also accused the ECI of favouring the BJP by invalidating one Sena vote though the MVA had objected to two votes of BJP's Sudhir Mungantiwar and Independent Ravi Rana, but no action was taken on this. Senior leader Sharad Pawar said that he was not shocked or surprised by the outcome, especially since all the MVA candidates polled the votes as per their quota. "Only Patel got an extra vote and we don't know where it came from, it was not the MVA's vote but from the opposite side," he said. He admitted that the gap was big for the sixth seat, and even though the MVA made all-out efforts to bridge the gap, it did not succeed. "I must say Fadnavis knows how to keep his people together. He has performed a miracle' despite the numbers," said Pawar. On the BJP side, boisterous celebrations erupted in Mumbai, Nagpur and Kolhapur besides other towns following Mahadik's victory, with Fadnavis prophesying that the "BJP's winning spree has begun again and will continue till 2024 when it would oust the unholy MVA which was formed out of backstabbing' after the 2019 Assembly polls". Now, with the RS elections over, all the parties are concentrating on the June 20 biennial elections to the Maharashtra Legislative Council, with more trepidations in store for the MVA as there are 13 candidates vying for 10 seats, including 5 from the BJP, and one Independent supported by it vis-a-vis MVA's 7 nominees. --IANS qn/arm ( 617 Words) 2022-06-11-19:00:05 (IANS)
Slamming the Congress and the BJP for "looting the country", Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Saturday said the Britons enslaved India for 200 years but after independence both the parties made the people slave. Addressing a gathering here, the Chief Minister said both the Congress and the BJP played "friendly match" with each other for plundering the public wealth. He said that like the Britons, they also robbed the people of their rights but people had no other option except electing them again and again. Mann said but now in form of AAP people have found a catalyst of change in the country and the people are rejecting both the parties by opting for the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP). The Chief Minister said the winds of change that started from Delhi under Arvind Kejriwal had then engulfed Punjab and now it is ready to sweep the entire country. He said AAP is ready to storm Himachal Pradesh adding that the Congress and the BJP will be routed out from the hill state. Mann urged the people to oust then for carving out a new and prosperous Himachal. Training his guns against Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, the Chief Minister said even after crossing 50 years of age, the scion of Nehru-Gandhi family is still a youth leader. He said a youth is debarred from getting government job after crossing 37 years of age but on the other hand a 94-year-old person contests the poll for becoming MLA or MP which is completely unjustified. Mann said AAP is pivot of change in the country a reflection of which is that more than 70 MLAs in Punjab are less than 35 years of age. The Chief Minister said that while the successive governments had turned schools into mid-day meal buildings, the AAP governments at Delhi and Punjab have transformed them into temple of learning from where job-givers and not job-seekers are being produced. Describing quality education as panacea of all ills, he said that it is a powerful tool which can only transform the lives of people. Mann said the people should support AAP to empower a common man through quality education as being done in Delhi and Punjab. Striking an emotional chord with people of Himachal Pradesh, the Chief Minister recalled the days when he visited the state. He said Dev Bhoomi Himachal Pradesh is a blessed land and he is fortunate to be here. Mann said the youth of Himachal Pradesh is very talented and the time has come when their enormous potential is tapped for the progress of state and prosperity of its people. --IANS vg/pgh ( 450 Words) 2022-06-11-19:04:03 (IANS)
"Police in Anantnag have arrested two persons identified as Rahil Ahmed Malik, son of Gulzar Ahmed Malik and Shabir Ahmed Rather, son of Ghulam Hassan Rather -- both residents of Mehmodabad at a checkpoint established at Khudahmam Dooru," police said.

Incriminating materials, arms and ammunition including one Pistol, one Magazine and 11 Pistol rounds have been recovered from their possession.

Police have registered an FIR and further investigation has been initiated.

--IANS zi/skp/

( 106 Words)

2022-06-11-20:20:03 (IANS)
After the Congress expelled MLA Kuldeep Bishnoi on Saturday from all party positions, he took a jibe at the party and said that the rules of the party existed only for some leaders while there were exceptions for others. "Congress also has rules for some leaders and exceptions for others. Rules are applied selectively. Indiscipline has been repeatedly ignored in the past. In my case, I listened to my soul and acted on my morals," he tweeted. He also stressed on the party's inaction against other critical opportunities. "Had @incindia acted this swiftly & strongly in 2016 and on every other critical opportunity they've missed, they wouldn't have been in such dire straits," he added in another tweet. Bishnoi who cross-voted in the Rajya Sabha polls in Haryana was expelled from all party positions including his membership of the Congress Working Committee (Special Invitee). The expulsion came after Congress candidate Ajay Maken lost the Rajya Sabha elections to media baron Kartikeya Sharma, the BJP-backed independent candidate, by a "narrow margin", a huge shock for the grand old party which was confident of winning the seat. Polling was held on June 10 to elect two members to the Upper House of Parliament from Haryana. BJP's Krishan Lal Panwar scored a comfortable victory with 31 votes, leaving the battle for the second seat between Maken and Sharma. (ANI)
Pakistan's ongoing negotiations with the terrorist group Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan is making young lawmakers in the country furious as Islamabad has already agreed to release hundreds of detained and convicted TTP members and withdraw court cases against them, local media reported. Under the negotiation, a large portion of thousands of Pakistani troops stationed in the erstwhile Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) -- where the TTP first emerged as an umbrella organization of small Taliban factions in 2007 -- will be withdrawn. However, the two sides have yet to agree on retracting democratic reforms and the merger of FATA into Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and whether thousands of TTP terrorists can return with their arms and keep their organization intact. Talking to Gandhara, a news portal, lawyer Fazal Khan said he Feel furious following Pakistan's ongoing peace negotiations TTP as his eldest son, eighth-grader Sahibzada Omar Khan, was killed in the TTP's most horrific attack. On December 16, 2014, a group of TTP terrorists stormed the Army Public School in Peshawar, the capital of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province, he added, saying they massacred Sahibzada and 131 other students. Khan is not alone in questioning the mostly opaque talks, which senior Pakistani officials say are aimed at ending the TTP's 14-year insurgency. A deal between Islamabad and the TTP now appears to be in sight after the group declared an indefinite cease-fire this month following months of parleys brokered by the Afghan Taliban, Gandhara reported. Moreover, Islamabad has also agreed to implement Islamic Shari'a law in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa's Malakand region lately. After the Taliban seized power in August, the TTP launched an offensive regime targeting Pakistani troops in the tribal areas. A recent UN report said some 4,000 of its members might be sheltering there. Islamabad also won respite from TTP attacks as Pakistani officials pushed to reconcile the group through talks, which resulted in a month-long cease-fire in November last year. "They will only gain strength and will be able to run their militant campaign more effectively," Mohsin Dawar, a young lawmaker who represents North Waziristan in the Pakistani parliament, said of the possible fallout from a peace deal. "If the TTP foot soldiers won't benefit from the impending deal, they are likely to switch over to Bahadur's group or move on to join Daesh," he said, referring to Islamic State-Khorasan (IS-K) by its Arabic acronym. "These talks will have far-reaching and very dangerous results because violence will continue." "If the government goes ahead with this agreement, we will hasten our resistance," he said. A 57-member jirga of notable tribal leaders negotiating with the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) has returned to Pakistan without any major breakthrough over the group's demand for the reversal of FATA's merger with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa The jirga consists of tribal elders, politicians, and parliamentarians who met with senior TTP leaders at Kabul's Inter-Continental Hotel for two days and held threadbare discussions over demands, including the most contentious issue of the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA)'s merger. (ANI)
US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin on Friday underlined the important role of India and other partner countries for peace in the Indo-Pacific region, which he described as a "priority theatre" for Washington. Speaking at the Shangri-La Dialogue here, he explained how the US commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific is at the heart of American national security strategies, and the power of the partnerships that regional nations have built with the US forms the core for a peaceful world. "We're also weaving closer ties with other partners. And I'm especially thinking of India, the world's largest democracy. We believe that its growing military capability and technological prowess can be a stabilizing force in the region," Austin said. American strategists no longer talk about the "US pivot to Asia," said Austin while adding that the Indo-Pacific is Washington's "priority theatre" with more than 300,000 American service members in the region working with allies and partners to ensure the rules-based international order is maintained. He has noted that US partnerships with Indo-Pacific nations have grown and matured. "We've moved together toward our shared vision for the region," he said. "The journey that we've made together in the past year only underscores a basic truth: In today's interwoven world, we're stronger when we find ways to come together." The US Defence Secretary underlined how the United States works with treaty allies Japan, Australia, New Zealand, South Korea and the Philippines. "America also works closely with the members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations and the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue group alongside India, Japan and Australia." He said the US is doing exercises and training with its partners and allies for interoperability in the Indo-Pacific. "So we've stepped up the complexity, the jointness and the scale of our combined exercises with our allies and partners," he said. "Last spring, the USS Theodore Roosevelt Carrier Strike Group rotated through the Indian Ocean and we conducted simultaneous joint operations with the Indian Navy and the Indian Air Force has integrated air power and anti-submarine warfare," he added. Austin's address comes a day after the US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin met with Chinese Defense Minister Gen. Wei Fenghe to discuss US-China defence relations.The two met on the fringes of the Shangri-La Dialogue. The two discussed global and regional security issues and the bilateral defence relationship between the United States and China. They spent most of the meeting discussing Taiwan.On the global and regional security issues, the two discussed North Korea and the challenges in Northeast Asia. They also discussed the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Austin and Wei discussed the need for crisis communication between the two militaries. Austin urged the Chinese Army to participate more proactively in crisis communications and crisis management mechanisms. "General Wei was responsive to that," the official said. Austin reiterated to Wei that there is no change in US policy toward Taiwan. He spelt out the US policy, "which is that we are [to] remain committed to our 'One China' policy as enumerated in the Taiwan Relations Act and the Six Assurances, the Three Joint Communiques," the official said. Austin also made it clear that the United States does not support any unilateral changes to the status quo, and the United States does not support Taiwan's independence. (ANI)
Pakistani Foreign Ministry on Friday rejected Washington's report on the deteriorating religious freedom in Pakistan, saying that it is an "arbitrary" assessment of the prevailing rights situation in the country. "The inherent problem with such kinds of reports, unilateral in nature, is that they are devoid of the element of constructive engagement," Pakistan Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Asim Iftikhar Ahmad said in a media briefing. Such reports often do not fully take into account the ground realities and efforts that are being undertaken by a country, and are not very helpful in advancing this discussion, he added. "At the same time, we have seen that such reports are invariably lopsided. You can see clearly some double standards in these reports, in terms of the problems of human rights in different countries and different situations, and the way they are portrayed in these reports," he said. Pakistan is committed to the respect for human rights which are universal in nature, Ahmad said, adding that it is deeply dedicated to ensuring the respect for human rights and religious freedoms in the country. The foreign ministry spokesperson said Pakistan has taken a lot of reforms to promote and protect the rights of religious minorities and it continues to engage constructively with all its partners on these matters. The US Commission on International Religious Freedom's 2022 Annual Report recommended redesignating Pakistan as a "country of particular concern", and accused the country of engaging in systematic, ongoing, and egregious violations of religious freedom, as defined by the International Religious Freedom Act. Activists say human rights in Pakistan records have touched a new low with several media reports and global bodies reflecting the dire situation for women, minorities, children, and media persons in the country. In Sindh, forced conversions and attacks on minority communities have become even more rampant. Forced conversion of minor Hindu, Sikh, and Christian girls, always under duress, has become an increasingly common phenomenon in the country. (ANI)
The twelfth WTO Ministerial Conference is all set to begin on June 12 in Geneva, Switzerland after a gap of almost five years, the Ministry of Commerce and Industry said on Saturday. The key areas of discussions and negotiations this year's conference include WTO's response to the pandemic, Fisheries subsidies negotiations, Agriculture issues including Public Stockholding for Food security, WTO Reforms and Moratorium on Custom Duties on Electronic Transmission. A strong Indian delegation at the Conference is being headed by Piyush Goyal, Union Minister for Commerce and Industry, Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution and Textiles. "India has a vital stake in protecting the interests of all stakeholders in the country as well as the interests of the developing and poor nations that look up to the leadership of India at multilateral forums including WTO," the Commerce Ministry said in a statement. In the agriculture sector, in May 2022, the DG-WTO brought three draft texts on agriculture, trade and food security and exemption of the World Food Programme from export restrictions for negotiations. India has reservations about some of the provisions in the draft decisions and has been engaging in the process of discussions and negotiations in order to be able to preserve the rights under the Agreement on Agriculture without undermining the existing Ministerial mandates. An important issue under negotiation at the WTO relates to protection of India's food grain procurement programme at Minimum Support Prices (MSP), the ministry said. Such programmes involve purchase from farmers at administered prices and are key to support to farmers and consumers in the country. WTO rules limit the subsidy that can be provided to such products being procured. This issue is being negotiated at the WTO by the G-33, coalition of developing countries of which India is a key member, and the African Group which have come together along with the ACP group in submitting a proposal on permanent solution to the issue of public stockholding for food security purposes on May 31, 2022. In the negotiations, improvements are being sought by developing countries over the Ministerial Decision adopted at the Ninth Ministerial Conference of the WTO in Bali in December 2013 where Members agreed to negotiate a permanent solution on the issue of public stockholding for food security purposes by the 11th Ministerial Conference of the WTO. It was agreed that in the interim, until a permanent solution is reached, Members would exercise due restraint (commonly termed as 'peace clause') in raising disputes in respect of public stockholding programmes for food security purposes instituted before 7th December 2013, even if countries exceeded their permissible limits. "Another issue under discussion relates to additional disciplines on export restrictions on agricultural products. The proponents on export restrictions are seeking outcome on two issues: (i) exemption of foodstuffs purchased for non-commercial humanitarian purposes by the World Food Programme (WFP) from the application of export restrictions, and (ii) advance notification of export restrictive measures, including improving compliance with existing notification requirements," the ministry said. Under the provisions of the relevant WTO rules, WTO Members can temporarily impose export prohibitions or restrictions to prevent or relieve critical shortages of foodstuffs or other products essential to the country. India has concerns with making notification requirements burdensome for developing country Members in view of the sensitivities regarding shortages, price escalations and the implications of providing advance notice of such measures on the effectiveness of policies. With reference to contributions to WFP, India has been a significant contributor to the WFP over the years and has not imposed export restrictions for WFP procurement, at the same time extending support to neighbours with food supplies. Blanket exemptions for the WFP is a concern for India in view of domestic food security. Other areas of discussion in agriculture are issues relating to market access, special safeguard mechanism for developing countries to protect domestic agricultural producers against import surges and sudden price falls, through additional import duties, on the lines of a similar safeguard presently available to many developed and few developing countries. India is keen to finalize the fisheries agreement in the upcoming MC-12 because irrational subsidies and overfishing by many countries are hurting Indian fishermen and their livelihood. India strongly believes that it should not repeat the mistakes made during the Uruguay Round that allowed a few members unequal and trade-distorting entitlements in agriculture. "It unfairly constrained less developed members who did not have the capacity and resources to support their industry and farmers," the Commerce Ministry said. India continues to argue that fisheries are a common endowment to humanity, a global public common. "Therefore, the sharing of such resources should be equitable and just. Any imbalance in the agreement would bind us to current fishing arrangements, which may not meet everyone's future requirements." "For sustainability, big subsidizers must take greater responsibility to reduce their subsidies and fishing capacities. Any agreement must recognize that different countries are at various stages of development and that current fishing arrangements reflect their current economic capacities. Needs will change with time as countries develop. Any agreement will have to provide for balancing current and future requirements to exploit fisheries in marine waters and the high seas," the statement said. According to the statement, countries like India cannot be expected to sacrifice their future policy space because some members provided considerable subsidies to overexploit fisheries resources and are able to continue to engage in unsustainable fishing. India needs Special and Differential Treatment to protect the livelihoods of poor fishers and address food security concerns of a nation, have the necessary policy space for developing the fisheries sector, and sufficient time for to put in place systems to implement the disciplines under Over Capacity and Over Fishing, Illegal, Unreported Unregulated and Over Fished. India believes that the fisheries agreement has to be seen in the context of existing international instruments and the laws of the sea. The sovereign rights of coastal States to explore and manage the living resources within their maritime jurisdiction, enshrined in international instruments, must be protected. Protection of the environment has been ingrained in the Indian ethos for ages and has been repeatedly emphasized in various international forums. India is committed to concluding the negotiations so long as it provides space for equitable growth and freedom in developing fishing capacities for the future without locking members into disadvantageous arrangements in perpetuity. On the reform front, India believes that WTO reforms discussions must focus on strengthening its fundamental principles, preserving Special and Differential Treatment (S&DT) including consensus-based decision making, non-discrimination, special and differential treatment, at this juncture and should neither result in preserving inherited inequities nor should they worsen the imbalances. Among the reform proposals, the most consequential is the US-EU-Japan trilateral initiative, announced at the MC 11. India led the initiative to present a developing country reform proposal (Developing countries reform paper "Strengthening the WTO to promote development and inclusivity" in Aug. 2019 which was co-sponsored by Bolivia, Cuba, Ecuador, Malawi, South Africa, Tunisia, Uganda, Zimbabwe and Oman. The paper has been revised a number of times with the latest one submitted in Feb. 2022 to keep the reform discussion alive in the run-up to MC12. India introduced a proposal in November 2021 wherein India took the lead to question the proposal from the European Union and Brazil, both on the process and its objectives. It did not favor an open-ended exercise on WTO reforms, without first agreeing on the elements of the reform package. It proposed that the Members first need to agree on the elements of the reform package, precise nature of the process to be adopted to carry out the discussions, before the Ministers can agree to green-light the WTO reform work. India believes that the reform process and its outcomes should not alter, or in any manner affect, Members' rights and obligations under the WTO Agreements and agreed mandates and that the agreed rules of procedure of the General Council shall apply to the review process. The outcome of WTO's response to the pandemic is one of the priority items for MC12 which includes TRIPS Waiver proposal. "In June 2021, the GC Chair initiated a facilitator led process with Ambassador David Walker of New Zealand as the facilitator. He identified six verticals for work in this area - export restrictions; trade facilitation, regulatory coherence, co-operation and tariffs; role of services; transparency and monitoring; collaboration with other organizations; and framework to respond more effectively to future pandemics," the release said. "India is currently engaged in deliberations with various members and groups to build a consensus for a balanced outcome on all the aforesaid elements to address the concerns of all members. India has concerns on additional 'permanent' disciplines in the WTO agreements to respond to the pandemic. India does not want to conflate the challenges of pandemic to areas like market access, reforms, export restrictions, and transparency. India wants that the WTO response needs to address supply side constraints for the WTO's response to pandemic and outcomes be credible," it added. Regarding intellectual property, India seeks: (i) a recognition of the difficulties faced by developing countries and LDCs in utilising TRIPS flexibilities to address the COVID-19 pandemic, and (ii) a reaffirmation of the TRIPS waiver decision under the responses' declaration. (ANI)
At least five Taliban members and one civilian were killed in an IED blast in the Spin Boldak district of Afghanistan. The blast took place at around 8 am on Thursday morning. Taking to Twitter, Reporterly said, "Five Taliban members and a civilian were killed and another member of this group was wounded in a roadside IED blast in Spin Boldak district of #Kandahar, local sources reported. According to sources, the blast took place at around 0800hrs on Thursday morning June 09." The cases of blast in Afghanistan is not new. Earlier, on Monday, a blast took place in Police District-4 of Kabulfrom with explosives carried on a bicycle, the Kabul security department said. Security forces have arrived in the area to investigate the matter, reported TOLO News. Earlier, three explosions rocked the capital of Balkh province on May 25, leaving at least 9 people killed and 15 others injured. Meanwhile, on the same day, a blast at Masjid Sharif Hazrat Zakaria mosque in Kabul City left at least two worshippers dead, according to officials. In response to the attacks in Balkh and Kabul, the US Special Envoy for Women and Human Rights in Afghanistan, Rina Amiri said that the Taliban must ensure people's security and prevent atrocities. "The heinous attacks in Mazar & Kabul serve no purpose but to inflict further devastation on innocent Afghans who have suffered enough," Amiri tweeted. "Preventing these horrid attacks and addressing the security & needs of all Afghans should be what the Taliban focus on," she added. The first two explosions in Balkh province targeted passenger vehicles in the Hazara neighbourhood, local media reported citing local sources. Additionally, earlier, an explosion at a traffic square in Kabul's fourth police district had killed at least 30 people and injured others at the Hazrat Zekriya Mosque. The Emergency hospital said that 22 people had been injured and that 5 of them had died on their way before reaching the hospital. No group or individual has claimed responsibility for the blast in Hazrat Zakariya. The Taliban faced a severe security threat from the Khorasan branch of ISIS, which has been active in Afghanistan since 2014. Earlier, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres condemned the recent attacks in Afghanistan that claimed the lives of numerous civilians, among them members of the Hazara Shia community and several children." (ANI)
The father-son duo applied for an extension in the bail plea and the judge of the special central court reserved the verdict after arguments from the prosecutor and the suspects concluded, ARY News reported.

Before Court's verdict, many developments took place in this case which directly or indirectly affect the case. The prosecutor in the money laundering case against Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, fell unconscious amid a hearing in a banking court.

The prosecutor, Farooq Bajwa was moved to a services hospital for medical treatment. However, he has recovered and is healthy.

Furthermore, the Sharif family's renowned servant Malik Maqsood famously known as 'Maqsood Chaprasi' had passed away on Thursday. Maqsood was nominated in the money laundering case against Shehbaz Sharif and his family.

Former Accountability advisor Shehzad Akbar had claimed that millions of unaccounted-for money were found in Maqsood's bank accounts, reported ARY News.

Moreover, on May 10, a former Federal Investigation Agency Director Dr Rizwan, who was investigating the money laundering case against Shehbaz Sharif, had passed away due to a heart attack.

Earlier, on June 5, the court extended their interim bail until today. During the hearing, Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) requested the court to allow the arrest of the Sharif duo.

Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) in December 2021 had submitted the challan against Shehbaz and Hamza before the special court for their alleged involvement in laundering an amount of Rs 16 billion in the sugar scam case.

The FIA report added that the amount was kept in "hidden accounts" and given to Shehbaz in a personal capacity.

The FIA had booked them in the case under sections of the Pakistan Penal Code, the Prevention of Corruption Act, and the Anti-Money Laundering Act in November 2020. (ANI)
As the Chinese President Xi Jinping is eyeing to secure a third term in office, his political opponents are challenging this bid of the President at a time when his much-criticized strict "Zero-COVID" policies have brought the entire nation to the brink of economic collapse. Xi obviously faced an ever-increasing attack from his opponents and this is evident in a recent post published by Cai Xia, a retired professor at the Party School of the Central Committee of the Chinese Communist Party. In his post, he referred to a regulation entitled "Interim Provisions on the Term of Office of Leading Party and Government Cadres". According to a post by him on Twitter, he said that this provision is still in effect. It is interesting to note that this interim provision supposedly could challenge Xi's ability to remain at the head of the CCP in the next term, reported Global Strait. As per this provision, the tenure of the CCP party and the Chinese government leading cadres is limited. They can only serve in the same position for two consecutive terms or a total of 15 years. After this post by Cai, a Taiwanese media outlet published an article on this provision. In June 5 article, the interim provision could hinder Xi's wish to extend his Party leadership. The article talks about how Xi, since 2017, had been meeting various substantive obstacles to his re-election. According to former diplomat and author Roger Garside, the Chinese president Xi's opponents are also taking advantage of the country's internal troubles to undermine him. Garside, the author of the book "China Coup," said that the Chinese leader is facing a combination of external and internal pressures. "There are tipping points... looming up in the Chinese scene of the very gravest kind," he said, adding that these would allow rivals within the leadership to move against Xi, as per the media portal. To add insult to injury, China's Zero-COVID policy and mass lockdowns have produced "a very vulnerable state in China, and an imperative to isolate China from the rest of the world," he said. "And internally, it is aroused, as we have seen on videos from Shanghai and elsewhere, anger, indignation, and an erosion of respect and loyalty for the Communist Party," Garside said adding, "But this came against a background of a disastrous performance in the property sector. We have seen the default of major property developers," he added. (ANI)
Ambassador of India to Tajikistan Viraj Singh handed over the India-Tajikistan Friendship Hospital (ITFH) to Deputy Defence Minister of Tajikistan Major General Shohiyon Abdusottor on Saturday. "On behalf of the Government of India, Ambassador of India to Tajikistan H.E Mr Viraj Singh handed over the India-Tajikistan Friendship Hospital (ITFH) to Deputy Defence Minister of Tajikistan H.E. Major General Shohiyon Abdusottor on 11 June 2022," read a press release by Indian Embassy in Tajikistan. The entire complement of medical equipment, medicines, stores and support equipment, including an Operation Theatre, X-Ray machines, laboratories, critical care ambulances and administrative vehicles were also handed over to the Tajik side. It may be recalled that ITFH was renovated by the Government of India and inaugurated in October 2014 based on an MoU signed between both sides in January 2013. This fully-fledged 50-bedded hospital has rendered free-of-cost valuable medical services for the last 8 years to the Armed Forces and civilian populace of Tajikistan based on technical support and financial assistance from the Government of India. Presently, the ITFH has an array of medical specialities including ENT, Surgery, Gynecology, Medicine, Pediatrics and Dental departments. It has provided medical support to more than 100,000 patients over these years including more than 2000 surgeries in the last 2 years. A team of Indian Army doctors and medical staff have provided various medical services to Tajik nationals and simultaneously trained numerous Tajik doctors and medical staff. Over 42 tons of "Made in India" medicines have been sent to ITFH in the last 8 years. Apart from the ITFH, the Government of India has also provided medical support in other forms to Tajikistan. India provided 2 million doses of oral polio vaccine through UNICEF in 2010 after the outbreak of Polio in southwest Tajikistan. In March 2018, India gifted 10 ambulances to various regions of Tajikistan. In May 2020, India provided 50,000 HCQ tablets and 100,000 paracetamol tablets to Tajikistan. In 2021, approx 700,000 'Made in India' Covishield vaccines were supplied to Tajikistan. The Embassy has every confidence and hope that the Tajik side will continue to run the hospital effectively and efficiently with the capacities created by India. The ITFH will continue to be a symbol of the close and friendly relations between India and Tajikistan, as per the release. (ANI)
"UNSMIL has received reports of clashes in Tripoli last night between armed groups, which endangered the lives of civilians, and separately of mobilization of armed groups along with heavy weapons from areas surrounding Tripoli," UNSMIL said in a statement.

A local security source told Xinhua that at least 4 people were injured in the clashes. The armed groups were yet to be identified.

UNSMIL is deeply concerned about these developments, during an extremely sensitive period of political polarization which the United Nations, international partners, and concerned Libyans are making efforts to resolve, including through imminent rounds of dialogues in Egypt, the statement said.

The UN mission called on all parties in Libya to exercise maximum restraint and address disputes through dialogue to preserve the country's fragile stability.

Libyan Prime Minister Abdul-Hamid Dbeibah condemned the clashes and issued orders to stop the clashes and secure the area. Libya has been suffering insecurity and chaos since the fall of the late leader Muammar Gaddafi's regime in 2011. (ANI/Xinhua)
Two Pakistani police personnel were killed in an exchange of fire with an alleged drug smuggler in Kalabat village in Swabi District of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan, local media reported on Saturday. Providing details of the incident, an official said that the incident took place at the time when the police were patrolling the area in Kalabat village in the morning. The police patrolling team was led by an in-charge of Kalabat police post, Assistant Sub-Inspector Yasir Khan, reported Dawn. The police party came under fire from the smuggler. The smuggler was identified as Salman Khan. He was a resident of the same village. Assistant Sub-Inspector Yasir Khan said the policemen retaliated against the fire and an encounter ensued. The official said a constable, namely Aamir Khan, was killed on the spot, while ASI Yasir Khan was seriously injured. He was taken to Bacha Khan Hospital Complex, Shahmansoor, where he succumbed to injuries, as per the media portal. Funeral prayers for killed police personnel were held in the Shahmansoor Police Lines. Provincial police chief Moazzam Jah Ansari, DIG Mardan division Yasin Farooq, DPO Swabi Mohammad Shoaib Khan, SP investigation Fayaz Khan and other officials attended the funeral. The killed police officer Yasir hailed from Adina village, while the constable Aamir belonged to Katgram village. Speaking with the local media over the incident, IGP Ansari expressed his grief over the killing of the two police personnel. He said there were six cases registered against the outlaw, who was a threat to people of the area. The encounter occurred 10 days after a policeman was killed when unidentified assailants stormed his house in Doubian village. An FIR has been lodged in the Topi city police station against the killed outlaw under Anti-Terrorism Act, 1997, reported Dawn. (ANI)
Several people were injured after a blast took place in Afghanistan's Kabul on Saturday, according to local media. The blast took place at Batkhak Square in the 10th district of Kabul, Tolo News said in a Tweet. Citing a spokesman for the Kabul police, the Afghan media outlet said that many people had been killed while many were injured in the explosion. According to him, the blast was caused by an improvised explosive device planted in a passenger car. The cases of blast in Afghanistan is not new. Earlier, on Monday, a blast took place in Police District-4 of Kabulfrom with explosives carried on a bicycle, the Kabul security department said. Security forces have arrived in the area to investigate the matter, reported TOLO News. Earlier, three explosions rocked the capital of Balkh province on May 25, leaving at least 9 people killed and 15 others injured. Meanwhile, on the same day, a blast at Masjid Sharif Hazrat Zakaria mosque in Kabul City left at least two worshippers dead, according to officials. In response to the attacks in Balkh and Kabul, the US Special Envoy for Women and Human Rights in Afghanistan, Rina Amiri said that the Taliban must ensure people's security and prevent atrocities. "The heinous attacks in Mazar & Kabul serve no purpose but to inflict further devastation on innocent Afghans who have suffered enough," Amiri tweeted. "Preventing these horrid attacks and addressing the security and needs of all Afghans should be what the Taliban focus on," she added. The first two explosions in Balkh province targeted passenger vehicles in the Hazara neighbourhood, local media reported citing local sources. Additionally, earlier, an explosion at a traffic square in Kabul's fourth police district had killed at least 30 people and injured others at the Hazrat Zekriya Mosque. The Emergency hospital said that 22 people had been injured and that 5 of them had died on their way before reaching the hospital. No group or individual has claimed responsibility for the blast in Hazrat Zakariya. The Taliban faced a severe security threat from the Khorasan branch of ISIS, which has been active in Afghanistan since 2014. Earlier, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres condemned the recent attacks in Afghanistan that claimed the lives of numerous civilians, among them members of the Hazara Shia community and several children." (ANI)
According to news reports, a hiker passing through the area near Monte Cusna -- a mountain in the central Italian region of Emilia Romagna near its border with Tuscany -- called authorities after finding possible remains of the crash.

Reports from the Modena Prefect in Emilia Romagna said the pilot, an Italian, plus four Turkish citizens and two from Lebanon were killed in the accident.

Italian authorities had been conducting a search for the helicopter and its passengers since Thursday when the chopper was lost en route from the Tuscan city of Lucca to Treviso, a city located north of Venice.

The aircraft went down after hitting an area of bad weather, news reports said. Italian officials have not issued a statement about the potential cause of the crash.

Video footage of search efforts showed the area around the 2,121-meter (nearly 7,000 feet) Monte Cusna as densely wooded and almost entirely uninhabited. Monte Cusna is part of Italy's picturesque Apennine Mountain Range.Authorities initially found five bodies on Saturday. A few hours later, the remaining two bodies were located. (ANI/Xinhua)
The minibus filled with passengers going to a marriage ceremony in the city center crashed with a milk-carrying truck soon after it departed the Dursunbey district, the Hurriyet daily said.

Ambulances, police, firefighters, and emergency rescue teams were sent to the crash site. The roadway was closed to traffic temporarily.

Balikesir Governor Hasan Sildak said law enforcement was still investigating the causes and circumstances of the accident, which was likely caused by heavy rain and improper lane change. (ANI/Xinhua)
During the talks held on Friday, Ukrainian Defense Minister Oleksiy Reznikov urged more defensive aid from Britain, saying that "we need more heavy weapons to continue the struggle."Wallace said Britain's support for Ukraine will continue, noting that cooperation between the two sides "will be as effective as possible."

Last month, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said that the British government will provide 1.3 billion pounds (1.6 billion U.S. dollars) in military aid to Ukraine. (ANI/Xinhua)
An early investigation into the origins of the SARS-CoV-2 virus by a World Health Organization (WHO) advisory group suggested that the Huanan seafood market in Wuhan, China played an important role in the amplification of the pandemic; however, further investigations are recommended. In their first report, a WHO advisory group, Scientific Advisory Group for the Origins of Novel Pathogens (Sago) said that key recommendations are provided for further studies needed on humans, animals and the environment in China and around the world that would provide additional information and contribute to a better understanding of how SARS-CoV-2 infected the human population and spread. At the present time, currently available epidemiological and sequencing data suggest ancestral strains to SARS-CoV-2 have a zoonotic origin with the closest genetically related viruses being beta coronaviruses, identified in Rhinolophus bats in China in 2013 (96.1 pc) and Laos in 2020 (96.8 pc). Early investigations suggested that the Huanan seafood market in Wuhan played an important role early in the amplification of the pandemic with several of the patients first detected in December 2019 having had a link to the market and environmental samples from the market testing positive for SARS-CoV-2. There are, however, further studies needed to follow up on several gaps in the knowledge. The source of SARS-CoV-2 and its introduction into the market is unclear and it is yet to be determined where the initial spillover event(s) occurred. There is a need to examine environmental samples collected from specific stalls and drains at the market in January 2020 that tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 in areas known to have sold live animals. Furthermore, follow-up studies to identify possible animal sources from which the environmental contamination could have originated from have not been completed. Other essential studies include detailed mapping of upmarket trade of wild/domestic animals sold in Wuhan City and Hubei Province and clinical history and seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies in humans and animals from the source farms of animals sold at Wuhan markets. In addition, further verification analyses of human samples collected through national surveillance programs, including Influenza and other respiratory samples (e.g., RSV and enterovirus D68) during the months prior to December 2019 are still needed in China and worldwide. Genetic studies of coronaviruses in wildlife species in Asia and the rest of the world are also needed in order to identify new leads on ancestral or intermediate hosts (such as animals that have been identified as susceptible throughout the pandemic). SAGO notes that there has not been any new data made available to evaluate the laboratory as a pathway of SARS-CoV-2 in the human population and recommends further investigations into this and all other possible pathways. The SAGO said that it will remain open to any and all scientific evidence that becomes available in the future to allow for comprehensive testing of all reasonable hypotheses. This first report of the SAGO contains preliminary recommendations for both the global framework and its application to SARS-CoV-2, specifically, based on available published evidence and the initial deliberations of the SAGO. Dividing into technical working groups organized around the six elements of the global framework, SAGO members have met to review and discuss available evidence and information presented to them and have made recommendations on the urgent studies needed to better understand the origins of SARS-CoV-2 in China and other countries. This preliminary report is not intended to, nor does it, provide conclusive findings on the origins of SARS-CoV-2 because more information is needed from the studies recommended in this report. The SAGO has not been formed to find the origins of SARS-CoV-2 but rather has been tasked with advising studies that are necessary to gather evidence to better understand the origins of SARS-CoV-2, and more broadly, origins of emerging and re-emerging future epidemics/pandemics. The SAGO will continue to meet regularly and discuss emerging evidence and looks forward to reviewing findings from the studies recommended here within and providing further advice to WHO. In October 2021, following a public call for experts, the World Health Organization announced proposed members of the WHO SAGO. The SAGO is tasked to advise WHO on the development of a global framework to define and guide studies into the origins of emerging and re-emerging pathogens of epidemic and pandemic potential, including SARS-CoV-2. (ANI)
Financial Action Task Force (FATF), a global watchdog tasked with combatting money laundering and terrorist financing, will hold a meeting in Berlin from June 14-17. This meeting is especially crucial for Pakistan as the country continues to remain on the watchdog's "grey list" for failing to check terror financing. The outcomes of the FATF Plenary will be published on Friday 17 June after the close of the meeting. Pakistan has been on the Paris-based FATF's grey list for deficiencies in its counter-terror financing and anti-money laundering regimes since June 2018. In June 2021, the country was given three months to fulfil the remaining conditions by October. However, Pakistan was retained on the FATF 'grey list' for failing to effectively implement the global FATF standards and over its lack of progress on investigation and prosecution of senior leaders and commanders of UN-designated terror groups. This decision was announced in October 2021, at the conclusion of the Financial Action Task Force's (FATF) three-day plenary to discuss key issues in the fight against money laundering and terrorist financing. FATF President had said Pakistan will remain on the grey list till it addresses all items on the original action plan agreed to in June 2018 as well as all items on a parallel action plan handed out by the watchdog's regional partner - the Asia Pacific Group (APG) - in 2019. The president, however, added that the item on financial terrorism still needed to be addressed which concerned the "investigation and prosecution of senior leaders and commanders of UN-designated terror groups". Pakistan opposition parties had been slamming the former Prime Minister Imran Khan's government over its failure to get the country removed from the FATF grey list. According to experts, Pakistan's grey-listing by the FATF from 2008 to 2019 may have resulted in a cumulative GDP loss of USD 38 billion. The FATF delegates representing 206 members of the Global Network and observer organisations, including the International Monetary Fund, the United Nations, the World Bank and the Egmont Group of Financial Intelligence Units, will take part in the last Plenary under the two-year German Presidency of Dr Marcus Pleyer next week. The German government will host this hybrid event in Berlin, with a significant number of participants taking part in person. During four days of meetings, delegates will finalise key issues including a report to prevent money laundering through the real estate sector and a report that will help financial institutions use collaborative analytics, data collection and other sharing initiatives to assess and mitigate the money laundering and terrorist financing risks they face. Delegates will also discuss the assessments of measures to combat money laundering and terrorist financing in Germany and the Netherlands, and the progress made by some jurisdictions identified as presenting a risk to the financial system. (ANI)
Ambitions to join North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), Finland announce on Friday that it would be sending more military equipment to Ukraine as the military bloc considered the country's application to join the alliance. "Finland will not forget Ukraine and the Ukrainians. We will continue to help: We will send a new package of defence material," Finnish Defense Minister Antti Kaikkonen said, adding that the decision on what equipment to send was based on the needs of Ukraine and its military, The Hill reported. The support for Ukraine comes after Sweden and Finland applied to join NATO, a move that has been massively slammed by Russia. Their applications came after Russia threatened the countries against applying for membership and violated Finnish and Swedish airspace with fighter jets. During an appearance with President Joe Biden last month, Finnish President Sauli Niinisto said, "We are ready to contribute to the security of the whole alliance, making the commitment to mutual security guarantees that being a NATO ally entails." "Now that we have taken this first decisive step, it is time for NATO allies to weigh in. We hope for strong support from all allies and for swift ratification of our membership," he added. According to The Hill, Finland's defense ministry said that the government voted to approve sending additional defense equipment to Ukraine. However, what equipment Finland will provide, how it will be delivered and when it will be shipped to Ukraine will not be announced, according to the ministry. The US has put its full support behind Finland's and Sweden's bids for membership, with a Senate panel unanimously approving a resolution to urge NATO to accept the countries this week. NATO should "quickly" approve the two countries' membership, said Biden in a statement amid Russia and China's clever moves. "While their applications for NATO membership are being considered, the United States will work with Finland and Sweden to remain vigilant against any threats to our shared security, and to deter and confront aggression or the threat of aggression," The Hill reported, quoting the president. Finland and Sweden started discussing the possibility of abandoning long-term neutrality and joining NATO amid the Russian military operation in Ukraine. The head of the alliance, Jens Stoltenberg, said in March that NATO would gladly welcome Finland and Sweden and could fast-track their membership applications if they decided to join. (ANI)
 Read the full article on Motorious

This design is a mashup of American and Japanese sensibilities.

We here at Motorious are well aware of how popular the Plymouth Cuda is among fans of classic muscle cars, as well as the Mopar faithful. We also understand everyone might not be a fan of this rendering posted on Instagram by Sad Machines. The knee-jerk reaction might be disgust at the modifications to such a beautiful, unique, and timeless design beloved by many.

This rendering incorporates elements from some Japanese classics as well as some of the design sensibilities prominent in the island nation, hence why Sad Machines calls it an All American Kaido Racer. Its an interesting mix of American and Japanese car culture. There are headlights from a TA40 Toyota Celica, taillights from a C210 Nissan Skyline, custom TRD Tosco wheels, and of course the towering Takeyari pipes towering out the of the rear like the spears of an invading foreign army.

As you look more closely, this Cuda has some pretty large fender flares and a pretty large whale tail with a wing. Then theres the externally-mounted front intercooler, something which is questionable in both its aesthetics and practicality.

Of course, one of the other details which really jumps out at you is the Japanese characters on the top of the windshield, making it obvious to just about anyone the origin of the crazy design.

Even with all the Japanese car culture elements present on this Plymouth, you might recognize the livery as being inspired by Dan Gurneys #42 Plymouth AAR Cuda which terrorized the competition in Trans-Am racing. Its a nice call-out and shows Sad Machines understands a thing or two about Mopar heritage.

Its expected that a fair amount of our readers wont like this rendering at all, and thats ok. Were not entirely sure about it ourselves, but thought it interesting enough to post for everyone to see. If nothing else this car is unique, although actually doing this to a 70 Plymouth Cuda could spark some serious outrage.

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(Reuters) - Algeria deplores and rejects "hasty" EU comments after its decision to suspend a 20-year-old friendship treaty with Spain, Ennahar TV reported on Saturday, quoting the foreign ministry.

Algiers was angered when Spain said in March it supported a Moroccan plan to offer autonomy to Western Sahara. Algeria backs the Polisario Front movement seeking full independence for the territory, which Morocco regards as its own and mostly controls.

The decision to block Algerian trade with Spain following a diplomatic row over Western Sahara could be a violation of European Union trade law, two senior EU officials said on Friday.

(Reporting by Yasmin Hussein; Editing by Angus MacSwan)
SINGAPORE  Australias new defense minister has called for transparent military buildups to reassure neighboring countries and avoid an arms race, specifically calling out Chinas defense investments.

Speaking at the Shangri-La Dialogue security summit in Singapore, Richard Marles said whats important is that the exercise of Chinese power exhibits the characteristics necessary for our shared prosperity and security. That, he said, includes respect for agreed rules and norms, where trade and investment flow [are] based on agreed rules and binding treaty commitments, and where disputes among states are resolved via dialogue and in accordance with international law.

He said Australia does not question the right of any country to modernize its military capabilities consistent with their interests and resources, but added that large-scale military buildups must be transparent, and they must be accompanied by statecraft that reassures.

Australia's defense minister, Richard Marles, speaks at the Shangri-La Dialogue summit in Singapore on June 11, 2022. (Roslan Rahman/AFP via Getty Images)

He claimed that Chinas military buildup is the largest and most ambitious of its kind by any country since the end of World War II. It is critical that Chinas neighbors do not see this buildup as a risk for them because without that reassurance, it is inevitable that countries will seek to upgrade their own military capabilities in response.

This was Marles inaugural appearance as Australias defense minister at the summit, which is hosted by the London-based International Institute for Strategic Studies. Australia voted for a new government following federal elections on May 21.

Regional commitment

Marles also reiterated Australias focus on and commitment toward the South Pacific islands, saying the government will embark on a new era of engagement in the region. This will go beyond the Australian Defence Forces ongoing support of the islands in response to humanitarian disasters, he added.

He pledged that Australia will establish a Pacific defense school to train regional defense and security forces, as well as to help deter illegal fishing and transnational crime through more support for Australias Pacific Maritime Security Program.

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The waning days of the previous government under Prime Minister Scott Morrison saw a renewed security focus on the islands, following the signing of a security agreement between China and the Solomon Islands. That deal, critics said, is likely the first step toward the establishment of a Chinese military base there.

A subsequent attempt by China to strike a sweeping security and trade deal with 10 Pacific islands failed in late May over several concerns, including Beijings motives in proposing the deal, which would have created a free trade area as well as health care support and action against climate change.

Marles also reaffirmed a renewed Australian focus on climate change, pointing out that newly minted Prime Minister Anthony Albanese had previously said climate change was not just about the environment but also about lives, livelihoods and national security.

Gone are the days when Australia neglected climate change as a security issue and treated it as a marginal priority, Marles said in a swipe at the previous governments climate skepticism, which drew international ire on several occasions.
BEIJING (Reuters) - Beijing's recent outbreak of COVID-19 that has been linked to bars in the capital is "explosive" in nature, widespread in scope and complex, a Beijing government spokesman said in a briefing on Saturday.

The capital has reported 46 new local COVID cases on Saturday as of 3 p.m. local time (0700 GMT), health official Liu Xiaofeng said at the same briefing.

Of a total of 1,946 local COVID cases reported since April 22, a total of 115 cases were connected to the bar cluster, Liu said.

(Reporting by Ryan Woo in Beijing and Andrew Galbraith in Shanghai; Editing by Kim Coghill)
Photo Illustration by Elizabeth Brockway/The Daily Beast/Getty

In todays divided America, its rare to find an issue with wide bipartisan support. But when it comes to breaking up the Big Tech companiesFacebook, Amazon, Apple, and Googlethe data is crystal clear.

Everyone from California Democrats to Iowa Republicans want to pass two historic antitrust bills to rein in their monopoly power.

Last fall, whistleblower Frances Haugen proved that Facebook is aware of the harm it causes to users mental health. But the ills of social media only scratch the surface of Big Techs harmful impact. Decades of lax antitrust enforcement has allowed these companies to accumulate economic and cultural power rivaling that of some countries. The result? An environment where Big Tech can crush competitors, self-preference their own products while screwing over small businesses, and tear away the last vestiges of consumer privacy.

Want to Fix Big Tech? Stop Ignoring Sex Workers.

The first of the two bipartisan antitrust bills, the American Innovation and Choice Online Act (AICO), would stop Big Tech from writing the same self-serving rules it has used to maintain its dominance. Described as The Senate Bill That Has Big Tech Scared, the bill would hinder Big Tech companies ability to leverage their control of online spaces (think Amazons marketplace or Googles search engine) to unfairly boost the companys other products. The more targeted Open App Markets Act (OAMA) serves to prevent Apple and Googles app marketplace duopoly from giving their own apps an unfair leg-up over their competitors.

At a glance, the issues these bills address may seem abstract compared to topics like disinformation and content moderation. However, it must be remembered that Big Tech companies are only able to harm their users with impunity because of their near-unchallengeable economic power. As noted by activist Evan Greer, stopping Big Tech from leveraging non-public data to give their own products an advantage is crucial to giving small alternative platforms a fighting chance.

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Spearheaded in the Senate by the bipartisan duo of Democrat Amy Klobuchar and Republican Chuck Grassley, AICOs bipartisan fanfare extends well beyond the Hill. Indeed, polling has consistently found that both Democratic and Republican voters want to make AICO the law of the land.

However, with time running out until the midterms, it is urgent that Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi make passing these bipartisan bills a top priority. While Democratic leadership has a laundry list of pressing policy items to tackle before November, passing AICO and OAMA stands as possibly the last opportunity to rein in Big Tech in the near-future. Prioritizing the passage of these popular bills and giving Biden the chance to sign them will give the White House a key bipartisan victory before voters go to the polls this November.

While these bills have won support from many congressional Republicans, the GOPs party leadership remains hostile to the legislation. Rep. Jim Jordan, who would chair the House Judiciary Committee if the party takes back the chamber, has been vociferous in his opposition to the antitrust bills. Jordan claims holding Big Tech accountable constitutes big tech and big government now marrying up and working together. This isnt just absurd, it insults the intelligence of the very people who voted him in in the first place.

Polling by Data for Progress (DFP) taken earlier this year found that voters in Ohios 4th district, which Jordan represents, widely support AICO across party lines. In a district where Donald Trump has a 66 percent approval rating, 58 percent of voters polled were found to support AICO. The poll also found that 87 percent of the districts Democrats and 85 percent of its Republicans favored strengthening laws on Big Tech to guarantee public safety [and] keep markets competitive. (Disclosure: I am an affiliated researcher with Data for Progress, though I had no involvement in any of the polling referenced, and this article expresses my views alone.)

In an effort to prove that votes dont care about antitrust, the Google-funded Taxpayers Protection Alliance (TPA) conducted polling that actually found wide support for antitrust reform in nine key states. Voters were found to support Big Tech antitrust efforts overall by a 68 percent to 19 percent margin, with majority support in conservative states like South Carolina, West Virginia, and Nebraska.

In the heartland state of Iowawhere AICO lead sponsor Grassley is one of two representatives in the SenateDFP polling found that voters across party lines support AICO by a massive 74 percent to 10 percent margin. Incredibly, 87 percent of the states Republicans said they support the bill to rein in Big Tech companies. Given Iowas shift rightward in recent years, Democrats should take note that 87 percent of Republicans said they support the progressive antitrust bill. TPA polling in Iowa found similarly wide support for Big Tech antitrust efforts.

Bipartisan Tech Policies Are Sending U.S. Backwards

Once the world leader in technological innovation, Californias tech industry has stagnated, with promising startups often falling victim to Big Techs kill-and-acquire strategy. While groups like the California Chamber of Commerce feign concern that Silicon Valley will be harmed by Big Tech antitrust efforts, this couldnt be any further from the truth. Cutting-edge innovation in tech can only thrive if upstart companies arent under threat of killer acquisitions by tech giants looking to curb potential competition.

Polling in California by DFP found that 74 percent of Golden State voters support AICO, while 69 percent support the OAMA bill. In Californias 19th district, located in the heart of Silicon Valley, 67 percent of voters agreed that the economic power wielded by Big Tech is concerning. Voters in the district were found to support passing AICO by a 58 percent to 12 percent margin, a triumphant margin for antitrust right in Google and Apples backyard.

Last year, President Joe Biden acknowledged the threat of monopoly power, stating that excessive market concentration threatens basic economic liberties. On his end, Biden has appointed strong antitrust proponents to key regulatory offices and re-affirmed his support for reining in Big Tech at the 2022 State of the Union.

Democratic leadership in Congress must ensure that AICO and OAMA get across the finish line so that Biden can make good on his pledge to cut Big Tech down to size.

Read more at The Daily Beast.

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"Breakfast Television" anchor and Toronto reporter Melanie Ng reminded viewers to never comment on a womans body after many asked if she was expecting due to a viral TikTok video.

The Filipino-Chinese-Canadian anchor and other "Breakfast Television" reporters shared a TikTok video on Friday dancing and lip-syncing to the song Telephone by Lady Gaga featuring Beyonce. Ng is seen at the beginning of the video strutting towards the camera wearing a black and white dress.



On Mondays broadcast, Ng explained to co-host Devo Brown that her Instagram DMs were filled with viewers asking if she was pregnant after the video went viral.

Ng told Brown that one viewer asked, Are you expecting? while another wrote, Oh youre glowing! A little one on the way? She also said one viewer messaged, Congratulations!

More from NextShark: Gengar engagement and wedding rings are here to symbolize love beyond a shadow of a doubt

Brown expressed shock while Ng explained that while she normally ignores these comments, she received so many DMs that she decided to address them on her Instagram story.

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"I said something along the lines of 'maybe it's the dress, maybe it's the angle, maybe hey, I ate a burrito,' at the end of the day, you do not comment on a woman's body," she explained.

Ng reminded viewers to never comment on a womans body while acknowledging that she is aware the comments most likely did not have any ill intent. She also pointed out that those comments can be insensitive for some women who may be struggling with pregnancy.

More from NextShark: My mother gave birth to me, I owe it to her: Chinese boy overcomes fear of pain to donate bone marrow

At the end of the day, dont ask someone if they are pregnant, dont comment by any means until that baby pops out, Ng said. Just remember, you dont know what is happening outside of that. I didnt mean it to call people out. I wanted to remind people, that um, that there are other things going on.

Feature Image via @breakfasttv

More from NextShark: Indian parents sue their son demanding he either give them a grandchild or pay $675,000 compensation
E! News

Gary King addressed Below Deck Sailing Yacht fans' concerns that he may have been "assaulted" by Ashley Marti, explaining that he feels the situation "blew up" when it shouldn't have.
A proposed redesign of Utah's state flag is shown next to the U.S. flag. A state-appointed group recently solicited ideas from across the state on new designs and is sorting through the thousands of submissions they received.

Lets celebrate Flag Day on June 14 by considering a state flag design that says something distinctive about who we are as Utahns in the 21st century.

The conversation thats been prompted by the states More Than A Flag initiative has been ambitious. Any design process is complicated, as it begins by brainstorming ideas and aspirations before moving to more specific choices. By imagining what we need we likely will discover what we want: A flag that speaks to us both directly and symbolically.

I like the ambition of a process based on asking Utahns statewide what they want on a new flag, and what colors or symbols best represent this distinctive state. Thats why I agreed to serve as a volunteer on the Design Review Subcommittee. I was impressed with how the initiative sought representation from across the state  from cultural groups, schools, Tribes, and municipal officials.

In four months, this bipartisan initiative received more than 5,000 digital flag design submissions, as well as scores more delivered through the mail. Those designs came from all 29 of the states counties, including from our friends and neighbors here in Washington County.

In the next phase of the process, volunteers on the Design Review Subcommittee will look through the submissions and select a handful of top candidates. Those designs will be posted on the Flag.Utah.gov website in August and well ask residents to weigh in. We want to know what Utahns think. At the same time, we realize no one flag design will ever be the top choice of everyone.

The subcommittee will send three finalists to the Utah State Flag Task Force, who will choose one final flag design to be considered by the Utah Legislature and by Utah Gov. Spencer J. Cox.

I am pleased we are working together to design a flag for the 21st century. I like the challenge of imagining what will represent Utah in 2022, more than a century after the state adopted the current flag design.

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As I think about a new state flag design, Im inspired by distinctive examples such as the Texas flag. The designs simple red, white and blue stripes, with one prominent white star captures the identity of the Lone Star State. I also am struck by the simplicity of New Mexicos flag, which speaks to the shared journeys of native people and newcomers. Both flags are iconic, memorable, and open to interpretation. In both cases, less is more.

At the end of our flag selection process here in Utah, we may embrace a flag that is more abstractly representational of the values of Utah, like the Texas and New Mexico flags. Or we may find a flag that resembles what we have now more to our liking.

I dont know what will happen, but my job on the Design Review Subcommittee is to raise questions about what were trying to accomplish in this process. The Subcommittee will grapple with familiar tensions between abstract vs. concrete, the past vs. the present, and dominant cultural or historical groups vs. newcomers to the state.

As with most important decisions, there are many issues, opinions and hopes we must weigh. Thats what excites me about the More Than A Flag conversation.

I hope everyone will stay engaged by visiting Flag.Utah.gov. The formal submission process has ended, but the conversation continues. There will be more opportunities for us to come together and share our thoughts about our new flag.

Dr. Stephen Lee has been dean of the College of Humanities and Social Sciences at Utah Tech University, formerly Dixie State University, since 2019. Lee, who studied economics before earning masters and doctoral degrees in communication, researches the film and music industries and has also produced, directed, and edited documentaries and educational programs. He serves as a volunteer on the Design Review Subcommittee of Utahs More Than A Flag initiative.

Dr. Stephen Lee

This article originally appeared on St. George Spectrum & Daily News: Your Turn: Celebrating Flag Day by celebrating the ambition of a new Utah state flag design
When the House committee investigating the 2021 attack on the U.S. Capitol holds its first public hearing Thursday, Rep. Liz Cheney will stand out as the Republican who broke ranks with her party and with former President Donald Trump over his role in inciting the mob.

But that national platform and crusade of hers is contributing to Cheney's undoing with GOP voters at home in Wyoming, according to polls and interviews with state Republicans who say shes becoming too identified with Washington politics that damage the de facto leader of her own party.

Cheney is trailing her leading GOP primary rival, attorney Harriet Hageman by 28-56 percent, according to a survey chartered by the Hageman-backing super PAC, Wyoming Values, and obtained by NBC News. The survey was conducted by Tony Fabrizio, who also polls for former President Trump. It closely tracks other polls in the state, according to Republican insiders.

I think the race is kind of getting baked in here against Cheney, said Republican consultant Bill Cubin. It wouldnt be so much that shes participating in the Jan. 6 Committee  and yes a lot of Republicans are uncomfortable with that  but theres this feeling shes not really representing Wyoming anymore.

Some Cheney supporters privately echo the same sentiment, but her campaign vehemently denies that shes not home often enough or that she has no way to come back before the Aug. 16 primary.

Travis Deti, executive director of the powerful Wyoming Mining Association, said she has been a friend to the industry and the jobs it brings.

"She and her staff are responsive and accessible, and she has always been there to deliver for us. This is a fact  she has served our industry well," Deti said via text message.

Last week, Cheney released her first major statewide ad buy that tacitly spoke to the challenge by featuring testimonials from everyday Wyomingites touting her candidacy and her home-state bona fides.

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The race stands as a measurement of how little Republican voters care about the Jan. 6, 2021 Capitol riot, and its also a key test of the power of Trumps endorsement, which lost some of its luster last month in Georgia. The race is one of the most important to Trump because Cheney became the most outspoken House Republican to call him out and impeach him for inciting the mob, leading his political operation to recruit Hageman.

The Wyoming Values poll, released the day before Thursdays Jan. 6 Committees first public hearing, was conducted last week to measure the impact of a three-week pre-Memorial Day ad buy by the super PAC ahead of Trumps rally in the state for Hageman.

When Hageman first got in the race, she led by 8 points. Now she's ahead by 28 points, after the ad buy touted Trumps endorsement of Hageman and framed Cheney as a tool of Democratic House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, according to Fabrizio's polls of the race taken six months apart.

Three other Republicans in the race are mired in single digits, one of whom ran an ad recently that bashed Cheney's vote to impeach Trump. The conservative Club for Growth, which also opposes Cheney, ran a commercial that likened her to Trump's 2016 rival, Hillary Clinton.

Not only is Cheney getting creamed in the ballot, but Wyoming [Republican primary voters] are clear that there is no room for her to get back into this race, Fabrizio wrote in a memo obtained by NBC News. A huge 71% majority say they will vote against her, including 66% who will definitely vote against Cheney no matter who she runs against. With only 26% saying they will definitely or probably vote for Cheney, she has hit her ceiling on the ballot.

The survey did not directly measure attitudes about the Capitol riot, nor did a survey released late last month that was conducted by the Club for Growth and yielded similar numbers to Fabrizios survey.

Club for Growth spokesman Joe Kildea said Cheneys role on the Jan. 6 committee and her strident opposition to Trump  who remains a popular figure in the GOP  is too damaging for her candidacy in a primary like Wyomings.

She's definitely on the wrong side of the party, Kildea said.
The US criticises China for increased military activity in the area

China has warned the US that any attempt to make Taiwan independent from China will trigger military action by Beijing's forces.

Chinese Defence Minister Wei Fenghe met his US counterpart Lloyd Austin on the sidelines of an Asian security summit in Singapore.

Splitting Taiwan from China would leave the Chinese military with no choice but to "fight at any cost", Mr Wei said.

Mr Austin later called Chinese military activity "provocative, destabilising".

He said there were record numbers of Chinese aircraft flying near the island on a near-daily basis, which "undermine peace and stability in the region".

China views self-ruled Taiwan as an integral part of China's territory, a stance that prompted Mr Wei to condemn US arms sales to Taiwan.

A spokesman quoted him as saying: "If anyone dares to split Taiwan from China, the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) will have no choice but fight at any cost and crush any attempt of 'Taiwan independence' and safeguard national sovereignty and territorial integrity."

Mr Austin said the US was committed to maintaining the status quo - recognising Beijing as the sole government of China and opposing Taiwanese independence.

He insisted there must be no attempt to resolve tensions through force.

US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin (left) had his first face-to-face meeting with China's Wei Fenghe

It was the first meeting of the US and Chinese defence chiefs and lasted nearly an hour, at the Shangri-La Dialogue security summit.

Mr Wei said the talks "went smoothly", and both sides described them as cordial.

Mr Austin spoke of the importance of maintaining fully open lines of communications with China's military, to avoid any misunderstanding.

In late May Taiwan said it had deployed fighter jets to warn off 30 warplanes sent by China into its air defence zone. The incident marked the biggest Chinese incursion since January.

The incident involved 22 Taiwanese fighters, as well as electronic warfare, early warning and anti-submarine aircraft, Taiwan's defence ministry said.

China and Taiwan: The basics

Why do China and Taiwan have poor relations? China and Taiwan were divided during a civil war in the 1940s, but Beijing insists the island will be reclaimed at some point, by force if necessary

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How is Taiwan governed? The island has its own constitution, democratically elected leaders, and about 300,000 active troops in its armed forces

Who recognises Taiwan? Only a few countries recognise Taiwan. Most recognise the Chinese government in Beijing instead. The US has no official ties with Taiwan but does have a law which requires it to provide the island with the means to defend itself.

China and Taiwan: A really simple guide
Piper Huguley, an author of historical fiction who also teaches at Clark Atlanta University (CAU), has recently released a novel on the great Ann Lowe.

Titled By Her Own Design: A Novel of Ann Lowe, Fashion Designer to the Social Register, Huguleys latest text gives readers an in-depth look at a chapter of African American history that centers on a determined woman who made a name for herself in the fashion world.

Ann Lowe was one of the first African Americans to become a widely known and sought-after fashion designer.

She was born in Alabama in 1898 and her mother and grandmother, formerly enslaved, were accomplished seamstresses. Lowe carried on the family craft, heading up to New York City in 1917 to take design courses at a segregated academy.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Piper Huguley (@piper_huguley)

Lowe instantly proved herself to be a skilled seamstress and she eventually began crafting gowns for social elites and celebrities.

One of her most widely known designs was a bridal gown Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis wore during her 1953 wedding to John F. Kennedy, who served as the President of the United States from 1961 to 1963.

By 1964, she was called Societys Best-Kept Secret. After some health-related and financial hardships, she passed away 17 years later in 1981.

jackie kennedys iconic wedding dress was actually designed by ann lowe, an african american designer, once referred by the new york times as societies best-kept secret in 1964 pic.twitter.com/yxE3wiKLqR  Audrey (@httpsblossom) June 5, 2020

Now, less than two weeks ahead of Juneteenth, Lowes story is being memorialized through By Her Own Design. Regarding Huguleys latest text, various big-name authors and editors have showered the book with praise.

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Piper Huguleys By Her Own Design is a sumptuous quilt with lyrical lace and detailed thread work that made an iconic life feel authentic and heartwarming Readers will love getting to know Ann Lowe and the story behind the designs, Island Queen author Vanessa Riley said.

Elizabeth Way, the associate curator for The Museum at FIT and editor of Black Designers in American Fashion, also spoke fondly of Huguleys latest work.

The facts of Ann Lowes life are remarkable, but Huguley has taken us a step further, harnessing the art of fiction to invoke the emotions of her experiences and bring Ann Lowe to life, she noted.

You can learn more about By Her Own Design here.
The Daily Beast

ALEXANDER ERMOCHENKOForeign volunteers fighting against Russian troops in Ukraine sounded the alarm Wednesday over two American fighters they say had been taken captive amid heavy fighting.Robert Drueke, 39, and Andy Huynh, 27, were serving with the Ukrainian military when they were taken in Kharkiv last week, The Telegraph reported. We were out on a mission and the whole thing went absolutely crazy, with bad intel. We were told the town was clear when it turned out the Russians were already as
Over the last year, a good number of insiders have significantly increased their holdings in CLS Holdings plc (LON:CLI). This is encouraging because it indicates that insiders are more optimistic about the company's prospects.

Although we don't think shareholders should simply follow insider transactions, we would consider it foolish to ignore insider transactions altogether.

See our latest analysis for CLS Holdings

CLS Holdings Insider Transactions Over The Last Year

In the last twelve months, the biggest single purchase by an insider was when Non-Executive Deputy Chair of the Board Anna Seeley bought UK225m worth of shares at a price of UK2.00 per share. That implies that an insider found the current price of UK2.20 per share to be enticing. While their view may have changed since the purchase was made, this does at least suggest they have had confidence in the company's future. If someone buys shares at well below current prices, it's a good sign on balance, but keep in mind they may no longer see value. In this case we're pleased to report that the insider purchases were made at close to current prices.

While CLS Holdings insiders bought shares during the last year, they didn't sell. The chart below shows insider transactions (by companies and individuals) over the last year. If you want to know exactly who sold, for how much, and when, simply click on the graph below!

CLS Holdings is not the only stock insiders are buying. So take a peek at this free list of growing companies with insider buying.

Insiders at CLS Holdings Have Bought Stock Recently

There was some insider buying at CLS Holdings over the last quarter. CEO & Director Fredrik Widlund bought UK37k worth of shares in that time. We like it when there are only buyers, and no sellers. But the amount invested in the last three months isn't enough for us too put much weight on it, as a single factor.

Does CLS Holdings Boast High Insider Ownership?

Another way to test the alignment between the leaders of a company and other shareholders is to look at how many shares they own. We usually like to see fairly high levels of insider ownership. It appears that CLS Holdings insiders own 6.9% of the company, worth about UK62m. We've certainly seen higher levels of insider ownership elsewhere, but these holdings are enough to suggest alignment between insiders and the other shareholders.

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What Might The Insider Transactions At CLS Holdings Tell Us?

Our data shows a little insider buying, but no selling, in the last three months. The net investment is not enough to encourage us much. On a brighter note, the transactions over the last year are encouraging. Insiders do have a stake in CLS Holdings and their transactions don't cause us concern. 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. When we did our research, we found 4 warning signs for CLS Holdings (2 don't sit too well with us!) that we believe deserve your full attention.

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.
The Coastal Museums Association (CMA) held its annual CMA Awards of Excellence on Friday, June 3, to recognize the exceptional educational and cultural programming delivered by local museums and cultural institutions during the 2021 calendar year.

The event was held at the Massie Heritage Center. The award winners by category for projects completed in 2021 are:

From Left to Right: Juliana Sims, CMA Treasurer; Kris Sergi, Andrew Low House Museum; Rebecca Eddins, Andrew Low House Museum; Elyse Butler, CMA President and the Georgia Historical Society; Whilma Wheaton, City of Savannah Municipal Archives, The Davenport House Museum, and the Bonaventure Historical Society; Jamie Credle, The Davenport House Museum; and Elizabeth Srsic, CMA Vice President.

Excellence in Exhibition

Winner: Georgia Historical Society for the Georgia Historical Society Research Center Exhibit. Inspired by the pamphlet "Georgia History in 25 Objects," the exhibit gives visitors and researchers a chronological introduction to the Georgia Historical Society and Georgia history by using objects to illustrate the themes throughout our state's history.

Hodgson Hall was designed and built in 1876 as a library and headquarters for the Georgia Historical Society.

Excellence in Outreach and Collaboration

Winner: Andrew Low House Museum, the Davenport House Museum, and the Ships of the Sea Museum for Pioneers in Preservation Series; The Transatlantic Slave Trade and Its Legacy.

The Andrew Low House Museum partnered with the Davenport House Museum, Ships of the Sea Maritime Museum and Historic Savannah Foundation hosted the Pioneers in Preservation Series; The Transatlantic Slave Trade and Its Legacy, It was a free, multi-day series of events that familiarize the Coastal Empire and Lowcountry communities with the history of the Transatlantic Slave Trade and its legacy.

Heather Carbone and Christopher Mattingly pose for photos in the rain on the steps of the historic Davenport House Museum after their Valentine's Day wedding.

Excellence in Education & Interpretation

Winner: Andrew Low House Museum for Tasting Traditions. A part of the Pioneers of Preservation series, the program explored and celebrated African American culinary traditions with talks by author and historian Vaughnette Goode-Walker and chef Sallie Ann Robinson.

Andrew Low House Museum

Individuals of Excellence

Winner: Wilma Wheten. Wheaton was nominated by the organizations she graciously donates her time to, the City of Savannah Municipal Archives, The Davenport House, and the Bonaventure Historical Society. Her service is appreciated by the Savannah museum community.

This article originally appeared on Savannah Morning News: Georgia Historical Society, Davenport House Museum awarded in Savannah
Reuters

WASHINGTON (Reuters) -U.S. and European aviation safety regulators plan to hold a meeting next week with Boeing on its 777X airplane that is awaiting certification, Europe's top aviation safety regulator said on Tuesday. Boeing in April said it was halting production of the 777X through 2023 and confirmed a delay in handing over the first 777X jet to 2025 from the previous target of late 2023, but said it remained confident in the program. Patrick Ky, executive director of the European Union Aviation Safety Agency, told reporters on the sidelines of an event in Washington that the meeting is "very important" to share information.
Don Noble

Following her retirement in 2011 after 20 years working as a congressional aide, Decatur native Peggy Allen Towns has devoted her efforts full-time to uncovering and documenting neglected areas of Alabama history, especially that of the African-American citizens of Decatur.

Her work was recognized in March by the Alabama Historical Association with the prestigious Virginia Van Der Veer Hamilton Award. She joins previous winners such as Wayne Flynt, Hardy Jackson and Jay Lamar.

Her first book, Duty Driven: The Plight of North Alabamas African Americans During the Civil War, 2012, was driven by family research. She learned that an ancestor, George Allen, had served in a regiment of United States Colored Troops, in the Union Army, and had been captured, sent to Mobile, and forced to work on fortifications for the city.

She followed that with a re-examination of the trials of the Scottsboro boys, trials which were held mostly in Decatur. The result was Scottsboro Unmasked: Decaturs Story, 2018.

Towns prose is not always graceful, but her newest, Scapegoat, the story of Tommy Lee Hines arrest and trial, is important and disturbing, and deserves to be read.

Hines was 26 years old, 5 feet, 2 inches tall and weighed about 120 pounds. He had an IQ of about 35. One examination concluded that he had the mental maturation of a person 6.4 years old. A later test corrected that to 4.6 years old.

He could not read or write and could not in fact sign his name correctly.

Hines attended the Cherry Street School Development Center, rarely missing a day.

In May of 1978, Hines was arrested and charged with the robbery and the rape of three white women. It seemed extremely unlikely. The assailant was described as 5 feet, 6 inches to 5 feet, 7 inches.

As the investigation proceeded, one of the women said her assailant had removed audio equipment from her car. Two of the women said they had been abducted and then taken to another venue, where they were assaulted.

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At the trial, there was a good deal of dispute over whether Hines had been read his Miranda rights and if he could possibly have understood them.

There was a confession, signed by Hines, which he could not have written, and psychologists testified that his retardation was so acute he would easily have been led by suggestion, to agree to most anything.

When asked whether he had raped two women or three, he answered three.

When asked, he also said there were 65 pennies in a dime and October, November and December were days of the week.

The district attorney, however, was determined. The Black community organized for Hines support.

As had been the case with the Scottsboro boys, legal help arrived from out of town, in this case from the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, including the Rev. Ralph David Abernathy.

Nevertheless, this provoked white backlash, cross burnings, counter-demonstrations, and at one point the Klan held a membership rally attended by a thousand people. Over time there would be several confrontations, increasingly violent, including gunfire.

The defense asked for a change of venue and this was reluctantly granted, to Cullman, Alabama, where only 1% of the population was Black. There would be no Black jurors.

In court, one woman victim testified that her assailant wore a green garbage bag over his head. She identified Hines anyway.

Hines was convicted and given 30 years. Of course there would be appeals, ostensibly successful, but Hines would spend 25 years in Bryce, then Partlow, then in a group home.

Reading the story of Tommy Hines trial, one is of course reminded of Tom Robinson and his disability in To Kill A Mockingbird, in which the jury simply refuses to see the facts in front of them. But that trial was fictional and set in 1933. The Hines trial was REAL and set in 1978, yesterday.

Don Nobles newest book is Alabama Noir, a collection of original stories by Winston Groom, Ace Atkins, Carolyn Haines, Brad Watson, and eleven other Alabama authors.

Scapegoat: The Tommy Lee Hines Story

Author: Peggy Allen Towns

Publisher: AuthorHouse, Bloomington, indiana, 2020

Pages: 131

Price: $14.99 (Paper)

This article originally appeared on The Tuscaloosa News: Decatur historian documents miscarriage of justice | DON NOBLE
Luis Fernando Ortiz-Rivera

An escapee facing a murder charge in Florida walked into a Barstow gas station on Thursday and told a clerk that he wanted to turn himself into local law enforcement.

Barstow Police on Friday identified 37-year-old Luis Fernando Ortiz-Rivera of Marianna, Florida as the man with an outstanding warrant for first-degree murder, escape and assault.

At approximately 9:14 p.m. on Thursday, Officer Gemma Day was dispatched to a Valero Gas Station in the 1400 block of East Main Street regarding a man who said he was a murder suspect and wanted to turn himself in.

The suspect, Ortiz-Rivera, identified himself to the store clerk before requesting police, Barstow Police said.

Officer Day made contact with Ortiz-Rivera and confirmed through the Barstow Police Dispatch Center that he had an outstanding warrant for first-degree murder, escape and assault.

Barstow Police confirmed that Ortiz-Rivera had escaped from the Sunland Center facility located in Broward County, Florida.

Ortiz escaped from the Sunland Center mental health facility on Dec. 10, according to the MPD, who said at the time of his escape, he was in a court-ordered program.

Ortiz was arrested by Barstow Police on the escape warrant and is currently awaiting extradition back to Jackson County, Florida, according to the Marianna Police Department.

Police did not say why Ortiz-Rivera was in California.

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: Escapee from Florida turns himself in to Barstow Police
The ex-boyfriend of a Scott County woman whose body was found in a storage unit in Madison County two years ago has pleaded guilty to murder and other charges.

Joseph E. Hicks, 55, of Richmond, entered a guilty plea in Scott Circuit Court Friday in connection with the death of Sheena Baxter, 32, a mother of three who went missing on the night of Valentines Day in 2020. Her body was found Feb. 25, 2020.

Hicks was shot in the arm on the night of Baxters disappearance, and he initially told police he was robbed outside the Georgetown Walmart, but police found no evidence of a robbery or shooting there.

Under a plea deal, Hicks could be sentenced to 45 years in prison for murder, first-degree robbery, felon in possession of a handgun, tampering with physical evidence, first-degree criminal mischief and falsely reporting an incident.

Defendant agrees to serve a total of 45 years, 25 years are on violent offenses which require a minimum of 85% of service or 20 years before he is parole eligible, and 20 years are on non-violent offenses which require a minimum of 20% of service before he is parole eligible, the plea agreement states.

Hicks is scheduled for formal sentencing July 11.

He was indicted soon after his arrest in 2020, but court records show he was indicted again on a superseding indictment in March. Questions arose surrounding how Commonwealths Attorney Sharon Muse-Johnson handled grand jury proceedings in the case, the Georgetown News-Graphic previously reported.

AG finds no criminal wrongdoing by Central Kentucky prosecutor after alleged misconduct

Judge alleges misconduct in Ky. prosecutors office, cites reality show, husbands role
By Jonathan Stempel

NEW YORK (Reuters) - A U.S. appeals court in Manhattan on Friday appeared unlikely to revive former Alabama judge Roy Moore's lawsuit accusing Sacha Baron Cohen of defamation for falsely portraying him as a sex offender on the British comedian's show "Who Is America?"

Moore, 75, sued for $95 million in September 2018 over an interview in Washington, D.C., where the former Republican chief justice of Alabama's Supreme Court and U.S. Senate candidate expected to receive an award for supporting Israel.

Instead, Baron Cohen, 50, disguised as fictional Israeli anti-terrorism expert Erran Morad, waved a wand-like device that purportedly detected pedophiles, and which beeped when waved near Moore.

The interview occurred after Moore had lost his 2017 Senate race in heavily Republican Alabama, following accusations that Moore committed sexual misconduct toward female teenagers while in his 30s.

Moore has denied those accusations, and Baron Cohen's lawyers have called the device "completely fake."

During oral arguments before the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, Circuit Judge Gerard Lynch suggested that the interview was merely a commentary on the accusations.

"Is there a plausibility to the idea that this magic wand detects pedophiles?" Lynch asked Moore's lawyer, Larry Klayman. "That's what Cohen adds to this story. Otherwise he's just saying, 'These are accusations that were made against this man.'"

Klayman countered that calling someone a pedophile was a "smear" worse than labeling him a murderer.

He asked the three-judge panel "to sit in the shoes of Judge Moore, whatever you may think about him ... and to say: Would you want to be branded a pedophile like this, on international television?"

Baron Cohen's lawyer, Elizabeth McNamara, argued, with little interruption from the panel, that Moore waived his claims by signing a consent agreement to be interviewed, and the claims were barred under the U.S. Constitution's First Amendment.

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"As the court below found, this was clearly a joke, and no reasonable viewer could have seen it otherwise," she said. "Whether you found it funny or not, this was clearly satirical commentary."

"Who Is America?" was broadcast on Paramount Global's Showtime network, a co-defendant.

Baron Cohen previously prevailed in several lawsuits over his 2006 mockumentary "Borat! Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan."

The case is Moore et al v Cohen et al, 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, No. 21-1702.

(Reporting by Jonathan Stempel in New York; Editing by Matthew Lewis)
LONDON (Reuters) -The family of British man Shaun Pinner who has been sentenced to death by a court by Russian proxy authorities in Donbas have spoken of their devastation at the news and requested he is exchanged or released.

Two Britons, Pinner and Aiden Aslin, were convicted of mercenary activities by a court on Thursday in the self-proclaimed Donetsk People's Republic, which is not recognised internationally.

Pinner's family said the proceedings were an "illegal show- trial" and said he needed access to independent legal advice.

"Firstly, our whole family is devastated and saddened at the outcome of the illegal show trial by the so-called Donetsk Peoples Republic," the family said in a statement.

"Shaun should be accorded all the rights of a prisoner of war according to the Geneva Convention and including full independent legal representation. We sincerely hope that all parties will co-operate urgently to ensure the safe release or exchange of Shaun."

Britain has called the court's decision a "sham judgment" and condemned Russian proxy authorities in Donbas for what it called an "egregious breach" of the Geneva convention.

The two men were captured during the battle for the port city of Mariupol, one of the bloodiest of the conflict that broke out when Russian troops invaded Ukraine in late February.

Pinner's family said he was a legitimate member of the Ukrainian army after being resident in the country for the last four years years.

"Our family including his son and Ukrainian wife, love and miss him so much and our hearts go out to all the families involved in this awful situation," the statement said.

(Reporting by Andrew MacAskill; editing by Jason Neely and Angus MacSwan)
LA PAZ, Bolivia (AP)  Former Bolivian interim President Jeanine Anez was sentenced to 10 years in prison Friday on charges linked to her assumption of office in 2019 amid violent protests that led to the resignation and exile of her predecessor, Evo Morales.

Anez was convicted by the court of dereliction of duty and acting against the constitution when she proclaimed herself president in what Morales and his party have called a coup.

Anezs supporters deny it was a coup, saying Morales' alleged abuse of power triggered a legitimate uprising in the streets. The ouster of Bolivia's first Indigenous president and his vice president created a power vacuum that allowed Anez to assume the interim presidency as second president of the Senate, they claim. The defense said she will appeal the decision.

I did not lift a finger to become president, but I did what I had to do to pacify a country that Morales left convulsed as he fled, Anez said from the prison where she is being held.

Morales stepped down following nationwide protests over suspected vote-rigging in an Oct. 20 election, which he claimed to have won to gain a fourth term in office. Morales has denied there was fraud. The protests left 37 dead and forced Morales to take refuge in Mexico.

His party, known by its initials in Spanish MAS, returned to power in 2020 elections and Morales has since returned to Bolivia.

The trial sets a historic precedent against impunity, said MAS deputy Juan Jose Jauregui.

The court also sentenced former Armed Forces commander Williams Kaliman and ex-police commander Vladimir Calderon to 10 years in prison. Four other former military chiefs received lesser sentences.

Outside the prison where she was being held about 50 people held posters protesting Anez.
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP)  The leaders of the National Governors Association said Friday they're forming a bipartisan working group to come up with recommendations to stop mass shootings following the Texas school massacre.

Reaching consensus could be a tall order given that the nation's governors have been divided along partisan lines on how to approach issues of gun control and school safety.

Republican Gov. Asa Hutchinson of Arkansas, the group's chairman, and Democratic Gov. Phil Murphy of New Jersey, the vice chair, told the White House in a letter that they will convene a group of six to 10 governors, with a particular focus on making schools safe.

Hutchinson and Murphy appeared to leave open the possibility that the recommendations could include some gun control proposals. The U.S. House this week approved a wide-ranging gun control bill that has little chance of passing the Senate.

It is our hope that the task force can provide suggestions to keep our schools and communities safe in a manner that is consistent with the demands of the American people, who overwhelmingly support gun safety measures," the governors' letter said. We can all agree that there are commonsense ways to prevent these tragic events, and we must work together to do everything in our collective power to protect our communities and our most vulnerable citizens  our children."

The letter comes as governors have been split along partisan lines on the best response to the Uvalde, Texas, shooting that killed 19 elementary school children and two teachers. A recent survey by The Associated Press showed governors divided, with Democrats calling for more restrictions on guns and Republicans focusing instead on beefing up school security.

Hutchinson has said that raising the minimum age to buy an AR-style rifle from 18 to 21 should be part of the discussion. But Hutchinson, who leaves office in January and is considering running for president, isn't calling for such a move in his state and has said gun control measures won't be on the agenda if he asks the Republican-controlled Legislature to take up school safety ideas during a potential special session.

The letter was sent the same day Hutchinson announced he was reinstating a school safety commission he formed to come up with recommendations following the 2018 school shooting in Parkland, Florida.
In one Texas city we see an abundance of gifts.. flowers, balloons, teddy bears.. but the recipients are not there to accept them. Tragically, they have been taken from their families, their homes, their school, taken from our world by a disturbed young man who had a weapon of war in his hands and chose to rain his rage upon these innocents.

The scene in this Texas city is one of humanity in the throes of despair and unbearable grief.

Let us imagine the sight that confronted those who entered the classrooms when the gunmans 78-minute rampage was finally brought to an end. Imagine the amount of blood splattered throughout that room. Imagine seeing 21 lifeless bodies, 19 of them precious children. Imagine seeing the bodies of two teachers who, even when faced with death, tried to protect the youngsters in their care.

Leonard Pitts Jr: So much for the good guy with a gun

More: Want to stop school carnage? Vote.

Imagine how helpless they felt when faced with a gunman holding a weapon intended for battlefields and carrying 400 rounds of ammunition. Imagine the anguish of the children who desperately begged for help from 911, whispering, in fear of being heard by the gunman. Imagine these children dying while those who were supposed to save them stood steps away, hearing the sound of gunfire and terrified screams, yet doing nothing.

If you can envision any of these scenes, please do not allow them to be erased from your memory. Please resolve to honor these souls by remembering each day what they endured, and by vowing to raise your voice and expend every effort to ensure this tragedy will never be repeated.

In another Texas city, 277 miles away, we see a very different scene  one that glorifies and celebrates not humanity but guns. Here, at the NRA convention, we see an abundance of weapons on magnificent display, spread over fourteen acres for all the world to view and covet. It is understandable that their objective is to produce sales, because 20 million AR-15 rifles in the United States are surely not enough. Nor is it sufficient to have a mere 393.3 million guns in this country  more guns than citizens.

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Demonstrators gather around the stage as they listen to speakers Friday in front of the NRA convention. In Houston Friday May 27, 2022.

The scene in this Texas city is joyful anticipation at the prospect of selling more guns.

Attending the convention were well-known names, e.g., Donald Trump, who addressed the crowd and ended his speech with a lighthearted, celebratory dance. Many other Republican politicians attended. However, the governor of Texas did not; he held a press conference, at which his generosity was on display. He offered victims families free caskets, airfare and mental health services. (The latter is especially appropriate, since Texas ranks last in the country in providing mental health benefits to its citizens.) Neither the governors generosity nor his appearance at the site of the massacre five days later were well-received.

The convention organizers ensured the safety of attendees by restricting all guns other than those on display; evidently, when it concerns their safety, they are willing to mandate restrictions on weapons. As a result, there was no blood at this gathering, unless you consider the blood with which these politicians are saturated. They are soaked to the bone by a torrent of blood from millions of gun violence victims  a river of red that flows through every state in our union and is now, shamefully, overflowing.

While the memory of the victims at Robb Elementary will endure forever, the blood in their classroom will eventually be eradicated. The blood that has saturated Republican politicians, however, cannot and will not be scrubbed away. It is the legacy they will leave when it is their turn to face the death they so callously allow gunmen to inflict on others.

Marti Nicely is a resident of West Palm Beach.

This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Politicians celebrate guns at NRA convention after Texas shooting
China's Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) offers massive opportunities for China-Britain cooperation in areas like business, climate change, personnel exchanges, education and tourism, experts said during a three-day conference held in British Lancaster University.

Produced by Xinhua Global Service
Anthony Perry, 20, was gifted a car by Early Walker, founder of the organization I'm Telling Don't Shoot, after videos of him saving a man from being electrocuted went viral.

A man had just fallen onto the electrified rail on Chicago's Red Line  seemingly unconscious, convulsing and unable to save himself. A crowd was gathering, and the unfolding tragedy was being recorded.

That's what Anthony Perry, 20, saw less than a week ago as he got off at his usual train stop on his way home. Perry says he felt compelled to act: He jumped onto the tracks, skipped over the third rail and pulled the man to safety.

It was an act of kindness that would soon lead to national attention for Perry  and a gift that would change his life. But at the time, helping someone in need was all that was on Perry's mind, he said.

The guy didnt have control of his body so I really felt like if I dont help him, who will help? Perry told USA TODAY. Everybody was just standing around recording.

With the help of another commuter, Perry performed CPR as he waited for paramedics to arrive on the scene.

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The unidentified man was taken to a nearby hospital and was expected to survive, the Chicago Sun-Times reported. Police are currently investigating what led to the man landing on the tracks, the newspaper reported.

After that, Perry's life mostly went back to normal  for about a day and a half, he said.

Soon, videos of the incident started attracting attention on social media. On Tuesday, Perry received a call from Early Walker, Chicago native and founder of the anti-violence group I'm Telling Don't Shoot.

Finding Perry had been no easy task, Walker told USA TODAY. He and his wife had seen a video of the heroic act circulating on social media but could find little information on who the rescuer was. After digging for several days, they finally found him.

He learned from Perry that the fateful trip to the train station could be traced back to a misfortune that happened in April. After saving up for months, Perry said he had invested all of his savings into what turned out to be a defective car. He had been relying on public transportation since.

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Walker was inspired by Perry's act of kindness, Walker explained. So he planned a surprise as a token of his appreciation.

Fact? Checked. Make sure you have the real story with the Checking the Facts newsletter.

We see a lot of incidents where individuals just pull their phones out and literally that was the case here  they were recording this gentleman dying and Anthony was the only one that decided to do something positive. So, I immediately jumped into motion and said, lets help this guy, Walker told USA TODAY.

They agreed on a time and place to meet: Wednesday in front of Meyering Park, near Perrys residence.

Perry arrived at the park the following day to find Walker, members of the Chicago Police Department, and local news channels crews awaiting him. After introductions, Walker awarded Perry a $25 gasoline card  for his 2009 Audi A8.

We wanted to literally show our appreciation because we need more people like you. We need more Anthonys in the world, Walker said to Perry. The gesture has since attracted national attention.

Perry said the car will make his life "way easier." His daily commute from his home in Greater Grand Crossing to his job will be cut from over an hour to around 30 minutes.

The car not only means he will no longer have to take two buses and a train each morning, but it will also remind him of the importance of lending a hand to those in need.

It means a lot, honestly, to see somebody else being selfless. (Walker) paid it forward for me doing the right thing and that meant a lot, Perry said. The next time you see somebody that needs help, the first thing we can do is not record, but instead we can help.

Contributing: The Associated Press

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Chicago man who saved stranger from train tracks gifted car
Jun. 11EUGENE, Ore.  High Point University's pole-vaulting Horn sisters, Sydney and Mackenzie, placed well enough in the NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships to earn All-American honors late Thursday night at the University of Oregon's Hayward Stadium.

Sydney Horn, a sophomore, finished sixth, clearing 4.35 meters (14 feet, 3.25 inches), and earned first-team All-American for the fourth time in four trips to the NCAA Indoor and Outdoor championships. She failed in attempts at 4.40 and 4.45 meters.

Mackenzie Horn, a junior, finished 11th with a clear at 4.20 meters (13 feet, 9.75 inches), and got second team All-American for finishing in the top 12.

Gabriella Leon of Louisville won with a vault of 4.6 meters (15 feet, 1 inch). Amanda Fassold of Arkansas was second and Lisa Gunnarson of LSU third at 4.55 meters. Rachel Baxter of Virginia Tech took fourth at 4.5 meters and Julia Fixsen of the Hokies was fifth at 4.40.
In this article:

(Getty Images)

Paris Hilton has shared a series of photographs from the wedding of Britney Spears and Sam Asghari, who tied the knot in Los Angeles on Thursday 9 June in front of 60 guests.

The couple, who have been together since late 2016, exchanged vows nine months after announcing their engagement.

Spears, 40, reportedly wore three outfits throughout the day, including an off-shoulder wedding gown by Versace, complete with a flowing train and veil.

Celebrity guests at the event included Madonna, Paris Hilton, Selena Gomez, Donatella Versace, and Drew Barrymore.

Now, Hilton has offered a glimpse into the celebrations by sharing a series of photographs on Instagram.

The first sees the heiress posing in front of a floral construction alongside Spears, Madonna, Versace, Gomez, and Barrymore.

Hilton captioned the post: Icons Only. Had the most incredible time celebrating the fairytale couple. What a beautiful night.

Another photograph sees Hilton embracing Gomez, while others show her with Versace.

For the wedding, Hilton wore a floor-length black sequin gown with a thigh-high slit.

Gomez opted for a deep blue strapless jumpsuit, while Madonna wore a multi-coloured wrap dress, and Versace opted for a pale blue sleeveless frock.

Barrymore wore a black floor-length cape-like gown.

Spears, 40, accessorised her dress with a white choker necklace and short mesh gloves with a lace trim. She wore her blonde hair in loose waves.

Asghari, 28, wore a black tuxedo and bow tie, with a white rose pinned to his lapel.

Asgharis manager, Brandon Cohen, told People after the ceremony that the actor and model was very ecstatic this day has come.
A Texas judge on Friday temporarily blocked the state from investigating families of transgender children who have received gender-confirming medical care, a new obstacle to the state labeling such treatments as child abuse.

The temporary restraining order issued by Judge Jan Soifer halts investigations against three families who sued, and prevents any similar investigations against members of the LGBTQ advocacy group PFLAG Inc. The group has more than 600 members in Texas.

I do find that there is sufficient reason to believe that the plaintiffs will suffer immediate and irreparable injury if the commissioner and the (Department of Family and Protective Services) are allowed to continue to implement and enforce this new Department rule that equates gender affirming care with child abuse, Soifer said at the end of a roughly 40-minute hearing.

Related: Mom of transgender child under investigation in Texas speaks out

The ruling comes about a month after the Texas Supreme Court allowed the state to investigate parents of transgender youth for child abuse while also ruling in favor of one family that was among the first contacted by child welfare officials following order by Republican Gov. Greg Abbott.

That families will be protected from invasive, unnecessary, and unnerving investigations by DFPS simply for helping their transgender children thrive and be themselves is a very good thing, Brian K. Bond, executive director of PFLAG National, said in a statement. However, lets be clear: These investigations into loving and affirming families shouldnt be happening in the first place.

The latest challenge was brought by Lambda Legal and the American Civil Liberties Union on behalf of the families of three teenage boys  two 16-year-olds and a 14-year-old  and PFLAG. An attorney for Lambda Legal told the judge that the 14-year-olds family had learned after the lawsuits filing that the states investigation into them had been dropped.

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Spokespeople for Abbott and Attorney General Ken Paxton did not immediately respond to requests for comment Friday afternoon.

An attorney for the state had argued during the hearing that applying the order to any member of PFLAG was untenable and would be difficult for the department to comply with. But Lambda Legal senior counsel Paul Castillo said that parents could simply show their membership receipt or some other proof of membership.

Related: Texas parents fear governor's call to 'report,' 'investigate' parents of trans kids

The families had talked in court filings about the anxiety that the investigations had created for them and their children. The mother of one of the teens said her son attempted suicide and was hospitalized the day Abbott issued his directive. The outpatient psychiatric facility where the teen was referred reported the family for child abuse after learning he had been prescribed hormone therapy, she said in a court filing.

A judge in March put Abbotts order on hold after a lawsuit brought on behalf of a 16-year-old girl whose family said it was under investigation. The Texas Supreme Court in May ruled that the lower court overstepped its authority by blocking all investigations going forward.

That lawsuit marked the first report of parents being investigated following Abbotts directive and an earlier nonbinding legal opinion by Paxton labeling certain gender-confirming treatments as child abuse. The Texas Department of Family and Protective Service has said it opened nine investigations following the directive and opinion.

Abbotts directive and the attorney generals opinion go against the nations largest medical groups, including the American Medical Association, which have opposed Republican-backed restrictions filed in statehouses nationwide.

Arkansas last year became the first state to pass a law prohibiting gender-confirming treatments for minors, and Tennessee approved a similar measure. A judge blocked Arkansas law, and a federal appeals court will hear arguments in the case next week.
FLAGLER BEACH  About 60 people gathered along State Road 100 outside Wadsworth Park Saturday morning holding signs calling for more gun regulations as part of the nationwide March for Our Lives rallies.

Demonstrators lined up along the west side of the State 100 bridge and waved at passing cars with signs that read Books Not Bullets," Protect People Not Guns and Republicans Love Guns More Than Children.

Passing drivers honked their vehicles horns in support of the demonstrators. Some drivers also waved. But not everyone was agreeable. One person in a pickup yelled "People kill people." And a white sedan drove by with someone making a rude gesture out of the open sunroof.

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A group of March for Our Lives demonstrators marched across the bridge before returning to stand along State Road 100 at the entrance to Wadsworth Park.

One of the demonstrators was Nadine Witherspoon of Ormond Beach.

We want to end gun violence so we are going to do what we can to let our legislators know that we are for gun safety laws that will protect our children and each other  wherever we are  grocery stores, walking in the mall, concerts, wherever, Witherspoon said. Its important that we have appropriate gun safety laws.

Tanya Dozier and her daughter, Nevaeh, 12, are visiting Witherspoon from Pennsylvania and accompanied her to the demonstration.

Nobody wants to take away anyones guns. Its just gun safety to protect our children, said Dozier, who was holding a Biden 2020 flag.

Dozier motioned to Nevaeh, who will be in eighth grade next year.

This is my daughter, she said. I would never want to send her to school and not come home and something as simple as gun safety laws would help.

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Were tired of children being massacred in their schools

Sally Hirst, president of the Flagler Beach Democratic Club, said gun laws need to be tougher.

We believe very strongly that we need to protect kids and we need to choose kids over, you know, what people perceive as a Second Amendment right, which I think has been way overextended beyond what it originally was intended, Hirst said. So, we are here to try to effectuate whatever change we can in gun laws, or ideally banning assault rifles.

Hirst said politicians need to pay attention to constituents, because many people, even gun owners, are in favor of measures such as background checks and limiting the capacity of magazines.

The demonstration was part of the March for Our Lives rallies on Saturday, which took place in Washington, D.C., and 400 cities nationwide. Besides Flagler Beach, rallies took place in at least two dozen other Florida cities.

March for Our Lives 2022 in Florida: Enough is enough. Across Florida, hundreds attend rallies calling for gun law reform

March For Our Lives protesters gather at the corner of U.S. 1 and Dunlawton Avenue in Port Orange on Saturday, June 11, 2022.

Doreen Leone, of Port Orange, organized a demonstration in her city at the intersection of U.S. 1 and Dunlawton Avenue Saturday.

"Were tired of children being massacred in their schools and AR-15s do not belong in anybodys hands unless youre in a war," she said. "Were passionate about it."

Leone was pleased with the turnout.

"I counted about 120 people," she said. "All four corners are covered."

She said she hopes the event will draw awareness to the need for stricter gun laws.

"We're hoping they'll pay attention to us," Leone said. "We're trying to make some noise. We're hoping that it will change something."

A similar March for Our Lives rally took place four years ago after a shooter killed 14 students and three other people at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland.

Demonstrators hold up signs on Saturday along State Road 100 at Wadsworth Park during the March for Our Lives rally in Flagler Beach.

29 dead in 2 recent shootings

The nationwide rallies on Saturday follow a massacre on May 24 when an 18-year-old man shot to death 19 children and two teachers at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas. On May 14, another 18-year-old gunman killed 10 Black shoppers and employees in what officials described as a hate crime at a supermarket in Buffalo, New York.

The House of Representatives last Wednesday voted to raise the minimum age from 18 to 21 to buy a semi-automatic rifle and ban the sale of high-capacity magazines, according to a USA Today story.

The bill, known as the Protecting Our Kids Act, passed the house on a largely party-line vote of 223-204. It will now go to the Senate were Republicans have enough votes to block it and it is not expected to pass, according to USA Today. A bipartisan group of senators is working on other measures focused on red-flag laws, mental health and school safety.

The crowd of protestors at the March For Our Lives protest at the Washington Monument in Washington D.C., on Saturday, June 11, 2022.

The rally in Flagler Beach also drew a lone-counter protester wearing a black T-shirt adorned with the outline of an AR-15. The man, who said his first name was Justin but declined to provide a last name, carried a sign that read "Ban Democrats Not Guns."

But he was greatly outnumbered by the March for Our Lives group, which included a few very young participants.

Lincoln Stallard, 7, of Washington, D.C., was visiting his cousin Addison Asay, 12, of Palm Coast. The two cousins carried a large sign that read March for Our Lives.

Lincoln said he was doing the march to stop gun violence.

Addison Asay, 12, of Palm Coast, and her cousin, Lincoln Stallard, 7, of Washington, D.C., hold up a sign Saturday during the March for Our Lives rally in Flagler Beach.

Addison said she wanted to protect children from gun violence. She said she worries about active shooters in schools.

Sometimes, yeah. When we have, like, the drills its kind of scary sometimes to think that that could happen in real life, Addison said.

Kelly Rosa, a science teacher at Flagler Palm Coast High School, held up a sign that read Books Not Bullets.

Theres just been too much violence happening in our country, she said.

She said her family owns guns, but she believes that gun regulations should be tougher.

Banning assault-style weapons  they shouldnt be sold, they shouldnt be available for the average consumer, Rosa said. They are military-grade weapons. They are not used for sport or for hunting so they are not required in the regular population.

Staff writer Caroline Hebert contributed to this story.

This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: March for Our Lives 2022: Florida demonstrators demand gun law reform
People across the country marched Saturday for gun control.

READ: Thousands take to US streets demanding action on gun laws

The March For Our Lives organization is demanding changes in gun laws.

Organizers said there have been nearly 250 mass shootings so far this year in the U.S.

Photos: March For Our Lives rally in Orlando joins national call for more gun control laws

The group March For Our Lives Orlando said it wants U.S. leaders to do something about gun violence.

READ: House bill on gun reform: What is in it; who supported it; will it pass the Senate?

Locally, it is also connecting with the Boys & Girls Clubs Day of H.O.P.E.

This is the second March For Our Lives rally. The first was organized in 2018 by student protesters after the mass shooting at Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida.

Now, thousands across the country and in Central Florida are back after the mass shootings in Uvalde, Texas and Buffalo, New York.

READ: House passes gun control bill after Buffalo, Uvalde attacks

Nationally, there are marches in about 300 locations.

The U.S. House has passed bills that would raise the age limit to buy a semi-automatic weapon and establish red flag laws.

See more in the video above.

Click here to download the free WFTV news and weather apps, and click here to watch the latest news on your Smart TV.
MEXICO CITY (Reuters) - Mexican immigration authorities disbanded a migrant caravan of at least 7,000 people, the government said Saturday, cutting short the group's journey, which coincided with the Summit of the Americas in Los Angeles.

Mexico's National Institute for Migration (INM) said in a statement it dissolved the caravan by reaching an agreement with its organizers and redirecting people to its INM offices in the Chiapas state. The agency also assisted the migrants with obtaining a document to regularize their stay in the country.

The caravan, which migration activists said could be one of the region's largest in recent years, departed from the southern border city Tapachula on Monday. It was made up of people from Central America, Venezuela, Haiti and other countries, according to the INM.

The disbandment of the caravan comes on the heels of the U.S.-hosted Summit of the Americas, which was roiled by division after the exclusion of some leftist Latin American countries. U.S. President Joe Biden and fellow leaders from the Western Hemisphere used the meeting to announce a series of migrant programs supported by various countries across the hemisphere and Spain, pledging a more cooperative approach.

Those measures include the United States and Canada committing to take more guest laborers, providing legal pathways for people to come work, and other countries agreeing to greater protections for migrants. But some analysts were skeptical that the pledges are meaningful enough to make a significant difference.

Mexico also will accept more Central American workers, according to a White House statement.

(Reporting by Cassandra Garrison; Editing by Aurora Ellis)
HUIXTLA, Mexico (AP)  Mexico's migration agency has issued nearly 7,000 temporary documents and transit visas over the last few days to members of a migrant caravan which by Saturday had broken up in southern Mexico.

Hundreds of people were heading north in buses while others were spread out over various towns north of Tapachula, near the Guatemalan border, resting or waiting to receive money from relatives to continue their trip to the United States.

In its statement, the Mexican migration agency did not specify what kind of documents were issued but most of the migrants showed papers that gave them a period of one month or more to leave the country or begin regularization procedures in Mexico. Most want to use the documents to reach the U.S. border.

The migrant caravan left from Tapachula on Monday. But it had split up by Thursday, when regional leaders were meeting in Los Angeles at the Summit of the Americas to talk about migration and other issues.

President Joe Biden and other Western Hemisphere leaders announced on Friday what is being billed as a roadmap for countries to host large numbers of migrants and refugees.

Meanwhile, the bus terminal in the southern Mexican town of Huixtla was filled with migrants looking for tickets north.

Alejandro Gonzalez Rincon, his cousin and six other friends from Venezuela were only able to get tickets to Tuxtla Gutierrez, the capital of Chiapas, because all the other destinations they wanted, such as Mexico City, were sold out. Their plan was to slowly make their way up to the U.S. border, he said.

Venezuelan Eddy Jimenez planned to return to Tapachula as soon as his cousins got their documents. He would wait there until his relatives send him money to resume heading north. He wanted to reach Mexico City and then Monterrey, a big city closer to the border.

Since October, Mexican authorities have dispersed other caravans by offering to move migrants to other cities where they can legalize their status more quickly. The goal was to lessen migrant pressure in the south.

Human rights groups have criticized the migration agency's lack of transparency in carrying out these procedures. Advocates also say authorities sometimes do not respect the documents.
Hundreds marched Saturday morning  many in blue March For Our Lives and orange Oxford Strong T-shirts  from Centennial Park in Oxford to the high school where four students were fatally shot.

"It should not be our job to march for sensible change that has not occurred seven months after our school shooting," said Dylan Morris, an Oxford High senior and march organizer. "Our mission today is to push legislators to enact sensible gun laws, safe storage, numerous background checks, red flag laws."

The demonstration, part of a larger national effort to end gun violence, aimed to draw attention to gun violence, particularly a rash of mass killings in schools and elsewhere, and urge policymakers to take action.

Marchers hold signs and chant as they move from Centennial Park in Oxford on their way to Oxford High School and back for the March For Our Lives Oxford event on Saturday, June 11, 2022. Students, teachers and parents shared their stories of loss following the shooting at the school and demanded that lawmakers enact gun control laws to keep these tragedies from happening again. When the crowd reached the high school, it held a moment of silence to honor and remember the teens who were gunned down, Madisyn Baldwin, Tate Myre, Justin Shilling, and Hana St. Juliana.

In all, about 300 rallies were slated to take place Saturday in cities across the nation, including one of the largest in Washington D.C., where more than 40,000 people were expected.

In Michigan, students, parents, grandparents, teachers and officials gathered for marches in Oxford and other communities  including Detroit, Ann Arbor, Lansing, Port Huron, Waterford and Traverse City  to call for stricter gun laws and share their frustrations and fears.

In Oxford, where emotions are still especially raw, several speakers fought back tears as they talked about that had happened there, and what they hoped would happen to prevent more deaths.

There were a few challenges to the protesters. At one point during speeches in Oxford, someone booed but the crowd booed back and the speaker  Linda Watson, whose son Aiden was among the seven students injured in the Nov. 30 shooting at Oxford High, along with a teacher  responded: "Are you done? Were not."

Jill Soave, left, the mother of slain Oxford High School student Justin Shilling, takes a moment of reflection after she placed flowers at a sign at the entrance to the school after a moment of silence as they arrive at Oxford High School during the March For Our Lives Oxford event on Saturday, June 11, 2022. Students, teachers and parents shared their stories of loss following the shooting at the school and demanded that lawmakers enact gun control laws to keep these tragedies from happening again. When the crowd reached the high school, it held a moment of silence to honor and remember the teens who were gunned down, Madisyn Baldwin, Tate Myre, Justin Shilling, and Hana St. Juliana.

Organizers of the Oxford demonstration read a list of deadly school shootings, with the crowd chanting together, after each one, "What now?" They chanted: "No more silence, end gun violence" and "Protect our kids, protect our schools."

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When the crowd reached the high school, it held a moment of silence to honor and remember the teens who were gunned down  Madisyn Baldwin, Tate Myre, Justin Shilling, and Hana St. Juliana.

Changing policy, minds?

It remains to be seen how much the second national March For Our Lives will persuade elected officials, candidates and voters opposed to more gun laws  or change public policy.

Still, for many, the marches offered a chance to talk about fears.

The first March For Our Lives was in 2018, following the massacre at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, that left 14 students and three school employees dead.

By one count, more than 311,000 students have experienced gun violence at school since two seniors killed a dozen students and a teacher at Columbine High in Colorado in 1999.

In the latest high-profile school shooting in Uvalde, Texas, 19 students and two teachers were killed, prompting yet another national outcry in which President Joe Biden said he believed "the Second Amendment, like all other rights, is not absolute."

Read more:

Student-led marches against gun violence expected across Michigan

Digital license plates are now for sale in Michigan: How to get one

In Detroit  where just hours earlier, there was a quadruple nonfatal shooting in the 13500 block of Cloverlawn  more than 500 people, including families with grandparents and young children, marched.

As the crowd passed the GM world headquarters, marchers chanted, "Not one more."

Many also expressed their sentiments through T-shirt messages.

Chip Garner, of Wyandotte, carries an American flag as he joins marchers who hold signs and chant as they leave the Detroit riverfront on Saturday, June 11, 2022, as they march in the March for Our Lives Detroit event. Speakers came to the microphone one by one and demanded that lawmakers enact gun control laws to keep these tragedies from happening again.

One man wore a shirt spattered with fake blood that said, "Thoughts and prayers." Others held signs that crossed out "thoughts and prayers," replacing it with "policy and change."

Birdie Nash, of Harrison Township, said she is a worried grandma who wanted to support the young protest organizers and urge change. She added that she believes the protests are important.

"My God, when we are going to stop? Where will it stop?" she said, expressing frustration with officials who "pretend that they are going to do something."

"I am tired of crying over what's going on, all the killing, racism and killing babies."

Joseph Kesto, 18, of Sterling Heights, was a Detroit march organizer who headed to the rally in Washington, D.C.

Vika Vantram, of Heartland, left, holds a sign as his wife, Joanna, a teacher for the Howell Public Schools system records speakers as people fill Detroit's riverfront on Saturday, June 11, 2022, as they listen to speakers and march in the March for Our Lives Detroit event. Speakers came to the microphone one by one and demanded that lawmakers enact gun control laws to keep these tragedies from happening again.

The Michigan State University student told the Free Press via phone the rally in the nation's capital was so moving it brought him to tears. It seems like every day there's "another mass shooting and people care for two or three days and then it's on to the next mass shooting."

"We want," he added, "to put an end to all of that."

Students living in fear

In Ann Arbor, children wore T-shirts that said, among other things, "We can end gun violence" and "Enough. Protect kids no guns." Adults on hand said they had experienced gun violence growing up and now worried about their kids.

The crowd there chanted: "Hey, hey, ho, ho, the NRA has got to go."

The National Rifle Association is a gun owners' group that defends and lobbies for gun rights.

During the protest, Ari Funk, 16, a local high school student, raised another concern about guns and gun accessibility: the large number of people who use them to take their own lives.

"About two years ago exactly, I was considering killing myself," Funk said, her voice shaking. "The only reason that I'm still here today is because my aunt had the common sense to keep her guns locked up."

Funk added: "I just wanted to point out that these gun laws may not make sense to everybody and may sound like they don't matter, but I know from my personal experience, that they matter so much."

Claudia Swenson, a rising junior at Plymouth High School, told protesters in Ann Arbor about a recent school lockdown. She described hearing her principal's voice shake while making the announcement over the intercom system.

"I thought I was going to die," Swenson, 16, told the crowd.

Swenson said her teachers told students they can't live in fear of school shootings. But, she said: "How are we not supposed to be afraid when we know this can happen to our school, too?"

When she exited the stage, she hugged her mom.

Politicians speak out

In Lansing, about 500 people gathered, demanding lawmakers pass stricter gun laws.

Speakers there included several Michigan Democrats, among them Gov. Gretchen Whitmer; U.S. Sen. Debbie Stabenow; U.S. Rep. Elissa Slotkin, of Holly; state Rep. Sarah Anthony, of Lansing; and state Sen. Curtis Hertel, of East Lansing.

Whitmer, who spoke with her daughter standing at her side, advocated for gun-storage laws, universal background checks, more mental health professionals and investing in school buildings and programs.

The day of the Oxford High School shooting and those that followed were among her worst as governor, she said. When parents send their children to school, Whitmer added, theyre sending a piece of themselves and are trusting theyll come home safe.

"Doing nothing is not acceptable," Whitmer told the crowd. "Its unconscionable to continue doing the same thing and think things are going to get better. We cannot forget. We cannot look away. We cannot check out."

Neelufar Jaberi, an Okemos High School senior and co-captain of the Lansing chapter of March For Our Lives, said shes tired of lockdown drills and the fear that her school will be next to have a shooting.

She said she doesn't want to have an escape plan in each of her classrooms, a plan of what to do if a shooter walks in.

Jaberi was 7 when 20 kids and six adults were killed in Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut, in 2012. Now 17, she sees a new generation of children being traumatized by school shootings.

"I feel all the rage in me building," Jaberi said, noting that nothing has been done since the Sandy Hook massacre. "I get so angry and frustrated that politicians can look the other way and let this happen."

A youth-led movement

The March For Our Lives group, which is taking donations online, calls itself a "youth-led movement dedicated to promoting civic engagement, education, and direct action by youth to eliminate the epidemic of gun violence."

In the first March for Our Lives in 2018, hundreds of thousands of protesters participated in more than 800 rallies from New York to Los Angeles.

Alexandra Aris, 16, center, will be a senior in the 2023 class at Clarkston High School, carries a sign along with marchers as they march in the March For Our Lives Oxford event on Saturday, June 11, 2022. Students, teachers and parents shared their stories of loss following the shooting at the school and demanded that lawmakers enact gun control laws to keep these tragedies from happening again. When the crowd reached the high school, it held a moment of silence to honor and remember the teens who were gunned down, Madisyn Baldwin, Tate Myre, Justin Shilling, and Hana St. Juliana.

At the time, the demonstrations were called the most ambitious student-driven show of force seeking gun restrictions and organizers hoped it would be be a tipping point in the gun reform debate.

Since then, however, there have been nearly 30 school shootings with injuries and deaths, including Oxford High and Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, and in a NPR/PBS NewsHour/Marist National Poll nearly 4 in 10 Americans said they, or a loved one, had been a victim of gun violence.

The telephone poll was taken of 1,063 adults between May 31 and June 6. The results were statistically significant by plus or minus 4.3 percentage points.

"Recent mass shootings have, again, put the debate about gun safety on the table for decision-makers," said Lee Miringoff, director of the Marist College Institute for Public Opinion. "One side calls for greater gun restrictions while the other believes it is a mental health issue."

But the poll also found that public opinion may be somewhat shifting: 59% of American adults think it is more important to control gun violence, compared with 35% who believe it is more important to protect gun rights.

Seven in 10 adults, the poll found, said recent school shootings will make them more likely to vote in November, and many also said they are more likely to vote for a congressional candidate who backs gun reform measures.

A decades-long debate

The right to "keep and bear arms" is enshrined in the U.S. Constitution, but what that means, and whether there are limits to it, especially as weapons have become more powerful, has been debated for decades.

The Brady Handgun Violence Prevention Act of 1993  named after James Brady, the White House press secretary who was shot during an assassination attempt on President Ronald Reagan  established the National Instant Criminal Background Check System.

In 2016, President Barack Obama wept as he talked about gun control and mentioned mass school shootings, specifically the 2012 shooting in Newtown that killed 20 children.

But gun massacres have continued.

Reflected in some of the Oxford Strong signs in business windows in downtown Oxford, marchers carry signs and chant as they march in the March For Our Lives Oxford event on Saturday, June 11, 2022. Students, teachers and parents shared their stories of loss following the shooting at the school and demanded that lawmakers enact gun control laws to keep these tragedies from happening again. When the crowd reached the high school, it held a moment of silence to honor and remember the teens who were gunned down, Madisyn Baldwin, Tate Myre, Justin Shilling, and Hana St. Juliana.

In Oxford, authorities charged 15-year-old Ethan Crumbley as an adult with murder and terrorism, and charged his parents, Jennifer and James Crumbley, with manslaughter for failing to secure the handgun he used.

Legal thinkers pointed out that charging the parents could signal a legal trend.

The families of the teens who were killed in Oxford also are suing the school district, claiming that school officials ignored all of the warning signs and could have done more to prevent the shooting.

Michigan Democrats tried to vote on bills in the state House and Senate to exempt gun safety devices from taxes and clarify gun storage rules and punishments for adults who let them fall into children's hands.

The Republican majority blocked the maneuver.

And this past week, the U.S. House of Representatives voted, mostly on partisan lines, to pass gun control legislation called the Protecting Our Kids Act, in the face of public pressure.

Among other things, the package of bills calls for raising the age to buy certain semiautomatic rifles from 18 to 21 and new offenses for gun trafficking and selling large-capacity magazines.

Five Republicans, including U.S. Rep. Fred Upton, of St. Joseph, voted for the proposed legislation and two Democrats against it.

The bills, however, are not expected to pass in the Senate, where there is GOP opposition.

Contact Frank Witsil: 313-222-5022 or fwitsil@freepress.com.

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Michigan students protest to end gun violence through nationwide march
Reuters

A key executive who was leading Tesla's lobbying effort in India has resigned, weeks after the U.S. carmaker put on hold plans to sell electric cars in the South Asian nation, two sources aware of the matter told Reuters. Manuj Khurana, policy and business development executive at Tesla in India, was hired in March 2021 and played a key role in forming a domestic market-entry plan for the U.S. carmaker in the country. He lobbied the Indian government for more than a year to slash the import tax on electric cars to 40% from as high as 100%, a move Tesla said would allow it to test the market with imports from its production hubs like China before investing in a factory.
A police officer accused of looking up his ex-wife and ex-girlfriends on a state crime database faces privacy charges, according to Georgia authorities.

Greenville police officer Rory Haynes, 54, was arrested by the Georgia Bureau of Investigation on Thursday, June 9, according to a news release from the GBI.

Haynes arrest came after an investigation requested by the Greenville Police Department, where Haynes has worked since 2019. The GBI began investigating Haynes in September 2021, according to the release.

The investigation revealed Haynes used the agencys Georgia Crime Information Center terminal on his vehicle computer to look up people without a legitimate law enforcement purpose, according to the GBI.

Some of the people Haynes looked up included his ex-wife and ex-girlfriends, police said. He made about 45 illegal searches during his time as a police officer, according to the GBI.

Haynes, who was booked into Meriwether County Jail, faces the following charges, the GBI says:

one count of computer invasion of privacy

one count of unauthorized request or disclosures of criminal history information

one count of violation of oath of office





Anyone with information on the active investigation is asked to contact the Greenville Police Department at 706-672-4211 or the GBI at 706-565-7888.

Greenville is about 61 miles southwest of Atlanta.

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A stock image of a police crime scene. Milan Markovic/Getty Images

Eric Cole was fatally run over by an Ohio police officer responding to his 911 call.

Cole was lying in the middle of the street when officer Amanda Rosales hit him with her car.

Cole called 911 after he exchanged gunfire with a resident near an ex-girlfriend's house.

A grand jury declined to indict a police officer who ran over an Ohio man last year while he was lying in the middle of a road with a gunshot wound.

A Clark County grand jury declined to indict Springfield police officer Amanda Rosales in the death of Eric Cole, Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost said in a statement on Wednesday.

"The grand jury determined that the incident surrounding Mr. Cole's death was tragic, but not criminal," Yost said.

According to an investigation from the attorney general's office, Rosales was responding to a 911 call from Cole on June 13, 2021, when she hit him while driving at 17 mph. Cole had a gunshot wound in his left arm.

Rosales said she felt she hit something but didn't know it was a person until she got out of the car and began administering aid.

According to the investigative documents, Cole had previously gone to a home where an unnamed woman who had just broken up with him usually hangs out. He had threatened to shoot up the place after being angry about the breakup. The ex-girlfriend accused him of abuse.

However, officials said that when Cole arrived at the house, he was told his ex-girlfriend wasn't there. He shot at the house in a drive-by and a resident fired back, hitting Cole in the arm.

Cole, who was driving a borrowed car, drove off to return the car, then changed out of his hoodie and got rid of his gun, and called 911. Rosales responded, according to the investigative documents.

"Basically he went out in the night in question and created his own personal Wild West," Yost said at a press conference on Wednesday.

It's unclear why Cole was lying in the middle of the street. However, he did tell the 911 dispatcher that he was in the middle of the street but that information was not relayed to Rosales, Yost said.

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Officials said a toxicology report found cocaine and alcohol in his system. Yost said Rosales and the officers who responded after her did not tell EMTs who arrived on the scene that Cole had been hit by a car.

Rosales is still on administrative leave as the attorney general's office conducts an internal investigation.

Read the original article on Insider
Pacifica High School in Oxnard

The Oxnard Police Department is investigating multiple allegations of sexual assault among students at Pacifica High School after students recently began recounting experiences on social media.

Oxnard Police Department Cmdr. Luis McArthur said the first student to share her story posted about it Wednesday regarding an incident from around 2020. The case had already been investigated by Oxnard police, McArthur said Thursday, but the post inspired multiple other students who read it to share their stories.

"It has caused others to come forward and disclose information," McArthur said.

Investigators with the department's family protection unit went to the campus on Thursday to assist school resource officers with investigating reports.

McArthur said two new reports were filed Thursday involving recent incidents of alleged sexual assault. Three more possible cases arose but had not been filed by victims. Additional reports may arise in coming days, he said.

"We're kind of inundated navigating through all of it," McArthur said Friday.

On Saturday, the police department issued a release acknowledging the continuing investigation.

"The cases that drove the discussion on social media were from incidents that occurred in 2019 and 2020," the release said, adding that "both cases were thoroughly investigated" by family protection unit detectives.

"Due to the sensitive nature of these investigations, as well as the age of the victims, Oxnard Police cannot, and will not, release information on the status of the investigations or speak to the details of these cases," department officials wrote.

As of Saturday, eight officers were looking into allegations, police officials wrote.

On Thursday and Friday mornings, students staged protests outside Pacifica High, waving signs and calling for administrators to act on the reported incidents.

A forum was held Thursday at the school's Performing Arts Center for students to share concerns and hear from staff and other administrators about actions being taken by the school.

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Senerey DeLosSantos, a spokesperson for the Oxnard Union High School District, shared a letter with students, staff members and families at Pacifica High explaining why there was increased law enforcement presence on campus.

"As we receive additional information from students, PHS administration and the Oxnard Police Department will continue to investigate all student concerns," the letter read.

The letter concluded with offers of support available for students who may be affected by the social media posts recounting details of sexual assault.

Oxnard police asked sexual assault victims or those with information to contact Sgt. Scott Aaron at 805-385-7756 or at scott.aaron@oxnardpd.org.

If you or someone you know has experienced sexual assault, the Ventura County-based nonprofit Coalition for Family Harmony offers free counseling services for survivors and a 24-hour rape crisis hotline for both English and Spanish speakers at 1-800-300-2181.

The Oxnard Police Department was made aware of social media posts alleging possible sexual assaults between students at Pacifica High School. School Resource Officers, along with detectives from the Family Protection Unit, have responded to the school and are investigating. pic.twitter.com/7GDryvUwGW  Oxnard Police Dept. (@OxnardPolice) June 9, 2022

Jeremy Childs is a breaking news and public safety reporter covering the night shift for the Ventura County Star. He can be reached by calling 805-437-0208 or emailing jeremy.childs@vcstar.com. You can also find him on Twitter @Jeremy_Childs.

This article originally appeared on Ventura County Star: Oxnard police investigate sexual assault allegations at Pacifica High
Former Vice President Mike Pence is traveling to see the southern border and deliver a speech in Arizona on Monday, the Arizona Republic reported.

Sheriffs spokeswoman Carol Capas said Cochise County Sheriff Mark Dannels is expected to brief Pence in Sierra Vista, Ariz., at Cochise College on Monday morning, followed by a visit to a section of the border where the barrier wall ends, according to the news outlet.

Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey (R) will be visiting the border with Pence.

The Arizona Commerce Authority will be hosting a crowd of invited attendees in Phoenix, where Pence is expected to make a speech later that day, the Republic reported.

Pences travel to Arizona comes as he eyes a potential bid for the White House in 2024. Earlier this year, the former vice president released a 25-point policy agenda calling for the wall along the U.S. southern border to be completed, among a number of other measures.

It also follows the first June public hearing of the House select committee investigating the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol riot, which included excerpts of recorded interviews from those in former President Trumps orbit in addition to in-person testimony from a Capitol Police officer and documentarian who were present on the day of the attack.

The upcoming series of hearings held by the panel, previewed during Thursdays prime-time meeting, appear set to pit Trump against Pence, who was targeted by Trump supporters storming the Capitol on Jan. 6 after he criticized the idea that he had the authority to overturn the 2020 election results.

The Hill has reached out to Duceys office, Pence, the Arizona Commerce Authority and the Cochise County sheriffs office for comment.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Pete Doherty said his new memoir proved to be a challenge for the various legal teams forced to read it. (Redferns)

Pete Doherty joked that publishers have "taken all the good bits out" of his new memoir, as it had to be read by lawyers for the people involved.

The Libertines frontman tells stories about his life and the chaos of the indie music scene in London during the heyday of his career in the early noughties, including his tabloid-fuel romance with Kate Moss.

Read more: Pete Doherty credits cheese on toast for new look

The book, entitled A Likely Lad, was ghost-written by music memoir veteran Simon Spence based on lengthy chats between the writer and Doherty, but the rocker suggested there was juicy material on the cutting room floor.

"Everybodys lawyer had to read it. Carl [Barat, of The Libertines] had a good look at it. Kates lawyers wanted to see it," Doherty told The Guardian.

Kate Moss and Pete Doherty's relationship was a tabloid fascination in the 2000s. (PA/Getty)

He added: "I kept saying you gotta keep that in, its funny. But they kept saying no, no, no.

"Plus, my wife was a little bit concerned, but I said to her: If you dont read it and I dont read it, we can just pretend it doesnt exist. But thats not how she does things."

Doherty also confessed he was surprised that the book was written in the first person, which he said differed from what he expected.

Read more: Pete Doherty hospitalised after hedgehog spike wound

He said: "The initial agreement was I would talk to him on the phone and it would be in the third person. But when the book arrived it was all I, I, I. Its completely shocking."

In a statement to The Guardian, Doherty's literal agent said that the star "may have had reservations about this approach initially, but every word in the book is his".

Pete Doherty now lives in France and is battling against his addictions. (Getty)

Doherty has now put his days of partying and drugs behind him, living in Normandy with his wife Katia de Vidas  whom he married last year.

He said that both the isolation of the area and the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic made it easier for him to avoid temptation with drugs, though he has not given up alcohol.

Read more: Pete Doherty arrested in France for second time

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"Its not a big drugs area here. Then, of course, everything stopped, said Doherty.

"So all the circumstances combined to make it easier to be clean, even for a conniving scoundrel like myself. It just wasnt worth the aggravation."

Pete Doherty and his wife Katia De Vidas performed together as members of Peter Doherty and the Puta Madres. (Corbis/Getty)

He said his wife has been a positive influence too, given the fact she doesn't take drugs and is not a big drinker.

"I found I used much less when I was with her, because of that. And now its great. Im a married man. And I take that very seriously," said Doherty.

As for his music career, Doherty has previously said that he believes he and the rest of The Libertines may be in a position to release new material this year.

Doherty's autobiography A Likely Lad is available to purchase from 16 June.

Watch: Pete Doherty hoping for new Libertines music this year
South Florida Sun Sentinel

The Miami Heat family looks like its going to get a little bigger. Coach Erik Spoelstras wife, Nikki Sapp Spoelstra, announced Monday that the couple are expecting their third child. Sapp made an Instagram post making it known that shes about halfway through the pregnancy. The announcement was accompanied by a quartet of photos, two in which you can see her pregnancy bump and two photos of ...
A man reported missing Saturday in Kissimmee has been found safe, according to police.

4:04 p.m. update:

Kissimmee police confirmed Saturday afternoon that a man who was reported missing has been found safe.

Original report:

The Kissimmee police are asking for the publics help in locating a missing 85-year-old man last seen Saturday morning.

Frank Elkins was last seen at 2:30 a.m. leaving his home off Robert Court in Kissimmee.

Elkins was last seen wearing a red shirt and blue jeans.

Read: It happened so fast: 2 children struck by lightning in Brevard County

Police said he left his home in a 2003 silver GMC Yukon.

If you have any information on Elkins whereabouts, contact KPD at 407-847-0176.

Read: Storms and active lightning across Central Florida on Saturday

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.
Viral Tweet: The official pride flag was altered to include Ukrainian colors.

PolitiFact's ruling: False

Here's why: An image of an LGBTQ pride flag that incorporated Ukraines yellow and blue colors is circulating on social media as if it were an official gay pride flag, with users sharing the image and mocking the addition.

"They officially added Ukraine to the pride flag," one Facebook user wrote alongside the image and another graphic that said "I sexually identify as Ukrainian!"

"Im starting to think this isnt about gay rights anymore," a person on Twitter said.

It even caught the attention of Republican Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene, who shared the image on Twitter as if it were legitimate and wrote: "Do the Nazis in the Ukrainian army know?"

But the flag is fake  it was created as satire.

More: This is America: LGBTQ teens are (still) struggling

We reached out to Greenes office for comment. Her spokesperson responded that the pride flag "itself isnt real."

The image appears to have originated with a Twitter account with a gay slur in its handle as a means of mocking LGBTQ activists efforts to demonstrate inclusivity.

Many people are familiar with the rainbow flag as a symbol of gay rights and the LGBTQ community. June is the traditional month when gay pride is celebrated and rainbow flags abound.

In 2018, trans activists added a chevron and more colors to the rainbow flag and called it the progress pride flag, to specifically include transgender people, people of color and AIDS patients.

Flags associated with and used by the LGBTQ community have been in a state of evolution since the original rainbow flag was created by Gilbert Baker for the 1978 Gay Freedom Day Parade in San Francisco.

Its important to note that there isnt one official gay pride flag.

Activists created other flags over the years to represent different groups of the LGBTQ community. These include a trans pride flag, which has five horizontal stripes that are light blue, light pink and white, and a bisexual pride flag, which has pink on the top, royal blue on the bottom, and a purple stripe in the middle.

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While the image with Ukraines colors originated as a joke and isnt affiliated with any official LGBTQ organizations, Snopes reported that Dublins LGBTQ Pride Festival used a different flag on a flyer with Ukrainian colors on the top and bottom to welcome displaced refugees from the country.

Come together and celebrate: Bastrop to host first Pride festival this weekend

Our ruling

Greene and others shared an image that showed the pride flag altered to incorporate the colors of the Ukrainian flag as if it were real.

This isnt a genuine flag used by the LGBTQ community. It originated as satire.

We rate this False.

Our Sources

Twitter post, May 22, 2022

Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene tweet, May 23, 2022

Twitter post, May 31, 2022

Them.us, This Pride Flag Redesign Represents the Diversity of the LGBTQ+ Community, June 11, 2018

Snopes, Were Ukraines Colors Added to Pride Flag?, May 31, 2022

OutRight Action International, FLAGS OF THE LGBTIQ COMMUNITY, Accessed June 10, 2022

Email interview, Nick Dyer spokesperson for Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, June 10, 2022

This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Fact-check: Was the official Pride flag altered to add Ukraine colors?
Britain's Prince Charles has called the government's plan to send asylum-seekers to Rwanda "appalling", a report said Saturday after it cleared a legal challenge.

The UK government intends to fly the first planeload of 31 claimants to Rwanda on Tuesday -- shortly before Charles is due to represent his mother Queen Elizabeth II at a Commonwealth summit in Kigali.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson -- who is also set to attend the summit -- welcomed his government's victory in Friday's High Court hearing, although an appeal is due to be heard on Monday.

"We cannot allow people traffickers to put lives at risk and our world leading partnership will help break the business model of these ruthless criminals," Johnson tweeted.

Charles, however, joined others including senior Christian clerics in denouncing the plan, and fears the issue could overshadow the Commonwealth summit on June 24-25, The Times reported.

"He said he was more than disappointed at the policy," the newspaper quoted an unidentified source as saying.

"He said he thinks the government's whole approach is appalling. It was clear he was not impressed with the government's direction of travel," the source added.

A spokesman for Charles declined to comment on private conversations, "except to restate that he remains politically neutral".

"Matters of policy are decisions for government," the spokesman added.

The government says the one-way flights will deter asylum claimants from entering Britain by illegal routes, and offer those who do try a new life in Rwanda instead.

More than 10,000 migrants have made the perilous sea journey from France to Britain so far this year, a huge increase on prior years.

jit/yad
Jun. 11RALEIGH  The American Red Cross has scheduled seven blood drives as part of its campaign to get donors to give in honor of World Blood Day, which is Tuesday.

Each year on June 14, the American Red Cross joins blood collection organizations around the world to celebrate World Blood Donor Day, which recognizes the importance of a safe and stable blood supply and the donors who make it possible. All blood types are needed, and eligible donors are encouraged to be part of something big by making an appointment to give blood or platelets this month.

Three of the local blood drives are to take place in Lumberton. They are scheduled for 1-6 p.m. Friday at Antioch Baptist Church, located at 5089 Old Whiteville Road; 1-6 p.m. June 23 at Morning Star Community Church, 702 Dunn Road; and 1-6 p.m. June 30 at Petsense of Lumberton, 4327 Fayetteville Road.

Two are to be held in Red Springs. They are scheduled for 1-6 p.m. June 20 at St. Joseph Miracle Revival Center, 4657 Daniel McLeod Road; and 1:30 p.m. to 6 p.m. June 29 at Red Springs Presbyterian Church, 115 N Vance St.

Two blood drives are scheduled in St. Pauls. They are planned for noon to 5 p.m. June 22 at St Paul's United Methodist Church, 406 W. Broad St.; and 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. June 24 at Watts, 1491 NC 20 West.

Generous blood and platelet donors are critically important in ensuring lifesaving care is available the moment patients need it, according to Red Cross. As a thank-you for helping, in honor of the new Baz Luhrmann film titled "Elvis," all who come to give in the month of June automatically will be entered for a chance to win a VIP trip to Graceland for two, including round-trip airfare to Memphis; a three-night stay at The Guest House and Elvis Entourage VIP tour, courtesy of Graceland; a custom-wrapped Gibson Epiphone guitar and more. Additionally, those who come to donate during June also will receive a $5 e-gift card to a merchant of choice. (Terms apply. Visit rcblood.org/elvismovie)

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The Red Cross follows a high standard of safety and infection control. The Red Cross will continue to socially distance wherever possible at blood drives, donation centers and facilities. While donors are no longer required to wear a face mask, individuals may choose to continue to wear a mask for any reason. The Red Cross also will adhere to more stringent face mask requirements per state and/or local guidance, or at the request of blood drive sponsors. Donors are asked to schedule an appointment before arriving at a drive.

Download the American Red Cross Blood Donor App, visit RedCrossBlood.org, call 1-800-733-2767 or enable the Blood Donor Skill on any Alexa Echo device to make an appointment or for more information.

A blood donor card or driver's license or two other forms of identification are required at check-in. Individuals who are 17 years of age in most states (16 with parental consent where allowed by state law), weigh at least 110 pounds and are in generally good health may be eligible to donate blood. High school students and other donors 18 years of age and younger also have to meet certain height and weight requirements.

Blood and platelet donors can save time at their next donation by using RapidPass to complete their pre-donation reading and health history questionnaire online, on the day of their donation, before arriving at the blood drive. To get started, follow the instructions at RedCrossBlood.org/RapidPass or use the Blood Donor App.
Sarah Palin, a Republican seeking the sole US House seat in Alaska, addressing supporters on June 2 in Anchorage, Alaska. Mark Thiessen/AP

Alaska is holding a 48-candidate special primary to fill the state's at-large US House seat left vacant after Rep. Don Young died. Young, a Republican, held the seat for 48 years until his death in March.

Three candidates  the Republicans Sarah Palin and Nick Begich III and a nonpartisan candidate, Al Gross  will advance forward to the general election, Insider and Decision Desk HQ project.

The race & the candidates:

Alaska's 48-candidate special election is the first one held under Alaska's new top-four primary system, which voters approved in 2020. Under the new system, candidates from all parties run on the same primary ballot. And the top four  regardless of party  will advance to a special general election on August 16 that will be held with ranked-choice voting.

The winner of the special election will serve out the remainder of Young's term until January 2023.

Young, a fierce advocate for Alaska, spent his nearly five decades representing the state in Congress directing federal money back home and becoming a master of the congressional earmarks process, allowing him to allocate millions for infrastructure and other key projects in Alaska.

The top Republican candidates are Palin, the former governor and 2008 GOP vice-presidential nominee; Begich, who is backed by the state Republican Party; state Sen. Josh Revak, who has the endorsement of Young's widow; and Tara Sweeney, a former Interior Department assistant secretary.

Young's towering legacy in the state will be on the ballot, especially on the Republican side given that Begich, Sweeney, and Revak were all mentored by him during his 50-year career in Alaska politics, according to the Anchorage Daily News.

Begich, a wealthy software developer and son of former Sen. Mark Begich, announced he would challenge Young before Young's death, and he's spent $650,000 of his own money on his campaign so far.

Sweeney has been the largest beneficiary of outside spending in the race, with the T.A.R.A for Alaska Super PAC, heavily funded by Alaska Native business interests in the state, having spent more than $400,000 to support her candidacy. If elected, Sweeney would be the first Alaska Native person to serve in Congress.

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Al Gross, a physician and nonpartisan candidate who unsuccessfully ran for Senate against GOP Sen. Dan Sullivan in 2020, is the leader in fundraising and outside spending among non-Republican candidates.

The Democrats running for the seat include state lawmaker Mary Peltola, who would also be the first Alaska Native person elected to Congress, the Anchorage-based Assemblyman Chris Constant, and the Fairbanks-based Assemblyman Adam Wool.

The last day to vote in the special primary was June 11, and officials plan to certify the race by June 25.

Read the original article on Business Insider
With coronavirus safety precautions in place, the "I Voted" stickers were self-serve only this year at the Portsmouth polls.

KITTERY, Maine  Local issues dominate the town meeting and school ballot voters will see Tuesday, though numerous state and regional political figures will also be listed as part of the Maine state primary election.

The town meeting, school budget validation referendum and state primary election will be Tuesday, June 14 in the Kittery Community Center gymnasium, with the polls running from 8 a.m. until 8 p.m.

Heres what Kittery voters should know ahead of casting their ballots:

School district proposing 3.6% budget increase in fiscal year 2021

Adopted by the Town Council in May, the towns school district budget for fiscal year 2023 will go before voters in a validation referendum.

Just shy of $20 million, the Kittery school districts proposed budget is a $695,870 or 3.61% increase from the FY 2022 budget, which was nearly $19.3 million.

If the budget is approved, four school positions would be added to the district payroll and a technologist position at the Shapleigh School would be upgraded to full-time.

Wells election 2022: Five-way race for two seats on Board of Selectmen

At Shapleigh School, three education technician positions would be added, in addition to a human resources generalist in the districts central office.

The sole district position cut in the FY 2023 budget proposal is a Mitchell Primary School kindergarten teacher position, which is being eliminated through attrition.

The exact school district FY 2023 budget figure on the town ballot is $19,980,622, which would require a tax revenue contribution of over $17.5 million from Kittery taxpayers.

Property tax relief for seniors on the ballot

Article 8 on Tuesdays town meeting ballot is focused on tax relief for Kittery's senior taxpayers. The article asks voters whether the Town Council should transfer up to $50,000 from the towns unassigned funds balance for Kitterys Senior Tax Credit program.

Residents at least 70 years old, who have lived in Kittery for a minimum of 10 consecutive years, and whose annual income must not exceed 300% of the federal poverty level, are eligible to apply. Applicants may qualify for a property tax credit of up to $1,000 per household.

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Kennebunkport election 2022: Four vie for two seats on the Board of Selectmen

According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the 2022 federal poverty income level for a single-person household is $13,590. It's $18,310 for a two-person household.

Applications to the towns Senior Tax Credit program are accepted until July 1. Approved applicants will receive the credit applied to their real estate taxes Oct. 1.

Article 8 is supported by all seven members of the Kittery Town Council, according to a sample ballot. The towns unassigned fund balance is currently $8,131,323.

Town looks to cover fuel account shortfalls

Voters will be asked if they support the transfer of unassigned funds to cover town departments fuel accounts amid an unpredictable pricing market, according to a sample ballot.

If Article 5, which is supported by the entire Town Council, is approved by voters, the Town Council would transfer up to $40,000 from the unassigned funds balance to cover fuel shortfalls, when necessary.

The purpose of this article is to provide departments, who have exhausted their allocated fuel budgets in the fiscal year, access to funds for fuel needs, reads the sample ballot. The Town Council favored keeping the fiscal year fuel and utility accounts as low as possible, with this article making available surplus funds as a safety net in case of an unstable market for fuel.

Kennebunk election 2022: Three candidates vie for two Kennebunk Select Board seats

Replacing fire rescue vehicle four years ahead of schedule

Article 9 asks voters for up to $460,000 from the unassigned funds balance toward replacement of the Kittery Fire Departments aging Rescue 3 fire rescue vehicle.

Purchased in 2001, the current apparatus was scheduled for replacement in FY 2026 for more than $770,000 through town capital improvement spending.

During the latest annual safety and maintenance inspection, however, the rear of the apparatus frame was found to be severely corroded.

Repairs have been made to keep the vehicle safe for operating in the short-term; but the repairs will not last four years (FY 2026), the towns sample ballot says. The purpose of this article is to allow the town to replace the fire apparatus now and avoid a reduction in service response from the Fire Department.

Kitterys Fire Apparatus Holding Account already has a balance of $288,591.

RSU 21 election 2022: Three-way race for two Kennebunk seats on RSU 21 School Board

No primary contests on Kittery ballot for federal, state and county races

No Democratic or Republican candidates on the ballot face competition in the primary.

Maine Gov. Janet Mills, a Democrat, and Republican challenger Paul LePage, a former governor, will both advance to the November general election without a primary contest. The same is true for District 1 U.S. Rep. Chellie Pingree and Republican challenger Edwin Thelander.

In the local Maine District 35 state Senate race, Sen. Mark Lawrence, D-Eliot, and Republican challenger Julie Rakic, both have no opponent in the primary.

Maine House races on Kittery ballots also feature no primary contests. This includes incumbent District 1 state Rep. Kristi Mathieson, D-Kittery, who will face Republican Kittery candidate Howard Patten in November, as well as District 150 incumbent Rep. Michele Meyer, D-Eliot, who will face Republican David Rumery.

Current York County Sheriff William King Jr. is running for reelection on the Democratic primary ballot, while Hollis resident Roger Hicks represents Republicans.

Three incumbent Democrat regional officeholders face no primary opponent and no Republican opponent in November: They are District Attorney Kathryn Slattery, York County Registrar Nancy Hammond and York County Treasurer Bobby Mills.

The sample ballot for the town meeting, school budget validation referendum and state primary election can be found on the town's website: kitteryme.gov

This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald: Maine 2022 primary: What Kittery voters should know
When many people think of a school nurse, they imagine a person who hands out Band-Aids for boo-boos.

But school nurses do so much more. They are school leaders who address the physical, mental and emotional health needs of students.

As the COVID-19 pandemic played out, many school nurses took on even greater responsibilities. These include monitoring and evaluating staff and students for COVID-19 exposure and symptoms, contact tracing and educating students, staff and community partners on vaccine and prevention measures. School nurses are also developing initiatives to deal with the anticipated increase in mental health services that students, families and staff will need in the post-pandemic world.

And yet, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommend that public elementary, middle and high schools aim to have one school nurse for every 750 students.

As a former school nurse and current nurse scientist and professor of nursing, I know that this one-size-fits-all model does not consider the full role and responsibilities of the school nurse.

Whats more, as far as I can tell, no published research or evidence supports this ratio. Its been traced at least as far back as the early 1970s and the Education for All Handicapped Children Act of 1975, now known as the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act.

Safety net for vulnerable kids

School nursing is a specialized practice that operates in environments very different from an acute care hospital setting. School nurses work alone, practice independently and are typically the sole health care provider in the building.

As part of our public health system, they play a critical role in disease surveillance, disaster preparedness, wellness and chronic disease prevention interventions, immunizations, mental health screening and asthma education.

And they are a safety net for societys most vulnerable children. For example, if a student is experiencing food insecurity, the school nurse might coordinate with a community partner or school social worker to help the student and their family not go hungry.

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Most school nurses will tell you they are unable to carry out many of these functions, often due to huge workloads or poor staffing.

I know from personal experience. From 2009 to 2014, I was the sole school nurse responsible for the health and safety of over 900 public elementary school children. This included special education classrooms for preschoolers and students with nonverbal autism. I now research how school health policies and practices effect the work environment of school nurses, and the challenges and barriers they face.

Research shows how a positive work environment for school nurses increases job satisfaction, reduces turnover and improves academic outcomes for students. A study of school nurses in Massachusetts schools demonstrated that for every dollar invested in school nursing, society would gain US.20 as a result of kids better health and disease prevention.

No one-size-fits-all ratio

A school nurses workload depends on a number of significant variables. For example, how many students in the school have chronic illnesses and need medication administered? How many students attend the school? What ages are they? What is the average number of student visits to the health office each school day? Are students spread across multiple buildings? What level of experience and specialized skills does the school nurse have?

The number of students in a school who are dealing with poverty or other health equity issues  including access to quality education, safe housing and health care  also impacts and increases the workload for school nurses.

These evidence-based variables can be used to guide school administrators and school nurses on what constitutes safe staffing. Making sure school nurses have a safe, appropriate workload is critical to ensuring that students have their health needs met at school.

[Get the best of The Conversation, every weekend. Sign up for our weekly newsletter.]

Parents who are concerned about their childs health at school may want to find out how many students their childs school nurse cares for. How many students does the school nurse see on a typical day? Is a school nurse in the building every day? Does the school nurse cover more than one building? What happens when there is an emergency, such as a child with a life-threatening allergic reaction? Where are the emergency care plans kept? Is there stock medication available such as epinephrine and albuterol for students with severe allergies or asthma?

I believe school nurses need more manageable workloads in order to provide the safe care needed for better student health and academic outcomes. This leads to better health not just in individuals but in communities that need it most.

This article is republished from The Conversation, a nonprofit news site dedicated to sharing ideas from academic experts. It was written by: Beth Jameson, Seton Hall University.

Read more:



Beth Jameson receives funding from the National Association of School Nurses. She is affiliated with the National Association of School Nurses as a member.
Corporate pension fund managers control trillions of dollars of invested assets. Yet reportedly, diverse managers oversee less than one percent of that.

The tiny number reflects an ongoing trend in an industry financially dominated by white fund managers.

But, U.S. Senator Bob Menendez (D-NJ) hopes to change the number of underrepresented diverse managers. According to a news release, he led several colleaguesincluding Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Alex Padilla (D-CA), Tim Kaine (D-VA) and John Hickenlooper (D-CO)to send letters to 25 large companies requesting information about diversity among asset managers of their pension plans.

The lawmakers asked for reports concerning their practices in seeking, selecting, and retaining diverse-owned asset management firms to manage their pension or treasury funds, from companies who control some of the nations largest corporate pension plans.

The senators penned, Women and people of color are dramatically underrepresented in the field of asset management. Less than one percent of the $70 trillion in global financial assets under management are managed by woman or minority-owned firms.

They added, This is a serious problem for the industry, investors, and the country as there is a wealth of data showing that greater diversity leads to greater profitability. A study by the National Association of Investment Companies showed that diverse-owned private equity firms exceeded industry averages in virtually every performance indicator.

According to the news release, industrywide asset managers are overwhelmingly white and male. More specifically, 83.7 percent of executives are white and 74.6 percent are male.

The senators further expressed, Despite the fact that millions of Americans rely on returns from corporate pensions for retirement and wealth building, there is very little transparency about who is managing these funds. In order to foster that transparency, we urge you to provide detailed information on your corporate practices in seeking, selecting, and retaining diverse-owned asset management firms to manage your pension and treasury funds.

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Many of Americas largest Black-owned businesses are part of BLACK ENTERPRISEs Asset Managers List.

The letter is backed by the Diverse Asset Managers Initiative (DAMI), whose efforts include increasing racial and gender representation in the asset managers industry.

Robert Raben, executive director and founder of DAMI, said, We applaud this new step to push companies to be transparent about their useor more accurately, their lack of useof diverse managers. For far too long, corporations have shielded information about the diversity of the people managing their pension funds.
Welcome to Startups Weekly, a fresh human-first take on this weeks startup news and trends. To get this in your inbox, subscribe here.

Per Layoffs.fyi, a layoff tracker, over 16,000 tech workers lost their jobs in May, and June is off to a similarly brutal start. TechCrunchs senior reporter Amanda Silberling and I have accidentally, and unfortunately, started working on a weekly column about the tech layoffs; what first started as a tip-over moment at Thrasio has soon expanded to startups regardless of sector, financing stage or if they had obvious growth tensions or not.

As the layoffs continue, it can feel like the same boilerplate story: number of those impacted, roles or teams that were reduced, severance package details and a vaguely generic statement from the CEO citing market turbulence as a key reason for the reduction. That doesn't mean they aren't any less newsworthy, but I'm always curious about the follow-up story opportunities. So, I asked all of you for some perspective, namely what else to ask and include in these stories.

From Jennifer Neundorfer: Id love to see a follow-up piece with data on where people who are laid off go next. Do specific companies/industries scoop them up? Do some start companies? Something else entirely?

This question made my mind immediately jump to the talent opportunity that emerged in early 2020 when unicorns laid off chunks of staff in preparation for the pandemic. Then, I wrote a story about how startups were hiring pods of employees that got laid off, otherwise known as a not-so-new strategy of acquiring. At one point, a majority of online mortgage company Stavvy was full of ex-Toasters impacted by the restaurant techs 50% workforce reduction. Beyond the rise of acqui-hiring, I think well see some classic fellowships pop up that help recently laid-off people break into entrepreneurship. Neundorfers firm, January Ventures, started a program similar to that of Cleo Capital, which gives capital to aspiring founders to kickstart them. The key here is that layoffs make people more risk averse, especially depending on their socioeconomic background. That mixed with the fact that Big Tech is on a hiring freeze, I dont know what happens when a wave of people lose their jobs in a mixed messages hiring market. But, if anyone has the data to answer this question, do send it on over!

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From Anna Rasby-Safronova: Did the ones who were laid off see it was coming and how do layoffs affect mental health, anxiety and productivity of the rest of the team?

Ive now spoken to dozens and dozens of former and current employees within struggling startups, and the reaction to layoffs largely feels like whiplash for those impacted. The reason? The difference between layoffs in 2022 and 2020 is that many of the companies that are laying people off today are well capitalized, named unicorns just one year ago. In 2020, cuts could easily be cited to an unprecedented pandemic that complicated growth plans; while in 2022, cuts come right after leaders boasted insane growth just months prior. Add in the fact that people are still laid off in questionable ways  from severance showing up in payroll to long-winded memos  and I cant imagine these cuts dont aggressively impact morale internally and externally. International workers face additional complexities when laid off, as loss of employment can put visa status in flux. Even as companies put together spreadsheets or resume support, the added volatility could mean talented workers are forced to leave the United States altogether to pursue a better life somewhere else. These are stories were working to tell but are sensitive for obvious reasons.

From Luke Metro: Which fraction of companys employees were hired in the last 1-2 years? I do wonder how many companies doing layoffs did massive hiring sprees during the frothiness of 2021?

The reason this question is important is that it colors how a layoff was engineered; and if it only impacts the newest members, the most nascent products or everyone across the board  from executives to entry-level hires. If it's the latter, it may suggest that a startup is having deep inset problems that requires a mass reorganization of its resources. If a workforce reduction largely impacts those hired in the past year, it could mean that the startup needs to scale back some of its more experimental work and hone back to where it already has product-market fit. Thanks for the tip, I'll start asking about this!

In the rest of this newsletter, well talk about multiplayer fintech and the grocery delivery world. As always, you can support me by forwarding this newsletter to a friend or following me on Twitter or subscribing to my blog. As a programming note, I am out on vacation next week so expect an abbreviated Startups Weekly column, still from yours truly, but with support from Henry Pickavet, Richard Dal Porto and the rest of the team.

Deal of the week

A Santa Monica-based startup, Ivella wants to build banking products for couples to take away money tensions. CEO and co-founder Kahlil Lalji is launching with a split account product that just raised $3.5 million in funding from Anthemis, Financial Venture Studio and Soma Capital. Other investors include Y Combinator, DoNotPay CEO Joshua Browder and Gumroad CEO Sahil Lavingia.

Heres why its important: The best solution, so far, for multiplayer fintech has been joint accounts: meaning that two people will set up an account where they  sing it with me now  join their accounts and pull from the same pool. Instead, Lalji wants to build a split account: Couples maintain individual accounts and balances but get an Ivella debit card that is linked to both of those accounts.

With that shared card, couples can set ratios  maybe prorate what percent of each bill someone pays depending on their income  and Ivella will automatically split any transactions made using the Ivella debit card. This in and of itself was the largest technical challenge that Ivella was confronted with in its early days, describes Lalji:

The place that a lot of people fall short, just like a lot of fintech falls short, is that they dont break the mold of what banking looks and feels like, Lalji said. And because were focused specifically on couples, we want to build a product that feels not so sterile and not just like a bank.

The delivery market is coming down from its pandemic highs

Our own Kyle Wiggers wrote about how the on-demand delivery markets pandemic period of rapid growth is winding down. As he notes, there are signs of a correction including Instacarts slashed valuation, DoorDash and Deliveroos stock price fluctuation, and Gorillas, Getir, Zapp and Gopuff conducting layoffs while others like Fridge No More and 1520 shut down entirely.

Heres why its important: As I told Wiggers over Slack, the on-demand delivery markets lack of profitability is often talked about in a, "thats so obvious" and broad-stroke manner. This piece got into the heart of why grocery delivery is so expensive and more specific struggles startups face in this market.

Heres what Craft Ventures partner and co-founder Jeff Fluhr, the ex-CEO of StubHub, said to TechCrunch; despite the fact that Craft has invested in a number of delivery companies:

The fast delivery space is the epitome of exuberance of 2021: Investors were pouring money into cash-guzzling companies with flimsy business models, he told TechCrunch in an email interview. Fast delivery companies are capital intensive. They require local infrastructure, local people and local operations that are expensive to build out. As a result, all of these companies have been incinerating boatloads of cash over the past 12 to 24 months as theyve expanded to new geographic markets. Of course consumers like the instant gratification of a pint of ice cream in 15 minutes, so revenues grew quickly, driven by a great consumer experience and word-of-mouth virality. Investors followed the growth paying no attention to the potential for profitability. But the notion that a startup can deliver on that promise profitably is a pipe dream.

Across the week

Seen on TechCrunch

Seen on TechCrunch+

Until next time,

N
A day after a police shooting involving multiple agencies, law enforcement officials have not provided much new information about who was involved or what exactly took place.

On Friday afternoon, the Meridian Police Department released the experience and ranks of five police officers  three from Boise and two from Meridian  who discharged their weapons after pursuing a suspect. But the Meridian Police Department said their names would not be released until after the Critical Incident Task Force investigation concludes, which could take several months.

The suspect, who was shot by officers after exchanging gunfire with them, remains alive, according to Meridian police spokeswoman Kelsey Johnston, but his name and condition have not been released. Johnston said Friday that she did not have other information on the man, who has been identified only as a white male.

Seven law enforcement officers were involved in incidents with the same suspect about 10 miles apart Thursday, the Idaho Statesman previously reported.

Before 1:30 p.m. Thursday, the Boise Police Department was informed of a shooting involving Idaho Department of Correction parole officers on West Shields Avenue, north of State Street in Boise, Boise Police Deputy Chief Tammany Brooks said at a Thursday afternoon news conference.

The Department of Correction tweeted Thursday that two probation and parole officers were involved in a shooting and that an injured man fled the scene. Spokesperson Jeff Ray declined Thursday to reveal whether the IDOC officers were injured, and its not known why IDOC officers were interacting with the man to begin with.

Authorities also said Thursday that the suspect stole a car before he was pursued by police, first on Eagle Road and then heading south on Meridian Road. The three Boise and two Meridian officers exchanged gunfire with the suspect on Broadway Avenue, where he had turned after driving on Meridian Road, and he was taken to a local hospital, police said Thursday.

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No Meridian or Boise officers were injured, Meridian Police Chief Tracy Basterrechea said.

Of the five officers who fired their weapons, three have spent a combined 61 years in law enforcement. The limited information released by the Meridian Police Department said the police were:

A 26-year-old male Meridian officer with five years of total experience, three of them in Meridian.

A 41-year-old male Meridian sergeant with 21 total years, 17 of them in Meridian.

A Boise corporal with 23 years of experience, all with BPD.

A Boise sergeant with 17 years, all with BPD.

A Boise officer with nearly four years, all with BPD.

Reporters Sally Krtuzig and Ian Max Stevenson contributed.
A policeman has been killed in northeast Tanzania during a clash with Masai herders protesting the cordoning off of land to create a wildlife protection area, an official said Saturday.

Activists said some demonstrators had been wounded by live rounds or had gone missing.

The policeman's death late Friday in the Loliondo district near the Serengeti National Park comes after years of tensions between the government and the local Masai community.

The Masai say the government seeks to expel them from a part of their historical land in order to organise safaris and private hunting expeditions for tourists.

But the government has rejected these accusations, claiming it wants to "protect" 1,500 square kilometres (550 squares miles) of the region from human activity. That means Masai herders would now only have access to 2,500 square kilometres for grazing out of 4,000.

Arusha regional commissioner John Mongela said in a video statement that the policeman had been killed after teams turned up on Friday to plant posts into the ground to separate off the area to be protected.

"One police officer was killed by arrows thrown by a group of people who wanted to block the placing of beacons," he said.

Footage posted on social media showed several dozen Masai protesting the new boundary, but also people running away from security forces as gunshots rang out.

"Over 40 people (have) been badly wounded with live bullets," lawyer and human rights defender Joseph Moses Oleshangay wrote on Twitter.

"One over-80-year-old man wounded yesterday is missing. Not in any hospital."

Onesmo Olengurumwa, director of the East African Human Rights Institute, said early Saturday on Twitter that eight community leaders were missing, calling on President Samia Suluhu Hassan to intervene.

Mongela said "hospitals have no injured people so far", and images were "being circulated by people with bad intention".

Prime Minister Kassim Majaliwa in parliament said the authorities did not plan to displace anyone.

Story continues

"No eviction is planned in Loliondo at all," he said.

In 2009, thousands of Masai families were evicted from Loliondo so that an Emirati company called the Ortelo Business Corporation could organise hunting expeditions for wealthy tourists.

The government cancelled that deal in 2017, following allegations of corruption.

Loliondo lies not far from the Serengeti National Park and Ngorongoro volcanic crater, both of which lure hundreds of thousands of tourists annually.

The president last year said Ngorongoro was "getting lost" after the number of humans living in the World Heritage Site exploded, posing a threat to wildlife.

The government has offered to resettle indigenous inhabitants of the crater to another district on a voluntary basis.

str-sva/ah/har
HENDERSON, Nev.  Former Nevada Attorney General Adam Laxalt served as a fierce foot soldier in former President Donald Trumps efforts to challenge the 2020 election results.

Now, hes getting rewarded for that loyalty.

In the closing days before Tuesdays Republican U.S. Senate primary, the Trump cavalry has arrived.

Friday night, Donald Trump Jr. holds a rally for Laxalt in Las Vegas. Joining him on stage will be Trumps former acting attorney general, Matt Whitaker.

On Wednesday, Laxalt went door-knocking in northern Nevada with Richard Grenell, acting director of national intelligence during the Trump administration who has acted as a frequent Laxalt surrogate during the campaign. That same day, Alex Bruesewitz, a conservative activist affiliated with the Stop the Steal movement, spoke at a Clark County gathering for Laxalt.

We are the top of the ticket and it is our job in November to excite our base and turn out our voters. We have been building on this momentum and this grassroots support since day one, Laxalt campaign spokesman John Burke said in a statement. Every event we do and every surrogate we have is part of that plan.

On Wednesday, Trump himself held a call with Laxalt supporters, urging them to back his onetime Nevada presidential campaign co-chair.

We cant take any chances. So get out and vote. A vote for any other candidate in the primary is really a vote thats hurting your state very badly and your country very badly because its not going to register. Its not going to help, Trump said on the call.

Laxalt thanked Trump on the call, referring to him as the president of the United States.

That call followed in-state visits by prominent Republicans like Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis.

Laxalts campaign crescendo comes after signals last month that retired Army Captain Sam Brown  the opponent Laxalt barely mentioned at the beginning of the race  was making progress toward closing a previous 38-point gap between the two candidates.

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The contest has now boiled down to the might of national MAGA figures for Laxalt against Brown, a scrappy veteran who has appealed to grassroots Republicans inside and outside of Nevada, garnering more than 40,000 individual contributors with his posture as an outsider and his harrowing personal story of a near-death experience in Afghanistan that left him disfigured.

The concerted push behind Laxalt, who already enjoys considerable name ID given his role as a former statewide office holder as well as his late grandfathers tenure as a U.S. senator and governor, has also included the marshaling of resources from outside groups, underscoring the long odds Brown must overcome to build on the momentum he started gaining last month.

In May, a state-wide poll by the Nevada Independent and OH Predictive Insights, an independent polling firm, had Brown narrowing Laxalt's lead to 15 points. Browns campaign contended its internal tracking showed the race in a dead heat, NBC News previously reported.

A new poll by Nevada Independent and OH Predictive Insights published Friday had Laxalt with a 14 point lead over Brown, 48 percent to 34 percent, in a survey of 525 likely Republican primary voters.

But the contrast in campaigns was perhaps best illustrated by life on the trail Wednesday.

On the same day Trump fired up Laxalt supporters in a telerally, Brown was trudging through a neighborhood in Henderson, a city outside of Las Vegas, as temperatures soared to 111 degrees.

Sweat visibly soaking into his gray Sam Brown for Senate hat, Brown walked alone, no GOP superstars beside him, hanging literature on door knobs.

On the rare occasion someone answered the door, he was greeted by parents too busy to talk as they tended to dinner, residents who said they only voted in the big elections, a receptive voter who liked him but wasnt a registered Republican, and a homeowner pulling back his barking dog as Brown attempted to talk over the noise.

As he continued through the well-manicured neighborhood amid an early evening sauna, with dogs aggressively jumping at windows and cameras at empty homes announcing you are being recorded, Brown dismissed the flashiness of the Laxalt campaigns endorsements.

What weve come to realize is that Laxalt and his political celebrity buddies are desperate to have a campaign that looks like its winning. Were desperate to have a campaign that is actually winning, he told NBC News. When a campaign is completely sponsored by D.C., thats all they know how to do. You cant artificially manufacture local grassroots support by yourself.

Like Laxalt, Brown has been holding events across the state in the final days of the race. On Wednesday, he met with a women's group before his door-knocking, followed by a meet-and-greet near Las Vegas.

Though Laxalt has long been the favorite to win the primary, Brown has shown signs of growing support, particularly among grassroots supporters, as evidenced by small dollar donations and local party backing.

And through Friday, Brown had outspent Laxalt on TV ads by about 50 percent since the race began, according to the ad-tracking firm AdImpact.

In recent weeks, despite Trumps early endorsement of Laxalt, Brown won a trio of GOP straw polls, including the state Republican Party and in Clark County, the largest county in Nevada.

But Laxalt and his allies moved to blunt that surge in the past few weeks. Brown has since fallen behind in both fundraising and ad spending. In addition to the high-profile events for Laxalt, outside groups marshaled more resources. On Wednesday and Thursday alone, three PACs  two of which had not yet spent money in the race  bolstered Laxalt with $300,000 in television and mail spending, Federal Election Commission figures show. That included funding from the Make America Great Again, Again super PAC.

The flurry of late spending by outside groups has helped flip the TV dynamics. Now, Laxalt and allies are on track to outpace Brown two-to-one from a time period beginning in May, according to data that NBC News analyzed from AdImpact. The data show an influx of resources ticking up in mid-May, when outside groups joined efforts to boost Laxalt. Then, the conservative PAC Club for Growth re-entered the scene and, as of Thursday, poured $500,000 into TV spending.

Still, Brown argued he would prevail Tuesday, as some in Henderson indicated an openness to vote for him.

One man listened intently to Browns pitch and asked, are you conservative?

When Brown said yes, the man gazed at Browns face, visibly scarred by injuries suffered from life-threatening burns.

He proudly shook Browns hand, asked for his literature and relayed that he, too, was a combat veteran.

CORRECTION (JUNE 10, 2022, 09:54 p.m. ET): A previous version of this article misidentified Alex Bruesewitz. He is a conservative activist affiliated with the Stop the Steal movement; he did not help organize the Jan. 6 rally in Washington.
via Fox News

The night after Tucker Carlson falsely claimed that the death of Trump supporter Ashli Babbitt during the Jan. 6 Capitol riot was not investigated, the Fox host suggested that Babbitt was shot merely because she had the wrong politics.

Babbitt was shot and killed by a Capitol police officer as she attempted to breach the Speakers Lobby amid the violent attempted insurrection.

Carlsons blatantly misleading characterization of her death occurred during an interview Friday with Babbitts widower, Aaron. Babbitt first mentioned how members of the House Jan. 6 committee didnt bring up his wifes death during Thursdays hearing, and how committee member Rep. Adam Kinzinger (R-MI) has praised Lt. Michael Byrd, the officer who shot Babbitt and who was cleared of any wrongdoing. In response, Carlson was sympathetic.

To shoot an unarmed woman is so immoral and [it is] so dishonorable for a man to do that. How could you ever encourage that? Carlson said. If you encourage that, arent you really saying anyone who disagrees with me should be killed?

Carlson, who has essentially trademarked making overstatements like this in place of arguments, repeated a version of this intellectually dishonest comment at the conclusion of the interview.

Well itll be interesting to have members of CongressLiz Cheney, Adam Kinzinger, Lindsey Grahamcome on and explain how many other unarmed women should be shot to death because they have the wrong politics, he said.

Since her death, Babbitt has been made out to be a martyr of sorts in right-wing circles. Former President Donald Trump, for instance, paid tribute to her in a video message that was played at a Texas Loves Ashli Babbitt rally last October. Also, a group of Pennsylvania truckers who were traveling to Washington, D.C. this February to protest COVID restrictions and critical race theory, among other things, said theyd call for justice over her death.

Read more at The Daily Beast.

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Glover Teixeira (left) defends the UFC light heavyweight title against Jiri Prochazka (Getty Images)

The UFC returns to Singapore this evening for a stacked card that will be topped by two title fights after a rematch of one of the most scintillating clashes in the history of mixed martial arts.

In the main event of UFC 275, Jiri Prochazka challenges Glover Teixeira for the light heavyweight title, which Teixeira (33-7) won late last year to become the second-oldest champion ever in the UFC. The Brazilian, 42, submitted Jan Blachowicz to claim the belt, which challenger Prochazka (28-3-1)will look to take from the jiu-jitsu specialist tonight in just the third fight of the Czechs UFC run.

In the co-main event, Valentina Shevchenko (22-3) is out to continue her dominance atop the flyweight division as she defends her title against Taila Santos (19-1), who is a significant underdog here despite her strong record. That bout follows a rematch between former strawweight champions Joanna Jedrzejczyk (16-4) and Zhang Weili (21-3), who clashed in one of the greatest womens fights of all time in 2020. Zhang edged a split decision on that occasion to retain the belt  which she has since lost  but both fighters were seen as winners by fans after producing a contest that has gone down as one of the best the sport has ever seen. Follow UFC 275 live, below.

UFC 275 LIVE

Glover Teixeira (C) vs Jiri Prochazka (light heavyweight title)

Valentina Shevchenko (C) vs Taila Santos (womens flyweight title)

Zhang Weili def. Joanna Jedrzejczyk via second-round KO (spinning back fist, 2:28)

Jake Matthews def. Andre Fialho via second-round KO (2:24)

Jack Della Maddalena def. Ramazan Emeev via first-round TKO (punches, 2:32)

Plus updates and results from the UFC 275 prelims

UFC 275 LIVE

04:47 , Alex Pattle

Shevchenko vs Santos  Round 1

Santos comes forward with a flurry of punches but is caught in a body lock.

Shevchenko slips while trying to take down Santos, and the Brazilian is able to take the back!

She seeks a rear naked choke... Shevchenko defends well against the hold, but the champion is eating some clean punches here.

Story continues

Shevchenko throws some punches of her own before the buzzer!

UFC 275 LIVE

04:43 , Alex Pattle

Here we go!

UFC 275 LIVE

04:37 , Alex Pattle

Santos is out first. Now Shevchenko to a great reaction in Singapore.

UFC 275 LIVE

04:32 , Alex Pattle

Now its time for the first of tonights two title fights.

Valentina Shevchenko (22-3) defends the womens flyweight belt against Taila Santos (19-1).

Shevchenko is seeking a seventh straight successful title defence.

UFC 275 LIVE

04:26 , Alex Pattle

Joanna announces her retirement!

The bell is still ringing in my head. It was a good one.

Im retired guys, thank you. Dana [White, UFC president], so sorry I let you down, man.

Guys, its been 20 years, Im turning 35 this year. Ive been training two decades. I appreciate you all, I love you guys.

The Pole leaves her gloves in the ring.

UFC 275 LIVE

04:23 , Alex Pattle

A knockout of the year contender there.

UFC 275 LIVE

04:20 , Alex Pattle

Zhang Weili def. Joanna Jedrzejczyk via second-round knockout (spinning back fist, 2:28).

UFC 275 LIVE

04:18 , Alex Pattle

Zhang vs Jedrzejczyk  Round 2

Zhang receives a body kick then lands a right hand and body kick combination of her own.

And now Zhang knocks out Joanna cold with a spinning back fist!!! Wow!!!

UFC 275 LIVE

04:14 , Alex Pattle

Zhang vs Jedrzejczyk  Round 1

Zhang is in mount this time and throws some slicing elbows! She already leads 47-1 in ground strikes, and her tally is rapidly rising with a minute to go in this opening round!

Somehow Joanna again manages to create the space to stand... Zhang overcommits on a right hand and eats one from Joanna.

Zhang catches a body kick and takes down Joanna right on the buzzer!

UFC 275 LIVE

04:12 , Alex Pattle

Zhang vs Jedrzejczyk  Round 1

Joanna lands a leg kick, and Zhang comes over the top with an overhand right.

This time Joanna tags the Chinawoman in a close-range exchange of punches. Now a heavy low kick sees Zhang momentarily drop to the mat.

Shes quickly back up and takes down Joanna! Zhang starts pouring on hard punches.

Joanna does well to create enough space to stand, before somewhat of a mutual takedown between the former champions!

UFC 275 LIVE

04:08 , Alex Pattle

Here we go!

UFC 275 LIVE

04:05 , Alex Pattle

Jedrzejczyk sustained a nasty head injury in her loss to Zhang (Getty)

UFC 275 LIVE

04:00 , Alex Pattle

Zhang won the first fight via split decision.

Zhang Weili (right) and Joanna Jedrzejczyk trade shots in their first fight (Getty)

UFC 275 LIVE

03:54 , Alex Pattle

Were racing through this main card... or rather, the fighters are!

Its already time for arguably the most-anticipated bout of the night: Zhang Weili vs Joanna Jedrzejczyk 2.

The womens strawweight contest is a rematch of the pairs 2020 meeting, which is deemed by most to be one of the greatest MMA fights of all time.

UFC 275 LIVE

03:50 , Alex Pattle

Jake Matthews def. Andre Fialho via second-round knockout (2:24).

UFC 275 LIVE

03:48 , Alex Pattle

Fialho vs Matthews  Round 2

More of the same from Round 1... Fialho applies pressure but is made to pay for it...

Some wide hooks land for Matthews, and Fialhos legs buckle! Surely hell be going down soon...

He does! Matthews picks his shots well and crumples Fialho against the fence! Its a right straight that does the job in the end!

What a performance.

UFC 275 LIVE

03:45 , Alex Pattle

Fialho vs Matthews  Round 1

Fialho comes forward in the early phases. Matthews with some leg kicks to try to keep his opponent at bay.

Matthews lands a glancing right overhand while leaping forward, before going southpaw.

Hes starting to tag Fialho with counter shots as the Portuguese backs him up... A couple of heavy blows get through...

But Fialho fires back and drops Matthews! He ends the round on top of the Australian!

UFC 275 LIVE

03:39 , Alex Pattle

Next up are Andre Fialho and Jake Matthews in a welterweight match-up.

UFC 275 LIVE

03:27 , Alex Pattle

Jack Della Maddalena def. Ramazan Emeev via first-round TKO (punches, 2:32).

UFC 275 LIVE

03:25 , Alex Pattle

Della Maddalena vs Emeev  Round 1

Lots of feints from both fighters early on.

Emeev soon lands a takedown and quickly looks for a DArce choke... Della Maddalena escapes and the pair stand!

Della Maddalena begins to land punches at will, and Emeev drops to his knees and shells up after a left hook to the liver...

Della Maddalena with a few more punches, and the referee steps in! Its all over!

UFC 275 LIVE

03:15 , Alex Pattle

Jack Della Maddalena and Ramazan Emeev will get the main card started with a welterweight clash.

UFC 275 LIVE

03:01 , Alex Pattle

The main card is up next!

UFC 275 LIVE

03:01 , Alex Pattle

Josh Culibao def. SeungWoo Choi via split decision (28-29, 29-28, 29-28).

UFC 275 LIVE

02:58 , Alex Pattle

Choi vs Culibao  Round 3

The fighters embrace. Now back to it.

They exchange hard body kicks and low kicks. More fireworks at punching range!

Choi misses with a spinning back fist, then clinches Culibao against the cage wall.

Culibao reverses the position at once, before the pair hit the mat.

Choi is able to take the back with 90 seconds left on the clock... he goes for a rear naked choke! Culibao slips out of the hold twice, and the final buzzer sounds!

What a contest.

UFC 275 LIVE

02:53 , Alex Pattle

Choi vs Culibao  Round 2

Culibao switches stances back and forth. A right overhand busts open Chois bottom lip.

Choi is sent down again! Its a heavy knockdown, but somehow he manages to gather his senses at once to continue...

Choi is even throwing head kicks  remarkable. He kicks low, too.

UFC 275 LIVE

02:46 , Alex Pattle

Choi vs Culibao  Round 1

Culibao presses forward. He grazes Choi with a head kick, before the featerweights trade stern punches at the same time...

Choi seemed to come off worse in that exchange... and hes on the wrong end of three brutal left hooks in a matter of moments!

Down he goes... back up... down... back up... He somehow manages to survive, then nails Culibao with an elbow and flings a flurry of punches at the Australian while storming forward!

What a round!!!

UFC 275 LIVE

02:30 , Alex Pattle

What a UFC debut for Maheshate!

Next up: Featherweights SeungWoo Choi and Josh Culibao go head to head.

UFC 275 LIVE

02:21 , Alex Pattle

Maheshate def. Steve Garcia via first-round knockout (punch, 1:14).

UFC 275 LIVE

02:19 , Alex Pattle

Maheshate vs Garcia  Round 1

The men soon start brawling, and Maheshate puts down Garcia with a counter left hand!

Garcia reacts well, grabbing Maheshates legs and pushing the Chinaman back to the fence.

Maheshate gets free... and faceplants Garcia with a perfectly-timed, short right straight!!!

Its all over! Huge KO win for Maheshate!

UFC 275 LIVE

02:15 , Alex Pattle

Maheshate is the UFCs third-youngest fighter, at 22 years old.

UFC 275 LIVE

02:04 , Alex Pattle

Maheshate and Steve Garcia square off in a lightweight bout next!

UFC 275 LIVE

02:03 , Alex Pattle

Brendan Allen def. Jacob Malkoun via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28).

A fortunate result for the American? Quite possibly.

UFC 275 LIVE

02:00 , Alex Pattle

Allen vs Malkoun  Round 3

Allen secures a takedown at once and goes submission-hunting!

Hes a bit overeager, though, and Malkoun slips free.

The Australian drags Allen to the mat before long, then digs an elbow into the Americans head.

Allen again scrambles and is able to get back to his feet! Its a messy situation, however, and hes half-sitting on Malkoun while landing elbows!

UFC 275 LIVE

01:53 , Alex Pattle

Allen vs Malkoun  Round 2

The middleweights trade strikes on the feet for a while, before Malkoun shoots for a single-leg takedown.

He succeeds with Allen against the cage wall. Allens cornermen shout advice to him, and he is again able to stand.

Malkoun secures another takedown, though, and moves into half-guard at once.

A scramble ends with Allen in side control, however, landing some slicing elbows to the head of Malkoun!

UFC 275 LIVE

01:48 , Alex Pattle

Allen vs Malkoun  Round 1

Allen escapes the position and stands again. He then throws Malkoun beautifully and lands in mount immediately!

Malkoun scrambles well and grabs a leg as he stands. Allen briefly looks for a guillotine choke and drags Malkoun down to the mat with him.

Allen is able to escape, however.

UFC 275 LIVE

01:47 , Alex Pattle

Allen vs Malkoun  Round 1

Hard outside leg kick by Allen, the taller fighter.

He just misses with an overhand right and eats a left hook on the counter from Malkoun!

Solid jab by Malkoun, too. A short left hook lands for Allen, who then gets overzealous and misses while lunging in.

Malkoun times a single-leg takedown and gets Allen down against the fence. Some decent defence by Allen, before he hits the canvas.

Allen is soon back to his feet but is then tripped! Malkoun takes the back.

UFC 275 LIVE

01:33 , Alex Pattle

The right result, as Indy Sport has it.

Next up: Brendan Allen takes on Jacob Malkoun in a middleweight contest.

UFC 275 LIVE

01:32 , Alex Pattle

Kyung Ho Kang def. Batgerel Danaa via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28).

UFC 275 LIVE

01:30 , Alex Pattle

Kang vs Danaa  Round 3

The bantamweights throw jabs at the same time; Kangs is quicker and more accurate.

A fierce body kick from him, too. The South Korean lands a low kick then raises his guard to keep out Danaas punches.

Again Kangs jab is sharper than the Mongolians. Kang has really come on as this fight has progressed.

He lands a clubbing right hook to the head of a crouching Danaa, who is getting increasingly desperate.

Danaa has sported swelling on the right side of his face since early in the fight, and hes now badly bruised on the other side, too.

Danaa goes for a jumping knee well after the final buzzer!

UFC 275 LIVE

01:24 , Alex Pattle

Kang vs Danaa  Round 2

Kang checks an inside leg kick. He lands an outside low kick of his own, then finds the target with a precise jab!

That stuns Danaa briefly, but Kang misses with a follow-up flying knee.

Danaa lands a front kick to the chest of Kang. Now he jabs to the body, before missing with a right hook as Kang rolls under the strike.

Kang goes for a body lock, but Danaa is able to slip free and deny his opponent the takedown.

Another laser jab connects for Kang, but Danaa fires back with a tidy combination of punches. Again Danaa fends off a body-lock takedown attempt, and he retaliates with a knee to Kang.

Kang appeared to be grounded at the time of that knee... If he was, then that was an illegal strike by Danaa. But the referee dismisses Kangs appeal...

UFC 275 LIVE

01:18 , Alex Pattle

Kang vs Danaa  Round 1

The bantamweights trade leg kicks. Lots of circling from Danaa as Kang fights on the front foot.

Danaa starts to put together some punch combinations to push back his opponent.

A heavy jab connects to the ribs connects for Danaa, who then catches Kangs attention upstairs with a right hand.

Now another  an overhand right! Danaa kicks low. He stays light on his feet, then snaps back Kangs head with a stiff jab!

Danaa has Kang hurt late in this opening round, but Kang is able to make it to the buzzer despite eating a knee to the head while crouching against the fence!

UFC 275 LIVE

01:10 , Alex Pattle

Rogerio Bontorin and Manel Kapes flyweight bout, which was scheduled for the main card this evening, has been cancelled due to a kidney issue that has hospitalised Bontorin, per MMA Fighting.

Andre Fialho vs Jake Matthews may replace that contest on the main card, having originally been scheduled as a prelim bout.

Next up, in any case, is Kyung Ho Kang vs Batgerel Danaa at bantamweight.

UFC 275 LIVE

01:01 , Alex Pattle

Silvana Gomez Juarez def. Liang Na via first-round knockout (punches, 1:22).

Joselyne Edwards def. Ramona Pascual via unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28).

UFC 275 LIVE

Sunday 12 June 2022 00:59 , Alex Pattle

The prelims are under way!

Well have round-by-round updates from here on out! Firstly, though, a recap of the early prelim results...

UFC 275 LIVE

Saturday 11 June 2022 22:47 , Alex Pattle

The UFC returns to Singapore this evening for a stacked card that will be topped by two title fights after a rematch of one of the most scintillating clashes in the history of mixed martial arts.

In the main event of UFC 275, Jiri Prochazka challenges Glover Teixeira for the light heavyweight title, which Teixeira won late last year to become the second-oldest champion ever in the UFC. The Brazilian, 42, submitted Jan Blachowicz to claim the belt, which challenger Prochazka will look to take from the jiu-jitsu specialist tonight in just the third fight of the Czechs UFC run.

In the co-main event, Valentina Shevchenko is out to continue her dominance atop the flyweight division as she defends her title against Taila Santos, who is a significant underdog here despite her strong record. That bout follows a rematch between former strawweight champions Joanna Jedrzejczyk and Zhang Weili, who clashed in one of the greatest womens fights of all time in 2020. Zhang edged a split decision on that occasion to retain the belt  which she has since lost  but both fighters were seen as winners by fans after producing a contest that has gone down as one of the best the sport has ever seen.
KYIV (Reuters) - Ukraine is doing everything possible to save three foreign nationals who were sentenced to death by proxy authorities in Donbas for fighting for Ukraine, a lawmaker in Ukraine's parliamentary security and defence committee said on Saturday.

After being captured, two Britons and a Moroccan were convicted of "mercenary activities" on Thursday by a court in the self-proclaimed Donetsk People's Republic (DPR), whose separatist leaders are backed by Moscow.

"Both the Defence Ministry and the Main Directorate of Intelligence, which deals with the exchange of prisoners, are taking all necessary measures to ensure these citizens of foreign states ... are saved," lawmaker Fedir Venislavskyi said on national television.

He did not give further details.

Deputy Prime Minister Iryna Vereshchuk said she believed the separatist authorities would ultimately act rationally, "for they are well aware of the irreparable implications for them and for the Russians if they take any wrong steps against these three of our soldiers."

"Something tells me that, eventually, one way or another, sooner or later, these three servicemen will be exchanged (or otherwise get home)," she said in an online post on Saturday.

Britain has condemned the sentencing of the fighters as an "egregious breach" of the Geneva Convention, under which prisoners of war are entitled to combatant immunity and should not be prosecuted for participation in hostilities.

Ukraine, which has dismissed the Donetsk court's ruling as having no authority, says the fighters had signed contracts with the Ukrainian armed forces.

As a result, "the status of prisoners of war under international law fully applies to them. We will take all measures to save them," lawmaker Venislavskyi said.

(Reporting by Natalia Zinets; Writing by Alessandra Prentice; Editing by Clelia Oziel)
KATERYNA TYSHCHENKO  SATURDAY, 11 JUNE 2022, 20:40

The UN Independent International Commission of Inquiry on Ukraine has arrived in Ukraine to investigate war crimes in the context of the Russian Federation aggression against Ukraine.

Source: Olena Kondratiuk, Deputy Head of Verkhovna Rada [Ukrainian parliament - ed.], on Facebook

Quote from Kondratiuk: "The UN Independent International Commission has arrived in Ukraine to investigate the crimes related to Russian aggression. Erik Mse is the head of the commission; Jasminka Dzumhur and Pablo de Greiff are also members of the commission."

Details: Kondratiuk stated that the commission was created in order to record human rights violations, violations of international humanitarian law, and other crimes in the context of the aggression against Ukraine by the Russian Federation. The commissions main goals are establishing a list of suspects, gathering evidence, and preparing relevant materials.

The members of the commission have noted that their task is to conduct an independent investigation of the violations of international human rights law and international humanitarian law in Kyiv, Chernihiv, Kharkiv, and Sumy oblasts that took place in late February and early March 2022. The investigation will be conducted according to international standards.

The head of the commission said that commissioners will gather information about war crimes committed in Ukraine and in turn report it to the UN Human Rights Council; they will also deliver a report to the UN General Assembly at its 77th session.
US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin speaks during a plenary session at the 19th International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) Shangri-la Dialogue in Singapore on June 11, 2022. AP Photo/Danial Hakim

Austin rejected Russia's invasion of Ukraine during his speech at the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore.

"It's a preview of a possible world of chaos and turmoil that none of us would want to live in," he said.

Zelensky also spoke at the summit, stating that "the future rules of this world are being decided" in Ukraine.

US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin while speaking in Singapore on Saturday articulated that the Russian invasion of Ukraine was a "preview of a possible world of chaos and turmoil."

While speaking at the annual Shangri-La Dialogue, Austin remarked on the potential repercussions of the deadly invasion, which was launched by Russian President Vladimir Putin in February and has been widely condemned by an array of global leaders, notably those from NATO member countries.

"Russia's invasion of Ukraine is what happens when oppressors trample the rules that protect us all. It's what happens when big powers decide that their imperial appetites matter more than the rights of their peaceful neighbors. And it's a preview of a possible world of chaos and turmoil that none of us would want to live in," he said at the major Asian defense summit.

He added: "So we understand what we could lose. We see the dangers of disorder."

The Pentagon chief then spoke of the importance of the "rules-based international order," highlighting how Australia, Japan, New Zealand, and South Korea all helped Ukraine in the aftermath of the invasion, while also noting the critical contributions from India, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky also gave an address to the summit on Saturday  with his speech was conducted virtually  where he emphasized that the global order was being tested in his country.

"I am grateful for your support  but this support is not only for Ukraine, but for you as well," Zelensky said, per Reuters. "It is on the battlefields of Ukraine that the future rules of this world are being decided along with the boundaries of the possible."

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Since Moscow launched its invasion of Ukraine, an alliance of leaders  including US President Joe Biden  have continued to appropriate money for arms necessary for the Ukrainian military to fight back against invading forces.

The first few weeks of the war featured critical errors on the part of the Russian military, with the country suffering major losses among its members on the ground and utilizing inadequate equipment.

Russia has recalibrated and in recent weeks has focused its actions largely in eastern Ukraine  largely in the Donbas region, which have included intense battles in the city of Severodonetsk.

Ukraine has pleaded for longer-range weapons from the West in order to counter the weaponry being used by Russia.

Vadym Skibitsky, the deputy head of Ukraine's military intelligence, recently told The Guardian that the battle against Russia is "an artillery war now" and said his forces were currently "losing in terms of artillery."

On Friday, Austin also met with his Chinese counterpart, Gen. Wei Fenghe, the minister of national defense, where he emphasized that the US did not "seek confrontation or conflict" as it pertains to Taiwan.

Since entering the White House last year, Biden has had several foreign policy rifts with China, largely as it relates to the United States' stance of "strategic ambiguity" regarding Taiwan, which the Chinese government considers a breakaway province.

Read the original article on Business Insider
Gas prices topped $5 a gallon nationwide as of Saturday, according to the latest price data from AAA, and the sharp rise in recent months is not showing signs of slowing.

The national average for a gallon of regular gas is now $5, which is nearly two dollars higher per gallon than a year ago, and 20 states have hit the $5 threshold. Drivers in California are seeing the highest average, $6.43, which is $2.21 higher per gallon than a year ago.

The primary factors driving the rise are inflation, the war in Ukraine and removal of Russian oil from the international market, lack of U.S. refinery capacity, and a rise in demand following two years of pandemic restrictions.

Gas prices by U.S. state. (AAA)

More pain at the pump is expected, particularly among lower income Americans, though this hasn't deterred most drivers  yet.

People are still fueling up, despite these high prices, AAA Spokesperson Andrew Gross stated in a news release this week. At some point, drivers may change their daily driving habits or lifestyle due to these high prices, but we are not there yet.

JPMorgan recently asserted that the nationwide average  currently $4.86 per gallon  could surpass $6.20 per gallon by August. Eventually, the high price at the gas pump could lead to demand destruction, in which drivers curtail gas consumption to save money.

"One could argue that demand destruction for gasoline has already started," Peter McNally, global sector lead for industrials, materials, and energy at Third Bridge, told Yahoo Finance this week.

Guy Benhamou sends a picture of gas prices to friends while pumping gas at an Exxon Mobil gas station on June 09, 2022 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Brandon Bell/Getty Images)

In any case, researchers at DataTrek are now calling for Brent oil to average $140 a barrel as signaling a "recession indicator since any time since 1970 when oil prices have gone up 2x in a year, a recession has followed in the next 12-18 months, DataTrek researchers stated in a new note.

A similar sentiment came from Goldman Sachs calling for Brent oil to touch $135 a barrel during the second half of the year and first half of the next year  which is up from the previous forecast.

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West Texas Intermediate crude oil, the U.S. benchmark, currently sits at $120 per barrel. Crude oil costs comprise about 60% of the pump price, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA).

Dani Romero is a reporter for Yahoo Finance. Follow her on Twitter: @daniromerotv

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Chicago's Marion Todd, left, and Marge Kraus were ambassadors during National Hot Dog Month in July 1957 and toured the nation to promote the beloved frankfurter. Here, they posed with a plate of 60 hot dogs, which at the time represented what the average American ate in a year. Their lovely hats were accented with a band of hot dogs smothered with mustard. 00299869A Archive oddities (Chicago Tribune historical photo)

Though the Chicago-style hot dog is arguably the greatest hot dog in the country, for most of the 20th century, Tribune reporters and recipe writers mostly acted deeply embarrassed about the dish.

Americans in general and housewives in particular are derelict in their duty to the hot dog, starts a July 6, 1961, article by Thomas Wolfsmith. He then quotes a German chef, Otto Schuetz, who explains that Americans bury hot dogs in buns with no elegance, unlike Europeans who serve them as a delicacy.

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Schuetz recommended serving a dish that combined asparagus, apples, mushrooms, sliced hot dogs and French dressing. Wolfsmith concluded: Thus does the hot dog gain a place in haute cuisine, instead of merely languishing under mustard, relish, chopped onion, and a bun.

In the mid-20th century, French food was regularly considered fancier and outright better than whatever most Chicago restaurants were serving. This explains an article from March 30, 1960, titled A Magnificent Hot Dog? This One, Prepared French Style, Is by Mary Meade. She wrote that chef John Bandera from the Sheraton-Blackstone hotel created a frankfurters bourguignonne in honor of a 100-year-old Chicago firm whose founder, David Berg, helped bring the hot dog to America. The recipe, evoking the name of a French beef stew braised in red wine, featured eight frankfurters bathed in a sauce made with butter, shallots, garlic, brown gravy and 3 cups of red wine.

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Hot dogs were popular at ball games and here, a hot dog vendor sells to fans at Wrigley Field during a game on April 14, 1970. (Phil Mascione / Chicago Tribune)

Tribune writer Mary Meade also created her own hot dog recipes over the years, though she almost always read like she was gritting her teeth while doing so. An article on June 25, 1943, by Meade begins: Mustard and piccalilli covered red hots are fine fare for picnics and ball games, but have you figured on the possibilities of frankfurters in your everyday meals? She then goes on to give a recipe for frankfurters with fried rice and tomatoes.

More than 20 years later, Meade didnt think much of the hot dog. In an article from June 9, 1966, she starts with this put-down: A red snapper is a delicate and delicious fish. It says gourmet to you when you think about preparing it. Thats not what a wiener says! Then you can find a recipe called Barbecued Southern Pups, where she recommended covering the sausages in a chili sauce, wrapping them in cornmeal pastry and then baking them.

Not to pick on Meade, but she spent an inordinate amount of time figuring out ways not to use hot dog buns. On June 3, 1958, Meade suggested making frankfurters in tomato rolls. The franks are wrapped in yeast dough  there are seasonings of onion juice, cheese, parsley, and tomato juice. Doesnt it sound delicious? On May 30, 1960, she gave a recipe for Ring-a-Rosy Hot Dogs made by shaping hot dogs like hamburgers, so they could fit on round buns. To be fair, the April 2, 1971, recipe for frankfurter and sauerkraut skillet sounds like something Id enjoy.

(While she certainly had her fair share of questionable recipes with hot dogs, theres an explanation for her mercurial takes on hot dogs. Turns out Mary Meade wasnt a real name. Instead, the pseudonym was used by a succession of women writers, a common newspaper practice at the time.)

Earl Pionke peddles hot dogs from a stand in front of his pub, Earl of Old Town, in Chicago in June 1977. (Ron Bailey/Chicago Tribune)

But its still hard to imagine enjoying Meades Supper Salad Bowl from June 25, 1943, which combined hot dogs with French dressing, green pepper, cottage cheese, grated raw turnip, raw carrot, mayonnaise, lettuce and coleslaw.

Im also not sure you could pay me to try a frankfurter skillet supper (from May 15, 1964), which combines a pound of hot dogs with green onions, chopped green pepper, lima beans, tomato sauce and a whole cup of sour cream. I also would probably pass on the franks in sour cream sauce, which can be found in a July 19, 1957, post by Doris Schacht.

Male recipe writers didnt fare much better. In a recipe column genuinely called For Men Only!, not to be confused with another one titled Wifes night out, Morrison Wood called for making Creole frankfurters. The designation is charitably a stretch; I suppose he got that name because of the dash of cayenne pepper and Tabasco.

Even readers got in on the questionable hot dog action. On July 2, 1958, a reader sent in a recipe for Hot Dog Surprises, which combined 1 pound of frankfurters, chopped fine with shredded sharp cheese, grated hard boiled eggs, chili sauce, pickle relish, mustard and garlic salt. This mixture was spread on a foil-lined baking sheet and topped with halved buns.

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Thankfully, by the 1980s, writers and readers alike seemed to finally understand that Chicagos best hot dog dish was staring them right in the face the whole time.

nkindelsperger@chicagotribune.com

Test out the recipes yourself:

Frankfurters Bourguignonne

by Mary Meade, March 30, 1960

Ingredients:

8 frankfurters

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2 tablespoons butter

3 teaspoons chopped shallots, onions or chives

 teaspoon minced garlic

3 cups claret or Bordeaux wine

24 cooked pearl onions

 pound whole button mushrooms (fresh)

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2 cups brown gravy

24 small potato balls, browned in deep fat

Instructions:

1. Cut frankfurters into thirds and saute in butter for about 5 minutes. Remove meat and add shallots and garlic to fat. Simmer 2 or 3 minutes.

2. Add wine and simmer to reduce liquid to 1 cup, which will take about 8 minutes. Add onions, mushrooms and gravy.

3. Cover and simmer 15 minutes.

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4. Add cooked potatoes and frankfurters and serve over fluffy wild rice.

Makes 4 servings.

Supper Salad Bowl

by Mary Meade, June 25, 1943

Ingredients:

 pound frankfurters

 cup French dressing

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 cup chopped green pepper

1 cup cottage cheese

1 cup grated raw turnip

1 cup grated raw carrot

Mayonnaise and lettuce

Coleslaw

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Instructions:

1. Simmer frankfurters in water for 5 minutes and cool.

2. Slice frankfurters and cover with French dressing. Let stand in refrigerator for half-hour.

3. Combine green pepper and cottage cheese.

4. Combine grated turnip and carrot; moisten with mayonnaise.

5. Arrange lettuce in salad bowl. In separate lettuce cups, arrange frankfurters, cottage cheese, grated carrot, and turnip, and coleslaw. Serve with mayonnaise.

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Makes 4 to 6 servings.

Barbecued Southern Pups

by Mary Meade, June 9, 1966

Ingredients:

10 wieners

 cup butter

 teaspoon dry mustard

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1 tablespoon chopped onion

1 tablespoon lemon juice

2 teaspoons brown sugar

1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce

 cup chili sauce

Cornmeal pastry:

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 cup flour

 cup cornmeal

 teaspoon salt

 cup lard

Instructions:

1. Make cornmeal pastry first. Sift together flour, cornmeal and salt. Cut in lard and add just enough water to moisten, about 3 to 4 tablespoons.

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2. Turn onto a lightly floured surface and roll out to about  inch in thickness. Cut into five 5-inch squares.

3. Melt butter for sauce and add the dry mustard, onion, lemon juice, brown sugar, Worcestershire sauce and chili sauce. Simmer 15 minutes.

4. Cut wieners lengthwise, almost to the ends, but not completely through. Place two wieners diagonally on each cornmeal square. Place a tablespoon of barbecue sauce in each. Fold corners of pastry over the wieners, moistening corners and pressing together.

5. Bake on ungreased baking sheet for 12 minutes at 425 degrees.

Makes 5 servings.

Other articles mentioned:

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German chef and hot dogs go together by Thomas Wolfsmith, July 6, 1961.

New Ways to Fix Franks: You Will Be Consuming a Lot of Them by Mary Meade, June 3, 1958.

Ring-a-Rosy Hot Dogs by Mary Meade, May 30, 1960.

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Eat. Watch. Do. Weekly What to eat. What to watch. What you need to live your best life ... now. >

Menus for a Week from Mary Meades Kitchen by Mary Meade, April 2, 1971.

Processed Meats Are Easy on the Budget: Many Tasty Ways to Use Them, Too by Mary Meade, May 15, 1964.

Thrifty Frankfurters Can Be Dressed Up for Company by Doris Schacht, July 19, 1957.

For Men Only! Creole Frankfurters at Least One Way to Make Guests Sit Up and Shout, Hot Dog! by Morrison Wood, Oct. 4, 1947.

$5 Favorite For Your Picnic by Bob McBridge, July 2, 1958.

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Big screen or home stream, takeout or dine-in, Tribune writers are here to steer you toward your next great experience. Sign up for your free weekly Eat. Watch. Do. newsletter here.
Jun. 10MITCHELL  It takes nearly 45 minutes to read the names.

At the Veterans of Foreign Wars memorial tribute ceremony Friday morning, June 10 at the First Presbyterian Church in Mitchell, district commanders from around South Dakota recited the names of fellow organization members who died over the course of the last year.

It is a quiet, somber moment during the ceremony, but an important one, said Barbara McKean, a Parkston resident and state commander for the South Dakota Veterans of Foreign Wars, who was in attendance at the proceedings.

"It's very humbling to hear the names of our veterans read. It makes me appreciate what we do," McKean said.

McKean was one of dozens of VFW members present for the memorial service, which was part of the 92nd Annual South Dakota VFW and Auxiliary Convention, which is being hosted by the Mitchell community for the first time in history. The event has attracted about 150 registered members and guests from VFW posts around the state, all here to remember and discuss important issues related to veterans and the issues that affect them.

Having the convention in Mitchell for the first time is a great opportunity to show off the community to colleagues from around South Dakota.

"It feels great having it in Mitchell. It's a great community and it has great resources. We're happy to bring some veterans and their family members into Mitchell, and we're hoping they partake in all the stores and businesses," McKean said. "So far, everything has been really nice."

The convention itself is a time to conduct organizational business, discuss issues important to organization members and prepare lobbying efforts and well as remember their fellow members and reflect on their service and its importance.

McKean said important issues are a considerable part of the dialog that goes on at state conventions, and this go around is no different. One such issue is veteran health problems associated with military burn pits. Until around the mid-2010s, burn pits were commonly used in Iraq, Afghanistan and other overseas locations to dispose of waste collected on military bases.

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Those burn pits have been suspected to be the cause of respiratory illnesses in veterans in recent years, and it's something the VFW would like to see addressed.

"We talk about a lot of this during our sessions. We talk about legislative issues and resolutions," McKean said. "In July, we go to (the VFW National Convention) and our legislative representatives will take our voice from our meetings. That is what we bring forward to represent how South Dakota feels on those types of issues. Naturally, it's very important to us. That's one of the reasons we exist."

There are other aspects to the convention, as well. The camaraderie brought about by the shared experience of their service is strong among attendees, both those among the VFW itself and its auxiliary members, who are also convening at the same time.

The Davison County Fairgrounds is acting as headquarters of sorts for the convention, and includes several displays that are open to the public, said Martin Christensen, quartermaster for for VFW Post 2750 in Mitchell.

"We do have exhibits out there. We have a Korean War display, which is really nice, as well as a display from the South Dakota National Guard Museum in Pierre," Christensen said.

He noted modern new vehicles, such as an electric Ford F-150 truck will be on display, as well as vintage automobiles like a World War II-era Jeep. Those exhibits are open to the general public and are usually open from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. through the end of the convention, which runs to Sunday.

Christensen said the convention serves many purposes, including as a recruiting tool to help the VFW fill out its membership and leadership ranks. The organization is always looking for new people to get involved in programs and leadership, and having a mass of members together in one place can be a good way to encourage non-members to consider joining up.

"We're also working to recruit new members to the VFW and getting the younger veterans, so it can be passed down," Christensen said.

Both the past and the future were on the minds of those in attendance at the memorial service Friday morning. Just prior to the traditional rifle salute and performance of Taps that would conclude the ceremony, Mel Olson, a longtime Mitchell educator and former state legislator, gave the address at the service. In that address, he reflected on service members in his own family, as well as reflections on the sacrifices those in uniform have chosen to make in protection of freedom and their fellow Americans.

"We have to remember that these men and women who have passed were complete people. They were men, they were women. Fathers and mothers and brothers and sisters and sons and daughters. They were asked to serve, and they could have done what other people did. They could have faked an injury or gotten a doctor's note or run to a foreign country," Olson said. "But they didn't. They heard the call of the country."

As those military members heard the call, so must everyone honor their memory, he said.

"We owe them everything," Olson said.
The Fresno County Criminal Grand Jury has indicted 17 members and associates of one of Fresnos most violent criminal street gangs on charges including murder, attempted murder and conspiracy to commit murder.

The 14-count indictment, unsealed Friday, reveals that from Jan. 1, 2020 through April 14, 2022 members and associates of the 107 Hoover gang were allegedly responsible for the murders of five rival gang members, multiple drive-by shootings, and several beatings.

Nearly 30 people involved with the 107 Hoover gang and gang ally, the Flyboys, were arrested in April by a multi-agency task force focused on criminal street gangs and human traffickers.

Of those arrested, 17 are named in the indictment and are charged with several felony counts, including murder, conspiracy to commit murder, attempted murder, carrying a concealed weapon, assault likely to produce great bodily harm, and conspiracy to obstruct justice.

They also face multiple sentencing enhancements, including being involved in a gang, using a gun in a crime and street terrorism.

The defendants entered pleas of not guilty Friday as they were arraigned on the charges in the indictment. Among those facing the most serious charges are Marcello Della, 21, Terron Johnson, 21, and Rafer Alston, 23.

Della is charged with four murders, Johnson is charged with two murders and Alston is facing a charge of murder and conspiracy to commit murder.

Revelations in the indictment

The indictment reveals that 107 Hoover gang members would routinely drive through rival gang territory while heavily armed with handguns, shotguns and short-barreled rifles.

An unidentified gang associate fired several shots on June 5, 2020 at the Arco on Olive and Parkway, killing two men  one of whom was a member of the rival Villa Posse gang.

Della and Johnson are accused of gunning down a rival Dog Pound member on Dec. 29, 2020, shooting him six times and killing him.

On Jan. 1, 2021, Della saw a Villa Posse gang member streaming live from an apartment in the 1200 block of N. Peach Avenue, where he was also staying. Armed with a gun, Della began searching for him.

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He found him, shot him and killed him. He also shot and killed a friend of the rival because he witnessed the shooting, according to the indictment.

Gang members or their associates are accused of firing their guns at an apartment at Fruit and Ashlan avenues on July 25, 2021; and at an Airbnb on E. El Paso Avenue where their rivals were throwing a party on Oct. 24, 2021.

The gang is also accused of firing several rounds at several rivals in an apartment complex at Marks and McKinley avenues on Jan. 6.

In another incident, gang member Peter Carrillo, and Journi Steele, a Flyboys associate, punched and kicked a victim in the Tower District on March 20. Ronnie Latre, a Flyboys gang member, is alleged to have video recorded it. A similar attack by Flyboys was also captured on cell phone video at the Dollar General in the 4700 block of E. Church Avenue on March 22.

Gang associate Leonard Smith, who is charged with conspiracy to commit murder, is accused of warning Alston to get out of town because the police wanted to question him about the murder of Javonte Askew.

Leonard Smith told Rafer Alston to delete messages related to the murder of Javonte Askew from his phone. On the same day, Rafer Alston drove to Leonard Smiths residence after the murder of Javonte Askew and met with him for approximately two hours, according to then indictment.

Smith is also an employee of Advance Peace, a prevention program aimed at stopping gang violence. His attorney Mark King requested that he be released, but the request was rejected by Judge Jonathan Conklin.

King argued that Smith did nothing illegal. He said he was instructing Alston to get out of town as a way to prevent him from getting into any more trouble.

It was so his mother did not have to worry, King said.

Senior Deputy District Attorney Amy Freeman objected to Smith being released. She said his previous criminal convictions involved violence.

Fridays indictment replaces the criminal complaint filed by Fresno County District Attorney in April.

Assistant District Attorney Jerry Stanley said the grand jury process is an effective tool to manage cases with many charges, witnesses and defendants.

The process removes the likelihood of months-long delays in trying to schedule preliminary hearings for multiple defendants (17 in this case) and trying to coordinate witnesses multiple times, Stanley said

Additionally, while it may depend on the severity of the charges, the confidential nature of grand jury proceedings tends to afford greater levels of safety for civilian witnesses. Investigative means are also better protected to the extent that any related or corresponding investigations are ongoing.

Defense attorney Linden Lindahl, agrees that the process can move quicker, but he said there is also a drawback.

The indictment has the effect of allowing the prosecution to proceed with the case but it also allows them to avoid the process of cross examination by a defense attorney, Lindahl said.

Lindahl is representing Journi Steele, one of the defendants indicted Friday. She is charged with four counts of attempted murder and conspiracy to commit murder.

Trial is scheduled for Aug. 1 in Department 72.
Authorities believe a Hedgesville, W.Va., area resident who worked at Columbia Machine near Smithsburg took a break from his work shift Thursday to retrieve a weapon from his car and then returned to the building and began shooting co-workers.

Joe Louis Esquivel, 23, was charged with three counts of first- and second-degree murder in the shooting deaths of three Washington County residents, according to a news release sent Friday night by the Washington County Sheriff's Office.

Esquivel also was charged with attempted first-degree and attempted second-degree murder in the shooting of co-worker Brandon Chase Michael, 42, according to Sgt. Carly Hose, spokeswoman for the sheriff's office.

A Maryland State Police trooper was shot during a shootout after Esquivel fled the Smithsburg-area business. The shootout occurred near the roundabout of Mapleville and Mount Aetna roads, about 6.5 miles southwest of the first shooting site at the 12921 Bikle Road business.

According to Washington County District Court records online, Esquivel also was charged by the county state's attorney's office through a state police complaint.

Those charges include two counts each of attempted first-degree murder and attempted second-degree murder. Other charges include two counts each of first- and second-degree assault and use of a firearm in the commission of a felony/violent crime.

In both cases, the charges through the sheriff's office and state police, arrest warrants were issued Thursday and served on Friday, according to online court records.

According to the sheriff's office, the Columbia Machine workers killed Thursday were:

 Mark Alan Frey, 50, of Hagerstown

 Charles "C.J." Edward Minnick Jr., 31, of Smithsburg

 Joshua Robert Wallace, 30, of Hagerstown

Flowers sit outside Columbia Machine near Smithsburg Friday, June 10, 2022, a day after three people were killed and three injured including the suspect after a mass shooting at the manufacturing company near Smithsburg, Md.

State police had not publicized the trooper's name as of Friday night, but the trooper was released Thursday night from Meritus Medical Center, according to the sheriff's office.

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The trooper is a 25-year veteran of the force, assigned to the Criminal Enforcement Division Western Region, according to state police.

More: Scenes from Smithsburg following mass shooting that killed 3 and injured 2 more

What we know about Thursday's shootings in the Smithsburg area

As of Saturday afternoon, police had not announced a motive for the shootings and the investigation was continuing.

With the assistance of the Berkeley County (W.Va.) Sheriffs Office and the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, authorities searched Esquivel's West Virginia residence, the Washington County Sheriff's Office announced Friday.

Additional firearms were found, but details were not provided.

Esquivel was taken to Meritus Medical Center on Thursday, but as of Friday night was being held without bond at the Washington County Detention Center, according to the sheriff's office.

The investigation so far has revealed the suspect reported to work Thursday for his normal shift and worked through the day, according to the sheriff's office.

At some point before 2:30 p.m., he "exited the building, retrieved a weapon from his vehicle, and reentered the business. The suspect proceeded to the area of the break room and begin to fire upon employees," according to the sheriff's office.

The scene at Columbia Machine, located just north of Smithsburg, the day after a gunman opened fire at the Washington County manufaturing plant, killing three and injuring two others.

Esquivel then left in his car, a bronze Mitsubishi Eclipse, before police arrived.

Sheriff's deputies "quickly put out a broadcast for a vehicle and a suspect and a sense of direction" said Lt. Col. Bill Dofflemyer of Maryland State Police.

Police from several agencies work at the scene of an incident at Mapleville Road and Mount Aetna Road south of Smithsburg.

Three state troopers were driving north on Mapleville Road (Md. 66) toward the Smithsburg-area scene when they encountered a vehicle matching that description.

"When troopers went to stop the vehicle, the suspect immediately started firing multiple rounds at the troopers," Dofflemyer said. "The troopers returned fire, striking the suspect."

Smithsburg police were first to arrive at the Bikle Road scene, according to Sheriff Doug Mullendore. They "located an injured subject outside the business in a field," he said.

That injured person was Michael, who was taken to Meritus Medical Center near Hagerstown. His condition and the nature of his injuries were not known Friday night.

Esquivel used a semi-automatic handgun at both scenes, according to the sheriff's office.

Semi-automatic guns require a trigger pull for each round.

More: Smithsburg mass shooting victims identified: Here's what we know

Mapleville Road was closed for hours Thursday as authorities investigated the scene just south of the roundabout. Three vehicles  a Ford SUV, a Chevrolet sedan and a Mitsubishi Eclipse  eventually were hauled away.

Officers from several agencies, including the Smithsburg Police Department, Washington County Sheriff's Office, Maryland State Police, the FBI, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, were at the scenes.

Bikle Manufacturing was purchased by Vancouver-based Columbia Machine Inc., in 2019. It is a big-board mold maker and repair services provider, according to its website.

This article originally appeared on The Herald-Mail: West Virginia man charged Friday in Smithsburg mass shooting at work
So much for that touching goodbye post to Sheryl Sandberg that Mark Zuckerberg posted just 9 days ago, when after a 14-year run at Facebook  now Meta Platforms  Sandberg said she was resigning from her post as COO. At the time, Zuckerberg called Sandberg's planned departure the "the end of an era" and spoke glowingly of her as an "amazing person, leader, partner, and friend."

Today, the Wall Street Journal reports  for the second time since Sandberg resigned  that Facebook has been investigating Sandberg since at least the fall for the possible misuse of corporate resources.

Under review: whether she had Facebook employees engaged in work that supported her Lean In foundation, whose mission it is to foster women's leadership and workplace inclusion; whether she pulled Facebook staffers into the writing and promotion of her second book, "Option B," which focused on overcoming the sudden death of her husband in 2015; and finally whether she diverted the time and attention of Facebook employees to her upcoming wedding this summer.

What a monster(?).

We don't know who is leaking details of this investigation to the WSJ, but if the "people familiar with the matter" are trying to destroy her reputation, they're doing a comically lousy job. (We reached out to Facebook for more information earlier and have yet to hear back from the company.)

For one thing, no one thinks Sheryl Sandberg is an angel. If they ever did, they reassessed many years ago, across numerous scandals, from Facebook's obvious ambivalence about data privacy, to her handling of Facebook's public relations after revelations of Russian interference on the platform in the 2016 U.S. presidential election. (While Zuckerberg launched an apology tour at first, she launched an aggressive lobbying campaign to combat Facebooks critics.)

It plainly takes a certain kind of person to run a rule-bending company like Facebook, and you can't help it grow into one of the most powerful companies in world history without getting even dirtier. Still, a newer story leaked to the Journal in April managed to further raise questions about Sandberg. According to the report, Sandberg, who earlier dated Activision Blizzard CEO Bobby Kotick, twice pressed a U.K. tabloid to shelve a potential article about him, relying on a team that included both Facebook and Activision employees, as well as paid outside advisers.

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A lot of people found the possibility that Sandberg would potentially use her muscle in this way disturbing. The newest articles about Sandberg are different, though. In fact, we hope these leaks about investigations into Sandberg's potential misuse of assets are coming from Sandberg and her associates. Talk about brilliant machinations, if so.

Think about it. In Sandberg, we have a commanding female COO, who has long been credited for much of Facebook's growth, being investigated for relying on staff to (1) nurture an organization for women, (2) write a book primarily for women about overcoming grief and (3) being a human who is planning a joyous wedding after suffering unimaginable loss.

If Facebook really wants to take issue with Sandberg planning her wedding on company time, so be it. But clearly both Lean In and Sandberg's books  proceeds of which were reportedly given to Lean In  were very good for Facebook's brand when it most needed some softening.

Alas, we don't actually think Sandberg is seeking out coverage in the Journal. The more likely scenario is that there are people inside Facebook with an axe to grind. If so, their efforts to take down Sandberg may backfire in a big way unless these internal investigations  reportedly the outgrowth of hiring its first chief compliance officer last year  lead to a much bigger reveal.

As for now, Sandberg mostly looks to be getting the world's worst send-off from a company to which she remained dedicated longer than nearly any other executive aside from Zuckerberg himself. In fact, the Journal notes that it's well known already that both Sandberg and Zuckerberg use corporate resources for some personal matters. Facebook even makes "extensive disclosures" about these things in its regulatory filings, notes the outlet.

In the meantime, these slow leaks make Facebook appear petty and vindictive  even borderline absurd. As reports the WSJ: "Some within Meta close to the investigation worry about potential Securities and Exchange Commission violations if Ms. Sandberg used professional resources for personal matters without adequate disclosures, although it isnt yet clear what such violations might be, people familiar with the matter said."
Mykhailo Podolyak

Presidential spokesman Sergiy Nikiforov told news Ukrainian outlet LIGA.net gave the official position of the Ukrainian Presidents Office regarding Bidens claim.

According to Nikiforov, Zelensky had asked for preventive sanctions against Russia before the large-scale Russian invasion, but Ukraines partners "did not want to hear it."

Read also: Kremlin may try to freeze war in Ukraine  military intelligence

The spokesman noted that at that time the Ukrainian leader had had threeor four telephone conversations with Biden: the two heads of state exchanged views and assessments of the situation in detail.

"Therefore, the phrase 'did not want to hear' probably needs clarification, Nikiforov said.

In addition, if you remember, the President of Ukraine called on (Ukraines) partners to introduce a package of preventive sanctions to encourage Russia to withdraw troops and de-escalate the situation. And here it is us who can actually say that our partners did not want to hear us."

Mykhailo Podolyak, an adviser to the head of the President's Office, also told LIGA.net that it was "pointless" to accuse Ukraine of anything.

Of course, this (Biden's words  ed.) is not quite so, Podolyak said.

Read also: Risks of re-invasion from Belarus minimal, says Zelensky

We understood perfectly well that Russia was developing different expansionism scenarios. (President) Volodymyr Zelensky constantly had the appropriate analytical reports on his desk, which were based on high-quality intelligence. The president also responded carefully to all the words and warnings of our partners.

Podolyak said that Kyiv understood the intentions of the Russians and "was preparing for one or another aggressive scenario."

However, he noted, there was doubt over the scope of the invasion. According to him, the intensity of the Russian attacks throughout Ukraine could not have been predicted, and there is no doubt that the scale of the invasion shocked many countries, including Ukraine's partners.

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"But what is important is the speed with which the government implemented a war economy, and the almost lightning-fast recovery of our country from the state of shock, Podolyak said.

Finally, it seems to me that it is pointless to accuse a country that has been effectively fighting for more than 100 days in a full-fledged war against a much more powerful opponent, while key countries have failed to curb Russia's militaristic appetites, (although) being fully aware of them.

Ahead of its full-scale invasion, Russia had been deploying troops close to Ukraine's borders since late Oct. 2021.

Read also: Biden declassified intelligence on Russian preparations for full-scale Ukraine invasion because of skepticism

Kyiv's Western partners were concerned about possible plans for a large-scale Russian invasion and threatened to impose tough sanctions on Moscow.

In a speech on Feb. 18, U.S. President Joe Biden said the United States had reason to believe that Russia was planning an attack in the coming days or within a week, and would "target the Ukrainian capital Kyiv."

Russia invaded Ukraine on Feb. 24. June 11 is the 108th day of full-scale war. The invading forces tried to advance from the north, east and south, shelling peaceful cities throughout Ukraine using artillery, and bombing them from the air.

At the initial stage of the invasion, the most difficult situations were seen in Kyiv, Kharkiv, Chernihiv, Sumy, and Mariupol. For more than a month, Russia shelled Kyiv and the outskirts of the capital, completely destroying a number of settlements.

At the moment, the Russian invaders are trying to capture those territories of the Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts that have been under Ukrainian governmental control since the beginning of the war in 2014.

Before the Russian invaders started shelling settlements in the Donbas, the Ukrainian authorities urged all residents to evacuate.
RICHMOND  Students majoring in philosophy at Virginia Commonwealth University pay nearly $15,000 annually in tuition bills. But according to a recent analysis, the average graduate still earned minimum wage five years after graduation.

The analysis, which estimated the earnings for 750 school-specific majors in Virginia, found VCU philosophy majors earned the least in the state. Other programs at the bottom include Regent Universitys drama department and Mary Baldwins arts program.

Meanwhile, graduates of the University of Virginias computer science program made $110,000 annually five years after graduation, the most in the state. They were closely followed by Washington and Lee Universitys computer science grads and UVas computer engineering alumni.

Together, the data indicates that whether a college provides a positive financial return on investment depends mostly on the field of study and somewhat on the college the student attended.

Colleges in Virginia long have debated how to weigh the intrinsic value of certain majors versus their pecuniary value. At a time when tuition costs are rising, student debt remains high and jobs are unfilled, many students in the state are choosing majors that are more likely to provide a good paycheck.

Peter Blake, the head of the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia, said colleges have a responsibility to make sure programs are aligned to meet employment demands as closely as possible, especially now.

A programs return on investment, he said, is particularly important.

The study, which estimates earnings for bachelors degree programs nationwide, was published last fall by the Foundation for Research on Equal Opportunity, a think tank described as right-of-center.

Researchers used 2017 and 2018 earnings reported to the College Scorecard, a government database that compiles wage values shortly after graduation, and Census Bureau data to project future income. The study does not address students with graduate and professional degrees.

Some majors never provide a financial return on investment. Those students would have earned more money across their lifetimes had they saved the $100,000 or so in tuition costs, started earning a paycheck four years earlier and begun climbing the wage ladder sooner.

Nearly one in four college majors in Virginia fails to provide a lifetime return on investment, according to the study. The majors least likely to provide a financial windfall are psychology, biology, fine arts, drama, English and social work. The schools that house the highest number of negative-ROI majors are Liberty University, VCU, University of Mary Washington and Radford University.

The majors that provide the highest ROI tend to focus on science, technology, engineering, math and business. Several nursing programs are near the top of the list, too.

You dont have to go to a prestigious school or an expensive school to get a good-paying job. High-earning majors are found at VCU, Old Dominion University and for-profit schools such as ECPI University.

Some perhaps unexpected majors landed in top 100: romance languages at Washington and Lee, politics at UVa and interdisciplinary studies at UVa, indicating graduates of the most prestigious schools are more likely to earn high-paying jobs even if they are not enrolled in a high-value major.

A civilized world needs philosophy

Though they arent rich, philosophy grads earned a wide range of estimated salaries five years after graduation, from $44,000 at the College of William & Mary to $17,000 at VCU.

VCUs figure, which comes from 2017 and 2018 data, is close to minimum wage at the time.

Donald Smith, department chair for VCU philosophy, said the results do not fit with his analysis of the jobs VCU philosophy graduates earn.

I was in disbelief, he said.

In recent years, VCU philosophy grads have become a research analyst at OrthoVirginia, a researcher at the Economic Policy Institute and a senior analyst at Lumber Liquidators. About half of the graduates go to law school or some other postgraduate degree, he estimated.

The median estimated wage for philosophy grads nationwide is $37,000 in this study, which is a lower figure than some other studies cite. For instance, a 2021 New York Fed study on the labor market for recent college graduates found philosophy graduates have a median wage of $39,000 early in their careers, but that it rises to a mid-career median wage of $62,000.

Because of the specificity of the Foundation for Research on Equal Opportunity report, its sample sizes are small.

I have no reason for thinking that VCU philosophy majors fare significantly worse with respect to ROI than what these other studies indicate, Smith said.

Just because a major doesnt pay well doesnt mean it has no value, said Blake, head of the State Council of Higher Education. Return on investment is an important measure of a programs success  average debt for a Virginia college graduate is $30,000. But its not the only measure.

A civilized world needs people who are trained and educated in English, history, social work, early childhood education, art, anthropology, et cetera, he added.

Philosophy improves reasoning skills, the ability to be open to criticism and the ability to disagree in a rational manner, Smith added. All of those skills are relevant to any career a student might pursue.

Josh Hartt, 21, graduated from VCU last month after double majoring in political science and philosophy. Philosophy hasnt helped his job search much, but if he could do college over again, he wouldnt change a thing.

It taught me to think in a way most people dont, and that was worth every single penny, Hartt said.

Hartt doesnt have a job yet, but he has enough money saved up to get an apartment in Richmond while he applies. He plans to apply to law school next year.

Whats helped him the most with his career are the job prospects working on political campaigns. He said the teachers and students he met in philosophy classes were some of the best at VCU.

If youre interested in philosophy, dont let job prospects deter you from it, he added.

Hartts sentiments match those of most students, who are largely happy with their decision to attend college. In a poll of 15,000 Virginia college graduates from the past 15 years, 88% reported feeling satisfied or very satisfied with their undergraduate experience.

A majority, 70%, said their time in college prepared them for the workplace. But only 56% said their education was worth the cost.

Ethan Hamilton broke the mold. Days after he graduated from VCU philosophy last year, he got a job offer as an ontology analyst for a consulting firm in Arlington County, building data models for computers and earning about $70,000, far more than the national average.

His employer was interested in applicants who understand logic and rules  exactly what he had learned in philosophy.

For this field, its a perfect fit, he said.

A $2 million ROI

Students in the top-paying majors typically earn six-figure salaries by age 27. Of the 25 best-paying degree programs, 17 are engineering or computer science.

Joshua Sahaya Arul, 21, took computer science as a high school class at Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology in Alexandria and got hooked. At UVa, he chose it as his major primarily because he enjoyed the subject.

A summer internship at Capital One turned into a job offer months before he graduated from UVa. By age 21  he finished college in three years  he was earning close to $110,000, the estimated salary for his major for graduates five to seven years older than him. He recently accepted a job at Google.

According to the study, he and other UVa computer science grads will receive a return on their college education of more than $2 million.

The State Council of Higher Education does not shut down programs that fail to deliver good jobs. Instead, it pays attention to a programs popularity. If students stop enrolling, the program can get shut down. In essence, the state council lets the market decide.

If majors have high demand, there must be some value students see in them, Blake said.

For years, students have chosen majors that do not guarantee a big paycheck. Psychology is the states most popular major, with 5% of students enrolled, and its been among the most popular majors for at least 30 years.

The highest-paying psychology program is at Virginia Military Institute, where graduates earn an estimated $47,000 five years after graduation.

Everyone has their own price point when it comes to return on investment, Blake said.

In the survey of college graduates from the past 15 years, about one in three graduates said they went to college for reasons other than preparing for a specific job  either because they felt they were expected to, they wanted a well-rounded education or they were trying to figure out what they wanted to do.

But not all majors have sustained the popularity of psychology. In 2010, there were 1,500 college students in Virginia studying English. By 2020, that number had cratered by 40%.

VCU has seen that trend with its new students. In the past four years, fewer incoming freshmen have chosen the College of Humanities and Sciences, which is home to such departments as biology, English and philosophy.

Whats growing are engineering, business, education and health  programs with clear job destinations, said Tomikia LeGrande, VCUs vice president for enrollment.

The universitys goal, she said, is to make sure students can envision a career  no matter what major they choose.
For the information of the police: One of these will be your first electric car - Walla! vehicle


People trying to get stuff for free that theyre otherwise supposed to pay for is nothing new. Its also something many of us are tempted to do when it doesnt seem like its actually stealing.

When my mom owned The Book Bin in Northbrook, she had a customer who tried to bring a book back for return, insisting hed purchased it there. Unfortunately for him, she recognized it as the current title from the Book of the Month Club, and whoops! there was the Book of the Month stamp, right there in the interior.

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It can be easy to convince ourselves that were not stealing in these cases. That guy had paid for the Book of the Month Club book and The Book Bin could resell it to someone else, no harm, right?

Well, no, wrong.

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The scale of an individual act like this was no threat to The Book Bin, but what happens when this mentality meets the digital age and comes for individual entrepreneurial authors?

If you return a purchased e-book to Amazon within seven days, you are prompted to answer whether or not you want a refund. Apparently, many readers have caught on to this and are now returning books theyve read. I learned of this practice via a tweet from Lisa Kessler who is an indie author of dark paranormal fiction, including paranormal romance.

How does she know this is happening? After hearing rumblings on TikTok about hacks for reading books for free on Amazon, Kessler noticed that some readers were returning not just one book, but an entire series of up to 10 books. As Kessler told me via email, if multiple series are returned, multiple times, that begins to add up.

For Kessler, this meant that as she perused her Amazon sales dashboard on June 1, she saw a negative balance, despite having had numerous sales and apparently satisfied readers.

I suppose it is tempting to believe that returning the e-book to Amazon is sticking it to the big corporation who charged a bunch of money for that Kindle device, but it is important to remember that the big corporations are big corporations because they figure out how to get paid no matter what.

Napster and music file-sharing disrupted the music industry for a time as reams of art were passed around for free, but the industry part of music managed to rebound pretty well. Its the individual artists, particularly the ones who do not have the leverage of mega-fame who are still being harmed by streaming fees that see literally pennies trickle down to the people who actually make the music.

On TikTok, it appears that word is getting out on how damaging this practice can be, with only a few outliers who insist that if they werent satisfied with a book they read, they should be able to return for a refund.

To be clear, it is wrong to take an artists work for free that you would otherwise be required to pay for, even if you end up not liking the product. This is stealing. We shouldnt do it, and I think youll see less of it now that authors like Kessler have spread the word of the consequences.

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But there is a shorter path to solving this problem. Amazon could change its policy so that when the data it collects about the Kindle users reading indicates that the e-book was read, the request for refund is denied.

The technology is already in place, the only question is if Amazon cares at all about the people who provide the content they sell.

John Warner is the author of Why They Cant Write: Killing the Five-Paragraph Essay and Other Necessities.

Twitter @biblioracle

Book recommendations from the Biblioracle

John Warner tells you what to read based on the last five books youve read

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1. The Candy House by Jennifer Egan

2. A Visit From the Goon Squad by Jennifer Egan

3. Sandy Hook by Elizabeth Williamson

4. The Paris Library by Janet Skeslien Charles

5. Joan Is Okay by Weike Wang

 Bill D., Chicago

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Often, I pick up books with great anticipation, but sometimes Ill try a title that I have no advanced knowledge or expectation and it blows me away, which is awesome. That recently happened with Planes by Peter C. Baker, a novel about the struggles of two couples against a backdrop of the CIAs extraordinary renditions program. Baker puts you inside these worlds in a way thats hard to shake.

1. The Lincoln Highway by Amor Towles

2. Sea of Tranquility by Emily St. John Mandel

3. The Maidens by Alex Michaelides

4. Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir

5. The Midnight Library by Matt Haig

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 Betsy P., Ann Arbor, Michigan

All pretty recent books here, so Im hoping to dip back a few years and grab a title that Betsy might have missed, but be glad to be introduced to: On Beauty by Zadie Smith.

1. Some Tame Gazelle by Barbara Pym

2. The Joy and Light Bus Company by Alexander McCall Smith

3. Wolf Hall by Hilary Mantel

4. Bring Up the Bodies by Hilary Mantel

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5. Life After Life by Kate Atkinson

 Natalie T., Chicago

Exclusively British authors here, so Im going to stick with that criteria, and go with a book that combines history, mystery, and romance, A.S. Byatts Possession.
The number of recreational marijuana shops in Illinois is due to more than double after the state Friday announced its plans to issue 185 new dispensary licenses.

The action comes after courts lifted bans on issuing the licenses while litigation continues.

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Applicants who won rights to licenses last year must finalize compliance checks before their conditional licenses can be issued.

Beginning Thursday, the state plans to issue licenses in three waves. The first wave, for the Naperville-Chicago-Elgin region, is to be issued by July 22. The next wave, for other regions with multiple licenses, is due by Aug. 5, with the third wave, for districts with one license, due by Aug. 19.

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Marijuana for sale at the "Freedom Festival" marijuana expo on April 20, 2022, in Bensenville. (Erin Hooley / Chicago Tribune)

The pace of licensing will be determined by how quickly applicants compliance checks can be verified.

Today marks the beginning of the next chapter of the most equitable adult-use cannabis program in the country, Gov. J.B. Pritzker said. This means countless more opportunities for communities that have suffered from historic disinvestment to join this growing industry and ensure its makeup reflects the diversity of our state.

Daywatch Weekdays Start each day with Chicago Tribune editors' top story picks, delivered to your inbox. >

All principal officers, or owners, will have 60 days after notification to pay any taxes or other debts to the state. In addition, the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation must verify that no principal officers have a financial interest in more than 10 adult-use dispensary licenses.

After issuing the conditional licenses, the agency will conduct background checks of principal officers.

Licensees will have 180 days to select a physical storefront location and obtain the operating license, or may request a 180-day extension if necessary.

The Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity offers low-interest loans to qualified licensed companies through its Social Equity Cannabis Loan Program. The first round of applicants is expected to finalize loan agreements with the agencys partner lending institutions in the coming weeks. The next phase of the loan program is to be launched in the near future, state officials said.

The state also funds free licensing technical assistance through Oakton Community College in Des Plaines, The Trep School in Danville, the Womens Business Development Center in Chicago, and the University of Illinois at Chicago Law School.

The announcement comes a day after U.S. Judge Rebecca Pallmeyer declined to issue a temporary restraining order against the new licenses in a lawsuit by two plaintiffs claiming the states residency requirements violate federal law. The judge said the plaintiffs lacked standing to challenge the previously allotted licenses, and that it was premature to rule on the issuance of new licenses, since state officials have proposed alternatives to state residency.

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The judge freed the state to issue the 185 licenses previously allotted, but said it must hold off on additional dispensary licenses until she makes further rulings.
Ukrainian and British officials warned Saturday that Russian forces are relying on weapons able to cause mass casualties as they try to make headway in capturing eastern Ukraine and fierce, prolonged fighting depletes resources on both sides.

Russian bombers have likely been launching heavy 1960s-era anti-ship missiles in Ukraine, the U.K. Defense Ministry said. The Kh-22 missiles were primarily designed to destroy aircraft carriers using a nuclear warhead. When used in ground attacks with conventional warheads, they are highly inaccurate and therefore can cause severe collateral damage and casualties, the ministry said.

Both sides have expended large amounts of weaponry in what has become a grinding war of attrition for the eastern region of coal mines and factories known as the Donbas, placing huge strains on their resources and stockpiles.

Russia is likely using the 6.1-ton anti-ship missiles because it is running short of more precise modern missiles, the British ministry said. It gave no details of where exactly such missiles are thought to have been deployed.

As Russia also sought to consolidate its hold over territory seized so far in the 108-day war, U.S. Defense Secretary said Moscows invasion of Ukraine is what happens when oppressors trample the rules that protect us all.

Its what happens when big powers decide that their imperial appetites matter more than the rights of their peaceful neighbors, Austin said during a visit to Asia. And its a preview of a possible world of chaos and turmoil that none of us would want to live in.

An elderly woman who has been evacuated from the Lysychansk area look out the window of an evacuation train in Pokrovsk in eastern Ukraine, Friday, June 10, 2022. (Bernat Armangue/AP)

Flamethrowers used in Luhansk, governor claims

A Ukrainian governor accused Russia of using incendiary weapons in a village in Ukraines eastern Luhansk province, southwest of the fiercely contested cities of Sievierodonetsk and Lysychansk.

While the use of flamethrowers on the battlefield is legal, Serhii Haidai, governor of Luhansk province, alleged the overnight attacks in Vrubivka caused widespread damage to civilian facilities and an unknown number of victims.

At night, the enemy used a flamethrower rocket system - many houses burnt down, Haidai wrote on Telegram on Saturday. The accuracy of his claim could not be immediately verified.

Sievierodonetsk and neighboring Lysychansk are the last major areas of Luhansk province remaining under Ukrainian control. Haidai said the Russians destroyed railway depots, a brick factory and a glass factory.

The Ukrainian army said Saturday that Russian forces also were to launch an offensive on the Donetsk province city of Sloviansk. Donetsk and Luhansk together make up the Donbas,

Moscow-backed rebels have controlled self-proclaimed republics in both provinces since 2014, and Russia is trying to seize the territory still in Ukrainian hands.

A street musician performs in Kyiv, Ukraine, Friday, June 10, 2022. With war raging on fronts to the east and south, the summer of 2022 is proving bitter for the Ukrainian capital, Kyiv. (Natacha Pisarenko/AP)

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Zelenskyy seeks more EU sanctions on Russia

During a visit to Kyiv by the European Unions top official, Ukrainian President Volodymr Zelenskyy called for a new round of even stronger EU sanctions against Russia.

Zelenskyy called for the new sanctions to target more Russian officials, including judges, and to hamper the activities of all Russian banks, including gas giant Gazproms bank, as well as all Russian companies helping Moscow in any way.

He spoke during a brief press appearance with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen at the heavily guarded presidential office compound in Ukraines capital. Von der Leyen was on her second visit to Ukraine since Russia invaded its neighbor.

The pair discussed Ukraines aspirations for EU membership. Zelenskyy, speaking through a translator, said Ukraine will do everything to integrate with the bloc.

Russia wants to divide Europe, wants to weaken Europe, he said.

Von der Leyen said the EUs executive arm was working day and night on an assessment of Ukraines eligibility as an EU candidate. The goal is to have the review ready to share with the blocs 27 existing members by the end of next week.

Zelenskyy and some EU supporters want Ukraine admitted to the EU quickly. Von der Leyen described the membership process as a merit-based path and appealed for Ukraine to strengthen its rule of law, fight corruption and modernize its institutions.

She praised Ukraines strength and resilience in the face of Russias horrible and atrocious invasion and said the EU would assist with the countrys reconstruction.

Iuliia, right, drives a van after helping her mother's friend evacuate, as they arrive to a reception center for displaced people in Zaporizhzhia, Ukraine, Sunday, May 8, 2022. (Francisco Seco/AP)

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Russia sets up company to sell Ukraines grain

Russian-installed officials in Ukraines southern Zaporizhzhia region have set up a company to buy up local grain and resell it on Moscows behalf, a local representative told the Interfax news agency on Saturday.

Ukraine and the West have accused Russia of stealing Ukraines grain and causing a global food crisis that could cause millions of deaths from hunger.

Yevgeny Balitsky, the head of Zaporizhzhias pro-Russian provisional administration, said the new state-owned grain company has taken control of several facilities.

He said the grain will be Russian and we dont care who the buyer will be.

It was not clear if the farmers whose grain was being sold by Russia were getting paid. Balitsky said his administration would not forcibly appropriate grain or pressure producers to sell it.

The head of Ukraines presidential office accused Russias military of shelling and burning grain fields ahead of the harvest. Andriy Yermak alleged Moscow is trying to repeat a Soviet-era famine which claimed the lives of over 3 million Ukrainians in 1932-33.

Our soldiers are putting out the fires, but (Russias) food terrorism must be stopped, Yermak wrote Saturday on Telegram.

The accuracy of his and Balitskys claims could not be independently verified.

A demonstrator holds a Russian passport with a candle and a flower during an anti-war action in memory of the victims of fighting in Ukraine in front of Ukrainian Embassy in Tbilisi, Georgia, Sunday, April 3, 2022. (Vasily Krestyaninov/AP)

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Russian passports for Ukraine residents

Russian forces occupying parts of southern Ukraine began handing out Russian passports to local residents Saturday.

In the Kherson region, 23 residents accepted Russian passports, including the new Moscow-installed governor, Russian state news agency its Moscow-installed governor, Russian state news agency RIA Novosti reported.

For me, this is a truly historic moment. I have always thought that we are one country and one people, the news agency quoted the governor, Volodymyr Saldo, as saying.

Russian forces also started awarding passports in the occupied city of Melitopol, according to Russian state news agency TASS agency. A Telegram post by TASS cited a Russian-installed local official as the original source of the information.

It did not specify how many residents had requested or received Russian citizenship.

Melitopol is located outside of the Donbas in the region of Zaporizhzhia, which is still held partly by Ukraine.

A boy peers through the window of a children's train in Kyiv, Ukraine, Saturday, June 4, 2022. (Natacha Pisarenko/AP)

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Death toll among children

Nearly 800 children have been killed or injured in Ukraine since the beginning of Russias invasion, Ukrainian authorities said Saturday.

According to a statement by the Office of the Prosecutor General of Ukraine, at least 287 children died as a result of military activity, while at least 492 more have been injured. The statement stressed the figures were not final and said they were based on investigations by juvenile prosecutors.

The office said children in Ukraines Donetsk province suffered the most, with 217 reported killed or injured, compared with 132 and 116, respectively, in the Kharkiv and Kyiv regions.
Former Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley was expected to spend Friday night, his third, in the hospital.

It appeared unlikely the 80-year-old Daley would be released from Northwestern Memorial Hospital Friday, said Jacquelyn Heard, spokesperson for the law firm Katten Muchin Rosenman, where Daley is of counsel.

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Daley has undergone testing since he was hospitalized Wednesday after feeling lethargic, Heard said earlier. Shed described him as sounding alert and in good spirits on the phone.

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The former mayor has suffered some health issues in recent years. In 2014, Daley spent time in the ICU of the same hospital after taking a fall; he reportedly suffered stroke-like symptoms that affected his speech.

Richard M. Daley, pictured in 2011 during his last year in office as Chicago mayor, has been hospitalized since Wednesday. (Jos M. Osorio / Chicago Tribune)

Daley left office in 2011 after 22 years  a term that made him the longest-serving Chicago mayor ever and was one year longer than that of his father, the late Richard J. Daley. Richard M. Daleys wife Maggie Daley, for whom a lakefront park is named, died of cancer in 2011.

Maggie Daley Park is connected to Millennium Park, one of her husbands major projects while in office. He made another big imprint on the lakefront by forcing the closure of Meigs Field, an airstrip on Northerly Island, by secretly having its runway turn up in the predawn hours.

Daley also masterminded the tearing down of many of Chicagos public housing high-rises and sold the citys parking meters to a private firm, a decision that has faced widespread criticism in the years since. He attempted unsuccessfully to lure the 2016 Summer Olympics to Chicago but did land the 1996 Democratic National Convention.

jebyrne@chicagotribune.com
Despite a campaign to save her job, Coonley Elementary librarian Nora Wiltse received a pink slip Friday after 14 years at the North Center school. Local School Council members say Chicago Public Schools did not give Coonley enough money to avoid very upsetting cuts.

Wiltse said she took a personal day Friday to attend her goddaughters eighth grade graduation when Coonleys principal, Brennen Humphrey, reached her by phone.

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She said she didnt want to bother me during family time. And I said, No, I would really like to talk. Ive been waiting for this phone call for a very long time,  said Wiltse, who has known for weeks her job was in jeopardy.

Nora Wiltse outside Coonley Elementary School on May 31, 2022. (Chris Sweda / Chicago Tribune)

Humphrey did not immediately return a Tribune request for comment. Wiltse, a CPS librarian for 19 years, received an electronic letter Friday from the district informing her that her position wont be available for the coming school year. She will be placed in a pool with other displaced teachers to vie for a new position.

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Im really hoping that this isnt the end of CPS for me because it would just be a really heart-wrenching way to leave a district that I thought I was going to be in for 30 years, Wiltse said. Ill just have to see if anyone will hire me.

The news comes days after CPS unveiled its proposed $9.5 billion budget for the 2022-23 school year. The budget draft includes $4.6 billion in school-level funding, an increase of more than $240 million from this school year. The district said it plans to add about 1,600 full-time positions as well. Its unclear how many CPS staff members like Wiltse have been told their positions have been eliminated.

The Chicago Teachers Union called the budget proposal unacceptable because it comes with cuts to schools and classrooms. The Chicago Board of Education is slated to vote on the budget at its June 22 meeting.

Wiltse has been expecting bad news for weeks. At a Coonley LSC meeting in April, it was revealed that three positions were on the chopping block, with the 900-student school losing 9% of its student population from the last school year to this one.

About 50 people  including Ald. Matt Martin, 47th  gathered in Coonleys gym Tuesday for a 40-minute discussion about Wiltse during the schools LSC meeting. Several attendees offered support for her as she sat in the back.

I think that we need to find a way to keep fighting for this, first grade teacher Kathryn Heineman said as she addressed the LSC and called for unity among parents, teachers, community residents and LSC members. You guys dont want to get rid of the librarian, right? Nobody wants that.

Martin Ritter, a CTU political organizer, noted Wiltses accomplishments. The American Library Association honored her with an award two years ago for her work raising awareness of CPS cuts to library positions. Wiltse, who was on CTUs bargaining team during the 2019 contract negotiations, is also nationally board certified.

There are very few of (these librarians) in the system. You are very lucky to have one, Ritter told the LSC. Every school deserves a librarian. Every school deserves a fully staffed library with beautiful books and opportunities for kids to learn.

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CPS says on its public budget website that Coonleys proposed budget is $8.76 million. Coonley ended up with a budget for $8.99 million this school year, according to figures the district posted online.

The LSC said it recently wrote a letter about the budget to elected officials, CPS CEO Pedro Martinez and the board of education. LSC chairperson Brooke Roark also decried the districts budget formula at last months board meeting.

The funding that we are supposed to enrich our childrens lives with is not enough, Roark said at Tuesdays LSC meeting, later adding: We took a huge hit, and its upsetting when we have children that are in special ed who dont have a case manager and a counselor to do what is required by law.

Like many other CPS schools, Coonley relies on fundraising to help fill the gaps. The Friends of Coonley announced Thursday it had surpassed its goal of raising $200,000 the group says will help provide support for students through smaller class sizes, social-emotional resources and technology learning.

Wiltse, meanwhile, will continue to receive her $97,780-a-year salary and benefits, according to the districts letter. After 10 school months, tenured teachers not appointed to a new position are honorably terminated.

Wiltse said she appreciates all the support she has received over the last several weeks. An online petition to save her job garnered more than 600 signatures. She said she was moved by those who spoke in her favor Tuesday at the LSC meeting  and compared it to a eulogy.

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I dont think every teacher gets an opportunity to hear from students and parents that they have impacted. I felt really grateful for that opportunity, Wiltse said. And I feel like thats something that Ill always have.

tswartz@tribpub.com
Miss Universe 2021 to arrive for Vietnam beauty contest

Harnaaz Kaur Sandhu, Miss Universe 2021 will be the guest of honour at the grand final of the Miss Universe Vietnam 2022 pageant, which is scheduled to take place on June 25 in Ho Chi Minh City.













Harnaaz Kaur Sandhu, Miss Universe 2021 will attend Miss Universe Vietnam 2022 pageant's grand finale as honorary guest.



This will mark the first time that the Indian beauty has visited Vietnam for a local beauty contest.



The contest is also expected to welcome Paula Shugart, president of the Miss Universe Organization, and Amy Emmerich, CEO of the Miss Universe Organization who will both participate in the final night as special guests and witness the coronation of Miss Universe Vietnam 2022.



They are set to arrive in Ho Chi Minh City on June 23 to prepare for the event.



Sandhu, 22, was crowned Miss Universe 2021 in Israel last year after beating approximately 70 contestants from other countries. She is the third Indian representative to have won top prize at the global pageant.



Meanwhile, Shugart participated in the grand finale of Miss Universe Vietnam 2017, which took place in January 2018. She witnessed HHen Nie grab the crown and the Ede ethnic girl later made history when she finished in the top 5 of Miss Universe 2018.
Cook County Board of Review Commissioner Tammy Wendts cousin is no longer employed as her chief of staff, he told the Tribune Friday, following a monthslong feud between Wendt and the county ethics board that recently spilled into the courts.

Todd Thielmann confirmed in a text Friday evening he was: Terminated by Commissioner Wendt. No reason given. He did not answer follow-up questions, and Wendt did not respond to calls and messages seeking comment.

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She had previously said the outcry over her cousins hiring is an attempt to silence me because she did not hire who was sent to me. Meanwhile, Thielmann has told the Tribune he will continue to manage Commissioner Wendts staff and do my job until she fires me.

Firing Thielmann was one of the demands the Cook County Board of Ethics laid on Wendt when it sued her May 31. The board also seeks payment of the $2,000 fine it imposed when it originally found she flagrantly violated the nepotism ban.

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Tammy Wendt has fired her cousin after she was fined and sued for nepotism. She's shown here in 2018 during the murder trial for former Chicago police Officer Jason Van Dyke, whom she represented as a defense attorney. (Nancy Stone / Chicago Tribune)

The lawsuit also calls for Thielmann to reimburse the county for all the compensation he earned working under Wendt, who most recently gave him a $150,000 salary, according to the public records. He did not respond to whether he would repay the wages he received over 1  years on the job.

Wendt, a Democrat from Palos Heights who ousted a Republican incumbent in 2020, is running for reelection to the property tax appeals board and faces Chicago 12th Ward Ald. George Cardenas in the June 28 Democratic primary. She was also one of the defense attorneys for Jason Van Dyke, the former Chicago police officer convicted of murder in the shooting of Laquan McDonald.

Thielmann was hired in December 2020, immediately after his cousin took office, public records show. His employment sparked outcry last year from the other two commissioners on the tax appeal body as well as a probe from the Cook County Office of the Independent Inspector General, which found that Wendt violated the ethics ordinance and should remove her cousin from his post.

Then in March, the countys ethics board ruled Wendt both violated a county ban on hiring relatives and failed to uphold her fiduciary duty to the county because she was still employing her cousin despite being given several notices about the nepotism ban.

In her April appeal of the ethics boards findings, Wendt attempted to make the case that the countywide ethics ordinance does not apply to her because the Board of Review has a separate policy. The ethics board said Wendts argument was meritless because the countys ethics ordinance applies to all its government employees and supersedes any rules by individual agencies such as the Board of Review.

At the time of Thielmanns hiring, the countywide code banned the hiring of first cousins among other relatives, while the Board of Reviews rules did not include first cousins. The other two Board of Review commissioners have since amended their policy following the public flap over Thielmanns employment.

After Wendt continued to defy the ethics board, it filed suit in Cook County Circuit Court, naming Wendt and Thielmann as defendants.

Commissioner Wendt has flagrantly violated the Cook County ethics ordinance by hiring her first cousin into a senior position in her office, and she has steadfastly refused to comply with the order requiring her to correct that violation, Thomas Szromba, chair of the Board of Ethics, wrote in a statement then. Orders from the Board of Ethics cannot simply be ignored.

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ayin@chicagotribune.com
A 35-year-old Saux Village man was denied bail Saturday after being charged with first degree murder in a 2020 fatal shooting that happened outside a party in the West Pullman neighborhood on the South Side.

Jonathan Harris was arrested Friday in the 1800 block of East Saux Trail Road after he was identified by witnesses and relatives as the person who fatally shot a 30-year-old man June 7, in the 12300 block of South Wallace Street.

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Harris of the 21700 block of East Peterson in Saux Village appeared Saturday at a bail hearing broadcast on YouTube.

Prosecutors said Harris and his brother attended a party in the early morning hours of June 7. At some point a disagreement broke out accusing Harris of touching someone inside of a bedroom. The incident escalated and moved to a front yard, where Harris was asked to leave.

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When Harris left in a van belonging to his brother, he opened fire, striking a victim who was standing in the street. The victim was struck to the mid-back and thigh. The victims girlfriend transported him to Roseland Community Hospital where he was later pronounced dead, prosecutors said.

Harris was charged with first-degree murder after several witnesses, and two relatives, identified him as the shooter, prosecutors said.

A doorbell video captured Harris and his brother entering the party on the day of the slaying.

Harris, who has a warrant for his arrest pending in Will County, was denied bail during a hearing Saturday. He was ordered not to contact any of the witnesses in the case.

After bail was denied, Harris asked the judge if he could have a private conversation with his mother and was told he would have to wait until she could visit him at Cook County Jail.

His next court date is scheduled June 14.
A 37-year-old woman was among three people fatally wounded in overnight shootings on the West and South sides, Chicago police said.

Shortly after 12:15 a.m. Saturday, the woman was a passenger in a vehicle in the first block of South Albany Avenue in the East Garfield Park neighborhood when she was fatally shot. According to police someone fired shots into the vehicle and ran in an unknown direction.

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The victim., who has not been identified as of Saturday morning, suffered multiple gunshot wounds to the head and body and was taken to Stroger Hospital where she was pronounced dead a short time later, police said.

Shortly after 11 p.m. Friday, a 26-year-old man who was a passenger of a vehicle traveling in the East Pilsen neighborhood in the 400 block of West 18th Street, was also fatally wounded by gunmen in a black sedan, police said.

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The sedan approached the vehicle the victim was riding in and opened fire, striking the victim to the chest. He was taken in critical condition to Stroger Hospital where he was pronounced dead.

The latest fatal shooting happened shortly before 2:30 am. Saturday in the South Commons neighborhood in the 2800 block of South Indiana Avenue, police said.

Officers responded to a call of shots fired and discovered a 34-year-old man on the drivers side in a vehicle unresponsive. The man has suffered multiple gunshot wounds to the torso, and was taken in critical condition to the University of Chicago Medical Center where he later was pronounced dead.

No one was in custody for any of the fatal attacks, and detectives were investigating.
Facility upgrades at Council Bluffs two hospitals are closer to reality, thanks to American Rescue Plan Act funds from Pottawattamie County.

The teams at Methodist Jennie Edmundson Hospital and CHI Health Mercy Council Bluffs have worked tirelessly and courageously to care for and protect patients since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, together caring for thousands of people battling the virus.

The Pottawattamie County Board of Supervisors recently granted Jennie and Mercy $500,000 each for major facility upgrades, according to a joint press release from the hospitals.

At Jennie Edmundson, the grant will go toward a comprehensive technology upgrade and expansion of telemetry monitoring throughout the hospital. Telemetry is the specialized monitoring of patient vital signs, such as heart rate and rhythm, blood pressure, blood oxygenation and temperature.

The pandemic brought us together like never before, and I have been continually inspired and humbled by the support of our partners throughout southwest Iowa, said David Burd, president and CEO of Jennie Edmundson. This is just another example of that support. These improvements will help us continue to offer our friends and neighbors the highest quality care  right here in Council Bluffs.

CHI Health Mercys project will involve a relocation and expansion of its Cardiac and Pulmonary Rehabilitation Center to care for patients suffering from long COVID, the press release stated. Since the start of the pandemic, the hospital has seen a 20% increase in demand for cardiopulmonary rehabilitation services. The upgrade will roughly double the programs capacity, allowing it to provide more than 6,500 patient sessions annually.

This project will be truly transformational for our communitys health by reimagining cardiovascular and pulmonary care in the light of COVID-19, said Ann Schumacher, president of CHI Health Mercy. It also will address many of the most prevalent and persistent health issues facing Pottawattamie County, including heart disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and obesity.

This $1 million total allocation was unanimously approved by the Board of Supervisors.

John Bracker, CHI Health Mercys hospital community board chair, said the grants positive effects will be felt well beyond hospital walls.

This generous disbursement will do more than just support our two institutions and the combined 110,000 patients they serve annually, he said in the press release. Regionally, CHI Health Mercy and Jennie Edmundson are major economic presences and two of our largest employers. So, the countys commitment really represents a major investment in our communitys future well-being and quality of life.

The renovations are expected to have lifespans of at least 10 to 15 years, so they will result in significant long-term improvements in both hospitals patient-care quality and capacity.

The ARPA funds effectively represent major lead gifts for both planned hospital projects, as each upgrade is estimated to cost more than $2 million, said Tara Slevin, Jennie Edmundsons chief philanthropy officer. Jennie Edmundson and CHI Health Mercy continue to collaborate to raise the remaining financial support necessary for the projects. Were in continuing conversations with the City of Council Bluffs about potential funding opportunities, and weve submitted a grant proposal to Rep. Cindy Axnes office for Iowas 3rd Congressional District. Were also exploring opportunities for potential support from various local funders.

Approving this ARPA proposal was the right thing for us to do, and it was the right time for us to do it, said Board member Brian Shea, who introduced the funding proposal. Since early 2020, Jennie Edmundson and CHI Health Mercy have been fighting this pandemic relentlessly  doing their absolute best to care for and protect everyone in the community  so they really deserve this support. I sincerely appreciate that everyone on the County Board approved this request, since this makes it very clear that as local officials, we recognize the exceptional work thats constantly being done by our two local hospitals.

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The 2022 Governors Volunteer Awards will be announced during special recognition ceremonies across the state.

The ceremonies will feature remarks from Gov. Kim Reynolds and Lt. Gov. Adam Gregg.

Iowans take great pride in their deep and rich commitment for serving others  its in our DNA, Reynolds said in a press release from Volunteer Iowa. Iowa nice is the foundation of our state  you see it everywhere you turn  Iowans volunteering their time to help others and improve their communities and our state. It truly is an honor to be able to recognize these individuals for their meaningful acts of generosity through the Governors Volunteer Awards and inspire others to do the same.

More than 500 awards are being presented this year during five ceremonies across Iowa. It is estimated that more than 150 communities in Iowa were served by this years honorees.

Coordinated by Volunteer Iowa, the Governors Volunteer Award program  now in its 38th year  provides an easy way for Iowa nonprofits, charitable organizations, and government entities to honor their volunteers with a prestigious, state-level award.

This year, the ceremony for southwest Iowa will be held from 1 to 2:30 p.m. on June 21 at the Southeast Polk High School Auditorium at 7945 N.E. University Ave. in Pleasant Hill.

Groups chosen to be honored include the Womens Fund of Southwest Iowa Steering Committee of Council Bluffs.

Individual honorees will include the following:

Diane Franks, Council Bluffs

Patricia LaBounty, Council Bluffs

Joanne Mendoza, Council Bluffs

Bonnie Millsap, Glenwood

Beth Roberts, Silver City

Jack Swanger, Council Bluffs

Bill Vanderpool, Council Bluffs

Emily Warren, Council Bluffs

Bonnie Williams, Council Bluffs

Council Bluffs volunteers slated to be recognized for five years of service include:

Bob Allen

Jim Barker

Rita Nichols

Patricia Oehler

Sandra Story

Christine Williams

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A delegation from the Royal Military Academy of Meknes visited the military academy of Atar, Mauritania, on June 7 and 8, according to the Mauritanian National Army.

The Mauritanian army wrote on its official website that Brigadier General Dah Ould Mohamed El-Agheb, commander of the Atar Inter-Arms Military Academy, received a Moroccan military delegation led by the director of the Royal Military Academy of Meknes, Major General Hassan Taik.

This visit is part of the consolidation of partnership relations and cooperation between the two academies in many areas, including education, training, supervision and modern equipment handling, according to the post on the website.

It also aims to contribute to the development of the academy of Atar by allowing it to benefit from the experience and expertise of the executives of the Royal Military Academy.
Liberias Foreign Minister, Dee-Maxwell Saah Kemayah, has reaffirmed his countrys strong support to the autonomy plan offered by Morocco for a lasting resolution of the Sahara issue, saying that the Moroccan proposition, which is backed by the UN, is the only feasible and realistic solution.

Speaking to journalists following a meeting in Rabat with Moroccan peer Nasser Bourita on the sidelines of 1st ministerial meeting of African Atlantic States, Mr. Kemayah said Liberia continues to support the realistic and credible autonomy plan presented by Morocco and will continue to defend it and promote it.

The Liberian minister also said his country backs the exclusive UN-led efforts seeking to achieve a realistic, practical and lasting political solution to this regional dispute.

For her part, Guinea-Bissau FM Suzi Carla Barbosa, who also met with her Moroccan peer on the sidelines of the ministerial meeting of African Atlantic States convened in Rabat, said the Moroccan autonomy plan is the only solution to the Sahara conflict, insisting on the exclusive role of the UN is handling the Sahara issue.

She also described Morocco as a partner country, with which Guinea-Bissau looks forward to building a strong win-win cooperation in all sectors.
Morocco argues that religion should serve as a bulwark against extremism, as evidenced by the Kingdoms religious diplomacy in Africa, and stressed the need to reset relations between the West and Muslim countries.

For Morocco, the country of the Commandery of the Faithful, religion should serve as a bulwark against extremism rather than its pretext. This is what King Mohammed VI calls for, through the religious diplomacy of the Kingdom in Africa, Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita pointed out at the opening of the Tangier Dialogue International Conference.

The conference, organized in partnership with UNESCOs Project Aladdin and the UN Alliance of Civilizations under the theme Towards a New, Shared Enlightenment, aims to discuss and promote intercultural and interreligious coexistence.

In his address, Bourita outlined Moroccos leading role in embracing diversity, cross-cultural exchange, and inter-religious dialogue, and emphasized the North African countrys commitment to Project Aladdin since its launch, in 2009. The project aims to counter holocaust denial and raise awareness of extremism by imparting universal lessons from the holocaust and bridging knowledge gaps across all religions.

The Minister recalled the institutions set up by Morocco, such as the Mohammed VI Foundation of African Ulemas and the Mohammed VI Institute for the Training of Imams, Mourchidines and Mourchidates, to counter the radicalism that rages at the gates of Africa and to promote a moderate Islam.

He also recalled the Al-Quds Call launched from Rabat, in which King Mohammed VI and Pope Francis called for preserving the Holy City of Jerusalem / Al-Quds Acharif as common heritage of humanity and, above all for the followers of the three monotheistic religions, as a meeting place and a symbol of peaceful coexistence, where mutual respect and dialogue are cultivated.

Stressing the need to reset relations between the West and Muslim countries, Bourita underlined, in this regard, that Morocco demonstrates that the Muslim world is not a burden for the West; on the contrary, it is country that provides national responses to pressing global issues, and that actively contributes to debates and actions on these issues.

It is moreover a central ally in the fight against terrorism, a credible partner against climate change, and a responsible actor in the management of migration, he pointed out.

Bourita who surveying the goals of the Aladdin Project, highlighted Moroccos long-standing commitment to the protection of Moroccan jews and Jewish heritage as a fundamental part of the countrys diverse identity. He recalled in this connection the protection of Jewish citizens by the late king Mohammed V, in the face of xenophobia and Nazism. The same commitment was expressed through the spirit of brotherhood and openness cultivated by the late King Hassan II between Jews and Muslims all over the world, and the same commitment is expressed today, and for more than 2 decades, by King Mohammed VI, who was keen to integrate the Hebrew tributary into the Moroccan Constitution and to enhance and safeguard the national Jewish heritage, he pointed out.

Mr. Bourita also hailed the committed and tireless leadership of Miguel Angel Moratinos, High Representative for the Alliance of Civilizations, a UN organization that works for international action against fundamentalism through cooperation and intercultural and interreligious dialogue.

The Alliance is necessary, today more than ever, at such a special moment in history, when certainties are shifting, when geopolitics is being rewritten, and when the causes at the very origin of the creation of the Alliance are experiencing an unprecedented resurgence, he noted, announcing that Morocco intends to host the 9th Alliance Forum this year, which will be held for the first time in Africa.

The Moroccan official also expressed hope that the Tangier Dialogue would go beyond brainstorming, and that the event could become a tradition and a regular meeting where intellectuals, journalists, politicians, and thinkers get together to make a difference.
EU Foreign policy Chief Josep Borrell and Executive Vice-Pdt of European Commission, Valdis Dombrovskis, have voiced concern over Algerias unilateral decision to suspend the Friendship Treaty with Spain, saying the Algerian move of halting transactions with Madrid is a violation of the EU-Algeria Association Agreement, in particular in the area of trade and investment.

Algeria suspended the Treaty in retaliation against Madrids support of Moroccos autonomy plan offered for the Sahara under the sovereignty of the North African Kingdom.

The EU has warned that the Algerian vindictive measures would lead to a discriminatory treatment of an EU Member State and adversely affect the exercise of the Unions rights under the Agreement.

In their joint statement, the EU foreign policy Chief and the EC Executive Vice President said the EU is assessing the fallout of the Algerian decision, noting that the unity and solidarity within the EU remain key to uphold our interests.

The EU is ready to stand up against any type of coercive measures applied against an EU Member State, warned the European bloc, saying that the Union continues to favor dialogue first to solve controversies.

Due to our strong and long-term partnership, a swift solution will be found to fully re-establish commercial and investment relations, added the European Union.

On Wednesday, the Spanish government deplored Algiers decision to suspend the cooperation treaty & trade ties over the Sahara issue row, rejecting any interference in the countrys foreign policy, including its sovereign positions.

The response of Madrid will be adequate, serene, constructive, but also firm in defending the interests of Spain, said Thursday, the head of Spanish diplomacy Jose Manuel Albares in a statement to the press.

This new act of Algerian blackmail has also been vigorously denounced at the European Parliament.

Members belonging to different political groups in the European Parliament have condemned this unilateral measure, which, according to them, comes in response to Madrids new sovereign position on Moroccan Sahara.

For MEP Andrey Kovatchev, spokesman for enlargement and the southern neighborhood of the European Peoples Party, Algeria questions its reliability, noting that any attitude of blackmail should not be accepted.

French MEP Dominique Bilde stressed, for her part, that Algeria puts pressure on Spain after having used the migration weapon. There is so much to say about Algerian support for the polisario front and the management of EU aid to refugees under its control, she said.

Czech MEP Tomas Zdechovsky tweeted that Algerias current steps towards Spain and the European Union are totally useless. Lets try to fill the trenches, not to deepen them.

The Algerian military junta is also using gas supplies as a weapon in a bid to get geostrategic gains.

This new move by the Algerian rulers confirms, if need be, that Algeria is a party to the Sahara conflict and the main stakeholder in the UN-led process aiming to find a realistic, practical and lasting peaceful solution to the conflict.
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken praised, Friday in Tangier, the efforts of Morocco and Project Aladdin in building bridges between cultures and fighting racism and fanaticism.

In a video message broadcast during the inaugural session of the Tangier Dialogue, organized by the Aladdin project in partnership with the Moroccan Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations, Blinken praised the Moroccan government and Project Aladdin for their role in building bridges between cultures and in the fight against all forms of racism and fanaticism.

The U.S. Secretary of State stressed the importance of the Tangier Dialogue in strengthening understanding between the West, including the United States, and the countries of the Muslim world.

Building strong relations between the West and the Muslim world can serve as a driving force for positive change and a solid foundation for addressing several critical issues in the region, Blinken said.

These include maintaining peace in conflict zones and enhancing economic opportunities to consolidate freedoms for people of different faiths and address the consequences of climate change, including water and food insecurity, he added.

The U.S. Secretary of State also called for programs and policies to ensure development and contribute to a safer, more peaceful and more prosperous world for new generations.

Earlier this month, on the occasion of the release by the US Department of State of the report on religious freedom Antony Blinken commended Moroccos efforts to boost religious freedoms, describing the countrys actions as significant progress.

Among the efforts outlined by the report, was Moroccos initiative to renovate Jewish heritage sites and include Jewish history in Moroccos public schools syllabi.

Morocco is one of the founding countries of the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations in 2005 and Project Aladdin project which was launched in 2009.
Andre Azoulay, Advisor to King Mohammed VI, received, on Friday in Tangier, the prestigious Award for lifetime service to Dialogue of cultures, in recognition of his commitment and efforts in favor of intercultural and inter-civilizational dialogue.

This prize, awarded by the Aladdin project during the opening ceremony of the international conference Dialogue of Tangier, is a mark of recognition of Azoulays valuable contribution to bringing cultures together and promoting the values of coexistence, tolerance and living together.

Taking the floor, Azoulay said he was happy to receive this prestigious award in this city, a crossroads of cultures and civilizations.

My country is recognized today through this distinction handed to me. This award is given to my country and my King, he pointed out.

The Royal Advisor also stressed the importance of the Dialogue of Tangier meeting, which is intended to be an opportunity to discuss several current issues related to interreligious coexistence and intercultural dialogue, and to examine the means to build peace through culture.

You are meeting today in Tangier since Morocco has been able to find the way and reach this consensus, which is that of a nation and a society, in the land of Islam in the Arab world, which promotes the modernity, he explained, stressing that the Kingdom constitutes a crossroads of civilizations and a model of coexistence and convergence of cultures and religions.

Every year, tens of thousands of Muslims from Morocco and elsewhere and tens of thousands of Jews from Morocco and elsewhere gather in Essaouira for the happiness of being together, he said.

The Tangier Dialogue, organized by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in partnership with the Aladdin Project and the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations (UNAOC), was held under the theme Towards a New, Shared Enlightenment. The meeting discussed several topical, urgent and major issues related to interreligious coexistence and intercultural dialogue.
Alexandra Thompson brought her talent and confidence to the stage Friday, winning the Miss Nebraskas Outstanding Teen 2022 title.

Thompson is a 14-year-old who will be going to North Platte High School next year as a freshman. She is now on her way in eight weeks to the Miss Americas Outstanding Teen competition in Dallas, Texas.

She sang I Will Always Love You for her talent and answered a tough on-stage question about teens in politics to capture the judges approval and win the crown.

I am just ecstatic, I am so, so, so excited and so blessed, Thompson said. Ive done so much preparation up to this point. Even when I was a Little Sister in 2017, Ive just been loving this organization and this chance to be Miss Nebraskas Outstanding Teen and its, well, really outstanding.

Thompson felt like she had done everything possible to get ready for tonights competition.

Honestly, I did as much preparation as I could up to that point, Thompson said, and it was really in Gods hands and the judges hands at that point. I just really had that faith and when I had my name called, I really felt my dream coming true.

Several awards were given out to the eight candidates. Clara Johnson won the Peoples Choice and the Miss Congeniality awards, Ally Pierce won the non-finalist interview and talent awards, and Thompson won the evening gown award.

The third runner-up was Brooke Margheim, second runner-up was Olivia Terwey, and first runner-up was Clara Johnson. Each of the award winners won scholarship money, with Thompson receiving a $2,000 scholarship along with numerous gifts.

Thompson will also receive $2,000 for wardrobe and prep for the Miss America OT competition, traveling expenses of $2,000 and other financial awards.

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The Miss Nebraska Scholarship Competition judges selected Fridays preliminary winners in talent and red carpet and the names are familiar.

Steffany Lien, Miss Lincoln, and Alayna Wilson, Miss Omaha, won the preliminary night awards after winning the previous night as well. This time, however, they changed places as Lien won the talent portion, while Wilson won the red carpet preliminary No. 2.

I feel absolutely incredible I got to share my talent of baton twirling this evening, Lien said. Im currently the University of Nebraska-Lincoln featured twirler, which is incredible, but I love performing out there on the Miss Nebraska stage.

The audience here in North Platte is unmatched, she said.

Wilson said after the two nights of awards shared with Lien, tomorrow is going to be a good show.

Winning red carpet really resembled all the elegance and poise of all the Miss Nebraskas Ive looked up to my entire life, Wilson said. The fact that Ive been able to replicate that and the audience felt that and the judges felt that, it means a lot to me, especially with this one award.

Alayna Wilson received the Miss Nebraska Community Service Award and Addilyn Wilson received the teen Community Service Award.

The final night is set for tonight, beginning at 6:30 p.m., and by the end of the night, Miss Nebraska 2022 will be crowned.

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Did it hurt someone? No? Then just let it be.

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No, I want to pet it.

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Thats just me after not having shaved for a week.

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It looks like someone dressed as Sonic the hedgehog

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Thats exactly what I came to say lmao

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Ugly Sonic, to be precise!!

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100% what I see!

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Lmao

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I was going to say it looked like that moron that thought he was a shaman (im not doubting shamans, im doubting this tit in particular) on Jan 6th Capitol attack.

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Time to rewatch The Howling 

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Is this some fucking PR stunt for the next Sonic movie or something?

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it's clearly a person in a fursuit. (yes, i am fun at parties)





but no joke, when chupa cabra was a thing in the past, i was terrified of it, especially because things weren't as easy to debunk and i was just a kid, most of people believe in it back then and was scared if it. i remember all the sightings.

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lol, we can be boring at parties together because i commented the same thing

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lmao, meet me by the corner to side eyeing everyone who is easily mingling.

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As a kid I was terrified of the chupacabra. There was this tv show every Sunday afternoon in Brazil that had a segment on chupacabra sightings and all, maaaaan that freaked me tf out

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Looks like the guy from the capitol riot

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during the peak chupacabra years, my friend and i found a dead baby goat by a river. needless to say, i did not sleep well for several days.

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Deadass what I said on seeing the picture. "That's just someone in a fursuit, damn."

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 Release the tape 

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I was going to say we need to see the thing walking to make a determination.

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lmaooo

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that's just ted cruz after he sheds his skin.



also, the chupacabra design from jackie chan adventures is still cool af.

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Growing up in the 90s, I had a healthy fear of the chupacabra thanks to Unsolved Mysteries.

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Same but with that X-Files episode

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ugh, I don't remember hearing about the chupacabra but I watched Unsolved Mysteries regularly as a kid and thinking of the opening theme music still gives me creepy chills.

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lol, it's probably just someone in a fursuit

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Furry

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Whats that character in The Suicide Squad that looked like the crash bandicoot. Its that!

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Furries should totally use their powers for wacky and be this summers version of all those random clowns that happened a few years ago.

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the random clowns era was so funny to me. i truly hope your manifestation works and we end up spotting furries all over the world.

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Hi there! My name is Apollo, and I am the same Apollo thay appears in this article! I've been doing some thinking, and I might do a Q&A on Twitch to answer questions anyone might have! It's been really crazy to see the support from everyone! https://t.co/JFATZwGEyo  Apollo Ilios (@Apollo_Ilios) May 11, 2022 they're out there organizing strikes and starting unions!

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You love to see it.

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@OP beat me to it!



JOANNE 4 EVA!

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brb embroidering her rules to live by onto a pillow

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Its mind boggling to me how people still hang out with him and even did in the first place

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A liar. A scammer.

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Where did Joanne go i miss her

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I seem to remember he got overwhelmed by the attention, especially since there was a lot of digging up of his nudes and vids, which were showing up on porn sites with his real name. It was messing with his mental health.

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What happened to him

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royalty

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isnt this kind of a bizarre move from someone who literally gained his following in Twitter because he tweeted gossip about people?

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The Depp verdict is making all the clowns feel bold, huh

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I didn't know which icon tk react because it's fire it is true, write more because true and also thumbs down because fuck people and angry and sad because fuck people

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I imagine there are recordings of every interview and I look forward to this photo charlatan being stopped

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Im dying @ charlatan !!

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Way to fucking go Johnny. Nobody can do profiles on shitty people without getting sued now.

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And Johnny Depp didn't even sue Rolling Stone or GQ for the profiles they did on him, even though they were much worse.

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Yet

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sure sure



the way he slithered back to twitter like nothing ever happened. shameless

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Did he? I have him blocked.

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lol same him and chrissy

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 whos next, jeremy strong?

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Can you imagine? It would lead to Anne and Jessica guest starring

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Also, OP, so rude not to use this picture.

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The Daily Beast is going to be sued for defamation for not using this photo next.

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Using a hoodie to give your face some kinda contour/angles is hilarious to me lol

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I was shook when I saw his real everyday face lol. He really knows the only way for him to look good is for him to hide 60% of his face with a turtleneck or hoodie

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It's so flat and unlifelike.

It's basically a medieval painting.

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I cant hate on him for that

Once I get a moderately ok photo of me I keep reusing it everywhere

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you gotta hand it to him, he found his one good angle lol

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Okay good luck sis lol



Also enjoy that anti slap and attorneys fees!

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Also  blue checks who *still* follow him Also  blue checks who *still* follow him

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it's truly fascinating the level to which johnny depp has inspired the worst people

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Anthropology and psychology research material for years to come.

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in their minds they have been the ~victims all along so it is not at all surprising that this has emboldened them

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Im not surprised Parker Molloy is friends with him and feels the need to defend him.

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She's so obnoxious

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Christ I hope people, especially publications, are happy with their silence during Amber's trial, or even taking part in the ridicule, because now all these idiots are gonna be pulling this crap. Nicely done I guess.

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Exactly what I was coming to say. They fucked around and now they're finding out. Congratulations, assholes!

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For some reason the interview between Tom Hiddleston and Lily James, from Lily Goes West fame, wasnt uploaded to YouTube. Maybe because its boring as hell, maybe because someone at Variety forgot to upload it. If you want to watch it for some reason, the video is on Varietys website.

: I thought your work was extraordinary. Taking on a real person feels like an enormous responsibility.: Its terrifying, isnt it?: You want to honor and respect and : I felt like if I came at it with heart, and a total desire to be honest, that was all I could do. I dont know if Id do it again anytime soon. I felt that desire to do her justice.(): Lokis changed so much over the years for me. I was cast when I was 29, and Im 41.: Credit to you for having let him emerge and grow and shift.: Initially, with the wigs and the costume, I was always trying to break out of the mask. Let something honest come through. By the time we got to the series, Lokis stripped of all the things that are familiar. Immediately, hes literally stripped and put in a jumpsuit, and his status is gone. Everyone knows who the character is now. Lets open him up and find new aspects of him and challenge the character to change and grow.: I was reading, which is so exciting, that Loki is the first queer Marvel character.: In the MCU. Back from my early days of researching the character in myths, the identity of Loki was fluid in every aspect. In gender, in sexuality. Its an ancient part of the character, and it hadnt emerged in the stories weve told. Its a small step. Theres so much more to do. But the Marvel Cinematic Universe has to reflect the world we live in. Extraordinary character, in a way, to contain so much.: I got to watch The Essex Serpent. I want to know about that first meeting with Claire Danes.: There is a meeting between my character and Claire Danes character, and its kind of unusual. Its 1893 and shes out on the Essex coast digging around for fossils. She runs into this very faithful and God-fearing community, and I play the pastor.: The landscape, its so beautiful and atmospheric. Why did you want to do that job?: It seemed very romantic in an old-fashioned way, and yet really earthbound. I just wanted to jump in.: Obviously, its very different from Loki. Is that a purposeful choice you make?: It couldnt be more different. I read it towards the end of making Loki. These characters are all struggling because its a time of enormous change. The age of reason is coming, and religion is going to diminish. Its a psychological, poetic piece, and I loved making it, out on the marshes in Essex.: When you are somewhere real and you are out there in the landscape, even if you are freezing cold : You put up with it. With Claire, I would be a weatherman. I kept pitching that spring was coming, and that U.K. weather wasnt always this bad.: Its going to be nice!: So every day, were like, I know its cold and its quite wet today, but next week, just you wait.: But you wouldnt really have wanted the sun. Something feels so brooding and troubling. And if the sun had shone through the clouds, it might have slightly ruined the temperature.: There was one amazing day where the sky and the beach were the same color gray. Claire and I were walking towards the tide, and I said to her, This is like walking into a Rothko painting. It was like being on the moon. I couldnt believe it was England. Source: 1
I legit ordered half a dozen bottles yesterday. I put that shit in/on nearly everything I cook.

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Do you have taste buds left?

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Yes. And my sinuses have been clear for years.

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tapatio or cholula. whichever's on sale, lol.

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Here to say that cholula, tapatio and Valentina are watery and nasty.

My favorite hot sauces are Louisiana Gem(especially the jalapeno one), La Anitas habanero sauce, Crystal hot sauce, tobasco og and green, and el yucatero green.

My king of sauces is huy fongs sambal so Im scared that will be affected too but they say only sriracha in the article.



Edited at 2022-06-11 07:05 pm (UTC)

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Yeah Id be so upset over my fave chili-garlic sauce if that happens too 

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Have you had it with Turkish eggs? SOOOOOO Good, I use that instead of outright chili oil for a deeper flavor and a little lemon juice.

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Mainly cholula and sriracha I guess, and of course my bottle of sriracha is almost empty.

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Melindas habanero and cholula original

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Crystal hot sauce 

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so much for hot girl summer

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Mayonnaise girl summer.

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Yesterday I realized I had two types of mayo in my fridge and now I see this comment. Never in my life have I felt so targeted.

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Hope this doesn't affect their sambal oelek.



Edited at 2022-06-11 07:17 pm (UTC)

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Jesus Christ.

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noooooooooooooooo

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i have like a dozen different hot sauces that i alternate depending on what i want to put it on lol. i am a Kondiment Kween. every time i go into a grocery store i end up buying some new chili sauce or soy sauce or oil bc "oooh this looks cool"

huy fong is ok, I'll use it in sauces where the flavor isn't too prominent. shark brand sriracha is better.

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Same, I really wish things came in smaller containers, I can rarely finish a whole thing since Im always rotating and trying new sauces and condiments!

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ive had a the same bottle of sriracha in my fridge for 6 months and its still good so to be fair they can stay giant lol that shits eternal

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Valentina is my top choice! Texas Pete is also easy to get where I live so that too.

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Adjica, Worcestershire sauce, but mostly I just make things from scratch to avoid sugar.



Edited at 2022-06-11 07:19 pm (UTC)

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El yucateco hot sauce 

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Never even heard of it lmao we only use Valentina

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Lotta shortages 

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Scary asf

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Bad weather shortages. Prob something to get used to in the future

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It is.

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It is. Right now my city is in total drought and haven't taken a full pressure hot shower in a while. I just bought a water tank (pretty overpriced btw) to collect water and make things work

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Luv ur icon

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Yeah! I was about to mention that in the roundup. Its so crazy first KBBQ and other Asian restaurants in shambles due to LAs new ban on their gas appliances and now this such crisis. I have mine half full and found out earlier today that its expired in October this year. Mindblown. Im clutching to it *stifled sob*.



On the dry note: what is happening?!?!



Edited at 2022-06-11 07:34 pm (UTC)

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The Russia-Ukraine war disrupted global supply chains and weakened economies worldwide, but it spells opportunity for Azerbaijan, the hinge of Europe and Asia. The U.S. and Europe sanctioned Russian oil and natural gas, but Azerbaijan is on track to increase gas exports in 2022 and the following years, via the 3,500-kilometer Southern Gas Corridor (SBC) which traverses seven countries and supplies Turkey and Europe. Currently, Azerbaijan supplies 10 billion cubic meters (bcm) of natural gas to Europe and 6bcm to Turkey through the SGC.

To meet demand, Azerbaijan will also put two new gas fields in operation, and is open to investment to expand the capacity of the SGC, for example by installing additional compressor stations that can double the flow of gas. But Azerbaijan's economy minister says European underinvestment may slow the countrys ability to supply more gas.

This week, Azerbaijans energy minister told the World Utilities Congress in Abu Dhabi, We are now working very intensively with the European Commission...we are working on the ways, in a relatively short period of time, to upgrade this infrastructure and subsequently increase our energy supply to Europe in terms of natural gas.

Azerbaijans Baku-Tbilisi-Supsa oil pipeline on the Black Sea has been temporarily shut down (until the end of June) and product rerouted to the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan pipeline on Turkeys Mediterranean coast. The redirection of the oil to Ceyhan will also bolster the position of Turkey as it also hosts the middle leg of the SGC, the Trans-Anatolian Natural Gas Pipeline.

Ground transport is being reorganized to avoid Russia and Western sanctions.

Related: Putin: Russia Won't Shut Down Oil Wells



The East-West rail line from China to Turkey, the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route, also known as the Middle Corridor, circumvents Russia, and connects Xian, China with Istanbul via a rail link through Kazakhstan, a hop to Azerbaijan across the Caspian Sea, and an onward rail link through Georgia to Turkey.

The route, which hasnt yet lived up to its potential, may finally get a chance to flex as shipping through Central Asia and the Caucasus will grow six times in 2022 compared to 2021. In April, shipping company Maersk announced revamped rail service in response to customers ever-changing supply chain needs in the current extraordinary times, and commissioned the new service with a 13 April train from Xian to Germany.

Other regional shipping options are West from Afghanistan to Turkey via Turkmenistan, Azerbaijan, and Georgia via the Lapis Lazuli Corridor, and from Azerbaijan West to Turkey via the Zangezur corridor through Armenia, though the ongoing dispute between Azerbaijan and Armenia may cause a lengthy delay in realizing that route.

Estate agents say, it's always location, location, and location. Will Baku be able to capitalize on its utility for sending cargo and energy West to secure a final settlement of the conflict in Nagorno-Karabakh?

After the end of the 2020 Nagorno-Karabakh war, Azeri president Ilham Aliyev met the co-chairs of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) Mink Group and told them, Azerbaijan resolved the conflict which lasted for almost thirty years and Unfortunately [the] Minsk Group didnt play any role in resolution of the conflict.

In January 2022, Aliyev said the Minsk Group should play no further role in the resolution of the Nagorno-Karabakh matter because it is resolved. Aliyev may feel that way because, as reported by Rasmus Canback, the OSCE failed to prioritize the resources necessary to produce a peace agreement between Azerbaijan and Armenia and the priority was the maintenance of a functioning armistice.

While many of the Minsk Group members - France, the Russian Federation, the United States, Belarus, Finland, Germany, Italy, Sweden, Turkey as well as Armenia and Azerbaijan  may be in no rush - its only been 29 years!  Azerbaijan may have another card to play as Kazakhstan has announced it will stop natural gas exports in 2023 due to increased domestic demand.

Baku can now step in and offer to help supply Europes energy needs and wring a multi-decade purchase agreement from the Old Country in order to secure financing to expand the SGC. Baku should press its advantage as the U.S. and Europe let the mediation process slide for almost three decades, then got distracted by the Russia-Ukraine war.

Representatives of Azerbaijan, Armenia, and Russia met in early June to discuss opening regional transportation linkages. At the same time, representatives of Azerbaijan and Armenia have been meeting in Brussels with EU and American officials who refuse to meet the Russians. This may satisfy the impulses of Brussels and Washington, but its also a signal to Baku (and Yerevan) that peace in Nagorno-Karabakh is still a lesser priority than the crisis du jour in Ukraine, and some of the Minsk parties may hijack the process to frustrate or isolate Russia, to finally secure the big victory over Moscow they think eluded them with the peaceful end of the Cold War in 1991.

The Wests priorities are in the numbers: Ukraine has received $54 billion in aid from the U.S., but all Azerbaijan and Armenia got were three decades of meetings.

Azerbaijan doesnt want antagonistic or feudatory relationships with its neighbors, Russia and Iran, and wont be a platform for NATO action against Russia, or an Israeli strike on Irans nuclear program. Baku sent humanitarian aid to Ukraine, but hasnt openly criticized Russia, no doubt to the anger of Washington and Brussels. Azerbaijan can be a reliable source of energy and transport for Europe but will have to take account of its strong neighbors, and so wont always join the amen chorus in Brussels and Washington, D.C., especially as the two capitals have never prioritized peace in the South Caucasus, and are allies of convenience, not conviction.

By James Durso for Oilprice.com

More Top Reads From Oilprice.com:
"I warn Greece to avoid dreams, acts, and statements that will result in regret. Come to your senses," Erdogan said.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Thursday accused Greece of militarizing its islands in the Aegean Sea with an eye toward threatening Turkey, in but the latest salvo in a series of tit-for-tat accusations between the two NATO members. Erdogan urged immediate demilitarization of the islands, stressing Turkey will never relinquish its "rights" in the Aegean Sea, statements which come weeks after he condemned Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis for lobbying the White House to block impending US F-16 sales to Ankara.

The fresh words also came on the final day of Turkey's multi-national "Efes-2022" military drill, centered on the coastal city of Izmir. "We invite Greece to stop arming the islands that have non-military status and to act in accordance with international agreements," Erdogan said. "Im not joking, Im speaking seriously. This nation is determined."

"I warn Greece to avoid dreams, acts, and statements that will result in regret. Come to your senses," he said in a televised speech related to the drills. "Turkey will not renounce its rights in the Aegean and will not back down from using rights that are established by international agreements when it comes to arming islands," he added.

Erdogan further vowed that Turkey would continue its controversial hydrocarbons exploration of the region, which Greece, Cyprus, and some EU countries like France have condemned as violating Greek and Cypriot territorial waters. Erdogan claimed that Greece is violating the 1923 Treaty of Lausanne and the 1947 Paris Treaty. He declared that Greece was previously given the islands on the condition that they'd remain demilitarized.

"The agreements are there but Greece is violating them. Its arming them. If Greece does not stop this violation, the sovereignty of the islands will be brought up for discussion," he said. "Its that clear. You will abide by the agreements." In questioning the "sovereignty of the islands," Erdogan appeared to suggest Turkish military intervention is on the table, also given he uttered the veiled threat on the occasion of major Turkish-led military exercises.

Related: Noway's Offshore Oil Workers Threaten To Strike

Greece responded by saying Turkey has long deliberately misinterpreted and misrepresented the content of the historic treaties, and further that Ankara's standing threat of war justifies that Greece take steps to defend itself. As The Associated Press reports:

In Athens, Greek government spokesman Giannis Oikonomou said Greece was dealing with Turkish "provocations" with "calm and determination."

"It is clear to everyone that our country has upgraded its geostrategic and geopolitical footprint as well as its deterrent capacity to be able at any time to defend its national sovereignty and sovereign rights," he said.

Erdogan also in the Thursday speech took the opportunity to address Western allies, telling them to stay out of the way of "legitimate" security operations - in reference to planned anti-Kurdish military action by Turkey in the south, on the other side of the Syrian border.

"We will never allow the establishment of terror corridors along our countrys borders, and we will definitely complete the missing parts of our security zone," the Turkish leader said in reference to the outlawed Kurdistan Workers Party, or PKK, and its Syrian extension the YPG.

Erdogan continued: "We hope that none of our real allies and friends will oppose our legitimate security concerns." However, Europe and the US have consistently stook against him on Syrian cross-border operations. Washington has repeatedly told Ankara that US forces backing Syrian Kurdish groups could come under threat in Turkish operations, warning against any new push inside Syrian territory. At the same time Turkey has held a steady line blocking Finland and Sweden's ascension into NATO.

By Zerohedge.com

More Top Reads From Oilprice.com:
Sanctions certainly have an economic effect, but they really do not lead to a serious change in foreign and domestic policy and to a change in power, he said.

Sanctions have hit Russian coffers hard, but average citizens have remained fairly sheltered from the economic impact of the Wests actions.

A prominent Russian economist says President Vladimir Putin may emerge unscathed despite Western sanctions weighing on the countrys economy.

Russia's economy will be hit hard by Western sanctions, but President Vladimir Putin faces no immediate political risk and his government will likely weather the economic fallout, a prominent Russian economist and banker said.

In an interview with RFE/RLs Russian Service, Andrei Movchan said the war in Ukraine -- now in its fourth month -- was a powerful drain on the Russian government coffers, as were the punitive sanctions imposed by the West in response.

But he said that high global oil prices would buttress the governments finances and that even though the wider Russian economy -- and average Russians, in particular -- will suffer, that was unlikely to pose a threat to Putins rule.

Predictions about the imminent death of the regime have been made largely by the same people who have been making them for the past 20 years, and these predictions have not changed in any way, Movchan said in the June 7 interview, speaking from London. Petrocratic regimes are generally stable. Sanctions pressure rarely changes regimes.

Sanctions pressure consolidates regimes, makes them more stable, self-contained, and reactionary, he said. The war has indeed now become the means for maintaining hydrocarbon prices. The budget, of course, will suffer, and the Russian economy will have even greater problems in the coming years, comparable to those of the 1990s.

EU Again Accuses Russia Of Weaponizing Food

An economist by training, Movchan was a top executive at two of Russia's leading independent investment banks during the 1990s and 2000s before launching his own asset management firm.

Russias economy is forecast to shrink drastically this year, as Western sanctions cripple the countrys GDP. The World Bank predicts output will shrink 11.2 percent this year, while Russias own Central Bank forecasts a drop of 7.5 percent.

Related: Natural Gas Prices Tank Again As Freeport LNG Remains Shut For Almost A Month

The Bank of Finland forecasts a 10 percent decline in GDP, while the Washington-based Institute of International Finance has a dramatically darker forecast, predicting a drop of 15 percent.

Such a decrease would be the sharpest since the early 1990s, when Russia was struggling to make the difficult transition from a state-controlled economy to a free market.

Russia remains heavily reliant on the export of oil and gas, revenues from which have bolstered its finances and stymied Western efforts to restrain Moscow economically.

The European Union foreign affairs chief has estimated that oil exports alone yield $1 billion a day for Russia.

Movchan said that whatever economic pain Russia feels is likely to be felt most acutely by average citizens.

Of course, the losers from this war, despite these [high oil] prices, are the ordinary people of Russia who had little access to the export of hydrocarbons before -- and now it will be much less.

For the elites, the balance of the current account of foreign exchange transactions is really important, and it will be maintained quite stably, he said of an important indicator of economic health. That will allow the elites to rule, satisfy their needs, and control the power bloc -- a reference to the security, law enforcement, and military agencies that hold oversized influence on government policy.

Stability of the type seen in Iran, Venezuela, North Korea: that's what Russia is now entering into, he said.

Asked about the likelihood of substantive political change as a result of the sanctions, Movchan predicted there would be little.

Sanctions certainly have an economic effect, but they really do not lead to a serious change in foreign and domestic policy and to a change in power, he said.

By RFE/RL

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COLLEVILLE-SUR-MER, France  Joy and sadness in acute doses poured out Monday on the beaches of Normandy.

As several dozen D-Day veterans  now all in their 90s  set foot on the sands that claimed so many colleagues, they are thankful for the gratitude and friendliness of the French toward those who landed here on June 6, 1944. The sadness comes as they think of their fallen comrades and of another battle now being waged in Europe: the war in Ukraine.

As a bright sun rose Monday over the wide band of sand at Omaha Beach, U.S. D-Day veteran Charles Shay expressed thoughts for his comrades who died here 78 years ago.

I have never forgotten them and I know that their spirits are here, he told the Associated Press.

The 98-year-old Penobscot Native American from Indian Island, Maine, took part in a sage-burning ceremony near the beach in Saint-Laurent-sur-Mer. Shay, who now lives in Normandy, was a 19-year-old U.S. Army medic when he landed on Omaha Beach on June 6, 1944.

He said he was especially sad to see war in Europe once again, so many years later.

Ukraine is a very sad situation. I feel sorry for the people there and I dont know why this war had to come, but I think the human beings like to, I think they like to fight. I dont know, he said. In 1944, I landed on these beaches and we thought wed bring peace to the world. But its not possible.

This year, Shay handed over the remembrance task to another Native American, Julia Kelly, a Gulf War veteran from the Crow tribe, who performed the sage ritual. Never forget, never forget, she said. In this time, in any time, war is not good.

Shays message to young generations would be to be ever vigilant.

Of course I have to say that they should protect their freedom that they have now, he said.

For the past two years, D-Day ceremonies were reduced to a minimum amid COVID-19 lockdown restrictions. But this year, crowds of French and international visitors  including veterans in their 90s  were back in Normandy to pay tribute to the nearly 160,000 troops from Britain, the U.S., Canada and elsewhere who landed there to bring freedom.

Several thousand people attended a ceremony at the American Cemetery overlooking Omaha Beach in the French town of Colleville-sur-Mer. They applauded more than 20 WWII veterans who were present at the commemoration.

Amid them was Ray Wallace, 97, a former paratrooper with the 82nd Airborne Division.

On D-Day, his plane was hit and caught fire, forcing him to jump earlier than expected. He landed 20 miles away from the town of Sainte-Mere-Eglise, the first French village to be liberated from Nazi occupation.

We all got a little scared then. And then whenever the guy dropped us out, we were away from where the rest of the group was. That was scary, Wallace told the AP.

Less than a month later, he was taken prisoner by the Germans. He was ultimately liberated after 10 months and returned to the U.S. Still, Wallace thinks he was lucky.

I remember the good friends that I lost there. So its a little emotional, he said, with sadness in his voice. I guess you can say Im proud of what I did, but I didnt do that much.

On D-Day, Allied troops landed on the beaches code-named Omaha, Utah, Juno, Sword and Gold, carried by 7,000 boats. On that single day, 4,414 Allied soldiers lost their lives, 2,501 of them Americans. More than 5,000 were wounded.

On the German side, several thousand were killed or wounded.
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A new cargo flight service linking Hefei, the capital of east China's Anhui province, and Japan's Osaka was launched on Thursday.

The maiden flight to Osaka was mainly loaded with cross-border e-commerce commodities including daily necessities.

Flight time between the two cities is approximately three hours. Three weekly round trips are scheduled on Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday, according to Hefei airport.

This is the fourth regular international cargo service launched from Hefei airport, following the ones linking Los Angeles, London and Seoul.
ALEXANDRIA, Va. (AP)  An American woman who prosecutors say led an all-female battalion of Islamic State militants in Syria pleaded guilty on Tuesday in a case that a prosecutor called a first of its kind in the United States.

Allison Fluke-Ekren broke down sobbing after admitting in federal court in Alexandria, Virginia to conspiring to provide material support to a foreign terrorist organization, a charge that carries a maximum 20-year prison sentence.

The guilty plea resolves a criminal case that came to light in January after Fluke-Ekren, 42, who once lived in Kansas, was brought to the U.S. to face accusations that she led an Islamic State unit of women and young girls in the Syrian city of Raqqa and trained them in the use of automatic rifles, grenades and suicide belts.

It is the first prosecution in the U.S. of a female Islamic State battalion leader, said First Assistant U.S. Attorney Raj Parekh. More than 100 women and young girls received training. And some of the girls, who were as young as 10 or 11 years old, may wish to speak at Fluke-Ekren's sentencing hearing, Parekh said.

Some of them may wish an opportunity to address the court because we would argue that there is lifelong trauma and pain that has been inflicted on them, Parekh said.

Charging documents in the case trace Fluke-Ekren's travels and activities in the Middle East over the last decade, including a move with her second husband to Egypt in 2008, though they don't shed light on what inspired her alleged allegiance to foreign militant groups.

After moving back and forth throughout the region, including to Libya and Turkey, she settled in Syria in late 2012 or early 2013, where her husband ascended to a leadership position in the Islamic State with responsibility for training snipers.

In Syria, according to one witness cited in court documents, she spoke openly about her desire to conduct an attack in the U.S., including by parking a car loaded with explosives in a shopping mall garage. Another witness said Fluke-Ekren discussed ideas for a bomb attack on a college campus in the Midwest.

Prosecutors say that after Fluke-Ekren's second husband was killed in an air strike in Syria in February 2016 while conducting reconnaissance on a hill, she spearheaded the creation of a Women's Center that offered medical services and child care  but also advanced weapons training  to dozens of women and young girls.

Her all-female battalion, known as Khatiba Nusaybah, began operations in 2017, with a goal of teaching female Islamic State members how to defend themselves against the group's enemies and to defend the territory of Raqqa, prosecutors say.

In 2018, she told a witness that she had instructed someone in Syria to get a message to her family that she was dead so that the U.S. government would not try to find her.

The following year, though, she ended her affiliation with the Islamic State and was smuggled out of IS-controlled territory, according to court documents. Fluke-Ekren has said she tried to turn herself in at a local police station last summer because she wanted to leave Syria, and that about two weeks later, she was taken into custody at her home and later held for months in prison.

A criminal complaint against Fluke-Ekren was filed under seal in the U.S. in 2019 but not made public until she was brought to Virginia in January to face charges.

Fluke-Ekren, who said in court that she had a master's degree in the U.S. in teaching, moved to Egypt with her second husband in 2008 and lived in Benghazi, Libya in the fall of 2012, when a n attack on U.S. government facilities resulted in the deaths of four Americans.

Fluke-Ekren is not alleged to have played any part in that attack, but prosecutors say she helped her second husband review and summarize documents that he said were stolen from the U.S. compound there.

Fluke-Ekren admitted Tuesday to the gist of the government's allegations, though at one point she said one of the witnesses quoted in court documents was young at the time of their interactions and may have come away with a different understanding of their conversations. She also suggested that she had not intentionally trained young girls.

Sentencing was set for October 25. A lawyer for Fluke-Ekren declined to comment after the plea hearing.

Follow Eric Tucker on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/etuckerAP

Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
ANKARA, Turkey (AP)  Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Thursday warned Greece to demilitarize islands in the Aegean Sea, saying he was not joking and posting tweets in Greek and English, in a marked harshening of rhetoric against Turkeys neighbor and historic regional rival.

Turkey says Greece has been building a military presence in violation of treaties that guarantee the unarmed status of the Aegean islands. It argues the islands were ceded to Greece on the condition they remained demilitarized.

Athens counters that the islands, which have been garrisoned for decades and lie within close striking distance of a large Turkish landing fleet, can't be left undefended.

We invite Greece to stop arming the islands that have non-military status and to act in accordance with international agreements, Erdogan said on the final day of military exercises taking place near Izmir, on Turkeys Aegean coast. Im not joking, Im speaking seriously. This nation is determined.

Greece and Turkey are NATO allies, but have a history of disputes over a range of issues, including mineral exploration in the eastern Mediterranean and rival claims in the Aegean Sea.

The two countries came close to war three times in the past half century, the last being in 1996 over ownership of an uninhabited eastern Aegean islet. But Ankara has recently been questioning Greece's sovereignty over large, inhabited Greek islands  Rhodes, Kos and Lesbos, for example, would meet the description of militarized islands.

We warn Greece to stay away from dreams, statements and actions that will lead to regret, as it did a century ago, and to return to its senses, the Turkish leader said. A hundred years ago, Turkey defeated Greece after a three-year war that saw Greek armies invade western Turkey.

Greece maintains Turkey has deliberately misinterpreted the treaties and says it has legal grounds to defend itself following hostile actions by Ankara, including a long-standing threat of war if Greece extended its territorial waters.

Later Thursday, Erdogan made the rare move of tweeting in Greek and English, saying: As Turkey will not resign its rights in the Aegean, it will not hesitate either to make use of its rights arising from international treaties on the issue of the islands' demilitarization.

Greek government spokesman Giannis Oikonomou commented that Erdogan's choice of Greek was notable.

Greek is known as the language of reason, freedom and justice, he said. The tactics Turkey has chosen do not fall under any of these categories.

Earlier, Oikonomou said Greece was dealing with Turkish provocations with calm and determination.

It is clear to everyone that our country has upgraded its geostrategic and geopolitical footprint as well as its deterrent capacity to be able at any time to defend its national sovereignty and sovereign rights, he said.

Meanwhile, Erdogan also reiterated Turkeys determination to launch a new cross-border offensive in Syria with the goal of pushing back Syrian Kurdish militia and creating a 30-kilometer (19-mile) buffer zone. Turkey regards the militia as an extension of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers Party, or PKK.

We will never allow the establishment of terror corridors along our countrys borders, and we will definitely complete the missing parts of our security zone, the Turkish leader said.

Erdogan continued: We hope that none of our real allies and friends will oppose our legitimate security concerns."

Erdogan has said that Turkeys new offensive in Syria would target the towns of Tall Rifat and Manbij, which lie west of the Euphrates River and from where the Syrian Kurdish fighters launch attacks on Turkish targets.

Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
KYIV, Ukraine (AP)  Ukraines president says Russian troops intend to capture Zaporizhzhia, a large city in the country's southeast, which would allow the Russian military to advance closer to the center of the country.

Volodymyr Zelenskyy told a news conference on Monday that peace talks with Russia stood at level zero, and in the meantime the most threatening situation has developed in the Zaporizhzhia region, parts of which have already been taken by Russia.

The enemy wants to ... occupy the city of Zaporizhzhia," Zelenskyy said.

In the south of Ukraine, Russia has already seized the large Ukrainian cities of Kherson and Mariupol. The Zaporizhzhia region, with the population of 1.6 million, is one of the biggest industrial hubs of Ukraines southeast. The city itself has 722,000 people.

Zelenskyy also said Ukrainian troops are still fighting in the eastern part of the country known as the Donbas. In the Luhansk region, which is part of the Donbas, the Ukrainian resistance continues in Sievierodonetsk, one of the two key cities in the region still not in Russias hands, he said.

There are more of them, they are more powerful, but we have every chance to fight on this direction, Zelenskyy said.

In the northern Kharkiv region, the Ukrainian army step by step de-occupies our lands from Russian invaders, Zelenskyy said.

In the meantime, Kyiv is hoping to create secure corridors that would allow its ships to export grain that has been blocked inside the countries by the fighting. Zelenskyy said Ukraine is in talks with countries like Turkey and the U.K. about security guaranties for Ukrainian ships carrying much needed grain for export. Russia's invasion of Ukraine has disrupted food supplies for many nations in the world, causing prices to soar.

It is important for us that there is a security corridor ... that the fleet of this or that country ensures the shipping of the grain, Zelenskyy said. If now we have 22-25 million tons blocked there, in the fall we might have 75 (million tons).

"What are we going to do? he asked. Thats why we cant do without the ports.

His government has previously accused Russia of stealing tons of grain from territory it has occupied in Ukraine.

The issue of blocked grain will be on the agenda Wednesday during Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrovs visit to Turkey. Ankara is involved in efforts by the United Nations to reach an agreement for shipping Ukrainian grain out amid an escalating global food crisis.

Zelensky said Kyiv has not been invited to the talks, possibly because Turkey wants to get security guarantees for its ships from Russia first.

He explained that Ukraine cant export large shipments of grain via railways because of long delivery times, even though Kyiv has been in talks with Poland and the Baltic nations. Exporting grain through the neighboring territory of Russias ally Belarus is also not an option, he said.

Follow all AP stories on the war in Ukraine at https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine.

Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
Elon Musk is threatening to end his $44 billion agreement to buy Twitter, accusing the company of refusing to give him information about its spam bot accounts. Lawyers for the Tesla and SpaceX CEO made the threat in a letter to Twitter dated Monday that the social platform included in a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The letter says Musk has repeatedly asked for the information since May 9 so he could evaluate how many of the companys 229 million accounts are fake. Twitter said it's been sharing information with Musk in accordance with the merger agreement.
Three Texas families sued the state Wednesday seeking to halt investigations of them over gender-confirming medical treatments their transgender children received, in a renewed challenge to the state looking into such treatments as child abuse.

The lawsuit also asks a Texas judge to block the state from opening any similar investigations against any Texas members of LGBTQ advocacy group PFLAG Inc.

The lawsuit comes about a month after the Texas Supreme Court allowed the state to investigate parents of transgender youth for child abuse while also ruling in favor of one family that was among the first contacted by child welfare officials following order by Republican Gov. Greg Abbott.

The latest challenge, brought by Lambda Legal and the American Civil Liberties Union, seeks a new broad order against the investigations. If it takes a court ruling to ensure that the law protects families who lead with love in support of transgender Texans, so be it. Brian K. Bond, executive director of PFLAG National, said in a statement.

Spokespeople for Abbott and Attorney General Ken Paxton did not immediately return messages late Wednesday afternoon.

Texas went farther than any state in February when Abbott issued an order instructing child welfare officials to investigate reports of gender-confirming care for kids as abuse.

A judge in March put that order on hold after a lawsuit brought on behalf of a 16-year-old girl whose family said it was under investigation. The Texas Supreme Court in May ruled that the lower court overstepped its authority by blocking all investigations going forward.

The lawsuit marked the first report of parents being investigated following Abbotts directive and an earlier nonbinding legal opinion by Republican Attorney General Ken Paxton labeling certain gender-confirming treatments as child abuse. The Texas Department of Family and Protective Service has said it opened nine investigations following the directive and opinion.

Abbotts directive and the attorney generals opinion go against the nations largest medical groups, including the American Medical Association, which have opposed Republican-backed restrictions filed in statehouses nationwide.

Wednesday's lawsuit in Texas was filed on behalf of families of three boys  two 16-year-olds and a 14-year-old  who have received gender confirming care. The two 16-year-olds in the case have received hormone therapy, according to court filings. The families talked in the filings about the anxiety theyve faced because of Texas investigations.

The mother of one of the teens said her son attempted suicide and was hospitalized the day Abbott issued his directive. The outpatient psychiatric facility where the teen was referred reported the family for child abuse after learning he had been prescribed hormone therapy, she said in a court filing.

I am offended and hurt that my state government wants to make it unlawful for trans youth like me to be ourselves, and that DFPS, the governor and the attorney general are willing to persecute families like mine simply for loving and supporting their trans children," another teens said in the court filing.

Arkansas last year became the first state to pass a law prohibiting gender-confirming treatments for minors, and Tennessee approved a similar measure. A judge blocked Arkansas law, and the state is appealing.

Associated Press writer Acacia Coronado in Austin, Texas contributed to this report

This story was first published on June 8, 2022. It was updated on June 9, 2022 to correct that court filings say only two of the three children in the lawsuit have received hormone therapy.

Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
4th grade Uvalde survivor: 'I don't want it to happen again'

WASHINGTON (AP)  An 11-year-old girl who survived the mass shooting at an elementary school in Uvalde, Texas, recounted in video testimony to Congress on Wednesday how she covered herself with a dead classmates blood to avoid being shot and just stayed quiet.

Miah Cerrillo, a fourth-grader at Robb Elementary School, told lawmakers in a prerecorded video that she watched a teacher get shot in the head before looking for a place to hide.

I thought he would come back so I covered myself with blood, Miah told the House panel. I put it all over me and I just stayed quiet. She called 911 using the deceased teacher's phone and pleaded for help.

Nineteen children and two teachers died when an 18-year-old gunman opened fire with an AR-15-style rifle inside Robb Elementary School on May 24.

It was the second day lawmakers heard wrenching testimony on the nations gun violence. On Tuesday, a Senate panel heard from the son of an 86-year-old woman killed when a gunman opened fire in a racist attack on Black shoppers in Buffalo, New York, on May 14. Ten people died.

Capitol attack's full story: Jan. 6 panel probes US risks

WASHINGTON (AP)  The Jan. 6, 2021, insurrection at the U.S. Capitol played out for the world to see, but the House committee investigating the attack believes a more chilling story has yet to be told -- about the president and the people whose actions put American democracy at risk.

With personal accounts and gruesome videos the 1/6 committee expects Thursday's prime-time hearing to begin to show that Americas tradition of a peaceful transfer of presidential power came close to slipping away. It will reconstruct how the president, Donald Trump, refused to concede the 2020 election, spread false claims of voter fraud and orchestrated an unprecedented public and private campaign to overturn Joe Bidens victory.

The result of the coming weeks of public hearings may not change hearts or minds in politically polarized America. But the committee's year-long investigation with 1,000 interviews is intended to stand as a public record for history. A final report aims to provide an accounting of the most violent attack on the Capitol since the British set fire in 1814, and ensure it never happens again.

This is not a game, said Steven Levitsky, a Harvard professor and co-author of How Democracies Die, who has written extensively on the world's democratic governments.

We suffered an assault on our democracy the likes of which none of us have seen in our lifetime."

Brookings places retired general on leave amid FBI probe

The prestigious Brookings Institution placed its president, retired four-star Marine Gen. John Allen, on administrative leave Wednesday amid a federal investigation into his role in an illegal lobbying campaign on behalf of the wealthy Persian Gulf nation of Qatar.

Brookings announcement came a day after The Associated Press reported on new court filings that show the FBI recently seized Allens electronic data as part of the probe and detailed his behind-the scenes efforts to help Qatar influence U.S. policy in 2017 when a diplomatic crisis erupted between the gas-rich monarchy and its neighbors.

Allen, who led U.S. and NATO forces in Afghanistan before being tapped to lead Brookings in late 2017, has not been charged with any crimes. His spokesman, Beau Phillips, said Wednesday that Allen had done nothing improper or unlawful.

Through decades of public service in combat and diplomacy, General Allen has earned an unmatched, sterling reputation for honor and integrity, Phillips said in a statement. We look forward to correcting the falsehoods about General Allen that have been improperly publicized in this matter.

Brookings told staffers in an email Wednesday that the institute itself is not under investigation and that the think tanks executive vice president, Ted Gayer, will serve as acting president.

More bodies found in Mariupol as global food crisis looms

BAKHMUT, Ukraine (AP)  Workers pulled scores of bodies from smashed buildings in an endless caravan of death inside the devastated city of Mariupol, authorities said Wednesday, while fears of a global food crisis escalated over Ukraines inability to export millions of tons of grain through its blockaded ports.

At the same time, Ukrainian and Russian forces battled fiercely for control of Sievierodonestk, a city that has emerged as central to Moscow's grinding campaign to capture Ukraine's eastern industrial heartland, known as the Donbas.

As the fighting dragged on, the human cost of the war continued to mount. In many of Mariupol's buildings, workers are finding 50 to 100 bodies each, according to a mayoral aide in the Russian-held port city in the south.

Petro Andryushchenko said on the Telegram app that the bodies are being taken in an endless caravan of death to a morgue, landfills and other places. At least 21,000 Mariupol civilians were killed during the weeks-long Russian siege, Ukrainian authorities have estimated.

The consequences of the war are being felt far beyond Eastern Europe because shipments of Ukrainian grain are bottled up inside the country, driving up the price of food.

Trump set to undergo questioning in July in NY civil probe

NEW YORK (AP)  Former President Donald Trump, his namesake son and his daughter Ivanka have agreed to answer questions under oath next month in the New York attorney general's civil investigation into his business practices, unless their lawyers persuade the state's highest court to step in.

A Manhattan judge signed off Wednesday on an agreement that calls for the Trumps to give depositions  a legal term for sworn, pretrial testimony out of court  starting July 15.

Messages seeking comment were sent to the ex-president's attorneys. State Attorney General Letitia James' office declined to comment, as did the younger Trumps' attorney, Alan Futerfas.

Another Trump son, Eric Trump, gave a deposition in 2020 but declined to answer some questions.

The new agreement comes after a series of setbacks for Donald Trump's efforts to block James' 3-year-long investigation.

Dems confront criticism on crime after San Francisco defeat

SAN FRANCISCO (AP)  Democrats on Wednesday braced for renewed Republican attacks on their management of crime across the U.S. after residents in San Francisco voted overwhelmingly to recall the city's progressive district attorney, suggesting that even the party's most loyal supporters are frustrated with the way in which violence and social problems are being addressed.

Chesa Boudin was swept into the district attorney's office pledging to seek alternatives to incarceration, end the racist war on drugs and hold police officers to account. But the citys longstanding problems with vandalism, open drug use and robberies proved too much for voters, who blamed him for making the situation worse.

While a single city race is hardly a barometer of the national mood, the rejection of Boudin by residents in the nation's progressive epicenter carried symbolic significance for members of both parties. Republicans were emboldened by the vote, planning to highlight crime in several critical Senate races. At the White House, meanwhile, President Joe Biden acknowledged that the vote sent a clear message about public safety.

Both parties have to step up and do something about crime as well as gun violence, Biden said ahead of a trip to California, noting he sent billions of dollars and encouraged them to use it to hire police officers and reforming police departments.

Its time to move, Biden continued. Its time that states and the localities spend the money they have to deal with crime as well as retrain police officers.

Armed man arrested for threat to kill Justice Kavanaugh

WASHINGTON (AP)  A man carrying a gun, a knife and zip ties was arrested Wednesday near Justice Brett Kavanaugh's house in Maryland after threatening to kill the justice.

Nicholas John Roske, 26, of Simi Valley, California, was charged with the attempted murder of a Supreme Court justice. During a court hearing, he consented to remain in federal custody for now.

Roske was dressed in black when he arrived by taxi just after 1 a.m. outside Kavanaughs home in a Washington suburb. He had a Glock 17 pistol, ammunition, a knife, zip ties, pepper spray, duct tape and other items that he told police he would use to break into Kavanaugh's house and kill him, according to a criminal complaint and an affidavit filed in federal court in Maryland. Roske said he purchased the gun to kill Kavanaugh and that he also would kill himself, the affidavit said.

Roske told police he was upset by a leaked draft opinion suggesting the Supreme Court is about to overrule Roe v. Wade, the landmark abortion case. He also said he was upset over the school massacre in Uvalde, Texas, and believed Kavanaugh would vote to loosen gun control laws, the affidavit said.

The court currently is weighing a challenge to New York's requirements for getting a permit to carry a gun in public, a case that could make it easier to be armed on the streets of New York and other large cities.

Biden sidelines Venezuela's pro-democracy leader from summit

LOS ANGELES (AP)  A little more than two years ago, Juan Guaido was showered with bipartisan applause when President Donald Trump during his State of the Union speech praised the Venezuelan opposition leader as a very brave man" who carries on his shoulders the democratic hopes of an entire nation.

But in a sign of how far his political fate has fallen, and how quickly U.S. geopolitical calculations can shift, the 38-year-old wasn't even invited to this week's Summit of the Americas  despite the Biden administration's persistent promotion of democracy and insistence it recognizes Guaido as Venezuela's interim president.

Meanwhile, the man Guaido has been trying to unseat, Nicolas Maduro, is taking something of a victory lap. On a rare foreign trip to Turkey this week, Maduro, who is the target of U.S. sanctions and a federal narcotics indictment, denounced the decision to exclude him and leftist allies from Cuba and Nicaragua from the gathering as a stab in the back of regional cooperation.

This is a clear win for Maduro, Eric Farnsworth, vice president of the Council of Americas, said from Los Angeles, where he was attending the summit. Hes seen allies take up his cause at the summit while preventing his primary rival, whom Washington recognizes as president, from attending.

In what may be an attempt at damage control, Biden on Wednesday spoke with Guaido. It was the first time the two leaders have spoken and during the call, which lasted around 17 minutes, Biden reiterated his support for Guaido, whose claim to the presidency stems from his role as head of the National Assembly elected in 2015.

Mexican megachurch leader gets more than 16 years for abuse

LOS ANGELES (AP)  The leader of the Mexican megachurch La Luz del Mundo was sentenced Wednesday to more than 16 years in a California prison for sexually abusing young female followers who said he made them his sex slaves.

Naason Joaquin Garcia, 53, abruptly pleaded guilty last week in Los Angeles Superior Court to three felonies on the eve of a long-awaited trial.

Prosecutors said Garcia, who is considered the apostle of Jesus Christ by his 5 million worldwide followers, used his spiritual sway to have sex with girls and young women who were told it would lead to their salvation  or damnation if they refused.

I never cease to be amazed at what people do in the name of religion and how many lives are ruined in the guise of a supreme being, said Judge Ronald Coen, who called Garcia a sexual predator.

The sentence came after nearly three hours of emotional statements by five young women Garcia was charged with sexually abusing. They had once been his most devoted servants. But in court they called him evil and a monster, disgusting human waste and the antichrist.

Reports: Twitter to provide Musk with raw daily tweet data

SAN FRANCISCO (AP)  Twitter plans to offer Elon Musk access to its firehose of raw data on hundreds of millions of daily tweets in an effort to push forward the Tesla billionaires agreed-to $44 billion acquisition of the social media platform, according to multiple news reports.

Lawyers involved in the deal would not confirm the data sharing agreement. Musk made no comment on Twitter, although he has previously been vocal about various aspects of the deal. Twitter declined to confirm the reports and pointed to a Monday statement in which the company said it is continuing to cooperatively share information with Musk.

Musk, who struck a legally binding agreement to buy Twitter in April, contends that the deal cant proceed unless the company provides more information about the prevalence of fake accounts on its platform. He has argued, without presenting evidence, that Twitter has significantly underestimated the number of these spam bots -- automated accounts that typically promote scams and misinformation  on its service.

On Monday, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton also announced an investigation into Twitter for allegedly failing to disclose the extent of its spam bot and fake accounts, saying his office would look into potential false reporting of bots on Twitter.

The Washington Post first reported Twitters plan to provide Musk with full access to the firehose, citing a person familiar with the matter. Other reports suggested the billionaire might only receive partial access.

Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP)  Republican gubernatorial candidate Scott Jensen announced a crime-fighting plan Thursday that would stiffen penalties for violent crime while boosting the role of the State Patrol and Minnesota National Guard in keeping order.

His 10-point proposal would create a specific crime for carjacking, which has surged in the Twin Cities area in the past couple of years. He would raise prison sentences for violent crimes and prevent nonprofit groups from bailing out people charged with violent crimes. And he said he would appoint judges who would impose the longest sentences allowed.

Do you feel safer today than you did four years ago?" Jensen asked at a news conference. When I ask people across Minnesota  whether it's in greater Minnesota or in the urban areas  Do you feel safer than you did four years ago?' they're saying no.

Jensen, a family practice physician and former state senator, was joined outside the Capitol by his running mate, former Minnesota Viking Matt Birk.

Jensen criticized incumbent Democratic Gov. Tim Walz for his response to the sometimes violent unrest that followed the police killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis in 2020, which included the burning of a police station. Jensen said Walz froze and let the situation get out of control. He said he would be quicker to deploy the National Guard to prevent trouble. He also said he would use state troopers to supplement local police in high-crime areas.

The Walz administration has already stepped up the role of the State Patrol. It announced plans last month to use troopers to supplement the Minneapolis Police Department, which has lost around 300 officers since the unrest, with many claiming post-traumatic stress disorder.

Minneapolis and St. Paul have seen a surge in violent crime that sometimes spills into the suburbs. Minneapolis recorded 97 homicides last year, the most since 1995, while St. Paul had 38, breaking the citys record of 34 set in 1992. Minneapolis also reported more than 640 attempted or successful carjackings in 2021, while St. Paul saw about 100. The cities formerly didn't feel the need to keep specific carjacking statistics.

Jensen also called for more job, literacy and skills training for state prisoners to help them find work when they're released and thus reduce recidivism. And he called for more emphasis on restorative justice by using offenders to clean up graffiti and vandalism. He would also create a unit within the state Department of Public Safety to protect children from sexual exploitation.

Democrats were quick to criticize Jensen's plan, pointing out that it contains no new money to bolster local police departments, while Walz and other Democrats have called for $450 million in new public safety spending as part of a stalled bipartisan budget framework that Jensen opposes. They also criticized Jensen for opposing gun safety measures such as background checks.

The Legislature adjourned last month with lawmakers still divided on how to use the $7 billion that's left of what was a $9.25 billion surplus. Talks among Walz and the Senate Republican and House Democratic majorities have yet to nail down enough details for the governor to call a special session.

"From opposing universal background checks to the budget deal on public safety, Scott Jensen has shown that hes unserious about stopping crime and gun violence, Ken Martin, the state democratic Party chairman, said in a statement.

Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
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The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) government said Friday that it will distribute around 200,000 sets of COVID-19 rapid antigen test (RAT) kits as part of a follow-up on the recent detection of the COVID-19 virus in sewage samples.

The test kits will be distributed to residents, cleaning workers and property management staff working in estates in Central and Western, Tuen Mun and Tai Po with positive sewage testing results showing relatively high viral loads, in order to help identify infected persons.

The HKSAR government also urged RAT kit users to report any positive results for COVID-19 via the government's online platform.

In an effort to combat COVID-19, the HKSAR government's Environmental Protection Department and the Drainage Services Department have strengthened the sampling of sewage in all districts of Hong Kong for COVID-19 virus testing.

On Friday, Hong Kong registered 291 new COVID-19 cases by nucleic acid tests, and 381 additional cases through self-reported RAT, official data showed.
COLLEVILLE-SUR-MER, France (AP)  The United States and its allies will keep providing significant support to Ukraine out of respect for the legacy of D-Day soldiers, whose victory over the Nazis helped lead to a new world order and a better peace, Army Gen. Mark Milley, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said Monday.

In an interview with The Associated Press overlooking Omaha Beach in Normandy, Milley said Russias war on Ukraine undermines the rules established by Allied countries after the end of World War II. He spoke on the 78th anniversary of the D-Day invasion of Allied troops onto the beaches of France, which led to the overthrow of Nazi Germany's occupation.

One fundamental rule of theglobal rules-based order is that countries cannot attack other countries with their military forces in acts of aggression unless its an act of pure self-defense, he stressed. But thats not whats happened here in Ukraine. Whats happened here is an open, unambiguous act of aggression.

It is widely considered to undermine the rules that these dead  here at Omaha Beach and at the cemetery at Colleville-sur-Mer  have died for. They died for something. They died for that order to be put in place so that we would have a better peace, Milley said, speaking at the American Cemetery overlooking the shore in the northwestern French village at Colleville-sur-Mer.

Thats why the nations of Europe, the nations of NATO, are supporting Ukraine with lethal and nonlethal support in order to make sure that that rule set is underwritten and supported, Milley explained.

Dozens of veterans  now all in their 90s, from the U.S., Britain, Canada and elsewhere  were taking part in poignant D-Day ceremonies Monday.

On June 6, 1944, Allied troops landed on French beaches code-named Omaha, Utah, Juno, Sword and Gold, carried by 7,000 boats. On that single day, 4,414 Allied soldiers lost their lives, 2,501 of them Americans. More than 5,000 were wounded. On the German side, several thousand were killed or wounded. The massive invasion helped lead to Hitlers defeat and the end of World War II.

Asked about whether Ukraine gets enough support, Milley noted theres a very, very significant battle going on in the Donbas, in reference to Ukraine's heavily contested eastern industrial region bordering Russia. But Kyiv (the capital) was protected and successfully defended against. The Russians had to shift their forces to the south in the Donbas. And well see how this plays out.

I think that the United States and the allied countries are providing a significant amount of support to Ukraine, and that will continue, he said. He didnt elaborate.

Milley also had strong words about Ukraine at the ceremony at the American Cemetery, attended by over 20 World War II veterans and several thousand spectators.

Kiev may be 2,000 kilometers away from here, they too, right now, today, are experiencing the same horrors as the French citizens experienced in World War II at the hands of the Nazi invader, Milley said in his speech. Lets not those only here be the last witnesses to a time when our Allies come together to defeat tyranny.

Milley's parents served during World War II and his uncle was in the Navy off Normandys coast on D-Day as part of Operation Overlord.

That generation of soldiers fought and sacrificed for all of us... And I have a very, very special bond with them. And Im very respectful of what theyve done. And I think we all  all of us today  need to carry on the legacy that they fought and died for, Milley said.

Follow all AP stories on the war in Ukraine at https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine.

Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
Boy Scouts huddled in a shelter as a tornado tore through their western Iowa campground 14 years ago today, killing four boys and injuring 48 others who had little warning of the approaching twister.

Iowa rescue workers cut through downed branches and dug through debris amid rain and lightning on the night of June 11, 2008, to reach the camp where the 93 boys, ages 13 to 18, and 25 staff members were attending a weeklong leadership training camp.

The tornado killed Sam Thomsen, 13, Josh Fennen, 13, and Ben Petrzilka, 13, all of Omaha; and Aaron Eilerts, 14, of Eagle Grove, Iowa. The four boys were among the elite of the Boy Scouts of America, hand-picked by their scoutmasters to attend the high-adventure camp. Their goal at the Little Sioux Scout Ranch was training to someday become leaders within one of the nation's largest youth organizations.

The boys had been in two groups when the storm hit the 1,800-acre camp in the Loess Hills, about 40 miles north of Omaha.

With a tornado barreling toward them, the Scouts sought shelter in the one place they thought they were safest: a cinderblock building where they normally gathered to socialize.

But with no basement or inground shelter in the structure, dozens of Scouts were left vulnerable when the twister, packing 145-mph winds, leveled the building and toppled its stone chimney. The camp was destroyed.

One Scout said the heavy rain initially prevented campers from seeing the tornado. Then the rain stopped, and the campers saw the funnel headed for them.

The tornado hit at 6:35 p.m. and was classified by the National Weather Service as an EF-3, meaning it had winds of 136 to 165 mph.

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Dr. Byron Oberst began his career during one of the darkest periods for pediatric medicine in recent history: the polio epidemic.

The Omaha native had just completed his studies and military service when he returned to the city in 1951 to start his own practice. There, he was greeted with horrific scenes of gravely ill children.

It was a literal nightmare, Oberst told The World-Herald last year.

Oberst, a nationally recognized trailblazer in pediatric medicine, died Tuesday at age 99. He was the very first medical resident at the University of Nebraska Medical Center and a pioneer in the creation of electronic medical records systems, according to an obituary penned by Oberst nearly five years before his death.

After graduating from Omaha North High School, Oberst completed his education at the University of Nebraska at Omaha and UNMC. He served as a hospital intern before leaving to serve in the U.S. Army Medical Corps between 1948 and 1950. He served as a pediatrician at Fort Dix in New Jersey and was later stationed in Japan, according to the obituary.

Upon leaving the service, Oberst moved to Detroit to finish his pediatric training at the Henry Ford Hospital. He returned to Omaha in 1951 and became the director of Childrens Memorial Hospital  now Childrens Hospital  while establishing his own practice.

Obersts career began as polio ravaged Nebraska. The hospital saw over 300 children with the disease during summer 1952.

He said that even 60 years later he would wake up in a cold sweat just because of how awful it was, said Byron Oberst, one of Dr. Obersts sons.

As his career progressed, the elder Oberst took a particular interest in treating children and young adults with attention deficit disorders and other school learning problems. In his own words, his practice was a way of life more than it was a job.

As technology evolved later in his career, Oberst took an interest in developing computer programs to assist with clinical work. He was the author and developer of the American Academy of Pediatrics section on computers and other technologies, and he served as an adviser to various medical software companies as they worked to create electronic medical records systems, according to his self-written obituary.

The AAP named an award after Oberst in 1989, which is still awarded annually to pediatricians who make significant contributions to pediatric clinical information systems.

He was truly a pioneer in using technology to communicate, said son Matthew Oberst. I mean, he started doing this stuff in the 70s.

Oberst held multiple positions within the AAP on the local, regional and national levels. He was also a founding member of the Society for Adolescent Health and Medicine. Byron and Matt said that the two awards that meant the most to their father were the Viking of Distinction award from North High School and Childrens Hospitals Legend in Pediatrics award.

Outside of work, Oberst made time for just about everything. He published seven books, including multiple autobiographical accounts of his medical experience and a childrens book about health. He penned nearly 50 articles and clinical papers while giving hundreds of lectures locally and nationally. He dabbled in photography and had a darkroom in his basement.

He was also a scoutmaster for the Boy Scouts of America, and was incredibly proud of the 38 boys in his troop who became Eagle Scouts.

Somehow he managed to do all of these things, Byron said of his father. I think it boils down to three attributes: an inquisitive mind with an appetite to learn, an ability to outwork almost everyone, and the ability to multitask.

He is survived by sons Byron, Terrance and Matthew Oberst, two grandsons and four great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his wife of 66 years, Mary Oberst, sisters Annabelle Sorensen and Virginia Noriego and grandson Matthew Ryan.

A wake will be held at 4 p.m. Sunday at the John A. Gentleman Mortuary chapel at 1010 N. 72nd St. Funeral services will be held at Christ the King Catholic Church at 10 a.m. Monday.

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6:30 p.m. update

The severe thunderstorm warning for most of Douglas County is no longer in effect as the storm has pushed south into Cass and Sarpy Counties.

5:30 p.m. update

The National Weather Service has issued a severe thunderstorm warning for Douglas County until 6:30 p.m.

The storm is moving in from the northwest and could produce ping pong ball sized hail with winds near 60 mph.

5 p.m. update

A trail of storms moving through southeast Nebraska Saturday evening will bring a chance of tornadoes, and more hail, to the Omaha metro area.

The National Weather Service has established a tornado watch for Douglas County until 10 p.m. Saturday. The chance for precipitation in Omaha Saturday evening is about 30%, according to the weather service.

The highest chance for these fast-moving storms to hit the metro area will be before 6 p.m., said Taylor Nicolaisen, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Valley.

"Theyre moving in a hurry, so we expect the people that are hit to get a fast moving system, and then it will be quiet for the rest of the evening," he said.

The main threat from these storms is large hail, which could reach a size of 2 to 3 inches in the metro area, Nicolaisen said. Hail that is 3 inches in size is often described as "apple-sized," according to a tweet from the weather service.

A 20% chance of rain will continue into Sunday, with precipitation possible until 2 p.m., according to the weather service.

The weekend weather comes just days after severe storms pummeled parts of Nebraska. In the Omaha metro area, hail was generally 1 inch to a little larger in diameter.

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KYIV, Ukraine (AP)  Civilians fled intense fighting in eastern Ukraine on Friday as Russian and Ukrainian forces engaged in a grinding battle of attrition for key cities in the country's industrial heartland.

Mostly women, children and elderly residents left on a special evacuation train that departed from the city of Pokrovsk and headed west.

We live on the front line now, said Svitlana Kaplun, whose family fled as shelling reached their neighborhood in the city of Krasnohorivka. The kids are worried all the time, they are afraid to sleep at night, so we decided to take them out.

After a bungled attempt to overrun Kyiv, Ukraine's capital, in the early days of the war, Russia shifted its focus to an eastern region of coal mines and factories known as the Donbas. The area borders Russia and has been partly controlled by Moscow-backed separatists since 2014.

The fighting there has led to mounting casualties and renewed pleas from Ukraine to the West for more weapons.

Mykhailo Podolyak, an adviser to Ukraines president, told the BBC in an interview aired Thursday that the daily loss of 100 to 200 Ukrainian soldiers is the result of a complete lack of parity between Ukraine and Russia.

He said only more advanced Western weaponry will turn back the Russian offensive and force Moscow to the negotiating table.

BIDEN: ZELENSKYY DIDNT WANT TO HEAR' ABOUT INVASION THREAT

U.S. President Joe Biden said Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy didnt want to hear it when American intelligence gathered information in February that indicated Russia was preparing to invade his country.

Speaking to donors Friday at a Democratic fundraiser in Los Angeles, Biden talked about his work to rally support for Ukraine as the war continues into a fourth month.

Nothing like this has happened since World War II. I know a lot of people thought I was maybe exaggerating. But I knew we had data to sustain that Russian President Vladimir Putin was going to go in."

There was no doubt, Biden said. And Zelenskyy didnt want to hear it.

Although Zelenskyy has inspired much of the world with his wartime leadership, his preparation for the invasion  or lack thereof  has been controversial.

In the weeks before the war began on Feb. 24, Zelenskyy publicly bristled as Biden administration officials repeatedly warned that a Russian invasion was likely.

At the time, Zelenskyy was concerned that the drumbeat of war was unsettling to Ukraines fragile economy.

MORE STREET FIGHTING IN DONBAS

Fighting in the Donbas has ground on for more than two months, and the slog continued Friday. A provincial governor said Russian and Ukrainian forces battled "for every house and every street in Sievierodonetsk, a city that recently has been under steady attack.

Sievierodonetsk is in the last pocket of Luhansk province that has not yet been claimed by Russia or Moscow-backed separatists. The Luhansk and Donetsk regions together make up the Donbas.

Luhansk Gov. Serhiy Haidai told The Associated Press that Ukrainian forces retain control of the industrial zone on the edge of the city and some other sections amid the painstaking block-by-block fighting.

An envoy for the Luhansk Peoples Republic, a self-proclaimed separatist territory, reported Friday that some Ukrainian troops were trapped inside a chemical plant on the city's outskirts.

All escape routes have been cut off, Rodion Miroshnik, Moscow ambassador for the unrecognized republic, wrote on social media.

They are being told that no conditions will be accepted. Only the laying down of arms and surrender, he said.

Miroshnik echoed earlier claims by a Russian defense official that civilians remained on the plant's grounds. But he stopped short of reiterating allegations that Ukrainian forces were barring them from leaving.

As of Friday afternoon, there was no response from the Ukrainian side.

Meanwhile, Moscow kept up its artillery strikes on the neighboring city of Lysychansk and surrounding towns and villages, the Ukrainian military said. It also said that Russian troops were preparing to resume an offensive on the city of Slavyansk in the Donetsk region, south of Luhansk.

ARTILLERY HITS RUSSIAN BASES

An adviser to Ukraines president says artillery attacks devastated two Russian bases in the southern Kherson region, which has been under Russian occupation since early in the war.

Oleksiy Arestovych, in his regular online interview, said Friday that the attack on Stara Zburivka, a village along the Dnieper River, killed dozens, including a Russian army general and a general in the FSB intelligence service.

He said the FSB general was tasked with organizing a referendum on whether the Kherson region should join Russia. There was no immediate confirmation of the claim.

Ukraine has claimed to have killed about a dozen generals in the war, but only a few of the deaths have been confirmed.

Arestovych said a separate attack this week on a Russian base in Chkalove killed at least 200 troops, including Arabs, presumably from Syria. He said it was the first confirmed case of Arabs fighting with Russians in Ukraine.

He said in both cases the Ukrainian forces used 155mm howitzers supplied by the West.

UKRAINE SEEKS MORE WEAPONS

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said his armys ability to hold off Russian forces in the Donbas depends on the supply of Western weapons.

Ukrainian troops "are doing everything to stop the offensive, as much as they possibly can, as long as there are enough heavy weapons, modern artillery  all that we have asked for and continue to ask for from our partners, he said Friday in his nightly video address.

He said Russia wants to destroy every city in the Donbas.

Every city, thats not an exaggeration. Like Volnovakha, like Mariupol. All of these ruins of once-happy cities, the black traces of fires, the craters from explosions  this is all that Russia can give to its neighbors, to Europe, to the world.

Karmanau reported from Lviv, Ukraine. Associated Press writers Jill Lawless in London and Jamey Keaten in Geneva contributed.

Follow APs coverage of the Ukraine war at https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine

Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
KYIV, Ukraine (AP)  Ukrainian and British officials warned Saturday that Russian forces are relying on weapons able to cause mass casualties as they try to make headway in capturing eastern Ukraine and fierce, prolonged fighting depletes resources on both sides.

Russian bombers have likely been launching heavy 1960s-era anti-ship missiles in Ukraine, the U.K. Defense Ministry said. The Kh-22 missiles were primarily designed to destroy aircraft carriers using a nuclear warhead. When used in ground attacks with conventional warheads, they are highly inaccurate and therefore can cause severe collateral damage and casualties, the ministry said.

Both sides have expended large amounts of weaponry in what has become a grinding war of attrition for the eastern region of coal mines and factories known as the Donbas, placing huge strains on their resources and stockpiles.

Russia is likely using the 5.5-tonne (6.1-ton) anti-ship missiles because it is running short of more precise modern missiles, the British ministry said. It gave no details of where exactly such missiles are thought to have been deployed.

As Russia also sought to consolidate its hold over territory seized so far in the 108-day war, the U.S. Defense Secretary said Moscow's invasion of Ukraine is what happens when oppressors trample the rules that protect us all.

Its what happens when big powers decide that their imperial appetites matter more than the rights of their peaceful neighbors, Lloyd Austin said during a visit to Asia. And its a preview of a possible world of chaos and turmoil that none of us would want to live in.

GOVERNOR: FLAMETHROWERS USED IN LUHANSK

A Ukrainian governor accused Russia of using incendiary weapons in a village in the eastern province of Luhansk, southwest of the fiercely contested cities of Sievierodonetsk and Lysychansk.

While the use of flamethrowers on the battlefield is legal, provincial Gov. Serhii Haidai alleged the overnight attacks in Vrubivka caused widespread damage to civilian facilities and an unknown number of victims.

"At night, the enemy used a flamethrower rocket system  many houses burnt down, Haidai wrote on Telegram on Saturday. His claim could not be immediately verified.

Sievierodonetsk and neighboring Lysychansk are the last major areas of Luhansk remaining under Ukrainian control. Haidai said Russian forces destroyed railway depots, a brick factory and a glass factory.

The Ukrainian army said Saturday that Russian forces also were to launch an offensive on the city of Sloviansk in Donetsk province, which together with Luhansk makes up the Donbas,

Moscow-backed rebels have controlled self-proclaimed republics in both provinces since 2014.

ZELENSKYY SEEKS MORE EU SANCTIONS ON RUSSIA

During a visit to Kyiv by the European Union's top official, Ukrainian President Volodymr Zelenskyy called for a new round of even stronger EU sanctions against Russia.

Zelenskyy called for them to target more Russian officials, including judges, and to hamper the activities of all Russian banks, including that of gas giant Gazprom', as well as all Russian companies helping Moscow in any way.

He spoke during a brief media appearance with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen at the heavily guarded presidential office compound in Ukraine's capital.

The pair discussed Ukraines aspirations for EU membership. Zelenskyy, speaking through a translator, said Ukraine will do everything to integrate with the bloc.

Russia wants to divide Europe, wants to weaken Europe, he said.

Von der Leyen said the EU's executive arm was working day and night on an assessment of Ukraines eligibility as a candidate. The goal is to share it with existing members next week.

Zelenskyy and some EU supporters want Ukraine admitted to quickly.

Von der Leyen described the membership process as a merit-based path and appealed for Ukraine to strengthen its rule of law, fight corruption and modernize its institutions. She said the EU would assist with the country's reconstruction.

UKRAINE PRESIDENT ADDRESSES NATION

Zelenskyy said later, in his nightly video address, that fierce street battles were continuing in Sievierodonetsk and he was proud of the Ukrainian defenders who for weeks have held back the Russian advance.

Remember how in Russia, in the beginning of May, they hoped to seize all of the Donbas? the president said. Its already the 108th day of the war, already June. Donbas is holding.

Zelenskyy said Russian forces are being pushed out of parts of the Kherson region they occupied early in the war. He also reported some success in the Zaporizhzhia region.

He added that no one knows how long the war will last, but Ukraine should do everything it can so that the Russians regret everything that they have done and that they answer for every killing and every strike on our beautiful state.

BATTLE AT A CHEMICAL PLANT

Hundreds of Ukrainian troops remained blockaded inside a chemical plant on the outskirts of Sievierodonetsk, but some of the civilians with them have started to come out, an envoy for Russian-backed separatists said Saturday.

Several hundred civilians could still be inside the Azot plant, where they sought safety from the shelling in underground shelters, Rodion Miroshnik said via Telegram.

As the circle around the Ukrainian troops tightens, he said, the civilians will be able to leave and Russian forces are preparing transportation for their evacuation. The troops will be allowed to leave only if they lay down their arms and surrender, he added.

Luhansk Gov. Haidai said the Russians shelled the plant for hours and a big fire broke out. He made no mention of the troops or civilians referenced by Miroshnik.

RUSSIA SETS UP COMPANY TO SELL UKRAINE'S GRAIN

Russian-installed officials in Ukraines southern Zaporizhzhia region have set up a company to buy up local grain and resell it on Moscows behalf, a local representative told the Interfax news agency on Saturday.

Yevgeny Balitsky, the head of Zaporizhzhia's pro-Russian provisional administration, said the new state-owned grain company has taken control of several facilities.

He said the grain will be Russian and we don't care who the buyer will be.

It was not clear if the farmers whose grain was being sold by Russia were getting paid. Balitsky said his administration would not forcibly appropriate grain or pressure producers to sell it.

Ukraine and the West have accused Russia of stealing Ukraines grain and causing a global food crisis that could cause millions of deaths from hunger.

The head of Ukraines presidential office accused Russia's military of shelling and burning grain fields ahead of the harvest. Andriy Yermak alleged Moscow is trying to repeat a Soviet-era famine which claimed the lives of over 3 million Ukrainians in 1932-33.

Our soldiers are putting out the fires, but (Russias) 'food terrorism' must be stopped, Yermak wrote Saturday on Telegram.

His and Balitsky's claims could not be independently verified.

RUSSIAN PASSPORTS FOR UKRAINE RESIDENTS

Russian forces occupying parts of southern Ukraine began handing out Russian passports to local residents Saturday.

In the Kherson region, 23 residents accepted the documents, including the new Moscow-installed governor, Russian state news agency RIA Novosti reported.

For me this is a truly historic moment. I have always thought that we are one country and one people, the news agency quoted Gov. Volodymyr Saldo as saying.

Soldiers also started giving out passports in the occupied city of Melitopol, according to Russian state news agency TASS. A Telegram post by TASS cited a Russian-installed local official as the original source of the information.

It did not specify how many residents had requested or received Russian citizenship.

Melitopol is located outside of the Donbas in the Zaporizhzhia region.

CHILD DEATH TOLL

Nearly 800 children have been killed or wounded in Ukraine since the beginning of Russias invasion, Ukrainian authorities said Saturday.

According to a statement by the Office of the Prosecutor General of Ukraine, at least 287 died as a result of military activity, while at least 492 more have been hurt. The statement stressed the figures were not final and said they were based on investigations by juvenile prosecutors.

The office said children in Donetsk province have suffered the most, with 217 reported killed or wounded, compared with 132 and 116, respectively, in the Kharkiv and Kyiv regions.

CIVILIAN KILLED IN BEACH BLAST

Officials in the city of Odesa said Saturday that a man was killed by an explosion while visiting a beach on the Black Sea, where mines are a growing concern.

The city council said via Telegram that the man was there with his wife and son despite warnings to stay away from beaches in the area. He was testing the waters temperature and depth when the explosion erupted.

Russia and Ukraine each have accused the other of laying mines in the Black Sea.

Follow APs coverage of the Ukraine war at https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine

Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
JUNEAU, Alaska (AP)  A state court judge on Friday ruled that Alaska elections officials cannot certify the results of the by-mail special primary for U.S. House until visually impaired voters are provided a full and fair opportunity to participate in the election.

Superior Court Judge Una Gandbhir, in her written order, did not say what exactly that would entail. The special primary is on Saturday and the state had set June 25 as the target for certification.

She said it is not the place of the court or the plaintiffs to impose a solution and said she strongly urges the parties to work together to find a "timely, appropriate remedy.

Attorneys with the state Department of Law filed an emergency petition for review with the Alaska Supreme Court, according to a court filing.

The superior courts ruling creates enormous confusion and prejudice to the voters. Voters need to know as soon as possible whether the election will proceed on schedule, or whether it will be delayed, attorneys with the department wrote. They asked the court to rule by 8 p.m. on Saturday.

If the state wins the case, the state Division of Elections would need to begin counting votes to keep its elections timeline on track, state attorneys said. The latest in-person voting sites are slated to close at 8 p.m.

Gandbhir's decision followed arguments earlier in the day in a case filed this week by Robert Corbisier, executive director of the Alaska State Commission for Human Rights. Corbisier sued state elections officials on behalf of a person identified as B.L., a registered voter in Anchorage with a visual impairment.

Attorneys for Corbisier had asked Gandbhir to prevent election officials from certifying the results of the special primary until the state Division of Elections enacts measures that ensure that voters with visual impairments are given a full and fair opportunity to cast their votes independently, secretly and privately. They argued that the by-mail special primary discriminates against voters with visual impairments.

Attorneys for state elections officials countered that adequate methods for secret voting are available for voters with visual impairments.

There would be cascading effects if certification were delayed, including the potential for an August special election for U.S. House to be postponed, attorneys for the state argued.

The special primary is part of a set of elections that will determine who serves the remainder of the late U.S. Rep. Don Youngs term, which expires in January. Young died in March.

The special primary features 48 candidates. Each voter picks one candidate. The four candidates with the most votes will advance to the special election, in which ranked choice voting will be used. The winner of that contest will serve out Youngs term.

The state planned to have the special election coincide with the regular primary on Aug. 16.

No court should consider lightly an injunction that potentially upends an ongoing election, but neither can the Court allow flawed state procedures to disenfranchise a group of Alaskans who already face tremendous barriers in exercising a fundamental right, Gandbhir wrote.

Attorneys for the plaintiffs in court filings said the election lacks options that would allow people with visual impairments to cast ballots without invasive and unlawful assistance from a sighted person.

But attorneys with the Department of Law, defending elections officials, in court documents said the lawsuit seeks to upend the election. They said the division is conducting the election using the long-established and familiar absentee voting process available to voters in all elections.

Election officials began sending ballots to registered voters in late April, and there have been opportunities for early and absentee in-person voting in communities around the state. Voters also can have ballots sent to them by fax or online delivery.

Attorneys for Corbisier said the division typically has touch-screen units at in-person polling sites but said the division indicated they would have them at only a few sites for this election. One of the attorneys, Mara Michaletz, told the judge the division could have acted months ago.

She did not immediately respond to an email from The Associated Press sent after business hours seeking comment on the judge's order.

Attorneys for the Department of Law in court documents said the division first became aware of the commissions concerns about ballot accessibility on May 14 and has been working with the plaintiffs. They said it was not feasible to send voting tablets to all absentee in-person voting locations, noting that before each election the division must prepare and test all necessary equipment in a process that can take weeks.

They said elections officials worked with Corbisier and B.L. on improvements to the online delivery option, which they said the plaintiffs initially expressed satisfaction with.

Kate Demarest, an attorney for the state, told Gandbhir there is no more relief that can reasonably be awarded for this election tomorrow.

Gandbhir, in her ruling, said the division seemed to be doing its sincere best to provide options under the circumstances. Elections officials have said they opted for a primarily by-mail election because of the tight timeline for holding an election following Youngs death.

But she said this is not a we tried our best scenario; this is a state agency responsible for overseeing the voting rights of all Alaskans.

Gail Fenumiai, director of the Division of Elections, in an affidavit said the June 25 certification date is not arbitrary.

Any delay in the special primary election or its certification will require costly, detrimental changes to the other elections scheduled to follow this year. State law dictates that with the special primary on June 11, the special general must occur on Aug. 16, the same day as the regular primary election, she said.

If certification of the special primary is delayed, the division would have to postpone the special election, she said. This would force the division to conduct the special election at a later date than required by law.

If the special election is not held the same day as the regular primary, Fenumiai said it likely would have to be conducted by mail because of the same concerns that prompted the by-mail special primary.

Gandbhir said the division argues - accurately - that this election, and the one to follow, will be thrown into chaos if the Court enters an injunction and thus delays certification. But this is an unavoidable consequence of the situation with which the Court is presented.

Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
The board of directors for the Nebraska Association of School Boards voted Saturday to formally cut ties with a national organization that spurred controversy last year by calling for federal investigation into threats made against school board members.

This decision comes less than a month after the Nebraska associations executive committee voted to recommend canceling its membership in the National School Boards Association, a federation of state associations that advocates and lobbies on public education issues.

Saturdays decision adds Nebraska to a growing list of state school board associations that have distanced themselves or completely cut ties with the NSBA. In a text message, Nebraska association President Brad Wilkins confirmed that they will not pay dues to the NSBA this year. The money would have been due by June 30.

Last September, top figures in the NSBA sent a letter to President Joe Biden asking for federal assistance in protecting educators and board members from threats and harassment. School board meetings across the country grew increasingly heated as debates on masking, sex education and critical race theory compelled parents to testify at the normally quiet meetings.

The letter requested a joint collaboration between state and federal law enforcement agencies to identify and prevent threats against board members. The NSBA requested assistance from the FBI, Department of Homeland Security and the U.S. Secret Service.

As these acts of malice, violence, and threats against public school officials have increased, the classification of these heinous actions could be the equivalent to a form of domestic terrorism and hate crimes, read a particularly controversial section of the six-page letter.

The letter was signed by Viola Garcia, the groups president at the time, and Chip Slaven, the then-interim executive director and CEO.

In October, Attorney General Merrick Garland responded to the NSBA and, in a memorandum, directed the FBI and U.S. attorneys to meet and investigate what he called a a disturbing spike in harassment, intimidation, and threats of violence targeting school personnel.

Both the original letter and Garlands memorandum were heavily criticized by the public, and by NSBA members who said that they were not consulted about the letters contents. In response, at least 23 other state school board associations have formally severed ties with the national organization. A handful of other state boards have released statements denouncing the letters message and the call for federal intervention.

Nebraska politicians also reacted negatively to the letter. U.S. Sen. Ben Sasse called Garlands memo a political hack job in a statement, and Gov. Pete Ricketts said that federal intervention would be an absolute outrageous abuse of federal power meant to browbeat parents into not going to school board meetings.

The NSBA publicly apologized for the letter shortly after it was shared. Slaven no longer holds the interim executive position, and an independent investigation commissioned by the NSBA found that he was the primary author and did not seek comment from the organizations national board of directors or members before sending it.

The number of member associations in the NSBA has been cut in half in the past year, which raises questions about its viability as a national organization. Axios reported last year that the 17 affiliates that cut ties by December 2021 accounted for over $1.1 million in dues. The report also indicated that some states like Montana and Florida are considering the creation of a new national group to rival the NSBA.

Correction: This story incorrectly stated Saturdays vote by the board of the Nebraska Association of School Boards was unanimous.

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SALEM, Mass. (AP)  In the wiggle of a nose, a man covered the "Bewitched" statue in Salem, Massachusetts with red paint, police said.

Witnesses called police at about 5 p.m. Monday to report someone spray painting the bronze statue, Capt. John Burke said Tuesday. The statue depicts actor Elizabeth Montgomery  as lead character Samantha Stephens in the 1960s sitcom  sitting on a broomstick in front of a crescent moon.

An officer in the area spotted a man fitting witness descriptions of the vandal and after a brief chase arrested a 32-year-old city resident on charges of defacing property, resisting arrest and disorderly conduct, Burke said.

His motivation remains unclear.

"In between meetings, was disappointed to hear the Bewitched Samantha statute downtown was vandalized," Salem Mayor Kim Driscoll tweeted Monday night. "I'm grateful to (Salem police) for their quick work apprehending the individual responsible. We'll work to get the statue cleaned, as fast as a twitch of Samantha's nose."

Red paint on the upper half of the statue has already been cleaned off, Burke said.

The statue was erected in the city famous for the 1692 witch trials in 2005, despite protests from some who said it trivializes the tragedy of the trials.
Each week The Pantagraph profiles a different community member. Know someone we should talk to? Email kheather@pantagraph.com.

Name: Jess Ray

Position: Director of operations, the Activity and Recreation Center, 600 E. Willow St., Normal

1. What are some things at the ARC that some people may not know about?

The Activity and Recreation Center is a service of Normal Township and is a 40,000-square-foot facility and one of the largest service centers for people age 55 and older in the state of Illinois. It offers 15 different exercise classes of various levels, a fitness center and physical activities like pickleball as well as over 50 free activities per month, including tech classes, art classes, lectures, music enrichment, cards, games and support groups, in addition to peace meal. ARC's mission is to provide programs that promote healthy aging. Currently we have 2,700 total members and see around 415 members on a busy day. The best way to see what we provide is to check out our monthly newsletter on our webpage at activityandrecreationcenter.org. It is filled with all the fun things that are available at the ARC. The operation hours of the ARC are Monday through Thursday, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., and Friday and Saturday, 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.

2. Are there any requirements to attend the ARC or to become a member?

To participate in the ARC you need to be an adult that is 55 or older and pay a yearly membership fee of $30. Individuals who have SilverSneakers, Silver&Fit & Renew Active can have their ARC membership fee waived following verification. We also have a reduced membership option for those with an annual income of less than $17,820 for a single person or less than $24,030 for a couple. Some activities are open to non-members. The ARC hosts McLean County Health Department vaccine clinics and Red Cross blood drives. In addition, we provide space for community programs such as the IRSs Volunteer Income Tax Assistance and the Senior Health Insurance Program, which is a free statewide health insurance counseling service for Medicare beneficiaries and their caregivers.

3. What is the ARC's Senior Advisory Board?

The Normal Township Senior Advisory Committee was created by the Normal Township Board to advise the board of trustees on the expenditure and use of Senior Citizen Tax Funds. The committee now includes nine members. The volunteers are appointed to three-year terms. The advisory board serves as an advocate for the needs of area senior citizens and supports the operation of the Activity & Recreation Center. The board assists ARC staff with identifying programming to help seniors with physical, educational, mental, emotional and social interests. It also advocates for ARC as a safe place for all and being a great neighbor to our community. The activities range from the Movie Committee, providing recommendations as to what movies will be offered at the ARC; the Veterans Committee, assisting with Memorial Day and Veterans Day programs; to the Health and Wellness Committee, looking into a holistic plan for wellness throughout the aging process that would provide recommendations to ARC staff on related programming.

4. What are the responsibilities of your role as operations director?

I started Feb. 1 after I retired from my job at Illinois State University. My responsibility as director of operations is to work with the Normal Township supervisor and trustees to make sure we are moving forward to meet the mission of ARC. The goal is to help members maintain and enhance their physical and mental well-being. What I love about the job is that I am part of the movement to combat social isolation and its negative impact on older adults. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the American Psychological Association, as well as other credible organizations, have identified that loneliness and social isolation puts people at risk for dementia and other serious medical conditions. Having the ARC encourages older adults to keep physically and mentally active and provides them a place to interact with peers, which reduces social isolation.

5. What have you done prior to this position?

Before I joined the ARC I served as the university registrar at ISU. In addition to being responsible for the Office of the University Registrar, which included class scheduling, registration, awarding degrees and maintaining student transcripts, I was also responsible for the Veteran and Military Services Office and Illinois Articulation Initiative Office, which administers the states iTransfer website.

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Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, made an inspection tour of southwest China's Sichuan province.

Xi stressed resolute implementation of the decisions and plans of the CPC Central Committee, carrying forward the great founding spirit of the Party, and being firm in the general principle of pursuing progress while ensuring stability. He required full, accurate, and comprehensive application of the new development philosophy and actively serving and integrating into the new development paradigm.

Efforts should be made to coordinate COVID-19 response with economic and social development, to stabilize economic development, and to maintain overall social stability, so that the governance and development of Sichuan will be brought to a new level and a new chapter will be opened in Sichuan's development as a part of the new journey to building a modern socialist country in all respects, Xi noted. He called for concrete actions to set the stage for the success of the 20th National Congress of the CPC.

On June 8, Xi, accompanied by Wang Xiaohui, Party secretary of Sichuan province and Huang Qiang, governor of the province, made a fact-finding trip to Meishan, Yibin, and other places. Xi went to a village, a cultural relic protection site, a university, and a company.

On June 1, a 6.1-magnitude earthquake struck Ya'an City, Sichuan province. Xi immediately gave important instructions, requiring Sichuan provincial committee of the CPC and Sichuan provincial people's government to spare no effort in disaster rescue and relief, consoling the families of the earthquake victims. Medical care to the injured should be provided in a timely manner and arrangements made to help those affected by the earthquake, secondary disasters should be prevented, reconstruction be well planned and normal order of life and production be restored as soon as possible, Xi required.

The central departments concerned immediately activated the national level-3 earthquake emergency response and local authorities lost no time in coordinating disaster rescue and relief work. Efforts have been made to ensure all channels are open to save people's lives, the injured are well attended to, and those affected by the earthquake are relocated and resettled in a timely manner. Currently, most residents from earthquake-hit areas have returned to their homes. The province has de-activated the emergency response and shifted the focus to post-disaster recovery and reconstruction.

During his visit in Sichuan, Xi has been concerned with the treatment of those injured in the earthquake and how people lead their lives as well as how the production is in the earthquake-hit areas. He inquired about detailed information on the disaster relief work and urged local authorities time and again to ensure the injured are well attended to, to pay attention to people's psychological counseling, and make well-considered arrangements for the victims of the disaster and the consoling of the victims' family. The supply of daily necessities in the earthquake-hit areas should be guaranteed. Sound planning and solid work should be carried out to reconstruct the earthquake-hit areas so that people can resume normal life and production as soon as possible, Xi stressed.

On the morning of June 8, Xi paid a visit to Yongfeng Village of Taihe Town in Dongpo District, Meishan City, for an inspection tour. Relying on its paddy and rice industry and technological advantages, the village established the largest experimental base featuring new rice varieties and new technologies in the province. At a high standard paddy field base, Xi learned about the general development of the village and affirmed the village's continuous efforts in helping safeguard national food security by planting grains. Xi stressed that the Chengdu Plain has been lauded as a land of abundance since ancient times, that the area of farmland must be ensured and such a precious land for food production must be well protected. He also called for even greater efforts to bolster up grain production and build a higher-level "granary of heaven" in the new era.

Xi walked into the experimental field to take a closer look at the growth of the rice. Agricultural and technical staff members briefed the general secretary on the experimental paddy seed breeding and the promotion of planting. Xi pointed out that it was time consuming for cultivating improved varieties of rice as it required repeated experiments and selection, and all the country's scientific and technical workers in the agricultural sector have made arduous efforts. They have made invaluable contributions to safeguarding national food security and ensuring that the people enjoy ample supply of food and clothing. Xi added that advancing agricultural modernization requires efforts not only of experts but also those of all farmers, that the promotion and application of modern agricultural science and technologies and training of farmers must be strengthened, all big grain growers must be organized to actively develop green, ecological, and efficient agriculture. We have the confidence and determination to ensure the food supply for the Chinese people through our own efforts, Xi said.

Xi is very concerned about rural revitalization. He walked along the roads to take a look at the sewage treatment tanks in Yongfeng Village as well as its overall appearance. He also inspected a medical service center in the village to further learn about the improvement of villagers' living environment and the COVID-19 prevention and control work. Xi stressed that the villagers are concerned about health care the most after they have enough to eat and wear. The building of a rural health care system must be advanced to ensure that all the people in rural areas have access to basic medical services. He also called for efforts to build primary-level Party organizations well so that villagers can be united to further promote rural revitalization after bidding farewell to poverty.

Before waving goodbye to the villagers, Xi told them that as the country's ruling party, the CPC will further advance the building of socialism with Chinese characteristics step by step and spare no efforts to complete all the tasks related to people's well-being, so as to lead the people to a better life.

Located in downtown Meishan City, San Su Ci is the memorial temple and former residence of three literary masters, Su Xun and his two sons, Su Shi, who is also known as Su Dongpo, and Su Zhe. During his visit to the temple, Xi learned about the life experience, main literary achievements, and family precepts and traditions of the three masters, as well as the historical evolution of the temple and the research and inheritance of Dongpo culture.

Chinese civilization has a history of more than 5,000 years, and fine traditional Chinese culture should be honored and cultural confidence strengthened, Xi said. He highlighted that it is important to draw on ways of state governance from fine traditional Chinese culture and learn extensively from outstanding achievements of other civilizations.

China should neither keep to itself, nor regard all from foreign countries as criterion. It must adhere to the path of socialism with Chinese characteristics, Xi said.

Family traditions and education are the most precious wealth of a family and the best legacy for future generations. Xi called for more emphasis on family traditions and education and on cultivating a strong sentiment to love families and the motherland among future generations so that young people will strive to grow into talent who can contribute to the development of the country and the society. He urged that members of the CPC and officials, especially leading officials, must act in a clean manner, run their homes frugally, keep integrity, discipline themselves in performing their duties and their families, and develop fine family traditions of CPC members in the new era.

On the afternoon of June 8, Xi made an inspection tour of Yibin City. The Yangtze River, Jinsha River, and Minjiang River meet in the downtown area of Yibin, which presents a magnificent scene. Built on the riverside, Yibin is known as the first city on the Yangtze River. Years of efforts on environmental improvement have turned the banks of the three rivers into a beautiful waterfront park frequented by local people.

Looking far into the convergence of the three rivers at Sanjiangkou, Xi was briefed about the ecological restoration and protection of the Yangtze River basin and implementation of the fishing ban in the river.

Xi pointed out that protecting the ecological environment of the Yangtze River basin is key to driving high-quality development of the Yangtze River Economic Belt and preserving the region as the cradle of Chinese civilization. Since Sichuan is located in the upper reaches of the Yangtze River, he called for the local government to increase their awareness of the overall picture, develop a strong sense about the protection of the upstream reaches, implement the policy of well-coordinated environmental protection instead of excessive development, and keep the river water clean through sound ecological conservation.

Xi paid close attention to the employment of college graduates as their total number is estimated to reach a record high of 10.76 million this year, up 1.67 million year on year. He chose Yibin University as a stop, watching the exhibition of creative works of excellent graduate students and learning about how the university helped graduates find jobs and start their businesses. At a job fair held on campus, Xi talked with the faculty, students, and employers to learn more about what kind of employees were wanted and how the graduates fared in landing a job. Xi stressed that the Party Central Committee has attached great importance to the employment of university graduates and adopted a set of policies and measures. Noting that now is a key time for college graduates to get employed, Xi emphasized efforts to tap employment resources and provide pragmatic and careful guidance and services. He urged colleges, employers, and related authorities to make sure more graduates sign employment contracts, particularly those from families that have just shaken off poverty, families receiving minimum living allowances, and families without a bread-earner, as well as those who have disabilities or did not get employed long after graduation. Telling the students that a happy life is the result of one's own hard work, Xi urged them to look at their own abilities and the needs of society in a down-to-earth and objective manner, choose a profession and a job based on actual conditions, be diligent and pragmatic, and improve themselves step by step through actual work. He encouraged the students to consciously practice core socialist values and strive to achieve all-round development in terms of moral grounding, intellectual ability, physical vigor, aesthetic sensibility, and work skills.

The next stop Xi visited was XGIMI Optoelectronic Co., Ltd. Touring the company's exhibition hall and factory, he was briefed about the company's efforts in independent innovation, product R&D and marketing, and job creation. He also learned about how the local government has made efforts to support private businesses and issue policies to help industries, micro, small and medium enterprises, and self-employed individuals hit hard by COVID-19 to overcome difficulties. Xi stressed that we should advance scientific and technological innovation and foster more top-notch enterprises in all sectors so that we will have more "hidden champions" and form clusters of scientific and technological innovators.

In the square outside the factory, Xi chatted with the company's employees. He stressed that as a major manufacturer, China should strive to improve its innovation capabilities and accelerate its transformation to a country strong in manufacturing. Noting that to become a country with improved composite strength means China should be strong in all fields and aspects, Xi said that to build a modern socialist country in all respects and realize national rejuvenation, the future is bright but the path leading to it can be tortuous. Facing dangerous rapids and shoals, we should be brave to meet risks and challenges. There is no such thing as a windfall, and progress will have to be achieved through our joint efforts. Most of you were born in the 1980s and 1990s, now is the right time for you to strive with aspiration, a sense of responsibility, and diligence, Xi said. By the middle of this century when a great modern socialist country in all respects is realized, we all will be proud of doing our bit in building a strong country and fulfilling the Chinese Dream.

On his inspection tour, Xi pointed out that all local governments and relevant departments must resolutely implement the decisions and arrangements of the CPC Central Committee. Xi required that, abiding by the principle of making progress while maintaining stability, they should do a good job in all areas of reform, development and stability, with a view to maintaining a stable and healthy economic environment, a peaceful social environment, and a clean and righteous political environment, and thus create a good atmosphere for the convening of the 20th National Congress of the CPC.

Xi called on all local governments and departments to do a good job in coordinating epidemic prevention and control with economic and social development, and resolutely overcome challenges currently in the way of economic development. He emphasized that efforts must be made to create jobs, guarantee social security, and provide aid for people living in difficulties. Work in all areas must be done well to make people feel reassured and therefore social stability is secured, Xi said.

Perseverance makes the difference, and the country's dynamic zero-COVID approach must be unswervingly continued, Xi said. He required that people must have confidence, clear up all obstructions, and never slacken vigilance to ensure key links are consolidated in the control and prevention work, and thus what the country has achieved in its response to the epidemic can be consolidated.

Speaking of recent floods and geological disasters that occurred in some parts of China, Xi called for early contingency preparations by all localities and relevant departments to preempt major floods and other natural disasters and get well prepared for disaster relief. All localities and departments are urged to strengthen disaster prevention capabilities in order to safeguard people's lives and property.

Overall planning and coordination must be strengthened to make sure that hidden dangers of natural disasters can be detected in advance through careful patrol and inspection, Xi stressed. Xi also called for the protection of important infrastructure works, improved early forecast and warning of rainfall, typhoons, mountain torrents, and debris flows, as well as redoubled efforts to guarantee smooth traffic flow, and meticulous and down-to-earth measures for flood control and disaster relief.

He required that swift rescue efforts must be made immediately after disasters to strictly prevent secondary disasters and reduce casualties and loss of property to the minimum. He called for efforts to resume production and people's normal life as soon as possible while doing a good job in rescue and disaster relief. He also called for a good job in providing support and aid to people affected by disasters, maintaining sanitation, and preventing epidemic from happening after natural disasters, so as to avert relapses into poverty as a result of disasters.

Ding Xuexiang, Liu He, Chen Xi, He Lifeng, and some other officials of the central authorities are also on the inspection tour.

On the morning of June 9, Xi met with the military officers above senior colonel level and major commanders of regiments in Chengdu. On behalf of the CPC Central Committee and the Central Military Commission, he extended sincere greetings to all the officers and troops stationed in Chengdu and had a group photo with them. Xu Qiliang was present at the meeting.
BLOOMINGTON  Almost 100 people gathered early Saturday afternoon for a March For Our Lives in downtown Bloomington, calling for federal laws banning assault weapons.

LuAnn Salz from Peru called the event to order and started the march around the McLean County Museum of History.

"There will be an attempt to do something small, but we need big change," Salz said.

Leonard Bell of Bloomington said the answer is clear. "We have to ban assault weapons  weapons of war," he said. "I think Democrats need to be a little more forceful in arguing the point."

March for Our Lives is a national organization, and the Bloomington march was just one of many that took place all over the U.S. on Saturday. The events were prompted after recent mass shootings in Uvalde, Texas, and Buffalo, New York.

"It's great to see a national call for action brought people out locally," said Karla Bailey-Smith, who is running as a Democrat for state representative in District 91. "(It's) the same call to action: protect kids, not guns."

Bailey-Smith faces Sharon Chung in the Democratic primary election on June 28. Republicans vying for the seat are James Fisher and Scott Preston.

Bailey-Smith said the issue of guns coming from out of state is outside Illinois' control.

"That is absolutely our biggest problem, especially in the Chicago and East St. Louis areas," she said. "There's no way to control the flow of guns from other states."

She continued, "We have to have federal laws that cover universal background checks. We need federal laws for firearm registration."

Bailey-Smith said the first steps are banning high-capacity magazines and military weapons.

Paul Spangler drove from Monticello with his two young children. He hopes new federal regulation comes soon.

"I am optimistic," he said. "I worry it's going to take a long time. I don't want it to take as long as I fear."

Spangler said he believes there will be more bloodshed before any action.

Salz said current school safety measures are negatively affecting children.

"We're traumatizing them with these shooter drills," she said.

One sign being held up at the march read, "schools are for learning not lockdowns."

Spangler said passive action is not enough.

"'Thoughts and prayers' gets overused, and it's gross," he said.

Salz dismissed excuses to keep assault weapons.

"You're massacring prairie dogs with an AR-15?" she said, noting comments this week from South Dakota Sen. John Thune.

Bell said Republicans need to re-evaluate their values.

"I don't know if they're invested heavily in gun manufacturers or what, but something needs to change," he said.

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CHICAGO  A Chicago man who jumped onto train tracks to rescue someone who had fallen onto an electrified rail during a fight at an L station earned more than praise for his heroic act: He's also been gifted with a car.

Anthony Perry, 20, was surprised Wednesday with a 2009 Audi A8 from Early Walker, founder of the anti-violence organization I'm Telling Don't Shoot.

"We wanted to literally show our appreciation because we need more people like you. We need more Anthonys in the world," Walker said after also giving Perry a $25 gasoline card.

Perry said the car will make his life "way easier." He's been taking two buses and a train to get from his home in the South Side neighborhood of Park Manor to his job with Amazon Fresh in suburban Oak Lawn.

On Monday, he got off at a stop on the Chicago Transit Authority's Red Line when he noticed a nearly unconscious man on the electrified third rail of the tracks. He jumped down onto the tracks and pulled the man to safety.

"I was hoping I could just grab him and not feel nothing, but I felt a little shock," Perry said. "I felt it all though my body actually. I didn't let that stop me."

With the help of another commuter, Perry administered CPR on the man, who had been hurt by an electric shock. The man was taken to a hospital and was expected to survive.

Police are still investigating the incident that led to the man falling onto the tracks, the Chicago Sun-Times reported.

Perry's car was delivered to him blocks from his home as residents and police officers looked on in support.

"So many times people think these young men are out here doing the wrong thing, but this is just a prime example of how a young man took it upon himself to jump in and do the right thing," said Chicago police Lt. Yolanda Irving.

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One of the benefits of the growing public acceptance of non-binary sexuality is seeing people you love finally being able to present themselves as they are.

Our decisions to designate days, weeks and months honoring specific groups is important. The word disenfranchised is probably used too often, but if youre a member of a group that feels as though its on the outside looking in, its a word that rings too true.

Were glad to again note the designation of June as Pride Month.

Our society has a lengthy history of not doing right by minorities. Yet, our aim to improve is apparent in our willingness to at least listen to viewpoints outside our own.

The celebration of Pride Month in June began in 1969 with the Stonewall Inn uprising, an event led by Black trans women fighting back against the establishment. On June 28, 1969, police had come to raid the only bar in New York City for gay men that allowed dancing to arrest people for crossdressing and being transgender. Police raids on places where gay people congregated were common at the time.

The uprising at the Stonewall Inn in June 1969, sparked a liberation movement  a call to action that continues to inspire us to live up to our Nations promise of equality, liberty, and justice for all. Pride is a time to recall the trials the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer (LGBTQ+) community has endured and to rejoice in the triumphs of trailblazing individuals who have bravely fought  and continue to fight  for full equality, President Joe Biden wrote in his proclamation recognizing the month. Pride is both a jubilant communal celebration of visibility and a personal celebration of self-worth and dignity.

For all of our progress, there are many States in which LGBTQ+ individuals still lack protections for fundamental rights and dignity in hospitals, schools, public accommodations, and other spaces. Our Nation continues to witness a tragic spike in violence against transgender women of color. LGBTQ+ individuals  especially youth who defy sex or gender norms  face bullying and harassment in educational settings and are at a disproportionate risk of self-harm and death by suicide. Some States have chosen to actively target transgender youth through discriminatory bills that defy our Nations values of inclusivity and freedom for all.  Ending violence and discrimination against the LGBTQ+ community demands our continued focus and diligence.

America and Americans take pride in the melting pot of people that makes up this nation. They should also be proud of how the rainbow flag represents that to which the country can aspire.

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I support Judge Amy McFarland for circuit court judge.

Judge McFarland was appointed to the bench as an associate judge in 2016. She is currently the presiding judge of the family division, a role normally assigned to a circuit judge.

Judicial, local trial court, experience counts and should be the deciding factor in this election. Many writers urge support for Judge McFarlands opponent, Don Knapp, because he will be hard on criminals and promote law and order. However, this is not the proper role for a judge. A judge must be an impartial trier of fact and should not bring an agenda to the bench.

Knapp is currently the McLean County States Attorney. His stance of being hard on crime seems better suited to his current position where he is charged with promoting law and order. His record to date demonstrates his willingness to pursue, screen and prepare cases to bring criminals to justice. Judge McFarlands record to date demonstrates that she has the necessary temperament, experience and expertise to serve as circuit judge. 90.74% of attorneys responding to a judicial advisory poll found that she meets the requirements of the office and 14 retired judges endorsed her for office. They recognize the value of her experience.

Judge McFarland is clearly the best person for the job and I urge you to vote for her.

Hannah Eisner, Bloomington

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I have been an attorney for over 30 years and I met Amy McFarland when she was in private practice. We argued many cases against each other, and while we both advocated in the best interests of our clients, we were professional, dedicated and appreciated each others respect for the judicial system.

Both of us were court-certified mediators, which are required in cases involving contested proceedings in divorce and family law matters. Mediators do not make decisions, but assist parties in coming to an amicable resolution on parenting issues.

We both were also court-certified Guardian Ad Litems (GAL), positions also used in domestic cases. We have both worked on the GAL committee for the required educational training to be certified.

Since Amy McFarland was appointed as an Associate Judge in 2016, I have appeared in many cases in front of her. She has continued to prove her legal knowledge and respect for all parties. She is prepared, patient and explains the basis for her decisions.

Judge McFarlands reputation and expertise have been recognized by the State of Illinois as an instructor at the Illinois Judicial College. Judge McFarland has been appointed to preside over the McLean Countys Mental Health Recovery Court; and is also the presiding judge over the Family Law Division in McLean County.

Judge McFarland earned the respect of attorneys, received a 90% approval rating from the Illinois State Bar Association and has been recommended to become a Circuit Judge. Her opponent was not recommended after receiving only a 54% approval rating.

Judge McFarland is my choice for Circuit Judge and I hope that you will join me in voting for her.

Alice F. Smalley, Normal

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The United States late Friday rescinded a 17-month-old requirement that people arriving in the country by air test negative for COVID-19, a move that follows intense lobbying by airlines and the travel industry.



Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Director Rochelle Walensky issued a four-page order lifting the mandate, effective at 12:01 a.m. ET (0400 GMT) Sunday, saying it is "not currently necessary."



The requirement had been one of the last major U.S. COVID-19 travel requirements. Its end comes as the summer travel season kicks off, and airlines were already preparing for record demand. Airlines have said that many Americans have not been not traveling internationally because of concerns they will test positive and be stranded abroad.



U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra said the CDC decision is based on science and available data, and said the agency "will not hesitate to reinstate a pre-departure testing requirement, if needed later."



The CDC will reassess the decision in 90 days, an administration official said.



The United States has required incoming international air travelers to provide pre-departure negative tests since January 2021. In December the CDC tightened the rule to require travelers to test negative within one day before flights to the United States rather than three days.



The CDC has not required testing for land border crossings.



Many countries in Europe and elsewhere have already dropped testing requirements.



The CDC is still requiring most non-U.S. citizens to be vaccinated against COVID to travel to the United States.



Two officials told Reuters the Biden administration had considered lifting the testing rule only for vaccinated travelers.



JetBlue Airways (JBLU.O) Chief Executive Robin Hayes told Reuters on Friday that the testing requirement was "the last obstacle to a really full international travel recovery," saying that it "served no purpose anymore."



IATA, the world's biggest airline trade group, said it was "great news" that the administration is "removing the ineffective pre-departure COVID test for travel to the US."



In April, a federal judge declared the CDC's requirements that travelers wear masks on airplanes and in transit hubs like airports unlawful and the Biden administration stopped enforcing it. The Justice Department has appealed the order, but no decision is likely before fall at the earliest.



The CDC continues to recommend travelers wear masks and get COVID-19 tests before and after international flights.



Raymond James said in a research note that lifting the restrictions "is an important catalyst for international travel."



Delta Air Lines (DAL.N) Chief Executive Ed Bastian told Reuters last week that dropping the requirements will boost travel, noting that 44 of 50 countries Delta serves do not require testing.



U.S. Travel Association CEO Roger Dow said Friday's move will "accelerate the recovery of the U.S. travel industry," which was hard hit by the pandemic.

Source: REUTERS









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The University of Cape Coast (UCC), has planted 71,000 tree seedlings as part of activities to commemorate its sixtieth anniversary.



The exercise was the universitys contribution to the governments Green Ghana Project, which commenced on Friday, June 10, 2022, across the country for the planting of 20 million trees nationwide.



The Green Ghana Project was initiated by government through the Forestry Commission, through the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources.



Professor Johnson Nyarkoh Boampong, the Vice-Chancellor of UCC in a short remark to start the exercise, asked Ghanaians to take deliberate steps to restore the lost vegetation cover caused by human activities, to mitigate the threats of climate change.



He noted that deforestation had led to the reduction in oxygen concentration in the atmosphere, caused erratic rainfall patterns and the outbreak of various unknown diseases which needed urgent solutions



Professor Boampong, therefore, lauded government for initiating the Green Ghana Project, which he said, would go a long way in restoring, if not all, a large portion of the countrys forest cover.



The Vice Chancellor said the university nurtured the 30,000 trees planted last year and they were doing well.



He said the university was training students in effective agriculture to inculcate the habit of planting and nurturing in them.



Professor Boampong said planting trees which are in line with governments Green Ghana Project, was part of his vision to green UCC and to protect the environment.



The trees being planted on the 60 hectares of school land, included exotic species, notably teak and mahogany, Ofram, cedrela and others.



Osabarima Kwesi Atta II, the Omanhen of Oguaa Traditional Area who took part in the exercise, said it was imperative to challenge the climate with the planting exercise to restore the forest.



He suggested that the exercise be done monthly to speedily recover the lost reserves instead of on a yearly basis, urging the commission to ensure that all the trees planted were tracked to achieve the expected results.

Source: GNA









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

Featured Video
Former Head of Monitoring Unit at the Forestry Commission and a newly ordained Pastor, Charles Owusu, has assured Ghanaians that the National Cathedral that the government is establishing will be completed despite opposition.



According to him, the Cathedral will serve many good purposes for the nation.



The building of the National Cathedral has courted lots of controversies with some people claiming it is unneccessary while others are in support of it.



One of the strong opponents of the Cathedral is the Editor-in-Chief of the Insight newspaper, Kwesi Pratt, who argues that the monies being pumped into the establishment should rather be channeled into resolving the economic challenges.



"Has God told you he wants a house to sleep in? When did God tell you he wants a house to sleep in?"



"What kind of God in this world or is alive and knows that today, when someone is sick in Ghana and the patient has no money may die, He will say we should use our little money to build a house for him? Then that is not a good God . . . What God says we should stop investing money in quality healthcare but use it to build a house for Him? Is God human? Does he stay in a house? . . . Will God not answer us if we don't build a cathedral?", he asked.



But Charles Owusu, speaking on Peace FM's "Kokrokoo", says whether any person like it or not, "we will definitely build the National Cathedral to the glory of God. It doesn't matter the noise about it".



He also questioned; "What is the crime in building something for the nation to honor God?"





Source: Ameyaw Adu Gyamfi/Peacefmonline.com/Ghana









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

Featured Video
Paul Adom-Otchere, the host of Good Evening Ghana, has conceded to criticisms that his perceived harsh and controversial editorials are fueled by his disdain for the National Democratic Congress and its members, as well as his dislike for people whose opinions he views to be against the interest of the Akufo-Addo government.



Adom-Otchere confirmed on the Thursday, June 9, edition of his show that he is anti-Mahama and NDC and sets up his show to prosecute issues that align with his interest, which is to protect the Akufo-Addo government.



Adom-Otchere justified his decision with the reason that he has direct access to President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo and will use that channel to communicate his displeasure to him if there is any.



Adom-Otchere urged his critics to use their social media and other platforms to hit out at the government instead of directing him to do so.



He however shares the principle that all governments, including that of Akufo-Addo, ought to be criticized.



"I support Akufo-Addo, you support John Mahama, there should be no problem. People write to me and say, 'why don't you use your programme to criticise the government?' Is the programme for you?," Mr Adom-Otchere quizzed.



"Do your programme and criticise the government, I don't understand it... Other people are criticising the government, watch that one. Today we all have media, If you like go on Facebook and criticise the government, there is no problem with that.



"The government ought to be criticised, governments are there so that they are criticised. I support Akufo-Addo because of my conviction and I feel there is something in there that is not good or not working well, I would not criticise him on this television because I have access to him, I would go to him and tell him...".



Adom-Otchere was justifying his attacks on persons who act in ways which he posits to be attempted at making the Akufo-Addo government unpopular.



The latest victim of his unrestrained rants is the Agbogbomefia of the Asogli State, Togbe Afede XIV.



Togbe Afede got on the wrong side of Adom-Otchere after he returned an amount of money paid him as ex-gratia for his works as a member of the Council of State from 2017 to 2020.



Adom-Otchere on Tuesday, June 7 and Thursday, June 9, 2022, made a number of allegations against Togbe Afede in an attempt to discredit his gesture.



Togbe Afede XIV has however rebutted and denied the claims by Adom-Otchere, labelling him a stomach journalist.



He knew me very well. [So its] surprising that he of all people, and I dont want to go into details; will be the one to criticise me. But why am I not surprised? Because he had done something similar before. When I was fighting Agyapa, he granted an interview to the Minister of Finance and sought to denigrate me even in that interview.

Source: Ghanaweb.com









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

Featured Video
US reaffirms commitment to Southeast Asian countries

US Secretary of Defence Lloyd Austin on June 10 reaffirmed to his Southeast Asian counterparts Washington's strong commitment to the region through the maintenance of an open, inclusive and rules-based security environment.













US Secretary of Defence Lloyd Austin (Photo: AFP/VNA)

The US official had an informal meeting on the sidelines of the Shangri-La Dialogue, a high-level security summit taking place in Singapore from June 10-12.



According to a release from Singapore's Ministry of Defence (Mindef), Austin said the US will continue to deepen cooperation with ASEAN, particularly in the area of maritime security.



It will also play a strong role in the ASEAN Defence Ministers' Meeting Plus (ADMM+), an annual forum of the regional bloc and its eight partner countries.



The Southeast Asian defence ministers, except for Myanmar's, who is not attending the meeting - welcomed the US' continued engagement of the region, said Mindef.



Singapore's Defence Minister Ng Eng Hen also reaffirmed the principles that underpin the strong US-ASEAN relationship, and showed his countrys aspiration to enhance cooperation with the US to tackle transnational security challenges.






Speakers:

Wang Zhigang, minister of science and technology





Hou Jianguo, president of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS)





Li Xiaohong, president of the Chinese Academy of Engineering (CAE)





Zhang Yuzhuo, vice president of the China Association for Science and Technology (CAST) and chief executive secretary of the Secretariat of CAST





Li Jinghai, president of the National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC)





Chairperson:

Shou Xiaoli, spokesperson of the Publicity Department of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC)





Date:

June 6, 2022

Shou Xiaoli:



Ladies and gentlemen, good morning. Welcome to this press conference held by the Publicity Department of the CPC Central Committee. This is the sixth press conference under the theme of "China in the past decade." Today, we have invited Mr. Wang Zhigang, minister of science and technology; Mr. Hou Jianguo, president of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS); Mr. Li Xiaohong, president of the Chinese Academy of Engineering (CAE); Mr. Zhang Yuzhuo, vice president of the China Association for Science and Technology (CAST) and chief executive secretary of the Secretariat of CAST; and Mr. Li Jinghai, president of the National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC), to brief you on China's innovation-driven development strategy to build a country strong in science and technology, and to take your questions.

Now, let's give the floor to Mr. Wang for his introduction.

Wang Zhigang:

Ladies and gentlemen, friends from the media, good morning. First of all, I would like to thank all friends from the media for your long-term interest, understanding and support for the cause of scientific and technological innovation. I am very glad to meet with you today along with my colleagues from the scientific field and to share with you the developments in sci-tech innovation in the past decade. We are very happy to discuss issues of interest with you.

Since the 18th CPC National Congress, the CPC Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core has taken innovation as the primary driving force for development and put it at the heart of the overall development of the Party and the country. With Chinese characteristics and the overall trend of global development in mind, the CPC Central Committee has created plans and arrangements for sci-tech innovation in the new era based on the features of the current situation. Our goal is to build China into a country of innovators and a country strong in science and technology; our position is to take independent sci-tech capabilities as a strategic support for national development; our strategy is to continuously and fully drive development through innovation; and our path is to firmly follow independent innovation with Chinese characteristics. The blueprint for China's sci-tech undertaking has been drawn, and the cause of sci-tech innovation is being steadily advanced.

Over the past decade, under the strong leadership of the CPC Central Committee, with the concerted nationwide efforts of the scientific and technical field and its personnel, China's sci-tech cause has experienced major historic, holistic and structural changes, turning the country into a nation of innovators and helping it blaze a development path transitioning from strong talent and sci-tech capabilities to strong industries, economy and state. China's total investment in research and development (R&D) increased from 1.03 trillion yuan in 2012 to 2.79 trillion yuan in 2021, and its proportion of R&D spending increased from 1.91% to 2.44% of GDP. China rose to 12th on the World Intellectual Property Organization's Global Innovation Index in 2021, up from 34th in 2012. China's position and role in the global innovation landscape have undergone new changes. China is not only an important participant in cutting-edge international innovation, but also a significant contributor to the resolution of global issues.

Over the past decade, local regions, departments and sci-tech personnel across the country have thoroughly implemented the strategic arrangements of the CPC Central Committee; central and local governments have coordinated their efforts; the eastern, central and western regions have cooperated on innovation; and sci-tech, industries and the financial sector have achieved integrated development. Coordinated efforts have been made to support growth, deepen reform and expand opening-up, gathering the force of the whole country together to press ahead with innovation.

We have formed a new strategic structure for sci-tech innovation that supports development and ensures security based on four aspects we are faced with. Facing the international frontier of science and technology, we have remained goal-oriented and upheld free exploration at the same time, and made a number of original achievements with international influence in such fields as quantum information, stem cells and brain science. Facing the main battlefield of the economy, we have applied high-quality science and technology to drive industries toward the medium- and high-end, and ensured the safety and stability of industrial and supply chains. The application of emerging technologies such as supercomputing, artificial intelligence, big data and blockchain has accelerated, which has created a boom in the digital economy and other new industries and business forms. Facing major national needs, we have moved faster to make breakthroughs in key, core technologies, and reinforced weak links and strengthened capabilities in priority areas of strategic importance. We have supported the smooth implementation of major projects such as the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge and the Sichuan-Tibet Railway. Deep-sea oil and gas as well as coal have been utilized cleanly and efficiently, and new nuclear power technologies have provided strong guarantees for national energy security. Facing people's lives and health, high-level forces have been organized nationwide to make scientific research breakthroughs in pandemic emergency response, and a set of sci-tech innovations have been achieved in vaccines, drugs, testing reagents and other areas, which has strongly supported the pandemic prevention and control work. Innovative drugs, domestic high-end medical equipment, and advanced diagnosis and treatment technologies have allowed people to benefit from more high-quality innovations.

We have remained committed to promoting innovation through reform and fully stimulated the enthusiasm and creativity of innovators and researchers in all areas. People hold the key to sci-tech innovation. Reforms to the sci-tech system over the past decade have made their way into people's lives, and the systems and mechanisms for cultivating, utilizing, evaluating, galvanizing and introducing talent have been improved. Reforms to sci-tech plans and research funding management have relieved the burden on scientific researchers, the development of research integrity has created a good environment for innovation, and the capacities of innovators have been enhanced. The construction of a national laboratory system with Chinese characteristics has been accelerated, the capabilities of high-level research universities and scientific research institutes have been consistently boosted, a group of internationally competitive sci-tech enterprises have been thriving, and the national innovation system has become more efficient and smoother.

We have remained steadfast in opening wider and developed a new pattern of all-dimensional, multi-tiered and wide-ranging international sci-tech cooperation. Openness and collaboration are intrinsic to development underpinned by science and technology, and indispensable for addressing global challenges. Over the past 10 years, we have pursued a strategy of open, inclusive and mutually beneficial international sci-tech cooperation, and have made constant progress regarding collaborations in the field with 161 countries and regions. Innovation under the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) has been accelerated. Our joint research with other countries in fields including climate change, food security, and people's lives and health have yielded fruitful results. In the future, China will open its science and technology sector even wider. We are ready to exchange and cooperate with sci-tech counterparts from more countries and to make greater contributions to global sci-tech progress and sustainable development.

At the same time, we are keenly aware that there are still many weaknesses and shortages in China's sci-tech innovation in terms of originality, high-end personnel, and key, core technologies. We need to seize important development opportunities while dealing with a series of risks and challenges. We believe that under the strong leadership of the CPC Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core, the nationwide sci-tech community will further strengthen its confidence in innovation, strive to overcome difficulties, scale new heights and speed up the promotion of high-level independent science and technology. We will make new strides and achieve new accomplishments on the new journey toward building a country strong in science and technology, and pave the way for a successful 20th CPC National Congress with concrete actions.

Thank you.

Shou Xiaoli:

Thank you, Mr. Wang, for the introduction. Now the floor is open to questions. Please identify your media outlet before raising questions.
An artist's depiction of the massive White Rock spinosaurid.

A giant crocodile-faced dinosaur, discovered on the Isle of Wight by one of Britain's best fossil hunters, was probably the largest predator ever to stalk Europe, scientists said on Thursday.

Most of the bones of the two-legged spinosaurid were found by the late local collector Nick Chase, who dedicated his life to combing the beaches of the island on England's southern coast for dinosaur remains.

Researchers at the University of Southampton then used the few bones available to identify what they have called the "White Rock spinosaurid", they said in a study published in the journal PeerJ.

"This was a huge animal, exceeding 10 metres (33 feet) in length and judging from some of the dimensions, probably represents the largest predatory dinosaur ever found in Europe," said Chris Barker, a Ph.D. student who led the study.

While admitting it would be better to have more bones, Barker told AFP the "numbers don't lieit is bigger than the biggest known specimen" previously found in Europe.

Thomas Richard Holtz, a vertebrate paleontologist from the University of Maryland not involved in study, agreed that the new find "does seem to be larger" than a huge predator whose fossilised remains were discovered in Portugal.

Matt Lamanna, a dinosaur palaeontologist at Carnegie Museum of Natural History in the US, praised the "excellent, thorough study of the specimen" given the lack of bones, but said it was difficult to compare sizes.

For example, he said the biggest known spinosaurid, the Spinosaurus, was likely the longest such dinosaur "but it probably wasn't as heavy" as the Tyrannosaurus rex or the Giganotosaurus"the latter of which is about to become super-famous thanks to the new 'Jurassic World' movie".

The best preserved bones of the Wight Rock spinosaurid, incluing a tail vertebra that helped indicate its massive size.

Why the long face?

The White Rock spinosauridwhich the researchers hope to formally name as a new speciesis from the Early Cretaceous period and is estimated to be around 125 million years old.

Barker said that makes it the youngest spinosaurid found in Britain, two or three million years younger than the well-known Baryonyx.

Spinosaurids are known for their elongated heads. Rather than having the boxy skull of a Tyrannosaurus rex, their faces look more like that of a crocodile.

A leading theory to explain this trait is that they hunted in water as well as on land.

"They're kind of like storks and herons, wading in and snatching fish from the surface," Barker said.

The White Rock spinosaurid was discovered in a coastal lagoon environment where few dinosaur fossils are normally found.

"It helps start to paint a picture of what animals were living in the time, which is a very poorly known part of English palaeontological heritage," Barker added.

Nick Chase, who the scientists called 'one of Britain's most skilled dinosaur hunters', found most of the new spinosaurid bones.

The team had already identified two new spinosaurid species on the Isle of Wight, including the Ceratosuchops inferodiosdubbed the "hell heron".

"This new animal bolsters our previous argumentpublished last yearthat spinosaurid dinosaurs originated and diversified in western Europe before becoming more widespread," study co-author Darren Naish said.

Collector's 'uncanny ability'

The palaeontologists paid tribute to Chase, who always donated whatever bones he found to museums.

"Most of these amazing fossils were found by Nick Chase, one of Britain's most skilled dinosaur hunters, who sadly died just before the COVID epidemic," said study co-author Jeremy Lockwood, a Ph.D. student at the University of Portsmouth.

Barker said Chase's "uncanny ability" to find bones showed that "it's not just professional palaeontologists who are making impacts in the discipline".

The discovery "highlights the fact that collectors have a big role to play in modern palaeontology and their generosity helps move science forwards", he added.

And if there any aspiring fossil hunters hoping to pick up where Chase left off, the palaeontologists would welcome more White Rock spinosaurid bones.

"We hope that a passerby might pick up some bits and donate them," Barker said.

Explore further Europe's largest land predator unearthed on the Isle of Wight

More information: Chris T. Barker et al, A European giant: a large spinosaurid (Dinosauria: Theropoda) from the Vectis Formation (Wealden Group, Early Cretaceous), UK, PeerJ (2022). Journal information: PeerJ Chris T. Barker et al, A European giant: a large spinosaurid (Dinosauria: Theropoda) from the Vectis Formation (Wealden Group, Early Cretaceous), UK,(2022). DOI: 10.7717/peerj.13543

 2022 AFP
In this aerial photo provided by the BLM Alaska Fire Service, the East Fork Fire burns about 25 miles north of St. Mary's, Alaska on June 2, 2022. The largest documented wildfire ever burning through tundra in southwest Alaska is within miles of two Alaska Native villages, prompting dozens of residents with respiratory problems to voluntarily evacuate. Credit: Pat Johnson, BLM Alaska Fire Service via AP

The largest documented wildfire burning through tundra in southwest Alaska was within miles of two Alaska Native villages, prompting officials Friday to urge residents to prepare for possible evacuation.

This came a day after dozens of elders and residents with health concerns voluntarily evacuated because of smoke from the nearby fire.

Officials on Friday put the communities of St. Mary's and Pitkas Point into "ready" status, meaning residents should gather important items they would want to have with them if they have to evacuate, said U.S. Bureau of Land Management Alaska Fire Service spokesperson Beth Ipsen by text. That would be followed by "set," or getting a go-bag ready and leaving if the "go" order is given.

The fire is consuming dry grass, alder and willow bushes on the largely treeless tundra as gusts of up to 30 mph (48.28 kph) are pushing the fire in the general direction of St. Mary's and Pitkas Point, Yup'ik subsistence communities with a combined population of about 700 people and about 10 miles (16 kilometers) apart.

There are about 65 firefighters battling the blaze, with about 40 more expected later Friday, Ipsen earlier said by phone.

The fire had not grown much since Thursday and was still estimated at 78 squares miles (202 square kilometers). The northerly winds pushed the fire to within 5 miles (8 kilometers) of St. Mary's, officials said in a late Friday update.

Ipsen said she was not aware of any structures that have been lost.

Crews cleared brush and other fuel from a swath of land in the path of the flames, and air tankers dropped retardant between the line and St. Mary's as another buffer. Other aircraft had been dropping water on the fire until another fire broke out north of a nearby community, Mountain Village.

Climate change has played a role in this historic fire, said Rick Thoman, a climate specialist with the University of Alaska Fairbanks' International Arctic Research Center.

In this aerial photo provided by the BLM Alaska Fire Service, the east side of the East Fork Fire is seen near St. Mary's, Alaska, on June 9, 2022. The largest documented wildfire ever burning through tundra in southwest Alaska is within miles of two Alaska Native villages, prompting dozens of residents with respiratory problems to voluntarily evacuate. Credit: BLM Alaska Fire Service via AP

He said based on records from the Alaska Fire Service dating back to the 1940s, this is the largest documented wildfire in the lower Yukon River valley. There are much bigger fires recorded just 50 or 60 miles (97 kilometers) north of St. Mary's, but those burned in boreal forests.

The area where the tundra fire is burning, the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta, lost its snowpack early this year, leaving grass and other vegetation longer to dry out. Coupled with the warmest period on record in the region recently, it provided for the perfect storm for this fire that was started by lightning on May 31.

"Climate change didn't cause the thunderstorm that sparked that fire, but it increased the likelihood that the ambient conditions would be receptive," he said.

The southwest Alaska hub community of Bethel, about 100 miles (160.93 kilometers) southeast of St. Mary's, is the closest long-term weather station.

For the period covering the last week of May and the first week of June, Bethel had its warmest temperatures on record this year, 9 degrees F (12.78 degrees C) above its normal 48 degrees F (8.89 degrees C), Thoman said.

About 80 village elders and others with health concerns were relocated to the Alaska National Guard Armory in Bethel on Thursday, said Jeremy Zidek, spokesperson for the Alaska Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management.

Two companies that provide commuter air service in roadless western Alaska flew the passengers to Bethel.

One of those was Yute Commuter Services, which provided 12 flights out of St. Mary's on its planes that seat six, said Andrew Flagg, the company's station manager in Bethel.

On Friday, he said they were asked to deliver drinking water to the community so it could be given to the firefighters.

St. Mary's and Pitkas Point, which is at the confluence of the Andreafsky and Yukon rivers, are located about 450 miles (724 kilometers) west of Anchorage.

Explore further California wildfires at risk of sparking as wind blows in

 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
FORT ANN  A Malta woman was sentenced recently to 2 years in state prison for trying to bring drugs into the Washington Correctional Facility.

Neshekah S. Mathieson tried to enter the medium-security prison in Fort Ann at about 6 p.m. on Aug. 22 with a quantity of marijuana, Suboxone and fentanyl, according to state police.

Mathieson was charged with felony counts of first-degree introducing dangerous prison contraband, first-degree introducing prison contraband, fifth-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance and third-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance with intent to sell.

Mathieson pleaded guilty on April 8 in Washington County Court to felony fifth-degree attempted criminal possession of a controlled substance in satisfaction of the charges and was sentenced last month.
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP)  Coronavirus cases are on the rise again in New Mexico, but top state health officials said Wednesday that a return to mask mandates or other widespread public health restrictions are unlikely because infections are becoming more mild.

Health and Human Services Secretary Dr. David Scrase said during his first briefing on the pandemic in months that the situation is very different now than it was over the winter. He noted that more tools and treatments are available and that infections are resulting in far fewer hospitalizations and deaths.

This isn't about infections. It's about serious disease, it's about hospitalizations, it's about deaths. That's what we need to pay attention to," he said of the focus. ... Our deaths are only a fraction, our hospitalizations are only a fraction and that's really the sticking point for this state.

The pandemic took a toll on New Mexico early on because of the state's historical lack of resources, including nurses and its low ranking among states when it comes to hospital bed capacity.

Health care officials and some elected officials promoted the mandates in hopes of limiting infections and preventing the overtaxing of a system already running at full capacity.

Hospitalizations due to COVID-19 infection are currently low and only a small percentage of patients require ventilators, which state officials said means an evolution toward a milder illness from coronavirus infections.

State epidemiologist Dr. Christine Ross, who will step down from her post in the coming weeks, said it has been a long and difficult public health period but that she was pleased to report what she called a welcomed difference from the severity of prior infections.

What we're seeing with this wave is very different than what we've seen in the past, she said, pointing to multiple factors that range from the properties of the latest variant to what she referred to as a wall of protection created by vaccination and immunity resulting from infections and in some cases re-infections.

Health officials did acknowledged the difficulty in analyzing data now because many positive infection tests conducted at home go unreported.

While state data showed vaccinated and boosted people made up nearly two-thirds of COVID-19 cases reported over the last four weeks, Scrase said the numbers should not be considered a study of how effective vaccination might be because there are too many variables.

With treatments now seen as a game-changer, Scrase said his next hope is that deaths caused by the virus can be prevented.

New Mexico's coronavirus death toll is approaching 7,900 people, according to state data.

Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
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GLASSBORO  Of the millions who will see Jurassic World: Dominion, the latest installment of the series of blockbuster dinosaur movies, Ken Lacovara may have a unique perspective.

The new film includes the on-screen debut of dreadnoughtus, an enormous dinosaur the paleontologist and South Jersey native discovered in southern Argentina in 2005. Lacovara later named the species for a class of battleships that were said to be so large they had nothing to fear.

The dinosaur is believed to be the largest animal to walk on land that human beings have ever discovered, or at least the largest we can estimate the size of with any certainty.

It was really a thrill to see dreadnoughtus on the screen, Lacovara said Friday.

He saw the film the night before and described seeing actor Sam Neill, playing Dr. Alan Grant, looking down from a helicopter and identifying the huge animal by name.

Ive been studying this animal for 17 years. I know it intimately. Then to see it on the big screen, fleshed out and brought back to life by the worlds best animators is really quite something, Lacovara said. I remember standing in the desert in Patagonia over top of that first bone.

He described the experience of seeing the animal alive and moving in a film as surreal.

Lacovara, 61, grew up in Linwood and graduated from Mainland Regional High School.

He currently lives in Swedesboro, Gloucester County, and is the dean of the School of Earth and Environment at Rowan University. He also is the director of the Jean and Ric Edelman Fossil Park of Rowan University in Mantua Township, a $73 million museum expected to open next summer.

There, researchers are studying the end of the age of the dinosaurs in the earth of South Jersey, carefully exploring a layer that corresponds to what was happening 65 million years ago.

It is really a world-class site in terms of scientific importance. The last months of the age of the dinosaurs is preserved there, Lacovara said.

Visitors will be able to explore as well, in a layer of earth that matches a slightly later date. Its still packed with fossils, he said, allowing children to discover shells or even sharks teeth from millions of years ago.

Everybody who comes to the site and isnt afraid to get their hands dirty finds a 65 million-year-old fossil that they get to take home, he said.

The fossil evidence around the world shows a mass extinction event about 66 million years ago, in which three-quarters of life on earth died off, likely because of the impact of an asteroid or comet and its devastating effect on the global environment.

Dreadnoughtus lived long before that, about 77 million years ago, or 11 million years before the devastation. That far back, the deserts of Patagonia in the far south of South America were lush forests and even the continents were in different places on the globe, although Lacovara said the map would be mostly recognizable. One big difference: Antarctica was connected to South America.

Lacovara believes most dreadnoughtus lived in what is now Antarctica, once a forest now buried under an ice sheet. What is now Argentina was likely the northernmost tip of the animals range.

Dinosaurs lived in every ecosystem on land, Lacovara said. But paleontologists often have the best luck searching for their fossils in deserts, where signs can be easier to spot and constant erosion can offer glimpses of the long buried past close to the surface.

When he saw part of the first bone of dreadnoughtus, Lacovara said, he knew he was on to something extraordinary, based on the size of the femur.

That bone was almost 7 feet long, he said. It took five seasons of work to find the entire skeleton, recovering 145 fossilized bones weighing almost 16 tons.

When the animal was alive, it was truly massive. Estimates made based on the two sections of leg bones indicate dreadnoughtus weighed in at 65 tons, the mass of nine tyrannosaurus rex or about 13 African elephants.

Its the most massive land animal for which we can confidently calculate a weight to have ever lived, Lacovara said. It was an herbivore, with a long neck and tail, standing about two stories tall at the shoulder. It was about 85 feet long from the nose to the tip of its tail, with the head and neck making up 40 feet of that.

Adding up the expeditions to South America, Lacovara estimates he lived about a year in a tent next to dreadnoughtus, returning time and again with a team to uncover as many bones as possible. While the fossils were being uncovered, he and his wife had a child.

I had two babies, one that was five pounds, the other 65 tons, he joked.

The first dreadnaught ship, and one that named a class of battleships, was the HMS Dreadnaught, launched by the British Navy in 1906. Lacovara said he named the dinosaur after two famous dreadnaughts of the Argentine navy, the Rivadavia and the Moreno, which are in turn both named for important figures in the history of Argentina.

Contact Bill Barlow:

609-272-7290

Twitter @jerseynews_bill

Contact Bill Barlow: 609-272-7290 bbarlow@pressofac.com Twitter @jerseynews_bill

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A Rock Island County jury on Friday found a former Rock Island-Milan School District teacher guilty of sexual crimes against a student.

Authorities allege that on Nov. 5, 2018, Patrick J. Noya, a high school teacher at the time, fondled a girl student who was at least 13 but younger than 18, prevented her from leaving a classroom and showed her videos of sexual conduct.

The Rock Island County States Attorneys Office charged Noya, now 45, of Rock Island with two counts of aggravated criminal sexual abuse, unlawful restraint and distribution of harmful material to a minor, according to county court records.

The trial began Monday with Judge Norma Kauzlarich presiding, according to court records. On Friday, a jury found Noya guilty on all four counts.

The jury deliberated for about four hours before returning with the verdict. Noya was allowed to remain free on $250,000 bail pending his sentencing on Aug. 26.

Noya worked for the Rock Island-Milan School District starting at least as early as 2016. In April 2018, the school districts board approved the non-renewal of contracts for several probationary teachers completing a partial year of service, including Noya.

Officials learned of the allegations Nov. 6, 2018, and Noya was put on leave, and the Rock Island Police Department and the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services were notified, according to the district in 2019. He was banned from district property and was fired Nov. 26, 2018.

Before deliberations began Friday, the prosecution and defense made their closing arguments. The state was represented by Jennifer Gardner, while Noya was represented by Gregory Walker.

Both attorneys said there was limited physical evidence, so the jurys decision came down to witness credibility. Both Noya and the girl testified.

Mr. Noyas credibility is for you to judge, Gardner said.

Gardner argued the lack of physical evidence was at least partly because of Noyas actions. He was using a phone app with privacy features.

She also said that cases like this had to be tried in the past without the benefit of current technology and tools  just because something did not happen on camera did not mean it did not happen.

Noya had control over the room where the girl was, Gardner said. He did not allow her to leave the room by denying her a hall pass.

He had complete control of his environment and when he offended, Gardner said.

In his closing statement, Walker argued there are devices that can extract information from cell phones.

Did you see any of that? he asked the jury. No.

Walker said that was because the events did not take place. He argued the same for the video Noya is accused of sending.

He said the only evidence the state could provide to support its case was the testimony.

Who do you believe  them or Mr. Noya? Walker asked.

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One Republican is running for Illinois' 72nd House District.

Tom Martens, 54, is unopposed in the June 28 primary election.

Martens graduated from Alleman High School in 1986 and joined the Army Reserves. He served as a military police officer until his honorable discharge in 1990 and attended Black Hawk College.

He currently resides in Rock Island and is employed as a senior electric motor mechanic at Rock Island Electric Motor Repair.

According to Martens' campaign site, he is running on an "anti-corruption" platform. He supports imposing term limits on elected officials, and as a staunch defender of the Second Amendment, he would seek to end Illinois' Firearm Operator's Identification Card (FOID) program.

He is "pro life, pro police and wants to help veterans gain purpose."

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A Clinton man is charged with attempted murder after he allegedly stabbed another man in the head with a knife Wednesday, Clinton Police said.

Christopher Michael Rife, 28, faces a mandatory 25-year prison sentence if he is convicted on the Class B felony charge. As attempted murder is a forcible felony under Iowa law, Rife would have to serve 70%, or 17  years, before he would become eligible for parole.

According to the arrest affidavit filed by Clinton Police Detective Joshua Winter, at about 10 a.m. Wednesday, officers were sent to 707 Park Place to investigate an initial report that a man had been stabbed in the head with a fork.

At the scene, officers spoke with Alyssa Hartson, 27, who reported that Evin Lee Keesey, 26, was stabbed in the head with a fork by a man she identified as Christopher Michael Rife at her residence.

As officers spoke with Keesey at MercyOne Clinton Medical Center, they noticed that instead of a fork, Keesey had been stabbed in the head with a knife and that the handle of the knife had been broken off. Keesey told officers that Rife stabbed him.

Keesey was then taken to University of Iowa Hospitals & Clinics, Iowa City, for advanced neurological care.

During a post-Miranda interview at the Clinton Police Department, Rife denied having an altercation or physical encounter with anyone at Hartsons residence.

Rife also is charged with domestic abuse assault-first offense in connection with the incident and possession of a controlled substance-marijuana-first offense. Both charges are serious misdemeanors that carry a jail sentence of up to one year.

During a first appearance hearing in Clinton County District Court on Thursday, District Associate Judge Kimberly Shepherd scheduled a preliminary hearing in the case for June 17 in district court.

Rife was being held Friday night in the Clinton County Jail on $250,000 bond, cash only.

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A Davenport man awaiting trial in two drug cases in which he is accused of selling meth, heroin and ecstasy was arrested Thursday by Davenport police after he allegedly sold heroin to a confidential source on three occasions.

Courtney Edward McMillian, 43, is charged with four counts of possession with the intent to deliver heroin. Each of the charges is a Class C felony under Iowa law that carries a prison sentence of 10 years.

According to the arrest affidavits filed by Davenport Police Officers Robert Myers and Ryan Leabo, 1:45 p.m. on May 6, members of the Davenport Police Departments Tactical Operations Bureau were conducting an investigation into McMillian after information was developed that he was selling heroin.

At that time, a confidential source was utilized to purchase 1.9 grams of heroin from McMillian in the area of 6310 Brady St. The controlled buy was recorded using an audio-video recorder.

At 4:28 p.m. May 24, a confidential source was used to purchase nine-tenths of a gram of heroin from McMillian in the area of 1528 W. Locust St. The buy also was recorded.

At 2:35 p.m. on June 2, a confidential source for police purchased eight-tenths of a gram of heroin from McMillian in the area of 1733 E. Kimberly Rd. The buy also was recorded.

When officers arrested McMillian on Thursday, officers seized 2.8 grams of heroin from his sock.

According to police, the typical dose of heroin is one-tenth of a gram, meaning that McMillian sold 17 doses to the confidential source and had in his possession at arrest 28 doses of heroin.

During a first appearance hearing Friday in Scott County District Court, Magistrate Eric Syverud scheduled a preliminary hearing in the case for June 17 and set cash-only bonds totaling $40,000.

McMillian was being held Friday night in the Scott County Jail.

At the time of his arrest, McMillian was out on bond awaiting trial in two other drug cases.

On March 10, 2020, he was arrested by Davenport Police for allegedly peddling meth and ecstasy. In that case, McMillian is charged with possession with the intent to deliver no more than 5 grams of meth and possession with the intent to deliver no more than 5 grams of ecstasy. He also is charged with taking contraband, a knife, into the Scott County Jail. Each of those charges is a Class C felony that carries a prison sentence of 10 years.

He was released from the Scott County Jail after posting 10% of a $20,000 bond through a bonding company.

The trial in that case is scheduled for July 11 in Scott County District Court.

On Sept. 14, 2021, Bettendorf Police arrested McMillian for selling heroin after he was caught with 2.87 grams, or 28.7 doses, as well as some quantities of meth, Xanax and marijuana.

According to the arrest affidavit filed by Bettendorf Police Sgt. Joshua Paul, in that case narcotics units had received information from multiple sources that McMillian was selling heroin, meth and crack cocaine. Additionally, several women reported having obtained heroin from McMillian in return for sex.

At the time of his arrest in that case, McMillian denied selling drugs. However, during a search of his cell phone police found messages from people wanting to purchase heroin and meth.

McMillian was released from the Scott County Jail after posting a $1,000 cash-only bond.

McMillians trial in that case is scheduled for Sept. 19 in district court.

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Approximately 50 days after the presidential election, French citizens are returning to the polls. On June 12 and 19, they will participate in the two rounds of the legislative election and vote for the members of the National Assembly.



Following his victory last April, President Emmanuel Macron hopes to win the majority of seats in the 577-seats parliament. Such a majority would give him a decisive sway in domestic politics. If he doesn't succeed, he'll have to cooperate with other parties, appoint a prime minister who will not be a personal favorite  perhaps Jean-Luc Melenchon  and govern according to the cohabitation formula.

In its modern history, France has witnessed three cohabitations. The first was experienced from 1986 until 1988 when socialist President Francois Mitterrand had conservative Jacques Chirac as prime minister. The second was from 1993 until 1995 when the same French leader worked with conservative Prime Minister Edouard Balladur. And the third was seen from 1997 until 2002, when Chirac, this time as President, cohabitated with socialist Prime Minister Lionel Jospin.

Opinion polls do not offer safe prognostics. Macron's party La Republique En Marche (The Republic on the Move, LREM), the leader of the Ensemble (Together) coalition, preserves a small lead in most surveys. However, the legislative election is much less personal than the presidential race, and Macron cannot merely rely on his personality for success. In contrast, although his party has 306 seats in the current parliament, not all candidates are necessarily well-known.

The level of abstention is expected to be important once again, possibly favoring Macron, as happened last April. According to recent research findings, only 38% of respondents in France had followed the electoral campaign. In the 2017 legislative election, abstention reached 57.3% in the first round and 51.3% in the second.

Marine Le Pen, the leader of the far-right Rassemblement National (National Rally, RN) who lost the presidential election to Macron, is now hoping to officially build a parliamentary group. The threshold for doing so is 15 deputies. While RN currently has eight deputies, she appears confident about its performance on June 12. Its percentage exceeds 21% in recent surveys.

However, polls demonstrate that it is not the RN that challenges LREM in the legislative election. Instead, it is a new political formation composed of left and center-left parties called the New Ecological and Social Popular Union (NUPES). It is led by the leader of La France Insoumise (France Unbowed), Jean-Luc Melenchon, and includes others such as the Socialist Party (PS), the Communist Party (PCF), Europe Ecology-The Greens (EELV), and some smaller political entities.

The personal hope of Melenchon to become prime minister depends on the performance of the NUPES that is competing with Macron's coalition. The latter appears as the favorite, but both are gathering between 26% and 27% in the surveys of the last weeks. Even if Melenchon fails to realize his goal, he will have the opportunity to forge a united front for the years to come or inspire a joint programmatic agenda under different leadership. Unity is the only way forward for the left and center-left political spectrum in France. Disunity is certainly one of the main reasons why Melenchon did not qualify for the second round last April, despite being very close to Le Pen.

Despite differences, parties that are members of NUPES have already presented  since May 19  a common political program. Whether they can remain united in practice following the announcement of the result remains to be seen, of course. The preservation of the NUPES cohesion  irrespective of who finally wins the legislative election  will have a decisive effect not only on domestic politics but also on general deliberations about the future direction of left and center-left political parties in Europe.

George N. Tzogopoulos is a columnist with China.org.cn. For more information please visit:

http://www.china.org.cn/opinion/GeorgeNTzogopoulos.htm

Opinion articles reflect the views of their authors, not necessarily those of China.org.cn.

If you would like to contribute, please contact us at opinion@china.org.cn.
Don Barnett's life was changed forever when he heard three firefighters likely perished during the June 9, 1972 flood.

"I went to Vietnam and served my country for a year and a half," he said. "I commanded 280 men and I brought every one of them home. I didn't pull that off as mayor of Rapid City."

Barnett was 29 when he was the mayor of Rapid City. After a devastating night of rain, flood, debris, cars getting lodged in trees and houses being pulled into the middle of the road, the death toll and number of missing people began to rise. By Sunday, there were 4,000 names on the missing list.

Barnett shared his recollection of the day after the flood Friday afternoon in the Journey Museum, 50 years to the day.

The morning after the flood, Barnett said there was an intense fog over the city, which he called the cloud of death. After a night of trying to warn residents, help with the rescue and directing National guard, firefighters and police officers, Barnett stopped at the water treatment plant.

The water superintendent at the time told him there was too much trash in the water, too many twigs, too much gravel, dirt and building materials. The pumps sucked all of the debris in until they exploded. The water purification facility was lost.

But the superintendent and city crews started on the plant. Clean water was delivered and distributed. There was a plan and a start to repair, Barnett said, but uncertainty continued to grow.

"I stopped at the courthouse and they told me 85 bodies had thus far been delivered to the funeral homes," he said. "Then we got as busy as we could be."

County government took over disaster recovery and Barnett tried to get 16 city departments back online to build temporary bridges, repair the water plant, find the bodies of the three firemen and a "list of unimaginable, horrible things," Barnett said.

The entire community pitched in, from the Salvation Army commander's widow to the Homestake Mine in Lead. Within one week of the flood, the Rapid City Council voted to keep homes and structures away from the flood plain, 27,000 meals had been handed out, bridges were underway and there was the beginning of a plan to get Rapid City back on track.

Barnett said it took Rapid City 50 years to get back to a new sense of "normal." He said each mayor after his second term, which ended in 1979, has fought to protect the flood plain, and it is a necessary battle.

"We have to keep that avenue for safety for future generations," he said. "What did Leonard Swanson say on that Sunday night? We cannot sentence the survivors for one more night on the suicidal flood plain, and I hope the mayors of tomorrow and the councilmen of tomorrow live by that axiom."

 Contact Siandhara Bonnet at siandhara.bonnet@rapidcityjournal.com 

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Losing its Rapid City office and its leader within a few hours on June 9, 1972, didnt deter the Salvation Army from providing aid when disaster struck.

In the first month after the flood, Salvation Army records indicate it served 177,749 meals, distributed 180 tons of clothing and 2,000 cases of disposable diapers, and provided rescue workers with 39,249 sandwiches and 55,812 cups of coffee and cold drinks at 11 mobile canteens.

The emergency aid began on June 9 with volunteers  including local Salvation Army leaders Maj. William Medley and his wife, Maj. Joy Medley  making sandwiches and coffee for first responders and growing numbers of flood evacuees.

They immediately began making sandwiches until they couldnt use the Salvation Army building anymore, said Maj. Vangie ONeil, the current Rapid City Corps Officer and Black Hills Camp Administrator for the Salvation Army. In conjunction with the 50th anniversary of the flood, ONeil has researched the Salvation Armys disaster relief efforts.

Amid warnings of an impending flood, William removed the camper from his familys pickup and went out to try to help flood victims.

The last I heard from him was about 8 oclock Friday night when he yelled, Honey, I am going out to Storybook Island to see if I can help, Joy said in an interview with the Associated Press.

Storybook Island was hit with a five-foot wall of water when Canyon Lake Dam burst. According to his obituary, William was helping two people into his vehicle when the dam broke. He and his passengers were swept to their deaths.

According to ONeil, Joy continued making sandwiches throughout the night, not knowing her husbands fate until the next day. However, Joy later told the Associated Press she soon suspected her husband had been lost to the flood.

It wasnt like him not to contact me. He wouldnt have left me alone all night. Bill would have told someone to get in touch with me. He was just that kind of man, Joy said.

I know he was going to help someone when the flood waters caught him, she said. He had the keys to the truck in his pocket. They never found the truck.

Meanwhile that night, Joy and three other women volunteers were forced to evacuate the Salvation Army office. The Salvation Armys official news publication, The War Cry, later reported Joy left the Salvation Army office in waist-high water.

Joy later wrote about her experience for The War Cry, recalling that two of the three volunteers were terrified of water because they couldnt swim  but they all waded through the water and got out of the building with whatever food and supplies they could carry.

Joy and the volunteers moved to the city auditorium as the Salvation Armys emergency mass feeding program continued.

The next day she went down long enough to identify (her husbands) body and went back to work making sandwiches, ONeil said of Joy.

"There was so much to be done, and only God gave me the strength to work through the nights and days after Bill was gone," Joy wrote in an article for The War Cry.

The Salvation Army was given the major responsibility for distributing food and clothing, The War Cry reported in its July 29, 1972 issue. Canteens were airlifted to Rapid City and dispatched with teams of workers into six areas of Rapid City, all connected by radio.

The city auditorium became the chief distribution point for the tons of food, clothing and cleaning materials distributed. Ellsworth Air Force Base was the receiving point for supplies from around the nation. Commissioner J. Clyde Cox, the territorial commander, visited the area and committed the Salvation Army resources to remain as long as needed. The cost estimate of aid was $510,000, The War Cry reported.

In just the first month after the flood, 50 Salvation Army officers from 11 states directed 2,060 volunteers, who gave 19,812 hours of service.

Flood waters left the Rapid Citys Salvation Army office barely usable, ONeil said, and the organization moved shortly thereafter to its current location on Cherry Avenue.

William Medleys death caused shockwaves throughout the organization. He and Joy had been assigned to Rapid City in 1970, and when he died, William was two weeks away from his 24th anniversary with the Salvation Army.

As the flood hit Rapid City, the Salvation Army was conducting its annual national congress in Chicago. Reports indicate that when news of the flood and Williams death was announced, there was a gasp, then silence from the shocked crowd of thousands, ONeil said.

The War Cry reported a memorial service for William Medley was attended by 7,000 to 8,000 people including clergy of all major denominations and faiths, and by First Lady Patricia Nixon. Nixon specifically asked to meet Joy Medley and thanked her for her valiant service, saying You are a brave girl.

ONeil said disaster relief remains part of the Salvation Armys mission, and volunteers are always needed. For more information or to volunteer, call the Salvation Army of the Black Hills at 605-342-0982.

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U.S. Air Force B-1B Lancers landed at Andersen Air Force Base, Guam, on June 2 for a Pacific Air Forces Bomber Task Force deployment, according to a news release from Ellsworth Air Force Base.

The personnel, aircraft and assets arrived from the 28th Bomb Wing to conduct PACAF training alongside allies, partners, and the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command Joint Force.

Our presence here in Guam and flights throughout the region serve two strategic purposes, said Lt. Col. Ross Hobbs, the 34th Bomb Squadron commander, assurance to our regional allies through consistent presence and multi-lateral integration, and deterrence of U.S. adversaries that continue to threaten stability of the worlds diplomatic, military, and economic spheres of influence.

In line with the National Defense Strategys objectives of strategic predictability and operational unpredictability, BTF missions demonstrate the ability of U.S. Air Force Global Strike Command to deliver lethal, ready, long-range strike options to Geographic Combatant Commanders anytime, anywhere.

Long-range bomber operations and the unique Agile Combat Employment/BTF construct greatly strengthen our steadfast relationships with our allies and partner nations in the Pacific, said Maj. Kristof Lieber, the 34th Bomb Squadron assistant director of operations. Were all excited to showcase the ability to take a small contingent of Bones and personnel and demonstrate our flexibility, credibility, and lethality in the largest area of responsibility in the world.

Contact Laura Heckmann at lheckmann@rapidcityjournal.com

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Misleading headlines and stories would lead a reader to believe that if Roe v. Wade, the U.S. Supreme Court decision that legalized abortion on demand throughout all 9 months of pregnancy, is overturned that abortion would immediately be outlawed across the country.

This is not true.

If Roe is overturned, then state legislators will have the ability to protect women and their unborn babies by passing legislation that reflects the will of the population of their state.

South Dakota is one of thirteen states with a trigger law of some sort, and that number is growing, where most induced abortions would be banned if the landmark federal law was overturned.

South Dakotas trigger law, passed in 2005, is SDCL 22-17-5.1: Any person who administers to any pregnant female or who prescribes or procures for any pregnant female any medicine, drug, or substance or uses or employs any instrument or other means with intent thereby to procure an abortion, unless there is appropriate and reasonable medical judgment that performance of an abortion is necessary to preserve the life of the pregnant female, is guilty of a Class 6 felony.

State legislators may consider current scientific and medical knowledge that tells us that a babys heart begins to beat by 6 weeks or that at just 8 weeks of pregnancy, a babys heart is beating at an astonishing 150 to 170 beats per minuteabout twice as fast as an adults heart. Or they may consider that after 12 weeks, which is the end of the first trimester and when an unborn babys body is fully formed, she has eyelids, lips, a nose, fingers, and toes.

The point is that state legislators will have the opportunity to effect change that helps women and their unborn babies.

Contrary to information that the abortion industry may present, women do not seek abortions because they want onethey seek abortions because they feel they have no choice, because they have no support, or the babys father insists on an abortion. Young women may also worry about finishing school, or they may have limited resources.

The pro-life movement cares about women and their unborn children. Over the years, the movement has grown to include nearly 3,000 pregnancy help centers across the United States designed to help women where and when they need it. These centers provide services for free and are supported by churches, local businesses, and individual donors. Many centers provide free ultrasounds, pregnancy tests, prenatal vitamins, baby clothing, formula, parenting classes, and additional practical and material help, and are largely staffed by trained volunteers. Many pregnancy centers, if they have the supply, have a policy of providing a couple of days worth of diapers and wipes to anyone walking in off the street.

Centers that provide medical services, such as ultrasounds or STD testing, are under the oversight of a local medical doctor. Pregnancy centers also maintain connections to other organizations in the community and can put a young woman in touch with other resources such as housing or transportation and connect her to doctors who can take her insurance or Medicaid. The earlier a woman receives prenatal care, the better the outcome is for both her and her baby. Pregnancy centers help facilitate and encourage earlier care and because the services are free, the ability to pay is never an issue.

This is what the pro-life movement and the tens of thousands of volunteers do every day for women and children in needwithout fanfare or large advertising budgets and free of charge.

Dale Bartscher is the Executive Director of South Dakota Right to Life.

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I carry a small 3x4 notebook in my jacket pocket just about everywhere I go. Its used to jot notes, to-do lists, goals, and reminders. When I came to Congress in 2019, I had several pages in my notebook dedicated to what I wanted to do in Year One. What made the top of the list? Getting appointed to the House Agriculture Committee.

My energy to burn slogan wasnt really a slogan at all  at 145 pounds and 43 years old  I put my full weight behind accomplishing that goal. Twenty days after I was sworn in, I got the news South Dakotas lone congressional office would have a seat at the ag table. I was ecstatic, but having read the entirety of the 2018 Farm Bill, I knew that meant the work had just begun.

2019 was a tough year for cattle producers. The Holcomb Tyson beef processing fire set off a ripple effect of market volatility. While beef prices increased on the shelves, cattle futures fell 29% between January and April of 2019. At the time, I requested President Trump and the DOJ get to the bottom of what was going on with the market conditions.

Since day one, Ive continuously heard from producers on the lack of competition and transparency in the industry  its concerning to hear the doubt cast on the market as a whole from the folks who have spent their lives eating, sleeping, and breathing cattle.

So how can we resolve some of this doubt? Identifying practical solutions  ones that have a chance of passing both the Senate and the House  would be step one. There are 435 members of the U.S. House  only 38 are from rural districts. 2019 and 2020 brought agriculture and the supply chain to the forefront  this window provided ample opportunity to educate other members and get them behind cattle market reform proposals.

With 2020 exposing the cracks in our supply chain, our team readied timely solutions. The Small Packer Overtime Fee Relief for COVID-19 Act, my bill aimed at paying back small processors who were disincentivized to work overtime during the pandemic (but did so anyway to keep the supply chain moving), was included in the fiscal year 2021 budget. The USDA also announced they were implementing my bill and providing $100 million to cover overtime inspection fees. USDA also implemented the Butcher Block Act, my legislation to solve packer concentration by establishing a grant program to expand regional cattle processor expansion efforts.

While these bills increase competition and capacity, there are still transparency issues.

When the National Cattlemans Beef Association, the U.S. Cattlemens Association, the South Dakota Cattlemens Association, the South Dakota Farm Bureau, and R-CALF got together in May of 2021, they called for better price transparency and discovery.

Thats why I introduced the Cattle Contract Library. The Cattle Contract Library requires the USDAs Agriculture Marketing Service Department to develop the library to make cattlemen aware of contract terms being offered by packers. Currently, cattlemen dont have such information, which has led to a decline in leverage for smaller producers during price negotiations.

I was proud to see this bill pass on its own in the U.S. House overwhelmingly in December 2021. Additionally, funding to begin a pilot program of the Cattle Contract Library was signed into law. I was also encouraged that my Butcher Block Act to expand shackle space passed out of committee just two weeks ago. I will continue to work with producers, my colleagues, and the USDA to ensure this program prioritizes the needs of your everyday cattle rancher.

Theres no silver bullet, but well keep working.
ZORTMAN  A recent survey of bats at Azure Cave in Phillips County found a significant population reduction since last year, likely due to white-nose syndrome (WNS).

Biologists from Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks, Montana Natural Heritage Program and Bureau of Land Management conducted their regular winter survey in May. Azure Cave is a critical hibernating location for bats, hosting approximately 1,700 to 1,900 bats in a typical year. The May survey found a 98% reduction in bat numbers, with about 40 bats hibernating in the cave. Half of the remaining bats showed visible fungal growth associated with white-nose syndrome.

WNS is a fungal disease that has killed more than 6 million bats in North America since 2006. A powdery white fungus grows on the skin of hibernating bats, often on the face, leading to irritation and dehydration. This causes bats to arouse early from hibernation and exhaust fat stores they need to survive the winter, often leading to death.

WNS has been confirmed in 38 states and seven Canadian provinces. It can wipe out entire colonies of bats and has caused dramatic population declines for several species of bats in North America. Only bats are known to be affected by WNS, which does not pose a risk to humans, pets, livestock or other wildlife.

This is the third year in which the fungus has been present within the cave, and the second year in which signs consistent with WNS were detected.

In the survey last year at Azure Cave, we saw that at least one third of the bats had visible fungus on their wings and face, said Kristina Smucker, FWP nongame wildlife bureau chief. We expected to see fewer bats this year, but were hoping the population decline wouldnt be as severe as we observed.

Found throughout Montana, bats are an important component of the ecosystem and economy of Montana. They also are part of the unique biological diversity of the state.

A little brown bat can eat 1,200 mosquitoes in an hour, Smucker said. Bats are really important for keeping insect populations in check  they help protect crops and timber from insect pests.

Azure Cave is located on BLM land in the Little Rocky Mountains and was the largest known hibernating winter colony used by several mouse-eared bat (Myotis) species in the western U.S. outside of New Mexico, and the largest known winter colony of the little brown bat (Myotis lucifugus) in the West. The little brown bat is of particular concern as it has suffered severe declines in the eastern and central regions of North America.

Biologists have conducted annual bat surveys in Azure Cave since 1993. In a typical year, about 1,7001,900 bats, primarily little brown bats, hibernate in the cave.

This years decline in Azure is consistent with WNS-associated declines in little brown bats observed in other states at similar sites.

Surveys conducted in Azure are part of annual, statewide surveillance efforts to track the spread of WNS in Montana. FWP and partners are monitoring more than 35 sites across the state for presence of the fungus and/or bats with symptoms of WNS. FWP first found the fungus in Eastern Montana in 2020. Now, the fungus has been detected in eight counties in Eastern Montana, and WNS has been confirmed in bats in three of them, including at Azure Cave in Phillips County.

People should not handle bats. Anyone who sees a dead or sick bat, group of bats, or finds bats in unexpected places should call a local FWP office to report the finding.

Like other wildlife, bats may get sick or die for a variety of reasons, said Emily Almberg, disease ecologist for Montana FWP. We are particularly interested in investigating clusters of dead bats or bats that are found dead during the winter or early spring, as that may indicate WNS being the cause.

People can report these discoveries to the FWP Wildlife Health Lab in Bozeman at 406-577-7882, or they can contact a biologist at their local FWP office.

For more information on white-nose syndrome, visit https://www.whitenosesyndrome.org/. For more information on Montanas bats visit https://fieldguide.mt.gov.

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Employees working for the Commonwealth of Virginia must return to the office July 5, unless they receive permission to telework one day a week from the agency head. For additional telework days, the employees must seek approval beyond the agency head within Governor Youngkins administration.

The move by organizations to require employees to return to the office following the pandemic is gaining momentum throughout the country. For example, Elon Musk announced to Tesla employees that they must return to the office full time, 40 hours a week, reportedly telling employees if they dont show up, he would assume they resigned.

Two years and three months into the pandemic, its time to get employees back into the office if they have been teleworking due to the pandemic.

I provide some advice on how to do this:

Be clear on the expectations. While Teslas policy appears rigid, the expectations are clear.

Be prepared for employees who dont want to return to the office. There are many reasons an employee might be resistant to return to work. Some reasons include fears of COVID-19, child care, elder care, pet care, commuting and the convenience of working at home. Employers need to anticipate all of these objections and be fully prepared to address them.

Employers should evaluate the COVID reason on a case-by-case basis. Admittedly, some employees will use COVID as an excuse to stay home even though they are otherwise living their normal lives outside of work. That an employee fears catching COVID by coming to the workplace, at this point into the pandemic, will generally be insufficient for an employee to be entitled for an exception.

Employers should follow the Americans with Disabilities Act. Some employees will have a disability that will prevent the employee from exposure to others. This might include, for example, an employee undergoing active cancer treatment. When receiving such a request, employers should engage in the discussion and obtain medical documentation of the need for the accommodation. Merely because an employee asks to telework doesnt mean that employee is entitled to it. Even if an employee was on an accommodation previously, the employer is entitled to updated medical documentation that justifies the need to work remotely. Most employees, including those with disabilities who might be immuno-compromised or who suffer from asthma, can likely return to work safely with mitigation strategies, such as mask wearing and social distancing, in place. The employer can consider alternatives to remote work as long as they are effective. If returning in person is now an essential job function, then the employee is not qualified for the job and can be transferred to a vacant open position or face discipline and even termination.

Create a solid telework agreement. Prior to the pandemic, employees who worked remotely occasionally or always were generally required to certify that, during working time, they were not engaging in other activities such as child care or elder care. While the occasional need may arise in a home, remote work should not be a substitute for child care, and most telework agreements clarify that an employee working remotely with young children must have separate child care. Post-COVID, it is likely these restrictions might be relaxed, but employees who are engaging in active child care or elder care while working are likely distracted and will not be in a fully engaged working environment. Employers tolerated this during the unique circumstances of the pandemic, but finding middle ground will be important.

In general, flexibility is going to be key to making sure that employees feel supported in their work-life balance. Many employers are considering a hybrid model.

Studies are revealing the burnout of essentially living at work. A Work Human study showed that 50% of employees hired during the pandemic (and largely onboarded remotely) plan to look for a new job in the next 12 months. Remote employees are having difficulty connecting or engaging with the company culture, and this is problematic for organizations trying to build trust and collaboration. This is why a hybrid model might be the best approach.
Mary Ruth Pardues final wish was to come home to Virginia.

And, on Friday, beneath a brilliant blue sky, she received a well-deserved heros welcome at Seven Pines National Cemetery with military honors.

1st Lt. Pardue was a World War II Army nurse who was awarded a Bronze Star for her heroism at a field hospital in Italy that came under enemy shelling in November 1944. Through it all, she did her job, continuing to treat wounded soldiers.

According to the Bronze Star citation:

After fragments from an exploding shell penetrated the tent and instantly killed a patient, [then] Second Lieutenant Pardue went from patient to patient, caring for them in a calm and reassuring manner to maintain control and order during the entire shelling. Never relaxing her efforts and courage, she remained on duty the remainder of the night to care for her patients. Her heroism and devotion to duty exemplify the high traditions of the Army Nurse Corps.

Pardue died in July 2019, 10 days after her 100th birthday, in Duluth, Minn. Her roots were Virginian, but she had lived most of her life elsewhere and yet her desire was for her ashes to be buried in Sandston at Seven Pines, a cemetery for members of the armed forces, with her father and brother.

Her family had intended to fulfill her wish and hold a ceremony at Seven Pines in 2020 before COVID-19 derailed their plans. After Fridays ceremony was set up, a positive COVID test and complicated work schedules conspired to prevent her family from attending.

Temple Ancarrow, commander of Sandstons American Legion Post 242, was alerted early in the week about the ceremony and asked if he could provide a chaplain, a bugler and arrange for a few people to attend so that Pardue wasnt sent off without any fanfare at all.

An honor guard, made up of Henrico police, fire and sheriffs department members presented the colors. The Rev. Curtis Bowman, chaplain for American Legion Post 242, read the 23rd Psalm. Randy Abernathy, director of the Henrico Concert Band who served in the Marines, played taps, and Fort Lee sent representatives. More than 100 people, many of them members of American Legion posts across the Richmond area, gathered for the ceremony.

Ancarrow was gratified by the turnout.

This doesnt happen every day, to be able to honor somebody like this, Ancarrow said. She deserves it.

After the playing of Taps, an American flag was carefully folded into a tri-cornered shape and set aside to be sent to Pardues only child, her daughter, Dr. Lisa Abrahams  who wiped away tears as she watched the ceremony from Fargo, N.D., via FaceTime on my iPhone.

That was the most beautiful ceremony! Abrahams told me later. [Her mother] would have loved it.

It was so wonderful to be able to see it, said Abrahams, a cardiologist at the Fargo VA Medical Center and a U.S. Army veteran herself as well as a member of the American Legion. My thanks to the American Legion. What great work they do.

***

The daughter of a mining engineer, Pardue was born in 1919 and grew up in Wise County, in Southwest Virginia, the oldest of eight children. She earned her nursing degree from what was then the University of Virginia Nursing College, and enlisted in the Army soon after the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor.

During the war, besides Italy, she served in North Africa. After the war, she was assigned to a U.S. Army medical facility in Florence, Italy. Back home, she earned additional degrees  including a masters in gerontology  and worked as a nurse until the late 1980s, only retiring following a traffic collision. She married an Army doctor and divorced, and over the years lived in the Washington D.C. area, Southern California (where she operated an art and book store) and later moved to the upper Midwest to be near her daughters family in North Dakota and then Minnesota.

Though the Bronze Star was one of her prized possessions, said her son-in-law, Andrew Niemyer, Pardue seldom spoke of her war experiences.

I tried to draw her out on a couple of occasions, but it was very obvious she didnt want to speak about it much, said Niemyer, feeling the effects of his COVID diagnosis, in a phone interview from Fargo. I think it was a question of revisiting things that she probably didnt want to revisit at that point.

She mourned the young soldiers she cared for, many of them wounded beyond help by the time they reached her.

There were times she was the last person they were in contact with before they passed, Niemyer said. Thats a harrowing thought that youre the last connection, the last human that they will see in this life.

Niemyer believes his mother-in-law probably suffered from what we now know as post-traumatic stress disorder, but that she came along when those with such a condition simply went on with your life.

Beyond her reluctance to talk about the war, Pardue was very plainspoken, very direct, Niemyer said. She was very outgoing, knowledgeable on a wide range of subjects and quite willing to express her opinion.

If you were going to have a chat with her, you knew it was not going to be a short conversation, he said with a laugh.

Her connection to Seven Pines can be traced to her father, William, a Navy veteran, who was buried there following his death in 1964. Her brother, Harry, who was shot down in World War II and held for a time as a German prisoner of war, joined their father at Seven Pines following his death in 2002. Another brother, Frank, was killed in a combat mission over France with the 316th Fighter Squadron. He is buried in France.
With a combination of X-rays and computer imaging, the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts uncovered the remains of two ancient mummies on loan to the museums ancient art exhibit.

Members of the VMFA met on Friday with HCA Virginia health care officials at Independence Park Imaging, where medical professionals conducted a noninvasive scan to create a digital model of the partially preserved interior.

Chris Greene, the facilitys director of imaging, said this experience was certainly disparate in comparison to his day-to-day responsibilities of MRIs and X-rays.

This is absolutely out of the norm for us, Greene said. When the VMFA contacted us to help with their research, we definitely jumped at the opportunity.

Greene and his staff helped curators examine two artifacts that were given to the museum by a collector .

The VMFA received two small mummy bundles from the collection. One of the bundles was shaped like a falcon while the other displayed more human-like effigy, said Pete Schertz, the museums curator of ancient art.

One of the animal mummies is a falcon mummy with a human face. The second mummy is also in the form of a falcon but also has no apparent animal remains, Schertz said. This has different types of material on the interior, as far as we can tell.

The CT scans uncovered that both mummies were in fact made for animals, although theyre unsure if the bones are still intact.

Schertz said it was common in ancient Egyptian culture to mummify animals for sentimental and religious reasons.

Although curators are early in their identification process, Schertz said he believes the mummies originated somewhere between the late period of Egypt between 664 and 332 B.C.

He said hes hoping the CT scans will aid in recreating a clearer images of the interior of these mummies and possibly even identify some of the materials used to make the mummies.

This information will be incorporated into our labeling for the installation of the case, which will focus on lab archaeology, Schertz said.

Lab archaeology is the science that helps makes sense of ancient artifacts once they have been excavated, Schertz said.

The VMFA employed this method in 2011, when it used facial reconstruction on one of its own mummies, Tjeby.

One goal of the display is to show viewers how STEM learning principles extend into their work.

Schertz said the museum has made a concerted effort to highlight the intersection of art and science.

Its important that when we look at art, we examine it from multiple lenses, Schertz said. With science, we can uncover a lot of history we may not have known beforehand.

Schertz said he hopes to have a pair of 3D models of the artifacts for educational purposes when the mummies are put on display later in July, when they will join the VMFAs extensive collection of ancient art.
In the early 1970s, when she was about 12 years old, Paige Quilter joined her father and three siblings as people of Bethlehem in the cast o
 Flash

Singaporean Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong on Friday met with visiting Chinese State Councilor and Minister of National Defense Wei Fenghe.

Wei, who arrived here on Wednesday, is on an official visit to Singapore, where he will attend the 19th Shangri-La Dialogue held here from Friday to Sunday, after a two-year suspension of the security meeting due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

During their meeting, Lee noted that the uniquely-defined Singapore-China all-round cooperative partnership progressing with the times highlights the distinctiveness and high level of the relations between the two countries.

He urged joint efforts to continue strengthening bilateral pragmatic cooperation in the fight against COVID-19, economy and trade, and to maintain the sound momentum of the constant development of bilateral ties.

New changes are taking place in the world and the Asia-Pacific, Lee said, expressing hope that regional countries will strengthen communication and increase mutual trust to jointly add positive factors to regional peace and stability.

Wei said that China-Singapore relations have developed continuously under the strategic guidance of Chinese President Xi Jinping and Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, which have played a leading and exemplary role in the Asia-Pacific region.

Faced with changes and a pandemic both unseen in a century, he said, China and Singapore should continue to deepen strategic mutual trust, expand the convergence of interests, and support each other on issues concerning their core interests and major concern, so as to inject positive energy into safeguarding regional peace and stability.

Wei said that the two militaries have enjoyed a stable development of relations over recent years, and they should continue to enhance high-level exchanges and practical cooperation, so as to constantly push forward the ties between the two militaries.

On Thursday, Wei held talks with Singaporean Defense Minister Ng Eng Hen, during which they exchanged views on the international and regional situation, the South China Sea, and the Ukraine crisis, among other issues.
When did multinational vehicle manufacturing behemoths become more trustworthy than your neighbors working in the local car dealership?

Thats the claim some corporate and tech elites are spreading. They say it will be better for you if manufacturing giants can sell vehicles directly  electric models now, and someday all cars  rather than through local dealers.

Today, legacy manufacturers pipe dream to sell electric vehicles directly to you is just that. In Virginia and in most states, the franchise system requires new cars and trucks be sold by manufacturer-franchised local dealerships.

The most important reason for that is economic. For consumers, local new-car dealers create competition within and among brands. Think of the multiple local and regional options you have for buying a vehicle from the same brand.

The result is lower prices, and extra accountability for consumers in warranty and safety-recall situations. Why will you lose those benefits if the behemoths get their way? There will be no competition within a brand. The manufacturer will set prices, terms of sale, and the services and benefits you may enjoy.

Forget about going to the dealer in the next town over if you dont like the deal offered by your local place. Everything will be the same in each manufacturer-owned retail location. Think about the fabrications that direct manufacturer sales are pro-competition; direct sales suppress competition.

Laws changing in Virginia

Its not that your local dealers are stuck operating in an outdated model. The dealer system has evolved over the years in Virginia, and this evolution was sped up by the pandemic. Its why youve seen improved online sales; faster online paperwork, vehicle pickup and delivery; and more innovations.

Dealers consistently are changing to meet the demands of their customers, particularly concentrating on cutting down the time to sell you a vehicle. Given the range of services involved in vehicle sales  helping you choose the right one, working with you on options to pay for it, offering additional products to enhance your ownership experience, evaluating and processing your trade-in, setting up your warranty and other benefits, helping you with titling, and paying taxes and fees associated with the purchase  the process still might take a few hours at the store. But that length of time has shortened, thanks to the digitization of paperwork and other customer service enhancements.

By and large, manufacturers agree the franchise system works  even though in the past, some have explored direct sales to their detriment and the detriment of consumers. Good manufacturers know they are best at making vehicles  they dont have the infrastructure to sell or service them. They benefit more from the high return invested in making cars and trucks.

Sales operations burden manufacturing executives, create resource allocation woes, and lead to financing and inventory issues. Dealers remove these burdens from makers.

The franchise system simply is the most efficient and effective way to distribute and sell automobiles nationwide. Each franchised dealer invests millions of dollars of private capital in its own facilities to provide top sales and service experiences. This allows auto manufacturers to concentrate their capital in their core areas.

Preparing for a revolution

In the coming years, you will see a flood of new EVs in Virginia from manufacturers you know and already drive. Our roads will look much different even five years from now. Working with dealers, Virginia lawmakers are planning for it.

In the past two years, auto dealers have worked closely with the General Assembly on initiatives designed to put the commonwealth on a path to widespread EV adoption. This includes a legislative package to boost use, with up to $4,500 in rebates for those who buy an EV (that Virginia has not funded this program is another matter). Studies also are underway to improve infrastructure  charging stations and the electric grid  to prepare for this revolution.

Virginias local dealerships are all-in when it comes to selling and servicing this new generation of vehicles. Were educating our people and buyers, supporting a state network of charging stations, and training staff members. And as inventory becomes available, these vehicles will be affordable for everyday Virginians.

Federal and state government, global manufacturers and local dealers working together as one  each in its own lane  is the right formula to succeed in the coming transportation revolution.
DALEVILLE  The Sons and Daughters of the American Revolution dedicated a memorial to a Botetourt County Revolutionary War hero in a ceremony Saturday.

The two groups, along with the Historic Greenfield Preservation Advisory Council and Botetourt County, have been working on the memorial for more than two decades. In 2015, they celebrated the completion of the first phase.

Saturdays celebration at Greenfield was originally scheduled for May 2020, but was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Supporters, volunteers and descendants of the Preston family finally gathered this weekend to celebrate the completion of the monument.

Preston is known as a leader and founder of Botetourt County. He built and moved to the Greenfield Plantation in the 1760s and lived there for 12 years. The plantation was made up of thousands of acres, including the present-day Botetourt County Administrative Center, where the county offices reside.

Botetourt County Supervisor Steve Clinton said Greenfield, like it was in the past, is an economic engine. Along with the county offices, the area is home to multiple industries and a preservation area to remember its historic significance.

Its living proof that economic development and historic preservation can coexist, Clinton said.

Botetourt County officials and the Historic Greenfield Preservation Advisory Council have been working together for years to develop a larger historic park to recognize the significance of the area and the plantation.

In 2016, the last two remaining buildings of the plantation  a former slaves quarters and a summer kitchen  were moved from their original location to the preservation area. Both are now on the National Register of Historic Places.

Our vision is to present a broad representation of life on the home front during Col. Prestons time  the homefront, not the battlefield, Clinton said. Our vision is that Greenfield will be dominated not by military figures winning and losing battles, but rather by everyday people overcoming and failing to overcome the challenges of everyday life on the frontier.

Preston was most well known as the countys surveyor, where he acquired land that helped the county develop. At one time, Botetourt County stretched to what are now other states west of present-day Virginia.

Daniel Thorp, Virginia Tech associate professor of history, said the memorial is a way for citizens to recognize Prestons role in building the nation.

He was one of a brave generation that did in fact risk their lives and their fortunes on the treasonous act of establishing the United States, Thorp said. And for that, he is due our debt of gratitude.

Thorp said the ceremony must also recognize the cost of that contribution, including to the Preston family but also the displacement of Native Americans and the work of enslaved people who helped build the area.

Prestons first recorded purchase of enslaved people was in 1759. He bought 16 Africans from Ghana. Thorp said documents do not show where in Ghana they came from, how old they were or their genders. Preston brought them back to his Greenfield Plantation.

Jack, one of Prestons slaves, could be one of the original group from Ghana, Thorp said. He is the forefather of a Baltimore family who still gathers for family reunions and is one of the largest families descended from Prestons slaves at Greenfield and his other home, Smithfield Plantation in Blacksburg.

Another slave, Nelly, was born in Virginia and enslaved to the Preston family for more than 70 years. On a probate inventory form for Prestons grandson, the familys slaves are listed by name, age and value. Nelly was 70 years old and marked with a value of $0.

They, and millions like them, built the United States, Thorp said. Everything about this country thats great today came at a cost. Its important that we understand that and that we honestly acknowledge the contributions of all of the people and the cost to all of the people.

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HARTSVILLE  The South Carolina American Revolution Sestercentennial Commission spent Friday in Hartsville discussing plans for the states celebration of the 250th anniversary of the American Revolution. The meeting was held in the Greater Hartsville Chamber of Commerce Board Room in the Center Theater.

Mayor Casey Hancock and Mayor Pro Tem Johnny Andrews welcomed the commission members to Hartsville.

Commission Chairman Charles Baxley said they are dedicated to telling stories of South Carolinas part in the American Revolution that have never been told before  stories of women, stories of children, stories of enslaved people, stories of native Americans, because they were all in South Carolinians during the American Revolution. He said they hope to tell these stories on the sites where they actually happened and give people the opportunity to come to South Carolina and walk where their ancestors walked, at least figuratively in their shoes, and see how hot is in the summer in South Carolina without air conditioning.

Bill Davis, vice chair, reported on trying to get all counties in South Carolina to form committees and a resolution passed. He said every county except one has been contacted. He said his committee has not had any negative comments about what they are trying to do.

Heather Hawkins spoke briefly about a grants program. They are planning to give $3,000 grants to counties who apply and have passed resolutions.

Seven counties have already done their paper work for the County 250 Organizing grant process  Anderson, Berkeley, Beaufort, Cherokee, Darlington, Laurens and Oconee.

Baxley said they are committed to helping counties fill out the applications for grants, if needed.

Bill Segars and Guy Wallace reported on the American Revolution Marker Inventory Project.

Segars said South Carolina is blessed to have lots of roadside markers. In fact Darlington County has the third largest number of markers behind Charleston and Richland counties, he said.

The committees objective was to find the markers, inventory them and determine the condition of each marker. The marker program was started in 1905.

My task has been to find, photograph and document the exact locations of nearly 500 markers and sites in South Carolina related to the American Revolution, Segars said.

He said this is being done so that South Carolina will be ready, and historic sites can be easily found when visitors come during the 250th anniversary celebration.

He has photographed the markers in full view, close-up view with hub and close-up view with readable text. Segars said this process has been followed for each of the 487 sites visited and has yielded a total of 3,319 photographs. With a present total of 527 sites on the inventory list that leaves 40 sites to be found.

Segars said when an associated site is mentioned in the marker text, that site is included also, but as a separate number. Each marker has a number that represents the number assigned to that county and the number of marker in the county.

He said its time to start improving the condition of markers that need repair or replacing. This applies to roadside markers only, he said. He said they have found about 20 markers are missing.

He said the look of markers has changed over the years. The preferred marker is black on silver.

In photographing markers, he has divided them into seven categories, one to five, depending on condition of the marker, painted murals and others. Marker conditions are: good, fair, poor, needs attention and bad.

He said it would be the responsibility of the group who placed the marker to pay for repairs. Segars said they can only suggest and will start with the markers rated 5 and go upward. He said they will explain that we have people coming here for the celebration and the markers need to be in better condition.

He said they are hoping have some grant money to help with markers that are missing or the organization that paid for the marker no longer exists.

Segars said there are 19 painted murals in Clarendon County. They have been painted on buildings and have descriptive information.

Wallace showed the map he has been working on that pinpoints the location of the markers with a brief description about its significance to the American Revolution.

Baxley said this is only the tip of the iceberg as to what these gentlemen have done.

Committee reports were given before lunch and afterwards Jack Parker, author of Parkers Guide to the Revolutionary War in South Carolina, spoke. His book is the only book published for any state that gives a brief account of each action, the location as best known, with a map and the GPS coordinates for each and every action known in South Carolina to date, Baxley said.

Brain Gandy, director of the Darlington County Historical Commission also spoke on the history of Darlington District.

The day ended with Bill Segars conducting a tour.

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Le Rwanda accuse l'armee congolaise de tirs de roquettes sur son sol

Le ministere rwandais de la Defense a accuse vendredi l'armee de la Republique democratique du Congo (RDC) d'avoir tire deux roquettes sur l'ouest du Rwanda, sans faire de victimes, un nouvel episode de tensions entre les deux pays.





Alors que de violents combats opposent depuis fin mai l'armee congolaise au groupe rebelle du M23 dans l'est de la RDC, le gouvernement de Kinshasa accuse son voisin rwandais de soutenir ces insurges et d'avoir deploye 500 soldats sur son sol, ce que Kigali dement.





Fin mai, l'armee congolaise a affirme avoir arrete en RDC deux militaires rwandais. Kigali a assure au contraire qu'ils avaient ete enleves du cote rwandais de la frontiere par des rebelles hutu implantes au Congo.





Ce vendredi, "les forces armees de la RDC, les FARDC, ont tire deux roquettes de 122 mm sur le Rwanda depuis la region de Bunagana, frappant le long de la frontiere entre le Rwanda et la RDC (...) dans le district de Musanze", a declare dans la soiree le ministere rwandais de la Defense dans un communique. "Il n'y a pas eu de victimes mais la population locale est terrifiee", a-t-il ajoute.





Ces tirs font suite a des bombardements similaires par les forces en RDC les 19 mars et 23 mai derniers dans cette meme zone frontaliere, ajoute le communique.





Kigali avait demande une "enquete urgente" du Mecanisme de verification conjoint elargi (MCVE), organisme regional qui surveille et mene des enquetes sur les incidents de securite dans la region volatile des Grands Lacs, apres les tirs de roquettes du 23 mai qui ont, selon l'armee rwandaise, "blesse plusieurs civils et endommage des habitations".





Rwanda et RDC entretiennent des relations tendues depuis le genocide au Rwanda en 1994.





Depuis l'arrivee massive en RDC de Hutu rwandais accuses d'avoir massacre des Tutsi durant le genocide, Kinshasa accuse regulierement le Rwanda d'incursions au Congo et de soutien a des groupes armes dans l'est du pays.





Les relations s'etaient apaisees avec l'accession au pouvoir debut 2019 du president congolais Felix Tshisekedi, qui a rencontre a plusieurs reprises son homologue rwandais Paul Kagame.




NEW ORLEANS (AP)  Fans of the Voodoo Music + Arts Experience will have to wait a bit longer before the festival returns to New Orleans.

On Friday, organizers confirmed in an announcement on social media and the festival's website that the event won't happen this year, calling it a pause.

New Orleans major spring festivals  the Jazz & Heritage Festival, the French Quarter Festival and the BUKU Music + Art Project  all returned in 2022 after a two-year hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and the Essence Festival of Culture is set for an in-person comeback the first weekend in July.

The Voodoo Fest is an annual festival held in City Park featuring national and local acts. It draws a heavy crowd of young people from the city and surrounding areas and is usually held on Halloween weekend.

Organizers did not give a reason for the cancellation, but said more updates would be posted on social media. The last festival was in October 2019, five months before the pandemic shutdown.

Voodoo had been on a roll before the coronavirus pandemic. Total attendance for the three-day 20th anniversary in 2018, which featured Mumford & Sons, Travis Scott, Janelle Monae and the Arctic Monkeys, was reportedly 180,000. That was a 20% increase over the 2016 and 2017 totals of 150,000, and an even greater leap over previous years, The Times Picayune/The New Orleans Advocate reported.

Neither Don Kelly, who's served as Voodoo's director in recent years, nor a spokesperson for C3 Presents, the event's producer, had responded to messages seeking comment on 2022s cancellation and what it might mean for the future of the festival.

One person disappointed by Voodoos disappearance is Jeff Borne, whose company runs the Mortuary Haunted House, and for several years, gave the festival its Halloween flavor, the newspaper reported.

Being involved with Voodoo was a great experience, Borne said. Its one of our favorite things to do. Were disappointed that its not happening this year.

His fall will be unusually quiet. The Scream Park, a scary, alternative amusement park that his company produced at City Parks Scout Island, wont return. Hell focus instead on the Mortuary, which opens in September, then wait to see whether Voodoo comes back from the dead in 2023.

I hope so, Borne said. It means a lot to New Orleans. But in the big picture, its not that big of a thing for C3 and Live Nation.

For copyright information, check with the distributor of this item, The Times-Picayune/The New Orleans Advocate.
SEOUL, South Korea (AP)  North Korean leader Kim Jong Un doubled down on his arms buildup in the face of what he described as an aggravating security environment while outside governments monitor signs of a possibly imminent North Korean nuclear test explosion.

Kims comments during a major three-day political conference that wrapped up Friday didnt include any direct criticism of the United States or rival South Korea amid a prolonged deadlock in nuclear diplomacy.

Kim defended his accelerating weapons development as a rightful exercise of sovereign rights to self-defense and set forth further militant tasks to be pursued by his armed forces and military scientists, according to state-run Korean Central News Agency. The report on Saturday didnt mention any specific goals or plans regarding testing activity, including the detonation of a nuclear device.

The plenary meeting of the ruling Workers Partys Central Committee also reviewed key state affairs, including efforts to slow a COVID-19 outbreak the North first acknowledged last month and progress in economic goals Kim is desperate to keep alive amid strengthened virus restrictions.

(Kim) said the right to self-defense is an issue of defending sovereignty, clarifying once again the partys invariable fighting principle of power for power and head-on contest, KCNA said.

The meeting came amid a provocative streak in missile demonstrations aimed at forcing the United States to accept the idea of North Korea as a nuclear power and negotiating economic and security concessions from a position of strength.

North Korea for years has mastered the art of manufacturing diplomatic crises with weapons tests and threats before eventually offering negotiations aimed at extracting concessions.

In a move that may have future foreign policy implications, Kim during the meeting promoted a veteran diplomat with deep experience in handling U.S. affairs as his new foreign minister.

Choe Sun Hui, who is among the Norths most powerful women along with the leaders sister Kim Yo Jong, had a major role in preparing Kim Jong Un for his meetings with former U.S. President Donald Trump in 2018 and 2019. Talks between Pyongyang and Washington derailed after the collapse of Kims second meeting with Trump in February 2019, when the Americans rejected North Koreas demands for dropping U.S.-led sanctions in exchange for limited disarmament steps.

Choe replaces Ri Son Gwon, a hard-liner with a military background who during the meeting was announced as Kims new point person on rival South Korea.

North Korea has a history of dialing up pressure on Seoul when it doesnt get what it wants from Washington. While KCNAs report on the meeting didnt include any comments specifically referring to South Korea, it said the participants clarified principles and strategic and tactical orientations to be maintained in the struggle against the enemy and in the field of foreign affairs.

North Korea also announced a partial reshuffle of its military leadership to accommodate an influx of former counterintelligence officials named to key posts, in a possible step by Kim to further strengthen his grip over the military bureaucracy.

South Koreas Unification Ministry, which handles inter-Korean affairs, said it isnt immediately clear how North Koreas comments and personnel moves would affect relations with the South. The ministry said in a statement that the South would sternly respond in conjunction with its U.S. ally if provoked by the North.

The ministry added that North Korean state medias lack of specific descriptions about the state of the economy beyond some agricultural and construction campaigns suggests the country is struggling to meet development goals Kim presented in a five-year plan in early 2021.

North Korea has already set an annual record in ballistic launches through the first half of 2022, firing 31 missiles in over 18 different launch events, including its first demonstrations of intercontinental ballistic missiles in nearly five years.

Kim may up the ante soon as U.S. and South Korean officials say North Korea has all but finished preparations to detonate a nuclear device at its testing ground in the northeastern town of Punggye-ri. The site had been inactive since hosting the Norths sixth nuclear test in September 2017, when it said it detonated a thermonuclear bomb designed for its ICBMs.

The Norths unusually fast pace in testing activity underscores Kims dual intent to advance his arsenal and pressure the Biden administration over long-stalled nuclear diplomacy, experts say.

While the United States has said it would push for additional sanctions if North Korea conducts another nuclear test, the divisions between permanent members of the U.N. Security Council make the prospects for meaningful punitive measures unclear. Russia and China this year vetoed U.S.-sponsored resolutions that would have increased sanctions, insisting Washington should focus on reviving dialogue.

Kims pressure campaign hasnt been slowed by a COVID-19 outbreak spreading across the largely unvaccinated autocracy of 26 million people.

During the meeting, North Korea maintained a dubious claim that its outbreak was easing despite outside concerns of huge death rates given the countrys broken health care system.

North Korea has restricted movement of people and supplies between regions, but large groups of workers have continued to gather at farms and industrial sites, being driven to shore up an economy decimated by decades of mismanagement, sanctions and pandemic border closures.

Kim during the meeting said the countrys maximum emergency anti-virus campaign of the past month has strengthened the economic sectors ability to cope with the virus.

Kim has rejected U.S. and South Korean offers of vaccines and other help. GAVI, the nonprofit that runs the U.N.-backed COVAX distribution program for vaccines, believes North Korea has begun administering doses given by its ally China. But the number of doses and how they were being distributed wasnt known.

Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
VERNON, Calif. (AP)  Meat-packing giant Smithfield Foods said Friday it will close its only California plant next year, citing the escalating cost of doing business in the state.

The Farmer John meat-packing plant in Vernon, an industrial suburb south of Los Angeles, will shut down in February, with its 1,800 employees receiving severance and job placement support along with bonuses for those who choose to stay on the job until the closure, said Jim Monroe, vice president of corporate affairs.

Some workers, who on average earn about $21 per hour, also will have opportunities to relocate to other facilities owned by the Virginia-based Smithfield Foods Inc.

The Vernon plant slaughters pigs and packages products such as ham and bacon. Some operations will be moved to other facilities in the Midwest, but the overall reduction in processing capacity is prompting Smithfield to reduce its sow herd in Utah. The company also said it is exploring ways to exit its farms in California and Arizona.

Monroe said operating costs in California are much higher than in other areas of the country, including taxes and the price of water, electricity and natural gas.

Our utility costs in California are 3 1/2 times higher per head than our other locations where they do the same type of work, he said.

The shutdown is not expected to reduce supply or increase costs on products, and Farmer John Products will still be sold in California, Monroe said.

There wont be any impact on our customers, he said.

The Vernon plant has been the target of repeated protests by animal rights activists over its treatment of hogs. It also was hard-hit during the COVID-19 pandemic, with some 300 employees exposed to infections in 2020. Several were hospitalized.

Californias Division of Occupational Safety and Health fined Smithfield Foods about $60,000 for safety violations that exposed workers to infection.

Smithfield Foods was founded in Smithfield, Virginia, in 1936 and according to its website provides more than 40,000 jobs in the United States. It was acquired in 2013 by Hong Kong-based WH Group.

Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
SIOUX CITY -- An 18-year-old Sioux City was arrested Thursday for a shooting that occurred in an apartment on the 2200 block of Gibson Street, April 15.

Jalond J. Hills has been charged with discharging a firearm in city limits, prohibited transfer of a firearm to an unauthorized person, possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver and failure to affix a drug tax stamp.

On April 15, Sioux City Police responded to a shooting and found an adult woman suffering from a non-life threatening gunshot wound.

Investigators say that Hills had been in a bedroom of the apartment with the victim. Another man was sleeping in the same bedroom.

The victim reportedly removed a handgun from the sleeping man and Hills attempted to take the gun from the victim.

The two struggled over the firearm and it discharged, striking the victim in the leg.

After the shot was fired, Hills gave the gun to a third man who was also in the apartment. All three men fled the scene.

Detectives determined that the person Hills gave the gun to was a known convicted felon who is prohibited from possessing firearm.

Sioux City Police say the investigation into this shooting is ongoing.

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Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Friday talked with President of the 76th session of the UN General Assembly Abdulla Shahid in a phone conversation.

Wang said that the current session of the UN General Assembly has overcome disruptions and achieved fruitful results, injected new impetus into improving global governance, promoted unity among members of the international community and made new contributions to world peace and development.

China appreciates the role of President Shahid, also foreign minister of the Maldives, in facilitating the UN endeavors and will continue to support the work of the General Assembly, Wang said.

Wang called on the General Assembly to uphold the purposes and principles of the UN Charter, practise true multilateralism, and play a bigger role and make more contributions in such areas as climate change, global response to COVID-19 and sustainable development that are crucial to the future of the international community.

Noting that this year marks the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between China and the Maldives, Wang said that China is ready to continue cooperation with the Maldives in fighting COVID-19 and jointly promote post-pandemic recovery to enrich and inject new impetus into the future-oriented comprehensive friendly and cooperative partnership between China and the Maldives.

For his part, Shahid said he appreciated China's constructive efforts and important contributions to the work of the General Assembly and thanked China for its support for the performance of his duties.

Shahid said he would continue to strengthen coordination with China to jointly tackle global challenges, practise multilateralism, safeguard the authority of the United Nations, promote post-pandemic recovery and promote sustainable development.

He added that the Maldives and China enjoy sound relations, and his country would like to deepen cooperation with China to push for greater development of bilateral ties.
SIOUX CITY -- A woman was charged with second-degree murder in the gunshot death of a Sioux City man.

At around 9 p.m. Thursday, Sioux City Police responded to a shooting that occurred at the residence near downtown.

The man was transported to MercyOne Siouxland where he died a short time later.

Katrina L. Barnes, 32, of Sioux City, was charged with second-degree murder, possession of a controlled substance and possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance.

While conducting a search of the residence, investigators determined that Barnes and the victim had been arguing during the day. The victim left. He later retuned, pounding on the front door.

Detectives say Barnes allegedly shot through the front door, striking the victim.

A second woman, Jordyn R. Easton, 25, of Sioux City, was also arrested on charges as an accessory after the fact.

The name of the victim is not being released, pending notification of his family.

This investigation is ongoing, Sgt. Jeremy McClure said in a statement released Friday morning.

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SIOUX CITY -- In the past month, in the United States, there have been four different mass shooting events, in three separate states, where five or more people were killed: 22 in Uvalde, Texas; 10 in Buffalo, New York; 6 in Centerville, Texas; and 5 in Tulsa, Oklahoma.

On Saturday morning, in downtown Sioux City, more than 50 area residents took part in a "March for Our Lives" event to recognize the victims of gun violence in those communities (and elsewhere) and to call for action to ensure future cases of deadly shootings are not so commonplace in this country.

"This is something that is not normal," said Sioux City student Estella Ruhrer-Johnson, the co-founder of the local chapter of March for Our Lives. "If you look to countries such as Canada, France, Australia, we see this is not happening. It's only happening here...We need to see why it's happening, where it's happening and how to stop it."

Painful origins

The larger March for Our Lives group is a nationwide organization advocating for gun control legislation such as: universal background checks on all gun purchases, upping the age of gun ownership to 21, banning sales of high-capacity magazines for guns and bringing back the 1994 Federal Assault Weapons Ban.

March for Our Lives initially held events in 2018, following the school shooting in Parkland, Florida where 17 people were murdered, but revived nationwide gatherings in 2022 as a response to a deluge of mass shootings in the United States. According to NPR, the country has seen an average of 11 mass shootings a week in 2022. (The Gun Violence Archive defines a mass shooting as one where at least four or more people are shot or killed.)

By one count from the BBC, some 450 March for Our Lives events were planned for this past week including ones in Ames, Davenport, Des Moines, Omaha and Storm Lake.

"It's asinine"

With the Sioux City March for Our Lives event, which featured a mix of students, parents, teachers, faith leaders and political figures, protestors started in front of the Woodbury County Courthouse and streamed toward the Sioux City Public Museum at 11:13 a.m.

Downtown was not especially noisy during the morning which meant those marching could be easily heard yelling: "No more silence, end gun violence" and "enough is enough."

People attending brought signs with slogans such as "Books, not bullets", "Stop Killing Our Youth" and the word "Enough" written in a blood-red smear. One marcher, Terry O'Brien, carried a gun control sign from 1968 that was printed after Robert F. Kennedy was assassinated.

Also in the assemblage were a dog with a blue "March for Our Lives" shirt on and small children sporting "Protect kids not guns" attire.

One parent and educator, Melissa Flynn, said she joined the protest in part because the issue of gun violence is something she has to constantly reckon with.

"We actually have to do different drills. We have to do drills for active indoor or active outdoor shooters," Flynn said. "It's asinine. This isn't normal. This isn't something that they do anywhere else in the world. I've seen these kids and their terrified faces when there are drills like this and it doesn't need to be this way."

25 and younger

After reaching the Sioux City Public Museum grounds, where the Who's "Won't Get Fooled Again" could be heard pumping out of speakers, Flynn got to voice those concerns to the crowd.

Another speaker was Sioux City Community School Board Member Monique Scarlett who said she came to support the students she works with and to try and make the community safer. "I'm hoping that our local government, state (government), all the way up to the president, will definitely make something happen now."

More concretely, Scarlett said it made sense to the raise the age to purchase a firearm from 18 to 21 because those three years make a major difference in maturity. Per a study by the political research group RAND: 26% of mass shooters between 1976 and 2018 were younger than the age of 25.

One of the final speakers of the event was Del Olivier, former reverend for Augustana Lutheran Church on Court Street. The grayed pastor treated the podium like a pulpit. He started by talking about the major changes in firearm technology since the Second Amendment was ratified in 1791 and wondered aloud if God sits in judgement of those who do nothing of substance after tragedy strikes.

"It is way past time for thoughts and prayers. It is way past time for handwringing and scrunched faces. It is way past time for moments of silence."

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SIOUX CITY -- Opportunities Unlimited, the Sioux City Police Department and local Siouxland Dairy Queen restaurants are once again partnering on the "You've Been Ticketed" program.

As an extension of Opportunities Unlimited's Gotta Brain, Getta Helmet program, "You've Been Ticketed" is designed to encourage children to wear helmets while riding their bikes.

Children seen wearing helmets while riding bikes, scooters and skateboards will receive a ticket from Sioux City Police officers or volunteers. The tickets entitle children to one free Dairy Queen ice cream cone.

The police department is looking for volunteers to assist on the bike trails and has mountain bikes available for them to use. Each volunteer will also be given a new bike helmet.

Those interested in volunteering can call the department at 712-279-6424.

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KENT, Wash. (AP)  A suburban Seattle city will pay more than $1.5 million to settle a dispute with a former assistant police chief who was disciplined for posting a Nazi rank insignia on his office door and joking about the Holocaust.

Former Kent Assistant Police Chief Derek Kammerzell, who had been with the department for nearly three decades, was initially given two weeks of unpaid leave after the 2020 incident. Outraged residents and members of the Jewish community prompted Mayor Dana Ralph to put Kammerzell on paid administrative leave and demand his resignation.

The citys attempt to essentially discipline Kammerzell a second time led to a dispute between his lawyers and the city that appeared headed for litigation. But interim city Chief Administrative Officer Arthur Pat Fitzpatrick, who is also the city attorney, said Friday the city had resolved the matter through negotiation, The Seattle Times reported.

Ralph, in calling for Kammerzells resignation in January, acknowledged that the decision to revisit the discipline issue would likely come at a high cost. The city said Friday it would pay him $1,520,000 to resign.

Had the city simply fired him, officials said, he likely would have won back his job through arbitration due to federal and state labor laws.

An internal investigation concluded Kammerzell knew the meaning of the insignia he placed above the nameplate on his office door in September 2020  that of an obergruppenfuhrer  a high official in Hitlers paramilitary Schutzstaffel, or SS, which was responsible for the systematic murders of millions of Jews and others in Europe during World War II.

The insignia was taken down after four days when a detective in the investigations bureau, which Kammerzell commanded, filed a complaint.

Kammerzell also was overheard joking about the Holocaust, according to the internal investigation.

Messages left by the newspaper with Kammerzells attorney and with the Kent Police Officers Association were not immediately returned.

This story has been updated to correct the name of the interim city chief administrative officer: Arthur Pat Fitzpatrick, not Fiztpatrick.

Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.

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President Joe Biden and other Western Hemisphere leaders have announced what is being billed as a roadmap for countries to host large numbers of migrants and refugees. The Los Angeles Declaration may be the biggest achievement of the Summit of the Americas, which was undercut by differences over Bidens invitation list. Leaders of Mexico and Central American countries sent top diplomats instead after the U.S. excluded Cuba, Nicaragua and Venezuela. A set of principles to be announced Friday includes legal pathways to enter countries, aid to communities most affected by migration, humane border management and coordinated emergency responses.
LONDON (AP)  A British newspaper says Prince Charles has criticized the government's plan to start deporting some asylum-seekers to Rwanda, calling it appalling."

Citing unnamed sources, the Times newspaper reported late Friday that the heir to the British throne is privately opposed to U.K. Prime Minister Boris Johnson's policy to send people to the East African country.

A court ruling has paved the way for the first flight under the controversial deal to leave Tuesday with more than 30 people. Britain plans to send some migrants who arrive in the U.K. as stowaways or in small boats to Rwanda, where their asylum claims will be processed. If successful, they will stay in the African country. Human rights groups have called the idea unworkable and inhumane.

The prince's office neither confirmed nor denied the report.

We would not comment on supposed anonymous private conversations with the Prince of Wales, except to restate that he remains politically neutral," Clarence House said in a statement. Matters of policy are decisions for government.

The new policy threatens to overshadow the upcoming visit by Charles and his wife Camilla to Rwanda later this month to attend a meeting of Commonwealth leaders.

The Times said a source had heard Charles express opposition to the policy several times in private, and that he was more than disappointed by it.

Traditionally, British royals don't get involved in political matters.

As head of state, Charless mother, Queen Elizabeth II, has to remain strictly neutral on political matters and doesn't vote or stand for election, according to the royal familys official website.

However, the 73-year-old prince, who is first in line to the throne, has been an outspoken supporter of various causes, such as campaigning against climate change and plastic pollution in oceans. He has also been accused of meddling in politics by speaking up about property developments he opposed and other issues.

Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.

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The Australian government on Saturday agreed to pay a French shipbuilder 830 million Australian dollars after tearing up a submarine contract.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said the government will pay Naval Group 830 million Australian dollars (585.3 million U.S. dollars) in compensation for the canceled contract, saying the "fair and equitable" settlement would improve relations between the nations.

French President Emmanuel Macron previously accused former Prime Minister Scott Morrison of lying about the future of the submarine deal.

"I intend to have an honest relationship with France and one that is based upon integrity and mutual respect," Albanese, whose Labor Party defeated Morrison's Coalition in May's general election, told reporters.

"I'm looking forward to taking up President Macron's invitation to me to visit Paris at the earliest opportunity, and we will make further announcements forthcoming about the dates in which that will occur."

The Coalition government in 2016 awarded Naval Group, then DCNS, a contract to build a fleet of 12 new attack class submarines at a cost of 50 billion Australian dollars (35.2 billion U.S. dollars), making it one of the biggest defense contracts in the Australian history.

Amid disputes over where the submarines would be built and delays the projected construction cost blew out to 89 billion Australian dollars (62.7 billion U.S. dollars), with maintenance expected to cost a further 145 billion Australian dollars (102.2 billion U.S. dollars) through to 2080, the Coalition tore up the contract in 2021.

Albanese said the settlement took Australia's total spend on the project to 3.4 billion Australian dollars (2.3 billion U.S. dollars).

"It represents an extraordinary waste from a government that was always big on announcements but not good on delivering, and from a government that will be remembered as the most wasteful government in Australia's history since federation," he said.
MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP)  Donald Trump endorsed Katie Britt on Friday in an Alabama U.S. Senate race, doubling down on the former president's decision to spurn his previous choice in the Republican primary.

Trump called Britt "an incredible fighter for the people of Alabama." The former president had originally backed U.S. Rep. Mo Brooks in the race, but rescinded that endorsement in March after their relationship soured.

Britt was chief of staff to retiring U.S. Sen. Richard Shelby before stepping down to lead a state business group, and is now running to fill Shelby's vacant seat. Britt and Brooks face off in the June 21 runoff that will decide the Republican nominee.

"Above all, Katie Britt will never let you down," Trump wrote, adding, "she has my complete and total endorsement!

The decision was another blow to Brooks, who had sought to regain Trump's support. Mo has been wanting it back ever since, Trump said Friday of his endorsement, but I cannot give it to him! Katie Britt, on the other hand, is a fearless America First Warrior."

Trump endorsed Brooks last year, rewarding the conservative firebrand who had been an ardent supporter of Trumps false 2020 election fraud claims. Brooks had whipped up a crowd of Trump supporters at the Jan. 6, 2021, rally that preceded the U.S. Capitol insurrection.

But Trump pulled that endorsement, citing Brooks languishing performance in the race. He also accused Brooks of going woke for saying at a Cullman rally that it was time to move on from litigating the 2020 presidential election and focus that energy on upcoming elections instead.

Britt led the primary field in the May primary, and has been seeking Trump's support since he backed away from Brooks.

Trump's glowing endorsement of Britt is a stark contrast to statements he made a year ago about her when he called her not in any way qualified" and describing her as an assistant to a RINO Senator, referring to Shelby as a Republican in name only.

Britt said Friday that she was thankful to have Trumps support. President Trump knows that Alabamians are sick and tired of failed, do-nothing career politicians, she said in a statement. Its time for the next generation of conservatives to step up and shake things up in Washington to save the country we know and love for our children and our childrens children.

Despite losing Trumps endorsement in March, Brooks had continued to campaign under the label of MAGA Mo, a reference to the Make America Great Again slogan, and had challenged Britt to a debate on the singular topic of whether the 2020 election was stolen.

Brooks tweeted Friday that the voters of Alabama will decide the race.

Lets just admit it: Trump endorses the wrong people sometimes, Brooks wrote, noting that a Trump-endorsed candidate lost the 2017 Senate race in Alabama.

Trump has a mixed record in this years midterm elections.

He burnished his kingmaker status last month by lifting a trailing Senate candidate in Ohio, JD Vance, to the Republican nomination. And in Pennsylvania, Republican voters narrowly chose Trump's Senate pick, celebrity heart surgeon Dr. Mehmet Oz, as well as his preferred gubernatorial candidate, Doug Mastriano, who said he wouldnt have certified President Joe Bidens 2020 win of the state.

However, voters in Georgia rejected Trump's efforts to unseat the states Republican governor and secretary of state, both of whom rebuffed his extraordinary pressure to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election. That has raised questions about whether Republican voters are beginning to move on from Trump, ahead of another possible White House run.

Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.

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IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP)  Walking into The James Theater will put a bounce in your step  first by the wow factor of the Art Deco-inspired lobby, then by strolling into the performance space, where the entire floor is sprung.

(The floor) can be a little disconcerting when you dont know it because it does have a little bounce, said Leslie Nolte, 45, of Iowa City, the theaters artistic director. But its so much better on (dancers) knees and ankles.

Thats an important factor for the founder and artistic director of Nolte Academy, the Coralville dance studio she established in 2000.

She and her husband, Mark Nolte, 47, have transformed the former home of Riverside Theatre, at 213 N. Gilbert St., in Iowa Citys Northside neighborhood. Asked about their roles in this venture, Mark Nolte quipped, Shes the talent, Im the labor.

The Cedar Rapids Gazette reports the couple are renting the building from the Gilpin family, who previously rented the space to Riverside Theatre from 1990 to 2020. That troupe, which offered virtual programming during the pandemic, has moved to a newly renovated home on the downtown Pedestrian Mall.

The theaters conversion is complete, and after a series of soft rollouts, The James Theater is ready for its close-up, beginning with June @ The James.

First up is an evening of jazz with the Curtis Taylor Quartet on June 11; followed by MEKTOUB bands Elizabeth album release June 16; the Iowa premiere of Basic Training, Davenport native Kahlil Ashantis award-winning one-person play, on June 17 and 19; and A Punk Rock Show, benefiting the Domestic Violence Intervention Program (DVIP), on June 24, featuring several bands, including Dave Zollo and the Body Electric, and Mark Noltes band, City Park.

A champagne open house, complete with a ribbon cutting, is in the works for July, on a day when people will be out and about for a farmers market or similar event. Leslie Nolte envisions having the theaters doors open so the celebration can leak out into the street, with music changing every hour or so.

The idea is to jump right into the Northside and have people walk in and out and see what we are, she said.

The theater is named in honor of her father, James Bartnick of Arlington Heights, Ill. A huge supporter of all of his daughters endeavors, hell be coming over this summer to see the new facility.

The Noltes envision The James Theater as a community performance space, versatile enough to welcome dance, music and theater productions, as well as vocal and dance recitals, parties, seminars, receptions, workshops and art installations.

The theaters flexibility includes 121 permanent blue velvet seats on retractable risers that can fold away like gymnasium bleachers to create a large studio workshop space.

Theatrical drapes can further define the performance space into various stage depths and even create a proscenium to frame the stage. And if a presenter wants to bring audiences closer to the action, more chairs can be placed on the floor. For a dance party or other standing-room-only event, capacity caps out at 240.

The lobby creates a dynamic first impression, with black and white geometric wallpaper on accent walls and dark gray paint on the gallery walls. Amber lighting fixtures cast a warm glow, and an ornate curved bar with subtle pops of teal immediately draw the eye. Leslie Nolte credits the look to Lisa Fender and Sarah Graf from evolve staging & design in Coralville.

Down the hall, a whimsical giant raccoon face covers the entrances to new mens and womens restrooms. It mirrors the raccoon that Iowa City muralist Ryan Bentzinger painted outside the theater in October.

The raccoon is known as the original masked player, which feeds itself into all kinds of theatrical things, Leslie Nolte said.   And then it was super cool to bring outdoor art and indoor art with Ryan into the space, just to give us something that truly is unique, that nobody else has. Weve got raccoon eyes on our bathroom doors. We are one-of-a-kind in that way.

Art displayed on the opposite lobby wall will greet visitors through July 31. Alicia Browns Jazz Suite x 5 and other works dovetails nicely with the June 11 jazz concert.

Leslie Nolte is especially thrilled to have Browns work christen the gallery, since Brown was her ballet professor and mentor at the University of Iowa.

So to have Alicias art be the first on our gallery wall is a full circle of awesome, Leslie Nolte said.

The James has two full-time employees now  Zoe Fruchter, director of operations, and Julia Corbett, technical director. The Noltes are in the process of hiring a programming director and eight part-time employees. Soon theyll have to replace Fruchter, who is moving home to Brooklyn, N.Y., to be closer to family.

Its been the most incredible project to be a part of, said Fruchter, a graduate of Grinnell College. I feel so lucky to have seen how much this has grown, and to be able to work here.

While tackling such a huge project during the pandemic gave the Noltes down time to figure things out, supply chain snags pushed back deadlines and opening dates. Rising costs and construction delays doubled the initial $250,000 budget to $550,000, and in the end, shot it even higher, to a number the couple declined to reveal.

One of the biggest tasks was chipping out the existing stage to create a level playing field to accommodate multiple uses. That process, which involved a crane, was slow going.

It really was like watching paint dry, Leslie Nolte said. And then there was a hole that we were looking down into the depths of the earth. And then it was a floor. I mean, it was unbelievable.

When contractors didnt want to tackle the sprung floor layer, the project turned into a family affair.

The night before Thanksgiving, all seven of us were here putting foam blocks on the bottom of four by eight sheets of plywood, said Mark Nolte, who has installed those floors before. Thats the kind of family traditions that we have.

The project wasnt a one-day task, and Pat Gilpin, whose family owns the building, brought along some tools and a couple of friends to spend three days working on the floor, Mark Nolte added.

The final big puzzle piece is installing the outdoor signage, designed by MC Ginsberg, then flipping the switch.

When thats lit up, and you can see it all the way down Gilbert Street, Mark Nolte said. Its gonna be cool.

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Greenhouse gases emitted today will warm the planet for years. David McNew/Getty Images

By now, few people question the reality that humans are altering Earths climate. The real question is: How quickly can we halt, even reverse, the damage?

Part of the answer to this question lies in the concept of committed warming, also known as pipeline warming.

It refers to future increases in global temperatures that will be caused by greenhouse gases that have already been emitted. In other words, if the clean energy transition happened overnight, how much warming would still ensue?

Earths energy budget is out of balance

Humans cause global warming when their activities emit greenhouse gases, which trap heat in the lower atmosphere, preventing it from escaping out to space.

Before people began burning fossil fuels to power factories and vehicles and raising methane-emitting cattle in nearly every arable region, Earths energy budget was roughly in balance. About the same amount of energy was coming in from the sun as was leaving.

Today, rising carbon dioxide concentrations in the atmosphere are more than 50% higher than they were at the dawn of the industrial age, and theyre trapping more of that energy.

Earths delicate energy balance. California Academy of Sciences.

Those carbon dioxide emissions, together with other greenhouse gases such as methane, and offset by some aspects of aerosol air pollution, are trapping energy equivalent to the detonation of five Hiroshima-style atomic bombs per second.

With more energy coming in than leaving, Earths thermal energy increases, raising the temperature of land, oceans and air and melting ice.

Warming in the pipeline

The effects of tampering with Earths energy balance take time to show up. Think of what happens when you turn the hot water faucet all the way up on a cold winter day: The pipes are full of cold water, so it takes time for the warm water to get to you  hence the term pipeline warming. The warming hasnt been felt yet, but it is in the pipeline.

There are three major reasons Earths climate is expected to continue warming after emissions stop.

First, the leading contributors to global warming  carbon dioxide and methane  linger in the atmosphere for a long time: about 10 years on average for methane, and a whopping 400 years for carbon dioxide, with some molecules sticking around for up to millennia. So, turning off emissions doesnt translate into instant reductions in the amount of these heat-trapping gases in the atmosphere.

Second, part of this warming has been offset by man-made emissions of another form of pollution: sulfate aerosols, tiny particles emitted by fossil fuel burning, that reflect sunlight out to space. Over the past century, this global dimming has been masking the warming effect of greenhouse emissions. But these and other man-made aerosols also harm human health and the biosphere. Removing those and short-lived greenhouse gases translates to a few tenths of a degree of additional warming over about a decade, before reaching a new equilibrium.

Finally, Earths climate takes time to adjust to any change in energy balance. About two-thirds of Earths surface is made of water, sometimes very deep water, which is slow to take up the excess carbon and heat. So far, over 91% of the heat added by human activities, and about a quarter of the excess carbon, have gone into the oceans. While land-dwellers may be grateful for this buffer, the extra heat contributes to sea level rise through thermal expansion and also marine heat waves, while the extra carbon makes the ocean more corrosive to many shelled organisms, which can disrupt the ocean food chain.

Earths surface temperature, driven by the imbalance of radiant energy at the top of the atmosphere, and modulated by the enormous thermal inertia of its oceans, is still playing catch up with its biggest control knob: carbon dioxide concentration.

How much warming?

So, how much committed warming are we in for? There isnt a clear answer.

The world has already warmed more than 1.1 degrees Celsius (2 F) compared to pre-industrial levels. Nations worldwide agreed in 2015 to try to prevent the global average from rising more than 1.5C (2.7 F) to limit the damage, but the world has been slow to react.

Determining the amount of warming ahead is complicated. Several recent studies use climate models to estimate future warming. A study of 18 Earth system models found that when emissions were cut off, some continued warming for decades to hundreds of years, while others began cooling quickly. Another study, published in June 2022, found a 42% chance that the world is already committed to 1.5 degrees.

The amount of warming matters because the dangerous consequences of global warming dont simply rise in proportion to global temperature; they typically increase exponentially, particularly for food production at risk from heat, drought and storms.

Further, Earth has tipping points that could trigger irreversible changes to fragile parts of the Earth system, like glaciers or ecosystems. We wont necessarily know right away when the planet has passed a tipping point, because those changes are often slow to show up. This and other climate-sensitive systems are the basis for the precautionary principle of limiting warming under 2C (3.6 F), and preferably, 1.5C.

The heart of the climate problem, embedded in this idea of committed warming, is that there are long delays between changes in human behavior and changes in the climate. While the precise amount of committed warming is still a matter of some contention, evidence shows the safest route forward is to urgently transition to a carbon-free, more equitable economy that generates far less greenhouse gas emissions.

Julien Emile-Geay receives funding from the National Science Foundation and and National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration.

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license.

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Dear Prudence is Slates advice column. Submit questions here. (Its anonymous!)

Dear Prudence,

I am a woman in my mid-20s who went online to make some fast cash (outside of my full-time job) and I found it in the form of a cuck for hire. I answered a personal ad for a great couple only a few years older than mePatti and Ericand for the past year, Ive been getting $500 twice a month for an hour or two of work. There have been a few times where they schedule an extra session in a month where they pay $1,000 for overtime. Sessions happen like this: I play Erics wife, coming home to find him in bed with another woman. I yell, get upset, and then am commanded to sit on a chair facing the bed. He ties me to the chair (I wrap my arms around the back, where he wraps some rope around them without tying it), and proceeds to make love in front of me while telling me how much better Patti is than me. He does this solely by praising her (shes the most beautiful woman Ive ever seen, shes the best I ever felt). At no point am I insulted, demeaned, or degraded. Im not involved physically, and I dont get aroused.

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Its weird, I know, and I can understand why it would creep people out. It works for us, its easy money, and I genuinely enjoy Patti and Eric! Theyre all-around good people. I thought there would be an issue when my sister drunkenly spilled the beans to my mother, but my mom, while not particularly cool with it, accepted it. I dont get graphic, but I have talked about them to my family the same way I talk about any coworkers. My nieces birthday party was over the weekend, and when complimented on my gift for her, I stated Patti had recommended it because their kids love it.

Fast forward to Wednesday morning: At my full-time job in a small family-owned business, the owner was being questioned by police for allegations of sexual abuse against their children. We were all shocked but no more than she was. It was dropped quickly when she confirmed she has a wife, and the allegations were made against a mother and a father. When I told my sister about it, later on, she burst out I cant believe she actually did it!

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Prudie, my mother called CPS on Eric and Patti for sexual abuse after being horrified to learn they have children! She didnt know their names, only that they were my bosses. Apparently having someone watch you make love when youre childless is OK, but when you have kids, it turns you into a pervert! Their kids are never home during these sessions, and Ive never met better parents than Eric and Patti. There is absolutely no basis for these claims, my boss is confused and scared someone will come take her kids, and Im sick with my mother! What do I do? Do I tell my boss not to worry, that it was a case of mistaken identity and my mother meddling? Do I warn Patti and Eric? Do I contact the police or CPS myself, or wait in case they question me? Am I in legal trouble for prostitution, and should avoid authorities at all costs?

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Mothers Monstrous Meddling

Dear Mothers Monstrous Meddling,

As a parent with a same-sex partner, your boss is likely on high alert for any insinuation that theres anything untoward happening in her home, especially in this climate. Same-sex couples with kids are frequently targeted by malicious false reporting to CPS and it can tie a family up for years and traumatize the kids. Shes in a very precarious position, even though CPS is no longer investigating her. The threat alone is probably unbearable. So, you should let her know that it was a case of mistaken identity as soon as you can and assure her that there is no report targeting her. It will be a cold comfort, but it may take some of the edge off.

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Because this has gotten so out of hand, you may want to warn Patti and Eric as well. It doesnt seem like theyre in danger as theres no way for your mother to know who they are. But they need to know as it may affect how they proceed with your working relationship. They may decide that continuing to meet is not a good idea on the off-chance that your mother is able to put more pieces together.

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Im not sure that contacting the authorities is going to help anyone in this situation. Its likely to make life complicated for you and possibly more people. However, you do need to have a conversation with your mother about trust and boundaries. This is more than meddling. The fact that she didnt tell you about her plan to contact CPS is troublesome. She surely believes that she did the right thing and Id be shocked if you came out of this conversation seeing eye-to-eye. But you need to know if youre safe sharing parts of your life with her.

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Lastly, Id strongly encourage you to reevaluate whether you want to talk about this part of your work life with your family. Theyre not handling this information well and as much as you may want to be open, you have to ask yourself whether it does more harm than good.

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Dear Prudence,

My (ex?)-boyfriend is British and I am American. We started dating in late 2019 when he was doing research for his British graduate school program in my American city. He was originally supposed to leave in May 2020, but then the pandemic hit, and we lived together in America until last spring. We moved really fast, I loved him, and our relationship was mostly good. We did have issues, namely his anger, and I felt he often invalidated my emotions. I was applying to grad school at the time and I was accepted to a program in London, but ultimately decided that I wasnt comfortable moving across the ocean for him. I helped him move back to London for a job last spring, but then returned to America to attend a program closer to home And that should have been the end of it, right?

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However, even though we broke up, we never really stopped talking. For a while, I couldnt picture myself dating anyone else, but that feeling has passed now. Im doing really well, have made a lot of new friends, and love my program. A few months ago, I really missed him and asked if he would visit me over the summer. He said he wanted to and we started planning flights. Then, he realized that I only have a few weeks where I dont have to work or take classes, and he was upset that it was a short amount of time. So when we ended that phone call, I was under the impression that he was no longer coming.

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I realized that, even though I asked him to come, I felt this immense amount of relief at the thought that he wouldnt be coming. I thought the next time we talked would actually be the end, but he said that even though we didnt have long, he would still rather see me and enjoy the time we had together. I was really caught off guard, and I should have just told him not to come at that time, but I didnt. So he bought flights and is now due to come in a couple of weeks.

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I am dreading it, but I dont feel like I can tell him not to come at this point. I do love talking to him and spending time with him, but I am anxious because I think he will want to have deep conversations about our feelings or our future and I think we are on very different pages. I dont want to resume our relationship. I also really dont want to upset him, because I do care for him. How do you break up with someone you are already broken up with? Should I just enjoy his company for two weeks and try not to have any deep conversations?

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Should Have Just Ended Things

Dear Should Have Just Ended Things,

While its not ideal to have a state of the union conversation over the phone, in your case I think it might be a great idea. Trips, particularly reunion trips, are often over-burdened with expectations and assumptions. But just like many people find solace in a well-planned itinerary, its often useful to map out the emotional terrain beforehand. Call your ex and tell him about your anxiety. Ask him about his expectations. Dont be afraid to bring up the subject of the future and dont be shy about advocating for what you need: a pleasant trip that doesnt lead you two back into a relationship. Its possible youre on the same page, but if youre not talking about it before he lands, while potentially awkward, will clear the air and empower each of you. If youre not aligned, he may decide that coming isnt the best idea. But neither of you has the chance to take preemptive action if you dont talk first.

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Dear Prudence,

Im a gay man in my 30s, Ive been out for a long time, and my family is very chill. My boyfriend Bryan grew up in a fundamentalist home and when he came out there was violence and lectures about shame and Bible quotes. They basically only stopped short of cutting him out of the family. His parents are the biggest figures here, but his disabled brother relies on them financially and toes the line. They forbid Bryan from telling the extended family. He still could, but he says its not worth it.

Even though they made it clear they wont give it, it feels like Bryan cant stop auditioning for their approval. He calls them about twice a month and his professional accomplishments, advanced degree, and passionate volunteer work are met with polite disinterest. He told them about me, and was met with complete silence, a fact he enthusiastically shared with me because it was an upgrade from the way they treated other boyfriends. I dont need these people to like me. I know if he looks for that, he wont get it. I dont know what to say when he shares these updates with me, and its so painful to see him try to get them to love him or take an interest in his life.

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What can I say in the moment when these things come up? And how can I help him find the right kind of therapist to tackle this? Hes talked about being interested in therapy before but discarded therapists because he felt like they didnt understand his family. This is complicated by the fact that I think his family is terrible, which Ive never said out loud but Im sure he knows.

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Theres No Water in That Well

Dear Theres No Water in That Well,

It can be hard to find therapists who understand the complexities of fundamentalist upbringings, particularly therapists who also have competencies in working with LGBTQ+ people. But it can be done! Try looking for queer therapists who have also worked with religious communities or people of faith people who can speak the language that your boyfriend grew up speaking and the language he speaks now. Queer religious leaders sometimes offer counseling or have therapeutic training and can bridge that gap. Essentially, he needs someone who isnt going to totally dismiss his past because its clear that he hasnt yet dismissed it. He may be on a journey to letting go of expectations but he needs to get there on his own time.

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As to what you should say, I think you can hold your boundary while still acknowledging that these updates mean something to him. A simple Im really glad that feels good for you might work in the moment. And still leaves open the door for you to say, later, that you dont think he needs to chase after love from people who wont give it. But if you shut him down when hes excited, he may stop sharing with you. You dont have to be excited, too, but acknowledge thats where he is for now.

Catch up on this weeks Prudie.

More Advice From Care and Feeding

We popped in to visit our son, a college junior, last Sunday and discovered his plastic clothes hamper sitting in the bathroom filled with a mixture of bleach and water. When we asked about it, he went red and his roommates started laughing. No one would tell me what happened, and I started getting flustered, and we wound up leaving slightly earlier than planned. It had not been a planned visit, we were just driving by his college town, so now I am both inordinately obsessed with what happened to his hamper and also embarrassed to be That Mother, barging in and demanding answers.
As someone who lived there for a couple of years, I always find it funny when the internet kicks the door open and reveals Sweden, standing with its pants down round its milky white ankles looking affronted. Its a country people think they know about but dont, really. ABBA, midsommar, Volvos, and pop music dont give you a good sense of what life is like thereand life is undoubtedly, I can report as a former live-in foreigner, a little odd.

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So it was recently following an incident that has come to be known as Swedengate. Someone posted a response to an innocent question on Reddit: What is the weirdest thing you had to do at someone elses house because of their culture/religion? A user reported that they remember going to a Swedish friends house as a child and being asked to stay in another room while the family he was visiting ate dinner together. Many Swedish people replied saying: Well, yeah, thats the way we do it here.

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Sounds bad, doesnt it? People on the internet from all over the world erupted in protests that not giving someone food in their home in their culture was at the very least incredibly rude and at worst tantamount to abuse. Among my own friends, I heard strong reactions, and particularly from people who are not white. One said that she was rocked by reading about Swedengate because for an Asian family, not force-feeding your guests is an abomination. A British Indian friend said she felt actively guilty that she didnt have enough different types of milk to offer someone who stayed over at her house recently, a person she didnt even invite to do so.

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The sheer flabbergasted horror people brought to the conversation seemed to take the Swedes by surprise. So I went to the source: What is going on with this food thing? Are we just interpreting it uncharitably? Swedish media people have had various slants on this. A food writer claimed that the phenomenon is about Swedes having modest eating habits: what is good enough for them to eat in their homes is not considered good enough to offer to guests. One commentator in Dagens Nyheter, one of Swedens big papers, suggested that its because Swedes are a little stingy, and perhaps dont have great social skills.

Would I prefer to be offered food if I went over to someones house? Yes, on balance.

Other people suggested that it might be to do with the sky-high price of food in Sweden, a place I never once bought fresh herbs because I simply couldnt afford to do so. A Norwegian friend who, like most Norwegian people, believes Swedes to be some of the strangest people walking the earth, said that he thinks its a case of not wanting to incur obligation for the other party to return the favor. So if you feed someone in your house, the implication is that youre asking to be fed at theirs. This adds up: When I lived in Sweden, I spent a lot of time trying to buy people rounds of drinks and being confused by their distress. People would try to pay me back immediately, by bank transfer.

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Swedish people have an unusual relationship with their homes, too. When Swedes turn 18, they generally seek to move into an apartment on their own. Sweden has one of the highest proportion of people living alone of anywhere in the world. They run their building laundry rooms with military precision, a special booking system ensuring you never have to cross paths with anybody else while handling your dirty bedsheets. The occasions on which I got this wrong and accidentally walked in on somebody holding their underwear were some of the most awkward encounters of my life to date. The home is a private space for an individual, or a small family unit. You come over, you take your mangy shoes off, and you dont stay too long. One of my closest friends, a person I would die for, is someone who took several months of hanging out multiple times a week to invite me to their apartment, and even then didnt make a habit of it thereafter.

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Swedes are defensive. They have some good reasons to be: lots of things are good about Sweden, and hearing American or British people dump on their nice little country for minor indiscretions like being weird about laundry must sting, given they have some of the most robust social welfare provisions in the world, free university, excellent subsidised childcare, long parental leaveI could go on. A common experience I had in Sweden was complaining mildly about something Swedish like the tax bureaucracy or the weird fucking thing with the laundry, and they would be quick to justify why it was the way it was. Or to tell me that it is worse in other countries.

But maybe weve been too quick to dunk on Swedengate. All countries have their weird norms, all but invisible to the people who live there. And norms arent always what makes best sense anyway. I know someone who lived at home for a long time and did not have a distinct wardrobe of underwear from his dad. They would both just wear whatever pairs were clean. And yes, immediately one thinks: no! That is an aberration against God and human decency! You should not share underwear with your dad! But why? The underwear is clean. I dont like it either; believe me, I dont. But when you drill down into a lot of things that make us uncomfortable, they dont come from a place of logic but a place of custom.

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Reddit threads about human behavior are always strange artifacts, biased and ill-told and full of plot holes in exactly the way that makes them guaranteed to go viral. They very rarely tell the whole story. Would I prefer to be offered food if I went over to someones house? Yes, on balance. But like many things about Sweden that seem to get blown up in the rest of the worlds imagination as evidence or otherwise of its utopic reputation, its not quite what it first appears. And anyway, Swedes arent that upset about what we think of how they do or dont feed their guests. I think we were mostly flattered that people talked about us at all, one of my Swedish friends said. And as the pop star Zara Larsson put it, we might not serve food, but we do be serving bangers.
In the tradition of the Clintonometer, the Trump Apocalypse Watch, and the Impeach-O-Meter, the Is It a Crime-O-Meter is a wildly subjective and speculative estimate of whether the Jan. 6 select committees work will convince enough individuals of relevance (prosecutors, juries, voters) that Donald Trump committed insurrection-related crimes that he should be, in some fashion, held accountable for them.

How many lawyers and other experts have to tell Donald Trump the same thing before we can agree he knows a thing?

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This was the unspoken theme of last Thursday nights primetime Jan. 6 select committee hearing, at least from a legal perspective. Committee chairman and Mississippi Rep. Benny Thompson said in his opening remarks that the series of planned hearings will depict a sprawling, multi-step conspiracy aimed at overturning the presidential election, and prove that Donald Trump was at the center of that conspiracy.

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It became clear even during Thompsons statement, when he played a clip of former attorney general William Barr saying that hed told Trump that his stolen-election theories were bullshit, that the first step in that process is proving that the former president truly knew he lost the 2020 election to Joe Biden. Trump, the committee is arguing, was aware he was attempting to overturn a legitimate result rather than pursuing a good-faith inquiry into fraud.

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To that end, the committee also played a clip of Ivanka Trump saying she trusted Barrs assessment, followed by a clip of Trump communications adviser Jason Miller testifying that hed told the president his own campaign data team had concluded hed lost the race, and another clip of campaign lawyer Alex Cannon testifying that hed told chief of staff Mark Meadows that the result could not be reversed through litigation, and one more audio clip of former acting deputy attorney general Richard Donoghue saying that hed informed the White House that a Department of Justice investigation of voter fraud would be inappropriate and unprecedented.

The hammering of this point might have something to do with committee members awareness that Trump has a history of justifying seemingly illegal behavior by insisting that he was not aware of something that was obvious, even at the time, to many other people. No collusion and no quid pro quo were the catchphrases the ex-president used to convey this message during, respectively, the Robert Mueller Russia investigation and the congressional Ukraine investigation that led to his first impeachment.

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In the first case, Trump claimed both that Russia hadnt really attacked Hillary Clinton, that he was not unusually friendly toward Vladimir Putin, and that those two facts were not related. In the second, Trump claimed that telling Ukraines president that he needed to announce an investigation into Hunter Biden before his country received the weapons that had been appropriated to it by Congress did not constitute the trading of an official act for a personal favor because he (Trump) was, in fact, genuinely concerned about corruption in the Ukrainian energy sector.

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Trump also said something similar, albeit without creating a tagline for it, after it was revealed that hed made convoluted, secret payments during the 2016 campaign to the National Enquirers parent company in order to suppress the accounts of two women who said theyd had extramarital affairs with him.* In that case, he claimed that he shouldnt be held accountable for violating campaign-finance disclosure laws because hed arranged the payments in the presence of a lawyer and the lawyer hadnt told him he was doing anything illegal.

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The committees work in this situation, then, is prophylactic, intended to discredit any future claim that Trumps conduct before and on Jan. 6 took place under the genuine impression that the election was stolen by Biden. (Indeed, on Friday, Trump wrote on his Twitter-like Truth Social platform that The so-called Rush on the Capitol was not caused by me, it was caused by a Rigged and Stolen Election!)

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Whether this is effective in the court of public opinion remains to be seen, but should any prosecuting body choose to pursue it in an actual court, the concept of willful blindness will likely come up. As a Georgetown Law professor and former prosecutor for the United States Attorneys Office for the Southern District of New York, Julie OSullivan says, this is the sort of situation that a willful blindness/conscious avoidance/ostrich jury instruction is made for. This instruction, OSullivan explains, is given by judges to juries in order to allow them to find a person acted knowingly even in the absence of direct evidence about their state of mind. (OSullivan gave an example of the kind of words a jury might hear in such a case: If you are convinced that the defendant ignored a high probability that [the fact existed], then you may find that he knew [it].)

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That said, there were some people telling Trump in the months after the election that fraud had taken place. The committee seemed to be trying to acknowledge this while framing it advantageously by identifying those individuals (e.g. Rudy Giuliani, attorney Sidney Powell, and interim attorney general Jeffrey Clark) as outsiders who have poor reputations, lack subject-matter expertise, and were only elevated after long-trusted, more-credible advisers told the president that he did not have a legitimate case to remain in office.

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And yet  can a man who once suggested with seeming conviction that COVID-19 could be cured by injecting bleach into the body ever really be said to know or not know anything at all? Who has said on many occasions that he was once named Michigan Man of the Year in apparent reference to the time he was asked, in 2013, to appear (but not receive an award) at something called the Oakland County Lincoln Day Dinner? Who once said the following in a presidential debate?

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In Europe, they livetheyre forest cities, theyre called forest cities. They maintain their forest. They manage their forest. I was with the head of a major countryits a forest city. He said, Sir, we have trees that are far more, they ignite much easier than California. There shouldnt be that problem.

For someone to know something is true when theyre saying it, there must be an operation that their brain performs in which some sort of homunculus takes an elevator to a level called reality, looks around, and decides whether or not to accurately convey what its seen to the part of the brain that does talking. If I were Donald Trumps attorney, I would simply attest that this process, if it ever happened inside his brain, has not occurred for at least a decade, having been replaced by a system in which the homunculus fills whatever details would best meet the needs of a different, tiny monster that represents the concept of whatever Donald Trump wants. Could even the finest jurist prove otherwise?

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Our meter will thus start at the maybe some crimes level, acknowledging both the weight of the evidence and the historic irrelevance of things like evidence to Donald Trump-related criminal justice outcomes.

*Correction, June 10, 2022: This piece originally stated in error that Trumps hush money payments were made during the 2020 campaign. They were made during the 2016 campaign.

Additional reporting by Jeremy Stahl
In testimony to Congress this week, a pediatrician from Uvalde, Texas described the horrors he witnessed in his emergency room following the mass shooting at Robb Elementary School. First, an 11-year-old survivor who had smeared herself with blood in order to hide from the gunman. Then, two children who were pulverized and decapitated by the bullet rounds from the gunmans military-grade DDM4 rifle. Americans who witnessed the Uvalde horrors from afar couldnt see what the pediatrician did. Debate raged, as it had in the aftermath of previous school shootings, about whether we should be shown images of those childrens bodies.

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The argument in favor drew upon past examples of public anger in response to visual documentation of lynchings, government-sanctioned torture, and police brutality; in these contexts, sometimes, backlash did eventually lead to policy changes. But when it comes to school shootings, were no closer to an answer on whether to release photos of the carnage. The emotional response to any tragedy is compounded when children are involved; no one wants to see innocence so cruelly destroyed. And how could such pictures affect young survivors, already traumatized by what they saw for themselves, and now dealing with public attention?

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This week, incidentally, also marks the 50th anniversary of the publication of the Napalm Girl photo, one of the most shocking, lasting images from the Vietnam War. Snapped by 21-year-old Vietnamese photographer Nick Ut in the village of Trang Bang, the picture shows a naked 9-year-old girl screaming, her body covered with burns, as she runs down a road alongside other terrified children. When the photo made its way to American news wires in June 1972, outlets like the Associated Press and New York Times hesitated to run it, citing concerns over its graphic and explicit nature. (The nudity was more of a question than the violence.)

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Ultimately, of course, they did print it. The photo won a Pulitzer Prize and was useful for protesters making the case for American withdrawal from Southeast Asia. Its probably not the case, as has often been claimed, that the photo helped end the war or contributed to a sharp turn in public opinion; by that point, historic polling shows, Americans had already largely soured on the war, and the fall of Saigon was still years away.

One of the reasons why the should we show these photos? debate feels so inconclusive is that its hard to know how to measure impact. Contemporaneous opinion polling may show one thing, but there are other metrics one could use to argue that the Napalm Girl image provided undeniable, inescapable proof of the conflicts senseless destruction, and stuck in viewers minds long after the wars conclusion. Time magazine listed it as part of its 100 Most Influential Photos of All Time, and British audiences of the History Channel voted it the most powerful photo of the last 50 years in a 2019 poll. And then theres the more anecdotal evidence: Nick Ut said to NBC News in 2017 that Americans have told him the Napalm Girl photo convinced them not to enlist, after the draft ended in 1973.

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Earlier this week, I had a chance to meet both Ut and the subject of this photograph, Phan Thi Kim Phuc, at an office in downtown Manhattan. To mark the photos jubilee, the two went on a tour, speaking to journalists and public officials, even meeting Pope Francis in Italy and presenting him with a framed print. The day I met them, theyd come from a visit to AP headquarters, where Kim Phuc viewed the original negative of the photo for the first time. It bring me to tears, she mentioned afterward.

With that in mind, I asked her: What did it feel like, when she was younger, to be the subject of such a stark, controversial photograph?

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As a child, first time I looked at that picture, I was so upset, she responded. I was so angry and I hated [Ut], because as a girl, I was really ashamed. I didnt like that picture for a long time.

But there was no way for her to escape it, she explained. In postwar Vietnam, other children ostracized her for the scars she carried. Then, the government paraded her around the country as a propaganda symbol. The unrelenting physical and emotional pain gave rise to suicidal thoughts, until she turned to Christianity in the early 1980s, drawing (as she remembered it) upon her new faith to find strength. Later in the decade, she met her future husband while studying medicine in Cuba, and the Canadian government granted them both asylum. Finding freedom and love helped her persist, she said, and she even reconnected with Nick Ut, whom she now calls uncle. However, the real turning point in her thoughts on the photo came when she had children of her own.

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How dare I let my child suffer like that little girl in the picture? I have to do something to protect them, to take care of them, Phuc told me. Do the best as a mother I can do. And not only for my baby, but all the children around the world.

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Now, she says: I look back at my picture, I realize that its a powerful gift for me, to do something to give back. I can do something meaningful, a purpose, as Im still alive. Nick Ut agrees as to his works purpose: I thank God that I took that picture, and that [Kim Phuc and I] feel a friendship forever.

Kim Phucs scars are still presentat one point in our conversation, she rolled her sleeve up to show mebut the worst torments are gone. Now, she works with her foundation to aid other children whove been brutalized by war and suffering.

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Some of the most affecting images and footage weve seen in recent yearsfrom Syria, Palestine, Somalia, Yemen, the Southern borderhas depicted injured, traumatized children. But ours is a reality-denying era, and these photos, when theyre inconvenient for certain political factions, arent accepted at face value. Ut and Kim Phuc know what its like to have their experience downplayed and mischaracterizedPresident Richard Nixon doubted their photos veracity, while his onetime opponent George McGovern mislabeled Kim Phucs wounds as being the fault of U.S. forces. (The bombers of her village were, in this case, South Vietnamese.) This wasnt enough to discredit the photo, or keep it from becoming history. But we live in a transformed age now, as Nick Ut acknowledged. The war today, like Ukraine, the pictures are the same, he said. But the social media different. It takes mere seconds now to snap a pic and release it to the world, which was not the case when Ut was in Vietnam, as he marveled to me. But with the increased connectivity and speed comes a whole new set of possibilities: misleading editing practices, disinformation. Reactions like Nixons and McGoverns are no longer unique.

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So, I asked Nick Ut and Kim Phuc, can there still be a photo from any of our most recent conflicts as iconic and piercing as the Napalm Girl shot? Does the moment now call for going even further than that photo didto show what happens when weapons of war are turned on our own kids?

I dont want dead bodies of children, Ut said, mentioning that hed been assigned to photograph the aftermath of the Columbine massacre. Pictures of children still alive, and family grievingthat, if Im there, I do my job. I dont want dead children.

I think the situation happen anywhere, any place, any time, theres a need to recordto show the tragedy, the suffering of the people, Kim Phuc told me. Children in the school, they dont do anything wrong, but that atrocity happened to them.  Whether it make you upset or not, the truth has to be witnessed.
Welcome to this weeks edition of the Surge, the most dramatic Beltway email product this side of the Washington Post editorial listserv.





This week, we recap the first in a series of hearings from the House Jan. 6 committee, in which the members will outline their findings on Donald Trumps efforts to overturn the 2020 election and how much of a wuss Kevin McCarthy was as those efforts were happening. The hopes for gun legislation are still alive, but times running out. A forgotten character from the 2010 midterms has reemerged, and you wont believe which Fuhrer from Nazi Germany hes describing as a doer.





Lets start, though, with the main subject of this weeks big hearing.
ARCHIVED - Monkeypox: 55 suspected cases in 10 regions of Spain



Spain's Ministry of Health has confirmed 34 of these cases as the country leads infections in Europe

Cases of monkeypox in Spain have risen to 55 suspected infections with 34 of these confirmed on Monday Friday 23, amongst the highest in Europe

The confirmed cases have been detected in Madrid and linked to a 'sauna', a term used in Spain to describe establishments popular with gay men. The regional health chief Enrique Ruiz Escudero said: "The Public Health Department will carry out an even more detailed analysis... to control contagion, cut the chains of transmission and try to mitigate the transmission of this virus as much as possible."

The remainder of the suspected monkepox viral infections have been reported in: Andalusia (5), Malaga province (5), Galicia (3), Canary Islands (2), Basque Country (1) Catalonia (2), the Valencia region (1), Granada (1) and Extremadura (1).

In the latter autonomous region, the suspected case is that of a woman, but there is no evidence that the patient has any link with any of the confirmed positive cases so far and her symptoms "are not fully compatible with the disease", so could be ruled out in the next 24 hours.

The Community of Madrid is now studying whether those confirmed in the region travelled to the Canary Islands and could have been infected at private parties attended by foreign nationals from countries such as the UK, where monkeypox cases have increased in recent days.

"That is what we are looking for. If there is a link between the two outbreaks, we have to assess the dates of when the party took place in the Canary Islands, which is where it seems to have started, and also in the Madrid area.

"Now it's down to epidemiological surveillance; we are looking for links and above all trying establish traceability to allow us to stop the transmission of the virus," stressed Ruiz Escudero.

The UK confirmed on Sunday that it is already recording daily monkeypox infections unrelated to any travel to West Africa, where the disease is endemic, a British health and safety agency official said.

"We are finding cases that have no identified contact with an individual from West Africa, which is what we have seen previously in this country," said UK Health Safety Agency (UKHSA) chief medical adviser Susan Hopkins. "We are detecting more cases every day," she added during an interview with the BBC.

Hopkins confirmed that the outbreak is concentrated "in urban areas, mainly among gay or bisexual men", and assured "the risk to the general population remains extremely low at the moment, although people need to be vigilant".

Closer to home, the head of the ICU at San Sebastain's Donostia Hospital, Felix Zubia, said that monkeypox "has created alarm, but will not cause a pandemic".

He believes that the hysteria surrounding the disease is due to the "fear and suspicion" that Covid-19 has caused, but that it is more of a "stir" than a real risk.

Now read: Unvaccinated tourists can now enter Spain with just a negative Covid test

Image: Archive
Breakfast With The Babies Act II, sponsored by Fashion Farms, took place on a perfect Saturday morning at The Meadowlands. The skies were clear, temperature moderate and flags limp when the races began at 9 a.m.

Trainer Tony Alagna sent out six winners while the colt trotters ruled the day with a few ultra-impressive performances.

The sharp looking Walner colt DApper was strong on the lead the whole way, tugging driver Tim Tetrick along through even fractions then holding off the stretch close of Kilgore S (Sears) through a :28.1 end to a 1:58.4 mile while under restraint. DApper is the first foal of the international champion and million-dollar winner DOne, bought by trainer Lucas Wallin for a mere $75,000 (LEX) last fall from breeders Steve Stewart and John Bootsman. He looks like a bargain.

Kilmister (Sears) demonstrated both the motor and the head necessary to be a good horse when he led comfortably throughout, finishing the 1:58.2 mile with a :27.1 end while well within himself. Ari Ferrari J (Dunn) had late trot enough to edge Brayden Victories (Zeron) for second. Kilmister was a $160,000 (LEX) purchase by Courant, Inc. from Moni Market Breeders and is trained in the Marcus Melander stable.

Jazz In Jackson (Todd McCarthy) took the inside route to edge out mile cutter Te Amo Lindy (Domenco Cecere) and hold off the close of Up Your Deo (Svanstedt), home in :28 with the mile in 2:01.2. Trained in the Tony Alagna barn, this Muscle Hill colt was a $50,000 (LEX) buy for Tony, Pryde Stable and Jim Crawford in partnership with his breeder, Coyote Wynd Farms.

The Alagna trained Novel (Dunn) took over past the quarter then held sway comfortably over Mr. Mullikens (Tetrick) in 2:00.2 / :28. The Brittany-bred son of Father Patrick was a $115,000 (LEX) yearling with Brittany retaining an interest in partnership with Novel Racing.

Today's opener was the pacing filly set and the usual moderate first five-eighths of the mile was set at a 2:00 clip by Caviart Leeloo (Todd McCarthy), who began to increase the speed mid-turn then hit the gas as they straightened up. Ucandoit Blue Chip (Scott Zeron) came from the pocket and Downbythebanks flipped three wide for Yannick Gingras as those three sprinted a :27 final quarter. Downbythebanks edged by her rivals despite a bit of a mid-stretch speed riff where she was steadied by Gingras then continued on for a 1:56.3/:26.2 win in her first outing for trainer Nancy Takter. The Downbytheseaside lass was bought at the Ohio Select Jug Sale last year, a $152,000, purchase by BFD Stable, JAF Racing, Joe Sbrocco, Rob LeBlanc and the trainer. Diamond Creek Farms is the breeder.

Lisa Lane (Patrick Ryder) posted a 1:57.4 win for first crop New Jersey sire Lazarus. Ryder sat a quiet pocket as Joy Of My Life (Andy McCarthy) set the 2:00 beat, slipped to the outside and outfooted the leader in late stretch for the win. Patrick owns the filly in partnership with his father, trainer Chris Ryder and N. M. Tamawa. She was a bargain $21,000 purchase at the Lexington Selected Sale (LEX) from breeders Tara Hills Stud and Glenn Bechtel.

Race 3 was reduced to a three filly Tony Alagna stable battle and the pace was considerably faster, with Bankers Luck (Zeron) edging by Caviart Davia (A. McCarthy) at the wire in 1:54.4/:27.2, despite racing a bit greenly when Zeron asked her to move. The Hes Watching Brittany Farms homebred collected herself and got by her stablemate for the W.

The cleverly named Walner Payton (Dexter Dunn) showed a glimpse of the kind of talent and grit that made her Chicago Bear Hall of Fame running back namesake great. The Walner filly loped along on an easy lead through a 1:35.3 three quarters before facing a stiff challenge by Natalus (Ake Svanstedt) and responding with a :27 final panel under no urging from Dunn for the 2:02.3 win. Chris Ryder trains the winner for Ken Jacobs who had to part with over a half million dollars to get her from breeders Steve Stewart and Douglass Hutchins at Lexington last fall.

Trotting fillies were back for race five and the Courant homebred daughter of Fourth Dimension, Kitty Hawk S (Brian Sears), was a 1:59.1/:27.4 winner. Sears left to the lead, released Heart On Fire (Dunn) and followed her the middle half then moved through when that rival bore out late for the score.

Unicorn Blue Chip was going a big one for trainer/driver Lucas Wallin and was well in front mid-stretch when she rolled off into a gallop, leaving Bond (Svanstedt) to collect the 1:57.3/:28.2 win. The winner is a daughter of Southwind Frank, bred by Diamond Creek and sold for $80,000 (LEX) to Svanstedt, Little E, LLC, and Lars Berg.

First crop sire Stay Hungry had a few winners today, starting with Hungry Angel Boy (Todd McCarthy) who willingly sprinted home in a wicked :26 flat out of the pocket for the 1:56 win over Its A Me Mario (Jason Bartlett). Tony Alagna trains the colt (and trained the sire) for his interests as Alagna Racing with partners Pryde Stables and Pit Bull Stable. The winner was a $30,000 buy at the Harrisburg sale (SHS) and bred by Doug Millard and Spring Haven Farm.

Dupree Hanover (Andy McCarthy) led all the way and held off stablemate Caviart Stoney (Marvin Luna) despite leaning in late for a 1:55.3 /:27 win. Another Alagna trainee, Tony owns the $50,000 (SHS) Stay Hungry, Hanover-bred colt with Brad Grant and Jablonsky Held Stable.

Tickertape Hanover (Zeron) was an impressive 1:54 winner at first asking for trainer Linda Toscano. Stormalong (Dunn) set fractions of :29.2, :58.3 and 1:27.2 and was game to the wire but Tickertape Hanover had more out of the pocket. A son of Huntsville, the Hanover-bred winner sold for $160,000 (SHS) last fall to 3 Brothers Stable and Caviart Farms.

The $200,000 (LEX) Captaintreacherous colt Captain Batboy (A. McCarthy) got his career off to a winning beginning with a pillar to post 1:54.4 /:26.4 win over a closing Kopi Luwak (David Miller). Bred by Deo Volente Farms and Riverview Breeding, Captain Batboy races out of the Alagna barn for Brittany Farms and Captain Batboy Racing.

The results for this mornings races are available on The Meadowlands website.

Live racing at The Meadowlands resumes at 6:20 p.m. this evening with thirteen equine races supported by a wiener dog undercard. Free card programs are also available on the Meadowlands website.

(Meadowlands Racetrack)
Editors Note: All six GOP candidates in the 7th District primary visited Culpeper on Saturday to talk with voters and participate in a straw poll held by the Culpeper County Republican Committee. See Page A3.

Rep. Abigail Spanberger, D-7th, headed off a Democratic primary fight in a dramatically reshaped 7th Congressional District, but Republicans eager to unseat her are still jostling for the nomination to challenge her in a crowded field of six candidates.

The June 21 primary will decide who will face Spanberger in one of the most closely watched congressional races in the country in the November midterm elections that Republicans hope will give them control of the U.S. House of Representatives and thwart President Joe Bidens political agenda.

But this isnt the old 7th Congressional District, anchored in the Richmond suburbs and tailored to elect Republicans, as it did for nearly 50 years before Spanberger unseated Rep. Dave Brat, R-7th, in 2018.

Under a new political map the Virginia Supreme Court approved on Dec. 28, the 7th District now is rooted in Northern Virginia and the fast-growing Fredericksburg region, with a slight Democratic lean. It includes all or parts of 11 localities, with only Spotsylvania, Orange and Culpeper counties also part of the old district.

With six candidates in the GOP field, veteran political scientist Stephen Farnsworth isnt about to predict a winner. This contest really is something approaching a jump ball for Republicans, said Farnsworth, director of the Center for Leadership and Media Studies at the University of Mary Washington in Fredericksburg.

None of the candidates will get an endorsement from Rep. Rob Wittman, R-1st, who has represented much of the new 7th District in the old 1st District for 15 years.

My policy in primaries is always to stay out, Wittman said in a recent interview at his office at the U.S. Capitol, although he acknowledged that some candidates have asked for his support.

The race features elected officials from three of the largest localities in the new districtSupervisor Yesli Vega in Prince William, Board Chair Crystal Vanuch in Stafford and Supervisor David Ross in Spotsylvaniathree counties that together account for more than 75% of the registered voters in the 7th.

Different parts of the district, different slices of the Republican Party are going in different directions, Farnsworth said.

That could be an advantage for state Sen. Bryce Reeves, R-Spotsylvania, a three-term senator who already represents portions of five localities in the district. He also worked as a police officer and narcotics detective in Prince William, where he later owned a State Farm insurance office in Woodbridge for 22 years before moving it to Stafford a decade ago.

I couldnt have drawn a better district if I had a box of crayons, Reeves said.

The field also includes Derrick Anderson, a Spotsylvania resident with an extensive combat record in a military-minded district, and Gina Ciarcia, a teacher and home-school advocate from Prince William who lost a House of Delegates race against Del. Candi King, D-Prince William, last fall.

I am a true political outsider, said Anderson, who nonetheless trailed only Reeves in fundraising through June 1, with four candidates raising more than a half-million dollars each for the race.

Anderson had raised $599,324, with $148,878 in cash on hand, while Reeves had raised $680,511 and had $183,028 on hand.

Vanuch had raised $517,873, including a $400,000 loan to her campaign, and had $418,000 on hand. Vega had raised $506,021, with $118,000 on hand.

Ross had raised $188,960, including $123,200 in loans, and had $49,564 on hand. Ciarcia had raised $53,579 and had $10,870 on hand.

Whoever wins the Republican nomination will need the money to challenge Spanberger, who had raised almost $4.9 million, with $4.3 million on hand on June 1, to a defend a seat the Democrats might need to hold in November to have any hope of keeping their House majority.

Politically, all of the Republican candidates are conservative, but with different emphases.

Vega, a Prince William sheriffs deputy whose parents fled El Salvador during its civil war, focuses on cracking down on security along the southern border with Mexico and standing up for traditional cultural values.

Shes been endorsed by prominent figures in former President Donald Trumps Make America Great Again movement, including Rep. Bob Good, R-5th; Ginni Thomas, wife of Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas and supporter of efforts to block certification of Bidens election; and Brat, a college professor who served two terms in the House before losing to Spanberger.

Thats going to make her quite competitive, Farnsworth said.

Like Good, Vega opposed a $40 billion aid package to Ukraine to defend itself against the Russian invasion. Thats an insult to the American people, she said during a candidate forum sponsored by the Republican Party of Virginia in Fredericksburg last month.

She said she abhors identity politics, but promised to compete hard for the votes of Hispanics, who account for 17.4% of district voters, according to the Virginia Public Access Project.

Were going to go for it, you better believe it, she said.

Ross, a retired Marine and three-term member of the Spotsylvania Board of Supervisors, focuses on traditional, Christian values. Everything I do is through a biblical world view, he said at the Fredericksburg forum, where he also asserted that separation of church and state is not legal.

Ciarcia touts her experience as a teacher, both in parochial and homeschool settings, as well as a military spouse. She warns of the danger of fentanyl and other drugs being smuggled across the Mexican border.

If we want to drop the hammer in these midterm elections, dont send [Republicans In Name Only] to Congress, she said. Send constitutional conservatives.

Reeves has the most experience as an elected official and legislator. He has a legislative record that he says hes proud to defend, including sponsoring legislation passed this year to carry out extensive reforms of the Virginia Employment Commission and target alleged corruption in charitable gaming.

Vanuch, in particular, has faulted Reeves for supporting legislation in 2020 that required school principals to report only offenses that could constitute criminal felonies. He sponsored legislation adopted this year to expand the requirement to potential misdemeanor offenses after a scandal over a pair of sexual assaults by a student in Loudoun County, which he said should have been reported under the original law as felonies.

Reeves also touts his role in legislation and state budget provisions that exempt a portion of military retirement income from state taxationup to $40,000, phased over four years and starting at age 55. He hopes that Gov. Glenn Youngkin will amend the budget in an effort to lower the starting age to 45 years old. The tax cuts were part of a budget compromise the Democratic controlled Senate approved earlier this month.

Im looking for real-world solutions to a lot of these problems, he said.

Reeves has the backing of former House Speaker Bill Howell, R-Stafford; Del. Nick Freitas, R-Culpeper, who lost to Spanberger in a close election in 2020; and, in an endorsement last week, the National Rifle Association.

An NRA endorsement is pretty powerful in this district, said Farnsworth of Mary Washington.

Reeves is a former U.S. Army infantry captain, both Ranger and Airborne qualified, but he faces a challenge for the military vote in the district from Anderson, an Army Green Beret who served six tours of duty in Iraq, Afghanistan and other combat zones.

Andersons military record was prominent in his endorsement by John Castorani, a U.S. Army Special Forces veteran from Orange County who dropped out of the race for the GOP nomination earlier his year, and his wife, Krissy, a veteran of U.S. Air Force Special Operations and the Joint Special Operations Command.

Foreign policy is where Anderson thinks he would have an advantage in challenging Spanberger, a former CIA case officer and law enforcement officer who investigated narcotics and money laundering cases for the U.S. Postal Inspection Service.

Who can beat Spanberger? he said. Thats the threshold question.

Anderson, an attorney who had just accepted a job at a big Richmond law firm, said he decided to run for Congress after Bidens handling of the chaotic U.S. military withdrawal from Afghanistan in August. When I saw what happened in Afghanistan, that pushed me over the edge and I couldnt stomach it anymore, he said.

Andersons campaign received a recent boost from an endorsement by Hung Cao, a retired U.S. Navy combat veteran from Loudoun County who won the Republican nomination in the 10th District in a firehouse primary last month. Cao, who came to the U.S. as a refugee after the Vietnam War, says he also decided to run for Congress because of the withdrawal from Afghanistan.

Vanuch, in her third year on the Stafford Board of Supervisors and second as chair, focuses on solutions to local issuesfrom congestion on Interstate 95 that overwhelms roads in the Fredericksburg region to hot-button cultural concerns such as the teaching of critical race theory in schools and protection of gun rights.

When a freak snowstorm shut down a 48-mile stretch of I-95 for more than 24 hours in early January, we were gridlocked, she said in an interview before the Fredericksburg forum. We couldnt get anywhere and nobody could get to us.

Vanuch also says she has a political advantage because she was born in Prince Williamwhich holds 35% of the registered voters in the districtand grew up in Stafford, which is second with about 20%.
Culpeper-area residents got up close with the entire field of Republican candidates in Virginias 7th Congressional District contest on Saturday morning. The GOP hopefuls in the June 21 primary came to town to participate in a breakfast meeting of the Culpeper County Republican Committee. Residents voted in a straw poll toward the end, and Prince William County sheriffs deputy Yesli Vega (second from right) emerged victorious, ahead of Army combat veteran Derrick Anderson and state Sen. Bryce Reeves, R-Spotsylvania. Watch for the full story next week in the Star-Exponent.
The community will celebrate life during the 20th annual Festival of Hope event on Saturday, June 18, at the Scotts Bluff County Events Center in Mitchell.

Amber Trenkle, who has volunteered at the Festival of Hope for over 10 years, said this years event will resemble events held before COVID.

Two years ago, we had to cancel with COVID and, last year, we did kind of an abbreviated version, Trenkle said. This will be our first year back full swing with pretty much the same schedule weve had in the past.

The day begins with the 5K Run/Walk at 7:30 a.m., followed by the Childrens Fun Run at 8:30 a.m. The public can pre-register online through June 15. People can register the morning of the run, but Trenkle said, sometimes the T-shirt sizes arent guaranteed.

Trenkle said something special this year is a Festival of Hope T-shirt quilt made for the non-profit, featuring shirts from all 20 years.

The event will also feature several performances, including river dancers from Colorado, Tabor Dance Academy members, Scottsbluff High School Drill and Cheer teams and Theatre West members.

The public can also purchase butterflies for $10, which will be displayed on the Wall of Hope. The last day to purchase a butterfly is June 15.

Once they purchase the butterflies, we print off the names, Trenkle said. If theyre still with us, we put their name and they can decorate them at the event, if they want. If weve lost them to cancer, then well have a little cross on the butterfly.

Purchasing a butterfly or making a donation to Festival of Hope helps the non-profit organization support families with expenses related to treatment, not covered by insurance.

Everyone is struggling in many ways with the economy and COVID, so then these patients get hit with this diagnosis and its a huge financial burden to them and weighs heavily on their family, she said. We try to help everyone who comes to us in some way. Ten dollars can go toward a gas card to help them get to treatment, rent, car payments.

Trenkle shared the American Indian legend of the butterfly, which inspires the live butterfly release at the conclusion of the event. They will read off the names on the Wall of Hope prior to the release.

Thats the part every year that I look forward to, she said. If anyone desired for a wish to come true, they must first catch a butterfly and whisper that wish to it. Since the butterfly makes no sound, the butterfly cannot reveal the wish to anyone, except the great spirit who hears and sees all. ... By making a wish and giving the butterfly its freedom, the wish will be taken to the heavens.

The event offers time for people to reflect and celebrate the people who are battling and who have been lost to cancer.

Its a day that we just come together and celebrate life and encourage those who are still battling to just keep fighting, she said. Overall, I think its just a special day for us to celebrate more than anything.

Since Festival of Hopes inception, the nonprofit has distributed approximately $3.3 million to patients and their families, as of April 2022. Monies raised can assist with rent, mileage for treatment, utility bills, car payments, groceries, and other things to help ease the burden during their cancer treatment and care.

Ahead of this years Festival of Hope, board members have organized a free community concert for the 20th annual event, which will be held on Sunday, June 12, at 6 p.m. at the Five Rocks Amphitheater in Gering. Gates will open at 5 p.m.

People will be able to enjoy sloppy Joe sandwiches, brats and hotdogs, with food donated by Panhandle Coop and prepared by Festival of Hope volunteers. Other concessions, such as pop and other treats, will also be available for sale. In the concessions area and a T-shirt booth, donations will be accepted for Festival of Hope.

Anyone who is battling cancer or knows someone battling and may need financial support can fill out an application on the Festival of Hope website.

For more information about Festival of Hope or to register for an event, visit, at http://www.festivalofhope.net/.

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Sidney authorities took into custody a California man sought in connection with the murder of his wife.

According to officials from the San Joaquin County Sheriffs Department in Facebook postings, Sergio Torres Munguia, 52, had been wanted on suspicion of killing his wife in Stockton, California.

Sonia Suarez, 47, had been discovered shot in her car on June 4. She was transported to a nearby hospital, where she died.

The San Joaquin County Sheriffs Department issued a plea to the public, seeking information in an effort to apprehend Torres and advised that he was considered armed and dangerous.

The San Joaquin County Sheriffs Department reported Torres ran a stop sign while traveling in Sidney and officers performing a records check took him into custody after locating the active arrest warrant.

Torres is currently being held for extradition back to San Joaquin County.

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When Honorio Bravo moved to the United States from Guatemala in 1999, he didnt have much. Now he owns two Grand Island businesses.

One of his companies is called HR Bravo Construction.

Mostly we do paint, flooring and trimwork, Bravo said. You might call it carpentry work, he added.

Bravo works in Grand Island, Lexington and Kearney. No job is too big or too small. He will fix water heaters and plugged sewers.

"I can do it, and I have the tools to do it, he said of his handyman work.

His other company is called Bravo Management LLC. Through that company, he rents out apartments and houses. Hes flipped two or three houses, and owns two, five-plexes and one six-plex.

Bravo, 41, has seven employees, two of whom are nephews.

Leaving Guatemala, he arrived in Los Angeles, where he stayed for a month and a half. In 2000, he moved to Grand Island, initially staying with a brother. Bravos first job in Grand Island was at JBS, then known as ConAgra.

He later worked in York, Hastings and Gibbon.

He received some key help on the way to having his own business.

When he worked for McCain Foods, a supervisor named Don Mitchell gave him the opportunity to be an operator. In doing so, he urged Bravo to give a chance to somebody else along the way. McCain Foods paid for Bravo to attend leadership and motivation classes at Central Community College.

Bravo also received a lot of encouragement from Mark Otto and Ben Davis of Grand Island.

During all the years of hard work, Bravo was driven by a desire to own his own house.

I dont want to be poor all the time, he said to himself. I dont want to rent all the time. I want to own my own business. I want to own my own house.

Bravo speaks fluent English, the result of a lot of hard work.

At his adult learning class, a teacher told him to write everything down and push yourself every day. Otherwise, hed never learn English.

He recorded everything he heard in class on a cassette tape. Then when he got home, instead of taking it easy, he listened to the tape and wrote down every single word.

He and his wife, Sonia, grew up in the same village in Guatemala  La Cuchilla. They were married in Grand Island.

They have five children. Juan, 17, has four sisters, Shaela, 14, Sonia, 11, Marialita, 10, and Lluvia, 8. The two older kids go to Grand Island Central Catholic.

The household also includes a dog named Johnny Bravo, and a green parrot named Kiwi.

Bravo and Sonia worked for ConAgra at the same time. She worked there for five years, he a little bit less.

We saved the money. Then we bought our first house, said Bravo, who knows that every penny counts.

They now live in a nice home on South Logan Street.

Bravo admits that hes doing well  more than well, he said, smiling.

Grand Island, he said, is a good place to start a business.

Sometimes, Bravo donates his time. If a customer doesnt have the money to pay for a job, he does the work for free.

He said hes grateful for the knowledge that God has given him. Hes learned how to manage the money you earn every single day.

To help his growth in business, Bravo has read books and watched videos. Hes also learned about adversity.

If Gods going to close one door, Gods going to open another one  a better one, he said.

Success doesnt come all at once, like an elevator going up. It comes one step at a time, he said.

He gives a lot of credit to his wife, who is 38. Bravo encourages his kids to be good people, and to show respect to others.

He now has two brothers who live in Grand Island.

Bravo doesnt have an office. He works out of his home.

His business card said HR Bravo is where honesty and quality go together.

Bravo shares another lesson hes learned:

If you dont push yourself, youre not going to achieve your goal.

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Elementary school students watched as the Kelso High School graduating class of 2022 toured the hallways of their school, topped with caps and gowns as they celebrated the end of their high school experience.

Rose Valley Elementary School was one of several to be featured on Kelsos annual Grad Parade, with the seniors revisiting their old middle and elementary schools, reliving memories and getting the younger students excited about one day earning their own diplomas.

Its so wonderful hearing about your journey, Rose Valley Principal Brooke Henley told the group of seniors during an assembly Friday. This is a really big day.

A day before their graduation ceremony, this particular group of Kelso seniors got on a school bus Friday. The first stop was Coweeman Middle School. The next stop was where it all started for them  Rose Valley.

Kelso Superintendent Mary Beth Tack said this grad parade tradition started in 2012, but 2022 marks the first since they rebooted it after two years of COVID-19 pandemic restrictions. She said the event gives teachers a look at some of their previous students to see all they accomplished and reminisce.

It puts our goal of 100% graduation rate at the forefront, Tack said.

Kelso boasts a higher graduation rate than the state average. About 90% of seniors got their diplomas in 2021, an increase from 82.5% in 2015, according to data given by the district.

The state average of graduating seniors in 2021 sat at about 82%.

The district will know the graduation rate of this class by fall, Tack said.

The Kelso School District has said its mission is to have 100% of the seniors enroll in some sort of post-secondary opportunity, like an apprenticeship, college, trades or the military.

According to data from the Kelso School District, the class of 2022 has an average grade-point average of 3.28. More than 80% are varsity athletes, and 83% have been accepted to a four-year college for next year.

Denelle Davis, a physical education teacher at Rose Valley, said she taught all of the seniors who visited during the parade Friday.

Davis has spent 15 years in Rose Valley and witnessed each grad parade, where seniors motivated the current elementary students and shared about their future plans. She described it as a full-circle moment.

You have all these memories of teaching them, and now theyre here talking about what theyre planning on doing with the rest of their lives, Davis said. Its the best day of the year.

Lyra Schneiber, a 10-year-old fourth-grader at Rose Valley, said she felt motivated after hearing the seniors speak in front of a group of her peers from across all grades.

It was cool hearing some of the kids and what theyll be doing next, Schneiber said.

Kelso High Schools class of 2022 will graduate at 1 p.m. Saturday at Laulainen Stadium at Schroeder Field. The event also will be livestreamed on YouTube through the districts YouTube channel.

This story has been updated to reflect the day of the graduate parade was Friday, June 10.

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A private Christian school history teacher has emerged as a third-party contender for Washingtons 3rd Congressional District, deviating from its mostly GOP group of challengers.

Oliver Black of Longview was one of many aspiring individuals to step into Southwest Washingtons congressional race as filing week opened in mid-May. The already-lengthy list of candidates vying to unseat the incumbent grew to nine, many of whom have been active in the public for more than a year.

However, Black  a political newcomer  is confident that his presence in the race will lead to change, even if that doesnt mean securing a spot in Congress.

My chances exist, Black said about the likelihood of him securing the 3rd District seat.

Black decided to run as an American Solidarity Party candidate because he wanted to add variety to the candidate pool. He felt that his views werent represented by those fighting for a seat in Congress. The only way to correct divisive politics is to empower third parties and implement alternative voting methods like rank choice voting, he added.

People have seen the sort of vitriolic way that other people are running this race and would maybe ... be looking for an alternative at this point, Black said.

The American Solidarity Party is a Christian-democratic political party that gained popularity shortly after the 2016 presidential election, which is when Black officially joined. He served on the political groups state committee in 2021 and was reelected this year.

Guiding principles

Black supports policies that align with whole life beliefs, or those that are anti-abortion; increase access to health care; end capital punishment; and reduce military funding. There must be improvements to the entire criminal justice system to protect wrongly convicted individuals and reduce recidivism, he said.

Although there arent exemptions written into the partys platform about abortion, Black said he believes cases of incest, rape and medical necessity permit receiving an abortion. However, these services shouldnt be provided through Planned Parenthood, an organization he believes must be defunded.

Another guiding principle of the party emphasizes distributism, the economic notion that the ownership of assets should be more widespread than condensed. Under the umbrella of this theory, labor unions and employee-owned companies are held in high esteem, Black said. He added that money should be kept out of politics.

Republicans and Democrats arent addressing issues that the working class faces, Black said, and are focusing on culture wars instead.

I think working-class people is where I would have the biggest appeal  those who feel like the economy is not working for them, he said.

Environment, homelessness

There must be greater investments in alternative forms of energy, such as those derived from wind, solar and hydroelectric sources, Black said. Southwest Washingtons increased forest fires and inconsistent seasons are indicative of the larger impact of climate change, and the conversation needs to be more frequent on the federal level, he said.

Mental health facilities require more attention in order to address homelessness, Black said. Many people experiencing homelessness are suffering from addictions, which arent necessarily the same as choices, he said, and a central aspect of resolving homelessness is understanding it.

I think we need to be compassionate (and) treat humans with dignity instead of othering homeless people, he said.

As the school year concludes, Black will begin engaging more with Southwest Washingtonians. He plans on attending fairs districtwide and hosting in-person and virtual events in the months leading up to the primary election on Aug. 2.

Editors note: This part of a series of candidate profiles for Washingtons 3rd Congressional District. Each candidate who has consented to be interviewed will be profiled, with stories running in alphabetical order. Find all the profiles at columbian.com/election.

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Too many questions were raised over the status of previously funded Community Development Block Grant program funds at Thursday nights Longview City Council public hearing on where to allocate more than $300,000 in current CDBG funding that the issue was set aside for further discussion.

City Planner Adam Trimble presented an atypical use to the council. He suggested a float loan, which temporarily diverts funding from previous grant recipients, whose projects stalled, into new developments.

I think it seems interesting but Im not quite sure what youre asking me to vote on at this moment, councilor Hillary Strobel said.

Council members said there was a lack of information about how the float loan process worked, what happened with the stalled projects money, and the proposed use of the loan to provide sidewalk repairs and new lighting in the Highlands neighborhood.

We could be looking at different priorities and different projects, and perhaps other interested stakeholders in this community would have brought forward different proposals, councilor Mike Wallin said.

Community Development Block Grants are a chunk of money from the Department of Housing and Urban Development received annually by Longview and many other cities. The CDBG funds frequently are used to provide affordable housing but also can be put into other activities and facilities that directly benefit low- and moderate-income residents, according to the presentation to the City Council.

The float project presented by Trimble would reallocate funds directed for housing rehabilitation in the Highlands neighborhood in 2018 and for installing a new playground in Cloney Park in 2020 into a separate project in the Highlands to repair sidewalks and install new streetlights.

The council approved CDBG funding for three projects Thursday night: $210,000 to complete construction of the Longview Police Departments satellite office in Archie Anderson park, $48,000 for the Longview Parks Departments Super Summers program and $16,000 for an improvement plan for Cloney Skate Park and bike track.

Longview previously directed a combined $400,000 in CDBG funds to the satellite police station in 2020 and 2021. Longview Super Summers, which offers youth programs to occupy children during schools summer breaks, has received funding multiple times over the past five years.

Thursday night the council also held public hearings and final votes to allocate federal housing funds and document recording fees for housing projects. The council approved the following allocations:

$142,000 to the Sunrise Village Apartments being built by Housing Opportunities of Southwest Washington.

$84,600 to the Lower Columbia Community Action Program (CAP).

$80,000 to Community House on Broadway for tenant-based rental assistance.

$32,000 to Community House on Broadway for its emergency shelter.

$20,600 to the Emergency Support Shelter.

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A regional behavioral health provider recently received the first approval on a grant to study the feasibility of opening a transitional housing facility in Cowlitz County to serve its clients. The grant is awaiting state approval.

Community Integrated Health Services (CIHS) submitted a proposal to the Cowlitz County commissioners for a $10,000 planning-only grant as part of the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) distributed by the state Department of Commerce.

Commerce accepts applications annually for the CDBG General Purpose Grants, designed to help small cities and counties carry out community and economic development projects that principally benefit low- and moderate-income residents, according to the departments website.

Washington Listens call line provides support for ongoing COVID stress For Washingtonians feeling stressed, anxious or depressed because of the COVID-19 pandemic, a state call line offers a listening ear or connec

In late May, the Cowlitz County commissioners approved CIHSs proposal and county staff applied for the grant. The state will announce awards in September.

Community Integrated Health Services provides mental health and substance use disorder treatment in Cowlitz, Wahkiakum, Lewis, Pacific and Grays Harbor counties. Last fall, the agency established its housing LLC to address a common barrier among clients, said Ron Lehto, chief business development officer.

It is so difficult to help stabilize individuals behavioral health conditions if they are homeless, he said. Our goal is to help get housing for the clients we serve so we can better help stabilize their condition in a safe and secure housing.

In the grant application, CIHS had to demonstrate the project would primarily benefit low- and moderate-income residents.

In 2021, the agency served, unduplicated, 205 substance use disorder clients and 1,369 mental health clients throughout the five-county area, according to the proposal. More than 50% of the clients are homeless and unemployed.

CIHS decided to provide housing assistance after identifying the complicated and interdependent reasons for the current state of homelessness in Cowlitz County, including the lack of local low-income housing options, the lack of local legislative support for building new housing, the communitys inaccurate misconceptions of people who are homeless, the depressed local economy, the lack of family-wage employment, and the high incidence of people with untreated behavioral health conditions, the proposal stated.

Homeless face barriers, limited availability of permanent residences in Cowlitz County For many of the people living at the Alabama Street homeless camp in Longview, there are numerous reasons why they don't stay at the county's two emergency shelters or one of several temporary housing programs.

Regular and transitional housing is limited in all counties, and even more so in rural areas, Lehto said. Some landlords dont want to rent to clients with behavioral health issues who are getting out of jail or the state hospital, he said.

If it moves forward, CIHSs transitional housing facility would be supervised and provide onsite support to residents, Lehto said. The facility would include private sleeping quarters, shared kitchens and bathrooms, a lobby area and meeting rooms, according to the proposal.

The size of the project will depend on what funding is available after the study, which will take two to three months, Lehto said.

The study would identify property in the county for CIHS to acquire, likely in Longview, according to the proposal. It would study the technical, economic, operational, scheduling and legal feasibility of the project.

Lehto said although the study will be specific to Cowlitz County, results may inform projects in other counties.

This has been a need for as long as I can remember, and I started in this field in 1986, he said . This is something thats always been a need. Its become even more of a need alongside COVID but has always been a need.

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Volunteers are aiming to attract customers to downtown Longview by installing public art and hosting events.

A nonprofit called The Broadstrokes Project is leading the charge with a mural planned on a historic Commerce Avenue building this year.

Co-founder Elizabeth Borders said she saw the way public art changed Portland in 2009 when the citys moratorium on murals and wall art ended.

I got to see these neighborhoods transformed. It gave me a totally new perspective on this possibility, she said.

Borders is a Realtor based on Commerce Avenue and sits on the citys downtown advisory committee. In 2021, she founded The Broad Strokes Project along with Ariel Large, owner of Offbeat Antiques and Oddities and another member of the downtown advisory committee; and Michalyn Killian, a Longview native who works on the production teams for R.A. Long High Schools Mainstage Theater and Stageworks Northwest Theatre.

The nonprofits goal is to bring visitors and community engagement in Longview by creating murals and other public artwork in Longview. The first mural is planned for the outside of the Pounder Building on Commerce Avenue, with future work expanding to other parts of the city.

Theres a new wave of energy downtown between businesses and the city. So lets celebrate it, Killian said.

Large said the nonprofit was inspired by the work the Longview Outdoor Gallery has done over the last decade, installing statues downtown and donating the most popular pieces to the city. When she learned the outdoor gallery would stop putting in new sculptures after 2023  as the groups original goal was to install 23 sculptures by that year for the citys 100th anniversary  she began talking with Borders and Killian about other ways they could support public art.

The local boutiques, the little shops and the art, these are the things that make a town itself instead of the next town over, Large said.

Large said the Pounder Building mural will have a botanical theme and split the space among three artists: Elizabaths husband, Jason Borders; and a pair of artists from Portland known as Rather Severe. Rather Severe has been commissioned to paint murals in Portland, Denver and Kansas City and collaborated with Microsoft to decorate its office in Bellevue.

The group will need to share the mural design with the city to get final approval once funding has been secured. Large said the hope is to begin work by the end of the summer.

Broad Strokes first fundraiser for the mural project is taking place the evening of June 24. The group is selling tickets for an evening in the Bowers Building with food, live music and live painting to raise money for the project.

If you go What: Plates and Palettes fundraiser, including appetizers, live jazz and a silent auction. When: 6-8 p.m. June 24. Where: Bowers Building, 1338 Commerce Ave., Longview. Cost: $75. Info: www.thebroadstrokesproject.org.

Longviews city government also is making plans to improve the look of downtown. The City Council wants to extend the streetscape improvements commissioned in 2014 an additional block south to Florida Street.

The city requested support from the local Congressional representatives to receive roughly $900,000 from the federal government for the project. The streetscape did not end up making the final cut for Congressional support earlier this spring.

Events

The Broad Strokes founders and other downtown businesses have said they want to see larger events downtown to draw in regular crowds and events. They have floated ideas such as a coordinated late night when local restaurants offer seating on the sidewalks and streets, or weekend markets and celebrations that fully close the street to cars.

We should be creating those traditions and that is coming. We still have an opportunity with those, said Jen Albright-Burns, who owns a small business in the Merk Building.

One idea already being discussed for 2023 is holding some weekday sales for the Cowlitz Community Farmers Market downtown. The downtown advisory committee has talked about the shift at several meetings this year. Large said the newer members of the committee and other city leaders seem to be open to the idea.

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An asteroid, larger than the Qutb Minar, is gunning for the Earth, says NASA. Know whether it can strike the Earth and what potential damage it can cause.

After a quiet spell, we are going to witness the largest asteroid flyby of the month of June. According to NASA, a 270-feet wide asteroid will be making its closest approach to the Earth tomorrow, June 12. For reference, it is larger than the Qutb Minar situated in New Delhi, which stands tall at 239-feet. At the same time, it is also going to be one of the closest asteroid approaches of this month. Its large size and close proximity has resulted in it being classified as a near-Earth object (NEO). If an asteroid this size were to hit the Earth, it could spell disaster for us. So, are there any chances of an asteroid strike? Read on to find out. Also read: NASA, UFO? US agency shocks and awes

According to the Jet Propulsion lab, a division of NASA, this particular asteroid has been named 2022 GU6. The number 2022 suggests that this asteroid was first discovered in 2022 itself and there is no previous data available for the space rock. The 270-feet or 82 meters wide asteroid is predicted to fly past the Earth at a distance of 751,000 kilometers. While this may seem like a large distance, in astronomical terms, it is a minuscule number. Again, for reference, the distance between the Earth and the Moon is 384,400 kilometers, which means this asteroid will pass from a distance just twice that of the Moon. Fortunately, at the moment, it is expected that the asteroid will make a safe passage and is not likely to impact.

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NASA: Asteroid, larger than the Qutb Minar, is set to approach the Earth

While no past data is available around the asteroid, which makes it tricky to predict, NASA has been closely monitoring it. In fact, all asteroids marked as NEO are tracked by the Planetary Defense Coordination Office of NASA. The asteroid is part of the asteroid belt located between Mars and Jupiter. Its perihelion coincides with the orbit of the Earth, meaning there was always going to be a rare chance of this asteroid coming too close to the planet. But this time, its perihelion will also match the time when the Earth will be passing through its orbit at the same spot. Also read: RARE view of solar storm is stunning! It's so massive, makes Earth look tiny

In a hypothetical situation that this asteroid does strike the Earth, it will immediately flatten tens of kilometers of land instantly. It can also give rise to forest fires, earthquakes and tsunamis. Making it worse, the dust and dirt rising from the impact can also aggravate global warming.
Tesla Inc has cancelled three online recruitment events for China scheduled this month, the latest development after Chief Executive Elon Musk threatened job cuts.

Tesla Inc has cancelled three online recruitment events for China scheduled this month, the latest development after Chief Executive Elon Musk threatened job cuts at the electric car maker, saying it was "overstaffed" in some areas.

However, Musk had not commented specifically on staffing in China, which made more than half of the vehicles for the automaker globally and contributed a quarter of its revenue in 2021.

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The company cancelled the three events for positions in sales, R&D and its supply chain originally scheduled for June 16, 23 and 30, notifications on messaging app WeChat showed late on Thursday, without stating a reason.

Tesla did not respond to a Reuters request for comment on Friday.

Notification of a June 9 event to recruit staff for "smart manufacturing" roles was not visible and it was not immediately clear it had been held as planned.

The China operation is still allowing resume submission for more than 1,000 openings posted on the social media platform, such as aerodynamics engineers, supply chain managers, store managers, factory supervisors and workers.

Musk had a "super bad feeling" about the economy, he said in an email seen by Reuters last week.

In another email to employees on Friday, Musk said Tesla would reduce salaried headcount by a tenth, as it had become "overstaffed in many areas", but added that hourly headcount would increase.

Production at Tesla's Shanghai plant was badly hit after the Chinese commercial hub began a two-month COVID-19 lockdown late in March.

Output is set to fall by more than a third this quarter from the previous one, outpacing Musk's prediction.
When it comes to laptops, Dell is a prominent brand for many Malaysians. Among the models available, the Dell XPS series stands out with its great balance in portability and performance. Now, the company is getting ready to launch the latest Dell XPS 13 laptops in Malaysia.

This year's models will still be called the Dell XPS 13 and Dell XPS 13 2-in-1 (2022 edition). Of course, the two new models come with upgraded components like the new 12th Gen Intel Core CPU. The exact specs weren't provided, but Dell did give us the configuration for one of its Dell XPS 13 (2022) variants. It would feature an Intel Core i5-1230U CPU, 8GB of RAM, and 256GB of SSD storage.

The new (right) XPS 13 is 1.8x smaller than its predecessor (left)

This year's XPS 13 2-in-1 has a 4K rear camera

As for the Dell XPS 13 2-in-1, we expect it to have a variant with the same tech specs but with extra features. According to Dell, it will be the first XPS device to offer 5G connectivity. This is possible thanks to the eSIM support, which will allow users to connect to 5G networks in other countries without having to swap out SIM cards. Dell also confirmed that this model will have a variant with a 3K display, 1080p front camera, and 4K rear camera.

The XPS 13 (2022) is expected to launch in mid-June 2022 for RM4999, while the XPS 13 2-in-1 will be available much later in August 2022. Would you be interested in getting one for yourself? Let us know in the comments, and stay tuned to TechNave for the eventual launch report.
Smith Mountain Lake has once again been given a clean bill of health following the most recent round of water quality testing. The results show a return to a positive trend after testing late last month showed high levels of E.coli bacteria in five locations around the lake.

The Smith Mountain Lake Association tests water quality in multiple locations around the lake every two weeks during the summer. The high levels of bacteria were found in five locations around the lake in the programs first round of testing for the year on May 24.

Tom Hardy, director of the SMLAs water quality monitoring program, attributed the high levels of bacteria found to the periods of heavy rains just before testing was done. He said runoff from agricultural and residential properties can contribute to higher levels of bacteria for short periods in the lake. He said the bacterial concentrations typically dissipate after three days following a heavy rain.

To lessen the impact to the lake during the next heavy rainfall, Hardy encourages residents to refrain from feeding wildlife such as geese, ducks or other animals that can congregate and often leave waste that can run into the lake. Buffer landscaping is also encouraged to slow runoff into the lake and filter some of the harmful pollutants from entering the lake. Hardy also asks residents to minimize the use of chemical on lawns that can make their way into the lake.

Septic systems should also be regularly maintenanced and periodically pumped out to prevent leaks into the lake. Boats should also regularly be pumped out which can be done by using the lakes pump out program sponsored by SMLA and the Tri-County Lakes Administrative Commission.
Two people were rescued after falling into a tank full of chocolate at the Mars M&M factory in Pennsylvania on Thursday, officials said.

Both patients were transported to the hospital, Assistant Supervisor Nick Schoenberger of Lancaster County 911 Dispatch told CNN.

"One patient was transported by ground and one person was transported by helicopter," Schoenberger said.

"Fire crews have eliminated pulling them straight out of a tank," Brad Wolfe, communications supervisor for Lancaster County 911 dispatch, told CNN earlier on Thursday. "They have to cut a hole in the side of the tank to get them out," he said.

Wolfe said that it's unclear how the people fell into the chocolate tank.

No injuries have been reported at this time, according to Wolfe.

A Mars Wrigley spokesperson told CNN: "We are actively managing the situation and our primary focus is supporting emergency teams on site."

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An at-times contentious debate about doing away with early out Wednesdays at Grand Island Public Schools volleyed between sides at Thursdays Grand Island Public Schools Board of Education meeting.

The calendar change, approved for school year 2022-2023, according to a district news release will be a standard scheduled school day to allow for continuity of learning, less stress on families planning for the early release schedule.

The release states that the decision was made in response to feedback received during 2022 Listening Tours, as well as considering families needs and collaborating with building administrators.

Still, some teachersincluding the districts teachers union presidenthave expressed displeasure concerning the decision.

Michelle Carter, president of the Grand Island Education Association, expressed dismay concerning the calendar changes, but understands the districts intentions.

(GIEA) appreciate the districts efforts to provide some additional time on the newly added Fridays once a month.

Carter noted that in district-union negotiations this year GIEA emphasized that teachers needed planning time based on the new learning provided during the professional development school improvement days.

She also expressed displeasure at how the Wednesday change was introduced, saying she was blindsided when the issue was brought up at a recent calendar committee meeting.

In its statement, the district contended, Recovering the hour each Wednesday provides larger blocks of uninterrupted planning time during the designated days throughout the school year  we will be able to provide a projected 13.5 more hours of planning and prep time for our teachers throughout the year.

During public comment, Carter expressed her appreciation for the board listening to GIEAs concerns, but the rationale provided for this change is faulty, Carter said during public comment. During the listening tour and on surveys teachers said that there were too many meetings on Wednesdaysand that is true. There are too many meetings.

Since Wednesday planning and preparation time changed on the district-union master agreement before, Carter said many building administrators have been taking advantage of the opportunity to schedule long staff meetings, IEPs and a host of other meetings.

Board President Lisa Albers noted, Ive heard from several elementary school teachers that are pleased with it, too.

Carter said she said there were likely teachers who would be happy to not have a two-hour staff meeting.

However, she said, For those of us who did get planned time now Im going to have 27 kids in a classroom that was built for 25.

Carter noted most classrooms have at least a few behavior students in their classrooms.

When am I supposed to prepare for those students so that they can be successful?

Family concerns were also addressed.

During the meetings public comment, retired GIPS teacher Shellie Meyer said she had heard an argument the early out wasnt working for parents, to the extent students were occasionally not picked up.

Meyer noted the Wednesday schedule had been in existence for a significant amount of time, calling it a common practice.

Carter added that, sadly this is a daily problem regardless of when we dismiss.

Later on the agenda, the calendar change was brought up as an action item.

Albers again mentioned some of the positive feedback she had received from elementary teachers about the calendar change, but indicated she understood both arguments.

Im conflicted, too.

Board member Bonnie Hinkle said she, too, understood there are different views, but You listen to all of the comments and youre not going to make everybody happy.

She also said there have been other changes to the calendar, but they didnt necessarily last. Hinkle pointed out the districts relatively brief continuous calendar.

We tried it to see how it worked, and then we evaluated it and made the decision to step away from it. This might be one of those times where we have to try it, see how it works, evaluate it and if we need to go back to it we can.

That would be my opinion.

Board members Carlos Barcenas and Lindsey Jurgens both indicated thats was how they also felt.

Board member Terry Brown contributed: I think a bigger block of time would be more useful. I can be supportive of making a change. If its not the right thing, we can go back.

The board voted unanimously to adopt the calendar change.

****

GIPS stated that printable editions of the updated 22-23 calendar (English and Spanish) will be available next week.

Jessica Votipka is the education reporter at the Grand Island Independent. She can be reached at 308-381-5420.

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Charlotte and Kevin Endorf will present a program titled KIND Nebraskans: Personal Stories of Nebraskans in World War II, on June 19 at 2 p.m. at the Grand Island Public Library.

A Newsweek poll in 2020 showed that less than half of adult Americans know how many Jews were killed in the Holocaust or how Hitlers nationalist Nazi party came to power in Germany ahead of World War II. These heartwarming true stories of five Nebraskans who experienced WWII in different ways are told to inform todays audiences so that history is less likely to be repeated.

Kevin and Charlotte Endorf have traveled to Hawaii and Arizona and conducted several Nebraska interviews for this presentation, which is made possible by Humanities Nebraska, the Nebraska Cultural Endowment and the Grand Island Public Library Foundation, as part of the Humanities Nebraska Speakers Bureau.

For more information about the program, contact Grand Island Public Library at 308-385-5333, or go to the librarys website at gilibrary.org.

KIND Nebraskans is one of approximately 300 programs offered through the Humanities Nebraska Speakers Bureau. The more than 165 available speakers include acclaimed scholars, writers, musicians, storytellers and folklorists on topics ranging from pioneer heritage to ethics and law to international and multicultural issues, making it the largest humanities speakers bureau in the nation.

Speakers are available to any nonprofit organization in Nebraska. Each program lasts 30 minutes to an hour, plus a question-and-answer period.

The most frequent users of the HN Speakers Bureau are primary and secondary schools, colleges and universities, libraries, museums and historical societies, agencies for the elderly, rural organizations, churches, arts organizations and ethnic organizations. Humanities Nebraska sponsors the largest Speakers Bureau program in the country, according to the National Endowment for the Humanities.

For information detailing the available speakers and guidelines for booking them, visit humanitiesnebraska.org (Speakers section) or contact Humanities Nebraska at 215 Centennial Mall South, Suite 330, Lincoln, NE 68508, or phone 402-474-2131, fax 402-474-4852, or e-mail info@humanitiesnebraska.org.
Nebraska Gov. Pete Ricketts visited Grand Island Public Library Friday for a town hall meeting following the 2022 Legislative session.

During the visit, Ricketts received comments and responded to a variety of questions from the community.

Regarding recent mass shootings events, Ricketts was asked what he thinks is the root cause of these incidents and what can be done by the country and by society to address it.

Ricketts referred to Stanford research that studied about 35 such incidents and in 28 of them, found that the shooter had untreated mental health care issues, he said.

Ricketts has advocated against stronger gun control measures, including when asked about them on the heels of a shooting that left 21 day in late May at a Texas elementary school.

During the town hall, he also cited a 2021 book titled The Violence Project, which calls the majority of these events violent suicides, he said.

One of the things the authors really wanted to highlight is, as horrible as these situations are, we cannot make these shooters out to be monsters, he said, because, the day before they do these heinous acts, theyre someones brother, son, student.

Ricketts detailed the proactive mental health care efforts already underway in Nebraska, in collaboration with the Department of Health & Human Services, Department of Education and local school districts.

In 2017, for example, the state rolled out its System of Care framework.

(Its) designed to be able to target young people, those kids, and give them and their families the service they need early on, said Ricketts.

In 2021, 943 people were trained to be first aid mental health workers in schools, and QPR (Question, Persuade and Refer) anti-suicide program training has been done, among other efforts, Ricketts noted.

Millions in American Rescue Plan Act funds awarded to the state are also being invested in expanding health care facilities.

Hall County Attorney Marty Klein asked about Nebraska possibly adopting something like New Yorks 2019 Red Flag Law, which prevents people who show signs of being a risk to themselves or others from being able to purchase a firearm.

Ricketts called New Yorks law imperfect and said he does not believe that it could be done in Nebraska in a way that he would feel comfortable with.

The Second Amendment is our right to keep and bear arms. Its a constitutional right. You cant take rights away from somebody without going to court, he said.

Court processes exist where, if someone is adjudicated to have mental health issues, that person loses the right to have firearms, said Ricketts.

But thats a court process. Without going through court, I dont know how you take away anybodys rights, he said. I dont know how you could write a red flag law that doesnt involve at some point going to court.

Before taking questions from the group of roughly 30, Ricketts applauded what he considers to be the Unicamerals finest session, calling it historic.

Its achievements included:

-A significant tax relief bill, LB873, which includes property tax relief by continuing 2020s LB1107, accelerating social security tax relief approved in 2021, and bringing down income tax rates to 5.84% for both individuals and businesses.

-Allocating more than $1 billion in federal American Rescue Act Plan funds, which was basically a second budget for the state.

-A STARWARS program, which will create a marina at Lake McConaughy, expand the marina at Lewis & Clark Lake, a new convention center at Niobrara State Park and several new flood control routes.

-And progress on the Perkins County Canal project, from South Platte River in Colorado to a Nebraska reservoir system, to enforce a 1923 compact with Colorado over water rights.

For more information, read the June 7 article, Independent exclusive: Ricketts calls 2022 legislative session historic.

Mayor Roger Steele asked if there have been any hints that Colorado will challenge or renounce the 1923 agreement.

Ricketts remarked that Colorado Gov. Jared Polis has publically called the project a canal to nowhere and a boondoggle.

I think that says a lot about how worried he is about us doing it, he said. I have no doubt that theyre going to be taking a look very closely at what their legal obligations are, and they may try to find some way to challenge it, but, at the end of the day, these compacts are pretty rock-solid.

Ricketts was also asked Friday about his plans following the end of his term as governor.

I would love to stay involved in policy and politics, but well have to wait and see what that means, he said. We have a lot of work to do over the next six and a half months, so the teams going to be very busy.

He added, Im not taking my eye of the ball until we get to January. Ill start working about the rest of it after I get back from vacation.

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Another five women have filed lawsuits alleging that a former NorthShore University HealthSystem obstetrician/gynecologist sexually assaulted them as patients  with the allegations spanning three decades.
CARBONDALE  This summer marks the 70th anniversary of Camp Little Giant, a camp for persons with disabilities at Touch of Nature Outdoor Education at SIU.

Like so many of the the region's typical activities, Camp Little Giant did not happen as usual during the pandemic. Camp was cancelled in 2020, then moved to a scaled-down day camp with fewer weeks.

As a result, registrations dropped dramatically.

In March, SIU announced the camp would take place as a day camp, offering two weeks of Traditions Camp for persons with cognitive or physical disabilities and two weeks of Dyna Camp for children and teens with attention deficit disorder or attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. A few weeks later, SIU announced the camp would be on hiatus this year.

The news release, dated April 14, said they would establish a task force of stakeholders, engaged community members and experts in the fields of inclusive and adaptive recreation, nursing, mental health and veteran services. The group will look at all of Touch of Natures inclusive programs, facilities and staffing structure to help shape its future offerings.

In its pre-COVID-19 years, Camp Little Giant drew campers from ages 9 to 90 who typically came from hundreds of miles away to attend one or two weeks of overnight camps. The popular camp format had remained relatively unchanged in its 70-year history.

In 1949, Dr. William Freeberg was hired by Delyte Morris to return to his alma mater, SIU, to work. Freeberg had graduated from Indiana University with the first doctorate in recreation awarded in the nation.

Freeberg, with the help of Morris, established the outdoor lab at the Little Grassy Campus. He started a camp for children and adults with disabilities in 1951 at the campus.

In 1952, Freeberg established the first college-level curriculum on outdoor education and recreation in 1952. Two years later, he was chosen to chair the new department of recreation and outdoor education and charged with overseeing a camping program at Little Grassy Lake Campus.

Eunice Shriver visited camp Little Giant in 1961 before she established Special Olympics, with the help of Freeberg, in 1968.

Herrin Mayor Steve Frattini learned from and worked with Freeberg during the 1960s. He worked at the camp in 1964 and 1966.

One of the philosophies of outdoor education was to educate them gently and recreate them greatly, Frattini said.

He said the camp partnered with other departments at SIU to offer things that campers needed while giving them a camp experience. It also gave SIU students real experience working with special needs clients.

Because of the Freebergs relationship with the Kennedy Foundation, other groups that earned grants to start new camps for persons with disabilities were required to train at Little Grassy Lake Campus. Frattini was one of the people helping with that training.

This made Camp Little Giant well-known throughout the nation.

Camp Little Giant has a very rich history of working with special needs folks, Frattini said.

In 1966, Frattini lived and worked at the facility now known as Touch of Nature. He worked at camps in the summer and with other groups throughout the year.

He added that those working at the camp  not just the campers  learned a lot of life skills and knowledge about life. Some even met their spouses at Touch of Nature, like Richard Grant and his late wife, Kathy.

It was a real melting pot of students, Frattini said, adding they came from across the nation and from all over Illinois.

For campers, one of the big life skills they learn is confidence, according to Ann Conner of Du Quoin. Conner has attended Camp Little Giant since the late 1990s, spending at a week every year at the overnight camp.

She has also met new people and formed really good, lasting friendships.

She said an app on her phone has been popping up with memories of Camp Little Giant because she would usually be at camp or preparing to go.

It was like a place I could go and be myself, not worrying about being judged as having a disability, Conner, now 39, said. I did not have to worry about people talking about my braces, crutches or wheelchair.

She said the staff at the camp treated her like someone who was there to just hang out and have fun.

Some of the activities are great, according to Conner. She got to ride horses and is really missing that activity this summer. They also had bonfires, talent shows and dances. They have donated dresses that the girls and women got to wear to dances.

The cooks made top-notch meals, not just your typical camp food, Conner said.

The experience really boosted her confidence.

It helped me realize its OK to be different; its OK to have a wheelchair, crutches and wear braces, Conner said.

She is waiting for the overnight camp to return. She said having someone drive her to and from day camp doesnt seem possible.

The second they start overnights, Im in, Conner said.

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Many of those attending Saturday evenings Miss Illinois Scholarship Competition will be rooting for local favorites as three area women are among the 26 hoping to become the next holder of the title.

Among the competitors:

Breana Bagley, the current Miss Southern Illinois, recently graduated from the SIU School of Law. A veteran of previous Miss Illinois events, Bagley was a top-five finisher last year.

The 24 year-old will perform a contemporary dance number as her talent and, if selected, will use the year to instill hope and courage in those facing pancreatic disease.

As an alumna of Southern Illinois University, it means a lot to me to represent the region and SIU on this stage, she said.

Cami Horman, Miss Metropolis, said winning the title Miss Illinois would give her an opportunity to make a difference.

My initiative is about cultivating kindness. There has been a lot of division and hatred and I would like to promote the power of being kind  what it can do to cause a chain reaction for good, she said.

Horman, 24, holds a bachelors degree in public and community health and is now working toward a masters degree in occupational therapy also at Murray state. She will play the piano for her talent in the competition.

Alara Pfeaster is the current Miss John A. Logan College. She said as Miss Illinois, she would represent every woman.

I want to make a difference and raise awareness to eating disorders, but most importantly, empower young females to feel confident and comfortable in their own skin, the 19 year-old explained.

Pfeaster will sing as her talent. She said she hopes to become a physician assistant.

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CHICAGO  A white Chicago police officer captured on video struggling with a Black woman who was walking her dog in a lakefront park has resigned from the department.

Officer Bruce Dyker, who had been on desk duty since shortly after the incident last summer, left the Chicago Police Department in May before any formal disciplinary action was announced against him, a department spokesperson confirmed. He had been a Chicago officer since 1998.

Videos showing Dyker grabbing Nikkita Brown shortly after midnight on Aug. 28, 2021, as she walked her French bulldog at North Avenue Beach later went viral.

In one video recorded by a bystander, Brown and her dog appear to be walking away from the officer as he follows closely.

Brown repeatedly tells Dyker not to come closer and to back up because he isn't wearing a face mask. But he continues to approach and order her to leave the area because it was closed.

Moments later, the officer appears to reach for Brown's phone and then grabs her as she can be heard yelling, "Let go!" and struggles to break free.

The incident sparked a Civilian Office of Police Accountability investigation, while Mayor Lori Lightfoot said she was "quite disturbed" by the videos.

Attorneys for the woman alleged the encounter became violent and was an "obvious case of racial profiling."

John Catanzara, head of the Fraternal Order of Police chapter that represents rank-and-file Chicago officers, said Dyker would not be available to comment about his resignation.

"Bruce just had enough of the nonsense and scrutiny for doing his job," Catanzara said.

Brown's attorney, Michael Gallagher, took issue with Catanzara's comments.

"The FOP President Catanzara's claim that Officer Dyker was 'just doing his job' is just another example of him covering for rogue officers," Gallagher said.

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Since childhood, South Carolina State University graduating senior Saoud Henzab had dreams that were out of this world. Not even the sky is the limit for the ambitious nuclear engineering major  he is determined to reach Mars.

Nuclear engineering has a lot of fields and holds a massive amount of knowledge, Henzab said. This will help the humanities to reach our dreams to be able to travel between Earth and Mars. So thats what Im interested in doing in the future  working in space discovery.

Henzab, 26, is from Doha, the capital of Qatar. While attending high school there, it was important for him to find a university that catered to what he wanted to do.

He did his research to find the best country and school globally that had the best nuclear engineering program and soon came across SC State University.

There were a couple of countries that had good programs, but the U.S. was No. 1 in this field, he said. I applied to a couple of schools, but SC State was the first one to reach out to me as soon as I applied.

Henzab came to SC State on scholarship from one of the education ministries in Qatar. While getting acclimated to the country and university, he decided to become a part of the American Nuclear Society.

He said people like Dr. Musa B. Danjaji, acting chair for the Engineering Department, helped him with his academic career and transition to SC State.

According to Henzab, Danjaji is the type of director who wants to see every student in his department succeed. He also said Professor Kenneth Okafor is one of the most knowledgeable nuclear engineering professors who taught his students about coding and nuclear astrophysics.

They both had a positive impact because Dr. Musa taught us the fundamentals of nuclear energy with the most sophisticated technology, Henzab said. In this field, theres a new discovery every day, so he always kept up and provided us the updates and information about our major.

Nuclear engineering can be really challenging. The material and equations can be hard. But he always helps us find an easier way and simplifies the equations and theories for us, he said.

Since SC States nuclear engineering program is in partnership with North Carolina State University and the University of Wisconsin, Henzab had to choose which university he wanted to complete the second half of his senior year.

He decided to complete the program at NC State University, where he finished his senior project. While completing his design, Henzab was able to visit some of the nuclear power plants located in North Carolina to do labs and experiments.

We designed a Versatile Test Reactor (VTR), and its going to be a new generation of reactors. Ive been working with some students from NC State and my experience was great because I was able to get two different experiences at the same time, Henzab said.

With a 3.8-grade-point average, Henzab has been very successful in his major. He and his group from NC State had been designing the VTR since August 2021 and found great discoveries.

They tested nuclear fuels such as uranium carbide, uranium nitride, metallic and uranium oxide, which they found were better alternatives for operating a VTR rather than protonium. Their project is now at the Idaho National Laboratory.

One of Henzabs goals is to be able to use nuclear-generated energy instead of fuels that release more carbon dioxide into the air. By using nuclear energy instead of fossil fuels to operate the VTR, clean energy is generated to reduce carbon emissions and provide carbon-free electricity to people around the world.

Even though he has received great job offers to national labs and other areas related to the nuclear industry, he knows that if he does not continue to grad school, his decision might stifle his career in the long run.

Henzab said if he could, he would love to get his masters at SC State because of the great faculty, but really wants to do aerospace. Because he has worked with students from NC State University and is familiar with their program, he is considering NC State for grad school.

I will never forget that SC State provided me with great knowledge. They will definitely be in my memories. With any position I get related to this industry, I will always remember SC State, he said.

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What a joy it is to be home, Orangeburg Department of Public Safety Director the Rev. Charles Austin said during a Friday morning press conference.

Austin accepted the offer to serve as the departments permanent chief on Wednesday. Hed been working as the interim chief since late September 2021.

This is an exciting day for the city of Orangeburg, Orangeburg City Administrator Sidney Evering said.

City officials launched a national search for a permanent leader for the department following the retirement of former director Mike Adams. Evering reported 28 people applied for the position.

Evering noted that Austin is well-respected by ODPS officers.

During Fridays press conference, Austin outlined a 20-point plan to transform the citys public safety department.

I have a vested stake in the wellbeing of the revitalization and economic development of the City of Orangeburg, Austin said.

His late wife was an Orangeburg native and their children attended local schools.

People want to know that their communities are safe and secure. They want to know that we have the capabilities of providing police service and fire service that are second to none, he added.

Austins plan to transform ODPS includes:

 Reorganizing the department and establishing a chain of command for the police and fire divisions.

 Developing career pathways for professional growth and development.

 Developing a cadre of fire engineers who will serve as the fire investigation unit led by the fire marshals office.

 Creating satellite offices in five of the citys sectors.

 Developing and implementing a technology plan comprised of drones, fixed cameras and enhanced license plate readers.

 Purchasing a new, state-of-the-art communication system that is compatible with the Orangeburg County communication system.

 Hiring 10 additional patrol personnel to increase citywide coverage and additional fire personnel to attain the optimal ISO rating.

 Conducting monthly Dialog with the Director sessions with citizens.

 Establishing a citizens advisory panel, a 501(c)(3) foundation, an ODPS Youth Explorers post, crime watch programs with other city departments, a watch care program for senior citizens and vulnerable adults, a public safety employee advisory council, open forum Fridays, a chaplains program and a mobile command unit.

Austin said the department will use its current budget to fund the goals.

The department currently has 107 officers, Austin said.

He spoke about the motto of the department: An agency of excellence serving with integrity.

Our citizens have every right to expect that we serve with the highest level of integrity. That is not negotiable. Im thankful our personnel have embraced that, he said.

Austin said he has zero tolerance for excessive use of force.

We come to serve, not be served. We will in no way abuse the community that we serve or mistreat or disregard the community that we serve.

He added, On the other side of that, I will not allow the community to disrespect or abuse our officers. Its a mutual relationship and we will go into it with mutual respect.

Orangeburg Mayor Michael Butler praised Austins leadership.

Chief Austin is focused on making our community a safe place to live and work, he said.

Contact the writer: mbrown@timesanddemocrat.com or 803-533-5545. Follow on Twitter: @MRBrownTandD

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Two bridges just outside the town of Elloree have been closed for the past seven months, requiring motorists to take alternate routes to get to the town.

The Cleveland Street bridge over Big Poplar Creek, just past the Elloree Fire Department, and the Browning Road bridge, also over Big Poplar Creek, are closed.

The bridges travel over culverts and both culverts have collapsed, according to the S.C. Department of Transportation. The closures have also resulted in the roads being closed to any through traffic near the bridges.

Weve got no way to get to Elloree except by a dirt road, resident Chuck Reid said.

Reid said motorists have to go out of their way to get to Elloree, Poplar Creek, Stumphole and the Santee State Park.

He also noted that South Carolinas gas tax has been increasing in recent years to fund road work.

On July 1, the states motorists will experience the sixth and final gas tax increase since 2017, when lawmakers approved a 12-cent increase. Its been phased in at 2 cents per year.

They've got billions and billions and billions of funds. Just because Elloree is a little rural town, we are not a big metropolis, there is not a need to sweep us under the rug, Reid said.

The SCDOT does have the bridges scheduled for repairs.

SCDOT anticipates work in the bridges will begin in late July or early August, but the notice of award is still pending for both.

The estimated combined construction cost for both repairs is approximately $1.1 million, according to SCDOT.

SCDOT said the current contract completion date for each site is March 31, 2023.

The bridges were built in the late 1920s or early 1930s.

Elloree Mayor Mike Fanning said the thousands of visitors in town for the Elloree Trials had to contend with route changes because of the bridges.

Fanning said the town has two concerns about the bridges being out: safety and convenience.

It absolutely can pose a problem to response time for fire, ambulance and police, Fanning said.

For example, Fanning said the Elloree Fire Department is just down the road from the Cleveland Street bridge.

With a volunteer fire department, we have someone who lives in the Santee State Park side, they will have to go around and get the apparatus and then go back, he said We worry about response time because it can be the difference between life and death.

We need Cleveland Street to be open as soon as possible, he said. Safety really has to be our primary concern.

Fanning said the other concern is the inconvenience for those traveling to the Santee State Park during this busy season of camping and boating.

We would love having them drive through Elloree, Fanning said.

Fanning said he cant quantify how the road closures have impacted the town economically, but he says there must have been some impact.

While the closures are an inconvenience now, Fanning looks forward to having the roads back open with new and safe bridges that will once again allow travelers to enjoy all the amenities of country living that Elloree has to offer.

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On Sunday, May 15, invited guests including members of the South Carolina Daughters of the American Revolution joined the Luther B. Wannamaker family to celebrate the life of Rebecca Brewton Motte by experiencing a day dedicated to her legacy.

The afternoon activities began at St. Matthews Parish Episcopal Church with a recounting of Mottes role during the American Revolution by author and noted historical biographer, Margaret Peggy Pickett of Charleston, who will soon release her latest book which features Motte. Following Picketts address, attendees were escorted to the Rebecca Motte Monument and Fort Motte Battle Site located on the grounds of Mount Joseph Plantation near the Congaree River just few miles out of St. Matthews.

In a letter of invitation, L.B. Wannamaker wrote, I am so proud of our state of South Carolina which is now being recognized as being center stage for the successful conclusion of our war for independence  There are many facets of Rebecca Mottes life for us to celebrate. I am confident that Ms. Pickett will capture them in her writing and our guests will be able to see in real-time what Rebecca Motte saw from the high bluffs overlooking the Congaree National Park, undisturbed since Rebecca Mottes time with unparalleled views and features.

Wannamaker and his wife Doraine Flewelling have been married since 1957 and are the parents of two daughters and a son; the grandparents of seven; and joyfully welcomed their first great-grandchild recently. The property comprising the Mount Joseph Plantation including areas delineated as the Rebecca Motte Monument, Buckhead Hill, Devils Track Rock, Cannon Mound and the Peterkin Overlook has been under the Wannamaker stewardship for more than a century.

May 12, 1781, is a noteworthy date because that is the day that Marion and Lee captured Fort Motte, but it is also noteworthy because it marked the end of one of the most significant years in the history of South Carolina, the year following the fall of Charleston, those pivotal months when the fate of the American Revolution hung in the balance, said Pickett.

On May 12, 1780, patriots in South Carolina suffered a great shock; the unthinkable had happened, Charleston had fallen to the British. A few weeks later, they marched into the back country. They occupied Camden and other key positions in the state. Soon, British outposts stretched in a great semi-circle from Georgetown in the Lowcountry through the backcountry all the way to Augusta on the Georgia side of the Savannah River. The future of the patriot cause looked dim indeed, but 12 months later, the situation had changed dramatically, she continued.

Patriots, who after the fall of Charleston were filled with despair, 12 months later were filled with hope, for they had a realistic expectation of being able to drive the British out of South Carolina. To do that though, it was essential that they capture the British supply depots along the Congaree River route, for without their supply depots, the British could not maintain their outposts in the backcountry. Fort Motte was the main depository of supplies coming from Charleston intended for Camden, Fort Granby and Ninety-Six. Its capture was of paramount importance to the Americans, and it was a 43-year-old widow named Rebecca Motte who played a major role in its capture, said Pickett.

Mount Joseph Plantation in Fort Motte took its place in history on May 12, 1781, as the site where American Revolutionary heroine Rebecca Jacob Motte insisted that Gen. Francis Marion and Col. Henry Lee set fire to her newly built home to force the surrender of the British forces who had taken it as a military post for nearly 200 soldiers. Shortly before this historic date, 241 years ago, Motte, a strong, steadfast woman who had recently lost her husband and a small child, retreated with the remainder of her family, which included five children, to a nearby farmhouse on Buckhead Hill for safety.

It is recorded that she provided the arrows, known as musket or fire arrows, to the American army to burn the British out. Reportedly, when the British saw the flaming arrows, they feared the igniting of the large stockpile of gunpowder inside the home and quickly gave up their stronghold. After the battle with the British and their ensuing relinquishment of the plantation property, colonial soldiers quickly put out the fire on the roof of the home, saving it from destruction.

The hilltop at 250 feet elevation, where the home once stood over two centuries ago, now stands as a monument dedicated to her bravery and patriotism. Stories told over the span of history portray Motte as the utmost Southern lady who provided dinner for the officers of both armies once the fort was reclaimed for her family.

Rebecca Motte, along with Gen. Francis Marion, the Swamp Fox, combined their efforts to have a basically bloodless ending to a very difficult siege on the hilltop out there. We have basically the most beautiful battle site in South Carolina with fantastic views, said Wannamaker.

Important dates, shared by the Wannamaker family in a brochure provided to celebration attendees, outline major events on South and North Carolina soil leading up to and following this remarkable victory for the Americans and ultimately the favorable outcome of the Revolutionary War for American independence.

May 12, 1780: Charleston surrendered as the American Army was captured and the entire state was occupied by British forces.

August 16, 1780: The Second American Army was defeated near Camden.

October 7, 1780: The first major Southern victory took place as the Overmountain Men defeated Ferguson at the Battle of Kings Mountain.

January 17, 1781: The Battle of Cowpens was won by Daniel Morgan.

March 15, 1781: The Battle of Guilford Courthouse is fought near Greensboro, North Carolina, resulting in a stalemate.

April 1781: General Greene returns to South Carolina and sends Light Horse Harry Lee to assist Gen. Francis Marion, the Swamp Fox, in taking key British posts.

September 8, 1781: The Battle of Eutaw Springs results in the British retreating to Charleston.

September 28  October 19, 1781: Gen. Charles Cornwallis is under siege and surrenders at Yorktown, allowing for American independence from the British.

With Mothers Day and Rebecca Motte Day, and my wife and I have been joined at the hip for 65 years, we just want to focus on the strong women today, said Wannamaker, who applauded Peggy Pickett for writing the biography on Eliza Lucas Pinckney and just finished the biography on Rebecca Brewton Motte. Other notable women who have left their mark on the famous hilltops include Rachel Heatley Lloyd, a devout Christian woman; Eugenia Russell Thompson, wife of William Danger Thomson who was a hero in the Battle of Sullivans Island in 1775; and Martha Motte Dart, Rebeccas sister-in-law.

Kelly Hagens-Swart, regent of the Old 96 District Chapter of the DAR and an associate member of the Rebecca Motte Chapter that meets in Charleston, expressed her appreciation for the chance to visit the well-preserved area.

I am very excited. It is a golden opportunity to see the home site. The DAR is putting an emphasis on female patriots, she said adding that she is a DAR member under a female patriot, Rachel Quattlebaum.

Its really exciting to be here, to hear her backstory, because she was a true hero of the American Revolution, said Hagens-Swart.

Two specific enclosed billboards have been erected on the battle site to educate those who are privileged to walk on the red clay in the footsteps of those brave men and women who once lived here, some who fought and some who died upon this rich agricultural land. The property boasts a long history. The Wannamakers have facilitated over 20 years of battleground archaeological work by Dr. Steve Smith of the University of South Carolina, who confirmed and expanded the knowledge base of this historical site.

We found a horseshoe from the American Revolution, and we found a stirrup that was left by Light Horse Harry Lee, Robert E. Lees father. He was there; he was 25. Rebecca Motte was 44. Francis Marion was 49, exclaimed Wannamaker, excitedly sharing his fascination with the history of his familys long-held property. The excavation teams have even recovered one of the arrows used in the pivotal battle, as well as a cannonball, musket balls and nails.

We love this kind of history, and Rebecca Motte is a heroine of our Revolutionary War. Its so wonderful to get to come to this celebration. We are so thankful to be invited, said Dianne Culbertson, honorary state regent of SC DAR, who shared that the DAR is preparing to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the American Revolution in a few short years.

For more information on this and other historical battle sites throughout the Palmetto State, research the South Carolina Battleground Preservation Trust, which has dedicated nearly three decades to preserving battlefields and military historic sites here. A series of 79 sites has been delineated as Liberty Trail Sites along the South Carolina Liberty Trail, with Fort Motte being number 46.

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The Regional Medical Center received a "D" grade in patient safety, according to the latest survey by a national hospital safety watchdog group.

The Leapfrog Group gave RMC a "D" in its spring 2022 survey of hospital safety across the nation. This is up from an "F the hospital received in the fall of 2021.

The "D" score was based on hospital data acquired from July 2018 to March 2021.

"The last two years have brought unprecedented challenges to our community and the health care industry," RMC Board Chair Rev. Dr. Caesar Richburg said, noting RMC was three-tenths of a point away from being a "C." "RMC maintains a commitment to quality and patient safety as shown by the improvement to our grade."

"RMC continues with performance-improvement teams working on prevention of hospital-acquired infections and conditions, improving patient care and processes, and customer service initiatives to improve HCAHPS(Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems) scoring," Richburg said.

Richburg noted the spring safety grade is based on "prepandemic and pandemic-era data reported to the Centers for Medicaid and Medicare.

"The hospital safety grades actually reflect a particular point in time  that tends to be in the past," Richburg said. "Much of the current quality data captured in 2022 will not be reported in our Leapfrog score until 2024."

"This is a difficult concept for many people to understand," Richburg said. "The current 'D' score is based on data from 2018-21. This lag is because Leapfrog uses CMS publicly reported data, which is published a year or more after CMS receives it."

According to Leapfrog, COVID has had an impact on hospitals across the country.

"The Spring 2022 Hospital Safety Grade provides a look at the impact of COVID-19 on patient safety, with several measures showing a significant decline, like patient experience measures," Leapfrog said. "These findings provide further evidence to national analyses that the provision of care has been negatively impacted due to the pandemic.

RMC was the only hospital in the state to receive a "D" and no hospital received and "F" in the spring survey. RMC was the only hospital in the state to receive an "F" grade through Leapfrog in the fall 2021 survey.

The Leapfrog Group looks at U.S. general acute-care hospitals, which total 2,900.

The American Hospital Association has long been critical of the Leapfrog survey, describing it as biased, unreliable and error-filled. Hospital officials have also decried the data for being dated as Leapfrog typically releases data that is over 1-1/2 years old.

Leapfrog has defended its analysis and data.

RMC officials have also noted Leapfrog is one of several quality score indicators and should not be taken in isolation.

For instance, the Joint Commission, which accredits more than 22,000 U.S. health care organizations and programs, also reviews RMC.

The Joint Commission survey examines more quality indicators than Leapfrog. The hospital has historically received high marks from the Joint Commission and earlier this year received the gold seal approval from the accrediting group.

With the release of its spring 2022 scoring publication, Leapfrog revised its scoring methodology, increasing the number of safety measures scored from 22 to 32.

RMC's "D" grade has continued a recent trend of the health care institution fluctuating from a "D" and an "F."

Prior to last fall's "F," RMC received a "D" from Leapfrog in the spring of 2021 and 2018; the spring and fall of 2019; and the spring of 2020. RMC received an "F" in the fall of 2018 and the fall of 2020.

Infections

The survey says RMC was worse than the average hospital in preventing infections such as methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and clostridium difficile (C. diff), as well as blood infections due to central line placement, urinary tract infections and surgical site infections after colon surgery.

On a positive note, Richburg noted RMC's scores improved in all these domains compared to the fall 2021 survey.

One area in which the hospital was above average was helping to prevent sepsis infections.

"Hospital staff closely monitor patients for signs of sepsis following surgical procedures, including a high heart rate, low blood pressure, fatigue, confusion and severe pain," the study states.

RMC scored 4.24 with the average hospital scoring 4.96. The best hospital score is around 2.31.

Problems with surgery

In the problems-with-surgery category, RMC continued to remain worse than the average hospital in preventing death from serious and treatable complications.

The hospital was better than the average hospital in removing dangerous objects within individuals after surgery, according to the survey. RMC actually received the highest possible score in this category.

"The hospital team follows a strict procedure to count sponges and tools in the operating room," the survey says of safer hospitals. "The hospital may use an electronic scanning system where each object is scanned before and after surgery to ensure they havent left any objects inside the patient."

The RMC was below average compared to others hospitals in preventing blood leakage, serious breathing problems after surgery and preventing accidental cuts and tears after surgery, according to the survey.

Safety problems

RMC remained above average in preventing air embolisms. It received the best possible score in meeting this safety measure.

"Staff is careful when inserting or removing a tube from a major vein to guard against air or gas getting into a patients bloodstream," the survey said in describing hospitals that are safer. "All staff is trained to safely put in and take out catheters and other tubes."

The hospital, however, was worse than average in preventing harmful events, preventing bed sores, preventing patient falls, preventing bone breaks from falls, preventing collapsed lungs and preventing blood clots.

Safer hospitals have staff members who "assist patients when they want to get up to use the restroom or move around the hospital."

"Leadership and staff make sure that the hospital environment is clear of hazards that could cause a fall or other trauma," the survey said of safer hospitals. "Patient beds may be equipped with alarms to alert staff if a patient who is at risk of falls tries to get out of bed on his or her own. Hospital staff responds quickly to these alarms if they go off."

Practices to prevent errors

The hospital remained worse than average in effectively communicating about medicines and discharges.

"Hospitals that score well on this measure take time to speak with every patient to ensure that the patient understands the purpose of any new medication they are given, how to take the medication, and the risk of any possible side effects," the study states.

The hospital remained better than the average hospital in safely administering medications.

"When hospitals use bar-coding technology effectively for all orders, medication errors happen far less frequently," the survey said, describing what safer hospitals do.

The RMC was above average in its doctors correctly ordering medications through a computer. It stayed the same and received the best possible score in this safety measure.

The survey notes that safer hospitals "use Computerized Physician Order Entry (CPOE) systems in all areas of the hospital and regularly test those systems to ensure they are alerting doctors to potential ordering errors."

The survey notes scoring high in this measure shows the CPOE system is effective in alerting doctors if they try to order a medication that could cause harm, such as prescribing an adult dosage for a child.

"CPOE systems help to reduce medication errors in the hospital," the survey said.

It is the third consecutive time the hospital has been above average in this category after seeing a below-average rating going back to the spring of 2019.

The hospital staff also works well together to prevent patient errors. The hospital saw the best possible score and was above the average hospital.

"Hospitals regularly survey their physicians, nurses and other staff on the culture of safety to measure how well staff works together to keep patients safe," the survey states in describing above-average hospitals. "Then, hospitals provide feedback on the results to leaders and hospital staff and create plans to improve."

Hand-washing protocols and procedures were above average and the received the best score among hospitals in this category.

"RMC has consistently scored the highest available scores for Medication Safety with Computerized Physician Order Entry, Bar Code Medication Administration, and ICU Physician Staffing requirements," Richburg said. "Also, Patient Safety Practices inclusive of Culture of Safety Leadership Structures and Systems, Culture Measurement, Feedback and Intervention, Nursing Workforce and Hand Hygiene."

Doctors, nurses, hospital staff

The hospital received the best possible score with its leadership's effectiveness in preventing errors, maintaining its score from the fall of 2021.

The survey notes above-average hospitals have leaders that are aware of the patient safety problems, work with hospital staff to fix them and share their efforts with the larger community.

"Leaders also make it a priority to learn about and use the best methods to prevent errors and are held accountable for identifying and reducing unsafe practices," the survey notes.

The hospital also was above average as compared to other hospitals in having enough qualified nurses, receiving the best possible score and maintaining its 2021 fall average.

The survey notes that above-average hospitals like RMC "hire enough nurses to care for all of the patients. They also ensure that those nurses have the right training to provide safe care for their patients."

RMC continued to do well in having specially trained doctors for Intensive Care Unit patients. RMC remained above average and received the best possible score in this safety measure.

The survey notes safer hospitals "staff ICUs with physicians who have training in critical care medicine."

The survey adds that hospitals "should have special doctors called intensivists working in the ICU" and that "there are higher death rates in hospitals where ICU patients are not cared for by intensivists."

The RMC also scored above average from patients on how they feel their doctors explained things clearly, listened carefully to them, and treated them with courtesy and respect.

Richburg noted this was an improvement from the fall of 2021. He also noted the hospital saw scores improve in hospital staff responsiveness to patient needs and to providing discharge information to patients.

The hospital improved in both domains but remained worse than the average hospital in both domains, according to Leapfrog.

RMC remained the same and continued to be worse than average in patient satisfaction with nurse communication and communication about medicines.

Richburg also noted the national average for all five HCAHPS domains included in the Leapfrog survey decreased.

Leapfrog survey

The Leapfrog data were collected between July 2018 to December 2019; October 2019 through December 2019; July 2020 through March 2021 from outcomes measures including errors, accidents and injuries.

Data came primarily from the Centers of Medicare and Medicaid Services and through a 2021 volunteer survey.

The grades are based on safety data and represent a hospitals overall performance in keeping patients safe from preventable harm and medical errors, according to Leapfrog.

Overall in South Carolina, of the 51 hospitals that were ranked, 21 received a letter A.

Thats an improvement from 15 A's in the fall rankings.

Nationally, South Carolina ranked 13th among all states, with more than 41% of its hospitals scoring an A rating.

That was a significant increase from the fall (29%), when the state was ranked 25th in the nation.

The Leapfrog Group was created in 2000 by a group of businesses and other large health care purchasers who sought to reduce preventable medical mistakes.

Since 2012, the Leapfrog Group has published hospital safety scores to create transparency in the U.S. health system.

The Leapfrog Group reports its purpose as a nonprofit watchdog organization that serves as a voice for health care consumers and purchasers, using their collective influence to foster positive change in U.S. health care.

The bi-annual surveys -- one in the spring and one in the fall -- look at infections, problems with surgery, practices to prevent errors, and doctors, nurses and hospital staff.

Leapfrog graded more than 2,900 hospitals nationwide this spring, and 33% earned an A, 24% earned a B, 36% a C, 7% a D and less than 1% scored an F, according to its website.

The Leapfrog Hospital Safety grade is reviewed by a national expert panel and receives guidance from Johns Hopkins Medicines Armstrong Institute for Patient Safety and Quality, according to its website.

While the data do not yet include findings collected during the height of COVID-19, Leapfrog said the data offer an indication of how well hospitals implemented fundamental safety precautions prior to the pandemic.

For more information about the safety grades, as well as individual hospital grades and state rankings, visit www.hospitalsafetygrade.org.

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Orangeburg County Development Commission Executive Director Gregg Robinson is leaving after 17 years in the position. He will become chief executive officer of the Florence County Economic Development Partnership.

OCDC Chair Kenneth Middleton said Robinsons knowledge and skills will be missed.

He has helped to build a fantastic foundation of success which will continue, Middleton said.

Robinson has served as OCDC executive director since May 2005. Prior to his arrival in Orangeburg, Robinson was a project manager with the South Carolina Department of Commerce and an administrator with the town of Springdale.

Robinson said, Orangeburg County is an outstanding organization thanks to the leadership of the county council and the board of directors.

I wish the OCDC staff and board continued success in your important mission of creating jobs and capital investment and raising the standard of living for the people of Orangeburg County."

I am truly humbled to have had the opportunity to get to know everyone and hope that we will be able to support one another well into the future, he said. We have a great organization and wonderful culture here at OCDC, and that will always continue.

Robinson expressed his appreciation for all those he has worked with over the years.

I can honestly say that I have enjoyed every day, Robinson said. The commitment to economic development is unparalleled. Truly, Orangeburg County and the Global Logistics Triangle have an exciting future.

My time at OCDC and the County of Orangeburg has been personally rewarding beyond words. I do not think that I have ever worked for a better group of individuals dedicated to making their community a better place to work and live. Thank you.

Former state senator John Matthews said Robinsons vision and his wisdom transformed this county.

When Robinson arrived in Orangeburg County, it was ranked 5th among the poorest counties in the state, Matthews said. The county has leapfrogged eight counties.

When Robinson arrived, the average manufacturing wage was about $10.71, Matthews said. Today it is about $19.73.

We are not where we want to be, but we are a long way from where we were, Matthews said. I give a lot of that credit to Gregg for his vision and his wisdom.

Matthews said he and Robinson have worked on infrastructure development over the years, which helped lay the groundwork for economic development.

These projects will all benefit from his work, Matthews said.

Matthews called Robinsons move, a loss for Orangeburg County but a gain for Florence.

I wish him the best and lots of luck. He has done a lot of good for this county and I am sure the people of Florence will be more than satisfied.

Orangeburg County Council Chairman Johnnie Wright said Robinson will be missed.

Gregg is a heck of a salesman. He is good at it and getting in front of people. He is a people person and he has done a lot for Orangeburg County in the area of economic growth, Wright said.

He will leave a legacy for us, Wright continued. I wish him the best.

Wright noted Robinson helped fill the Orangeburg County/City Industrial Park.

Just about every business in there came under Gregg's leadership, Wright said.

He noted economic development has been Orangeburg Countys top priority.

We have always wanted to expand our base on capital investments so we can grow our mills and do things that would increase the value of the county so we can continue to provide services, Wright said.

Under Robinsons direction, the county has publicly announced over $2 billion in new capital investment and over 2,000 new jobs.

About ten solar projects have announced plans to invest a total of $503.5 million and provide 460 megawatts of power in the county over the last five years. And the development of the Interstate 95 and U.S. 301 interchange helped improve access in what the county has trademarked as the Global Logistics Triangle.

Robinsons last day at the OCDC will be July 8. A search committee will conduct in an external search for new a leader, according to the press release.

Central SC Alliance Director of Business Development Stephen Roddey will help guide the process. The alliance works with regional development efforts.

In the interim, the alliance will assist Orangeburg County in its project management efforts.

Nelson Lindsey, CSCA president and CEO, stated that his team is ready to assist the Orangeburg County Development Commission.

We offer the resources of our office and staff to assist at this time to help continue the countys exemplary growth, Lindsey said. Stephen knows Orangeburg County well and has been working with Gregg and his team for over 17 years. We thank Mr. Robinson for all his efforts and success and wish him well in his future endeavors. We look forward to supporting OCDC during the transition.

Middleton said, "Economic development is a team sport and the staff at OCDC are poised and ready to step up during this important transition.

Economic development is the countys top priority. It is the foundation for a greater quality of life, and we will transition into a new era of development.

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Memories of searing flames leaping from fiery oil fields and miles of unpredictable land mines sometimes keep Larry Sexton up at night, but it was part of a duty to his country that he felt he had to fulfill.

The 66-year-old Bamberg native is a United States Marine Corps veteran of Operation Desert Storm, a massive U.S.-led air offensive made in response to former Iraqi dictator Saddam Husseins invasion of Kuwait.

Youve got to do what you go to do

Sexton, who currently lives in Fallbrook, California, vividly remembers when his more than 20-year military career began as a young 18-year-old in November of 1974.

I graduated from Bamberg-Ehrhardt High School in 1974. Nov. 1, 1974 was when I joined the Marines. A cousin of mine was supposedly actually going into the Army. He wasnt allowed to go in because of his age. So we kind of scrapped that, Sexton said, but that wasnt the end of the story.

Coming back and while walking by the Marine recruiting office, I looked inside the window. I was looking at the dress blues in the Marine Corps recruiting office. I was looking at those things and just saying, Wow, those things are totally awesome, he said.

Sexton continued, I guess I stayed there too long. A drill instructor came out and he said to me, You can be wearing that uniform. Everybody knows about the Marine Corps boot camp and stuff like that, and Im saying to myself, No, probably not.

This is what Im thinking. Anyhow, he convinced me to join. So the next thing you know, Im on a bus headed down to Parris Island, South Carolina.

It was an experience he said hell never forget.

I got there about 2 a.m. in the morning. The drill instructors met us at the bus. When they started yelling and screaming, I thought that maybe I made a mistake. I thought that for a couple of days. As time go by, you get used to it, the physical training, the mental toughness and all that stuff. By the time you get to the third phase, youre so physically fit that nothing bothers you, Sexton said.

He said having to crawl under barbed wire with bullets from machine guns whizzing over his head was not even comparable to the miles-long runs he had to make.

Youre probably less afraid of that than some of the other stuff. The hardest part is the run because youve got to run three miles. Thats probably the hardest of the physical things that you do because they increase the tempo. You run faster at times. Youre just not jogging along, Sexton said.

After completing basic training, he went to auto mechanic school at Camp Johnson in Jacksonville, North Carolina.

That was my military occupational specialty, 3521 Motor Transport. Then after the school, my first duty station was Okinawa, Japan. As a kid, I'd always wanted to go to Japan, and then I got my orders right after school. It said Japan. I said, 'Wow, I can't believe this, he said.

Sexton continued, "When you first get there, you're kind of lost, but there's a Marine that's been there longer than you that'll put you under his wing. He kind of teaches you where to go, places to eat. I actually enjoyed the food over in Japan. I stayed there for 13 months."

The veteran then got assigned to a duty station in Beaufort, South Carolina, where he enjoyed being close to home and stayed for approximately three years.

That was my favorite duty station. Actually, it wasn't far from Parris Island. I was still with motor transport. We had the trucks, and we would transport equipment and gear and stuff wherever they needed to ship to," said Sexton, who would eventually find himself in the frigid temperatures of Illinois on what was called inspector-instructor duty.

"It was a little town called Joliet. You don't want to be there in the winter time. You don't want to be in Illinois. It is really, really cold. I'm talking about 18 degrees below zero stuff. So that was the duty station that in the winter time didn't work for me, but you've got to do what you got to do," said Sexton, who stayed in Illinois for three years.

"We trained the reservists. That's what I did up there in Illinois. We would train those guys in the reserve units that come in once a month. After I left there, I went to Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, and there I was with an artillery unit. I was with the 10th Marines," he said.

Sexton continued, That wasn't that far from home either, plus it was warmer than Illinois. So I was OK with that. Being with an artillery unit, you go out in the field and stuff like that and fire those big artillery guns. Those howitzers are pretty loud.

Sexton would find himself back in Okinawa, Japan, a place which by then was very familiar.

I only went over there for a year, but I liked it so much that I extended it for two additional years for a total of three years. They had incentives because with me being single, they were trying to keep the single people over so the married people wouldn't have to drag their family over there, he said.

His incentive was vacation time, which he would enjoy in the Philippines.

I would go to the Kadena Airport, where the Air Force had a military airport, and I could fly anywhere I wanted to for free, he said.

Sexton had been in the military without any threat of war for a long time, but that would eventually change when he got stationed with the Marine Corps 1st Reconnaissance Battalion at Camp Lejeune.

That's the unit I went to Desert Storm with. There wasn't any wars going on or anything, and then when it started to get kind of close to my retirement, that's when the war broke out. Most servicemen actually want to be a part of a war. I don't know, it must be in our DNA or something, but you want to say, 'Yeah, I got a chance to serve in war before you get out,' and for me it happened, he said.

It was a job for me

He and his unit were flown into Saudi Arabia.

When they first told us we had to go over there, we were a little bit concerned. Naturally, with a war you're going to be concerned. We knew they had those SCUD missiles, and we were concerned about those," Sexton said.

While he and his unit were setting up their camps to prepare for war, it was the U.S. Air Force which were helping to cripple the enemy with powerful air strikes.

"The Air Force was hitting the Iraqis pretty hard. They were hitting them in Iraq and Kuwait. They were trying to bring supplies into their troops, and we would hit their convoys. So it was very hard for them to get supplies, Sexton said.

The dangers of war were still within reach.

"When it was time for us to finally go in after bombarding them for a couple of months and making them weak, we had to go through mine fields. I'll never forget looking at those mine fields. As far as you could see, you'd see mine fields. I said, 'Yeah, these guys really want to kill us, Sexton said.

"Saddam Hussein, when they went in and took Kuwait, they put the mine fields in so when wed come in, they would hit us. They were there for so long that the wind blew the dust off of them. So we could see them clear as day. Saddam Hussein didn't expect that to happen, but while the wind blew the sand off the top of them, we had to go through that, he said.

Oil wells were also set on fire, posing a potentially grave danger to American soldiers.

There was fire coming up out of those oil wells that was very hot. We had to maneuver ourselves through those oil well fires on our way to Kuwait. That was like, 'Wow.' Sometimes it seemed we got just a little too close to them, but we had to maneuver our way through them to get to Kuwait, Sexton said.

By the time Sexton and his unit got to Kuwait, they were met by surrendering -- and starving -- soldiers.

"I remember that when they came up to us, they didn't bring their guns. They put their guns away from us so we wouldn't fire on them. I'm sure that's the reason why they did that. They were also hungry. So when they came up to us, they were asking for MREs, our meal ready-to-eat packets, Sexton said.

Those guys were starving because once when I went inside one of these bunkers, they had the hind quarter of a zebra inside this bunker. We heard stories they were doing that, we didn't really believe it. We didn't know for sure they were doing that, but I saw it with my own eyes.

There was a hind quarter of a zebra hanging up, and they were slicing pieces off the zebra to stay alive I guess because it was hard for Saddam Hussein to get food to them. That's one of the things I'll never forget, he said.

Sexton said while the threat of land mines and fire was concerning, there was hardly time to let fear derail the mission.

The whole time I was there in that war, I was concerned, but I was never scared. There'd be times when I was more concerned than others, but I never got to a point where I was freaking out about it. It was a constant concern, but I wasn't totally afraid. Thank God for that, he said.

The veteran continued, We knew we had a mission to do, and that's what we're supposed to do. Being in the Marines is a job. It was a job for me, and that's a job I had to do ... They train us to accomplish our mission. So you don't really have time to be afraid and stuff like that. You got to do what you go to do, he said.

While he was not personally in direct combat, there were things he did see at night to remind him of its dangers.

At night, you could see the anti-aircraft fire of the Iraqis. You can see the anti-aircraft fired up at our planes. You could see it and say, 'Yeah, these guys are really after us,'" he said.

We dont leave anyone

Sexton left Saudi Arabia in April of 1991.

He recalled the plane ride back to California, where he served the remainder of his time at his late duty station after leaving the Marine Corps 1st Reconnaissance Battalion.

I got stationed at the Headquarters Battalion," he said, noting that he got a heros welcome upon returning.

When we got on a plane coming back from Saudi Arabia, they played a song for on the airplane. It was the Lee Greenwood song called 'God Bless the U.S.A.' It almost brought tears to my eyes. It really made me feel good because we went over and won a war. So the trip back was definitely a very pleasant one, he said, noting that he was grateful that neither he nor any of the other members of his unit were killed.

All of them came home. That's one of the best feelings you can have. The Marines don't leave anyone. In that case, we didn't have to leave anyone because we brought everybody back. So it was a really good feeling," said Sexton, who retired from the military on March 31, 1997, after 22 years of service.

He said he enjoyed being able to travel everywhere from Australia to Africa during his military career but did not particularly like having to change duty stations just when he would have begun to create bonds with people.

Being in the military, if you get in the wrong war, of course, you could end up losing your life, but if that's not going on, a lot of times you get a chance to go to these cities for free. That was one of the things that I enjoyed best, Sexton said.

He recalled some of the other rigors of his service outside of war.

"Being with a Marine Corps unit, we have something called pumps, where we got on ships. You float out on the ocean. You go out there and stay out there for six months at a time. We'd go into ports. We out there on the water, then we might go to Australia, we might go into Hong Kong, we might go in the Philippines, Sexton said.

He continued, We'd go out for six months. In case they need us, we're already in the water. We got all our equipment on the ship with us. All we got to do is hit the shore, get all our equipment off the ship and go in and be ready to fight.

Sexton said his service was rooted in family because his father Joseph served in the Korean War with the U.S. Army, while his uncles Abraham and Jacob also served in the U.S. Army.

I kind of grew up with my Uncle Jacob and my Uncle Abraham. I had seen them in uniform. I think that was the thing that made me want to do it more than anything else. It was definitely a family thing that got me excited about being in the military, he said.

Sexton said the military builds discipline out of this world.

They dont tolerate not taking orders. They dont tolerate that. So if youre given an order, you have to go ahead and carry it out. My parents trained us to be disciplined as kids and stuff like that, but the military took it up another notch, he said.

The 66-year-old said while moving back to his hometown of Bamberg is not out of the question, Californias weather is still keeping him there.

He also said that while his body is reminding him that he is no longer a young 18-year-old military recruit, he is grateful for life after his military service.

Im not a spring chicken anymore, and the aches and pains are starting to show up, Sexton said, noting that the mental toll of war is also never really far away.

Desert Storm affected me a little bit. Sometimes when Im sleeping at night, I can see those fiery oil fields. I can see the mine field. I can see them at night. So that stays with me, he said.

Contact the writer: dgleaton@timesanddemocrat.com or 803-533-5534. Follow "Good News with Gleaton" on Twitter at @DionneTandD

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Among the issues affecting Luxembourg's farmers this summer are drought, wild boars, and the rising crow population destroying their freshly sown fields.

Farmers across the country have been forced to sow their fields twice as a result of hungry crows interrupting their harvest plans. However, the birds remain undeterred.

Read also: An overview of price increases in Luxembourg over the past year

The issue has presented itself differently this year compared to previous years, leading the industry to refer to it as a "plague".

Patrick Holper, a trader from Ingeldorf, explains the situation was exacerbated by new regulations on grains. Farmers are no longer allowed to coat the grains in methiocarb pesticides, which used to repel birds from eating the seeds.

Nowadays, grains are treated with Korit, which is designed to repel birds, but does not sufficiently penetrate into the corn and is therefore less effective, Holper adds.

If farmers need to re-sow their fields a third time, they will risk delaying their harvest too long for the crops to fully return. Negative effects on the harvest are virtually inevitable at this stage, says Holper. Farmers are also concerned over rumours that they will no longer be eligible for compensation due to crow damage.

In addition, the agricultural sector is suffering as a result of the halt in Ukrainian exports, which has had an impact on Western Europe. Holper says corn producers across the country are feeling the pressure, warning against focusing on the corn market in the east.

Concern is mounting for the future of the sector, as producers are unable to gauge future prices of their grains, and there is no guarantee there will be enough next year. But, as Holper points out, without grain, the dairy and meat industries will suffer, in what he calls a "vicious circle". Many difficult decisions lie ahead, he concludes.

Holper predicts corn seed will jump up by 20% in price as a result.

Has the crow population increased? It is difficult to say, according to Holper, but one thing is certain - farmers are struggling more this year and experiencing more damage from the birds than in previous years.

Audio in Luxembourgish:
Trier police reported a serious incident on Friday evening as a young driver was left with severe injuries following a crash on the A1 motorway.

The 20 year old driver lost control of his vehicle near the Manderscheid/Hasborn exit at around 7.30pm on Friday evening. The car came off the road and crashed into trees along the roadside, leaving the vehicle "completely destroyed", according to police reports.

Fire fighters arrived on the scene to cut the driver out of the wreckage. He was then air-lifted to hospital with life-threatening injuries.

The road was closed to traffic to allow emergency services to deal with the incident. Fire crews were joined by police from Wittlich and Schweich, as well as the air ambulance.
Two recent polls funded by groups supporting Harriet Hageman put the natural resources lawyer well ahead of Rep. Liz Cheney, but experts cautioned that surveys conducted months before the election dont always predict the result.

Hageman, whos backed by former President Donald Trump, and incumbent Cheney are in a heated Republican primary for Wyomings lone House seat. Cheney angered many Republicans in Wyoming and elsewhere for her vote to impeach Trump, her service on the Jan. 6 committee and her repeated rebukes of the former president.

Now, some polling is indicating that Cheneys actions might catch up with her. Both polls surveyed roughly 400 Wyoming Republicans.

A poll funded by Club for Growth, a national conservative political action committee (PAC) that has been in the business of unseating Cheney for over a year, found that Hageman leads Cheney by 30 points. When asked, 56% of participants said they would vote for Hageman if the election were held today, as opposed to 26% for Cheney and 12% for state Sen. Anthony Bouchard, R-Burns. Six percent were undecided.

The poll was conducted from May 24-25, a couple days before Trumps visit to Casper to rally support for Hageman.

Club for Growth has so far spent nearly $60,000 in Cheney opposition efforts.

Theres always a question when you have an outside org promoting a candidate and then putting out polls in support of the candidate, said Dr. Jim King, political science professor at the University of Wyoming. That doesnt necessarily mean the polls are inaccurate. It simply means theyre putting out more info in support of their candidate.

The other poll was funded by pro-Hageman Super PAC Wyoming Values,

of all PACs involved in Wyomings House race. In the first couple weeks of May, the PAC indicated it planned to spend half a million dollars supporting the Hageman campaign.The poll, conducted by Fabrizio, Lee & Associates over the first two days of June, found that favorability for Hageman has climbed over the last few months as favorability for Cheney has dropped.

According to federal election law, super PACs and the candidates theyre backing are not allowed to have any contact, so its likely the Hageman campaign was not consulted on that survey.

When Wyomingites were asked in early June if the election were held today, 56% of them said theyd vote for Hageman compared to 28% for Cheney, 8% for Bouchard and less than 1% for candidates Denton Knapp and Robyn Belinskey. Seven percent were undecided.

The polling firm led the report by saying Popular Hageman crushing Liz Cheney in GOP primary.

That language made Emily Grant, a senior research scientist at the University of Wyomings Survey and Analysis Center, pause.

The interpretation in the Fabrizio poll uses sensational terms like crushing that could sway readers to believe differences are higher than they are, Grant said.

Both pollsters have a rating of B/C on FiveThirtyEight, a website that does opinion poll analysis, but those grades are provisional because of how few polls both outfits have publicly conducted.

The methodology is sound for both, Grant said. The margin of error for both is roughly 5%, so if the splits were closer, I would question it, but the margin is wide enough that I believe the findings valid.

While few polls have been released or leaked, Wyomingites have been getting calls and texts from pollsters continuously over the last few months. Club for Growth declined to comment on any unreleased polling.

With this amount of money available  were talking millions available  campaigns and other interest groups are polling on a regular basis to see if anything has changed in the political landscape, said Dave Picard, a Wyoming political consultant.

Unprecedented amounts of money have poured into the House race, as the contest is viewed nationally as a proxy war in the broader battle between Republicans who support and oppose Trump.

Even if the polls put Hageman well ahead, there are still two months left until the Aug. 16 primary. How many of the people polled in the spring and summer will turn out on Election Day? The earlier the poll the more we wonder about how accurate it will prove to be on Election Day, King said. Theres a lot of reasons people might say now, Yes, Im going to vote and then they dont. Thats always a challenge for pollsters.

Both polls were published shortly before the start of the Jan. 6 hearings, which kicked off Thursday with Cheney playing a lead role. She placed blame for the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol at Trumps feet multiple times, even saying that the former president could be guilty of federal crimes.

Both the Cheney and Hageman campaigns declined to comment for this story.

For the most part polls have a greater chance for error with two months left to go, King said. I wouldnt take what the poll is saying as gospel.

Follow state politics reporter Victoria Eavis on Twitter @Victoria_Eavis.

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More airlines open flights to Dong Hoi

More Vietnamese airlines have launched flights to Dong Hoi Airport in the central province of Quang Binh.



Budget carrier Vietjet Air has planned to launch flights from Hanoi to Dong Hoi with the frequency of one flight per day.

Dong Hoi Airport



From June 15, national flag carrier Vietnam Airline will increase the frequency on the Hanoi-Dong Hoi route to one flight per day.



On the same day, Pacific Airlines will also start serving the Hanoi-Dong Hoi route with one flight daily. Flights will depart Hanoi at 8:25 am and land at Dong Hoi Airport at 10 am, using A320 planes. It already operates Dong Hoi-HCM City flights.



Quang Binh has carried out many activities on tourism development after the Covid-19 pandemic. In the first five months of this year, the province welcomed 400,000 visitors, mostly from Hanoi and northern localities.

In the coming time, the number of passengers from Hanoi to Quang Binh are expected to sharply increase.
In his 6-3 opinion for the Supreme Court in the landmark case, Youngstown Sheet & Tube Co. v. Sawyer (1952), Justice Hugo Black rejected President Harry Trumans assertion of an inherent executive power to seize the steel industry as a means of thwarting a nationwide steel strike. Blacks opinion, a historic rebuke to sweeping claims of presidential authority, provided a textbook lesson on the constraining force of the separation of powers doctrine and why it prohibited President Truman from issuing an executive order that encroached on legislative power.

President Truman, it will be recalled, had ordered Secretary of Commerce Charles Sawyer to seize the steel industry for the purpose of ensuring the continuation of steel production which he believed critical to both the United States role in the Korean War and the task of rebuilding Europe in the aftermath of World War II. Justice Black declared that the presidents power, if any, to issue the order must stem from an act of Congress or from the Constitution itself.

Black proceeded to emphasize that no statute existed that expressly authorized Trumans act, nor was there any law from which such power can be fairly implied. Consequently, Black noted, the necessary authority must be found in some provision of the Constitution. But Truman made no such claim. Instead, he asserted the aggregate of his powers under the Constitution, with reliance on the Vesting Clause, the Take Care Clause and the Commander in Chief Clause.

Black easily disposed of the Commander in Chief argument and trained his sights on the presidents assertion of an inherent power. He denied that the seizure order could be upheld by the grant of executive power to the president. As Black explained it, In the framework of our Constitution, the Presidents power to see that the laws are faithfully executed refutes the idea that he is to be a lawmaker. The Constitution, he stated, grants to Congress, not the president, the authority to make laws.

At bottom, Congress had not authorized the president to seize private property. That fact is what united the five separate concurring opinions. While the concurring opinions written by the majority emphasized different aspects of the separation of powers, the common denominator lay in the justices insistence on the existence of law granting seizure authority to the president.

The majority agreed, moreover, that the president possessed no inherent power to seize the steel mills. The assertion of such a vague, undefined reservoir of inherent power, variously characterized as an emergency or prerogative power, would permit the president to act in the absence of law and even in defiance of it. In that case, the president might displace the laws of Congress, thus mortally wounding the separation of powers, which insists that the nation should be governed by known rules of law. That principle can be maintained, however, only if those who make the law have no power to execute it and those who execute it have no power to make it. That critical distinction would be eviscerated by an inherent executive power.

The Truman administrations assertion of an inherent power to confront a crisis raised the profile of Youngstown to a historic level. It harkened back to one of the most fundamental, dramatic and transcendent issues in the long history of Anglo-American jurisprudence: subordinating the executive to the rule of law. The issue of the presidents relationship to the law defined the Steel Seizure Case and confronted the justices of the Supreme Court with an issue that judges have grappled with since the great English judge, Sir Edward Coke, in 1608, boldly declared to an outraged King James I that the king is indeed subject to the law.

The administrations assertion of an emergency executive power to take any action the president believed would serve the national welfare, hadnt been heard in an English-speaking courtroom since the mid-17th Century reign of King Charles I. While the Court rejected the claim of a presidential prerogative power, there lingered the question of which branch of government possessed the authority to meet and resolve an emergency. After all, it is not possible for Congress to write laws to govern every conceivable emergency that might arise. And it is scarcely imaginable that a government could stand idly by in the face of a crisis that threatens lives and the future of the nation simply because it had not occurred to the legislature to act. In other words, the problem of emergency could not be wished away or relegated to the confines of an academic seminar. If the president does not possess a constitutionally based emergency power, then the question arises: What is the constitutional prescription for meeting an emergency? The framers answer lay in resort to the ancient doctrine of retroactive ratification, which we explain in our next column.

David Adler, Ph.D., is a noted author who lectures nationally and internationally on the Constitution, the Bill of Rights and Presidential power. His scholarly writings have been cited by the U.S. Supreme Court and lower courts by both Democrats and Republicans in the U.S. Congress. Adlers column is supported in part through a grant from Wyoming Humanities funded by the Why it Matters: Civic and Electoral Participation initiative, administered by the Federation of State Humanities Councils and funded by Andrew W. Mellon Foundation. Adler can be reached at david.adler@alturasinstitute.com.

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TELECOMMUNICATIONS Services of T&T (TSTT) is expected to re-issue retrenchment notices to the 376 unionised workers by Friday giving them 45-day notices which will end July 15.

TSTT and its recognised majority union, the Communications Workers Union (CWU) came to an agreement outside of the courts on Monday, that will see the organisation continue with its restructuring exercise without delay.
OPPOSITION Leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar has called on United States authorities to investigate whether Attorney General Reginald Armour committed perjury and lied to a Miami court over his role as an attorney in the Piarco International Airport corruption case.

This as she maintained at the UNCs Monday night forum that the AG has placed the country in a constitutional crisis and must be fired by Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley.
Acting Prime Minister Colm Imbert said yesterday that he did not know whether US law enforcement authorities had launched an investigation into Attorney General Reginald Armour.

During an animated Prime Ministers Question Time in Parliament, Imbert also said he could not say whether the Attorney General had disclosed his conflict of interest to the Cabinet or the Prime Minister.
Chinese Ambassador to Australia Xiao Qian attends the national conference of the Australia China Friendship Society (ACFS) in Perth, Australia, on June 11, 2022. (Xinhua/Bai Xuefei)

PERTH, Australia, June 11 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Ambassador to Australia Xiao Qian said here on Saturday that a healthy and stable development of the bilateral relations is in line with the fundamental interests of the two peoples.

Xiao made the remarks while addressing the national conference of the Australia China Friendship Society (ACFS) held in Perth, capital of the state of Western Australia.

This year marks the 50th anniversary of the establishment of the China-Australia diplomatic relations. Xiao noted in the past 50 years, the bilateral practical cooperation not only boosted China's economic and social development but also brought prosperity to Australia's various industries and helped it weather several global or regional economic and financial crises.

"During the past five decades, China has always been looking at the bilateral relations from a strategic and long-term perspective, and committed to friendly exchanges and cooperation with Australia in the spirit of mutual respect and mutual benefit. This policy remains unchanged."

Stressing the bilateral ties is at a "new juncture", the ambassador said it also faces some new opportunities.

The two countries could continue to deepen traditional cooperation while exploring new opportunities in green technology, new energy, healthcare, digital economy, and creative industries, and aligning green development strategies.

Xiao stressed that China and Australia could and should coexist in harmony despite their differences in many aspects.

"It's important to respect the diversity of civilizations, respect a country's choice of development path in accordance with its own national conditions, and make exchanges and mutual learning among civilizations a powerful bond for maintaining world peace and promoting common development."

Xiao also spoke highly of the role of Western Australia as a "major driving force and great contributor" for the China-Australia cooperation, and hailed the two peoples' friendship as a foundation for the bilateral relations.

He said the embassy and the Chinese Consulates-General in Australia stand ready to work with the Australian federal government, state governments and friends from all walks of life to move forward the China-Australia relationship along the right track to benefit the two countries and peoples. 

Premier of the state of Western Australia Mark McGowan attends the national conference of the Australia China Friendship Society (ACFS) in Perth, Australia, on June 11, 2022. (Xinhua/Bai Xuefei)
Below is a version of my letter sent to the Environmental Management Authority (EMA), which has requested that complaints about noise pollution be sent directly to them:

I am a long-standing resident of Lady Chancellor Apartments a 50-year-old apartment block situated approximately 400 yards from the Lookout on Lady Chancellor Road. Over the years I have watched, with dismay and utter impotence, the complete erosion of a quiet residential area into a noisy, public fete neighbourhood.
After years of stagnant wages, Pima Community College plans to increase employee pay.

The PCC Governing Board voted Wednesday night to increase the portion of property taxes that specifically support the college by 4%, before it passed a $363.4 million total operating budget for fiscal year 2023, which starts July 1.

The owner of a $100,000 home will pay about $5 more a year in taxes.

The hike will boost the colleges revenues by $5 million in fiscal year 2023.

Earlier this year, the board also voted to raise tuition by $2 a credit hour to increase cash flows, sustain pandemic-era student support services and offset a dramatic enrollment decline over the past several years.

The college receives hardly any financial support from the state Legislature, and relies heavily on local property taxes and tuition revenues to operate.

In addition to allocating $49 million for continued build-out of the Centers for Excellence and other deferred maintenance projects, the college plans to spend approximately $9 million this year to raise the salaries of its roughly 2,400 employees.

Our priority this upcoming year is really to focus on employee compensation, said David Bea, executive vice chancellor for finance and administration at PCC, who added that state budget reductions over the past decade have limited the colleges ability to better compensate its employees.

Over time, our compensation structure has degraded and has become archaic, he said.

In some cases, newer employees are paid higher salaries than their more experienced colleagues because of outdated pay raise schedules and a market demand to offer higher pay to fill open positions.

To change that, the college is implementing a new pay structure for regular faculty, staff, and administrators that will set a minimum salary of $16.15 an hour and compensate employees based on outside market comparisons of their job duties. For example, a position that requires high-level technical knowledge would have a salary thats competitive with similar jobs outside of the college.

PCC is also creating a tiered adjunct faculty pay system intended to compensate adjunct faculty with more experience. New adjunct faculty members would fall into the tier one category.

To qualify for tier two, which comes with 5% higher pay per credit hour, adjunct faculty must have taught five terms or 30 credit hours within the last three years and completed nine hours of professional development.

Right now, adjunct faculty, no matter their experience, make $870 per credit hour, but the college will raise the base level pay to $900 per credit hour for all adjunct faculty. Those who qualify for tier two compensation will make $945 per credit hour.

These changes will go into effect on July 2, 2022.

Kathryn Palmer covers higher education for the Arizona Daily Star. Contact her via e-mail at kpalmer@tucson.com or her new phone number, 520-496-9010.

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A chemical banned decades ago in Arizona nail salons is still turning up in some Pima County beauty shops, public records show.

Ten local nail salons were cited in the first nine months of 2021 for having methyl methacrylate on the premises  a substance described by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration as a poisonous and deleterious substance that should not be used in fingernail preparations.

Arizona is one of 30 states that banned the chemical compound, commonly called MMA, since the FDA raised an alarm in the early 1970s after receiving a number of complaints of personal injury related to its use in nail products.

Experts say MMA can cause severe allergic reactions such as blistering, peeling and cracking and rashes on the hands, nails or on the face if someone touches their face after getting a set of acrylic nails made with MMA. The Arizona Daily Star obtained salon inspection data through a public records request to the Arizona Barbering and Cosmetology Board.

In the 1970s, the FDA cracked down on MMA at 100% strength but did not impose an outright ban, prompting many states to pass their own laws against using the substance in nail salons.

MMA still turns up quite regularly in nail salons around the state, said Isabella Neal, spokeswoman for the board that regulates the industry. MMA citations are extremely common and have always been since the FDA prohibited the use, she said.

MMA products typically cost far less than legally-approved alternatives, a financial incentive to operate outside the law. For example, directnail.com, a Florida-based wholesaler, charges $70 for a gallon of MMA nail solution and $126  80% more  for a similar product without MMA.

In Pima County, all of last years MMA violations came to light during board inspections, Neal said. None were due to complaints of injury, which isnt unusual, she said, because consumers generally are not aware of a potential link between acrylic nails and medical symptoms.

The public doesnt typically know about MMA or the signs relating to the use of MMA, so it is not that common to receive complaints about injuries as a direct result from using MMA, Neal said in an email.

Doctors at the Banner-University Medicine Dermatology Clinic in Tucson, many of whom also teach at the University of Arizonas medical school, say its not unusual to see local patients who developed severe skin conditions after acrylic nails were applied.

We see it commonly in the fingers and the face or anywhere the nails touch. Hand dermatitis, itching, scaling and rashes, said Dr. Rebecca Thiede, an assistant professor. Sometimes theres permanent damage to a patients natural nails, she said.

The fine for having MMA in a licensed Arizona salon is typically $250 if there are no other violations at the time of inspection and no previous violations in the last three years. Neal wouldnt comment on whether a fine of that level is sufficient to deter the use of MMA.

To file an online complaint about a licensed nail salon, go to https://boc.az.gov/complaint-form-0 and scroll down to Page 3.

The following Pima County salons were cited and fined for MMA violations:

Bella Nails & Spa

1070 E. Tucson Marketplace Blvd. #120, Tucson.

An inspector found a gallon of nail solution with MMA on site on May 18, 2021. The inspection also found towels and wet disinfectant were improperly stored and a container of paraffin wax was contaminated with debris. The operator had no previous violations in three years and paid a $750 fine. Management did not respond by deadline to a voicemail seeking comment.

Diva Nail Spa

2404 S. Harrison Road, Tucson.

A board inspector found two gallons of MMA nail liquid on the premises on Jan. 14, 2021. The operator also was cited for dirty conditions (dust, nail clippings, trash) at seven of eight stations and for reusing items such as nail files and pumice stones that are supposed to be thrown away after each client. The salon, which had no violations in the previous three years, paid a $500 fine to settle the allegations. Manager Simon Tran said the salon no longer uses MMA.

Elegant Nails

11165 N. La Canada Dr., Suite 125, Oro Valley.

An inspection on March 29, 2021 found a gallon of nail liquid with a very strong smell of MMA and no ingredients label. The inspector also found two employees illegally performing manicures and pedicures on clients without a required state license. The salon, which had no other violations in the previous three years, paid a $750 fine to settle the case. Manager Lien Trinh told the Star the MMA solution was left behind by a previous salon owner.

Expert Nails

18690 S. Nogales Hwy., #112, Green Valley.

A state inspector found a gallon of MMA nail solution on site on Feb. 9, 2021. No other violations were found and the salon had no history of violations in the previous three years. The operator paid a $250 fine. Management could not be reached for comment because there was no answer and no voicemail at the phone number listed on state licensing records.

Hollywood Nail Spa

4016 N. 1st Ave., Tucson.

An inspector found two gallons of nail liquid with MMA on the premises on March 29,2021. No other violations were found, and the salon has no previous violations in the last three years. The operator paid a $250 fine. A man who answered the phone number listed in state records but would not identify himself declined to comment.

Latrice Nail Salon & Spa

202 W. Calle De Las Tiendas, Suite C, Green Valley.

The operator paid a $250 fine after gallon of nail solution with MMA was discovered on site during an Aug. 12, 2021 inspection. It was the second fine since 2019, when the operator was fined $250 for not properly disinfecting salon tools and for having a soiled work area. Management did not respond by deadline to a voicemail seeking comment.

MS Nails

8250 E. Broadway, Tucson.

A gallon jug of MMA nail solution was the only nail liquid in the salon, when an inspector visited on Oct. 12, 2021, state records show. The inspector educated the owner about the ban on MMA products, the report said. The salon, which has not had any other violations in the past three years, paid a $250 fine. Management could not be reached for comment. There was no answer and no voicemail at the phone number listed in state licensing records.

Nails 2001 By Sam

515 E Grant Road, #161, Tucson

A board inspector found a gallon of MMA nail liquid on site on Jan. 19, 2021. The salon also was cited for having no manager on duty, for having contaminated jets in three of four pedicure basins due to lack of proper disinfection; and for reusing nail files and other single-use tools that are supposed to be disposed of after each customer. The operator paid $850 to settle the allegations. Management did not respond by deadline to a voicemail seeking comment.

Tip Top Nails by Tony

3958 N. Oracle Road.

A gallon of nail liquid with a strong MMA odor was the only nail liquid they had in the salon, said an March 8, 2021 inspection report which did not find any other violations. The salon, which has not been previously cited in the last three years, paid a $250 fine. Management could not be reached for comment. There was no answer and no voicemail at the phone number listed on state licensing records.

TN Nails

6811 N. Thornydale Road #155, Tucson.

An April 26 inspection found a gallon of nail liquid with MMA on site. The operator had no violations in the previous three years and paid a $250 fine. Management did not respond by deadline to a voicemail seeking comment.

Contact reporter Carol Ann Alaimo at 573-4138 or calaimo@tucson.com . On Twitter: @AZStarConsumer

Tell-tale signs Regulators and consumer protection agencies say there are often tell-tale signs when nail salons use MMA products: 1. A distinctive chemical odor often described as a fruity or skunky smell. 2. No ingredients labels on bulk containers of acrylic nail solution. If in doubt, ask to see the container your technician is using. 3. Unusually low prices for acrylic nails, bargains made possible because MMA is much cheaper for salons to use than legal alternatives. 4. MMA nails are extremely hard and are difficult to cut, file or remove even if soaked for hours in remover solutions. Sources: Arizona Barbering and Cosmetology Board and staff research.

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Hudbay Minerals Inc. has unveiled an ambitious new plan for mining in the Santa Rita Mountains that for the first time scraps plans to export copper to China and other foreign buyers.

But while the company notes that move will save energy and reduce greenhouse gas emissions, Hudbay is delaying or reversing earlier plans for its operations that were instituted at least in part to achieve environmental benefits in reducing water use and pollution risks. Those changes will delay its introduction of low-water-use mine tailings and revive a long-discarded plan to leach copper oxides from ore on the mine site.

In announcing a new preliminary economic analysis for its Santa Ritas copper operation Wednesday, Hudbay disclosed these and other significant changes in the scope, orientation, operations and mining life from what it and its predecessor at the site had been planning since the mid-2000s.

The company even has eliminated the name Rosemont, which has been attached to the copper deposit and entire site on the east slope of the Santa Ritas over which various mining companies and environmentalists have tangled for many decades. Instead, the entire project, covering the mountains east and west slopes, has been dubbed the Copper World complex and its mining operations will stretch 44 years.

Like past economic analyses done for the Santa Ritas mining operation, Hudbays new analysis promises major economic benefits. The company said Copper World will create more than 500 direct jobs and up to 3,000 indirect jobs in Arizona.

Over 44 years, Hudbay expects Copper World to generate more than $3.3 billion in total tax revenue nationally and locally. That would include approximately $660 million in taxes to the state of Arizona and $590 million in local property taxes, the company said.

U.S. customers

Here are details of the biggest changes:

Hudbay will process all of its mined copper on site and ship it entirely to U.S. customers. The Rosemont Mines original plan was to ship copper concentrate off the site for smelting and refining in other countries and delivery to them because of a lack of U.S. smelting capacity. Hudbay said it will now process the copper without smelting, into copper cathodes, which are sheets consisting of virtually pure copper, as high as 99.99% pure.

The use of copper oxide leaching and solvent extraction, which Hudbays Rosemont predecessor Augusta Resource Corp. eliminated in 2012 partly out of environmental considerations, is being revived by Hudbay. Thats partly due to the nature of the copper found on the west slope and partly to what Hudbay says are different environmental considerations than those of a decade ago.

The use of dry stack tailings, which use far less water and could be less polluting than conventional tailings, will likely be pushed back into Copper Worlds second phase of mining that will start after a 16-year first phase. But the company hasnt totally ruled out using them during the first phase.

Hudbay says its plan to deliver all its copper to U.S. customers will reduce the companys energy use, overall carbon footprint and greenhouse gas emissions, and that its use of leaching is also consistent with reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

The economic analysis pegs the value of the entire Copper World complex at nearly $1.3 billion, and says developing the project will cost about $2.8 billion.

Using a news release to describe the economic analysis, Hudbay outlined plans to mine copper in four separate open pits in the entire area. It says the copper will be mined in separate phases of 16 and 28 years.

The company also said it may acquire additional private land on top of 4,500 acres it owns on both sides of the mountain range southeast of Tucson. That would extend its Phase 1 mine life beyond 16 years.

Hopes to begin mining in 2027

It said it hopes to start construction of mining facilities in 2024 and begin mining in 2027. Those timetables depend on the pace of government approvals of needed permits and the outcome of possible litigation by opponents.

Phase 1 would be used to mine copper from only private land on both sides of the mountain range, and would require only state and local permits to operate, the company says. Phase 2 would extend operations onto federal land and would require additional permission from the U.S. Forest Service  permission that has been held up by two unfavorable federal court rulings since 2019, including a 9th Circuit Court of Appeals decision just last month.

The plan appears to be a departure to at least some extent from earlier plans to build a Rosemont Mine on the Santa Ritas east slope, which faces the Sonoita area, separate from the Copper World operation on the west slope, which faces Sahuarita and Green Valley south of Tucson.

Instead, the operations, lying east and west of the major ridgeline straddling the Santa Ritas, would have some elements in common. Also, the mining operation on the east slope will now be called the East Unit operation of the East Deposit rather than Rosemont.

Company sees a path

The economic analysis and Hudbays new mining blueprint come at a time when the projects future is at one of many crossroads it has experienced over the years. The original Rosemont Mine has been blocked since July 2019, just as construction was about to start, by the court rulings.

The company says in its news release that it sees a path  which it doesnt specify in detail  to getting federal permitting untracked in time to start the east slope operation on its schedule.

On the west slope, Hudbay has been clearing and grading land at Copper World since April, carrying out what it says are ground preparation activities for future mine tailings and waste rock disposal areas.

U.S. District Judge James Soto in Tucson  who stopped the east slope mining plan in 2019  last month turned down lawsuits from tribes and environmentalists aimed at halting the west slope grading.

But U.S. Rep. Raul Grijalva, chair of the House Natural Resources Committee, has written to the assistant U.S. secretary of the Army for civil works, Michael Connor, asking him to consider halting that activity, on the grounds the grading violates the Clean Water Act. Hudbay has denied that and maintains it doesnt need permission under the act for west slope construction.

44 years of mining planned

Another new twist in Copper Worlds plan is that wastes from the west slope operation, which will be entirely on private land, will be deposited in the projects later years on the east slope.

Also, Copper World would be mined at first in four open pits only on private land on the west slope. But eventually two of the pits would expand onto federally owned land on the east slope, including the previously planned Rosemont Mine (now called East Unit) pit.

At 44 years, Hudbays planned tenure for the entire Copper World complex would be close to or more than twice as long as the original Rosemont Mine proposal, which would have extracted copper for 20 to 25 years.

The companys plan is to process about 100,000 tons a year of copper cathodes during Phase 1 of the operation and about 125,000 tons yearly during Phase II. The amount of copper mined at the site would be less  86,000 tons annually during Phase 1 and 101,000 tons during Phase II.

Hudbay said it expects to get copper from outside sources to process because it will have processing facilities on site.

Economic rate of return

The company said it expects to earn a 17% rate of return during the projects first phase and an 18% rate of return over the projects life.

Those figures assume a copper price of $3.50 per pound. At a $4 per pound price, the entire projects total value rises to $1.903 billion, Hudbay said. The projects internal rate of return rises to 21% for Phase 1 and 22% over the projects entire life, the company said. As of Friday, the London Metal Exchanges copper price was $4.28 per pound, purchased for a 3-month contract.

The company did not release its full preliminary analysis, just the description in its news release.

Why mining plans changed

Hudbay explained some of its major changes in mining plans as follows:

It said its switching from shipping its copper overseas to shipping it to U.S. customers because first, the types, grades, and amounts of ore are very different from the original Rosemont Mine project.

Second, local sourcing and reducing greenhouse gas emissions have become significantly more important in the 16 years since the Rosemont project was proposed, the company said in response to a question from the Star.

Producing products close to where they will be used is a core strategy for reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Producing copper on-site will reduce our overall carbon footprint by eliminating the need to ship copper concentrate overseas to be processed, Hudbay said.

This change comes after Hudbay and its Rosemont Mine predecessor, Augusta Resource Corp., sustained criticism from opponents who raised concerns that the Santa Ritas would be seriously damaged to mine copper for export to China, an authoritarian state that consumes around half the worlds copper supplies.

The use of leaching and solvent extraction is also tied to the companys goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions, it said. Thats because those processes will allow it to process the copper entirely on site rather than having to ship it overseas.

It also said the entire Copper World Complex, compared to Rosemont, contains far more copper oxide ore. Leaching and solvent extraction are standard processes, the company said.

When Augusta Resource abandoned plans for leaching a decade ago, it said, for one, that leaching plans were not viable based on the configuration of the mining alternative for Rosemont that the Forest Service preferred at the time and ultimately approved in 2017.

It also said that eliminating leaching and solvent extraction would minimize a number of potential environmental impacts. For example, it said eliminating leaching would reduce the amount of water it used to process minerals extracted on site.

It also said this action would eliminate the use of four facilities that could potentially discharge pollutants into groundwater and eliminate the possibility of discharges of pollutants from separate leach pads and ponds containing mineral processing solutions.

Tailings issue

The company said it will be unable to utilize dry stack tailings for Phase 1 of the project due to the limitations of available land and topography. But Hudbay anticipates being able to secure a land configuration that will allow for dry stack tailings for Phase II.

For Augusta Resource, dry stack tailings were a major selling point in its efforts to demonstrate that Rosemont would be an environmentally sustainable mine. Dry stack tailings are dewatered tailings that can be stacked in self-supporting structures because they are unsaturated, a Rosemont contractor wrote in a paper in 2009.

Augusta said the dry stack tailings would use less water and reduce risks that mine tailings would pollute groundwater compared to a conventional mine tailings operation, in which tailings are stored in slurry form in a pond-like area. Because the tailings are unsaturated, their seepage is quite low. Theyre also not subject to breaching in a potentially major accident and they occupy less space, the Augusta contractors report said.

But the new Hudbay preliminary economic analysis contemplates construction of three conventional tailings storage facilities during Copper Worlds first phase, covering 16 years.

Hudbay added, however, A traditional tailings facility permitted under modern regulations will have an impermeable liner and monitoring wells to ensure that groundwater quality is protected.

Overall, Copper Worlds processing facilities and mineral products are fundamentally different from what was contemplated in the companys most recent feasibility study for Rosemont alone, prepared in 2017, Hudbay said.

Besides leaching, Copper World processing facilities will include a solvent extraction and electro-winning facility, a sulfide concentrator, a concentrate leach facility and an acid plant. The leach solution from a copper concentrate leach facility will be combined with solution from a separate oxide leaching circuit and treated in the solvent extraction/electrowinning facility to produce copper cathode.

The concentrate leach facility will also produce sulfur which will be processed into sulfuric acid at the acid plant and then used on the oxide leach pads to leach copper from oxide ore.

These changes will reduce Copper Worlds energy use by more than 10%, resulting in an approximate 10% to 15% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions, Hudbay said.

Schedule and outlook

Hudbay says Phase 1 of Hudbays Copper World project will operate exclusively on the west slope for the first two years. Production will begin on the east slope at a very low level in year 3 and ramp up gradually, to the point where the east slope produces the majority to vast majority of the sites copper by year 6.

That pattern continues in Phase II, to the point where in the final 15 years of mining, all copper will be produced at the projects east unit and none on the west, Hudbays news release said.

Over the planned 44-year mine life, the east slope will account for nearly 75% of all copper mined on the project  about 1.008 billion tons.

Looking at the west slope operations, Hudbay said it expects to submit proposals for a state Aquifer Protection Permit and a state Air Quality permit to operate there in the second half of 2022. Those permits must be approved by the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality.

Hudbay said, We anticipate the balance of the permitting process to take up to two years, meaning it expects approvals by 2024.

It also said it expects its board of directors to approve the start of construction for Phase 1 the same year. Construction of Phase 1 is supposed to last three years, according to the companys schedule, meaning mining could start in 2027.

That schedule assumes Hudbay will prevail in its view that it doesnt need a Clean Water Act permit to discharge dredge and fill material in washes on the west slope. That position could be challenged by environmentalists and tribes. They have filed notices of intent to sue to stop the companys ongoing grading.

Hudbays news release said the Army Corps of Engineers has never determined that washes meriting federal regulation exist at the Copper World complex and that the company has independently concluded through its own scientific analysis that there are no such waters in the area. Environmentalists have challenged that conclusion, as did Grijalva in his letter to Assistant Army Secretary Connor.

As for the east slope, Hudbays news release said, The company expects it will be able to pursue and obtain federal permits within the constraints imposed by the (9th Circuit) Courts decision. The company has not said how it intends to do that.

Contact Tony Davis at 520-349-0350 or tdavis@tucson.com. Follow Davis on Twitter@tonydavis987.

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Justice Clarence Thomas and the U.S. Supreme Court majority have bought the border hype.

Residents of Southern Arizona and the rest of Americas borderlands could pay the price.

Thomas wrote the opinion of a 6-3 majority released last week concluding, essentially, that U.S. Border Patrol agents are immune from federal lawsuits even when they violate Americans constitutional rights on their own private property. This further weakens residents constitutional rights in border zones where theyre already degraded.

The reasoning of Thomas and that majority will be familiar to people who have followed the Border Patrols attempt to transform itself since 9/11/2001. Essentially, no matter what they are doing, Border Patrol agents are performing a national security function, the court ruled. Therefore they must be protected from lawsuits even when they violate Americans rights.

Thats true even when an agent like Erik Egbert is throwing an American citizen like Robert Boule to the ground on his American property, the incident that prompted this suit. Although Egbert followed up that abuse by siccing the IRS on the American, the court ruled, agents are too important to our security to be threatened with lawsuits for their misbehavior.

Permitting suit against a Border Patrol agent presents national security concerns that foreclose Bivens relief, the majority wrote, citing the 1971 case, Bivens, that establishes limited conditions to sue federal agents who violate peoples rights.

Wednesdays ruling goes on: We ask here whether a court is competent to authorize a damages action not just against Agent Egbert but against Border Patrol agents generally. The answer, plainly, is no.

The ruling expands on logic from the courts 2020 ruling in Hernandez v. Mesa, a case in which an agent shot and killed a Mexican teen standing on the Mexican side of the border. The court ruled then the teens family in Mexico couldnt sue the agent who shot him; this ruling says even Americans on American soil cant sue agents for violating their constitutional rights.

That immunity from lawsuits will undoubtedly add to the impunity available to many agents who misbehave. The agencys internal discipline is opaque to outsiders, so its usually unclear if agents are ever internally reprimanded for abusing members of the public. In this case, Egbert was not internally disciplined.

And prosecutors are reticent to bring criminal cases against agents for shootings or abuse because they so rarely win convictions. (They do win convictions against agents accused of corruption and sometimes sexual assault.)

In other words, people who live in the communities where Border Patrol is omnipresent have little remaining ability to ensure that agents who abuse their power face justice.

Immune from consequences

Justice Sonia Sotomayor recognized this in her dissenting opinion.

The consequences of the Courts drive-by, categorical assertion will be severe, she wrote. Absent intervention by Congress, CBP agents are now absolutely immunized from liability in any Bivens action for damages, no matter how egregious the misconduct or resultant injury.

The justices in Washington, D.C., undoubtedly have little understanding of the everyday experience of residents or agents in Southern Arizona, where the Border Patrol is the largest law-enforcement agency.

Despite the hype about border crises, which has been going on with little let-up since I started covering events along the international line in 1997, life in the borderlands is largely mundane in most places on most days. An agents given shift may be demanding or dangerous, but it may also be so boring as to literally put the agent to sleep. Anyone who has walked up to enough Border Patrol vehicles parked in the hinterlands can attest to that.

Now, I should point out that the Border Patrol is welcomed by many people in the places where it operates. Thats in part because agents are around to help out with emergencies unrelated to their federal duties in areas like rural Pima County where sheriffs deputies may be an hour away.

But that doesnt mean they should be immune from consequences for violating residents rights.

Constitution only lightly applies

In the case that gave rise to last weeks ruling, Boule, the owner of a bed-and-breakfast in Blaine, Washington, had tipped off agents that a Turkish man was flying into the United States at New York City, flying across the country to Seattle, then coming up to his inn.

Boule himself is sketchy: He had apparently played both sides of the fence, charging people to be driven to his property on the Canadian border, but also tipping off agents to who was coming, so they could be arrested, and making money as a federal informant. Hes also been convicted of human smuggling in Canada.

When the Turkish man arrived, Egbert drove his Border Patrol vehicle onto the bed-and-breakfasts property. Boule asked the agent to leave. The agent declined and as the confrontation escalated, Egbert picked Boule up and threw him against the vehicle, then onto the ground.

The agent then checked the Turkish mans documents, found he was legally in the country, and departed. The Turk later walked into Canada from the property.

Boule filed a complaint against Egbert with the Border Patrol, but the complaint was determined to be unfounded. Then Egbert tipped off state and federal tax authorities, who audited Boule.

Truth be told, the agent was not breaking any law when he went onto Boules property along the Canadian border. Federal law allows Border Patrol agents to enter private land  but not private residences  without a warrant if they are within 25 miles of an international border. Long-established federal rules allow agents to stop vehicles within 100 miles of a border if they have reasonable suspicion an immigration violation has occurred.

They also may operate checkpoints in that 100-mile zone, but can only search vehicles if they have probable cause a crime has been committed.

These factors are the foundation of what makes the borderlands what many people call a Constitution-free zone, or at minimum a place where the Constitution only lightly applies.

Accountability needed

Congress has the ability to correct this injustice. The problem is that our representatives are also deeply in the thrall of the border hype machine. The Tucson-based union for Border Patrol agents, the National Border Patrol Council, was so powerful during the Trump administration that the union president had direct access to the president himself.

That union regularly works to protect agents from accountability and to oppose politicians it disagrees with. In this case, the union submitted a friend-of-the-court brief arguing that Border Patrol agents should not be subject to lawsuits, as previously ruled in this case by the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, because it will potentially harm the country.

Border Patrol agents need to retain confidence in their ability to act decisively while operating alone, often in remote parts of the country and while, at times, being grossly outnumbered, Tucson attorneys Jim Calle and Amy Krauss wrote.

The decision of the court of appeals will undermine the Agencys mission by causing agents to hesitate and second guess their daily decisions about whether and how to investigate suspicious activities near the border, paralyzing their mandate to keep the border secure.

I dont know about you, but I think if agents like Egbert second-guess whether they should throw residents of the borderlands to the ground, thats a good thing.

Thanks to Thomas and the court majority, though, agents who mistreat borderland residents can feel confident of their immunity.

Contact columnist Tim Steller at tsteller@tucson.com or 520-807-7789. On Twitter: @senyorreporter

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Ukraine: Russia said to be using more deadly weapons in war

KYIV, Ukraine (AP)  Ukrainian and British officials have warned that Russian forces are relying on weapons with potential to cause mass casualties as they try to make headway in capturing eastern Ukraine. The U.K. Defense Ministry said Saturday that Russian bombers have likely been launching heavy 1960s-era anti-ship missiles that can cause severe collateral damage and casualties when used on land targets. A regional governor accused Russia of using incendiary weapons in Ukraines eastern Luhansk province. Both sides have been expending large amounts of weaponry in what has become a grinding war of attrition. During a visit by the European Unions top official, Ukrainian President Volodymr Zelenskyy called for even stronger EU sanctions against Russia.

The AP Interview: Sri Lanka PM says he's open to Russian oil

COLOMBO, Sri Lanka (AP)  Sri Lankas prime minister says he may be compelled to buy more oil from Russia as he hunts desperately for fuel to keep the country running. In a wide-ranging interview with The Associated Press on Saturday, Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe also indicated he would be willing to accept more financial help from China, despite his countrys mounting debt. And while he acknowledged that Sri Lankas current predicament is of its own making, he said the war in Ukraine is making it even worse  and that dire food shortages could continue until 2024. Wickremesinghe was sworn in after days of violent protests over the countrys economic crisis forced his predecessor to step down.

'Enough is enough': Thousands demand new gun safety laws

WASHINGTON (AP)  Thousands of people are rallying on the National Mall and across the rest of America in a renewed push for gun control measures after recent deadly mass shootings. Activists say what happened in Uvalde, Texas, and Buffalo, New York, should compel Congress to act. Mayor Muriel Bowser of the District of Columbia says enough is enough and she's urging lawmakers to protect children from gun violence. Speaker after speaker in Washington called on senators, who are seen as a major impediment to legislation, to act or face being voted out of office. President Joe Biden, who was in California when the Washington rally began, said his message to the demonstrators was keep marching.

Therapist sex abuse case reveals dark past, ethical concerns

CONCORD, N.H. (AP)  A man convicted of killing a 10-year-old girl in a notorious drunken driving crash decades ago is facing new charges in New Hampshire, under a new name. Peter Dushame changed his name to Peter Stone while in prison and became a licensed drug and alcohol counselor after his release. He's now accused of sexually assaulting a client who later stumbled upon his past. Stone declined an interview request from The Associated Press. Experts say his case raises complicated questions about the right to forge a new life after incarceration and what patients should know about a mental health providers past.

Biden juggles principles, pragmatism in stance on autocrats

WASHINGTON (AP)  When Joe Biden was running for president, he wasn't shy about calling out dictators and authoritarian leaders. And he anchored his foreign policy in the idea that the world is in a battle between democracy and autocracy. But as president, he's tried to balance such high-minded principles and the tug toward pragmatism in a world scrambled by the economic fallout from Russias invasion of Ukraine and other crises. Biden didn't invite the leaders of Cuba, Venezuela and Nicaragua to the Summit of the Americas this past week because his administration considers them dictators. At the same time, his national security team is working to arrange a likely Biden visit to Saudi Arabia, a country that candidate Biden called a pariah."

Biden ramps up federal help for New Mexico wildfire fight

SANTA FE, N.M. (AP)  President Joe Biden says he is escalating federal assistance for New Mexico as it faces its largest wildfire in recorded state history. The fire began with prescribed burns that were set by the U.S. Forest Service to clear out combustible underbrush. But the burns spread out of control, destroying hundreds of homes across 500 square miles since early April. Biden visited an emergency operations center in Santa Fe on Saturday and met with local, state and federal officials. He was returning to Washington from Los Angeles, where he had attended the Summit of the Americas.

Several factors are converging to push gas prices higher

DALLAS (AP)  Gas prices are hitting $5 a gallon, and they're showing no signs of letting up. Auto club AAA said Saturday that the nationwide average broke the $5 barrier for the first time. Gas prices are a key reason for the highest inflation in 40 years. There are several factors contributing to the rise. Global oil supplies are being squeezed by sanctions against Russia. The capacity of U.S. refineries to turn oil into gasoline hasn't returned to pre-pandemic levels. And that's all happening as demand grows from people eager to drive and travel after two years of pandemic restrictions.

Alaska high court reverses ruling that roiled House election

JUNEAU, Alaska (AP)  The special primary for Alaskas only U.S. House seat is moving forward as planned following a tense legal fight over ballot access issues that had cast a shadow over the election. The legal drama was the latest twist in what has already been an extraordinary election, packed with 48 candidates running for the seat left vacant by the death in March of U.S. Rep. Don Young. The Alaska Supreme Court on Saturday reversed and vacated a lower court order that barred state elections officials from certifying the results of Saturday's special primary until visually impaired voters were given a full and fair opportunity to participate.

Ukraine: UK man's family 'devastated' by death sentence

LONDON (AP)  The family of a British man condemned to death for fighting for Ukraine says it's devastated by the outcome of what it termed a show trial and called for him to be released. A court in the separatist-proclaimed Donetsk Peoples Republic of Ukraine convicted two British fighters and one Moroccan on Thursday of seeking the violent overthrow of power, an offense punishable by death in the eastern territory. The men were also convicted of mercenary activities and terrorism. In a statement issued on Saturday, the family of British citizen Shaun Pinner said the 48-year-old has lived in Ukraine for four years, has a Ukrainian wife and served as a marine with Ukraine's 36th Brigade.

Stamkos scores twice, Lightning beat Rangers 2-1 in Game 6

TAMPA, Fla> (AP)  Steven Stamkos scored two goals and the two-time defending champion Tampa Bay Lightning are headed to the Stanley Cup Final for the third straight year after beating the New York Rangers 2-1 in Game 6 of the Eastern Conference final. Stamkos put the Lightning ahead for good in the third period just 21 seconds after New Yorks Frank Vatrano scored on the power play with the Lightning captain in the penalty box for holding. Andrei Vasilevskiy finished with 20 saves for the Lightning, who won the series 4-2 to advance to the Stanley Cup Final against the Colorado Avalanche. Game 1 is Wednesday night in Denver.

Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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MARINE CORPS AIR STATION MIRAMAR, Calif. (AP)  The U.S. Marine Corps on Friday identified five people who died when their Osprey tiltrotor aircraft crashed during training in the California desert.

Killed were two pilots: Capt. Nicholas P. Losapio, 31, of Rockingham, New Hampshire and Capt. John J. Sax, 33, of Placer, California.

Also killed were three tiltrotor crew chiefs: Cpl. Nathan E. Carlson, 21, of Winnebago, Illinois; Cpl. Seth D. Rasmuson, 21, of Johnson, Wyoming and Lance Cpl. Evan A. Strickland, 19, of Valencia, New Mexico.

The longest-serving Marine was Losapio, with 8 years and 9 months, while Strickland had been in the service for 1 year and 7 months

The MV-22 Osprey went down Wednesday afternoon during training in a remote area in Imperial County near the community of Glamis, about 115 miles (185 kilometers) east of San Diego and about 50 miles (80 kilometers) from Yuma, Arizona.

The Marines were based at Camp Pendleton and assigned to Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 364 of Marine Aircraft Group 39, part of the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing headquartered at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar in San Diego.

It is with heavy hearts that we mourn the loss of five Marines from the Purple Fox family the squadron's commanding officer, Lt. Col. John C. Miller, said in a statement. Our primary mission now is taking care of the family members of our fallen Marines and we respectfully request privacy for their families as they navigate this difficult time."

The cause of the crash is under investigation.

The Marines were participating in routine live-fire training over their gunnery range in the Imperial Valley desert, said Marine Maj. Mason Englehart, spokesperson for the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing.

The Osprey, a hybrid airplane and helicopter, flew in the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan but has been criticized by some as unsafe. It is designed to take off like a helicopter, rotate its propellers to a horizontal position and cruise like an airplane.

Versions of the aircraft are flown by the Marine Corps, Navy and Air Force.

Prior to Wednesdays crash, Osprey crashes had caused 46 deaths, the Los Angeles Times reported.

Most recently, four Marines were killed when a Marine Corps Osprey crashed on March 18 near a Norwegian town in the Arctic Circle while participating in a NATO exercise.

Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.

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As the extended drought has left vegetation dry, brittle and ripe for burning, fire officials in Southern California are bracing for another challenging summer and fall of wildfires amid a shortage of firefighting crews and increased workloads.

"We're expecting a hotter, drier summer this year leading into the fall when we have our wind-driven fires here in Southern California," said Los Angeles County Fire Chief Daryl Osby, adding that more than 90% of wildfires are caused by humans.

Officials said they have access to the water needed to battle wildfires. But new water restrictions due to the lingering drought mean many homes will be surrounded by flammable vegetation, putting them at greater risk.

The threat is not limited to California. Robert Garcia, the U.S. Forest Service's fire chief for the Angeles National Forest, said the summer months are off to a "concerning start." Firefighting resources have been mobilizing since March to Arizona and New Mexico, where the Black Fire just became the state's second-largest blaze in history.

"Southern California typically has a fire season of historically late June and then into the fall," Chief Garcia told CNN. "But we're seeing activity now year round."

Angeles National Forest is already under fire restrictions expected to expand around the forest in coming months, Garcia said.

'It's much more difficult to fight today'

Every month this year, firefighting teams have mobilized in California, the officials said. In Orange County's scenic Laguna Niguel, nestled near the Pacific Ocean, the Coastal Fire destroyed at least 20 multimillion-dollar homes and mansions in May.

National Weather Service meteorologist Bill South said it had been "way too early" for a fire like that one. But the Orange County Fire Authority said it battled four significant fires during what normally would be its wet and cooler months.

"I know that there's some hesitation to say it's climate change. I'm not a scientist, but I've been doing this 40-plus years  I've never seen what we're experiencing today," said Orange County Fire Authority Chief Brian Fennessy.

He added that in more than 100 years of data, there's no record of fire burning where the Coastal Fire raged. "That vegetation was dry."

While refraining to blame climate change directly, other fire agency heads echoed the sentiment during a briefing on the upcoming fire season. They added that wildfire dangers are compounded by more people living further out in rural areas as the blazes are also igniting easier and then burning hotter and longer.

"We talked to the men and women that have been doing this job for a long time  some of them four or five decades  and they say they have not seen fires spread as fast with as much energy as they're seeing today," said Ventura County Fire Chief Dustin Gardner. "You can call it whatever you want. We understand it's much more difficult to fight today."

Officials look to stabilize crews

Firefighting conditions can be rough, the work arduous and the days long, often keeping firefighters away from home for weeks at a time.

Previously, a million-acre wildfire in California was seen as a once-in-a-lifetime fire event. But now firefighters are up against these kinds of blazes two or three times a season, said Garcia of the US Forest Service. All of this is compounded by a need for more firefighters.

"There's definitely a huge burnout factor in terms of the sustainability of that tempo of firefighters, and that's why we're spending a lot of time really looking at how we can update and modernize our modules to be more resilient for that longer fire year," Garcia explained. "Part of it is more permanent positions and far less seasonal positions."

In fact, the US Fire Service in an email to CNN, acknowledged it has "struggled to fill positions in some areas of the country, especially in the Pacific Northwest and California where the labor pool is low" and pay isn't as competitive as it could be.

Many firefighters have left federal service to take jobs in local municipalities with lower stress and higher pay -- or have left firefighting behind completely. That's put a strain on remaining teams, especially as these firefighting professionals take their institutional know-how with them.

The US Forest Service said it is working to bring on more personnel via emergency hiring authorities and contracted crews, as well as turning to the Department of Defense for added support.

The Bipartisan Infrastructure Act was passed by Congress and signed into law by President Joe Biden last year. Through it, the Forest Service said it will raise pay based on its budget requests to pay all firefighters at least $15 an hour.

CNN's Raja Razek contributed to this report.

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TEHRAN, June 11 (Xinhua) -- Iran's envoy said that U.S. sanctions have adversely affected the health care system of the Islamic republic, Press TV reported on Saturday.

Zahra Ershadi, Iran's deputy permanent representative to the United Nations, said Friday at a UN General Assembly session on HIV and AIDS that "regretfully, unilateral coercive measures, including unilateral economic, financial and banking sanctions against Iran, have seriously violated the right of access to health care for Iranians, and those facing HIV-related problems are directly suffering from this situation."

The sanctions have blocked the ordinary channels of international cooperation and hindered the Iranian patients' timely and effective access to medicine and medical equipment, she was quoted as saying.

The official called for "immediate and practical steps" of international community to remove corresponding barriers caused by the U.S. sanctions.

Iran signed the nuclear deal, formally known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), with the world powers in July 2015, agreeing to put some curbs on its nuclear program in return for the removal of the U.S.-led sanctions.

However, former U.S. President Donald Trump pulled Washington out of the agreement in May 2018 and reimposed unilateral sanctions on Iran, prompting Tehran to reduce some of its nuclear commitments under the JCPOA.

Iran has denounced the sanction pressures as an act of "economic war" which affects the health care system of the country. 
A decades-old Tucson employment agency has expanded its services with a pair of programs, one to help people returning from prison and the other for women seeking work in behavioral health.

DKA  Dorothy Kret and Associates  was formed in 1984 with the aim of providing job assistance for vulnerable populations, through services including assessments, training, counseling, development and placement.

When Tucsonan Dorothy "Dot" Kret was attending college in the early 1980s, she was best friends with a man who used a wheelchair. Her experience as his friend and advocate inspired Kret to help empower people with disabilities, said Darius Wentz, outreach coordinator for DKA's Justice Program.

"She felt like he was invisible to the community. Whenever they'd go somewhere, it was like he was ignored," said Wentz. "People wouldn't look him in the eye and they'd just talk to her. It bothered her quite a bit."

Kret was inspired to start her business, founding DKA with the goal of empowering people with disabilities to be successful in life, especially in the areas of employment. Over the years, DKA expanded its services to help people with mental or behavioral health barriers to employment.

In 2021, the agency applied for COVID-19 relief funds from the states contracted regional behavioral health authority, Arizona Complete Health, hoping to expand operations to two other populations: people being released from prison and women with lived experience in substance use recovery who are seeking a career in behavioral health.

Their funding was approved in November and the new initiatives, Justice Program and Working With Women, launched March 1.

Intensive case management

Outreach coordinators and support staff for the two new programs quickly got to work to find clients and let community members know about the initiatives and what they offer in terms of extensive support.

"We hit the ground running," said Wentz, who works with people both pre-and post-release in the justice program. "Whatever the barrier or obstacle that our client partner is facing, we work one-on-one with them to overcome that."

Wentz described the process as "intensive case management" that addresses more than just employment. For Wentz's client partners coming out of prison, housing is a big issue and he works hard to provide plenty of options.

"It might be a substance abuse issue or it could be a variety of things. Whatever the need, we work with that individual to overcome it," Wentz said.

Wentz had his own brush with the justice system years ago, barely avoiding a prison term for a drug charge in Missouri.

"I kind of understand how these families feel," said Wentz, who has spent years working with groups that work with prisons.

"I love my job and I can't wait to get here every morning," he said.

One of Wentz's first ideas for DKA's Justice Program is a men's clothes closet stocked with professional attire for job interviews or work.

"There are plenty of those in Tucson for women, but none for men," Wentz said.

Now, Dress for Success: Men's Wardrobe is available to Justice Program client partners and other men in the community, with free clothing for those in need.

"We've only been working on that for a couple of months, so it's not huge," Wentz said of the closet. "But if I don't have it, I'll find it. If someone has a job interview tomorrow, I'll find a way to get it."

Before starting with DKA in the spring, Wentz worked as a pastor, a police chaplain and spent the better part of 25 years in broadcast journalism.

As part of his position at DKA, Wentz travels to prisons across the state, speaking to inmates and corrections officers about Justice Program and working with people while they're still incarcerated whenever possible.

"That way, by the time they're paroled, we're already moving," Wentz said. "We're partnering with people to improve their lives. That goes right back to what DKA is trying to do."

Similar to Kret's friend who used a wheelchair, people in and coming out of prison can often seem invisible, Wentz said.

"We want them visible and getting what they need," he said. "I'm here to champion their cause, whatever that looks like. It's uniquely and individually tailored for that person. Every person has different needs and goals. The cookie cutter approach just doesn't work."

Wentz has already enrolled close to 60 client partners in Justice Program's first few months.

"Coming in here, I had goals. I've met the immediate goals, but the long-term goals of making a greater impact on people's lives, seeing them grow emotionally and financially in life and develop that stability, that's going to take time," he said. "We're invested in that."

Certification and support

The grant DKA received for its Working With Women program focused around substance abuse, leading to creation of the program for women interested in the behavioral health field. The primary goal is to get clients certified and employed as a recovery or peer support specialist, said outreach coordinator Raeleen Francisco.

The program is geared towards women who have a personal history of substance use and recovery, but the program is also open to woman with lived experience in a different capacity.

"Maybe you have a mom, dad, brother, sister or someone close to you that you went through that hardship with. You just have to have that lived experience," Francisco said. "The population they'll be working with are individuals that have their own addiction and want the same help, so it's important to recognize when you can be that peer and truly understand what that person needs."

The program provides support to clients by helping them find and succeed in local recovery support specialist training programs, and if needed, basic or continuing education.

Additional associated services, whether they be medical or behavioral, are free to clients, with DKA billing the Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System, the state's Medicaid System.

Working With Women's growth is a bit slower than the Justice Program's so far. Francisco said she currently has nine clients, but six others have completed the program. Four have already gone on to secure jobs in peer support.

There's also been some overlap with the Justice Program, with many people getting out of prison interested in becoming a recovery peer, Francisco said.

Training for participants is covered by insurance, and the program will work with clients who want to go beyond the basic certification.

"We can assist in schooling if they want to get a certificate or a bachelor's or associate's degree," Francisco said. "We can follow them through the steps that way and be there and support them.

Francisco also connects clients with resources as needed, whether it be housing, child care or other types of assistance. Professional clothing is the most requested item, with Francisco referring clients to Eagles Wings of Grace or My Sister's Closet, depending on their location.

"Every situation that comes our way, we'll deal with it the best we can," she said. "A lot of people when they come in, they don't even know where to start. But once they're in our program, we're there for them."

Francisco has seen the justice system from the inside and out, as she previously worked as a corrections officer at a prison and then a case manager with minors in detention, probation and diversion on a reservation.

"It's great that DKA has started this program," for "those who need that extra support, courage or strength to move on," Francisco said.

Contact Star reporter Caitlin Schmidt at 573-4191 or cschmidt@tucson.com. On Twitter: @caitlincschmidt

DKA and its new programs To learn more about DKA and its employment services, visit dkajobs.com For more information about DKA's Justice Program, visit dkajobs.com/justice-program To request clothing from the Justice Program's Dress For Success free men's clothing closet, visit dkajobs.com/dress-for-success-mens-wardrobe To learn about the Working With Women program, visit dkajobs.com/working-with-women

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The following column is the opinion and analysis of the writer:

Im what some people call a pioneer: I was one of the early women who joined the Army National Guard in 1981. It seemed like a great way to serve Arizona and my country. We were instilled with the values of duty, honor, and country.

We were equal on paper, but not in practice. Job choices were limited. Barracks seemed like afterthoughts. Men, both in and out of the service, harassed and maligned us: they didnt think we belonged there. I stayed in because I loved my soldiers, and because I thought my example would open doors for other women.

My enlistment physical in 1981 included a brutal gynecological exam by a male doctor. It felt like rape. I shudder to think what I would have faced if I had experienced an unplanned pregnancy.

Today, women go through the same training as men. We take the same jobs, meet the same standards, go to the same places, carry the same weapons, and die just like male soldiers. But our bodies need different health care, and, more often than not, we dont receive it.

Women have fought for decades to be seen by Veterans Affairs. Now they face a new hurdle: Alito and the conservative Supreme Courts attack on women. Theyve empowered Republicans to push to make abortion a federal crime.

Imagine a young woman choosing to serve her country in a time where her government will treat her like a second-class citizen. Imagine being one of the 25% of women who experience a sexual assault in the military, only to be told that she cant seek treatment because some male politician who has never held a rifle in service of his country wants to push a Taliban-like agenda to control American women.

It speaks to the deep misogyny of the military and political system. We do not swear an oath of allegiance to any leader, overlord, king or queen. We swear an oath to the Constitution.

Gov. Doug Ducey, there are more than 47,000 women veterans in Arizona who swore that same oath. Weve done more to serve our country than you ever have. You need to act to protect our rights to privacy and health care, just like we fought to protect your right to own a business.

I did not wear the flag on my shoulder for 24 years for politicians to decide my constitutional rights are no longer inalienable. I did not serve in Kuwait only to come home to the American version of Al Qaeda.

I will not stay silent as men who have never worn a uniform make pronouncements on my liberty. I took the oath and said I would defend the Constitution. Now its your turn.

Susan Ritz served in the Arizona National Guard for 24 years, and retired as a Master Sergeant. She lives in Marana with her husband.

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BROKEN ARROW  A national memorial that honors veterans who have died by suicide while battling post-traumatic stress disorder or other service-related conditions will be officially dedicated at its new permanent home Saturday.

A dedication ceremony for the Mission 22 War at Home memorial is set for 10 a.m. Saturday at Broken Arrows Veterans Park, 1111 S. Main St.

Previously based in Virginia, the memorial consists of 20 steel silhouettes of actual veterans from different military branches who have died by suicide.

Each 1,000-pound silhouette is 10 feet tall and set in granite.

Coons late son, Army Staff Sgt. Michael K. Coon, who died in 2015, is depicted in one of the silhouettes.

Michael D. Coon said in a previous interview that his mission is to keep any more of these (suicides) from happening. Why we want this here is so we can get the word out.

The War at Home Memorials move to Broken Arrow was made possible through a partnership between the Muscogee Nation, the city of Broken Arrow and Mission 22, a nonprofit dedicated to fighting veteran suicides.

Broken Arrow Mayor Debra Wimpee said she knew Broken Arrow would be the right place for the memorials permanent home.

It is such an important mission, to bring awareness to veteran suicide, she said. Our city is a strong supporter of veterans, and it is an honor to live in a community that accepts something as special and unique as the War at Home Memorial.

For more information about the memorial, visit mission22.com.

Featured video: Opening of the Broken Arrow Veterans Center

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Three girls were missing.

That much was certain, once the head count had been completed.

But in the moment, Leigh Miller had no way of fathoming what it meant.

They wouldnt tell us anything, she said, describing the scene she woke up to on June 13, 1977, the first morning of summer camp.

Almost before she knew what was happening, she added, she was being loaded onto a bus.

Less than 24 hours after it started, camp was over.

It was only later that Leigh, a 9-year-old Tulsa Girl Scout making her first visit to Camp Scott in Mayes County, would find out the truth.

Three girls were not just missing  they were dead.

And she knew who they were. She had slept in the tent closest to theirs.

This Monday marks 45 years since the slayings of Lori Farmer, 8, Michele Guse, 9, and Denise Milner, 10, in what would become known as the Oklahoma Girl Scout Murders.

The case has been back in the news recently.

Ahead of the anniversary, DNA findings were made public that pointed to the longtime main suspect, Gene Leroy Hart, who died in 1979.

The story is also reaching new audiences through an ABC News/Hulu docuseries released in May.

Miller said the new series has brought back memories that for years shes tried to suppress.

One of those, she said, is her belief that she was in the tent closest to the victims.

Records recently confirmed that as a fact. But Miller didnt really need them to.

Memories of the screams shes convinced she heard will always be confirmation enough.

Weird feeling

Miller, a longtime Tulsan, is upfront and honest about her life, which has not been easy.

For years, she struggled with substance abuse and addiction, and she even spent time in jail at 18 on a robbery charge.

But she finally was able to turn it around. In 2012, Miller entered recovery, and today she is on a good path.

As an advocate and parent mentor for Legal Aid Services of Oklahoma, she works with women, many with stories similar to hers, who are trying to get their children back from state custody.

Miller said there were other trauma factors that contributed to her addiction and mental health struggles.

But through therapy, she has come to believe that at least some of it traces back to her experience at Camp Scott.

Miller, who was about to start fifth grade at Patrick Henry Elementary School, had never attended camp before that summer.

I was a shy kid and scared about going, she said. I didnt really know anyone. Id never even slept in a tent.

She began to make friends, though, soon after arriving.

Miller was assigned to the seventh tent in her unit.

A few yards from hers, and farthest from the counselors tent, was the last tent in the row.

Miller met her neighbors and remembers both Farmer and Milner. Milner, she said, was quiet like me.

That first afternoon and evening came and went, concluding with a campfire and songs before the kids settled in.

Miller didnt sleep well, and she recalls that at one point she needed to go to the bathroom.

But I couldnt get any of my tentmates to go with me, she said. So I just held it.

It was sometime after that that she heard what sounded like screams.

But assuming it was just overexcited kids on the first night of camp, I didnt think anything of it, she said.

Miller awoke the next morning to a really weird feeling.

The counselors seemed to be on high alert, she said.

They kept counting everybody. I was in the front of the line. I heard the counselor say, Weve got all of them but three.

It didnt register what that meant, Miller said.

Then we were told to just leave our stuff. It was an emergency, and we had to go home. Thats all I remember them saying.

No one was scared, but we were confused.

The scene back in Tulsa only heightened that confusion at first.

A big crowd of people was on hand for the arrival of the buses.

As Miller expected, her parents were there waiting. But with them was their church minister.

It was Pastor Bob. And I was like, Why is he here?

Clearly, something was wrong.

Stepping off the bus into her parents waiting arms, I asked my mother what was going on, Miller said. And she said, Lets get in the car, and Ill explain everything.

That explanation was not anything Miller could have been prepared for.

I just felt a chill go down my back, she said of being informed of the murders. Then I remembered the screams.

Not alone

About two weeks later, Miller and her parents were asked to return to the camp to retrieve her things.

That was likely when they first realized how close her tent was to the victims.

We were told to go through my stuff and see if anything was missing, she said. But I just wanted to take everything and get out of there.

Miller was never questioned by authorities at any point. She doesnt know why, though it could be that her parents denied them access.

Understandably, she said, her parents were protective. They tried to shield her from any news about the crimes.

They said they would tell me anything I needed to know, Miller said. But in the end, the subject wasnt talked about at all.

Looking back now, Miller believes she needed to talk.

I had a lot of survivors guilt, she said.

She pushed it to the back of her mind, and as the years went by, she would never read or watch anything related to the case.

However, the publicity surrounding the new docuseries compelled her to check it out.

When a camp counselor in one episode talked about still having feelings of guilt, it struck a chord with Miller.

I wanted to reach out to her, she said.

In her current work and advocacy, a message that Miller emphasizes to clients is youre not alone.

By talking about this experience now, 45 years later, she hopes to accomplish something similar.

If it can help anyone, thats what I want.

That includes any of the other girls who were there.

We were so young, Miller said. We didnt know what to do with all this. And I just want them to know theyre not alone.

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On the same day the Taft community reclaimed its town center, the first man accused in the shootings has been charged with murder and shooting with intent to kill, according to a prosecutor who said he expects more people also to be charged.
The Vietnamese Ministry of Public Security announced on Friday night the legal proceedings against two former teachers in Hanoi for the investigation of leaking questions of the biology subject at the national high school graduation exam in 2021.

Pham Thi My, a former teacher at a school under the Hanoi National University of Education, has been arrested and prosecuted for abusing positions and powers while performing official duties.

Bui Van Sam, Mys former colleague, has been sued and forbidden to leave his place of residence for the same accusation.

The legal actions against My and Sam received the approval of the Supreme Peoples Procuracy.

According to the indictment, in 2021, Dinh Duc Hien, a math and biology teacher at the Hanoi-based HOCMAI online learning platform, reported to competent authorities about the similarity between the questions of the biology subject of that years national high school graduation exam and those given by Phan Khac Nghe, deputy principal of Ha Tinh High School for the Gifted, to his students for reviewing before the exam.

As Hiens report quickly gained the public attention, the Ministry of Public Security requested the Ministry of Education and Training to set up an interdisciplinary working group to verify the case.

The working group then discovered some unusual signs during the process of building the bank of questions for the 2021 national high school graduation exam.

In Vietnam, the national high school graduation exam, considered as one of the most important events in the life of every student, is organized in July every year for 12th graders and independent candidates.

The exam results are used for both high school graduation and enrollment in universities and junior colleges.

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A flight from Malaysia which was about to land on the runway of Da Nang International Airport in the namesake Vietnamese city suddenly took off again, causing panic among the passengers on Friday afternoon.

Flight AK648 departed from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia at 10:30 am and arrived at Da Nang City at 12:15 pm on the day, according to its passengers' accounts.

While reaching the runway, the plane floated a little, but did not touch down.

Instead, it spooled up to takeoff thrust and quickly climbed away from the runway.

The aircraft was back into the air and fly around for more than 15 minutes before the captain conducted another approach and successfully landed it.

When the plane was only about five to ten metes above the ground, it suddenly roared and rocketed into the air again for an unknown reason, said passenger N.M.V.

The passengers were all shocked because almost no one had experienced such circumstance before.

The plane landed at the beginning of the runway on the second approach, according to V.

The crew apologized to the passengers and explained later that the runway was unsafe for landing on the first approach, so the captain decided to head back into the air, V. added.

The operation center of Da Nang International Airport declined to provide more information about the case, regarding a request by Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper.

A leader of the Middle Airports and Airfields Authority explained that cases where a plane picks up altitude when it is about to touch down and turns back to fly another approach to the runway are not rare.

The procedure is called a balked landing.

In many unfavorable cases, such as detecting animals or birds on the runway, the pilot has to perform a balked landing, the leader said.

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Check out the news you should not miss today:

Society

-- Some armed men, suspected to be members of a gang, reportedly severed the index and middle fingers of a 12th grader who was returning home in Ho Chi Minh City on Friday night. The victim has been rushed to the hospital for treatment.

-- Doctors from the Vietnam  Sweden Hospital in Uong Bi City, Quang Ninh Province, successfully removed a 20cm telephone headset cable from the bladder of a 25-year-old man on Friday who had put it into his own urethra.

-- A flight from Malaysia was landing on the runway of Da Nang International Airport then suddenly took off again, causing panic among the passengers.

-- Doctors from Ho Chi Minh City Children's Hospital claimed on Friday that they were able to provide prompt treatment for a 2-year-old girl who was strangled by a backpack and almost died while playing in kindergarten.

-- Police in Ho Chi Minh City are investigating a case where an armed gang attacked a local eatery on Thursday night, resulting in the serious injury of two men who had to be hospitalized.

Lifestyle

-- Agustaviano Sofjan, Consul General of the Republic of Indonesia in Ho Chi Minh City, donated a Batik-dyed Ao Dai to the Ao Dai Museum on Friday in order to highlight Indonesia's distinctive cultural characteristics.

World News

-- North Korea appointed a key nuclear negotiator, Choe Son Hui, as its new foreign minister, state media said on Saturday, as the country concluded a ruling party meeting chaired by leader Kim Jong Un, Reuters reported.

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Vietnams Hanoi police have arrested a group of eight Mongolians suspected to steal assets from a Swedish couple in the capital city last week.

Police of the citys Hoan Kiem District on Saturday said they have been investigating these Mongols who allegedly committed a theft in the district on June 3.

At noon that day, as the Swedish couple arrived at a restaurant on Ly Quoc Su Street for dinner, the husband hang his backpack, with a wallet inside, on the chair where he sat.

At the same time, four Mongolian nationals came in and sat at the next table, but they did not order foods or drinks and left several minutes later.

When the couple returned to their hotel, the husband received a text message informing that an amount of money equal to VND1 billion (US$43,150) had been withdrawn from his bank account.

He checked his backpack and found his wallet, which contained ATM cards and personal papers, had been gone.

They reported their loss to the district police, who immediately launched an investigation into the case in conjunction with the citys police and other forces.

During their investigation, police determined that the Mongolians at the restaurant were the suspected thieves.

Through coordination with other agencies, the police later identified their temporary residence in Hanoi, but when police officers came, all the foreigners had left.

Continuing the search for the suspects, police found one of them at the Hoan Kiem Lake area on June 4, whereas other members of the gang had left for Ho Chi Minh City before going to southwestern Tay Ninh Province to seek ways to flee to Cambodia.

On the next day, a police team arrested another suspect at the Moc Bai border gate in Tay Ninh while another team detained the other Mongols at a hotel in the provinces Ben Cau District.

The suspects pleaded guilty of stealing the wallet of the Swedish couple.

They said they had used the credit card to buy gold and jewelries at several shops in Hanois Hai Ba Trung District before selling the precious metal to a shop in Dong Da District for $21,700 and sharing the money among them.

This group told investigators that they had arrived in Vietnam with an aim to steal properties from foreign travelers.

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The economic police division under the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Public Security announced on Friday the smash of a ring making counterfeit pharmaceutical products, which led to the temporary detention of seven involved people and the confiscation of some 1.2 million fake pills.

The ring operated in the southern metropolis and the Mekong Delta province of Long An under the supervision of Pham Ngoc Bich, director of Amtex Pharma Pharmaceutical Joint Stock Company, which is located in Long Ans Ben Luc District.

Police officers have kept Bich, her younger sibling - Pham Bich Ngoc, and five other people in custody.

The officers earlier caught Doan Minh Truong and Ngoc red-handed while the two were carrying 12 carton boxes containing 20,000 packs of counterfeit drugs copying the genuine ones of Neo - Codion brand on a car from Long An to Ho Chi Minh City at 5:30 pm on Thursday.

This supplied photo shows carton boxes containing packs of bogus new drugs seized from a massive counterfeit drug ring in Long An Province and Ho Chi Minh City.

The functional force then raided the factories and workshops of Amtex Pharma in Long An and many locations in Ho Chi Minh City where the counterfeit pharmaceuticals were stored.

They seized dozens of counterfeit medicine making and packing equipment and about one million fake finished pills.

The drug factories and workshops in question were licensed to manufacture and trade many kinds of drugs.

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TEHRAN, June 11 (Xinhua) -- Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir Abdollahian has condemned the recent Israeli missile attack on the Syrian capital Damascus and vowed his country's continued support for the Arab state, Tasnim news agency reported on Saturday.

During a phone conversation with his Syrian counterpart Faisal al-Mekdad on Friday, Amir Abdollahian said "Israel's attacks on Syria's infrastructure are not only in violation of the country's sovereignty and territorial integrity, but also contravene international laws and humanitarian principles."

He also denounced "the silence of the international community and regional organizations," stressing that the Islamic republic will continue the support to the Syrian government and nation.

For his part, al-Mekdad expressed Syria's gratitude to Iran, stressing resistance to "occupation and aggression."

The Israeli missile strikes on sites south of the Syrian capital on Friday caused damage to technical devices and the runway at Damascus airport, injuring one civilian. 
The suspect arrested for allegedly murdering his blood father in Vietnams Ho Chi Minh City as the victim refused to give him money has confessed having brutalized his dad for about ten days before the killing.

The citys police detained Nguyen Anh Khoa, 30, on Monday afternoon, only four hours after he was suspected to kill his father, N.V.B., 72, in their house in the citys Phu Nhuan District.

B. was found dead with multiple injuries as police officers forced the houses door open after no one answered their call on Monday noon.

They rushed to the house after receiving a report from B.s relatives that they had been unable to contact the man for several days.

Police launched an investigation into the case and captured Khoa later the same day as he was staying at a hotel in District 10.

Khoa confessed that he asked B. to give him some money on May 27 but the father refused, so a quarrel broke out between them and Khoa began to detain B. at home.

During the detention, he beat his dad using various tools including whips and spoons.

The peak of the brutalization came on June 6, when Khoa used a weapon to stab B. to death.

He then escaped, bringing along a lot of gold and around VND200 million (US$8,630), police reported.

A test conducted after Khoas capture showed that he was positive for drugs.

The suspect also admitted he was a heavy addict of a type of extremely powerful drug.

After recording his initial testimonies, the Phu Nhuan police on Thursday carried out procedures to transfer him to the citys police for further investigation.

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Vietnams Ministry of Education and Training launched on Friday a campaign to popularize swimming lessons among students and prevent drowning in children, as the rate of child drowning in the country is currently the highest in Southeast Asia.

Drowning is one of the leading causes of death for children in Vietnam, Deputy Minister of Education and Training Ngo Thi Minh said at the launching ceremony, which was organized at the Da Nang Sport University in the namesake central city.

Despite fewer drowning cases reported in recent time given efforts by authorities at all levels, about 2,000 children and students die from drowning in the country every year, Minh continued.

The rate of child drowning in Vietnam is the highest in Southeast Asia and eight times higher than developed countries.

In the first five months of 2022, 113 children drowned in 38 cases across the nation.

In most of the cases, the victims hung out and swam in dangerous areas without the supervision of adults.

Deputy Minister of Education and Training Ngo Thi Minh (R) during the launching ceremony of the campaign to prevent drowning in children in Da Nang City, Vietnam, June 10, 2022. Photo: Doan Nhan / Tuoi Tre

However, another concerning reason is that many children and students are not fully equipped with swimming and water safety skills as well as the ability to recognize accident risks, Deputy Minister Minh elaborated.

The official requested the education departments in provinces and cities to further promote drowning prevention and boost the provision of swimming lessons to students.

Ensuring the safety of children is the responsibility of the entire society, she stressed.

The Ministry of Education and Training has ordered the completion of the instruction manuals on drowning prevention and water safety for students as well as provide professional training on drowning prevention and swimming education to 400 key staff and teachers under provincial- and municipal-level education departments.

On the same day, the education ministry also announced the 2022 national student swimming tournament, which runs from June 8 to 13 in Da Nang.

This years tourney attracts about 700 participants who are students of elementary schools, middle schools, high schools, and continuing education centers from 26 provinces and cities.

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EXCLUSIVE:

Like breakfast television shows, the success of The Project has led to it become frequent fodder for media articles, and along with social media commentary, has increasingly questioned the shows balance.

10 has variously been accused of being more left-wing than The Guardian, having left-wing bias or being too woke.

10 tells TV Tonight it does see the commentary around the flagship show.

Amongst the recent headlines:

The Project hosts Lisa Wilkinson and Waleed Aly disappear from the Channel Ten show as co-host Carrie Bickmore prepares to move to the UK with her family

The Projects Lisa Wilkinson apologises for offending viewers with disgusting suggestion

The Projects Waleed Aly reveals the bizarre toilet habit he developed when there was a toilet paper shortage

Waleed Aly accuses the NSW government of causing a crippling shadow lockdown with confused policies

Susan Carland reveals what she REALLY thinks of husband Waleed Alys mullet hairstyle on The Project

Georgie Tunny punches Waleed Aly on The Project

Candid Lisa Wilkinson photo shows she looks very different minutes before going on-air

Inside Lisa Wilkinson and Peter FitzSimons star-studded election party

What is it about Lisa Wilkinson that fires people up?

Lisa Wilkinson takes a break from The Project amid low ratings

Twitter users are shocked by Hamish Macdonalds smutty sexual innuendo on The Project: You should be sacked!

The Project host Hamish Macdonald looks downcast outside his $3.8million Sydney home  days after police were called to his house after complaints about an EIGHT-hour party

Carrie Bickmore and partner Chris Walker share posts of their dancing lesson in the UK

Its a very thin slice of the media, said Executive Vice President and Chief Content Officer, Paramount ANZ, Beverley McGarvey,.. its very clickbait-y, which we should be very flattered about. Clearly they keep writing, because people keep clicking on it.

I think there is a perception of the show that is not fair and balanced. Sometimes if you see a particular headline about something you think was said on The Project when you actually read the story its completely different.

In 2020 a satirical article on Facebook claiming Waleed Aly supposedly applauding an African gang who assaulted young girl at train station for courageously standing up to white privilege drew plenty of comment from those who believed it, before being removed.

The Project was last investigated by the Australian Communications & Media Authority for accuracy and fairness in 2016 -and was cleared by the media watchdog. It was also cleared of an investigation in 2012.

As news and current affairs it is required to demonstrate balance in its reportage.

Its something we talk about a lot, so we have to keep pushing our message that were as balanced as we can possibly be and get support from a broader group of media for the show, McGarvey continued.

Its the sort of show that needs constant work and attention. Its on 6 nights a week for an hour so its really important to us and we continually work hard to improve it, keep it balanced -which is as it should be. It should be growing, evolving and changing.

With Carrie Bickmore in the UK the show has recently enjoyed Georgie Tunny and Chrissie Swan at the desk, but 10 doesnt indicate it is looking to overhaul its presenting team in order to change any misconceptions.

We dont have any plans for recasting. We have a core team of effectively 5 or 6 but people arent keen to work 6 nights a week, said McGarvey.

So The Project will always evolve.
How some in Afghanistan have reacted to the burqa mandate

The burqa mandate is back in Afghanistan, and, with it, a wave of disappointment and distress taking over the lives of millions of people in the country who do not believe in hijab.

Earlier this month, on May 7, the Vice and Virtue Ministry of the Taliban issued a decree saying all women in the country have to cover themselves head to toe. The decree says it is to protect the women's "dignity" and called for those women who do not follow the hijab in government agencies to be dismissed.

"For all dignified Afghan women, wearing hijab is necessary and the best hijab is chadori (the head-to-toe burqa) which is part of our tradition and is respectful," said Shir Mohammad, an official from the Vice and Virtue Ministry, in the statement.

MORE: How are the Taliban treating Afghan women and girls?

PHOTO: A female presenter for Tolo News, Khatereh Ahmadi, works in a newsroom while covering her face, at Tolo TV station in Kabul, Afghanistan, May 22, 2022. (Ali Khara/Reuters)

The ministry updated the mandate on Sunday, May 22, requiring all TV presenters in Afghanistan to keep their faces covered while on-camera.

These announcements led to reactions among the international community and human rights groups. Many male TV presenters stood by their female colleagues by covering their faces with masks during their time on-camera.

The solidarity moved to social media, where the hashtag #FreeHerFace became popular.

Khpalwak Safi, broadcaster of Afghanistan's leading Tolo TV, was among the figures who covered his face to show solidarity with female journalists. The move was welcomed by his colleagues.

MORE: Photos: Taliban takes control of Afghanistan

PHOTO: Afghan male staff at Tolo TV wears face masks to show solidarity with their female colleagues who are ordered to cover their faces at the studio in Kabul, Afghanistan, May 23, 2022. (EPA via Shutterstock)

On Wednesday, the official Twitter account of TOLO News called for the related officials and institutions to hear their message.

"It's time for foreign governments to do much more to raise their concerns. Diplomats meeting with the Taliban should signal support for the #FreeHerFace campaign and speak out publicly against the Taliban's intensifying violations of the rights of women and girls," the Human Rights Watch wrote on May 23.

"This latest order is part of steady flow of Taliban actions that have blocked girls' secondary education, pushed women out of most employment, curtailed women's freedom of movement, obstructed women's access to health care, and abolished the system designed to protect women and girls from violence," the rights organization said.

Story continues

MORE: Biden says he did not see a way to withdraw from Afghanistan without 'chaos ensuing'

Among those who showed solidarity was Ziauddin Yousafzai, the father of Malala Yousafzai's father, the Peace Nobel laureate who has been advocating for girls' education.

"Faces are windows to our souls and personalities. Our faces are our identities. It is our basic human right to show our identities. Also when girls are enrolled in schools they get an identity," he tweeted with the hashtag #FreeHerFace.

PHOTO: Afghan girls are seen on a street in Kabul, Afghanistan, on May 10, 2022. (Ali Khara/Reuters)

"It is always a surprise to me to see this kind of restriction and focus on women when we have about a 95% poverty rate in the country," Payvand Seyedali, an American health and human rights activist who has lived in Afghanistan for the past decade consulting with NGOs, told ABC News.

According to the mandate, if women reject covering head-to-toe, the first step would be to identify the house of the unveiled women. However, the mandate says, "their guardian should be advised and punished," not the women themselves.

MORE: Family of 5 in hiding from Taliban pleads for help getting out of Afghanistan

If the same woman is seen again without the Taliban's standard dress code, their guardian will be summoned to the relevant department. The guardian then will be detained for three days and will finally be handed over to the courts to be sentenced to an appropriate punishment.

PHOTO: In this March 8, 2022, file photo, a burqa-clad woman waits with others outside a United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees office as they wait to receive non-food items in Kandahar, Afghanistan. (Javed Tanveer/AFP via Getty Images, FILE)

"The most important observation for me is how humiliating it is for women to not be able to be accountable for their own actions," Seyedali said, addressing the consequences of prosecuting guardians rather than women themselves.

"On the other hand," she added, "you also see that women are forced to make decisions that they don't want to make for the benefit of their families. There is no girl and no woman in this country who wants to see her brother go to jail, who wants to see her father go to jail."

MORE: Afghan journalists who fled the Taliban say they're in limbo in Pakistan

The U.S. Amnesty International asked the international community to "hold the Taliban accountable."

PHOTO: Khatira Ahmadi (L) and Tehmina (R), Afghan presenters at Tolo TV read news at the studio in Kabul, Afghanistan, May 23, 2022. (EPA via Shutterstock)

"Despite the Taliban's continued assurances that they respect the rights of women and girls, millions of women and girls have been systematically discriminated against since the Taliban became the de-facto authorities," the organization wrote in a tweet.

The burqa mandate comes after the restrictions on Afghanistan women's freedom of movement as the Taliban had prohibited them from travelling out of their town without a male guardian. The other major restriction has been closing schools for girls after the sixth grade.

How some in Afghanistan have reacted to the burqa mandate originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
Australia on Saturday unveiled a substantial compensation deal with French submarine maker Naval Group, ending a contract dispute that has soured relations between Canberra and Paris for almost a year.

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said the French firm had agreed to a "fair and an equitable settlement" of 555 million euros in compensation for Australia's termination of a decade-old multi-billion-dollar submarine contract.

The settlement draws a line under a spat that caused leader-level recriminations and threatened to torpedo talks on an EU-Australia trade agreement.

"It permits us to turn a page in our bilateral relations with Australia and look to the future," said French Defence Minister Sebastien Lecornu.

Albanese said he would travel to France soon to reset a relationship which had been beset by "pretty obvious" tensions.

'Liar' Morrison sneaks out of sub deal

The tussle began in September 2021, when Australia's then-prime minister Scott Morrison abruptly ripped up a long-standing contact with the French state-backed Naval Group to build a dozen diesel-powered submarines.

He also stunned Paris by revealing secret talks to buy US or British nuclear-powered vessels.

The decision drew the fury of French President Emmanuel Macron, who publicly accused Morrison of lying and recalled his ambassador from Australia in protest.

Relations were on ice until earlier this summer when Australia elected centre-left leader Albanese.

Albanese tries to rebuild trust

Since coming to office, he has rushed to fix strained relations with France, New Zealand, and Pacific Island nations, who objected to the previous conservative government's foot-dragging on climate change.

"We are re-establishing a better relationship between Australia and France," Albanese said, after speaking to Macron about the settlement.

"I'm looking forward to taking up President Macron's invitation to me to visit Paris at the earliest opportunity."

Story continues

Speaking on the sidelines of the Shangri-La Dialogue security summit in Singapore, Lecornu said France valued its "friendship" with Australia.

"Just because a government in the past did not keep its word, it does not mean we have to forget our strategic relationship," he said.

"Australia has a new team in power, we are happy to be able to work with them."
A suspect in the Maryland factory mass shooting that led to three deaths has been identified as a 23-year-man from West Virginia and has been booked under a number of charges, said officials.

Washington County sheriffs office released the name of the alleged shooter on Friday.

Police said Joe Louis Esquivel of Hedgesville, West Virginia was charged in connection to the shooting that resulted in the killing of three of his co-workers at the Columbia Machine manufacturing plant in Smithsburg, Maryland, on Thursday.

The sheriffs office said law enforcement was called to Bikle Road, Smithsburg at around 2.30pm over the shooting at factory premises.

Governor Larry Hogan said three people had died in the shooting and at least three more people, including the shooter, were injured.

On Friday, Mr Esquivel was charged with murder and a number of felonies.

Some of the charges include murder, attempted murder, assault and weapons charges.

The suspect, police said, used a semi-automatic handgun. The exact calibre, make and model, however, have not been released.

The motive for the shooting is still under investigation and there remains no active threat to the community, the sheriffs office said.

The suspect, who was hospitalised after a shootout with police, is currently being held by the Washington County Detention Center on no bond.

Authorities are still investigating his motive.

Mr Esquivel worked his full shift until he left the building to allegedly get a weapon. Police said the suspect went back in and opened fire on employees in the area of a breakroom.

Washington County Sheriff Doug Mullendore identified those killed in the shooting as Mark Alan Frey, 50 and Joshua Robert Wallace, 30, both from Hagerstown, Maryland and Charles Edward Minnick Jr, 31, of Smithsburg.

The one injured worker was released from hospital on Friday, the official said. He is recovering well, reports said.

A Maryland state trooper who was injured during the shootout, was treated and released on Thursday.

Smithsburg is situated about 120km west of Baltimore and 115km north of Washington DC, near the states border with Pennsylvania.

According to its website, Columbia Machine plant at Smithsburg offers automation and production solutions and complete equipment lines to customers in over 100 countries.
Photo taken on June 2, 2022 shows a rice paddy field at a demonstration farm operated by a Chinese firm in Abuja, Nigeria. (Xinhua/Guo Jun)

by Olatunji Saliu and Guo Jun

ABUJA, June 11 (Xinhua) -- On a farm in the northwest suburb of Abuja, Nigeria's capital, Wang Xuemin, sweating profusely under the hot sun in June, walked along a ridge between rice paddy fields where a big harvest is apparently expected.

He stopped from time to time and raised the loudspeaker in his hand, speaking to the crowd following him about the rice varieties, estimated yields and planting techniques used on the paddy fields, and answering questions from the crowd.

This is a field program on the promotion of Chinese rice planting and breeding techniques conducted by a Chinese company in Abuja recently, which attracted dozens of Nigerian agricultural officials, experts and farmers.

Wang is the assistant general manager and rice expert of Green Agriculture West Africa Limited (GAWAL), a Chinese firm that currently operates at least four demonstration rice farms in Nigeria. He is full of confidence in the prospect of China-Nigerian agricultural cooperation, and believes that Chinese rice technology, especially hybrid rice, will greatly help African countries including Nigeria to increase food production and ensure food security.

"This year, we introduced (Chinese) hybrid rice to be planted in four demonstration rice farms in Nigeria, and (the) harvest from two farms shows the yield of hybrid rice increases by 30 percent to 55 percent (compared with rice varieties mainly planted by local people)," said Wang.

According to Wang, a conventional rice variety bred by the GAWAL using Chinese rice technology can increase production by about 25 percent compared with the local main varieties. It has been approved by the Nigerian government in 2017, and is now sold to farmers all over Nigeria.

Speaking to Xinhua, Olusegun Ojo, director-general of the National Agricultural Seeds Council, said rice is one of the staple foods of Nigerians, and he was deeply impressed by China's rice planting and breeding techniques. Nigeria is seeking to increase food production, reduce imports and ensure food security, and there is great room for cooperation between Nigeria and China in the field of agriculture.

"Seeing is believing. We have brought our people here to come and see what they are doing," Ojo said.

"One farmer confirmed to us that the seeds that they are getting here are by far better than the ones they have been using before. He also mentioned that because of the added productivity that is seen here, they have been able to feed their families, they have been able to send their children to school, and so on," he added.

Nigeria, Africa's most populous country with a population of over 200 million, imports a large amount of food every year to meet its consumption needs. According to the data of Nigeria's central bank, Nigeria's food import expenditure in 2021 reached 2.71 billion U.S. dollars, an increase of nearly 45 percent compared with the previous year.

Bello Zaki, a director at the Agriculture Research Council of Nigeria (ARCN), said the result of the productivity of the hybrid rice variety introduced by GAWAL has been "very conspicuous."

"By their own analysis, the R1 hybrid tends to be more promising in terms of yield and income rate. I am happy that the result is very conspicuous," Zaki said, explaining that the ARCN had been trying to enhance productivity so that poverty can be reduced to the barest minimum and to ensure that there is self-sufficiency in food production for the country.

Testimonies abound on the success of the provision of rice seedlings by the GAWAL, and the potential to positively change the lives of local rice farmers.

"It has transformed my life because I have gotten more information on farming in this place," Stephen Elisha, a local worker at the GAWAL demonstration farm in Abuja, told Xinhua, referring to the modern rice farming technique he has learned from the Chinese firm, among other experiences he has garnered from there over the past six years.

"Now, I am not afraid to start up my own farm because they have trained me on how to produce rice and how to farm other crops," said the 33-year-old farmer. 

Photo taken on June 2, 2022 shows rice paddy fields at a demonstration farm operated by a Chinese firm in Abuja, Nigeria. (Xinhua/Guo Jun)

Chinese agriculture expert Wang Xuemin shows matured rice ear at a demonstration farm operated by a Chinese firm in Abuja, Nigeria, June 2, 2022. (Xinhua/Guo Jun)

Chinese agriculture expert Wang Xuemin (2nd L) hands over rice seeds to local people at a demonstration farm operated by a Chinese firm in Abuja, Nigeria, June 2, 2022. (Xinhua/Guo Jun)
The increase was mostly among adults in their 30s and 40s, but there was no evidence vaccines had stopped working.

Covid restrictions are unlikely to return despite a rise in the number of people with the virus a public health expert has said.

Professor Linda Bauld said there was no need for the "old days of restrictions and panic" with the current variant, though she warned people to be alert.

The latest data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) estimates that around 1-in-40 people have Covid in Scotland, a rise from the week before.

The increase was mostly among adults in their 30s and 40s, but there was no evidence vaccines had stopped working.

The latest ONS figures showed an increase from one case in every 50 people in Scotland the previous week.

HeraldScotland:

They also showed small increases in cases in England and Northern Ireland last week, although the virus continues to be less prevalent there than in Scotland.

Prof Bauld, a public health expert from the University of Edinburgh, told BBC Radio's Good Moring Scotland programme the message was "be alert but certainly don't panic".

"There is absolutely no evidence that our vaccines have stopped working. We know that they confer good protection and [with] some parts of our immune response that's a longer-term level of protection," she said.

"So we're not going back to the old days of restrictions and panic with this variant we have now. But we do need to be aware that we might be heading into another few weeks where it's more common for people to become infected with this virus."
Bryan Schultz Wins the 2022 WSOP $1,000 Freezeout No-Limit Hold'em ($330,057)

June 11 2022 Kirk Brown

The 2022 WSOSP Event #18: $1,000 Freezeout No-Limit Hold'em booked 2,663 entrants, a $2,370,070 prize pool, with 400 players paid.

After 15 hours of play, 35-year-old Chicago native Bryan Schultz took down the title for his maiden WSOP bracelet and the grand prize of $330,057.

WSOP 2022 Event #18: $1,000 Freezeout No-Limit Hold'em Final Table Results

*Place Winner Country Prize (USD)* 1 Bryan Schultz USA $330,057 2 Young Sik Eum USA $203,949 3 Angela Jordison USA $151,544 4 Harry Rubin USA $113,532 5 Nick Palma USA $85,761 6 Robert Hofer USA $65,326 7 Tony Dam USA $50,180 8 Michael Holtz USA $38,874 9 Kevin Legerski USA $30,375

Winner's Reaction

Before today, Schultz's biggest result was winning a circuit ring title in 2011 for $111,000. The Chicago native was asked by PokerNews what he expected today going into Day 2 and he said, ''I mean, winning a bracelet seemed so far away. I didn't even think it was possible''.

''This is way better'' said Schultz when asked how today feels versus the circuit ring win.

The 35-year-old ex-pat was questioned on his cool and calm demeanour going into action today. Schultz said he was ''really tuned in. I feel like I was prepared, so I was ready for all the spots that came at me. I wasn't nervous''.

To his lifestyle, living in Colombia and mostly grinding online mid-stakes tournaments, Schultz said he'd been out there for six years.

''It's cheaper, the cost of living. People are nice. Weather is good''.

Schultz will return to South America with over $330,000 in winnings, but more importantly, of course, the gold bracelet.

Day 2 Recap

Final table play started with Kevin Legerski's king-seven falling to Young Sik Eum's king-queen to send him out in ninth place. Mike Holtz was next to go, losing with ace-nine to Schultz's pocket jacks and exiting in eighth place.

Schultz then had a huge double with ace-king versus the ace-ten of Rubin, before Tony Dam busted in seventh to Schultz, where once again pocket jacks held up against ace-seven. Schultz then flipped it with ace-queen against pocket nines and eliminated Robert Hofer in sixth.

Momentum paused after Schultz doubled Eum up with fours running into sevens before Nick Palma was busted by Eum's turned nut straight in fifth. Schultz then got Harry Rubin to commit his stack with top pair against Schultz's over-pair to send Rubin out in fourth.

Eum then eliminated Angela Jordison in third aftergetting it all-in preflop and getting help on the river with an ace from space.

When they got heads-up, they traded stacks, but once Schultz got the chip lead, he didn't relinquish it, eventually busting Young Sik Eum when his ace-queen held up against Eum's jack-deuce.
The money bubble has burst on Day 2 of Event #19: $25,000 Pot-Limit Omaha High Roller. Once more, the high-stakes competitions of the 2022 WSOP in its new home at Ballys and Paris Las Vegas convinced, with yet another huge turnout.

An additional 69 entries were generated within the two levels of late registration, which boosted the overall field to 264 entries and created a prize pool of $6,237,000. Compared to the edition in 2021, the attendance was boosted significantly by 52 entries. The top 40 finishers were guaranteed a portion of it, and after ten levels of 60 minutes each, only 28 contenders were still in the mix.

Two-time WSOP bracelet winner Scott Ball emerged as the chipleader with a stack of 3,990,000 after going through the day like a wrecking ball in the mid and final stages. Jonathan Depa follows in second place with 3,625,000 after he won a large pot off GGPoker ambassador Daniel Negreanu, who also advanced with a stack of 1,550,000.

Another familiar name in the overnight top ten is certainly David Williams, who will aim to double his WSOP gold bracelet tally after claiming a stack worth 2,970,000. Pittsburgh's James Chen (2,585,000), Sam Stein (1,635,000) and Frank Crivello (1,550,000) can likewise be named among the bigger stacks as well.

Top 10 Chip Counts After Day 2

Position Player Country Chip Count Big Blinds 1 Scott Ball United States 3,990,000 133 2 Jonathan Depa United States 3,625,000 121 3 David Williams United States 2,970,000 99 4 James Chen (US) United States 2,585,000 86 5 Emmanuel Sebag United States 2,315,000 77 6 Aaron Mermelstein United States 1,955,000 65 7 Philip Wiszowaty United States 1,640,000 55 8 Sam Stein United States 1,635,000 55 9 Frank Crivello United States 1,550,000 52 10 Daniel Negreanu Canada 1,550,000 52

In a field filled with high-stakes regulars and PLO specialists, several other big names advanced, including Day 1 chip leader Jared Bleznick, Ben Lamb, Yuri Dzivielevski, Noah Schwartz, Gavin Cochrane, Keith Lehr and the reigning WSOP Player of the Year, Josh Arieh. They have all locked up a payday of $44,253 thus far, and the next pay jump awaits after the next elimination.

All 28 contenders will return to their seats at the Bally's Event Center at 2 p.m. local time on Saturday, June 11, 2022. The penultimate tournament day is slated to play down to the final five players, and the event's conclusion will then be streamed the following day. Returning blinds in level 21 will be 15,000-30,000 with a big blind ante of 30,000.

Evan Krentzman was the last player to leave empty-handed after he had his pocket aces with one suit cracked by the double-suited queens of Lamb. Just before that, recent WSOP gold bracelet winner Jake Schindler also came up short with aces and the nut flush draw to miss out on another WSOP cash for his resume.

Other big names to come up shy of the money were Ben Yu, Eelis Parssinen, Joni Jouhkimainen, Sean Winter, Adam Hendrix, Dash Dudley, Anson Tsang, Scott Seiver, Paul Volpe, Phil Ivey, Brian Rast and Erik Seidel to name all but a few.

Among the casualties in the money after the bubble had burst were notables such as Andriy Lyubovetskiy, Matthew Shepsky, Fabian Schoneck, Artem Maksimov, Kristopher Tong, and Stephen Chidwick.

Ball ran up a bigger stack early in the day and joined the chip leaders after knocking out Shaun Deeb and Bryce Yockey, among others. Deeb's fate came in runner-runner fashion while Yockey's top two pair were up against a full wrap and didn't hold. In the final level of the night, Ball also sent Chidwick to the payout desk and cemented his status as the chip leader.

PLO specialist Depa started as one of the shorter stacks into Day 2 but consistently increased his tower of chips. In the final stages of the night, he won a large pot against Negreanu when his full house was paid off and temporarily took over the top spot before conceding it at the very end.

Daniel Negreanu advanced to Day 3 despite losing a large pot in the final stages

Another two tournament days remain to crown a winner who can look forward to a massive payday of $1,467,739. Stay tuned right here on PokerNews for the conclusion of Event #19: $25,000 Pot-Limit Omaha High Roller.

Remaining Payouts
After another ten levels of play yesterday only nine remain from the initial 350 entry field in Event #20: $1,500 Limit 2-7 Lowball Triple Draw at the 2022 World Series of Poker at Ballys and Paris Las Vegas. Included are former bracelet winners Benny Glaser and Kenny Hsiung. Hsiung won his only bracelet in the $3,000 Limit Hold-em ten years ago while Glaser will be looking to win his fourth.

Last year's runner-up Peter Lynn remains in the mix but it will take a miracle for him to best his 2nd place finish of last year as he comes into the day as the short stack with just 75,000, only 5,000 more chips than he entered Day 2 with. Von Altizer (2,625,000) andYufei Zhong (2,290,000) come into the final day as overwhelming chip leaders, leading the race towards taking down a coveted bracelet.

Action will continue at 2 p.m. local time in the Ballys Horseshoe where the nine remaining will play down to a winner. PokerNews will be here to cover the final day as another bracelet winner will be crowned.
In Helados La Azteca on North Valley Mills Drive, the newest location of the beloved local ice cream shop, popular snacks from Mexico line the aisles, making the stores cultural ties apparent to any shopper.

Eduardo Eddy Garcia spent most of his childhood shadowing his father in the original location at 3302 Franklin Ave., which opened in 1998. With two more locations up and running in Waco in recent years, the business soon may start making its way into new cities.

Garcia and his family moved from Los Angeles to Waco when he was 8 years old. Garcia said Waco is his forever home, and he has no desire to move anywhere else. The majority of Garcias immediate family still resides in Waco, and his extended family lives in the state of Jalisco, in the western part of Mexico.

After his family moved to Waco, his father decided to turn a dream into a reality, Garcia said.

When living in LA my father worked 2 jobs as a busser and as a cook always finding a way to provide for me and my siblings, he said. When he first moved to Waco to open Helados La Azteca he saw the opportunity and took it just how any other Hispanic family wishes to do in the states.

We were like every other Hispanic family, just finding a way through life and then whenever the location on Franklin came to be, we just found home.

Garcia said he was driven to expand his fathers company, Helados La Azteca, after realizing the lack of businesses catering to Hispanic culture in Waco and Texas in general. Garcia opened Helados La Azteca #2 in 2019 and shortly thereafter he opened Lalos Coffee & Pastries right next door near 15th Street and Colcord Avenue.

The Hispanic culture behind Helados La Azteca and Lalos helps them stand out from other businesses in Waco. Helados La Azteca offers ice cream flavors reminiscent of Jalisco, such as avocado, tres leches, horchata and tequila.

I think weve done a very good job on bringing as much of our culture here to the United States, Garcia said. I think a lot of people, walking in here is their first time walking into a Hispanic ice cream shop and not only learning about our culture but learning about all these new products and flavors theyve never seen before.

At the end of last year, Garcia and his older brother, Victor, were recognized with a spot on the Forbes Next 1000 list of the upstart entrepreneurs redefining the American dream. Garcia said the honor was much unexpected.

Its shocking to see how much support Ive received from the community to be able to put me in a position to where I was even able to get something like that, Garcia said. Weve worked hard and I think we are finally starting to be able to expand.

Garcia said he is thankful to his father for building the original brand, making expansion easier.

I think my father established a really solid foundation for us, Garcia said. Ever since the 90s, being known between, not only the Hispanic community, but also the Waco community in general, he was the original one for so long, Garcia said. I think people just started realizing like Hey, theres this ice cream shop off Franklin, and thats when I realized this is doing really well and I dont know why we arent showing other parts of Waco this.

He said he is not completely sure where the next location will be, but he envisions heading south along the Interstate 35 corridor.

The plan is to see how much we can do, how much we can expand our culture, Garcia said. To me, I think (whats next) is to head south. So I think maybe Temple, San Marcos or New Braunfels, maybe even Austin.

Garcia said he feels the Lalos coffee shop should remain as a Waco business, because of the connections it has with the local community. It could possibly expand to other parts of Waco, but he doesnt see it moving out of Waco. Helados La Azteca, on the other hand, has more potential to grow further, Garcia said.

Mission Waco Executive Director John Calaway said the building where Lalos and the Helados La Azteca operate on Colcord Avenue previously housed a liquor store that was the site of a violent robbery in 2006. When the owner decided to close the store, Mission Waco saw an opportunity, Calaway said.

When it came open for purchase, we purchased it and renovated it so that we could have really good thriving businesses that impacted our community in a good way, Calaway said.

He said he thinks the community has reacted positively to Garcias businesses because they are affordable and well-maintained.

(Helados) is a nice, clean, well-operated gathering space but it also has product that our community wants and can afford, Calaway said. One of the things I love about Helados is that someone in our neighborhood can afford to buy ice cream there. (Eduardo) is able to do that because we dont charge a ton for rent. So, he gets to pass those savings on to the folks in our community.

I think like any business, when its well operated and you provide the consumer, in our case our neighborhood residents, something that they desire and are willing to pay for, then that keeps your doors open.

Abigail Pichardo, an employee at Helados La Azteca on Colcord, said her coworkers are her favorite part of the job.

Ive been going to school with one of my crew members for a very long time so its been very fun working with them, Pichardo said.

She said she has met Garcia a few times and each encounter has been nothing but positive.

I think (Eduardo) is a very dedicated person with his business, especially as a Hispanic small business owner, Pichardo said. He inspires other Hispanic people to create their own business. He embraces his culture and who he is.

Aisha Ortez has only been working for Lalos for about a month, but she instantly felt welcomed in the work environment, Ortez said.

I feel like Im at home here, Ortez said. I grew up in Edinburg, Texas, which is like 30 minutes from Mexico. I felt like my first two years here in Waco I felt like I was missing out on my culture. So being here it feels better.

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TOKYO, June 11 (Xinhua) -- Former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has recently talked nonsense regarding the Taiwan question at a forum, once again casting "what happens to Taiwan" as "also Japan's business" and claiming to force China to "give up Taiwan's reunification by force," Japan's Sankei Shimbun reported.

Experts found that in recent years, Japan has become increasingly hawkish towards China in line with the Unites States' Indo-Pacific strategy, serving as a main accomplice of Washington in containing China in the Asia-Pacific region.

Closely following Washington's anti-China stance, Japan seeks to loosen control over military and reshape its own standing in Asia. However, such a move does no good to regional peace and stability or the healthy development of China-Japan relations, and Japan will surely pay the price, observed analysts.

FOLLOWING U.S. STEP

During his visit to South Korea and Japan in late May, U.S. President Joe Biden attended multilateral events to peddle his Indo-Pacific Strategy and roped in U.S. allies to contain China.

Japan was the most active on the sidelines of Biden's visit, not only making gestures on such issues as the East China Sea, the South China Sea, Hong Kong, Xinjiang and Taiwan.

Incumbent Prime Minister Fumio Kishida told a news conference that Japan will cooperate with the United States to force China to "fulfill its responsibilities in accordance with the rules of the international rules."

In recent years, with mounting U.S. containment and suppression of China, Japan's policy toward China has also shifted to confrontation.

As for politics and security, Japan actively participated in the core framework of Washington's Indo-Pacific Strategy -- a quadrilateral mechanism involving the United States, Japan, India and Australia.

Japan kept linking up with other U.S. allies to strengthen the alliance system for the United States, and made great efforts to push those outside the region to turn their attention to the Asia-Pacific region.

Japan also drummed the so-called "free and open Indo-Pacific" into other countries and meddled in the South China Sea issue, providing military equipment to relevant countries and driving a wedge between them and China.

Together with Washington and other Western countries, Japan has frequently intervened in China's internal affairs, bolstering "Taiwan independence" forces and Hong Kong rioters, and manipulating the so-called "Xinjiang human rights issue."

Economically, Japan followed the United States in suppressing Chinese technology companies and promoting economic decoupling in the name of "national security." According to Bloomberg, Japan launched a 240 billion yen (2.2 billion U.S. dollars) economic stimulus package for its companies to shift production out of China, including 220 billion yen (2 billion dollars) for those moving back to Japan.

Japan also played an active role in supply chain cooperation with the United States and joined in U.S.-led regional economic frameworks aimed at excluding China, including the Trans-Pacific Partnership and the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework.

HIDDEN AGENDAS

Despite Japan's efforts to fawn on the United States, Washington has little respect for this important and "well-behaved" ally.

Its attitude towards Japan was evident in many diplomatic details. During an official visit to the United States in April 2019, Abe and his wife were forced out of red carpet during a photo session with then-U.S. President Donald Trump and his wife.

Like his predecessor Trump, Biden didn't have his plane landed at any Japanese airport in his trip to Tokyo, but instead at a U.S. military base.

Ukeru Magosaki, a former Japanese foreign ministry official, said that Japan and the United States do not have a relationship of equals, but a master-slave relationship.

According to analysts, there are hidden agendas behind Japan's efforts to curry favor with the United States and its anti-China rhetoric. Japan's ruling Liberal Democratic Party has long been attempting to break through the limits of its post-World War II (WWII) pacifist constitution.

To this end, Japan constantly hypes up the "China threat" as an excuse to build up its military power, and takes the opportunity to suppress China. By acting as an accomplice, Japan has been playing up to Washington in exchange for the latter's loosening control over Japanese military.

Meanwhile, Japan remained the leading economy in Asia for a long time after the WWII, but in recent years it has been replaced by China as the second largest economic power in the world. Japan cannot rationally accept China's rise, and is increasingly hostile to China.

Atsushi Koketsu, emeritus professor at Yamaguchi University, pointed out that Japan is becoming a "medium country," a fact that many Japanese politicians and people cannot face up to. They hope that Japan and the United States will cooperate to bolster Japan's political and military strength to compensate for its decaying economic power, so as to confront China, said the expert.

REPERCUSSIONS TO BE FELT

Many experts pointed out that China's development benefits the Asia-Pacific region, while the U.S. "Indo-Pacific strategy" will only lead to confrontation and division. Japan has harmed the interests of all countries in the region, including itself, in following Washington.

Currently, the U.S. intention of creating tensions in East Asia is absolutely not conducive to regional stability, and Japan's bowing to U.S. interests often hurts its own, Magosaki said.

A large number of U.S. military bases in Japan are like "a country within a country," and a series of problems, such as crimes, accidents, noise, environmental pollution and COVID-19 prevention, have brought indescribable suffering to Japanese people.

The United States incited Japan to suppress Huawei and other Chinese tech firms, causing heavy losses to many Japanese companies.

Japan made concessions in trade negotiations and opened its agricultural market, but did not get tariff concessions on auto parts exported to the United States.

Experts pointed out that China and Japan have close economic and cultural exchanges, and China has been Japan's largest trading partner for a long time. If Japan continues to follow the United States on the anti-China path, it will certainly affect the China-Japan economic cooperation, and the Japanese economy will be impaired.

It is disgraceful that the Japanese government has been taking a position subordinate to the United States, Koketsu said.

Only by becoming an independent and peaceful country can Japan gain trust and respect, advance historical reconciliation with China, and further strengthen their economic cooperation, thus contributing to stability in the Asia-Pacific region, he added. 
A local investment group, Wagboo Properties, is joining forces with Turner Brothers Real Estate to place a mixed-use development at 10th Street and Webster Avenue. They envision retail shops, dining venues, a movie screen for outdoor viewing and a game lawn, according to descriptions and renderings appearing on the LoopNet.com real estate site.

Themed areas include the Railcar Bar, Railcar Deck and Railcar Terrace, a marketing brochure for Webster Street Market says. A Union Pacific railroad track runs nearby, inspiring the names. The anchor building dates to 1898, and long ago stabled horses that pulled Anheuser Busch ice wagons. It most recently served as home to Diversified Product Development, which accepted Bellmeads offer of a new building to relocate.

As an ode to the past, a retail area may become The Ice House Shops.

The goal of the property is to bring quality tenants together to create a synergistic atmosphere and destination for both locals and tourists, according to promotional material for Webster Street Market. It will have 54,000 square feet of retail and restaurant space, nearly half designated a market hall.

Continuing, the brochure says, There will be an outdoor recreational and event area on what is now 10th Street. Rooftop sections are a potential option above the anchor restaurants. The location will have 240 designated parking spots for visitors next to the building off 11th Street. It is two blocks from the Magnolia Silos and close to I-35 and Baylor University.

Josh Barrett, with Turner Brothers Real Estate, said the floorplan appearing in the brochure and online has undergone minor changes.

Were working on a grocery concept. The museum once planned probably will be converted to retail, Barrett said by phone. A local group is looking at one anchor restaurant space, and another is looking at a second. We still may have a brewery concept in the back. We have a handful of leads for the smaller tenant spaces in market hall.

Optimistically, well have everything in place in 12 months.

Warm cookies, anyone?

A chain of bakeries that specializes in delivering cookies, baked goods and ice cream until 3 in the morning plans to open a Waco location.

Insomnia Cookies has secured a building permit valued at $183,264, to finish out space at 1508 Speight Ave., near Baylor University.

Gas prices

Waco motorists now pay nearly $2 more per gallon for regular unleaded gasoline than at this time last year, according to AAA Texas. The local average on Friday stood at $4.61 per gallon versus $2.72 in June 2021.

Perhaps more troubling is that locals one week ago were paying $4.35 per gallon on average, meaning prices have risen 26 cents in one week. A month ago the prevailing rate locally was $4.02 per gallon, according to AAA Texas.

The national average continues to stalk $5 a gallon, reaching $4.98 per gallon for regular unleaded, AAA reported Friday.

With the national average almost at $5 a gallon, and the statewide average reaching a new record, drivers can expect to see higher prices for the next few weeks  if not months  as Russian oil is off the market for many countries due to its war in Ukraine, AAA Texas spokesperson Daniel Armbruster said in a press release.

Austin Avenue retail space

Available space along Austin Avenue has become scarce as downtown development surges, which makes noteworthy a listing by Gregg Glime, with Coldwell Banker Commercial. Retail condos from 2,400 to 7,400 square feet are for sale or lease between 1017 and 1019 Austin Avenue.

Glime said the space has large windows facing Austin Avenue.

We just listed those and have had a good level of interest so far. No users to report yet, Glime said via email. Its a little unusual product from what weve done a lot of downtown. We are taking the 7,500-square-foot building and converting it into three different retail spaces for sale or lease. Unique opportunity for someone to buy about 2,000 square feet in downtown Waco.

We are hoping this caters well to local businesses, and offers a path to ownership for small business owners as most everything this size downtown has only been available for lease in the past. We shall see what happens.

Yaki

Baylor University graduates Jake and Lindsey Patterson converted a former Sonic Drive-In on South Valley Mills Drive to their Yaki Texas Teriyaki fast-food joint, a brick-and-mortar version of their food truck, and have been up and running in the new spot since early this year.

Yaki serves box meals containing rice, smoked meats, sauce and slaw salad. A press release says their goal was to offer meals for less than $10.

Electric hybrid trucks

An intriguing press release from Texel Energy Storage arrived last week about a collaboration between the Sweden-based company an U.S.-based Triton to develop the next generation electric hybrid powertrain for trucks.

It says Texel and Triton are scouting locations in the United States, and both recently visited Waco, Texas, as a leading state to expand their technologies.

Kris Collins, who recruits businesses as senior vice president for economic development at the Greater Waco Chamber of Commerce, has not yet replied to inquiries about whether these companies were given the grand tour.

Triton Electric Vehicle is manufacturing a new class of electric vehicles currently in India with plans of expanding globally, the press release says. Texel specializes in technology related to energy storage in batteries.

Its a great honor for Triton Electric Vehicle to partner up with Texel Energy Storage to change the world, and we look forward to a long and healthy relationship, Triton CEO Himanshu Patel said in the press release.

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In Waco it is on renters to report code violations their landlords are leaving unaddressed, but that could change under a multifamily registration and inspection program the Waco City Council is considering.

The citys code enforcement program is based on responding to complaints, but city staff presented a plan during a city council meeting Tuesday to register apartment buildings for regular inspections by code enforcement officials. Housing Director Galen Price said the new program would give tenants a voice and keep city housing stock in livable condition.

Our housing study identified a shortage of units, and as we look to address these shortages we need to work to maintain the units we currently have in our inventory, Price said.

Price said he is prepared to have a draft ordinance ready by the end of the month, with an expectation to finalize it after a community engagement process next year.

Under the recommendations, four inspectors and one support staff member would inspect multi-family housing sites with four or more units. Properties with three or fewer units, properties built less than five years ago, dorms and assisted living facilities would also be exempt.

Council Member Andrea Barefield brought up Trendwood Apartments, 1700 Dallas Circle, a federally subsidized apartment complex with a history of code violations.

Barefield said the citys code enforcement and legal departments managed a tremendous lift when the city sued the owners of Trendwood Apartments in 2019 after the city found code violations in 143 out of 147 apartment units. The complex is under new management, and the city dropped the suit last year after the owners paid a fine and brought the complex back into compliance.

For those who are doing what they should do, it is but a small thing, Barefield said. And I know people are about private property and property rights and all that business, but I think its just another small effort to keep us honest.

She said Trendwood only reached the state it did because the city only investigated tenant complaints instead of proactively inspecting the complex.

A program like the one presented Tuesday would have helped the city intervene more quickly, Code Enforcement Director Chris Randazzo said in an interview after the meeting.

Price proposed a fee of $13 per unit per year, with late fees. Landlords would be given a checklist of inspection items and a notice of inspection 30 days in advance. Any follow-up inspections that are required would incur a fee of $250 per trip, starting with the second follow-up.

There are about 323 complexes in Waco that would be subject to inspections, according to Price.

The program would cost about $335,000 to implement, counting the salary for code officers, administration staff, hybrid trucks and software. Price said the fees are calculated based on the cost of administering the program, and are not designed to turn a profit for the city.

Council Member Jim Holmes said he is in favor of the idea.

I think its very compelling when we bring up the point that it facilitates the preservation of our housing stock, which is very important right now when were kind of short, Holmes said. It also encourages preventative maintenance.

Council Member Josh Borderud said a large chunk of the citys multifamily housing is in his district and he hopes a program like this could improve relations between tenants and landlords.

I dont think its such an intrusion on private property rights. It looks like a great solution to make sure these units are at least habitable, he said.

Council Member Kelly Palmer said the idea made her giddy, because the citys housing efforts have so far focused mostly on assistance for homeowners.

I heard a lot of positive feedback on this when we first were talking about this in the housing study, both from nonprofit partners and from individual renters in my district, Palmer said.

She asked if the program could be expanded to smaller rental properties after the first few years, and Price said it could be expanded.

Waco Mayor Dillon Meek said he supports the program and it is a good idea in theory but he is concerned the program could inconvenience blameless landlords if it is not implemented carefully.

What I dont want to have happen is somehow this program becomes an undue burden for the good actors who are actually working hard to take care of the property, and the bad actors are somehow skipping the system because we dont design this right, Meek said.

He said the proposed system appears well-designed but he wants to keep sight of ensuring it works as intended.

Inspectors would visit a portion of the apartments each year because it is not feasible to visit them all in a single year.

The city of Killeens city council considered an inspection program last year, but tabled the issue.

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A welcome mat in Waco planned for families seeking asylum at the border has four walls, a roof and occupants with open arms.

It also has a name, Naomi House, and a mission drawn from the same Bible as its name.

DaySpring Baptist Church members behind its creation see it as a resting place in asylum seekers arduous trek from dangerous Central American countries to safety in another country, a hospitality house for peace and healing. What the church and Naomi House supporters hope to provide the first family to move in, expected sometime at summers end, is, in a phrase, simply companioning.

We want to be present for those in need, said Grant Hall, who with his wife, Rachel, will be the houses first live-in hosts when they move in this month.

Another host, church pastoral associate and speech therapist Bailey Payne will follow late next month.

The four-bedroom house, a 103-year-old, two-story stucco home in an older central Waco neighborhood, is the fruit of several years of dreaming and planning for DaySpring, said Dennis Tucker, chair of the churchs leadership council and a Truett Seminary professor of Hebrew and Old Testament.

Naomi House takes its name from the Old Testament story of Ruth, whose mother-in-law, Naomi, helps her resettle in Naomis homeland of Judah after death and drought force them to leave their country.

The seed for Naomi House planted by the churchs yearslong interest in Central America ministries germinated after some church members traveled to San Antonio in 2019 to visit with former Waco resident John Garland, who now pastors the San Antonio Mennonite Church.

Garland, son of Baylor University religion professor and former interim President David Garland and the late Diana Garland, former dean of the Baylor School of Social Work, has long been involved in work with immigrants and migrants crossing the Texas-Mexico border.

Garland introduced his DaySpring visitors to the work of his churchs Mary and Martha House, or La Casa de Maria y Marta, established to help mothers and their children seeking asylum in the United States, usually from violence or persecution. The house, a former Mennonite mission center, provides space for families as they await their asylum hearings and work permits. Part of the houses ministry is helping those families deal with trauma, whether from violence experienced in their homeland or on the journey north, or simply from the emotional impact of leaving family and friends behind.

Unlike refugees who come to the United States for resettlement only after a legal process overseen by the office of United Nations High Commissioner on Refugees and the U.S. State Department, people who seek asylum simply can arrive at the border and make that request. They can seek asylum on grounds of being persecuted over religion, nationality, social group, race or politics in their home country. A hearing on their case will determine whether asylum is granted, which allows the seekers to stay in the United States legally, or denied, at which point the process of deportation will begin.

The majority of asylum seekers at the U.S.-Mexico border in recent years have come from Central American countries such as Honduras, Guatemala, El Salvador and Nicaragua. Many are women and their children, as well as unaccompanied children, fleeing violence in their communities.

The reality is no one knows how long an asylum case will take, said Anali Looper, Waco office director of the nonprofit American Gateways and an attorney in immigration law. Asylum seekers can apply for a work permit after 150 days, and those first few months (in the United States) are crucial, especially for women as they look for work and safe housing.

Women and children seeking asylum who have no extended family in the United States to stay with after arrival can become vulnerable to human traffickers, Looper said. There is no definitive number of asylum seekers in the area awaiting hearings, but Looper estimated it might be several hundred, judging from the number of cases her Waco office sees.

DaySpring will work with the San Antonio Mennonite Church and Fellowship Southwest, an ecumenical association working on the border, for referrals to the Naomi House, Tucker said. The church will work with one family at first, then possibly expand to two families, but no men, in consideration of women who may have been assaulted or traumatized on the journey, he said.

The Naomi House hosts, who are DaySpring members, see their ministry not as one specialized for immigration and Spanish language help, but general aid and Christian compassion. Rachel Hall, 31, is halfway through a doctor of divinity degree at Truett Seminary with a schedule that allows time at home. Grant, 33, is a film editor who works from home. The two, Baylor graduates who moved back to Waco last year after years in Los Angeles and the Houston area, presently have no children, which they said opened their availability as live-in hosts.

Payne, a 25-year-old Baylor graduate with degrees in religion and communication sciences and disorders, comes to Naomi House with some personal insight. During a gap year program in England, she lived with a family and worked with a church that was helping asylum seekers and refugees, mostly from the Middle East.

The three hosts hope to connect their visiting family to whatever is needed, such as trips to the grocery store, help in enrolling kids in school, transportation, and social and legal services. They get by in Spanish, but Grant Hall said Garland told them not to worry about fluency as it is more important that the visiting family learn English.

The goal really is to build relationships, Rachel Hall said.

DaySpring will hold conversational Spanish classes on Wednesdays and Sundays in July at Naomi House as a way to build relationships and strengthen cross-cultural understanding. The church and its hosts, however, will not be going alone on the project. Other Waco churches, including Calvary Baptist Church, University Baptist Church, First Presbyterian Church of Waco and Seventh & James Baptist Church, have promised support in varying ways.

There has also been considerable help through La Puerta, a First Baptist Church of Waco program that assists Spanish-speaking newcomers to Waco with connections to English-as-a-second-language classes, General Educational Development diploma programs, local social and city services, classes in health, cooking, finance and nutrition, and more. The Waco office of American Gateways is at hand for legal issues as well.

Exactly what the Naomi House hosts and their church will be doing after the first family moves in is left to discover in the months ahead, but Rachel Hall said the call to serve is clear.

We want to be faithful and obedient  to the work that God has invited all Christians into, which is caring for others, she said.

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HOUSTON  Buc-ee's is ensuring the phrase "everything's bigger in Texas" still rings true. The company, known for its clean bathrooms and abundant convenience store snacks, announced Wednesday it would be building its biggest location ever in Luling, east of San Antonio and about two hours outside of Houston.

The new Central Texas travel center will span 75,000 square feet with 120 fueling stations and is set to replace its existing Luling location at 10070 I-10. The new location will be built next door, allowing for a seamless transition, according to a company press release. The project marks a return to where the original Buc-ee's was constructed in 2003.

"Twenty years ago, Beaver and Don had the gumption to change the industry by building the first Buc-ee's Family Travel Center in Luling," said Stan Beard, director of Buc-ee's real estate, in the release.

"Since that time, Buc-ee's has grown into an iconic Texas brand that now shares our Texas pride with new stores throughout the Southeast and West. We are humbled to have this opportunity to strengthen our roots in Texas and will continue to exceed our customers' expectations every chance we get."

The new Luling Buc-ee's will add at least 200 jobs to the area and employees will have the chance to earn full benefits and starting pay "well above minimum wage," according to the release.

Earlier this year, Buc-ee's announced plans for a Tennessee store that would be bigger than any of its existing Texas locations. That store will cover 74,000 square feet and have 120 fueling stations.

For now, New Braunfels still holds the record for world's largest convenience store with its 66,335 square-foot footprint. Buc-ee's also claims the title of "world's longest car wash" at 225 feet at its Katy travel center off I-10.

Construction on the new Luling location will begin in fall 2022. Buc-ee's said the project is being built through a partnership with the city of Luling, the Luling Economic Development Corporation and Caldwell County.

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WATERLOO  The former director of the Jesse Cosby Neighborhood Center has pleaded to using the centers funds for his own expenses.

Jesse Henderson pleaded to one count of wire fraud Thursday in U.S. District Court in Cedar Rapids.

The crime is punishable by up to 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Sentencing will be at a later date and Henderson will receive consideration for pleading guilty early in the case, according to court records.

Henderson began working for the center  which provides community services and is named for his great uncle, a local entertainer  in 2007. He was named director in 2014.

The position gave Henderson access to the nonprofits finances and, starting in 2017, he allegedly began using the centers debit and credit cards for himself, making unauthorized withdrawals from the centers bank and credit union accounts.

Prosecutors said in court records that some of the ATM withdrawals were made at casinos to pay for his gambling.

In all, Henderson took $71,483 from the center and hid his actions by failing to disclose financial information to the centers board of directors, court records state.

He did repay $12,471 before he was caught.

In July 2021, Henderson admitted to the scheme when he was interviewed by law enforcement. He also admitted to the boards chairwoman that he had used the money for his gambling addiction and had made bad decisions. He told her he had taken advantage of the fact that the center had received an increase in funding, court records state.

Also in July, agents with the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation executed a search warrant at the centers Mobile Street headquarters. Henderson resigned while the investigation was ongoing and he was charged in May.

The Jesse Cosby Neighborhood Center provides meal programs and services for seniors and youths. It has remained in operation since Hendersons resignation.

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WATERLOO  A Waterloo man who was injured in a 2016 shooting that claimed the life of his friend has been sentenced to prison on gun charges.

On Thursday, Judge C.J. Williams sentenced Dewon Capri Campbell, 23, to seven years and three months in prison during a hearing in U.S. District Court in Cedar Rapids.

The prison time was the maximum under federal sentencing guideline calculations.

He will be on supervised release for three years following his prison time.

Authorities allege Campbell had a .40-caliber Springfield XDm pistol while he was a passenger in a vehicle driven by Davon Biddle on March 29, 2021. Biddle fled from a traffic stop and during the pursuit he slowed enough to allow Campbell to exit and run off, court records state.

Campbell tossed the pistol in a backyard and was caught a short time later. Campbells DNA was found on the weapon, court records state.

In arguing sentencing, Campbells defense attorney noted he had been at the scene of a June 2016 shooting on Logan Avenue that killed his friend, 21-year-old Otavious Brown, and left him with a gunshot wound to the abdomen.

Campbell said suffers from post-traumatic stress from the shooting, said defense attorney Jill Johnston.

The fact that Mr. Campbell has been shot and has lasting physical and emotional issues from that incident help explain why he may have felt the need to have a firearm on March 29, 2021, Johnston wrote in a sentencing memo.

Prosecutors had sought a harsher punishment by requesting an upward variance that would have pushed the prison time to eight years because of a prior robbery conviction.

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WATERLOO  Emergency responders are searching for a male who reportedly walked into the Cedar River near the Sixth Street bridge.

Waterloo Fire Rescue confirmed the man is in his late teens or early 20s. Witnesses say they saw the man float down the river after entering, according to officials.

Police and fire rescue personnel were dispatched around 6:30 p.m. Friday night during the My Waterloo Days parade. The man is still missing and the search restarted Saturday morning.

Fire department officials said divers will not be deployed because the search area is too close to the dam. There is currently one boat being used in that area.

The Courier initially reported incorrectly online that the person had jumped into the river from the bridge.

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WATERLOO  Veridian Credit Union hosted mobile shred trucks at six Community Shred Day events across Iowa and eastern Nebraska in the last month. An estimated 3,000 people attended to shred more than 73,000 pounds of sensitive documents and help protect their identities from fraud.

"We host Community Shred Days to offer a convenient way to shred unwanted documents that contain your personal information," said Veridian's public relations strategist Ashtin Hotek. "We're happy to offer these events as a free service to our communities and grateful that theyre always well attended.

The shredded material is recycled into commercial-grade paper products. Since Veridians first Community Shred Day in 2009, the events have shredded nearly 1.3 million pounds of documents, saving an estimated 10,350 trees and 1,800 cubic yards of landfill space.

Veridian will host another series of Community Shred Day events this fall, inculding one in Waterloo. Those dates and other details will be available at veridiancu.org/shred.

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WATERLOO  People gathered downtown Friday night and Saturday to celebrate the 40th anniversary of My Waterloo Days.

The theme for this years event is We are Waterloo.

Crowds lined the streets in the center of the city Friday night for the My Waterloo Days Parade. Families enjoyed the craft and vendor fair, the Family Fun Zone, a variety of food vendors and live music that played until midnight.

I love (the theme), My Waterloo Days volunteer Jeanne Miller said. Its nice to get people excited about Waterloo. We have so much to offer here.

On Saturday, a classic car show lined East Fourth Street downtown while small business vendors popped up on Mulberry Street. There was a color run and kids bike races in the morning, as well as a softball tournament at the Hoing-Rice Softball complex.

Around noon, the fun picked up in Lincoln Park, where the attractions from the previous night resumed. In addition, for the first time My Waterloo Days collaborated with the Bill Reilly Talent Search. The first place winner from each category will win prizes and get to compete at the Iowa State Fair.

Another event popular with children was at the Waterloo Public Librarys tent. From 11 a.m. to 12 p.m., around 50 kids signed up for the Dolly Parton Imagination Library. The program allows kids through age 5 to receive books mailed to their house for free. Amy Rousselow, the librarys marketing manager, said it is a great way to keep families connected to books in the summer months.

There also was a bags tournament in Lincoln Park on Saturday afternoon.

Many families returned to My Waterloo Days after missing in recent years due to the pandemic, while others have been coming every year. One family said they go to every event, from the parade to the concerts. One of the young sons in the family sported multiple medals from competing in the childrens bike races.

The festivities conclude with a performance by the Waterhawks Ski Team at 6 p.m. Sunday at Eagle Lake in Evansdale.

Jessica Rucker, Main Street Waterloos executive director, said the crowds have been amazing and energetic.

She thought the theme of this years event summed up the spirit of My Waterloo Days.

Its great to celebrate our community, diversity, successes and how far weve come in our community, Rucker said.

Rucker also said the minute this years event is over, she will start planning next year's festival.

Next years My Waterloo Days will be June 5 through June 11. The celebrations in Lincoln Park will be June 9 and 10. Rucker said a theme hasnt been decided yet.

She said Main Street Waterloo is always looking for volunteers and ways to improve. If you have any suggestions, call (319) 291-2038.

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PHNOM PENH, Cambodia (AP)  Cambodias prime minister urged military-ruled Myanmar to reconsider the death sentences against four political opponents, suggesting that executing them will draw strong international condemnation and complicate efforts to restore peace to the strife-torn nation.

Hun Sens letter on Saturday to Myanmar ruler Senior Gen. Min Aung Hlaing adds to worldwide concern and protest over the intended executions of four men involved in the struggle against military rule. A copy of the letter was received from Cambodias foreign ministry.

Hun Sen wrote that with deep concern and sincere desire to help Myanmar achieve peace and national reconciliation, I would like to earnestly request you and the State Administrative Council (SAC) to reconsider the sentences and refrain from carrying out the death sentences given to those anti-SAC individuals.

The letter is unusual because Southeast Asian governments rarely issue statements that could be considered critical of each other's internal affairs. Hun Sen himself has a reputation as a leader who has been willing to employ authoritarian methods to stay in power for 37 years. However, Cambodia's Constitution of 1989 abolished the death penalty.

A Myanmar military spokesperson announced on June 3 that Phyo Zeya Thaw, a 41-year-old former lawmaker from ousted leader Aung San Suu Kyis party, and Kyaw Min Yu, a 53-year-old veteran pro-democracy activist better known as Ko Jimmy, would be executed for violating the countrys counterterrorism law.

Spokesperson Maj. Gen. Zaw Min Tun said the decision to hang the two along with two other men convicted of killing a woman they believed was a military informer was made after their appeals against their military court judgement were rejected.

No date was announced for the planned executions.

Myanmars army in February last year seized power from Suu Kyi's elected government, triggering widespread peaceful protests that soon erupted into armed resistance, and the country slipped into what some U.N. experts characterize as a civil war.

Hun Sen has a special interest in Myanmar because Cambodia this year chairs the 10-member Association of Southeast Asia Nations, ASEAN, to which Myanmar belongs.

ASEAN has sought to play a role in promoting an end to the violence in Myanmar and provide humanitarian assistance there. But Myanmars military has failed to cooperate with ASEANs plans.

Cambodian Foreign Minister Prak Sokhonn is ASEANs special envoy to Myanmar, but Hun Sen has publicly expressed pessimism about achieving a breakthrough in dealing with Myanmar's generals.

U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has called for all charges to be dropped against those arrested for exercising their fundamental freedoms and rights and for all political prisoners in Myanmar to be released immediately.

On Friday, two U.N experts added sharper condemnations.

"The illegitimate military junta is providing the international community with further evidence of its disregard for human rights as it prepares to hang pro-democracy activists, said a statement issued by Thomas Andrews, special rapporteur on human rights in Myanmar, and Morris Tidball-Binz, special rapporteur on extrajudicial summary or arbitrary executions.

These death sentences, handed down by an illegitimate court of an illegitimate junta, are a vile attempt at instilling fear amongst the people of Myanmar.

They also noted that the military already stands accused of carrying out the extrajudicial killings of almost 2,000 civilians.

The Assistance Association for Political Prisoners, a non-governmental organization that tracks killing and arrests, said Friday that 1,929 civilians have been killed by security forces. It said 114 other people had been sentenced to death.

Western governments have also blasted the death sentences.

Myanmar's foreign ministry on Monday rejected such criticism, declaring that its judicial system is fair and that Phyo Zeya Thaw and Kyaw Min Yu were found guilty and sentenced to death as they were proved to be masterminds of orchestrating full-scale terrorist attacks against innocent civilians to instill fear and disrupt peace and stability.



Peck reported from Bangkok.

Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.

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CANBERRA, June 11 (Xinhua) -- The Australian government on Saturday agreed to pay a French shipbuilder 830 million Australian dollars after tearing up a submarine contract.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said the government will pay Naval Group 830 million Australian dollars (585.3 million U.S. dollars) in compensation for the canceled contract, saying the "fair and equitable" settlement would improve relations between the nations.

French President Emmanuel Macron previously accused former Prime Minister Scott Morrison of lying about the future of the submarine deal.

"I intend to have an honest relationship with France and one that is based upon integrity and mutual respect," Albanese, whose Labor Party defeated Morrison's Coalition in May's general election, told reporters.

"I'm looking forward to taking up President Macron's invitation to me to visit Paris at the earliest opportunity, and we will make further announcements forthcoming about the dates in which that will occur."

The Coalition government in 2016 awarded Naval Group, then DCNS, a contract to build a fleet of 12 new attack class submarines at a cost of 50 billion Australian dollars (35.2 billion U.S. dollars), making it one of the biggest defense contracts in the Australian history.

Amid disputes over where the submarines would be built and delays the projected construction cost blew out to 89 billion Australian dollars (62.7 billion U.S. dollars), with maintenance expected to cost a further 145 billion Australian dollars (102.2 billion U.S. dollars) through to 2080, the Coalition tore up the contract in 2021.

Albanese said the settlement took Australia's total spend on the project to 3.4 billion Australian dollars (2.3 billion U.S. dollars).

"It represents an extraordinary waste from a government that was always big on announcements but not good on delivering, and from a government that will be remembered as the most wasteful government in Australia's history since federation," he said. 
Briefing by Russian Defence Ministry

Engineering units of the Russian Armed Forces continue to clear roads and forest areas of Svyatye Gory National Park near the liberated settlements of Svyatogorsk, Yarovaya, Studenok and Sosnovoe.

To date, Russian servicemen have cleared more than 5 square kilometres of territory in Yarovaya and Studenok and have found and destroyed 224 explosive devices, including 66 anti-tank mines.

The Armed Forces of the Russian Federation continue the special military operation in Ukraine.

High-precision air-based missiles at Dnepr military airfield have destroyed Ukrainian air force equipment. Production facilities of an interprise for rebuilding AFU weapons and military equipment have been destroyed near Kharkov.

In addition, high-precision air-based missiles have hit 2 command posts, 27 areas of AFU manpower and military equipment concentration, 5 Ukrainian artillery positions, including 2 multiple rocket launcher batteries near Soledar and Praskovievka in Donetsk Peoples Republic, as well as 5 missile-artillery weapons and ammunition depots near Bakhmut, Berestovoe in Donetsk Peoples Republic and Loskutovka in Lugansk Peoples Republic.

Operational-tactical and army aviation have hit 46 areas of AFU manpower and military equipment concentration.

The attacks have resulted in the elimination of more than 150 nationalists, 6 tanks, 4 field artillery mounts and 2 Grad multiple rocket launchers.

Russian air defence means have shot down 2 airplanes of the Ukrainian air force during the day among them: 1 Su-25 near Dolgenkoe, Kharkov Region, and 1 MiG-29 near Ingulets, Dnepropetrovsk Region.

Also, 5 Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles have been shot down near Lozovaya, Glubokoe in Kharkov Region, Borozenskoe in Kherson Region, Nevskoe in Donetsk Peoples Republic, and Popasnaya in Lugansk Peoples Republic.

In addition, 4 Tochka-U tactical missiles have been intercepted near Popasnaya, Lugansk Peoples Republic, Ledovka, and Kalinovo, Kharkov Region and 3 rockets of Uragan MLRS near Malaya Kamyshevakha, Nizhnee Kupe, Kharkov Region and Yakovlevka, Donetsk Peoples Republic.

Missile troops and artillery have hit 62 command posts, 138 firing positions of artillery, as well as 303 areas of AFU manpower and military equipment concentration.

The attacks have resulted in the destruction of more than 350 nationalists, 7 armoured vehicles, 2 Grad multiple rocket launchers, 5 field artillery mounts and mortars, 16 special vehicles, and 11 storage facilities for missile and artillery weapons, ammunition and fuel.

In total, 195 Ukrainian airplanes and 130 helicopters, 1,168 unmanned aerial vehicles, 336 anti-aircraft missile systems, 3,484 tanks and other armored combat vehicles, 499 multiple launch rocket systems, 1,843 field artillery and mortars, as well as 3,528 units of special military vehicles were destroyed during the operation.

#MoD #Russia #Ukraine #Briefing

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Briefing by Russian Defence Ministry

The Armed Forces of the Russian Federation continue the special military operation in Ukraine.

High-precision air-based missiles near Andreevka, Kharkov Region, have destroyed a foreign mercenaries deployment site.

In addition, over the past day, high-precision air-based missiles have hit 9 areas where AFU manpower and military equipment concentration, 5 firing positions of multiple-launch rocket systems near Maloryazantsevo, Volcheyarovka, Podgornoe, Malaya Illinovka and Lisichansk in Lugansk Peoples Republic and also destroyed 1 Buk-M1 anti-aircraft missile system near Minkovka in Donetsk Peoples Republic.

Operational-tactical and army aviation have hit 48 areas of AFU manpower and military equipment concentration.

The attacks have resulted in the elimination of more than 170 nationalists, 5 tanks, 6 field artillery guns, 8 special vehicles and 1 ammunition depot near Krasnopole, Donetsk Peoples Republic.

Russian air defence means have shot down 2 MiG-29 aircraft near Snegirevka, Nikolaev Region, and 1 Su-25 aircraft near Alexandrovka, Kharkov Region, over the past 24 hours.

Also 12 Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles have been shot down near Illichevka, Chkalovskoe, Krasnoe, Malye Prokhody, Zavody, Brazhkovka, Vernopolye, Ovodmytrovskaya, Hrushevakha in Kharkov Region, Vasilevka, Stakhanov, Teplogorsk in Lugansk Peoples Republic.

In addition, 3 rockets of Ukrainian Uragan multiple-launch rocket system have been intercepted near Dolgenkoe, Sukhaya Kamenka and Malaya Kamyshevakha in Kharkov Region.

Missile troops and artillery have hit 231 areas of manpower and military equipment concentration, 13 command posts and 42 firing positions of artillery and mortar units.

The attacks have resulted in the destruction of more than 300 nationalists, 11 armoured vehicles, 2 Grad multiple rocket launchers, 10 field artillery mounts, 9 special vehicles, and 9 storage facilities for missile and artillery weapons, ammunition and fuel.

In total, 198 Ukrainian airplanes and 130 helicopters, 1,180 unmanned aerial vehicles, 337 anti-aircraft missile systems, 3,503 tanks and other armored combat vehicles, 506 multiple launch rocket systems, 1,859 field artillery and mortars, as well as 3,545 units of special military vehicles were destroyed during the operation.

#MoD #Russia #Ukraine #Briefing

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Weather Alert

...Warm and Windy Week with a Cool Weekend... Temperatures: Plan on a couple of hot days this week on Wednesday and Thursday. Heat Risk levels near Moderate levels with an increased risk of heat health impacts for those without effective cooling or hydration options. Western Nevada valleys will be in the mid 90s, and near 100 for central Nevada locations by Thursday afternoon. Winds: Strong, gusty winds will develop later this week as another system approaches the West. Widespread wind gusts 35 to 50 mph will be possible Thursday into Saturday. Spots along Highway 395 through Mono County and along Highway 95 near Walker Lake may see gusts 60+ mph. Plan on plenty of travel and recreation impacts from Thursday into Saturday, including but not limited to aviation turbulence, high profile vehicle restrictions, choppy lake conditions and areas of blowing dust. The windy and dry conditions may also produce localized critical fire weather conditions, particularly in the eastern Sierra. Be fire safe and smart and avoid activities that may spark a fire. We always want to avoid sparking a fire, but especially so on these during these windy days. Precipitation Chances: Saturday will be quite breezy, but cooler than midweek. The system pushing into the region brings the winds, the cooler temperatures, and chances for precipitation. If you have outdoor recreation plans, be sure to account for the possibility of some showers and possibly a thunderstorm or two. For now, the best chances for showers will be from the Tahoe basin northward into northeastern California and for areas along the Nevada-Oregon border. For areas south of Highway 50, the precipitation potential is looking scarce for now.
SINGAPORE, June 11 (Xinhua) -- Japanese politicians' suggestions on reinforcing the country's military capabilities are very dangerous, He Lei, former deputy head of the Academy of Military Sciences, said Friday at a media briefing.

The Chinese expert made the remark after Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida delivered a keynote speech at the opening dinner of the 19th Shangri-La Dialogue held in Singapore.

The military expert said some high-level politicians in Japan are proposing that Japan should review its three non-nuclear principles and calling for raising Japan's defense budget to two percent of its gross domestic product within five years.

Kishida said in his speech that his government will set out a new National Security Strategy by the end of this year, and that he is determined to fundamentally reinforce Japan's defense capabilities within the next five years and secure a substantial increase of Japan's defense budget needed to effect it.

"In doing so, we will not rule out any options, including so-called counterstrike capabilities," Kishida said.

The Chinese expert said Kishida implicated that it is China who breaks the rules and is trying to use military force or use strength to change the status quo. However, it is not China that changes the status quo in the East China Sea, but Japan.

Japan in 2012, despite China's strong opposition, illegally purchased the Diaoyu islands and attempted to "nationalize" the territory. This, first of all, was a change of the state quo, and also went against the tacit agreement between the two countries that the dispute concerning the Diaoyu islands should be shelved, He mentioned.

"We do not accept that the characterization of China as changing the status quo with force or with strength," He said.

China's development has been a contribution to the growth of the world's force for peace, He said, adding that the development of China's military strength means that the country is stronger in defending its national interests, which is also a good thing for world peace.

China adheres to the path of peaceful development, and adopts an independent foreign policy of peace and a national defense policy that is defensive in nature, He said, adding that all these have been written into China's Constitution as well as the National Defense Law.

Since the founding of the People's Republic of China, the country has never provoked any war with any other country, never invaded any other country, and never occupied even one inch of the territory of other countries.

"We didn't do that, and we're not doing now, nor will do it in the future," He said. "We will never seek the hegemony." 
Whether its natural or dyed, curly or straight, hair can be political, subversive, healthy or ethnic.

It also threads a fine line through issues of ethnicity and gender.

For Rosemary Meza-DesPlas, hair is a tool and a delicate means of expression.

The female experience within a patriarchal society forms the cornerstone of her artwork. She also works in watercolor, installation and performance art.

The Farmington-based artist embroiders her own gray hair onto black twill fabric in expressions of outrage, horror and strength. She is also one of 15 artists awarded a $50,000 Latinx Fellowship from both the Mellon Foundation and the Ford Foundation in May.

She is the only New Mexico artist in the group.

The fellowship recognizes the most compelling Latinx artists working in the U.S.  and aims to address a systemic lack of support, visibility and patronage of Latinx visual artists, the press release stated.

Meza-DesPlas had no idea what was going on when she received the news.

It was a huge surprise to me, she said in a telephone interview from Farmington. I cried tears of joy; I was overwhelmed.

At the time she turned to hair, she was known for her wall drawings.

A friend looked at my line work and said from afar it kind of looks like hair, Meza-DesPlas said. I did lots of trial and error. I tried to glue it on but it looked sloppy. So I thought of it like sewing.

The dichotomy of human hair, depending upon context, is it can be engaging or off-putting: long, luxurious hair is sexy, but a hair in ones soup is unappealing.

Meza-DesPlas harvests her own hair.

I just run my fingers through my hair in the morning, she said. I was a brunette; now Im gray.

I like the materiality of hair, she continued. It kind of has a relationship to feminism and ethnicity. It speaks to issues of body image and identity.

Hair is so loaded with meaning, she added. Hair can express both the Bible  the story of Samson and Delilah. I like the line work it creates. Mine is naturally curly. Its very thick and coarse and its easy to work with.

She begins with a line drawing and fills in the values with her hair. Her latest works conjure themes of feminist outrage.

What You Whispered, Should Be Screamed grew from the #MeToo movement. The delicate stitching pictures a screaming woman, her own hair flying back in tendrils of flame. Meza-DesPlas had been reading about a Disney executive who was accused of sexual impropriety.

The women knew, Meza-DesPlas said. They said if youre going to be in a meeting with him never wear a skirt.

Really, they should have been screaming about it. They shouldnt have been whispering. It should have been talked about openly.

She made Yo tambien (Me Too) after reading Hillary Rodham Clintons 2017 post-election book What Happened.

I was sketching the faces of the women listening to her concession speech, Meza-DesPlas said. They were covering their faces with their hands, but their eyes spoke volumes.

Similarly, the marching, headless legs of Marching Across Your Lawn, The Grass is on Fire speak of anger and determination.

I did a series about marching as a tool of agency and as a tool of anger to be an agent of change, she said. What do you do with your agency and your activism when you get home?

Born and raised in Garland, Texas, Meza-DesPlas has lived in Farmington since 2016. Both of her parents were from Mexico.

She earned a Master in Fine Arts from Maryland Institute, College of Art (Hoffberger School of Painting) and a Bachelor of Fine Arts from the University of North Texas. Her artwork has been exhibited at numerous galleries and museums throughout the United States, Europe and Asia.

She will hang a new installation, The Invisible Woman Syndrome, at Santa Fes Form & Concept Gallery, 435 S. Guadalupe St., which began on May 27.
The emblem for Cochiti Pueblo is not too subtle  a traditional ceremonial drum.

The deeply resonant drums have become synonymous with the pueblo and one its leading craftsman, Carlos Herrera, will be demonstrating his art and discussing the importance of native drum making on Saturday, June 18, and Sunday, June 19, at the Pecos National Historical Park visitor center from 10 a.m.-2 p.m.

Ive been making drums my entire life, said Herrera, 41, a third-generation drum maker. Its been passed through the family.

Herrera, who traces his ancestry back to the Pecos Pueblo, has given similar demonstrations not only around the state, but also at the Smithsonian in Washington D.C.

Cochiti has been, ever since recorded history  Adolph Bandelier even recorded it  since then, Cochiti was well renowned for having good drum makers, he said. My grandfather, not sure where he learned it from but his father passed away when he was in the third grade so he came back home to help the family. My grandfather was a jack-of-all-trades; building houses, farming, making drums and making things in order to support the family so they could have food on the table.

From those humble beginnings, a family tradition was born.

Its a symbol of the art, Herrera said of drum making, for many of the arts and crafts in the pueblo world. For people like my grandfather, they were able to take drums and bring them to a high level of quality. Cochiti drums, the ones that we consider Cochiti drums, are designed to be used in ceremonies. And they would have black heads on the top and bottom. And they would be painted with different colors that orient with the different directions.

Herrera will discuss the importance of drums and how traditional hand tools are used in their development.

We try to stick with as many of the traditional means of producing drums as my grandfather did, Herrera said. We prefer to use hand tools. It helps with the level of precision and wood working. Its a lot more controllable than using mechanical means.

That means simple things like hand saws and bow saws to cut the logs and mallet- or hand-driven chisels.

Herreras grandfather even created his own tools, for instance taking an old farming scythe blade and fashioning it into a drawing tool.

The distinctive deep tones comes from the rawhide  not leather  drum covers, he said.

The difference is leather has the primary layer of skin removed and then its flexed to make it soft, Herrera said. Rawhide is hard. The only thing weve done is removed the hair and grease and fat underneath. Then its soaked in water and stretched over the drum when its wet.

This can take from three to six months, he said as artificial means of drying such as chemicals are avoided because it makes the rawhide more fragile.

I think the characteristics of a Cochiti drum, they vary depending on the ceremony that is going on, Herrera said. A lot of our ceremonies, we want to have a drum that has a bass sound and a note with a higher octave on the opposite side. A lot of the dancers, the drummer will occasionally flip the drum without missing a beat.

Producing the different tones is a matter of understanding that the rawhide pieces from different parts of the cows body create different sounds.

So by using different areas of rawhide, it gives every chant different tones, he said. Thats the magic of the drums. Theres only so much the drum maker can do in order to produce the tones and the rest comes from the drying process. And some drums make it and some dont.

Finally, Herrera will show how to create the drum body.

What kind of wood, where can you find this type of wood, where aspen can be found and when we get out in the harvest? he said. Well show working on shaping and chiseling the drums.
President Joe Biden talks with staff at the New Mexico State Emergency Operations Center after a fire briefing on June 11, 2022. Biden received a briefing on the wildfires during his first visit to New Mexico as president. (Jim Weber/Santa Fe New Mexican/Pool) Air Force One carrying President Joe Biden flies above a wildfire, Saturday, June 11, 2022, in New Mexico. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci) President Joe Biden arrives at Kirtland Air Force Base on Saturday afternoon for a New Mexico visit to discuss wildfires with state officials. (Roberto E. Rosales/Albuquerque Journal) President Joe Biden, left, speaks during a briefing on the New Mexico wildfires with New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham, left, at the New Mexico State Emergency Operations Center, Saturday, June 11, 2022, in Santa Fe, N.M. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci) President Joe Biden kisses New Mexico Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham after arriving in New Mexico Saturday. (Roberto E. Rosales/Albuquerque Journal) President Joe Biden speaks with New Mexico Senators Martin Heinrich, left, and Ben Ray Lujan after arriving in New Mexico on Saturday. (Roberto E. Rosales/Albuquerque Journal.) President Joe Biden talks with New Mexico Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham after arriving in New Mexico Saturday. (Roberto E. Rosales/Albuquerque Journal) President Joe Biden hugs and chats with New Mexico officials after arriving in New Mexico on Saturday. (Roberto E. Rosales/Albuquerque Journal) President Joe Biden talks with Navajo Nation President Jonathan Nez after arriving in New Mexico on Saturday. (Roberto E. Rosales/Albuquerque Journal) Air Force One passes the Sandia Mountains on its approach to Kirtland Air Force Base on Saturday. (Roberto E. Rosales/Albuquerque Journal) President Joe Biden speaks during a tour of the New Mexico Department of Homeland Security Emergency Management Center, Saturday, June 11, 2022, in Santa Fe, N.M. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci) Prev 1 of 11 Next

Copyright  2022 Albuquerque Journal

SANTA FE  President Joe Biden flew over the perimeter of the largest wildfire in New Mexico history Saturday  describing parts of what he saw as a moonscape of damage  and vowed his administration would do everything it could to help the families who have lost their homes.

He also authorized additional federal funding to address the massive Calf Canyon/Hermits Peak Fire and suggested the federal government has a moral obligation to help the people of northern New Mexico as they recover and prepare for the possibility of disastrous floods triggered by summer rainfall.

We have a responsibility to help this state recover, to help the families who have been here for centuries in the beautiful northern New Mexico villages who cant go home and whose livelihoods have been fundamentally changed, Biden said after arriving in Santa Fe.

It was his first visit to New Mexico as president.

Biden  speaking to emergency officials, state legislators and others in Santa Fe  said Air Force One flew over the perimeter of the Calf Canyon/Hermits Peak Fire before touching down.

Parts of the wilderness, he said, looked like a moonscape.

During his visit, Biden flew into Albuquerque and traveled by motorcade to the New Mexico National Guard complex in Santa Fe, where he was briefed on the wildfires and spoke to emergency officials.

The presidents visit comes amid deep anger in northern New Mexico at the federal government for its role in starting the massive wildfire and the limits on emergency aid offered to families who have lost homes and other property.

Biden acknowledged the limits  which include a cap on the money available for home repairs  during his remarks in Santa Fe, saying any New Mexican who received a denial letter would also get a follow-up phone call from the Federal Emergency Management Agency to help them navigate the system.

Well do whatever it takes, as long as it takes, Biden said.

Major disaster

The Calf Canyon/Hermits Peak Fire started as two separate blazes that merged in late April. They started as U.S. Forest Service burns.

The Governors Office estimates that the blaze, which has grown to 320,000 acres, has damaged or destroyed about 1,200 homes. The fire is now 70% contained.

Firefighting costs to date exceed $211 million.

Biden entered New Mexicos emergency operations center a little after 4:30 p.m. and thanked the staff. Their work saves lives, he said, and it isnt easy to do.

Its vital, he said, for states to support each other in times of disaster.

We are a federal system  thats why I have no reluctance to do everything we possibly can to meet all of New Mexicos needs and stay as long as it takes to meet those needs, Biden said.

He said he and members of Congress understand the federal government must be more agile as it helps states recover from disasters.

His administration, he said, is allowing 100% reimbursement of costs where it has authority to do so.

In early May, Biden approved a major disaster declaration so that people affected by several New Mexico wildfires could begin getting federal assistance.

On Saturday, Biden increased the federal cost share to 100% for debris removal, emergency protective measures and direct federal assistance.

The money can also fund equipment and supplies for responders, evacuation shelters and traffic control, and firefighter field camps and meals.

With a giant fire map projected on the wall behind him, Biden spoke softly but grew animated when discussing what its been like in his career to address the families of firefighters who have died on duty.

Flying over the New Mexico damage, he said, made an impression.

The fire area, Biden said, was so damn big we couldnt go in.

We flew the perimeter of the fire, he said. Its an astounding amount of territory.

He repeatedly thanked firefighters and National Guard troops for their work.

Tell her yes

Air Force One touched down at Kirtland Air Force Base at about 1:45 p.m.

Biden was greeted by New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham, Interior Secretary Deb Haaland, Navajo Nation President Jonathan Nez and the states Democratic members of Congress.

Republican Congresswoman Yvette Herrell joined the rest of the delegation when Biden arrived in Santa Fe.

Kirtland officials, State Police, Albuquerque and Rio Rancho Police and Bernalillo County deputies also welcomed the president in Albuquerque.

The presidents motorcade departed the runway at 2:05 p.m., and Lujan Grisham joined the president for the drive to Santa Fe.

Biden joked in Santa Fe about Lujan Grishams persistence in seeking federal aid.

I learned early on as president, he said, when the governor of New Mexico calls, just tell her yes.'

At one point, Biden appeared to be taking notes as Lujan Grisham addressed him and others in Santa Fe about the fires impact on New Mexicans.

Worst season

This year is shaping up as New Mexicos worst fire season. More than 611,000 acres have burned across New Mexico this year, according to the National Interagency Fire Center.

Hundreds of homes have already been destroyed, and thousands of New Mexicans have had to flee their homes.

The federal government has faced intense criticism for starting what is now the largest fire in state history.

In an interview, Las Vegas, New Mexico, Mayor Louie Trujillo, whose community has been on the frontlines of the wildfire, said he was quite disappointed the president wasnt scheduled to visit the burn scar on the ground.

But he said he was thankful the president had made time to visit New Mexico and hear from local residents.

The federal government, Trujillo said, should acknowledge that the rural residents harmed by this years fires deserve to be taken care of the same way more affluent neighborhoods were after the 2000 Cerro Grande Fire.

Were no different than the richest county in New Mexico, which is Los Alamos, Trujillo said in an interview. We need to be indemnified fully for every single loss the people in northern New Mexico suffered.

Biden said he supports legislation thats modeled on the Cerro Grande compensation package, but he questioned whether it could make it through the U.S. Senate.

Burns paused

Amid the devastation in New Mexico, the Forest Service has since paused prescribed burns on forest lands. We need to make sure this doesnt happen again, Biden said.

Northern New Mexico communities face looming threats of floods and erosion even after the flames have been extinguished.

The blaze has burned in the watershed that supplies the city of Las Vegas.

Soil and trees in some areas have burned so severely that even minimal rainfall could send ash and debris into rivers and streams.

Communities below the burn scars face extreme flooding risk.

Several federal agencies are offering financial compensation for lost property and flood protection and funding for temporary housing.

The presidents Santa Fe visit was met with a climate action rally by several environmental activist and Indigenous groups.

The groups argue that the federal governments inaction to phase out fossil fuel production is contributing to more destructive wildfires caused by a changing climate.

At least three billboards along Interstate 25 to Santa Fe were spray-painted or covered with banners in advance of Bidens wildfire briefing.

Banners read Oil and gas fuel climate chaos, Protect our Pueblos. Climate Justice Now and Climate Emergency.

Journal city editor Martin Salazar contributed to this report.
Copyright  2022 Albuquerque Journal

MORA  Weeks after New Mexicos largest wildfire blazed through rural northern communities, scarred hillsides are dotted with trees covered in blistered black bark.

Small raindrops darken the ash-laden ground.

Deer roam among the charred trees and a few sprouting plants and grass.

Thin smoke plumes are visible in the distance.

As President Joe Biden prepares to visit Santa Fe for a wildfire briefing, scientists are studying the ongoing and future impacts of the still-burning Calf Canyon/Hermits Peak Fire.

The Forest Service Burned Area Emergency Response, or BAER team, has released a map of soil burn severity for 190,000 acres of the Sapello River, Upper Mora River, Coyote Creek and Embudo Creek watersheds impacted by the fire.

About 57% of the acres surveyed showed moderate or high burn severity.

Some 43% are unburned or have low burn severity.

Kit MacDonald, a soil scientist with the team, said that moderate and high-severity burns can incinerate roots and destroy a dynamic ecosystem beneath the forest floor.

When it burns hot, youre going to have bare soil  absolutely bare soil, he said.

And burned soils may repel water.

Thats especially dangerous where tree cover was completely obliterated.

Healthy trees capture rain on needles and leaves, and gently release that precipitation to the forest floor.

Weve lost that entirely, Macdonald said. So, now, youve got raindrops that are falling the distance from the clouds all the way to the ground unobstructed. And you get what is called rain splash when the raindrop hits the ground, as it detaches soil and allows it to be carried away in the runoff.

Fast-moving water on the eroded ground could carry soil, downed trees and boulders below the burn scars.

The team surveyed fire impacts on private land, and Carson and Santa Fe forest land.

Private lands account for about 70% of this regions surveys.

Thats a staggering statistic, even for seasoned fire experts, said BAER team leader Micah Kiesow.

Each one of the fires does surprise me in one way or another, he said. I think this one is one of the first ones that Ive worked on that has so much private property thats involved. Usually  the majority is on Forest Service land.

The teams data is intended to help agencies and landowners quickly pinpoint fire impacts.

Local soil and water conservation districts are helping residents access federal funds to protect private land from post-fire erosion and flooding.

The U.S. Natural Resources Conservation Service can help fund such projects as debris removal on private land.

Kenneth Branch, assistant state conservationist for programs with NRCS, said that may include trees and debris that have plugged up irrigation ditches or drainages.

We know that were against the clock, we know were racing against monsoons, said Branch, who grew up in Mora.

The mitigation projects may use existing infrastructure or natural resources.

Crews may use such strategies as contour tree-felling to place burned trees along the hillsides. The trees would help control erosion and intercept fast runoff.

The NRCS team conducting on-site assessments to see if landowners are eligible for emergency assistance is a group of northern New Mexico residents.

Branch has property that burned in the fire. He said his team knows the community and is well aware of the urgency in addressing the fires aftermath.

It hits a little closer to home for us, he said.

The fast-approaching monsoon season could show just how much the fire has changed regional watersheds, said BAER hydrologist Alexander Makic.

For these high-alpine locations where you lose a lot of that litter and a lot of that canopy, and what was naturally more absorbent, and now, all of a sudden, youve lost that, you just see a heightened influx of sediment that goes into the streamways, Makic said.

Many northern New Mexico communities rely on streams and rivers for drinking water and irrigation.

Ash and sediment can add too much oxygen or nitrogen to the water supply.

Its going to probably be a little bit harsher on the water cleaning systems, Makic said. If its a large enough event that does end up coming, there could be damage to the infrastructure.

The latest soil burn map follows the teams data on impacts to the Gallinas and Tecolote Creek watersheds.

The BAER team may recommend seeding and mulching to help speed up the regrowth process, and mitigate erosion and flooding.

But it will likely be a long road to restoring the burned areas.

It can be three to five years before you really start to see some growth that will actually contribute to soil stability and an ecological function of the soil, Macdonald said.
Copyright  2022 Albuquerque Journal

The state agency tasked with enforcing the Inspection of Public Records Act was found to have violated the act when it didnt turn over documents that had been requested.

Last week, a judge ordered the state Attorney Generals Office to pay the former chief of the Albuquerque Police Department more than $40,000 in fines and attorney fees after finding it failed to comply with the act. Michael Geier had requested all correspondence between APD and the AGs Office that were related to him, but, when almost a year had passed without anything being released, he filed suit.

When the AGs Office did produce the records last month, it confirmed that, in April 2021, Chief Harold Medina sent a letter to AG prosecutor Matt Baca as a formal referral of possible criminal conduct by former Albuquerque Police Department (APD) staff to include the former Chief of Police, former Chief of Staff and former Executive Assistant to the Chief. He said the allegations of misconduct included falsification of documents, providing false and inconsistent statements to investigators, backdating documents, and time theft. No determination has been made regarding an investigation. Geier was the former police chief referred to in the letter.

An AG spokeswoman told the Journal Monday that the office is in the process of reviewing the City of Albuquerques policies and procedures that may have enabled fiscal irresponsibility at the Albuquerque Police Department.

Spokeswoman Jerri Mares added that the office has narrowed the scope of the investigation due to a conflict of interest involving Geiers former secretary who was employed previously by the AGs Office.

As for the violation of the Inspection of Public Records Act, Mares said the office had completed a reasonable search based on the information provided in the original request and were unable to find responsive documents.

Once we received additional details from Geier, we were able to locate the document and immediately provide it to him, Mares said, referring to Medinas letter. While we are reviewing our legal options, we believe the fine that the court issued is unwarranted, given our extensive search and the single document that was later recovered only once Geier provided additional information.

Flaws in the investigation

Medina, who first had been deputy chief, served as interim chief after the mayor asked Geier to resign in September 2020. Medina was appointed, and then confirmed, to fill the permanent position in mid-March 2021.

APD spokespersons did not respond to questions from the Journal about the investigation into the former chief.

In his letter to the AGs Office dated April 2, 2021, Medina said local media had brought the issues surrounding Geier, Geiers executive assistant Paulette Diaz and Geiers chief of staff John Ross to his attention.

KRQE-TV was working on a piece about an internal investigation into Ross. Before he was replaced, Geier had asked for the internal investigation into allegations that Ross had bought a $2,400 Apple laptop computer without the chiefs approval.

The story, which aired in early May 2021, reported there were flaws in the investigation, which found that Ross had committed no serious misconduct.

The story quoted both Medina and Mayor Tim Keller saying they had asked the AGs Office to look into the matter.

In his letter, Medina wrote that the former APD police chief, who had the authority and duty to refer these issues to your office, decided during his tenure not to make any such referrals. Medina said his referral of the case appears to be the best immediate course of action to get to the bottom of these allegations and confirm the publics trust in its police department.

Inexplicable failure to reply

About a month after Medina sent the letter to the AGs Office, Geier asked the AGs Office for all correspondence between the two agencies concerning him or Diaz since the beginning of the year.

By April 2022, he still hadnt received anything.

Thats when Geier filed a lawsuit alleging the AGs Office violated the Inspection of Public Records Act.

The lawsuit stated that Geier had not received any documents, and was instead told repeatedly that the office needed additional time. The last letter Geier received  from Baca in the AGs Office in October 2021  stated that, although we anticipated having some records available today, we will require additional time to continue a thorough search and review to determine if we possess any records that are responsive to your request and available for inspection.

In court filings in response to Geiers complaint, the AGs Office asserted that the records he sought simply do not exist and that, after an exhaustive, monthslong search, in which petitioner was kept apprised with regular and statutorily-compliant correspondence until recently, respondents were not able to find any records responsive to the enumerated requests.

Then, after a phone conversation between the two parties, the AGs Office was able to find Medinas letter to Baca.

In her order, Judge Lisa Chavez Ortega stated that the AGs Office had failed to comply with the requirements of IPRA. Such failure to comply is inexplicable and justifies imposing the maximum statutory damages available.

She ordered the AGs Office to pay Geier damages of $100 a day for 354 days  a total of $35,400  as well as $5,889 in attorney fees and out-of-pocket costs of $190.

Meanwhile, Geiers attorney, Thomas Grover, called the idea of criminal conduct by Geier or Diaz a wild theory and a crazy notion, and said he thought the AGs Office didnt see that it merited any consideration whatsoever.

It seems so casual that its a little disturbing that it got apparently lost, Grover said. I mean the fact that Matt Baca was the last one to correspond with Chief Geier when he was the guy who received the letter from Medina  it is just weird.
SANTA FE  The New Mexico Environment Department announced Thursday that it has fined El Paso Water $1.2 million for allegedly discharging more than 1 billion gallons of raw sewage into the Rio Grande in Sunland Park.

The state compliance orders also require El Paso Water to fix the problems that caused the illegal diversion and clean up the impacted areas.

El Paso Waters flagrant disregard for the health and welfare of New Mexicans in Sunland is astonishing, state Environment Secretary James Kenney said in announcing the action.

According to the Environment Department, El Paso Water diverted the untreated sewage in a dry reach of the Rio Grande starting Aug. 27, 2021.

El Paso Water illegally discharged 6 to 10 million gallons of raw wastewater per day into the river just upstream of Corchesne Bridge at the Doniphan Outfall, the agency said in its news release. The raw wastewater travelled downstream along the New Mexico-Texas border for approximately 1.9 miles.

The department said the illegal discharge did not stop until Jan. 10, or a total of 136 days.

El Paso Water is accused of not reporting the unauthorized discharge to state environmental officials in violation of the Water Quality Act and Water Quality Control Commission regulations.

Discharges of untreated sewage typically contain bacteria and viruses known as pathogens, which can cause such diseases as cholera, giardia and hepatitis A, according to health officials.

A call to El Paso Water seeking comment on the fine was not immediately returned Thursday.

Journal staff contributed to this report.
ISLAMABAD, June 11 (Xinhua) -- Pakistani Foreign Ministry on Friday rejected Washington's report on the deteriorating religious freedom in Pakistan, saying that it is an "arbitrary" and "subjective" assessment.

"The inherent problem with such kinds of reports, unilateral in nature, is that they are devoid of the element of constructive engagement," Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Asim Iftikhar Ahmad said during a weekly media briefing.

Such reports often do not fully take into account the ground realities and efforts that are being undertaken by a country, and are not very helpful in advancing this discussion, he added.

"At the same time, we have seen that such reports are invariably lopsided. You can see clearly some double standards in these reports, in terms of the problems of human rights in different countries and different situations, and the way they are portrayed in these reports," he said.

Pakistan is strongly committed to the respect for human rights which are universal in nature, Ahmad said, adding that it is deeply dedicated to ensuring the respect for human rights and religious freedoms in the country.

The spokesperson said Pakistan has taken a lot of reforms to promote and protect the rights of religious minorities and it continues to engage constructively with all its partners on these matters.

The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom's 2022 Annual Report recommended redesignating Pakistan as a "country of particular concern", and accused the country of engaging in systematic, ongoing, and egregious violations of religious freedom, as defined by the International Religious Freedom Act. 
KYIV, Ukraine  Ukrainian and British officials warned Saturday that Russian forces are relying on weapons able to cause mass casualties as they try to make headway in capturing eastern Ukraine and fierce, prolonged fighting depletes resources on both sides.

Russian bombers have likely been launching heavy 1960s-era anti-ship missiles in Ukraine, the U.K. Defense Ministry said. The Kh-22 missiles were primarily designed to destroy aircraft carriers using a nuclear warhead. When used in ground attacks with conventional warheads, they are highly inaccurate and therefore can cause severe collateral damage and casualties, the ministry said.

Both sides have expended large amounts of weaponry in what has become a grinding war of attrition for the eastern region of coal mines and factories known as the Donbas, placing huge strains on their resources and stockpiles.

Russia is likely using the 5.5-tonne (6.1-ton) anti-ship missiles because it is running short of more precise modern missiles, the British ministry said. It gave no details of where exactly such missiles are thought to have been deployed.

As Russia also sought to consolidate its hold over territory seized so far in the 108-day war, the U.S. defense secretary said Moscows invasion of Ukraine is what happens when oppressors trample the rules that protect us all.

Its what happens when big powers decide that their imperial appetites matter more than the rights of their peaceful neighbors, Lloyd Austin said during a visit to Asia. And its a preview of a possible world of chaos and turmoil that none of us would want to live in.

___

GOVERNOR: FLAMETHROWERS USED IN LUHANSK

A Ukrainian governor accused Russia of using incendiary weapons in a village in the eastern province of Luhansk, southwest of the fiercely contested cities of Sievierodonetsk and Lysychansk.

While the use of flamethrowers on the battlefield is legal, Luhansk Gov. Serhii Haidai alleged the overnight attacks in Vrubivka caused widespread damage to civilian facilities and an unknown number of victims.

At night, the enemy used a flamethrower rocket system  many houses burnt down, Haidai wrote on Telegram on Saturday. His claim could not be immediately verified.

Sievierodonetsk and neighboring Lysychansk are the last major areas of Luhansk remaining under Ukrainian control. Haidai said Russian forces destroyed railway depots, a brick factory and a glass factory.

The Ukrainian army said Saturday that Russian forces also were to launch an offensive on the city of Sloviansk in Donetsk province, which together with Luhansk makes up the Donbas,

Moscow-backed rebels have controlled self-proclaimed republics in both provinces since 2014.

___

ZELENSKYY SEEKS MORE EU SANCTIONS ON RUSSIA

During a visit to Kyiv by the European Unions top official, Ukrainian President Volodymr Zelenskyy called for a new round of even stronger EU sanctions against Russia.

Zelenskyy called for them to target more Russian officials, including judges, and to hamper the activities of all Russian banks, including that of gas giant Gazprom, as well as all Russian companies helping Moscow in any way.

He spoke during a brief appearance with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen at the heavily guarded presidential office compound in Ukraines capital.

The pair discussed Ukraines aspirations for EU membership. Zelenskyy, speaking through a translator, said Ukraine will do everything to integrate with the bloc.

Russia wants to divide Europe, wants to weaken Europe, he said.

Von der Leyen said the EUs executive arm was working day and night on an assessment of Ukraines eligibility as a candidate. The goal is to share it with existing members next week.

Zelenskyy and some EU supporters want Ukraine admitted quickly.

Von der Leyen described the membership process as a merit-based path and appealed for Ukraine to strengthen its rule of law, fight corruption and modernize its institutions. She said the EU would assist with the countrys reconstruction.

___

UKRAINE PRESIDENT ADDRESSES NATION

Zelenskyy said later, in his nightly video address, that fierce street battles were continuing in Sievierodonetsk and he was proud of the Ukrainian defenders who for weeks have held back the Russian advance.

Remember how in Russia, in the beginning of May, they hoped to seize all of the Donbas? the president said. Its already the 108th day of the war, already June. Donbas is holding.

Zelenskyy said Russian forces are being pushed out of parts of the Kherson region they occupied early in the war. He also reported some success in the Zaporizhzhia region.

He added that no one knows how long the war will last, but Ukraine should do everything it can so the Russians regret everything that they have done and that they answer for every killing and every strike on our beautiful state.

___

BATTLE AT A CHEMICAL PLANT

Hundreds of Ukrainian troops remained blockaded inside a chemical plant on the outskirts of Sievierodonetsk, but some of the civilians with them have started to come out, an envoy for Russian-backed separatists said Saturday.

Several hundred civilians could still be inside the Azot plant, where they sought safety from the shelling in underground shelters, Rodion Miroshnik said via Telegram.

As the circle around the Ukrainian troops tightens, he said, the civilians will be able to leave and Russian forces are preparing transportation for their evacuation. The troops will be allowed to leave only if they lay down their arms and surrender, he added.

Luhansk Gov. Haidai said the Russians shelled the plant for hours and a big fire broke out. He made no mention of the troops or civilians referenced by Miroshnik.

___

EXPLOSION IN THE WEST

In the western Ternopil province, which has largely been spared from the fighting, an explosion rocked the town of Chortkiv late Friday, the governor said.

There was no immediate information about the cause of the explosion, and Gov. Volodymyr Trush told residents not to take pictures or comment on social media.

He said local officials decided to turn off supplies of natural gas while dealing with the consequences of the explosion.

___

RUSSIA SETS UP COMPANY TO SELL UKRAINES GRAIN

Russian-installed officials in Ukraines southern Zaporizhzhia region have set up a company to buy up local grain and resell it on Moscows behalf, a local representative told the Interfax news agency on Saturday.

Yevgeny Balitsky, the head of Zaporizhzhias pro-Russian provisional administration, said the new state-owned grain company has taken control of several facilities.

He said the grain will be Russian and we dont care who the buyer will be.

It was not clear if the farmers whose grain was being sold by Russia were getting paid. Balitsky said his administration would not forcibly appropriate grain or pressure producers to sell it.

Ukraine and the West have accused Russia of stealing Ukraines grain and causing a global food crisis that could cause millions of deaths from hunger.

The head of Ukraines presidential office accused Russias military of shelling and burning grain fields ahead of the harvest. Andriy Yermak alleged Moscow is trying to repeat a Soviet-era famine that claimed the lives of over 3 million Ukrainians in 1932-33.

Our soldiers are putting out the fires, but (Russias) food terrorism must be stopped, Yermak wrote Saturday on Telegram.

His and Balitskys claims could not be independently verified.

___

RUSSIAN PASSPORTS FOR UKRAINE RESIDENTS

Russian forces occupying parts of southern Ukraine began handing out Russian passports to local residents Saturday.

In the Kherson region, 23 residents accepted the documents, including the new Moscow-installed governor, Russian state news agency RIA Novosti reported.

For me this is a truly historic moment. I have always thought that we are one country and one people, the news agency quoted Gov. Volodymyr Saldo as saying.

Soldiers also started giving out passports in the occupied city of Melitopol, according to Russian state news agency Tass, which cited a Russian-installed local official as the source of the information. It did not specify how many residents had requested or received Russian citizenship.

Melitopol is located outside of the Donbas in the Zaporizhzhia region.

___

CHILD DEATH TOLL

Nearly 800 children have been killed or wounded in Ukraine since the beginning of Russias invasion, Ukrainian authorities said Saturday.

According to a statement by the Office of the Prosecutor General of Ukraine, at least 287 died as a result of military activity, while at least 492 more have been hurt. The statement stressed the figures were not final.

The office said children in Donetsk province have suffered the most, with 217 reported killed or wounded, compared with 132 and 116, respectively, in the Kharkiv and Kyiv regions.

___

CIVILIAN KILLED IN BEACH BLAST

Officials in the city of Odesa said Saturday that a man was killed by an explosion while visiting a beach on the Black Sea, where mines are a growing concern.

The city council said via Telegram that the man was there with his wife and son despite warnings to stay away from beaches. He was testing the waters temperature and depth when the explosion erupted.

Russia and Ukraine each have accused the other of laying mines in the Black Sea.

___

Follow APs coverage of the Ukraine war at https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine
WASHINGTON  A man armed with a machete once broke into Stephen Breyers vacation home in the Caribbean and took $1,000. Ruth Bader Ginsburg had her purse snatched on a Washington street. David Souter was assaulted by several men while he was jogging.

Supreme Court justices have not been immune to violent crime. But this past weeks late-night incident at Justice Brett Kavanaughs suburban Washington home, where authorities said a man armed with a gun and knife threatened to kill the justice, reflects a heightened level of potential danger not just for members of the nations highest court, but all judges.

One proposal pending in Congress would provide additional security measures for the justices, and another would offer more privacy and protection for all federal judges.

Round-the-clock security given to the justices after the leak of the draft opinion in a major abortion case may well have averted a tragedy.

But the situation had much in common with other recent incidents that ended with the shooting death of a former judge in Wisconsin last week and the killing in 2020 of the son of a federal judge at their home in New Jersey. Troubled men, harboring a warped desire for vengeance and equipped with guns, turned their threats into action.

Were seeing these threats increase in number and intensity. Thats a sign. Thats a signal, said U.S. District Judge Esther Salas, whose son was killed nearly two years ago in the attack that also wounded her husband.

Kavanaughs would-be attacker is Nicholas John Roske, 26, of Simi Valley, California, authorities said in charging him with the attempted murder of a justice. Clad in black, he arrived by taxi outside Kavanaughs Maryland home around 1 a.m. Wednesday.

He spotted two U.S. Marshals who were guarding the house and walked in the other direction, calling 911 to say he was having suicidal thoughts and also planned to kill Kavanaugh, according to court documents. Roske said he found the justices address on the internet.

When police searched a backpack and suitcase he was carrying, they said they found a Glock 17 pistol, ammunition, a knife, zip ties, duct tape and other items Roske said he was going to use to break into the house. He said he bought the gun to kill Kavanaugh.

Roske told police he was upset by the leaked draft opinion in the abortion case and by the school shooting in Uvalde, Texas, and believed Kavanaugh would vote to loosen gun control laws, according to documents filed in federal court in Maryland.

Last week, Wisconsin authorities said Douglas Uhde, 56, shot John Roemer, a former county judge, in a targeted attack against a judge who had once sentenced him to prison. Roemer was found zip-tied to a chair. Uhde had shot himself and later died.

In July 2020, lawyer Roy Den Hollander showed up at Judge Salas home posing as a FedEx delivery person. Den Hollander fatally shot Salas 20-year-old son, Daniel Anderl, and wounded her husband, Mark Anderl. The judge was in another part of the home at the time and was not injured.

Den Hollander, 72, was a mens rights lawyer with a history of anti-feminist writings. He was found dead of a self-inflicted gunshot wound the day after the ambush, when police said they found a document with information about a dozen female judges from across the country, half of whom are Latina, including Salas.

Authorities believe Den Hollander also was tracking Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor, Salas said in a televised interview last year, because they found a manila folder with information about Sotomayor when they searched a locker belonging to Den Hollander.

Over the years, Supreme Court justices have called on Congress to provide more money for their security. But at the same time, the justices often shrugged off protection when it was offered. When Justice Antonin Scalia died on a hunting trip in Texas in 2016, for example, he did not have a security detail with him.

In recent years, the court has stepped up security for the justices. The court routinely refuses to discuss protection for the nine justices, but Justice Amy Coney Barrett said earlier this year that she was not prepared for how much more extensive security is now than when she worked for Scalia in the late 1990s.

Sotomayor likes to walk among guests at her public appearances, often joking about the armed officers who are there to protect her. The guys up here. The big guys with stuff around their waist and things. Theyre here to protect you from me, she said to laughter at an event this year. They get nervous if you get up unexpectedly.  Please dont make them nervous.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., said Thursday that the House would take up a bill with bipartisan support that already has passed the Senate that would expand protection to the members of the justices immediate families.

Gabe Roth of the court reform group Fix the Court said in his view the justices need Secret Service-level protection, which has only become more obvious this week. Ive said it for years.

A separate bill, named in memory of Salas son, would provide more privacy and protections for all federal judges, including scrubbing personal information from the internet, to deal with mounting cyberthreats. The U.S. Marshals Service, which protects about 2,700 federal judges and thousands more prosecutors and court officials, said there were 4,511 threats and inappropriate communications in 2021, compared with 926 such incidents in 2015.

The legislation, also widely supported by lawmakers in both parties, has been blocked by Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., who wants it to apply to members of Congress as well.

Sen. Bob Menendez, D-N.J., the bills author, said the Kavanaugh incident and Roemers death in Wisconsin make plain the need for the legislation. Our bill is the only existing proposal to protect the personal information of judges and their families, Menendez said in an email.

A similar bill in the House has not even gotten a hearing.

We talk a lot about what can be done. How about we stop arming the public with information they are using to kill us? How about we do that? Salas said Friday in an interview with The Associated Press.

The internet has made it much easier to find personal information pertaining to judges, and everyone else.

But even before the digital age, judges were sometimes the targets of people who harbored grudges about their treatment in the criminal justice system. In a book, retired Texas Judge Susan P. Baker details 42 judges, including three at the federal level, who were murdered or otherwise met suspicious ends in the 20th century.

In the past 17 years, three close relatives of federal judges have been killed in attacks at the judges homes, including Salas son. In 2005, U.S. District Judge Joan Lefkow returned from work to find her husband and mother shot dead in the basement of her Chicago home. The killer was a homeless electrician who had lost a medical malpractice suit in her courtroom.

U.S. District Judge Roslynn R. Mauskopf, who heads the office responsible for federal courts administration, said the incident at Kavanaughs house is just the most recent reminder that threats against judges are real and they can have and have had dire consequences.
The American Solar Energy Society will host its 51st Annual National Solar Conference, SOLAR 2022, from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. June 21 through 24 at the University of New Mexico and online, according to a news release.

The theme of the conference is Energy Transition with Economic Justice. ASES is partnering with its local chapter, the New Mexico Solar Energy Association, the release said.

Speakers will include: Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham; U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich; Jonathan Nez, president of the Navajo Nation; Ron Darnell, senior vice president for public policy at Public Service Company of New Mexico; Dave Renne, past president of the International Solar Energy Society; Shalanda Baker, secretarial advisor on equity and deputy director for Energy Justice at the Department of Energy; Wahleah Johns, director of the U.S. DOE Office of Indian Energy Policy and Programs; Nicole Sitaraman, deputy director, Office of Public Participation at the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission; Ed Mazria, founder of Architecture 2030; Sandra Begay, principal member of the technical staff at Sandia National Laboratories; Dan Arvizu, New Mexico State University chancellor; and Gigi Goldman and Hal Aronson co-founders of We Share Solar. The opening reception will feature local poets and a presentation from Noam Chomsky.

The cost of the full conference $760 for in-person or $380 for a virtual pass. There is a 15% discount for basic ASES members, a 25% discount for professional and business members and a 70% discount for students. There also will be a one-day pass option.

Registration closes June 20. Details are available at ases.site-ym.com/event/solar2022.
ROME  Italian rescuers on Saturday located the bodies of seven people, including four Turkish and two Lebanese businessmen, who died when their helicopter crashed in a heavily forested, mountainous area in north-central Italy during a storm, authorities said.

Col. Alfonso Cipriano, who heads an air force rescue coordination unit that led the search since Thursday, said rescuers were tipped off to the crash site after a mountain runner reported seeing what he thought was a part of the mangled chopper during an excursion on Mount Cusna on Saturday morning.

Air crews confirmed the site and ground crews initially located five bodies, and then the other two, Cipriano told The Associated Press. The location was in a hard-to-reach valley and the chopper remains were hidden to air rescuers from the lush tree cover, but some branches were broken and burned, he said.

The helicopter disappeared from radar screens Thursday morning as it flew over the province of Modena in the TuscanEmilian Apennines. Electric storms had been reported in the area at the time, Cipriano said. The chopper was carrying seven people, including four Turkish citizens, two Lebanese and the Italian pilot, from Lucca to Treviso to visit a tissue paper production facility.

The two Lebanese were identified in Lebanon as Shadi Kreidi and Tarek Tayah, both executives at INDEVCO, an international manufacturing and industrial consultancy group. The two were said to be on a business trip.

Tayahs wife, Hala, was killed two years ago in the massive explosion at Beiruts port, which took the lives of more than 215 people and injured thousands. Their daughter, Tamara, who was 11 at the time, was one of the few victims who met French President Emmanuel Macron when he flew to Beirut following the blast, gifting him a pin shaped like the map of Lebanon made by her mother, a jeweler, and getting an emotional hug in return.

Tarek and Hala Tayeh had two other children besides Tamara.

The Turks on board worked for Turkish industrial group Eczacibasi, which said they were taking part in a trade fair.

Eczacibasi confirmed in a statement with great pain and sadness that its director of factories, director of hygienic papers at its Yalova province factory, director of investment projects and production director at its Manisa province factory had died in the crash and relayed their condolences.

The crash site was about 10 kilometers (six miles) from where rescuers initially began searching based on the last cellular pings from the passengers phones. Cipriano said it might have taken hours more or even days to locate the site had it not been for the runners tip, given the difficult, lush terrain.

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Zeina Karam in Beirut, and Zeynep Bilginsoy in Istanbul, contributed to this report.
LONDON  The family of a British man condemned to death for fighting for Ukraine said it is devastated by the outcome of what it termed a show trial and called Saturday for him to be released and accorded the treatment an international human rights convention guarantees prisoners of war.

A court in the separatist-proclaimed Donetsk Peoples Republic of Ukraine convicted two British fighters and one Moroccan on Thursday of seeking the violent overthrow of power, an offense punishable by death in the eastern territory controlled by Moscow-backed rebels.

The men were also convicted of mercenary activities and terrorism.

Our whole family is devastated and saddened at the outcome of the illegal show trial, the family of one of the British men, Shaun Pinner, said.

A statement issued by Britains Foreign Office on behalf of Pinners family said the 48-year-old had been a resident of Ukraine for four years.

We sincerely hope that all parties will cooperate urgently to ensure the safe release or exchange of Shaun. Our family, including his son and Ukrainian wife, love and miss him so much and our hearts go out to all the families involved in this awful situation, the statement said.

The family also described Pinner as a proud contracted serving marine in the 36th Brigade, a Ukrainian naval infantry division that helped defend the besieged southern port city of Mariupol before it was captured by Russian forces.

As a member of the brigade, Pinner should be accorded all the rights of a prisoner of war according to the Geneva Convention and including full independent legal representation, the family said.

Ukraine and the West have denounced the proceedings in the unrecognized Donetsk republic as a sham and a violation of the rules of war.

The pro-Russia separatists said Saturday they were preparing to also try a South Korean citizen who had fought on the side of Ukraine, but that the man had escaped. They said they still wanted to have him tried in South Korea, but it was not clear how that could happen.

Ukraine has called on foreigners to join their resistance to Russias invasion, and some have answered that call, though not all have been accepted in Ukraines foreign legion.

The Czech Republics foreign minister, Jan Lipavsky, said Saturday that a Czech citizen died in the Donetsk region in Ukraine  the first reported Czech fatality among the foreign volunteers.

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Follow APs coverage of the Russia-Ukraine war at https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine
ATALAIA DO NORTE, Brazil  Family members of the sole person to be arrested in the disappearance of a British journalist and Indigenous official in the Amazon said Friday that he was innocent and alleged that police were torturing him to try to force a confession.

Freelance journalist Dom Phillips and Indigenous official Bruno Pereira were last seen on Sunday morning in the Javari Valley, Brazils second-largest Indigenous territory, which sits in an isolated area bordering Peru and Colombia. The two men were in the Sao Rafael community. They were returning by boat to the nearby city of Atalaia do Norte but never arrived.

The claims of the family of fisherman Amarildo da Costa de Oliveira, also known as Pelado, were the latest development in a disappearance that has garnered international attention, a search involving several agencies and criticism of Brazilian authorities for an allegedly slow response. The familys claims, made to The Associated Press, also came a day after witnesses made contradictory allegations about de Oliveira to the AP.

De Oliveira was arrested on Tuesday at his home in the Sao Gabriel riverine community, close to where the pair went missing on Sunday. He was initially arrested for illegal gun possession, but police have since said he was now being considered a suspect in the disappearance and was being held at a police station in Atalaia do Norte.

Osenei da Costa de Oliveira, 41, also a fisherman, said Friday he had visited his brother in jail.

He told me he was at his house when they handcuffed him, said Osenei da Costa de Oliveira, speaking outside the police station where his brother is being held. Then they put him on a boat under the sun and began to travel to Atalaia do Norte. When they reached the Curupira rivulet, they put him on another boat. Then they beat him, tortured him, put his head under water, stepped on his leg and pepper-sprayed his face. They also drugged him twice, but I dont know what they used.

They wanted him to confess but hes innocent, Osenei da Costa de Oliveira added.

The public security secretariat of Amazonas state, which oversees local police, said in a statement it would not comment on the familys accusations because the investigation into the disappearance was now being handled by the Federal Police. The Federal Police on Friday did not answer requests for comment.

Brazilian authorities are coming under enormous pressure to find Phillips and Pereira. A growing number of celebrities, politicians, civil society groups and international news organizations have called for the police, army and navy to bolster the search efforts.

The mother of Amarildo da Costa de Oliveira, Maria de Fatima da Costa, said she was at the Atalaia do Norte port when her son arrived with police. He was taken from the boat wearing a hood, could barely walk on his own and was soaking wet, she said.

I told the police he was not a criminal to be treated like that, she told the AP.

She also said that blood that police have said was found in her sons boat was likely from a pig he had slaughtered a few days before being arrested. Authorities have said the blood was being analyzed at a lab.

In a statement Friday, Federal Police said they were also analyzing human matter found in the Itaquai River, near Atalaia do Nortes port. No more details were provided.

Members of Indigenous group of watchmen, who were with Pereira and Phillips on Saturday, the day before they disappeared, told the AP on Thursday that de Oliveira and two other men had brandished guns at them. Paulo Marubo, the president of a Javari Valley association of Indigenous people, Univaja, also told the AP that Phillips photographed the men at the time.

The suspects family also disputed the claim of brandishing weapons. Father-in-law Francisco Conceicao de Freitas said he and de Oliveira were on a fishing boat together and that his son-in-law waved an oar, not a rifle, at the group that included Phillips and Pereira. De Freitas said his son-in-law did that because they felt threatened by the watchmen, who de Freitas said were armed, and wanted to make it seem as if they too were armed. Carrying weapons, both legally and illegally owned, is common in the Amazon.

The family said they had not been illegally fishing inside the Javari Valley Indigenous Territory, a frequented area for illegal fishing and hunting. The family also said de Oliveira doesnt have a criminal record and his only previous brush with law enforcement was once being detained for a few hours under an unfounded suspicion he was transporting drugs.

Phillips and Pereira had been speaking with people just outside the protected area, but never entered it, according to multiple people whom the AP interviewed in the area.

The Amazonas state police have long been accused of extrajudicial killings and unlawful raids. Since Gov. Wilson Lima took office in 2019, three massacres involving local officers have taken place. One of them, in October 2020, ended in 17 deaths in capital Manaus, in the heart of the Amazon. Police denied wrongdoing in all three cases.

Last year, Brazilian daily Folha de S.Paulo reported that local police in Tabatinga, the closest major city to Atalaia do Norte, had made seven extrajudicial killings they thought had links to the murder of an officer. Some of the victims had been tortured, and their relatives received death threats. Police never responded to the accusations.

Phillips, 57, has reported from Brazil for more than a decade and has most recently been working on a book about preservation of the Amazon.

Pereira has long operated in Javari Valley for the Brazilian Indigenous affairs agency. He oversaw their regional office and the coordination of isolated Indigenous groups before going on leave to help local Indigenous people defend themselves against illegal fishermen and poachers. For years, Pereira had received threats for his work.

____

AP journalist Mauricio Savarese contributed to this report from Sao Paulo.

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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.
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It remains to be seen why the 'Miss the Rage' rhymer, whose real name is Jordan Terrell Carter, slams his guitarist on the ground during his set at Primavera Sound in Barcelona.

Jun 11, 2022

AceShowbiz - Playboi Carti got a little violent during his recent show. When performing at Primavera Sound in Barcelona, Spain, the "Whole Lotta Red" spitter suddenly threw his guitarist across the stage.

In a video surfacing online, the 25-year-old was grabbing his guitarist. The two twirled around for a few seconds before the emcee slammed the guitarist to the ground. The crowd has since gone crazy.

It is unclear whether the guitarist suffered any injuries. However, in the footage, he was seen quickly getting back on his feet after the incident. It also remains to be seen whether Carti did that as a part of the show or he was mad at the unnamed guy.

This came more than a month after Carti's performance at the Smokers Club Festival in San Bernardino was abruptly cut. His set got canceled thoroughly after just two songs because some of his fans tried to rush the VIP section and broke the barricade.

The "Miss the Rage" rhymer, born Jordan Terrell Carter, has previously dealt with rioting fans. In October 2021, he was forced to cancel his show due to security concerns. In some videos surfacing online, some fans could be seen breaching security barriers around the arena and rushing the venue which caused chaos. The situation led a number of police officers to order the crowd to leave the stadium.

Chaos also ensued at Carti's August show. At the time, fans of Miley Cyrus claimed that they got stuck in a mosh pit from the Atlanta MC's set at Lollapalooza in Chicago. Blaming the rapper's fans, one Miley stan wrote on Snapchat, "Don't go to a carti concert his fans are insane someone punched my contact out people were passing out [someone] had a seizure ppl were / are bleeding."

Another person, meanwhile, shared a screenshot of a conversation with one concertgoer. "Bro cuz it was a ton of Miley girl stans," the person penned. "Waiting for miley. They had no clue what was comin. I tried to warn em. Yes Miley went after them. So there was a ton of 4'11 white girls in tht b***h literally crying it was awful."
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The 'Shake My A$$' raptress posts and deletes a picture of a mystery man fondling her chest after her ex Diddy admits to dating the City Girls star on her show 'Caresha Please'.

Jun 11, 2022

AceShowbiz - Gina Huynh appears to respond to Sean "P. Diddy" Combs' clarification of his relationship status with Yung Miami. Seemingly trying to get the attention back to her, the Vietnamese-American model has shared a suggestive selfie featuring her and a mystery man.

In the now-deleted Instagram Story, Gina got cozy with the man, whose face is not seen as he appears to stand behind her. He placed his hand underneath her barely-there top to caress one of her breasts, while the 30-year-old beauty smiled to the camera and took the picture.

It's unclear what message that Gina was trying to send with the photo, but many linked it to Diddy's recent confirmation that he's dating Yung Miami. "She real pressed about Miami and Diddy convo," one person reacted to the racy picture. Another similarly commented, "She must be tired of seeing clips of that interview."

A third person mocked Gina, "It's giving desperate." Another echoed the sentiment, "here's the attention you wanted." Someone else warned that Gina may reignite her feud with Miami as saying, "City Girls about to Unleash wrath on this woman. god have mercy." Even NeNe Leakes chimed in as writing, "Chileeeeeeeeeeeeeee."

Diddy and Miami talked about their relationship on her new podcast series "Caresha Please". In a video released on Thursday, June 10, the hip-hop mogul said, "I'm single. But I'm dating, I'm just taking my time with life."

When pressed by the City Girls star, "So what we is?" the 52-year-old rapper responded, "We date. We're dating. We go have dates, we're friends." He further dished, "We go to exotic locations. We have great times."

He also revealed what he likes about Miami, "I mean cause you're authentic. You're like one of the realest people I've ever met and you're authentically yourself. You're a great mother and a great friend. We just have a good time."

"I get advice from Caresha," he further gushed about the Miami native, whose real name is Caresha Romeka Brownlee. "Caresha tells me [things] like, 'Don't be in ya head.' You're just a good friend. Everybody that's a friend of yours will tell you that you're a great friend."
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The 59-year-old actor and comedian, who is best known for starring in 'Anchorman' film series and 'The Office', is taken into custody when he is on a standup tour.

Jun 11, 2022

AceShowbiz - David Koechner had a run-in with the law yet again. The "Anchorman: The Legend Continues" actor, who is currently touring the country on a standup tour, was arrested for driving under influence in Ohio.

According to online records obtained by TMZ, the 59-year-old was pulled over by police in Southern Ohio before 2:00 A.M. local time on June 4. He was then taken into custody and charged with operating a vehicle under the influence.

Despite his arrest, David managed to host "The Office" trivia night later that day in Ironton. He is set to make a court appearance in July.

This marks the comedian's second arrest in six months. On December 31, 2021, he was arrested for a suspected DUI and hit-and-run in Simi Valley, California. He was taken into custody for suspicion of driving under the influence at 3 P.M. and booked at Ventura County Jail at 5:15 P.M. local time.

Law enforcement sources reported at that time that the authorities received a call for an erratic driver. Upon their arrival, David was quickly given a field sobriety test, which he failed. It was also said that his vehicle was towed shortly after. The actor stayed there until the next morning as he was released at 5:49 A.M.

David's legal trouble prompted his estranged wife Leigh Morgan Koechner to feel worried about their children's safety. Thus, she filed docs on January 7 in L.A., asking for his visitation with their kids to be suspended. She also asked for "safeguards be put in place to ensure (David's) sobriety."

David and Leigh, who tied the knot in 1998, called it quits last year after nearly 22 years of marriage. The exes share five children together, Charlie, Margot, Sargent, Audrey as well as Eve.
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The 'Chelsea Lately' alum, who had bad blood with the late comic, says in a new interview that she should give the comedian, who died from 'therapeutic complications' in 2014, 'the kudos she deserved.'

Jun 11, 2022

AceShowbiz - Chelsea Handler is showing remorse. The former star of "Chelsea Lately" has admitted she "wasn't respectful" to Joan Rivers and didn't give the late comic the "the kudos she deserved."

The pair fell out prior to Joan's death in 2014 with Chelsea revealing their feud started because she had "kinda blown her off" when she was "young and arrogant." Opening up about the bad blood between the pair, Chelsea explained herself during a chat with Joan's daughter Melissa Rivers on the "Melissa Rivers' Group Text Podcast".

Chelsea said, "Your mom approached me a couple times when we were on E! I just felt like a s**t because I had just kinda blown her off. I wasn't respectful in the way I realize I needed to be now."

Chelsea was among those who paid tribute to Joan in the Netflix special "The Hall: Honoring the Greats of Stand-Up" and Melissa was furious when she found out about the tribute from Chelsea. Melissa told the TV host she "went f**king bananas" when she was told Chelsea would be honoring Joan, prompting the comedian to explain why she did it.

Chelsea said, "[I was] so excited about the opportunity to do it, to go and say those things in front of everybody. To be like, you have to remember that every opportunity that anyone has in this world as a female comedian, you have to thank the people who came before you." She added, "When I was on E!, I was so young and arrogant and just thought, 'I did it. I got myself to where I was.' I didn't give her the kudos she deserved and so I was eager to like put that in writing."

The comedy special debuted in May and during the show Chelsea admitted Joan actually had a huge impact on her career. She said, "The first time I met Joan Rivers, we were both on E! and not the fun kind. It was the basic cable network with the exclamation point, which in hindsight was still a good time. But, at the time though, I did not realize the enormous impact Joan had on my career."

Chelsea went on to say, "I was too wrapped up in my own world. I was too young, too confident, and too arrogant to believe anyone had a hand in my success but myself. Now, I know that for every success I've had it was because someone came before me who was bolder and braver and good luck finding someone else who was as bold and as brave as Joan Rivers."

Joan died on September 4, 2014 at the age of 81 after suffering complications during surgery on her throat.
YANGON, June 11 (Xinhua) -- In a government-run school in the east-central part of Myanmar's former capital Yangon on Friday morning, 7-year-old Htet Nyar Khant, along with his friends, waited to receive his first dose of COVID-19 vaccine.

Despite some of his friends saying they were afraid of needles, Htet Nyar told Xinhua he was brave and ready to get vaccinated. The vaccination was to fight COVID-19, he added.

In the morning, most primary school students wearing white and green uniforms waited in the classrooms or in line outside the vaccination room for inoculation. Teachers and health workers arranged and helped them receive the COVID-19 vaccines.

Yoon Thanda Aung, 11, told Xinhua that she was a little afraid of getting injected, but she was determined to get vaccinated because she was more afraid of COVID-19 infection.

"Schoolchildren aged 5 to 12 are receiving the first dose of COVID-19 vaccine with approvals from their parents and guardians," one of the school teachers said.

According to the health ministry, Myanmar has some 3.62 million school children aged 5 to 12, and they were currently being inoculated with China's Sinopharm vaccine.

About 1 million children aged 5 to 15, who are not attending school, in the country will also be vaccinated against COVID-19, the health ministry said.

"It is not painful and I'm okay," Htet Nyar told Xinhua while he rests after getting the COVID-19 jab.

Kaung Kaung, a 12-year-old from a school in a town in southwest Myanmar's Ayeyarwady region, also received China's Sinopharm COVID-19 vaccine on June 2.

"I was vaccinated against COVID-19 because my mother asked me to do it," Kaung said.

"All of my family members are now inoculated with COVID-19 vaccine," Kaung's 50-year-old mother Thaung Myint said, adding that her youngest son Kaung was the last person in the family to receive a COVID-19 vaccine.

"I now feel protected from COVID-19 as everyone in my family receives COVID-19 vaccine," she added.

Myanmar, home to more than 55.6 million people, has been vaccinating children aged 5 to 12 since June 2.

By Friday, more than 2.2 million school children aged 5 to 12 have been inoculated with Sinopharm, the Chinese-made vaccine currently used for the age group, according to the health ministry.

The ministry has stressed the need for all eligible persons to get fully vaccinated against COVID-19, saying that data show the rate of deaths from the pandemic could be significantly reduced by vaccination.

The Southeast Asian country has recorded 613,427 COVID-19 cases and 19,434 COVID-19-related deaths since the start of the pandemic in March 2020. A total of 592,401 people have recovered from COVID-19 as of Friday.

More than 27.02 million people in Myanmar have been fully vaccinated against COVID-19, and more than 2.2 million have received booster shots, official data showed.

Myanmar already administered over 62.25 million doses of COVID-19 to its people as of June 7, it said.

"It is not too much painful, just a little," Yoon told Xinhua after receiving a COVID-19 vaccine.

"I'm now protected from COVID-19," she added with a smile. 
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The ad, which was first published in September last year, is back in circulation after his court victory over his former wife, who's found to defame him in her 2018 Washington Post op-ed.

Jun 11, 2022

AceShowbiz - Johnny Depp's controversial Dior ads are back in circulation after his court victory over Amber Heard. The French fashion house is broadcasting an old promo starring the "Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales" actor, which was slammed in 2020 by domestic violence campaigners when it was shown at the height of abuse allegations against him from his ex played out in a U.K. court.

Dior also continued to stand by Depp throughout his defamation trial against Heard, 36, with sales of the "Sauvage" cologne he advertises recently soaring, according to the Wall Street Journal. TMZ highlighted how the ad recently aired in primetime during an episode of "MasterChef" on FOX from 8 to 9 P.M. on Wednesday, June 8.

So far, Dior has not official commented on whether if it is making a renewed push on Depp's "Sauvage" ads. Depp filmed a string of Dior commercials for the since he became the brand ambassador for its cologne in 2015. Most recently, an advert featuring Depp playing chords on a guitar for "Wild Thing" while standing alone in a desert surrounded by wolves has been in rotation. It was posted by the brand in September 2021.

Depp previously attracted controversy for a Dior ad in 2019 that was slammed as racist due to the appropriation of Native American iconography by the actor and Dior. Dior appeared to have removed the ad and related materials from its social media posts in the wake of the row, according to The Guardian.

The Wall Street Journal said June cosmetics retailer and its competitor Ulta have both seen hikes in sales for Depp's cologne, making it one of their top-sellers. Despite Dior's apparent backing, there appears to be no firm signs Depp will make a comeback to the lucrative family-friendly "Pirates of the Caribbean" franchise.

Producer Jerry Bruckheimer, 78, last month told the Sunday Times there were no plans to bring him back as Captain Jack Sparrow. Depp declared at the start of the month he felt he has "his life back" when a jury ruled he was defamed and awarded him $15 million, finding "Aquaman" actress Heard had falsely accused him of domestic abuse.
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Noting that those threats are likely sent by fans of those indicted in the RICO charges, District Attorney Fani Willis says it's giving her enough reason to increase her security.

Jun 11, 2022

AceShowbiz - Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis needs extensive security to keep her alive since a high-profile racketeering indictment involving Atlanta rappers. Willis says she has taken extraordinary measures to protect her and her family after receiving death threats over the case involving YSL members.

In an interview with WSB-TV, Willis speaks about the increasing threats against her after the arrests of Young Thug, Gunna and other alleged members of the Young Slime Life Gang. She says she needs extensive security "to stay alive."

Willis notes that those death threats were likely sent by fans of those indicted instead of coming from the gang members. "We don't believe that these threats were directed by anyone that is in the YSL indictment," she says. "I would say that [threats are coming from] people that are very sympathetic, maybe admirers of YSL and people who are connected with them in some sense."

Willis admits that she's also getting more hostile comments from former President Donald Trump's supporters after she announced that a special grand jury is looking in to certain events connected to the most recent presidential election in Georgia.

"Oh, it is definitely a significant driver of the heightened security," the D.A. says. "People are angry about that investigation. People are angry about investigations into gangs, so each of those things plays a factor."

As to how it has affected her life, Willis reveals, "I'm much more cautious than I've ever been in my life, paying more attention to my surroundings. It's required for me to stay alive."

Willis claims some of the threats include her being murdered. "And (that person) seems to have information about where my house is actually located," she shares.

The City of South Fulton, the Atlanta Police Department, the Fulton County Police Department and the Fulton County Sheriff are working together to take part in Willis' security details. They are also backing her dignitary protection team from the District Attorney's Office.

The threats, however, do not deter Willis from bringing the criminals to justice. "I'm not going to be intimidated from doing it, and doing it in the correct fashion and holding people accountable," she declares.
Karun Kambiri is Senior Media Planning Manager, India at Essence, a global data and measurement-driven media agency that is part of GroupM. Kambiri, who joined Essence in 2019, manages digital media planning across both brand and performance marketing campaigns for the agencys clients in India. His skill sets in biddable and non-biddable media channels, content marketing, and influencer marketing, combined with his knowledge of digital marketing tools, help him to create data-driven, full-funnel media and marketing strategies for brands.

Prior to Essence, Kambiri had worked at Performics. He served in end-to-end account management roles, covering client servicing, strategy development, planning and execution for brands in the technology, telecommunications, hospitality and financial services sectors.

In conversion with Adgully, Karun Kambiri, Senior Media Planning Manager, India, Essence, speaks about the skill sets needed in this industry, advertising in the cookieless world, the virtual reality of the metaverse, and more.

What particular skill sets do you think you bring to the table?

I started my career as a digital media planner, and over the course of 6 years I have evolved into an integrated media planning resource. My knowledge base covers the breadth of media channels and the depth of key media objectives across branding and performance. With end-to-end skills, including client servicing, strategy development, planning and execution, I have helped brands with their media needs in sectors such as technology, telecommunications and financial services.

Whether it is leading my team or automating reports in times of a resource crunch, I strive to go beyond the basics. My travels across multiple states and interactions with people of different ethnicities also help me to connect and be empathetic towards colleagues, irrespective of their cultural backgrounds.

How did you join your current organisation?

After specialising in media and advertising in my post-graduate studies, I started my professional career with a media agency. There, I got the chance to work across various brands and learn the nuances of different media channels.

Having covered the broad pillars of digital media in my first organisation, I was looking to further expand my knowledge base and that was when I came across Essence  its global data and measurement-driven media solutions provided the right opportunity I needed to upskill myself. Additionally, Google has always inspired me as a service company and with Essence, I had the opportunity to contribute to Googles media initiatives.

Icons in this field you look up to and how they have influenced you and your work?

I have learnt and continue to learn from many people around me.

There were leaders who showed me that the best way to inspire is not by leading from a pedestal, but by being approachable and accessible, with the most recent example being Sonali Malaviya. Her success in the industry is something to behold, but it was equally inspirational to see how she genuinely connects with her team, especially when we had to work from home due to the Covid-19 pandemic. She engaged with all of us in a weekly catch-up with a difference, and true to its name, it made a positive impact and kept our spirits high.

In addition, some great managers taught me that a managers role is to not just manage people but to be a mentor to each member of the team, while my colleagues teach me something new about this industry every day.

Lastly, I am vastly influenced by the person that I could be tomorrow and I strive to work towards that today.

What are the five most productive things that you do in your everyday routine?

I start my day with physical training using a resistance band, which keeps me motivated and energised throughout the day. During the day, I strive towards delivering a 100 per cent in my job, because by the end of each day, knowing that I have done justice to my work is essential to me. You are what you eat, so I ensure that I eat healthily every day to achieve not only a healthy body but a healthy mind too. Apart from proteins, carbohydrates and fats, creativity is the fourth macronutrient that I need to fuel my day. Be it an abstract picture or a combination of words, I use any medium possible to embody my thoughts outside of my mind. Finally, I end my day with dinner, in bed and watching TV with the most important people in my life - my family.

Do you think a career in this field is a viable one in the long term?

Yes, I do feel a long-term career in this field is feasible, but it demands that you are constantly augmenting your point of view towards what media is. From the medieval days when town criers were appointed to announce official news before the advent of mass media, to the present day when digital technology is driving performance media, this industry keeps evolving. To stay in it for the long term, one needs to continuously ride the waves of change. Advertising in the cookieless world and the virtual reality of the metaverse are just a few examples of the current trends in the media landscape.

What does it take to succeed in a career?

In-depth knowledge of key tools and platforms relevant to the industry.

Attention to detail, sometimes not far from obsession.

An understanding of the consumer who will use the product or service.

What would be your advice to youngsters planning to enter this industry?

Shed any personal biases, stereotypes or preconceived notions that you have. Be open to understanding the diversity of thoughts, perspectives, feelings and priorities of different people, and ensure your media solutions do not exclude anyone.

Where do you see yourself in five years time?

With my current knowledge and experience in media planning across channels, my next goal in five years time is to work on the brand side and get a meta understanding of how brands arrive at the need for media and advertising for a product or service.

Is there any organisation that you would like to work with in the future?

Google. Someone once asked me to describe what Google is to me, and I said it is like water. We all need water, but we do not appreciate it enough until it becomes scarce. Google, and especially Google Search, satiates our everyday lives with information, and I respect and look up to that. I have learnt and contributed to Googles media solutions from the agency side, and someday, I would like to contribute from the brand side as well.
The Consulate General of Spain in Mumbai Mr. Fernando Heredia Noguer visited the Spanish Luxury Salon chain Jean Claude Olivier in Mumbai today. Jean Claude Olivier was launched in India in 2019, with its only flagship store in Bandra.

The Consulate General of Spain in Mumbai visited the store to oversee the set up and operations of the salon and was very impressed that they maintained the same values and integrity which the Spanish counterparts are doing. Anita More, the founder and director of Jean Claude Olivier in India, plans to open 100 salons by 2026.

With 32 years of experience in hairdressing, cosmetic and beauty, Jean Claude Olivier is the only brand globally to have a specialised in-house product Postquam which is a world leader not only in beauty products but are also into furniture, colour cosmetics, hair colour and many more for both professional salons and also end consumers.

Commenting on the same, founder and director of Jean Claude Olivier in India Anita More says, We are very honoured that the Consulate General of Spain in Mumbai Mr. Fernando Heredia Noguer visited us and was impressed with the way we run our luxury salon. At JCO believe that our success is based o 5 fundamental pillars i.e. Leadership, Quality, Strategy, Professionalism and Innovation. We have been getting good response and are planning to expand massively with 100 salons by 2026.

Talking about his experience, The Consulate General of Spain in Mumbai Mr. Fernando Heredia Noguer said, I was delighted to visit the Spanish salon Jean Claude Olivier in Bandra. It's providing fantastic fashionable and trendy services using top products. The tremendous success of their products and services are leading the company to expand all over India
After the super success of Season 2, Leo Burnett India has announced the next season of its thought leadership initiative Speakeasy with Dheeraj Sinha. Evolving from a brand-building forum to a platform presenting holistic business outlook, Speakeasy with Dheeraj Sinha  Season 3 promises intuitive and engaging conversations, with ten new captains who have taken the drivers seat to lead businesses. The podcast will be a weekly series focusing on the theme Leadership Businesses Brands in the New Age.

Dheeraj Sinha, CEO Leo Burnett - South Asia; Chairman, BBH India will be in conversation with business and brand leaders who share their experiences, insights and journey in scaling up brands and businesses. An enlightening chat for listeners, full of insights, creative ideas, brand case studies, and future trends.

Joining Dheeraj in Season 3 will be speakers who helm some of the most reputed brands including  Hitesh Dhingra, Co-Founder & Managing Director-The Man Company; Salone Sehgal, General Partner- Lumikai Fund; Anirudh Pandita, Founder- Loco; Narayan Sundararaman, Head Of Marketing-Bajaj Auto Ltd; Matt Chitharanjan, Co-Founder & CEO- Blue Tokai Coffee Roasters to name a few.

Speaking about season 3 podcast, Dheeraj Sinha, CEO Leo Burnett - South Asia; Chairman, BBH India

said, We are thrilled to launch Season 3 of our podcast. This podcast started as an idea to deep-dive into the processes of brand building in the new age, understand the evolution of cultural trends & the start-up landscape. As with the previous seasons, the upcoming episodes are packed with thought-provoking insights in the sphere of leadership, businesses, and brands. This has been an immensely gratifying journey and I want to thank both my listeners and guests for joining in this initiative.

The previous two successful seasons saw some of the distinguished guests from every walk of life with diverse portfolio, coming onboard to decode valuable market insights from the brand perspective. Some of the great leaders from previous seasons were from Google, Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd, Kimberly Clark, Daily Hunt & Josh; Hero Vired, India Quotient and many more. The success of the previous season has crossed 1.2 million + listeners and fans.

The podcast is in tie-up with Ideabrew Studios and will be available across platforms
Talkwalker, the leading consumer intelligence company, and Hootsuite, the global leader in social media management, have released their Brand Love 2022 report. This is the third edition of the report and each year Talkwalker uses its consumer intelligence capabilities to analyse over 1,500 brands, to see which ones are the most loved. This years report delivers analysis that spans 200 categories and 8 markets globally.

The Talkwalker Brand Love Index is derived using a refined methodology informed by 10 years of client research, and in-depth analysis of use cases. The index identified 3 critical scores for monitoring brand love - Passion, Trust, and CSAT (Customer Satisfaction). These scores were calculated by analysing over 2.6 billion conversations from social media, news, blogs, and reviews, to identify the brands consumers really care about.

Some key takeaways from the Brand Love 2022 report:

This years most loved brands include both international brands and homegrown Indian brands such as Asics, Colorbar Cosmetics, Jimmy Choo, MUJI, Bombay Shaving Company, IBM, and L'Oreal. The top 50 loved brands add new dimensions to the concept of sustainability, and have placed it front and center as a priority. They are environmental, social, and economic sustainability leaders in their categories. The most loved brands use social media to better understand their audience  and what theyre looking for. This is helping them to take creative risks that spark joy, love, and loyalty in their brand audiences. Consumers want a better, improved version of before. After two years of consumption choices being limited by the pandemic and sacrificing in-person experiences, consumers want to get back to normal. But their perspective has changed, and they are re-evaluating their relationships with brands.

Speaking on the latest report, Benjamin Soubies - Managing Director, APAC & Japan, Talkwalker said, The new consumer has conflicting expectations and complex demands. The aim of releasing our Brand Love 2022 report is to continue offering insights that bridge the gaps between brands and consumers. Our research has produced actionable tips on how brands can improve their brand love immediately.

He further added, As many of the top 50 brands prioritise sustainability efforts, we can see that this should not just be a consumer priority, but a critical brand strategy that can help create or kill brand love.

"As a marketer, if the past year and a half taught us anything, its that the traditional ways of advertising have changed drastically. Brands who put authenticity and courageous creativity at the core of their plans are the ones who generate the most brand love," said Maggie Lower, CMO, Hootsuite. "This year's Brand Love report features shining examples that we can all learn from of how companies are innovating and connecting with their audience in different ways to build loyalty and affinity."
In its bid to imbibe sustainability in the culture of Tata Power-DDL, the company is celebrating Sustainability Month in June, with the theme #BeEarthSmart- Learn, Live and Lead. The celebration shall serve as an opportunity to spread awareness on the importance of sustainability and why is it a need of the hour.

The opening ceremony of the World Sustainability Month took place at companys Learning Centre in Rohini, New Delhi and, was commemorated with Environment Day. As a part of the celebration, an on-the spot painting and doodle-making contest was organised for its employees wards in order to encourage the young turks to take charge of the environment. Theme for the Painting Competition was- Take Charge #BeEarthSmart. The event witnessed participation from 40+ employee wards. A special RWA meet was also organized to sensitize customers about importance of energy conservation and usage of Energy Efficient Products.

The leadership team of Tata Power-DDL also urges everyone to do their bit to save the #OnlyOneEarth

Additionally, to make Delhi greener and cleaner, a mega tree plantation drive under the aegis of Harit Ek Pehal was also organised in association with Club Enerji schools. The event witnessed participation from Senior Leadership Team of the company.

Till date, the company has planted 1,30,000 saplings to make Delhi Greener, reduce the impact of climate change and focus on 'Living Sustainably in Harmony with Nature'. These saplings are planted at various schools, RWAs, Parks, employee residential areas, and office locations.

Read more about Tata Power-DDLs Initiatives: https://www.tatapower-ddl.com/csr/overview
Times Innovative Media Limited (Times OOH), a part of the Times of India Group, Indias leading Outdoor Advertising company formally launched a world-class advertising media program at the Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport located in Kolkata, West Bengal. Times OOH acquired the exclusive media contract of Kolkata International airport for 7 years, extending its presence in the East region of India.

Times OOH has positioned Kolkata Airport as A Gateway to Make It Big.

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Times OOH has conceptualized and designed the complete advertising media network spread across approximately 14,000 sq. ft. across various strategic locations on the premises of the Kolkata International airport. The advertising media units have been strategically placed to capture the attention of the passengers. The locations are impactful, the type of media is scientifically selected, media sizes offer maximum exposure, all this after a deep understanding of the passenger movement, dwell time, and behaviour. Offering state-of-the-art media options such as Impactful Video Walls, Network of Digital Screens, Stunning Static Media, Wall Wraps, Interactive Experience Zones, Sponsorships, and Large Format Outdoor Billboards. Times OOH has planned one of the Biggest deployments of Digital networks across the country at this airport. Also created well thought out media packages that address the key objectives of advertisers and eases the buying decision. Like the STELLAR package of 15 video walls at baggage belts that create a long-lasting impact for arriving passengers or the FIRST Impression package which greets the departing passengers with a network of 3 larger-than-life video walls.

The fifth busiest airport in India, Kolkata International Airport handled 22 million passengers in FY 2019  2020, it plays a key role in driving the economy of the region  offering a wide air- route network, with 21 passenger airlines connecting Kolkata to 63 destinations as on May221.

Kolkata as a city offers a plethora of opportunities including business, sports & festivals that are essential for every brand in order to witness growth in their business. Kolkata International airport is a crucial entry point for flyers travelling for business and leisure and our strategically placed media gives an impressive opportunity for the brands to make an undeniable impression on their desired Target Audience. The complete bouquet of media networks is packaged to suffice the different marketing needs of brands starting from creating impact, awareness, and engagement. We are looking forward to brands to Make It Big at Kolkata International Airport, says Aman Nanda, Chief Strategy Officer, Times OOH.

Times OOH offers comprehensive media solutions across Airports, Metro, and Street furniture in India and Mauritius.

Source: 1 https://www.flightconnections.com/flights-from-kolkata-ccu